CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #19

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair to good with reports from Lake Wononscopomuc, Uncas, Amos Candlewood, Highland, Bashan, Cedar, Pattagansett, Middle Bolton, Silver and Coventry Lakes, and Aspinook, Bunnells, Batterson Park, Mudge, Ball, Pachaug and Halls Ponds. Slow for largemouth at Lake McDonough, Winchester Lake and Highland Lake.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported at Coventry Lake, Lake McDonough, Lake Lillinonah, Gardner Lake and Squantz Pond. Housatonic River smallies are still providing some good fishing, especially later in the day. Also some nice action reported from the Naugatuck River.
• NORTHERN PIKE – Good catches reported at Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond and Hopeville Pond.
• Some WALLEYE action reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatucket Reservoir, Coventry Lake (smaller fish) and Squantz Pond.
• SUNFISH –Great late summer action can be found throughout the state, from local pond to larger waters such as Lower Moodus Reservoir, Halls Pond, Dog Pond, Hatch Pond, Gardner Lake and Tyler Lake. Worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers all work great.
• YELLOW PERCH are providing good action at Lower Moodus Reservoir, Candlewood Lake, Gardner Lake and Tyler Lake.
• Connecticut River – NORTHERN PIKE fishing has been good in the coves, the mouth of Salmon River and the mainstem downstream from Hartford to Harbor Park and in the Haddam Meadows area.
• CARP up to 11 lbs have been caught on corn & dough balls (best action in coves).
• STRIPED BASS action can still be found in the far lower river.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS catches reported from the Enfield area, and also in Salmon River Cove.
• BLACK CRAPPIE fishing is reported as excellent on small shiners in back coves.
• CATFISH (catches up to 12 lbs) are providing great late summer action on cut bait (chunking) in the deeper holes of the river. Try the East Hartford and Enfield areas.
• TROUT Fall trout Stocking update: DEP is currently gearing up for its annual fall trout stockings. This year, these stockings will start earlier and be conducted over a more extended period than in previous years. The extended season will facilitate multiple stockings of a number of popular areas (especially the Trout Parks), and the earlier start is designed to take advantage of good late summer and early fall weather. However, flows in many streams are well below typical levels. Should conditions not improve, the fall trout stocking schedules may be subject to numerous changes (as occurred in fall, 2005). This week, to start the season, DEP stocked the Black Rock, Southford Falls and Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond) Trout Parks in western CT. Additional stockings in western CT and eastern CT are scheduled to begin the week of September 17th.
• Rivers & streams - With dry conditions now extending into September, stream flows continue to drop throughout the state. Especially hard-hit are many of the rivers & streams in northeastern CT, including the Fenton, Willimantic, Mt Hope and Quinebaug Rivers. A number of rivers & streams in northwestern CT including the Housatonic River are now also well below typical early September levels. In these low flow conditions, light line and leaders should work best. Good reports for trout last week from the West Branch Farmington, Pequonnock, East Aspetuck and Housatonic Rivers.
• Farmington River – Conditions are great, fishing has been good, and there are still plenty of the nearly 2,500 trout stocked into the West Branch last week awaiting anglers. West Branch flows remain clear and very fishable, at about 105 cfs at Riverton. Water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. The Trico hatch (#22-26, early morning) is slowing and overall was not up to the levels of last year. The other bugs consist of Isonychia (major hatch, #12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (summer pupa drift is hot, #18-20 morning-afternoon, also tan #18-22, all day; and green #22-26, evening;), Midges (#20-26, morning), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, especially after rain), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening).
• Next week (Tuesday, 9/11, and Wednesday, 9/12), DEP will conduct its annual electrofishing survey of the West Branch Farmington River. Anglers may expect fishing in the West Branch TMA to be slow during and for several days following sampling.
• Housatonic River -The river is quite fishable and good trout action has been reported. Water temperatures have again moderated, currently in the low to mid -60’s °F (mornings in the TMA). Flows remain clear but are very low, currently 105 cfs at Falls Village and 175 cfs at Gaylordsville. Warmer weather is forecast for the weekend. As temperatures again rise, anglers should target trout during the cooler morning hours. Insect hatches include
  
• FLYING ANTS (#18-22, mid-day, when windy/humid, September is peak month), Fall Sulfurs (#16), White Wulff (#10-14), Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening, September is peak month), Cahill/Stenonema (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening).
  
• Lakes & Ponds – Good reports for trout from Crystal Lake (Ellington), East Twin Lake (23.5” brown among the numerous catches), Wononscopomuc Lake (including a a 10-lb brown), Highland Lake, Beach Pond and Long Pond.
• STRIPED BASS fishing remains good at the usual places: the Watch Hill reefs, south side of Fishers Island, Ram Island Reef, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip (just north of Plum Island), 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 and live lining hickory shad, bunker (Atlantic menhaden), scup or snapper bluefish continue to produce big cows but you have to get by hoards of marauding bluefish.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good to excellent throughout LIS. Chopper spots include the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Pigeon Rip, 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 to the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing continues to be good to excellent in most tidal rivers and coves along the coast. Snappers now are about 6 inches in length.
• SCUP fishing remains good on the local reefs and the time to go is now!
• HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the Mystic River, Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge and the lower Connecticut River.
• BLUE CRABBING along the shoreline is good to excellent.