If the recent weather has you incredibly confused, I think it’s safe to say that you are not in the minority. The past week saw temperatures of nearly 60 degrees with driving rain followed by oppressive cold in the low single-digits, less than 24 hours later. The colder weather has prevailed over the warmth, and the most viable fishing options across the Northeast remain on the hardwater. However, there looks to be another (lesser) warm-up coming this weekend, which should provide some more options.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

There has not been much action on the cod front over the past few days with temperatures hovering in the low single-digits and frigid winds gusting relentlessly. Captain Mike, of the Frances Fleet in Narragansett, sailed last Sunday and reported a strong bite. That bite was short lived as Sunday was really the only day of the last six that provided a window for some quality fishing. The weather is forecasted to stabilize for the end of this week and the fleet plans to sail Thursday through Sunday.

A similar report came in from the Island Current in Snug Harbor, which has not yet sailed since the new year rolled in. They will be sailing Thursday-Saturday and anticipate the bite to be as good as they left it at the end of 2013.

There has not been anything to talk about on the holdover striper front as the heavy rains and frigid temperatures have made the Providence River nearly unfishable. I do anticipate some positive striper reports to come in this upcoming weekend as temperatures rise a bit and stabilize.

The heavy rains of Sunday night through Monday morning did not do too much damage to the ice across Rhode Island as temperatures quickly plummeted afterward. Local fishing forums, such as iceshanty.com, are loaded with reports from across the state, although most anglers choose not to divulge exact locations.

Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown reported a good number of ice anglers coming through the shop for bait this week, but once again lips have been sealed about locations. One angler reported a very good pike bite with three fish from 30 to 36 inches from a lake in northeast Rhode Island, while multiple anglers reported good ice, a good trout bite and fairly large crowds of anglers on Lincoln Woods. A few anglers also ventured out on Stump Pond for a chance at some large northern pike and reported 3 to 4 inches of black ice on the coves, but the middle of the lake is still iffy.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Quality ice is becoming easier and easier to come by across Connecticut and ice fishing has really begun to hit its stride. The rains of the past weekend actually did more good than harm in most places as it melted all the snow pack off the ice and got us back to smooth black ice.

The Connecticut River took the rain pretty well and most of the coves and backwaters have 6 inches of ice or more. Blaine Anderson of Anderson Guide Service spent the better part of this week on a few of those coves in central Connecticut, where he experienced an excellent jig bite for jumbo crappie and yellow perch. Large crappie have been falling for Lindy jigs all week, including a few that were pushing 16 inches.

Andrew, at Fishin Factory III in Middletown reiterated the point that the crappie and perch bite has been excellent in the river coves on the jig. Northern pike reports on the river have been on the slow side the last few days but anglers have reported good success targeting the toothy fish at Pachaug Pond and Hopeville. Four to six inches of ice is being reported at Upper Moodus Reservoir and large shiners fished under tip-ups have been fooling up 3 to 4 pound largemouth with some consistency.

Candlewood Lake is starting to see some decent ice set up in select locations but for the most part it is not ready yet. The Valley Angler in Danbury has seen many of its customers head out to smaller ponds in the area in search of largemouth and panfish. The impoundments of the Housatonic River, such as Lake Zoar and Lillinonah are holding good ice in some of the better-known locations and anglers are reporting good catches of crappie and white perch on the jig at both lakes. Pike anglers in the area have turned their attention to Bantam Lake, where catch rates are being described as slightly slower than usual, although that is likely more due to the target species than the body of water. The Valley Angler announced the date and location for their annual “Jig and Pig” tournament. As of right now it is scheduled for February 1st at Squantz Pond in New Fairfield. There is some good ice on the pond already and with the cold long-term weather that is forecasted, this great tournament should go off without a hitch. I will continue to keep you updated on the status of the tournament in the upcoming weeks.

Much like Rhode Island, reports of holdover stripers in Connecticut have been halted this week, but I anticipate that to change with some milder nights forecasted for the weekend.

Best Bets for the Weekend

These up-and-down weather patterns are enough to drive any angler crazy, but they are starting to become more common across New England. Luckily, the colds have been cold enough to build a nice base of ice across most of our lakes and finding safe ice should not be a difficult task despite another warm-up this weekend. While the ice on our lakes and ponds should hold, the ice that is locking up our local tidal rivers should be well gone by the weekend and the mild nights should provide a few opportunities for great holdover striper action.