FISHING REPORT NUMBER 16
8/4/2010
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair to good. The best reports are from East Twin Lake, Quaddick Reservoir (catches include a 5.8 lb largemouth), Rogers Lake, Coventry Lake, Candlewood Lake (catches include several 6 lb bass) and Beach Pond (a 5.7 lb bass among the catches). Gardner Lake, Crystal Lake, Hatch Pond, Mudge Pond, South Spectacle Pond, Leonard Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Burr Pond, Highland Lake, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Saltonstall are reporting fair largemouth fishing, and it’s been tough at Pachaug Pond. Other places to try include Bantam Lake, South Spectacle, Mashapaug Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Bishop Pond, Halls Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Morey Pond, Park Pond, Winchester Lake, West Hill Pond, Black Pond (Woodstock), Moodus Reservoir, Bashan Lake, Pickerel Lake, Ball Pond, Pattagansett Lake, Uncas Lake and Dog Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS – River smallmouth action continues to be very good in the upper Housatonic River. Some action also reported from the Willimantic, Farmington (Tariffville section) and Naugatuck Rivers. Lake and pond smallmouth fishing is generally fair to tough, with the best reports from Candlewood Lake(not bad, including some 4-5 lb smallies), Highland Lake, Bantam Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Colebrook Reservoir and Mashapaug Lake. It’s been tough for most anglers to find many smallies at Gardner Lake, Wyassup Lake and Lake Housatonic.
WALLEYE have made a great showing of late. Three trophy fish have recently come from Gardner Lake during some quality night fishing. These include 6 lb (26 inch, catch & release category), 7.6 lb (27.5 inch) and 10.4 lb (29) inch fish. Other locations reporting catches include Lake Saltonstall (several fish including a 6 lb plus ‘eye’ from the dock) and Mashapaug Lake.
KOKANEE are being caught at East Twin Lake (including a 19 inch beauty).
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Lake Lillinonah (find the springs), Bantam Lake (target cooler water) and Winchester Lake (in the out back).
CALICO BASS action is reported in Silver Lake (Meriden), Tyler Lake, Coventry Lake and Park Pond (try small shiners).
SUNFISH (easy to catch) are providing excellent summer time entertainment. Small local ponds are always a good bet, bigger places to try include Bishop Pond, Halls Pond, Park Pond, Leonard Pond, State Line Pond, Silver Lake, Winchester Lake, Wood Creek Pond, Dog Pond, Red Cedar Lake, Tyler Lake and Winchester Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – The river remains warm, and flows are dropping again. CARP fishing on homemade baits continues to be good (one angler’s season total is 83 fish) for those willing to pre-bait their ‘swims’ (fishing areas). CATFISH are being taken at night on cut bait. Although NORTHERN PIKE fishing is generally slow, some catches have been reported in the coves below Hartford. LARGEMOUTH BASS are providing some action in lower river coves. SMALLMOUTH BASS are being caught in the Enfield area on jigs, worms and on black caddis flies. Target these aerial acrobats at dusk and be prepared for some great action. STRIPED BASS action in the lower river is slow, some fish are being boated.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Recent bouts of more comfortable weather have moderated water temperatures some, but flows are low again in most areas of the state. These low flows and summer conditions make early and late in the day the best fishing times throughout the state. Some good trout fishing can still be found in some areas, with action reported from the West Branch Farmington River (very good here, 17 fish for one busy angler), Housatonic River, Mill River, Naugatuck River, Latimer Brook, Salmon River, Eightmile River (East Haddam) and Hammonasset River. Anglers are advised not to forget terrestrial fly patterns which can be very productive at this time of the year.
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.
Farmington River – Trout fishing is very good and conditions continue to be good for fishing. West Branch flows remain clear and moderate (about 200 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 15 cfs from the Still River) and morning West Branch water temperatures are in the upper 50’s to low 60’s°F.
Hatches have generally not changed much over the past several weeks but Tricos (Tricorythodes #22-28) have begun to show up in the TMA. The evening brings out a mixture of every bug on the water, with Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, mid morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #8-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.; #18, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (Epeorus vitreus, #14-18, Riverton area, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill (Stenonema ithaca, #14-18), Caddis (tan #12-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-28, morning), Black Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#12-16, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening)among the successful patterns. You should be on 8-9 x tippet at this time of the summer.
Housatonic River – The recent cooler weather did improve water temperatures somewhat, and morning temperatures continue to be in the upper 60’s to low 70’s °F (but rising during the day). High temperatures and low flows are stressful to trout, so 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 -The White Fly (Ephoron leukon, #10-14) hatch is still active. If you have never seen this it is a sight to behold. The hatch starts around dusk and goes until dark. Use a White Wulff, (#8-14). Other insect activity includes Blue Wing Olive larvae (#18-24, early morning; spinner fall in evening, mainly during overcast days), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#18-24, early morning & evening). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening), try White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds- Summer trout action reported from West Hill Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Highland Lake, East Twin Lake (target 40 plus feet), Crystal Lake (target 25-30 feet), Coventry Lake, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Mohawk Pond and Mount Tom Pond.
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) continue to be 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 is good. Bluefish fishing has picked up and is more consistent throughout LIS. Striper and bluefish spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef and East and West Clumps (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 Stamford and Greenwich Harbors. SNAPPER BLUE fishing remains good in the tidal creeks.
SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing is fair to good. There are a lot of fish being caught and released in the 16 to 18 inch range which bodes well for next year. Fluke spots 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, lower Thames River, 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 the north shore of Long Island.
SCUP (porgy) fishing is rated good to excellent on the local reefs and rock piles. The time to go is an hour or two before and after slack tide.
BLUE CRABBING remains good even though you may have to pick through a lot of small crabs.
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.

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a...epNav_GID=1630