Rhode Island Fishing Report – April 21, 2016

Tautog action has fired up nicely in Rhode Island and western Long Island Sound, while a nice push of river herring has brought some larger striped bass to the rivers. Fresh school bass are showing up out front and should continue to multiply in numbers.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

The Salt Water Edge in Newport reported that the fresh schoolie stripers are coming in waves. Narraganset, South County and Newport all have fish. South-facing beaches, West Wall, First and Second Beach have been good, but the guys that move around are having the most success. Small soft plastics on jigheads are best, including Zoom Flukes, and small swim shads. 

Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, had just received his first confirmed tautog report when I spoke with him earlier this week. Regular customer, Frank Corso, managed a quick limit of fish outside of the Westport River on Asian crabs. Striped bass fishing is picking up throughout the area with good holdover activity in the Providence River. The Barrington River also has nice mix of holdover and fresh school bass, and anglers are reporting more and more fish at the west wall each day. Largemouth bass fishing remains stellar throughout Rhode Island with anglers finding 3-5 pound bass with great consistency. Live shiners have been a go-to producer of big bass, but topwater plugs and soft plastic baits are also starting to fool fish as the water warms. Trout reports remain consistent in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts; while carp fishing is also starting to benefit from the warming water. Dave is now open 7 days a week and has a great supply of Asian crabs, as well as 160 jars of Uncle Josh pork rinds, which are becoming increasingly harder to find.

Captain Frank, of The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, reported slower action on the cod grounds this week, but the end result of most trips has still been good numbers of keepers. Action has generally been better in the mornings it seems, and Monday’s trip saw lock-and-load action for the first couple of hours. The afternoon slowed down quite a bit, but most customers were still able to head home with multiple keepers. Wednesday’s trip did not share the same red-hot morning action, but there were signs of life all over and many more keepers than shorts overall. The cod grounds are still alive with bait and fish and will likely fish better as the water cleans up from last weekend’s wind. Trips will continue to sail on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 AM, and Frank reminds anglers to check in with the office the night before to make sure everything is on.

Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, was unable to get out last weekend due to the weather but is planning on sailing Friday through Sunday at 5 AM. Call the office a day in advance to check on weather and confirm sailing times. 

Connecticut Fishing Report

Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reports that most customers are hitting the shop for sandworms, as the schoolie bass bite has intensified from Haddam to Hartford. Last week was also a great one for northern pike in the river, as multiple anglers reported large fish around Haddam and Rocky Hill. Trout fishing is good all over Connecticut, with the best catches still coming from the Farmington and Salmon Rivers. The Housatonic remains the hot spot for striped bass feeding on river herring, but over the next two weeks Andrew expects a similar type of action to pick up in the Connecticut.

Hillyers in Waterford added a quick report this week that the local flounder action remains very steady, especially in the river and around the Bluff Point area. Reports of some fresh schoolies filtering into the sound are starting to come in, and a decent pick of small bass can still be found around Millstone. Tautog reports have been quiet but that will likely change as the spring season is winding down and water is warming up. 

At Rivers End in Old Saybrook, Joe reports that the first reports of fresh schoolies are coming in from around the West Haven beaches and throughout Rhode Island. There are likely some fish around the mouth of the Connecticut River as well, but no reports have come in just yet. Schoolie bass action in the upper stretches of the river has been solid, with a lot of fish being caught around Haddam on sandworms. Flounder reports are strong in the Guilford area, while tautog hasn’t really taken off in the eastern sound just yet. Anglers heading out on the Rhode Island party boats have reported good cod action on Coxes Ledge, whenever the winds have allowed.

At Bobby J’s Bait and Tackle in Milford, blackfish reports are pouring in much more rapidly than out east. The western sound breakwalls and shallow rockpiles are now holding fish, and anglers should capitalize while the season is still open. Most anglers have reported a steady pick of 3-5 pound keepers, and Chris Brockett weighed in a 10.3-pound beauty this week. The Housatonic remains steady for striped bass, and can be found from Caswell Cove to the dam; as the river herring have really started to inundate the river. A few second hand reports of fish out front have also come in so it shouldn’t be long now. Freshwater anglers have continued to find success in most of the trout rivers and streams throughout western CT, with a few fish around the 4-pound mark coming through the shop this week.

Mike Roy of Reel Cast Charters now has the boat in the water and reported an excellent start to his season. Light-tackle striped bass action has greatly picked up in the Connecticut tidal rivers over the past few days, with fish spread all over and feeding actively. The topwater bite has been strong during daylight hours, along with soft plastics and flies. After dark, large herring imitator plugs are getting the job done and some keepers are starting to show up as well.

Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow, reports that Hendricksons hatched up and down the river last Sunday and anglers have been cashing in on a strong trout bite. Good reports have been as far up as the pipeline and as far downstream as Collinsville/Unionville. The Farmington is now at an excellent and clear 255 cfs in the permanent catch and release area. The entire river outside of that catch and release area has been stocked multiple times over the past few weeks, so action is strong and steady. Along with Hendricksons, #18 Mahogany Duns, #16-18 Blue Wing Olives (Baetis), and Black Midges #22-32 have also been seen hatching in the afternoons. Torrey recommends not limiting yourself to the more common stretches of the river, as they get hit hard and there is excellent fishing throughout its entirety.

The Farmington is currently an excellent & clear total flow of 255cfs in the permanent Catch & Release area (157cfs from the dam in Riverton, 98cfs from the Still River). Sun & clouds with a predicted high of 79 today (Monday), and averaging in the 60’s to low 70’s after that. The entire river outside the permanent C&R section has been stocked multiple times over the past 6 weeks. Also hatching in the afternoons are #18 Mahogany Duns (aka Paraleps/Blue Quills), #16-18 Blue Wing Olives (Baetis), and Black Midges #22-32. Fishing is definitely picking up again with the mild weather, Hendrickson hatch, and frequent stocking by the state. It’s been good all up & down the river, from the dam in Riverton all the way down to Unionville. Don’t limit yourself to only the more popular sections of the river, as there is literally excellent fishing all over it.

Rhode Island Fishing Forecast

As we approach May, great fishing options seem to multiply by the week. River herring have made a strong push into our tidal rivers and brought striped bass fishing from good to great. Tautog fishing seems to have really picked up nicely in Rhode Island and portions of Long Island Sound. The spring season is a short lived one, so look to capatilize on this bite over the weekend if possible. Trout fishing seems to have not slowed at all from its strong start, and good fish can still be had in both states.