FISHING REPORT NUMBER 20: 9/3/2009
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS
fishing is generally fair to good with reports from Pickerel Lake, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mudge Pond (very good), Hatch Pond, Crystal Lake, Tyler Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake (barely fair), Bishop Pond, Anderson Pond, Stillwater Pond, Rogers Lake, Breakneck Pond, Billings Lake, Gorton Pond (very good, catches include a 5-lb largemouth), Black Pond (Meriden), Bolton Lake, Coventry Lake, Gardner Lake, Lake Kenosia, Halls Pond, Lake of Isles, Schoolhouse Pond, Pattagansett Lake and Wyassup Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
action reported at Coventry Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (lots of smallies in the 3-4 lb range among the catches), Bashan Lake, Beach Pond, Gardner Lake (you have to work for them here, try deeper), Mashapaug Lake, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake (fair), Lake Housatonic, Taftville Pond, and the Housatonic River (excellent, when flows cooperate).
NORTHERN PIKE –
Good pike action reported from Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond.
Some WALLEYE catches reported from Batterson Park Pond, Coventry Lake (small fish) and Gardner Lake.
SUNFISH
are providing excellent late summer action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Areas to try include Lower Moodus Reservoir, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Batterson Park Pond, Bishop Pond, Dog Pond, Hatch Pond, Leonard Pond, Gardner Lake, Coventry Lake and Tyler Lake.
TROUT
DEP BEGINS ITS ANNUAL FALL TROUT STOCKINGS THIS WEEK.
To begin the 2009 fall season, a total of 5,500 trout will be stocked for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The upper Housatonic River Trout Management Area (TMA) and the upper West Branch Farmington River (from just above the TMA to the Goodwin Dam) will each be stocked with 1,000 large brown trout. These trout weigh close to a pound apiece. The other 3,500 trout are 10-12 inch browns, and will be stocked into the upper West Branch Farmington River, the lower Farmington River TMA, Mill River TMA (Fairfield), Saugatuck River TMA, Mianus River TMA, Mill River (Hamden – Sleeping Giant TMA), and the Wharton Brook Pond Trout Park
Rivers & streams
- With good flows, moderate temperatures, a forecast of dry weather, and the beginning of our fall stockings, conditions for trout fishing should be great for the Labor Day weekend. As we move into late summer, it’s time for trout anglers to include terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River and Housatonic River.
Farmington River – With good weather forecast and approximately 2,500 newly stocked brown trout, anglers can look forward to a good weekend of fishing. Currently, West Branch flows are clear and at fishable levels (425 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 70 cfs from the Still River). West Branch TMA water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. The Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-32, early morning) and Dark Hendrickson (Ephemerella needhami, #22-26), are on again, off again. Other hatches/patterns include Isonychia bicolor (major hatch, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#22-26, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #10-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#20-26, morning), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, especially after rain), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening)
Housatonic River
– Conditions for trout fishing should be good for the Labor Day weekend! Flows are still higher than is typical for early September, but are clear and continue to drop to more fishable levels (currently 1,170 cfs at Falls Village and 1,460 cfs at Gaylordsville), temperatures remain relatively mild (morning water temperatures are currently in the low to mid 60’s °F), dry weather is forecast, and there should be 1,000 additional brown trout in the TMA. Hatches/patterns include Flying Ants (#18-22, mid-day, when windy/humid, September is peek month), Fall Sulfurs (#16-1
, White Wulff (#10-14), Blue Wing Olive (#22-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening, September is peek month), Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Try Black Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day). Also, don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds
–
Some late summer trout action reported from Crystal Lake (Ellington; target at 27-30 feet), Quonnipaug Lake, East Twin Lake, Highland (target 30 feet) Lake, Coventry Lake, Mashapaug Lake (target 25-27 feet), West Hill Pond, Long Pond and Beach Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER
– CATFISH
are providing some good action on cut bait (try brush piles and other structure along deep holes). NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good, coves (especially Salmon River) and the mainstem along the Haddam Meadows producing the best reports. Also some pike caught in the mainstem from Wethersfield to Harbor Park. CARP are being caught on caught on corn and dough balls. LARGEMOUTH BASS action is fair, best are the coves from Wethersfield to Lyme (Hamburg Cove), and also along mainstem weedlines below Middletown. SMALLMOUTH BASS is spotty, with catches reported from Enfield (best action) down to the Portland area. STRIPED BASS action is still to be found in the lower river. Look for BLACK CRAPPIE in back coves.
