Targeting Summer Flounder
written by Ron Brooks


Knowing the habits of summer flounder can help put a mess of these flatfish on your dinner table.


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Summer flounder are one of the most abundant fish along the Atlantic and Gulf coast of the United States, ranging from North Carolina all the way around to Mexico. Pursued by many anglers -- some of whom have their own special rigs -- these fish can be caught by anyone willing to follow a few simple tips.

Flounder can be found from estuary creeks to the ocean bottom, depending on the time of year. They are migratory fish during the year, moving back and forth from estuaries to ocean. They can thrive in brackish, nursery, estuary waters where small flounder spend their early years. They also thrive in comparatively deep water -- as deep as 200 feet in some cases -- around offshore wrecks and reefs. Depending on the time of year, you can find and catch these flounder wherever they are.

In the spring and early summer, big flounder make their way inshore and head up a variety of rivers, creeks and bays. Amazingly, studies have shown that they will usually return to the same area every year. Larger flounder spend the summer months in the inlets and bays, feeding on the huge variety of baitfish that the summer brings.

In the fall, beginning around October, they will migrate through the inlets and head offshore. An early cold front will hasten the migration and can mean a big flounder bite for anglers willing to fish in the cold weather. Once offshore, the flounder will spawn, often more than ten times, producing tens of thousands of eggs.

As spring approaches, the flounder larvae will drift into the inlets with the currents. They head for brackish water back in the estuaries to feed and grow. As they grow, they will move back to water with a higher salinity level. At the end of one year, they will be almost a foot long, and they will head offshore in the fall.

this information is important to know if you plan to fish for flounder. In the spring, as the larger fish move inshore, you can catch them in the inlets as they migrate in. In the summer you can find them inshore in almost any bay, creek or river. In the fall you can find them migrating back offshore to spawn once again.




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Wherever you find them, there are some basic tactics that can help you catch more fish. You need only adjust the tactics to fit the water you happen to be fishing.

Flounder rigs for natural bait fishermen consist of the standard hook, leader and sinker arrangement. The sinker or weight is usually a long, thin sinker similar to a trolling sinker, often with a beaded chain. The weight of the sinker will be dependant on the depth of the water and speed of the current. Use only enough weight to get your bait to the bottom.

Leaders need to be relatively heavy -- the flounder has sharp teeth and can cut lighter line and leaders with ease. Kahle hooks are used by most flounder anglers because they work well with live bait, and they act like a circle hook, allowing the flounder to hook itself on most occasions.

When fishing for flounder with live or natural bait, you will have to avoid the urge to set the hook when you first feel a bite. Flounder will grab the bait with their sharp teeth and almost sit with it for a moment before they get the whole bait in their mouth. When you feel a bite, allow the fish to swim with the bait for up to thirty seconds before putting pressure on him. Setting the hook earlier than that will most often result in bringing half of your bait back, bitten off neatly just below the hook.

There are many artificial baits that will take flounder, the most popular of which are soft plastics on a jig head. Plastics like the Offshore Angler XPS Saltwater Series Boss Baitfish work extremely well on a jig head for flounder.

Whether you fish with natural or artificial bait, you need to remember that flounder are ambush feeders. They lie on the bottom, camouflaged by the mud, sand or silt, and wait for their next meal to come by.

Inshore, they will lie in the mouth of small feeder creeks and saltwater marsh runoffs. They will position themselves on the back side of a piling or the edge of an oyster bar, out of the current. They will slowly ease along a shoreline, looking for food.




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Offshore, they will position themselves in the sandy bottom adjacent to a wreck or bottom structure. In the winter, spearfishermen consistently take very large flounder from around the edge of a wreck.

With either live bait or a jig and plastic, anglers need to work the areas that flounder inhabit. On an outgoing tide, find a creek mouth or marsh runoff and gently place your bait up in the mouth. Flounder lie on the bottom in front of these areas, waiting for a meal to come their way. Slowly drag or work your bait back to you, making sure you keep it on the bottom. If a flounder is there, he will eat your bait in short order.

Work from the back side of docks and pilings, pulling or working your bait with the current. An ambushing flounder will nail your bait as it goes by. Working a bait against the current will not produce any fish. It is unnatural for bait to move upstream against the tide. Flounder know this and will generally avoid baits presented to them in that manner.

In the winter, offshore flounder can be caught bottom fishing, although two things need to happen for you to be successful. First, the weather has to allow you to anchor properly, and that means getting the boat off to the side of a wreck or reef so that you can fish the sandy bottom. Second, you have to get you bait down to the bottom before another specie of fish takes it. This second condition is the most difficult, and it is why flounder anglers generally avoid looking offshore during the winter months. They caught fish on the outgoing migration; now they usually await the incoming migration in the spring to fish for them.

Flounder are good eating and fun to catch. Following these few simple rules and knowing the habits of summer flounder can put some of these flatfish on your table.

