INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH
BASS fishing ranges from good to slow, with the best
reports from Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Candlewood Lake, Mashapaug
Lake, Quaddick Reservoir (ok action, but recent catches include
6.7 lb and 5 lb bass), Lake Wononskopomuc and Ball Pond, and
fair reports from Aspinook Pond, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond,
Glasgo Pond, Pachaug Pond, Black Pond (Meriden) and Mansfield
Hollow Reservoir (big fish were hard to find, but lots of action).
Action’s been slow at Beach Pond, Long Pond and Cedar Lake
SMALLMOUTH
BASS fishing is generally fair in lakes and ponds,
with the best reports from Candlewood Lake, Lake Housatonic (good
action, but big fish are hard to find) and Lake Lillinonah. Although
some fish are being caught, it’s been slow at Highland Lake, Gardner
Lake, Coventry Lake, Squantz Pond, Mashapaug Lake and Bantam Lake.
River smallie action has been excellent in the upper Housatonic
River (shiners & crayfish), and fair in the Farmington River
(Tariffville).
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 & corn/meal worm combination
in 25-30 feet of water has been productive as well.
NORTHERN
PIKE catches reported from Bantam Lake, Lake Lillinonah,
Winchester Lake and Pachaug Pond.
Some
WALLEYE are being reported from Batterson Park Pond (on bait
at night), Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake and Mashapaug Lake.
Fishing for PANFISH this season has been very good. Now’s
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. Small
local ponds can be really good, for bigger locations, try Mamanasco
Lake, Lake Hayward, Silver Lake (Berlin), Tyler Lake, Coventry
Lake, Mudge Pond, West Side Pond, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond
and Dog Pond.
CONNECTICUT
RIVER – With the river temperatures reaching
the mid 80’s.
NORTHERN
PIKE fishing
is slow. Some anglers are finding them in cooler pockets of water.CATFISH (good)
are being taken on frozen & cut bait in the Hartford to Haddam
Meadows section of the river (target deeper holes/drop offs). CARP fishing
is rated as good with many fish (generally in the 10-15 lb range)
coming to net. Try boilies, worms and sweet corn. Best results
are found when the “swim” is pre-baited. Keepers
are hard to come by in the inland area but some STRIPED
BASS are
being caught in the lower river on live eels, hickory shad and
scup. Some SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in
the Enfield area.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Anglers and trout continue to be challenged
by very warm weather. Recent rains have at least temporarily improved
flows in many areas. Early and late in the day are the best fishing
times during the summer. Try targeting areas of cooler waters to
reduce stress on fish. Rainbow trout can be found in the fast water
and brown trout will typically be in the larger, deeper pools.
Bait fisherman are using a corn/mealworm combination.
Farmington River – Trout fishing continues to be good. West
Branch flows remain clear and very fishable, with 200 cfs coming
from the Goodwin Dam. The Still River is currently contributing
an additional 25 cfs. To take advantage of the coolest water, your
best bet is to target the area above the Still River.
Insect hatches have been steady over the past several weeks. Ephemerella
needhami (#22-26, early morning), Cahills (Stenonema Ithaca, #14,
in the Peoples Forest area), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor,
#8-12, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps., #18, mid-late
afternoon), Sulphurs (Epeorus vitreus, #16-18) duns (#14-20, morning;
afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (Brachycentrus
sps., tan #14-20, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-28,
morning), Black Ants (#8-10, hot mornings in fast water), Black
Beetles (#16-18), Flying Ants/Termites (#14-18, when hot & humid
after a rain) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14,
late evening) are successful patterns.
Housatonic
River – This week’s rains have brought the
river back up closer to more typical summer levels. Flows remain
clear, and are currently at 310 cfs at Falls Village and 510 cfs
at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures have dropped to the
low 70’s°F (will rise through the day). More moderate
air temperatures are forecast for the start of next week, which
may further improve water temperatures.
Summer
conditions can be very stressful to trout, and especially during
extended bouts of high temperatures and low flows, it’s
an excellent time to switch to smallmouth bass (these conditions
are near ideal for smallie fishing). Those targeting trout need
to take extreme care when handling trout they plan to release!
Hatches/patterns
include Alder/Zebra Caddis (Macrostemum zebratum, are around
in small numbers, #10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs),
Isonychia bicolor (#10-12, evening), Light Cahill (Stenacron
sps. #12-14, evening), and Tan & green caddis (#14-20, early
morning & evening).
Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay
after dark. Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening).
Patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers,
Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10, with a red throat).
