Connecticut Fishing Reports May 1, 2015

 TROUT-   RIVERS & STREAMS - Trout fishing has been getting better and conditions should be good for the weekend. Flows have been dropping and are at or even a little below typical late April levels and quite comfortable for fishing with dry weather and comfortable temperatures in the forecast. Some fair to good action reported from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Shunock River, Scantic River, Natchaug River, Pequonnock River, Naugatuck River, Blackberry River, Mill River, Pomperaug River, East Aspetuck River, Tankerhoosen River, Shetucket River, Salmon River, Weppawaug River, Hammonasset River, Saugatuck River, Quinnipiac River, Pootatuck River, Willimantic River, Moosup River, Eightmile River (Haddam) and Hop River.

Farmington River - Fishing was fair last week with flows fishable but on the high side. Conditions should however be great for the upcoming weekend. West Branch flows have dropped some, and are currently moderate (291 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River adding another 132 cfs). Flows are expected to moderate to even more comfortable fishing levels (perhaps 260-280 cfs below the Still River) for the weekend as releases from West Branch Reservoir will be reduced. Water temperatures were in the upper 40’s to low 50’s F.
Hatches/patterns to work include Blue Wing Olive (a.k.a. Baetis vagans; #16-180 in a parachute or emerging du; noon to 5pm), Hendrickson (just starting, a.k.a. red quill; #12-#14; try around 1:30pm with spinners in the evening mixed in), Winter/Summer Caddis (#18-26), Stonefly nymphs (#16-18), Midge (#22-32) and Blue Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #16-18) in a parachute or emerger (midday). Nymphs (#18-22) are always a good go-to fly, try Bead Head, Midge Pupa, Brassie, Zebra Midge or Copper John patterns. Streamers such as White Zonkers, Buggers (#4-12), Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghost are also producing.
Housatonic River - Conditions for the weekend should be good. Flows continue to clear and have actually dropped below typical late-April levels (currently 1,330 cfs at Falls Village and 2,070 cfs at Gaylordsville). Morning water temperatures are in the low to mid 40’s F.

Hatches/patterns. Hendrickson hatch is starting and comes off around 2:00 pm. Anglers using Hendrickson (#12-14), March Brown (#10-12), Pheasant Tail (#12-18) & Copper John (#12-16) are finding nymphing to be productive. Try streamers (Yellow/White Zuddlers or Gray Ghost) around 6:30 pm. Fish them deep and try changing up your retrieval speed until you find what they want. Brown and green woolly buggers as well as white muddler minnows are working.
Rivers and streams stocking update (Note that all stocking schedules are subject to change):

• In eastern Connecticut; Five Mile River (Thompson, Putnam, Killingly), Quinebaug River (Putnam), Latimer Brook, Roaring Brook (Glastonbury), Middle River (Stafford), Roaring Brook (Stafford), Willimantic River (above the TMA), lower Blackledge River (Marlborough), Jeremy River, Salmon River (including the TMA), Natchaug River, Coginchaug River, Little River (Canterbury) and Pattaconk Brook stocked this week.
• In western Connecticut; Pequonnock River (Trumbull Basin SP in Trumbull), the Housatonic River TMA (Cornwall, Sharon), upper Pootatuck River (Monroe), Pequonnock River (below the Trophy Trout Area in Trumbull, Bridgeport), Farmington River (Route 177 to Route 4 section), Farmington River TMA (Catch-and-release year-round area), Quinnipiac River, Blackberry River, Whiting River, the Bulls Bridge TMA (Housatonic River - Kent, Sherman, New Milford), East Branch Salmon Brook, Bantam River (inlet, outlet, fly fishing only area), Butternut Brook, Macedonia Brook (in the state park) and Pomperaug River stocked this week.
• TROUT-LAKES & PONDS - Lakes aren’t stratified so trout can be found throughout the water column. Trolling your favorite lures at 5-7 colors, (15-20 feet) is a good start, other anglers are targeting big fish in deeper water with baitand trolling streamers on the surface has produced some explosive hits. Fair to good reports from Beach Pond (4 lb plus rainbow trout), Lake McDonough (25 fish for one boat), Black Pond (Meriden), Crystal Lake (Ellington, 7 colors), Lake Wononskopomuc (target 15-20 feet), Stillwater Pond, Baumers Pond, Long Pond, Bigelow Pond, Mashapaug Lake (12 lb plus brown trout among the catches), Congamond Lakes, Cedar Lake ( 10 lb & 9 lb brown trout among the catches), Candlewood Lake (5-6 lb trout in the shallows), Squantz Pond (catches include a 10.75 lb rainbow trout), West Hill Pond (9 lb plus brown trout), Highland Lake, East Twin Lake (including a brown trout coming in at over 15 lbs), Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond and Quonnipaug Lake.
• Lakes and ponds stocking update (Note that all stocking schedules are subject to change):

