Night Fishing In Connecticut

1. Night fishing — The state is blessed with plenty of after-sunset fishing options. Nighttime often produces the biggest fish.
2. One of the most intriguing night fisheries is the kokanee salmon action at West Hill Pond in New Hartford. Anglers hang lanterns over the sides of boats just above the water to attract zooplankton — the kokanee's favorite food. Below the lanterns, the salmon will bite on small baits, mealworms and bead jigs. The pond also appeals to anglers because of its strict horsepower limit and 6 mph nighttime speed limit. Salmoners in canoes and rowboats can fish this lake very comfortably.
3. Over the past decade, the state Department of Environmental Protection has actively worked to establish walleye fisheries at Squantz Pond, Lake Saltonstall, Gardner Lake, Batterson Park Pond, Coventry Lake, Lake Housatonic, Mashapaug Lake and Saugatuck Reservoir. For crowd-adverse anglers, the better walleye fishing occurs around sunset at all the above lakes except Lake Saltonstall and the Saugatuck Reservoir. Night fishing is not allowed at these two lakes. But since the two lakes are both privately owned, fishing during the day is still quite peaceful.
4. On Long Island Sound, the biggest striped bass seem to get caught during the evening and night hours depending on the tide schedule. Ideally, bass anglers want to fish the two hours before or after high tide when it occurs between midnight and dawn. Anglers with boats have little trouble finding good bass fishing areas, like the offshore reefs and mainland points. Shore-bound anglers must search for public areas open after dark. Penfield Reef, Bonds Dock, the West Haven fishing jetties and Hammonasset Beach State Park are a few good striper spots available for night fishing. [Connecticut Post, Frank McKane, Jr.]