Conn Post, Frank McKane

Despite this week's snowstorm, the warm weather has eroded the ice away from most of the lakes and ponds. Anglers are still venturing out on the ice. Most are using extreme caution, but every year we hear about someone falling through the ice. Please remember, safety comes first — don't take chances.

If you must partake of the remaining ice fishing days, concentrate on the ponds north of Route 4. Some noteworthy spots are Burr Pond, Dog Pond, Hatch Pond, Highland Lake, Mudge Pond, Park Pond, South Spectacle Pond, West Hill Pond and Winchester Lake. These ponds are giving up yellow perch, largemouth bass and a few chain pickerel.

Those planning to fish on Highland Lake and West Hill Pond should do so before Thursday. These two ponds, along with the other trophy trout lakes of Amos Lake, Candlewood Lake, Crystal Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake and Squantz Pond close after March 31.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has begun stocking trout around the state. Among the first waters to be stocked were the special trout management areas on the Mianus River from Merrybrook Road upstream to the dam in Stamford, Mill River between the Merritt Parkway Bridge and Lake Mohegan in Fairfield, Saugatuck River fly fishing-only Area from Dorrs Mill Dam to the Merritt Parkway Bridge in Westport, Hammonasset River from the Lake Hammonasset Dam to Chestnut Hill Road in Killingworth, the Willimantic River fly fishing-only area from Roaring Brook to the Route 74 Bridge in Tolland and Willington, Moosup River from the Route 14 Bridge to the Quinebaug River in Plainfield, and Salmon River from the mouth of the Blackledge River and the Route 16 Bridge in Colchester. These areas are open for fishing all year, but all these stocked TMAs are strictly limited to catch-and-release trout angling until April 16.

Several other streams are open for catch-and-release angling, but the DEP has not stocked these streams because these support a wild trout population. Some of the better fishing can be found in Coppermine Brook in Burlington, Deep Brook in Newtown, Eightmile River in Southington, Hawleys Brook in Easton, Pequabuck River TMA in Bristol, Pootatuck River TMA in Newtown, Quinnipiac River TMA in Southington and the Ten Mile River in Kent.

The Connecticut River is now open for fishing where anglers are finding plenty of northern pike in the 20- to 28-inch class and a few early season smallmouth bass. Most of the pike and bass are being caught north of Middletown. White perch are starting to show up in the tidal coves near the mouth of the Connecticut River. This fishery has not blossomed yet, but you can expect the perch action to improve over the next week. Anglers must adhere to special regulations that protect the river perch from overfishing. The white perch size minimum is seven inches with a 30-fish daily creel limit.

Saltwater casters are finding good number of small schoolie striped bass in Bridgeport Harbor, the lower Housatonic River, the junction of the Mill and Quinnipiac rivers in New Haven and the Thames River in Norwich. — FRANK MCKANE JR.