The mother of all fishing shows in the Northeast is finally here. After a long winter, saltwater anglers will be coming out of the woodwork this weekend and heading to the Rhode Island Convention Center to shake off the “shack nasties.” Between informative seminars, good deals on gear and great networking with other fishermen, I don’t see a reason not to take a ride to Providence. If you want to actually fish instead of talk about it, cod will be an option once the storm moves out, holdover striped bass are stirring, trout are cooperating in catch and release areas, and there are a couple last ice options in northwest Connecticut.
Rhode Island
All fishing chatter this week was centered on the RISAA show that kicks off Friday at 1 PM in Providence. When I talked to Steve McKenna on Wednesday at Quaker Lane Outfitters he was like a kid in a candy store gearing up for it. He explained that the RISAA show is like the unofficial kickoff of spring and a gathering of fishing friends he hasn’t seen all winter. The exhibitor floor plan resembles a who’s who in the regional saltwater scene with rows upon rows of businesses represented. Be sure to stop by On The Water’s booth (#102) and introduce yourself. Take advantage of the informative seminars as well. The lineup is impressive as always including talks from familiar names like Peter Vican, Capt. Mike Hogan, Zeno Hromin, D.J. Muller, Capt. Dave Porecca, and many more (full seminar schedule: http://www.nesaltwatershow.com/seminars.shtml).
The latest bout of winter weather sure isn’t helping the local cod fishing. It doesn’t look like head boats will be sailing again until this storm pulls away in a couple days. Captain Chris of the Island Current has his sights set on Sunday for their next trip. The fishing leading up to the storm was good to start the week after a pretty slow weekend. Saturday and Sunday’s results weren’t anything to write home about, but Monday was another story. Chris said it was an excellent day on the grounds featuring many limit catches and much bigger fish than over the weekend with an average around 12 to 14-pounds. There were eight cod over 20-pounds and the pool-winner was a nice 25-pounder! Tuesday’s trip was slower action-wise, but the size was still there. High-hook nailed 17 cod and the pool-winning fish was 22-pounds.
In other salty news, Howard at Galillee Bait and Tackle caught an 18-pound holdover striped bass last week and 11 smaller ones while casting Yozuri swimmers from a kayak in South County salt ponds. Howard said the stripers were charging out from under the ice shelves to smack his hard plastic lures and he stated that they will continue to get more active as water temperature slowly increase. Howard wasn’t all that surprised either to hear rumblings of river herring scouts already staging outside of local herring runs. It’s getting closer…
Ice fishing is pretty much over and done with in Rhode Island, but Joe at River and Riptide told me some anglers are still trying for open water pike and bass on foot and by kayak. He said you have to be selective on where to go because designated trout waters are off-limits until April 13 and other lakes and ponds still have a thin layer of ice. If you do find some open water that fits the bill, try large live baits under a bobber or even larger dead baits right on bottom.
Connecticut
Early March probably presents the least amount of options for Connecticut anglers all year long, but even now there are ways to catch quality fish if you want to put the time in. For starters, holdover bass in the lower Housatonic River are biting at night; some sizeable ones to boot. Nick at Fisherman’s World reported that surfcaster Justin Innes reeled in three stripers between 35 and 40-inches on Monday and Tuesday nights, all while using Slug-Gos on jig heads. Jason at Bobby J’s Bait and Tackle has been hitting the river hard at night too and he and friends were rewarded late Tuesday with 12 bass over 30 inches, the biggest going 22-pounds. Low and slow retrieves with soft-plastic baits on lead heads continue to be the ticket.
Trout fishing in designated catch and release areas is another option for this time of year. Bruce at UpCountry in New Hartford said conditions in the upper Farmington River Trout Management Area are good with a medium flow and better clarity. He said there is a little bit of everything going on right now for fly fishers. Dry fly anglers should be looking for winter caddis (size #22) and small black stone flies (size #22) hatching on the surface in the mornings and grey stone flies (size #16) in the afternoon. For fans of nymphing, Bruce said to focus on water with medium current and to try olive caddis pupas (size #14), yellow stone flies (sizes #10-12), and red Copper Johns (size #18). Another way to move nice trout this time of year is by chucking meat, as in the biggest streamer pattern in your arsenal. Bruce recommended fishing the banks with slow retrieves.
It’s ice-out pike fishing time on the Connecticut River. Gary at Connecticut Outfitters said anglers are already launching boats in Wethersfield Cove and Salmon River and others are plying the shorelines. He said using big live shiners under a float is a popular way to target these toothy critters, or fishing dead baits right on bottom. Believe it or not, there are a handful of lakes and ponds in the northwest corner of Connecticut that still have a foot of ice on them. Gary reported that shop regular “Trooper Bri” iced a 6.5-pound largemouth bass from one such place this past Sunday in the northwest hills using a heavy shiner under a tip-up. If you do try to sneak in one last ice fishing trip this season, be sure to bring along your ice picks and spud bar, especially since there will be a fresh snow cover on any remaining ice this weekend.
Fishing Forecast for the Weekend
It’s going to be a beautiful weekend and there are a few good fishing opportunities available, but I still think the best thing going is the RISAA show in Providence. There will be custom plugs and gear on sale that you won’t see on any store shelves, great discussions on all things saltwater fishing, and it will be a great way to get psyched up for the coming season. You can save a dollar on your admission by clicking this link and printing the coupon: http://www.nesaltwatershow.com/Discount.shtml.