DEP Weekly Report

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[font "Times New Roman"]Weekly Fishing Report - Week of June 13, 2005 [/font] [font "Times New Roman"][#004080]INLAND REPORT[/#004080][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE:[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Connecticut Sea-Grant have jointly announced public meetings to gather comment on a Draft Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#ff0000]Meetings will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 29, at the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington and at 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 30, at the DEP Marine Headquarters in Old Lyme.[/#ff0000][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Comments may also be submitted in writing and will be accepted until July 14, 2005. Written comments should be mailed to the DEP Inland Fisheries Division, ANS Comments, 79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106 or e-mailed to [url "mailto:dep.inland.fisheries@po.state.ct.us"]dep.inland.fisheries@po.state.ct.us[/url][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Copies of the Draft ANS plan and an Executive Summary will be available as of June 22 and can be obtained through the CT Institute of Water Resources web site ([url "http://www.ctiwr.uconn.edu/"]http://www.ctiwr.uconn.edu/[/url]) or by calling the DEP Inland Fisheries Division (860-424-3474).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]TROUT[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Rivers & streams - Anglers are reporting that many Connecticut trout streams are providing good fishing including the Farmington, Housatonic, Willimantic, Natchaug, Naugatuck (including 2 rainbow over 10 lb), Scantic, Salmon, Quinnipiac, Pootatuck, Mill and Saugatuck Rivers, and Lead Mine, Carse and Hop Brooks. Bait fisherman are finding corn/mealworm combination the most productive.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The Farmington River is currently (6/15) 59°F. Flows are clear and very fishable (about 270 cfs at Riverton plus an additional 25 cfs from the Still River) and should remain relatively stable for the week. March Brown nymphs (#12-14), Light Cahills (#12, morning), Isonychia (#10-14, evening), Gray Fox (#14, afternoon), Blue Wing Olives (#18-22, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs (#18-20, afternoon to early evening for spinners), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day; green #22-26, evening), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#14-18, morning), Beetles (#14-18, late afternoon & early evening) and Pale Evening Duns (Epeorus vitreus #14-16, afternoon and early evenings) are successful patterns. The Housatonic River has cooled down to about 70°F with 373 cfs (Falls Village) of clear flows. Alder Caddis (#10-12, afternoon-evening near overhangs), Green/Brown Drakes (#8-12), Sulphurs (#14-16, evening), Blue Wing Olive (#18-22, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Isonychia (#12-14 evening), Cahill (#12-14, evening), Adams (#12-14, evening), March Brown (#10-12), Gray Foxes (#14-16) and Green caddis (#14-16, early morning & evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Streamers are catching some large fish.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Although water temperatures have cooled a bit since the weekend, [#ff0000]summer trout anglers are reminded that extra care should be taken when handling trout they plan to release[/#ff0000][#ff0000].[/#ff0000] Anglers are also reminded that the thermal refuge areas are now closed to fishing and will reopen on September 1.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Lakes & Ponds – Many of our lakes are producing large fish. Expect peak action this week from Candlewood Lake where many 3-5 lbs. fish are appearing. Other good reports include Lake McDonough, Lake Saltonstall (19.75” brown), Wonoscopomuc (5 lb brown), Amos, Rogers, Cedar, Highland (20” brown), Maltby, East Twin and Crystal Lakes, Beach Pond and West Hill Pond.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Recent TROPHY FISH AWARDS: BROWN TROUT: Kevin Fuller (Middletown) – 10.75 lbs (Natchaug River), and RAINBOW TROUT: Raymond Gantick (Willington) – 10.5 lbs (Natchaug River).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is reported as good in many areas including Lake Lillinonah, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Amos (17.5”), Mashapaug, Pataconk, Cedar, Highland, Maltby, Rogers (5 lb bass), Quonnipaug, Silver, Billings, Congamond, Coventry, Bashan and Bantam Lakes, Beach (5 lb bass among the catches), Woodcreek, Mudge, Hatch and Long Ponds, and in the lower Housatonic River. Good action for SMALLMOUTH BASS reported at Lake McDonough, Colebrook Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Bantam Lake, Highland Lake, and in the Housatonic River. NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake and Pachaug Pond. For KOKANEE SALMON, try West Hill Pond at 3 colors of lead line (12-15’). Good WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall (25.25”), Coventry (5 lb) and Saugatuck Reservoir. Some broodstock ATLANTIC SALMON can still be found in the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers. CALICO BASS action is reported at Lake Saltonstall, Stillwater Pond, Park Pond and Upper Moodus Reservoir. CARP up to 15 lbs have been caught in Lake Zoar.