FISHING REPORT NUMBER 16: 8/6/2009
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally reported as good. Areas to try include Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Middle Bolton Lake, Breakneck Pond, Riggs Pond, Gardner Lake, Amos Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, Rogers Lake (very good), Lake Lillinonah (including a 4.8 lb largemouth), Crystal Lake, Ball Pond, Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Mohawk Pond, Mt. Tom Pond, Ball Pond, Tyler Lake, Dog Pond, Halls Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Lake Hayward, Babcock Pond, Pickerel Lake and Bishop Pond. Fair fishing reported from Pachaug Pond, Aspinook Pond and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught at Coventry Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Taftville Pond, Quinebaug Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Candlewood Lake (very good, a number of smallies in the 4-5 lb range), Naugatuck River (upper section), Bashan Lake and Beach Pond.
KOKANEE are being caught at East Twin Lake and West Hill Pond in the deeper waters (33 plus feet).
NORTHERN PIKE –Good catches reported to from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Pachaug Pond, Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
WALLEYE – Some catches reported from Mashapaug Lake, Lake Saltonstall and Batterson Park Pond.
CALICO BASS action is reported at Silver Lake (Meriden), Coventry Lake, Aspinook Pond and Park Pond.
SUNFISH (easy to catch) are providing excellent summer time entertainment. Areas to try include: Babcock Pond, Salters Pond, South Spectacle Pond, State Line Pond, Bishop Swamp, Silver Lake and Winchester Lake.
YELLOW PERCH are reported from Wood Creek Pond, Dog Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Tyler Lake, Candlewood Lake (Jumbos) and Winchester Lake.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Water flows have been high in many areas due to all the recent rains, but are dropping nicely. Smaller rivers, tributaries & the upper portion of the larger rivers may still the best bet for more wadeable flows in some areas. Conditions are improving for the upcoming weekend, with comfortable temperatures and mainly dry weather in the forecast. This is also a good time for terrestrial fly patterns. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Mill River, Naugatuck River, Fenton River, Willimantic River, Latimer Brook, Salmon River, Eightmile River (East Haddam), Hammonasset River and Furnace Brook.
Farmington River – Trout fishing below Riverton continued to be variable last week, with flows sometimes high and difficult to fish below Riverton. Conditions should be better this weekend, as little precipitation is expected, and flows are currently clear and at fishable levels, 415 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 130 cfs from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s°F. You should be on 8-9 x tippet at this time of the summer. Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, mid morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.; #18-26, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (Epeorus vitreus, #14-18, mostly upriver, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill (Stenonema ithaca, #12-1, Caddis (tan #14-20, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-28, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 16, 8/6/2009
windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening) are patterns to try. Evenings can brings out a mix of every bug on the water.
Housatonic River – Flows have been generally too high to safely fish the river for the past several weeks. Flows are still unfishable, but are finally dropping nicely, currently 2,350 cfs at Falls Village and 3,230 cfs at Gaylordsville, and may be fishable this weekend (call NGS at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information) Morning water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60’s°F. Once fishable, hatches/patterns should include Blue Wing Olives, Light Cahills, Black caddis, Black/Cinnamon Ants, Black Beetles, Flying Ants and streamers (White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn and Grey or Black Ghosts). The White fly hatch is expected shortly.
Lakes & Ponds – Anglers are finding fair to good mid-summer trout fishing at a number of areas throughout the state including Lake Wononskopomuc (catches include 8 lb and 10 lb brown trout), West Hill Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake (browns to 24”, target 30 plus feet), Crystal Lake (target 20-30 feet), Coventry Lake, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Mohawk Pond and Mt. Tom Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – High flows and debris continue to make boating on the river difficult and at times, hazardous. Flows are, however, slowly dropping from their weekend highs.
STRIPED BASS action in the lower river is slow with small fish being boated.
Some LARGEMOUTH BASS and SMALLMOUTH BASS and being caught in the coves.
CATFISH are being taken at night on cut bait
TIPS & TRICKS - GOING FOR SLAB SUNFISH:
Where:
Shallow, weedy bays with sand-gravel shorelines & points with stands of emergent vegetation.
Place your bait in hard-to-reach spots, such as pockets in the weeds.
Back ends of creek arms warm earliest in spring and draw sunfish in to spawn.
Excellent summertime locations include creek channel edges and weedy humps.
Main lake points that slope gradually into deep water hold sunfish in summer and fall.
Deep holes at the lower end of creek arms hold sunfish in winter.
How:
An excellent method to catch sunfish is bobber fishing with live bait, such as worms, small leeches, grasshoppers, crickets, grass shrimp and grubs. Use 2-6 pound mono with a size 8 long-shank (easier to remove) hook. About 10 inches from the hook, add enough split shot so the bobber barely floats. Normally, the bait should be 6-18 inches off the bottom. Alternately jiggle the bobber and then let it rest. Most bites come after the bait stops moving.
However, tiny jigs and other small artificial fished with ultra light tackle can be equally effective.
When sunfish are concentrated in shallows, particularly at spawning time, fly fishing with poppers or wet flies may be the best technique of all.
