New England - New England Freshwater Fishing Reports

From Rich at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk we heard that Saugatuck Reservoir has been kicking out walleyes, smallmouth bass, and a few small trout, live shiners being the hottest bait. With water level high and temperature dropping, fish are spreading throughout the impoundment. Stocking of trout in local rivers including the Saugatuck, Norwalk, Mianus, and Mill in Fairfield should happen any time now that water in those flowages is cooling.

Colin at Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown heard from “fly guys” that the three sections of the Farmington River which were stocked with brown trout September 4 are “fishing very well.” He also picked up news of good fishing for catfish and carp at Harbor Park in Middletown and Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam. On the bass scene, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and live shiners are working on largemouth bass at Beseck Lake and Higganum Reservoir. Colin thinks that rain from last weekend’s northeaster will increase flow levels in streams and rivers, thus improving conditions for fall trout stocking.

Jeff Sullivan in Bristol shore-fished Barber Pond in South Kingston. Working Ned Rigs on bottom, he tallied chain pickerel, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and one holdover rainbow trout. He also caught largemouths on a Strike King KVD Sexy Hollow Body Frog in remaining lily pads. Asked if fall stocking of trout had commenced in Rhody, Jeff answered, “Not yet.” He then explained such stocking is usually conducted closer to Columbus Day.

From Crazy Chris at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay we heard that cooler weather has improved largemouth bass fishing on and just off the Cape. He has been doing fine at ponds inside Miles Standish State Forest in Plymouth/Carver, especially Fearing Pond, and heard from others that Long Pond, also in Plymouth but not in the state forest, is producing too. Another venue where largemouth reports have been good is Queen Sewell Pond (Bumps Pond) in Bourne. Senkos have been hot baits for the largies. Chris also let readers know that Red Top’s freshwater fishing department has been moved to the back of the store where it has been reorganized and more room and more products are available.

A cool, breezy workweek followed by a stormy weekend slowed fishing in the Central Wildlife District according to Rick in Milford. But he still had plenty of news. The bike-ridin’ kids celebrated a day off from school by fishing Milford Pond where they caught big yellow perch and small largemouth bass on shiners from shore. Other young anglers hit Mashpee-Wakeby Pond on Cape Cod for twenty slab crappies on worms, and Brian, the kayak angler, worked Hopedale Pond for a few average largemouth bass and the back end of Louisa Lake for bigger largemouths up to 3 pounds. Rick also mentioned a couple of fellows and their girlfriends enjoyed a successful carp outing from shore at the Blackstone River beaching buglemouths to 8 pounds on corn and commercial carp bait.

Roger Aziz, Jr. in Methuen said many local fishermen are eagerly waiting for autumn trout stocking, but not everyone is merely biding time. One of his friends has been hitting Lake Mattawa in Orange and catching “skinny” brown trout from shore. He (Rog’s buddy) thinks the browns are spawning, which is one reason they are thin. On the subject of trout, Rog mentioned that holdovers in Stile’s Pond in Boxford should be near the dam. He has not been there recently, but in the past trout in 60-acre pond in Boxford have always shown up at the dam in late summer/early fall. Along the Merrimack River, bank fishermen are hooking largemouth bass above the dam in Lawrence and largemouths, smallmouths, and pike below. Locally, small ponds are the best places for big largemouths. A few of Roger’s acquaintances have been focusing on little waters and catching impressive bigmouths to 7 pounds on topwater lures. However, the very best fishing for lunker largies and smallies is still occurring in all the well-known ponds and lakes in New Hampshire, among them Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Newfound Lake, Canobie Lake, and Great East Lake.

Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. in Southwick began his Congamond Lakes report with results of Thursday evening’s big-bass event. Mario won both the biggest-bass and best-three-bass categories with a 4-pound, 5-ounce largemouth and more than 13 pounds total respectively. Skip finished in second spot in the best-three division with 9+ pounds anchored by a 3-pound largie. Mario did not reveal how he caught his fish. Skip took his on finesse-size baits drop-shotted around live weeds. Many of Congamond’s weeds are dead or dying from eradication treatments applied during the summer, so bass anglers are advised to fish wherever live weeds are found. Skip also fished a tournament on the Connecticut River out of the Oxbow ramp in Northampton, taking fourth place with 8 pounds. The river is very low. A number of tournaments out of the ramp in Chicopee have been canceled because of unsafe conditions due to low water.