CT DEP Weekly Fishing Reports #17

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good to very good in many areas. Areas to try include Lower/Middle Bolton, Coventry, Red Cedar, Pattagansett, Wononscopomuc, Bantam Lake (recent catches include 6.3 and 5.0 lb bass), Candlewood, East Twin, Crystal, Winchester, Mashapaug, Kenosia, Highland and Bashan Lakes, Lake Wintergreen, Lake Zoar (4.5 lb bass among the catches), and Pachaug (mixed reports), Beach, Black (Meriden/Middlefield), Mudge, Ball, Gorton, Long (fair action, but a 6 lb bass among the catches), Burr and Squantz Ponds.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS catches reported from Lake Housatonic, Lake Zoar (3.9 lb smallie among the catches), Colebrook Reservoir, Crystal, Candlewood, Gardner, Eagleville and Lower Bolton Lakes and Squantz Pond. With cooler temperatures, action for river smallies on the Housatonic River has slowed somewhat, but is still rated good to excellent.Some good action also reported from the Natchaug, Salmon and Farmington (Tariffville area) Rivers.
• NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond.
• Some WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond and Coventry Lake.
• CHAIN PICKEREL are being caught at Bashan Lake, Wononscopomuc Lake, Mudge Pond and Long Pond. Some catches also reported from Colebrook Reservoir.
• SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Areas to try include: Ball Pond, and Candlewood, Gardner, Silver and Highland Lakes.
• YELLOW PERCH are reported from Candlewood Lake (Jumbos), Highland Lake, Tyler Lake, Mudge Pond and Coventry Lake.
• Connecticut River – CATFISH (upper river) continue to provide excellent action on cut bait (chunking). Sunfish are also being used successfully for them. Target the outside bends in the river and the upstream side of the deeper holes of the river.
• NORTHERN PIKE have been found mainly at the confluences with tributaries, with some fish also being found in the coves and in the mainstem near Middletown and Haddam Meadows. The recent cool weather will allow more pike to move back into the river.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS are being caught in the coves from Hartford to Middletown (reported catches include several in the 3-4 lb range) and in the lower river.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action remains fair to good in the Enfield area and near the mouth of the Farmington River. Several nice smallies also captured below Hartford including a 3.9 lb beauty.
  
• Some good STRIPED BASS action can still be found in the lower river on bait. Anglers are live lining hickory shad. Rivers & streams - With the recent cooler temperatures, trout fishing has picked up in some areas. Flows do continue to be low, especially in northeastern CT (most notably the Fenton, Willimantic, Mt Hope and Quinebaug Rivers) and also, in northwestern CT, the Housatonic River. Good reports from the West Branch and mainstem Farmington, Natchaug and Housatonic Rivers.
  
• Farmington River conditions continue to be excellent for summer trout fishing and anglers can also look forward to even more fish in the river for Labor Day weekend. DEP expects to stock close to 2,500 adult-size brown trout into the West Branch late next week. Morning West Branch water temperatures remain in the lower 60’s °F (63 °F on Wednesday, 8/22). Flows are clear and very fishable, currently about 200 cfs at Riverton, with an additional 10 cfs from the Still River. The Trico hatch continues, but may be slowing a bit. Isonychia (#10-12, fast water, evening), Needhami (#22-28, early morning), Blue Wing Olives (#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (#16-18, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Stenonema (Cahill #14-18), Rusty Spinners (#18-26), Caddis (tan #16-20, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa, #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening) are successful patterns.
  
• Housatonic River is quite fishable. Flows are clear, although very low, currently about 140 cfs at Falls Village and 300 cfs at Gaylordsville. Water temperatures do continue to moderate, currently in the low to mid 60’s °F (mornings in the TMA). Insect hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), Sulfurs (#16-18 dusk/dark) and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Try midges and stoneflies at the mouths of streams. Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Fish will focus on ants when they are on the water (after a rain). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try includeWhite Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
  
• Lakes & Ponds – Anglers are finding some good late August trout fishing at Crystal Lake (Ellington), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake, Beach Pond and Long Pond.
• STRIPED BASS fishing remains good at the usual spots: 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, Bridgeport Harbor including Seaside Park, and the reefs off Stamford. The tube and worm combination has been very successful for cow bass.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good throughout LIS. Consistent spots include the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters (including the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier), Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Falkner Island area to the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing is good in the tidal rivers and coves.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is better in eastern LIS such as the Niantic-Waterford area, Thames River, Latimer Point, Stonington area, south shore of Fishers Island (off Isabella Beach).
• SCUP fishing remains good on the local reefs and the time to go is now. Fishing an hour before and after slack tide especially on the shallower reefs is the time to go. Squid strips baited on a three way bottom rig is all you need to catch these spunky fighters.
• HICKORY SHAD fishing remains good in the Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge and the lower Connecticut River (including the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier in Old Lyme and the fishing pier at the Baldwin Bridge State Boat Launch).
• ATLANTIC BONITO can been seen chasing bait on the surface in the Race, off Pine Island, Bartlett Reef area to Millstone Point, and Hatchett Reef.
• WEAKFISH are still being reported caught off Black Point (Niantic), Falkner Island area, and Milford Point-Stratford area.
• BLUE CRABBING catches are getting better as the season progresses with jimmies measuring 7 inches (spike tip to spike tip).