Conn Post 12/23/05

1. Ice-fishing season has finally arrived. The frigid night temperatures have thickened the ice significantly over the past week. Some ponds in the northwestern corner of the state have ice thicknesses upwards of eight inches. Many of the more southerly ponds have coatings of three to six inches. Do not attempt to ice fish on the ponds along the coast.
   Anglers must use some common sense when ice fishing during the early season. Wise anglers are avoiding the larger lakes as the safer ice is mainly found on those ponds less than 200 acres. Safe ice can be found on some of the larger lakes, but it is confined to the coves and backwater areas. Use I-84 as the safety demarcation line. Ponds north of this highway are safe to fish. Ponds south of this highway require reconnaissance. Always check on the ice thickness by conferring with other ice anglers.
2. The wind and last week's ice storm blew and flushed the snow off the ice. Any snow still on the ice may indicate a wet spot. Avoid these snow patches as they could hide weak ice. Also, because of the snow-less ice, walking across the clean pond surface can be treacherous. Add cleats or spikes to your winter boots before heading off ice fishing.
   Last fall, the state Department of Environmental Protection stocked a score of lakes and ponds with trout. Most of these stocked lakes are now frozen where ice anglers are catching both brown trout and rainbow trout. Look for the trout in Black Rock State Park Pond, Black Pond, Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake, Mohawk Pond, Mount Tom Pond, Stillwater Pond, Tyler Pond, West Hill Pond, Highland Lake and West Side Pond.
   
3. Largemouth bass enthusiasts should have good luck ice fishing at Ball Pond, Lake Kenosia, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Hatch Pond, Highland Lake, Congamond Lake, Silver Lake, Beseck Lake, Black Pond, North Farms Reservoir, Long Meadow Pond, Bantam Lake, Dog Pond, West Twin Lake, Mudge Pond, Park Pond, Winchester Lake and Wood Creek Pond.
   
4. Pickerel and yellow perch are always cooperative during the winter season. Both fish can be found together in Highland Lake, Tyler Pond, Waramaug Lake, West Side Pond, West Twin Lake and Winchester Lake. Northern pike, a close cousin to the pickerel, are available in Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Bantam Lake.
   Two other noteworthy ice-fishing spots are Kettletown State Park Cove on Lake Zoar and Mamanasco Lake. Both spots are giving up large numbers of crappie, yellow perch and bluegills. Largemouth bass and few pickerel have also tripped tip-ups in Mamanasco Lake.
   
5. Many anglers travel to New Hampshire for ice-fishing weekends. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department changed several ice fishing regulations this season. Any angler using a bobhouse or ice shanty must display 12 square inches of reflective material on the outside of each wall. This rule applies to all portable shelters. Also, anglers face new daily creel limits of 25 fish for yellow perch, horned pout (bullhead), white perch, black crappie and all sunfish species, with a 50-fish aggregate daily possession limit for all these above species combined. [ FRANK MCKANE JR. ]