CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #7 6/13

• TROUT: Rivers & streams - Good reports for trout from Farmington, Housatonic (22" brown), Pomperaug, Aspetuck, East Aspetuck, Salmon and Willimantic Rivers, and Sandy Brook. Flows and weather should both be generally comfortable for fishing this weekend. Number of major insect hatches is also getting started.
• Farmington River water temperatures continue in the low 50's. West Branch flows are clear and fishable. Hatches include. pale evening dun from 5:00pm to dark, Tan Caddis good all day and Sulfurs mid-day and Dorothea. Crane flies are being reported after being absent from the waters for 6 years. Other successful patterns include March Brown nymphs, Gray Fox, afternoon, Blue Wing Olives, mid-late afternoon, green caddis , evening, Midges and Pale Evening Duns afternoon and early evenings.
• Housatonic River - Water temperatures are in the mid60's. Flows are clear and at very fishable level. Major insect hatches are here and will begin to provide excellent fly fishing especially when the spinners start up. Alder/Zebra Caddis are hot right now, Sulphurs , Blue Wing Olive , early morning; spinner fall in evening, Isonychia evening, just starting, Cahill , Adams, evening, March Brown and Gray Foxes are producing. Also, green caddis, early morning and evening are on the water. Midges and early stoneflies are being seen at the mouths of streams on the Housatonic River.
• Lakes & Ponds: Good reports for trout from Wononscopomuc, East Twin, Crystal (Ellington) and Highland Lakes, Beach Pond, Black Pond (Meriden) and Squantz Pond. Remember that mid June is typically good time to catch some bigger trout!
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as generally good. Areas to try include Crystal, Wonoscopomuc, East Twin, Highland, Pickerel, Candlewood, Bantam and Gardner Lakes, Mudge, Ball, Babcock and Burr Ponds, Lake Saltonstall and Lake Lillinonah.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported at Highland Lake, Gardner Lake and Squantz Pond. Some nice catches also reported from the Housatonic and Farmington(Tarrifville area) Rivers.
• CATFISH fishing is reported to be excellent in the newly stocked catfish areas. Locations include 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).
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Pachaug Pond and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
• KOKANEE up to 15" are being caught at West Hill Pond, try 3.5 colors of lead line (20').
• WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir & Squantz Pond (28.5").
• Connecticut River STRIPED BASS are throughout the river, both school size (16-25") fish and adults up to 57". Low water levels have reportedly slowed down the catch in some areas as the fish concentrate into the deep holes. Surface poppers will provide some exciting action under clear water conditions while trolling tube & worm and casting soft plastics work best in stained water. Some anglers have started using hickory shad for bait and are reporting some success. SHAD fishing is slowing with very few reports coming in.
• NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Wethersfield Cove, Portland Bridge, and White Oaks Cove and downstream from Hartford to Haddam (smaller fish).
• CATFISH (6-8 lbs.)are being taken throughout the river on big chunk bait. (published on Waterbury Republican).