Newstimeslive.com

• The big topic among area anglers rolling into the holiday weekend seems to be striped bass. All along the western end of the sound, big stripers have been taken by anglers fishing whole bunker and by fishermen trolling surgical tube rigs "enhanced" with sand worms. Most of the action is in deeper water, but very early morning anglers have reported some consistent topwater and shallow water action.
• There have also been lots of stripers -- including some real cows -- taken in the Connecticut River, both around the mouth of the river, and up in the Enfold Dam area. In fresh water, late May and early June is a very under exploited seasonal peak of stream trout catchability. The last of the spring stockings have recently been completed, water flows are falling back to manageable levels, and the streams are getting warm enough to increase the fish's metabolism without stressing them like true summer conditions will in a few weeks. Yet with the bloom of the opening day rush long since gone, popular trout streams don't see nearly the amount of angler traffic that they did a month or so back.
• All of this adds up to great trout fishing for those who get up early and hit places like the Aspetuck, Norwalk or Pootatuck Rivers, or who travel to the bigger streams, like the Farmington or the upper Housy. According to the DEP's weekly information release, the Kent Falls Trout Park could be exceptionally good this weekend, as it has been among the more heavily stocked sites in the western part of the state in recent weeks.
• The annual open house at the Rainbow Dam Fishway is set for next June 2, from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The public is invited to visit and learn about the facility and the fish it passes. The public is allowed through the inner gates during the open house, to tour the facility and to check out the underground viewing window. This is a great, nature related family activity, and it's free.
• The Ousatonic Fish and Game Protective Association, Inc. will sponsor a kids fishing derby on June 10, from 9 a.m. until noon, at Conn's Pond, just north of the New Milford Hospital on Route 202. Everyone is welcome. Bring your fishing gear and your camera. Parents and sports enthusiasts wishing to help are always welcome. There will be experienced sportsmen on hand to help and provide direction, and prizes will be awarded in several categories. (Rich Zaleski)