FISHING REPORT NUMBER 13: 7/17/2008
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good to very good, with reports from Mudge Pond, Long Pond (catches include a 5 lb largemouth), Lake Wonoscopomuc, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Lake of Isles, Dog Pond, Rogers Lake, Messerschmidt Pond, Scoville Reservoir, Lake Quonnipaug, East Twin Lake, Pattagansett Lake, Pickerel Lake and Ball Pond. Bass fishing is fair at Pachaug Pond, Beach Pond, Lake McDonough and Hopeville Pond, and slow fishing is reported from Highland Lake. Mixed reports from Bashan lake, Moodus Reservoir, Bantam Lake, Tyler Lake and Hatch Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing remains variable with fair fishing reported from Coventry Lake, Candlewood Lake, Highland Lake and Bashan Lake, slow fishing reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Beach Pond and Lake McDonough, and mixed reports from Mashapaug Lake. River smallie action is very good on the upper Housatonic River, with some action also reported from the Tariffville section of the Farmington River.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair, with some catches reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond and Pachaug Pond. Pike fishing has been good in the Upper Housatonic River.
KOKANEE are being caught at West Hill Pond, some fish up to 17”, try fishing between 30-35’ over 40’ of water.
WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall and Coventry Lake.
CALICO BASS action is reported from Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Avery Pond, Silver Lake, Long Pond and Park Pond.
SUNFISH – With the summer heat upon us, sunnies are providing good action statewide. Easy to catch, these fish can be a great way to introduce children to fishing, and great action can generally be found in your local ponds. Use worms or poppers on a fly rod. Larger areas to try include Gardner Lake, Hayward Lake, Amos Lake, Quinnebaug Lake, Coventry Lake, Lower Bolton Lake, Highland, Lake Waramaug, Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Bishop Swamp, Ball Pond and Black Pond (Meriden).
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Both trout and trout anglers will be challenged by the heat wave forecast to last through the weekend. Early or late in the day will be the best fishing times for trout. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Housatonic River and Naugatuck River.
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are currently closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Farmington River – West Branch flows remain clear and moderate, about 350 cfs at Riverton with an additional 45 cfs from the Still River. Morning water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. Ephemerella needhami (major hatch, #22-26, early morning; 9:00am), Isonychia bicolor, (#12-14, evening), March Brown, (Stenonema ithaca, #14, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-18 (Drunella lata) & #22-26, (D. cornuta & cornutella), cloudy days, mid-late afternoon), Epeorus vitreus, (Sulphurs duns #14-18, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening) & Midges (#22-28, morning) are successful patterns. Ants, beetles and Midges have been good throughout the day.
Housatonic River - Flows remain clear, moderate and quite fishable, currently 410 cfs at Falls Village and 580 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures (TMA area) are currently in the low to mid 70’s °F, and air temperatures around 90 °F are forecast through the weekend. With these temperatures, it’s an excellent time to switch to smallmouth bass (and these conditions are near ideal for smallie fishing). Those targeting trout need to take extra care when handling trout they plan to release! Insect hatches include Alder/Zebra Caddis (Macrostemum zebratum, action slowing, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Sulphurs (#12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia sps. (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening). Ants & Beetles (#14-1 are contributing well throughout the day. Streamer (morning & evening) patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds – Good reports for summer trout fishing from Crystal Lake (Ellington), East Twin Lake (16 fish for one angler), Candlewood Lake (browns to 3 lbs), Mashapaug Lake, black Pond (Woodstock, catches include a 5-lb brown), West Hill Pond and Lake Wonoscopomuc.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen herring & cut/chunk bait (sunfish, eels and shad). Target 10-30’ of water near structures.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good, with a number of catches reported from Hartford down to Haddam/East Haddam, best in the coves and the Haddam Meadows/Salmon River area.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action is good north of Hartford.
STRIPED BASS are being taken at night in the lower river on live eels and homemade lures (needle fish).
FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION
•
The state boat launch on the THAMES RIVER in New London will be closed from July 14th to August 28th for renovations.
•
Due to inappropriate off-site parking by some users of the state boat launch at COVENTRY LAKE, once capacity is reached at this launch, further use of the launch will not be allowed until a parking space or spaces become available.
•
Anglers are reminded that the entire “seawall” area extending from the handicap-accessable fishing pier to the permitted swim area at SQUANTZ POND is now closed to all public access.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the upper 60’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
Remember, to check the 2008 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
STRIPED BASS fishing is pretty good for anglers fishing the early morning bite (before dawn) and drifting live bunker (Atlantic menhaden). Hog bass in the 40+ lbs range have been reported over this past week! Other successful techniques include trolling the tube and worm combination, live lining hickory shad, eels or using cut chunk baits. Striped bass spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, mouth of the Niantic River, Black Point, Long Sand Shoal, the rips off Duck Island including Kelsey Point, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the reefs off Norwalk and Stamford. Schoolie fishing remains good in the Connecticut River off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier.
BLUEFISH fishing is good throughout LIS especially for harbor blues (2-4 lbs). Snappers have arrived but at this time of year are only 3 to 4 inches in length.
Best spot for HICKORY SHAD is in the Niantic River.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is on the slow side in LIS. Deeper water in the 60 plus range or across to the north side of Long Island is slightly better.
SCUP (porgies) and TAUTOG (blackfish) fishing has improved on the local reefs.
There are rumors of WEAKFISH being caught off the Norwalk Islands, the Stratford area (Milford Point to Charles Island), Falkner Island/Goose Island rocks, and Black Point in Niantic.
