Below-normal temperatures are keeping ice fishermen happy, while more open water is finally showing itself in the rivers.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
The weather over the past week wasn’t ideal, but it was just good enough for The Frances Fleet in Narragansett to make a few cod trips. With water temperatures still unseasonably cold, the bite has remained on the slow side. The fleet was able to find some keeper cod, along with some ling and some big white hake. Spring is right around the corner and Captain Frank is confident that a rise in sea-surface temperatures will bring some bait balls and hungry cod back to the grounds.
The Island Current of Snug Harbor was also able to sneak out a few times this week and made the run out to Block Island. Fishing was far from hot and heavy, but the crew reported that keeper fish were taken on most drops. Numbers were not great, but keeper fish from the low to upper teens took the pool on each trip. Captain Scott was encouraged by the quality fish that came over the rails, even if there weren’t too many of them, and is confident that more fish will move back into the area as temperatures rise.
By March 19th most Rhode Island ice fishermen have started packing their gear away for the season, but an extreme winter and a quick blast of cold air the late this week are keeping many lakes nice and solid for the upcoming weekend.
In South County, Wordens Pond and Chapman Pond are reported to have over a foot of ice, and they are offering a good bass bite with a few pike mixed in. The same can be said for Stump Pond in Kent County, where plenty of ice and action is reported.
Wilson’s Reservoir is also holding good ice and remains one of the more popular ice fishing destinations in the state. Largemouth bass and chain pickerel over 4 pounds were reported from the reservoir this week, so those who are going are scoring good catches.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, told me that the warmer weather early this week brought a lot of anglers to the shop who are preparing for open water fishing. Besides the TMA’s and a few river areas, ice fishing is still dominating most of the angling attention. The main portions of the Connecticut River have blown open and as shoreline snow starts to melt, some open-water opportunities are opening up. The coves of the river are still locked up good and ice fishermen are reporting a consistent panfish bite and an improving pike bite. The edges are starting to go, but for the most part the coves are all accessible. Candlewood lake continues to produce in a stellar way, and one regular actually reported 46 smallmouth landed in one day between three guys. The edges are starting to go at Candlewood, but if you can access the ice with a plank (and plenty of caution) there remains fiahable ice.
Joe, at Rivers End in Old Saybrook, still had a few anglers coming in to pick up ice-fishing bait and head out to the local ponds this week. Just about every body of water has some type of ice still on it, but some stretches of the lower Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers are starting to open up, and a few stripers are finally being reported via rod and reel. For those of us anxiously waiting to tangle with some striped bass from the shore, the shop will be hosting its annual “Surf Day” this Saturday. There will be some great deals, good eats and some informational seminars from some of the best in the business.
The Valley Angler in Danbury reported that many anglers are still venturing out on the ice at Candlewood and are being rewarded with loads of big smallmouth bass, jumbo yellow perch and a few quality trout. The cold nighttime temperatures over the late portions of this week have cleaned up the ice, and prolonged the season for at least a few more days. A bit further north, the New Milford portion of the Housatonic River is starting to open up more and more each day. This stretch of river will usually provide a short window of very good northern pike fishing right around ice out.
Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow, reported that the flow through the permanent catch and release area in Pleasant Valley has dropped to a clean 200 cfs. These low flows are very conducive to trout rising to the surface; which should work out well as the dry fly guys are starting to catch more and more with the increased surface temperatures. Thursday and Friday will be cooler but the weekend should bring water temps right back up, with plenty of sun forecasted. The big flat pools such as; Church, Greenwoods and Campground are usually steady producers for dry fly fishermen amidst these types of conditions. Bug activity has picked up with various early and winter stones showing up along the riverbanks. Imitating these bugs with Tiny Winter Black (18-24), Early Black (12-16) and Early Brown (14-16) flies should prove successful over the next few weeks. Subsurface caddis larvae (8-18) flies are also producing well, along with medium to large stones (8-12).
Fishing Forecast
The weather for the end of this week is just a friendly reminder that the New England winter is not over quite yet. On the bright side, the sub-freezing temperatures will harden up the ice for the weekend, and plenty of ice fishing options will be available. Saturday and Sunday look like great days to take advantage of the open water in the TMAs, on the tidal rivers, or on a headboat trip.