Weekly Fishing Report - Week of October 25, 2004 INLAND REPORT
DEP expects to stock a total of **400 additional broodstock Atlantic salmon into the Naugatuck and Shetucket rivers **next week. These fish have just become available from the federal hatchery in White River Junction, VT.
**ATLANTIC SALMON **fishing in the Naugatuck & Shetucket Rivers is reported to be excellent with fish from 6-12 lbs. being caught & released. Anglers are reminded that catch-and- release fishing is in effect through November 30, 2004. From December 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005, anglers may keep one fish per day. Fishing for Atlantic salmon is limited to use of **single-fly or lure with a single free-swinging hook. **
**Caution to Anglers: **Anglers are also reminded that DEP conducted experimental stockings of 110 pre-spawn Atlantic salmon into the Farmington River (Burlington-Avon-Farmington), Salmon, Blackledge, Jeremy and Eightmile Rivers earlier this month. These stockings are not part of the annual broodstock salmon stocking program and it is illegal to harvest Atlantic salmon in these waters. Anglers should take care not to mistake these fish for large brown trout.
TROUT
***Rivers & streams ***– Good trout action reported on the Naugatuck (16” brown), Pequonnock, Scantic, Moosup and Yantic Rivers, Indiantown Brook, the Eightmile River WMTA (Southington), and in the Pequabuck, Housatonic, West Branch Farmington and Farmington River TMA’s. Anglers nymphing and using streamers are having good luck (especially early morning and late evening). For streamers try white, yellow & brown colors. Use a sinking tip or sinking line with a fast strip. Target the edges of the river and undercut banks. Patterns to try include: White Wooly Buggers (#6-8), White Zonkers, Hornburgs (#6-10), Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Bottom bouncing nymphs with Caddis pupa (#14-16), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) or Hare’s ear (#8-20) is recommended. The Farmington River is currently 55°F with 380 cfs of clear flows just below Riverton. The hatches consist of Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-20, early-mid afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day) & Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day). The Housatonic River is 50°F with about 825 cfs of fairly clear flows. Insect hatches include: Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early-mid afternoon), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), and Black caddis (#16-20, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day) & Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day).
Lakes & Ponds – Lakes reporting good trout fishing include: Congamond, Candlewood, Crystal (Ellington), Highland (9.2-lb brown), Wonoscopomuc (7-lb brown) and East Twin (24”, 7 lbs) lakes, Great Hollow, Squantz (20-26” browns) and Beach ponds as well as Colebrook Reservoir.
BASS fishing remains variable, ranging from very slow to good. Some LARGEMOUTH BASS reported at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, North Farms Reservoir, Congamond, Cedar (2.5 lb), Quonnipaug (5.25 lb), Beseck, Billings, Candlewood (6.95 lb beauty), Rogers and Crystal (Ellington) lakes, and Beach, Squantz, Mitchell, Pierrepont and Stillwater ponds. SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing reported fair at Gardner Lake, Squantz Pond, and the Quinebaug and Housatonic rivers. WALLEYE fishing this fall has been generally good, with a number of catches in the 5-6 lb range. Good reports from Lake Saltonstall, Rogers Lake (4 lb) Saugatuck Reservoir and Squantz Pond last week. NORTHERN PIKE fall bite is here! Fish are being caught in Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake and Pachaug Pond. YELLOW PERCH action reported from Lake Saltonstall, Crescent Lake (Southington), Highland Lake and Candlewood Lake.
Connecticut River – NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as good in the Middletown area, Haddam Meadows/Salmon River Cove area, Keeney Cove and north of the Bissell Bridge. Fair to good SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing reported in the Enfield area. Good BLACK CRAPPIE action on grubs reported from Wethersfield and White Oaks coves.
NOTES: Lake Lillinonah (drawndown approximately 6 feet starting October 23rd) is scheduled to begin refilling the night of October 31st. A 7-8 foot winter drawdown of Candlewood Lake is currently scheduled to begin on November 1. Winter drawdowns of Gardner Lake (down 4”), Glasgo Pond (down 20”), Pachaug Pond (down 14”) and Lower and Middle Bolton lakes began last week. All are scheduled for eventual drawdowns of 3 feet. MARINE REPORT
SPECIAL NOTE: SCUP (PORGY) FISHING SEASON IS CLOSED UNTIL OCTOBER 31ST.
Long Island Sound (LIS) has cooled down and the water temperature is in the high 50’s °F. Check out the following web site for more detailed water temperatures: RU-COOL Satellite Imagery
Also remember to check page 48 in the 2004 Angler’s Guide for tidal information and page 46 for saltwater trophy fish award info.
BLUEFISH fishing is at peak and the time to go is now! Bluefish are stacked up pretty good throughout LIS as they migrate south to warmer waters. The magic water temperature when bluefish become scarce is in the mid to low 50’s °F. Chopper spots include the Race, the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, Millstone warm water discharge, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Sixmile Reef, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Falkner Island area (North Rip), Branford reefs, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands, and Stamford and Greenwich Harbors.
STRIPED BASS fishing has improved and will only get better as bluefish move out of LIS. Schoolies are moving to the tidal rivers in good numbers making good light tackle action. Cow bass can be found at the Watch Hill reefs, the Race (Valiant Rock), the Sluiceway (area between Plum Island and Great Gull Island), the hump south of Bartlett Reef, Black Point, the humps south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, and the reefs around the Norwalk Islands.
TAUTOG (Blackfish) fishing is steadily picking up as water temperatures drop. The end of October into November is “Tog Time” until water temperatures reach the mid 40’s °F when tog semi-hibernate for the winter. Tog spots include Latimer and Seaflower reefs, and the Dumplings in Fishers Island Sound. Other spots in LIS include Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Kimberely Reef, Thimble Islands to Branford area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Grounds, Penfield Reef, the reefs off Norwalk, and the Cows off Stamford.
HICKORY SHAD fishing runs hot and cold from day to day. Shad can be found mixed in with school stripers in the Mystic River, Niantic River, Connecticut River by the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier, and the Hammonasset River.
Interested in participating in the Volunteer Marine Angler Survey? Please see page 44 of the 2004 CT Angler’s Guide for contact information. Your participation is critical to effective fisheries management of your marine fishery resources. Thank you. Weekly Fishing Report | Bureau of Natural Resources Home | Contact Us | Search | Feedback | Website Legal Info Send comments or questions regarding this site to dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us Copyright 1998-2004 Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
must be the sighn of winter[crazy]
I’m going to try New Haven Harbor Sat. if the wind doesn’t blow to much.