CT DEP: 10/31/05 - Weekly Fishing Report

INLAND REPORT:

• ATLANTIC SALMON: Wiith fishable flows and more salmon in the water, anglers are beginning to report catches (especially from the Naugatuck River). No really big salmon yet. DEP stocked the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers twice this week, with each river receiving a total of 400 broodstock Atlantic salmon. The salmon released this week are from the federal hatchery in Vermont, and typically weigh 5-6 pounds each. These stockings bring the number of salmon stocked this fall up to 1,087 fish. 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 remains variable, with reports from Wonoscopomuc Lake (good, including 3 trout over 7 lbs on the last day of the season), Great Hollow Pond (fair including a nice 15 rainbow), Crystal Lake (slow), Hogback Reservoir (some nice browns reported), Highland Lake (mixed reports, best in Second Bay, about 15 feet) and Beach Pond (good).
• TROUT:RIVERS & STREAMS -With flows in most areas at more fishable levels, this weekend is a good time to get out and enjoy some late fall trout action. Anglers last weekend had mixed results with reports from the Scantic River (several nice rainbow), West Branch Farmington TMA (good, 20 browns for one pair, 22 for another group, also some nice rainbow) and Salmon River (slow, some nice rainbows). Anglers are also finding nice catches of beautifully colored brook trout from some of the wild trout streams. Streamers and nymphing are the way to go in the fall and best during the early morning and late evening. For streamers try white, yellow & brown colors. Patterns to try include Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). For nymphs, Bottom bounce with Caddis pupa (#14-16), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) and Hares ear (#8-20).
• Farmington River- West Branch morning water temperatures are around 50F. West Branch flows are clear, quite fishable and only somewhat high, about 430 cfs from Hogback to Riverton and about 600 cfs below the confluence of the Still River. Current hatches include Blue Wing Olives (#16-20, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18; winter #18-22, winter pupa #16-20 morning), Midges (#22-32), Black Ants (#14-20). Nows the time for streamers.
• Housatonic River- Morning water temperatures in the TMA are in the upper 40s Flows are high, but clearing and dropping, currently about 1,650 cfs at Falls Village and 2,800 cfs at Gaylordsville. The river should be quite fishable this weekend! Time for Blue Wing Olives (#18-22), Black Caddis (#16-20), streamers and nymphs.
• LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing continues to be variable, ranging from slow to good, with reports for LARGEMOUTH from Bantam (good- including a 6.98 lb bass), Lake Saltonstall (8 bass in the 3-6 lb range for one angler in the last two weeks), Amos Lake (good), Hatch Pond (good action, no big fish), Billings Lake (good, including a 6-lb bass), Highland (slow), Pierrepont Pond (good), Mudge Pond (slow), Crystal Lake (fair), Rogers Lake (slow) and Pachaug Pond (fair). SMALLMOUTH reports are from Gardner Lake (fair), Highland Lake (generally good, several 3-plus lb smallies among the catches) and Candlewood Lake (fair).
• Chain pickerel catches from Amos Lake, Lake Wonoscopomuc (now closed) and Lake McDonough
• Good WALLEYE action at Squantz Pond (30, 9.6 lb and 10.8 lb fish among the catches) and Lake Saltonstall (including a 8.9 lb 28.5 beauty).
• NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Hamilton Reservoir (37) and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (10 lb, 38 pike). With Connecticut River flows returning to safe and fishable levels, pike action should be picking up (pike action is typically good in late fall on the river).
• MARINE REPORT Striped bass: The water temperature in Long Island Sound (LIS) ranges from the mid to high 50s Now is time for the three Bs, BLACKFISH, BLUEFISH, and BASS BLUEFISH fishing is excellent, about near peak in LIS.
• STRIPED BASS fishing is also in high gear as the fall migration continues and should only get better as water temperatures drop and bluefish move out of LIS. STRIPER and BLUEFISH 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, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Madison and Branford, Milford Harbor breakwaters to Charles Island, Milford Point area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Penfield Reef, Compo Beach, the Norwalk Islands, and Greenwich Point.
• SCHOOLIE STRIPER action remains good in the tidal rivers along with HICKORY SHAD.
• BLACKFISH (tautog) fishing remains hot and heavy on the major reefs and should continue well into November as long as the weather holds out.
• LITTLE TUNNY and ATLANTIC BONITO fishing is hit or miss. The usual inshore tuna spots include Plum Gut, the Sluiceway, the Race, Pine Island area off the Thames River, Millstone Point and Pleasure Beach in Waterford, and Hatchett Reef.
• PLEASE NOTE: SCUP FISHING CLOSED NOVEMBER 1ST