Lures include jigs, teardrops and spinners.
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally reported as good. Areas to try include Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Middle Bolton Lake, Breakneck Pond, Riggs Pond, Gardner Lake, Amos Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, Rogers Lake (very good), Lake Lillinonah (including a 4.8 lb largemouth), Crystal Lake, Ball Pond, Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Mohawk Pond, Mt. Tom Pond, Ball Pond, Tyler Lake, Dog Pond, Halls Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Lake Hayward, Babcock Pond, Pickerel Lake and Bishop Pond. Fair fishing reported from Pachaug Pond, Aspinook Pond and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught at Coventry Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Taftville Pond, Quinebaug Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Candlewood Lake (very good, a number of smallies in the 4-5 lb range), Naugatuck River (upper section), Bashan Lake and Beach Pond.
KOKANEE are being caught at East Twin Lake and West Hill Pond in the deeper waters (33 plus feet).
NORTHERN PIKE –Good catches reported to from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Pachaug Pond, Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
WALLEYE – Some catches reported from Mashapaug Lake, Lake Saltonstall and Batterson Park Pond.
CALICO BASS action is reported at Silver Lake (Meriden), Coventry Lake, Aspinook Pond and Park Pond.
SUNFISH (easy to catch) are providing excellent summer time entertainment. Areas to try include: Babcock Pond, Salters Pond, South Spectacle Pond, State Line Pond, Bishop Swamp, Silver Lake and Winchester Lake.
YELLOW PERCH are reported from Wood Creek Pond, Dog Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Tyler Lake, Candlewood Lake (Jumbos) and Winchester Lake.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Water flows have been high in many areas due to all the recent rains, but are dropping nicely. Smaller rivers, tributaries & the upper portion of the larger rivers may still the best bet for more wadeable flows in some areas. Conditions are improving for the upcoming weekend, with comfortable temperatures and mainly dry weather in the forecast. This is also a good time for terrestrial fly patterns. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Mill River, Naugatuck River, Fenton River, Willimantic River, Latimer Brook, Salmon River, Eightmile River (East Haddam), Hammonasset River and Furnace Brook.
Farmington River – Trout fishing below Riverton continued to be variable last week, with flows sometimes high and difficult to fish below Riverton. Conditions should be better this weekend, as little precipitation is expected, and flows are currently clear and at fishable levels, 415 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 130 cfs from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s°F. You should be on 8-9 x tippet at this time of the summer. Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, mid morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.; #18-26, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (Epeorus vitreus, #14-18, mostly upriver, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill (Stenonema ithaca, #12-1, Caddis (tan #14-20, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-28, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 16, 8/6/2009
windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening) are patterns to try. Evenings can brings out a mix of every bug on the water.
Housatonic River – Flows have been generally too high to safely fish the river for the past several weeks. Flows are still unfishable, but are finally dropping nicely, currently 2,350 cfs at Falls Village and 3,230 cfs at Gaylordsville, and may be fishable this weekend (call NGS at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information) Morning water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60’s°F. Once fishable, hatches/patterns should include Blue Wing Olives, Light Cahills, Black caddis, Black/Cinnamon Ants, Black Beetles, Flying Ants and streamers (White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn and Grey or Black Ghosts). The White fly hatch is expected shortly.
Lakes & Ponds – Anglers are finding fair to good mid-summer trout fishing at a number of areas throughout the state including Lake Wononskopomuc (catches include 8 lb and 10 lb brown trout), West Hill Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake (browns to 24”, target 30 plus feet), Crystal Lake (target 20-30 feet), Coventry Lake, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Mohawk Pond and Mt. Tom Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – High flows and debris continue to make boating on the river difficult and at times, hazardous. Flows are, however, slowly dropping from their weekend highs.
STRIPED BASS action in the lower river is slow with small fish being boated.
Some LARGEMOUTH BASS and SMALLMOUTH BASS and being caught in the coves.
CATFISH are being taken at night on cut bait
TIPS & TRICKS - GOING FOR SLAB SUNFISH:
Where:
Shallow, weedy bays with sand-gravel shorelines & points with stands of emergent vegetation.
Place your bait in hard-to-reach spots, such as pockets in the weeds.
Back ends of creek arms warm earliest in spring and draw sunfish in to spawn.
Excellent summertime locations include creek channel edges and weedy humps.
Main lake points that slope gradually into deep water hold sunfish in summer and fall.
Deep holes at the lower end of creek arms hold sunfish in winter.
How:
An excellent method to catch sunfish is bobber fishing with live bait, such as worms, small leeches, grasshoppers, crickets, grass shrimp and grubs. Use 2-6 pound mono with a size 8 long-shank (easier to remove) hook. About 10 inches from the hook, add enough split shot so the bobber barely floats. Normally, the bait should be 6-18 inches off the bottom. Alternately jiggle the bobber and then let it rest. Most bites come after the bait stops moving.
However, tiny jigs and other small artificial fished with ultra light tackle can be equally effective.
When sunfish are concentrated in shallows, particularly at spawning time, fly fishing with poppers or wet flies may be the best technique of all.
Lures include jigs, teardrops and spinners.