CTFishTalk.com: Batterson Park Pond 10/29 - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Here's a quick report. I had to shake the skunk from yesterday (report to follow), so I fished Batterson from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. The air was cold and the sky was overcast. There was little to no wind when I launched, but it started to blow steadily at 10 miles per hour by the time I left. The water ranged from 53 to 56 degrees. I caught a 10 inch yellow perch on a wacky rigged four inch green pumpkin/red flake Yamasenko near the beach and another one on a trolled four inch yellow perch Rapala in eight feet of water on the east shore where the waterfront houses begin near the southeast corner of the pond:

I actually swapped out a five inch Yamasenko for the four incher when it became apparent that the swarm of perch wouldn't take the hook with the five incher on it. Pretty desperate, huh? I was trolling a 2-1/2 inch white lipless Yo-Zuri crankbait at the same time as the four inch yellow perch Rapala, and the second yellow perch that I caught chose to hit the Rapala. Yellow perch really seem to prefer eating other yellow perch!
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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

You did better than I did. I went out yesterday for a couple of hours at Batterson. When I first got on the water there wasn't much wind so I paddled over to the North end of the lake so I could slowly work my way down the west shore and back to the launch. Well when I got about half way across the lake the wind started picking up. By the time I got to the beach the wind was blowing so hard there were 1 to 2ft whitecaps breaking against and over the pier. I tried to cast and my lure got blown and caught in one of the straps for the flags on the side. The wind was blowing so hard I couldn't get back to the pier to unhook my lure. I had the rod in one hand (so it wouldn't fall into the water) and my paddle in the other. Trying to paddle into the wind with one hand it took me about 5 minutes to get to the pier. Hanging onto the side for dear life I finally unhooked my lure.

Once I was on my way again I began casting out to a little deeper water and 2 or 3 times the wind almost blew my paddle right out from in front of me. I couldn't believe it. The wind was steady at about 15 to 20mph with gusts up to around 30 to 40mph it seemed. I tried to cast my crankbait and the wind gusted right as I threw it. The lure wrapped around the line and got so tangled in the hooks I had to cut and retie. Then I decided if I headed over to the opposite shore I could possibly get out of the wind. So I paddled straight across the middle of the lake into the wind. Waves were crashing over the bow of my boat and the spray was hitting me square in the face. Every time I paddled, the water from my blades would be blown into my face. I was paddling and swearing but the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't even hear myself screaming profanities into the wind.

I finally made it to the other side of the lake where the wind died down a bit but every so often a gust that even the trees couldn't stop would sneak through and cause problems. One of those gusts hit right as I was retrieving my crankbait and blew the trebles into the fabric seam at the bow of the boat which is out of reach for trying to unhook it. I decided to give up and head back to the ramp. When I got out of the water I leaned over to grab the pliers to unhook my crankbait and when I turned back I noticed that the other treble hook went through my pant leg twice and the barbs were hooked good. So I unhooked the lure from the boat...pushed the hooks through my pants so I could cut off the barbs and free myself. Needless to say it wasn't the most pleasant fishing trip I have ever had...and on top of it all I got skunked. It was quite possibly the worst and most frustrating fishing I have ever done. I still think it was better than being at work but not by much. The only reason I say that is because paddling while getting pummeled in the face with wind and water and swearing at the top of your lungs without being heard was actually quite refreshing after 15 or 20 minutes straight. It may be a while before I decide to head to Batterson again. Kira has warned us all but I just didn't listen. See what happens when you don't listen to what Women tell you!!!

Phish · Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 454 Location: West Hartford

Yeah, Dawg. We felt some of that impressive wind on Candlewood yesterday. I may get around to a report. Beautiful day. Tough bite.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

I wish I could have seen you out on the water! Surprised

I left when the wind started to blow pretty hard, probably a steady 10 to 15 miles per hour.
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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

lol...I'm sure it was a sight to see. You have to have a sense of humor sometimes to be a fisherman.