CT DEP Weekly Fishing Reports 6/14/06

1. TROUT: RIVERS & STREAMS - Fishing in Connecticut trout streams is improving as the water levels have generally returned to more fishable levels, with reports from the Mianus, Farmington, Housatonic (last 2-3 days due to diminishing flows), Pootatuck, Rippowam, Saugatuck, Norwalk, Pomperaug, Blackberry, Scantic, Eightmile, Quinebaug and Willimantic Rivers, Coppermine Brook, Leadmine Brook and Salmon Brook (Granby). With abundant flows and moderate temperatures, anglers can expect very good trout fishing to be with us well into the summer. Bait fisherman are finding corn/mealworm combination the most productive.
2. Farmington River water temperatures remain in the mid 50’s °F. West Branch flows are clear and very fishable, about 250 cfs at Riverton. The Still River is currently providing an additional 270 cfs, but should drop by the weekend. March Brown nymphs (#10-14), Isonychia (#10, evening), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Sulphurs (#16, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #16, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32, morning) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings) are successful patterns.
3. Housatonic River- Water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s °F. Flows are clearing and continue to drop (currently 1,250 cfs at Falls Village and 2,050 at Gaylordsville, call NGS at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information. Barring heavy precipitation the river should be quite fishable for the weekend. Current patterns include Alder Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Green/Brown Drakes (#8-12), Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), Cahill (#12-14, evening), Adams (#12-14, evening), March Brown (#10-12), Gray Foxes (#14-16) and Green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Streamers are catching some large fish.
4. LAKES & PONDS – Many of our lakes are still producing good fishing with reports from Compensating Reservoir (20” rainbow), Colebrook Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Wonoscopomuc Lake (23” brown), East Twin Lake (20” brown), West Hill Pond (browns to 18”), and Crystal (22” rainbow), Mashapaug (brown 24”) and Highland (20 fish for one angler).
5. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as very good. Areas to try include Lakes Zoar, Stibbs, McDonough, Winnemaug, Lillinonah and Wonoscopomuc, Highland, Candlewood, Coventry, East Twin, Red Cedar, Quonnipaug (6.75 lb bass), Cedar, Bashan, Congamond, Kenosia, Silver, Rogers and Gardner Lakes, Moodus Reservoir, Scoville Reservoir, and Beach (including a 5.b lb bass), Morey and Batterson Park Ponds. Reports from Lake Saltonstall indicate slow bass fishing, but catches do include a 6 lb bass.
6. SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported at Scoville Reservoir, Compensating Reservoir (4.5 lb smallie), Lake Lillinonah, Lake McDonough, Candlewood (many 4+ lb fish), Highland, Coventry, East Twin, Bashan and Gardner Lakes, West Hill Pond, and the Housatonic and Shetucket Rivers.
7. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Pachaug Pond.
8. KOKANEE SALMON, try West Hill Pond at 5 colors of lead line.
9. WALLEYE are being reported from Squantz Pond (5.45 lb walleye), Coventry Lake and Lake Saltonstall (fair, catches include 7.7 lb, 6.6 lb and 5.4 lb walleye).
10. CALICO BASS action is reported in Silver Lake, Stillwater Pond and Park Pond.
11. CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS numbers in the river are starting to drop. Cooler water temperatures and muddy waters are slowing the catch but school size fish and adults (Windsor/Windsor Locks) are still being caught. Surface poppers and soft plastics are providing some exciting action under clear water conditions while trolling tube and worm work best in stained water.
12. NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Wethersfield Cove, Haddam Meadows and downstream from Hartford to Haddam.
13. CATFISH (9-10 lbs) are being taken in the Cromwell/Haddam area on frozen herring and cut/chunk bait.
14. REMINDER TO ANGLERS- The only areas open to fishing for Atlantic salmon are the Naugatuck, Shetucket, and Housatonic Rivers (these salmon are expected to be the stocked broodstock Salmon). Atlantic salmon caught in any other rivers and streams (especially the Connecticut River drainage) are wild Atlantic salmon and should be released immediately with as little handling as possible.
15. STRIPED BASS fishing on the major reefs and rip areas is good for cow bass. Striper spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Bartlett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Stratford Point area, Norwalk Islands, and the Cows off Stamford. 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 Norwalk Harbor.
16. HICKORY SHAD can also be found in the Niantic River.
17. SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing is good in Fishers Island Sound, Black Point and Niantic Bay, Westbrook-Clinton area, off the New Haven Harbor breakwaters, and the Milford area to the mouth of the Housatonic River. Other fluke spots include Montauk Point, south side of Fishers Island, Horton Point, Mattituck Inlet, and Port Jefferson.
18. BLUEFISH 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 to the mouth of the Housatonic River and off the Norwalk Islands.