Stamford Advocate

• On the Saugatuck Reservoir, a 9 1/2-pound 23-inch Seeforellen brown trout taken on a blue and silver Krocodile lure.
• On the Mianus River, a 6 pound, 5 ounce brown trout using a white Rooster Tail tied onto a 4 pound test line. Also on the Mianus a 6lb 3 ounce brown trout was caught using trout worms.
• On the Norwalk River a 5-pound, 12-ounce brown trout was caught with a trout worm.
• The Silvermine River gave up a 1lb 10oz brown trout with a nightcrawler.
• The Mianus Trout Mgmt Area gave up a 16” Rainbow trout with a Mickey Finn fly.
• Stripers were being caught in Greenwich using mackerel chunks and a Finesse lure. Tod’s Point was also productive.
• Darien anglers caught stripers success using a 10-inch Finesse lure.
• In Stamford a 32 inch striper was caught using a 7 ½ inch Finesse lure.
• Stripers were caught off of IBM in Shippan and using claims.
• A dozen winter flounder were caught from a pier in Norwalk Harbor. Anglers used lots of chum to attract the fish and sandworms for bait.

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #3 5/8

• Family fishing day is May 12, and the DEP will be stocking three of the new fishing areas at Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport) and Lake Wintergreen (Hamden). Valley Falls Park, Chatfield Hollow, Wharton Brook and Southford Falls Trout Parks will also be stocked before family fishing day.
• TROUT: Rivers and streams - Natchaug River, Little River, Norwalk River, Salmon River, Mill River, Hammonasset River, Blackledge River, Saugatuck River, Pequonnock River, Scantic River, Farmington River-West Branch, Housatonic River, Naugatuck River, Willimantic River, Sandy Brook, Salmon Brook, Pomperaug River, Pootatuck River, Coginchaug River, Fenton River, Five Mile River, Moosup River, Mount Hope River, Quinebaug River, Roaring Brook, West River, Chatfield Hollow Brook and Dickenson Creek.
• Lakes & Ponds: Lake Wonoscopomuc, Lake McDonough, Crystal Lake, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Coventry lake, Candlewood Lake, Alexander Lake, Beach Pond, West Hill Lake, West Side Pond, Wolfe Park Trout Park, Mohawk Pond, Twin Brooks Pond, Tyler Pond, Higganum Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Amos Lake, Wyassup Lake, Rogers Lake, Angus Park Pond, Bicentennial Pond, Bigelow Pond, Branford Supply Pond, Gay City Pond, Long Pond, Mansfield Training Pond and the Valley Falls, Day Pond and Mohegan Pond Trout Parks.
• What to Use: Bait anglers had best success with earthworms or mealworm/corn combinations. Successful fly patterns include Winter/Summer Caddis (Nos. 16-22, early morning, minor hatch), Blue Wing Olive (Nos. 14-18, late morning to early afternoon), Blue Quills (Nos. 16-20, early afternoon), Quill Gordons (Nos. 16-18, early to mid-afternoon) and Hendricksons (Nos. 12-14, early afternoon). Spinner fall occurs around 6:30 p.m.
• LARGEMOUTH BASS: Quaddick Reservoir, Moodus Reservoir, West Side Pond, Messerschmidt Pond, Pierrepont Pond, Pachaug Pond, Long Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Saltonstall, Wonoscopomuc Lake, Crystal Lake, Maltby Lake, Gardner Lake, Bashan Lake, Coventry Lake, Mamanasco Lake, Amos Lake, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Highland Lake, Winnemaug Lake.
• SMALLMOUTH BASS: Lake Lillinonah, Wonoscopomuc Lake, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake.
• NORTHERN PIKE: Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond.
• CHAIN PICKEREL: Upper Moodus Reservoir, Mono Pond, Gardner Lake, Maltby Lakes.
• CATFISH: Wethersfield Cove, White Oak Cove.
• SALT WATER: BLUEFISH: New Haven harbor.
• STRIPED BASS: Connecticut River (up to Enfield), Pawcatuck River, Thames River (Norwich Harbor, downstream to Montville Power Plant), Hamburg Cove, Great Island, Sandy Point, New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, Housatonic River (up to Derby Dam), Norwalk Harbor.
• WINTER FLOUNDER: Bluff Point State Park, Niantic River, Niantic Bay, The Brothers, Housatonic River, Norwalk Harbor.

Westport Outfitters (Norwalk) Fishing Report

• The Western Sound continues to warm up with temperatures hitting up to 56 F inside our harbors on Tuesday. Average is still around 53 F but we should be seeing a drastic increase in striped bass in our area. Our own Captain Chris ventured out Tuesday and fished around Greens Ledge with several fish in the mid 20s. Long Island's North Shore continues to be the best shot at schoolie size bass along with the Housatonic River.
  
• We also spotted schools of bunker near Cold Spring Harbor, Greens Ledge and the Saugatuck River. Olive/White clousers and sand eel imitations have been producing decent results as well as the new Gulp imitation scented sand eels. The smaller fish also finally showed up deep inside the Saugatauk this week with bass up to 18 inches with an occasional larger fish mixed into the mix. We also had a scout land a fish just shy of 28 inches over at the Mill Pond over the weekend on plastics. The outflows should heat up towards the evening as the warm water pours into the sound, we have a perfect tide towards night fall this weekend!
• Flounder fishing remains steady in and around the Norwalk Islands with spotty action near the mouth of the Housatonic. Continue to focus on the deeper holes off of Calf Pasture Beach. No boat?? The pier has been on fire for the shore guys inside the park as well. It is no secret that we are a few weeks behind, but we had reports on Tuesday that several larger 24 inch fish were caught covered in sea lice
• On the freshwater front, stocking continued early this week and many local streams and lakes have had a supplemental stocking of trout after many were washed away with the big rains. Locally we recommend the Saugatuck and Norwalk Rivers as well as the Mianus. Hatches are getting heavier so stop by the shop to match the current hatch of Hendrickson's, Caddis and March Browns! Smallmouth fishing continues to be excellent in Candlewood Lake and Lillinonah.

