Broodstock Atlantic salmon fishing in the Naugatuck River has improved with added salmon stocked recently and cooler water temperatures.
Rivers & Streams Reports from the West Branch Farmington, Housatonic, Naugatuck, Pequonnock, and Norwalk Rivers continue to be good.
Farmington River - Hatches include BWO (dominant hatch), with Isonychia (#12-#14-nymph), Sulfurs, Midges (#18- #32) & Caddis mixed in. For best action try Blue Wing Olives (#28- #30, late morning, 8-10x tippet), Caddis (winter & tan #18-#22, early afternoon). Expect most of the action to be midday. Housatonic River - Conditions should continue to be good for fall trout fishing. Streamers and nymphing will work well this time of year. Hatches include Blue Wing Olive (#18- #26, early morning), Midges (#20-#26), Sulfurs (#16-#18 in the Bull's Bridge area) and Tan & Winter caddis (#14-#18, early morning and late afternoon).
Lakes & Ponds “ Trout fishing has been generally fair with good reports from Highland Lake, East Twin Lake, Colebrook Reservoir (near the dam) and West Hill Pond.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is variable. Good reports from Bantam Lake and mixed reports from Candlewood Lake, Mudge Pond, Ball Pond and slow fishing at Hatch Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as fair at Colebrook Reservoir, Lake Lillinonah and Candlewood Lake.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair, some nice catches reported from Lake Lillinonah, Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond.
WALLEYE is reported as fair at action at Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake and Squantz Pond.
Connecticut River “ STRIPED BASS action in the lower river continues to slow down. Successful anglers are using plugs and eels. Some schoolies are mixed in with larger fish. BLACK Crappie are still putting on a good showing in the coves up and down the river (jigs & shiners are good options). NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported as fair to good. Good spots last week were Wethersfield Cove, and from Harbor Park (Middletown) down to the Haddam Meadows/Salmon River area.
NOTICES:
Boat launches & boating information
• Lake Housatonic - The boat launch in Indian Well State Park is open for daytime use (8:00 am to sunset) through Sunday, November 25th.
• Although the campground at Hopeville Pond State Park has closed for the season, access to the Hopeville Pond boat launch will be available through Thanskgiving (gate will be unlocked, please close after use).
• 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, Pond Brook on Lake Lillinonah and Quaddick Reservoir due to low water levels.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Check out the following web site for detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions: www.ndbc.noaa.gov.
Reminders:
• The SCUP (porgy) recreational fishing season is closed until May 31.
• The WEAKFISH daily creel limit is now 6 fish per angler.
BLUEFISH fishing remains good with fish weighing in the teens being reported. Bluefish good spots include the Race, Plum Gut, Thames River (from the mouth up to Gales Ferry), Harkness Memorial State Park, Pleasure Beach in Waterford, Pigeon Rip (area north of Plum Island), Bartlett Reef, Rocky Neck State Park, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River from the Baldwin (I-95) Bridge to the breakwaters, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Southwest Reef, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Falkner Island area to the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands and Stamford Harbor.
STRIPED BASS fishing is improving as the water temperatures drop. Striper haunts include the reefs off Watch Hill, south side of Fishers Island, the Race, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Thames River, Harkness Memorial State Park, Bartlett Reef, Black Point area, Hatchett Reef, Connecticut River, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the reefs off Branford, Milford Harbor-Charles Island area including Silver Sands State Park, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground area, Bridgeport Harbor, and the Norwalk Islands.
HICKORY SHAD fishing is consistent in the Niantic River between Rte. 156 and the railroad bridge and the lower Connecticut River especially at the DEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier and the Hammonasset River (Clinton Harbor).
TAUTOG (blackfish) fishing remains good on the local reefs with BLACK SEA BASS mixed in. PEANUT BUNKER are still abundant in some tidal rivers and coves.
For regulation updates, visit www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
About the author:
If you have fishing questions, feel free to e-mail Jenny Johnston at jjtrout@hotmail.com.
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