CT DEP: 10/24/05 - Weekly Fishing Report

• ATLANTIC SALMON:This weeks planned stocking of the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers with 400 Atlantic salmon from the federal hatchery in Vermont was postponed due to poor weather. DEP now plans to stock these fish early next week. There is also a possibility that an additional 400 salmon from the federal hatchery may also be stocked later next week. These salmon will typically weigh 5-6 pounds each. DEP currently expects to stock the first group of spawned salmon from its Kensington Hatchery during the week of November 7th.
• Reminder - Anglers are reminded that catch-and- release fishing is in effect through November 30, 2005. From December 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006, anglers may keep one fish per day. Fishing for Atlantic salmon is limited to use of single-fly or lure with a single free-swinging hook.
• TROUT :LAKES & PONDS Trout fishing is variable, with reports from Wonoscopomuc Lake (fair, reminder: lake closes October 31st), Amos Lake (slow), Highland Lake (slow), East Twin Lake (mixed reports), Beach Pond (good), West Hill Pond and Great Hollow Pond (fair).
• RIVERS & STREAMS - Fluctuating flows during the past several weeks have led to highly variable trout fishing, with anglers reporting some periods of good fishing in a number of rivers and streams including the Mill (TMA, 25 trout for one angler), West Branch Farmington (TMA), Saugatuck, Pomperaug, Farmill, Salmon, Pootatuck, Norwalk and� Pequonock Rivers and Salmon Brook (36 brook trout). Thanks to Tuesday�s rains, flows are again high (but currently dropping) in many rivers and streams. As flows again recede anglers using streamers or nymphing should have success (especially during the early morning and late evening). For streamers try white, yellow and brown colors. Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Nymphs include Caddis pupa (#14-16), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) and Hare�s ear (#8-20).
• Farmington River - West Branch flows are stained and currently high, with about 410 cfs from Hogback to Riverton and about 1,100 cfs below the confluence of the Still River. Inflows from the Still should continue to decrease, making the river more fishable by this weekend. Patterns that had been working include Blue Wing Olives and Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning).
• Housatonic River - The river is currently unfishable due to very high flows, about 5,300 cfs at Falls Village and about 8,800 cfs at Gaylordsville (flows are beginning to drop, and the river may be somewhat fishable by late this weekend or early next week). The water temperature is about 46�F at Falls Village.
• LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing continues to be variable, ranging from slow to good, with reports for largemouth from Lake Zoar (slow), Candlewood (fair, but still tough for some anglers, a 6.7 lb bass among the catches), Maltby Lakes (good), Highland Lake (very mixed reports, mostly slow but a 7.9 lb bass among the catches), East Twin Lake (slow), Rogers Lake (mixed reports), Bantam Lake (good), and Batterson Park, Long, Hatch (slow), Mudge (4.3 lb bass), Bigelow (slow although one nice 4 lb bass) and Pachaug Ponds. Limited action for smallmouth bass reported from Candlewood Lake, Squantz Pond and Highland Lake.
• WALLEYE action reported from Saugatuck Reservoir (6 fish up for one angler including a 7-pounder), Lake Saltonstall (7 fish up including a 7.75 lb beauty), Beach Pond and Squantz Pond (5 fish up to 25.5").
• YELLOW PERCH action reported from Beach Pond, Maltby Lakes and Tyler Lake.
• A nice 16 BLACK CRAPPIE was caught by Steve Craig (Plainfield) at Beach Pond.
• In the lull between rain and high flow events, fishing for NORTHERN PIKE was reported to be good in the Haddam Meadows area of the Connecticut River.
• MARINE REPORT The water temperature in Long Island Sound (LIS) ranges from the high 50s to low 60s
• Still a lot of BLUEFISH throughout LIS making it tough for anglers seeking STRIPERS. Bluefish fishing will remain good untilwater temperatures drop into the lower 50s F. Schoolie striper action can be found in the Thames, Niantic, Connecticut, and Housatonic Rivers. Other spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef, the Race, Plum Gut, Millstone Point, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, the humps south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Connecticut River breakwater to White Sands Beach, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Madison and Branford, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor breakwaters to Charles Island and Milford Point area, Penfield Reef, the Norwalk Islands, and Stamford Harbor.
• SCUP (porgies) fishing is good but time is dwindling down as the fishery closes November 1.
• BLACKFISH (tautog) fishing continues to heat up on the major reefs and should continue until water temperatures chill to the mid to upper 40s
• HICKORY SHAD fishing remains good in the Mystic River (Noank), Niantic River, Connecticut River, Clinton Harbor and the East River (Guilford).
• LITTLE TUNNY and ATLANTIC BONITO fishing is hit or miss. Plum Gut, the Sluiceway, the Race, Pine Island area off the Thames River, Millstone Point and Pleasure Beach in Waterford, Hatchett Reef, and Long Sand Shoal are spots worth trying.