FISHING REPORT NUMBER 22: 9/17/2009
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS
fishing is variable, ranging from fair to very good. The best reports are from Amos Lake (plenty of big bass caught recently, including at least five largemouth in the 5 to 6.5 lb range), Mudge Pond (several in the 4-5 lb range), good reports from Bashan Lake, Rogers Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Ball Pond, Hall’s Pond and Morey Pond, and fair reports from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (catches include a 7.2 lb largemouth), Wononscopomuc Lake, Cedar Lake, Gardner Lake (catches do include a 5 lb largemouth), East Twin Lake (catches include a 5.9 lb bass), Quaddick Reservoir, Pachaug Pond and Coventry Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
fishing is also variable, with good reports from Rainbow Reservoir (good action, but remember that water levels will be dropping), Candlewood Lake (good but slowing some) and Saugatuck Reservoir, fair fishing at Lake Lillinonah and Highland Lake, and it’s been slow at Gardner Lake, Mashapuag Lake, and the Housatonic River.
NORTHERN PIKE –
Fishing is generally fair to slow, with some catches reported from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Pachaug Pond, and the upper Housatonic River.
Some WALLEYE action reported from Coventry Lake, Beach Pond and Squantz Pond.
CHANNEL CATFISH
– Some good action for catfish reported from Lake Quonnipaug and the Quinnipiac River.
TROUT
Fall trout stocking update-
This week, DEP begins stocking in eastern Connecticut. A total of 2,300 large brown trout (12 inch and longer fish) will be stocked into the Hockanum River TMA, Moosup River TMA, Willimantic River TMA, Salmon River TMA, Salmon River (below the TMA), the Day Pond Trout Park and the Mohegan Park Pond Trout Park for this weekend. Additionally the Valley Falls Park Pond Trout Park is being stocked with 200 adult rainbow trout. In western CT, stocking of the Wolfe Park Trout Park (Great Hollow Pond) scheduled for last week was postponed due to equipment failure.
Rivers & streams
- Conditions for early fall trout fishing should be good in most areas throughout the state, with cool temperatures and very fishable flows. Anglers should be switching over to streamers and terrestrial fly patterns as many hatches typically begin to wind down in September. Good reports last week from the Hammonasset River, West Branch Farmington River, Housatonic River and Naugatuck River.
Farmington River –
Fishing has been good, but anglers should be aware that DEP conducted its annual electrofishing survey of the West Branch Farmington River this week, and fishing in the West Branch TMA may be expected to be slow for several days. Conditions should be good for the weekend, flows are currently clear, moderate and very fishable (currently 270 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 35 cfs from the Still River), and excellent late summer weather is forecast. West Branch water temperatures are in the low 60’s °F.
Hatches/patterns include Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-28, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #18-22, all day), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-14, mid day) and rusty Spinners (14-24). Some Tricos (#22-26) can still be found mornings in the upper West Branch.
Housatonic River – The fishing has been very good, and conditions should continue to great for fishing this weekend, with clear & comfortable flows (currently 570 cfs at Falls Village and 735 cfs at Gaylordsville), moderate water temperatures (upper 50’s to low 60’s°F, mornings), and 11,500 trout
recently stocked by DEP (upper TMA: 1,000 large browns, 5,000 adult rainbows and 3,000 yearling browns, Bulls Bridge TMA: 2,500 adult rainbows) waiting for anglers.
Hatches/patterns include Fall Sulfurs (#16), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#20-24, overcast afternoons; spinner fall in evening), caddis (tan, brown and black, #14-20, early morning & evening),
Isonychia (#12-14, evening), Black Ants (#14-20) and Flying Ants (#14-1
. Nymphing and streamers have also been productive.
Lakes & Ponds
–
Mixed reports for fall trout fishing, good fishing reported from Crystal Lake (try at 22-24 ft), Quonnipaug Lake (some nice browns, at 25-30 ft), fair at East Twin Lake, and slow at Mashapaug Lake and Candlewood Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER
–
September CATFISH action is very good, with a number of catches around 10 lbs. Try cut bait (chunking) on outside edges of bends and near structure along deeper holes. NORTHERN PIKE action has been good, with a number of fish caught in the coves around Wethersfield (Wethersfield Cove, Crow Point Cove) and along the Haddam Meadows area. BLACK CRAPPIE are starting to provide anglers some nice action in the coves, small shiners are a favorite bait. With reports of HICKORY SHAD being found all through the river, look for some improving STRIPED BASS action. Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves from Wethersfield down to Essex (including some catches in the 2-4 lb range), but anglers are having to work for their catches.
