CTFishTalk.com: Bantam Lake, south bay, 5/7 an almost fish story - Connecticut Lake Reports ( CT Lake Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

LunkerBuster590 · Joined: 06 May 2013 Posts: 9 Location: NW CT

Took the dog out on the canoe this morning. Arrived at the southern "public" boat launch, which is wierd parking is confusing but its mid week, so i chaned parking there without a town resident pass.

Was trying out some new lures and was trolling slow with a spinner cruising behind me where the weeds start to drop off twards the center. Next thing i know my drags flying out and its fish on, about five minutes of reel in 50ft he pulls 60 and finally get it close to the canoe. Biiig northern pike, get him right next to the canoe and about to reach out and grab a gill, he turns and dives straight down. Damn near lost my rod. So we mess around another minute or so and again go to gill him once hes close. Sonofabitch bites the line. Yeah yeah i know fish story. No pics didnt happen. But i had two more solid bites after that on some sinking senkos that also found there way to a hungry fish.

Mind you I had just been trout fishing this past weekend in NH and i was using like 4 lb test. No leaders nothing to handle pike fishing lol. Sucks i lost him but still gald i got to see it.

So it was off to the sporting good stre after. Stocked up and ready [/img]
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Hey, I've lived that story, too. Laughing

At least you got to see it. Wink

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x182dan · Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 329 Location: Seymour, CT

ha atleast you saw a fish!!!!!!! I was there on sunday it was SLOW. Saw one pike follow my bait and thats it. Did you notice how they took down beverleys? It looked like that launch was actually closed but I used the morris launch like you did.
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Wanna Fish · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 662 Location: Earth I Think

They closed the launch temporarily while they install new docks and demolish the building. It will reopen this week.
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x182dan · Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 329 Location: Seymour, CT

Yup beverlys is GONE! The launch was closed but like wanna fish said it will reopen when they are done.
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LunkerBuster590 · Joined: 06 May 2013 Posts: 9 Location: NW CT

Yeah i just used the boat launch off the south end of the lake. But yeah i saw him twice and literally sat there for a second thinking , damn no glove no net no live leash. If i land this sucker wtf am i going to do with him? haha he was a biiiig guy. So im headed back up there tomorrow, Im hoping this rain will get the fish active.

I plan on bottom feeding with some baby wounded shad and try trolling the weeds again with some lures.

After my run in i fixed up my old uglystick, replaced the busted end eyelet, wound some braided 20lb line (6lb equiv) and bought some black steel leaders. And took apart and cleaned and greased the internals. Also, Bought a net as well, and now i have a nice solid bass/med size action rod and will leave my trout rod at home next time.

I hook that boy again his ass is grass!
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An always learning bass fisherman.

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

Wanna Fish · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 662 Location: Earth I Think

I would use a little heavier braid. Twice last year at Bantam we snagged light braid with Pike attached. The first time about 100' of lost braid wrapped up in out trolling motor. While dislodging it the line started to tug. Once freed it I almost lost a finger with the line wrapped around my hand. On the end was a 8lb Pike.

The second time I landed a pike with about 30' of light braid and a hook attached. They are feisty suckers. My best guess some one wasn't setting their drag properly due to the length of line attached to both fish.
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

The work at the Bantam Lake State Boat Launch & Marina was supposed to be completed on 05/03/2013:

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?Q=523298&A=4380
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Dcplr434 · Joined: 18 Apr 2013 Posts: 13

I called the deep on Friday and they said the state launch was open, and had no issues launching there on saterday morning.

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