Connecticut Fishing Report

Posted by Wayne G. Barber    Photo by Wayne G.Barber

Summer is here, why not mentor some young people or how about taking a elderly relative for a day on his favorite pond or stream.  Veterans love to fish in the great Outdoors also ! Garden worms, sunfish, cool drinks and another great day of memories.

LARGEMOUTH BASS
   Fishing has been variable, sometimes slow but more often fair to good. Places to try include Congamond Lakes, Lake Saltonstall, Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake, Highland Lake, Lake Wononskopomuc, Batterson Park Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Waramaug, West Hill Pond, Park Pond, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Gardner Lake, Rogers Lake, Squantz Pond, Maltby Lake 2 & 3, Wood Creek Pond, Pachaug Pond, Ball Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Black Pond (Meriden), Cedar Lake, and Silver Lake (Meriden). Creative anglers fishing shallow lakes have been trying some flyfishing for bass. Tournament angler reports are from Amos Lake (slow to fair action, but some 2-lb and 3-lb fish caught, including 3.46 lb, two 3.44 lb and a 3.18 lb bass), Aspinook Pond (slow, 3.32 lb lunker), Coventry Lake (fair, 5.44 lb lunker, but average fish size was only a bit over  a lb apiece), Rogers Lake (fair to good, 4.02 lb lunker), Bantam Lake (fair to good, 4.47 lb lunker), Candlewood Lake (fair for largemouth, 4.4 lb and 2.9 lb lunkers), East Twin Lake (fair to good action, with 4.25 lb and 2.9 lb lunkers), Highland Lake (good fishing, many fish were still “…post-spawn, topwater was the winning pattern,” with a 4.69 lb lunker), Lake Lillinonah (fair, with a 3.29 lb lunker), and the CT River (fair, with a 4.46 lb lunker).

SMALLMOUTH BASS
  Fishing has been fairly slow in many waters, with reports from Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake (some action, but it’s been hard work), Highland Lake, Beach Pond, and Lake Lillinonah. Housatonic River smallies are starting up. Tournament angler reports are from Bantam Lake (a few caught, with a 3.19 lb lunker), Candlewood Lake (slow to fair), and Lake Lillinonah (slow for most, but some were catching fish).  .

NORTHERN PIKE:
Reports are patchy and slow.  Pike sharpies will find action in the traditional hot-spots including, Pachaug Pond, Bantam Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Connecticut River, the small impoundments along the upper Housatonic River, and Winchester Lake.  Weedlines early and late in the day are producing some nice size pike.

  WALLEYE.
    Some action at Squantz Pond (nights), Saugatuck Reservoir (near the inlet), Mount Tom (nights) and Batterson Park Pond.

CALICO BASS AND SUNFISH:
  There are still a few reports of post-spawn mortality here and there.  Some level of mortality is expected, as the spawning is stressful time, leaving the fish vulnerable to infection and less ability to handle rising water temperatures.  Please see our PostSpawn fact sheet on our web site.  Despite the natural mortality, fishing remains good as fish are “getting back to normal” following the spawn.  CATFISH are providing some nice action at Community Fishing Waters including Birge Pond, Lake Wintergreen, Pickett’s Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, Keeney Park Pond, and Center Springs Pond. Catfish Management lakes like Lower Bolton Lake, and Quinebaug Pond are also yielding some catches.  Try live shiners, chunk bait, or night crawlers.