CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report 6/6/06

1. TROUT: RIVERS & STREAMS - Heavy rains and high flows again made trout fishing extremely difficult, especially in eastern CT. In western CT, good reports from the West Branch and mainstem Farmington (plenty of action from Riverton to Hogback, and some nice rainbows downstream in Farmington), and Salmon Brook (Granby). Farmington River water temperatures remain in the mid 50’s °F. West Branch flows are clearing and currently very high and unfishable, about 950 cfs at Riverton with an additional 500 cfs from the Still River (as of Thursday morning, 6/8). Farther downstream, the East Branch Farmington is currently adding an additional 400 cfs. Although Still River flows should drop, elevated releases from West Branch Reservoir (Hogback) and Lake McDonough (into the East Branch) for management of water levels at Colebrook and Barkhamsted Reservoirs will continue for at least the next several days. Depending on progress in lowering reservoir levels, releases may be reduced during the weekend. Current hatches (TMA and above) are vitreus, sulphurs, and tan caddis.
2. Housatonic River- Water temperatures are in the low 60’s °F. Flows are murky and have again increased (currently 1,900 cfs at Falls Village and 3,100 at Gaylordsville, as of 6/8, call NGS at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information). Under these conditions, big streamers and nymphs are a good option. Current hatches include Sulphurs, Isonychia, golden stoneflies, March Browns, Gray Foxes, various caddis (green, tan, black), Alders and Cahills. Hellgrammite are also out and about now.
3. LAKES & PONDS – Trout catches slowed last week, with fair fishing reported at East Twin Lake, West Hill Pond, Beach Pond, and Amos Lake. Good reports for Wononscopomuc Lake (good action, no really big ones) and Colebrook Reservoir. Good places to try this weekend include Gardner Lake, Black pond (Woodstock), Mashapaug Lake and Cedar Lake in eastern CT.
4. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good in a number of areas throughout the state including Amos Lake (a 4.2 lb bass and a number of catches around 3 lbs), Shenipsit Reservoir, Quonnipaug Lake, Batterson Park Pond (several in the 3-4 lb range), Wononscopomuc Lake (no really big ones, but plenty of action), Lake Saltonstall (a 5-lb and several 4 lb bass among the catches), Ball Pond (good action on 2-3 lb bass), Pachaug Pond, Gardner Lake and Rogers Lake. Reports are mixed for Moodus Reservoir (including a 5.3 lb largemouth), Avery Pond, Glasgo Pond, Lake Zoar and Black Pond (Meriden/Middlefield). Fair fishing reported at Silver Lake, Lake Lillinonah (A 5.1 lb bass among the catches), West Hill Pond (sub-legals dominate the catch), Beach Pond and Mashapaug Lake.
5. SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is variable with good reports from Gardner Lake and Candlewood Lake. Smallie fishing was fair at Beach Pond, Lake Lillinonah and Mashapaug Pond.
6. NORTHERN PIKE action reported from Bantam Lake (including a 38” pike), Ashland Pond (good), Hopeville Pond (good) and Pachaug Pond (fair).
7. Reports for WALLEYE are limited, 7.9 lb and 6.5 lb walleye plus a number of catches in the 4 lb range. Recommended areas for walleye include Squantz Pond, Gardner Lake, Beach Pond and Batterson Park Pond.
8. Good YELLOW PERCH fishing reported at Highland Lake and Lake Wononscopomuc.
9. CALICO BASS fishing is good at Long, Avery, Pachaug (near the dam), and Glasgo Ponds, and fair at Highland Lake.
10. A 25 lb COMMON CARP was caught at Coventry Lake, also, two carp in the 16-18 lb range reported from the Housatonic River (plenty of nice carp can be found in all the impoundments, large or small, on the Housatonic).
11. CONNECTICUT RIVER – High flows and murky water continue to make fishing and boating difficult on the River.
    Although STRIPED BASS remain throughout the river, anglers are having to work harder to find them, especially in the Windsor/Enfield area. Striper action is reported as fair (with some nice catches) from Hartford to Middletown, and good near the mouth. Anglers are reminded that an Inland fishing license is required to fish in the CT River north of the I-95 bridge in Old Lyme/Old Saybrook.
12. Best reports for NORTHERN PIKE are from Middletown and downstream (especially the Salmon River and Haddam Meadows areas).
13. STRIPED BASS fishing on the major reefs is fair to good. Drifting live eels or menhaden (bunker) is the ticket for scoring on a cow bass (just remember to use circle hooks to lower the chances of gut hooking). Other methods include trolling parachute rigs with pork rind on wire line or using the tube and worm technique. Schoolie striper fishing in the tidal rivers still remains good even with all the rain. School striper spots include the Pawcatuck River, lower Mystic River, Thames River, Niantic River, Connecticut River by Great Island, 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.
14. HICKORY SHAD can also be found mixed in with school stripers in the lower tidal rivers (Mystic, Niantic, and Connecticut Rivers).
15. SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing is picking up in LIS especially in Fishers Island Sound, Westbrook-Clinton area, off the New Haven Harbor breakwaters, and the Milford area. Best fluke spots are in the Peconic Bays and by Greenport on the New York side. Other spots include Montauk Point, south side of Fishers Island, Horton Point, Mattituck Inlet, and Port Jefferson.
16. BLUEFISH are throughout LIS although spotty. Fishing is fair to good in the Race, Plum Gut and off Millstone Point, Sixmile Reef off Clinton, New Haven Harbor, the Milford-Charles Island area and off the Norwalk Islands.