08-13-2004, 09:37 AM
[font "Times New Roman"]Weekly Fishing Report - Week of August 9, 2004 [/font] [font "Times New Roman"][#004080]INLAND REPORT [/#004080][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]![[Image: lmb_small.gif]](http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishimag/lmb_small.gif)
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as excellent. Areas to try include: Lake(s) Wonoscopomuc (19”) and Hayward (3.8 pound), Congamond (4 pound), Quonnipaug (6 pound 1 oz.), Pattagansett, Lower Bolton, Rogers (6 pound), Mashapaug (5 pound), Crystal (Ellington), East Twin, Amos, Gardner (evening), Oxoboxo, Highland (Don Groman, Winsted 6 pound), Bantam and Winchester lake(s), Beach, Ball (4.2 pound), Chamberlain, Patchaug, Dog and Mudge pond(s) (4.4 pound), Saugatuck & Moodus reservoir(s). SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Lake Zoar, Squantz Pond, Saugatuck & Colebrook Reservoir (3.7 pound), Gardner & Candlewood (4 pound 12 oz.) lake(s), Quinebaug (very good), Shetucket, Pomperaug, Willimantic (very good) and Housatonic (excellent) river(s).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]TROUT[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Rivers & streams – Considering that this is August, we are experiencing some of the best trout fishing in memory. Conditions are just right for excellent mid-summer fishing. As the major hatches begin to wind down, anglers are advised to move their efforts more toward terrestrial fly patterns. The Farmington is 61°F with 350cfs of clear flows. Insect hatches have been stable and unchanging over the past several weeks. Needhami (#24-26, early morning - For more information on using the Needhami, see the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/weekly/needhami.pdf"]Needhami Tips and Tricks[/url] - PDF, 54K), Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-20, mid-late afternoon), Sulphur duns (#18-20, still in Riverton area only, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening) are successful patterns. Evening brings out a mixture of every bug on the water. The Housatonic is 70°F with 380cfs of slightly off color flows. The White Fly is here, (2 weeks early)! Use a White Wolf (#10-12). Other insect hatches include: Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-16, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include: White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Areas of activity include: Farmington (17-19” browns) River and Housatonic (17” brown) River. Anglers are also reporting good catch and release fishing around dusk in Wild Trout Streams such as the Tankerhoosen River and Merrick Brook.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Lakes & Ponds – Some lakes are still producing good fishing. Areas of activity include: Crystal (Ellington, 19” brown @ 20”), Rogers, Highland (4 pound brown), East Twin (evening) and Wonoscopomuc (evening) lake(s), West Hill (evening) and Beach Pond (trout @ 4 colors) and Colebrook Reservoir.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah (30”), Bantam (37”), Winchester lake(s) and Pachaug Pond. CATFISH are being caught from Lake(s) Lillinonah and Zoar. Anglers are finding KOKANEE (slow)in West Hill Pond by bait fishing at night. Some WALLEYE are being reported from Gardner Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir and Squantz Pond (24”, drifting alewives). CALICO BASS action is reported in Silver (Meriden), Highland, and Oxoboxo lake(s) and Park and Pachaug pond(s). SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action. Areas to try include: Crescent Pond, Quinebaug, Amos, Billings, Crystal (Ellington), and Mamanasco lake(s). CHAIN PICKEREL are being found in Lantern Hill Pond (28”) and Wonoscopomuc Lake (19”). YELLOW PERCH are reported from Mudge, Dog and Crescent (12”) pond(s), Tyler, Coventry and Wyassup lake(s).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Connecticut River – STRIPED BASS action remains good in the lower river on live eels & hickory shad. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is excellent in the coves and in the mainstem near Haddam Meadows and downstream from Hartford to Haddam. LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves around Hartford-Middletown and in the lower river (5.07 pound). SMALLMOUTH BASSare being caught in the north of the river (Enfield area & near mouth of the Farmington River). CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen cut bait in the deeper holes of the river.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#ff0000]Boating Access Notes: [/#ff0000]The Boating Division also cautions boaters when using the Great Island launch in Old Lyme at low tide. Due to storm activity, access to the Sound from this launch is severely restricted during low tide.[/font] [font "Times New Roman"][#004080]MARINE REPORT[/#004080][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]![[Image: Stb.gif]](http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishimag/Stb.gif)
The water temperature remains in the mid 60’s to low 70’s °F. Check out the following web site for more detailed water temperatures:
