Westport Outfitters, 5/21/09

The bait in the Western Sound continues to be everywhere including more adult silver sides that are spawning in areas like Compo Cove and other sandy flats. As the temperature rises the sand eels should appear.

In the Housatonic River the larger fish will begin to exit the river, slowing the fishing there.

The usual haunts in and around Westport have been producing a good sum of fish up to 22-23 inches all in the A.M. despite the tide using soft plastics. Here at the shop at this time of year, we always give tide precedence over time of day, although this will change as the warmer months are upon us, if you have a good moving tide, despite when it occurs during the day, get on out there and get it done!!

Fishing off Sherwood Point for several keepers on Spooks - a very slow retrieve speed is key to trigger strikes with these kinds of plugs.

Anglers fishing off of Fairfield/Black Rock by trolling T&W were rewarded with bass up to 33 inches. In between the bass bite they also noted blues to 31 inches and very hungry!

In & around Farifield on Sunday using Sluggos anglers had great action despite the fog. In the Norwalk area, sim baits caught more bass.

Fish are starting to take the Lordship Lures plugs as the water temp rises and bait starts moving into the area in and around Stratford. He recommends his agitators that are starting to raise some nice size fish and the strikes on these plugs are sure to raise your pulse rate. Rob Guzman took a nice 17 lb bass on a white agitator while fishing the Housy this week (see recent catches).

Back to our home waters, Cody has also been fishing the Lordship Lures and again this week had some fat 29-30 inch bass on the slims with a slow retrieve, fishing in less than 2 feet of water…can you say game on? These fish absolutely attack these plugs and in shallow water it’s reminiscent of catching a 25 inch trout in a spring creek!

The Western Sound crew continues to make the run to Hempstead and although the fish are getting bigger in the 26-28 lb range, honestly folks, with so much bait right here at home, you may be better off saving the gas money and staying close to home. At the end of the day, bass are nocturnal feeders, so if you want the big girls, you have to fish at night. I have been sworn to secrecy, but there was nearly a 29 lb fish caught last night a stones throw from where we all fish. Having said that, where there is a 30, I would argue there is a 40…and perhaps even a 50! Use you best judgment!

The weather report as of today for the weekend seems to be improving, although we may see a little bit of rain, overall it will be totally fishable weather.

Focus on fishing soft plastics such as sluggos and or swim baits first, although there are blues around, it’s worth sacrificing a swim bait for that chance at a bass. We just got in these sweet little bunker imitation tins as well that can be retrieved and/or lightly jigged. If you need to change to hard baits, rattle traps, slash baits and x-raps should be the ticket and get the job done.

Fly guys/gals, should be throwing the largest bunker imitations you can handle from 4-11 inches. If the sand eels show as they should any day, we have a ton of patterns to match the hatch with!