11-15-2009, 10:38 PM
Final Weely Fishing Report of 2009
THIS IS THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON 2009 FISHING REPORT
(reports will resume next spring).
OCCASIONAL REPORTS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE ICE FISHING SEASON.
FISHING REPORT NUMBER 30
11/12/2009
INLAND REPORT
ATLANTIC SALMON
Anglers continue to be treated with lots of jumping salmon at Crystal Lake, and some nice catches (several fish in the 2-5 lb range) and Mount Tom Pond produced some 4 lb salmon last week. Good reports from both the Shetucket River and the Naugatuck River.
Anglers are reminded that all the broodstock Atlantic salmon available for stocking in Connecticut this fall were stocked in mid-October. A total of 1,300 broodstock salmon were stocked into the Shetucket River (550 fish), Naugatuck River (550 fish), Crystal Lake (100 fish) and Mount Tom Pond (100 fish) this fall. Anglers may also occasionally find a salmon in two other lakes, Mashapaug Lake and Beach Pond (each stocked with 200 salmon in April, 2009). Anglers have to try this unique fishery, these fish are pure adrenalin and will more than live up to expectations. The 2009 CT Anglers Guide should be consulted for regulations for broodstock Atlantic salmon prior to fishing.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Fall fishing is good, with reports from the Housatonic River, West Branch Farmington River, Salmon River, Naugatuck River, Mount Hope River and Bigelow Brook, plus a number of smaller streams (some nice action on wild brook and brown trout). Fall is streamer and nymph time. For streamers try white, yellow & brown colors, patterns include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Try using 2X tippet. Nymphs to bottom-bounce include Tan & Winter Caddis pupa (#16-18), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) and Hare’s ear (#8-20).
Farmington River - West Branch flows are clear and moderate, currently 250 cfs at Riverton and an additional 100 cfs from the Still River. Morning water temperatures are in the upper 40’s to low 50’s °F. Hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, dominant hatch), with Isonychia (a few, #12-14-nymph), Midges (#18-32) & Caddis mixed in. For best action try Blue Wing Olives (#28-30, late morning, 8-10x tippet), Caddis (winter & tan #18-22, early afternoon). Expect most of the action to be midday.
Housatonic River - Conditions should be good for fall trout fishing. Flows remain clear and have dropped to more moderate levels, currently about 850 cfs at Falls Village and about 1,050 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures in the TMA are in the mid to upper 40’s °F. Hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning), Midges (#20-26) and Tan & Winter caddis (#14-18, early morning & late afternoon).
Lakes & Ponds - Some Mid-November trout action reported from East Twin Lake (good, over 20 trout for one pair), Quonnipaug Lake, Crystal Lake (slowing down), Squantz Pond, West Hill Pond and Beach Pond.
LARGEMOUTH BASS
Fishing is reported as fair to good with reports from Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Candlewood Lake, Great Hollow Pond, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Black Pond (Woodstock), Amos Lake and Rogers Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Anglers are finding excellent fall smallie action at Candlewood Lake. Some action also reported from Squantz Pond, Rainbow Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake and Coventry Lake.
NORTHERN PIKE
Are being reported from Winchester Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond.
WALLEYE
Are providing some fall action at Saugatuck Reservoir, Coventry Lake, Mashapaug Lake and Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER - There is good schoolie STRIPED BASS action in the lower river up to Haddam Meadows with 25-30” fish in the mix. Successful anglers are using plugs and eels. BLACK CRAPPIE are putting on a good showing in the coves for anglers using shiners. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be very good with 32 fish up to 37inches in length being caught in a recent tournament. Fish have been found from Wethersfield Cove, and from Portland/Middletown down to Salmon River Cove.
NOTES & NOTICES:
Due to an ongoing drawdown of QUADDICK RESERVOIR, the launching of trailer boats from the state boat launch at Quaddick State Park will be very difficult to impossible. The launch can still be used to put in canoes and kayaks.
An 8 foot drawdown of HIGHLAND LAKE is ongoing. Launching is currently difficult for many boats.
“Winter” drawdowns of a number of Eastern CT lakes are in progress. Reported lake depth status for the following water bodies (as of Wednesday, November 4th): BASHAN LAKE (down 6 inches), BESECK LAKE (down 24 inches), GARDNER LAKE (down 9 inches), LOWER BOLTON LAKE (down 24 inches), MIDDLE BOLTON LAKE (down 24 inches), MASHAPAUG LAKE (down 26 inches) and PICKERAL LAKE (down 23 inches)
Dam maintenance has been completed and water levels in ASPINOOK POND are back to normal operating levels.
The boat launch at Indian Well State Park on LAKE HOUSATONIC is currently scheduled to remain open for daytime use until December 1st , weather permitting (call Park Office if in doubt: 203-735-4311).
The NIANTIC RIVER STATE BOAT LAUNCH will be closed this Friday, November 13th for line striping. The work is expected to take one day, and the launch is expected to be open for normal use on Saturday (November 14th).
