Herald, Bob Salereno 6/17/05

1. June is a time of stabilization for both the fish and the fisherman. The fishing season is now in full swing for trout, large and smallmouth bass, migratory stripers, bluefish, shad and summer flounder. The weather has stabilized allowing anglers to fish in less bulky clothing. Water temperature has reached the upper fifties driving most species to a consistent feeding pattern. Spring runoff is no longer swelling rivers and streams over banks.
2. The stocked trout that survived the early season onslaught have now settled into comfortable lies that allow for a steady food source and protection from predators. Newly stocked fish adapt much faster with little or no shock to their system. Aquatic insects such as caddis and stoneflies tend to be active throughout the day providing fly fishermen with reliable action. Consistent evening hatches bring up some of the bigger trout adding to the dry fly experience. Stream or lake fishermen that are willing to put in some time after dark on warm June evenings are often rewarded with a bragging size trout. Warming temperatures and increased daylight drive bass and sunfish into the deeper structure filled water, challenging even the most knowledgeable anglers.
3. In the briny, stripers lead the way as the most sought after gamefish. June brings the peak of the large striper migration. The best opportunity for a novice as well as experienced anglers to hook a big bass happens during this special month. The big fish are attracted inshore by the immense populations of sand eels that are in spawning and hatching cycles. The new and full moons of June trigger reproductive activity in this baitfish luring stripers to the sandbars and sloughs off beaches and in shallow bays and salt ponds. This feeding frenzy takes place on both sides of the new and full moons of the month. During the low light hours (dawn and dusk) and overcast days stripers will herd sand eels into the shallows. Look for tailing and finning bass as stripers tend to gorge themselves on the bait in a subtle relaxed manner, not the explosive tail slapping activity often associated with feeding bass.
4. Bluefish also are attracted to the same areas and baits at this time of the season and like bass, are notorious for early morning blitzes. The difference is that bass prefer to feed on the surface during times of low light and bluefish like it best after the sun rises.
5. In the later part of the month baby bunker move into southern New England waters creating a bigger menu for stripers, summer flounder and bluefish, and another challenge for anglers trying to match the bait.
6. June is also a good time for quality fluke fishing. Traditional fluking waters are the South side of Fishers Island, the flats from Stonington to Napatree, off the Mystic River, Groton Long Point, Harkness and Ocean Beach Parks. The Western Sound also produced noteworthy catches the last several years.
7. For the offshore enthusiast, June marks the start of the tuna and shark season for bluefin, porbeagles, makos and blues that are following the migrating schools of bluefish and mackerel.
8. June is a perfect month to get out on the water whether your preference is fresh or saltwater. For those of us that share an addiction to both trout and stripers the choice becomes more difficult. The only answer is to put yardwork and sleep on hold and bust out fishing as often as possible during this special time.
9. Fishing Report: Trout anglers are reporting good fishing in the Farmington, Housatonic, Willimantic, Natchaug, Naugatuck, Scantic, Salmon, Quinnipiac, Mill, and Saugatuck Rivers, and Lead Mine, Carse and Hop Brooks. Bait fisherman are finding the corn/mealworm combination the most productive. Fly fishermen report March Brown nymphs, Vitreus,Light Cahills, Isonychia, Gray Fox Blue Wing Olives and Caddis imitations are fooling trout on the Farmington River.
10. Many of our lakes are producing large fish. Expect peak action this week from Candlewood Lake where many 3-5 lbs. fish are appearing. Other good reports include Lake McDonough, Lake Saltonstall, Wonoscopomuc, Amos, Rogers, Cedar, Highland, East Twin and Crystal Lakes, Beach Pond and West Hill Pond.
11. Largemouth bass fishing is reported as good in many areas including Lake Lillinonah, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Amos, Mashapaug, Cedar, Highland,Rogers, Quonnipaug, Silver, Billings, Congamond, Coventry, Bashan and Bantam Lakes, Beach, and in the lower Housatonic River. Good action for Smallmouths are reported from Lake McDonough, Colebrook Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake, Highland Lake, and in the Housatonic River. Good walleye catches reported from Lake Saltonstall and Saugatuck Reservoir.
12. Striped bass fishing remains good for schoolies in the tidal rivers. Larger "cows" in the 40+inch range are on the reefs and tidal rips. Dawn and evening hours are the best times. Live lining eels and hickory shad are the choice baits along with trolling the tube and worm combo. Typical striper haunts include the reefs off Watch Hill to the eastern tip of Fishers Island, Ram Island Reef, the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef,Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island, the Norwalk Islands, and the Cows off Stamford.
13. Bluefish fishing is fairly consistent with choppers ranging in size from 3-9-pounds. Look for bluefish chasing and feeding on bait fish at the surface during early morning and dusk. Bluefish spots include the Race, warm water discharge at Millstone, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Niantic Bay, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, north rip off Falkner Island, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area to the entrance into Milford Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor and the Norwalk Islands.
14. Summer Flounder fishing has improved in Fishers Island Sound off Stonington and the mouth of the Mystic River, Niantic Bay, Soundview Beach, Westbrook area, and New Haven Harbor.