Fly Fishing Reports

Housatonic River Fly Fishing (updated 5/5/07)
Upcountry Sportfishing Farmington River (updated 5/3/07)
Housatonic Meadows Fly Shop (updated 5/5/07)

Bunker Overflowing Our Waters - New London Day

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• There are bunkers galore in Niantic Bay, said Capt. Kerry Douton at J&B Tackle, and at times around the mouth of the Niantic River outside the RR Bridge. Kerry also said he's hasn't heard about any larger bass yet from The Race but small boaters caught schoolies from the Millstone outflow, shoreline structure in the bay and up the river around Sandy Point. Flounder fishing up in the river is fair, not as good as last week but fish are there for the catching, maybe not a cooler full but some for supper and a day out of the house.
• Capt. Al Anderson fished up in the Thames River on Tuesday on the west side of the Pequot Bridge down to the sunken barge opposite marker 37. His two-person party landed 71 schoolies to about six pounds casting flies and trolling a fly on lead core line, fishing from about half tide up to about half tide down.
• Prior to that trip, Al made three trips for cod to Stellwagen Bank on his other boat now moored at Green Harbor, Mass., on the south side of Boston. The total for the those trips was 284 cod to 12 pounds on both bait and jigs, at anchor, chumming with cracked clam shells. On two of the days, the party had all they wanted and they were on their way back before noon.
• Al Golinski of Misquamicut is having work done on his boat and expects to be fishing the Watch Hill Reefs by the third week in May. He heard about all the bunkers, some of them in the Mystic River. The Pawcatuck has bass from the small boater from behind C.C. O'Brien's all the way to the mouth below Avondale.
• Capt. Don's in Charlestown reported people trolling the tube and worm in the back end of Quonny Pond catching a few keeper bass plus shorts. Shore anglers landed some blackfish from the breachway rip-rap on worms on the slower ends of the tide. Surfcasters are getting schoolies from the nearby beaches at dusk and daybreak on small plastic lures.
• Over in Stonington, I spoke with King Cove Outfitters that's said a few larger bass were caught all the way up around Potter Hill Dam, a spot you need a Rhode Island freshwater license to fish legally. A few fish were taking surface swimming plugs in the evenings from the dock behind C.C. O'Brien's near the Westerly Route One Bridge. Flounder fishing locally is pretty poor.
• Bunker have moved all the way up to Norwich Harbor said Capt. Jack Balint at the Fish Connection. People were snagging them, then live-lining for some larger fish around Drawbridge Road. During the week, school bass were caught all up and down the river including off the Stone Container. One shore fisherman, who didn't leave his last name, caught two stripers in the upper 30-inch range on Polish Shad and Bomber plugs off the football field by the Greenville Dam. Congrats to John from Enfield on his catch.
• Stephanie Cramer waded the upper Thames River almost in the backyard of her house, catching eight bass from 10-26 inches on Sunday. She heard from her friends about other school bass caught off Horton's Cove and the Sub Base. Bunkers were reported in the Mystic River and down around the mouth off Noank. People fishing from the dock by the drawbridge over the Mystic River caught more schoolies, presumably in the morning and evening.
• Bob's Rod & Tackle said the Thames River is loaded right now with small stripers and a few keepers from the mouth all the way up to the Greenville Dam. Flounder news on the other hand is very poor locally; your best bet is to take a trip over to the Niantic River. Lots of bunkers were sighted in the lower part of the river though no one has seen the start of the squid run but they moved into the famed Causeway on Goat Island at Newport around mid-week so we should see them here soon.
• Matt was minding the store at Hillyers Tackle when I called, saying the flounder run in the Niantic River was just fair now, not as good as a week prior but still fish to be had.
• The best tide has been the end of the flood. The bunkers are in thick as of this report in Niantic Bay as well as lots of small bass caught casting at spots within the confines of the bay and some up inside the Niantic. Blackfish season is closed for the time being.
• Capt. Joey Devine of the Mijoy sent in an e-mail stating there were loads of school bass caught inside Niantic Bay last week, with, we assume, some landed around the Niantic Bridges on some of those days. Joey also said they will make their first trip for bass on May 19, sailing weekends only and also on Memorial Day, the 28th.
• Sherwood Lincoln of East Lyme was working on his boat looking forward to the start of the fluke season and maybe some diamond jigging in the Middle Race. The only fish he saw during the week were bigger blackfish caught from shore between the Niantic Bridges — on the last day of blackfish season.
• Mark at River's End heard about the first rod and reel fluke from Montauk, the biggest of that trip nine pounds. Lots of school bass are in the lower Connecticut River from the Baldwin Bridge to the mouth, hitting mostly jigs and small plastics. Shore anglers landed small bass on worms from the DEP Docks or casting small lures from the Causeway on the ebb tide on the other side of the river. (Tim Coleman, The Day)

River End Tackle, Old Saybrook

• The Connecticut River has a good bunch of schoolies mostly concentrated below the RR Bridge. The outgoing tide has been best with some limited action on the flood tide. The River is pretty clean in color but watch for logs and other debris coming down. This next week should be approaching the peak of the schoolie run in terms of numbers. Most of the bass are between 15 and 20 inches, every day a few more larger bass are being caught.
• The DEP Piers are doing well for anglers using sandworms, the Causeway has schoolies on leadhead jigs.
• Theres been a lot of bunker around both locally and across the pond. Lets hope last years run of bunker is the start of a trend.
• BLUEFISH- The first bluefish was caught yesterday at Millstone. Don't expect many more for about 10 days.
• FLOUNDER- Niantic has slowed down, not too much other news on flounder. I think its a long shot but the breakwater it worth a try on the last of the flood tide.
• FLUKE- Montauk has been good for about a week. Most of the fish are below their 19 1/2 inch limit, however we've heard of a few 8 and 9 pounders. They are also in Peconic Bay around Shelter Island. No reports of fluke locally yet. Don't wait now is the best of the fluke season.
• BLACKFISH- Season Closed.

