CTFishTalk.com: Manitook Lake 11/07 - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

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

Daryl (aka Daryl), Fishface (aka Tim) and I fished Manitook Lake after giving up on fighting the wind and the current in the Farmington River. Daryl paddled my new kayak (aka El Habanero):

Tim paddled his kayak:

I pedaled my Hobie (aka The Other Woman). We launched at the south end of the lake at 10:45 am, into the brisk north wind. The air was in the mid 40s when we launched and, despite the steady 10 mile per hour wind, rose to the low 50s by the time that we left at 3:00 pm. The water temperature ranged from 47 to 49 degrees. It was beautifully sunny the entire time that we were out on the water:

We paddled/pedaled directly to the north end of the main body of the lake, in order to get out of the teeth of the wind. I tied on a River2Sea Bottom Walker 100 S25 Stock Trout that Phish (aka Jed) had given me to try out:

I casted it to the south, parallel to the western shore on the north end of the lake and about 10 feet off the tips of some laydowns on the shore. After a particularly long cast, I felt a very slight tug on the line about 50 feet from the boat. As I reeled it in, it started to pull toward the shore. When I got it within 20 feet of the boat, it started to pull really hard. When I got it to the surface next to the bow of the boat, I saw that it was an 18+ inch largemouth bass, and yelled to Daryl and Tim that I had a good fish on. But, sonofabitch!, it spit the hook at the boat. I have no idea how it was able to spit the humongous exposed hook on the lure, but you can bet that I'm going to chance ripping the lips off of the next one that I hook!

Unfortunately, Daryl and I ended up getting skunked. But Tim caught three largemouth bass by throwing a wacky Senko and a perch crankbait at laydowns and docks on the western shore. I think that his fish were 13-1/2, 15-1/2 and nine inches long. Here's a photo of Tim with the lunker:

Now I can't wait to get back out on the water. I can't decide: Should I go to Cabela's in East Hartford or the new Dick's Sporting Goods in Danbury, today? Hmmm. . . .
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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Nice job Tim.

Phil if I was you I would go to Cabela's. Driving to Danbury sounds like a bad idea...especially when you can just go to the Dick's in Canton Wink

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

Yeah, I'm draggin' my a$$ today. Dick's in Canton it is, then.

Here's what I've come up with for my new boat:

Nice, huh? Very Happy

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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Nice!

Take a look at the Perception Sport Pescadore Kayaks if they have any or the Sport Caster. Good luck.

Fishface · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 308 Location: New Britain

Nice report Phil

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

That's a good looking bait. That pic doesn't really show all the color. I love the way you can fish with a stop and go, steady, stop and go mix to make it look like it's feeding on the bottom. Great nose-weighted swimbait. They have them with a weed guard as well but I think only in the bigger ones (which I'd recommend using with a 7' plus baitcast setup because it's heavy). Glad you got one on. You will again.

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

Nice fishing weather is in the forecast for the end of this week and the weekend. I'm just sayin'. . . .
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SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hey Phil!

Came across this and just had to post it Exclamation

SeaDog1

TurtleKiss · Joined: 09 Mar 2010 Posts: 1200 Location: central CT

El Habenero looks considerably more comfortable than your floating blue torture device. Is that a rod holder??? Smile

Edit: Daryl - please accept the XBL friend request I sent you.
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Kira

*~ "Not everything about fishing is noble, reasonable and sane..." -Henry Middleton ~*

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

No, El Habañero doesn't have a rod holder. At least, not yet. It's really more of a paddling kayak for me. My wife says that's she'll hit the water with me next year.
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TurtleKiss · Joined: 09 Mar 2010 Posts: 1200 Location: central CT

weekend angler · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 112 Location: trumbull

Hey Fellas,
Where is Manitook lake?, looks great to fish, I'd love to take my kayak there sometime, nothing like fall fishing, tricky but rewarding
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Manitook Lake is right off of Route 10 in Granby, but access is tricky, because it's apparently completely surrounded by private land. I called the Western Area Headquarters of the DEP and was told that there's access off of Route 10 through a wooded area of state land 1/4 mile from the dam, but we couldn't find it. There isn't any state land on the lake that's listed on the Town of Granby Assessor's website.

Please ask a property owner for permission before launching from their land.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!