FISHING REPORT NUMBER 16: 8/7/2008 - Printable Version +- Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum) +-- Forum: Connecticut Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=346) +--- Forum: Connecticut Fishing General (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=16) +--- Thread: FISHING REPORT NUMBER 16: 8/7/2008 (/showthread.php?tid=436043)

FISHING REPORT NUMBER 16: 8/7/2008 - tomc - 08-08-2008 [size 2]FISHING REPORT NUMBER 16: 8/7/2008 [/size] [size 2]INLAND REPORT[/size][size 2] LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing continues to be variable. Good reports for bass from Glasgo Pond, Winchester Lake (good action on smaller fish), Highland Lake, Amos Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Pattaconk Lake, Stillwater Pond, Mudge Pond, Halls pond, Avery Pond, Wyassup Lake, Bishop Swamp and Morey Pond. Fishing for largemouths is reported as fair at Candlewood Lake, Lake McDonough, Scoville Reservoir, Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinoah, East Twin Lake, Gardner Lake, Beseck Lake, Gardner Lake, Powers Lake and Moosup Pond, and slow at Wononscopomuc Lake and Pachaug Pond. Mixed reports for Moodus Reservoir and Coventry Lake. SMALLMOUTH BASS Good reports for smallmouth from Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar and Highland Lake. Some action also reported from Lake McDonough, Bashan Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake and Squantz Pond. River action remains good for smallies on the Housatonic River. KOKANEE (up to 16”) are still being caught at West Hill Pond in the deeper waters (33 ft). NORTHERN PIKE fishing remains variable, with some catches reported from Pachaug Pond, Bantam Lake, Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake. WALLEYE action reported from Mashapaug Lake (night fishing, catches include some 4-5 lb fish), Lake Saltonstall, Batterson Park pond and Squantz Pond. CALICO BASS – Areas to try for black crappie include Mamanasco Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden), Coventry lake, Highland Lake, Aspinook Pond, Halls Pond, Dog Pond, Park pond and Pachaug Pond. TROUT Rivers & streams - With moderate temperatures and ample flows, conditions should be good for mid-summer trout fishing this weekend. This is also a good time for terrestrial fly patterns. Good reports last week from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Naugatuck River, Eightmile River (East Haddam/Lyme), Mill River and the Wild Trout Management Areas (WTMA) on Beaver Brook and the Tankerhoosen River. During summer due to their environmental characteristics, many of the WMTA’s can provide good trout fishing for the more spectacularly colored “wild” brookies and brown trout. Use stealth & a 4 weight fly rod for this elusive quarry. Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are currently closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1. There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers. Farmington River – West Branch flows are clear and low, currently 165 cfs at Riverton with the Still River adding an additional 125 cfs. Note that with possible thunderstorm activity in the forecast for the next week, flows (especially below Riverton) may be variable. Water temperatures are in the mid 60’s°F. You should be on 8-9 x tippet at this time of the summer. Ephemerella needhami (#22-28, mid morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.; #22-28, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (Epeorus vitreus, #16-20, mostly upriver, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahill (Stenonema ithaca, #12-1, Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-28, morning), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening) are successful patterns. Evenings can bring out a mixture of every bug on the water. Housatonic River - Flows are currently clear, moderate and quite fishable, approximately 790 cfs at Falls Village and 1,060 cfs at Gaylordsville. Depending on precipitation patterns, flows may be variable this weekend, call NGS at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information. Morning water temperatures are good for summer trout fishing, having cooled to the mid to upper 60’s °F. We are into the White Fly (Ephoron leukon) hatch, use a White Wolf (#10-12). Other insect hatches include Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-24, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman, (#12-14 evening), Light Cahill (#12-16, evening) and Black caddis (#16-18, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-18, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Don’t forget streamers (morning & evening). Patterns to try include White Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Lakes & Ponds – Summer trout fishing is variable, with reports from Candlewood Lake (slow, target the deep holes), Crystal Lake (Ellington, fish between 24-26 ft), East Twin (fair, fish at 22 ft), Highland Lake (fair), Mashapaug Lake (target 20 ft), Alexander Lake, West Hill Pond (good action, try corn/mealworm at 20-25’), Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond (fish the