Conn Post 5/13/05

• Many anglers appear to be missing out on some the season's best fishing. Recent trips to the stocked rivers and ponds showed few anglers were out enjoying the nice weather and good fisheries. Those venturing out found plenty of trout, largemouth bass and striped bass available for the asking.
• Jack Ready of Stratford didn't stay home last week. He took a trip to the trophy trout park within the Pequonnock River Valley in Trumbull. Success came quickly when he caught a walloping 9.46-pound rainbow trout. According to Stratford Bait & Tackle, the big trout hit on a yellow Rooster Tail. Tom Taylor of Fairfield scored big at the Saugatuck Reservoir with a 6.10-pound Seeforellen brown trout. This fish hit on a live minnow.
• The state Department of Environmental Protection set a busy stocking schedule this past week. Trout-stocking trucks visited the lower Farmington River Trout Management Area, the Farmington River between Route 4 and Route 177, Muddy River, Quinnipiac River, Pickett's Pond, Stillwater Pond, the east and west branches of the Naugatuck River, Hall Meadow Pond, Lake McDonough, Colebrook Reservoir, Prospect Town Park Pond, Far Mill River, Nells Rock Reservoir, Stratton Brook State Park Pond, Hop Brook, Upper Fulton Park Pond, Black Rock State Park Pond, Kent Falls Brook and Southford Falls State Park Pond. They also visited Lake Winfield, the Farmington River from the Goodwin Dam to Route 20 and from Route 20 to the West Branch Trout Management Area, Wharton Brook State Park Pond, the entire Pequonnock River, Great Hollow Pond, Mill River in Hamden, Norwalk River, Mad River Flood Control Impoundment, Mad River, Sandy Brook and Still River.
• Largemouth bass angling also is highly rated with great reports coming from East Twin Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Highland Lake, Ball Pond, Hatch Pond, Mudge Pond, Halls Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, Lake Saltonstall, Candlewood Lake, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake and Beach Pond, which, according to the DEP, gave up a 9.1-pound largemouth bass last week.
• Anglers fishing Candlewood Lake should be aware that boat launching may be difficult at the Lattins Cove State Boat Ramp because of low water levels. Use the Squantz Cove State Boat Ramp or the ramp at the Danbury Beach.