On The Water Magazine

Best Bets for Connecticut is to simply get out fishing! A run of decent, dry, warm, sunny weather is going to get everything cranked up, inland and along the coast. Just get out there and wet a line, and I don’t think you will be able to go wrong. Toss in your boat for season, launch a canoe, don your waders, or just go sit on the bank. Doesn’t matter, just get out there!

1. Seth at The Fish Connection in Preston reports that the Thames River is boiling with striped bass all the way from the Norwich Harbor area to its mouth, coves and inlets included. Most fish are in the 18- to 30-inch range, with a few bigger ones being taken here and there. Seth did not have any great reports on winter flounder catches, so the action for that species seems slow in for now. Inland, largemouth bass are getting lots of attention by anglers as they come into the shallows for spawning. Toss a shiner at them and hang on, according to Seth. Trout fishing is good nearly everywhere, though the Shetucket River is still high and hard to fish overall. Another couple of dry days will no doubt improve conditions.
2. Charlie at Colonial Sports in Bozrah reports that the fishing is really excellent in all the smaller rivers and streams, particularly the Yantic and Salmon. Both are producing many nice trout, though the Salmon River is the more productive of the two. Not much in the way of top water action being reported just yet, so go prepared with lots of weighted nymphs and streamers. Charlie classified the Shetucket River as fishable, but difficult and tiring given the amount of water moving.
3. Back along the coast, Lou at Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford reports that winter flounder fishing has been rather good in the Niantic River, with the most productive method being sandworms fished amidst clam chum. While not as hot as the Niantic, Bluff Point has reportedly been producing fair numbers of flounder as well. Bunker is also in the river, along with lots of striped bass, though most are schoolies. Lou also has been hearing good reports of some bigger fish taken at the DEP dock in Saybrook. Fluke season just opened and fishermen are heading out, but no reports have come back to the shop just yet.
4. Capt. Morgan at Capt. Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison reports that water temperatures are now in the high 40s in the eastern sound, and that school bass are being reported from just about everywhere you might expect them to be. No reports of bigger bass just yet. According to Capt. Morgan, winter flounder fishing is good if you hit the right spot at the right time. No reports of fluke just yet from the area, but reports of decent catches have been coming in from the Montauk region, so it won’t be long now. Inland, Capt. Morgan reports good trout fishing in all stocked waters, and that largemouth bass are getting aggressive in the shallows once the sun warms the water a bit.
   
5. Over in Stratford, Chris at Stratford Bait & Tackle said things are perking up quite a bit. While blackfish season is now closed, Chris said it closed out with a lot of very good catches. Striped bass, mainly schoolies, are being taken all over the region, but nothing big has been reported yet, despite the herring in the area. Winter flounder has picked up considerably over the past week, with Norwalk Harbor and the mouth of the Housatonic River both being very productive. Lots of keeper flounder are being taken at these two spots. Trout are still available, but the water is still pretty high in most of the major rivers, making the going slow and tough. Chris expects conditions in the rivers to be much improved for trout fishing by the weekend.
6. Inland just a bit, at Valley Angler in Danbury, James reported that Candlewood Lake is “on fire.” Water temperature is now about 55 degrees and the fish are just loving it. According to James, jerkbaits in the morning followed by hair baits in the afternoon will lead you to a blissful day of fishing. Smallmouths, calicos and largemouths are all being quite cooperative. Walleye are being taken from shore at Squantz Pond on shiners. Use larger shiners for better success, according to James, and you may get a pleasant surprise because some larger trout also like the larger shiners as well. James reports that most all the rivers in the area are fishable, but many are still running a bit high. He suggests the Norwalk and Mianus as best bets since they are running clear, and have lots of fish.
7. Chris at Westport Outfitters in Norwalk reports lots of stripers out and around the Norwalk Islands and along the north shore of Long Island, where sand eels are being seen. There are also tons of bunker in the area, but most all the bass are school-sized. Chris reports that live-lined bunker have been attacked by the schoolies, but they were too small to be able to actually take the bait. Big fish cannot be far behind, though. Anglers are reporting big catches of school bass in the mouth of the Housatonic River, with catches of 50-plus fish not uncommon. (Alan Desbonnet, On the Water).
   

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #2 5/3

In-season trout stocking is well underway. With moderating flows and great weather predicted, fishing should be excellent this weekend!