FISHING REPORT NUMBER 4: 5/15/2008
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Anglers enjoyed comfortable conditions (weather & flows) and some very good trout fishing last weekend. Good reports include the West Branch Farmington, Farmington, Housatonic, Aspetuck, Farm, Tenmile, Bantam, Blackberry, Blackledge, Pequonnock, Saugatuck, Salmon, Green Falls, Natchaug, Naugatuck, Shetucket, Fenton, Moosup, Quinebaug, Hammonasset, Hockanum, Willimantic and Eightmile (East Haddam) Rivers, Crystal Lake Brook and Latimer Brook. Anglers have been finding success using worms, & corn/mealworm combinations.
Farmington River - flows are clear and comfortable for fishing, currently 250 CFS at Riverton with an additional 80 CFS from the Still River. The Wednesday morning water temperature was 53°F. Current hatches/patterns include Hendrickson (a.k.a red quills; #14), Blue Winged Olive (a.k.a. baetis or vagan; #18), Blue Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #18), Early Stonefly (#13-16), Quill Gordon (#14), Green Caddis & Brown/Tan Caddis. The Hendrickson hatch is fading and is mainly in the Riverton area. The spinner fall is in the TMA area. Successful fly anglers used Blue Winged Olives (#18-20), Winter/Summer Caddis (#18-22), Rusty Spinners (#16-18), Midges (#22-32), Blue Quill (#16-18), Pheasant Tails (#14-18) and Mahogany Duns (#16-18).
Housatonic River - Conditions are great for trout fishing. Flows are clear and moderate, about 700 CFS at Falls Village and 1,070 cfs at Gaylordsville. The Wednesday morning water temperature was 57°F. Current hatches include Green Caddis, Brown/Tan Caddis and Midges. Patterns producing include Caddis (#14-18, green, olive & tan), Henryville and March Brown (#10-12). Some Blue Wing Olives are on the water with Green Caddis starting to show up. Streamers fished around 6:30 pm on sinking-tip line have been very effective. For those nymphing, low & slow is working very well.
Anglers Can Expect Good Trout Fishing in western CT on Hall Meadow Brook, East Branch Naugatuck River, West Branch Naugatuck River, Leadmine Brook, Mill River (Including TMA), Farmill River, East Aspetuck River, Pootatuck River, Pequabuck River, Farmington River (Including TMA), Muddy River, Quinnipiac River and Pequonnock River. In Eastern CT, good trout fishing can be expected at the Coginchaug River, Farm River, Branford River, Hunts Brook, Latimer Brook, Whitfords Brook, Five Mile River, French River, Pachaug River, Quinebaug River, Natchaug River, Mount Hope River, Fenton River, Moosup River (TMA area), Salmon River (including TMA) and Jeremy River
Lakes & Ponds – Connecticut lakes and ponds are fishing very well for trout with reports from Green Falls Reservoir, Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Lake Hayward, Quonnipaug, Crystal, East Twin, Wononscopomuc, Highland, Uncas, Billings, Wyassup, Candlewood, Alexander, Amos, Coventry, Mashapaug and Gardner Lakes, and Mohawk, Mt. Tom, Ball, Beach, Black (Woodstock), Stillwater, Long, West Hill and Squantz Ponds.
Anglers can expect good trout fishing in western CT at Stillwater Pond, Highland Lake, Nells Rock Reservoir, Pickett's Pond, Lake Winfield, Upper Fulton Park Pond, Prospect Town Park Pond, Scoville Reservoir, East Twin Lake, and the Wharton Brook, Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond) and Southford Falls Trout Parks. In Eastern CT, good trout fishing should be expected at Bashan Lake, Millers Pond, Lake Saltonstall, Wangumbaug Lake, Shenipsit Lake, Uncas Lake, Hewitt Fly Pond, Long Pond, Lantern Hill Pond, Hyde Mill Pond, Bigelow Pond, Mashapaug Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield), and the Valley Falls Park Pond and Day Pond Trout Parks.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good with reports from Lake Saltonstall, Moodus Reservoir, East Twin, Wononscopomuc, Indian, Crystal, Candlewood, Beseck, Silver, Alexander, Bantam, Bashan, Rogers and Gardner Lakes, and Aspinook, Beach, Ball, Mono, Breakneck, Batterson, Dodge, Dog, Halls, Mudge and Hatch Ponds. Bass fishing is reported to be fair at Highland Lake, Lake Lillinonah, Hopeville Pond and Amos Lake (catches do include a 6 lb largemouth) and slow at Lake Zoar.
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SMALLMOUTH BASS is generally fair with reports from Candlewood Lake (has slowed over the past several weeks), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Wyassup Lake and Squantz Pond. Smallie fishing at Gardner Lake continues to be slow.
WALLEYE action reported from Saugatuck Reservoir, Lake Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, Batterson Park Pond and Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS are now found throughout the river, plenty of schoolie size (16-25”) fish with many keepers mixed in. Fish are responding to tube & worm, bait and soft plastics and have started to spread out as they target schools of bait. CATFISH are responding very well to dead bait, chunking, and sandworms with catfish up to 11 lbs reported. SHAD fishing has picked up, especially in the mainstem with many catches reported at the confluence with the Farmington River.
CONNECTICUT RIVER STRIPED BASS/RIVER HERRING STUDY - Researchers at the University of Connecticut are continuing their study of the effects of striped bass on river herring in the Connecticut River. This study sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection began last year, involves the collection, and tagging, of striped bass by electrofishing several nights per week. This sampling takes place on the CT River north from Wethersfield. Operations in the Connecticut portion of the river will be staged out of Windsor Locks. In Massachusetts, most sampling will be in the Holyoke area. Anglers seeing an electrofishing boat (boat with a generator, lights, and poles protruding into the water) should note these are biologists doing important research.
As part of the study, anglers who catch a striped bass with a yellow or red tag are encouraged to call 860-486-4694 to provide the tag ID #, the specific location where the fish was caught, whether the fish was released, and your contact information. All such reports are eligible for a $15 (yellow tag) to $50 reward (red tag). Please do not remove the tag from fish you plan to release.
DIDYMO REMINDER - Anglers are reminded to take precautions to prevent the spread of the highly invasive freshwater alga Didymosphenia geminata, known as “Didymo”, into CT waters. Last year (2007), the presence of didymo was confirmed in several popular trout streams, the upper Connecticut River (NH/VT), White River (VT), Batten Kill (NY/VT) and the East and West Branches of the Delaware River (NY/PA). These were the first official reports of didymo in the northeastern United States. This microscopic algae can develop massive blooms, sometimes extending for several miles of river. These blooms can smother aquatic plants, aquatic insects and molluscs, alter stream flow characteristics and fish habitat, and impact food webs. Dense mats of didymo can also reduce recreational and aesthetic values of affected rivers.
Humans can unknowingly spread didymo. The microscopic cells can cling to fishing gear, waders (felt soles can be especially problematic), boots and boats, and remain viable for months under even slightly moist conditions. Although didymo has not yet been found in CT, it has been found in near-by states. It is recommended that anglers, especially those who also fish streams outside Connecticut, practice CHECK, CLEAN, DRY procedures.
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CHECK: Before leaving a river, stream or lake, remove all obvious clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing & footwear, canoes & kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the site. If you find any later, clean your gear and dispose of all material in the trash.
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CLEAN: Soak/spray & scrub boats and all other “hard” items for at least one minute in either very hot (140°F) water, a 2% bleach solution, or a 5% dishwashing detergent solution. Absorbent materials such as clothes and felt soles on waders should be soaked for at least 40 minutes in very hot water (140°F), or 30 minutes in hot water (115°F) with 5% dishwashing detergent. Freezing thoroughly will also kill didymo.
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DRY: If cleaning is not practical, after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.
The above procedures will also be effective against other unwanted organisms.
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MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in upper 40’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
Striped bass fishing for schoolies is good in many of the tidal rivers. Fish measuring from 12 to 18 inches is the norm. Striped bass spots include the Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River from Norwich down to New London/Groton area, Millstone Point, Niantic River, Hamburg Cove, Calves Island and off Great Island (the “Wood Lot”) in the Connecticut River, Hammonasset River, East and West Rivers in Guilford, Branford River, New Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Milford Harbor, Housatonic River, Bridgeport Harbor (power plant warm water discharge), Mill River in Southport, Saugatuck River, Norwalk Harbor including the Norwalk River, Stamford and Greenwich Harbors. The worm hatch has also been reported in rivers and coves in eastern LIS and Rhode Island.
Winter flounder fishing remains hit or miss but some areas are more productive than others. Bluff Point State Park (Poquonock Cove), Pine Island area, Niantic River, North and South Brothers, Connecticut River east breakwater on the flood tide, Madison - Guilford area, and the Saugatuck River over to the channels in Norwalk Harbor are spots worth trying.
Rumors of bluefish have surfaced in eastern LIS and along the north shore of Long Island.
Hickory shad should be appearing any day in the Mystic, Niantic, and Connecticut Rivers.
Atlantic menhaden (bunker) have been reported in LIS.
For regulation updates, please check our web site www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106

$20,000 in Prize Money in Memorial Day Weekend Striped Bass Classic
By Captain Morgan

Now is the time to get those lite set-ups crank’n and those flies stripp’n! Early springtime action is hot and if your timing is on, you’ll be in the midst of breaking dorsal fins and fanning tails. A recent evening trip quickly warmed a chilled body as a fast-pumping heart spread warmth within. The action view from one of those small, sleek fishable plastic sleds they call
kayaks puts an angler almost on the same level as with surface feeding fish. At times, concentration was broken when a disturbance from a linesider caused a cast to be re-directed.

