FISHING REPORT NUMBER 19: 8/28/2008
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has generally been fair to good with reports from Glasgo Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Aspinook Pond, Bantam Lake (including a 4.5 lb bass), Candlewood Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Pataconk Lake (22 inch bass), Babcock Pond, Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, Horse Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Ball Pond and Cedar Lake (5 lb bass). Fishing was reported as slow at Gardner Lake (recent catches do include a 4.4 lb largemouth), East Twin Lake and Pachaug Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is generally slow to fair in lakes and ponds, with best reports from Candlewood Lake (plenty, but fish deep to find them), Lake Lillinonah (catches include a 4 lb smallie), Rainbow Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Bashan Lake and Coventry Lake, and slow fishing reported at Beach Pond (catches include a 4.5 lb smallie), Colebrook Reservoir and Gardner Lake. River smallie action remains good, especially on warm afternoons, in the Housatonic River (one one trip, three anglers caught 246 bass in the Cornwall/Kent stretch) and fair in the Tariffville section of the Farmington River.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair at best, with some catches reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake (slow), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond and the upper Housatonic River
WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Mashapaug Lake, Gardner Lake, Coventry Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir and Squantz Pond.
TROUT
Rivers & streams – With good flows and moderate temperatures, conditions for trout fishing should be great for the Labor Day weekend. As we move into late summer, it’s time for trout anglers to include terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington, Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers.
Farmington River – Anglers can look forward to even more fish in the river as DEP HAS STOCKED 2,400 TROUT for the Holiday weekend.
These fish are most 14-16 inch brown trout, with a few 12-14 inch rainbow trout mixed in. These fish were released into the West Branch from just above the TMA to the Goodwin (Hogback) Dam.
West Branch flows are currently clear and at fishable levels (360 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 30 cfs from the Still River). West Branch TMA water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. Hatches/patterns include the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-32, morning) followed by the White Fly (Ephoron leukon, #12-14, dawn & dusk). The remaining bugs consist of Ephemerella needhami (#20-26, early morning to early afternoon in Riverton), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #14-16, evenings), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).
Advance notice: DEP currently is planning to conduct its annual electrofishing survey of the river from September 9th through 11th. Anglers should expect West Branch flows to drop to 100 cfs or less beginning late September 8th and lasting through at least the 11th.
Housatonic River – Conditions for trout fishing should be great for the Labor Day weekend! Flows are clear and very fishable, currently 365 cfs at Falls Village and 445 cfs at Gaylordsville, and temperatures remain relatively mild (morning water temperatures are currently in the low to mid 60’s °F. Successful patterns include Leadwing Coachman (#10-12, main evening hatch), White Wulff (#10-12), Sulfurs (#16 dusk/dark), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds – Late summer trout fishing is generally fair, with best reports from East Twin Lake, Wonoscopomuc Lake and Crystal Lake, and slower fishing reported from West Hill Pond, Beach Pond and Highland Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER –
CATFISH (6-10 lb range) angling remains good from Hartford to Middletown, cut bait (chunking) near brush piles and other structure near deep holes.
Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves in the Hartford-Middletown area and in the lower river along weed lines. Recent catches include a number of 3-4 lb bass.
STRIPED BASS action is fair to good(mostly schoolies) in the lower river on tube & worm as well as on cut bait.
NORTHERN PIKE action is variable.
FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION
•
The state boat launch on the THAMES RIVER in New London has reopened to the public following renovations.
•
The newly renovated LAKE WARAMAUG Town Boat Launch in Washington is open for use by the general public. Seven parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis at the new launch. Additionally, up to thirteen trailered boats from the nearby campground at Lake Waramaug State Park will be allowed to access the lake from the Town launch (the park will have 13 “eligibility certificates” available to issue to campers, issued on a first-come –first served basis).
The Town charges a $25 annual fee to launch (same fee for resident and nonresidents). All boats will be inspected for invasive plants and subjected to a $5 per launch inspection fee. The launch and inspection fees can be paid at the boat launch.
The hours of operation through Labor Day are:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - 6 AM to Sunset
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 10 AM to 5 PM
From Labor Day to the last Sunday in October, the launch will be open three days a week (Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays) for morning (6 am to 11 am) and late afternoon/evening (4 pm to sunset) periods of operation.
•
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 currently closed to all public access.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) range from the upper 60’s to low 70’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 good to excellent on the local reefs especially during the night. Again, live bait is the ticket for scoring on trophy sized linesiders. Also, schoolie fishing is pretty good in the tidal rivers. Striped bass spots include the rocky reefs between Watch Hill and eastern Fishers Island, Napatree Point to Sandy Point (Stonington), Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, outer humps off Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs off Norwalk, the Cows off Stamford, and Greenwich Harbor.
BLUEFISH fishing is good to excellent throughout LIS. The Race is the usual hot spot especially in the early morning. Other chopper spots include Wilderness Point (south shore of Fishers Island), Thames River, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Charles Island area, Buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford/Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, around the Norwalk Islands, Cable and Anchor Reef. Snapper fishing is fair to good.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair to good in the Niantic River and the Connecticut River.
SCUP (porgy) fishing remains good to excellent on the local rocky reefs.
BONITO have been spotted off the Watch Hill area, Bluff Point, Pine Island and Little Gull Island.
The SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing season’s last day is September 1 (closed September 2-May 23) so time is dwindling down!
The TAUTOG (blackfish) season is also closed from September 1- September 30.