[url "http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1"]http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1[/url]![[Image: arrow7.gif]](http://dep.state.ct.us/images/arrow7.gif)
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[font "Times New Roman"]Also remember to check [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=48&zoom=100"]page 48[/url] in the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/angler.htm"]2004 Angler’s Guide[/url] for tidal information and [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=46&zoom=100"]page 46[/url] for saltwater trophy fish award info.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]STRIPED BASS - Fishing for striped bass is excellent! Live lining bunker, hickory shad, scup, snapper blues, and eels or trolling the tube and worm combo have yielded big cow bass. Any of the reefs, wrecks, and rips in LIS are worth trying even during daylight. The usual striper spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef, south shore of Fishers Island, 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, between the Baldwin Bridge (I-95) and the Amtrak RR Bridge (Connecticut River), Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, the reefs around the Norwalk Islands, and the Cows off Stamford.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]BLUEFISH fishing is rated good to excellent throughout LIS. The reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef, the Race (which is red hot!), Millstone warm water discharge, lower Connecticut River (between the Baldwin Bridge (I-95) and the Amtrak RR Bridge), Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Cornfield Point, Falkner Island area (North Rip), New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands, and the reefs off Stamford. Choppers in the 34 inches range have been reported! Snapper bluefish is also red hot in the tidal rivers and creeks. Fish range in size from 4-7 inches. Try fishing around an hour or two after slack high tide.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing is a little picky but you never know when a doormat may come a calling! Try fishing in deeper water (40+ ft.) with a live snapper on three-way or slip sinker rig. The usual fluke spots include the south side of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach), mouth of the Mystic River to Groton Long Point, the hump south of Bartlett Reef, Black Point, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Duck Island area, the Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor including the outer breakwater area, and the Charles Island area.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Tautog (blackfish) fishing is just fair to good at the reefs in Fishers Island Sound, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Kimberly Reef, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor Breakwaters and oyster grounds, Charles Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the Norwalk Islands.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]SCUP fishing is good to excellent at all the major rocky reefs and wrecks throughout LIS with fish reported up to 17 inches in length! Hooks baited with small squid strips on three-way bottom rigs or fish-finder/slip sinker rigs on light tackle work well and is fun for persons of all ages.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Hickory shad fishing is fair to good in the Niantic River but is spotty in the lower Connecticut River.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Bonito and Little Tunny fishing is hit or miss but should become more consistent as the season progresses. Torpedo spots include the Pine Island area (Groton), the Race, the Millstone Point area and the Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Blue Crab crabbing is definitely worth mentioning with reports of 15 crabs taken in a couple of hours by one crabber fishing in the Blackhall and Lieutenant Rivers over the weekend. Jimmies (large males) up to 7 ½ inches have been caught. Chicken parts tied to trot lines and of a course a scoop net is all you need to catch these tasty critters![/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#009900]Interested in participating in the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=44&zoom=100"]Volunteer Marine Angler Survey[/url]? Please see [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=44&zoom=100"]page 44[/url] 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.[/#009900][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]For the latest information regarding [#000000]size and catch limits[/#000000] on common marine fish species, please see the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/marineinfo/saltregs.htm"]Current Marine Fisheries Recreational Regulations[/url][#0080ff] [/#0080ff][#000000]page.