1. TROUT: Rivers & streams - The recent rainy weather and high flows had put a damper on early season trout fishing, especially in larger rivers. However, flows continue to drop to very fishable levels and anglers are now reporting good trout fishing. Reports include the Natchaug (3.5 lb, 21” brown among the catches), Little, Norwalk, Salmon (18” brown), Mill, Hammonasset, Blackledge, Saugatuck, Pequonnock, Scantic West Branch Farmington (24” brown), Housatonic (some 18-24” browns), Naugatuck, Willimantic and Scantic Rivers, Sandy Brook and Salmon Brook. Bait anglers are having success using earthworms or a mealworm/corn combination. Successful fly patterns include Winter/Summer Caddis (#16-22, early morning, minor hatch), Blue Wing Olive (#14-18, late morning-early afternoon), Blue Quills (#16-20, early afternoon), Quill Gordons (#16-18, early/mid afternoon) and Hendricksons (#12-14, early afternoon). Spinner fall occurs around 6:30 pm.
2. Farmington River water temperatures are in the upper 40’s °F. Flows are clear and have returned to fishable levels, currently 345 CFS at Riverton and an additional 170 CFS from the Still River. Look for Hendricksons (#12-14, early afternoon), Blue Quills and BWO’s.
3. Housatonic River morning water temperature is 53°F (TMA area). Flows continue to drop and clear, now about with 1,700 CFS of off color flows at Falls Village and 2,450 cfs at Gaylordsville. With lower flows, and dry, seasonable weather, fishing should be good this weekend. Hendricksons (#12-14) and early caddis & stoneflies suggested here. Streamers (white/yellow) and nymphs are producing some large fish.
4. Anglers Can Expect Good Fishing in western CT on the Mill (Hamden, including TMA), Norwalk, Pequonnock, Pomperaug, Pootatuck (Upper), Saugatuck (including TMA) and West Branch Saugatuck Rivers. In Eastern CT, good fishing can be expected at the Blackledge, Coginchaug, Fenton, Five Mile, Moosup, Mount Hope, Natchaug, Quinebaug, Roaring Brook (Glastonbury), Salmon (including TMA), West and Willimantic Rivers, Chatfield Hollow Brook and Dickenson Creek.
5. Lakes & Ponds – Good trout fishing was found in many lakes and ponds throughout Connecticut with reports from Lake Wonoscopomuc, Lake McDonough, Crystal (Ellington), East Twin, Highland, Mashapaug, Coventry, Candlewood and Alexander Lakes, Beach Pond, West Hill Pond and West Side Pond. Anglers can expect good fishing in western CT at the Wolfe Park Trout Park (Great Hollow Pond), Wononscopomuc Lake, and Mohawk, Twin Brooks, Tyler, West Hill and West Side Ponds. In Eastern CT, good fishing should be expected at: Higganum Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Amos, Mashapaug, Wyassup and Rogers Lakes, Angus Park, Bicentennial, Bigelow, Branford Supply, Gay City, Long and Mansfield Training Ponds, and the Valley Falls Park Pond, Day Pond and Mohegan Park Pond Trout Parks.
6. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is picking up as temperatures rise and fish begin to move onto spawning beds. Try Quaddick Reservoir, Moodus Reservoir, Mono, West Side, Messerschmidt, Pierrepont, Pachaug and Long, Ponds, Lakes Lillinonah, Saltonstall and Wonoscopomuc, and Crystal (Ellington), Maltby, Gardner, Bashan, Coventry (a 5.75 lb bass among the catches), Mamanasco, Amos, Bantam, Winchester, Highland and Winnemaug Lakes.
7. SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Lake Lillinonah, Wonoscopomuc Lake, Gardner Lake (lots of action, no big ones), Bantam Lake and Candlewood lake (although a bit slower than last spring, still plenty of 2-4 lb smallies).
8. CHAIN PICKEREL are being caught at Upper Moodus Reservoir, Mono Pond, Gardner Lake and the Maltby Lakes.
9. BLACK CRAPPIE fishing is excellent at Kenosia Lake.
10. NORTHERN PIKE are showing up at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake and Hopeville Pond.
11. Connecticut River – Flows continue to drop to safer levels. STRIPED BASS are in the river up to Enfield with some legal size fish showing up in the lower river. Sand & blood worms and plastics typically work well.
12. CATFISH are being caught in Wethersfield and White Oaks Coves.

MARINE FISHING REPORT :The water temperature in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the mid to upper 40’s °F.

1. Striped bass fishing in the tidal rivers is good to excellent for schoolies. Places to go are the Pawcatuck River, Thames River from Norwich Harbor down to the Montville Power Plant, Hamburg Cove in the Connecticut River and by the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier down to Great Island (“the Wood Lot”), Sandy Point in New Haven Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, Housatonic River up to the Derby Dam, and Norwalk Harbor.
2. Winter flounder fishing remains hit or miss but the better places are Bluff Point State Park (Poquonock River), Niantic River including the bay, the Brothers off Fourmile River, Housatonic River, and Norwalk Harbor.
3. Rumors of bluefish have been reported in New Haven Harbor and schools of Atlantic menhaden have been spotted also in New Haven Harbor and in the western part of LIS.

Norwich Bulletin Fishing Report

• Clarification Regarding Fishing at Greenville Dam: Regulations state that anglers fishing the pool below Greenville Dam for shad, stripers and other species must fish in the eastern half of the pool, which is to the Preston side of the red-painted rocks at the island at the tail end of the pool. In the past, anglers have cheated a good deal. I've seen people fishing on shore from the west bank of the pool around the fish-life attraction outflow, which is the area being protected by this regulation. Other anglers have been able to stand on the east side and cast across into the same area. No more. The conservation officers in this area are strictly enforcing this regulation for the first time. According to Bill Hyatt of the Connecticut DEP, those of us who fish the dam must keep our lures and baits to the east side of the line from the rocks at the island to the middle of the dam.
• Trout: Lakes and ponds are fishing well. Rennie Robinson of the Fish Connection said fishing was difficult in the Shetucket River early in the week due to the recent rains.
• Bass: Now is prime, pre-spawn fishing conditions in areas such as small, shallow bog and farm ponds.
• Panfish: Prime yellow perch fishing is over, though they can be caught all season long when they can be located. So far this season, there have not been any decent white perch reports from the Hamburg Cove on the Connecticut River. There should be some activity on the Thames in places such as Poquetanuck Cove, Trading Cove and up around Greenville Dam and Uncas Leap.
• Striped bass: Joe Balint of the Fish Connection and Butterfield both have had customers raving about the fast schoolie action up and down the Thames from top to bottom in the shallows and flats of this top-notch fishing destination.
• Winter flounder: Bluff Point has slowed down in the upper reaches, but reports from Bull indicate the fish have moved out into the lower reaches of this popular area and into the Sound.
• Fluke: Pat Abate noted there were good numbers of fluke being caught off Montauk Point for the past few days, which probably means there are also some fish in the Peconic Bay area as well.

Shelton Huntington Herald

• The lower Housatonic River is still running extremely fast due to the floodgates at the Stevenson Dam remaining open for most of the week. The water is full of debris and the clarity would be best described as "Chocolate Milk." Needless to say, conditions made fishing the river very difficult over the past week. While conditions were far from ideal, many anglers took advantage of the warmer temperatures and cast their lines. Those who were persistent were rewarded for their efforts.
• Stripers were reported from 1833 inches during the week. These fish were taken on sandworms and 4 to 6 inch shad bodies. Pink seemed to be the hot color this week due to its ability to stand out in stained waters. Jigging the shad body slowly as you let it drift in the heavy current seemed to be the ticket.
  
• On Sunday, many small catfish, Perch (white & Yellow) and American eels were caught along the riverbanks in Shelton. These fish were taken mostly on an assortment of worms fished suspended just off the bottom. (Leon Sylvester, Jr.)

