For the second or third time this year, I am following a sub-par ice-fishing report with a report that will speak strictly of ice fishing, as the Northeast is once again entrenched in sub-zero weather. Open-water reports are drying up as the number of frozen and fishable lakes is rising exponentially.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Both The Frances Fleet in Narragansett and The Island Current in Snug Harbor took advantage of the last few pleasant days this past weekend and were able to find some cod on the local grounds. Both crews reported a fairly slow but steady bite of cod and ling. The boats will be anchored for the next few days as they wait out the cold and wind, but be sure to keep an eye on their websites for updated sailing schedules.

Excluding a few lakes and ponds in the northwest corner of the state, there was not much in the way of safe ice this past week. That should all the changing in the upcoming days as frigid temperatures should lock up any open bodies of water and solidify any ice that had honeycombed during the last warm spell. Steve at < “http://www.quakerlanetackle.com/” target=”_blank”>Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown reported that all was quiet on the ice fishing front, minus a few reports from Wilson’s Reservoir and Spring Lake in the northern elevations. Schoolie stripers remained abundant in the Providence River throughout the weekend and into Monday, but the latest arctic blast will likely halt any open water interest, even if the river remains free of ice jams.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Ice fishing is once again hitting its stride across Connecticut as a new batch of fresh cold weather should provide a good deal of safe ice in all regions of the state. While it is too soon to say for sure, the cold weather looks like it is here to stay for an extended period of time, unlike our previous bouts of cold weather which were all quickly followed by spring-like temperatures and rain.

Andrew at Fishin’ Factory III in Middletown has had anglers reporting good ice across the northern portions of the state and recent reports are that the coves on the Connecticut River are once again settling down and locking up. Northern pike fishing has been reported as fair to good at Bantam Lake and a few decent pike and largemouth were caught at Lake Winchester, both lakes are sporting 5-7 inches of ice in most spots. The jigging has been very good for yellow perch and bluegill at Tyler Lake in Goshen where the ice was also reported at six inches and growing fast.

Gary, at Connecticut Outfitters in Wethersfield, has had similar ice reports from the northwest portion of the state, and added that a few salmon were reported from Crystal Lake in Ellington. At the beginning of the week Wethersfield Cove was accessible by the Yacht Club Marina and the ice varied from 5-3 inches as you ventured out from the shoreline. That ice is undoubtedly growing as you read this and anglers have been cashing in on a hot calico bite in 14-18 feet of water.

The Valley Angler in Danbury reported some safe ice on Squantz Pond, where multiple anglers have been reporting good trout action on the jig and on live shiners hung under tip-ups. The coves along the impoundments of the Housatonic River are, for the most part, holding good ice and they are being fished regularly for multiple species. As of the time I was preparing this report Candlewood Lake had some safe ice but in very few select locations, by the weekend many more options should be locked up across the lake. The Valley Angler’s annual Jig & Pig tournament has been scheduled for SATURDAY, February 1st at Squantz Pond and everything remains on track on the tournament front.

Best Bets for the Weekend

This weekend will once again provide an opportunity to fish the hardwater just about anywhere across both Connecticut and Rhode Island. When venturing out this weekend be sure to take all the proper safety precautions as the constant thawing and re-freezing we have experienced this winter has caused the ice to be anything but uniform. The ice will be there but the ice thickness will vary greatly.