TIPS & TRICKS
– CATFISH BAIT
Found on the internet, some interesting bait ideas for catfish:
S
hrimp - This is one of the best catfish baits you can ever use. Because of the shrimp’s texture it will stay on the hook for long periods of time. You can find tiny or small cooked shrimp at most grocery stores in the frozen fish section.
Another catfish bait secret: You will need a zip lock sandwich bag, (1) or (2) packages of raw hotdogs any type cut into (1) inch lengths. Get (4) cans of tuna in oil, place the cut hotdogs in your zip lock bag, open the can tuna then drain the oil onto the hotdogs, then seal the bag. Place the bag into the refrigerator overnight. The next day you’re ready to go fishing. Remember you didn’t use the tuna fish just the oil (just make some tuna sandwiches to take along on your trip).
Time -change your catfish bait about every five minutes. This is important because of current. With the water moving, chances are your catfish bait won’t hold its scent pass (5) five minutes. So be patient and change your catfish bait.
If you really want to catch your limit, try biscuit dough dipped in vanilla extract and air dried for (1) hour. Make sure you let it stand one hour as this will insure the catfish bait absorbs the vanilla thoroughly. Use the dough as draw catfish bait. Just throw a hand full of favored dough into water and hold on to your rod. Catfish go crazy for this bait.
The key here is bait scent. Catfish are smell sensitive fish, they smell their prey more than they hunt by sight for their prey. Your bait must have a scent, the stronger the better!
Use a rod about 6 to 7 feet in length. The reel can be a spinner or conventional, whatever is prefer. Now think about what size catfish you might catch, this is important because your line should be two times stronger than the weight of the fish.
Be patient, catfish fishing requires being patient let the fish swallow the bait, you have time on your side. So many times have I watched people jerk the rods baited hook right out of the fish’s mouth, unbelievable! After the second nibble the fish should swallow the baited hook, then giving your rod a light tug upward this will set the hook in the mouth of the fish. Start reeling your line in if the fish starts to fight. Allow some slack in your line so that the fish will swim around to tire itself out and you can reel it up to the surface.
NOTICES:
Drawdowns of RAINBOW RESERVOIR are occuring this month (September) to facilitate maintenance work on the dam. At times, the state boat launch will be unusable due to the low water levels.
The LAKE MCDONOUGH boat launch is now closed for the season (anglers may still fish from shore).
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS
fishing is variable, ranging from fair to very good. The best reports are from Amos Lake (plenty of big bass caught recently, including at least five largemouth in the 5 to 6.5 lb range), Mudge Pond (several in the 4-5 lb range), good reports from Bashan Lake, Rogers Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Ball Pond, Hall’s Pond and Morey Pond, and fair reports from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (catches include a 7.2 lb largemouth), Wononscopomuc Lake, Cedar Lake, Gardner Lake (catches do include a 5 lb largemouth), East Twin Lake (catches include a 5.9 lb bass), Quaddick Reservoir, Pachaug Pond and Coventry Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
fishing is also variable, with good reports from Rainbow Reservoir (good action, but remember that water levels will be dropping), Candlewood Lake (good but slowing some) and Saugatuck Reservoir, fair fishing at Lake Lillinonah and Highland Lake, and it’s been slow at Gardner Lake, Mashapuag Lake, and the Housatonic River.
NORTHERN PIKE –
Fishing is generally fair to slow, with some catches reported from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Pachaug Pond, and the upper Housatonic River.
Some WALLEYE action reported from Coventry Lake, Beach Pond and Squantz Pond.
CHANNEL CATFISH
– Some good action for catfish reported from Lake Quonnipaug and the Quinnipiac River.
TROUT
Fall trout stocking update-
This week, DEP begins stocking in eastern Connecticut. A total of 2,300 large brown trout (12 inch and longer fish) will be stocked into the Hockanum River TMA, Moosup River TMA, Willimantic River TMA, Salmon River TMA, Salmon River (below the TMA), the Day Pond Trout Park and the Mohegan Park Pond Trout Park for this weekend. Additionally the Valley Falls Park Pond Trout Park is being stocked with 200 adult rainbow trout. In western CT, stocking of the Wolfe Park Trout Park (Great Hollow Pond) scheduled for last week was postponed due to equipment failure.
Rivers & streams
- Conditions for early fall trout fishing should be good in most areas throughout the state, with cool temperatures and very fishable flows. Anglers should be switching over to streamers and terrestrial fly patterns as many hatches typically begin to wind down in September. Good reports last week from the Hammonasset River, West Branch Farmington River, Housatonic River and Naugatuck River.
