Connecticut Fishing Report Part III April 18, 2015

By Wayne G. Barber 
Cedar Lake (28 inch brown trout), Highland Lake (anglers were finding some trout fishing open water at the boat launch), Candlewood Lake and Quonnipaug Lake. Both Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Mashapaug Lake (as of Monday when a large brown was caught) are reported to be ice free now. Colebrook River Lake is reported to be breaking up with some open water (may be ice free by the weekend). Now that open water is returning, try surface trolling your favorite lures. Lakes and ponds stocking update (Note that all stocking schedules are subject to change):  In eastern Connecticut; Black Pond (Woodstock), Gardner Lake, Horse Pond, Mansfield Training Ponds, Lake Saltonstall and Branford supply Pond were stocked.  In western Connecticut; Colebrook River Lake, East Twin Lake, West Hill Pond, Fountain Lake, Mohegan Lake and West Branch Reservoir were stocked. TROUT PARKS – Fishing ranged from fair to excellent at the Trout Parks. All were stocked before Opening Day and seven of them, Chatfield Hollow (very good fishing), Mohegan Park Pond (fair action), Southford Falls, Stratton Brook (very good fishing), Valley Falls Park Pond (excellent fishing, with nearly all of the many anglers catching fish), Wharton Brook (fair to good action) and Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond) were stocked again on Opening Day. The Natchaug River and Day Pond Trout Parks have been stocked so far this week.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally slow in many areas, action should begin to pick up as water temperatures warm. Targeting dark bottom warmer back water coves is suggested for some action. Some places to try include Burr Pond, Lake Waramaug, Candlewood Lake, Squantz Pond, Lake McDonough, Bantam Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (ice free now), Black Pond (Meriden), Congamond Lakes, Moodus Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Ball Pond, Hopeville Pond, Twin Brooks Park, Batterson Park Pond, Lower Bolton Lake, Lake Zoar, Silver Lake and Lake Lillinonah. Tournament angler reports are from Lake Zoar (only one fish caught) and Pattagansett Lake (very slow with a 2.65 lb lunker).  CONNECTICUT RIVER  The river is currently cold, turbid and very high (but just beginning to drop) and difficult to boat. Before flows increased, some LARGEMOUTH BASS were being caught in back coves and a few NORTHERN PIKE had been reported in the Middletown to Haddam Meadow section of the river.