CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #8 6/20

• TROUT: Rivers & streams - With cool mornings and moderate flows, late June trout fishing should be good in many areas.
• Farmington River water temperatures continue in the mid 50's °F (about 54 'F in New Hartford). West Branch flows remain clear and fishable, about 280 cfs at Riverton. Anglers can expect releases from the Goodwin Dam (Hogback) of an additional 100 cfs for the weekend from Friday afternoon (3 pm, 6/22) to Sunday morning (8 am, 6/24). Hatches include Vitreus (a.k.a. pale evening dun) #14, from 5:00 pm to dark, Tan Caddis (#16-18, good all day), Sulfurs (Invaria #16 hatches mid-day and Dorothea #18-20) and Potomantis (sz10-12). Other successful patterns continue to include March Brown nymphs (#12-14), Gray Fox (#14,afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#18-24, mid-late afternoon), green caddis (#22-26, evening), Midges(#22-32) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings).
• Housatonic River - Morning water temperatures rose to near 70 °F in the past week, but have moderated to about 67 °F (in the TMA) due to the recent trout-friendly cool mornings and pleasant days that are forecast to last through the weekend. The river is clear and very fish able, as flows continue to drop, currently 420 cfs at Falls Village and 500 cfs at Gaylordsville. Current hatches/patterns are Alder/Zebra Caddis (all day and evening), and evenings for Light Cahills, Caddis (tan, brown, green/olive,black), Sulfurs, Olives and a few Golden Stones. Try nymphing in the mornings when temperatures are cooler and better for the trout.
• Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
• Lakes & Ponds “ Trout fishing is variable, with good reports from Crystal Lake, West Hill Pond and Stillwater Pond (several 6 lb browns reported). Mixed reports from Highland Lake (several 3-4 lb trout among the catches) and Squantz Pond. Lake McDonough and Lake Wononscopomuc (although some catches in the 3-4 lb ranger reported) have been slow for trout recently.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is variable, with good reports from Candlewood Lake, Ball Pond, Billings Lake, Wononscopomuc Lake, Cedar Lake, Babcock Pond, Mono Pond and Pattagansett Lake. Mixed reports from East Twin Lake, Lakes Housatonic (fair action, all smallfish), Lillinonah and Zoar, Bantam Lake (although a 7.5 lb bass reported among the catches) and Moodus Reservoir (catches include a 7.1 lb bass). Bass fishing reported to be slow at Dog Pond and Tyler Lake.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported at Candlewood Lake (good), Gardner Lake (some action, mostly smaller fish), Squantz Pond (mixed reports, but smallie fishing is starting to pick up). Some good river smallmouth action reported from the Housatonic River, also some catches reported from the Farmington (Tarrifville area).
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Mansfield Hollow and Winchester Lake.
• CATFISH fishing should be good in the newly stocked catfish areas, try Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport), Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Mohegan Park (Norwich), Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden) Lake Wintergreen (Hamden/New Haven), Lower Bolton Lake (Bolton), Quonnipaug Lake (Guilford), Silver Lake (Berlin/Meriden), Pattaconk Lake (Chester) and Maltby Lakes 2 & 3 (Orange/West Haven).
• KOKANEE action at West Hill Pond is slow but steady, with some fish up to 15 inches reported.
• WALLEYE “ Limited reports for walleye this week. Squantz Pond reported to be slow (although a 8 lb walleye was among the catches) and some catches also reported from Mashapaug Lake.
• Connecticut River Fishing for a number of species is good on the river.
• STRIPED BASS remain in the river up through Windsor/Enfield with some nice catches reported (41", 29 lb beauty caught near Wethersfield Cove, and a 35" striper from Windsor). Best action in the lower river.
• NORTHERN PIKE action is reported to be very good including numerous 10-12 lb pike catches in and near Salmon River Cove).
• CALICO BASS action is picking in some of the coves.
• Lots of CATFISH are keeping anglers busy (the standard chunk bait is working great).
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is excellent, especially in the Salmon River Cove area where a 6.7lb largemouth and several 5 lb bass were caught (and released) last weekend.
• MARINE FISHING REPORT: Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) currently is in the lower 60's °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions: www.ndbc.noaa.gov.
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school stripers in the tidal rivers continues to be good. Fishing spots include the usual places: Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River, Hamburg Cove and around Calves Island in the Connecticut River including the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier down to Great Island and to the east breakwater, Sandy Point in New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Housatonic River including Milford Point, the Devon area up to the Derby Dam, Bridgeport Harbor (Seaside Park), and Norwalk Harbor including around the islands. Cow stripers are also in the rivers and on the local reefs including the reefs off Watch Hill, the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the Norwalk Islands.
• BLUEFISH fishing is good throughout LIS with fish ranging in size from harbor blues (2-4 lbs) up to choppers weighing in the lower teens. Bluefish fishing spots include the Race, Plum Gut, the major reefs and rip areas in LIS, and the tidal rivers and harbors.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing has improved on the Connecticut side with some big doormats being reported. Fluke spots include Sandy Point in the Stonington area, lower Mystic River over to Latimer Point, Two tree Island Channel, Black Point, Long Sand Shoal, New Haven Harbor off the breakwaters, Charles Island to Stratford Point, outer Bridgeport Harbor, and off the Norwalk Islands.
• SCUP and TAUTOG fishing is good to excellent on the local reefs.
• HICKORY SHAD are in the lower tidal rivers but fishing is sporadic. (DEP Fishing Report as Published in Waterbury Republican).