Week Fish Column C. Walsh, ConnPost 5/18/09

SALTWATER:Sporadic is the best term to use in describing the fishing situation in Long Island Sound right now. At times the blues and bass cooperate, at times they don't. But it's safe to say enough fish will spend their Memorial Day holiday in the waters between New Haven and Greenwich to make any outing worthwhile. Here's the rundown.

Stripped bass:The most consistent bass fishery at the moment is the BH buoy area outside Bridgeport Harbor where the fish have been stacked up, but the bass can show up almost anywhere at any time. Chunkers and casters throwing Rebel-style swimmer lures are taking keepers fish in the BH buoy area. One warning; bluefish are mixed in with the bass so wise angler are using heavy mono or wire leaders. The Norwalk Islands are yielding some good sized fish for a change. Dave Smith took a 17-pound bass casting from Burying Hill Beach in Westport mid-day Saturday. Al Day fought a 40 inch-plus fish for 40 minutes this week in the Milford Harbor area before it straightened his hook at boat side and swam away. Fly fishers using large herring pattern are doing well.

Bluefish As mentioned above, choppers in the 7 to 8 pound range are showing up at irregular intervals on the beaches and river mouths. It is hit and miss but the hits are a load of fun. Surface feeding schools have raided bait pods at the mouth of the Housatonic River and on most beaches. The angler that arranges to be there when a school shows up blues is in for some wild action. The spate of warmer weather could turn the blue on big time.
Black sea bass New Haven Harbor and the breakwaters outside it are holding a population of sea bass
Porgies The scup season opens Monday and if the reports coming in are any indication the fish are ready to go. At the moment the porgies seem to be feeding on small shrimp.

FRESHWATER Trout: Trout fishing has been very good, the DEP reports. Best reports are coming from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Saugatuck River, East Aspetuck River, and the Mill River TMA. High flows in some areas challenged anglers earlier this week (try tributaries instead). The DEP's most recent stockings were in the Branford River, Dickenson Creek, Farm River, Hammonasset River, West River, Beach Pond, Black Pond in Middlefield/Meriden, Cedar Lake, Crystal Lake in Ellington), Gardner Lake, Rogers Lake, Walkers Reservoir and Wauregan Reservoir.
Largemouth bass Fishing is generally good in Amos Lake (top reports), the Saugatuck Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Candlewood Lake, Lake Hayward, Lake Lillinonah, Lower Bolton Lake, and Lake Saltonstall. [Charles Walsh, Connecticut Post]