Posted by Wayne G. Barber
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing continues is generally fair to good although anglers are finding post-spawn bass slowing the action in some areas. Places to try include Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake, Lake Saltonstall (some 3-5 lb fish being caught), Lake of Isles, Bantam Lake, Quonnipaug Lake (live shiners and other bait working here), Black Pond (Meriden), Cedar Lake (good success finding bass at 7-10 feet), Lake Lillinoah, Lake Zoar, Mudge Pond, East twin Lake, Winchester Lake, Pachaug Pond, Amos Lake, Moodus Reservoir, Gardner Lake and Pickerel Lake. Tournament angler reports are from Amos Lake (fair at best- “took all day to catch these fish” reported one club, with 4.5 lb, 4.04 lb & 3.21 lb lunkers), Aspinook Pond (on the tough side, 3.4 lb lunker), Beach Pond (fair to good action, with a 4.25 lb lunker, but most everything else closer around a lb), Moodus Reservoir (fair to good action, lunkers included 5.7 lb, 4.7 lb & 3.1 lb lunkers), Pachaug Pond (fair action, 5.72 lb lunker), Candlewood Lake (OK for largemouth, 5.38 lb, 4.53 lb, 4.14 lb, 3.7 lb lunkers), East Twin Lake (fair to good, 5.72 lb lunker), Lake Lillinonah (fair to good action for largemouth, 2.82 lb lunker and Lake McDonough (good for largemouth, close to a 2 lb per fish average and a 4.25 lb lunker).
SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Candlewood Lake (although anglers are having to really work for them), Highland Lake, West Thompson Lake (fair action for smallies here) and Squantz Pond. Hard finding too many smallmouth at Gardner Lake and Wyassup Lake. Tournament angler reports are from Beach Pond (slow), Candlewood Lake (slow to fair at best for smallmouth, 3.56 lb, 2.95 lb lunkers), Lake lillinonah (fair action for smallmouth, 2.9 lb lunker) and Lake McDonough (not many in the bags).
WALLEYE are being found at Squantz Pond (good here, evenings from the launch area and causeway) and Beach Pond, but tough to find last week at Lake Saltonstall
BLACK CRAPPIE fishing is fair to good throughout the state. In southeastern CT waters use small jigs and poppers on suspended crappies at dusk).
NORTHERN PIKE. Some catches reported from Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (just a few), and little to no action reported at Pachaug Pond and Quaddick Lake.
CARP. Some good reports from Lake Zoar and Batterson Park Pond
BLACK CRAPPIE fishing is fair to good throughout the state. In southeastern CT waters use small jigs and poppers on suspended crappies at dusk).
TROUT-LAKES ; PONDS - Trout fishing has been good in a number of areas throughout the state, with reports from Cedar Lake (some nice action trolling), Candlewood Lake (trout action continues to be steady, with a number of “holdover” trout being caught), Black Pond (Meriden, some action), Highland Lake (4-5 colors, but also look near the surface for trout chasing alewife), East twin Lake (good), Lake McDonough (good to very good, 20-25 feet), Quonnipaug Lake (fair to good action for fish in deep, using Countdowns®), Crystal Lake (good, 16-20 feet, 3 colors), Higganum Reservoir (good trolling action) and from shore at the Black Rock Pond and Chatfield Hollow Trout Parks.
TROUT- RIVERS & STREAMS - Conditions should be fairly good for the weekend with generally good weather (although on the warm side) in the forecast. Flows are somewhat lower than typical mid-June levels in most areas, making for comfortable wading (see stream flow graphic on page 3). Lots of hatches going on, also terrestrials such as Black Ants and streamers are working. Fair to good reports 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), Hammonaset River (easy to fish with flows on the lower side with some nice fish holding out) and the Naugatuck River TMMA.Farmington River - Trout fishing has been very good and fishing conditions should be good for the weekend. West Branch lows are currently clear and moderate (272 cfs at Riverton with the Still River adding another 70 cfs). Hatches/patterns include Tan Caddis (#16-18), Vitreus (a.k.a. Sulphur/pale evening dun, #14-16), Blue Wing Olives (#18-24, mid-late afternoon), March Brown (#10-14) and Green caddis (#16-18). Evenings look for rusty (#12-18), March Brown (10-12) and Sulphur (16-18) Spinners. Streamers and nymphing are working well.
