The warm temperatures of this past weekend were simply a tease, as we are once again in the midst of a harsh cold spell in the winter that doesn’t seem to want to let up. While some people may be singing the winter blues, most anglers have been taking to the ice, as this has undoubtedly been one of the best ice years of the past decade. Unfortunately, this upcoming Friday will be one of the last opportunities to go after trout (and northern pike in some cases) but plenty of quality bodies of water will likely be fishing safely well into March.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Reports from local ice fishermen were very good from Lincoln Woods this past week, with a number of heavy largemouth bass and a few nice trout hitting the ice. Lincoln Woods is one of the many managed trout lakes across the Ocean State in which the last day of ice fishing out there will be this Friday the 28th. If you could squeeze one more trip in before the final gun sounds, you can likely be rewarded with some excellent fishing.
While a good number of lakes will be closing up shop this weekend, Chapman and Wordens Pond will remain open and both have been responsible for some sizeable largemouth and pickerel on the ice this week.
The warmer nights of the past weekend brought some local striped bass fisherman to the bays and rivers in search of some winter holdovers. Steve McKenna, at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown, reported that some schoolies were taken on light jigs tipped with soft-plastic baits in upper Narragansett Bay, although the fishing has been much slower than in previous winters. A few local anglers reported seeing seals patrolling the upper bay, which likely has an adverse effect on the fishing. Larger concentrations of stripers seem to be holding over in the upper stretches of the Providence River, where a few anglers navigated the ice flows and found some fish by the hurricane barrier. The upcoming frigid temperatures may put a temporary halt to the bass fishing but the upper Providence should continue to provide some good fishing when we finally start to see another thaw.
Conditions were nearly ideal for late February cod fishing last weekend but the local fleets reported a bit of a slowdown in action. Captain Mike, of The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, reported less than stellar fishing last weekend; however a few quality cod were still brought over the rails. The captain is looking to cover some ground and fish some historically productive waters on his upcoming trips and so far the weekend wind forecasts aren’t too bad and the fleet will likely be sailing.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Much like Rhode Island, the majority of Connecticut trout lakes and ponds will be closed after Friday. Bantam Lake will remain open throughout March but targeting pike is prohibited after this Friday. That being said, the state is full of quality fisheries that will remain open and the heavy snow and slush across most of the lakes and ponds has solidified into a base of ice that will hold well into March.
Andrew, at Fishin’ Factory III in Middletown, reported that the snowmelt across our region has brought the Connecticut River back up to more ideal fishing levels and anglers have been cashing in. Wethersfield Cove and Keeney Cove in Glastonbury have been loaded with ice fishermen this week and most have reported great largemouth bass and yellow perch fishing. Fish have been hitting medium shiners under tip-ups as well as small jigs, with the majority of the larger specimens coming on the tip-ups.
A few large northern pike have come on bigger baits at both of the aforementioned coves, while a few anglers have taken the hike to Chapman’s Pond and have been rewarded with even better pike action. Pachaug Pond in the east and Lake Winchester in the west will also remain open through March and both locations have seen some pike on large dead baits this week.
Many of the smaller coves in the lower Housatonic watershed and its adjoining lakes are still holding a great deal of ice. Bobby J’s Bait and Tackle in Milford reported a decent largemouth bite and a very good perch bite, both yellows and whites, for jiggers fishing Lake Zoar and Lake Lillinonah.
Candlewood Lake has more ice than it has seen in quite some time and it will likely be the target of most western CT ice fishermen as it also can be legally fished through March. According to The Valley Angler in Danbury, the Brookfield arm of the lake has seen some very consistent fishing for jumbo perch, smallmouth bass and the occasional trout; while the Danbury arm has had less action but some true lunker smallmouth in the 4- to 5-pound class.
The Housatonic River continued its stronghold as the most productive winter striped bass fishery in the state, as local angler Rich Zaleski navigated the icebergs last weekend and was rewarded with well-over 100 bass in the boat between Saturday and Sunday. Rich did not see any keepers through his endeavors this weekend but a few anglers hit the banks of the river after dark and were able to manage some fish up to the 32-inch mark. Sub-zero temperatures are making conditions tough for the time being but another excellent striped bass spring run seems to be taking shape in the Connecticut tidal rivers.
sent in this photo of a 37-inch northern pike caught through the ice by Brian Jones in Connecticut.
Fishing Forecast for Connecticut and Rhode Island
Thursday and Friday will provide an excellent opportunity to get one of those last late-ice trout trips in before many lakes across Rhode Island and Connecticut close up for the season. If you’re like many of us and can’t make it out until the weekend, take advantage of the great ice season we are having and try your hand at pike, bass or panfish. Be sure to take a look at your local state’s government website or angler’s guide for better clarification on which bodies of water will be open throughout March. For those looking to make a trip on the salt and come home with some fillets, the wind forecast for this weekend look to be ideal for a cod trip aboard one of the local headboats.