kenosia danbury

[te-pe]

 evening gents... has anybody figured out fishing rules for kenosia?

[jammer icecube]

i thought good to go , i fish it every year….reserve water supply?

[bonotch]

How is the fishing on kenosha? Never fished it. Perch, pickerel?

[jebra]

I have heard of people being escorted off the ice. The Danbury statute says that no one is permitted to access the ice of a reservoir/back-up.

BUT the CT anglers guide still has Kenosia in it with no restrictions.

Doesn't make any sense to me!

You could try it keeping in mind someone might not like you there. Take your anglers guide with you. 

[fishoninct]

Kenosia is fair game. Bass and assorted lot. Also channel cats have been put in.  A river runs through it. I grew up fishing West Lake in Danbury and never had a problem with being chased off. Have even been checked by dep there many, many years ago.

[jebra]

Bad news....just to make sure I wasn't mistaken I just spoke to the Town Clerk's office in Danbury.

Since Kenosia is considered a reservoir you are not allowed to walk onto the ice. 

Here is the city statute:

Sec. 21-16. - Trespassing on, injuring reservoirs, damaging waterworks property.
Every person who shall disturb, meddle with or fish in the waters of the reservoir, or skate or walk upon the ice of said reservoirs except with the express permission of the superintendent of public utilities, or shall trespass upon any part of the grounds connected therewith, except upon the walk, or shall willfully injure any pipe or other property used in connection with the waterworks shall, in addition to any penalty established pursuant to state law, be subject to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).

[sploke]

Where is the statute or regulation that specifically calls out Lake Kenosia as a "reservoir" or "waterworks property"?


It doesn't make sense that DEEP would spend time and money managing fish there (listed as stocked with channel cats, and as a bass management lake) if it was against the law to fish there.

[eiderz]

You guys should contact your local DEEP Conservation Officer, or call the Western District HQ. That takes local politics out of the equation.

[jebra]

Where is the statute or regulation that specifically calls out Lake Kenosia as a "reservoir" or "waterworks property"?


It doesn't make sense that DEEP would spend time and money managing fish there (listed as stocked with channel cats, and as a bass management lake) if it was against the law to fish there.

You didn't read my reply carefully. It is NOT against the law to fish Kenosia. It is unlawful to go onto its ice. Doesn't matter if your fishing, skating, or whatever.

Hey... the original post was asking for the rules. I found and posted them.

In the end folks will do what they want to do ... right?

[jammer icecube]

Thank you Jebra first of all, there was a lot of res issues on our local southern bodies of waters some got resolved but it depends who you run into that doesn't know the yearly rules or parking. If you call and get the name of person you spoke to it goes along way. A great organization the moose club is located on that body of water and they do a polar plunge thru ice.  Bass,pic and pretty good jigging place…close to home.

[sploke]

It is NOT against the law to fish Kenosia. It is unlawful to go onto its ice.

Ah.  Good call, thanks for pointing that out.  That's too bad.

[bonotch]

This is the western district number (860) 485-0226. I'm going to try to call tomorrow, and get some information.

[jebra]

Thanks Jammer and Sploke and bonotch...As a team we reign supreme. 

We all want the same...tight lines....good ice....lots of fish....while minimizing hassles and safety issues. 

[bonotch]

OK I just called deep and they said ice fishing is allowed. Hopefully we can give it a try in a few weeks.

[jebra]

OK I just called deep and they said ice fishing is allowed. Hopefully we can give it a try in a few weeks.

botnotch

Who did you speak with.... did you mention the Danbury ordinance??

[Elixir]

I jig it every year and see many others do so and i havent had a issue with getting kicked off. Heck just after safe ice the place turbs to swiss cheese from the older gentleman who've been fishing it longer than ive been alive!

[jebra]

Alrighty then....

This will be my last effort to try to help te-pe and some other folks out with respect to his post concerning Kenosia and ice fishing.

I did some more digging and here's the deal:

Kenosia is a reservoir owned by the city of Danbury.

The DEEP has no jurisdiction over what the city allows, or doesn't allow, with respect to its reservoirs.

So my earlier posting of the Danbury ordinance holds true (not allowed to walk onto the ice).

In fact because of the current drought conditions Kenosia
has been upgraded to an "active reservoir for drinking water".

I was told that any contamination to the water could force the city to abandon this water supply for drinking.

