NB Herald, 9/2/05

1. FISHING REPORT: River and stream fishing for trout is good to excellent statewide even though water levels are very low. The Farmington River offers the most consistent trout fishing for both bait and fly fishermen. Meal worms and garden worms are the best baits to use. Hatches remain similar to the past few weeks except for the appearance of the Trico. Other hatches include Needhami (early morning), Isonychia (evening), Blue Wing Olives (mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan all day; green, evening), Black Ants (mid day), Black Beetles (mid day), Flying Ants (mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake , (late evening).
2. Largemouth bass fishing is reported as good to very good in many lakes and ponds including Candlewood, Bantam, Winnemaug, Highland, Powers, Winchester, Congamond, Mashapaug, Wonoscopomuc, Cedar and East Twin Lakes, Scoville Reservoir, Pachaug and Moosup Ponds.
3. Smallmouth action is reported from Lake Housatonic, Lake Lillinonah, Mashapaug Lake, Candlewood Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Squantz Pond, and the Farmington (Tarrifville area), Connecticut River (north of Hartford) and Housatonic Rivers
4. Striped bassfishing remains fair to good on the major reefs and rip areas. Dusk to dawn is the time to go during this time of year. Drift fishing live baits on three way rigs is getting the best results. Both Stripers and Bluefish can be caught at the usual spots: off the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef, the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River, 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, Charles Island area, Penfield Reef, and around the Norwalk Islands.
5. Snapper Bluefish are in the tidal creeks and coves
6. Summer Flounder fishing is spotty depending on the area but "doormats" in excess of 7 lbs. have been reported this past week. Fluke areas include: the Stonington Harbor area, lower Mystic River, Groton Long Point, Bloody Grounds to Black Point, Connecticut River and Long Sand Shoal.
7. A few bonito have been reported in The Race and in Rhode Island waters, but catches are sporadic as of this writing.