Connecticut Fishing Report Fresh and Salt Water 6-25-15

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good to very good. Places to try include Mashapaug Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Congamond Lakes, Lake Saltonstall, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake, Lake Wononskopomuc, Batterson Park Pond, Black Pond (Meriden), Lake Lillinonah, Breakneck Pond (great hike in location), Griggs Pond, Lake Waramaug, West Hill Pond, Park Pond, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Gardner Lake, Moodus Reservoir, Still Water Pond, Winchester Lake, Squantz Pond, Maltby Lake 2 & 3, Wood Creek Pond, Pachaug Pond, Ball Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden) and Halls Pond. Tournament angler reports are from Ashland Pond (excellent with a 5.5 lb lunker), Aspinook Pond (fair to good, with a 3.52 lb lunker), East Twin Lake (fair fishing), Pattagansett Lake (good fishing, average of 2 lbs per fish for one club, 4.90 lunker).

SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Mashapaug Lake, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Naugatuck River, Housatonic River and Gardner Lake. Tournament angler reports are from CT River (a few caught, 2.76 lunker), East Twin Lake (not much action).

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake (fish to 30”) and Upper Housatonic River

KOKANEE are being caught at East Twin Lake (18’+) and West Hill Pond (3 colors). Beads, Mooselook Wobblers, DB Smelt, Flash King lures (blue & silver) are producing. Try fishing corn over lights at nights.

WALLEYE
are being reported from Batterson Park Pond, Squantz Pond and Lake Saltonstall.

TROUT-LAKES & PONDS – There may still be a few more big trout around this week for anglers to catch. Some lakes to try include: East Twin Lake, Mashapaug Lake (riggers @ 20-25’), Colebrook Reservoir (riggers @ 25’+, Mooselook silver/blue) , Lake McDonough (7-8 colors), Valley Falls Park Pond, West Hill Pond, Highland Lake (4 colors), Beach Pond (early @ 20-25’), Long Pond (Kobra 14), Crystal Lake (Ellington; 7-8 colors, troll @ 2mph), Mohawk Pond, Beach Pond, Black Pond (Woodstock) & Bigelow Pond.

TROUT- RIVERS & STREAMS - Recent rains have increases flow levels in some of the bigger rivers and streams. In the smaller areas flows are already settling down. This season’s weather conditions have created excellent river/stream fishing conditions and provided anglers with some superb fishing. Cooler evening temperatures forecasted this weekend are keeping the day time waters cooler than normal for this time of the year. Success is being had on morning nymphing and evening dry/wet/nymph presentations. The standard lure, worms, & corn/mealworm combinations are consistently producing fish as well. Virtually every insect in the river is active and many are hatching right now. It’s “Crazy Bug Time”. With these fishing conditions, anglers can expect big fish to be caught through June.

Farmington River - Fishing continues to be very good to excellent with an angler landing a 20.5 inch brown trout. Conditions should be good for the weekend despite some showers forecasted for Saturday evening. West Branch flows are clear and moderate (currently 318 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River adding another 161 cfs). Water temperatures are in the low 60’sF.

Hatches/patterns include: Isonychia (#12-14), Vitreus [a.k.a. pale evening dun] (#16-18, from 5:00pm to dark), Tan Caddis (#16-18, good all day), Sulfurs, (Invaria #16-18, hatches mid-day and Dorothea #16-18). The fish show a preference for the males (#18). Successful patterns include: Light Cahill (#10-14), March Brown nymphs (#10-12), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#18-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#20-32), Blue Quill (#16-18) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #16-18, afternoon and early evenings).

Housatonic River - Conditions have improved and should be fair to good for the weekend. Water clarity is stained but levels are dropping and beginning to clear. Water temperatures are currently in the high 60’s with 1,810 cfs at Falls Village and 2,690 cfs at Gaylordsville.

