Spring is in the air and warmer temps are here this week. Who doesn’t love ice fishing in a t-shirt? Conditions on the ice will get sloppy with warmer temps, but the fishing should be amazing for the next few weeks. Late ice can be as good as first ice, so get out there every chance you get.
Rivers are freeing up as well with good flows from all the melting snow and ice. The Farmington (TMA) has been fishing well for browns. The upper Housatonic (TMA) has also been fishing well with some great browns and bows coming from the river. Warmer temps and better flows are waking up the fish and its only going to be getting better!
As for hard-water fishing, well thats been great too. A lot of good largemouth are being iced all over. Candlewood, Squantz, Pachaug, upper Moodus, Hatch pond, Kenosia and coves all along the CT River. Bronzebacks have been just as active with some fatties coming from Candlewood, Squantz, Highland and Lillinonah. Shiners have been the most productive for bass but thats not to say that jiggin wont ice a few. Some good fish were taken on Swedish Pimples, Rapala Jiggin Raps and Frostee spoons. Tipping your jigs with bait can make a difference too. Trout fishing has been limited to trout management lakes until 3/31, but anglers are still getting into some good fish. Candlewood has been giving up a lot of big browns. This is definitely one of the best ice seasons on the lake in recent memory. Squantz gave up a good number of trout but none of great size. That was the same story at Highland and West Hill pond. Even a lone Kokanee was reported from West Hill over the weekend.
Panfish action has remained HOT! Jumbo yellows that are loaded with eggs have been coming from Candlewood, Lillnonah, Zoar, upper Moodus, lake Housatonic, and CT river coves. White perch are showing up on Lillinonah, Zoar, lake Housatonic and CT river coves too. Fishing in the weeds and the edge of weed lines can get you on some good perch. If you’re having a hard time getting a bite, try dropping your jig down hard and pound the bottom. Sometimes stirring up the silt or weeds can trigger some strikes. Many anglers have been harvesting some excellent fish and will eat like kings. Crappie fishing has been decent with reports coming from Candlewood, Winchester, Mamanasco, Lillinonah, Zoar and Hatch. Fish seem to be schooling up good and are cruising around. Remember, when you find one, there will be many more. Just keep moving and popping holes because these fish move around a lot too. Small shiners will produce some great fish but jigging can be hot as well. Big gills have still been active and are pretty much by catch for anglers targeting perch and crappie. But remember, these scrappy fish are tasty too.
Pike reports were few, with decent fish coming from Lillinonah and some dinks from Pachaug Pond. Big baits like pond shiners and fallfish are a good bet. Fish will be staging to spawn, so be ready for the big girls to roll in. Coves on the CT will be a good bet over the next few weeks for a chance at some quality northerns. Some catfish were pulled from Silver lake and Wethersfield Cove again this week. Also, anglers are still targeting holdover schoolie stripers on coves in our tidal rivers with good success. If all else fails on your adventures…..dont worry, there are plenty pickerel to go around!