On the Water 6/18/09

Best Bets for the Weekend: The striped bass fishing continues to improve, with large bass being found more regularly on all the reefs and deeper water sites. Squid are in Rhode Island and eastern Long Island Sound waters, while bunker are in the Western Sound. Bluefish are becoming more common and are now showing on the surface regularly. Scup fishing is off to a slow start, but the ones taken are running large, and are being taken deep. Fluke is off to a slow start in eastern Connecticut waters, but the western Sound seems to be producing good numbers of keeper fish. Freshwater fishing remains in good shape, though numbers of trout are thinning since the last stocking.

From The Fish Connection in Preston, Captain Jack Balint reports good fishing to striped bass at Plum Gut and at the west end of the Sluiceway. The area between the Gull Islands is also productive. Bluefish are around at all spots. The Race is seeing best bass taken on chartreuse parachute rigs trolled, with 3-way bucktail rigs producing best as the tide slows. The Watch Hill area is fishy, but the action is sporadic depending upon if and when a school of squid moves through. Though fluke season opened in Connecticut on Monday, no reports for this species have come into the shop yet. Good pike are being taken at the base of the dam on the Pachaug River, and good largemouth bass fishing in Pachaug Pond. All rivers are in excellent condition and are fishing well.

Christian at Hillyer’s Bait & Tackle in Waterford reports good striped bass fishing at Bartlett and Hatchet Reef. Bucktails and Red-and-White Diamond jigs are top producers. The Race, Black Point and Millstone are producing bass, but if you want bluefish, these three spots are yielding good catches of this species. Scup are moving in and angling is improving consistently. Fluke are abundant, and keepers are being taken. The backside of Fisher’s Island, Two Tree Channel and the Millstone area are all producing good catches.

From Rivers End in Old Saybrook, Pat reports that late day and after dark are the times to be fishing for striped bass around the mouth of the Connecticut River. Swimming plugs are the lure of the moment, so stock up before heading out. Action on the local reefs is a bit on the slow side, but the fish are there and need to be coaxed out. Plum Gut is producing good catches of bass, mainly in the 5- to 15-pound range, and bluefish are plentiful. The fluke fishing is off to a slow start in the area, with a keeper coming about every 10 fish on the average. The Niantic and Hammonassett areas are being reported as the most productive.

Captain Jerry Morgan at Captain Morgan’s Bait & Tackle in Madison reports that the quantity of fluke has been good, but the fish are on the smaller side. Striped bass are on the prowl throughout the area, with some surface action taking place here and there. The North Rip and Southwest at Faulkners are both producing excellent angling. Scup angling is slow, but the fish that are being taken are large. Freshwater fishing is slowing as stocked fish are taken, but lakes and ponds continue to produce good catches of largemouth bass, pickerel and panfish.

Nick at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports good fishing to striped bass at 28C and 11B, the Obstruction Buoy and at Greens Ledge. Chunk bunker is the bait to use, but some anglers are having great luck with deep diving Rapalas. Bluefish are providing surface action at mid-Sound. Sand eels are common around the islands and fish are on them. Scup are taking sandworms at 28C, but are in deeper water, around 40 feet. Fluke is off to a great start, with good fishing at Buoy 26. The number of keeper fish has been high.

In freshwater, the Saugatuck Reservoir is producing good catches of both largemouth and smallmouth bass, and trout between 3 and 5 pounds are common. Rivers continue to be productive with water levels and temperatures remaining excellent.

Pat at Westport Outfitters in Norwalk reports lots of bunker in the area with bass to 30 pounds taken on live-lined or chunk bunker. Bridgeport Harbor has been hot, while the mouth of the Housatonic has cooled. Middle Ground is also producing good striped bass. Sand eels and silversides are thick throughout the area, and are drawing in the fish. First light provides excellent fishing, pre-dawn even better still; the action tends to slow by 7a.m., so get there early.

From Valley Angler in Danbury, John reports good topwater action on Candlewood Lake for smallmouth bass. Bowstick topwater pencil poppers appear to be the hot lure for this species at the moment on Candlewood. The trout in the lake are still spread out, making them difficult to target. Squantz Pond is producing some good trout action to spoons trolled at 25 feet. The walleye bite has slowed considerably. [Alan Desbonnet, On The Water]

For Rhode Island Fishing report go to On The Water