CT DEP Weekly 6/3/06

1. TROUT: Fishing improved this week as river flows generally returned to more moderate levels, with good reports from the Farmington, Willimantic, Blackledge, Blackberry, Natchaug, Shetucket, Naugatuck (18-inch brown), Housatonic, Mianus, Salmon (19-inch brown), Hockanum, Tankerhoosen and Farm Rivers, Sandy Brook and Indiantown Brook. Some success is being found using worms and corn/mealworm combinations. A number of major early summer insect hatches are getting started.
2. Farmington River water temperatures are in the mid 50s. March Brown nymphs (#12-14), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#18-22, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings) are the current working patterns.
3. In the Housatonic River, Water temperatures are in the upper 60s. Major insect hatches are here and will begin to provide excellent fly fishing (especially when the spinners start up). Sulphurs (#14-16), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening, just starting), Cahill (#12-14), Adams (#12-14, evening), March Brown (#10-12) & Gray Foxes (#14-16) are producing. Green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening) are on the water. Midges and early stoneflies are being seen at the mouths of tributaries.
4. LARGEMOUTH BASS: Fishing has picked up in many areas with good reports from Moodus Reservoir, Scoville Reservoir, Housatonic River (Kent), Lakes McDonough, Housatonic, Lillinonah, Wonoscopomuc, Coventry, Candlewood (5.1-pound bass among the catches), Gardner, Shenipsit, Crystal (Ellington), Uncas, Pattagansett, Mashapaug, Waramaug, Chamberlain, Bantam & West Twin Lakes, and Long, Mudge and Pachaug Ponds.
5. Smallmouth bass are reported at Candlewood (slowing, but still a number of catches over 4 pounds), Lake Lillinonah, Gardner Lake, Hayward Lake, Bantam Lake and Squantz Pond. ...
6. Northern pike fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond, Ashland Pond and Pachaug Pond....
7. Kokanee salmon, try West Hill Pond at 3 colors of lead line (12-15 feet), where fish up to 17.5 inches are being caught.
8. Walleye are being reported from Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond.
9. STRIPED BASS: Fishing for cow bass in Long Island Sound is good on the local reefs with fish over 40 inches in length being reported. Schoolie striper fishing in the tidal rivers and harbors remains good in addition to hockory shad. School striper spots include the Pawcatuck River, Napatree Point to Sandy Point, lower Mystic River, Thames River, Niantic River, Connecticut River by Calves Island, Great Island and North and South Cove, Sandy Point area in New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor, Housatonic River from the Devon power plant to the Derby Dam, and around the Norwalk Islands.
10. SUMMER FLOUNDER: Fishing is picking up in LIS along with black sea bass. Montauk Point, the south side of Fishers Island, lower Mystic River to Groton Long Point, Black Point area, Horton Point to Mattituck Inlet, Port Jefferson are spots worth trying for summer flounder.