The spring run certainly took its time to arrive, but when it finally showed up, it did so with a bang. By what seemed like the flip of a light switch, our cold and seemingly dormant waters erupted with migratory striped bass invading the coastline.

Connecticut Fishing Report

The Connecticut River has dropped and started to clean up substantially over the past few days and that has resulted in excellent fishing across the whole stretch. Blaine Anderson, of Anderson Guide Services and J&B Tackle in Niantic, put together a couple of very successful light-tackle striped bass charters in the upper stretches of the river this week. Bass of higher quality and quantity have moved upriver in great numbers this week and can be found chasing river herring around all the rivers smaller tributaries. Large soft plastics, swimming plugs and topwater spooks have accounted for keeper-bass this week and with the weather stabilizing and warming, this weekend should be a good one on the river.

Andrew, at Fishin’ Factory III in Middletown, reported more of the same for the Connecticut River, with anglers reporting good catches of keeper striped bass from points north and south. Anglers fishing large artificials around the herring schools have done well in the central and northern stretches of the river, while anglers dunking sandworms and cut bait have found some keepers in the lower stretches. Reports of sizeable bass also continue to come in from the Thames River basin where some quality fish can be found following herring in the Shetucket River and Poquetanuck Cove. Andrew also reported that the Salmon River was recently re-stocked by the DEEP and remains a hotbed for quality trout of all variations.

Out west, Mike Roy of Reel Cast Charters, continued his hot spring in the Housatonic River and was able to put together a few nights of quality bass fishing. A sharp increase in fish activity coincided with the warmer temperatures and Mike was able to find most of his fish on topwater and large swimming plugs. Stripers continue to hold from the mouth of the river north to Shelton and Derby with the larger specimens tight to the herring schools in the upper river.

Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reported that the Housatonic River remains the safest best for quality striped bass fishing this week, with bass up to 42 inches coming from the upper stretches. While not as hot and heavy as the Housatonic, some good catches of bass have also been reported from the Saugatuck River and Norwalk Harbor. Menhaden has inundated the far western sound and it is only a short matter of time before some larger fresh linesiders take notice. Unfortunately, tautog remains closed in Connecticut but winter flounder has kept the bottom fishermen busy out west. Keeper flounder continue to be caught with some regularity in Norwalk Harbor on both clams and sandworms. The Saugatuck and Norwalk Rivers have kept western Connecticut trout anglers busy the past few weeks, and with the DEEP planning to restock those aforementioned waters in the near future it should remain strong through the spring.

Fishing Forecast for Connecticut

The spring we have all been waiting for is finally here and fishing opportunities are plentiful. Whether it be chasing quality striped bass in the Housatonic and Connecticut rivers or wetting a fly in a local trout stream, the options are there and the warm weekend should only improve things.