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regl
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 Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:40 am Post subject: Connecticut DEP Fishing Report. Updated 7/28/2010 |
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FISHING REPORT NUMBER 15
7/28/2010
Download Report
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair to good, with night fishing in full swing (try black jitterbugs and surface poppers). The best reports are from Ashland Pond (including a 5-lb bass), Ball Pond, Bantam Lake, Bashan Lake, Candlewood Lake, Crystal Lake, East Twin Lake (12 bass for one angler), Hatch Pond, Highland Lake (lots of action, nothing really big), Mashapaug Lake, Morey Pond and Lake Saltonstall, and fair reports from Aspinook Pond, Bolton Lake (a bit tough), Lake Housatonic, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Lake McDonough, Moodus Reservoir, Pachaug Pond, Park Pond, Pickerel Lake, Rogers Lake (closer to slow), Shenipsit Lake, Silver Lake, Squantz Pond, West Hill Pond, Wood Creek Pond and Wonoskopomuc Lake. Other places to try include Quonnipaug Lake, Uncas Lake, Bishop Pond, Halls Pond, Red Cedar Lake and Lake Hayward.
SMALLMOUTH BASS – River smallie fishing continues to be excellent in the upper Housatonic River, and some action is also reported from the Farmington River (Tariffville area). In lakes and ponds, smallmouth action is good at Candlewood Lake, and anglers are finding some action at Rainbow Reservoir, Squantz Pond and Mashapaug Lake. Few smallmouth reported this week in the bags from Bashan Lake, Highland Lake and Lake McDonough.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is slow, with reports from Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond.
Some WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall (8.6 lb and 6.6 lb ‘eyes’ among the recent catches) and Mashapaug Lake.
Excellent CALICO BASS (black crappie) action on small minnows is reported in Park Pond, West Thompson Reservoir and Silver Lake.
SUNFISH are providing consistent action throughout the state on worms. Get the kids into this, the constant action will keep their attention and develop an interest in the sport. Local ponds are often the best places to go, for larger places, try Quinebaug Lake, Park Pond, Amos Lake, Lake Winfield, Bishop Pond, Winchester Lake, Tyler Lake Mamanasco Lake, Hatch Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield) and Mudge Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – The river remains warm, but flows did improve this week. NORTHERN PIKE fishing has been slow. SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught, north of Hartford near the confluence of the Farmington River and around King’s Island, and below Hartford in the Salmon River Cove area. CATFISH are being taken on fresh/frozen cut bait. Target shallow areas near deep drop-offs. CALICO BASS (black crappie) action on small minnows is reported in coves (best action for anglers fishing deeper water). CARP fishing is good with some 25 inch plus fish being reported.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - The recent rains have brought the water temperatures down a bit, improved flows and perked up trout fishing. Early and late in the day are typically the fishing times during this time of the year.
Farmington River – Trout fishing is good and flows (West Branch) continue to be clear and moderate (about 205 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 15 cfs from the Still River). Morning West Branch water temperatures are in the upper 50’s to low 60’s°F.
Current hatches/patterns include Light Cahill (Stenonema sps., #14-16; evening), Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #8-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps., #18, mid-late afternoon to evening), Sulphur duns (Epeorus vitreus, #16-18, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners; hatch is coming to an end), Rusty Spinner (#20), Caddis (tan #14-20, all day; green #18/22, evening), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#8-10, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening). At this time of year you should be on 8 or 9 x for the tippet size.
Housatonic River – Last week’s rains did improve flows, but they are gradually dropping again, currently 290 cfs at Falls village and 435 cfs at Gaylordsville. Recent cooler weather improved water temperatures somewhat, with morning temperatures in the upper 60’s to low 70’s °F this week. These high temperatures and low flows are stressful to trout, so it’s an excellent time to switch to smallmouth bass (these conditions are near ideal for smallie fishing). Those targeting trout need to take extreme care when handling trout they plan to release!
The White Fly (Ephoron leukon) hatch is on. Use a White Wulff, #8-14. Insect hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-16, evening), and assorted caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Terrestrial season is here. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). The Dobson Fly is active and anglers can use a black wooly bugger to mimic it.
| Quote: | | Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing. These areas will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers. |
Lakes & Ponds - Early morning anglers are still boating some good fish, areas to try include Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake, Lake Wononskopomuc, East Twin Lake (try at 30 feet over 40 feet of water), Highland Lake, Beach Pond, Shenipsit Lake, Mohawk Pond (center basin), Long Pond and West Hill Pond.
| Quote: | NOTES & NOTICES:
The Bayberry Lane State Boat Launch Groton will be closed for renovations from August 2nd through December 31st. |
TIPS & TRICKS - CATFISHING
BAIT CHOICES If big channels are your target, use cut baits. Cut baits are pieces of sliced baitfish. These baits attract cats over long distances. Use oily fish when possible.
