CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #16 8/16

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing continues to be good in many areas. Places to try include Wononscopomuc, Red Cedar, Middle Bolton, East Twin, Winchester, Mamanasco, Gardner, Bashan, Coventry, Pickerel and Pattagansett Lakes, Scoville Reservoir, Lake Kenosia, Lake Waramaug, and Moosup, Babcock, Mono, Gorton, Ball, Long, Pierrepont, Gorton, Hopeville, Squantz and Jurovaty Ponds.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Saugatuck Reservoir (including a 21-inch smallie), Candlewood Lake (somewhat challenging), Highland Lake, Gardner Lake, Colebrook Reservoir and Bantam Lake. Housatonic River smallmouth fishing remains good to excellent.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake (small fish), Bantam Lake, Hopeville Pond and Pachaug Pond.
• WALLEYE action reported from Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake and Squantz Pond.
• SUNFISH are providing excellent summertime action, just head over to the local, neighborhood pond. Larger areas to try include Wood Creek Pond, Gardner Lake, Candlewood Lake, Tyler Lake, Lake Hayward, Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Mamanasco Lake.
• Connecticut River – CATFISH (up to 6.25 lbs.) angling is rated as very good and they are available to anglers on cut bait in the deeper holes of the river. Try from just north of Hartford down to the Haddam area.
• NORTHERN PIKE anglers should target cooler water in the deeper holes and at the confluences of rivers & streams. Some STRIPED BASS (up to 43”) are being caught at the mouth of the river.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action remains fair to good north of Hartford (Enfield area and near the mouth of the Farmington River).
• TROUT:
• Rivers & streams: Trout fishing was generally slow last week except for good reports from the West Branch Farmington River (including a 5-lb, 23.5 inch beauty). Some catches also reported from the Natchaug and Mill Rivers. Flows in some areas continue to be low, most notably the Fenton, Willimantic, Mt. Hope and Quinebaug Rivers in northeastern CT and the Housatonic River in northwestern CT. High daytime air temperatures have made early in the morning and late in the evening best for fishing. A number of major hatches are, or will soon be winding down, anglers are advised to include terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal.
• Farmington River conditions continue to be great for summer trout fishing. Morning West Branch water temperatures remain in the lower 60’s °F (63 °F on Wednesday, 8/15). Flows are clear and very fishable, but have dropped, currently about 200 cfs at Riverton, with an additional 12 cfs from the Still River. East Branch releases from Lake Mcdonough have also been terminated. Trico Duns/Spinners (#26-28) are on the water early-mid morning. Needhami (#24-28, early morning), Isonychia (#10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (#16-20, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Cahills/Summer Stenonema (#12-18, early morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening) are also successful patterns. Evening brings out every bug on the water.
• Housatonic River Housatonic River flows remain clear and very fishable, but continue to drop, currently about 185 cfs at Falls Village and 335 cfs at Gaylordsville. Trout fishing has been slow, with many trout in the thermal refuges. However, water temperatures have begun to moderate, with morning water temperatures in the TMA currently in the upper 60’s °F. Although temperatures have moderated, anglers should take extra care when handling trout they plan to release! Somewhat cooler weather is forecast for the weekend and early next week. As the river cools expect the fish to move out of the thermal refuges and back into the river. Insect hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Midges (#20-26) and stoneflies can be found at the mouths of streams. Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
• Lakes & Ponds: Good summer trout fishing reported from Saugatuck Reservoir (10.1 lb brown trout caught by Wayne Lauro of Bridgeport, CT), Crystal Lake (Ellington, try at 26 feet), Lake Wonoscopomuc (5.5 lb, 22” brown among the catches) Highland Lake, East Twin Lake, Long Pond, Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, Squantz Pond.
• STRIPED BASS fishing remains good off the Watch Hill reefs, south side of Fishers Island, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the reefs off Darien and Stamford.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good at the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters (DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier), Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing is good with most fish measuring about 5 to 6 inches in length.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing best bet is in deep water (60 to 90 ft.). The usual fluke spots include the Stonington area, Latimer Point, south shore of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach), Black Point area, Falkner Island area, and Charles Island to Stratford Point.
• SCUP fishing remains good on the local reefs with fish in the 14 to 17 inch range being reported.
• HICKORY SHAD remains good in the Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge and off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier in Old Lyme.
• WEAKFISH up to 13 lbs have been reported being caught off Black Point (Niantic), Falkner Island area, and Milford Point-Stratford area.
• BLUE CRABBING is good along the coastline.