FISHING REPORT NUMBER 21: 9/10/2009
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH
BASS fishing remains generally fair to good, with reports
from East Twin Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Lake Wononskopomuc,
Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Candlewood Lake, Hatch Pond,
Bolton Lakes (good), Ball Pond, Lake Quassapaug, Horse Pond, Indian
Pond, Park Pond, Highland Lake, Winchester Lake, Lake Lillinonah,
West Hill Pond, Lake Zoar, Quonnipaug Lake, Rainbow Reservoir,
Bishop Pond, Halls Pond, Moosup Pond, Keach Pond, Pachaug Pond,
Glasgo Pond (catches include a 6-lb largemouth), Ashland Pond (catches
include a 5.5 lb fish), Amos Lake, Godfrey Pond, Wyassup Lake and
Avery Pond.
SMALLMOUTH
BASS is also fair to good, with reports from Lake McDonough,
Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Housatonic, Candlewood Lake (good, several4
lb smallies among the catches), Highland Lake (good), Coventry
Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Mashapaug Lake, Gardner Lake and Bashan
Lake. River smallies are providing some action on the Housatonic,
Shetucket, Natchaug and Farmington (Tariffville) rivers
NORTHERN
PIKE catches reported from Winchester Lake, Pachaug Pond,
Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinonah, and the upper Shetucket River.
Some WALLEYE action reported from Lake Saltonstall, Batterson Park
Pond, Coventry Lake and Beach Pond.
SUNFISH provide excellent late summer action. Use worms, grubs,
jigs or small poppers on a fly rod for them. Areas to try include
Lake Hayward, Highland Lake, Winchester Lake, Tyler Lake, Billings
Lake, Dog Pond, Horse Pond, Indian Pond, Bishop Pond and Halls
Pond.
YELLOW
PERCH are reported from Candlewood Lake, Coventry Lake,
Gardner Lake, Tyler Lake, Park Pond and Halls Pond.
TROUT
Fall trout Stocking update- This week, DEP expects to stock the
Black Rock Pond Trout Park, Wolfe Park Trout Park (Great Hollow
Pond), the lower Farmington River TMA and the Naugatuck River TMA
with a total of 1,900 brown trout (12 inch and larger fish) for
the weekend. Additionally, 7,500 adult rainbow trout will be stocked
into the two Housatonic River TMAs (upper TMA - 5,000 fish,
Bulls Bridge TMA - 2,500 fish) and 3,000 “yearling” brown
trout (6-9” fish) will be released into the upper Housatonic
River TMA.
Rivers & streams - Conditions (moderate temperatures, comfortable
flows, plenty of holdover trout, plus the beginning of fall stocking)
are good for late summer trout fishing, and good fishing weather
is also predicted for the upcoming weekend and next week. However,
anglers should expect flows to increase some as rain is forecast
for this Friday (9/11). Anglers may want to focus their efforts
more toward terrestrial fly patterns as summer hatches fade. Streamer
action should get even better as fall approaches. Good reports
last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River,
Weekeepeemee River, Salmon River and Housatonic River (among the
recent catches are a 20.5” tiger trout and 21” rainbow).
Farmington
River - Conditions are good, fishing has been
a bit challenging but good, and there are still plenty of the 2,500
trout stocked into the West Branch last week awaiting anglers.
West Branch water temperatures are in the low 60’s °F.
West Branch flows currently are clear and fishable, about 425 cfs
at Riverton plus an additional 30 cfs from the Still River. Flows
may increase this weekend depending on rainfall amounts on Friday
(9/11). DEP currently is planning to conduct its annual electrofishing
survey of the river from September 15th through 17th. Anglers should
expect West Branch flows to drop to 100 cfs or less beginning late
September 14th and lasting through the 17th.
Hatches/patterns
for the Farmington - The Trico (Trycorythodes
stygiatus, #24-26, early morning), hatch is winding down but can
be found between 7:00am - 10:00am in the upper areas of the
river. The remaining bugs consist of Isonychia bicolor (major hatch,
#10-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis
sps.;#18-26, mid-late afternoon), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca,
#14-16, evenings),
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 21, 9/10/2009
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 (#14-20,
mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Flying
Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, especially after rain),
Stone Hopper (#8-14, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus,
#10-14, late evening).
Housatonic
River - Conditions are great for early September
trout fishing, temperatures are moderate (upper 50’s to low
60’s°F, mornings) and flows are clear and very fishable,
currently 650 cfs at Falls Village and 880 cfs at Gaylordsville.
With a possibility of rain in the forecast for this Friday, flows
may increase some for the weekend (anglers can call FirstLight
Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information.
Hatches/patterns
for the Housatonic River - Flying ants (#16-18,
mid-day, when windy/humid, September is peak month), Fall Sulfurs
(#16-18), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall
in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening, September is peak
month), Sulfurs duns (#16-18, below the dam due to low temperatures,
morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill (#12-16,
evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening).
Try Black Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18,
mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) or streamers (morning & evening,
try White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey/Black Ghosts
- #4-10).