Connecticut Post

1. Freshwater anglers faced fast-running rivers and streams and fewer fish numbers. Saltwater types who weren't blown away by the chilly winds found themselves standing in still-murky waters caused by snow runoff and the persistent storms. "It wasn't the kind of situation where you could just sit on your favorite rock and haul them in," said Kevin Korchman of Ted's Bait & Tackle. "The guys who knew what they were doing did pretty well."With storms continuing to roll in with startling regularity, April has been anything but a terrific month for anglers.
2. All signs point to vastly improved conditions in both freshwater and saltwater environs in the coming days and weeks. With the state Department of Environmental Protection holding off its full stocking schedule until the rivers return to their normal banks, many opening day fishermen went home empty-handed last weekend. With things at last settling down however, the DEP stockers will be out in force this week loading rivers, streams and ponds with their full quota of hatchery-raised browns, rainbows and brookies. So if you were among the opening day anglers who got shortchanged, don't despair. Make an effort to get out this weekend. The results could be dramatically different. Check with local tackle shops for info on the most heavily stocked places.
3. As for Long Island Sound, reports of a large early season push of bunker (Menhaden to some) into the Western Sound portend a strong season to come. Already large numbers of schoolie bass between 16 and 24 inches have started to move out of the river mouths and estuaries to the beaches. One Milford angler posted a report that his flounder trip in the lower Housatonic was spoiled because the stripers were taking his worms before they reached the bottom. Capt. Chris Elser, who operates his charter boat "Striper Sniper" out of Westport Outfitters in Norwalk, said he has not seen this many bunker this early in his 30 years of fishing the Sound. "If there's this many bait fish around, you know there going to be a lot of fish arriving soon to chase it," he said. Elser also said he spotted a large school of herring off Greenwich last week.
4. Customers have been catching "all the schoolie bass they want" from the mouth of the Housatonic to Devon boat ramp. Jimmy Orifice at Jimmy O's Bait and Tackle was excited over the terrific flounder fishing between the mouth of the Saugatuck River in Westport and Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. Vigorous chumming with clams is still a must to be successful with the flounder. (Charles Walsh, Connecticut Post)

Captain Morgan, Guilford area

1. Earlier in the week, pockets of rain brought water levels/flows up in several rivers causing banks to breach, especially when dams opened. Additionally, seasonal debris entered the main tidals after being flushed from exceptionally high water marks. However, trout fishing remained good in most waters as they were restocked in time for another good weekend of fishing.
2. Chattfield Hollow, Quonnipaug, and the Hammonasset/Salmon rivers all continue to produce chunky trout with hook-jaw breeders in the four- to six-pound range being caught. The West also has been good, although it flooded this week, too. Several local stocked lakes/ponds and streams from East Haven to Old Saybrook north to Middletown/Durham have also seen steady action with family-oriented trout parks being the best bet to take a kid fishing.
3. Pre-spawn largemouth/smallmouth bass, as well aggressive pickerel, have migrated into shallower water and along the weedlines. Soft plastics like a Case worm, shad, puppy, and grub or energetic swim/jerk bait are provoking strikes. Worked on a fast-action sensitive rod, like a St. Croix, either tied using a non-slip clip or incorporating a ball and chain rig when using soft plastics (tied directly with hard baits), hookups will increase.
4. Striped bass are in! Actually, they've been around the shoreline for a while since schoolies have spilled out into the rivers and gradually entered the Sound. Many coves and arterial tidal avenues are supporting these small feeding linesiders offering some great light gear fishing. Oftentimes the action is non-stop especially on the ebb. Look for the action only to get better!
5. As the saltwater scene heats up, there is plenty of freshwater action to keep everyone happy. So, for all things fishy, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road in Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline's full-service fishing outfitter where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

The Day, New London

Take two parts sunshine, add one part warming water, stir lightly and you have the makings of improved conditions since the big nor'easter of last week. More people are out and about, catching more fish.

1. Capt. Joey Devine didn't get a chance to head north for cod but instead took his small boat up the Niantic River off Camp Rell on Monday and Tuesday, limiting out on flounder on the first day and coming close on the second. Included in the catch were a few small bass, those and the flats caught on worms on the bottom. Joey said he knew he was going to have a good trip when the first drop of the first day produced a double-header flounder.
2. Joey also said small boaters are catching small bass on small plastic lures in the Millstone outflow and have seen a school of bunker in Niantic Bay in travels to and from the plant.
3. Capt. Al Anderson fished the Thames River on Tuesday in sunny but windy conditions. His party landed 72 stripers from 11 to 20 inches trolling small umbrella rigs or flies on lead core line. They started in Norwich Basin then moved down to Dow Chemical and Horton's Cove by the end of the ebb tide. On the flood tide, they moved back upriver, catching fish from Easter to Massapeag Points then finished the trip around the dike at Trading Cove to market 41.
4. Over the weekend, Al fished in his big boat on the northwest corner of Stellwagen Bank, landing 230 codfish and five haddock in two days. They kept their legal limits of the tasty cod and tagged and released the rest. All the fishing was with bait, anchored up, chumming with cracked clam shells.
5. People are starting to get out more now, said Don at King's Cove, catching striped bass in small boats along the Pawcatuck River and some flounder from time to time off Bluff Point. Shore anglers finally caught stripers at Cemetery Cove, that spot getting a very late start this year. Del Barber of Westerly got the first fish, a 26-incher on a popper on the Wednesday afternoon high tide.
6. Shaffer's Marina has opened back up for the year said Allen Fee who was working on redoing some of his docks. After work he tried for schoolies along the middle part of the Mystic River but has yet to get the first hit. He surmised their may be some bass available in the river but further up around the I-95 Bridge.
7. Striper fishing in the Thames is pretty steady right now said Capt. Jack Balint at the Fish Connection. People caught schoolies on worms at the mouth of Poquetanuck Cove and underneath Route 12. Up inside the cove they caught more small bass and also some keepers on cut bait and plugs. One fellow showed Jack what was left of a jointed plug after a presumably larger bass pulled the back end right off it and mangled the front set of treble hooks.
8. Jack also had reports of smaller keepers caught around Indian Leap Falls and the Greeneville Dam. Remember, you need a Connecticut freshwater fishing license to fish for stripers in those areas. In response to an e-mail from Jim Murphy, Jack said there were some white perch caught on Tuesday inside Poquetanuck Cove and seen in the water around Gales Ferry Marina.
9. Sandworms are the thing for small bass along the Thames River said the people at Bob's Rod & Tackle. You can also catch some flounders in the Niantic River and maybe some at Bluff Point. A few blackfish were caught along the lower part of the Thames but please keep in mind the season for them closes on Monday.
10. Stephanie Cramer is back, supplying her regular reports. She said this winter and spring they tagged lots of small bass in the Thames on charter trips with Capt. Al Anderson. On one of those days Al tagged and released his 45,000th fish, that one in Winthrop Cove. Steph's largest bass during those days was a fine 38-incher on her fly rod.
11. Richard at Hillyer's Tackle said the flounder fishing was fair to steady in the Niantic River with people taking advantage of the nice weather during the week plus catching something for dinner. That fishery and schoolies at the Millstone outflow are about the best bets just now.
12. Capt. Kyle Douton at J&B Tackle said some of the local kids in small boats had schoolies out of the Millstone outflow on small bucktails and plastic baits. Prior to last week's long storm, there were a couple blackfish caught up the Niantic River but they hadn't heard any more since the blow.
13. John Jenks sent me an e-mail asking about shad yet in the Connecticut River so I put that question to the people at River's End in Old Saybrook. The answer was no, but in their place are plenty of schoolie bass from the Baldwin Bridge down to the river mouth hitting small plastic lures and poppers. Most of the fish are undersized but every once in a while somebody gets a keeper up to about 30 inches. Flounder fishing around the Spindle looks like another bust; that in line with several years of very poor results. (Tim Coleman, The Day),

