CT DEP 9/12/05 Weekly Fishing Report

1. INLAND REPORT:LARGEMOUTH BASS and SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing has slowed in many waters throughout the state with the best reports from the Housatonic River (still excellent) and Shetucket River (good) for smallmouth. Fair bass fishing is reported from Moodus Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake and Lake Lillinonah. Among the waters reporting slow fishing are Amos, Highland, Powers, Crystal (Ellington), Coventry, and East Twin, Lakes, Quaddick Reservoir, and Mashapaug, Beach and Long Ponds
2. Some NORTHERN PIKE action reported from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Quaddick Reservoir (3 pike including an 8-pounder for one angler). A few catches also reported from Lake Lillinonah.
3. Good reports for YELLOW PERCH from Coventry Lake and Mashapaug Lake.
4. WALLEYE fishing is fair to good at Squantz Pond, and very slow at Gardner Lake.
5. TROUT:LAKES & PONDS – Fair to Good trout fishing reported from East Twin Lake (on corn), Highland Lake, Alexander Lake (at 25-30 feet) and Crystal Lake (Ellington)(trolling at 20-25 feet, early morning, and evenings).
6. FARMINGTON RIVER. Trout fishing has been very good on the Farmington River (mornings best, mid-day the slowest). DEP has been conducting its annual electrofishing survey of the West Branch Farmington River this week and fishing in the West Branch TMA can be expected to be slow for several days. Sampling crews also collected approximately 150 large “Survivor-strain” brown trout to serve as broodstock.
7. Morning West Branch water temperatures remain in the upper 50's °F below Hogback, increasing to the upper 60’s °F as you go downstream to the TMA. West Branch flows are clear and expected to remain low (about 85 cfs from Hogback and additional 10 cfs from the Still River). Anglers should be aware that mainstem Farmington River flows (downstream of the confluence with the East Branch) may increase substantially this weekend. MDC will be drawing down Lake McDonough and it is currently anticipated that a release of about 250 cfs into the East Branch will begin on Friday (9/16). This release is scheduled to decrease to about 200 cfs on Monday morning, and continue for 2-3 additional days.
8. Current hatches include Isonychia (#10-12, fast water, evening), tiny Rusty Spinners (#22-26), Blue Wing Olives (#22-26, mornings and evenings), Caddis (tan #18-22, all day), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mornings and mid day, when windy/humid), Stenonema (#18-22, evenings) and Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day).
9. HOUSATONIC RIVER trout fishing should pick up this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to moderate and later this week, DEP WILL BE STOCKING 800 LARGE SEEFORELLAN-STRAIN BROWN TROUT INTO THE UPPER TMA to replace fish lost this summer. These trout average about 1 pound each. Currently (9/14), morning water temperatures in the TMA are close to 70°F. Flows are clear but continue to be very low, about 105 cfs at Falls Village and only about 130 cfs at Gaylordsville. Current patterns include flying ants (#18-22, mid-day, when windy/humid, September is peek month), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening, September is again peek month), Rusty Spinner (#10-24), Cahill/Stenonema (#12-16, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day). Streamer patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
10. Connecticut River – NORTHERN PIKE fishing remains good in the coves (Salmon River Cove was especially good last week), and in the mainstem (one angler fishing reported a number of 30-38” pike on live bait, fishing structure) downstream from Glastonbury to Essex. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is fair (best in lower river coves). Good reports for SMALLMOUTH BASS north of Hartford (Windsor/Enfield area, good action, no bigger fish). Reports of some HICKORY SHAD in Hamburg cove. Angling for CATFISH is fair to good in the Hartford area (deeper areas). Good numbers of BLUEFISH and STRIPED BASS (mostly schoolie size, 20-28”) were reported in the River to just north of Essex.
11. MARINE REPORT:The surface water temperature in Long Island Sound (LIS) remains in the high 60’s to low 70’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
12. STRIPED BASS fishing is fair to good on the major reefs and rip areas. The tube and worm combination and live lining scup, menhaden, hickory shad or eels, cut chunk bait on three way bottom rigs, and diamond jigs have been productive. Fishing spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef, the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, Millstone Point, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, the humps south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Madison and Branford, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor breakwaters to Charles Island, Penfield Reef, and around the Norwalk Islands.
13. Schools of BLUEFISH can be seen chasing peanut bunker in many of the harbors and river mouths. SNAPPER BLUEFISH fishing remains good along the coastline.
14. SUMMER FLOUNDER (FLUKE) fishing is fair.
15. SCUP (PORGIES) fishing is good at any of the major reefs with some jumbos being caught (17+ inches).
16. Niantic River and Clinton Harbor are the hot spots for HICKORY SHAD.
17. Reports of BLUEFIN TUNA in the Race area are still being reported.
18. BLUE CRABBING is improving daily.