SALTWATER
Striped bass fishing looks to have slowed down this week. Nevertheless, the Housatonic and CT rivers have been giving up excellent fish up to 40″. The Thames has been slow and even a few schoolies came from the lower Farmington. The CT is where the largest fish seem to be coming from. But don’t overlook the harbors as an option. Cows have been cruising the harbors while chasing a plethora of bunker that are present. Snagging your own bait is always an option and it has been productive for many anglers, both live and chunked. Some decent fish were reported from the DEEP dock with some up to 34″. SP minnows and bombers accounted from some fish in the rivers. But, large top water offerings aren’t a bad idea either from dusk til dawn. Fluke season kicked off on the 17th but reports have been a little slow. No doormats but fish up to 28″ were reported. Some were caught in about 40′ of water on fresh squid while drifting. A few weakfish were reported from New Haven harbor. The action was a lot better down in Milford. Bobby J’s bait and tackle reported more than a dozen Weakfish caught, some weighing up to 7lbs. The porgy action is steadily increasing each day. Ted’s bait and tackle said this morning that the bluefish have hit the river. Harbor blues are everywhere!
FRESHWATER
Largemouth fishing is excellent right now. Good fish came from Hatch pond, Candlewood, Ball pond, Saltonstall, Saugatuck reservoir, upper Moodus and Bantam lake. Smallmouth fishing has also remained good with some great catches coming from Candlewood, Colebrook, Bantam, CT river and the Saugatuck reservoir. Fish are on beds in many places and others are moving in now. Throwing soft plastics on beds are a good bet to hook up. Spinner baits and swim jigs are still producing fish that are willing to give chase. The topwater bite is happening on many small lakes and ponds. Poppers and Spook Jr’s have been successful in getting hits. Seems to be a lot of smaller fish, though. Crappie fishing has been on fire with some serious slabs coming from Candlewood, Lillinonah Mamanasco and Hatch pond. Good fish up to 16″ have been found pretty shallow in as little as 4′ of water on the bigger lakes. Finesse jigs and micro soft plastics accounted for many catches. The 2.8″ Keitech swing impacts are also irresistible. White perch have been chewing and good action is being reported from Hamburg cove and the upper Lieutenant river. Coves on the Housatonic and CT are good bets when looking for white perch right now.
Carp fishing is really picking up and many fish over the 30lb mark have hit the banks of the big rivers this past week. Candlewood, Squantz and Zoar produced a good number of fish in the 20lb range. Put in the time and bait heavily, you’ll be rewarded. Catfish were reported from Lillinonah, Candlewood, Silver lake and the CT river. Again, the biggest cats are coming from the CT on chunk bait. A few pike were came from the CT, Housatonic and Pachaug rivers. Large spinner baits have been producing some decent fish. Walleye came from Squantz (6lb lunker), Batterson and the Saugatuck reservoir. Shiners under slip bobbers have been productive. Just remember to use light line and some circle hooks to avoid those teeth. Trout fishing is awesome right now here in Connecticut. Good reports keep coming from Squantz (11lb 3oz) and the Saugatuck reservoir. Candlewood, West Hill and Ball pond gave up some better than average browns. The upper Housatonic and Farmington rivers have been seeing great action lately as well. Multiple browns over the 20″ mark came from the Farmington with one giant 29″ fish from the TMA. Torrey at Upcountry Outfitters said that productive presentations have been Tan & Olive/Green Caddis (sz 14-18), March Brown/Gray Fox (sz10-12), Hendricksons (sz12-14), Hendrickson Spinnners (sz12-14), Winter Caddis (sz18-22), Blue Wing Olives (sz16-24), and Mahogany Duns/Blue Quill (sz16-18). DEEP is continuing their stocking efforts so there is much more action still to come.
