Connecticut State Fishing Report April 18, 2015

By Wayne G. Barber

INLAND REPORT OPENING DAY –The extended winter, high flows driven by snowmelt and rain, and cold water temperatures meant a slow start to the trout season for many. Further challenging anglers, a number of lakes and ponds in both the Northwest and Northeast Corners still had significant ice cover. Anglers did however enjoy great weather throughout Opening Day, greeted with a clear, cool morning that quickly warmed up nicely. Seven of the eleven Trout Parks were stocked on Opening Day and the many kids present enjoyed helping us stock (a Community Fishing Area, Mirror Lake in Hubbard Park, Meriden, was stocked on Opening Day this spring instead of the Black Rock Pond Trout Park due to icy conditions).  Approximately 341,000 trout were stocked throughout the state before Opening Day, and in spite of some very extended adverse winter conditions, virtually all areas scheduled to be stocked prior to Opening Day were stocked (Colebrook River Lake, the Mad River Flood Control Impoundment and Hall Meadow Brook in western Connecticut were the only waters not stocked prior to Opening Day. In-season stockings began this week. DEEP’s in-season stocking is now underway with nearly 260,000 additional trout scheduled to be stocked between Opening Day and the end of May

TROUT- RIVERS & STREAMS - Conditions should be fairly good for trout fishing this weekend. Flows have been high, and sometimes difficult to fish in many areas, but are dropping back to typical spring levels (see stream flow graphic on page 4), generally warm comfortable weather is forecast, and there are plenty of recently stocked trout waiting for anglers. As water temperatures warm, fishing should improve. Some Opening Day action reported from the West Branch Farmington River, Natchaug River, Salmon River (some action, but slow at many spots), Hammonasset River TMA, Mount Hope River, Eightmile River, Shetucket River, Macedonia Brook, Pomperaug River and Pootatuck River. Slow to very slow fishing reported from the Hockanum River (fishing reports from early this week indicate that fishing has picked up), Scantic River (very high flows), Jeremy River (a few catches), Quinnipiac River (“poor catch rates at best”), Hall Meadow Brook, Still River (Winchester/Colebrook/Barkhamsted), East Aspetuck River and Norwalk River.