NB Hearld, B Salerno 7/1/05

1. Trout River Fishing: Best fishing is reported from Farmington, Housatonic, Willimantic, Natchaug, Naugatuck Scantic, Salmon, Quinnipiac, Pootatuck, Mill and Saugatuck rivers. Hatches include Blue Wing Olives, Midges, caddis, and pale evening duns.
2. Lake fishing is reported good to excellent at Candlewood Lake, Lake McDonough, Lake Saltonstall, Wonoscopomuc , Amos, Rogers, Cedar, Highland, Maltby, East Twin, Crystal Lakes, Beach Pond and West Hill Pond. Largemouth bass fishing is reported good from Lake Lillinonah, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Amos Mashapaug, Cedar, Highland, Rogers, Quonnipaug, Silver, Congamond, Coventry, Bashan and Bantam Lakes and Beach Pond.
3. In saltwater bluefish dominate catches throughout the Sound and in Rhode Island waters. Striper fishing remains good for schoolies in the tidal rivers. Larger "cows" in the 40-plus inch range are on the reefs and tidal rips. Dawn and evening hours are the best times to go. 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, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Penfield Reef, the Norwalk Islands, and the Cows off Stamford.
4. Summer Flounder fishing has improved on the Connecticut side in Fishers Island Sound off Stonington and the mouth of the Mystic River, Niantic Bay, Soundview Beach, Westbrook area and New Haven Harbor.
5. Anglers fishing New York waters including Montauk Pt., Peconic Bay, Gardiners Bay, Mattituck area and Eatons Neck Point are still bringing in doormats with some weighing in the double digits.