Community Corner

On the Hook: This Week's DEEP Fishing Report

What's biting in fresh and salt water this week?

Inland


LARGEMOUTH BASS 
fishing is generally good. Areas to try include Mashapaug Lake, Congamond Lakes, Anderson Lake, Lake Waramaug, West Hill Pond, Park Pond, Highland Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Gardner Lake (fish up to 5 lbs), Moodus Reservoir, Batterson Park Pond, Candlewood Lake, Still Water Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Lake Saltonstall, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Squantz Pond, Maltby Lake 2 & 3, Lake McDonough, Wood Creek Pond, Pachaug Pond, Ball Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden) & Halls Pond.Tournament angler reports are from Highland Lake (very good fishing, the lunker was 5 lbs, but finding fish over 2 lbs was difficult), Beach Pond (tough fishing and no big fish, lunker was only 1.6 lbs), Bashan Lake (slow, with a 3.9 lb lunker), Quaddick Lake (good fishing, 5.75 lb lunker), Pachaug Pond (fair at best in the evening, 3.3 lb lunker), Gardner Lake (excellent action with lots of fish caught, 3.9 lb lunker), East Twin Lake (good, with a 5.3 lb lunker), Aspinook Pond (Quinebaug River, fair action with a 3.1 lb lunker, a swift current complicated fishing) and Candlewood Lake (fair fishing, with a 4.6 lb lunker). 

 SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing has been slow to fair, with reports from Mashapaug Lake, Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Lake Zoar, Rainbow Reservoir, Highland Lake, Coventry Lake and Gardner Lake. Tournament angler reports are from Highland Lake (only a few in the bags) and Candlewood Lake (only fair, try deep around humps). 

NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Winchester Lake and Bantam Lake. 

KOKANEE are being caught at West Hill Pond at 3 colors of lead line. Mooselook Wobblers, DB Smelt, Flask King lures (blue & silver) are also producing. 

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WALLEYE – some catches reported from Batterson Park Pond and Squantz Pond. 

CATFISH fishing is reported to be very good in the stocked catfish areas with some 4‐6 lbs fish being caught. Locations to try include Lakewood Lake (Waterbury), Bunnells Pond (Bridgeport), Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Mohegan Park Pond (Spaulding Pond, Norwich), Black Pond (Middlefield), Maltby Lakes 2 & 3 (Orange/West Haven), Pattaconk Lake (Chester), Silver Lake (Meriden), Freshwater Pond (Enfield), Pickett’s Pond (Derby), Hopeville Pond (Griswold), Quinebaug Lake (Killingly), Lake Kenosia (Danbury), Stillwater Pond (Torrington) and Lake Wintergreen (Hamden/New Haven). 

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CONNECTICUT RIVER 

Flows are fishable, but remain somewhat higher than typical late‐June levels. STRIPED BASS fishing at the mouth has been on the difficult side due to increased turbidity caused by the many recent rain events. Anglers in the mid to lower portions of the river were having good luck with CATFISH in the holes (see below). Now that flows have receded some, SMALLMOUTH BASSare putting on a good show above Hartford. Try top water plugs and 4inch Wacky Style worms in motor oil or chartreuse for these feisty jumpers. 

TROUT 

Rivers & streams ‐ Conditions should be variable this weekend. Currently, flows statewide are higher than typical late June levels but quite fishable (see box on page 4). With more precipitation, including possible localized downpours, in the forecast, anglers can expect that flows may vary widely throughout the state this weekend. Flows for a number of rivers and streams can be checked at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ct/nwis/rt). 

Good success is being found using worms or corn/mealworm combinations. Virtually every insect can be active now and a number should be hatching. Don’t ignore terrestrial patterns as many bugs have been washed into the water recently. Areas with good reports for fishing last week include the Farmington River (fishing well now), Housatonic River (getting better), Natchaug River, Hockanum River, Salmon River TMA, Farm River, Naugatuck River, Eightmile River (East Haddam/Lyme) and Blackberry River. 

Farmington River – Fishing is getting better (high flows last week made fishing difficult to impossible at times). West Branch flows continue to clear and have dropped to more fishable levels, currently 483 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River adding another 136 cfs. There should be plenty of trout in the upper reaches for the Fourth of July. The West Branch (from Goodwin Dam to the upper boundary of the year‐round catch‐and‐release area) will be stocked with 2,250 brown trout (12 inch and longer fish) early next week. Morning West Branch water temperatures are in the upper 50’s°F. 

Housatonic River – Conditions and fishing continue to improve. Flows are clearing (3 feet visibility) and very fishable, although still on the high side (currently 1,240 cfs at Falls Village and 2,200 at Gaylordsville). Morning water temperatures are in the upper 60’s °F (and rising through the day). As more precipitation is in the forecast, anglers may want to call FirstLight Power Resources at 1‐888‐417‐4837 or check the USGS website (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ct/nwis/current/?type=flow) for updated Housatonic River flow information. 

Lakes & Ponds – Many of our lakes are still producing good fishing. Areas to try include Lake Wononskopomuc, East Twin Lake (target 40 feet), West Hill Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Beach Pond (try early), Crystal Lake (Ellington; fish at 20 feet, troll at 2 mph), Lake McDonough, Mount Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Beach Pond, Highland Lake and Coventry Lake. 

Marine Fishing

BLUEFISH fishing remains good at the reefs off Watch Hill, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Pigeon Rip, Black Point, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island north rip, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, and around the Norwalk Islands.  

STRIPED BASS fishing also remains good. Best time to fish is at dawn. The usual striper spots include the Watch Hill area, Ram Island Reef in Fishers Island Sound, Thames River, the Race, Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, Black Point, humps south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, outer Southwest Reef, the reefs off Madison and Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island/Milford area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, Bridgeport Harbor, Penfield Reef, and around the Norwalk Islands. Stripers measuring over 40 inches in length are not unusual to catch! Fishing live eels and bunker are the ticket for catching “cow” bass. 

SUMMER FLOUNDER fishing is rated good. Fluke spots include the south side of Fishers Island (Isabella Beach), Black Point, Long Sand Shoal, Falkner Island area, New Haven Harbor, around the Norwalk Islands and along the north shore of Long Island. 

SCUP fishing has improved on the major reefs. For anglers fishing from shore, the Fort Trumbull State Park fishing pier in New London has been the hot spot! 

BLACK SEA BASS fishing is fair to good on the local reefs. Fishing deeper (75+ ft) wrecks and hard bottom areas around slack tide have been producing good catches. 

WEAKFISH reports are still coming in from the Guilford‐Branford area, New Haven Harbor, Milford/Charles Island area and off the mouth of the Housatonic River. 


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