Only two techniques were used this night—surface plugging and slow trolling. Striper's in the 30-inch class couldn’t get enough small one-ounce poppers and when that slowed, scent-impregnated soft baits took over. Braided line cast effortlessly, transmitted the slightest tug and allowed for precise hook sets— and there were many. At times, our mini-poppers barely touched down when they were fought over, other times it just took one or two twitches. A generous coating of herring scent (squid or bunker would have done as well) increased hits when it took more than one twitch to hook up.

Soft-scented swim baits fished along the edges of the school and in tight to structure produced more strikes when striper's began to disperse and surface action slowed. This technique brought out some of the larger fish but not as many as before. Some even larger were hooked and released when bass worms were trolled with tubes or in-line spinners. It was definitely a fun-filled trip but after all was said and done, it wasn’t long before the early morning ring of that alarm quickly ended any rest. No regrets! With tournaments around the corner (some strictly prohibiting live bait) this is a good time to sharpen skills and look toward spicing up your artificials with scents loaded with fatty acids, amino acids and natural pheromones—the real stuff! These attractants are not miracle workers, but in the hands of a conscientious angler, they do make a difference.

On The Water: Jackets, sweatshirts and rain gear best described Mother Nature’s attitude during early May. Shifting winds kept anglers guessing while fish continue to enter the Sound, freshly renewed by another springtime runoff. Together with moon tides causing greater than normal fluctuations and natural debris entering tidal rivers, balls of bait collected in the channels after being washed from the wetlands. This combination of events created early outstanding striped bass fishing as schools actively moved throughout rivers.

At times they were scattered however, during later afternoon/early evening dropping tides, activity increased when they began to collectively feed. Major rivers, like the Connecticut, saw good action in the flats while minor tidal rivers like the East, Menunketesuck, Patchaug and Hammonasset, not only had river runs but also fed adjacent shorelines. In addition, scattered schools of menhaden spiced up the works in harbors from New Haven eastward, drawing fish to 40 inches downriver.

Bait continues to flood the Sound followed by pursuing harbor bluefish, fluke and some larger striper's migrating up the coast. Fishers Island and the Race are seeing some mid-size bass as is Six Mile and some of the local reefs, including Hammonasset and Southwest.

Trollers/drifters are connecting regularly while shore fishing is notably picking up steam.

With only a few more weeks of winter flounder fishing, catches remain upbeat. $20,000 in Prizes - $10,000 First Prize - $1,000 Port Prize!

Registrations are now being accepted at Captain Morgan’s for the annual Nor’East Striped Bass Memorial Classic and piggy-back shop contest. Contest runs from May 24 to 26 and is a 30- to 34-inch slot limit, boat only, team event.

The heaviest combined weight of two striped bass determines winners. Stop by the shop for details.

Note: Madison Shellfish Commission will hold its annual Memorial Day clam hunt at West Wharf with a special section designated to young clammers.

Over 30 bushels of clams (some specially marked) will be spread about and those lucky enough to scratch up a prize winner will be awarded prizes, including gift certificates from Captain Morgan’s.

If needed, shellfish licenses and gear including waders, rakes, baskets, etc., are available for purchase at the shop. This event, as usual, is expected to be a crowd pleaser and a great way to kick off the season!

Trout fishing remains good with the parks and management areas prime. A mix of conventional and fly fishing are producing excellent catches with more State stockings on the agenda. Flows were fast due to the rains but have been subsiding, offering good conditions. Pike in the shallows are taking live baits and large plugs while largemouth bass are inhaling soft baits and shiners.

It’s May and fish are biting so for all things fishy including gear, bait, flies/flyfishing, rod/reel repair, clam/crabbing supplies and licenses, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located on 21 Boston Post Road, Madison.

Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better... Tight Lines, Captain Morgan

Outdoors Commentary: Thames River Tourney has lost something special
By BOB SAMPSON
For the Norwich Bulletin


Wet and windy weather made this year’s Thames River Challenge Striped Bass Tournament a challenge — like it always seems to be.

None of the anglers I talked to had any favorable comments about this year’s event. It also was surrounded by a great deal of confusion.

Basic tournament information that is generally received by the Norwich Bulletin never arrived, and if these last minute changes were posted on the Ctoutdoors.com, they were not easy to find. All I saw were rules that weren’t even up to date for last week’s deadline, so it was difficult to print any last minute changes.

The primary weigh station was at Thayer’s Marine in Norwich.

When I called Tuesday to find out who won, I was told that the organizers of this year’s event — Ctoutdoors.com — were angry with me for echoing the complaints about the lack of communication from tournament organizers.

This year’s tournament was not the conservation-oriented, river-front event that its original founders, the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and the Dime Bank, had created back in 1999.

In the tournament’s early years, there were river-front events for non-participants to attend.

A focal point at the awards ceremony and banquet each year was the presentation of an award to some one from the area who had invested time and effort to promote and enhance conservation measures in the Thames River watershed.

It was local business interests creating a venue to promote and show off a wonderful resource that people in this region enjoy: The Thames River and its incredible year-round striped bass fishery.

The tournament didn’t have a sponsor in 2001, but was resurrected the following year, but in recent years, the spirit and focus of the Thames River Challenge has changed.
Call it evolution or de-evolution, but from what I’ve been told by a few of those who competed this year, it was run like a largemouth bass tournament.

This once excellent fishing-tournament experience has become another weigh’em-in, collect-a-check, go-home event with nothing to stick around for after the fishing is over.
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Feeding Frenzy
Bass Pro Share Secrets
By: Mark Hicks







Do you know how to whip a school of bass into a feeding frenzy? Veteran bass pro Dion Hibdon of Stover, Missouri does. "If I can get the first bass to bite, it turns on the rest of them," he says.

Hibdon uses one lure to spark the intitial strike and switches to a different bait to keep the bass chomping. For example, when fishing a bridge piling in a clear reservoir, his first casts are with a 1/4-ounce ball head jig dressed with a 3-inch Luck "E" Strike Swirl Tail Grub. "I count the jig down and swim it at the depth the bass are schooled," Hibdon says. "Sometimes you have to snatch the bait up five or six feet through them and let it fall to make one bite."

When he hooks a bass, he quickly follows up with a jerkbait while the bass are still wound up. The key is getting a lure back to the fish to keep the frenzy going. Once the bite is over, the game's up.

The lures needed depend on where you're fsihing. When bass pro Matt Reed of Maidsonville, Texas, fished a Bassmaster Elite tournament at Kentucky Lake, he relied on a Booyah 3/4-ounce Football Jig dressed with a 4-inch Yum Muy Twintail Grub to get the first bite.

Reed dragged and hopped the jig over shell beds on river ledges that dorpped from 14 to 25 feet deep. After catching the first bass, he switched to a Bomber No. 7 Fat Free Shad and burned it through the bass to keep them fired up.

When he vertically jigs submerged hydrilla, Reed keeps six flippin' rods ready on deck. He begins by pitching a 1-ounce Booyah jig dressed with a 3 3/4-inch Yum Craw Papi.

