CTFishTalk.com: Nod Brook WMA 11/15 - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

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

After catching the skunk this weekend at Spring Pond and Winchester Lake, I had to hit the water today. I texted TurtleKiss (aka Kira) and arranged to meet her at the north end of the lower (i.e., north) pond at Nod Brook WMA. She wasn't able to get there until 1:15 pm, but I was on the water around 11:00 am. It was totally overcast today. I'm not sure about the air temperature, but it was probably around 50 degrees. I launched from the shallows by the outlet to the Farmington River in my Hobie (aka The Other Woman), which was difficult because the water level in the pond is a half a foot lower than it was last week. I forgot to charge the battery for my fish finder, so I don't know the water temperature. I'll just say that it was cold. Brrrr! The water was tea stained and clear down to only two feet. I started throwing a one ounce River2Sea Bottom Dweller Stock Trout swimbait and a three-eighths ounce Strike King Redeye Special chartreuse spinnerbait. I got nothing as I worked my way south through the channel and into the area in the main body of the pond that's clear of weeds. I remembered Jon Stanco's report about having success with a dropshot on Cedar Lake. Since a dropshot would be tough to throw in the weedy pond, I decided to tie on a Texas rigged 10 inch swirlytail worm. After only a few casts, I felt a tug on the worm as I dragged it along the bottom and set the hook on a solid 13 inch largemouth bass:

Whoo hoo! Skunk off! Very Happy

After Kira arrived, I helped her launch in The Other Woman and settled into El Habañero. About 30 minutes later, I landed an 11 inch largemouth bass while dead sticking a wacky rigged five inch green pumpkin/red flake Senko as I actively fished the Texas rig:

Several minutes later, Kira yelled that she had a fish on, but then she lost it. Almost immediately afterward, I felt a twitch on my wacky rig and yelled that I had a fish on, but then I lost it. After some satisfying cursing, I went to reel my wacky rig in and, surprise, the fish was back on. I saw that it was a good 16 to 17 inch largemouth bass, but as I tried to lip it next to the boat, it spit the hook. Sonofab*tch! A lot of less satisfying cursing followed. I worked my way around the pond in a clockwise direction, over the thick weeds along the east and south shores where Kira really couldn't go in The Other Woman. It wasn't until I got to the southwest corner of the pond where the culvert from the upper (i.e., south) pond empties into the lower pond that I got a hit on the wacky Senko and landed a 16 inch, two pound, six ounce largemouth bass:

Around 4:00 pm, as the sun began to set, I landed another 11 inch largemouth bass on the wacky Senko in the less weedy area of the east shore. We got off the water shortly after 4:30 pm, when it got really dark. Unfortunately, other than the one that got away and a follow by a yellow perch, Kira didn't get any action. But we'll give it another shot tomorrow!
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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Nice job Phil! Not bad for the cold water conditions. Those fish at Nod Brook must know your name by now Wink

Maybe some day I'll get to fish there.

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

Great Job!
BTW- I'm thinking of heading to Ball Pond in New Fairfield Friday, have you ever been?
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

I fished Ball Pond early in the Spring, on one of the days when they were stocking it with trout. Some of the trout actually hold over the Winter in there, probably because the pond is spring fed. The pond is heavily residential, but nicely so. It has crystal clear water, thanks in part to the 40+ pound grass carp that they began stocking in there five years ago. By the way, it's illegal to catch the grass carp. A couple of DEP guys told me that when they electrofished the pond this Spring, they got a 26 inch largemouth bass. However, a gentleman named George, whom I met when I was there and who is on the conservation committee for the pond, told me that the bass was really only 23 inches long. Yeah, I actually just said "only".

I checked the DEP weekly fishing report and am pretty sure that Ball Pond hasn't been drawn down. The public boat launch ramp is on the south end. The deeper part of the pond is the north end. Remember, no motors of any kind are allowed there. Try fishing a wacky or Texas rigged worm or a crayfish very, very slowly on the bottom of the pond. The bass have been picking up lures off of the bottom, lately. Good luck!
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

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

Thanks alot Peco I'm going to take the yak out there friday, I also have read that Ball Pond is considered 2nd in the state for top Bass pond.

Appreciate the help.
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-Get your Pole Wet-

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

Phil, you forgot to mention that I only brought 2 baitcasters with me (due to time constraints.) I can't recall the last time I fished for under 4 hours either...it just never happens. One rod had a jig equipped, and the other was a T-rig, so I basically just used that and tried a variety of worms/superflukes/creature baits. Small pond, lots of shallow spots, and more weeds than expected. El Habenero could cover more area, but the tradeoff was that I didn't have to paddle or stay seated. The Other Woman is a sweet ride! So yeah, nothing much happened for me in terms of fish. I saw a yellow perch follow my worm to the surface, hooked something else of non-substantial size, then lost it. Judging by the decline in reports, I probably don't need to mention that boating season is winding down fast. It's getting cold out there! I'm looking forward to ice fishing, but I suspect Phil & I both may end up in the loony bin during the transition.
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Kira

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

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi Kira and Phil!

With the boating season winding down the next best thing is to shore fish for Pike with live bait.

That's what I'll be doing over on the Housy till the ice shows up -> Makes the transition period less painfull Exclamation

Oh! - GTSMSOGWY -> NC Exclamation

SeaDog1