ICE FISHING REPORT NUMBER 2 1/14/2010
DEP’S ANNUAL FAMILY ICE FISHING DERBY IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY, 30TH,
8 am to 11 am at the Lodge & Senior Center at Patriot’s Park on Coventry Lake (Lake Wangumbaug), Lake Street, Coventry. Spend a morning outdoors in the fresh air with family and friends, having fun and for those new to ice fishing, getting an introduction to the sport. There’s also still time to attend an ice fishing class prior to the derby, check the class schedules on our web site (www.ct.gov/dep/fishing). Call 860-424-3474 for more information.
SAFETY REMINDER: DEP reminds winter anglers that SAFETY COMES FIRST! Be aware that ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to a number of environmental factors including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please check the ice carefully before venturing out and check repeatedly to make sure that ice thickness is sufficient. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return.
ICE FISHING REPORT
WALLEYE – Recent memorable catches include a 13 lb beauty and a number of fish in the 25-30 inch range. Reports from Mashapaug Lake (the 13 lb walleye was found here, along with a 9 pounder), Gardner Lake, Coventry Lake, Beach Pond and Bigelow Pond.
NORTHERN PIKE - Fishing for these monsters has been excellent. Recent notable catches include 18 lb, 16 lb, 40 inch and 37 inch northern pike (all caught, measured and released). Northern pike are ambush predators so target areas of cover (near-shore shallow water on large bait). Best reports are from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond, Winchester Lake and the coves along the Connecticut River.
TROUT - Trout up to 4 lbs are being caught. Good locations to target trout at include Candlewood Lake, West Hill Pond, Mohawk Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield) black Pond (Woodstock), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake, Mount Tom Pond, Beach Pond, Long Pond, East Twin Lake and Highland Lake.
CHAIN PICKEREL – Fishing for this traditional ice fishing favorite has been good to excellent at many locations throughout the state, including Highland Lake, Halls Pond, Gardner Lake, Candlewood Lake, Beseck Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin), Birges Pond, Dog Pond, Wood Creek Pond, Pachaug Pond, Quaddick Reservoir, Black Pond (Middlefield), Hayward Lake, Highland Lake, Tyler Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), West Hill Pond and Bigelow Pond.
PANFISH - Plenty of action for these delicious fish. Early morning jigging with grubs on your favorite lure (and moving from place to place) is the way to go. Areas to try include Highland Lake, Halls Pond, West Thompson Reservoir, Beseck Lake, Bishops Pond, Upper Bolton Lake, Millers Pond, Bantam Lake, Kenosia Lake, Breakneck Pond, Morey Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Horse Pond, Bashan Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Messerschmidt Pond, West Hill Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield), Candlewood Lake (lots of jumbo yellow perch), Coventry Lake and Silver Lake (Berlin).
2010 DEP Ice Fishing Report Number 2, 1/14/2010
LARGEMOUTH BASS/ SMALLMOUTH - Bass are being found at Quaddick Reservoir, Black Pond (Woodstock), Bigelow Pond, Crystal Lake, Halls Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Beseck Lake, Wethersfield Cove, Birges Pond, Winchester Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Morey Pond, Kenosia Lake, Breakneck Pond, Rogers Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin), Highland Lake and Candlewood Lake.
NOTICES:
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Anglers fishing MASHAPAUG LAKE are reminded that Ferry Tavern Road and the roads (including Howard Road) from Mashapaug Road in Union that lead to the lake are private ways with no public access. Avoid trespassing, please do not drive in, park on, or walk down these roads to access Mashapaug Lake. Legal access to the lake is only through Bigelow Hollow State Park and Nipmuck State Forest.
TIPS & TRICKS – TROUT
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In lakes, deep-water trout feed best during the day, presumably when they can see the best. Shallow water trout feed best during dusk and dawn.
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Most deep-water trout are caught on tip-ups, but you need a lot of line on the spool. In early season, the fish will be at mid-depth. Late in the season trout move shallow.
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When ice fishing, keep in mind that trout have a very good sense of smell. Powerbait is an effective attractant to help lure them in. The same can be said for a number of other artificial baits if the maggots aren’t working.
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Set up along the edge of underwater shelves and creek channels to give yourself the best chance. There should be baitfish in the area and the trout will move in for the kill when the light is still dim. Make sure you align your holes to varying depths along the shelf and prepare yourself for some action.
Rainbow Trout
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This fish has a very good sense of smell. In fact if you compare it to the human, the rainbow trout has a sense of smell 400 times more sensitive. They use this strongly adapted sense to help identify prey, structure and spawning locations.
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The rainbow prefers water that is open and fast moving but is at home in both lakes and rivers. The fish frequent waters between zero and twenty five degrees Celsius, with the ideal temperature in lakes at about 18 degrees Celsius. They can also be found at a variety of depths depending on oxygen levels in the lake.
Brook Trout
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As a rule they run shallow and close to shore. Fish from 20-60 feet from shore (typically closer to 20 feet).