When he hooks a bass, Reed horses it into the boat, grabs one of the other rods, rigged with a 1 1/4-ounce jig, and pitches it to the same spot.

"If you take the time to put the bass into your livewell, they'll stop biting," he says. "I've fished six hours without a bite many times and suddenly had 25 pounds of bass flopping on the floor in 90 seconds."

Once Bitten
Fish respond surprisingly quickly to fishing pressure
By: Dr. Hal Schramm



If you’ve ever wondered how fish react to fishing pressure, a new study on brown trout offers tantalizing clues.

To gauge different responses to angling pressure between heavily fished and relatively untouched populations, biologists measured the catch rates and various behaviors of brown trout in two backcountry New Zealand rivers.

The Ugly River is a wilderness stream accessible only by hiking 10 hours through untracked and difficult terrain. The second site was the Owen River, which is easily accessed by road and has high fishing pressure for a backcountry river. Both are 50 to 100 feet wide, provide the same habitat, and have similar densities and size structures of brown trout.

Let’s Go Fishing
Teams of guides and experienced fly anglers methodically fished similar stretches of each river on four three-day trips. In 12 days, 157 browns were caught on the Ugly River, 51 on the Owen. The fish represented 43 percent of the Ugly River’s estimated population of browns and 11 percent of the Owen’s population. Fish in both rivers averaged about 3.8 pounds.

Both the number of trout seen and hooked declined on successive days of each three-day trip on the Ugly, presumably because fishing pressure pushed the browns tight into cover. Researchers allowed two to four weeks to elapse between each three-day fishing trip, and noted that trout sightings and catches returned to high levels on the first day of each trip. In other words, fish responded to angling immediately, but the effects on trout behavior disappeared after two weeks.

On the more pressured Owen River, the numbers of fish seen and hooked were much lower on the first day and did not change during successive days of each trip.

Also, the trout in the Ugly River were less likely to be spooked, more likely to be caught on the first cast, and overall required fewer presentations. Fish in the Owen that did not spook were more likely to remain at their feeding station while anglers cast to them.

What It Means
Relatively unfished brown trout are less angler-shy and more vulnerable to capture. But the “virgin waters” effect is short-lived. As was apparent in the Ugly River, a single capture drastically changes a fish’s behavior.

Whether this response is learned or has a physiological basis—such as elevated levels of stress hormones or the depletion of energy reserves after capture—is not easily determined, but the effect lasts several days.

There was also a “chronic” effect of fishing in the Owen’s browns. The trout were less visible and less catchable. And, while fish occupying visible feeding stations were less likely to spook, they were also less likely to take a fly.

Do these findings apply only to brown trout in New Zealand streams? I doubt it. Fish in small, clear streams are highly vulnerable, but dozens of anglers fishing even a large lake or reservoir day after day can “educate” a lot of fish.

I commonly hear fisheries management colleagues who try to maintain large populations of quality fish lament the effect of “increasingly skilled anglers” and how technology has raised angler efficiency. There is little doubt that angler skill and efficiency is increasing, but we may be wrong in assuming that the fish don’t change, too.

Dr. Hal Schramm is a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and professor of Wildlife and Fisheries at Mississippi State University

Pike Presentation: Sink Your Topwaters
Hook More Pike Just Beneath the Surface
By: Dave Csanda







Anglers like the wild and crazy, surface-exploding strikes that occur as shallow pike attempt to snatch buzzbaits off the surface. For my money, though, I’d rather hook fish than see 9 out of 10 flounder in their efforts to engulf the bait.

Pike aren’t muskies, and have a much harder time catching baits off the surface, even with straight, steady retrieves. Put a similar profile spinnerbait two inches below the surface, however, and they’ll nail it almost every time.

For similar reasons, I tend to shy away from topwater hardbaits; I’d rather crawl a crankbait an inch below the surface. Slowly retrieving a No. 13 or 18 Original Floating Rapala Minnow and letting it occasionally rise to rest on the surface can also fill the void. Twitch the bait as well; just make sure you pause long enough to make it a sitting duck.

And although walking baits like Skitter Walks and Zara Spooks can work, I’d rather fish a Rapala SubWalk, which sinks a foot or two, in the same situations, as fish will be able to track and hit the subsurface lure much better.

Editor’s Note: Another good option for pike just below the surface is a 5-inch Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad fished on a 1/8- to 1/16-ounce jig. This presentation excels in shallow water, where it can be fished at a variety of speeds.

Keep your rod tip high and jerk sporadically during the retrieval to dart the minnow against the surface, occasionally splashing at the top of the water column. Or, fish the Jerk Shad slowly with long sweeps of your rod, letting the light jig drop slowly in front of lethargic pike. Watch closely for a slight twitch in the line which indicates a pike has snatched the jig on the fall. Whether you’re fishing the minnow fast or slow, be prepared to set the hook hard. With a good hookset, the jig often lands in the tough, corner of a pike’s mouth securing a good hold.

You might be surprised at how often you'll catch pike with the slower approach. The obvious application for this presentation is to persuade sluggish pike that are perhaps already full on abundant baitfish and unwilling to chase fast baits because they're in a negative mood. However, consider this: Even when pike are in a feeding frenzy and aggressive mood, the slow minnow approach is effective because hungry pike won't pass up a free meal. In short, it can work with both aggressive and lethargic pike.

Solutions For The Top 10 Jigging Mistakes




See if any of these tips can help you catch the big one.

1. MISTAKE: Slack on the Drop - Some anglers lift the jig, then quickly drop the rodtip so the leadhead falls on a slack line. No good, since most strikes occur on the drop.
SOLUTION: After the lift, match the speed of the jig's descent with your rodtip so the line stays semi-taut.

2. MISTAKE: Slow Hookset - Walleyes inhale jigs by flaring their gills, and can spit 'em out just as fast.
SOLUTION: When you feel a light tick or tap, or the line twitches, set the hook. If you miss light bites, add a stinger.

3. MISTAKE: Lack of Concentration - An obvious misstep.
SOLUTION: Forget everything else. Focus on the elements of your presentation (jigging cadence, bottom contact, etc.), and be ever alert for a strike.

4. MISTAKE: Avoiding Snags - It's tempting to stay away from the tough stuff and avoid frustrating snags. But then you miss fish.
Solution: If you're not occasionally running afoul of weeds, rocks or wood, you're not fishing in the right place. Bite your lip and go for it.

5. MISTAKE: Overdoing It - It's easy to fall into a rhythm that's too fast for the fish.
Solution: This is part of the mental game. Concentrate on keeping your jig strokes slow and steady, unless the fish are on a tear.

6. MISTAKE: Fishing the Wrong Head -There are so many to choose from, many anglers give up and stick with one style.
Solution: Make the effort to learn about the different designs, and fish them where they make sense.

7. MISTAKE: Weight Problems - An oversize jig sinks too fast and plows along the bottom, while lightweights won't reach the fish, or worse, you can't "feel" them.
Solution: Use just enough weight to maintain good contact with the jig.

8. MISTAKE: Casting Too Far - This isn't the Olympics. Jigs and strikes at the far end of a long cast are difficult to register.
Solution: Keep casts manageable for gear and conditions.

