Connecticut and Rhode Island Fishing Report 3-21-13

Ice-Out Pike, TMA Trout, Holdover Stripers

Wednesday marked the first day of spring even though it sure didn’t feel like it. Unseasonable as it may seem, the show must go on. Trout are being stocked and ospreys and river herring are returning right on cue. It won’t be long before striped bass laden with sea lice are showing up to their early season haunts. In the meantime, angling options abound from party boat cod fishing to catch and release trout to ice-out northern pike. In addition, there’s one heck of a surf fishing celebration happening on Saturday featuring some of the heaviest hitters in the sport.

Rhode Island

There was a noticeable upswing in local codfish action since last week’s report. Captain Chris of the Island Current said Saturday featured very good fishing with a pool-winning cod of 22 pounds and a high-hook of 15 keepers. Sunday was another solid day on the grounds with a lot of anglers reaching their limits. Highlights included Mike G’s high-hook of 15 keepers and Kimmy Kim with eight keepers and twin 15-pounders. Captain Chris noted that the good bite continued right through Monday with several limits easily reached and high-hook again pulling 15 keepers over the rail. As always, plenty of fresh skimmer clams and lots of chum kept the aggressive cod chewing during the good stretches. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions kept them from sailing Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Frances Fleet also reported a good weekend on the cod grounds. After finally getting a break in the weather, Captain Mike found the fish early on Saturday and stayed on them all day. The pool-winning cod was a little north of 10 pounds and high-hook honors went to none other than Mr. Pak who reeled in 13 fine keepers. Captain Mike said Sunday was another nice day of cod fishing with a slightly larger crowd that traded their corned beef and cabbage for some fresh codfish. The pool-winning cod was around 20 pounds and high-hook went to longtime regular Norm with eight chunky keepers. Mike noted that Sunday’s average fish was a little on the larger side than what’s been caught in the last two weeks. Lots of shorts were also in the mix keeping anglers busy. At the time of this writing, the weekend weather forecast looks good to go!

In the holdover striped bass department, the latest report Daphne at Saltwater Edge heard was about a week ago and consisted of an angler catching 12 bass up to 28-inches in the Providence River using Super Flukes on 3/8-ounce jig heads.

In freshwater, Steve at Quaker Lane Outfitters said some anglers are heading to non-trout waters and targeting ice-out northern pike and largemouth bass with live shiners. Steve said a popular destination for this is Wardens Pond. Here is a link to a list of designated trout waters that are closed until April 13; every other public body of water is fair game:

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/troutwaters.htm.

If you’re free and up for some volunteer work this weekend, Trout Unlimited 225 is organizing a sprucing up of the Wood River. Volunteers are meeting on Saturday at 9 AM at the Deer Check Station along Rte. 165 to conduct river and trail maintenance, as well as to install line debris boxes for recycling tippet and leader material. This would also be a good opportunity to scout one of Rhode Island’s blue ribbon trout streams.

Connecticut

Right now is a great time to be fishing for trout as crowds are down and willing fish are numerous. CT DEEP has been stocking Trout Management Areas (TMA) since March 7. The places that have already seen stocking trucks include the Mill River (Fairfield), Willimantic River, Moosup River, Salmon River, Saugatuck River (fly only), Yantic River, Hammonasset River, Hockanum River, and the West Branch Farmington River. They shouldn’t be too picky yet, so most anything you tie on the line will draw strikes—perfect conditions for bringing a youngster or newcomer along. And don’t forget that you can access the same trout stocking maps that the Inland Fisheries Division uses here: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=467456&deepNav_GID=1632

The ice-out pike bite in the Haddam stretch of the Connecticut River slowed down since last week, but fish are still be caught there on a daily basis according to Andrew at Fishin’ Factory III. He said most pike are falling for live or dead baits fished right on bottom like white suckers or heavy shiners. Andrew also mentioned that anglers wading the shoreline casting big Rapala Husky Jerks in the fire tiger pattern are picking up some decent pike here and there. Downstream in Hamburg Cove, he said some small holdover stripers are responding to Super Flukes and Fin-S Fish fished on light jig heads.

A better bet for holdover stripers is the Housatonic River. Jason at Bobby J’s Bait and Tackle has been fishing for them hard all winter long and said they are still catching some, but the bite quieted down a bit over the last couple weeks. He went out on Tuesday night and caught six stripers up to 35-inches right around high tide before it shut off. The top artificial lures have been of the soft-plastic variety like 7.5-inch Slug-Gos or 8-inch curly tail grubs on jig heads ranging from 3/8 to ½-ounce. Another good piece of info he shared was that almost all the bass are hitting the baits on their descent in the water column.

I know I’ll be in good company in Old Saybrook on Saturday for Rivers End’s annual free Surf Day event. Things kick off at 10 and will go until 4. There will be seminars by Dave Anderson at 10:30 and Tony Stetzko at 1. Also on hand will be big surfcasting names like Steve McKenna, Dennis Zambrotta, Zeno Hromin doing various demonstrations, as well as reps from companies like Van Staal, ZeeBaaS, Super Strike, Gibbs, Lunker City, Tsunami, and many more. CTS Fishing will also be allowing attendees to test rods in the Connecticut River down the street. Bring any old plugs that you’d like ID’ed by lure guru Adam Romagna. Come hungry too—there will be lots of food!

Fishing Forecast for the Weekend

An easy and fun option this weekend is “preseason” trout fishing in Connecticut’s TMAs. These freshly stocked trout could be a great way to shake off the rust from a long winter or give a little one a lasting memory. Light tackle and barbless, single-hook lures like Rooster Tails or Trout Magnets should do the trick, or streamer flies like Woolly Buggers for fly angler. If fishing is out of the question, try to sneak down to Old Saybrook for Surf Day. There will be great food and live music, as well as informative seminars and demonstrations—not a bad little Saturday.