TIPS & TRICKS - FISHING
for LAKE SMALLMOUTH BASS
The Smallmouth Bass is a predator, feeding mostly on fish, crustaceans and aquatic and terrestrial insects. Where crayfish are abundant, they frequently comprise over two-thirds of the food.
The most obvious spots to fish are rock shoals and drop off points.
They also can be found in deeper water where their prey is most abundant.
Try using diving crankbaits and the Rapala Shad Rap in silver or crawfish patterns.
White and yellow spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits work well when fishing shallow rocky shoals.
In deeper waters, try a ¼ to ½ oz jig head tipped with chartreuse, yellow or white Mister Twister grubs.
Slowly bouncing these jigs off rocky bottoms adds that extra action.
If fishing deep water in late summer or early fall, try bouncing a worm colored Tub Jig off the bottom.
Deep water Smallmouth can be found near the 30 to 40 foot depth range on the humps.
Alternate Methods:
When they don’t cooperate try using live bait (worm, crayfish or minnow).
Use light line (4 or 6 pound) & a baited bass hook (no extra weight) with or without a float 2 feet above the bait.
Cast at the shore's edge or over top of a shoal and let the bait slowly sink.
As soon as it sinks down a couple of feet, gently pull it towards you until it hits the surface then let it sink down again slowly and gently.
Expect the hit when the bait is sinking.
NOTICES:
To facilitate dam maintenance and repairs, an extensive drawdown of RAINBOW RESERVOIR is currently scheduled to begin on Labor Day (September 7th), and is expected to continue throughout the month of September. During this period, the state boat launch will unusable due to the low water levels
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS
fishing is generally fair to good with reports from Pickerel Lake, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mudge Pond (very good), Hatch Pond, Crystal Lake, Tyler Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake (barely fair), Bishop Pond, Anderson Pond, Stillwater Pond, Rogers Lake, Breakneck Pond, Billings Lake, Gorton Pond (very good, catches include a 5-lb largemouth), Black Pond (Meriden), Bolton Lake, Coventry Lake, Gardner Lake, Lake Kenosia, Halls Pond, Lake of Isles, Schoolhouse Pond, Pattagansett Lake and Wyassup Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
action reported at Coventry Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (lots of smallies in the 3-4 lb range among the catches), Bashan Lake, Beach Pond, Gardner Lake (you have to work for them here, try deeper), Mashapaug Lake, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake (fair), Lake Housatonic, Taftville Pond, and the Housatonic River (excellent, when flows cooperate).
NORTHERN PIKE –
Good pike action reported from Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond.
Some WALLEYE catches reported from Batterson Park Pond, Coventry Lake (small fish) and Gardner Lake.
SUNFISH
are providing excellent late summer action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Areas to try include Lower Moodus Reservoir, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Batterson Park Pond, Bishop Pond, Dog Pond, Hatch Pond, Leonard Pond, Gardner Lake, Coventry Lake and Tyler Lake.
TROUT
DEP BEGINS ITS ANNUAL FALL TROUT STOCKINGS THIS WEEK.
To begin the 2009 fall season, a total of 5,500 trout will be stocked for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The upper Housatonic River Trout Management Area (TMA) and the upper West Branch Farmington River (from just above the TMA to the Goodwin Dam) will each be stocked with 1,000 large brown trout. These trout weigh close to a pound apiece. The other 3,500 trout are 10-12 inch browns, and will be stocked into the upper West Branch Farmington River, the lower Farmington River TMA, Mill River TMA (Fairfield), Saugatuck River TMA, Mianus River TMA, Mill River (Hamden – Sleeping Giant TMA), and the Wharton Brook Pond Trout Park
Rivers & streams
- With good flows, moderate temperatures, a forecast of dry weather, and the beginning of our fall stockings, conditions for trout fishing should be great for the Labor Day weekend. As we move into late summer, it’s time for trout anglers to include terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River and Housatonic River.