9. MISTAKE: The Wrong Rod - Long, soft-tipped sticks are usually bad news.
Solution: You'll detect more strikes with a shorter, stiffer, high-modulus graphite rod.

10. MISTAKE: Unnecessary Tipping - Some anglers automatically tip leadheads with bait. While a good idea in cold water or when fish are sluggish, meat can detract from the action of feathers or the vibes of a curlytail.
Solution: When in doubt, go baitless.

Under Pressure
A biologist’s guide to how barometric pressure affects fish and fishing
By: Dan Johnson






Have you ever caught fish like an all-star one day and bombed the next, even though you were using the same tactics and fishing the same area? You’re not alone. It’s a common and often frustrating fact of life on the water. But what makes a red-hot bite turn to ice?

Truth be told, many factors may contribute to the malaise. Fishing pressure, boat traffic and weather-related changes in water conditions can all cause forage species and predators to alter their locations and behavior, causing a productive fishing pattern to fall apart faster than you can say, “Should have been here yesterday.”

But change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, especially if you understand what’s going on in that mysterious, watery realm beneath the waves.

Pressure Player
NAFC member Roger Hugill—a seasoned fisheries biologist and tournament angler—says one of the least-understood factors affecting fish and fishing is barometric pressure. It may get a little ink or lip service now and then, but few people do more than scratch the surface of this important piece of the fish-behavior puzzle.

“Everything in the water either sinks, floats to the surface or suspends,” says Hugill. “Few anglers give it much thought, but a change in barometric pressure is to a small degree like a change in gravity.”

Plus, because objects weigh less in the water, the affect of a pressure change is far more pronounced beneath the surface than above.

Here’s how it works. In simple terms, barometric pressure—or atmospheric pressure—is the weight of the air pressing down upon us. Don’t laugh. It can be a heavy weight to shoulder.

A 1-inch-square column of air, measured from sea level to the top of the atmosphere, would weigh about 14.7 pounds. Multiply that by the surface of your favorite fishing hole and you’ve got serious pressure. So much for lighter than air.

Fish, anglers and other living creatures are built to handle this pressure, or we’d collapse like the Vikings in the playoffs. But changes in pressure can ignite major shifts in fish behavior. Understanding all the dynamics is the key to playing this wild card to your advantage.

During his 33-year career with Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Section, Hugill has learned more than a few fascinating facts about fish. One is that they react to pressure changes more than most fishermen realize.

“Fish are extremely in tune with their environment,” he explains. “They have an incredible array of pressure-sensing systems—such as the lateral line—that key them in to changes in barometric pressure, which in turn could signal feeding opportunities or foretell the arrival of a major weather change.”

How gamefish react depends on what affect variations in pressure (and accompanying factors such as fluctuations in water temperature due to a warm or cold front) are having on their food supply and the world around them.

For example, a drop in pressure can cause tiny particles of sediment and other material to float off bottom or rise higher in the water column than they normally suspend—particularly when currents are involved—slightly reducing water clarity. But more importantly, it can affect tiny creatures such as zooplankton and phytoplankton—the building blocks of any respectable aquatic food chain.

“These organisms need to move up and down in the water column in response to changes in light intensity and other factors, so they have built-in mechanisms for maintaining buoyancy,” says Hugill.

Some have tiny air bladders. Others possess the ability to retain air as a means to regulate their position in the water. “They’re generally able to adjust to variations in barometric pressure, but a fast change can catch them off guard, making them slightly unstable.”

This can push algae, phytoplankton or zooplankton out of its comfort zone and make it more vulnerable to predators. In some cases, gamefish such as crappies may move in to feed on zooplankton, but often a parade of forage species ranging from bloaters to shiners and dace—depending on the fishery—may also show up to feast on destabilized prey. Larger predators follow to sample the baitfish buffet.

Most catchable-size fish aren’t phased by the change in pressure. If anything, they’re stoked by it. “The physical affect on bigger fish is less pronounced,” Hugill explains. “Bass, walleyes, pike and other larger fish are built to handle it, and the changes in pressure are small compared to their overall size, mass and ability to swim.”

Plus, these fish are used to adjusting to depth-related pressure changes as they travel up and down in the water column. If you’ve ever jumped into a lake or pool and had your ears “pop,” you know that pressure is greater the deeper you go.

“If a fish is neutrally buoyant three feet beneath the surface, then swims down to 10 feet it won’t suspend anymore; it will sink—so it has to adjust,” Hugill says. Compared to these depth-related pressure changes, a slight rise or fall in the barometer is easy for a bass or walleye to handle.”

All of this helps explain why a rising or falling barometer often signals good fishing. Now is the time to be on the water, fishing known feeding areas with aggressive tactics.

If you’re targeting largemouth bass on a weed-rimmed natural lake in summer, try raking the surface of feeding flats with fast-moving topwaters, or rip jerkbaits along deep and shallow weed edges.

Walleye anglers would do well to switch from snail’s pace techniques like dragging live bait behind walking sinkers to trolling high-action cranks or spinner rigs with beefy blades. In short, forget finesse—this is the time for action.

It’s worth noting that fish and other creatures living in shallow water are more susceptible to the affects of changes in atmospheric pressure than their deep-water counterparts. So a bluegill holding in five feet of water is more susceptible to changes than a lake trout 100 feet down.


The Down Side
Right now every experienced angler reading this is probably thinking, “If a rise or fall in barometric pressure heats up the fishing, why does the action go south when a low-pressure system—especially a dreaded cold front—passes through?”

That’s a good question.

The answer has more to do with the after-effects of the weather system than changes in pressure. “Falling barometric pressure makes tiny aquatic creatures unstable—which can make baitfish more active and trigger a flurry of activity in the entire food chain. It also alerts fish to the approach of a weather change,” says Hugill. “Bass, walleyes and other gamefish often react by feeding before the rain or storm arrives.

“But once the weather changes, its effects trump lingering variations in atmospheric pressure,” he continues. “For example, in the spring, when a cold front arrives and air temperatures drop, strong winds can push cold surface water into a warm bay where fish are active. The water temperature will drop and fish become less active.”

Indeed, fish may pull out of chilled shallows to sulk along the nearest drop-off or in the closest deep hole. After the front passes and the water begins to warm again, they will move back in and become more active.

“On the other hand,” he notes, “a cold front in August can trigger an increase in fish activity. I’ve seen sluggish walleyes on mid-lake reefs come alive when a cool front lowered the surface temperature by even a few degrees.”

Some fisheries are more vulnerable than others to rapid water temperature changes. “Rivers can really change a lot, up to 8 or 9 degrees a day,” Hugill points out. “Small feeder streams can change even more.”

Other factors besides water temperature can be involved, of course. Light intensity—due to wave action, cloud cover or water clarity—can have a huge impact on the feeding behavior of species like bass and walleyes.

And as many NAFC members know well, the amount of light passing through the water can also affect how baitfish and predators position themselves in relation to cover or structure. “When conditions are right (such as when the water is clear and warm), cloud cover can pull fish into the shallows,” Hugill says.

“In the end, the key to success is figuring out what the weather is doing to the area of a lake or river you’re fishing, then alter your fishing tactics accordingly. A drop in water temperature may call for smaller baits and slower presentations, or seeking out areas where the fish are less affected.”

