DEP INLAND Fishing Report June 25, 2009
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DEP Fishing Report June 25, 2009
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - The cool and rainy weather continued this week making it difficult for anglers in some areas. The low pressure system causing the unseasonable weather pattern is finally forecasted to move out resulting in clearing skies and warmer temperatures for the upcoming weekend. With the muddy to off-color waters from the recent rains, anglers are finding garden worms or corn/mealworm combinations to be the most productive.
Farmington River - Water temperature is 52°F at 1,100 cfs at Unionville and continues to drop after all the recent rains. The flows are off-color and clearing, however, fishing is difficult to challenging and should not be attempted unless one is familiar with the area. Tributaries are fishable and the safest choice until water levels come down. The West Branch flow is dropping with the area below Goodwin Dam at 400 cfs. Favorable flows will attract fisherman and anglers can expect some crowding until flows subside. Isonychia (#10, heavy, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#20-24, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns, (#16-20, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #12-14, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-28, morning), Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings) are the patterns for this time of the year.
Housatonic River - The high flows in the river continue to drop rapidly with fishable conditions expected by this weekend. Water temperatures are in the upper 50’s°F with flows of 2,890 cfs at Falls Village and 4,500 at Gaylordsville (anglers should call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information). Usual insect hatches for this time of the year include: Alder/Zebra Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Green/Brown Drakes (#8-12), Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-20, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#8-10 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Streamers (morning & evening) should catch some large fish. Golden stonefly (#6-14) nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark.
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Lakes & Ponds - Many of our lakes are still producing good trout fishing. Places to try include Crystal Lake (Ellington), Candlewood Lake, East Twin Lake (target 20-30 feet), Gardner Lake, Highland Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, West Hill Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Beach Pond and Long Pond.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good in many areas including Wononskopomuc Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir, Lower Bolton Lake, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Lake Zoar, Mudge Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Bishop Swamp, Batterson Park Pond, Tyler Lake, Lake Saltonstall and Halls Pond. Fair reports for Highland Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
SMALLMOUTH BASS is reported as fair at Saugatuck Reservoir, Colebrook Reservoir, Highland Lake, Coventry Lake, Bashan Lake and good at Candlewood Lake (including a 4.6 lb fish).
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Ashland Lake and Pachaug Pond.
KOKANEE SALMON are being caught at East Twin Lake (including a nice 16 inch fish).
WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir (24 inch fish) and Saugatuck River.
CONNECTICUT RIVER - There continues to be reports of STRIPED BASS in the mid to lower river. Fish are being caught on sand worms & using chunk bait. At the mouth of the river anglers are using plastics & poppers for bigger fish. Inland fishing license is required to fish in the CT River north of the interstate route 95 bridge in Old Lyme. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good and catches are reported in Haddam Meadows & Salmon River area. SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in the upper portion of the river near the mouth of the Farmington River. CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen herring, live lining panfish and cut/chunk bait up and down the river.
TIPS & TRICKS
CATCHING/RELEASING CARP - Despite their large size, carp have relatively small mouths and tend to feed on small food items like baby clams, seeds, insects and the like. For bait, try canned corn. Other baits to try include soft dough baits, worms, bread, boilies, glugs, etc. The type of rig used is also important because carp can be very sensitive to resistance. A sliding casting sinker of 1/4 to 1/2 ounce works well. Use a hook anywhere from size 4 through 8. With a sliding rig and watchful eyes you should be able to see the carp bite before the carp notices the resistance and spits out the bait. When the dance turns into a slow steady pull or drop take up the slack, secure the spool, and set the hook. A carp's first run can truly be a knee wobbling experience. Just keep up the pressure and the fish will eventually turn. Fish this large require a lift up and wind down strategy. Rubber meshed boat nets work well and help to reduce fish injury. If you do plan on catch and release, please consider holding the fish horizontally. A fish friendly and accurate way to weigh your prize is to weigh the fish in the net and then subtract the weight of the net. (Source: Carp Anglers Group)
A New State record common carp (40.5 lb beauty) was recently caught in the lower Connecticut River by Steven Wasilewski of Norwich, CT. Following weighing, the fish was returned to the river alive. Steve is also the holder of the Rhode Island state record for common carp.
