Connecticut Fishing Report 4-28-16

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

If not not catching fish in Connecticut right now , go back to your vehicle and get your Pole !

May 7, 2016 Free Fishing Day for Fresh and Salt Water !

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has designated Saturday May 12^th as Family Fishing Day.  Get outdoors and enjoy a great day of fishing with family and friends.  Bring the kids to see the stocking trucks roll in and you can help carry buckets of fish from the trucks down to the water.
The following ponds will be stocked on Family Fishing Day.

Beardsley Park Pond	Bridgeport	9:45
Valley Falls Pond	Vernon	8:30
Keney Park Pond	Hartford	10:30
Chatfield Hollow Pond	Killingworth	8:30
Wharton Brook Pond	Wallingford	10:30
Southford Falls Pond	Oxford	8:30
Lake Wintergreen	New Haven	10:30

TROUT STOCKING–Approximately 371,000 trout were stocked before Opening Day into 100 lakes and ponds and nearly 170 rivers and streams located throughout Connecticut. DEEP’s in-season stockings are now underway with nearly 230,000 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, with Saturday being the better weather day for anglers. There are plenty of recently stocked trout waiting for anglers, flows are very fishable but remain generally lower than typical spring levels (see stream flow graphic on page 4) but some rain is forecast for late in the weekend and early next week.

Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Natchaug River, Willimantic River, Fivemile River (good for those with patience to learn the river), Quinebaug River (some nice action being found in the Putnam area) and Eightmile River; and fair reports from the Pequonnock River, Hammonasset River (some nice fish are being found), West River (spotty), and Scantic River (action is improving). Nymphs and streamers are a good option for many, especially earlier in the day, with some better action found on top later in the day. Mealworms and crawlers are working for bait anglers.

Farmington River - Fishing remains good to very good and conditions for the weekend should be good, with comfortable spring weather forecast for most of the weekend and very fishable flows continuing. Currently West Branch flows are clear, on the low side (currently 145 cfs at Riverton with the Still River adding another 80 cfs).

Hatches/patterns. Hendrickson hatch continues to move upstream, likely in the catch-and-release area and up to Riverton. Other hatches include Blue Wing Olive (some), Winter/Summer Caddis (#18-22) and Stonefly nymphs (#16-18), Midge (#20-32). Also try Rusty Spinners (#16-18), Mahogany Duns/Blue Quills (#16-18), Tan Caddis (#16-18) and Winter Caddis (#18)

Housatonic River - Fishing has been good and the river will be great for fishing this weekend. The TMA was stocked this week, flows are clear, and quite comfortable for wading, being lower than is typical for late April/early May (currently 818 cfs at Falls Village and 1,140 cfs at Gaylordsville). Morning water temperatures are in the mid-upper 40’sF.

Hatches/patterns include Hendrickson (#12-14,), Blue Wing Olive (a.k.a. Baetis vagans; #16-18), Green/Olive Caddis & Tan/Brown Caddis. Anglers using March Brown (#10-12), Pheasant Tail (#12-18) Copper John (#12-16). For streamers try Yellow/White Zonkers, brown and olive woolly buggers as well as white muddler minnows.

Rivers and streams stocking update (Note that all stocking schedules are subject to change):

In western Connecticut; the Mill River TMA (Fairfield), Saugatuck River TMA, Farmington River (Tariffville section), Housatonic River TMA (Cornwall, Kent), Little River, Macedonia Brook and the Farmington River TMA (year-round catch-and-release area only) were stocked.

In eastern Connecticut; the Moosup River (including the TMA), Kitt Brook, Blackwells Brook, Shetucket River, Natchaug River, Hammonasset River (including the TMA), Scantic River (both upper & lower portions), Skungamaug River, Hop River, Jeremy River, Blackledge River, Mount Hope River and Fenton River were stocked.

TROUT-LAKES & PONDS - Trout fishing has been generally good with reports from Quonnipaug Lake (good), Crystal Lake (nothing big), Cedar Lake (very good action, including lots of brook trout), Highland Lake (“trout are turning on”), Long Pond, Candlewood Lake (fair), Squantz Pond (good action on stockie rainbows), and Saugatuck Reservoir (fair-good fishing). Also some good reports from several of the Community Fishing Waters including Mohegan Park Pond (also a Trout Park).

Lakes and ponds stocking update (Note that all stocking schedules are subject to change):

In western Connecticut; Mohegan Lake, Baummer Pond, Colony Park Pond, Fountain Lake, and Prospect Town Park Pond.

In eastern Connecticut; Moosup Pond, Somerville Mill Pond, and Rogers Lake.

TROUT PARKS – Fishing ranged from fair to very good at the Trout Parks. The Stratton

Brook, Natchaug River, Chatfield Hollow (both pond and stream), Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond), Southford Falls, Black Rock (both pond and stream), Kent Falls, Mohegan Park Pond and Valley Falls Park Pond Trout Parks were stocked this week.