Stable Pressure
We’ve talked much about the effects of change, but some of the most consistent fishing comes when the barometer is steady, especially for several days or more.

“An extended period of stable weather allows fish to find their comfort zone—a balance of the right water temperature, oxygen, light penetration and other factors—and fuels a nice, steady bite,” Hugill grins. “And that’s something we all like to see.”

Jerkbaits By Degrees
Bass pro Mark Menendez's temperature-sensitive tactics for fishing jerkbaits through the spawn.
By: Ryan Gilligan




Jerkbaits catch bruiser bass, especially in spring. Countless tournament victories and firsthand experiences of bass hunters nationwide confirm it. Yet, few anglers understand how to wring the full potential from these lures.

NAFC friend and bass pro Mark Menendez of Paducah, Kentucky, is one who does. He has tremendous success on the tournament trails, and says jerkbaits deserve much of the credit. In fact, a few years ago, he set a record three-day total of 60 pounds, 3 ounces on Smithwick Rattling Rogues during a B.A.S.S. Top 100 tourney on Pickwick and Wilson lakes.

The reason, he says, is simple. “In cold, clear-water periods, there’s no better bait for big bass—I’m talking 5-, 6-, 7-pound fish, and better. The minnow shape is something bass, particularly larger fish, really key on. They let me cover a lot of water, and make my job a whole lot easier.”

Of course, like any lure, a jerkbait isn’t magic—catching fish consistently depends on knowing where, when and how to use them. If you’re missing any of these puzzle pieces, you might as well be fishing in a bathtub.

Through his extensive experience fishing jerks from early spring through summer in waters across the country, Menendez has developed a formula for success. He breaks down spring water temperatures into four distinct ranges, and uses specific jerkbait styles, retrieve speeds and cadences for each, to match predominant bass behavior.

Armed with his secrets, you too can unlock jerkbaits’ true potential for duping largemouths this spring. Let’s examine his proven formula.

WATER TEMPS: 38 TO 42 DEGREES

These temps are downright chilly, but such conditions, combined with clear water, are hot for jerkbaits.

“When you’ve got clear water in the 38- to 42-degree range, it’s prime time.”

Under these conditions, Menendez chooses a deep-diving rattling jerkbait. Although a shallow- diving rattler is his go-to lure for much of the spring, he gives the deep diver the nod early on because of its 12- to 13-foot running depth.

“This time of year, deep divers outshine all others. They get down to where bass are holding, which is critical when water’s cold— bass won’t chase lures far.”

He targets main-lake points and ends of bluffs adjacent to river channels, positioning his boat in as deep as 40 feet of water and casting into 20 to 25. There, he says, bass often suspend 12 to 15 feet down—perfect for deep divers.

Rather than jerk or twitch the lure, Menendez reels it down to maximum depth, then uses a slow, sweeping-style retrieve—as if he’s fishing a Carolina rig. He sweeps the bait forward, pauses two to three seconds, and repeats.

Add up all those pauses and pulls, and it may take up to two minutes to retrieve a bait. “That can feel excruciatingly slow,” he says, “but it’s absolutely deadly on big, cold-water bass.”

To fight the temptation to speed up, he sits down while casting. “I find I’m much more patient and trigger a lot more strikes when I just take a deep breath and force myself to settle down in that front boat seat,” he says.

WATER TEMPS: 43 TO 48 DEGREES

When the temperature rises above 42, Menendez will switch gears slightly. He finds bass in about the same areas, but now they’ll chase the bait. For these fish, he ties on a 41⁄2- or 51⁄2-inch suspending rattler, usually a Rogue because he likes the way it sits in the water column.

“I like the 45-degree head-down posture this bait produces. The angle lets it quickly dive to that 7- or 8-foot range, and you can cast farther. More importantly, though, 45 degrees is a non-natural angle for healthy baitfish. In early spring, gizzard shad are dying all over the place and they have that same headdown posture. When bass see that, it often triggers a strike.”

If your lure doesn’t produce quite the right posture, apply lead tape to the front half of the bait or add weight to the lead treble. Use the lightest line possible; Menendez prefers 8-pound Excalibur. Thinner line lets the bait dive faster and produces a better action.

At these temperatures, he uses a jerk- jerk-pause retrieve, but Menendez says there’s no set-in-stone formula for overall speed or pause duration.

“I generally start with a three-second pause, softer jerks and a moderate speed when water temps are in the low to mid- 40s,” he says. “But I’ve been known to pause as long as 12 seconds. Every day I go out, it’s my job to find the speed and cadence bass respond to.”

If, for example, you’re getting strikes, but fish are hooked on the back trebles, lengthen the pause and slow down the overall retrieve speed.

WATER TEMPS: 49 TO 55 DEGREES

When water temps climb into this range, it’s crossover time. Using bass behavior as a guide, Menendez begins to abandon suspending jerkbaits in favor of straight floaters.

“Bass are more active and will move farther to capture a baitfish. That means you don’t have to get the lure as close to their depth—and that means you can cover more water.”

He also whittles down his pauses to one or two seconds. “I also start jerking the bait harder, depending on the bass’ mood. You have to let the fish dictate your retrieve style.”

Toward the upper end of this transitional period, Menendez begins exclusively using a 41⁄2-inch floater and a significantly faster twitch-twitch-twitch retrieve.

“At this time I’m moving fast, and this presentation lets me do just that. If I’m fishing a tournament, this pattern ismy goto way to fill a limit,” he says.

WATER TEMPS: 55 TO 65 DEGREES

At 55 to 65 degrees, bass move into the shallow spawning areas and floating jerkbaits displace suspenders and divers. The floaters stay in the strike zone, letting Menendez goad strikes from temperamental fish.

“Bass in spawning areas hate having a jerkbait over their heads. I cast over the fish and twitch the lure in place. Even-tually, they take a swipe at it,” he says.

Menendez warns that it’s critical to keep your hooks razor sharp in these situations. “A lot of bites you’ll get from bedding bass will be slashing strikes. If your hooks aren’t sharp, they’ll slide away from the fish’s mouth.”

SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE

Aside from water temperature, a host of other factors further dictate presentation. Menendez says clear water is a must for jerkbaits. “You need a minimum of 18 to 24 inches of clarity,” he says. “Murkier waters call for different presentations."

“If you can’t see your bait a couple feet through the water, jerkbaits aren’t going to work, regardless of temperature,” he says.

It’s also imperative to use highly visible colors. For Menendez, that usually means lures with a white belly; orange in questionable water clarity.

“Wind is another big factor,” he says. “I really speed things up when the wind is blowing, because I’ve found fish are more active and willing to strike.”

A warm, calm day calls for the contrary. “When you’ve got no wind and high, blue skies, use patience, even if the water’s a little warmer. You need a slower retrieve and longer pauses between jerks.”