IMPORTANT REMINDER TO SPORTSMEN
Pursuant to the recently adopted state budget (Public Act 09-3 - June Special Session):
FISHING, HUNTING AND TRAPPING LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES HAVED INCREASED (effective October 1, 2009). This includes both recreational and commercial fishing fees.
Among the other fees that increased on October 1, 2009, are state park and forest fees, including parking fees, season passes and camping fees.
Fishing & hunting license and permit fees are available at www.ct.gov/dep
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are between 45° (in the tidal rivers and coves during ebb tidal stages) and the low to mid 50’s° F in eastern sections. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
STRIPED BASS fishing remains good to excellent. Live lining eels, hickory shad, and bunker, and using fresh cut chunks of menhaden or hickory shad on three way rigs work well. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, inner Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Crane Reef, Connecticut River between the Baldwin Bridge and the Amtrak RR Bridge, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Charles Island to Milford Point, the Norwalk Islands and the reefs off Stamford. Also, schoolie action in the tidal rivers (Mystic, Thames, Connecticut, and Housatonic) has improved which is a good alternative especially on a blustery day when you can’t get offshore into LIS.
BLUEFISH fishing is still hanging in there with some large “alligators” roaming throughout LIS (but not for long!). Hot spots include the Race, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area to Branford, Charles Island area to Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middleground, off the Norwalk Islands and the reefs and rip areas from Stamford to Greenwich. Fresh cut bunker or hickory shad chunks on three way bottom or slider (fish finder) rigs are the ticket. Also trolling parachute rigs with pork rind on wire works great for big choppers and also for keeper linesiders during the middle of the day!
HICKORY SHAD (“Connecticut Tarpon”) fishing remains good in the Niantic River and fair in the Mystic River, Connecticut River (CT DEP dock and Baldwin Bridge fishing pier) and Clinton Harbor. Flood tide appears to be the best time and casting willowleafs, shad darts, leadhead jigs with plastic curly tails, kastmasters and similar lures are your best bet. Also, hickories tend to mix in with schoolie bass which is an added bonus.
BLACKFISH is rated good to excellent with most fish weighing in at 4 to 6 pounds. Locating these fish is the key for success. Blackfish love structure so look for gnarly bottom. If you do not get a bite first off, move immediately. Blackfish tend to stack tightly so when located, the slug fest is on! As water temperatures cool off, these bruisers move off into deeper water. Baits to use are hermit crabs, green crabs, Japanese (Asian shore) crabs, conch strips, and sand worms.
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information. For regulation updates, please check our website www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
[signature]
THIS IS THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON 2009 FISHING REPORT
(reports will resume next spring).
OCCASIONAL REPORTS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE ICE FISHING SEASON.
FISHING REPORT NUMBER 30
11/12/2009
INLAND REPORT
ATLANTIC SALMON
Anglers continue to be treated with lots of jumping salmon at Crystal Lake, and some nice catches (several fish in the 2-5 lb range) and Mount Tom Pond produced some 4 lb salmon last week. Good reports from both the Shetucket River and the Naugatuck River.
Anglers are reminded that all the broodstock Atlantic salmon available for stocking in Connecticut this fall were stocked in mid-October. A total of 1,300 broodstock salmon were stocked into the Shetucket River (550 fish), Naugatuck River (550 fish), Crystal Lake (100 fish) and Mount Tom Pond (100 fish) this fall. Anglers may also occasionally find a salmon in two other lakes, Mashapaug Lake and Beach Pond (each stocked with 200 salmon in April, 2009). Anglers have to try this unique fishery, these fish are pure adrenalin and will more than live up to expectations. The 2009 CT Anglers Guide should be consulted for regulations for broodstock Atlantic salmon prior to fishing.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Fall fishing is good, with reports from the Housatonic River, West Branch Farmington River, Salmon River, Naugatuck River, Mount Hope River and Bigelow Brook, plus a number of smaller streams (some nice action on wild brook and brown trout). Fall is streamer and nymph time. For streamers try white, yellow & brown colors, patterns include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Try using 2X tippet. Nymphs to bottom-bounce include Tan & Winter Caddis pupa (#16-18), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) and Hare’s ear (#8-20).
Farmington River - West Branch flows are clear and moderate, currently 250 cfs at Riverton and an additional 100 cfs from the Still River. Morning water temperatures are in the upper 40’s to low 50’s °F. Hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, dominant hatch), with Isonychia (a few, #12-14-nymph), Midges (#18-32) & Caddis mixed in. For best action try Blue Wing Olives (#28-30, late morning, 8-10x tippet), Caddis (winter & tan #18-22, early afternoon). Expect most of the action to be midday.
Housatonic River - Conditions should be good for fall trout fishing. Flows remain clear and have dropped to more moderate levels, currently about 850 cfs at Falls Village and about 1,050 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures in the TMA are in the mid to upper 40’s °F. Hatches/patterns include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning), Midges (#20-26) and Tan & Winter caddis (#14-18, early morning & late afternoon).
Lakes & Ponds - Some Mid-November trout action reported from East Twin Lake (good, over 20 trout for one pair), Quonnipaug Lake, Crystal Lake (slowing down), Squantz Pond, West Hill Pond and Beach Pond.
