While temperatures are remaining on the cooler side, the days are getting longer and sunshine has been plentiful. It would appear that spring is finally here to stay and evidence of this can be seen in rivers and streams across the region. The anadromous herring run is beginning to blossom and these annual visitors are showing up in greater numbers each day. Fresh striped bass have yet to show up in substantial numbers but large holdover bass have been taking full advantage of the recent increase in large bait. Opening day of trout season is now behind us in both states, but flows remain ideal and there are still plenty of hungry fish to be had in both Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Plenty of fishing efforts have been focused on the west wall in Narragansett, where anglers are eagerly awaiting the first true push of fresh striped bass to show. According to Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown, most fishermen have yet to be truly rewarded for their efforts along the oceanfront, but a few schoolies have hit the rocks this week and that has been just enough to keep angling efforts high. Holdover bass fishing remains consistent in the upper bay and anglers fishing small soft plastics on light jigs have fared better than those fishing the oceanfront.

Howard, at Galilee Bait and Tackle in Point Judith, has also received a few first-hand reports of schoolies around the west wall, although reports have not really increased in number since last week and will likely remain on the low side until we are able to string a few warm days together consecutively.

The Frances Fleet of Narragansett has not yet given up on the 2014 cod bite and Captain Matt reported some of the better fishing of the season over the holiday weekend. A new batch of fish has shown up in local waters and a good number both keepers and short fish were available to everyone on board. The captain reported that the water has finally settled and has both warmed up and cleaned up over the past few days, and fishing should remain good for at least a few more days.

The Wood River remains the primary focus of attention for trout anglers across Rhode Island. Quality brown and rainbow trout have been plentiful in nearly all of the pools across the vast expanses of the river. Spin fishermen have had the best success casting small Kastmasters and other small metal offerings in white, pink and chartreuse; while fly anglers have been scoring good catches on basic white and brown streamer flies.

Connecticut Fishing Report

The epicenter of spring run striped bass in April and May is in the state of Connecticut, where quality bass can be found chasing river herring at every side of the state. That spring run is beginning to hit full stride and in eastern Connecticut great numbers of herring have invaded the Thames River estuary and large holdover bass can be found following these schools to all their usual haunts. The Fish Connection in Preston reported that Poquetanuck Cove has been a hotspot for holdover bass, specifically after dark and when the water is high. The Shetucket River is also holding sizeable populations of herring and bass from the harbor up to the dam. Shorebound anglers have been scoring good catches of bass around the dam; while kayak fishermen have been hooking up with heavy holdovers throughout the river when flows have been up.

Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reported that water levels have finally started to drop in the Connecticut River and it’s shaping up to be another excellent herring run. Anglers dunking sandworms have been scoring excellent numbers of schoolies from point all over the river; while bigger bass have been found tailing the herring around all the smaller tributaries of the river. If you can locate a good school of bait, keeper bass should be pretty easy to obtain. The water remains very stained and 9 inch sluggos in very bright colors have been the bait of choice for larger bass.

Opening day was successful for many Connecticut anglers with Andrew seeing brown trout approaching the 6-pound mark and rainbows over the 10-pound mark hitting his scales last weekend. Quality brown trout have been coming with regularity from the Farmington and Willimantic Rivers; while the best shot at a big “bow” remains the Salmon or Nachaug River.

In the salt, spring tautog efforts have been kept a minimum but winter flounder reports have gotten increasingly better from the Niantic River and Bluff Point in the east, with the mouth of the Housatonic River holding some keeper flounder in the east.

The Housatonic River has yet to see the numbers of herring that are being reported from points east, but bait is starting to show up and great numbers of holdover bass remain prevalent in the river. Mike Roy, of Reel Cast Charters, was able to make a few trips this week and noted that water temperatures finally eclipsed the 50-degree mark. According to Mike, the slight rise in water temperature resulted in a spike in the aggressiveness of the bass. In the past few weeks bass have been holding tight to the bottom and have only taken small, slow offerings with regularity. This week Mike was able to hook-up with bass throughout the water column on larger swimming plugs, with many of them over the 28-inch mark.

Fishing Forecast for Rhode Island and Connecticut

With spring finally being here to stay angling opportunities are increasing daily. As we patiently await the arrival of fresh striped bass, there remains excellent opportunities to score quality holdover fish from Rhode Island through Connecticut. Spring-run striped bass provides some great fishing with minimal effort and travel expenses, along with an excellent chance to take home a nice fish for the table.