So keep your eyes on your surface thermometer and attention on detail when you hit your favorite bass spot this spring.

i was wondering what was going on ,some days i could get on other day i couldnt

Federal Permit required for STRIPERS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom Meade: Anglers must obtain federal permits


01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, May 11, 2008





Beginning next January, everyone fishing for striped bass, shad or sea-run trout will have to register with the federal government unless the angler already has a state-issued saltwater-fishing permit. The fine for not having a federal or state permit could run into the thousands of dollars.
None of the New England states offers a saltwater-fishing license, although Connecticut’s General Assembly is working on one.
Until 2011, federal permits will be free. They will be available online or by calling a toll-free phone number to be announced.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is creating a national registry of anglers and charter boats who fish in federal waters, outside the three-mile limit. The registry also will list anglers who fish inside the three-mile limit for anadromous fish — like striped bass, shad, sea-run trout and others — that are born in freshwater, then go to sea. They return to freshwater to spawn.
The registry, like a national phone book, will allow researchers to call fishermen to keep track of what they are catching. A new version of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the federal law that controls saltwater fishing, requires the registry.
The fishing registry is similar to the federal Harvest Information Program that requires migratory-bird hunters to obtain an annual HIP card so the federal government can keep track of what the hunters are shooting. When a hunter buys a hunting license he or she provides an address, phone number and the answers to some simple questions about what was shot the previous season. The HIP permit is free.
Rhode Island has no plans to issue a similar permit that would conform to federal fishing regulations, according to Stephanie Powell, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Management. “We have talked with the feds, and have just begun to discuss this here,” she said. “We will be considering over the next year or so whether there is a viable alternative for the state or whether to have anglers just register with the feds. We have some time to deliberate.”
The Coast Guard and state law-enforcement officials along the coast will begin checking striper fishermen for saltwater-fishing permits next year, said Gordon Colvin, the NOAA official in charge of implementing the new program.
“With anglers, all we’re looking for is their name, address and telephone number so that we can call them and conduct telephone-based surveys,” he said.
Fishing regulators are supposed to make decisions about fishing seasons, areas and limits based on sound information. When Congress rewrote the Magnuson-Stevens Act to guide regulators, lawmakers demanded that recreational fishermen provide the same kind of information that commercial fishermen do.
Because commercial fishermen must buy licenses, it’s easier to keep track of them. To keep track of what recreational fishermen are catching, the government hires pollsters to intercept anglers at marinas and fishing piers to question them about their catch. NOAA also conducts random telephone interviews in coastal communities to question residents about fishing.
At least one Rhode Island marina does not allow pollsters on its docks. And the telephone surveys miss anglers who live inland, but fish the coast.
The new system, Colvin said, will give regulators direct access to anglers.
If an angler’s state does not offer some kind of fishing permit to gather names, addresses and phone numbers, the federal government will.
In 2011, the NOAA will start collecting a fee — probably around $25 — for its registry, Colvin said. To meet federal requirements, and generate some additional revenue, some states are crafting saltwater fishing licenses; they include Connecticut, New York and New Hampshire.
__________________

