Naugy Atlantics 2008

[Dave]

Torrey, when do they stock the Naugy with those big ugly Atlantics. . .I gotta get in on that action this year! Can't miss out on big fish!

[alanb_ct]

Dave,

I can answer this one, they stock from mid-October to around Thanksgiving, depending on the quantity of available fish. The best thing to do is to check the CT DEP weekly fishing report here:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a...epNav_GID=1630
or just ask anytime. Remember the strict rules, no weight added to the leader. Let me know when you want to go.

[Brookie]

This topic leads me to the following question: What is the most effective method of fishing for these beasts? Despite my proximity to the mighty Naugy, I've only actively fished for them a few times (I generally don't like crowds) and have landed a couple with streamers. I was wondering if the Galloup strip/jerk method would entice some of these fellows into hitting, since that method plays off the fish's agressive strike behavior.

I know some people nymph for them and hear that can be an effective method as well. Since you can't use weight on the leader, perhaps Euro-techniques might work well?

Dr. Rave, as far as these fish being ugly goes; My understanding is that when they first started the broodstock program, the fish were pretty hideous, worse than your typical hatchery rat, but the quality has gone up dramatically in recent years. When you get one, they do battle quite nicely.

Brookie

[alanb_ct]

Here are the salmon rules from the CT Angler's Guide:

BROODSTOCK SALMON AREAS
From October 1 through March 31, single fly or lure with a single free-swinging hook only. Additional weight may not be added to the line. Anglers are reminded that the season is closed from March 1 to 6:00 am on the 3rd Saturday in April for all species except broodstock Atlantic salmon (see Trout Management Area below for year round catch-and-release fishing for trout).

I have not fished for them much myself, and only caught two. The first one hit a Mickey Finn, the second one an olive krystal wooly bugger. Quite often, they hang at the tailouts of pools. In those positions, I think it would be easy to target them with Euro methods, using weighted flies. Maybe this fall I'll give it another shot.

[Nymphmeister]

Here is a brief summary of my experiences with the broodstock Atlantics in the Naugy:

1. They behave just like the Atlantic Salmon I've read & heard about.
2. They love a big streamer swung broadside in their face.
3. You don't have to be on bottom to catch them, they will usually come up for your fly if the presentation is good & they want it.
4. In general, I fish streamers, and bigger seems to be better.
5. A big #2 Mickey Finn has overall been my best fly. I've also had good luck on big Buggers & Zonkers, esp. in white and in black. Others swear by yellow, and I've caught them on olives and browns also. Big Grey Ghosts are popular & effective.
6. Go heavy on your tippet, they aren't line shy at all. I use 0x flourocarbon, and you can go heavier than that.
7. A 7 or 8 weight rod is about perfect, although I usually use a 9-10' #6, and some people use a 9 weight.
8. Stripped streamers work great, coming in a close 2nd to a swung fly.
9. In general, they aren't spooky.
10. They love to hang in the shallow tails of pools near boulders.
11. Just the right fly speed is important, not too slow or fast. The fish will tell you when you get it right.
12. You can often sight fish to them.
13. Sometimes you have to hang a fly in their face and tease them. One time I had to do that for 10 minutes straight before the salmon whacked my streamer, looking very pissed when he tried to crush it in his jaws.
14. Although you don't have to get down to bottom, it helps to get your fly down in the water column a little bit- I like a 5-10' sink tip or a loop on sinking leader. Remember, you cannot legally fish split shot or more than one fly for them (actually I'm not sure about the only one fly part, 2 may be legal).
15. I haven't done well nymphing for them with nymphs or egg flies, I find I tend to foul hook them instead when I do that. One friend of mine does a Leisenring Lift in their face with smaller BH PT nymphs and does well though, so what do I know.
16. The first batch usually goes in around mid October, and it is a relatively small stocking, maybe 75 fish or so, give or take a little. These are usually sterile, barren or excess fish. The motherload usually goes in around the latter part of November. The October fish fight way better than the late November & December ones- it's the difference between fishing in 55 degree water and water that's in the upper 30's to low 40's.
17. On the average, they don't typically fight all that hard, usually just some short runs and head shakes and sulking on the bottom. However, sometimes they jump and go ballistic, running into your backing- that happens more in the earlier part of the season when the water isn't too cold.
18. The average size stocked in recent years is huge, they keep some of them for an extra year in the hatchery, with the older ones pushing 5 years and up to 30+ pounds- that is not an exaggeration by the way. They stocked a handful in the Campville section of the Naugy last Fall that they weighed at 30-33 pounds. When I fished there last November, they hadn't put the last batch of smaller 6-8 pound fish in yet, and I swear it was impossible to find a fish under 12 pounds, and most were averaging in the mid to upper teens, with fish spotted up to 25 pounds or so.
19. They shift around a lot in the pools. If you get up high on a sunny day when the water is clear and on the lower side, you will observe them moving all over the place.
20. You can often get them to come to your fly again and again.
21. The bigger fish are much harder to get to bite than the ones that are under 10 pounds or so.
22. In water that's not too fast, I often find the best presentation is an across stream cast with a downstream mend made after that- this swims your streamer broadside to the fish in an across stream path. Deadly at moments, Atlantics are suckers for a swung fly.

Hope all this helps. When I first started fishing for them, I had no clue how to fish them. In many ways, I now fish for them similarly to the way I would early in the season if I was streamer fishing for big broodstock trout in colder water. I used to live on the lower section of the Naugy where they stock them in the towns of Naugatuck, Beacon Falls & Seymour. I had plenty of opportunity to experiment on them, and I knew right where they were because I would go with my TU chapter when the DEP stocked them & help put them in.

[Dave]

Thanks guys, this is great. Torrey, your list is exhausting. . .you're giving me no excuses now if I get skunked! I appreciate all the details.

All right, so I'll try to time it after the second stocking, since I want to catch a beast.

Alain, I'll keep in touch about that. Thanks again.

[Nymphmeister]

Dave the 1st batch usually goes in around mid October if I remember correctly.

As far as looking ugly or not, the ones I saw last Fall looked pretty darn good, almost like a Russian Atlantic Salmon. Over the years, I have caught some finless grey ones that I almost felt obligated to bonk & put out of their misery they looked so bad.

I'll let you know when the first batch goes in, those ones can be anywhere from average to quite large. They fight the best in October, but you don't hook as many as the number of fish in the river is low. Mid/late November when all the fish are in is prime time. I'll keep you posted.

[Dave]

I'm impressed that they look so good. I saw some pics from last year, and they did look really nice and colored (red x marks), but I thought perhaps those were the exceptions.

Great, I look forward to hearing the updates, thanks again Torrey.

[alanb_ct]

The first batch of 420 fish has been stocked in the Naugy and the Shetucket. These fish range from 2-15lb with a few 20lb fish.

http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/fishin...port100908.pdf

In November, there should be 500 more fish available.

[Nymphmeister]

Good link Alain. They usually split the fish 50-50 between the Shetucket & Naugy, and on the Naugy about 1/2 go in the Campville stretch, and the other half in the Naugatuck/Beacon Falls section. So this translates into just over 100 fish in the Campville stretch near me.

The October fish are the best fighters of all, these are the ones I've had jump repeatedly and rip line out- sometimes. Just like people, the Atlantics have individual personalities, and some are fighters and some aren't. Another cool thing about fishing right now is that both the Shetucket & Naugy have trout in those same sections, so you never know what you will catch. The Naugy up by me was stocked with trout about 3 weeks ago, and it seems from all reports I'm getting that the Spring stocked fish held over wel in the deeper pools & thermal refuges, despite considerable poaching.