Conn Post 4/28/06

1. Anglers did not fare well last week with the bad weather on the weekend and subsequent high water flows from rain run-off. But according to reports, those braving the situation did enjoy fishing for trout, largemouth bass, walleye, striped bass and blackfish.
2. Trout action this week was actually better than last week, thanks in part to the renewed stocking efforts by the state Department of Environmental Protection. This week hatchery trucks were to deliver fish to Baumer's Pond, Black Rock State Park Pond, Branch Brook, Bunnells Pond, Eight-Mile Brook, the Farmington River from Avon to Collinsville, Great Hollow Pond, Kent Falls, both the trout management srea and open section of the Mianus River, the Mill River in Sleeping Giant State Park, both the upper and lower sections of the Naugatuck River, Nepaug River, Norwalk River, the Pequonnock River in Beardsley Park, the Pequonnock River in the "Trumbull Valley," the Pootatuck River, Sandy Brook, both the fly-fishing-only and open sections of the Saugatuck River, Southford Falls State Park Pond, Starrett Pond, Lake Stibbs, Stratton Brook, Still River, Twin Brooks Park Ponds, West Hill Pond, Wharton Brook State Park Pond and Wononscopomuc Lake.
3. Other locations consistently giving up trout are the trout management area on the West Branch of the Farmington River, Bantam River, the Salmon River TMA, Pequabuck River, Chatfield Hollow Trout Park Pond, Lake Saltonstall, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, East Twin Lake, West Side Pond, Black Pond, Ball Pond, the Saugatuck Reservoir and Colebrook Reservoir.
4. Largemouth bass angling has been very good because of the early spring weather. These fish have been hitting live minnows, suspending jerkbaits and tube lures. Small spinnerbaits also work well as Dawn Shewchuk, formerly of Naugatuck, expertly demonstrated last week while practicing for the upcoming "SF" tournament. She caught two bass and a pickerel on a small pond in Torrington. Some of the best bass action has come from Crystal Lake, Bantam Lake, Highland Lake, Gardner Lake, East Twin Lake, Candlewood Lake, Hatch Pond, Ball Pond, Long Meadow Pond, Rogers Lake, Nells Rock Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall and Moodus Reservoir.
5. Walleye fishing is steadily improving. According to Bill Hyatt, director of Inland Fisheries for the DEP, at least one walleye exceeding the state record has been electro-shocked in Squantz Pond during a recent biological survey. Along with Squantz Pond, Lake Saltonstall has the potential to produce a walleye that can eclipse the record. You may also catch walleye in Coventry Lake, Lake Housatonic and Gardner Lake.
6. Striped bass fishing in the tidal rivers is good to excellent. Most of the fish are well below the 28-inch size minimum. The norm has been 18 to 22 inches. Your best fun will come from the lower Pawcatuck River, Connecticut River south of Great Island, Sandy Point in West Haven, the Housatonic River between I-95 and the Derby Dam, Southport Harbor and Greenwich Harbor. Casting spoons, swimming plugs, bucktail jigs and soft-plastic herring all work well.
7. Blackfish are getting easier to find on the breakwaters and rock piles between Norwalk and Milford. But anglers are reminded that the blackfish season will be closed May 1-June 14. Flounder fishing is spotty at best with a few wayward fish being caught off Bluff Point, Pine Island, and in Norwalk Harbor. [FRANK MCKANE JR. ]