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DEP Fishing Report June 25, 2009
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - The cool and rainy weather continued this week making it difficult for anglers in some areas. The low pressure system causing the unseasonable weather pattern is finally forecasted to move out resulting in clearing skies and warmer temperatures for the upcoming weekend. With the muddy to off-color waters from the recent rains, anglers are finding garden worms or corn/mealworm combinations to be the most productive.
Farmington River - Water temperature is 52°F at 1,100 cfs at Unionville and continues to drop after all the recent rains. The flows are off-color and clearing, however, fishing is difficult to challenging and should not be attempted unless one is familiar with the area. Tributaries are fishable and the safest choice until water levels come down. The West Branch flow is dropping with the area below Goodwin Dam at 400 cfs. Favorable flows will attract fisherman and anglers can expect some crowding until flows subside. Isonychia (#10, heavy, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#20-24, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns, (#16-20, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #12-14, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-28, morning), Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings) are the patterns for this time of the year.
Housatonic River - The high flows in the river continue to drop rapidly with fishable conditions expected by this weekend. Water temperatures are in the upper 50’s°F with flows of 2,890 cfs at Falls Village and 4,500 at Gaylordsville (anglers should call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information). Usual insect hatches for this time of the year include: Alder/Zebra Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Green/Brown Drakes (#8-12), Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-20, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#8-10 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Streamers (morning & evening) should catch some large fish. Golden stonefly (#6-14) nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark.
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Lakes & Ponds - Many of our lakes are still producing good trout fishing. Places to try include Crystal Lake (Ellington), Candlewood Lake, East Twin Lake (target 20-30 feet), Gardner Lake, Highland Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, West Hill Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Beach Pond and Long Pond.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good in many areas including Wononskopomuc Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir, Lower Bolton Lake, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Lake Zoar, Mudge Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Bishop Swamp, Batterson Park Pond, Tyler Lake, Lake Saltonstall and Halls Pond. Fair reports for Highland Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
SMALLMOUTH BASS is reported as fair at Saugatuck Reservoir, Colebrook Reservoir, Highland Lake, Coventry Lake, Bashan Lake and good at Candlewood Lake (including a 4.6 lb fish).
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Ashland Lake and Pachaug Pond.
KOKANEE SALMON are being caught at East Twin Lake (including a nice 16 inch fish).
WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir (24 inch fish) and Saugatuck River.
CONNECTICUT RIVER - There continues to be reports of STRIPED BASS in the mid to lower river. Fish are being caught on sand worms & using chunk bait. At the mouth of the river anglers are using plastics & poppers for bigger fish. Inland fishing license is required to fish in the CT River north of the interstate route 95 bridge in Old Lyme. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is good and catches are reported in Haddam Meadows & Salmon River area. SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in the upper portion of the river near the mouth of the Farmington River. CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen herring, live lining panfish and cut/chunk bait up and down the river.
TIPS & TRICKS
CATCHING/RELEASING CARP - Despite their large size, carp have relatively small mouths and tend to feed on small food items like baby clams, seeds, insects and the like. For bait, try canned corn. Other baits to try include soft dough baits, worms, bread, boilies, glugs, etc. The type of rig used is also important because carp can be very sensitive to resistance. A sliding casting sinker of 1/4 to 1/2 ounce works well. Use a hook anywhere from size 4 through 8. With a sliding rig and watchful eyes you should be able to see the carp bite before the carp notices the resistance and spits out the bait. When the dance turns into a slow steady pull or drop take up the slack, secure the spool, and set the hook. A carp's first run can truly be a knee wobbling experience. Just keep up the pressure and the fish will eventually turn. Fish this large require a lift up and wind down strategy. Rubber meshed boat nets work well and help to reduce fish injury. If you do plan on catch and release, please consider holding the fish horizontally. A fish friendly and accurate way to weigh your prize is to weigh the fish in the net and then subtract the weight of the net. (Source: Carp Anglers Group)
A New State record common carp (40.5 lb beauty) was recently caught in the lower Connecticut River by Steven Wasilewski of Norwich, CT. Following weighing, the fish was returned to the river alive. Steve is also the holder of the Rhode Island state record for common carp.