Fishing report (June 18-24)
Published: Saturday, June 19, 2010

INLAND REPORT

TROUT The rain and cool weather that has been upon us for the last several weeks has created excellent river and stream fishing conditions. Excellent success is being found using worms, and corn/mealworm combinations. Virtually every insect in the river is active and many are hatching right now. Good fishing can be found at the Farmington River, Housatonic River, Natchaug River, Naugatuck River, Shetucket River, Eightmile River (East Haddam, Lyme), Blackledge River, Blackberry River, Crystal Lake Brook, Hammonasset River, Mt. Hope River, and Saugatuck River.

Rivers & streams -

Farmington River – Trout fishing has been very good. West Branch flows continue to be clear and moderate, currently 320 cfs at Riverton plus an additional 53 cfs from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the upper 50’s F.

Hatches include: Vitreus [a.k.a. pale evening dun] #14-16, from 5:00pm to dark, Isonychia (#8-12), Tan Caddis (#14-20) good all day, Sulfurs, (Invaria #16-18 hatches mid-day and Dorothea #18-20). The fish show a preference for the males (#20). Successful patterns include: March Brown nymphs (#10-12), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#16-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #16-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings) are the current working patterns.

Housatonic River – Trout fishing is very good and conditions continue to be good for fishing. Flows are slowly dropping and are very fishable, 587 cfs at Falls Village and 873 cfs at Gaylordsville. Water temperatures are in the mid 60’sF.

Major insect hatches are here and are providing excellent fly fishing. Alder/Zebra Caddis (#10-12) are hot right now, Sulphurs (#16), Blue Wing Olive (#18-24, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 evening, just starting), Cahill (#12-14), Adams (#12-14, evening), March Brown (#10-12) & Gray Foxes (#14-16) are producing. Green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening) are on the water. Midges and early stoneflies are also being seen at the mouths of streams on the Housatonic River.

Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are closed to fishing as of June 15. 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- Anglers can expect the majority of this season’s big trout to be caught into mid June. Candlewood Lake is still providing excellent action with 4-5 pound fish being reported. Other areas to try are Squantz Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Black Pond (Woodstock), Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, Colebrook Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Bigelow Pond, Long Pond, Beach Pond, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake, Lake McDonough & West Hill Pond.

Trout Parks – Some good trout fishing remains at many of the designated Trout Parks. East of the CT River are the Valley Falls Park Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, Day Pond and Natchaug River Trout Parks, and west of the river, Southford Falls, Stratton Brook, Kent Falls, Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond), Wharton Brook and Sleeping Giant (Mill River-Hamden) Trout Parks.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is good to very good in many areas. The best reports are from Lake McDonough, Lake Saltonstall, Lake Wononskopomuc, Quaddick Reservoir, Ball Pond, Cedar Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Mudge Pond, Candlewood Lake, Moodus Reservoir (5.5 lb), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Rogers Lake, Halls Pond and Pachaug Pond.

SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported as excellent from Candlewood Lake (4 lb fish). Other areas to try are Colebrook Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Highland Lake, Coventry Lake, Gardner Lake, Bashan Lake & Saugatuck Reservoir.

CHANNEL CATFISH – fishing is reported to be very good in the newly stocked catfish areas with some 3-4 lb fish being caught. Locations to try include: Lakewood Lake (Waterbury), Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport), Keney Park Pond (Hartford) , Mohegan Park Pond (Spaulding Pond, Norwich), Black Pond (Middlefield), Maltby Lakes 2 & 3 (Orange/West Haven), Lower Bolton Lake (Bolton), Pattaconk Lake (Chester), Quonnipaug Lake (Guilford), Silver Lake (Meriden) and Lake Wintergreen (Hamden/New Haven).

KOKANEE are continuing to provide some action at both East Twin Lake and West Hill Pond. (three colors of lead line).

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as good from Bantam Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.

CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS at the river mouth continued to decline last week. Anglers in the Haddam area were having good luck with CATFISH. The PANFISH anglers are starting to show up, catching yellow perch and sunfish at various shore spots from Hadlyme to Middletown. NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Wethersfield Cove, Portland Bridge and White Oaks Cove.

A REMINDER TO CONNECTICUT RIVER ANGLERS: Wild adult salmon are now returning to the Connecticut River system and may be accidentally caught by shad or striper anglers. We remind all that it is illegal to fish for or take Atlantic salmon in Connecticut. The only exceptions to this prohibition are those specific areas stocked with surplus broodstock Atlantic salmon, waters and designated as open to salmon fishing (see the 2010 CT Angler’s guide for regulations and locations).

Anglers should be aware that roughly handled and photographed salmon can die before they can be captured for breeding at upstream fishways. We encourage all anglers who catch a salmon to never remove it from the water (photograph it at the surface) and to release it as quickly as possible. If you must leave tackle in its mouth, contact DEP’s Diadromous Fisheries Program (860-447-4316) and we will return the tackle if it is still present when the salmon is captured.

TIPS & TRICKSTo maximize your chances of catching a carp, you need to both find the fish and attract them. Look for any jumping or rolling fish. Also look for bubbles that appear to be moving slowly along. Often carp will stir up the bottom and give their presence away with rising bubbles or even clouds of silt. If you'd like to attract them try chumming. The best starter chum is plain old sweet corn. Tossing by hand, using a sling shot or lashing a throwing scoop to the end of a broom stick will get the chum to the fishing area. Chumming both attracts the fish and creates a competitive feeding frenzy. Carp competing with each other are less cautious and more easily caught.

FINDING/ATTRACTING CARP -

NIGHT FISHING – Use a glow in the dark product to paint your bobbers, rod tips and anything else you want and then spray a coat of clear spray paint over the top of it. It is very inexpensive and glows really well, just recharge it with your lantern every time you rebait! Reflective tape that you buy at hardware stores works well also and lights up great when you hit it with a q-beam.



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