Hatches/patterns: Major insect hatches are here and are providing excellent fly fishing. Alder/Zebra Caddis (#8-10)

 Additional bugs include the Sulphurs (#14-18, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#16-18, cloudy days, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#10-12 late afternoon & evening, just starting), Light Cahill (#12-14, evenings), Adams (#12-16, evening), March Brown (#10-12, afternoon) and Gray Foxes (#14-16). Black Caddis, Green caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening) are on the water. Midges and early golden stoneflies (#6-10) are also being seen at the mouths of tributaries.

Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to fishing (as of June 15). These areas will reopen on September 15. There is no fishing within 100 feet of signs indicating such closure at or near the mouths of tributaries to these rivers.

CONNECTICUT RIVER

Top water catches of STRIPED BASS in the lower river continue with some fish good size coming to net. Multiple catches are occurring for some exciting catches. Anglers in the Middletown area have been catching CATFISH in the holes.

  CARP are being caught the Harbor Park area.

 

  SMALLMOUTH BASS are putting on a good show in the northern part of the River. Try top water plugs and 4”, Mr. Twisters, Wacky Style salted worms in motor oil or chartreuse for these feisty jumpers.

NOTES & NOTICES:

BASHAN LAKE (drawdown) A drawdown of Bashan Lake for dam repairs is ongoing. Bashan Lake is drawn down approximately 14-16 feet. Additionally, the state boat launch is closed for renovations.

CANDLEWOOD LAKE (fireworks display) The annual fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday evening, June 27, in the Danbury Arm.

CONNECTICUT RIVER (Windsor). An Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc. Club will be conducting a meet to display and run boats and antique outboard motors at the Bissell Bridge state boat launch on the Connecticut River on Saturday, June 27, from 9 am to 4 pm. Although the event will be conducted from the state boat launch, room will be available to the general public to park and launch. Boaters should however use additional caution on the river near the launch.

COVENTRY LAKE. Triathlon training will be conducted from 7:00 am to 9:00 am on Saturday, June 27^th. The course will run from Patriots Park to the island at the northwestern end of the lake. Boaters should use additional caution on the lake.

MARINE FISHING REPORT

 
STRIPED BASS fishing continues to impress…with some large “cow” stripers being caught by anglers using live or chunk Menhaden (bunker). Folks are starting to do well with bucktails and diamond jigs for stripers on the larger reefs at the beginning and end of the tides. Finding the schools are a challenge but if found most are being rewarded…. The usual striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, lower Thames River, the Race, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, outer Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River (Great Island), Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef (outer), Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor (including Sandy Point), Charles Island area, Housatonic River, buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Penfield Reef, around the Norwalk Islands, Cable and Anchor Reef, and the Cows off Stamford.

BLUEFISH fishing is slow. Early morning and evening times are best especially for some top-water fishing action. Bluefish spots include the Race, Sluicway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middleground, Penfield Reef, and Cable and Anchor Reef. SNAPPERS will soon arrive in the tidal creeks and rivers.

SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains fair to good. Anglers targeting fluke report that skates, sea robins, and dogfish appear to be in plentiful supply. Fluke spots include the typical locations: south shore of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach, Wilderness Point), Napatree Point and along the beach, off the Stonington breakwater, mouth of the Mystic River to Groton Long Point, Thames River channel, Twotree Island Channel, Black Point/Niantic Bay/River, Long Sand Shoal, Westbrook-Clinton area, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor including by the breakwaters, off the mouth of the Housatonic River, Bridgeport harbor and around the

Norwalk Islands. Pink and green teasers seem to be producing best. The traditional “fluke sandwich” (long squid strip and spearing) is working as well as mackerel strips….

Minimum size is 18 inches and the daily creel limit is 5 fish per person. Note: New York has the same summer flounder regulations as Connecticut. However, Rhode Island is already open with an 18 inch minimum length and an 8 fish daily creel limit. Since Rhode Island has a higher daily creel limit than Connecticut and New York please make sure you abide by the state with the most restrictive regulation when crossing (by boat) state boundaries.

