02-01-2009, 09:40 AM
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[left][size 4]ICE FISHING REPORT NUMBER 2 1/28/2009
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]SAFETY REMINDER: [/font][/size][/size][font "Times New Roman"][size 2][size 2]DEP reminds winter anglers that [/size][/size][size 2]SAFETY COMES FIRST! [/size][/font][size 2][size 2][font "Times New Roman"]Be aware that ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to a number of environmental factors including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please check the ice carefully before venturing out and check repeatedly to make sure that ice thickness is sufficient. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return. [/font]
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[left]ICE FISHING REPORT
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[left]Ice fishing in is full-swing at most areas throughout Connecticut. The winter fishing tradition continues, with friends meeting on the ice to fish, socialize and compare catches!
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[left]TROUT - [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]For trout fishing try the following locations: Candlewood Lake (20" brown among the catches), Hogback Reservoir (West Branch), Colebrook Reservoir, West Hill Pond, Mohawk Pond, Squantz Pond, Black Pond (Woodstock, catches include a 6.5 lb rainbow and a 5.5 lb brown), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake, East Twin Lake and Highland Lake.
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[left]NORTHERN PIKE - [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Fishing for these monsters has been excellent with many fish being caught. Best reports are from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Bantam Lake (many catches up to 15 lbs), Pachaug Pond (31" pike), and in coves along the Connecticut River (fish up to 40" reported).
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[left]ATLANTIC SALMON – [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Catches are being reported from Mashapaug Lake (6 lb salmon) and Crystal Lake (including a 38", 9.5 lb beauty)
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[left]WALLEYE – [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Walleye continue to increase in popularity and are producing excellent fishing opportunities at Mashapaug Lake (fish up to 28"). Anglers are also finding some walleyes downstream in Bigelow Pond (a 24-incher reported).
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[left]PANFISH - [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Panfish are being caught in good numbers, with diligent early risers having especially good success between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00 am. Jigging with corn/grubs on your favorite lure and moving from place to place is the way to go for these delicious fish. Locations to try include West Thompson Reservoir, Hogback Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Messerschmidt Pond, West Hill Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield), Candlewood Lake (40 yellow perch), Coventry Lake and Silver Lake (Berlin/Meriden).
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[left]CHAIN PICKEREL – [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Pickerel are a traditional favorite of ice fishermen. Excellent pickerel fishing is reported at Quaddick Reservoir, Highland Lake, Tyler Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), West Hill Pond and Bigelow Pond.
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[left]SMALLMOUTH/LARGEMOUTH BASS - [/size][size 3][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Bass are being found at Quaddick Reservoir, Black Pond (Woodstock), Bigelow Pond, Crystal Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin/Meriden), Highland Lake and Candlewood Lake (40 smallmouth bass in 25-31 feet of water; many 3-4 lb fish). [/font]
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]SPECIAL NOTE: [/font]
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]Due to an unfortunate error, the "Connecticut Freshwater Record Fish" section on page 15 of the print version of both the 2008 and 2009 CT Angler’s Guides has been inaccurate. The entry for the "Brown Trout (sea-run)" is incorrect. [/font][/size][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]A new record sea run brown trout was caught in 2006 by Ron Merly. His catch weighed in at 10 lbs, 8 oz., more than a half pound heavier than the previous record. [/font][/size][font "Times New Roman"][size 3][size 3]Ron made his catch on the Saugatuck River in Westport on December 30[/size][/size][size 1][size 1]th[/size][/size][size 3][size 3], 2006. Our apologies for any confusion and/or frustration this may have caused (especially to Mr. Merly). The electronic version of the Angler’s Guide (pdf file) found on the DEP web site is correct.
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]Duane Raver/USFWS [/font]
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]NOTICES [/font]
[ol][/size][/size][size 3][size 3][li][font "Times New Roman"]DEP’s annual Family Ice Fishing Derby is scheduled for Saturday, January, 31[/font][/size][/size][size 1][font "Times New Roman"][size 1]st[/size][/font][/size][size 3][size 3][font "Times New Roman"], 8 am to 11 am at Patriot’s Park on Coventry Lake (Lake Wangumbaug), Lake Street, Coventry. [/font][/li][li][font "Times New Roman"]DEP has recently received a number of questions concerning the use of gaffs to help bring fish in through the ice. Currently, there is no specific prohibition on the use of a gaff in the freshwater regulations (except for striped bass). However, note that [/font][/size][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]a gaff cannot be used to actually capture the fish [/font][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"][size 3]as fish must be taken by the legal methods as listed for that species in the Angler's Guide (also note that spearing is prohibited for most species). Also, any fish that is not "legal" (due to length or quantity restrictions) must be "...without avoidable injury, immediately returned to the water from which taken." So [/size][/font][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]using a gaff on a fish that can't be legally kept (examples include a 30 inch pike at Bantam in January, or a large trout when you are already in possession of your limit for trout) would be considered as inflicting avoidable harm on the fish, and would be a violation. [/font][/size][size 3][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Considering the above, it would generally be best to avoid use of gaffs. [/font][/li][/ol]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]DEP ICE FISHING REPORT [/font]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION [/font]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106 [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]www.ct.gov/dep [/font]
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[left][size 4]ICE FISHING REPORT NUMBER 2 1/28/2009
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]SAFETY REMINDER: [/font][/size][/size][font "Times New Roman"][size 2][size 2]DEP reminds winter anglers that [/size][/size][size 2]SAFETY COMES FIRST! [/size][/font][size 2][size 2][font "Times New Roman"]Be aware that ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to a number of environmental factors including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please check the ice carefully before venturing out and check repeatedly to make sure that ice thickness is sufficient. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return. [/font]
[/size][/size][size 3]
[left]ICE FISHING REPORT
[/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]
[left]Ice fishing in is full-swing at most areas throughout Connecticut. The winter fishing tradition continues, with friends meeting on the ice to fish, socialize and compare catches!
