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Please comply with all state and local regulations and use common sense and good judgment while wading and fishing.

Your safety is in your hands!!

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PORTLY BOB AND NO-NECK TODD'S

CONNETQUOT

Portly Bob & No-Neck Todd's

Custom River Analysis: Portly Bob

LOCATION: Central Long Island, N Y~ 30 miles/ 1 hr from NYC. This true spring stream starts in Connetquot State park and empties into the Great South Bay.

HISTORY: Once known as the Southside Sportsman Club, the Connetquot River State park was established in 1866 by the robber baron industrialists of the time as a wooded countryside fish and game retreat. Teddy Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, Adelai Stevenson, and The Vanderbilts were all members of the club. It is also said that the river was fished by George Washington as early as the 1780's. These wealthy members bought up 3800 acres of prime land around the river and added a trout hatchery, deer, turkey, and other small game to the park for their enjoyment.

These wealthy members stocked the Connetquot River, already a thriving brook trout stream with German Brown trout in the 1880's. Rainbow trout were also stocked in the river around this time. In 1974 The Southside Sportsman Club was turned into a state park and now available to everyone.

TYPES OF TROUT: The Connetquot River supports 4 types of trout.

1. Native brook trout: These green backed, speckled sides, red bellied sea-runs and holdovers range from 9", which is the stream minimum to a stream record 6.5 pounds. Some of these brookies run out to the ocean to fatten up and return in the fall to breed.
2. Kamloop Rainbow trout: These multicolored warriors were transplanted from the Kamloop Lakes in Canada to the Connetquot in 1979 and true to the breed have become a true ocean run steelhead. 10,000 return to the river each spring as sliver sided, hard fighting steelhead. There are plenty of small bows in the river all season long, but anything under 3lbs is a throw back. The River record is 19lb 8oz.
3. German Brown Trout - Introduced into the Connetquot in the 1880's these cunning, fussy, beautiful fish have had plenty of time to become accustom to the environment. The browns, on the average tend to be the biggest fish in the river, although the largest fish taken is only 16lb 10oz (Personally, I have seen browns in the 22 to 23 pound range) but after being hooked once or twice while they are young, these fish become impossible to hook again. The brown trout tend to hide in the weeds and avoid humans. Gil Bergen, the park manager redistributes the larger browns that like to hide in the hatchery and feed on the "smaller' trout. HE told of a brown almost 30lbs that was moved into the lake.
4. Tiger trout- These feisty fish are a cross between brook and brown trout and tend to look more like brookies but grow much larger. There is no official record on these fish but 10 pounders are not uncommon.

DESCRIPTION: The CONNETQUOT RIVER is located in the Connetquot State Park. It is divided into 32 areas of about 1/4 of a mile each and each angler is assigned a specific numbered area for a 4 hour time span. Daily fishing is divided into 3 four- hour periods-morning, noon and evening. It is a spring creek that is available to the public from February through October at a cost of $13/session. Its average depth is about 3 feet, the bottom ranges from gravel to silt and snake weed. There is also a 10 acre spring fed pond that harbors trout all season long.(Boats are available at no extra cost, but are limited to the lake)

Rainbow and brown trout range from 9" up to 15 POUNDS. Brook trout will grow over 5 pounds. September will also provide runs of sea going steelhead and spawning brook trout. February provides no-kill fishing for sea run brown, rainbow and brook trout. An onsite hatchery provides plenty of stocked fish and there are many holdover and some native fish.

South of the park and Sunrise Highway, the river continues to widen and becomes more salty until it enters the Great South Bay. The River is free to fish here and for most of this stretch it is considered tidal water and a NY state license is not required. Sea-run trout can be found in this area.. Rattlesnake Creek converges with the Connetquot South of Sunrise Highway and makes for some good trout habitat.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS: New York State fishing license is required. Flyfishing ONLY with artificial baits. Barbless hooks required. You must STOP fishing when two(2) fish are in possession. No stringers or other methods of restraining or tethering fish allowed. A fee of $13 is payable for each session. (See enclosed Park regulations included below for full details)

FISHABLE TIMES OF THE YEAR: NY State open trout season is from April 1st. to September 30^th. There is a two month no kill season for this river starting February 1^st and ending March 31^st. The fishing season also is extended two weeks into November for those who are brave of heart. You will need a new NY state license at this time.

Fishability: The Connetquot is shallow and slow moving. It is also narrow in most spots, being no more than 15' wide on the average. Wading is not a problem, although there are some deep holes which you should look out for. Fish spook easily and if you plan to wade, use stealth and cunning. Look before you leap is a good rule of thumb before entering the water. A 10lb rainbow may just have inhabited the space you stepped into.

Special gear to bring: Since the river is narrow and casting is difficult a smaller rod, no larger than 8' is needed. With fish averaging such large sizes a 5 or 6 weight rod is not out of the question. Waders with felt bottoms are also a good choice since the bottom can get slippery. A large catch and release net is also advisable. No lead or weighted flies are allowed and park rangers do come around and check!! If you are caught using weights, you will be ejected from the grounds. Bug repellent is a must in the summer since the mosquitoes are thick and thirsty.

