Conn Post, Frank McKane 6/11

1. Summer arrived this week in full force. This sudden weather change had a profound effect on the state's fisheries, especially when it comes to fluke. Also, saltwater anglers have been enjoying striped bass, bluefish and weakfish. Fresh-water fishers scored well with largemouth bass, northern pike and trout.
2. Most of the better fluke action has come from the New York -side of Long Island Sound. Montauk Point, Peconic Bay, Gardiners Bay and the Mattituck area have been producing nice-sized doormats. Rick Filicko of Stratford traveled over to Port Jefferson last week, where he caught a 10.76-pound fluke. This fish now leads the annual "blackboard" contest at Stratford Bait & Tackle. Ed Forester of Milford also went across the Sound to bag a 10.12-pound fluke.
3. Closer to home, a few fluke have been coming from the New Haven Harbor channels that run between the breakwaters, around the eastern side of Charles Island and off Penfield Reef. Another week of good weather should also bring the fluke into Bridgeport Harbor, Pecks Ledge and the Middle Passage between Shea and Chimon islands off Norwalk. Bucktail jigs, Sea-Match Squid Rigs and baited spinner rigs are popular fluke lures.
4. Both striped bass and bluefish are cooperating in New Haven Harbor, off Bradley Point, Gulf Beach, along Long Beach, off all the fishing piers on the tidal Housatonic River, the eastern end of Seaside Park, Penfield Reef and Calf Pasture Beach. Those in boats are doing well with tube-n-worms, shad grubs, bucktail jigs, small 7-inch umbrella rigs and swimming plugs. Shoreline casters have had their best luck with mackerel chunks, wooden poppers, swimming spoons and small plugs, like Redfins, Lil' Mommas and Rat-L Traps.
5. Blackfish season will open Wednesday. Porgy season is closed until July 1.
   
6. You can fish the reefs for black sea bass with good results. Last week, Kelly Wallace of Stratford landed a 3.88-pound sea bass in New Haven Harbor.
7. Trout anglers reported mixed results last week. Some places seem devoid of fish while others continue to produce. The better trout fishing was found in the West Branch and Mainstem of the Farmington River, the Housatonic River Trout Management Areas, Ball Pond, Candlewood Lake, Wononscopomuc Lake, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake and Southford Falls State Park Pond. Kevin Dunnigan of Stratford opted to fish in the Trumbull section of the Pequonnock River. While drifting a mealworm, he hooked a 25-inch long rainbow trout.
8. Largemouth bass fishing is very good in the smaller ponds where the bass are wrapping up their spawning season. Some of the hottest bass fishing can be found in the Bantam River, Winnemaug Lake, Burr Pond, Moodus Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Mohawk Pond, Nells Rock Reservoir, Perry Mill Pond, Lake Housatonic and Wood Creek Pond.
9. Elsewhere, walleye fishing is good to excellent at Squantz Pond, Saugatuck Reservoir, Coventry Lake and Lake Saltonstall. Some nice northern pike are coming out of Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, the Connecticut River and Pachaug Pond. Crappie catches are reaching their spring peak in Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinonah and Candlewood Lake. Avid crappie anglers often report double-digit catches on tube lures, marabou jigs and tiny crankbaits.