[/#000000][/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/weekly/fishadv.htm"]Weekly Fishing Report[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/index.htm"]Bureau of Natural Resources[/url][/font][/center] [font "Arial"][size 2][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/index.htm"]Home[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/aboutdep/contact/contact.htm"]Contact Us[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/search2.htm"]Search[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/survey/survey.htm"]Feedback[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/legal.htm"]Website Legal Info[/url][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as excellent. Areas to try include: Lake(s) Wonoscopomuc (19”) and Hayward (3.8 pound), Congamond (4 pound), Quonnipaug (6 pound 1 oz.), Pattagansett, Lower Bolton, Rogers (6 pound), Mashapaug (5 pound), Crystal (Ellington), East Twin, Amos, Gardner (evening), Oxoboxo, Highland (Don Groman, Winsted 6 pound), Bantam and Winchester lake(s), Beach, Ball (4.2 pound), Chamberlain, Patchaug, Dog and Mudge pond(s) (4.4 pound), Saugatuck & Moodus reservoir(s). SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Lake Zoar, Squantz Pond, Saugatuck & Colebrook Reservoir (3.7 pound), Gardner & Candlewood (4 pound 12 oz.) lake(s), Quinebaug (very good), Shetucket, Pomperaug, Willimantic (very good) and Housatonic (excellent) river(s).[/font] [font "Times New Roman"]TROUT[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Rivers & streams – Considering that this is August, we are experiencing some of the best trout fishing in memory. Conditions are just right for excellent mid-summer fishing. As the major hatches begin to wind down, anglers are advised to move their efforts more toward terrestrial fly patterns. The Farmington is 61°F with 350cfs of clear flows. Insect hatches have been stable and unchanging over the past several weeks. Needhami (#24-26, early morning - For more information on using the Needhami, see the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/weekly/needhami.pdf"]Needhami Tips and Tricks[/url] - PDF, 54K), Isonychia (#12-14, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (#16-20, mid-late afternoon), Sulphur duns (#18-20, still in Riverton area only, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Potomanthus, #10-14, late evening) are successful patterns. Evening brings out a mixture of every bug on the water. The Housatonic is 70°F with 380cfs of slightly off color flows. The White Fly is here, (2 weeks early)! Use a White Wolf (#10-12). Other insect hatches include: Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-16, evening), and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include: White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Areas of activity include: Farmington (17-19” browns) River and Housatonic (17” brown) River. Anglers are also reporting good catch and release fishing around dusk in Wild Trout Streams such as the Tankerhoosen River and Merrick Brook.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Lakes & Ponds – Some lakes are still producing good fishing. Areas of activity include: Crystal (Ellington, 19” brown @ 20”), Rogers, Highland (4 pound brown), East Twin (evening) and Wonoscopomuc (evening) lake(s), West Hill (evening) and Beach Pond (trout @ 4 colors) and Colebrook Reservoir.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah (30”), Bantam (37”), Winchester lake(s) and Pachaug Pond. CATFISH are being caught from Lake(s) Lillinonah and Zoar. Anglers are finding KOKANEE (slow)in West Hill Pond by bait fishing at night. Some WALLEYE are being reported from Gardner Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir and Squantz Pond (24”, drifting alewives). CALICO BASS action is reported in Silver (Meriden), Highland, and Oxoboxo lake(s) and Park and Pachaug pond(s). SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action. Areas to try include: Crescent Pond, Quinebaug, Amos, Billings, Crystal (Ellington), and Mamanasco lake(s). CHAIN PICKEREL are being found in Lantern Hill Pond (28”) and Wonoscopomuc Lake (19”). YELLOW PERCH are reported from Mudge, Dog and Crescent (12”) pond(s), Tyler, Coventry and Wyassup lake(s).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Connecticut River – STRIPED BASS action remains good in the lower river on live eels & hickory shad. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is excellent in the coves and in the mainstem near Haddam Meadows and downstream from Hartford to Haddam. LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves around Hartford-Middletown and in the lower river (5.07 pound). SMALLMOUTH BASSare being caught in the north of the river (Enfield area & near mouth of the Farmington River). CATFISH are consistently being taken on frozen cut bait in the deeper holes of the river.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#ff0000]Boating Access Notes: [/#ff0000]The Boating Division also cautions boaters when using the Great Island launch in Old Lyme at low tide. Due to storm activity, access to the Sound from this launch is severely restricted during low tide.[/font] [font "Times New Roman"][#004080]MARINE REPORT[/#004080][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]
The water temperature remains in the mid 60’s to low 70’s °F. Check out the following web site for more detailed water temperatures:[url "http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1"]http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1[/url]
