DEP Weekly Fishing Report #1 4/23/2009

INLAND REPORT

Anglers enjoyed good Opening Day weather and good fishing in many areas last Saturday. Eight of the Trout Parks were also stocked on Opening Day and the many kids present enjoyed helping us stock. DEP’s in-season stocking is underway with nearly 300,000 additional trout scheduled to be stocked between Opening Day and the end of May.

TROUT

Rivers & streams - Flows are quite fishable in most areas throughout the state, and there are plenty of trout to be caught. Good reports from the West Branch Farmington & Farmington Rivers (including a 28” Seeforellen brown trout), Salmon River, Natchaug River (9 lb brown among the many catches), Mill River Easton/Fairfield), Scantic River, Mianus River, Saugatuck River (24” brown), Salmon
River, Mill River (Hamden; very good), Housatonic River, Wepawaug River, Naugatuck River TMA, Norwalk River, Blackberry River, Yantic River, Shetucket River, Skunkamaug River, Fivemile River, Hammonasset River, Eightmile River (Haddam/Lyme), Hockanum River, Moosup River, Willimantic River TMA, Furnace Brook, Latimer Brook, Bigelow Brook, Leadmine Brook and the Trout Parks at Kent Falls State Park, Stratton Brook State Park (11.5 lb brown trout), Black Rock State Park and Wharton Brook State Park,. Many anglers are having success using earthworms or mealworms & corn.

Farmington River - Water temperatures are in the low 40’s °F. Flows are clear and quite fishable, currently 190 cfs at Riverton plus an additional 290 cfs from the Still River. Successful fly anglers are using Blue Wing Olive (#16-20), Hendricksons (#12-14, afternoon), Blue Quill Duns (#16-18), Winter Caddis (#16-20), Midges (#22-28) and a variety of nymphs. Hare’s Ear (#14-16), Yellow Prince (#14-
16), Wooly Buggers and streamers are also producing. Surface activity will increase as temperatures rise.

Housatonic River - Water temperatures are in the high 40’s/low 50’s °F. Flows are clear and fishable (actually somewhat lower than typical spring levels), currently 91,180 cfs at Falls Village and 1,800 cfs at Gaylordsville. Hendrickson (#12-14), Parachute Adams (#12-14), Midges (#20-28) and black/brown stoneflies (#12-14) are the current hatches.

Anglers Can Expect Good Fishing in western CT on the West Branch Farmington River TMA, and both TMA’s (Housatonic River TMA, Bulls Bridge TMA) on the Housatonic River. In Eastern CT, good fishing can be expected at Beaver Brook, Bigelow Brook, Blackledge River, Branford River, Chatfield Hollow Brook, Eight Mile River, Farm River, Fenton River, Hammonasset River (including TMA), Hunts Brook, Indiantown Brook, Jeremey River, Middle River, Mount Hope River, Natchaug River, Raymond Brook, Roaring Brook (Stafford), Salmon River (including TMA), Shetucket River,
Still River (Eastford), Susquetonscut Brook, West River, Willimantic River, Yantic River (including TMA).

Lakes & Ponds – Good fishing and some excellent catches were found in many lakes/ponds throughout Connecticut including Colebrook Reservoir, Wononscopomuc Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington),Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake, Cedar Lake, East Twin Lake (6 lb brown), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Tyler Lake, Bashan Lake, Candlewood Lake, Cedar Lake (5 lb rainbow), Mt. Tom Pond (a beauty of a rainbow trout, just under 13 lbs), Mohawk Pond, West Hill Pond, Walkers
Reservoir, and the Trout Parks at Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond, 8 lb rainbow), Chatfield Hollow State Park (very good), and Black Rock State Park.

Anglers can expect good fishing at Black Pond (Woodstock), Branford Supply Pond, , Horse Pond, Lake Saltonstall, Mansfield Training Ponds, Norwich Pond, Paine Pond, Rogers Lake, and Saw Mill Pond.

Trout Parks should all fish well. Black Rock Pond, Chatfield Hollow State Park, Southford Falls State Park, Stratton Brook State Park, Wharton Brook State Park, Mohegan Park Pond, Valley Falls Park Pond and Great Hollow Pond/Wolfe Park were all stocked on Opening Day and the Day Pond, Chatfield Hollow, Kent Falls, and Natchaug River Trout Parks were all stocked this week.

ATLANTIC SALMON catches were reported at Mashapaug Lake (12 lb beauty caught by 10 year old Julia Kelley), Crystal Lake and Beach Pond (several 2-3 lb salmon reported). Broodstock salmon fishing should be especially good at Beach Pond and Mashapaug Lake, the two lakes were each stocked with 200 surplus broodstock salmon in early April.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair with reports from Aspinook pond (including a 4.8 lb bass), Lake Zoar, Lake Wononskopomuc, Amos Lake, Eagleville Lake, East Twin Lake, Pachaug Pond, Scoville Reservoir, Saugatuck Reservoir, West Hill Pond (good, including a 8 lb bass), Candlewood Lake, Bantam Lake, Highland Lake, Moodus Reservoir and North Farms Reservoir. Powers Lake was slow. Target dark bottom warmer back water coves.

SMALLMOUTH BASS are fishing well with best reports from Lake Lillinonah (including a 5.5 lb smallie) and Candlewood Lake (some 4-5 lb smallies among the catches). Other places to try include Saugatuck Reservoir, Highland Lake, East Twin, Tyler Lake and Squantz Pond.

WALLEYE are being caught at Mashapaug Lake (11.1 lb walleye among the catches), Lake Housatonic, Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake and Squantz Pond (4.5 lb walleye). Target near shore rocky cobble areas with stick baits, Shad Raps and live bait.

CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS are moving up the river up to Windsor. Schoolie size (14-24”) fish and adults up to 27-28” (lower river) are showing up. Anglers are catching schoolies on a variety of plastic baits on jigs. Sand & blood worms work best in early season stained water. A single report of SHAD indicates that these tasty treats are starting to make their annual trip up the Connecticut.
CARP are being caught on homemade bait. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good in the Middletown –Haddam Meadows area.

TIPS & TRICKS:
TROUT IN LAKES – Trolling got off to a great start with many big fish being taken. Experienced anglers used stick baits, spinners, rooster tail, flash kings (orange/gold), DB Smelts (blue/silver), streamers & live bait. Lead line, flat line and down rigger presentations were reported as being effective. Fish were found from 0 to 12 feet. Slower boat speeds of 1.5 – 1.9 mph were found to be the best as fish are still sluggish with the colder water temperatures and lower light levels. Bigger fish can typically be found in 45-50ºF water. Lure color can be very important and bright colors (reds, oranges, or yellows) below 40 feet of water usually don’t work. Black and silver work at any depth and should be the go-to colors.

MARINE FISHING REPORT
Striped bass fishing for schoolies is fair to good along the coastline with tidal rivers being the better spots. Striper locales include the Pawcatuck River, upper Thames River (Norwich Harbor down to Montville), lower Connecticut River from Hamburg Cove down to the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier and off the woodlot at Great Island, Housatonic River from Derby down to Devon (the upper river is yielding keeper bass to the mid 30 inch range), Bridgeport Harbor by the power plant
warm water discharge (Breezy Point/Seaside Park), and Norwalk Harbor including around the islands.

Winter flounder fishing is on the slow side. Flounder spots include Bluff Point State Park (Poquonock River), Pine Island area in Groton, Niantic Bay including Niantic River, and Norwalk Harbor (Calf Pasture Point).

Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the low 40’s °F.