[PECo]

Phish and I decided to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by SkeeterRon and Bass Addict, and fished Rainbow Reservoir from 6 AM to 12 PM on Phish's boat. It was a balmy 70 degrees when we launched, but after the sun rose it got sunny and hot. The water was very warm and still. It was like glass out there for a couple of hours.

Despite the non-moving water, we first tried the second cove to the north of the boat launch ramp, where a small creek enters the reservoir. I threw a jig, a tube and a lipless crank bait, and got nothing. Phish also got nothing, but spotted and spooked a large trout when he moved the boat. Meanwhile, we heard the sounds of fish, probably trout, splashing as they occasionally broke the surface of the water nearby.

We headed south to the bridge pilings, where a kayaker was fishing in the middle of the channel. He was throwing a lure downstream over the rocks and very slowly retrieving it. While we were there, we saw him land what looked to be a decent largemouth bass. We, on the other hand, threw everything but wacky worms at the western piling with no result, until Phish landed a rock bass on a lipless crank bait.

We headed south to where the reservoir narrowed somewhat and, once again, threw everything at both shores. I caught a 13 inch, 1 lb 4 oz largemouth bass with a watermelon/purple flake tube on a weighted jig head. Unfortunately, that was our only largemouth bass of the day.

I finally gave up on non-wacky lures and ran home crying to momma. I began throwing wacky-rigged pumpkin/red flake five-inch Senkos. With the wacky worms came a little smallmouth bass. I also tried purple/blue flake five-inch Senkos, and caught even more little smallies. Derek (aka DirtyDawg10) had some luck with the purple stuff on Bantam River last weekend, and it worked on the reservoir, too! Thanks, Dawg! As we headed down the reservoir toward the Spoonville Bridge, I caught six smallies in all, ranging from 12 inches to tiny. Meanwhile, Phish caught only one more rock bass.

I guess you could say that we picked up the gauntlet, but dropped it right back down, again. If anyone gets out on the reservoir and figures it out, please post a report and let us know what you did.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[SkeeterRon]

I'm telling ya, SkeeterJim and I have been there enough times and caught plenty of bass.

I think if the water isn't moving, the bite is off.

Just my view from the couch.
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Sleep...Eat...Fish!!!!! Then do it all over again.

[PECo]

Ron

I can't disagree with you about that.

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

[Fishface]

Nice report, I Agree with Ron I lived in Rocky Hill for 12 years. About a half mile south of the Ferry and my back yard was the river. I fishes it 5 times a week from spring to fall (from shore) most all fish that I caught were when the water was moving. Some speices were better with incoming and some with the out going. The only things that liked still water were the eels when I was using live bait.

Tim

[hoppy]

DV and myslef had talked about going to that toilet this past weekend. Boy am i glad we went to mash instead. Rainbow has been tough this year. with the little rain we have had thus far they havent been releasing any water at rainbow. no water flow and the fishing generally sucks there.

[DirtyDawg10]

Glad the purple senkos helped

At least you caught something and it was definitely better than working, which is what i was doing.

[PECo]

Purple Senkos rock! Just watch, they're gonna fly off the shelves, now!
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[DV]

I had one or 2 good days there this year, one of them I got around 20 largies. The others I did pretty terrbile, getting skunked the first 3 times. Pretty sure we had some rain before the times I did well, the water was real stained.

[PECo]

They must open the dam to let some water out after it rains, so there would be a current. The water was pretty stagnant today.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[Phish]

Yep, that was my worst day ever there. I threw grubs, senkos, worms, lipless cranks, shallow cranks, spinnerbait, sweet beavers...you name it. We didn't see much life at all on this particular day. Enjoyed the company and the fact that we had the water to ourselves. At least Phil got some action. Other than that...yuck. Fish or no fish though, I wouldn't refer to Rainbow as a "toilet." With sparse housing and thick woods, I find it a great place to be out on the water. Just my opinion. Just adding that for anyone who hasn't been up there (in other words, I'm not trying to contradict Hoppy...just adding my two cents). Hell, it's just nice to be back on my boat again after months of limping around.

Phil, that fish I spooked wasn't a trout. It was a very large bass or a carp, but definitely not a trout. I will get us on some fish somewhere when I get back. Maybe we'll head to Candlewood in September/October!