FISHING REPORT NUMBER 3: 5/8/2008
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Flows have decreased to more typical (and very fishable) levels and anglers have been
finding good to excellent trout fishing in most waters throughout the state, with best reports from the West
Branch Farmington TMA (browns up to 4 lbs), Salmon, Mill (including a 23 inch rainbow), Farmill, Fenton,
Pequonnock, Mianus, Natchaug, Willimantic, Little, Blackberry, Saugatuck River TMA, Eightmile (East
Haddam), Hammonasset, Housatonic (21 inch rainbow), Naugatuck, Pootatuck, Pomperaug, Quinebaug,
Moosup, Shetucket (9.5 lb brown among the catches), Yantic, Pachaug, Fivemile, French and Natchaug (4.5
lb brown among the catches) Rivers, Roaring Brook (Glastonbury), Broad Brook and Latimer Brook.
Farmington River - Flows are clear and moderate, currently 430 CFS at Riverton and an additional 120 CFS
from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s °F. Current hatches/patterns include Blue Wing
Olive (a.k.a. baetis or vegans; #18) in a parachute or emerging dun (noon to 5pm), Hendrickson (a.k.a. red
quill; #12-#14) in a parachute, comparadun or emerger (1 pm or yellow egg sac pattern around 6 pm) and Blue
Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #18) in a parachute or emerger (midday). Also try Rusty Spinners (#16-18), Mahogany
Duns/Blue Quills (#18-20), Tan Caddis (#14-18) and Winter Caddis (#18-22). Nymphs (#18-22) are always a
good go-to fly. Try Bead Head, Midge Pupa, Brassie, Zebra Midge or Copper John patterns. Streamers are also
producing. Use White Zonkers & Buggers (#4-12) as well as Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghost.
Housatonic River - Flows are currently clear, comfortable for fishing, and are continuing to decrease
(currently 1,000 cfs at Falls Village and 1,500 cfs at Gaylordsville), although with rain predicted for Friday,
flows may again increase. Morning water temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s °F (TMA area). Adams
(#12-14) in the evening are producing. Hendrickson (#12-#14) in the afternoon and Blue Wing Olives (#12-
#16) are on the water with Green Caddis Pupa (#14-16) soon to show up. Anglers using Pheasant Tail (#12-
14), Copper John (#12-16) and American Pheasant Tail (#12-14) are finding nymphing to be very productive.
Try streamers (Yellow/White Zuddlers or Gray Ghost) around 6:30 pm.
Anglers Can Expect Good Fishing in western CT on the Farmington River, West Branch Farmington River,
Pomperaug River, Pequonnock River, Pootatuck River (upper), Saugatuck River (Lower), Sandy Brook, Still
River (Colebrook), Nepaug River, Housatonic River (TMA) and Naugatuck River (including TMA). In
Eastern CT, good fishing can be expected at Pattaconk Brook, Kitt Brook, Broad Brook (Preston), Choate
Brook, Quinebaug River, Middle River, Crystal Lake Brook, Tankerhoosen River, Hockanum River (above
and below TMA), Hammonasset River (including TMA), Salmon River (including TMA), Jeremy River,
Natchaug River, Bigelow Brook, Still River (Eastford), Yantic River (including TMA), Hop River,
Skungamaug River, Shetucket River and Snake Meadow Brook.
Lakes & Ponds – Good trout fishing was found in many lakes and ponds throughout the state including Lake
Saltonstall, Coventry Lake, East Twin Lake, Candlewood Lake (including three 15-17 “football-shaped”
browns for one angler), Highland Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Lake Quonnipaug, Wononscopomuc Lake,
Tyler Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Amos Lake, Alexander Lake, Squantz Pond (including a 3 lb brown trout), Mt
Tom Pond, West Hill Pond and Beach Pond. Anglers can expect good fishing in western CT at Twin Brooks
Park Pond, Huntington Park Pond, Wononscopomuc Lake, Hop Brook Lake, Baummer's Pond, Mt. Tom Pond,
Black Rock Lake (Flood Control Impoundment), Ball Pond, the Bunnells Pond (Beardsley Park) Urban
Fishing Area, and the Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond) and Stratton Brook Trout Parks. In Eastern CT, good
fishing should be expected at Cedar Lake, Pattaconk Lake, Gardner Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Black Pond
(Middlefield), Walkers Reservoir, Amos Lake, Wyassup Lake, Beach Pond, Billings Lake, the Beaver Brook
Park Ponds, Wauregan Reservoir, Alexander Lake, Moosup Pond and the Mohegan Park Pond, Chatfield
Hollow and Day Pond Trout Parks.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally good with reports from Lake Zoar (5.6 lb bass), Lake
Lillinonah, Lake Saltonstall, Upper Moodus Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Candlewood Lake, Saugatuck
Page 1 of 3
Reservoir, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (mixed reports), Bantam Lake, Tyler Lake, Highland Lake,
Wononscopomuc Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Amos Lake, Gardner Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Ball Pond
and Mt. Tom Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Candlewood Lake (catches include some in the 4-5 lb range),
Highland Lake, Coventry Lake, Bantam Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), and Squantz Pond. Smallmouth
fishing at Gardner Lake has been slow.
NORTHERN PIKE action reported at Bantam Lake and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
WALLEYE catches are being reported from Lake Saltonstall, Saugatuck Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake (10 lb
walleye reported), Gardner Lake and Squantz Pond (a 6.5 lb fish among the catches).
CHAIN PICKEREL are being caught at Lake Wononscopomuc, Saugatuck Reservoir and Upper Moodus
Reservoir.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS are in the river to the Windsor area. Mostly school size (16-25”)
fish. Some adults (to 37 inches) are showing up in the lower to mid river. Sand & blood worms are working.
Big plastic baits like 9” Houdini Shad, 7” Bombers & swim baits are also working. After a lull last week
(high flows, cooler temperatures), SHAD are now being reported throughout the river. Successful anglers
are using willow leaf or shad darts for these tasty treats. Anglers are reminded that the only legal method of
harvesting American shad is angling. NORTHERN PIKE action reported from Wethersfield and Crow
Point Cove. Knowledgeable anglers are targeting CATFISH in the Hartford to Middletown area. Sandworms
or cut bait are catching fish this week up to 5 lbs.
CONNECTICUT RIVER STRIPED BASS/RIVER HERRING STUDY - Researchers at the University of
Connecticut are continuing their study of the effects of striped bass on river herring in the Connecticut River.
This study sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection began last year, involves
the collection, and tagging, of striped bass by electrofishing several nights per week. This sampling takes place
on the CT River north from Wethersfield. Operations in the Connecticut portion of the river will be staged out
of Windsor Locks. In Massachusetts, most sampling will be in the Holyoke area. Anglers seeing an
electrofishing boat (boat with a generator, lights, and poles protruding into the water) should note these are
biologists doing important research.
As part of the study, anglers who catch a striped bass with a yellow or red tag are encouraged to call 860-486-
4694 to provide the tag ID #, the specific location where the fish was caught, whether the fish was released,
and your contact information. All such reports are eligible for a $15 (yellow tag) to $50 reward (red tag).
Please do not remove the tag from fish you plan to release.
BOAT LAUNCHES & BOATING INFORMATION
 The state boat launch at HIGHLAND LAKE will be closed to all use on Wednesday, May 14th for
reconfiguration of the parking area.
DIDYMO REMINDER - Anglers are reminded to take precautions to prevent the spread of the highly invasive
freshwater alga Didymosphenia geminata, known as “Didymo”, into CT waters. Last year (2007), the presence
of didymo was confirmed in several popular trout streams, the upper Connecticut River (NH/VT), White River
(VT), Batten Kill (NY/VT) and the East and West Branches of the Delaware River (NY/PA). These were the
first official reports of didymo in the northeastern United States. This microscopic algae can develop massive
blooms, sometimes extending for several miles of river. These blooms can smother aquatic plants, aquatic
insects and molluscs, alter stream flow characteristics and fish habitat, and impact food webs. Dense mats of
didymo can also reduce recreational and aesthetic values of affected rivers.
Humans can unknowingly spread didymo. The microscopic cells can cling to fishing gear, waders (felt soles
can be especially problematic), boots and boats, and remain viable for months under even slightly moist
conditions. Although didymo has not yet been found in CT, it has been found in near-by states.
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in upper 40’s to low 50’s °F.
Reminder: The TAUTOG (blackfish) recreational fishing season is closed through June 30.
Striped bass fishing for schoolies is the main ticket on the marine scene. Tidal rivers and harbors are prime time
for stripers. Striped bass spots worth trying include the Pawcatuck River to Sandy Point, Mystic River,
Thames River from Norwich down to Montville, Millstone Point, Niantic River, Hamburg Cove, Calves Island
and off Great Island (the “Wood Lot”) in the Connecticut River, Hammonasset River, Branford River, New
Haven Harbor (Sandy Point), Housatonic River, Bridgeport Harbor (power plant warm water discharge),
Saugatuck River, Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich Harbors.
Winter flounder fishing remains fair at Bluff Point State Park (Poquonock Cove), Pine Island area, Niantic
River, North and South Brothers, Connecticut River east breakwater on the flood tide, Madison - Guilford
area, and Norwalk Harbor.
For regulation updates, please check our web site www.ct.gov/dep/fishing.

Expert says boating safety often ignored
RICHARD WEIZEL


STRATFORD — Two weeks ago, former Stratford police detective Richard C. Bennett drowned while fishing in a canoe in the frigid waters of Woodbridge Lake in Goshen.

The 63-year-old former officer, who retired in 2002 after serving 25 years on the local police force, died after his canoe suddenly tipped over.

It's a tragedy that is becoming all too common among the rapidly growing number of people using canoes and kayaks, said Bill Rock, chairman of the town's Waterfront and Harbor Management Commission.

"The problem is that so many more people are using paddle boats, but there is no requirement in most states like Connecticut to take a safe boating training course first," Rock said. "Anybody can go down to a local store and buy one for just a few hundreds dollars and be in the water within a half-hour."

That has often been a fatal combination.

Throughout the country, about half of boating fatalities now involve people in canoes and kayaks less than 20 feet in length. Ninety percent of those casualties have life jackets in the boat, but aren't wearing them, Rock said.

To help educate new paddle boaters about the dangers, Rock said, the Waterfront and Harbor Management Commission is sponsoring a program to emphasize the town's water safety plan. The event — set for 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Birdseye Street launching ramp — is open to the public.

The water safety plan is an agreement of cooperation and communication among the Stratford police and
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fire marine units, the harbormaster and Flotilla 24-02, of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, which will all have representatives at Tuesday's event.

The event also coincides with National Safe Boating Week that begins May 17. Rock said that because Stratford has one of the longest stretches of contiguous waterfront in the state, it is crucial to stress boating safety here.

"Traditionally, National Safe Boating Week has focused on power and sail boating and the use of life jackets," Rock said. "This year there is an additional emphasis on paddle craft."

Kayaking is the fastest growing outdoor activity in the country, Rock said. According to the American Canoe Association, the number of people who actively participate in kayaking has increased over the past decade from 2.5 million to more than 11 million.

"The lack of requirements to take a safe boating course, as is mandated for new power boaters in many states, leaves most novices without the basic concepts of proper seamanship or boating safety," Rock said.

"People are also not aware this time of year because it is warm outside, how cold it is in the water, which is generally about 50 degrees and contributes to many deaths," Rock said.

Once again the bill did not make it to the floor to be voted on (just like last year). The new wrinkle is that everyone is going to have to register on the federal registry next year (all the states without a license). It is supposed to be "free" until 2011 but we will see. My hunch is that CT and NY will have bills that make it through the political process before we give "our" money to the feds instead of the state.