[/font] [font "Times New Roman"]Also remember to check [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=48&zoom=100"]page 48[/url] in the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/angler.htm"]2004 Angler’s Guide[/url] for tidal information and [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=46&zoom=100"]page 46[/url] for saltwater trophy fish award info.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]STRIPED BASS - Fishing for striped bass is excellent! Live lining bunker, hickory shad, scup, snapper blues, and eels or trolling the tube and worm combo have yielded big cow bass. Any of the reefs, wrecks, and rips in LIS are worth trying even during daylight. The usual striper spots include the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef, south shore of Fishers Island, 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, between the Baldwin Bridge (I-95) and the Amtrak RR Bridge (Connecticut River), Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, the reefs around the Norwalk Islands, and the Cows off Stamford.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]BLUEFISH fishing is rated good to excellent throughout LIS. The reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef, the Race (which is red hot!), Millstone warm water discharge, lower Connecticut River (between the Baldwin Bridge (I-95) and the Amtrak RR Bridge), Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Cornfield Point, Falkner Island area (North Rip), New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands, and the reefs off Stamford. Choppers in the 34 inches range have been reported! Snapper bluefish is also red hot in the tidal rivers and creeks. Fish range in size from 4-7 inches. Try fishing around an hour or two after slack high tide.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing is a little picky but you never know when a doormat may come a calling! Try fishing in deeper water (40+ ft.) with a live snapper on three-way or slip sinker rig. The usual fluke spots include the south side of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach), mouth of the Mystic River to Groton Long Point, the hump south of Bartlett Reef, Black Point, lower Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Duck Island area, the Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor including the outer breakwater area, and the Charles Island area.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Tautog (blackfish) fishing is just fair to good at the reefs in Fishers Island Sound, Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Kimberly Reef, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor Breakwaters and oyster grounds, Charles Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, and the Norwalk Islands.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]SCUP fishing is good to excellent at all the major rocky reefs and wrecks throughout LIS with fish reported up to 17 inches in length! Hooks baited with small squid strips on three-way bottom rigs or fish-finder/slip sinker rigs on light tackle work well and is fun for persons of all ages.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Hickory shad fishing is fair to good in the Niantic River but is spotty in the lower Connecticut River.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Bonito and Little Tunny fishing is hit or miss but should become more consistent as the season progresses. Torpedo spots include the Pine Island area (Groton), the Race, the Millstone Point area and the Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Blue Crab crabbing is definitely worth mentioning with reports of 15 crabs taken in a couple of hours by one crabber fishing in the Blackhall and Lieutenant Rivers over the weekend. Jimmies (large males) up to 7 ½ inches have been caught. Chicken parts tied to trot lines and of a course a scoop net is all you need to catch these tasty critters![/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#009900]Interested in participating in the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=44&zoom=100"]Volunteer Marine Angler Survey[/url]? Please see [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/anguide.pdf#page=44&zoom=100"]page 44[/url] 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.[/#009900][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]For the latest information regarding [#000000]size and catch limits[/#000000] on common marine fish species, please see the [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/marineinfo/saltregs.htm"]Current Marine Fisheries Recreational Regulations[/url][#0080ff] [/#0080ff][#000000]page.[/#000000][/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/weekly/fishadv.htm"]Weekly Fishing Report[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/index.htm"]Bureau of Natural Resources[/url][/font][/center] [font "Arial"][size 2][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/index.htm"]Home[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/aboutdep/contact/contact.htm"]Contact Us[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/search2.htm"]Search[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/survey/survey.htm"]Feedback[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/legal.htm"]Website Legal Info[/url][/size][/font]
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