Captain Morgan, Guilford

• A long awaited spring-like day greeted anglers as they hit Connecticut waters for opening day. It was a crisp start to the morning with little or no wind, the type that adds a little frost to rod tips. Thoughts of the recent nor'easter were prominent with fast floodwaters etched in the minds of many. Decisions as to which waters to fish and how to prepare for them were made, creating many last minute adjustments.
• Some waters were slow to give up trout while others gave them up reluctantly as fish selectively fed on various baits, lures, and flies. As the sun rose higher warming the air, feeding became more aggressive. Trout caught were common in the 12- to 14-inch range and seemingly more responsive in waters stocked after the storm or in rivers and streams less affected by it. Lakes and ponds were choices of many anglers, figuring the fishing would be more productive especially since wind would not be a factor. Some were right, but others found a sluggish start as in the Salmon where mostly browns were caught along with limited rainbows and brookies.
• Trout parks, like Chatfield Hollow, had early action prior to fish stocking later that morning. Afterwards, fish became selective but soon, once dispersed with the assistance of fisherkids, they began binge feeding before backing off again. Trout limits were caught and as day one turned into day two, more smiles began to dot the banks. Similar results were experienced in trophy trout lakes like Quonnipaug where there were periods of brisk action—a far cry from last year's windy cold start.
• Certainly, this brilliant weekend brought out saltwater anglers as well. Winter flounder were caught, some blackbacks hitting the four-pound mark while schoolie bass were fished in the tidal rivers and all along the shoreline. With Long Island Sound settling down and temperatures rising, these unforgiving April waters began to settle down. Blackfish (tautog) fishing was spotty close to shore with some of the deeper spots being somewhat more productive. Look for water temps to break 43 degrees this week, turning them on again near the jetties.
• As the weather broke, both fresh and saltwater fishing heated up. So for all things fishy, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road in Madison. Until%2

Westport Outfitters (Norwalk) Fishing Report

• Trout stocking continues this week throughout our area and the fishing should be great in the local rivers with plenty of water flowing.
• The Norwalk River has produced excellent action recently using spinners, nightcrawlers, streamer flies and nymphs. Our trusty Norwalk River Scout Jae had several browns and a hefty Brook Trout this past weekend on small spinners. The Saugatuck TMA holds many trout as well as the upper river above the reservoir. Fly fisherman will do well with many hatches of small mayflies showing, try fishing #16-20 emerger patterns in the water surface film. Smallmouth and Largemouth bass fishing continues to improve on Candlewood Lake and Lillinonah.
• schoolie stripers and the flounder just north of Calf Pasture Beach 1 hour after high tide. The flounder were caught on a standard flounder rig – three bead 2 hook (size 1/0) with a 1 oz weight on a three way swivel with worms (bottom with slight jig action). The stripers were also landed on flounder rigs - 1/0 hook attached to 6 ft of 25# flouro leader to a swivel with a sliding ½ ounce egg sinker. They also were bottom chumming with minced clams – slow release.
  
• We also scouted the areas near the Norwalk Islands and Long Island's North Shore yesterday and got into some fat schoolie bass and one keeper at 28 inches on the fly rods using olive/white clousers on a slow sinking intermediate in 5 feet of water. The water clarity has improved and the temps are at 53 degrees in most areas.
  
• The Housatonic River is finally clearing up and fishing has picked up once again. Try fishing the sanctuary in Milford and also Short Beach in Stratford. We have reports of many schoolie size bass being taken over the past 3 days using white clousers and soft plastics like 4" FinS and Storm Shad.
  
• Schools of bunker or popping up all around the area and the large migratory stripers aren't far behind as typically the Western Sound is seeing these big fish by the end of April. Fish near the schools of bunker for your best shot at a cow bass!
  

