FISHING REPORT NUMBER 14: 7/23/2009
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good, areas to try include Aspinook Pond (very good), Lower Bolton Lake, Beach Pond, Glasgo Pond (7.1 lb, 5.8 lb and 5.2 lb bass among the recent catches), Coventry Lake, East Twin Lake, West Hill Pond, Candlewood Lake, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Waramaug, Hatch Pond, Billings Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Chamberlain Lake, Maltby Lakes, Beseck Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Quinebaug Lake, Halls Pond, Mudge Pond, Moodus Reservoir and Bashan Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action is generally fair to good, with reports from Saugatuck Reservoir, Beach Pond (good), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Quinebaug Lake, Candlewood Lake (target the humps), Gardner Lake (slow) and Colebrook Reservoir.
NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Beseck Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond.
Anglers are catching KOKANEE SALMON at West Hill Pond and East Twin Lake. Troll for these fish at 4-5 colors of lead line using a flasher with bait or lure and go as slow as you can go. Still fishing at night with a lantern & a corn/meal worm combination in 25-30 feet of water has been productive as well.
Some WALLEYE action is being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake and Coventry Lake.
PANFISH - Now is the time to get the family out and experience this fast-paced action. Target the shallows with bobbers and worms, grubs or small shiners. Small spinners and jigs have been very productive as well. Locations to try include Mamanasco Lake, Lake Hayward, Silver Lake (Berlin), Tyler Lake, Coventry Lake, Mudge Pond, West Side Pond, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond & Dog Pond.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - A mild summer and generally ample flows have resulted in good summer trout fishing with good action and a number of big fish being caught well into July. However, anglers have had to deal with several bouts of heavy rain increasing stream flows to unfishable levels in some areas. Good reports last week (prior to Friday’s rains) from the upper West Branch Farmington River (20” brown), Housatonic River, Saugatuck River, Natchaug River, Mill River TMA, Fenton River, Pachaug River, Pease Brook, Pomperaug River, Quinnipiac River (excellent) and Hammonasset River. Although flows in many areas are now at fishable levels, flows may again increase just before the weekend as a storm system is forecast to dump possibly 1-2 inches of rain in parts of the state.
Farmington River – Flows are clear and moderate above the Still River, with the Goodwin Dam releases currently reduced to 200 cfs due to a forecast of heavy rain. Inputs from the Still River just below Riverton have dropped back down to around 290 cfs, so flows are currently fishable throughout the river. However, with heavy precipitation possible, flows may again be high for the weekend. Your best bet may be to target above the river above the Still River. Insect hatches/patterns haven’t changed much over the past several weeks, Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning), Cahills (Stenonema Ithaca, #12-14, in the Peoples Forest area), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps., #16-24, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs (Epeorus vitreus, #16-20) duns (#14-20, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (Brachycentrus sps., tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#16-20, morning), Black Ants (#8-10, hot mornings in fast water),
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 14, 7/23/2009
Black Beetles (#16-1, Flying Ants/Termites (#14-18, when hot & humid after a rain) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).
Housatonic River – Flows have been colored and too high for most anglers to fish for much of the last week. Currently, flows remain high, but are clearing and dropping (2,400 cfs at Falls village, 3,350 cfs at Gaylordsville). During high flows, tributaries such as Macedonia Brook, Furnace Brook, or the Blackberry River are better choices. As some more rain may be in the forecast, anglers should call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information. Water temperatures remain great for trout, currently in the mid to upper 60’s°F ( mornings in the TMA area). Hatches/patterns include Alder/Zebra Caddis (Macrostemum zebratum, around in small numbers, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Isonychia bicolor (#10-12, evening), Light Cahill (Stenacron sps. #12-16, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), try White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10, with a red throat).
Lakes & Ponds – A number of CT lakes & ponds continue to produce good trout fishing. Areas to try include Colebrook Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (22” brown), Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Lake Wononskopomuc, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake (26” brown among the catches), Long Pond, Mohawk Pond, Beach Pond, and West Hill Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – Flows have dropped from early July highs, but are still higher than is typical for July.