Farmington River –
Fishing has been good, but anglers should be aware that DEP conducted its annual electrofishing survey of the West Branch Farmington River this week, and fishing in the West Branch TMA may be expected to be slow for several days. Conditions should be good for the weekend, flows are currently clear, moderate and very fishable (currently 270 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 35 cfs from the Still River), and excellent late summer weather is forecast. West Branch water temperatures are in the low 60’s °F.
Hatches/patterns include Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-28, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #18-22, all day), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-14, mid day) and rusty Spinners (14-24). Some Tricos (#22-26) can still be found mornings in the upper West Branch.
Housatonic River – The fishing has been very good, and conditions should continue to great for fishing this weekend, with clear & comfortable flows (currently 570 cfs at Falls Village and 735 cfs at Gaylordsville), moderate water temperatures (upper 50’s to low 60’s°F, mornings), and 11,500 trout
recently stocked by DEP (upper TMA: 1,000 large browns, 5,000 adult rainbows and 3,000 yearling browns, Bulls Bridge TMA: 2,500 adult rainbows) waiting for anglers.
Hatches/patterns include Fall Sulfurs (#16), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#20-24, overcast afternoons; spinner fall in evening), caddis (tan, brown and black, #14-20, early morning & evening),
Isonychia (#12-14, evening), Black Ants (#14-20) and Flying Ants (#14-1
. Nymphing and streamers have also been productive.
Lakes & Ponds
–
Mixed reports for fall trout fishing, good fishing reported from Crystal Lake (try at 22-24 ft), Quonnipaug Lake (some nice browns, at 25-30 ft), fair at East Twin Lake, and slow at Mashapaug Lake and Candlewood Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER
–
September CATFISH action is very good, with a number of catches around 10 lbs. Try cut bait (chunking) on outside edges of bends and near structure along deeper holes. NORTHERN PIKE action has been good, with a number of fish caught in the coves around Wethersfield (Wethersfield Cove, Crow Point Cove) and along the Haddam Meadows area. BLACK CRAPPIE are starting to provide anglers some nice action in the coves, small shiners are a favorite bait. With reports of HICKORY SHAD being found all through the river, look for some improving STRIPED BASS action. Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves from Wethersfield down to Essex (including some catches in the 2-4 lb range), but anglers are having to work for their catches.
TIPS & TRICKS
– CATFISH BAIT
Found on the internet, some interesting bait ideas for catfish:
S
hrimp - This is one of the best catfish baits you can ever use. Because of the shrimp’s texture it will stay on the hook for long periods of time. You can find tiny or small cooked shrimp at most grocery stores in the frozen fish section.
Another catfish bait secret: You will need a zip lock sandwich bag, (1) or (2) packages of raw hotdogs any type cut into (1) inch lengths. Get (4) cans of tuna in oil, place the cut hotdogs in your zip lock bag, open the can tuna then drain the oil onto the hotdogs, then seal the bag. Place the bag into the refrigerator overnight. The next day you’re ready to go fishing. Remember you didn’t use the tuna fish just the oil (just make some tuna sandwiches to take along on your trip).
Time -change your catfish bait about every five minutes. This is important because of current. With the water moving, chances are your catfish bait won’t hold its scent pass (5) five minutes. So be patient and change your catfish bait.
If you really want to catch your limit, try biscuit dough dipped in vanilla extract and air dried for (1) hour. Make sure you let it stand one hour as this will insure the catfish bait absorbs the vanilla thoroughly. Use the dough as draw catfish bait. Just throw a hand full of favored dough into water and hold on to your rod. Catfish go crazy for this bait.
The key here is bait scent. Catfish are smell sensitive fish, they smell their prey more than they hunt by sight for their prey. Your bait must have a scent, the stronger the better!
Use a rod about 6 to 7 feet in length. The reel can be a spinner or conventional, whatever is prefer. Now think about what size catfish you might catch, this is important because your line should be two times stronger than the weight of the fish.
Be patient, catfish fishing requires being patient let the fish swallow the bait, you have time on your side. So many times have I watched people jerk the rods baited hook right out of the fish’s mouth, unbelievable! After the second nibble the fish should swallow the baited hook, then giving your rod a light tug upward this will set the hook in the mouth of the fish. Start reeling your line in if the fish starts to fight. Allow some slack in your line so that the fish will swim around to tire itself out and you can reel it up to the surface.
NOTICES:
Drawdowns of RAINBOW RESERVOIR are occuring this month (September) to facilitate maintenance work on the dam. At times, the state boat launch will be unusable due to the low water levels.
The LAKE MCDONOUGH boat launch is now closed for the season (anglers may still fish from shore).