For the  "naysayers" (I know your out there! ) here is the contact information:

Danbury Public Utilities 203 797-4539. The superintendent is David Day, but anyone there will be happy to answer your questions.   

[jammer icecube]

Thanks Jebra, This is one of those questionable waters like when we couldnt get on some resevoirs after 911. Kenosia is a back up and we do fish it every year and I am not a rule breaker. I would drink out of a porter potty before that place, you would not believe some of the three eyed septic bass we caught open water as two of my buddies lived on it for years. Great jigging spot and active tip up fishing in back corner. Thanks for looking into regs its appreciated. I know holes will be punched on Kenosia and if told to leave there are a ton of options close to guys traveling to this area.

[egriffin70]

I always fished it with no issues.  The one year we had problems was because the state was causing issues over the swimming at the town park, they wanted it to stop if the city was going to use it as a back up reservoir.  So we had water Dept officials with mix instructions kicking people off when they closed the beach to keep the state off there back. The Mayor and State rep blamed Hartford, it could have been politics ...who knows.

The beach is still closed as per the law with reservoirs , but I see summer kayaking and such thruout the warm weather months and no issues. 

Fish on.  Just watch out for the hookers and Johns parked at the water entrance next to the kiddie park.   

[Hammertime-IceCube]

I'm moving there next week to a house with lake access;  I plan to fish it either way.

[te-pe]

there ya have it!!! thanks jebra for all the info and taking some lumps. state vs. church vs. city vs. fisherman/fisherwomen..All up to to who ever ya talk too with no answer...sad..cause a good day of fishing could turn ugly quick over there...thanks everybody else for info also..

[Capn Ez]

I've fished it every year and never had an issue. It's got 3-5" now after being open last week. Caught a bunch of crappies and bass yesterday afternoon. Got a 4lb and 5lb on the jig. Tipups produced nothing. The fish had to be triggered into biting or they would just sit there and stare at the bait. Gonna hit it again tomorrow after some family stuff today.

[egriffin70]

I've fished it every year and never had an issue. It's got 3-5" now after being open last week. Caught a bunch of crappies and bass yesterday afternoon. Got a 4lb and 5lb on the jig. Tipups produced nothing. The fish had to be triggered into biting or they would just sit there and stare at the bait. Gonna hit it again tomorrow after some family stuff today.

Thanks for the report .

[Capn Ez]

I'm gonna hit it today. Hopefully my kid still wants to go. When we got up this morning she started to waver. When the dog wouldn't even go outside the hedging started lol. To be fair, she's only 7       I'm sold out on local though since I'm only prepared for fishing with a kid.

[jebra]

I've fished it every year and never had an issue. It's got 3-5" now after being open last week. Caught a bunch of crappies and bass yesterday afternoon. Got a 4lb and 5lb on the jig. Tipups produced nothing. The fish had to be triggered into biting or they would just sit there and stare at the bait. Gonna hit it again tomorrow after some family stuff today.

Fishing where your not supposed to and never having an issue is like saying I speed constantly and never got caught.
So that makes it OK to speed.

Have to respect the city laws and the environment, even if you don't get caught. 

[egriffin70]

No issue fishing Kenosia.    Fish on. 

[Capn Ez]

Fishing where your not supposed to and never having an issue is like saying I speed constantly and never got caught.
So that makes it OK to speed.

Have to respect the city laws and the environment, even if you don't get caught. 

I just don't think it's not allowed. The cops come down there every day and never say anything.

[egriffin70]

I just don't think it's not allowed. The cops come down there every day and never say anything.

The issue was years ago and it had to do with a spat between the mayor and the state, its politics.  It’s over, it’s not a issue.

Why some here bring it back up is beyond me, it’s s dead issue.

[Capn Ez]

I never see anybody fishing this place, but it's a healthy lake despite the development.  I always catch nice ones there.

[Capn Ez]

Fished it yesterday...7" of clear black ice.  Fishing was good, bunch of bass and crappies as usual.  Fished 2-6pm.

On another note...When I left there last time I fished I think I dropped my special tool - a scoop mounted to a broom handle with the chisel at the other end of the handle (my back saver - cut the ladle in half and mounted both pieces to opposite end of the pole).  It's no big deal.  I'll make another one for under $20, but I've had that one for 25 years and would love to have it back for sentimental reasons.  It's not useful for anything other than ice fishing, so I'm hoping maybe another fisherman picked it up and maybe that person reads these boards.  Longshot, of course, but I thought I'd try.  Thanks!