DEP Weekly 4/19/06

1. INLAND REPORT: Angler reports on Opening Day weekend varied from slow to excellent. All reports indicate that the Trout Parks (stocked every 7-10 days) provide an exceptional family fishing experience. Six of the Trout Parks were stocked fish on Opening Day and children were invited to help stock trout and they really enjoyed it. DEP staff were on site at many of the Trout Parks to answer questions and they report that family participation at Trout Parks continues to increase.
2. DEP recommends fishing spots for children and families. Locations to try for good trout fishing include: Angus Park Pond (Glastonbury), Baummer’s Pond (Naugatuck), Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport- a new addition to the trout stocking schedule), and the Chatfield Hollow, Stratton Brook, Black Rock Pond, Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond) Horse Pond, Southford Falls, Wharton Brook, Kent Falls, Sleeping Giant (Mill River-Hamden) and Natchaug River Trout Parks.
3. TROUT: Rivers & streams - There are plenty of trout in the water and there have been reports of trout up to 24 .Most anglers are having success using earthworms or mealworms and corn. Good fishing reported from the TMA’s on the Housatonic, West Branch-Farmington, Mianus and Willimantic Rivers, the Mill, Farm (22 rainbow), Norwalk, Natchaug, Quinnipiac, Fenton, Coginchaug, Salmon, Farmill (8.5 lbs. brown), Naugatuck, Saugatuck and Bantam Rivers, Dickenson Brook and Stratton Brook.
4. Farmington River - Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40’s, with clear flows of 139 CFS (Riverton) and an additional 59 CFS from the Still River. Successful fly anglers are using Blue Wing Olive (#16-18), Hendricksons (#12-14), Winter Caddis (#16-20), Midges (#20-28) and a variety of nymphs.
5. Housatonic River – The morning water temperature is 57°F (TMA area) with 685 CFS of clearing flows at Falls Village. Hendrickson (#12-14), Midges (#20-28) and black/brown stoneflies (#12-16) are the current hatches. With the warmer temperatures more bugs will start to show up.
6. Anglers Can Expect Good Fishing At: the Pachaug, Green Falls, Hammonasset (including TMA), Salmon, (including TMA), Scantic, Shetucket, Still (Eastford), Willimantic, Yantic (including the TMA), Farmington (West Branch TMA), Housatonic (including both TMA’s), Mill and Pequabuck (Rockwell Park - Blvd. area) Rivers, Beaver, Bigelow, Kent Falls (Trout Park), Chatfield Hollow (Trout Park), Hunts, Indiantown, Mount Misery, Myron Kinnie, Shunock, Roaring (Stafford) and Susquetonscut Brooks.
7. Lakes & Ponds – Good fishing and some excellent fish were found in many lakes/ponds throughout Connecticut including the Great Hollow, Stratton Brook, Black Rock, Chatfield Hollow and Wharton Brook Trout Parks, Lake Saltonstall, Lake McDonough, Highland (8 lbs. brown), Rogers, Coventry, Gardner, Crystal (Ellington), Cedar, Mashapaug (6 lbs. brown), Candlewood and East Twin (23 brown trout) Lakes, Valley Falls, Saint Martha’s, Bigelow, West Side, West Hill, Black (Meriden) and Ball Ponds, Saugatuck Reservoir and Colebrook Reservoir.
8. Anglers Can Expect Good Fishing At: Black (Woodstock), Broad Brook Mill, Hewitt Fly, Horse, Paine, Schreeder (Chatfield Hollow TP) and Saw Mill Ponds, Green Falls Reservoir and Scoville Reservoir.
9. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is good due to above normal water temperatures. Good bass fishing is reported at Crystal (Ellington), Highland, Coventry (6.8 lb bass), Gardner, Waramaug, East Twin, Candlewood and Mashapaug Lakes, Hatch (44 fish for two anglers), Pachaug, Ball (7.5 lb bass) and Beach (7.7 lb bass) Ponds and Moodus Reservoir (7 lb bass).
10. WALLEYE are being taken at from Coventry Lake and Lake Saltonstall (2 over 6 lbs.).
11. Connecticut River – STRIPED BASS are throughout the river up to Windsor, Ct. School size (16-25 ) fish and adults up to 40 (lower river) are showing up. A reminder to anglers that an Inland fishing license is required to fish in the CT River north of the interstate route 95 bridge in Old Lyme/Old Saybrook. Sand and blood worms work best in early season stained water.
12. SHAD are just beginning to show up in the Connecticut waters. NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Wethersfield Cove, and downstream from Hartford to Haddam (smaller fish).
13. NOTES: Due to low water levels, launching from the state boat launches at Quaddick Reservoir and Beseck Lake may be difficult (at best).
14. STRIPED BASS fishing in the tidal rivers is good to excellent for schoolies. The Pawcatuck River, Thames River up to Norwich Harbor, Connecticut River by Great Island, Sandy Point area in New Haven Harbor, Housatonic River from the Devon power plant to the Derby Dam are the places to fish. Kastmasters,Hopkins spoons, swimming plugs, bucktail jigs and soft bodied jigs all work well.
15. WINTER FLOUNDER fishing is iffy at best. Flounder spots include Bluff Point, Pine Island area, the Brothers, and Norwalk Harbor but don’t expect much.
16. BLACKFISH should be getting more active on the local rock piles as water temperatures warm up.