Despite some cold weekend temperature, there is a lack of ice throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut. Freshwater anglers are cashing in with great catches of largemouth bass, perch, calicoes, holdover stripers, and trout in the TMAs.
Connecticut Fishing Report
The state of Connecticut spent a good deal of time stocking the TMA’s throughout the state this week and anglers are taking notice according to Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown. Out east, the Willimantic River TMA and Salmon River TMA were stocked, and early reports from the Salmon have been very strong. The Salmon River TMA is located below the junction of the Blackledge and Jeremy Rivers, down to the RT 16 bridge. Be sure to check the angler’s guide for specifics on the area, and locations that may be fly-fishing only. The Hockanum TMA in Manchester/Vernon, Mill River TMA in Hamden and the Farmington River TMAs are also full of fresh fish, and are fishing well. The red-hot pike bite of last week slowed a bit with the colder weather, but those fish are still on the move and put on some strong feeds if you can time it right. The stretch from Middletown to Haddam has produced best, with a good number of fish holding up around the feeder streams. The yellow perch and white perch bite in the lower river coves are also still producing very well, and at times large schools of both fish are intermingled.
At Blackhall Outfitters in Old Lyme, the guys reported that the holdover fishing was excellent in the area this past week, especially on the warmer days. A good number of anglers reported trips where two fish on one cast weren’t uncommon. The white perch bite is really starting to get going as well in the local coves, with the best producers being a small curly-tailed grub on a very light jighead.
Joe, at Rivers End in Old Saybrook, reported that consistent reports of schoolie striped bass from the DEEP docks were coming in this week, on both bait and lures. A number of local anglers also reported good catches of pre-spawn pike around the Haddam area. The Housatonic is still producing some good bass catches on the warmer days, and white perch seems to be hitting its stride locally. Just a reminder, the shop will be holding its annual Surf Day on March 25th, and it’s always a safe bet for a great time!
Jeremy, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, told me that the cold weather of the weekend slowed down the bite in the Housatonic, but before that it was going strong with bass catches to 30-pounds on the warmer days. As usual, it will fish well on the warmer days, but the cold days forecasted for the weekend will likely be slower. The state has stocked most of the western CT TMA’s, and fishing has been good throughout. The Saugatuck River TMA, Mill River (Fairfield) TMA, and Mianus TMA were all stocked this week, and are good places to start.
Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow, was happy to report that after 7 months of very low releases from the dam, the MDC has upped the release to 130 cfs. We are not out of the woods just yet, but for now the drought conditions are trending in the right direction. From a fishing standpoint, things are much better with the new flows; and outside of a few cold days this weekend, the river should continue to fish very well through March. The river has been seeing Winter/Early Stones lately, and while trout do rise to the stones, they have been feeding more actively on nymphs. Stonefly imitations are working, as do generic flies like Princes, Pheasant Tails and Hare’s Ears. Many anglers like the 11-3 pm hours, but Torrey thinks things are best from mid-afternoon until dark, when water temps are usually highest. Other bugs to look for are Winter Caddis (18-24) in the mornings and Midges (22-32) in the afternoons. Nymphing remains the most consistent producer of trout, but streamers have been very effective as well. Streamers have also been excellent recently, and Torrey recommends experimenting with colors and retrieves to find what’s best.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
A stretch of rough weather has made things difficult for The The Frances Fleet in Narragansett. The crew was only able to get out once last week, but the trip was a success. Captain Matt reported a nice pick of market-sized cod, up to the 10-pound mark. Most anglers went home with 3 to 4 keepers apiece. Captain Matt once again reported a good deal of bait on the cod grounds, even more than the week prior when the numbers were good. Unfortunately, the weather but a damper on things over the weekend and when the crew sailed early this week things were tough due to the dirty water from the blow. This weekend looks to be a colder one, but if the wind continues to settle the fishing should once again pick up. The fleet will sail for cod daily at 5 AM, and the strongly suggest checking ahead and making reservations if you can.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, reports that local anglers continue to pound the freshwater, as any skim ice that was made last weekend quickly dissipated. The largemouth bass bite continues to be a popular option throughout most of Rhode Island, and just over the border in Massachusetts. The carp bite continues to be very strong at spots such as the Blackstone River, with the best catches coming on the warmer days. The weekend looks to be a cold one, but as usual, the temperature will spike right back up early next week. Holdover bass fishing remains very strong in the Providence River, and a few of the smaller South County tributaries. The white perch and calico don’t seem to mind the cold, as reports have been strong for both species, at just about every body of water that is currently holding them. Rhode Island trout fishing is now closed in all bodies of water except for the TMA’s, but those TMA’s should continue to fish well right up to opening day.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Just like last weekend, a quick blast of cold weather is set to hit us at the most inopportune time. If you were waiting for the weekend to get out and do some fishing, be sure to dress warm. Luckily, this latest batch of cold weather is once again set to be short-lived. Temps will rise greatly next week, and many fishing options will remain available. Holdover bass is a great way to spend the time until spring really hits, and can be done throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut. Bass, pike, yellow perch, white perch and calico are all being readily caught in both states, and that shouldn’t change much next week. The state of Connecticut has done a great job keeping their open trout waters full of fresh trout, and the TMAs are one of the best places to spend time awaiting opening day.