Rivers End Tackle, Friday April 24, 2009

by Pat Abate, Rivers End Tackle, 440 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT 860-388-2283

STRIPED BASS- The corner has been turned. Conditions are getting good in the lower Connecticut River with the water level coming down and clearing up. School bass have taken up patrol along Great Island in fair numbers. Similar reports are coming from points north in the River. The West Wall in Point Judith has its usual run of school bass as well. Best catches are coming on lead headed plastic jigs. Some bigger bass are coming from tributaries going into the Thames, Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers. Find out where the herring are hanging out and they'll be some bass crashing their party. No bass have been reported from any of the reefs. Shorebound anglers are catching bass from Saybrook Point and the DEP Piers, mostly on sandworms but a few larger bass have been caught on mackerel chunks.

WINTER FLOUNDER- A few flounder have been caught this week with reports coming from the Niantic area. It may be worth a shot this week on a flood tide at the Breakwater, I haven't heard of any caught there yet but conditions are good.

BLACKFISH- Few reports came in but its now or never with the spring season ending this Thursday. New Haven and the Niantic RR Bridge are the only first hand reports we heard.

NETTING LIVE BAIT SEMINAR-- Saturday, May 2nd at 11am-- 'Q' Kresser will show you how to throw a cast net and set a gill net for bunker."