2011 was my first big year of fishing. Growing up, I would often go with my Father every Opening Day and only a couple times throughout the year. Growing older, I went less and less and before I knew it, the real world had sucked me into a mediocre world of work, school and everything in between. 2011 was my breakout year. I needed something else in my life, and I knew that fishing would fill that hole.
Anyways, 2011 was an awesome year of fishing. I got my fishing license sometime in mid-June and quickly went to work, buying all new tackle boxes, Ugly Sticks, and equipment. At the time, I really did not know the tools of the trade. My lines usually consisted of some bullet weights, a hook and a worm. Little did I know there was so much to learn about the world of fishing.
One of my favorite spots to fish is somewhere where I have watched the sun rise every 3rd Saturday of April many times, and that is the Branford River via the North Farms Park trail entrance on route 139 (Branford Rd.) off of Route 22/80. To say this place has never let me down is an understatement. I have never had better luck anywhere else I have fished. 2011 at the Branford River brought me a wild assortment of Trout including Brown, Rainbow, and Brook all ranging from babies to 15" guys. Only a number of times did I leave the Branford River empty handed.
TIP: The best spot to fish is a tad bit tricky to get to. When you go down the main trail, you will reach a bridge. Before going onto the bridge, take a quick right and go under the railing. Watch your step as it is a bit steep and could be slippery if muddy. If the river has seen a fair amount of rain, the whole river should be good to fish including the body. But the best spot, in my opinion, is the cave if you keep going straight after you tuck under the railing. There you will find the deepest part of that segment of the river and tons of trout hiding next to the rocks. But be careful as Hurricane Irene knocked down a massive tree right in the middle of that spot in the river, so don't get snagged!
I did not do a ton of freshwater fishing in 2011 but the spots I did go to were the Hammonassett River in Killingworth, Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth Coginchaug River in Durham, and Dooley Pond in Middletown.
I went to Chatfield Hollow twice, only really having luck once. That day brought me two decent sized rainbows. The second time only bought me lots of sunfish, and we all know what we think about sunfish. Coginchaug is marked as a heavily trout stocked river but when I went there, it was overgrown and bland. I went to the entrance from route 17,and had no luck. The river was pretty low so perhaps that could have been the reason for the unluckiness. Dooley pond was sort of a weird situation. At places like this, it is always hard to fish because I do not own a boat of any kind so I am always finding myself fishing from the boat dock. The first time I went there, I caught about 12 bullhead catfish. Yes you read that right, 12. No sunfish, just bullheads. One after another, after another. It was pretty neat but I did not keep any as they were not that big and I have heard that the effort you put into skinning and boning them, you simple do not get back.
Hammonassett is my second favorite freshwater fishing place. I use the entrance off of Route 80 in Killingworth right before Chatfield Hollow. Usually during fishing season you will see cars there (and perhaps a blue Jeep Liberty) as it is a very popular place. It is also a heavily stocked trout river and this you can tell, but only when the river is high and moving. With all the rain from hurricane Irene, the River was full of all kinds of trout, and not only in the fast moving waters but also in the calm spots as well. But then it seems that with the small drought we had toward the end of last year, the trout moved down the river but this was a perfect time for some Big Mouth and Small Mouth fishing.
TIP: When you first go down the graffiti-filled stairs after you park your car, you will come to a bridge, and to the river. This spot is perfect when the river is deep and moving. Trout love the fast moving waters and the depths of that spot, but this is the only time they will be there, though not impossible that there may be some occasionally when it is low. But I have found when the river is low, that spot is just a sunfish hangout. The best bet when the River is low, is to move through the woods and eventually you will come to a sandy beach. Here you will also find tons of sunnies but hiding in the weeds and in the deep parts of the river, there will be some massive Bass, some of which I caught last year. I caught all of the bass on bobbers and nightcrawlers. You can't go wrong. Obviously if you're going for trout, bobbers are not the ideal thing to use.
Saltwater was also a fun time. Most of the time I either went to Lighthouse Park, Hammonassett beach, and Branford Point. Lighthouse is less busy of the three and more roomier, but it also comes with a $20 non-resident fee so if you plan on going a lot this year, I would recommend a season pass.
Lighthouse was loads of fun last year. As I said, I do not have a boat so I fished from the jetty on the left side of the beach toward Branford,and found tons of luck here. Most of the time I caught decent sized flounder and the occasional sea robin (one of which had to be around 4 pounds, easily the biggest fish I have ever caught, sadly.) It was also a good year for snappers. Hammonassett brought me a lot of what Lighthouse did, and that was tons of Flounder and the scarce sea robin. Nothing really notable. I prefer the jetty on the right side of the beach, rather than the one on the left side. The only fish Branford Point brought me this year were snappers, and a lot of them. I also fished for flounder and other game but to no prevail. The snapper population was astounding compared to both Hammonassett and Lighthouse.
