FISHING REPORT NUMBER 22: 9/18/2008
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing remains variable, with good reports from Messerschmidt Pond, Mudge Pond, Park Pond, Hatch Pond, Pattaconk Lake and Amos Lake. Fishing is reported as fair at Lower Bolton Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Highland Lake (catches include a 5 lb bass), Wyassup Lake, Mashapaug Lake (try in 15-25 feet of water) and Crystal Lake (Ellington), and slow at Bantam Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake, Long Pond and Pachaug Pond. Mixed reports from Glasgo Pond, Lake Waramaug, Red Cedar Lake, Halls Pond and Uncas pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS also continues to be variable, with good reports from Candlewood Lake (including several 4 lb smallies), fair reports from Highland Lake and Bashan Lake, mixed reports from Mashapaug Lake, Wyassup Lake, Bashan Lake and Coventry Lake, and slow at Squantz Pond.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be fair, with reports from Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond and Lake Lillinonah, as the temperatures cool, fish are showing up in the shallows.
WALLEYE action is fair, with best reports from Saugatuck Reservoir, some action also reported from Mashapaug Lake, Squantz Pond and Coventry Lake.
KOKANEE are still showing up at West Hill Pond where anglers are being treated with fish coming into their spawning colors.
BLACK CRAPPIE are being caught on small shiners at Saugatuck Reservoir, Silver Lake (Berlin) and Park Pond.
TROUT
Fall Trout Stocking update- This week, DEP stocked a total of 1,600 brown trout (all greater than 12 inches) into the Housatonic River (1,200 into the Housatonic River TMA, and 400 into the Bull’s Bridge TMA). These stockings were intended to enhance the population of large trout on the river, which recent DEP sampling found to be at low levels, possibly due to last year’s extreme conditions. Additionally, the Kent Falls Trout Park and the East Aspetuck River were stocked with a total of 1,000 rainbow trout.
Rivers & streams – Conditions for early fall trout fishing should be good in most areas throughout the state, with cool temperatures and moderate flows. Anglers should be switching over to streamers and terrestrial fly patterns as many hatches typically begin to wind down in September. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington, Housatonic and Mill (Fairfield) Rivers.
West Branch flows are clear and quite fishable, currently 220 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 90 cfs from the Still River. Farther downstream, the East Branch is adding another 100 cfs (due to water level management of Lake McDonough). Water temperatures are in the low 60’s°F. Due to high flows last week, DEP’s annual electrofishing survey was again postponed a week and is now scheduled to occur on September 23rd through 25th. Anglers should expect West Branch flows to drop to 100 cfs or less (50 cfs at Riverton, plus natural flow from the Still River) beginning late September 22nd and lasting through the 25th.
The Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-28, 7:00am-10:00am), hatch is winding down but can be found from about 7am to 10:00 am in the Riverton area. Other bugs include Isonychia bicolor (major hatch, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), tiny Rusty Spinners (#18-26), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps., #22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to lower temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #18-22, evening), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Flying Page 1 of 3
Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid) & Stone Hopper (#8-14, mid day). Early morning is good for nymphing.
Housatonic River – Conditions should be very good for early fall trout fishing, temperatures are moderate (low 60’s°F, mornings) and flows are clear, fishable (currently 750 cfs at Falls Village and 1,210 cfs at Gaylordsville) and should continue to drop through the weekend. Hatches/patterns include Fall Sulfurs (#16), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening, September is peak month), Rusty Spinner (#10-24), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#20-24, overcast afternoons; spinner fall in evening) and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening).Try Black Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#12-20, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#14-20, mid day, when windy/humid, September is peek month). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds – Fair to good early fall fishing reported from East Twin Lake (including a 24” brown), Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Lake Wononscopomuc. Also, some action reported from Candlewood Lake, and slow fishing reported from Highland Lake and Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – CARP fishing has been excellent with over 70 fine specimens were caught-and-released at a recent event in Hartford. The heaviest fish weighed in at 28.9 lbs. Try your hand catching these locomotives, any fish that takes 20 minutes to land is a “must try”. With hickory shad present, STRIPED BASS action is good in the lower river.
Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves from Wethersfield down to Essex (including some catches in the 2-3 lb range). Anglers are having to work for their catches.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing reported as fair north of Hartford (Enfield area, and near the mouth of the Farmington River) and south of Hartford in the Middletown area. Few reports in for NORTHERN PIKE, some action from Rocky Hill to Haddam Meadows. Early fall CATFISH (up to 10 lbs) angling is good.
FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION
DEP has been informed that public access to ALEXANDER LAKE is no longer available.
Boat rental operations at LAKE SALTONSTALL have closed for the year. Since July, the lake has been drawn down over 5 feet to facilitate planned work includes construction of a new concrete spillway, inlets and earth embankment, and the low water levels have made boat launching and retrieval difficult and at times, hazardous. Also due to the draw down, shore fishing access is restricted to the fishing dock.
A three-foot draw down of LAKE HOUSATONIC is currently scheduled for the weekend of September 27th & 28th.
•
The “seawall” area extending from the handicap-accessable fishing pier to the permitted swim area at SQUANTZ POND is now open to fishing. Anyone with a fishing pole can now access the fence through the several gates. Anglers can also enter the water in that area (except for the one area posted “no trespassing”).
•
The LAKE WARAMAUG Town Boat Launch in Washington remains open for use by the general public through 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. Seven parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis at the 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 Town charges a $25 annual fee to launch and all boats will be inspected for invasive plants ($5 per launch inspection fee). All town fees can be paid at the boat launch.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in 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/...tml[/size][/#006699][size 2]
http://marine.rutgers.edu/...s=1[/size][/#006699][size 2]
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/[/size][/#006699][size 2]
http://www.wunderground.com/...tml[/size][/#006699][size 2]
Remember to check the 2008 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
BUNKER (Atlantic menhaden) are pretty much all over the place along the coastline especially in tidal rivers. Bluefish are chasing bunker into areas with no escape route creating fish kills (a natural occurrence). This happens when bunker overcrowd in limited space creating hypoxic conditions (low oxygen levels in the water) and the fish subsequently die.
BLUEFISH and STRIPED BASS fishing remains good at the usual spots: The reefs off Watch Hill, Napatree Point to Sandy Point (Stonington), Mystic River, Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), Thames River, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, outer humps off Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Duck Island area, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island to Milford Point, Buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford/Bridgeport, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs off Norwalk, Cable and Anchor Reef, the Cows off Stamford, and Greenwich Harbor.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the Niantic River and the Connecticut River (DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier).
SCUP (porgy) fishing remains good to excellent with jumbos over 17 inches in length being reported!
Reports of ATLANTIC BONITO and LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) have been slim.
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 remains variable, with good reports from Messerschmidt Pond, Mudge Pond, Park Pond, Hatch Pond, Pattaconk Lake and Amos Lake. Fishing is reported as fair at Lower Bolton Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Highland Lake (catches include a 5 lb bass), Wyassup Lake, Mashapaug Lake (try in 15-25 feet of water) and Crystal Lake (Ellington), and slow at Bantam Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake, Long Pond and Pachaug Pond. Mixed reports from Glasgo Pond, Lake Waramaug, Red Cedar Lake, Halls Pond and Uncas pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS also continues to be variable, with good reports from Candlewood Lake (including several 4 lb smallies), fair reports from Highland Lake and Bashan Lake, mixed reports from Mashapaug Lake, Wyassup Lake, Bashan Lake and Coventry Lake, and slow at Squantz Pond.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be fair, with reports from Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond and Lake Lillinonah, as the temperatures cool, fish are showing up in the shallows.
WALLEYE action is fair, with best reports from Saugatuck Reservoir, some action also reported from Mashapaug Lake, Squantz Pond and Coventry Lake.
KOKANEE are still showing up at West Hill Pond where anglers are being treated with fish coming into their spawning colors.
BLACK CRAPPIE are being caught on small shiners at Saugatuck Reservoir, Silver Lake (Berlin) and Park Pond.
TROUT
Fall Trout Stocking update- This week, DEP stocked a total of 1,600 brown trout (all greater than 12 inches) into the Housatonic River (1,200 into the Housatonic River TMA, and 400 into the Bull’s Bridge TMA). These stockings were intended to enhance the population of large trout on the river, which recent DEP sampling found to be at low levels, possibly due to last year’s extreme conditions. Additionally, the Kent Falls Trout Park and the East Aspetuck River were stocked with a total of 1,000 rainbow trout.
Rivers & streams – Conditions for early fall trout fishing should be good in most areas throughout the state, with cool temperatures and moderate flows. Anglers should be switching over to streamers and terrestrial fly patterns as many hatches typically begin to wind down in September. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington, Housatonic and Mill (Fairfield) Rivers.
