**
[left]FISHING REPORT NUMBER 3: 5/8/2008
[left]INLAND REPORT
[left]TROUT
*
[left]Rivers & streams ***- Flows have decreased to more typical (and very fishable) levels and anglers have been
[left]finding good to excellent trout fishing in most waters throughout the state, with best reports from the West
[left]Branch Farmington TMA (browns up to 4 lbs), Salmon, Mill (including a 23 inch rainbow), Farmill, Fenton,
[left]Pequonnock, Mianus, Natchaug, Willimantic, Little, Blackberry, Saugatuck River TMA, Eightmile (East
[left]Haddam), Hammonasset, Housatonic (21 inch rainbow), Naugatuck, Pootatuck, Pomperaug, Quinebaug,
[left]Moosup, Shetucket (**9.5 lb brown **among the catches), Yantic, Pachaug, Fivemile, French and Natchaug (4.5
[left]lb brown among the catches) Rivers, Roaring Brook (Glastonbury), Broad Brook and Latimer Brook.
**
[left]Farmington River **- Flows are clear and moderate, currently 430 CFS at Riverton and an additional 120 CFS
[left]from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s °F. Current hatches/patterns include Blue Wing
[left]Olive (a.k.a. baetis or vegans; #18) in a parachute or emerging dun (noon to 5pm), Hendrickson (a.k.a. red
[left]quill; #12-#14) in a parachute, comparadun or emerger (1 pm or yellow egg sac pattern around 6 pm) and Blue
[left]Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #18) in a parachute or emerger (midday). Also try Rusty Spinners (#16-18), Mahogany
[left]Duns/Blue Quills (#18-20), Tan Caddis (#14-18) and Winter Caddis (#18-22). Nymphs (#18-22) are always a
[left]good go-to fly. Try Bead Head, Midge Pupa, Brassie, Zebra Midge or Copper John patterns. Streamers are also
[left]producing. Use White Zonkers & Buggers (#4-12) as well as Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghost.
**
[left]Housatonic River **- Flows are currently clear, comfortable for fishing, and are continuing to decrease
[left](currently 1,000 cfs at Falls Village and 1,500 cfs at Gaylordsville), although with rain predicted for Friday,
[left]flows may again increase. Morning water temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s °F (TMA area). Adams
left in the evening are producing. Hendrickson (#12-#14) in the afternoon and Blue Wing Olives (#12-
[left]#16) are on the water with Green Caddis Pupa (#14-16) soon to show up. Anglers using Pheasant Tail (#12-
[left]14), Copper John (#12-16) and American Pheasant Tail (#12-14) are finding nymphing to be very productive.
[left]Try streamers (Yellow/White Zuddlers or Gray Ghost) around 6:30 pm.
**
[left]Anglers Can Expect Good Fishing in western CT on **the Farmington River, West Branch Farmington River,
[left]Pomperaug River, Pequonnock River, Pootatuck River (upper), Saugatuck River (Lower), Sandy Brook, Still
[left]River (Colebrook), Nepaug River, Housatonic River (TMA) and Naugatuck River (including TMA). **In
[left]Eastern CT, good fishing can be expected at **Pattaconk Brook, Kitt Brook, Broad Brook (Preston), Choate
[left]Brook, Quinebaug River, Middle River, Crystal Lake Brook, Tankerhoosen River, Hockanum River (above
[left]and below TMA), Hammonasset River (including TMA), Salmon River (including TMA), Jeremy River,
[left]Natchaug River, Bigelow Brook, Still River (Eastford), Yantic River (including TMA), Hop River,
[left]Skungamaug River, Shetucket River and Snake Meadow Brook.
