Connecticut Fresh Water Report

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

INLAND REPORT
Sunday (Father’s Day) is a Free Fishing License Day.  Anyone can fish for free with the FREE 1-day license.  Free licenses are available via our mobile friendly licensing system (www.ct.gov/DEEP/sportsmenlicensing )
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has slowed some, with fishing generally fair. Places to try include Lake McDonough, Bantam Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Mudge Pond, Cedar Lake, Shetucket River, Lower/Upper Moodus Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Pachaug Pond, Quaddick Reservoir, Wood Creek Pond, Mono Pond, Congamond Lakes, 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 Tournament angler reports are from Amos Lake (slow to fair for most, interestingly, average weight per fish was 2.35 lbs for the 27 fish caught, but the lunker was only 2.84 lbs), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (fair at best, not much size, with the average weight a bit over 1 lb, with a 3.1 lb lunker), Moodus reservoir (slow to fair, not much size with 2.3 lb, 2.1 lb, 1.4 lb and 2.1 lb  lunkers), Pachaug Pond (good for most, 4.04 lb lunker), Connecticut River (fair for most, not bad for size, with 3.83 lb, 2.8 lb, 2.2 lb and 2.1 lb average fish weights and 3.99 lb and 3.83 lb lunkers), Candlewood Lake (fair to good, with 5.11 lb, 4.32 lb, 4.3 lb and 3.02 lb lunkers),  Highland Lake (fair fishing, with a 4.38 lb lunker – average fish weight was only 1.12 lbs), Lake Lillinonah (tough to slow, 4.99 lb and 2.67 lb lunkers), and Lake Zoar (slow for largemouth).

SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Colebrook River Lake (some good reports recently), Candlewood Lake (it’s getting a lot harder to find smallmouth recently), Lake Lillinonah (tough here also) and Lake Zoar (some action). Tournament angler reports are from Candlewood Lake (slow for smallmouth, 3.3 lb lunker), Lake Lillinonah (slow, 3.01 lb lunker), Lake Zoar (slow to fair, 2.5 lb lunker), and the Connecticut River (a few, including a 4.03 lb lunker).

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair to good. Places to try include 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 and Lake Saltonstall.

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.