The ice has faded but the pike bite has not, with great reports of gators feeding across the region; along with an uptick in white perch and holdover bass in the tidal rivers.
Fishing Report For Rhode Island
Captain Frank, of the The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, reports that they were able to get off the dock a few times late last week with some mixed results. Wednesday’s trip saw a good number of cod, while Thursday’s trip was a bit on the slower side. The good news is that there is a ton of bait on the grounds, and things should be picking up as the weather turns. Sunday looks like a beautiful day to get out there, at nearly 60 degrees! They will continue to sail daily at 6 a.m. by reservations only.
Captain Andy, of The Seven B’s in Snug Harbor, reports a quiet week on the grounds, as the weather hasn’t been very cooperative. Fishing was solid last week and all indications point to a ton of bait on the grounds, so things should get going nicely when they get out there. They will continue to sail at 6 a.m. whenever they can, so be sure to check in with Andy at the office to confirm your reservation.
The ice has finally faded and the trout season has closed in Rhode Island, but things are opening up quickly and providing open water options for freshwater anglers. Look to the small ponds that are warming up quickly to open up and provide some great pre-spring largemouth fishing. Skim ice is also starting to fade at Johnson’s Pond and Stump Pond, and the big pre-spawn pike are on the food bag. If the weather continues to improve we should start to see some holdover action in the Providence River and in the salt ponds, but for the time being, bass anglers can cross the border and scratch the itch in the Thames. Another staple of the first week of spring is the New England Saltwater Fishing Show in Providence. The show will be kicking off this Friday and is always a great way to get you geared up for the upcoming season!
Fishing Report For Connecticut
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, has been spending some time getting the shop ready for spring, as he will be moving to his full time hours on April 1st. I spoke with him the other day and he told me that the pre-spawn pike bite on the Connecticut River has absolutely blown open in the past few days. Some anglers have reported landing over 10 fish per day, and there have been some quality fish to 15-pounds in the mix. The best fishing has been coming from the Haddam area, but good reports have been coming in from all over the river and its coves. Rapala Husky Jerks in firetiger, large spinnerbaits and spoons have been the top producers; and you can’t beat a big live or dead bait under a float. The holdover striped bass fishing has been solid in the Housatonic and there have been a few murmurs here and there of some herring showing up. The TMA’s of the Farmington and Salmon Rivers have been fishing well and are freshly stocked.
Joe, at Rivers End in Old Saybrook, told me that a number of anglers reported some good holdover fishing in the Housatonic and some decent catches in the Thames, and has also heard a few rumors of some herring in the area. White perch action is picking up in the marinas and at Hamburg Cove; while the pike action has exploded on the river from Chester to Middletown.
Rich, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, told me that the Housatonic striped bass bite is the main draw in western Connecticut, with the warmer weather this week sparking a strong bite. The action has been steady, but the larger fish are still coming after dark from anglers working the late tides. Things should continue to steadily improve until the first river herring show up and everything blows open. Housatonic Minnows and Dart Spins have been the go-to lures lately, along with the always reliable Zoom Fluke on a jighead. Local anglers are reporting some good action in the TMA’s, as we finally inch closer to opening day. The crew will be at the Rhode Island show this weekend, so stop by and say hello if you make it up there.
Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in New Hartford, reports that the upcoming rain will bump up flow a bit, but shouldn’t negatively affect things too much for the weekend. The temps are slowly starting to rise and bug activity is slowly rising with it. Junk flies and streamers worked pretty well for anglers earlier this week; while action on Caddis larva is starting to pick up as well. Some Early Black and Early Brown Stoneflies have been active and are still on the menu. The streamers have picked up less fish, but it seems to be the best way to find some larger fish, especially for those throwing 4-6” streamers. It remains quality over quantity, but some more fish are starting to be caught after the recent stockings. The average holdover fish being caught have been in the upper teens, but don’t be surprised to find a few over the 20-inch mark; while there are plenty of 12-14 freshly stocked fish in the mix.
Best bets for the weekend
The ice action is over but the open water action picked up without much hesitation. The pre-spawn pike action has been tremendous in the Connecticut River, and solid reports are coming from the ice-free Connecticut and Rhode Island lakes. Holdover striped bass action continues to improve as it warms up and the rumors of a few river herring is an indication that we are getting awfully close to the beginning of the spring run. White perch action should continue to improve in the tidal rivers and largemouth bass fishing options should be plentiful across the region. The Connecticut TMA’s are freshly stocked and fishing great for those who don’t want to wait until opening day. Don’t forget about the Saltwater Show in Rhode Island this weekend, as it is always a great place to pick up some gear and/or some knowledge!