Some STRIPED BASS are being caught in the lower river on live eels and hickory shad.
CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen cut bait in the Hartford to Haddam Meadows section of the river.
Some nice SMALLMOUTH BASS action is being found above Hartford.
NOTICES:
Anglers and other boaters are advised that several small areas of BANTAM LAKE are being treated with herbicides on Monday, July 27th. Only the treatment areas will be closed to boat traffic on Monday. Maps of the treatment areas have been posted at areas around the lake.
TIPS & TRICKS- LARGEMOUTH BASS FISHING
So what is the best bass fishing lure? It is the plain old 6-8 inch plastic worm. This is a highly debatable answer to a complicated question. But in the opinion of many tournament bass fishermen it is the ultimate bass lure.
The reason behind it is simple. It is the most versatile lure on the market. You can rig it to nearly float, you can rig it to be weed-less, and it can be rigged to get into the thickest weeds imaginable. You can fish it fast, you can fish it slow. You can fish it in 1 foot of water, or you can go as deep as your weight will let it go. Picking the right color is also fairly straightforward. Dark colors like blue, black, and purple are the all-time favorites.
The plastic worm is arguably the best bass fishing lure. But, it can also be the most difficult to fish effectively. Many beginners don’t fish them properly and then they wonder why they haven’t caught anything. Fishing a plastic worm takes a lot of practice before you master it. There is a Texas style rig for thick weeds. There is a split shot style rig for fishing mid-depths, there is a weightless rig that can be fished extremely slowly in clear conditions and there is a Carolina rig for dragging the bottom. There are also many variations of all the above rigs and retrieving styles will vary according to conditions. To learn these rigs and how to fish them properly keep probing around and explore other information sources. But by far the best way to learn this style of fishing is to have someone teach you hands-on. It is amazing what a good fisherman can teach you if you ask. (Source: ‘The Best Bass Fishing Lure’ by Anthony Zruna)
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good, areas to try include Aspinook Pond (very good), Lower Bolton Lake, Beach Pond, Glasgo Pond (7.1 lb, 5.8 lb and 5.2 lb bass among the recent catches), Coventry Lake, East Twin Lake, West Hill Pond, Candlewood Lake, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Waramaug, Hatch Pond, Billings Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Chamberlain Lake, Maltby Lakes, Beseck Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Quinebaug Lake, Halls Pond, Mudge Pond, Moodus Reservoir and Bashan Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action is generally fair to good, with reports from Saugatuck Reservoir, Beach Pond (good), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Quinebaug Lake, Candlewood Lake (target the humps), Gardner Lake (slow) and Colebrook Reservoir.
NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Beseck Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond.
Anglers are catching KOKANEE SALMON at West Hill Pond and East Twin Lake. Troll for these fish at 4-5 colors of lead line using a flasher with bait or lure and go as slow as you can go. Still fishing at night with a lantern & a corn/meal worm combination in 25-30 feet of water has been productive as well.
Some WALLEYE action is being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake and Coventry Lake.
PANFISH - Now is the time to get the family out and experience this fast-paced action. Target the shallows with bobbers and worms, grubs or small shiners. Small spinners and jigs have been very productive as well. Locations to try include Mamanasco Lake, Lake Hayward, Silver Lake (Berlin), Tyler Lake, Coventry Lake, Mudge Pond, West Side Pond, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond & Dog Pond.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - A mild summer and generally ample flows have resulted in good summer trout fishing with good action and a number of big fish being caught well into July. However, anglers have had to deal with several bouts of heavy rain increasing stream flows to unfishable levels in some areas. Good reports last week (prior to Friday’s rains) from the upper West Branch Farmington River (20” brown), Housatonic River, Saugatuck River, Natchaug River, Mill River TMA, Fenton River, Pachaug River, Pease Brook, Pomperaug River, Quinnipiac River (excellent) and Hammonasset River. Although flows in many areas are now at fishable levels, flows may again increase just before the weekend as a storm system is forecast to dump possibly 1-2 inches of rain in parts of the state.
