SALTWATER
The spring run is in full swing and striped bass fishing is HOT here in Connecticut. The harbors have big schools of bunker with bass right on them and the rivers are loaded with herring, too. The Housatonic and Connecticut have been fishing very well with both rivers producing fish up to and a few over 40″. Been seeing a lot more cows coming from the CT on fresh bunker, though. The lower Thames has been producing smaller fish but a lot of them. The early morning topwater bite has been good with un-weighted Slug-Gos and pencil poppers. Yellows and orange have been productive colors early morning. Once the sun is high switch it up to swimmers Bombers and X-Raps are a good idea. During the evening/night time bite you can’t go wrong with some more top water action with dark colors and of course black soft plastics fished on the bottom. Some anglers have been doing well with tape and sand worms. You will end up with a mess of schoolies but have the chance of some decent fish. Guys n’ gals fishing the harbors and mouths of the rivers have gotten some good fish while dunking chunks. Fluke season opens up on Sunday, 5/17. A few good sized fish came as bycatch aboard Pelagic Beast charters as they were in search of striped bass out of Norwalk. So if that’s any indicator, the season should start of great! The Black Hawk reported some good porgy action earlier in the week. With warming temps bigger schools of fish will be moving in soon.
FRESHWATER
Trout fishing is still going strong and DEEP recently stocked the Pequabuck River, Scoville Reservoir, Hall Meadow Brook, Black pond, Hockanum, Upper Naugatuck River, Stillwater Pond, Salmon River, Dickenson Creek and Blackledge River. Anglers are still finding some quality fish and plenty of them. A 22″ brown came from the Farmington this past week. Torrey of Upcountry Outfitters said the warmer weather is here and the Caddis hatch won’t be far behind. The main Hendrickson hatch is now mostly above the TMA, from Whittemore pool right up to the dam is where he’d want to be for the afternoon hatch. Still medium to heavy spinner falls in the TMA, he’s been seeing them at the traditional evening time, as well as mornings too of late. The spinners usually keep going for a good week after the hatch ends.
Bass fishing remains hot across CT. On many small lakes and ponds the water temperatures are just right and fish are spawning. Bed fishing is a hot topic right now and if you can find them, you have a chance at some real pigs. Just be sure to get them back in the water promptly and safely. Tubes, lizards and larger worms are great choices when targeting bedding bass. The bass will protect their bed at all costs and bigger baits will trigger strikes out of aggression. Other good lure choices have been spinner baits, Keitechs and crankbaits for more active fish. Some good largemouth came from Candlewood, Bantam (5lb 8oz lunker), Batterson, Highland and Pachaug pond. Smallie action has been great on Candlewood (4lb 3oz lunker), Bantam, Colebrook, Saugatuck reservoir and Squantz.
A few pike came from the Housatonic river. Some on the upper Housy on large streamers and a 41″ fish came from the tidal section of the river. The CT river is hot right now as well and these fish are hungry. Large spinners, spinner baits and Rapalas are working well. Lillinonah and Zoar gave up some smaller fish this past week as well. Some decent sized walleye came from Zoar, Saugatuck Reservoir and Squantz pond. Fishing shiners early morning and evening into the night seems to be the most productive method when chasing eyes lately.
Catfish reports are still excellent with some decent fish coming from Silver lake and the Housatonic river system. But if you want monster cats then the CT river is the place to be. Some fish upwards of 15lbs were reported! Chunk bait is the way to go for big cats. Crappie fishing is ridiculously good and fish can be found shallow especially after dark as they stalk baitfish near their beds. Small shiners, small Rapalas and micro soft plastics/jigs have been very productive. Candlewood, Saugatuck reservoir, Mamanasco, Rogers lake, Long Meadow and Lillinonah have been giving up some slabs. Its all about finesse and vertical jigging is hot. Not many carp reports this week. Just a few in the 20lb range and a 27-pound fish from the CT river.
NOTE: There has been a lot of reports of poachers taking small fish and/or too many fish down in West Haven and also along the CT and Housatonic rivers. If you see any violations such as these, please take action and call the DEEP hotline to report poachers at 800-842-HELP.