Norwich Bull 1/28/06

• During most winters, a late January column would be focused on ice fishing. Figuring all the lakes as far north as Mansfield Hollow have great big holes of open water in them and spongy looking ice around the edges, that is not the case here.
• This January thaw has opened up a few fishing options that are not always viable this time of year. At present, the best fishing in the region can still be found in the upper Thames River which is typical for the season.
• I fished there last Saturday and conditions had slowed down a great deal from the previous weeks when a day in the right place was producing 100 or more fish per boat. Stripers had been spread out down river by the recent heavy rains and were difficult to reach due to opposing winds and river flows.
• River temperatures are not rock bottom yet due to the constant warming effects of rains and above average air temperatures. Once conditions stabilize, odds are the bite will improve once again before tapering off to winter low levels late in February or early March. Look for the fish to be anywhere from the town docks in Norwich to the Pequot Bridge.
• The weather has been so warm that it is possible to catch bass, panfish and trout from some of the lakes that may be free of ice. Coastal lakes such as Pattagansett, Rogers, and across the border in Rhode Island, Chapman Pond and Worden Pond are all good mid-winter open water fishing spots.
• I've even thought about trying some pike fishing at Mansfield Hollow, which has a big hole around the launch and is open below the road. The problem is, the water levels are so high my boat probably won't fit through the culvert to get there.
• On Jan. 9, the Department of Environmental Protection stocked 500 Seeforellen-strain brood-stock brown trout into a dozen lakes around the state. Six lakes east of the Connecticut River that were stocked with more than 40 fish each include Crystal Lake in Ellington, Mashapaug Lake in Union, Beach Pond in Voluntown, Cedar Lake in Chester, Quonnipaug Lake in Guilford and Black Pond in Meriden.
• If any of these places are open, it may be worth doing some trolling. Otherwise, get there as soon as they freeze solid again. Of this bunch, Quonnipaug has the best odds of being free of ice, because it is located closer to the coast.
• Brood stock salmon fishing is another option, but no one has been catching any from either the Shetucket or Naugatuck rivers since that first cold snap back in late December when everything iced up for a few weeks.