basin), Beach Pond (try 23’) and Long Pond. CONNECTICUT RIVER – Unseasonably high flows have made fishing/boating more challenging from Hartford northwards. CATFISH (many in the 4-8 lb range, some up to 12 lbs) are providing the most action, with many being taken on fresh/frozen cut bait, try the deeper holes and near brush piles. North of Hartford, SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing has been spotty. Below Hartford to the Eightmile River, some LARGEMOUTH BASS are being found up in the coves. FISHING ACCESS & BOAT LAUNCH INFORMATION • The newly renovated LAKE WARAMAUG Town Boat Launch in Washington is now open for use by the general public. Seven parking spaces will be available on a first come first served basis at the new launch. Additionally, up to thirteen trailered boats from the nearby campground at Lake Waramaug State Park will be allowed to access the lake from the Town launch (the park will have 13 “eligibility certificates” available to issue to campers, issued on a first-come –first served basis). The Town charges a $25 annual fee to launch (same fee for resident and nonresidents). All boats will be inspected for invasive plants and subjected to a $5 per launch inspection fee. The launch and inspection fees can be paid at the boat launch. The hours of operation through Labor Day are: Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - 6 AM to Sunset Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 10 AM to 5 PM From Labor Day to the last Sunday in October, the launch will be open three days a week (Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays) for morning (6 am to 11 am) and late afternoon/evening (4 pm to sunset) periods of operation. • The state boat launch on the THAMES RIVER in New London is currently closed for renovations, and is currently scheduled to re-open August 28th. • Due to inappropriate off-site parking by some users of the state boat launch at COVENTRY LAKE, once capacity is reached at this launch, further use of the launch will not be allowed until a parking space or spaces become available. • Anglers are reminded that the entire “seawall” area extending from the handicap-accessable fishing pier to the permitted swim area at SQUANTZ POND is now closed to all public access. MARINE FISHING REPORT Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the low to mid 70’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions: [/size][url "http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html"][#006699][size 2]http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html[/size][/#006699][/url][size 2] [/size][url "http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1"][#006699][size 2]http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1[/size][/#006699][/url][size 2] [/size][url "http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/"][#006699][size 2]http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/[/size][/#006699][/url][size 2] [/size][url "http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html"][#006699][size 2]http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html[/size][/#006699][/url][size 2] Remember, to check the 2008 Connecticut Angler’s Guide for tidal information (page 52) and pages 49-51 for saltwater trophy fish award information. Striped bass fishing is good on the night bite with fish over 40 inches in length being very consistent on the local reefs and rips. Drifting live bunker (Atlantic menhaden) live eels, or scup on three way rigs or trolling the tube and worm is the main stay for catching that trophy fish. Striper locations include the rocky reefs between Watch Hill and eastern Fishers Island (Catumb Rocks, Sugar Reef, and Lords Passage)), the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Cornfield Point, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, the reefs off Norwalk and the Cows off Stamford. Bluefish fishing is good to excellent throughout LIS with some slammers being reported in the Race. Other spots include Pigeon Rip, Plum Gut, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, New Haven Harbor, Buoys 18 and 20 off Stratford/Bridgeport, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, around the Norwalk Islands, and Cable Anchor Reef. Along the shoreline snapper fishing is good and improving as the season progresses. Hickory shad fishing has picked up in the Niantic and Connecticut Rivers. Niantic River is better during early morning or in the evening. Summer flounder (fluke) fishing still remains spotty throughout LIS with a lot of throwbacks. Scup (porgies) fishing is steadily improving on the local rocky reefs with tautog (blackfish) and black sea bass. Blue crabbing has picked along the coastline and is worth a shot. Please refer to local bait and tackle dealers for more detailed information in the area you plan to fish or crab. For regulation updates, please check our web site: [/size][url "http://www.ct.gov/dep/fishing."][#006699][size 2]www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.[/size][/#006699][/url][size 2] [/size][size 2]DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106 [/size] [signature]