DEP Weekly Fishing Report #5 5/20/09

Rivers & streams: Trout fishing has been very good, with best reports from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Saugatuck River, Pootatuck River, East Aspetuck River, Pomperaug River, Mill River TMA, Hammonasset River, Natchaug River, Pattaconk Brook, Latimer Brook and Eightmile River (East Haddam/Lyme). Conditions have generally been great for trout fishing, although high flows in some areas challenged anglers earlier this week (try tributaries instead).

Farmington River - Generally good to excellent fishing reported, especially in the upper West Branch. Conditions are comfortable for fishing. Flows are currently clear and moderate (340 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 120 cfs from the Still River). Water temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s°F. Current hatches/patterns include Hendrickson (a.k.a red quills; #14-16), Blue Winged Olive (a.k.a. baetis or vagan; #16-18), Blue Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #18), Early Stonefly (#13-16), Quill Gordon (#14), Green Caddis & Brown/Tan Caddis (#16-18), Rusty Spinners (#16-20), Midges (#22-32), Pheasant Tails (#14-18) and Mahogany Duns (#16-18). The Hendrickson hatch is rapidly fading and is mainly from Riverton up to the dam.

Housatonic River - Trout fishing was good to excellent last week. The river was unfishable due to high flows following Sunday’s rains, but conditions show again be good for the weekend, as flows continue to clear and decrease to more fishable levels. Currently the river is at 1,400 cfs at Falls Village and 2,300 cfs at Gaylordsville. Hatches include Green Caddis, Blue Winged Olive, March Brown/Gray Fox, Brown/Tan Caddis and Midges. Caddis (#14-18, green, olive & tan), Henryville Special, Adams (#12-20) and March Brown (#10-12) are patterns currently producing. Sulfurs should be starting up soon. Under current conditions, streamers and nymphs work well.

Lakes & Ponds – Connecticut lakes and ponds are fishing very well for trout. Places to try include East Twin Lake (6 lb, 23” brown among the recent catches), Wononskopomuc Lake, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Tyler Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Beach Pond and Coventry Lake.

Trout Parks - These areas are designed to be easy to fish, with excellent access and amenities such as picnic areas nearby, and are stocked frequently. The Kent Falls, Stratton Brook, Black Rock Pond, Chatfield Hollow, Natchaug River, Valley Falls Park Pond, Day Pond, and Mohegan Park Pond Trout Parks were all stocked this week.

Areas stocked this week in western CT - Bantam River (above & below Bantam Lake), Blackberry River, Butternut Brook, West Branch Farmington River (from Goodwin Dam to the TMA), Mad River, Mill River (Fairfield, includes the TMA), Naugatuck River (except the TMA), Pequonnock River, Pomperaug River, Sandy Brook, Still River (Colebrook), Wepawaug River, Whiting River, Highland Lake, Mohegan Lake (Fairfield), West Hill Pond and the Mad River Impoundment.

Areas stocked this week in eastern CT - Branford River, Dickenson Creek, Farm River, Hammonasset River (including the TMA), Hockanum River (above and below the TMA), Moosup River, Mount Hope River, Natchaug River, Quinebaug River, Salmon River (including the TMA), Scantic River, Snake Meadow Brook, West River, Beach Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Cedar Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Gardner Lake, Moosup Pond, Rogers Lake, Walkers Reservoir and Wauregan Reservoir.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good with reports from Amos Lake (very good), Saugatuck Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Moodus Reservoir, West Farms Reservoir, Candlewood Lake, Lake Hayward, Lake Lillinonah, Lower Bolton Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Tyler Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake, East Twin Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake, Bashan Lake, Highland Lake, Ball Pond, Mudge Pond, Halls Pond and Beach Pond.

SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught at Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Bantam Lake (fair), Candlewood Lake (daytime is very good, also some good night time action) and Crystal Lake.

WALLEYE reported from Lake Saltonstall, Batterson Park Pond, and Coventry Lake.
KOKANEE – Some catches (8-10” fish) reported from East Twin Lake.

CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS are now throughout the river. Good numbers of schoolie size (16-25”) fish plus many keepers up to 36” mixed in. Fish are responding to tube & worm, bait and soft plastics.
CATFISH up to 10 lbs are responding very well to dead bait, chunking & sandworms. Some SHAD action (variable) reported in the mainstem, especially from the mouth of the river upstream to Rocky Hill. Shad darts and willow leaf continue to be the most productive lures.

TIPS & TRICKS
WALLEYE - The most productive lure recently was a white Zoom Superfluke.

TROUT - Fishing minnows off a Dipsey diver produced many fish while trolling at 5-6 colors of lead line. Also, spoons, either Mooselooks in silver or a 4" flutter spoon in silver. Fishing a Flutter spoon; start by making a long cast and letting the spoon fall on slack line. Slack line is the key to flutter spoons, as it gives the bait its distinctive dying shad fluttering action. Once the bait hits bottom, reel up your slack, holding your rod at the 9 o’clock position. Raise your rod to the 12 o’clock or even 1 o’clock position, pulling the spoon way up off the bottom. Some days you want to raise the spoon very briskly, while other days a slow steady lift works better. Once you’ve lifted the spoon, leave slack in the line and let it fall back to the bottom. Repeat this process all the way to the boat, making sure to leave slack in the line each time it drops for that key fluttering action. If the fish are suspended instead of on the bottom, follow this same process, except count the bait down to the desired depth instead of letting it fall all the way to the bottom on the initial cast. Bites on the spoon will feel like a very sharp thump and your line will often jump.

LARGEMOUTH BASS - The largemouth are up shallow in rocks or just inside the weedline while the smallies were on top of the deeper weed edges. Dropshotting is working well. Most fish were shallow in less than 5 ft of water. Some fish were caught on wacky rig stick baits, and other assorted soft plastics, with a few spinnerbait fish brought to the boat. Crankbaits & spinnerbaits produced well as did Gulp 3” minnow and grub in a black to natural color.

NORTHERN PIKE - Try a white or black spinnerbait. Pike also respond well to a white or pearl Super Fluke or Houdini shad. Don't forget to throw an early morning pop-R or a topwater.