Farmington River – With good weather forecast and approximately 2,500 newly stocked brown trout, anglers can look forward to a good weekend of fishing. Currently, West Branch flows are clear and at fishable levels (425 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 70 cfs from the Still River). West Branch TMA water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F. The Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-32, early morning) and Dark Hendrickson (Ephemerella needhami, #22-26), are on again, off again. Other hatches/patterns include Isonychia bicolor (major hatch, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#22-26, mid-late afternoon), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #10-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#20-26, morning), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, especially after rain), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening)
Housatonic River
– Conditions for trout fishing should be good for the Labor Day weekend! Flows are still higher than is typical for early September, but are clear and continue to drop to more fishable levels (currently 1,170 cfs at Falls Village and 1,460 cfs at Gaylordsville), temperatures remain relatively mild (morning water temperatures are currently in the low to mid 60’s °F), dry weather is forecast, and there should be 1,000 additional brown trout in the TMA. Hatches/patterns include Flying Ants (#18-22, mid-day, when windy/humid, September is peek month), Fall Sulfurs (#16-1
, White Wulff (#10-14), Blue Wing Olive (#22-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening, September is peek month), Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Try Black Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day). Also, don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds
–
Some late summer trout action reported from Crystal Lake (Ellington; target at 27-30 feet), Quonnipaug Lake, East Twin Lake, Highland (target 30 feet) Lake, Coventry Lake, Mashapaug Lake (target 25-27 feet), West Hill Pond, Long Pond and Beach Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER
– CATFISH
are providing some good action on cut bait (try brush piles and other structure along deep holes). NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good, coves (especially Salmon River) and the mainstem along the Haddam Meadows producing the best reports. Also some pike caught in the mainstem from Wethersfield to Harbor Park. CARP are being caught on caught on corn and dough balls. LARGEMOUTH BASS action is fair, best are the coves from Wethersfield to Lyme (Hamburg Cove), and also along mainstem weedlines below Middletown. SMALLMOUTH BASS is spotty, with catches reported from Enfield (best action) down to the Portland area. STRIPED BASS action is still to be found in the lower river. Look for BLACK CRAPPIE in back coves.
TIPS & TRICKS - FISHING
for LAKE SMALLMOUTH BASS
The Smallmouth Bass is a predator, feeding mostly on fish, crustaceans and aquatic and terrestrial insects. Where crayfish are abundant, they frequently comprise over two-thirds of the food.
The most obvious spots to fish are rock shoals and drop off points.
They also can be found in deeper water where their prey is most abundant.
Try using diving crankbaits and the Rapala Shad Rap in silver or crawfish patterns.
White and yellow spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits work well when fishing shallow rocky shoals.
In deeper waters, try a ¼ to ½ oz jig head tipped with chartreuse, yellow or white Mister Twister grubs.
Slowly bouncing these jigs off rocky bottoms adds that extra action.
If fishing deep water in late summer or early fall, try bouncing a worm colored Tub Jig off the bottom.
Deep water Smallmouth can be found near the 30 to 40 foot depth range on the humps.
Alternate Methods:
When they don’t cooperate try using live bait (worm, crayfish or minnow).
Use light line (4 or 6 pound) & a baited bass hook (no extra weight) with or without a float 2 feet above the bait.
Cast at the shore's edge or over top of a shoal and let the bait slowly sink.
As soon as it sinks down a couple of feet, gently pull it towards you until it hits the surface then let it sink down again slowly and gently.
Expect the hit when the bait is sinking.
NOTICES:
To facilitate dam maintenance and repairs, an extensive drawdown of RAINBOW RESERVOIR is currently scheduled to begin on Labor Day (September 7th), and is expected to continue throughout the month of September. During this period, the state boat launch will unusable due to the low water levels