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CONNECTICUT DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT

Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:08 pm
by brendanc
GET CONNECTICUT DEP WEEKLY BASS FISHING REPORTS AT:

CT FISHING REPORTS

FISHING REPORT NUMBER 18: 8/21/2008
INLAND REPORT

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is variable, with best reports from Mamanasco Lake, Ball Pond, Long Pond, Aspinook Pond (catches include a 5-lb bass), Rogers Lake (including a 7 lb largemouth), Lake Saltonstall, East Twin Lake (including a 6-lb bass), North Farms Reservoir, Mudge Pond, Wonoscopomuc Lake, Glasgo Pond, Lake Hayward, Dog Pond, Bashan Lake and Lake Quonnipaug. Largemouth fishing is reported as fair at Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Powers Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden/Berlin), Amos Lake, Halls Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Bantam Lake, Crystal Lake, West Side Pond and Uncas Lake, and slow fishing is reported from Lake McDonough, Beseck Lake, Gardner Lake and Beach Pond. Reports are mixed for Lake Zoar, Moodus Reservoir, Highland Lake and Bantam Lake.

SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is variable, with good action reported from Candlewood Lake (bait/copper lures at 25 ft), Squantz Pond and Coventry Lake. Fair smallmouth fishing is reported from Lake Housatonic, Crystal Lake and West Hill Pond and slow fishing reported at Gardner Lake and Beach Pond. River smallies continue to keep Housatonic River anglers busy (best during the warmer afternoons) and some good action is also reported from the Willimantic River (and upper Eagleville Lake) and the Farmington river (Tariffville River).

NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Bantam Lake, Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
Good reports for WALLEYE from Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond and Gardner (at dawn & dusk, trolling jigs & bait on outside edges of weeds near drop-offs), Mashapaug Lake (night bait fishing) and Coventry Lake (6 ‘eyes for one pair of anglers).
CHAIN PICKEREL are being caught at Bashan Lake, Silver Lake, Amos Lake, Wononscopomuc Lake, Mudge Pond and Colebrook Reservoir.

SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. The local neighborhood pond can often be great places for sunnies. Larger areas to try include Candlewood Lake, Gardner Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden/Berlin), Tyler Lake, Crystal Lake, Stillwater Pond, Highland Lake, Park Pond and Ball Pond.

TROUT
Rivers & streams – Conditions for mid-summer trout fishing should be great, flows have moderated and temperatures will be comfortable (both for anglers and trout). Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington (lots of brown trout) and Housatonic Rivers.
Farmington River – West Branch flows are currently clear and at moderate levels, 390 cfs at Riverton, with an additional 60 cfs from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s °F. The newest additions to the list of hatches/patterns are the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-28) and the White Fly (Ephoron leukon, #12-14, dawn & dusk). The remaining bugs consist of Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (#16-18, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #12-18, early morning), Caddis (tan #16-20, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa, #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).

Housatonic River – Conditions should be excellent for mid-summer trout fishing. Flows are clear and moderate, currently 590 cfs at Falls Village and 750 cfs at Gaylordsville, and temperatures are relatively cool (morning water temperatures are currently in the low 60’s °F. Hatches/patterns include White Fly (some still around, #10-14, dawn & dusk), Sulfurs (#16-18 dusk/dark), Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Fish will focus on ants when they are on the water (after a rain). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).

Lakes & Ponds – Trout fishing remains variable, with reports from Candlewood Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Rogers Lake, Alexander Lake, East Twin Lake (mostly on 16-18 inch fish, but catches do include a 6.6 lb brown trout), Squantz Pond and West Hill Pond.

CONNECTICUT RIVER – After nearly three weeks of very high and muddy flows, the river is clearing and continuing to drop to more fishable levels. CATFISH (Hartford to Middletown) continue to provide good to excellent action on cut/chunk bait (sunfish & other locally caught bait are popular). A number of the recently reported catches ranged from 8 to 14.25 lbs. Target the outside bends in the river and the upstream side of the deeper holes of the river near structure. Fishing for both SMALLMOUTH BASS and LARGEMOUTH BASS has been slow due to river conditions, but should improve as flows continue to moderate.

FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION

The newly renovated LAKE WARAMAUG Town Boat Launch in Washington is now open for use by the general public. Seven parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis at the new launch. Additionally, up to thirteen trailered boats from the nearby campground at Lake Waramaug State Park will be allowed to access the lake from the Town launch (the park will have 13 “eligibility certificates” available to issue to campers, issued on a first-come –first served basis).
The Town charges a $25 annual fee to launch (same fee for resident and nonresidents). All boats will be inspected for invasive plants and subjected to a $5 per launch inspection fee. The launch and inspection fees can be paid at the boat launch.
The hours of operation through Labor Day are:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - 6 AM to Sunset
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 10 AM to 5 PM
From Labor Day to the last Sunday in October, the launch will be open three days a week (Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays) for morning (6 am to 11 am) and late afternoon/evening (4 pm to sunset) periods of operation.

The state boat launch on the THAMES RIVER in New London is closed for renovations, and is currently scheduled to re-open August 28th.

Due to inappropriate off-site parking by some users of the state boat launch at COVENTRY LAKE, once capacity is reached at this launch, further use of the launch will not be allowed until a parking space or spaces become available.

Anglers are reminded that the entire “seawall” area extending from the handicap-accessable fishing pier to the permitted swim area at SQUANTZ POND is currently closed to all public access.

MARINE FISHING REPORT
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
Remember, to check the 2008 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information.
STRIPED BASS fishing is g
ood to excellent. Striper spots include the rocky reefs between Watch Hill and eastern Fishers Island, Napatree Point to Sandy Point (Stonington), Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs off Norwalk and the Cows off Stamford.
BLUEFISH fishing is good to excellent throughout LIS with the Race being the most consistent spot. Other bluefish spots include Wilderness Point (south shore of Fishers Island), Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford/Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable Anchor Reef.
SNAPPER fishing remains good along the coast.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is good in the Niantic River and the Connecticut River (DEP Marine Headquarters Fishing Pier) especially early in the morning and in the evening.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is fair with a lot of throw backs (sub-legal fish) being reported.
SCUP (porgy) fishing remains good to excellent on the local reefs and rocky areas.
BONITO have been reported off the Watch Hill area.
For regulation updates, please check our web site: http://www.ct.gov/dep/fishing

DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106

Reporting Source for CT