[left]Lakes & Ponds *– **Good trout fishing was found in many lakes and ponds throughout the state including Lake
[left]Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, East Twin Lake, Candlewood Lake (including three 15-17 “football-shaped”
[left]browns for one angler), Highland Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Lake Quonnipaug, Wononscopomuc Lake,
[left]Tyler Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Amos Lake, Alexander Lake, Squantz Pond (including a 3 lb brown trout), Mt
[left]Tom Pond, West Hill Pond and Beach Pond. **Anglers can expect good fishing in western CT at **Twin Brooks
[left]Park Pond, Huntington Park Pond, Wononscopomuc Lake, Hop Brook Lake, Baummer’s Pond, Mt. Tom Pond,
[left]Black Rock Lake (Flood Control Impoundment), Ball Pond, the Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park) Urban
[left]Fishing Area, and the Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond) and Stratton Brook Trout Parks. **In Eastern CT, good
[left]fishing should be expected at **Cedar Lake, Pattaconk Lake, Gardner Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Black Pond
left, Walkers Reservoir, Amos Lake, Wyassup Lake, Beach Pond, Billings Lake, the Beaver Brook
[left]Park Ponds, Wauregan Reservoir, Alexander Lake, Moosup Pond and the Mohegan Park Pond, Chatfield
[left]Hollow and Day Pond Trout Parks.
**
[left]LARGEMOUTH BASS **fishing is generally good with reports from Lake Zoar (5.6 lb bass), Lake
[left]Lillinonah, Lake Saltonstall, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Candlewood Lake, Saugatuck
[left]Page 1 of 3
[left]Reservoir, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (mixed reports), Bantam Lake, Tyler Lake, Highland Lake,
[left]Wononscopomuc Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Amos Lake, Gardner Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Ball Pond
[left]and Mt. Tom Pond.
**
[left]SMALLMOUTH BASS **are reported at Candlewood Lake (catches include some in the 4-5 lb range),
[left]Highland Lake, Coventry Lake, Bantam Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), and Squantz Pond. Smallmouth
[left]fishing at Gardner Lake has been slow.
**
[left]NORTHERN PIKE **action reported at Bantam Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
**
[left]WALLEYE **catches are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake (**10 lb
[left]walleye reported**), Gardner Lake and Squantz Pond (a 6.5 lb fish among the catches).
**
[left]CHAIN PICKEREL **are being caught at Lake Wononscopomuc, Saugatuck Reservoir and Upper Moodus
[left]Reservoir.
[left]CONNECTICUT RIVER ***– **STRIPED BASS **are in the river to the Windsor area. Mostly school size (16-25”)
[left]fish. Some adults (to 37 inches) are showing up in the lower to mid river. Sand & blood worms are working.
[left]Big plastic baits like 9” Houdini Shad, 7” Bombers & swim baits are also working. After a lull last week
[left](high flows, cooler temperatures), **SHAD **are now being reported throughout the river. Successful anglers
[left]are using willow leaf or shad darts for these tasty treats. Anglers are reminded that the only legal method of
[left]harvesting American shad is angling. **NORTHERN PIKE **action reported from Wethersfield and Crow
[left]Point Cove. Knowledgeable anglers are targeting **CATFISH **in the Hartford to Middletown area. Sandworms
[left]or cut bait are catching fish this week up to 5 lbs.
[left]CONNECTICUT RIVER STRIPED BASS/RIVER HERRING STUDY - ***Researchers at the University of
[left]Connecticut are continuing their study of the effects of striped bass on river herring in the Connecticut River.
[left]This study sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection began last year, involves
[left]the collection, and tagging, of striped bass by electrofishing several nights per week. This sampling takes place
[left]on the CT River north from Wethersfield. Operations in the Connecticut portion of the river will be staged out
[left]of Windsor Locks. In Massachusetts, most sampling will be in the Holyoke area. Anglers seeing an
[left]electrofishing boat (boat with a generator, lights, and poles protruding into the water) should note these are
[left]biologists doing important research.
[left]As part of the study, anglers who catch a striped bass with a yellow or red tag are encouraged to call 860-486-
[left]4694 to provide the tag ID #, the specific location where the fish was caught, whether the fish was released,
[left]and your contact information. All such reports are eligible for a $15 (yellow tag) to $50 reward (red tag).