Lakes & Ponds -
Early September trout anglers have been finding fishing fair
to good, with reports from Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake (target
22-25 ft), Coventry Lake, Beach Pond (Rhode Island side), Long
Pond, East Twin Lake (10 trout to 20 inches for one angler, target
30 ft), West Hill Pond and Highland Lake (second basin).
CONNECTICUT
RIVER
NORTHERN
PIKE fishing has been good,
try in the coves, confluences with streams and along the mainstem
downstream from Hartford to Middletown and in the Haddam Meadows
area.
CATFISH are active and are providing great action on cut
bait (chunking) near structure along deeper holes.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is fair, lower
river coves and backwater areas are best.
SMALLMOUTH
BASS action is fair to good north of Hartford.
BLACK CRAPPIE fishing reported to be good, small shiners work well, best action
in back coves.
STRIPED BASS action continues to be found in the
lower river.
TIPS & TRICKS
for CATCHING CRAPPIE
- Use
a loop knot for best results when fishing a jig. A free swinging
jig moves well when casting and adds action when fished vertically.
- It’s
important to maintain a precise depth when fishing vertically.
Experiment with lures at a variety of depths until you find the
fish. Placing a rubber band around the spool of the reel will
help mark the proper depth. This helps to return to that correct
depth quickly. Using a slip bobber will also help.
- When
the Crappie disappears from the area you are fishing, move
out to deeper water, and fish at the same depth. The fish will
often suspend out from structure or drop offs, but maintains
the same depth. This is often the case in late summer.
- While
many fishermen rely on the shallow water of spawning crappie
for good fishing, crappie will almost always be found in the
deeper depths. In a typical year there may be only two to three
weeks when shallow water will provide more consistent fishing.
- Experienced anglers use jigs, spinners, worms, small shiners
and grubs to put fish in the creel.
2009 DEP Fishing Report Number 21, 9/10/2009
NOTICES:
- The
LAKE MCDONOUGH boat launch is now closed for the season (anglers
may still fish from shore).
- The extensive drawdown of RAINBOW RESERVOIR scheduled to begin
on Labor Day (September 7th) has been delayed, but is still expected
to occur this month (September). Once the drawdown begins, the
state boat launch will unusable due to the low water levels.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Reminder to saltwater anglers concerning the marine waters fishing
license:
- A
marine waters fishing license is now required for fishing in
the Marine District (this includes Long Island Sound and tidal
rivers south of the freshwater demarcation lines as listed on
page 46 of the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide).
- Environmental
Conservation Police will be checking for licenses and initially
focusing their efforts on education and outreach. Saltwater
anglers need to purchase their license as soon as possible.
The new licenses are available online (www.ct.gov/dep/fishing)
and at all current vendors and DEP offices where the existing
freshwater fishing and hunting licenses are sold. Please refer
to the DEP website for additional information.
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the upper
60’s to around 70 °F. Check out the following web sites
for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s
Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater
trophy fish award information.
STRIPED
BASS fishing remains good especially during low light
periods (dusk through dawn, clouding days, etc.). Drifting live
bait is key on the reefs and rip areas, trolling the tube and
worm combo in shallow water, and casting eels from shore have
produced quality cow bass. The usual striper spots include the
Watch Hill reefs, Napatree Point, the Race, Sluiceway, Pigeon
Rip, Plum Gut, outer Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef and the humps
to the south, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef,
Sixmile Reef, Falkner
Island area, the reefs off Branford, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield
Reef, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the reefs around the
Norwalk Islands.
BLUEFISH fishing
has slowed down over the past week in eastern LIS. Bluefish spots
include Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound,
the Race, Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Harkness Memorial State Park,
Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River (DEP Fishing Pier), Long
Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point and along the beaches from Westbrook
to Clinton, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Hammonasset Beach State
Park, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford and Branford
Harbor, New Haven Harbor, Milford Harbor jetties, Charles Island
area to Milford Point, lower Housatonic River, Stratford Shoal/Middle
Ground area, Penfield Reef, and Norwalk and Stamford Harbors.
SNAPPER
BLUEFISH fishing remains good in the tidal rivers and coves.
SCUP fishing is good to excellent on the local reefs and the
time to go is now!
HICKORY
SHAD fishing is fair to good in the lower Niantic
River and Connecticut River.
LITTLE
TUNNY (false albacore) and ATLANTIC BONITO (green
bonito) have hit LIS like gang busters over this past week. Eastern
LIS including Watch Hill, south side of Fishers Island to Race
Rock, the Race, Little Gull Island, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett
Reef, Black Point, and Hatchett Reef were loaded with these speedy
torpedoes. Other locations include off Stratford including Stratford
Shoal/Middle Ground area and off the Norwalk Islands - just look
for flocks of diving gulls and terns! But, you never know the
whereabouts of these inshore tunas – here today, gone tomorrow!
BLUE
CRABBING is prime time with jimmies over 7 inches (measured
spike to spike) being reported.
Reminder to Marine Anglers: In Connecticut waters, the BLACKFISH (tautog) fishing season is closed from September 1st through
September 30th.
For regulation updates, please check our web site www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