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic,
Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing. These
areas will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100
feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Lakes & Ponds -
Summer trout anglers are finding some action at Beach Pond (8
colors), Crystal Lake (drifting shiners), East Twin Lake, Long
Pond (worms/corn early & late), West Hill Pond
(5 colors meal worms/corn), Lake McDonough (target 20-30 feet),
Highland Lake (middle bay), Ball Pond, Mt. Tom Pond and Mohawk
Pond (deep hole).
NOTES & NOTICES:
The Bayberry Lane State Boat Launch Groton will be closed for renovations
from August 2nd through December 31st.
TIPS & TRICKS - LARGEMOUTH BASS FISHING IN THE SUMMER
HEAT
Do bass stop feeding in hot weather? NO.
•
Bass are cold-blooded creatures.
•
They adjust their body temperatures to their surroundings.
•
They have upper and lower temperature tolerances.
•
Temperature regulates their metabolic rate.
•
The energy (food) needs of a bass increase with temperature.
•
It is impossible for a fish to cease feeding during hot weather.
•
A bass feeds more during the summer months than at any other time.
In hot weather, do bass always go to deep water? NO.
•
Bass will be at greater depths in clear water (20-45 feet) than
in a stained waters (10-18 feet).
•
Largemouth bass will venture to shallow areas and food shelves
to feed.
•
Bass do not normally go deeper than this during the summer months.
•
They go the deepest during the coldest part of the winter, when
the depths are actually warmer.
•
Spring (spawning) finds most of the bass in exceptionally shallow
water.
•
Most of the summer bass can be found beneath where your boat was
sitting during the spring.
•
When surface temperature is high 80's and low 90's, the water at
10-12 feet will be in low 70's.
•
Prove this to yourself by jumping off a boat and noticing how cold
that water is down deep.
Do bass have certain temperature preferences and will always adhere
to them? NO.
•
Bass seems to disregard temperature factors in favor of staying
near food.
•
Largemouth bass makes the most efficient use of food at 78-85 degrees
(F).
•
Peak efficiency is approximately 82 degrees (F).
•
Their food supply does not handle warm water well.
•
With the water temperature up the bass are very active, moving
a lot, and feeding heavily.
•
Summer bass school strongly and nearly always relate to structure.
•
The most ideal summer structure is a creek or river channel drop
off.
•
First, it is near deep water.
•
Second, it is a large feature that allows a school to disperse
along its course.
•
Finally, channels have some degree of current flow.
•
Current is important in hot weather.
•
During hot weather a rapidly-fished lure is more productive than
one presented slowly.
•
The bass are on their most active feed during the hot summer period.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the
low to mid 70’s °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
STRIPED
BASS and BLUEFISH fishing remains fair to good. The usual
fishing spots include the Watch Hill area, Ram Island Reef (Fishers
Island Sound), lower Thames River, the Race (by Race Rock and Valiant
Rock), outer Bartlett Reef, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip,
warm water discharge from Millstone Power Station, the “humps” south
of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef,
Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, reefs off Guilford and Branford,
New Haven Harbor, buoys #18 and #20 off Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middle
Ground, Black Rock Harbor, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands, Cable
and Anchor Reef, Smith Reef and the reefs off Stamford and Greenwich.
SNAPPER
BLUE fishing is good in the tidal creeks although the fish are
only 4 to 5 inches in length.
SUMMER
FLOUNDER fishing remains the same with a lot of shorts being
reported. Fluking locations include the Sandy Point area in Stonington,
Stonington flats south of the breakwaters, Ram Island Reef to Latimer
Point and around Seaflower Reef (Fishers Island Sound), south side
of Fishers Island, Twotree Island Channel, Niantic River, Black
Point, White Sands Beach, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef area,
Falkner Island area, off the New Haven breakwaters, off the mouth
of the Housatonic River to buoys #18 and 20 off Bridgeport, south
of the Norwalk Islands and across to the north shore beaches of
Long Island.
SCUP (porgy) fishing still remains good to excellent with jumbos
in the 15 to 17 inch range. Most of the major reefs, rock piles,
jetties, and rocky areas along the shoreline will harbor these
good tasting fish. Also, BLACK SEA BASS will be mixed in as well.
BLUE
CRABBING is good and will only get better along the coastline
in the tidal creeks, rivers, and coves.
For regulation updates and fishing/crabbing information, please
check out our web site at: www.ct.gov/dep or pick up the 2010 Angler’s
Guide.
DEP
WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