Fishing Line, Eastern CT

• Overview: Again, the weather up in East CT / RI was lousy this past week, so very little fishing has been done. With the warmer temps starting Friday, the fisherman are out in force this weekend. You can expect a much more robust fishing report next Saturday
• Old Saybrook - Connecticut River Area: Striped Bass- the rain over the last week will keep the Connecticut River looking a nice milk chocolate. In spite of all the brown, dirty and fast running water last week in the River it didn't stop the bass from hitting. Schoolies mostly in the 15 to 24 inch range have been in the lower River. By boat the Great Island area has been best, by foot the DEP Piers with worms has been the most consistent. The Causeway and some of the Old Lyme Beaches have had some schoolies.
• Flounder - No reports of catches have come in over the last week, although a few fellows tried, but no one came back with a positive word.
• Blackfish - Again we haven't heard much this week due to weather and the season ends here at the end of the month.
• Niantic Bay / Waterford / Thames River / Groton / Mystic: Striped Bass the Thames River is loaded with schoolies as far up as the Greenville Dam. Catches exceeding 70 fish are not uncommon, though most of them are school bass. Poquetanuck Cove, in particular, is loaded with school bass, with an occasional larger fish mixed in and guys are catching them from shore or in kayaks. He suggested that if you are looking for larger fish, go out either very early or very late in the day, or even at night, especially when the tide is high. Anglers using those tactics are picking up larger fish. Another area reporting good catches is near Buoy 27 using cut bait. There is a large school of bunker between the Niantic and Thames Rivers, which is rarely seen this early in the season, which portends good action to come.
• Flounder - the only reports of winter flounder action is in the Niantic River, but Bluff Point was washed out with the Noreaster.
• Flounder - winter flounder catches have been really picking up in the Niantic River over the last week. The best time to catch them is at the end of the flood tide (2-3 hours before high tide). Fellows who develop a good chum slick are doing the best. He does not expect to get reports of fluke until the middle of May, when the squid come into the Sound. Blackfish - still only a few blackfish being caught in the Blackpoint and Millstone areas. (Vince Hough, The Fishing Line)

On the Water

Best Bets for Connecticut and Rhode Island

The mouth of the Thames River may be a good place to try for school bass, or farther upriver at the Greenville Dam at night if you desire something with a bit more heft. For blackfish, the last hurrah is until late this weekend, so grab a bucket of crabs and give it a try, as the weather looks good. What better way to break in the boat you just splashed into the water? The Saugatuck and Norwalk rivers sound like good bets, and if the rumors continue to fly, they may not be very busy, either. In Rhode Island, it sounds like the mouth of the Narrow River is beginning to come alive, and the breachways and salt ponds ought to come into action with the improving temperatures. Inland Rhode Island will no doubt continue to see some great trout fishing, particularly with water levels receding in the rivers and streams.

1. Going inland and westward, Charlie at Colonial Sports in Bozrah reports that the trout fishing action is finally picking up to near-normal springtime levels. Water temperatures have crested into the low 50s, and the trout are finally willing to budge a bit to pick up a fly. The Salmon River is producing very well, and it appears that the river is being stocked on a weekly basis, which would account for the excellent fishing.
   
2. The Yantic River is also producing quite well, particularly along the stretch on Stockhouse Road. Trout Unlimited has not been able to do their spring live-stocking yet due to water levels, and so the state put many of the “excess” trout in the river at Stockhouse Road, which has excellent access. In the fly-only sections, successful anglers are going deep with a variety of early-season nymphs and streamers. As for the Shetucket River, that water body is still a raging torrent, and Charlie has had no reports of anyone fishing it since the big rain a week ago.
3. From The Fish Connection in Preston, Ren reported that the fishing is excellent all around the region, provided you stay away from the larger full and fast rivers, like the Shetucket. The Moosup River and the Little River are both fishing quite well, regardless of whether you are in the fly-only section (on the Moosup) or not. Nearly all the smaller stocked streams are quite fishable, and Ren said they’re producing well.
4. In the Thames River, the major mass of striped bass can be found down near the mouth. Catches exceeding 70 fish are not uncommon, though most of them are school bass. Poquetanuck Cove, in particular, is loaded with school bass, with an occasional larger fish mixed in. Stripers are also congregating in the area of the Greenville Dam, though mostly school bass are being caught. Ren suggested that if you are looking for larger fish, go out either very early or very late in the day, or even at night. Anglers using those tactics are picking up larger fish. There hasn’t been much winter flounder action reported in at the shop over the past week.
5. Some nice fish are being weighed in at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison, with one of the bigger fish being a nearly 9¼-pound rainbow trout. This monster was taken on a smallish, swimmer-floater minnow-style lure, as were several “small” fish in the 4- to 5-pound category. Results from the weekend tournament were still being tabulated, according to Capt. Morgan, and he noted that many very nice fish came into the shop on opening day in Connecticut. The Hammonasset River and the West River are both fishing very well, as are most all the smaller rivers in the area. Blackfish season shuts down on April 30, but given the weather and the warming waters, Capt. Morgan expects that the season will close with a big bang for those anglers going out with a bucket of crabs. Winter flounder has been slow, but is beginning to pick up and should continue to improve.
6. Ponds and lakes are fishing well in the Stratford area, as are smaller streams and rivers, according to Chris at Stratford Bait & Tackle in Stratford. Several fish over the 4-pound mark have come out of a few of the local stocked ponds over the past few days. The Housatonic River is still running a bit high and off-color according to Chris, but the stripers are beginning to get active despite that. Smith Point has been producing some nice fish for patient and knowledgeable fishermen, and several at or over the 36-inch mark have come to anglers fishing there with bait under the cover of darkness. School bass are the mainstay for those who fish the area during daylight hours. Winter flounder are still doing well here and there, with no particular spot producing better than another, according to Chris.
7. At Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, Rick reported that anglers who know what they are doing are taking their limit of winter flounder pretty consistently on clams and sandworms. The key, according to Rick, is to set up a decent chum line to get the fish close. Norwalk Island has been very consistent, but is not the only place producing well. School bass are scattered around, and sandworms have produced the most consistent action. Calf Pasture Pier and Westport Harbor have been productive spots for school bass.
8. Inland, Rick reported that the Norwalk and Saugatuck rivers are fishing extremely well, with a 6-pound rainbow trout coming out of the Saugatuck and a 5-pound brown trout from the Norwalk. Angling pressure in both rivers has been light, as the word on the street has been that the water is too high due to recent rains. Given the trout taken from both rivers, I would say it was a crafty trout fisherman who started spreading that story.
9. Up near Lake Candlewood, James at Valley Angler in Danbury reported that the lake is fishing very well and producing a broad variety of fish, though the smallmouth bass are the main species being targeted at the moment. According to James, male smallmouths in particular are quite aggressive right now, and anglers using hair jigs fished slowly during daylight hours are seeing very good action. Yellow is the most productive color, probably because the water is still a bit off-color. Squantz Pond is producing quite a few trout, and is the angling destination of choice if you have kids in tow. Up to the north, James reports that the Farmington River is still running high.

