CTFishTalk.com: Risley Reservoir 7/20 4AM - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

MANIMAL · Joined: 08 Jun 2012 Posts: 242 Location: Manchester

Woke up to a slight drizzle his mornin' around 4 AM and headed down to Risley Reservoir

My intent, today, was to catch something on this wacky rigged Trigger X worm. Ive had no luck thus far, but did have a new hook type (weedless ) to throw. Wacky rigging these doesn't seem to get em to flutter like a senko but i'm convinced these fish phermones will make up for the movement on the drop.

Ok, so I arrived and set out to drop my home made minnow trap into the water in hopes of catching some free bait. Using the soda bottle setup, found all over the net , Ive been hugely UNsuccessful at this so far. Dropped it in, weighted and waited

Went back to the truck because my headlamp was having issues. I sat down to try to remedy the problem and up rolls a Manchester Police Officer. She walks up to the car and asks me what I'm doing out here.

I reply " fixing my headlamp before going fishing"

She tells me I'm not allowed to fish here, that it is a public water supply. I respond letting her know that you cannot swim or let pets in the water BUT you CAN fish and float boats here. She then asks me if IM sure.....me? how about are you sure you rolled up on me! ( where are they every weekend when families throw their kids and dogs in here to crap the place up )

She then asks for my identification - i paused for a moment, thinking I could tell her no...seeing as how I wasn't stopped and she wasn't even sure why SHE stopped at this point but I gave it to her. Reward was swift when dispatch told her all system files were down and they couldnt run my lic# - not that I had anything to worry about but it felt good to ask if I could get on goin now and go fishing!

Hoping my luck hadn't been all used up with that weird encounter I fiddled with the headlamp a bit more and I went to check the minnow trap - empty. I'll let it soak for another 2 hours.

Fished ultralight from the right side of the pillar all the way down to the fence throwing top water rapala x rap pop and a bitsy minnow. Fished for 15 minutes and the geese were making their way in so I moved it into the woods and hiked to the peninsula bench spot.

Arrived to find new tackle again! 2 gulp worms! Popped those in my tackle box and am really thinkin' my luck ran out by now, what with the no hassle by the lady cop and free bait already on the books.

Kept fishing the little side cove topwater and nothing was happening - sun was coming up around now ( 5:45 ) and I felt it was time to switch to this wacky rig and give it the ol' college try , again.

An unweighted wacky rig doesnt cast too too far for me when fishing from shore - my braid is a bit heavier for casting some more weighty Rapala cranks with the rig I had today, but it was alright.

Was pretty unsure as to the retrieve. This being a trigger x and not falling with the senko wiggle I wacky rigged it, tossed it out and let it fall. A few rise and falls and a little draggin it on the bottom and BAM! FISH ON !

I had loose drag due to the braid and let the fish run around a bit. It jumped 3 times and was a magnificent site as the sun was coming up and just touching the water. Reeled him in and......I didnt have my headcam today - I always catch fish when the cam is home charging.

Im guessin' he was about 2 lbs, no more, and had a little bit of a fat gut to him - musta just ate?

He swallowed that hook deep and pretty much made the worm useless again. Got the hook out and let him get back to swimmin'

Now that the sun was up I decided to double back the way I came in and go back to fishing the pillar strickly ultralight - I wanted to play with ome Bluegills today

Upon arrival I noticed there was not 1 single baitfish around my trap - disappointed I took the trap apart and dumped out the soggy bread bait. Within 30 seconds there musta been 50 baby gills and minnows feasting on this bread, awesome

Wonder why no interest in the trap?

Casting, casting, no fish - I decide to go drop my heavy pole and tackle box in the car and just keep my UL rod, 1 lure, and walk around the other side of the lake, casting when I felt like it.

Walked all the way out and over to where the rope swings used to be ( near the designated parking lot side ) and as I was traversing the slope to the water I see a sock....a tshirt in the trees, and a wallet.

Weird.

Opened the wallet up and noticed it was from a local boy in Vernon. Took it and am trying to contact him for the return of it. Hope to hear from him

Casting a bit more and nothing happening I then double back again headed towards the bench to bench spots. Cast ing a bit more and not even any Gills but I do notice the water level is up again, much better than last week!

I tell myself 2 more casts, throw out, and hook a trout! He doesn't fight much at all and I manage to reel him within 10 feet of shore when he decides to give it one good thrash and shake the hook!!! - lost that one.

At that I call it a day and go get donuts.

Another fun trip to the reservoir and i STILL have to get out and paddle that place....eventually

Scott M · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 35 Location: Tolland, CT

I was waiting in the commuter parking lot off of exit 69 of of I84 at 4am last fall for my father to meet me for a morning in the duck blind. Statey rolled up on me and blasted with the spotlight. Came over to the window and asked what I was doing. I was in full camo, told him duck hunting and after he realized I wasn't a drunk sleeping it off in my car we proceeded to chat for a bout 15 mins about where I was headed, my gear, set up etc. Cops are always on heavy alert at 4 am, but that one was pretty nice when he realized I wasn't out causing trouble.
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Nice report. Try a Senko next time. I think it's the wiggle that gets the bites.
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hila2006 · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 582 Location: Ellington

Senko??? you really just need to rig it up right. Even floating type worms on flick shake weighted hooks will wiggle going down. I hate Senkos, but they do work for the people that don't put in the effort to figure things out the hard way LOL, just bustin ya Phil. I'm actually looking for a local shop that carries Yum Dingers, just saw an episode of Classic Patterns on tv where Terry Scroggins texas rigs them with a heavy weight for pitching in thick weeds and around heavy cover, he was crushing em with a blk and red. Just can't seem to find them around here. But found a couple shops near Beseck and going to hit em up over the weekend.

therieldeal · Joined: 20 Oct 2010 Posts: 245 Location: Thompson, CT

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

Hey, I can't help that my wiggle is better than yours, John. Laughing

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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

chud059 · Joined: 29 Mar 2011 Posts: 413 Location: Manchester

I've never seen police at the Ris...but good call on the "no fishing".. the sign clearly states what you can and can't do there. The area with the rope swing has never produced for me..

.. just becareful fishing those wacky rigs off the dam rip rap area... you'll get snagged up. I may hit ris tomorrow nhight... was going to hit bigelow again but I think even at 7pm on a sunday night might be some straggler swimmers and stuff hanging up there.

..Ris, swimmers and kids...ugh... I hate that ....letting their kids swim, throw rocks and shit in there...pisses me off. I hope a snapping turtle bites them.

I was thinking about Valley Falls..but there are probably tons of kids there in the summer to.