Connecticut Fishing Reports Fresh and Salt Water 6-19-15

Our Grand Daughter Miss Brenna Francis Barber

        Posted by Wayne G. Barber
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good for large mouth. Places to try include Lake McDonough, BantamLake, Lake Saltonstall, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, MudgePond, Cedar Lake, Shetucket River, Lower/Upper MoodusReservoir, Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Rainbow Reservoir,Pachaug Pond, Quaddick Reservoir, Wood Creek Pond, MonoPond, Congamond Lakes, Burr Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc,Hopeville Pond, Silver Lake, Batterson Park Pond, Gardner Lake,Pickerel Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Billings Lake, Maltby Lakes,Stillwater Pond, Ball Pond, Red Cedar Lake and West Hill Pond. Tournament angler reports are from Aspinook Pond (fair togood, with 3.75 lb and 3.4 lb lunkers), Beach Pond (good forlargemouth, 4.25 lb lunker), Mashapaug Lake (fair action, “nobig fish caught”, 1.99 lb lunker), Pattagansett Lake (good fishing,nice size with an average of 2 lbs per fish for one club, 4.17 lband 3.03 lb lunkers), Candlewood Lake (good for largemouth,some 4-5 lb lunkers), East Twin Lake (fair fishing, but mostly 1-lbfish), Highland Lake (good for largemouth, 3.58 lb lunker) andLake Lillinonah (not bad for largemouth, 5.3 lb lunker



My Dad George and Brother Joe 6-19-15

   CARP were reported from Mirror Lake, Squantz Pond, Lake Lillinonah and the Shetucket River.

   SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Mashapaug Lake, LakeMcDonough, Highland Lake, Bantam Lake and Candlewood Lake.Tournament angler reports are from Beach Pond (not manycaught), Mashapaug Lake (hard to find fish), Candlewood Lake(fair for smallmouth, lunkers around 3 lbs), East Twin Lake(tough to catch fish, but a 4.55 lb lunker), highland Lake (a fewin the bags, 2.83 lb lunker) and Lake Lillinonah (fair to good for smallmouth, 4.12 lb lunker).

   NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good in Bantam Lake (including a 34 inch pike) and Winchester Lake,fair at Pachaug Pond and tough at Quaddick Reservoir.

   KOKANEE are being caught at East Twin Lake (trolling red beads).

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

      TROUT-LAKES & PONDS - It’s big fish time, anglers canexpect big trout to be caught through mid-June. Goodreports from Squantz Pond, Highland Lake (4-5 colors,silver lure at 18-20 feet), East Twin Lake (rigger at 20feet, copper/silver Mooselook, Kobra # 118; 6.5 lbsbrown trout on salmon beads, additionally, a bass anglerfishing a tournament managed to catch a 8.5 lb brown), Colebrook Reservoir (riggers at 20-23 feet, orange/copper Flash Kings), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake (Kobra #2, black/white Huey, 7-8 colors), Lake Wononskopomuc (11.5 lbs brown trout on a tube jib), Stillwater Lake, Beach Pond (#18 blue minx Huey, rigger at 20 feet), Long Pond (streamer on wire at 20 feet), West Hill Pond and Lake McDonough.

    TROUT- RIVERS & STREAMS - Conditions should be fairly good for the weekend (note that some rain is in the forecast for Sunday). The rains earlier this week refreshed flows throughout the state and flows have now dropped back to very comfortable levels for fishing in most areas (see stream flow graphic on page 4) and moderate temperatures are forecast. Just about any method is putting fish in the net, with good action being found on lures, flies, worms & corn/mealworm combinations. It’s “Major Hatch Time” with just about every bug on the water (hatch times fluctuate with the water temperatureFair to good reporrts last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Salmon River (OK action, some good report from below the Comstock Bridge), Blackledge River, Five Mile River (Thompson-Putnam-Killingly, steady fishing reported), Hammonasset River (easy to fish with flows on the lower side with some nice fish holding out) and the Naugatuck River
  TMA.Farmington River - Fishing has been very good to excellent, and conditions should be good for the weekend. West Branch flows are clear and moderate (currently 301 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River adding another 122 cfs). Water temperatures are in the low 60’sF.Hatches/patterns include Isonychia (#12-14), Vitreus [a.k.a. pale evening dun] #16, from 5:00pm to dark, Tan Caddis (#18-22) good all day, Sulfurs, (Invaria #16 hatches mid-day and Dorothea #16-18), Light Cahill (#12-18), March Brown nymphs (#10-12, during the day), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Quills (#16-18), Blue Wing Olives (#18-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #18-22, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#20-32) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings). March Brown, Sulphur and Rusty Spinners are falling in the evenings.