DEP ICE FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
DEP’S ANNUAL FAMILY ICE FISHING DERBY IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY, 30TH,
8 am to 11 am at the Lodge & Senior Center at Patriot’s Park on Coventry Lake (Lake Wangumbaug), Lake Street, Coventry. Spend a morning outdoors in the fresh air with family and friends, having fun and for those new to ice fishing, getting an introduction to the sport. There’s also still time to attend an ice fishing class prior to the derby, check the class schedules on our web site (www.ct.gov/dep/fishing). Call 860-424-3474 for more information.
SAFETY REMINDER: DEP reminds winter anglers that SAFETY COMES FIRST! Be aware that ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to a number of environmental factors including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please check the ice carefully before venturing out and check repeatedly to make sure that ice thickness is sufficient. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return.
ICE FISHING REPORT
WALLEYE – Recent memorable catches include a 13 lb beauty and a number of fish in the 25-30 inch range. Reports from Mashapaug Lake (the 13 lb walleye was found here, along with a 9 pounder), Gardner Lake, Coventry Lake, Beach Pond and Bigelow Pond.
NORTHERN PIKE - Fishing for these monsters has been excellent. Recent notable catches include 18 lb, 16 lb, 40 inch and 37 inch northern pike (all caught, measured and released). Northern pike are ambush predators so target areas of cover (near-shore shallow water on large bait). Best reports are from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond, Winchester Lake and the coves along the Connecticut River.
TROUT - Trout up to 4 lbs are being caught. Good locations to target trout at include Candlewood Lake, West Hill Pond, Mohawk Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield) black Pond (Woodstock), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake, Mount Tom Pond, Beach Pond, Long Pond, East Twin Lake and Highland Lake.
CHAIN PICKEREL – Fishing for this traditional ice fishing favorite has been good to excellent at many locations throughout the state, including Highland Lake, Halls Pond, Gardner Lake, Candlewood Lake, Beseck Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin), Birges Pond, Dog Pond, Wood Creek Pond, Pachaug Pond, Quaddick Reservoir, Black Pond (Middlefield), Hayward Lake, Highland Lake, Tyler Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), West Hill Pond and Bigelow Pond.
PANFISH - Plenty of action for these delicious fish. Early morning jigging with grubs on your favorite lure (and moving from place to place) is the way to go. Areas to try include Highland Lake, Halls Pond, West Thompson Reservoir, Beseck Lake, Bishops Pond, Upper Bolton Lake, Millers Pond, Bantam Lake, Kenosia Lake, Breakneck Pond, Morey Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Horse Pond, Bashan Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Messerschmidt Pond, West Hill Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield), Candlewood Lake (lots of jumbo yellow perch), Coventry Lake and Silver Lake (Berlin).
2010 DEP Ice Fishing Report Number 2, 1/14/2010
LARGEMOUTH BASS/ SMALLMOUTH - Bass are being found at Quaddick Reservoir, Black Pond (Woodstock), Bigelow Pond, Crystal Lake, Halls Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Beseck Lake, Wethersfield Cove, Birges Pond, Winchester Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Morey Pond, Kenosia Lake, Breakneck Pond, Rogers Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin), Highland Lake and Candlewood Lake.
NOTICES:
��
Anglers fishing MASHAPAUG LAKE are reminded that Ferry Tavern Road and the roads (including Howard Road) from Mashapaug Road in Union that lead to the lake are private ways with no public access. Avoid trespassing, please do not drive in, park on, or walk down these roads to access Mashapaug Lake. Legal access to the lake is only through Bigelow Hollow State Park and Nipmuck State Forest.
TIPS & TRICKS – TROUT
��
In lakes, deep-water trout feed best during the day, presumably when they can see the best. Shallow water trout feed best during dusk and dawn.
��
Most deep-water trout are caught on tip-ups, but you need a lot of line on the spool. In early season, the fish will be at mid-depth. Late in the season trout move shallow.
��
When ice fishing, keep in mind that trout have a very good sense of smell. Powerbait is an effective attractant to help lure them in. The same can be said for a number of other artificial baits if the maggots aren’t working.
��
Set up along the edge of underwater shelves and creek channels to give yourself the best chance. There should be baitfish in the area and the trout will move in for the kill when the light is still dim. Make sure you align your holes to varying depths along the shelf and prepare yourself for some action.
Rainbow Trout
��
This fish has a very good sense of smell. In fact if you compare it to the human, the rainbow trout has a sense of smell 400 times more sensitive. They use this strongly adapted sense to help identify prey, structure and spawning locations.
��
The rainbow prefers water that is open and fast moving but is at home in both lakes and rivers. The fish frequent waters between zero and twenty five degrees Celsius, with the ideal temperature in lakes at about 18 degrees Celsius. They can also be found at a variety of depths depending on oxygen levels in the lake.
Brook Trout
��
As a rule they run shallow and close to shore. Fish from 20-60 feet from shore (typically closer to 20 feet).
DEP ICE FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
