Conn Post, 9/23/05

1. Connecticut anglers are enjoying very nice late-summer weather. Sunny skies, light breezes and pleasant temperatures have made fishing both comfortable and enjoyable. In some cases, the fish are adding to the outdoor fun.
2. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have been keeping freshwater anglers alert as they are striking spinnerbaits, topwater lures, live minnows and small-to-medium size jigs. The best smallmouth bass reports have come from the Housatonic River between the Route 4 bridge in Cornwall and the Route 202 bridge in New Milford, the Connecticut River between the Massachusetts border and Hartford, Gardner Lake, Candlewood Lake and the Shepaug Arm of Lake Lillinonah. Largemouth bass have been cooperating in the smaller lakes and ponds like Lower Moodus Reservoir, Powers Lake, Long Meadow Pond, Pickerel Lake, Silver Lake, Hop Brook Flood Control Impoundment, Ball Pond, Lake Housatonic, Mamanasco Lake, Lake Kenosia, Nells Rock Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Burr Pond, Highland Lake, Park Pond, Lake Saltonstall and Wood Creek Pond.
3. Walleye and northern pike are biting well, too. The best pike action has come from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir and Pachaug Pond. Also, a few incidental pike catches have been reported from Lake Lillinonah. Walleye fishing is fair to good at Squantz Pond, Lake Housatonic, the Saugatuck Reservoir and Gardner Lake. Mike Vasilescu of Shelton found the walleye bite at Lake Saltonstall to his liking last week. He caught five walleye longer than 23 inches. His largest walleye was 25.75 inches long and weighed 6-pounds, 9-ounces.
4. Trout anglers received a gift from the state Department of Environmental Protection this week when biologists stocked about 800 large Seeforellen-strain brown trout into the upper trout management area on the HousatonicRiver. These trout averaged about one pound each. This unscheduled stocking is designed to replace the fish lost during the hot weather this summer. Other noteworthy places for trout angling are East Twin Lake, Highland Lake, the Farmington River Trout Management Area and Hogback Reservoir.
5. Saltwater anglers are finding plenty of striped bass and bluefish around. Big fish are a tad scarce, but the smaller fish make up for their lack of size with volume. These fish are cruising around the harbors and tidal rivers looking for "peanut bunker," so called because the baitfish is about the size of a large peanut. Artificial lures, like poppers, swimming plugs and spoons, that mimic the baby bunker in size and color will score.
6. Bottom fishing throughout Long Island Sound offers a mixed bag and review. Fluke fishing is slow to fair. If you are looking for fluke, spend your time in New Haven Harbor, along Long Sand Shoal, at the mouth of Niantic Bay and around Watch Hill Point. Porgy are not producing the numbers of fish that we were spoiled with last year, but the individual fish size in considerably larger. Also, a few black sea bass are mixed in with the porgy. Blackfish season re-opened Thursday after a three-week shutdown. The water temperatures are still high, so don't expect to catch a lot of blackfish until the weather breaks. [org pub Connecticut Post, by FRANK MCKANE JR]