Farmington River – Flows are clear and moderate above the Still River, with the Goodwin Dam releases currently reduced to 200 cfs due to a forecast of heavy rain. Inputs from the Still River just below Riverton have dropped back down to around 290 cfs, so flows are currently fishable throughout the river. However, with heavy precipitation possible, flows may again be high for the weekend. Your best bet may be to target above the river above the Still River. Insect hatches/patterns haven’t changed much over the past several weeks, Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning), Cahills (Stenonema Ithaca, #12-14, in the Peoples Forest area), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps., #16-24, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs (Epeorus vitreus, #16-20) duns (#14-20, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (Brachycentrus sps., tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#16-20, morning), Black Ants (#8-10, hot mornings in fast water),
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 14, 7/23/2009
Black Beetles (#16-1, Flying Ants/Termites (#14-18, when hot & humid after a rain) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).
Housatonic River – Flows have been colored and too high for most anglers to fish for much of the last week. Currently, flows remain high, but are clearing and dropping (2,400 cfs at Falls village, 3,350 cfs at Gaylordsville). During high flows, tributaries such as Macedonia Brook, Furnace Brook, or the Blackberry River are better choices. As some more rain may be in the forecast, anglers should call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information. Water temperatures remain great for trout, currently in the mid to upper 60’s°F ( mornings in the TMA area). Hatches/patterns include Alder/Zebra Caddis (Macrostemum zebratum, around in small numbers, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Isonychia bicolor (#10-12, evening), Light Cahill (Stenacron sps. #12-16, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), try White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10, with a red throat).
Lakes & Ponds – A number of CT lakes & ponds continue to produce good trout fishing. Areas to try include Colebrook Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (22” brown), Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Lake Wononskopomuc, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake (26” brown among the catches), Long Pond, Mohawk Pond, Beach Pond, and West Hill Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – Flows have dropped from early July highs, but are still higher than is typical for July.
Some STRIPED BASS are being caught in the lower river on live eels and hickory shad.
CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen cut bait in the Hartford to Haddam Meadows section of the river.
Some nice SMALLMOUTH BASS action is being found above Hartford.
NOTICES:
Anglers and other boaters are advised that several small areas of BANTAM LAKE are being treated with herbicides on Monday, July 27th. Only the treatment areas will be closed to boat traffic on Monday. Maps of the treatment areas have been posted at areas around the lake.
TIPS & TRICKS- LARGEMOUTH BASS FISHING
So what is the best bass fishing lure? It is the plain old 6-8 inch plastic worm. This is a highly debatable answer to a complicated question. But in the opinion of many tournament bass fishermen it is the ultimate bass lure.
The reason behind it is simple. It is the most versatile lure on the market. You can rig it to nearly float, you can rig it to be weed-less, and it can be rigged to get into the thickest weeds imaginable. You can fish it fast, you can fish it slow. You can fish it in 1 foot of water, or you can go as deep as your weight will let it go. Picking the right color is also fairly straightforward. Dark colors like blue, black, and purple are the all-time favorites.
The plastic worm is arguably the best bass fishing lure. But, it can also be the most difficult to fish effectively. Many beginners don’t fish them properly and then they wonder why they haven’t caught anything. Fishing a plastic worm takes a lot of practice before you master it. There is a Texas style rig for thick weeds. There is a split shot style rig for fishing mid-depths, there is a weightless rig that can be fished extremely slowly in clear conditions and there is a Carolina rig for dragging the bottom. There are also many variations of all the above rigs and retrieving styles will vary according to conditions. To learn these rigs and how to fish them properly keep probing around and explore other information sources. But by far the best way to learn this style of fishing is to have someone teach you hands-on. It is amazing what a good fisherman can teach you if you ask. (Source: ‘The Best Bass Fishing Lure’ by Anthony Zruna)