CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #13 7/25

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good in most areas. Areas to try include Lake Housatonic, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Winchester, Silver (Meriden), Wonoscopomuc, East Twin, Quonnipaug, Rogers, Bashan, Gardner, Powers, Candlewood and Cedar (6 lb bass among the catches) Lakes, and Mono, Messerschmidt, Mudge, Ball, Wood Creek, Somersville and West Hill Ponds. Bass fishing reported as fair to slow at Crystal Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS reported to be fair at Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Coventry Lake, Gardner Lake and seasonably good at Candlewood Lake (recent catches include a number of catches in the 4-5 lb range). It’s prime time for Smallies on the Housatonic River, also some fair action reported from the Tariffville section of the Farmington River.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be very good in Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond.
• Anglers are catching KOKANEE by trolling (slowly) West Hill Pond at 4-5 colors of lead line using beads and corn, or still fishing at night with a lantern & corn/meal worm combination between 40-50 feet in the deep holes.
• Some WALLEYE catches are being reported from Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond.
• PANFISH season is at its peak with the arrival of hot summer temperatures. Now is the time to get the family out and experience the fast-paced action of fishing for panfish. Locations to try range from your neighborhood pond to larger water bodies such as Lake Waramaug, Mamanasco Lake, Lake Hayward, Billings Lake, Silver Lake, Tyler Lake, Babcock Pond, Coventry Lake, Mudge Pond, West Side Pond, Aspinook Pond and Dog Pond. Try poppers on a fly rod for some excellent action.
• TROUT: Rivers & streams - With the recent cooler temperatures, trout fishing picked up in a number of areas. Despite last week’s storms, flows in many areas are still somewhat low. Good reports last week from the West Branch & main stem Farmington, Housatonic, Norwalk, Saugatuck (TMA), Shetucket, Fenton and Natchaug Rivers. Early and late in the day are the best fishing times during the summer.
• Farmington River Farmington River conditions continue to be great for fishing. Flows are clear and moderate (about 285 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 20 cfs from the Still River). Morning West Branch water temperatures have been in the 55-58 °F range. Recent successful patterns continue to include Needhami (#22-28, early morning), Stenonema (Cahills #12-14), Isonychia (#10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs (Vitreus #16-20) duns (#14-20, morning;
• afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#8-10, hot mornings in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18), Flying Ants/Termites (#18-22, when hot & humid after a rain) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening).
• The Housatonic River also continues to be very fishable. Morning water temperatures have been in the low 70’s °F. Flows are clear and currently somewhat low (despite the recent storms), about 250 cfs at Falls Village and 460 cfs at Gaylordsville. Hatches include Alder Caddis (can still be found, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), 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. Hellgramite nymphs are producing thanks to the recent rain. Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening) such as White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey/Black Ghosts (#4-10, with a red throat).
• Lakes & Ponds – Good reports for trout from Crystal Lake in Ellington (16 trout for one angler by 9:30am), Wononscopomuc Lake, Squantz Pond, Highland lake, East Twin Lake, Ball Pond and West Hill Pond.
• Connecticut River – The river continues to clear following a rather murky weekend.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing has been excellent, with action is reported in most coves, downstream from Hartford to Haddam.
  
• Some large STRIPED BASS are still being caught in the lower river (on live eels, hickory shad and scup).
  
• CATFISH (some over 10 lbs) are consistently being taken on frozen cut bait in the upper river.
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school stripers is fair in the tidal rivers. Larger stripers can be caught off the usual spots: the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, the rip off Duck Island, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor including the breakwaters, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area, Bridgeport Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the reefs around the Norwalk Islands.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good throughout LIS. Bluefish spots include the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing is on the slow side.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains good with doormats in the 7 lbs. range being reported. Fluke spots include the Stonington area off Sandy Point, lower Mystic River over to Latimer Point, south shore of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach), Twotree Island Channel (Waterford), Niantic River, Black Point area including the “Bloody Grounds”, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Hammonasset Beach, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island to Stratford Point, outer Bridgeport Harbor (buoy 18), and off the Norwalk Islands.
• SCUP and TAUTOG fishing remains good on the local reefs.
• HICKORY SHAD can be caught in the Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge and off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier (lower Connecticut River) in Old Lyme.
• BLUE CRABBING is steadily improving in the tidal creeks.