CT DEP Weekly Fishing Reports #14 8/2

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good in many areas throughout the state. Night fishing should be in full swing. Areas to try include Moodus Reservoir, North Farms Reservoir, Lake Williams, Wononscopomuc, Candlewood, Winchester (6.3 lb bass), Shenipsit, Quonnipaug, Bashan, Rogers, Tyler, Eagleville, Highland, Crystal, Bantam and Silver Lakes, and Fitchville, Ball, Mono, Batterson Park, Mudge and Hatch Ponds. Mixed reports for Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond, and slow fishing reported from Lakes Lillinonah, Zoar and Housatonic.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action is fair at Lake Housatonic, Candlewood, Tyler, Crystal (Ellington), Bantam, Coventry, Highland and Gardner Lakes, and reported to be slow at Lake Lillinonah. Action for river smallies is EXCELLENT on the Housatonic River.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in the upper Housatonic River, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake and Pachaug Pond.
• West Hill Pond KOKANEE are being found by anglers trolling during the day or fishing at night with corn/mealworms.
• Some WALLEYE catches are being reported from Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Mashapaug Lake and Squantz Pond.
• Excellent CALICO BASS action on small minnows reported from West Thompson Reservoir, Highland Lake, Dog Pond, Park Pond and Pachaug Pond.
• SUNFISH are providing excellent action throughout the state on worms & using poppers on a fly rod. Locations to try range from your neighborhood pond to larger water bodies such as Mudge Pond, Lower Bolton, Quinebaug, Amos, Bashan, Billings, Tyler and Mamanasco Lakes.
• TROUT
• Rivers & streams - Trout fishing in the West Branch Farmington River TMA is red hot! Good reports for trout also from the Housatonic, Saugatuck, Hockanum and Pootatuck Rivers. DEP Fisheries stream survey staff also report finding plenty of trout awaiting anglers in the Salmon River (a number of large trout were sampled, especially above the “Fly” area) and Natchaug River. Early and late in the day are the best fishing times during the summer.
• Anglers are also reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are currently closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
• Farmington River - Flows, temperatures and hatches are all great for finding good numbers of large fish. Flows are moderate (about 260 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 30 cfs from the Still River) and are again clear. Morning West Branch water temperatures have reached the lower 60’s °F (61 °F on 8/1). Current hatches include Light Cahill (#14-16), Cream Cahill (#12-14), Needhami (#22-28, not all at once in the traditional early morning, 3-4 times per day), Isonychia (#10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (#16-20, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Rusty Spinner (#20-28), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#18-24, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#8-10, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening). Housatonic River -Morning water temperatures have been rising (74 °F on Thursday morning in the TMA). Flows remain clear and low, about 200 cfs at Falls Village and 450 cfs at Gaylordsville. The White Fly hatch is starting. Other hatches include White Wulff (#10-14, just started), Sulphurs (#1416, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-24, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#14-20, evening), and assorted caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Terrestrial season is here. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid).With hot weather forecasted to continue into late next week, water temperatures are expected to rise. These warmer temperatures and the low flows can be very stressful to trout, anglers should take extra care when handling trout they plan to release! This is also an excellent time to switch to smallmouth bass in the Housatonic River.
• Lakes & Ponds – Good summer trout fishing reported from Crystal Lake (Ellington), Wononscopomuc Lake, East Twin Lake (22.5” brown) Highland Lake, Schreeder Pond (Chatfield Hollow Trout Park), Ball Pond and West Hill Pond.
• Connecticut River – NORTHERN PIKE anglers are finding fish in the coves and in the mainstem near Haddam Meadows and downstream from Hartford. SMALLMOUTH BASS action is fair in the northern river. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is fair to good in coves & backwaters from Hartford through East Haddam, catches include a 5 lb bass.
• CATFISH (8-10 lb fish) are consistently being taken on fresh/frozen cut bait. Anglers are also having success on mackerel.
• CALICO BASS action on small minnows is reported in coves by anglers fishing deeper water.
  
• STRIPED BASS action remains good in the mouth of the river on live eels & hickory shad.
• MARINE FISHING REPORT
• Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) ranges from the upper 60’s to low 70’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
• STRIPED BASS fishing for school stripers remains fair in the tidal rivers and harbors with Bridgeport Harbor and the Norwalk Islands being the better spots. Cow bass can be caught using live bait such as Atlantic menhaden (bunker), hickory shad, scup, and eels or slow trolling with the tube and worm combination. Striper spots include 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 south rip off Duck Island, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the Cows off Stamford.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good throughout LIS. Consistent bluefish spots include 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 3-4 inches in length.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (FLUKE) fishing is spotty with a lot of throwbacks (sub-legal fish) being reported. Doormats in the 7 lbs.+ range are being caught in deeper water (70+ ft.). Fluke spots include the Stonington area, Latimer Point, south shore of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach), Black Point area, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Falkner Island area, 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 remains good in the Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge and off the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier in Old Lyme.
• BLUE CRABBING is spotty.