Housatonic River - Trout fishing has been good. Morning water temperatures are generally in the low 60’s°F (and likely to get warmer for the weekend) and flows are quite fishable, currently clear and a bit on the high side (892 cfs at Falls Village and 1,260 cfs at Gaylordsville). Hatches/patterns include Alder caddis (#8-10), Sulphurs (#16-18), Blue Wing Olive (#18-20, cloudy days; early morning), Isonychia (#8-10 evening, just starting), Cahill (#12-14), Adams (#10-12, evening), green caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening), March Brown (#10-12, spinner) and golden stoneflies.
CONNECTICUT RIVER Flows are currently higher than typical mid-June levels and on the turbid side, but quite boat-able and fishable. Fishing has however been on the quiet side lately. STRIPED BASS are mostly out of the upper and mid-river, but can be found in the lower river and river mouth. The fish are moving out to the reefs. Some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being found in the Coves (Keney, Wethersfield, Salmon River) with some bass in the 3-4 lb range. SMALLMOUTH BASS are providing some action in the mainstem below Hartford, catches include a 3.8 lb smallie. CARP are reportedly providing some action with some interesting reports from the mid-lower river.
Salt Water Report
STRIPED BASS fishing is awesome…with some very large bass being reported (50 inches and more). Doesn’t matter what time of the day…daytime fishing under bunker schools is hot. The western and central sound is fantastic. The bass will be heading east as we speak. Porgies or trolling a Tube and Worm (red) have also produced. Striper spots include the Watch Hill reefs, lower Thames River, the Race, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, outer Bartlett Reef, Black Point (15 to 30 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. 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 24 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 soon be arriving in the tidal creeks and rivers.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing is good overall and getting better with some real “doormats” being caught. You got to spend some time getting “keepers”…there are a lot of “shorts”. The summer flounder are feeding on and chasing squid. LIS anglers reported fluke from 3 to 5lbs being common, with an 11 pounder being the largest to date. Anglers targeting fluke report that searobins and skates appear to be in plentiful supply (bait stealers). Fluke spots include the typical fishy 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 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. Since squid are abundant, offering a live or frozen one on the bottom (10-40 feet) would be a good move for catching that big slab doormat fluke! 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…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 York please make sure you abide by the state with the most restrictive regulation when crossing (by boat) state boundaries.
SCUP (porgy) fishing is improving as the summer approaches…with large “Reef Slammers” measuring 10-18 inches (“hubcap size”) in length being reported at Gardners Island, Milford (Charles Island) and Niantic (Bartletts Reef). Porgy fishing has also been reported at these very accessible shore fishing locations: Jennings and Penfield 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 good. Fishing over deep water structure in 80 to 120 feet around slack tide will produce some trophy-sized “humpbacks”. Fish shallower and you will catch plenty of keeper-sized sea bass. Angler’s reporting them to be everywhere, including sand flats. 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. Berkley Gulp (swimming mullet) on a jig works great for these “Bucketmouths”.
WEAKFISH fishing is fair with trophy “squeteague” found throughout Long Island Sound! Look for weakfish along the Branford/Guilford area through to the West Haven Sand Bar and over to Woodmont/Milford and Stratford. Gardiners Bay/The Peconics (North Shore of Long Island) are always a good early season fishing spot. Black Point/Niantic is heating up for this relative of the drum family. White Bucktails are the lure of choice.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is slow in the lower Connecticut River by 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 very good for these tasty panfish in most of the tidal rivers and coves along the Connecticut shoreline. Productive 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. Grass Shrimp and a small piece of sandworm fished on the bottom are the keys to success.A 14 inch 2 pound white perch was caught at Ferry Landing State Park in Old Lyme on a sandworm this week.
BLUE CRAB fishing is fair to good in the tidal creeks. All sizes of crabs are around…a good sign for the upcoming summer months of crabbing (good winter survival). There have been some large “jimmies” reported (nine inch carapace width). Should be a very good crabbing season
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