SMALL TO MIDSIZE RIVER HOTSPOTS Just below each set of rapids, at the head of each pool, fast water carves the channel deeper, creating a depression or hole. This is the deepest part of the pool and the area where channel catfish are most likely to be found. Channel cats wait in ambush for food to pass by.
BIG-RIVER HOTSPOTS Big-river channel cats feed and rest near structure that breaks or reduces the current. These include rock, gravel and sandbars, deep holes and cover in outside bends, bottom holes or depressions, bottom humps and deep holes at tributary junctions.
POND CATS Since these ponds are small, anglers have fewer problems pinpointing actively feeding fish. Focus your attention on deep-water areas where channel cats usually stay during daylight hours and during the temperature extremes; near the mouths of feeder streams; near the outside (deeper) edges of green aquatic vegetation; and near rock piles, stumps, logs, trees, holes, humps and points.
STILL-FISHING TIPS The area just below a dam provides some of the best action. Fishing near fallen trees at the head of a deep pool on an outside bend of the river also can lead to good catches. When still-fishing from a boat position your boat for best access to the structure you've chosen.
DRIFT-FISHING Drift-fishing helps the cats find your bait. You can drift-fish in a boat or drift-fish your bait below a bobber. When in a boat, use a drift rig comprised of a bottom-bouncer sinker placed on the line above a barrel swivel to which is attached a 2- to 3-foot leader with a 3/0 hook on the end. When wading or bank-fishing on a river, drift your bait beneath a bobber. Drift by one side of a hole, then down the other and finally right down the middle. Keep your rod tip high when drifting a bobber rig. This keeps most of the line off the water, resulting in better rig control and hooksets.
HOOKS Be sure your hooks are needle-sharp. Second, instead of burying your hook in bait, leave the barb exposed. Catfish won't notice. More hookups will result.
RODS Use long rods (7 feet-plus) when bank-fishing. These offer several advantages, including increased casting distance, more "reach" for working rigs properly around cover, better bait control and more hooksetting and fighting power.
NIGHT BITE When night-fishing, know when a cat takes your bait. Helpful products include: night bobbers (special floats with a light on top powered by a cyalume light stick or lithium battery), a 12-volt ultraviolet light, which makes fluorescent monofilament glow, allowing you to see line movements; rods with glow-in-the-dark or fluorescent tips; rod bells, which clip on and ring when a catfish shakes your pole; and electronic bite indicators, which attach to your line and emit an audible signal when a catfish runs with your bait.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the low to mid 70’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
STRIPED BASS and BLUEFISH fishing remains fair to good. Bluefish fishing appears to be better in western LIS no doubt due to the abundance of bunker (Atlantic menhaden) in many of the harbors and tidal rivers. Striped bass fishing is mainly a night time activity. The usual fishing spots include the Watch Hill area, Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), lower Thames River, the Race (by Race Rock and Valiant Rock), outer Bartlett Reef, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, warm water discharge from Millstone Power Station, the “humps” south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, reefs off Guilford and Branford, New Haven Harbor, buoys #18 and #20 off Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Black Rock Harbor, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands, Cable and Anchor Reef, Smith Reef and Stamford and Greenwich Harbors. Snapper blue fishing is good in the tidal creeks although the fish are still only 4 to 5 inches in length.
SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing reports are about the same with a lot of shorts. Fluking locations include the Sandy Point area in Stonington, Stonington flats south of the breakwaters, Ram Island Reef to Latimer Point and around Seaflower Reef (Fishers Island Sound), south side of Fishers Island, Twotree Island Channel, Niantic River, Black Point, White Sands Beach, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef area, Falkner Island area, off the New Haven breakwaters, off the mouth of the Housatonic River to buoys #18 and 20 off Bridgeport, south of the Norwalk Islands and across to the north shore beaches of Long Island.
However, on the positive side BLACK SEA BASS can be an unexpected bonus while fluking. The usual spots include the Sandy Point area in Stonington, Stonington flats south of the breakwaters, Ram Island Reef to Latimer Point and around Seaflower Reef (Fishers Island Sound), south side of Fishers Island, lower Thames River, Twotree Island Channel, Niantic River, Black Point, White Sands Beach, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef area, Falkner Island area, off the New Haven breakwaters, off the mouth of the Housatonic River to buoys #18 and 20 off Bridgeport, south of the Norwalk Islands and across to the north shore of Long Island.
SCUP (porgy) fishing continues to be good to excellent on the local reefs and rock piles.
BLUE CRABBING is good but there are a load of small crabs to pick through.
For regulation updates and fishing/crabbing information, please check out our web site at: www.ct.gov/dep or pick up the 2010 Angler’s Guide.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep |
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