CT Weekly Fishing Report July 21 2016

[Smallie_Stalker]

Having trouble posting this one. All information in this report for both freshwater and saltwater can be found here:



LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good.
Places to try include Mashapaug Lake, Colebrook
Reservoir, Congamond Lakes, Lake Saltonstall,
Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Winchester
Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake, Lake
Wononskopomuc, Batterson Park Pond, Black
Pond (Meriden), Lake Lillinonah, Breakneck Pond
(great hike in location), Griggs Pond, Lake
Waramaug, West Hill Pond, Park Pond, Crystal
Lake (Ellington), Gardner Lake, Moodus Reservoir,
Stillwater Pond, Winchester Lake, Squantz Pond,
Maltby Lake 2 & 3, Wood Creek Pond, Pachaug
Pond, Ball Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Silver Lake
(Meriden) and Halls Pond.

Tournament angler reports are from Gardner
Lake (fair to good for an evening tournament,
4.03 lb lunker), Lake of Isles (fair in the day, good
at night with5.75 lb, 4.57 lb & 4.37 lb bass for the
night tourney), ), Long Pond (fair to good for a night tourney, with a 4.3 lb
lunker), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (slow to fair, 2.7 lb lunker), Powers Lake
(fair, with a 5.83 lb lunker), Quaddick Lake ("fun day" with fair to good action, six
fish in the 3-5 lb range weighed in), Candlewood Lake (slow to fair, 5.3 lb & 5.24
lb lunkers, plus several 4-5 lb largemouth), Lake Lillinonah (slow to fair for
largemouth, 4.75 lb, 4.52 lb & 3.59 lb lunkers), and Lake Zoar (fair, 2.39 lb lunker).

SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing was good in the Connecticut River and Housatonic River (flyfishing with a
popper). If still water is your fancy, smallies are hitting in Mashapaug Lake, Lake McDonough, Highland
Lake, Bantam Lake, Candlewood Lake, and Lake Lillinonah.

Tournament angler reports are from Candlewood Lake (fair for smallmouth), Lake Lillinonah (fair to
good for smallmouth, 4.19 lb & 3.47 lb lunkers for one club, nothing over 3 lbs for another club), Lake
Zoar (fair).


NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good and still improving. The CT River was the hot spot.
Large golden shiners along weed lines have been producing some good sized "Northerns". Places to hit
include Lake Lillinonah, Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, and the Connecticut River Coves.

KOKANEE are being caught at West Hill Pond (3 colors). Beads, Mooselook Wobblers, DB Smelt, Flash
King lures (blue & silver) are producing. Try fishing corn over lights at nights.

WALLEYE are being reported from the Connecticut River around Enfield, Batterson Park Pond, Squantz
Pond, and Beach Pond.

CHANNEL CATFISH are providing decent action on live shiners, chicken livers, and chunk bait from the
Connecticut River Hartford to Haddam, Lake Wintergreen, Birge Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, and
Freshwater Pond.

PANFISH are providing excellent summer time action. A simple worm and bobber will work best.
Suggested locations include: Tyler Lake, Batterson Park Pond, Amos Pond, Barber Pond, Baummer Pond,
Black Rock Lake, Burr Pond, Dooley Pond, Halls Pond, Lake of Isles, Lower Fulton Park Pond and McGrath
Park Pond. Check out and download the FREE- CARE
"Let's Go Fishing" Workbook available on the DEEP
website at www.ct.gov/deep/care

TROUT-LAKES & PONDS – There are big trout around for
anglers to catch now deep into the coldwater below the
thermoclines. Some lakes to try include: East Twin Lake,
Mashapaug Lake (riggers @ 20-25'), Lake McDonough (7-
8 colors), Valley Falls Park Pond, West Hill Pond, Highland
Lake (4 colors), Beach Pond (early @ 20-25'), Long Pond
(Kobra 14), Crystal Lake (Ellington; 7-8 colors, troll @
2mph), Mohawk Pond, Beach Pond, Black Pond
(Woodstock) & Bigelow Pond.

TROUT- RIVERS & STREAMS – Rivers remain at or near
record low levels statewide (see stream flow graphic on
page 5). In general, trout fishing will be fair as water
temperatures in many of our rivers and streams will be at
or above lethal limits for trout. Fish should be
concentrating in pockets of deeper water and deep runs
(more typical of late summer). Good trout water this
time of year is the West Branch Farmington and the Mill
River (Fairfield), West and East Branches of Salmon Brook
(Granby and Glastonbury), and Salmon River.
Farmington River - Fishing continues to be very good to
excellent with the "survivor browns" providing a thrill to
those who connect (16-20 inches). There are also plenty
of rainbow ready to please. West Branch flows are clear
and moderate (currently 169 cfs at Riverton, with the Still
River adding a mere 9 cfs). Water temperatures remain in
the low 60's°F (much colder above the Still River
confluence in Riverton).
Hatches/patterns include: Isonychia (#12-14) working
their way upstream, Vitreus [a.k.a. pale evening dun]
(#16-18, from 5:00pm to dark), Tan Caddis (#16-18, good all day), Sulfurs, (Invaria #16-18, hatches midday
and Dorothea #16-18). Successful patterns include: Light Cahill (#10-14), March Brown nymphs
(#10-12), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#18-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18,
all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#20-32), Blue Quill (#16-18) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus
vitreus #16-18, afternoon and early evenings) and the ole reliable red and black ant.
Housatonic River – Water temperatures will be rising for the foreseeable future (low flow and hot sunny
days). As such many trout will be seeking out the tributaries and thermal refuges while water temps are
out of their comfort zone. These areas are critical to their survival when going gets rough. Water is
clear with water temperatures are currently in the low 70's with flows at a very low 162 cfs at Falls
Village and 217 cfs at Gaylordsville.
Hatches/patterns: Major insect hatches are here and are providing excellent fly fishing, but mostly in
the late evening for trout. Try poppers for Smallmouth Bass during the day, they will provide non-stop
action and help hone your skills.
Other flies include: Alder/Zebra Caddis (#8-10) will produce
some great fishing. Alder flies are very active during hot days.
Additional bugs include the Sulphurs (#14-18, evening), Blue
Wing Olive (#16-18, cloudy days, early morning; spinner fall in
evening), Isonychia (#10-12 late afternoon & evening, just
starting), Light Cahill (#12-14, evenings), Adams (#12-16,
evening), March Brown (#10-12, afternoon) and Gray Foxes
(#14-16). Black Caddis, Green caddis (#16-18, early morning &
evening) are on the water.

Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the
Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are now closed to
fishing (as of June 15). These areas will reopen on September
15. There is no fishing within 100 feet of signs indicating such
closure at or near the mouths of tributaries to these rivers.
Additionally, a thermal refuge has been established on the
Salmon River in East Haddam, located around a spring entering
the Salmon River approximately 220 feet south of the unused
paved boat launch at the state-owned property formerly
known as the Sunrise Resort off of Route 151. The refuge
includes all water within 100 feet from the end of the pipe as
posted. The Salmon River refuge will be closed to fishing and
access through September 15.