On The Water

1. Dave at Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown reported things have been fairly slow, despite the break in the weather over the past week. The ice is pretty rotten or completely gone off most lakes and ponds at this point, and most waters are closed to fishing until opening day in April. Some anglers are still taking pike from shore or boat at Worden Pond and at Watermans Lake. Dave did report that the boat ramp at Worden Pond is under construction as a new ramp is installed, so don’t plan on launching a boat there. No reports of school bass in the Providence River area, but with the ice gone and the weather improving, anglers should begin to get out looking for fish in that area of Narragansett Bay.
2. Wildwood Outfitters in Wakefield also reported that the going is slow. Bob did report that the cod fishing out near the Acid Barge has been good, but other than that, not much action in the salt. The ice is gone for the most part, and there is a bit lull at the moment according to Bob, who is seeing anglers begin the shift over from ice fishing to casting and bait-fishing gear.
3. Archie was at the counter at Mike’s Bait & Tackle in Voluntown, and he reported that things in the area are pretty dead at the moment. He reported some anglers out on the ice here and there, particularly Ashland Pond early in the week, but he does not recommend getting onto the ice at this point; it’s too risky. The Quinebaug Hatchery is now open on weekends, according to Archie, and while the Moosup River is probably fishable, he has not heard any reports from anglers having been there.
4. The action apparently is a bit hotter to the south, particularly in the region of Norwich. According to Ren at The Fish Connection in Preston, the action to striped bass in the Thames River is pretty warm and heating up rapidly. Striped bass, the biggest yet reported weighing in at 28 pounds, are rampaging about in Norwich Harbor, hitting “anything white” according to Ren. Best action is being seen on pearly-white “Super Fluke” lures. While some anglers are heading out in boats, according to Ren the fish are hot even from shore. And while the harbor is the hottest spot on the river, stripers are being taken about 2 miles to the south, in the area of the incineration facility, again from shore. The fish are beginning to break up and move about, a sign that the water is warming at least a bit. Outside of the harbor, Ren reported that the Trout Management Areas are being stocked and should be quite fishable by the weekend. Reports from the Shetucket River suggest the angling has been slow, but reports of occasional salmon are still coming in to the shop.
5. Along the eastern end of Long Island Sound, Capt. Morgan at Capt. Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison reports water temperatures in the Sound still at a very chilly 33 degrees. Once the nights stay above the freezing mark, the temperature should begin to slide upwards. Trout are being stocked in all the Trout Management Areas, including the Hammonasset, Housatonic, Farmington and Salmon rivers. No reports from anglers trying out these waters just yet, but things ought to begin to get busy over the weekend if the weather holds. Capt. Morgan also mentioned an upcoming seminar on Fishing in Long Island Sound to be held in conjunction with the Maritime Education Network. This sounds like an excellent introduction to the species and locations to find them in the Sound, though the old salts are likely to pick up a nugget or two of useful information. Seating is limited to 50 people, and the seminar is expected to fill so make your reservations soon if you want to attend. Call Kathy David at (860) 388-1480 to reserve a seat or two. All proceed go towards education, so you can feel good while gaining some angling information that is bound to aid your fishing this coming season.
6. Chick at Stratford Bait & Tackle in Stratford did not have too much to report this week, though he did say that the stripers are beginning to move around in the Housatonic River, with fair numbers of school bass turning up south of the power plant. The big news though was Chick’s report on the Farmington River, which evidently has been stocked with some nice fish. He reported that good numbers of both brown and rainbow trout in the 20- to 22-inch range are being caught. The fishing has been so good that son Chris let him mind the shop while he went out for another day of fishing!
7. Over in Danbury at Valley Angler, John reported that there is still ice on Candlewood Lake, but he does not recommend venturing onto it as it is breaking up very quickly. John has heard that the stripers are moving about on the Housatonic and that anglers have been doing pretty good from shore in a variety of locations south of the power generation plant. John also reported that the Mianus River has just been stocked with about 1,600 trout, meaning the angling ought to get real good real soon.
8. Bert at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reiterated the report of the Mianus River just being stocked heavily with trout, but he as well has not heard from anyone who has ventured down to fish the river. He too has heard that the stripers are moving around in the Housatonic, but had no further reports with any greater detail at this point in time.
9. Westport Outfitters in Norwalk also reported stripers moving around in the Housatonic. According to Eric at the shop, the stretch of river from Shelton to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary has been red hot over the past few days, with a 4-inch white Super Fluke being the “go to” lure. These fish must be in contact with those in the Thames River, because that does seem to be the “food” item of choice by striped bass at the moment. Eric also noted that it is not only school bass that are taking interest, but several nice keeper bass have been reported as well.
10. Best Bets for Connecticut and Rhode Island: If you are dying to get salt on your lips, then the Thames or the Housatonic is the place to be. The stripers are moving about, but we are supposed to see a return of the cold, which may slow the fish down a bit. If you want a low-salt diet, go find a Trout Management Area to play in. The Farmington River sounds like a great spot, given the size of the fish being reported, but it may get busy once the word gets out. Other Trout Management Areas are also getting a load of fish put in, so take your pick and give it a try. It may take the fish a few days to acclimate, so have patience and plan on going back again soon! (Alan Desbonnet, On the Water)