Connecticut

DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
Provided by the
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
www.ct.gov/dep/fishing

FISHING REPORT NUMBER 30: 11/21/2007

THIS IS THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON 2007 FISHING REPORT
(reports will resume next spring).
OCCASIONAL REPORTS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE ICE FISHING SEASON.
THANK YOU, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY FISHING!

INLAND REPORT

ATLANTIC SALMON
DEP will be completing its 2007 stockings of broodstock Atlantic salmon this week by stocking a total of 200 broodstock Atlantic salmon into the Shetucket River. Approximately 100 fish will be stocked today (Wednesday), and the other 100 salmon will be released on Friday. This will bring the total number of broodstock salmon stocked this fall to nearly1,100. Approximately 700 of these fish were from DEP’s Kensington Hatchery, and averaged over13 lbs per fish (about 60 of these fish weigh from 18 to slightly over 30 lbs). The other nearly 400 salmon were from the federal White River National Fish Hatchery in VT, and ranged from 2-10 lbs each. Approximately 530 salmon were stocked into the Naugatuck River, the Shetucket River will have been stocked with approximately 300 fish, and 250 salmon were also stocked into Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Beach Pond (Shetucket River flows were too low in October to permit stocking of large fish). Note that some additional salmon from the federal hatchery may become available for stocking in CT in December.

Broodstock Atlantic salmon - Fishing for salmon in the Naugatuck River is picking up, although anglers continue to report seeing a lot more fish than they are catching. Shetucket River fishing should improve following this week’s stockings of about 180 fish.

Regulations reminder: Anglers are reminded that angling for broodstock Atlantic salmon in the Naugatuck, Housatonic and Shetucket Rivers is limited to catch-and- release only through November 30, 2007. From December 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008, anglers may keep one fish per day. Fishing for Atlantic salmon is limited to use of a single fly or a lure with a single free-swinging hook. Please see the 2007 CT Angler’s Guide for complete regulations (page 7) for broodstock salmon fishing on these three rivers. Regulations for the broodstock salmon that were stocked into Crystal Lake and Beach Pond differ from the regulations for salmon in the three rivers. In each lake, the regulations for methods, seasons and minimum lengths for salmon will be the same as for trout in that specific water body but the daily creel limit will be one salmon per day. (Please refer to the 2007 CT Angler’s Guide for trout regulations).

TROUT
Rivers & streams - With the colder and wetter weather, anglers and angling have slowed, but some nice catches have been reported from the Farmington, Housatonic, and Naugatuck Rivers. A number of smaller streams also continue to provide some nice action on wild brook and brown trout. Despite the more frequent rains, flows remain below typical late November levels in a number of rivers and streams across the state. Fall is streamer and nymphing time. White, yellow and brown are good streamer colors, and patterns include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10). Nymphs to bottom bounce include caddis pupa (#14-16), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-18) and Hare’s ear (#8-20).

Farmington River - West Branch flows are clear, low and quite fishable, currently about 160 cfs at Riverton. The Still River is adding an additional 50 cfs. Water temperatures are in the low 40’s°F. BWO (dwindling but still putting on a good show) with some midges, Isonychia and Caddis are the current hatches. For best action try Blue Wing Olives (#22-28, late morning; use emergers, duns & rusty spinners), Caddis (winter #14-20, early afternoon; try X-Caddis, Elk Hair or Sparkle Pupa), Isonychia (#12) and Midges (#22-32). Expect most of the action to be from about 11:30 am to 3:00 pm.

Housatonic River - Flows have cleared and dropped, and are currently at the moderate levels typical for this time of year, about 730 cfs at Falls Village and 1,100 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures are in the upper 30’s°F. Insect hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning) and Midges (#20-26; try Griffith’s Gnat or Midge Pupa); try Emergent Sparkle Pupa, X-Caddis, Elk Hair or Henryville Special). Colder weather is pushing the fish into the pools and in the slow to moderate current. Olives are about done, you may still see a few on moderate days. Midges are the main hatch now. Expect to fish mainly subsurface. Nymphing has been the most consistent tactic. Slowly fished streamers can connect with fish also. Expect to work for the fish and for the takes to be subtle in the colder waters.

Lakes & Ponds – Late season trout fishing is variable, with good reports from Mt. Tom Pond (including a 20” brown trout), fair fishing at Crystal Lake (Ellington), Beach Pond, and mixed reports from East Twin Lake and Highland Lake.

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as generally fair with reports from Highland Lake, Mamanasco Lake. Beseck Lake, Moodus Reservoir (a 4.6 lb bass is among the catches) and Aspinook Pond. Some good action reported from Candlewood Lake and East Twin Lake. Slow for bass at Amos Lake, Pachaug Pond and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is variable, good reports from Candlewood Lake, fair at Highland Lake, and slow at Coventry Lake.
BLACK CRAPPIE are providing some fair to good action, with reports from Park Pond, Lake Zoar and Lake
Lillinonah.
Some NORTHERN PIKE continue to be caught Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond and Lake Lillinonah.
WALLEYE catches reported from Squantz Pond and Mashapaug Lake.
Connecticut River - A few STRIPED BASS catches (on plastics) were reported on the outgoing tide at the mouth, but after the recent rains, the numbers are just not there. NORTHERN PIKE were reported in the Haddam Meadow/Salmon River Cove area. BLACK CRAPPIE are still providing some action in the coves (small shiners on light jig heads).
NOTICES:

• Boat launches & boating information - The state boat launches on Lake Housatonic (in Indian Well State Park), Quaddick Reservoir (Quaddick State Park) and Hopeville Pond (in Hopeville Pond State Park) will all close for the season after this weekend.
• The State boat launch at Gardner Lake is closed for renovations and is currently expected to reopen in mid-April, 2008.
• Launching from the state boat launches may be difficult at Lattins Cove on Candlewood Lake and Pond Brook on Lake Lillinonah due to low water levels.

Drawdowns

• Drawdowns of a number of Eastern CT lakes including Bashan Lake (down 2 feet), Beach Pond (down 27 inches), Beseck Lake (down 6 feet), Bigelow Pond (down 27 inches), Gardner Lake (down 5 feet), Middle Bolton Lake (down 6 feet), Lower Bolton Lake (down 20 inches), Pickerel Lake (down 18 inches), and Powers Lake (down 2 feet) are in progress. Depths listed are as of November 20th.
  Fishing
• Anglers are reminded that the fishing season closes after November 30th at a number of areas including Lake Saltonstall, Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park), Great Hollow Pond, Lake McDonough, the Maltby Lakes, Mohegan Park Pond (Spaulding Pond, Norwich), Lake Chamberlain and at most designated “children’s areas”. (Please refer to the 2007 CT Angler’s Guide for complete regulations).
  

MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the mid to upper 50’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html

TAUTOG (blackfish) fishing is prime time. Over the past week, a father and son teamed up to catch tog weighing 9, 11 and 14 lbs. To make it more unbelievable, these slammers were caught from shore! These fish were verified by DEP personnel. Weather permitting the time to go is now!
STRIPED BASS and HICKORY SHAD fishing remains good in the tidal rivers. The Mystic River, Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge, the lower Connecticut River (DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier) and the Hammonasset River (Clinton Harbor) are consistent spots especially for hickory shad. Larger stripers can still be taken on the major reefs and rip areas.
BLUEFISH are still hanging around in LIS but not for long.

For regulation updates, please check our web site www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106