[/size][/font][/size][/font][size 3]
[left]TROUT - [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]For trout fishing try the following locations: Candlewood Lake (20" brown among the catches), Hogback Reservoir (West Branch), Colebrook Reservoir, West Hill Pond, Mohawk Pond, Squantz Pond, Black Pond (Woodstock, catches include a 6.5 lb rainbow and a 5.5 lb brown), Mashapaug Lake, Crystal Lake, East Twin Lake and Highland Lake.
[/size][/font][/size][/font][size 3]
[left]NORTHERN PIKE - [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Fishing for these monsters has been excellent with many fish being caught. Best reports are from Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Bantam Lake (many catches up to 15 lbs), Pachaug Pond (31" pike), and in coves along the Connecticut River (fish up to 40" reported).
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[left]ATLANTIC SALMON – [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Catches are being reported from Mashapaug Lake (6 lb salmon) and Crystal Lake (including a 38", 9.5 lb beauty)
[/size][/font][/size][/font][size 3]
[left]WALLEYE – [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Walleye continue to increase in popularity and are producing excellent fishing opportunities at Mashapaug Lake (fish up to 28"). Anglers are also finding some walleyes downstream in Bigelow Pond (a 24-incher reported).
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[left]PANFISH - [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Panfish are being caught in good numbers, with diligent early risers having especially good success between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00 am. Jigging with corn/grubs on your favorite lure and moving from place to place is the way to go for these delicious fish. Locations to try include West Thompson Reservoir, Hogback Reservoir, Quaddick Reservoir, Messerschmidt Pond, West Hill Pond, Black Pond (Middlefield), Candlewood Lake (40 yellow perch), Coventry Lake and Silver Lake (Berlin/Meriden).
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[left]CHAIN PICKEREL – [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 3]Pickerel are a traditional favorite of ice fishermen. Excellent pickerel fishing is reported at Quaddick Reservoir, Highland Lake, Tyler Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), West Hill Pond and Bigelow Pond.
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[left]SMALLMOUTH/LARGEMOUTH BASS - [/size][size 3][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Bass are being found at Quaddick Reservoir, Black Pond (Woodstock), Bigelow Pond, Crystal Lake, Silver Lake (Berlin/Meriden), Highland Lake and Candlewood Lake (40 smallmouth bass in 25-31 feet of water; many 3-4 lb fish). [/font]
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[left][font "Times New Roman"]SPECIAL NOTE: [/font]
[/size][/size][size 3][size 3]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]Due to an unfortunate error, the "Connecticut Freshwater Record Fish" section on page 15 of the print version of both the 2008 and 2009 CT Angler’s Guides has been inaccurate. The entry for the "Brown Trout (sea-run)" is incorrect. [/font][/size][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]A new record sea run brown trout was caught in 2006 by Ron Merly. His catch weighed in at 10 lbs, 8 oz., more than a half pound heavier than the previous record. [/font][/size][font "Times New Roman"][size 3][size 3]Ron made his catch on the Saugatuck River in Westport on December 30[/size][/size][size 1][size 1]th[/size][/size][size 3][size 3], 2006. Our apologies for any confusion and/or frustration this may have caused (especially to Mr. Merly). The electronic version of the Angler’s Guide (pdf file) found on the DEP web site is correct.
[/size][/size][/font][size 1][size 1]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]Duane Raver/USFWS [/font]
[/size][/size][size 3][size 3]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]NOTICES [/font]
[ol][/size][/size][size 3][size 3][li][font "Times New Roman"]DEP’s annual Family Ice Fishing Derby is scheduled for Saturday, January, 31[/font][/size][/size][size 1][font "Times New Roman"][size 1]st[/size][/font][/size][size 3][size 3][font "Times New Roman"], 8 am to 11 am at Patriot’s Park on Coventry Lake (Lake Wangumbaug), Lake Street, Coventry. [/font][/li][li][font "Times New Roman"]DEP has recently received a number of questions concerning the use of gaffs to help bring fish in through the ice. Currently, there is no specific prohibition on the use of a gaff in the freshwater regulations (except for striped bass). However, note that [/font][/size][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]a gaff cannot be used to actually capture the fish [/font][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"][size 3]as fish must be taken by the legal methods as listed for that species in the Angler's Guide (also note that spearing is prohibited for most species). Also, any fish that is not "legal" (due to length or quantity restrictions) must be "...without avoidable injury, immediately returned to the water from which taken." So [/size][/font][/size][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]using a gaff on a fish that can't be legally kept (examples include a 30 inch pike at Bantam in January, or a large trout when you are already in possession of your limit for trout) would be considered as inflicting avoidable harm on the fish, and would be a violation. [/font][/size][size 3][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Considering the above, it would generally be best to avoid use of gaffs. [/font][/li][/ol]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]DEP ICE FISHING REPORT [/font]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION [/font]
[left][font "Times New Roman"]79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106 [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]www.ct.gov/dep [/font]
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