FISHING REPORT NUMBER 23
9/24/2009
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Fall trout stocking update- This week, DEP will be stocking a total of 4,150 trout, of which 2,700 are large brown trout (12 inch and longer fish) that are being released into the Natchaug River (500), Hammonasset River including the TMA (800), Shetucket River (1,000), Natchaug River Trout Park (200) and the Chatfield Hollow Trout Park (200) for this weekend. The other 1,450 fish are adult-size rainbow trout, which are being stocked into the Shetucket River (150), Yantic River TMA (300), Valley Falls Park Pond Trout Park (200), Day Pond Trout Park (200), Chatfield Hollow Trout Park (200), Mohegan Park Pond Trout Park (200) and the Natchaug River Trout Park (200).
Rivers & streams - Conditions have been good for late summer/early fall trout fishing, although flows in some areas would benefit from some rainfall. Good reports last week from the Housatonic River (very good, with double-digit catches when ants are on the water), West Branch Farmington River (some 20-inch plus browns among the catches), Farmington River, Willimantic River and Mill River TMA. Aggressive streamer strikes typify fall trout fishing in Connecticut. Try white, yellow & brown colors. Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Fishing should continue to improve as we move deeper into autumn and temperatures cool more.
Farmington River – Trout fishing has been good, and conditions should again be good for the weekend. Flows are currently clear, low and very fishable (currently 130 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 27 cfs from the Still River), and West Branch water temperatures continue in the low 60’s °F.
Hatches/patterns include Isonychia bicolor (major hatch, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella & Baetis sps., #16-24, mid-late afternoon), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca (#14), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-26, mid day, when windy/humid) and Stone Hopper (#10-12, mid day).
Housatonic River – The fishing continues to be very good, and conditions should remain great for this weekend. Flows are clear, low and very fishable, currently 400 cfs at Falls Village and 560 cfs atGaylordsville, water temperatures continue to be moderate, ranging in the upper 50’s to low 60’s°F (mornings), and there are plenty of recently stocked trout (11,500 trout stocked by DEP) still waiting for anglers.
Hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-24, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening), Cahills/Summer (#12-14), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening), Sulfurs (#16-1
, Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#16-18, mid day, when windy/humid). Trout will ignore everything else when ants are on the water, try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water). Try nymphing the pockets, deeper riffles and pool heads.
Lakes & Ponds – Lakes reporting good trout fishing include East Twin Lake (target 40 feet of water), West Hill Pond (target 25-33’), Highland Lake (second basin), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington, target 27-30’), Long Pond and Beach Pond (try eastern side).
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing ranges from very good to fair, with very good reports from Mudge Pond and Pierrepont Pond, good reports from Little Bantam Lake, Pattagansett Lake, Bashan Lake, Candlewood Lake, Bishop Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Hatch Pond, Halls Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Riggs Pond and Roseland Lake, and fair reports from Beseck Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond, Moodus Reservoir, Rogers Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Highland Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), Tyler Lake, Ross Pond and South Spectacle Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair with reports from Lake Zoar (including several smallies in the 3-4 lb range), Lake Lillinonah, Coventry Lake (catches include a 3.5 lb smallies), Highland Lake, Colebrook River Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Housatonic River, Farmington River (Tariffville area), Wyassup Lake and Bashan Lake. Smallie fishing remains good at Candlewood Lake.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good, with pike showing up in Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond. Action should keep getting better as temperatures drop.
Fall WALLEYE action is reported to be picking up. Areas to try include Saugatuck Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake and Beach Pond.
YELLOW PERCH are reported from Lake Hayward, Stillwater Pond, Winchester Lake, Candlewood Lake, East Twin Lake (“huge” schools of fish), Tyler Lake and Park Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – BLACK CRAPPIE are providing some excellent fall fishing in Wethersfield Cove. Successful anglers are using small shiners. Very good night fishing for STRIPED BASS is reported in the lower coves. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as very good as water temperatures begins to cool with action reported from Wethersfield Cove down to Salmon River Cove. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported to be slow. Plenty of CATFISH are being caught. Anglers should try cut bait or chunks near brush piles next to deeper holes on the outside edges. Look for slower moving waters. CARP are providing a lot of excitement for those willing to give this a try. Catches up to 18 lbs have been reported this week.
ADVANCED NOTICE – The Catch-And-Release Professional Carp Tournament Series 6th annual Tournament of Champions will be held on the shores of the CT River in Hartford/East Hartford during October 13th to 17th.
NOTICES:
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To facilitate dam maintenance and repairs, an extensive drawdown of RAINBOW RESERVOIR is occurring. The state boat launch is currently unusable due to the low water levels.
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ASPINOOK POND has been drawn down 30 inches to facilitate dam maintenance. Areas such as the Butts Bridge lot used by many anglers/boaters to access the impoundment may be difficult to impossible to use by trailered boats.
TIPS & TRICKS – more BLACK CRAPPIE
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As the water cools, crappie begin feeding aggressively to fatten up for the winter.
��
Target schools during this fall feeding frenzy.
��
Crappie love structure.
��
Try rock piles, shallow coves, stumps, points, fallen trees, and submerged brush.
��
Vertical jigging is a good method.
��
A 1/32 or 1/16 oz. jig dropped into brush will produce many fish.
��
Try swimming a small spinner through stump fields or along fallen trees.
��
When you identify the depth at which most of the fish are holding, try suspending a jig or minnow at that depth under a small bobber. This is an effective way to keep your bait in the desired depth for a much longer period of time.