COMMUNITY FISHING WATERS- The Keney Park Pond and Upper Fulton Park Pond were stocked.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing was variable last week as spring continues to sputter along, although water temperatures warmed into the low to mid-50’s F, with reports from Bantam Lake (fair action, but some big fish), Moodus Reservoir (slow to fair), Rogers Lake (fair at best), Messerschmidt Pond, Lake Zoar (tough for some anglers, better for others), Lake McDonough (good, bass were around wood

structure), Park Pond (lots of action, but mostly on sub-legals), Candlewood Lake (largemouth fishing is picking up), Lake Lillinonah (fair to good for bass), Saugatuck Reservoir (some action), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (slow) and Highland Lake (slow last week). Tournament angler reports are from East Twin Lake (slow-fair, 3.48 lb & 2.79 lb lunkers), Lake Lillinonah (tough find largemouth), Bantam Lake (tough for some but a number of bigger fish including a 6.7 lb, 5.7 lb and 5.5 lb bass), Lake Zoar (slow, 3.2 lb &1.56 lb lunkers), Pattagansett Lake (very slow, with a 1.98 lb lunker), Coventry Lake (slow, with a 5 lb lunker), Amos Lake (fair-good, some size, fish averaged 2 lbs apiece, with a 4.7 lb lunker), and Pachaug Pond (slow-fair, 4.3 lb lunker).

SMALLMOUTH BASS. At Candlewood Lake, Some anglers found fair to good action, but the smallies befuddled many other anglers last week, good fishing reported at Lake Lillinonah, and a few smallmouth were being caught at Lake McDonough and Highland Lake. Tournament angler reports are from Lake Lillinonah (fair to good smallie fishing, with a 3.31 lb lunker), Bantam lake (a few in the bags for club, good for another group with a 3.58 lb lunker), Candlewood Lake (tough to fair,), Lake Zoar (slow, 1.65 lb & 0.83 lb lunkers).

Special Thank You to Connecticut Bass Nation.

                                          also  Red Fin Pickerel ( Quaddick ) and others.

NORTHERN PIKE. Some nice catches reported from Lake Lillinonah (Shepaug Arm).

I love the new Ramp and Lighting. Thank You ! Sportsman Restoration and Pittman Robertson Funds

WALLEYE action remains good at Squantz Pond but it’s been slow at Saugatuck Reservoir.
 P.S. The  State record is ot of Beach Pond which is bordered by those Swamp Yankee Rhode Islanders !

BLACK CRAPPIE action continues to be good to very good throughout the state.

CONNECTICUT RIVER

The river has warmed some (up to 52 F on Monday, 4/25) and has risen some although flows are still well below typical late-April levels. Lots of bait fish in the river. AMERICAN SHAD can be found throughout the river (good action reported from anglers in the Enfield area). Shad darts and willow leafs generally work well. STRIPED BASS are being found in the river, still mostly schoolie size, but numbers of bigger fish are increasing, with a number of 20 lb plus catches reported. BLACK CRAPPIE fishing remains good. Anglers are finding good SMALLMOUTH BASS action in the Windsor to Enfield area (with a number of 2 lb plus fish), plus some fish are being found from below Hartford to Haddam in the mainstem. A few LARGEMOUTH BASS are being caught in the coves along the river. Some CARP are being caught in the lower river. Not much WHITE PERCH action reported yet.

NOTES & NOTICES:

BASHAN LAKE (drawdown). Bashan Lake remains drawn down (slow refill has begun – lake currently remains down approximately 5 feet – note that refill rate is dependent on rainfall amounts) following dam repairs and the state boat launch remains closed.

COVENTRY LAKE (invasive species alert). Hydrilla, a very highly invasive aquatic plant, has been found growing in Coventry Lake. All lake users should take extra care to check and clean their boats (including canoes, kayaks and rowing sculls), trailers, and fishing equipment before leaving the boat launch, or leaving the lakeshore.

DOOLEY POND (drawdown). A drawdown of Dooley Pond to facilitate dam repairs is ongoing (expected to last to September 1). The state boat launch is currently closed.

GLASGO POND (drawdown). A drawdown of Glasgo Pond to facilitate dam repairs began September 16. Launching of boats is difficult to impossible.

RAINBOW RESERVOIR (boat launch). The state boat launch on Rainbow Reservoir is currently scheduled to be closed for paving and redesign from Monday, May 2^nd through Friday, May 6^th (inclusive).

Salt Water Report

STRIPED BASS fishing is good to excellent for “schoolies” in most of the tidal rivers along the Connecticut shoreline. There are also some keepers in the mix as well (47 inch bass from the lower CT River). Striper spots include the Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River, Niantic River, lower Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier and Dock and Dine), Black Hall River, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Housatonic River and Norwalk Harbor including the islands. Sand and blood worms have been working the best, especially in turbid waters around the high tide. Casting swimming lures, small jigs (Chartreuse color) with twister tails, soft baits, and Kastmasters and other metal lures will all work. Fishing should get better as we approach the magical 55F mark! The top-water fishing has been fanatastic…

WINTER FLOUNDER fishing remains slow but improving in the Poquonock River at Bluff Point State Park, Niantic River, The Brothers, Jordan Cove, lower Saugatuck River, Calf Pasture Beach area, Norwalk Islands (Cockonoe) and the channels in Norwalk Harbor. Other flounder spots include the lower Mystic River, and the mouth of the Thames River in the Pine Island area including Baker Cove.

WHITE PERCH fishing is good to excellent for these tasty panfish in most of the tidal rivers and coves along the Connecticut shoreline. Perch 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. Shrimp and small worms are the key to success.

WEAKFISH have also arrived in Long Island Sound! The Race, Plum Gut and the north side of Long Island including Gardiners Bay and the Peconics are early bluefish spots. Look for weakfish in Guilford/New Haven Harbor over to the Milford/Stratford area along with the Peconics.

BLACK SEA BASS & SCUP OPENS MAY 1: Based on the CT DEEP Marine Fisheries Division trawl survey there are plenty of sea bass and scup in the sound. Looks to be a fantastic opener.