Westport Outfitters, Week of 4/25/09

Eric Johnson reports several factors that show the fishing season progressing right on time: increasing water temps (finally breaking 50 degrees), bunker in Norwalks' Cove Marina and schoolie stripers being caught. This past weekend a report from Little Neck Bay that a keeper striper was caught and bunker in big schools just not sticking too tight, which would indicate no big threats yet.

The mouth of the Housantonic saw several anglers catching stripers using a bucktail and a very slow retrieve. Keep in mind, even though the bass are starting to leave the Housatonic River, they are still a bit lethargic and a slow retrieve on either flies or swim baits fished down deep where the tide is the weakest.

Near the mouth of the Saugatauk River & island small schools of bunker were seen and a striper was caught.

As for flounder & blackfish: local party boat captains that I know and they have confirmed a pretty decent season thus far. The first keeper flounder was caught off of Calf Pasture Beach with a fresh Westport Outfitter sandworm. Sand eels were also seen swimming about.

In all these fishing reports this is the first time I've read of schoolie stripers caught with a GULP sandworm on an offset hook in Fairfield which shows it catches more than just anglers.

FRESHWATER
Westport Outfitters reports good fishing in the Housatonic & Farmington River and recommends using a tandem rig. The Hendrickson hatch is going on and BWOs as well as green bead head caddis larvae are working.

Westport Outfitters have weekly seminars and various fly fishing classes going on. They can be found at 609 Riverside Ave, Westport.