For regulation updates, please check our web site: www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good to very good, with reports from Mudge Pond, Long Pond (catches include a 5 lb largemouth), Lake Wonoscopomuc, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Lake of Isles, Dog Pond, Rogers Lake, Messerschmidt Pond, Scoville Reservoir, Lake Quonnipaug, East Twin Lake, Pattagansett Lake, Pickerel Lake and Ball Pond. Bass fishing is fair at Pachaug Pond, Beach Pond, Lake McDonough and Hopeville Pond, and slow fishing is reported from Highland Lake. Mixed reports from Bashan lake, Moodus Reservoir, Bantam Lake, Tyler Lake and Hatch Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing remains variable with fair fishing reported from Coventry Lake, Candlewood Lake, Highland Lake and Bashan Lake, slow fishing reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Beach Pond and Lake McDonough, and mixed reports from Mashapaug Lake. River smallie action is very good on the upper Housatonic River, with some action also reported from the Tariffville section of the Farmington River.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair, with some catches reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond and Pachaug Pond. Pike fishing has been good in the Upper Housatonic River.
KOKANEE are being caught at West Hill Pond, some fish up to 17”, try fishing between 30-35’ over 40’ of water.
WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall and Coventry Lake.
CALICO BASS action is reported from Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Avery Pond, Silver Lake, Long Pond and Park Pond.
SUNFISH – With the summer heat upon us, sunnies are providing good action statewide. Easy to catch, these fish can be a great way to introduce children to fishing, and great action can generally be found in your local ponds. Use worms or poppers on a fly rod. Larger areas to try include Gardner Lake, Hayward Lake, Amos Lake, Quinnebaug Lake, Coventry Lake, Lower Bolton Lake, Highland, Lake Waramaug, Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Bishop Swamp, Ball Pond and Black Pond (Meriden).
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Both trout and trout anglers will be challenged by the heat wave forecast to last through the weekend. Early or late in the day will be the best fishing times for trout. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Housatonic River and Naugatuck River.
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are currently closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Farmington River – West Branch flows remain clear and moderate, about 350 cfs at Riverton with an additional 45 cfs from the Still River. Morning water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. Ephemerella needhami (major hatch, #22-26, early morning; 9:00am), Isonychia bicolor, (#12-14, evening), March Brown, (Stenonema ithaca, #14, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-18 (Drunella lata) & #22-26, (D. cornuta & cornutella), cloudy days, mid-late afternoon), Epeorus vitreus, (Sulphurs duns #14-18, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening) & Midges (#22-28, morning) are successful patterns. Ants, beetles and Midges have been good throughout the day.
Housatonic River - Flows remain clear, moderate and quite fishable, currently 410 cfs at Falls Village and 580 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures (TMA area) are currently in the low to mid 70’s °F, and air temperatures around 90 °F are forecast through the weekend. With these temperatures, it’s an excellent time to switch to smallmouth bass (and these conditions are near ideal for smallie fishing). Those targeting trout need to take extra care when handling trout they plan to release! Insect hatches include Alder/Zebra Caddis (Macrostemum zebratum, action slowing, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Sulphurs (#12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia sps. (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening). Ants & Beetles (#14-1 are contributing well throughout the day. Streamer (morning & evening) patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds – Good reports for summer trout fishing from Crystal Lake (Ellington), East Twin Lake (16 fish for one angler), Candlewood Lake (browns to 3 lbs), Mashapaug Lake, black Pond (Woodstock, catches include a 5-lb brown), West Hill Pond and Lake Wonoscopomuc.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen herring & cut/chunk bait (sunfish, eels and shad). Target 10-30’ of water near structures.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good, with a number of catches reported from Hartford down to Haddam/East Haddam, best in the coves and the Haddam Meadows/Salmon River area.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action is good north of Hartford.
STRIPED BASS are being taken at night in the lower river on live eels and homemade lures (needle fish).
FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION
•
The state boat launch on the THAMES RIVER in New London will be closed from July 14th to August 28th for renovations.
•
Due to inappropriate off-site parking by some users of the state boat launch at COVENTRY LAKE, once capacity is reached at this launch, further use of the launch will not be allowed until a parking space or spaces become available.
•
Anglers are reminded that the entire “seawall” area extending from the handicap-accessable fishing pier to the permitted swim area at SQUANTZ POND is now closed to all public access.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the upper 60’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
Remember, to check the 2008 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
STRIPED BASS fishing is pretty good for anglers fishing the early morning bite (before dawn) and drifting live bunker (Atlantic menhaden). Hog bass in the 40+ lbs range have been reported over this past week! Other successful techniques include trolling the tube and worm combination, live lining hickory shad, eels or using cut chunk baits. Striped bass spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, mouth of the Niantic River, Black Point, Long Sand Shoal, the rips off Duck Island including Kelsey Point, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the reefs off Norwalk and Stamford. Schoolie fishing remains good in the Connecticut River off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier.
BLUEFISH fishing is good throughout LIS especially for harbor blues (2-4 lbs). Snappers have arrived but at this time of year are only 3 to 4 inches in length.
Best spot for HICKORY SHAD is in the Niantic River.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is on the slow side in LIS. Deeper water in the 60 plus range or across to the north side of Long Island is slightly better.
SCUP (porgies) and TAUTOG (blackfish) fishing has improved on the local reefs.
There are rumors of WEAKFISH being caught off the Norwalk Islands, the Stratford area (Milford Point to Charles Island), Falkner Island/Goose Island rocks, and Black Point in Niantic.
For regulation updates, please check our web site: www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106