Aquatic life: Since the Connetquot is a tidal river and not very long by most standards there is plenty of forage for trout to fatten up on. Insect life is plentiful. Eels, shiners and other bait fish come up the river at various times making streamers very deadly patterns at times. Crustaceans such as snails and mollusks are also available. Terrestrials such as ants, hoppers and beetles are always a good bet and there are several mayfly and caddis hatches that occur on these waters.

Hatches: STREAM HATCHES ARE LISTED AS CLOSE TO THE TIME OF YEAR THAT THEY OCCUR AS POSSIBLE.

• BLUE WING OLIVE (BEATIS VAGANS INTERCLARIS) - Hatches occur in early April to late May in the afternoon & evening - sizes 18\20 - spinners fall late afternoon & evening
• Pale Morning Dun (ephemerella dorothea) - hatches late May to late July in the afternoon & evening - spinners fall in the evening - sizes 12\18
• Light Cahill (stenonema ) - hatches early July to late August in the morning & evening - sizes 12\14 - spinner fall in evening
• Tricos - late June to mid October in the morning - sizes 22\28 - spinner fall in the morning or noon
• Caddis Hatches - numerous and varied - sizes and colors vary from day to day. An investigation of insect upon fishing is in order.
• Midges - July to October - hatches occur in the mid-morning until late evening - sizes 20\32

STATE REGULATIONS: See copy of New York State Fish and Game Laws

ACCESS: Public parking lot is located on premises of the park. There is also 4 spots dedicated to handicapped and senior citizen fishing. Most fishermen must walk a mile up to the hatchery and then access the upper river at that point. The lower river is accessible through a lakeside path

EMERGENCY MEDICAL FACILITIES:

St. Charles hospital, ~ 6 Miles north in the town of Port Jefferson

Good Samaritan Hospital ~ 2 miles away in the town of Sayville

Places to stay: Where you can get a good nights rest.

Ro' and Bobs' house-please call in advance so Ro' can clean up.

Where to eat: Good eats at a good price for the hungry fisherman.

• Luigi's House of Pasta, 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Sayville 1(516)555-1212

Excellent Italian and continental cuisine at a reasonable price.

• You and Babu Indian Restaurant, 1117 Sunrise highway, Great river NY 1(516)555-1234

If your in the mood for tandori here is the place for you. Reasonable prices, good service, ambiance.

Sports Stores: Close places to find the equipment you need

1. The fly shop - Sunrise highway Sayville NY
   
   
   
   
   

FLIES TO BRING

1. Pale Morning Dun size 16 - 22
2. Blue Wing Olive size 14-24
3. No Neck Todd size 10 - 18
4. Bead head Prince Size 10 - 18
5. Woolly bugger size 6-12
6. Red nosed Dance size 8-10
7. gold ribbed hares ear size 14-20
8. Muddler minnow size 6-10
9. scuds size 12-22
10. elk hair caddis size 12-20
11. various caddis nymphs
    

CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE CONNETQUOT RIVER STATE PARK AND SURROUNDING AREA

DIRECTIONS TO CONNETQUOT RIVER

WELCOME TO CONNETQUOT RIVER STATE PARK PRESERVE

Fly Fishing Only

Reservations may be made Sunday 8:00 a.m. one week in advance of the fishing week. (5 16-581-1005)

Reservations accepted for 30 sites available per session. Specific sites cannot be reserved in advance but are issued first-come-first choice at time of session.

NO SHOW POLICY: Abandonment of reservations will result in cancellation of your remaining reservations.

Valid permit required while fishing. Permits issued for current session only. Have permit available at all times when fishing. Permit expires upon possession of limit, violation of any posted frshing rules or end of time session.

Trout Fishing Permits: (In addition to valid New York State fresh water fishing license.)

February - March (Wednesday - Sunday) 8 - 12 noon 12-4p.m. No Kill

Catch and release Only- Possession of any trout prohibited.

April - September (Tuesday-Sunday) 7-11 am 12 - 4 p.m. 5-Sunset

October 1 - 15 (Wednesday-Sunday) 8 - 12 noon 12 - 4 p.m.

April - October 15, anglers must STOP fishing when Two(2) TROUT are in possession. No stringers or other methods of restraining or tethering fish in the water. Fish kept must be quickly and humanely killed and creeled. Net and release fish carefully. Release your fish in the water, immediately, with care, and in the same condition it was taken. NO injured fish are to be released.

Fishing must be alone with conventional fly frshing equipment limited to flies, fly rods, fly reels. and fly line with unweighted leader material attached. Any other type of fishing tackle is prohibited. Artificial flies and streamers are defined as being constructed of natural or synthetic materials, so long as all flies are constructed in a normal fashion on a single barbless hook with components wound on or about the hook. Specifically prohibited are molded facsimiles or replicas of insects, earthworms, fish eggs, fish or any invertebrate or vertebrate either singly or in combination with other materials. Likewise prohibited are other lures commonly described as spinners, spoons, or plugs made of metal, plastic, wood, rubber or like substances or combination thereof. To protect the environment ,no lead weight, split shot or other, lead items may be used.

The use or possession of any bait. fish eggs or fish parts and use of barbed hooks or any other fishing device other than barbless hooks, artificial flies or streamers is prohibited.

Please do not litter. Kindly carry out everything you have brought in - paper, fishing gear, etc.

Prevent forest fires, No Smoking in woodlands.
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-© 1996 Portly Bob & No-Neck Todd's | updated 09/07/98