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Connecticut River – STRIPED BASS numbers in the river are starting to drop. Cooler water temperatures and muddy waters will also slow down the catch although school size (16-25”) fish and adults are still being caught. Trolling tubes, sand and blood worms work best in stained water while surface poppers will provide some exciting action in clearer water. NORTHERN PIKE catches reported from the Windsor area and downstream from Hartford to Haddam (Wrights Cove, Wethersfield Cove, Portland Bridge and Haddam Meadows). CATFISH (10-15 lb) are being taken in the Glastonbury-Middletown area on frozen herring and cut/chunk bait. Some CALICO BASS and WHITE PERCH action reported in coves. Also some nice SMALLMOUTH BASS catches reported from the Enfield area and LARGEMOUTH BASS in the Salmon River Cove area.[/font] [font "Times New Roman"][#004080]MARINE REPORT[/#004080][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]The water surface temperatures vary from the upper 50’s ° in eastern Long Island Sound (LIS) to the mid and upper 60’s °F in central and western areas. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][url "http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1"]http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1[/url]
[url "http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/"]http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/[/url]
[url "http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html"]http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html[/url] [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Also remember to check the CT [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/angler.htm"]Angler’s Guide[/url] page 52 for tidal information and page 50 for saltwater trophy fish award info.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#ff0000]SPECIAL NOTE:[/#ff0000] [#ff0000]New regulations for Summer Flounder (Fluke), Scup (Porgy) and Black Sea Bass went into effect May 27, 2005. Please see the [/#ff0000][url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/marineinfo/saltregs.htm"]Current Marine Fisheries Recreational Regulations[/url][#0080ff] [/#0080ff][#ff0000]page.[/#ff0000][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]STRIPED BASS fishing remains good for schoolies in the tidal rivers with hickory shad mixed in. Larger “cows” in the 40+inch range are on the reefs and tidal rips. Dawn and evening hours are the best times to go as long as the tide is ripping (not slack tide). Live lining eels and hickory shad are the choice baits and trolling the tube and worm combo. Typical striper haunts include the reefs off Watch Hill to the eastern tip of Fishers Island, Ram Island Reef, the Race, Plum Gut, Bartlett Reef, the humps south of Hatchett Reef, Long Sand Shoal, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, the reefs off Branford, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area, Penfield Reef, the Norwalk Islands, and the Cows off Stamford.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]BLUEFISH fishing is fairly consistent with choppers ranging in size from (3-9 lbs.). Also, look for bluefish chasing and feeding on bait fish at the surface during early morning and dusk. Bluefish spots include the Race, warm water discharge at Millstone, the Sluiceway, Plum Gut, Niantic Bay, Long Sand Shoal, Sixmile Reef, north rip off Falkner Island, New Haven Harbor, Charles Island area to the entrance into Milford Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor and the Norwalk Islands.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing has improved on the Connecticut side in Fishers Island Sound off Stonington and the mouth of the Mystic River, Niantic Bay, Soundview Beach, Westbrook area, and New Haven Harbor. Anglers fishing New York waters including Montauk Pt., Peconic Bay, Gardiners Bay, Mattituck area and Eatons Neck Point are still bring in doormats with some weighing in the double digits.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#ff0000][url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/marineinfo/saltregs.htm#Blackfish"]TAUTOG (blackfish)[/url] season reopened in Connecticut June 15th, the minimum length is 14 inches, and daily creel limit is 4 fish per angler[/#ff0000]. Most of the major rocky reefs in Fishers Island Sound and LIS should offer good action.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]WINTER FLOUNDER reports of trophy sized fish are still coming in from the Niantic area .[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]WEAKFISH are reported in the Falkner Island area in deep water (90 ft.).[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#009999]Interested in participating in the Marine Volunteer Angler Survey? Please see page 41 of the 2005 CT [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/fishinfo/angler.htm"]Angler’s Guide[/url] for contact information. Your participation is critical to effective fisheries management of your marine fishery resources. Thank you.[/#009999][/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/fishing/weekly/fishadv.htm"]Weekly Fishing Report[/url] | [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/index.htm"]Bureau of Natural Resources[/url][/font][/center] [font "Arial"][size 2][url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/index.htm"]Home[/url] | [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/aboutdep/contact/contact.htm"]Contact Us[/url] | [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/search2.htm"]Search[/url] | [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/survey/survey.htm"]Feedback[/url] | [url "http://www.dep.state.ct.us/legal.htm"]Website Legal Info[/url][/size][/font] [font "Arial"][size 2]Send comments or questions regarding this site to[/size][#800000][size 2] [url "mailto:dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us"]dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us[/url][/size][/#800000][/font] [font "Arial"][size 2]Copyright 1998-2004 Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection[/size][/font]
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