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
www.ct.gov/dep
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has generally been fair to good with reports from Glasgo Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Aspinook Pond, Bantam Lake (including a 4.5 lb bass), Candlewood Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Pataconk Lake (22 inch bass), Babcock Pond, Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, Horse Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Ball Pond and Cedar Lake (5 lb bass). Fishing was reported as slow at Gardner Lake (recent catches do include a 4.4 lb largemouth), East Twin Lake and Pachaug Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is generally slow to fair in lakes and ponds, with best reports from Candlewood Lake (plenty, but fish deep to find them), Lake Lillinonah (catches include a 4 lb smallie), Rainbow Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Bashan Lake and Coventry Lake, and slow fishing reported at Beach Pond (catches include a 4.5 lb smallie), Colebrook Reservoir and Gardner Lake. River smallie action remains good, especially on warm afternoons, in the Housatonic River (one one trip, three anglers caught 246 bass in the Cornwall/Kent stretch) and fair in the Tariffville section of the Farmington River.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair at best, with some catches reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake (slow), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond and the upper Housatonic River
WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Mashapaug Lake, Gardner Lake, Coventry Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir and Squantz Pond.
TROUT
Rivers & streams – With good flows and moderate temperatures, conditions for trout fishing should be great for the Labor Day weekend. As we move into late summer, it’s time for trout anglers to include terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington, Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers.
Farmington River – Anglers can look forward to even more fish in the river as DEP HAS STOCKED 2,400 TROUT for the Holiday weekend.
These fish are most 14-16 inch brown trout, with a few 12-14 inch rainbow trout mixed in. These fish were released into the West Branch from just above the TMA to the Goodwin (Hogback) Dam.
West Branch flows are currently clear and at fishable levels (360 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 30 cfs from the Still River). West Branch TMA water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. Hatches/patterns include the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-32, morning) followed by the White Fly (Ephoron leukon, #12-14, dawn & dusk). The remaining bugs consist of Ephemerella needhami (#20-26, early morning to early afternoon in Riverton), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #14-16, evenings), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).
Advance notice: DEP currently is planning to conduct its annual electrofishing survey of the river from September 9th through 11th. Anglers should expect West Branch flows to drop to 100 cfs or less beginning late September 8th and lasting through at least the 11th.
Housatonic River – Conditions for trout fishing should be great for the Labor Day weekend! Flows are clear and very fishable, currently 365 cfs at Falls Village and 445 cfs at Gaylordsville, and temperatures remain relatively mild (morning water temperatures are currently in the low to mid 60’s °F. Successful patterns include Leadwing Coachman (#10-12, main evening hatch), White Wulff (#10-12), Sulfurs (#16 dusk/dark), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds – Late summer trout fishing is generally fair, with best reports from East Twin Lake, Wonoscopomuc Lake and Crystal Lake, and slower fishing reported from West Hill Pond, Beach Pond and Highland Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER –
CATFISH (6-10 lb range) angling remains good from Hartford to Middletown, cut bait (chunking) near brush piles and other structure near deep holes.
Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves in the Hartford-Middletown area and in the lower river along weed lines. Recent catches include a number of 3-4 lb bass.
STRIPED BASS action is fair to good(mostly schoolies) in the lower river on tube & worm as well as on cut bait.
NORTHERN PIKE action is variable.
FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION
•
The state boat launch on the THAMES RIVER in New London has reopened to the public following renovations.
•
The newly renovated LAKE WARAMAUG Town Boat Launch in Washington is open for use by the general public. Seven parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis at the new launch. Additionally, up to thirteen trailered boats from the nearby campground at Lake Waramaug State Park will be allowed to access the lake from the Town launch (the park will have 13 “eligibility certificates” available to issue to campers, issued on a first-come –first served basis).
The Town charges a $25 annual fee to launch (same fee for resident and nonresidents). All boats will be inspected for invasive plants and subjected to a $5 per launch inspection fee. The launch and inspection fees can be paid at the boat launch.
The hours of operation through Labor Day are:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - 6 AM to Sunset
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 10 AM to 5 PM
From Labor Day to the last Sunday in October, the launch will be open three days a week (Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays) for morning (6 am to 11 am) and late afternoon/evening (4 pm to sunset) periods of operation.
•
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 currently closed to all public access.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) range from the upper 60’s to low 70’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 good to excellent on the local reefs especially during the night. Again, live bait is the ticket for scoring on trophy sized linesiders. Also, schoolie fishing is pretty good in the tidal rivers. Striped bass spots include the rocky reefs between Watch Hill and eastern Fishers Island, Napatree Point to Sandy Point (Stonington), Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, outer humps off Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs off Norwalk, the Cows off Stamford, and Greenwich Harbor.
BLUEFISH fishing is good to excellent throughout LIS. The Race is the usual hot spot especially in the early morning. Other chopper spots include Wilderness Point (south shore of Fishers Island), Thames River, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Charles Island area, Buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford/Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, around the Norwalk Islands, Cable and Anchor Reef. Snapper fishing is fair to good.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair to good in the Niantic River and the Connecticut River.
SCUP (porgy) fishing remains good to excellent on the local rocky reefs.
BONITO have been spotted off the Watch Hill area, Bluff Point, Pine Island and Little Gull Island.
The SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing season’s last day is September 1 (closed September 2-May 23) so time is dwindling down!
The TAUTOG (blackfish) season is also closed from September 1- September 30.
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
www.ct.gov/dep