Connecticut Fishing Reports, Fresh and Salt Water 7-2-15

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

  LARGEMOUTTH BASS fishing is reported as good. Places to try include Lake Saltonstall, Bantam Lake, Bishop Pond, Candlewood Lake, East Twin Lake, West Hill Pond, Highland Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Congamond Lakes, Winchester Lake, Bunnels Pond, Lake McDonough, Gardner Lake, Moodus Reservoir, Quassapaug Lake, Black Pond (Meriden), Pickerel Lake, Park Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Hatch Pond, Mudge Pond, Pachaug Pond, Black Pond (Meriden), Beseck Lake, Bashan Lake, Silver Lake (Kensington), Hopeville Pond, Ball Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Eagleville Lake, Batterson Park Pond, Scoville Reservoir, Billings Lake & Halls Pond.  Tournament angler reports are from Candlewood (good fishing, 2.46 lb lunker) Powers Lake (fair fishing, 4.68 lblunker), Highland Lake (good action, 4.25 lb lunker).

  SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported atHighland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Lake Zoar,Lake McDonough, Housatonic River (Upper, starting), Colebrook Reservoir (lower end). Tournament angler reports are from Highland Lake(few fish but good size, 3 lb average).

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good inBantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Beseck Lake andQuaddick Reservoir.WALLEYE are being caught from Squantz Pond andLake Saltonstall.

 CATFISH are being caught in Lake Wintergreen, Silver Lake, Lake Kenosia, Keeney Park Pond, Mirror Lake,Burr Pond and Scoville Reservoir.

 PANFISH are being caught throughout the state.These very common fish are in just about everywaterbody in the state.  Select an area near you andhave some fun.  Use grubs, worms, grasshoppers orsmall lures and rubber worms.  You can expect easycatching for your day of enjoyment.  Smaller ponds inthe state offer excellent access and typically are notvery crowded.  Areas to try include: Zeiner Pond, LittlePond (Little Bantam), Mill Pond, Millers Pond, Mono Pond, Morey Pond, Norwich Pond, Paine Pond, Park Pond, Mitchell Pond, Ross Pond and Salters Pond

 TROUT-LAKES & PONDS - Many of our lakes are still producing good fishing.  Some lakes to try include:  Lake McDonough (7-8 colors), East Twin Lake (7-8 colors), Highland Lake, Crystal Lake (8 colors, DB Smelts/red with white dots), Mashapaug Lake (riggers set at 20-25’), West Hill Pond (7-8 colors; orange/copper Mooselook Wobblers), Coventry Lake (20-25’), Wononskopomuc Lake, Cedar Lake and Beach Pond (riggers at 23’).

  TROUT- RIVERS & STREAMS – The cooler temperature and recent rains have been providing for good to excellent fishing in most of our Trout Management Areas.  Although some thunderstorms are forecastedfor Wednesday, conditions should improve for the long holiday weekend (see stream flow graphic onpage 4).  After the rain, anglers are advised to take advantage ofthe river edges and pocket waters that are holding trout. Rainbowtrout can be found in the fast water and the browns will be in thelarger, deeper pools.  Bait fisherman are using a corn/mealwormcombination with some success in the slower waters. Some good reports last week from Hockanum River, Salmon RiverTMA, Naugatuck River, Jeremy River, Sandy Brook, East AspetuckRiver, Hammonasset River, Naugatuck River, Saugatuck River,Eightmile River (East Haddham, Lyme) and Yantic River

 Farmington River - Fishing continues to be excellent, withtemperatures in the low 60’sF in the morning.  After the mid-week rains subside, flows should moderate and conditions shouldbe good for the weekend with air temperatures in the mid to low80’s and a mix of sun and clouds. West Branch flows are clear andmoderately high (flows as of early Wednesday afternoon are 455cfs at Riverton, with the Still River adding another 570 cfs).Hatches/patterns include Ephemerella needhami (#16-18, earlymorning; 9:00am), Isonychia bicolor (#12-14, evening), Blue WingOlives (#18 (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon & early evenings)are the current working patterns.   (Drunella lata) & #22-24 (D. cornuta & cornutella), cloudy days, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs(Epeorus vitreus) duns (#16-18, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-16, all day; green #14-16, evening), Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum, #12-14), Midges (#22-28, morning), terrestrials have been very good during the middle of the day and Golden Drake (Potomanthus sps., #6-16, late evening) are successful patterns.  For those angling near the dam, wets, streamers and bottom bouncing nymphs are producing fish.

