01-20-2007, 12:02 PM
CT Fishing report
Holiday obligations have kept many![[Image: angler.gif]](http://cthuntnfish.com/images/smiles/angler.gif)
s away from the water this week. Those sneaking out between parties and family visits have found the fish in a very giving mood. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white perch and northern pike are biting well in their respective home waters.
One of the most exciting early winter activities is smallmouth bass![[Image: fishing.gif]](http://cthuntnfish.com/images/smiles/fishing.gif)
with live alewife. This style of bait has become very popular on Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Squantz Pond, Bantam Lake and the Enfield section of the Connecticut River. The trick is to freeline the alewife without using a bobber or weight. Look for the bass over sunken islands, near old road beds or along ledges. Because the water is cold, you may not feel the smallmouth bass strike at your bait. Usually, the bite feels like you snagged the bottom. Set the hook whenever you sense any heaviness on the end of your line.
Smallmouth bass are also found in Lake Zoar, the Saugatuck Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Bashan Lake, Wyassup Lake, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake and West Hill Pond. Live minnows purchased from a tackle shop or live trapped work better in these lakes than do alewife. Also in some of the above lakes, the state Department of Environmental Protection prohibits the use of live alewife.
Yellow and white perch are cooperating. Both fish species will hit small pinhead minnows, marabou jigs, tiny tube lures, soft-plastic grubs and jigging spoons, such as the Swedish Pimple and ice rockers.
When seeking yellow perch, visit shoreline shoals, weed flats and small coves.
White perch prefer open water off points and along riprap banks.
Lakes with good populations of yellow perch are Candlewood Lake, Housatonic Lake, Lake Kenosia, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, Beseck Lake, both the upper and lower Moodus Reservoir, Billings Lake, Pataganset Lake, Bantam Lake, Burr Pond, East Twin Lake, Tyler Pond, Waramaug Lake and Winchester Lake. White perch are not as widely distributed. Look for isolated white perch populations in Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, Bantam Lake and the lower Housatonic River.
Northern pike and its smaller cousin, the chain pickerel, are ripping line off reels. Live minnows are the best "snake" baits. You may also have success with spinnerbaits and jerkbaits, such as the Thunderstik and Rapala. Pike are only found in a handful of lakes with your best pike luck coming from Pachaug Pond, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and the Connecticut River between Middletown and Haddam Meadows. Pickerel are more common in Silver Lake, Black Pond, Moodus Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Pataganset Lake, Pickerel Lake, Powers Lake, Dog Pond, East Twin Lake, Tyler Pond, West Twin Lake, Winchester Lake and Wood Creek Pond.
Elsewhere, try catching walleye in Gardner Lake, the Saugatuck Reservoir, Squantz Pond, Coventry Lake, Batterson Park Pond and Lake Housatonic.
Anglers are reminded that the walleye size limit is 18 inches.
Striped bass are hitting bucktail jigs in the lower Housatonic River, at the mouth of the Quinnipiac River and inside Bridgeport Harbor. Atlantic salmon are available in the Naugatuck River, but they have not been keeping with the holiday spirit.
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Holiday obligations have kept many
s away from the water this week. Those sneaking out between parties and family visits have found the fish in a very giving mood. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white perch and northern pike are biting well in their respective home waters. One of the most exciting early winter activities is smallmouth bass
with live alewife. This style of bait has become very popular on Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Squantz Pond, Bantam Lake and the Enfield section of the Connecticut River. The trick is to freeline the alewife without using a bobber or weight. Look for the bass over sunken islands, near old road beds or along ledges. Because the water is cold, you may not feel the smallmouth bass strike at your bait. Usually, the bite feels like you snagged the bottom. Set the hook whenever you sense any heaviness on the end of your line. Smallmouth bass are also found in Lake Zoar, the Saugatuck Reservoir, Rainbow Reservoir, Bashan Lake, Wyassup Lake, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake and West Hill Pond. Live minnows purchased from a tackle shop or live trapped work better in these lakes than do alewife. Also in some of the above lakes, the state Department of Environmental Protection prohibits the use of live alewife.
Yellow and white perch are cooperating. Both fish species will hit small pinhead minnows, marabou jigs, tiny tube lures, soft-plastic grubs and jigging spoons, such as the Swedish Pimple and ice
rockers. When seeking yellow perch, visit shoreline shoals, weed flats and small coves.
White perch prefer open water off points and along riprap banks.
Lakes with good populations of yellow perch are Candlewood Lake, Housatonic Lake, Lake Kenosia, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, Beseck Lake, both the upper and lower Moodus Reservoir, Billings Lake, Pataganset Lake, Bantam Lake, Burr Pond, East Twin Lake, Tyler Pond, Waramaug Lake and Winchester Lake. White perch are not as widely distributed. Look for isolated white perch populations in Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, Bantam Lake and the lower Housatonic River.
Northern pike and its smaller cousin, the chain pickerel, are ripping line off reels. Live minnows are the best "snake" baits. You may also have success with spinnerbaits and jerkbaits, such as the Thunderstik and Rapala. Pike are only found in a handful of lakes with your best pike luck coming from Pachaug Pond, Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and the Connecticut River between Middletown and Haddam Meadows. Pickerel are more common in Silver Lake, Black Pond, Moodus Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Pataganset Lake, Pickerel Lake, Powers Lake, Dog Pond, East Twin Lake, Tyler Pond, West Twin Lake, Winchester Lake and Wood Creek Pond.
Elsewhere, try catching walleye in Gardner Lake, the Saugatuck Reservoir, Squantz Pond, Coventry Lake, Batterson Park Pond and Lake Housatonic.
Anglers are reminded that the walleye size limit is 18 inches.
Striped bass are hitting bucktail jigs in the lower Housatonic River, at the mouth of the Quinnipiac River and inside Bridgeport Harbor. Atlantic salmon are available in the Naugatuck River, but they have not been keeping with the holiday spirit.
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