CT DEP Weekly Fishing Reports #18

• LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good. Areas to try include Lake Housatonic, Lake Wonoscopomuc, Lower Moodus Reservoir, Red Cedar, Winchester (6.3 lb bass), Highland, Mashapaug, Rogers, Candlewood, Silver and Quonnipaug lakes, Bicentennial, Squantz, Uncas, Glasgo, Ball, Mudge, and Hopeville Ponds, and the Quinebaug (Aspinook Pond, catches include one 4-lb and numerous 2-lb bass) and the Shetucket River (Taftville Pond).
• SMALLMOUTH BASS catches reported from Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Housatonic, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake (smallies are challenging anglers here, but a 5.5 lb beauty is among the recent catches), Beach Pond (a 5.1 lb beauty), Eagleville Lake and Squantz Pond. Although cooling off, some good late summer smallie action can still be found on the Housatonic River. Some good reports also from the Farmington River (Tariffville area).
• NORTHERN PIKE fishing (target cooler water) is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake(small fish), Hopeville Pond (10-lb pike), Pachaug Pond and the Housatonic River (Kent and FallsVillage/Salisbury areas).
• WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir (and also the river), SquantzPond and Batterson Park Pond.
• SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Your local neighborhood pond can often provide plenty of action, for larger areas try Gardner, East Twin, Tyler, Waramaug, Amos and Rogers Lakes, Park Pond, Halls Pond and Batterson Park Pond.
• Connecticut River – STRIPED BASS action remains good in the lower river on tube & worm as well as on bait.
• Some nice NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Chapman’s Cove, also several pike up to 8 lbs among the catches in the Haddam Meadows/Salmon River Cove area.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS and SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing has been a bit challenging recently. Catches do include a 3.5 lb smallie (Enfield area) and a 4 lb largemouth (Salmon River Cove).
• CATFISH continue to provide anglers with some good action, cut bait (chunking) in the deeper holes of the river.
• TROUT Rivers & streams - Stream flows continue to be low in a number of areas through out the state. Flows are especially low in northeastern CT (the Fenton, Willimantic, Mt Hope and Quinebaug Rivers are all very low). A number of rivers & streams in northwestern CT including the Housatonic River are also well below typical levels. Fly anglers should definitely be including terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal.
• Good reports for trout from the West Branch and mainstem Farmington Rivers, and the Housatonic River. Farmington River conditions remain excellent for summer trout fishing and anglers can also look forward to even more fish in the river for the Labor Day weekend as DEP expects to stock close to 2,500 12-inch (or greater) brown trout into the West Branch tomorrow (Friday, 8/31). Morning West Branch water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. Flows also remain clear and very fishable, currently about 205 cfs at Riverton, with an additional minimal input of 6 cfs from the Still River. Insect hatches include the Trico (dwindling, #22-28, morning), Needhami (#22-28, early morning to
  early afternoon in Riverton), Isonychia (#10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives/Baetis (#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (#16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Cahills/Stenonema (#12-18, evenings), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake/Potomanthus (#10-14, late evening).
• Housatonic River water temperatures have again increased, now ranging in the upper 60’s and low 70’s °F (Thursday morning temperature in the TMA was 69 °F). Flows are quite fishable but very low, currently about 120 cfs at Falls Village and 210 cfs at Gaylordsville. ANTS are on right now. Insect hatches include Blue Wing Olive/Baetis (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12, main evening hatch), White Wulff (#10-12), Sulfurs (#16 dusk/dark), Light Cahill/Stenonema (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and
  Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains).
  
• Lakes & Ponds – Good reports for trout from Lake Wonoscopomuc, East Twin Lake, Beach Pond (two 20” fish among the ten brown trout caught by one pair of anglers), Highland Lake, Crystal Lake and Uncas Lake.
• 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, Bridgeport Harbor including Seaside Park, and the reefs off Stamford. Stripers in the 50 inch range have been reported caught over this past week.
• BLUEFISH fishing remains good to excellent at the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, 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, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands.
• SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing remains good in the tidal rivers and coves.
• SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is good in the Niantic-Waterford area, lower Thames River, Latimer Point, Stonington area, and the south shore of Fishers Island.
• SCUP fishing remains good on the local reefs with jumbos up to 17 inches being reported.
• HICKORY SHAD fishing remains good in the Mystic River, Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge, 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).
• BLUE CRABBING is good to excellent (about peak).