CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #9 6/27

• TROUT
• Rivers & streams – Anglers are reporting very good fishing. The water is very clear with excellent flows and water temperatures remain cool despite the recent heat wave. The conditions don’t get any better than they are right now. At this time of the year bait fisherman are finding corn/mealworm combination to be very productive. Expect rainbows to be in the faster water.
• Farmington River is 54°F with 304cfs of clear flows. Isonychia (#10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#18-26, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns, (#16-20, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-28, morning), Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings) are successful patterns. Try bottom-bouncing nymphs in the riffles. Good to excellent fishing can be expected in the Farmington River above the TMA for the upcoming holiday weekend.
• Housatonic River – Water temperatures near 70°F with 375cfs of clear, low flows. Some predicted thunderstorms for later in the week may impact temperature and clarity. Insect hatches include: Alder/Zebra Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Green/Brown Drakes (#8-12), Sulphurs (#14-18, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12- 14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Streamers (morning & evening) are catching some large fish. Golden stonefly (#6-10) nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark.
• Lakes & Ponds – Many of our lakes are still producing good trout fishing. Lake McDonough, East Twin, Highland, Crystal (Ellington), Alexander, Candlewood, Wononscopomuc and Amos Lakes, Beardsley Park, Stratton Brook Park, Chatfield Hollow, West Hill and Black Ponds are all reporting good catches of trout.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has improved this week with a number of lakes reporting good to very good fishing, including a 6lb 4oz fish from Crystal Lake in Ellington. Other lakes reporting good to very good catches include: Lakes McDonough, Lillinonah, Zoar, Saltonstall and Housatonic, Moodus Reservoir, Amos, Candlewood, Highland, Maltby, Wononscopomuc, Bashan, Tyler, Beseck, Bantam, Waramaug, Billings, Indian, Cedar and Rogers Lakes, Mono, Ashland, Dog, Manitook, Ball, Glasgo, Mudge and Pachaug Ponds.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Lakes Lillinonah, Housatonic and McDonough, Highland, Candlewood and Bashan Lakes, Squantz Pond, Housatonic (lots of fish), Naugatuck and Farmington (Tarrifville area) Rivers.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam, Winchester, Hopeville and Ashland Lakes and Pachaug Pond. Good
• WALLEYE fishing being reported at Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond, Saugatuck Reservoir and Saugatuck River.
• KOKANEE SALMON are being caught at West Hill Pond at 35-40’ of water.
• CALICO BASS fishing has picked up in Silver (Berlin) and Highland Lakes, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Dog Pond.
• Connecticut River – some STRIPED BASS up to 29 lbs are still in the upper river. Most of the fish have moved out. Fish are being caught on sand worms and using chunk bait. The main effort is at the mouth of the river where anglers are using plastics and poppers for bigger fish.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good and catches are reported in Haddam Meadows area. Good numbers of SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in the upper portion of the river near the mouth of the Farmington River. CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen herring & cut/chunk bait.
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school-size stripers and HICKORY SHAD (especially in the lower Connecticut River) 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 on the local reefs at the usual spots: 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 about 2 to 14 lbs. Bluefish fishing spots include the Race (most consistent spot), Plum Gut, the major reefs and rip areas in LIS, and the tidal rivers and harbors.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains good at Sandy Point in the Stonington area, lower Mystic River over to Latimer Point, Twotree 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.
• WEAKFISH rumors have been reported off Black Point and New Haven Harbor to Charles Island – Milford area.