CT Housey Salmon

[chicky]

is it true there are salmon in the housatonic in CT?
anyone have more info on the winter fishing there?
thanks

[Cheju]

The Naugatuck and the Shetatuck Rivers in Conn. have substatial Atlantic salmon broodstock fisheries with up to 3000 fish being stocked per year. There are fly fishing only, catch and release, and all tackle take seasons. Check the CT fishing regs. They stock the fish in the two rivers where they can't readily access the ocean because of dams. As far as I know, the Housatonic is not included.

Also, bear in mind it is illegal to catch wild Atlantic salmon in any of the Conn River tributaries where this species is under restoration.

Cheju

[widdoes]

Chicky- saw your post and it peaked my curiousity having fished the Housy for smallmouth (what an awesome river). Here's an article I found http://www.outdoorcentral.com/fishing/connecticut-dep-begins-fall-broodstock-atlantic-salmon-stocking
The pertinent info seems to be:
"In the Naugatuck, Housatonic and Shetucket Rivers, angling for Atlantic salmon is restricted to catch-and-release only through November 30. From December 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon will be one."

Cheju- I'm sure this is a dumb question to anyone who knows BUT, how does one determine a "wild" fish from a stocked fish. Never mind, I assume they clip the fins of the stockers(#$119) :cool: :confused: :eek: :-%
Thanks.
-Wild "The Piano has been drinking, not Me" John

[Cheju]

Stocking the Hoosie must be new this year as is the ponds. The answer to your question is that they stock the brood stock in areas where there are no Wild Atlantic salmon. In other words they put the broodstock for fishing in rivers where they are not trying to restore the wild fish.

The Hoosie is a great smallmouth bass stream as well as a trout stream. If you want some real fun, try it for carp on the flyrod north of the town of Housatonic in MA.

Cheju

[Cheju]

Checked further. They don't stock the Hooseie as such but you are allowed to fish for any broodstock that has passed over the last dam on the Naugatuck prior to emptying into the Hoosie.

Chej

[Terry B'ski]

posts brought back memories of stinking plastic Naugahide, manufactured from stinking plastic factory on banks of Naugatuck years ago...

I heard Paul Dixon tell a story about these salmon; he wondered what they ate and what would be their favorite fly pattern. He found somebody who landed and killed one and watched as it was cleaned on the bank. Nothing in its stomach except a dozen cigarette butts...

I'm told their flesh is really skanky, you think? I haven't caught many, but it is interesting to practice spey casting and figure out salmon lies (as opposed to typical trout lies -- they are much different!). They can be caught when there is snow piled up on the shore and other fishing is slow. Not that salmon fishing is exactly fast... The Ponoi it ain't, but actually the scenery in parts of that river out of town actually do look a little Kola Peninsulish...

[browndog]

I know guys who fish the Shetucket. Large olive or black woolybuggers are popular.

[Cheju]

Know what you mean about the Naugatuck. It has been cleaned up a bit in recent years.

Fishing for broodstock is similar to fishing for kelts that are returning to the sea. Unlike fishing for spawning salmon that do not eat in freshwater, broodstock are on the feed. Flies that imitate natural life in the river are good. Wooly buggers, smelt and eel patterns as well as the old fashioned "pellet pattern" will do the trick.

Cheju

[JKelly]

here is a broodstock from the Shetucket that took a large pink/white marabou spey fly on the swing by my friend Ed. Wooly buggers, egg sucking leeches and smelt patterns have worked very well for me over the years fishing for them.

[MarkZ]

here is a broodstock from the Shetucket that took a large pink/white marabou spey fly on the swing by my friend Ed. Wooly buggers, egg sucking leeches and smelt patterns have worked very well for me over the years fishing for them.

Nice! Do those puppies have any fight to them, or do they do the stockie flop-n-roll?

[JKelly]

obviously nothing like a Gaspe fish but the one Ed caught pictured gave him a real solid battle. Some fight harder than others thats for sure.

[venture]

Hey! Now you're talkin my language......"The Gaspe"! We spend our summers on a river up there every year. I never fished salmon in any other place in North America so I cannot compare it to any Conn river system, but something tells me the rivers nor the fish are anything like the Bonaventure, the York, St Jean, Chap Chat, or even the Matapedia and the Matane.

The Gaspe on the whole had a very good season this year. Most rivers reported returns matching the highs of 2003-4, which was not the case last year in 2007. And that is not to mention the historic flood damage that also occurred in the fall of 2007.

On the Matane this year the grilse count was 40% higher than the prior year, with adult salmon counts down 30%. The overall return was high as compared with the past years. These grilse statistics historically mean that this coming year should produce a bulge of fish in the 9-13 pound range. The river will also produce its fair share 20s into the high 30s.

The fish-way ladder on the Matane has a view window. The ZEC agency measured a 57 inch male that came through with about 50 other fish on the tide. Within a few days everyone was talking about that fish and where he would take lie. Can you imagine.....a bright 57 inch male. Luckily the fish never was seen again.

Every now and then I think about going up to Pulaski. I guess those famous pictures of the crowded water and rotting salmon turns me off, even though I think I am missing something....perhaps the winter steelheading. Or just wait it out till the summer on the Gaspe.

Howie

[browndog]

The Ct. rivers are way more pristine and picturesque than any Canadian waters. Bigger fish too.--125-3

[splitshot]

Cheju,

This coming summer I'll give the carp on a fly a try or two. Are you talking about in the C/R area?

[Schoolie]

There are occaisonally large Salmon caught in the Hous, usually as a by catch of those targeting stripers in the lower river.

Like the man said, they are probably broods from the Naugy that pass over the last dam and enter the Hous.