  Housatonic River - is in the upper 60’sF with moderately turbid flows that have only 10” of visibility.  A leader length leader of (9’) is recommended for this level of clarity and a 6X tippet will be a good match for these conditions.  Target trout in the morning and around dusk. Flows have increased due to Wednesday’s rain with Falls Village reporting 1,710 cfs and 2,680 cfs at Gaylordsville.Hatches/patterns:  include Alder/Zebra Caddis (Macrostemumzebratum, #8-102, early & afternoon-evening near overhangs),Sulphurs (#14-18, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-20, earlymorning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia sps. (#10-12evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Tan and greencaddis (#16-18, early morning and evening).  Midges andstoneflies are located at the mouths of streams.  Goldenstonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark.

  STRIPED BASS fishing...its game on…with the full “buck” moon this weekend.  A huge 65 pound (55 inch)striper was caught this week in Stratford on a live menhaden.   These large “cow” stripers are now foundthroughout the sound.  Hit your favorite spot (reef) and hang on… Live eels, bucktails and diamond jigs on thelarger reefs at the beginning and end of the tides (The Race) is producing.  The usual striper spots include theWatch Hill reefs, lower Thames River, the Race, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, outer Bartlett Reef, Black Point, HatchettReef, lower Connecticut River (Great Island), Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef (outer), SixmileReef, 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 theNorwalk Islands, Cable and Anchor Reef, and the Cows off Stamford.  Please use circle hooks when fishing withbait (prevent gut hooking) and practice catch and release.

 BLUEFISH fishing continues to be slow.  Harbor Blues (15 - 24 inches) are the only game in town.  Bluefish spots include the Peconics, 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, Stratfordd Shoal/Middleground, Penfield Reef, and Cable and Anchor Reef. SNAPPERS are arriving in the tidal creeks and rivers.

  SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing remains fair to good. Anglers targeting fluke report that skates, searobins (striped and northern), and dogfish continue to be very common.  Try fishing the mouth of lower rivers…along the channel and across the channel mouths (25 - 40 feet). 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, Two Tree Island Channel, Black Point/Niantic River and bay, 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, round the Norwalk Islands, Westport (off Sherwood Island) and Can 26 (Greenwich).  Pink, white and green teasers seemto 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 Yorkplease 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 11-17.5 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, Harkness State 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 remains good. The hot spot continues to be Falkner Island/Guilford/Branford and area islands.  Fishing over deep water structure/cobble/gravel in 80 to 120 ft around slack tide will produce some trophy-sized “humpbacks”. Angler’s reporting abundant sub-legal sized fish 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 awesomeeating 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.  Berkely Gulp (swimming mullet) on a spro jig and also squid with a spinner works great for these “Bucketmouths”.

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

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

  WHITE PERCH fishing remains good.  Perch are found in estuaries, tidal rivers and coves along the Connecticut shoreline.  Productive spots include the Pawcatuck River (Stanton Weir Pit/Point), Mystic River, upper Thames River and Niantic River, lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier), Black Hall River, Lieutenant River, North/South Cove and Hamburg Cove.  Grass Shrimp and or a small piece of sandworm fishedon the bottom are the keys to success.  A trophy 14.5 inch, 2 pound 4 ounce white perch was caught at Ferry Landing State Park in Old Lyme on a piece of sandworm.  You can collect grass shrimp with a minnow net along the shoreline where marsh or eel grass is growing. They love to cling to the grass or dock pilings.

  BLUE CRAB fishing is slowly improving in the tidal creeks.  There have been some very large “jimmies” (male crab with its T-Shaped apron) reported (seven and one half inch carapace width) in lower tidal creeks.  The “Sooks” (mature female crab) and sallys’ (immature 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.  Please contact your local bait and tackle shop for updated information, legal crab traps and bait to use for your fun-filled crabbing.  Legal gear types include: scoop (dip) net, hand line, star crab trap, circular (topless)trap not exceeding 26 inches in diameter.  Maryland Style Crab traps are prohibited.  Chicken with the skin on is an awesome bait to capture these tasty crabs.
   NOTABLE CATCHES: STRIPED BASS, 65 LBS, 55”, STRATFORD – WILL NUZZO SUMMER FLOUNDER, 7 LBS 12 OZS, 27.5”, EAST HAVEN –  JULIANA GERENA SCUP, 3 LBS 1 OZ, 17.5”, NIANTIC –