CT DEP: 7/25/05 - Weekly Fishing Report

Week of July 25, 2005
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good to excellent in many lakes and ponds including Lake Williams, Lake Lillinonah, Candlewood (5.6 lbs.), Congamond (5 lb), Winchester (4.5 lb), Billings (8.25 lb bass), Coventry, Quonnipaug (4.5 lb bass), Winnemaug (6 lb ), Bantam, Pattaganset and East Twin (5.45 lb) Lakes, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Moodus Reservoir, and Pachaug, Long, Avery, Glasgo, and Ball Ponds.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported at Lake Housatonic, Hatch Pond, Squantz Pond, Coventry Lake, Candlewood Lake, Bashan Lake and in the Farmington (Tarrifville area), Quinebaug (very good), Pomperaug, Natchaug, Willimantic (very good) and Housatonic (excellent) Rivers.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be very good in Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond and Pachaug Pond.
Good YELLOW PERCH catches at Candlewood (big fish), Lake Housatonic, Squantz Pond and Crescent Pond.
Good reports for CATFISH from Winnemaug Lake (7.5 lb catfish) and the Housatonic impoundments (Lakes Lillinonah, Zoar and Housatonic).
Anglers are catching KOKANEE by trolling West Hill Pond at 3 colors of lead line or still-fishing at night with corn.
Some WALLEYE action reported from Coventry Lake, Squantz Pond (drifting alewives), and Beach Pond.
CALICO BASS are keeping anglers busy at Avery, Glasgo, Dog, Park and Pachaug Ponds, and Silver Lake (Meriden).
SUNFISH are providing excellent action using poppers on a fly rod. Try Crescent Pond, Mudge Pond, and Quinebaug, Amos, Billings, Crystal and Mamanasco Lakes.
Connecticut River- It’s primetime for CATFISH, plenty of action, frozen cut bait is working great. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is excellent (coves, Haddam Meadows). SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is good north of Hartford. LARGEMOUTH BASS action remains fair below Middletown. Some large STRIPED BASS are still being taken in the lower river on live eels, hickory shad and scup. Good CALICO BASS action on small minnows reported in the coves (try deeper areas).

TROUT
Rivers & streams -Good catches of trout reported from the Farmington (including some 18-22” fish), Natchaug, Housatonic and Salmon Rivers and Salmon Brook.
The Farmington River remains quite fishable, with water temperatures in the mid to upper 60’s°F and comfortable flows (235 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 20 cfs from the Still River as of 7/28). Last week’s trout fishing on the West Branch Farmington River TMA was described as “red hot!” by some.Although the heat early this week did slow evening fishing by delaying insect activity until later in the night, the cooler air temperatures forecast for the next week should restart evening action. Current successful patterns include Needhami (#24-26, early morning),Stenonema (Cahills #14),Isonychia (#10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#18-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs (Vitreus #14) duns (#14-20, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-28, morning), Black Ants (#14-18, morning in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18), Flying Ants (#18-22, when humid) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening).
Housatonic River flows are currently moderately clear and low (about 290 cfs at Falls Village). Water temperatures remain in the mid to upper 70’s °F. ANGLERS ARE REMINDED THAT THESE WATER TEMPERATURES ARE VERY STRESSFUL TO TROUT, EXTRA CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN HANDLING TROUT THEY PLAN TO RELEASE (smallmouth bass are a alternative for anglers on the Housatonic River). Insect hatches include: Alder Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and tan/green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening). Don’t forget streamers (morning and evening). Patterns to try include: White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds –Good trout fishing is still being found in some lakes and ponds including Crystal Lake (Ellington), Wonoscopomuc Lake, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake, West Hill Pond and Squantz Pond.

MARINE REPORT
Striped bass
The surface water temperature in Long Island Sound (LIS) is in the low 70’s °F.
STRIPED BASS fishing remains good on the local reefs for “cows” using live scup, hickory shad and eels on three way bottom rigs. Also don’t forget about using chunk baits (cut bunker, etc.).
STRIPERS and BLUEFISH can be found off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef, the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, the humps south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Madison and Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Penfield Reef, and around the Norwalk Islands. Schoolie stripers are in the Mystic River and lower Connecticut River off South Cove to the breakwaters and the Housatonic River. Most bluefish are in the 6 to 8 lbs. range.
SNAPPER BLUEFISH have been reported in LIS but are only about 3 inches in length.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains a slow pick for legal sized fish. Patience is the key in finding doormats and large baits including whole squid are the ticket.
BLACK SEA BASS and WEAKFISH spots include the Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Niantic Bay (Black Point), and the “dunes” off Mattituck although fishing is spotty.
TAUTOG (blackfish) can also be found along with SCUP (porgies) on any of the major reefs located in LIS. Large scup in the 14 to 15 inch size range have been reported so far. Scup fishing is an easy and great way to get kids started in fishing saltwater since the action can be non stop.
Try the Mystic River, Niantic River or the Connecticut River for HICKORY SHAD. Often, hickories will school with schoolie stripers.