DEP Freshwater Weekly Report #8 6/18/09

TROUT
Rivers & streams - The rain and cool weather and should extend the trout season in many areas. However, anglers have been faced with variable and area-specific conditions due to rainfall patterns over the last week, with some areas unfishable and others with comfortable flows. Current weather forecasts indicate that anglers may expect these variable conditions to continue through at least the upcoming weekend. Anglers are reminded that under these conditions, fishing smaller streams and tributaries will often be the safer and more productive option.

With virtually every insect active and many hatching, fishing was good to very good last week in many areas, reports from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Norwalk River, Pattaconk Brook, Mill River TMA, Naugatuck River, Natchaug River, Blackberry River, Farm River, Hammonasset River, Eightmile River (Lyme) and Latimer Brook.

Farmington River - Trout fishing was excellent last week prior to the rains. West Branch flows are again clear and back at moderate levels, currently 240 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River providing another 220 cfs. Water temperatures are currently in the mid 50’s °F. Depending on rainfall patterns, flows from the Still River may increase again. Hatches include Vitreus [a.k.a. pale evening dun] #14-16, from 5:00pm to dark, Isonychia (#10-12), Tan Caddis (#16-20) good all day, Sulfurs, (Invaria #16-18 hatches mid-day and Dorothea #18-20). Successful patterns include March Brown nymphs (#10), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#16-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32) and Pale Evening Duns (#14-16, afternoon & early evenings).

Housatonic River - Fishing was excellent last week. However, the river is unfishable due to high flows, currently 3,250 cfs at Falls Village and 4,500 at Gaylordsville (anglers should call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information). Flows on many of the small tributaries such as Macedonia Brook, Furnace Brook and Kent Falls Brook will be much more fishable. Alder/Zebra Caddis (#10-12), Sulphurs (#14-18), Blue Wing Olive (#18-20, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#8-10 evening, just starting), Cahill (#12-14), Adams (#12-14, evening), March Brown (#10-12) & Gray Foxes (#14-16) had been providing excellent flyfishing.

Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Lakes & Ponds – Places to try include Crystal Lake (Ellington), Mashapaug Lake, Bashan Lake (good reports, recent catches include a 22 inch, 5 lb brown trout), Long Pond, Beach Pond, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake (23” brown), Lake McDonough, Lake Wononskopomuc and West Hill Pond.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good at many areas throughout the state, including Pachaug Pond, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Amos Lake, Quaddick Lake (very good – lots of action), Candlewood Lake (including several 6-lb fish), Beseck Lake, Lake Lillinonah (including a 5 lb largemouth), Bashan Lake, Moodus Reservoir, Pattagansett Lake, Crystal Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Ball Pond, Highland Lake (including a 5.25 lb largemouth), Lake Wononskopomuc, and the Bolton Lakes. Fair reports for Rainbow Reservoir, Beach Pond (catches do include a 7 lb beauty), Aspinook Pond, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake and Lake McDonough.

SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair, with reports from Rainbow Reservoir, Colebrook Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Highland Lake, Squantz Pond, Beach Pond, Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake and West Hill Pond. Good reports from Candlewood Lake and Bashan Lake.

CATFISH fishing is reported to be good in the newly stocked catfish areas. Locations to try include Keney Park (Hartford), Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich), Black Pond (Middlefield/Meriden), Lake Wintergreen (Hamden/New Haven), Lower Bolton Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin/Meriden) and the Maltby Lakes.

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Winchester Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.

KOKANEE - Try East Twin Lake and West Hill Pond (3 colors of lead line at 20 ft).

WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Mashapaug Lake and Saugatuck Reservoir.

CONNECTICUT RIVER – Catches of STRIPED BASS at the river mouth declined last week. Anglers in the Haddam area were having good luck with CATFISH. WHITE PERCH catches continue to hold up – good catches in Essex and the Lieutenant River, and also good from the Middletown/Portland area. PANFISH anglers are starting to show up, catching yellow perch and sunfish at various shore spots from Hadlyme to Middletown. NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Wethersfield Cove, White Oaks Cove and downstream from Hartford to Haddam (good reports from the Portland Bridge).

TIPS & TRICKS
FINDING/ATTRACTING CARP - To maximize your chances of catching a carp, you need to find the fish and then attract them. Look for any jumping or rolling fish. Also look for bubbles that appear to be moving slowly along. Often carp will stir up the bottom and give their presence away with rising bubbles or even clouds of silt. To attract them, try chumming. The best starter chum is plain old sweet corn. Tossing by hand, using a sling shot or lashing a throwing scoop to the end of a broom stick will get the chum to the fishing area. Chumming both attracts the fish and creates a competitive feeding frenzy. Carp competing with each other are less cautious and more easily caught. (Source: Carp Anglers Group)

A New State record common carp (40.5 lb beauty) was recently caught in the lower Connecticut River by Steven Wasilewski of Norwich, CT. Following weighing, the fish was returned to the river alive. Steve is also the holder of the Rhode Island state record for common carp.