• In eastern Connecticut; Angus Park Pond, Beach Pond, Cedar Lake, Gay City Park Pond, Uncas Lake, Higganum Reservoir, Bicentennial Pond, Cedar Lake and Pattaconk Lake were stocked.
• In western Connecticut; East Twin Lake, Highland Lake, West Hill Pond, Wononskopomuc Lake, Twin Brooks Pond, Ball Pond, Mohawk Pond, Tyler Pond and West Side Pond were stocked.
• TROUT PARKS – Fishing remains generally good at the Trout Parks (very good last week at Chatfield Hollow and Stratton brook). The Day Pond, Wharton Brook, Black Rock and Kent Falls Trout Parks were stocked this week.

COMMUNITY FISHING WATERS- Good reports from Rowan’s Pond (Butternut Park Pond), Mirror Lake (Meriden) and Bunnells Pond

LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing picked up some over the last week. Targeting the dark bottom warmer back water coves can be productive. Areas to try include Candlewood Lake, Squantz Pond, Lake McDonough, Bantam Lake, Hatch Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Black Pond (Meriden), Silver Lake (Meriden), Congamond Lake, Mudge Pond, Highland Lake, Lake Saltonstall, Pachaug Pond, Lake Waramaug, Gardner Lake, Rogers Lake, East Twin Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Lower Bolton Lake, Lake Housatonic, Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinonah.

  Tournament angler reports are from Gardner Lake (fair action for most, 2.7 lb lunker), Gorton Pond (some fish for everyone, 2.56 lb lunker), Quaddick Lake (slow for one club, fair for a second, mostly smaller fish, but there was a 4.31 lb lunker), Candlewood Lake (fair, still needs to warm some), Lillinonah (cold water, tough fishing), Lake Housatonic (slow, but with a 4.37 lb lunker), Lake Zoar (slow for largemouth, 3.91 & 2.46 lb lunkers) and Highland Lake (some action).
 

SMALLMOUTH BASS Some action reported from Lake McDonough, Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond. Tournament angler reports are from Lake lillinonah (slow, but with a 3.88 lb lunker for one club), Candlewood Lake (good, but at least a week behind), Lake Housatonic (slow, but some smallmouth action), Lake Zoar (good bags for some, trouble for many others, with 4.76 lb and 3.83 lb lunkers) and Gardner lake (very tough finding smallies).

BLACK CRAPPIE are reported from Lake McDonough and Park Pond.

CHAIN PICKEREL are showing up at Lake Wononskopomuc, Bantam Lake, Highland Lake and Wood Creek Pond
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CHANNEL CATFISH. A 13.7 lb, 30 inch catfish was caught at Mohegan Park Pond, some catches also reported from Lower Bolton Lake.

NORTHERN PIKE are reported from Pachaug Pond and Lake Lillinonah.

WALLEYE. Several catches reported from Lake Saltonstall and Beach Pond
CONNECTICUT RIVER
Flows have dropped this week to more comfortable levels for boating and fishing, and although still turbid, clarity has improved some. However, water temperatures dropped a bit this week, keeping shad (picking up some) and river herring runs slow for late April. AMERICAN SHAD are reported in few numbers with some action coming from the confluence of the Farmington River area and the Bissell Bridge area. Shad darts and willow leafs are the artificial of choice. A few NORTHERN PIKE are reported in coves in Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Middletown, and in the Haddam Meadow section of the river. Experiment with weighted and un-weighted streamers. Target fish in the coves and confluence of the streams for now. The shallower, warmer waters seem to be the ticket. WHITE PERCH can be caught in Hamburg Cove. Several CARP were caught this past week as the season is well underway for anglers targeting these hard pulling fish. Try chumming your fishing area prior to fishing it.

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PHOTO BY DAVE PICKERING

 

STRIPED BASS fishing remains good in the Housatonic River, Connecticut River (DEEP Marine Headquarters fishing pier), and the Black Hall River. Sand and blood worms will do the trick especially in murky water.
WINTER FLOUNDER fishing is still on the slow side. The typical early season flounder spots include the lower Mystic River, Poquonock River at Bluff Point State Park, mouth of the Thames River in the Pine Island area including Baker Cove, Niantic River including the bay, and Norwalk Harbor.
BLACKFISH fishing spring season will close soon (season runs April 1st-30^th).