SCUP (porgy) fishing is improving…with “Reef Slammers” measuring 10-17 inches (“hubcap size”) in length still being reported at every fishing pier, reef or rock pile. Try Gardners Island, Milford (Charles Island), Montauk and Niantic (Bartletts Reef). Porgy fishing has also been reported at these very accessible shore fishing locations: Calf Pasture beach, Jennings and Penfield beach, Seaside Park, Rocky Neck State Park, Meigs Point Hammonassett State Park and Fort Trumbull State Park. Locate your favorite Enhanced Shore Fishing Opportunities for these excellent eating “Reef Slammers”. These “Panfish of the Sea” are easily caught on sandworms/cut squid/conch or any other small piece of bait. Contact your local bait and tackleshop for updated fishing information (see page 14 of the 2015 CT Angler’s Guide).

BLACK SEA BASS fishing is short of awesome. The hot spot continues to be Falkner Island. Fishing over deep water structure in 80 to 120 ft around slack tide will produce some trophy-sized “humpbacks”. Fish shallower and you will catch plenty of keeper-sized sea bass. Angler’s reporting “shorts” everywhere…including on sand flats/shoals. It’s important to continue to move from structure to structure and fish around slack tide to find these beautiful and awesome eating fish. Remember, CT black sea bass regulations are as follows…14 inch min. length, 3 fish daily limit from June 1st to August 31 and a five fish daily limit from September 1 to December 31st. Berkley Gulp (swimming mullet) on a spro jig and also squid with a spinner works great for these “Bucketmouths”.

BLACKFISH (TAUTOG) fishing season reopens July 1 in Connecticut waters. The daily creel limit is 2 fish per person and the minimum size is 16 inches. Anglers please note: CTDEEP and Marine Fishing Clubs have been tagging blackfish with yellow American Littoral Society Tags to determine their movements and growth rates. This critical information will help us understand and manage this important resident species. Please record Tag Number, Location (Lat/Long), Length and weight of Blackfish and Date of Capture. www.littoralsociety.org 18 Hartshorne Dr., Ste.1, Highlands New Jersey 07732. Thank you very much for your cooperation and participating in Marine Fisheries Management.

STRIPED SEA ROBIN fishing is very good. “Poor-Man’s Lobster” are found wherever one is fishing for summer flounder (fluke) or sea bass (bottom fishing). With fish measuring over 20 inches and “barking up a storm” (grunting noise). West Haven sand bar and your favorite local beach have been producing for shore anglers. They love sandworms and squid.

HICKORY SHAD fishing is fair in the Black Hall River, lower Connecticut River by the DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier, Clinton Harbor and the lower Housatonic River.

WHITE PERCH fishing is good for this species which is closely related to striped bass. Perch are found in most of the tidal rivers and coves along the Connecticut shoreline. Productive spots include the Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River, upper Niantic River, lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier), Black Hall River, Lieutenant River, North/South Cove and Hamburg Cove. Grass Shrimp and a small piece of sandworm fished on the bottom are the keys to success. Another trophy 13.5 inch, 2 pound white perch was caught at Ferry Landing State Park in Old Lyme on a sandworm this past weekend under the railroad bridges.

Jonah Crab

BLUE CRAB fishing is improving in the tidal creeks. All sizes of crabs continue to be found…a good sign for the upcoming summer months of crabbing. There have been some very large “jimmies” (male crab with its T-Shaped apron) reported (seven inch carapace width) in lower tidal creeks and rivers. The “Sooks” (mature female crab) will soon be following. Remember…all egg bearing females must be released with unavoidable harm. Min. carapace length is 5 inches for a hard shell crab. Looks to be a very good crabbing season...contact your local bait and tackle shop for update information, crab traps and bait.

SHARK SPECIES YOU MAY ENCOUNTER IN COASTAL WATERS OF CONNECTICUT: Sand Tiger and Sandbar (Brown) Shark are protected and prohibited species and must be released unharmed. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, PLEASE LET IT GO! Please visit the NMFS coastal shark information page for more information.

NOTABLE CATCHES:

• SUMMER FLOUNDER, 7.75 LBS, 29”, CLINTON - GEORGE MICHAEL WHITE.
• Source Connecticut DEEP Media Press Release