LARGEMOUTH BASS
Fishing is reported as fair to good with reports from Mudge Pond, Hatch Pond, Candlewood Lake, Great Hollow Pond, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Black Pond (Woodstock), Amos Lake and Rogers Lake.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Anglers are finding excellent fall smallie action at Candlewood Lake. Some action also reported from Squantz Pond, Rainbow Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake and Coventry Lake.
NORTHERN PIKE
Are being reported from Winchester Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Pachaug Pond.
WALLEYE
Are providing some fall action at Saugatuck Reservoir, Coventry Lake, Mashapaug Lake and Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER - There is good schoolie STRIPED BASS action in the lower river up to Haddam Meadows with 25-30” fish in the mix. Successful anglers are using plugs and eels. BLACK CRAPPIE are putting on a good showing in the coves for anglers using shiners. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be very good with 32 fish up to 37inches in length being caught in a recent tournament. Fish have been found from Wethersfield Cove, and from Portland/Middletown down to Salmon River Cove.
NOTES & NOTICES:
Due to an ongoing drawdown of QUADDICK RESERVOIR, the launching of trailer boats from the state boat launch at Quaddick State Park will be very difficult to impossible. The launch can still be used to put in canoes and kayaks.
An 8 foot drawdown of HIGHLAND LAKE is ongoing. Launching is currently difficult for many boats.
“Winter” drawdowns of a number of Eastern CT lakes are in progress. Reported lake depth status for the following water bodies (as of Wednesday, November 4th): BASHAN LAKE (down 6 inches), BESECK LAKE (down 24 inches), GARDNER LAKE (down 9 inches), LOWER BOLTON LAKE (down 24 inches), MIDDLE BOLTON LAKE (down 24 inches), MASHAPAUG LAKE (down 26 inches) and PICKERAL LAKE (down 23 inches)
Dam maintenance has been completed and water levels in ASPINOOK POND are back to normal operating levels.
The boat launch at Indian Well State Park on LAKE HOUSATONIC is currently scheduled to remain open for daytime use until December 1st , weather permitting (call Park Office if in doubt: 203-735-4311).
The NIANTIC RIVER STATE BOAT LAUNCH will be closed this Friday, November 13th for line striping. The work is expected to take one day, and the launch is expected to be open for normal use on Saturday (November 14th).
IMPORTANT REMINDER TO SPORTSMEN
Pursuant to the recently adopted state budget (Public Act 09-3 - June Special Session):
FISHING, HUNTING AND TRAPPING LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES HAVED INCREASED (effective October 1, 2009). This includes both recreational and commercial fishing fees.
Among the other fees that increased on October 1, 2009, are state park and forest fees, including parking fees, season passes and camping fees.
Fishing & hunting license and permit fees are available at www.ct.gov/dep
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are between 45° (in the tidal rivers and coves during ebb tidal stages) and the low to mid 50’s° F in eastern sections. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
STRIPED BASS fishing remains good to excellent. Live lining eels, hickory shad, and bunker, and using fresh cut chunks of menhaden or hickory shad on three way rigs work well. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, Ram Island Reef (Fishers Island Sound), the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, inner Bartlett Reef, Hatchett Reef, Crane Reef, Connecticut River between the Baldwin Bridge and the Amtrak RR Bridge, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, Charles Island to Milford Point, the Norwalk Islands and the reefs off Stamford. Also, schoolie action in the tidal rivers (Mystic, Thames, Connecticut, and Housatonic) has improved which is a good alternative especially on a blustery day when you can’t get offshore into LIS.
BLUEFISH fishing is still hanging in there with some large “alligators” roaming throughout LIS (but not for long!). Hot spots include the Race, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area to Branford, Charles Island area to Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middleground, off the Norwalk Islands and the reefs and rip areas from Stamford to Greenwich. Fresh cut bunker or hickory shad chunks on three way bottom or slider (fish finder) rigs are the ticket. Also trolling parachute rigs with pork rind on wire works great for big choppers and also for keeper linesiders during the middle of the day!
HICKORY SHAD (“Connecticut Tarpon”) fishing remains good in the Niantic River and fair in the Mystic River, Connecticut River (CT DEP dock and Baldwin Bridge fishing pier) and Clinton Harbor. Flood tide appears to be the best time and casting willowleafs, shad darts, leadhead jigs with plastic curly tails, kastmasters and similar lures are your best bet. Also, hickories tend to mix in with schoolie bass which is an added bonus.
BLACKFISH is rated good to excellent with most fish weighing in at 4 to 6 pounds. Locating these fish is the key for success. Blackfish love structure so look for gnarly bottom. If you do not get a bite first off, move immediately. Blackfish tend to stack tightly so when located, the slug fest is on! As water temperatures cool off, these bruisers move off into deeper water. Baits to use are hermit crabs, green crabs, Japanese (Asian shore) crabs, conch strips, and sand worms.
Remember to check the 2009 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information. For regulation updates, please check our website www.ct.gov/dep/fishing
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
[signature]