West Branch flows are clear and quite fishable, currently 220 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 90 cfs from the Still River. Farther downstream, the East Branch is adding another 100 cfs (due to water level management of Lake McDonough). Water temperatures are in the low 60’s°F. Due to high flows last week, DEP’s annual electrofishing survey was again postponed a week and is now scheduled to occur on September 23rd through 25th. Anglers should expect West Branch flows to drop to 100 cfs or less (50 cfs at Riverton, plus natural flow from the Still River) beginning late September 22nd and lasting through the 25th.
The Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-28, 7:00am-10:00am), hatch is winding down but can be found from about 7am to 10:00 am in the Riverton area. Other bugs include Isonychia bicolor (major hatch, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), tiny Rusty Spinners (#18-26), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps., #22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to lower temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #18-22, evening), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Flying Page 1 of 3
Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid) & Stone Hopper (#8-14, mid day). Early morning is good for nymphing.
Housatonic River – Conditions should be very good for early fall trout fishing, temperatures are moderate (low 60’s°F, mornings) and flows are clear, fishable (currently 750 cfs at Falls Village and 1,210 cfs at Gaylordsville) and should continue to drop through the weekend. Hatches/patterns include Fall Sulfurs (#16), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening, September is peak month), Rusty Spinner (#10-24), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#20-24, overcast afternoons; spinner fall in evening) and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening).Try Black Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#12-20, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#14-20, mid day, when windy/humid, September is peek month). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds – Fair to good early fall fishing reported from East Twin Lake (including a 24” brown), Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Lake Wononscopomuc. Also, some action reported from Candlewood Lake, and slow fishing reported from Highland Lake and Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – CARP fishing has been excellent with over 70 fine specimens were caught-and-released at a recent event in Hartford. The heaviest fish weighed in at 28.9 lbs. Try your hand catching these locomotives, any fish that takes 20 minutes to land is a “must try”. With hickory shad present, STRIPED BASS action is good in the lower river.
Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves from Wethersfield down to Essex (including some catches in the 2-3 lb range). Anglers are having to work for their catches.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing reported as fair north of Hartford (Enfield area, and near the mouth of the Farmington River) and south of Hartford in the Middletown area. Few reports in for NORTHERN PIKE, some action from Rocky Hill to Haddam Meadows. Early fall CATFISH (up to 10 lbs) angling is good.
FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION
DEP has been informed that public access to ALEXANDER LAKE is no longer available.
Boat rental operations at LAKE SALTONSTALL have closed for the year. Since July, the lake has been drawn down over 5 feet to facilitate planned work includes construction of a new concrete spillway, inlets and earth embankment, and the low water levels have made boat launching and retrieval difficult and at times, hazardous. Also due to the draw down, shore fishing access is restricted to the fishing dock.
A three-foot draw down of LAKE HOUSATONIC is currently scheduled for the weekend of September 27th & 28th.
•
The “seawall” area extending from the handicap-accessable fishing pier to the permitted swim area at SQUANTZ POND is now open to fishing. Anyone with a fishing pole can now access the fence through the several gates. Anglers can also enter the water in that area (except for the one area posted “no trespassing”).
•
The LAKE WARAMAUG Town Boat Launch in Washington remains open for use by the general public through 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. Seven parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis at the 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 Town charges a $25 annual fee to launch and all boats will be inspected for invasive plants ($5 per launch inspection fee). All town fees can be paid at the boat launch.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in 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/...tml[/size][/#006699][size 2]
http://marine.rutgers.edu/...s=1[/size][/#006699][size 2]
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/[/size][/#006699][size 2]
http://www.wunderground.com/...tml[/size][/#006699][size 2]
Remember to check the 2008 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
BUNKER (Atlantic menhaden) are pretty much all over the place along the coastline especially in tidal rivers. Bluefish are chasing bunker into areas with no escape route creating fish kills (a natural occurrence). This happens when bunker overcrowd in limited space creating hypoxic conditions (low oxygen levels in the water) and the fish subsequently die.
BLUEFISH and STRIPED BASS fishing remains good at the usual spots: The reefs off Watch Hill, Napatree Point to Sandy Point (Stonington), Mystic River, Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), Thames River, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, outer humps off Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Duck Island area, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island to Milford Point, Buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford/Bridgeport, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs off Norwalk, Cable and Anchor Reef, the Cows off Stamford, and Greenwich Harbor.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the Niantic River and the Connecticut River (DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier).
SCUP (porgy) fishing remains good to excellent with jumbos over 17 inches in length being reported!
Reports of ATLANTIC BONITO and LITTLE TUNNY (false albacore) have been slim.
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