CT DEP Weekly Fishing Report #1 4/27

• In general, anglers have been having good success fishing for trout in ponds and small-to-medium sized streams. Trout fishing has been spotty in larger lakes and very slow in larger streams and rivers. Fishing has been improving as river flows recede and lakes begin to clear and is expected to be good in most waters by the weekend.
  
• Recently stocked trout are expected to provide good to excellent fishing in all the Trout Parks and Salmon River (including TMA), Blackledge River, Mount Misery Brook, Myron Kinnie Brook, Pachaug River, Yantic River (including TMA), Bigelow Brook, Still River (Eastford.), Green Falls River, Shunock Brook, Hammonasset River (including TMA), Shetucket River, Susquetonscut Brook, Beaver Brook, Indiantown Brook, Hunts Brook, Roaring Brook (Stafford), Willimantic River, Farm River, Branford River, Scantic River, Jeremy River, Raymond Brook, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Broad Brook Mill Pond, Saw Mill Pond, Hewitt Fly Pond, Green Falls Reservoir, Paine Pond, Horse Pond and Black Pond (Woodstock).

• MARINE FISHING REPORT :The water temperature in Long Island Sound (LIS) is about 40.
  
• Striped bass fishing in the tidal rivers is good in the Thames River from Norwich Harbor down to the Montville Power Plant, Hamburg Cove in the Connecticut River, Housatonic River up to the Derby Dam, and Norwalk Harbor . Striped fishing in the lower Connecticut should improve as the high water conditions recede.
• Winter flounder fishing is hit or miss but the better places are Bluff Point State Park(Poquonock River ), Niantic River including the bay, Housatonic River , and Norwalk Harbor.
  

Norwich Bulletin

• Calico Bass: I was fishing for some bluegills and yellow perch for filleting material over the weekend and caught more calico bass than anything. With this increase in water temperature this early, spawning species appear to be on the move at the present time. Look for calico's (black crappie) in most of the larger lakes and ponds in this area, with Pachaug Pond, Pattagansett Lake, Hopeville Pond and Bog Meadows being prime spots to catch a mess of these fine eating panfish over the next couple of weeks.
• White perch: No specific word on white perch, but my guess is they are also beginning to run in places such as Hamburg Cove and Lieutenant River on the Connecticut River. The white perch population in the Thames River tends to turn on slightly later, usually during the last week in April and early May. Look for good white perch catches to take place in Poquetanuck Cove, Trading Cove and in the upper river from Norwich to Greenville Dam, within the next 10 days to two weeks, if not before.
• Striped bass: After the recent "mini ice age" ended, I began work on the annual case of "striper thumb." By Friday, it was well-developed. Largemouth and pan fishing over the weekend was a nice respite after two back-to-back moderately productive striper trips to the Thames. It was an opportunity to let the antibacterial ointment and bandages perform their magic on the poke holes, slashes and abrasions that come from handling more than a hundred of these spiny little fish. As predicted, the Thames River hit 50 degrees late Thursday and we landed about 86 stripers just before dark in the shallow, warmest waters we could find. Friday, I took a young Bulletin reader, Bobby Rycholvsky, and his dad, John, of Baltic down to the river. We caught another 75 fish, but worked harder than expected for this time of year.
• Schoolies are all over the place, from the lower river to Greenville Dam, with the easy fishing taking place in the shallows where temperatures are reaching the mid- to high-50s. River's End Tackle said the hot weather has the stripers revved up in Hamburg Cove and there were also a few fish being caught around the DEP Dock at the mouth of Lieutenant River in the lower Connecticut River.

Captain Morgan, Guilford

• A long awaited spring-like day greeted anglers as they hit Connecticut waters for opening day. It was a crisp start to the morning with little or no wind, the type that adds a little frost to rod tips. Thoughts of the recent nor'easter were prominent with fast floodwaters etched in the minds of many. Decisions as to which waters to fish and how to prepare for them were made, creating many last minute adjustments.
• Some waters were slow to give up trout while others gave them up reluctantly as fish selectively fed on various baits, lures, and flies. As the sun rose higher warming the air, feeding became more aggressive. Trout caught were common in the 12- to 14-inch range and seemingly more responsive in waters stocked after the storm or in rivers and streams less affected by it. Lakes and ponds were choices of many anglers, figuring the fishing would be more productive especially since wind would not be a factor. Some were right, but others found a sluggish start as in the Salmon where mostly browns were caught along with limited rainbows and brookies.
• Trout parks, like Chatfield Hollow, had early action prior to fish stocking later that morning. Afterwards, fish became selective but soon, once dispersed with the assistance of fisherkids, they began binge feeding before backing off again. Trout limits were caught and as day one turned into day two, more smiles began to dot the banks. Similar results were experienced in trophy trout lakes like Quonnipaug where there were periods of brisk action—a far cry from last year's windy cold start.
• Certainly, this brilliant weekend brought out saltwater anglers as well. Winter flounder were caught, some blackbacks hitting the four-pound mark while schoolie bass were fished in the tidal rivers and all along the shoreline. With Long Island Sound settling down and temperatures rising, these unforgiving April waters began to settle down.
  
• Blackfish (tautog) fishing was spotty close to shore with some of the deeper spots being somewhat more productive. Look for water temps to break 43 degrees this week, turning them on again near the jetties.