CTFishTalk.com: Lake Mamanasco 8/7 - Connecticut Bass Fishing Reports ( CT Bass Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

lamdesign · Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 50 Location: Ridgefield, CT

First try fishing at this lake. Started out on the north end at the boat ramp fishing a from in the lillies. Went on to find out how shallow the water is, with heavy vegetation, so I doubt a fish could even see a frog on the top.

Went on to get a tip from a local of a trail that goes along the south end. Made my way over to find heavy, heavy trees to get down to the shore. Really would have benefitted from a machete, ha.

Eventually got down to a point where there was good space for casting and threw out a texas rigged black and blue Power Craw with a 1/8 bullet. First cast got a hit as soon as it hit the water. Casted right back to the same spot and he took it. Thing put up a hell of a fight, and with all the weeds all I could see was the waves it was making. Got it out of the water to discover a 3lb LMB. Easily my biggest catch of the summer (which isnt saying too much since Ive only been fishing in CT for the past 2 weeks). It made the 3 hours of nothing worthwhile.

Thought id try my luck and throw into that spot again. Once again, another hit right off the cast. This guy put up a good fight as well and felt much bigger. Got him into the shore to discover 5lbs of weeds and 1lb of LMB. Ha, little discouraging, but it felt good to nail a 2nd one.

That was it for my day. As many of you have suggested Ive been throwing frogs in the slop and wacky worming. No results from the frogs and some luck with senkos. Honestly, all of my action has come from texas rigging with 1/8 bullets on power worms, lizards, and craw. I think i need to practice my techniques a bit though and retrieval rates, because as all of you know, frogs and wacky worms produce.

Anyways, that was the day. Think I may hit up Tollgate Pond in the morning.

Cheers

slim2043 · Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Posts: 446 Location: Plainville CT

Keep trying diff baits diff retrieves but don't leave what's working just to throw something different. If TX and a weight is working keep throwing it!!! Different places days scenarios you will find diff patterns work. Just my 2 cents on the matter. Great job finding the pattern an landing a couple keepers
_________________
Never give up!

jomonkey527 · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 225

I'm glad you got the 3lber. I have pretty much given up on Mamanasco. I am not if there was a lrge fishkill over the winter, but this year it has not done well at all. You can a ton of fish, but all shorts. Every angler I run into on the water has said the same. It is frustrating too since it is decently close to me.

lamdesign · Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 50 Location: Ridgefield, CT

Yeah, not too much action, but I dont know the water at all. Plus it was a friggin trek to get onto that shoreline. The water has so many points of cover and structure, it seems like it would be perfect. The banks are so full of debris that youd have to assume fish would be sitting in the shallows. Plus as I said, I dont think its too deep. I saw guys in canoes fishing spinners in the dead center of the lake, and producing lots of LMB. Either way, it's close to me as well, and I definitely plan on returning to try out some more shore access points. It's been real frustrating this summer though since im so new to the waters out here. If i go fishing for 3 hours, i spend maybe 1 hour of that time exploring the woods to find potential spots. Discouraging, but I think it will get a lot easier as I become more familiar with the waters, as well as what fish tend to eat on out here.

jomonkey527 · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 225

It's only 10 feet deep pretty much dead center. By the end of August the topwater bite gets better.

lamdesign · Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 50 Location: Ridgefield, CT

Ha, well then....that would explain it. Now all I have to do is learn to properly fish topwater and im solid.