A tough weather week has kept reports at a minimum, but good fishing last weekend and a good weekend forecast ahead of us should equal some more excellent early winter fishing.
Connecticut Fishing Report
The Fish Connection in Preston had nothing new to report this week due to the 2+ inches of rain that has put the state in a spring-like flooding situation. Prior to the rain there was still a good concentration of schoolie striped bass in the Thames River from Montville to the mouth. The river should recede as we get into the later part of the weekend, and in all likelihood the bass bite should pick right back up.
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, echoed a similar sentiment, as river reports were red-hot prior to the rain. It will be a few more days before the larger rivers are fishable and perhaps a few more before the smaller streams are stable. Prior to the rains the pike bite in the Connecticut River was excellent, and with no immediate signs of a deep freeze in the forecast, it will pick up again soon. The water will be stained for another week or so, making live or dead baits the best choice for big pike. The Housatonic River was holding the largest number of stripers out of the big three rivers, and should be fishable by this weekend. With the rivers blown out, turning your attention to some local lakes and ponds might also be a good idea this weekend. Andrew reported some decent walleye catches at Coventry Lake, good bass fishing at Moodus and Candlewood, and a few good pike reports from Lake Lillinonah.
The Fisherman’s World in Norwalk also reported a solid striped bass bite in the Housatonic River, and while numbers haven’t been great, herring fishing has been steady in the local harbors. The Saugatuck and Norwalk Rivers are past flood stage, but the Saugatuck Reservoir remains fishable and continues to produce big trout, bass and a few walleye.
Fishing Forecast
The nor’easter that hammered New England this week certainly put a halt on some of the better December fishing, but luckily it wasn’t snow and we should be back to normal in a few days. Inland anglers may want to focus on some local lakes and ponds, as the rivers remain flooded and temperatures are going to keep larger bodies of water from freezing anytime in the immediate future.