Spring Fishing Improving
Trout in TMAs, Stripers in Rivers
April is upon us and it looks like we have finally turned a corner in the spring weather. The long term forecast is full of 60+ degree days, which should really kick fishing into high gear! With the new month come new angling opportunities for winter flounder and blackfish, as well as migratory striped bass any week now. The winter/spring codfish season has been one of peaks and valleys, which was more evident than ever the past two weeks. A better bet is fishing for trout in one of Connecticut’s freshly stocked TMA’s, holdover stripers in tidal rivers, or ice-out largemouth bass and northern pike.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
What a difference a few days can make on the cod grounds! Coming off the best reports of the season so far, a number of hungry anglers were hoping to capitalize on a hot bite over the weekend. Unfortunately, Thursday was the last day that resembled anything close to good cod fishing before becoming a ghost town Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Captain Scott of the Island Current reported solid morning action on Thursday before having to move around to find another pick of fish keyed in on fresh skimmer clams. Highlights included a pool-winning fish of 27-pounds for Don C. from New Hampshire and many anglers walking away with their limit or close to it.
That’s when the bite went south. Captain Andy of Seven B’s and a full boat spent Good Friday searching, chumming, drifting and anchoring. It seems the cod were not hungry at all and it was a very slow day on the water. Captain Mike of the Frances Fleet said Saturday featured nice weather and a big crowd, but another lousy day of cod fishing with only a handful of fish coming over the rail. Captain Chris of the Island Current even took a small crew out on Easter and it was more of the same, slow going. No head boats have been out since Sunday, so one can only hope things improve for this coming weekend.
At least migrating stripers aren’t too far off! As a yearly tradition on April 1, Steve McKenna of Quaker Lane Outfitters visited a popular early-season haunt, the West Wall. He said conditions were great, but no bass just yet. He’ll be back Friday afternoon to check again. Steve did note that the wall is really busted up in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and strongly recommended wearing studded footwear when venturing out there this spring. In the meantime, there are resident bass hanging out around packed herring runs if you need a striper fix. Howard of Galilee Bait and Tackle put in eight hours of fishing this past weekend for one chunky 13-pound bass that appeared to have a belly full of alewives. Some anglers are also targeting white perch in certain tidal rivers with bits of night crawlers or small curly tail grubs according to Larry at East Providence Bait and Tackle.
In the freshwater scene, Neil at Quaker Lane Outfitters said anglers are fishing in non-stocked waters for largemouth bass and northern pike. He suggested using live shiners or Senko worms for the bass and big baits, live or dead, for the toothy critters. Joe at River & Riptide assured us that RI DEM has been working hard getting trout waters stocked to the brim in time for Opening Day on April 13.
Connecticut Fishing Report
In Connecticut you don’t have to wait until Opening Day to fish for trout. The CT DEEP has stocked several catch-and-release Trout Management Areas (TMA) including those on the Naugatuck River, Coppermine Brook, Pequabuck River, Mill River (Hamden), 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. These fish shouldn’t be too picky or spread out yet, so find a pod of them and the tried and true trout lures/flies will work. You can locate exactly where the stocking trucks visit by using these maps provided by the Inland Fisheries Division.
For anyone looking to up their fly fishing skills before Opening Day, Derrick Kirkpatrick of CT Fish Guides will be conducting a seminar on the banks of the Farmington River this Sunday. A longtime guide and Farmington River regular, Derrick will be teaching attendees the finer points of nymphing with a strike indicator by sharing various techniques, rigs, equipment, and flies used to coax big trout with this proven method. Call UpCountry Sportfishing at (860) 379-1952 for more details.
In the Connecticut River, Andrew at Fishin’ Factory III said northern pike are still being caught in the Haddam stretch, especially on dead golden pond shiners fished on bottom near creek mouths. He also stressed practicing CPR (catch-photo-release) with any pike caught this time of year because many are in spawning mode. Andrew also noted that resident striped bass in the Connecticut River are becoming more active as water temperatures rise. Anglers dunking sandworms are catching in Haddam and Hartford, and Q at Rivers End said small stripers are being caught in Hamburg Cove on soft-plastic baits on jig heads.
Another river where anglers are finding holdover striped bass is the Housatonic River. Jason of Bobby J’s Bait and Tackle said it’s far from gangbusters and the weather hasn’t been helping, but they are still pulling out decent bass on occasion. With ice in their guides on Tuesday night, Jason landed three keepers and his buddy landed an 18-pounder, all on black Slug-Gos on ½-ounce jig heads with a slow retrieve. Most of the fish are still coming north of Merritt Parkway.
In saltwater news, winter flounder and blackfish season opened up on Monday without much fanfare due to it being a weekday and water temperatures still being what they are Matt at Hillyers Tackle expects a lot more reports after this weekend, especially since the weather looks great. If you go for flounder, Matt suggested sticking to river mouths and coves. If you try for tautog, he recommended rock piles, but not too deep and wanted to remind anglers that sandworms and clams work just fine this time of year without bait-stealing scup around.
Fishing Forecast for Connecticut and Rhode Island
In freshwater, the best bet this weekend remains freshly stocked trout in Connecticut’s Trout Management Areas. This can be fast and fun fishing if you can find a pile of cooperative stockies. Not a bad way to get a youngster introduced to the sport either! For Rhode Island trout anglers, the Yantic and Salmon River TMA’s aren’t too far of a drive over the border. In saltwater, it’s hard not to go with winter flounder and tautog fishing in Long Island Sound. The bite most likely won’t be anything to write home about yet, but it’s a good feeling to be able to target them again after a long winter.