This year, I expect to have a better year in the Saltwater category. Hoping for a nice size blue or striper.
MORE TO COME!
If you would like to share stories and tips with me (I'd love to hear them both), my e-Mail is theforbidden3102@yahoo.com, and my name is Tom.
TIP: The best spot to fish is a tad bit tricky to get to. When you go down the main trail, you will reach a bridge. Before going onto the bridge, take a quick right and go under the railing. Watch your step as it is a bit steep and could be slippery if muddy. If the river has seen a fair amount of rain, the whole river should be good to fish including the body. But the best spot, in my opinion, is the cave if you keep going straight after you tuck under the railing. There you will find the deepest part of that segment of the river and tons of trout hiding next to the rocks. But be careful as Hurricane Irene knocked down a massive tree right in the middle of that spot in the river, so don't get snagged!
I did not do a ton of freshwater fishing in 2011 but the spots I did go to were the Hammonassett River in Killingworth, Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth Coginchaug River in Durham, and Dooley Pond in Middletown.
I went to Chatfield Hollow twice, only really having luck once. That day brought me two decent sized rainbows. The second time only bought me lots of sunfish, and we all know what we think about sunfish. Coginchaug is marked as a heavily trout stocked river but when I went there, it was overgrown and bland. I went to the entrance from route 17,and had no luck. The river was pretty low so perhaps that could have been the reason for the unluckiness. Dooley pond was sort of a weird situation. At places like this, it is always hard to fish because I do not own a boat of any kind so I am always finding myself fishing from the boat dock. The first time I went there, I caught about 12 bullhead catfish. Yes you read that right, 12. No sunfish, just bullheads. One after another, after another. It was pretty neat but I did not keep any as they were not that big and I have heard that the effort you put into skinning and boning them, you simple do not get back.
Hammonassett is my second favorite freshwater fishing place. I use the entrance off of Route 80 in Killingworth right before Chatfield Hollow. Usually during fishing season you will see cars there (and perhaps a blue Jeep Liberty) as it is a very popular place. It is also a heavily stocked trout river and this you can tell, but only when the river is high and moving. With all the rain from hurricane Irene, the River was full of all kinds of trout, and not only in the fast moving waters but also in the calm spots as well. But then it seems that with the small drought we had toward the end of last year, the trout moved down the river but this was a perfect time for some Big Mouth and Small Mouth fishing.
TIP: When you first go down the graffiti-filled stairs after you park your car, you will come to a bridge, and to the river. This spot is perfect when the river is deep and moving. Trout love the fast moving waters and the depths of that spot, but this is the only time they will be there, though not impossible that there may be some occasionally when it is low. But I have found when the river is low, that spot is just a sunfish hangout. The best bet when the River is low, is to move through the woods and eventually you will come to a sandy beach. Here you will also find tons of sunnies but hiding in the weeds and in the deep parts of the river, there will be some massive Bass, some of which I caught last year. I caught all of the bass on bobbers and nightcrawlers. You can't go wrong. Obviously if you're going for trout, bobbers are not the ideal thing to use.
Saltwater was also a fun time. Most of the time I either went to Lighthouse Park, Hammonassett beach, and Branford Point. Lighthouse is less busy of the three and more roomier, but it also comes with a $20 non-resident fee so if you plan on going a lot this year, I would recommend a season pass.
Lighthouse was loads of fun last year. As I said, I do not have a boat so I fished from the jetty on the left side of the beach toward Branford,and found tons of luck here. Most of the time I caught decent sized flounder and the occasional sea robin (one of which had to be around 4 pounds, easily the biggest fish I have ever caught, sadly.) It was also a good year for snappers. Hammonassett brought me a lot of what Lighthouse did, and that was tons of Flounder and the scarce sea robin. Nothing really notable. I prefer the jetty on the right side of the beach, rather than the one on the left side. The only fish Branford Point brought me this year were snappers, and a lot of them. I also fished for flounder and other game but to no prevail. The snapper population was astounding compared to both Hammonassett and Lighthouse.
This year, I expect to have a better year in the Saltwater category. Hoping for a nice size blue or striper.
MORE TO COME!
If you would like to share stories and tips with me (I'd love to hear them both), my e-Mail is theforbidden3102@yahoo.com, and my name is Tom.