**
[left]Please do not remove the tag from fish you plan to release.
*
[left]BOAT LAUNCHES & BOATING INFORMATION
[left]??? The state boat launch at **HIGHLAND LAKE **will be closed to all use on Wednesday, May 14th for
[left]reconfiguration of the parking area.
[left]DIDYMO REMINDER ***- Anglers are reminded to take precautions to prevent the spread of the highly invasive
[left]freshwater alga Didymosphenia geminata, known as “Didymo”, into CT waters. Last year (2007), the presence
[left]of didymo was confirmed in several popular trout streams, the upper Connecticut River (NH/VT), White River
left, Batten Kill (NY/VT) and the East and West Branches of the Delaware River (NY/PA). These were the
[left]first official reports of didymo in the northeastern United States. This microscopic algae can develop massive
[left]blooms, sometimes extending for several miles of river. These blooms can smother aquatic plants, aquatic
[left]insects and molluscs, alter stream flow characteristics and fish habitat, and impact food webs. Dense mats of
[left]didymo can also reduce recreational and aesthetic values of affected rivers.
[left]Humans can unknowingly spread didymo. The microscopic cells can cling to fishing gear, waders (felt soles
[left]can be especially problematic), boots and boats, and remain viable for months under even slightly moist
[left]conditions. Although didymo has not yet been found in CT, it has been found in near-by states. It is
[left]Page 2 of 3
[left]recommended that anglers, especially those who also fish streams outside Connecticut, practice **CHECK,
[left]CLEAN, DRY **procedures.
[left]• **CHECK: **Before leaving a river, stream or lake, remove all obvious clumps of algae and plant material
[left]from fishing gear, waders, clothing & footwear, canoes & kayaks, and anything else that has been in the
[left]water and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the site. If you find any later, clean your gear and dispose
[left]of all material in the trash.
[left]• **CLEAN: **Soak/spray & scrub boats and all other “hard” items for at least one minute in either very hot
left water, a 2% bleach solution, or a 5% dishwashing detergent solution. Absorbent materials such as
[left]clothes and felt soles on waders should be soaked for at least 40 minutes in very hot water (140°F), or 30
[left]minutes in hot water (115°F) with 5% dishwashing detergent. Freezing thoroughly will also kill didymo.
[left]• **DRY: **If cleaning is not practical, after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours
[left]before contact or use in any other waterway.
[left]The above procedures will also be effective against other unwanted organisms.
*
[left]MARINE FISHING REPORT
**
[left]Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in upper 40’s to low 50’s °F. Check out the following web
[left]sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
[left]http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
[left]RU-COOL Satellite Imagery
[left]http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
[left]Feature No Longer Available | Weather Underground
[left]Reminder: *The TAUTOG (blackfish) recreational fishing season is closed through June 30.
[left]Striped bass **fishing for schoolies is the main ticket on the marine scene. Tidal rivers and harbors are prime time
[left]for stripers. Striped bass spots worth trying include the Pawcatuck River to Sandy Point, Mystic River,
[left]Thames River from Norwich down to Montville, Millstone Point, Niantic River, Hamburg Cove, Calves Island
[left]and off Great Island (the “Wood Lot”) in the Connecticut River, Hammonasset River, Branford River, New
[left]Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Housatonic River, Bridgeport Harbor (power plant warm water discharge),
[left]Saugatuck River, Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich Harbors.
**
[left]Winter flounder **fishing remains fair at Bluff Point State Park (Poquonock Cove), Pine Island area, Niantic
[left]River, North and South Brothers, Connecticut River east breakwater on the flood tide, Madison - Guilford
[left]area, and Norwalk Harbor.
**
[left]For regulation updates, please check our web site **Information Page.
[left]DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
[left]CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
[left]79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
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