Despite some bitter winter weather this week, the weather gods are still not smiling on ice fishermen, as the stiff winds kept the majority of our lakes and ponds open. Small bodies of water that had a base of ice prior to the winds should be plenty safe for drilling, but options remain relatively limited. Trout action continues to provide an outlet for freshwater anglers, while cod fishing remains strong whenever the weather has allowed.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, was only able to sail once this past Friday and results remained very good on the cod grounds. Most anglers were able to manage limits despite less-than-ideal conditions. The weekend forecast doesn’t look great outside of Friday, and Sunday has potential to be manageable as well. If you have the opportunity to get out Friday take advantage of one of the better days of the past two weeks.
Captain Frank, of The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, reported that they were able to sail twice last week, with mixed, but still positive results. Tuesday was a very good day out on the cod grounds, with many fish into the 20-pound class. Friday’s trip also saw great action, but anglers had to deal with a great deal of short fish. Despite a number of shorts, most anglers still managed limits on Friday. Some large ocean perch remain in the mix, and are keeping things interesting. Bait and jigs have been producing equally well, but Frank mentioned that drift conditions have required heavy weight (16-20 oz), so be sure to bring fairly stout gear. The fleet will sail daily at 5 AM, weather permitting.
Outside of some of the smaller, elevated ponds, there isn’t much fishable ice in the Ocean State just yet. At Ocean State Tackle in Providence, anglers continue to buy up cod gear in an effort to get out when conditions allow. Most freshwater anglers have opted to head north to find some ice or continue to hit the trout streams that are producing well. The Wood River and Blackstone River were stocked heavily last year, and provide plenty of quality access spots for winter trout anglers.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reports that things are still in a bit of an in-between pattern at the moment. There is some fishable ice in the higher elevations, but the bulk of the more popular destinations remained open with this week’s wind. Bodies of water that were locked up prior to this week now have a nice base of ice, but outside of small farm ponds we are talking about a handful of lakes. There is just about enough ice in Connecticut to scratch the itch, but anglers waiting for the bigger lakes to freeze may want to hit the Farmington and Salmon River TMA’s, where winter trout action remains very good. There is still some adult bunker in the lower Connecticut River tributaries, and a few schools of small striped bass are also holding up in the area. The die-hard winter bass anglers are still finding some fish in the Housatonic, but skim icebergs and tough winds are making things difficult. Andrew continues to sell plenty of cod gear, and mentioned that this winter fishery is one of the strongest in years.
Rich, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports that the local sea herring fishing is still very good around Norwalk, although the wind has made things tricky. Friday and Sunday look like two of the milder days in the upcoming forecast, and should provide a good opportunity to get more herring before they are gone or the harbors freeze over. Around the aquarium, Ash Creek and the mouth of the Saugatuck are all good places to start. The Housatonic striped bass fishing has gotten much more difficult, but anglers are still reporting fairly consistent catches of small bass, with the occasional keeper mixed in. The southwestern portion of the state is pretty much devoid of fishable ice, and freshwater anglers continue to take to the TMA’s for trout action.
Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow, reported that a longtime customer, Farmington Fred, had a banner day recently. Fred managed about 15 trout to 20 inches, despite falling temperatures. Ron Merly also chimed in this week, with a 23 inch brown taken on a #10 stonefly nymph. The cold nighttime temperatures are only producing a bit of slush ice, which has generally cleared by mid-morning. Colder temps have also improved the winter caddis hatch, with #20-24 imitators producing well in the early to mid-morning hours. As the surface temperatures climb throughout the day, some surface action has been taking place on the deeper pools. Anglers are reporting good success with #22-32 midges throughout the afternoons. With a mild forecast for Friday and Sunday, anglers should be able to take advantage of good caddis hatches in the mornings, followed by some sub-surface action in the afternoons.
Best bets for the weekend
Every time it looks like the ice fishing season is about to take off, a weather pattern pops up that delays things. For those dying to bust out the auger, there is some fishable ice in the higher elevations, but proceed with caution. Continual warming and cooling, coupled with strong winds has created some very uneven ice in a lot of places. Saltwater anglers have been blessed with some great cod fishing in Rhode Island, and some strong herring fishing in the western sound. Friday looks like a perfect day to target either of the species if you have the opportunity.