On the Water 6/11/09

Best Bets for the Weekend: Water levels in area rivers, streams and ponds are excellent and all species seem eager to please. Striped bass fishing is great throughout the region, with Long Island Sound being most productive, improving as one goes east to west. Bigger bass are on the reefs and other offshore structure, and fresh baits are doing the job. Bluefish are providing good action, including surface blitzes by day.

Captain Jack Balint at The Fish Connection in Preston reports that the fishing is hot one day and cold the next without any apparent reason. Squid are to be found all about the region, but are showing sporadically, including on the reefs off Watch Hill. Tons of bait is showing up in the area from The Race to the Gull Islands, but birds and bait don’t always have fish under them. Some bluefish have been working on the surface at Plum Gut. In freshwater, the Shetucket River is by far the most productive trout water in the area, with reports of good hatches of Blue-wing Olives.

From Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford, Mark reports good striped bass action, including more big fish in the past week. Ocean Beach, Harkness Memorial and Black Point have all been very productive. The Race has been productive for bluefish of various sizes by day, with Diamond jigs providing constant action, and some striped bass as well. Scup catches have been slow, but not a lot of people have been out for them so far. Accidental catches of fluke in local waters suggest a good season in the wings when it opens on the 15th of June in Connecticut water.

Pat at Rivers End in Old Saybrook has reports of “so-so” fishing overall. Plum Gut and The Race are producing fish, but sporadically. Watch Hill area has been good as well, particularly to striped bass. There are lots of baitfish around, with plenty of butterfish and sand eels in the mix. Striped bass are prevalent in the Connecticut River, but Pat reports they have “seen it all” and are very picky at the moment, making for challenging fishing. Trolled tube-and-worm rigs are probably your best bet right now.

Captain Jerry Morgan at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison reports lots of bluefish throughout Long Island Sound, and good numbers of larger striped bass now on the rips, reefs and offshore structure. Anglers are finding bass to 40 pounds on a fairly regular basis. Shore-bound anglers are doing well too with a variety of baits and hardware. Freshwaters continue to fish well throughout the region with good water levels and ideal temperatures.

Art at The Bait Shop in Rowayton reports good fishing to striped bass, with good numbers of keepers coming to anglers using cut baits fished deep. School bass are prevalent near the surface, giving light-tackle anglers plenty of action. The Norwalk Islands and local beaches are both producing as well, with first and last light being the best times, unless you can get out at night. Bluefish are abundant and numbers are still growing, and the best time to target blues is during daylight hours.

From Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, Rick reports very good to great striped bass fishing. The East buoy, Can 28C, 11B and Bud’s Reef are all producing great fishing to stripers, with fresh baits and Diamond jigs taking the most fish. A few bass in the mid-40s have been taken. Bluefish are all over now, producing some exciting surface action during daylight hours. Anglers are doing well mid-Sound as well, trolling with wire and deep-diving plugs. No reports for scup, but a few reports of tuna in the offshore canyons and blue sharks south of Long Island. In freshwater, the Saugatuck Reservoir continues to produce excellent walleye fishing, with good and improving fishing to smallmouth bass.

Cody at Westport Outfitters in Norwalk reports loads of sand eels in the area, and they are drawing in lots of fish. Slug-Gos are the go-to lure at the moment when the sand eels are thick and the fish are on them. One fly-rodder took an 18-pound bass on a little sand eel imitation, the first fish he ever landed on a fly rod! Bluefish are providing fairly consistent surface action by day. Look for working birds to find the blues. Very few scup reports are coming in and those few that are suggest slow going.