   Housatonic River - Fishing was good last week but rains earlierthis week increased flows to difficult to fish levels. Conditionsare now beginning to improve and should be fair to good forthe weekend as the river is slowly clearing and dropping(currently 1,690 cfs at Falls Village and 2,340 cfs atGaylordsville). Morning water temperatures are currently inthe mid-60’sF.Hatches/patterns:  Major insect hatches are here and areproviding excellent fly fishing. Alder/Zebra Caddis (#8-10) isunderway (should last up to 4 weeks) and will produce somegreat fishing. Alder flies are very active during hot days. 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

  STRIPED BASS fishing continues to impress, with very large bass being reported (55 inches). Doesn’t matter what time of the dayy, daytime fishing under bunker schools is hot. We are transitioning to a nighttime/dawn and dusk bite. The western and central sound is the place to be. Buoy 18 (Stratford) has been a hot spot. The bass fishing will improve in the east as we speak. Legal size Porgies or trolling a Tube and Worm (red) have produced. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, lower Thames River, the Race, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, outerBartlett Reef, Black Point (15 to 25 feet), Hatchett Reef, lower Connecticut River (Great Island to Essex), 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, Stamford Harbor and the Cows off Stamford.
   BLUEFISH fishing is fair. Still no real consistent action for trophy “choppers” yet. Early morning and evening times are best especially for some top-water fishing action.  Try Millstone and mouth of the CT River for “Harbor Blues” (16 to 22 inches). Other bluefish spots include the Race, Sluicway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, bouys 18 and 20 off Stratford Point, Stratford Shoal/Middleground, Penfield Reef, and Cable and Anchor Reef.  SNAPPERS will be here in 2 – 3 weeks, arrivingin the tidal creeks and rivers.
    SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is good and getting better with a lot of flatfish to be had. You got to spend some time getting “keepers,” there are a lot (I mean a lot) of “shorts”. A good sign for the future. The summer flounder have transitioned from feeding on squid to now feeding on mantis shrimp. LIS anglers reported fluke from 3 to 4 lbs being common, with a 12 pounder being the largest to date. Anglers targeting fluke report that searobins are extremely plentiful (bait stealers)..       Time to start fishing deeper ( 30 -70 feet).  Fluke spots include Page 4 of 72015 CT DEEP Weekly Fishing Report No. 10, 6/18/2015the typical fishy locations: Montauk (best spot), 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, Two Tree Island Channel, Black Point/Niantic Bay/River, Off Seaside and Waterford beach, Long Sand Shoal, Westbrook-Clinton area (Clinton Harbor), Falkner Island area, West Haven to Woodmont, New Haven Harbor including by the breakwaters, off the mouth of the Housatonic River (Milford), and around the Norwalk Islands. Try drifting with a white or pink Bucktail Jig and attach a Berkely 3”- 5” Gulp (Swimming Mullet) in chartreuse, green, white or pink. Pink colored imitation squid have also been producing well…add a spinner to your fluke rig to create a flash, attracting those big flatfish.Minimum size is 18 inches and the daily creel limit is 5 fish per person.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 Yorkplease make sure you abide by the state with the most restrictive regulation when crossing (by boat) state boundaries.
   SCUP (porgy) fishing is good…with large “Reef Slammers” measuring 10-18.5 inches (“hubcap size”) in length still being reported at 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 andPenfield beach, 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 really getting better. The hot spot is 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. Anglers are reporting “shorts” everywhere…including sand flats/shoals. It’s important to continue to move from structure to structure to find these awesome eating fish. Remember, CT black sea bass regulations are as follows…14 inch min. length, 3 fish daily limit from June 1st toAugust 31 and a five fish daily limit from September 1 to December 31st. Berkely Gulp (swimming mullet) on a jig and also squid with a spinner works great for these “Bucketmouths”
   HICKORY SHAD fishing continue to be slow after the recent rains. Few fish reported at the DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier.  It’s anybody’s guess as to where they go. Connecticut Tarpon (Hickory shad) can be found mixed in with schoolie striped bass, menhaden and harbor blues. Flood or Ebb tide is best and lures of choice are a willow leaf (silver), kastmaster (single hook), small plastic jigs (white or chartreuse), and or shad darts in various colors.
   WHITE PERCH fishing is good for these tasty panfish related to striped bass. Perch are found in most of the tidalrivers 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 14.5 inch 2.3 pound white perch was caught at Ferry Landing State Park in Old Lyme on a sandworm this past weekend under the railroad bridge.
  

BLUE CRAB fishing is fair 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 (eight inch carapace width) in the lower CT River. 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.