CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #22 9/27/07

• 2007 FALL TROUT STOCKING UPDATE
• Lack of rainfall continues to affect the fall trout stocking schedule. No stockings will occur in western CT this week. In eastern CT, trout stocking did begin on Monday, although the schedule was altered to include more lakes & ponds, and fewer rivers. Black Pond, Cedar Lake, Mashapaug Lake,Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake and the Day Pond, Mohegan Park Pond and Valley Falls Park Pond
• Trout Parks were all stocked this week. Three rivers with flows still suitable for trout, the Hammonasset (including the TMA), Scantic and Shetucket Rivers were also stocked.
  
• Anglers are reminded that flows in many areas are well below typical levels and that significant amounts of precipitation will be required to improve conditions statewide. Should these drought-like conditions continue, the fall trout stocking schedules will be subject to numerous additional changes. Further delays in stocking some rivers & streams are possible, some areas may not be stocked at all, and it is likely that some fish originally scheduled for rivers/streams will be redirected to lakes, ponds and Trout Park ponds.
• Rivers & streams - Flows throughout the state continue to be very low. When fishing these conditions, light line and leaders should work best. Northeastern CT is especially hard hit, with extremely low flows on many rivers and streams including the Willimantic, Natchaug, Fenton, Yantic and Quinebaug Rivers. Good reports from the West Branch Farmington (many large browns), Farmington, Housatonic, Naugatuck, Shetucket and Norwalk Rivers.
• Farmington River – Trout fishing is good. Morning West Branch water temperatures remain in the mid 60's °F. West Branch flows remain clear and low (currently about 95 cfs from Hogback and an additional 7 cfs from the Still River). Unless significant rain occurs, expect flows to be further reduced next week to approximately 50 cfs. Successful patterns include Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (#20-28, mid-late afternoon), Cahills/Summer Stenonema (#18-20), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Tricos (Riverton area, #24-28), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid) and Stone Hopper (#10-12, mid day).
  
• Housatonic River - Trout fishing remains good. With the warmer weather, temperatures have increased to the low 60’s °F (mornings in the TMA). Flows are at very low levels, currently 105 cfs at Falls Village and 175 cfs at Gaylordsville. Hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening), Cahills/Summer Stenonema (#12-14), and Black caddis (#16, early morning & evening), Black/Cinnamon Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#16-18, mid day, when windy/humid). Try nymphing the pockets, deeper riffles and pool heads. Streamers will produce a mixed bag of trout and smallmouth bass.
• Lakes & Ponds – Good early fall trout fishing reported from Lake Wononscopomuc, Alexander Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake and West Hill Pond. Mixed reports from East Twin Lake and Long Pond.
• BASS fishing is variable. Areas to try for LARGEMOUTH BASS include Scoville Reservoir, Moodus Reservoir, Bashan, Candlewood, Quonnipaug, Cedar, Wintergreen, Beseck, Pickerel and Bolton Lakes, Messerschmidt Pond, Aspinook Pond, and Squantz pond.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is picking up, try Coventry, Highland and Candlewood Lakes. Some good river smallie action can be found on the Housatonic during warmer afternoons.
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be very good. Pike are showing up in Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Ashland Pond (including a recent 17.3 lb beauty), Pachaug Pond and Hopeville Pond.
• Fall WALLEYE action is reported to be good. Areas to try include Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond (a 10.0 lb walleye among recent catches). Anglers can expect excellent action later this fall, also remember, bad weather means good walleye fishing.
• YELLOW PERCH action reported from Hayward, Gardner, Candlewood and Tyler Lakes.
• Connecticut River – BLACK CRAPPIE (20 fish for one angler) are providing some good fall fishing (excellent Wethersfield Cove action on small shiners). Some STRIPED BASS action is reported in coves and in the lower river (try after dark). NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as good. Best action is from Wethersfield Cove and the Chapmans Pond/Salmon River Cove/Haddam Meadows area.
  
• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has been slow. Some SMALLMOUTH BASS action can be found in the Enfield area.
  
• Fall CATFISH action is fair. Anglers should try cut bait or chunks in the deeper holes and on the outside edges of the river.
• NOTICES: Fishing Hop Brook Lake has been closed until further notice due to a possible “toxic-alga bloom”. Please call the USACE at 203-729-8840 for the current status.
• STRIPED BASS fishing remains good and will even get better as the fall season progresses. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, south side of Fishers Island off Wilderness Point, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip (just north of Plum Island), Harkness Memorial State Park, 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 including Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good to excellent in the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Harkness Memorial State Park, 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, Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor.
  
• Scup fishing remains good on the local reefs with fish measuring 16 inches in length being reported.
• HICKORY SHAD fishing is good the Mystic River, Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge, and the lower Connecticut River (from Essex down to the breakwaters) including DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier.
• BLACK SEA BASS and TAUTOG can be caught off the major reef areas and rock piles. Huge blackfish of over 10lbs. were reported this past week!
• ATLANTIC BONITO and LITTLE TUNNY are hit or miss in LIS. Best bets are around the Pine Island area, Millstone Point to Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Sixmile Reef, Charles Island area to Milford Point and around the Norwalk Islands.
• PEANUT BUNKER can be seen breaking the surface in tidal rivers, harbors and coves all along the coastline.
• BLUE CRABBING remains excellent.