9/24/2009
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Fall trout stocking update- This week, DEP will be stocking a total of 4,150 trout, of which 2,700 are large brown trout (12 inch and longer fish) that are being released into the Natchaug River (500), Hammonasset River including the TMA (800), Shetucket River (1,000), Natchaug River Trout Park (200) and the Chatfield Hollow Trout Park (200) for this weekend. The other 1,450 fish are adult-size rainbow trout, which are being stocked into the Shetucket River (150), Yantic River TMA (300), Valley Falls Park Pond Trout Park (200), Day Pond Trout Park (200), Chatfield Hollow Trout Park (200), Mohegan Park Pond Trout Park (200) and the Natchaug River Trout Park (200).
Rivers & streams - Conditions have been good for late summer/early fall trout fishing, although flows in some areas would benefit from some rainfall. Good reports last week from the Housatonic River (very good, with double-digit catches when ants are on the water), West Branch Farmington River (some 20-inch plus browns among the catches), Farmington River, Willimantic River and Mill River TMA. Aggressive streamer strikes typify fall trout fishing in Connecticut. Try white, yellow & brown colors. Patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Fishing should continue to improve as we move deeper into autumn and temperatures cool more.
Farmington River – Trout fishing has been good, and conditions should again be good for the weekend. Flows are currently clear, low and very fishable (currently 130 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 27 cfs from the Still River), and West Branch water temperatures continue in the low 60’s °F.
Hatches/patterns include Isonychia bicolor (major hatch, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella & Baetis sps., #16-24, mid-late afternoon), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca (#14), Sulfurs duns (Heptagenia sps., #16-20, below the dam due to low temperatures, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#16-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-26, mid day, when windy/humid) and Stone Hopper (#10-12, mid day).
Housatonic River – The fishing continues to be very good, and conditions should remain great for this weekend. Flows are clear, low and very fishable, currently 400 cfs at Falls Village and 560 cfs atGaylordsville, water temperatures continue to be moderate, ranging in the upper 50’s to low 60’s°F (mornings), and there are plenty of recently stocked trout (11,500 trout stocked by DEP) still waiting for anglers.
Hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-24, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening), Cahills/Summer (#12-14), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening), Sulfurs (#16-1
, Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#16-18, mid day, when windy/humid). Trout will ignore everything else when ants are on the water, try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water). Try nymphing the pockets, deeper riffles and pool heads.
Lakes & Ponds – Lakes reporting good trout fishing include East Twin Lake (target 40 feet of water), West Hill Pond (target 25-33’), Highland Lake (second basin), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington, target 27-30’), Long Pond and Beach Pond (try eastern side).
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing ranges from very good to fair, with very good reports from Mudge Pond and Pierrepont Pond, good reports from Little Bantam Lake, Pattagansett Lake, Bashan Lake, Candlewood Lake, Bishop Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Hatch Pond, Halls Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Riggs Pond and Roseland Lake, and fair reports from Beseck Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond, Moodus Reservoir, Rogers Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Highland Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), Tyler Lake, Ross Pond and South Spectacle Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair with reports from Lake Zoar (including several smallies in the 3-4 lb range), Lake Lillinonah, Coventry Lake (catches include a 3.5 lb smallies), Highland Lake, Colebrook River Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Housatonic River, Farmington River (Tariffville area), Wyassup Lake and Bashan Lake. Smallie fishing remains good at Candlewood Lake.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good, with pike showing up in Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Hopeville Pond, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond. Action should keep getting better as temperatures drop.
Fall WALLEYE action is reported to be picking up. Areas to try include Saugatuck Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake and Beach Pond.
YELLOW PERCH are reported from Lake Hayward, Stillwater Pond, Winchester Lake, Candlewood Lake, East Twin Lake (“huge” schools of fish), Tyler Lake and Park Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – BLACK CRAPPIE are providing some excellent fall fishing in Wethersfield Cove. Successful anglers are using small shiners. Very good night fishing for STRIPED BASS is reported in the lower coves. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as very good as water temperatures begins to cool with action reported from Wethersfield Cove down to Salmon River Cove. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported to be slow. Plenty of CATFISH are being caught. Anglers should try cut bait or chunks near brush piles next to deeper holes on the outside edges. Look for slower moving waters. CARP are providing a lot of excitement for those willing to give this a try. Catches up to 18 lbs have been reported this week.
ADVANCED NOTICE – The Catch-And-Release Professional Carp Tournament Series 6th annual Tournament of Champions will be held on the shores of the CT River in Hartford/East Hartford during October 13th to 17th.
NOTICES:
��
To facilitate dam maintenance and repairs, an extensive drawdown of RAINBOW RESERVOIR is occurring. The state boat launch is currently unusable due to the low water levels.
��
ASPINOOK POND has been drawn down 30 inches to facilitate dam maintenance. Areas such as the Butts Bridge lot used by many anglers/boaters to access the impoundment may be difficult to impossible to use by trailered boats.
TIPS & TRICKS – more BLACK CRAPPIE
��
As the water cools, crappie begin feeding aggressively to fatten up for the winter.
��
Target schools during this fall feeding frenzy.
��
Crappie love structure.
��
Try rock piles, shallow coves, stumps, points, fallen trees, and submerged brush.
��
Vertical jigging is a good method.
��
A 1/32 or 1/16 oz. jig dropped into brush will produce many fish.
��
Try swimming a small spinner through stump fields or along fallen trees.
��
When you identify the depth at which most of the fish are holding, try suspending a jig or minnow at that depth under a small bobber. This is an effective way to keep your bait in the desired depth for a much longer period of time.
