It seems the warm-up this week was the shot in the arm we needed to jump start the saltwater scene that, by most accounts, has been a tad behind schedule. Striped bass are now present at most, if not all, the typical early-season hotspots in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Blackfish reports are slowly picking up and the warming water has most folks in agreement that it should bust wide open any day now. Connecticut anglers are hoping that happens before blackfish season ends on Saturday. Winter flounder catches that were few and far between in recent weeks are also increasing. In freshwater, trout are still the name of the game, and bass and walleye are providing some excellent angling opportunities too.
Rhode Island
The warm weather and southwest breeze earlier this week was just what the doctor ordered for the spring striper migration. Newly arriving fish are pouring into early-season hangouts throughout the Ocean State. Rob at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle said a number of customers reported solid schoolie action in areas like the upper Bay and the West Wall on Tuesday. He also shared what artificial lure was responsible for many of the catches: the 3-inch Cocahoe Minnow.
Arden at Saltwater Edge told me the bass are increasing locally both in quantity and quality. He noted that many of the migratory stripers landed last week were micros in the 12- to 15-inch range and this week the average size has been better, with some mid 20-inch fish mixed in. There is a wide variety of productive offerings to choose from this time of year, but swim-shad-style plastic baits are among the most popular. Another early-season favorite method is topwater fishing. Stripers are responding well to spook-style lures known for their “walking the dog” action. Summer flounder, or fluke, season opens this Sunday. There are some changes to recreational regulations that will allow fluke anglers to take home more fish this year. The minimum size was knocked down by one inch to 18.5-inches and the creel limit was bumped up one fish for a total of seven fluke. Captain Steve at Breachway Bait and Tackle suggested starting out in 50 to 75 feet of water using squid for bait. He said that along the south shore, the areas in front of Green Hill and Matunuck are good bets for May fluke.
On the freshwater front, recent warm temperatures and sunshine really got the insect activity going on local trout streams. Strong hatches have browns, brookies and rainbows looking up and feeding aggressively. Dave at River and Riptide told me that the Fall and Wood Rivers have black quills, grey drakes and hendricksons coming off the water, which are providing anglers with good dry-fly action. He also mentioned that Breakheart, Carbuncle, and Carolina Trout Ponds all received additional stockings since opening day and are great places to bring youngsters interested in the sport.
Connecticut
The state’s tidal rivers are the places to be for striper action right now. Bob at Hillyers did report some small fish with sea lice “out front,” but river systems like the Thames, Shetucket, Connecticut, and Housatonic remain your best bet for numbers of bass. Jack at the Fish Connection reported that striper anglers are doing well day and night in the Greenville area of the Shetucket, as well as inside the Yantic River. He said that artificial lures that mimic herring like soft-plastic baits such as Hogys and Slug-Gos, or even pencil poppers, have been responsible for many a keeper recently. Chris at Stratford Bait and Tackle is hearing good striper news all along the lower Housatonic. From the Derby area down to the mouth of the river, anglers are taking advantage of both holdovers and migratory stripers feeding on herring. Blaine at Connecticut Outfitters is growing tired of the high and chilly water in the Connecticut River. Recent heavy rains on the Canadian border still have the river rising. He fished in the Wethersfield area on Wednesday and marked a 49-degree surface temperature, yet it was only 43 degrees just 3 feet down – that’s still pretty cold. Blaine focused on the silver lining in all of this, an extended spring season. He said there will still be six great weeks of striper fishing in the Connecticut River coming to us anyway you look at it. Another bit of news he passed along was that anglers are capitalizing on American shad in the Farmington River. Casting or slowly trolling gold willow leafs with a 3/4-ounce drail seems to be the ticket.
When I spoke with Cappy at Captain Morgan Bait and Tackle on Wednesday afternoon, he was hopeful that anglers would be able to squeak out some nice blackfish on Friday and Saturday before the season closes Sunday until July 1. He recommended grabbing some crabs and heading to a favorite inshore rock pile. A few tog spots he suggested in the mid-Sound area included the vicinity of Duck Island and the walls around Hammonasset and New Haven breakwater.
Captain Jay Oliveira of Jayhova Charters made his first blackfish trip of the season on Monday and it was a good one at that. He tried some warmer waters in the western Sound and was awarded a 9.5-pound porker on his first drop. Jay reported that the action was steady throughout the trip and that he landed two more keepers at 8 and 5 pounds – not bad for spring blackfish outing! Rick at Fisherman’s World told me about some decent winter flounder reports coming out of the Norwalk area. He said boat anglers that are anchoring up and chumming around the oyster stakes by Calf Pasture pier are taking some nice 2-pounders on sandworms. For those who would rather drift than anchor up, he said to try outside of Sprite Island.
For sweetwater anglers, this week’s phone calls yielded some great bass, walleye and trout reports. John at Valley Angler said there have been three bass tournaments on Candlewood Lake so far this year with three smallies over 6 pounds to show for it. One of them – a 6.2-pound beast – was suspended over 30 feet of water and fooled with a jerkbait. Water temperatures finally hit the magic 50-degree mark, so John suggested looking for bass in shallower areas of lakes and ponds. He also said that Squantz Pond walleye reports are heating up. Around sunset, shore anglers are picking off “eyes” near drop-offs with gold Pheobes. One of John’s favorite tactics is slowly dragging a Berkley Gulp leech across the bottom on a 3-foot leader behind an egg sinker. Torrey at Housatonic River Outfitters reported that the upper Housatonic River was stocked with 9,000 trout on Tuesday. Water flows have been higher than average, but the fish still have to eat! The famed hendrickson hatch is well under way on the Housatonic and just starting on the upper Farmington River. Nymphing with pheasant-tail patterns in size #14 and #16 before the hatch is a great tactic. When 1:30 PM rolls around, be in position for some dry-fly action. When trout are keyed in on these bugs, it could be some of the best action of the year. The evening “spinner falls,” when spent hendricksons fall back down to the river, are worth sticking around for.
Best Bets for the Weekend
After the latest bout of rain moves out, a high pressure system will park over the region, bringing sunshine and pleasant temperatures this weekend – some great conditions for being outside! It is strictly striper time for some saltwater anglers. If that means you, focus on those early-season hotspots where schoolies stack up like cordwood. Or try your hand at spring tautog fishing – Saturday will be the last chance at “togzilla” in Connecticut waters until July! In freshwater, trout fishing is still hard to beat for a lot of folks, me included. Take advantage of epic bug activity happening on our rivers and streams and match the hatch. If bass fishing is your forte, head to the land of giant smallmouth – Candlewood Lake – and bring your jerkbaits.