January has been an exceptionally painful month for fishing. Like many of us, I’m looking forward with promise in hopes that February brings more definitive, stable temperatures. This time last year we had ice, so I found myself scanning maps of Long Island for possible open streams I had never fished. When the fishing slows down as it does during winter, I try to look at it as a time to develop as an angler and create new opportunities for myself in the coming season. Eager to do something in the name of fishing, I began to practice fly fishing with more tenacity. I practiced on open water at the beaches, just to get a feel for how to fly cast; I even spent time practicing fly casting in my own front yard, which drew attention from a sarcastic passerby. “Catching anything?!”, he heckled with a half chuckle from his car window.
Sure enough, by the early spring I was finally catching fish on my 5-weight. I’m still a novice with a rudimentary understanding of the sport, but fishing is fishing. Expanding our horizons within the sport is one way to oil the machine during the “off season”, and that’s what I plan to do with the remainder of this winter should ice ever form.
I have never been ice fishing, yet I have always wanted to try it. There’s something primitive about drilling a hole in the ice to catch what lurks beneath it, and perhaps that’s the allure of it for me. Or, it’s just the fact that I haven’t caught a fish in weeks, and I am willing to try anything to break the trend. In any case I decided to invest in an ice fishing combo, ready to jump at the first sign of safe ice on Cape Cod. On Long Island though, the reports have included a smidgen of successful ice fishing over the past week, along with windows of open water and trout streams providing anglers with a bite.
From the Shop
Paul from River Bay Outfitters has seen good fishing on the Connetquot. He reported midges hatching this past week, but most of his action came on streamers, and wooly buggers both being fished slowly and close to the bottom. The only fish that took interest were rainbows, with some healthy ones in the mix.
Paul frequents the Croton River, just as I used to when living on Long Island. Recently, New York State changed the regulations for trout fishing which opened all branches of the Croton to fishing 12-months of the year. According to Paul, New York State has begun extended stocking programs in certain rivers which calls for four trout stockings a year. With that, the catch and keep regulations have changed as well. It’s in the angler’s best interest to check regulations specific to your chosen waters. Paul made it a point to share that between October 16 and March 31 in New York State, all trout rivers are catch & release only unless otherwise specified. During his trip to Croton, Paul’s group reported catching several brown trout up to 17 inches and many rainbow trout in the same size range. As for the fishing on Long Island (aside from Connetquot), Paul has been chasing white perch. Still, even tidal rivers are beginning to freeze just enough to make fishing very challenging.
From White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays, Jeff Lomonaco shared reports of white perch still being caught in tidal creeks when a lack of skim ice allows for a window of fishing. As for some of the larger ponds in the area, reports of small largemouth bass are coming in where there are pockets of open water. It’s a grind, but the dedicated fishermen that are looking to pass the time are making it happen and adapting to the strange, icy blend of conditions amongst many Long Island waters.
From the Shore
Sturdy ice has finally started to form on some of Long Island’s East End ponds.
In weeks past, the best bites have been anywhere but the Island. Now with some safer ice around, anglers are beginning to “warm up” to the hardwater season, however long it may last. Long Island’s Steven Figari wasted no time creating his own fishing report by assessing the options. Right now, white perch can still be targeted in select creeks and tidal ponds. As waters continue to ice, however, that option may be off the table unless the ice is fishable. Until then, slow jigging hair jigs and micro-soft plastics will likely yield a few perch if you’re in the right spot. The winter holdover stripers, however, seem to have no interest in feeding during such cold conditions.
If you’re searching for safe ice, scout some of the smaller, groundwater lakes that are not spring fed or linked to tidal waters. Much of the Island’s ponds along the Forks have been frozen for about a week now, and anglers wasted no time getting out there. According to Figari, the classic mixed bag of yellow perch, chain pickerel and largemouth bass were the first of (hopefully) many fish through the ice for anglers around Riverhead and Peconic. The Peconic River is slow-moving for the most part, and as a result it becomes a popular ice fishing destination for east end anglers.
Most of the larger, swift-moving rivers are still producing fish. For fly guys, the Connetquot River is always a safe option to scratch the itch for a bent rod. Big rainbow trout lead the reports here on a consistent basis when it’s cold; brook trout will follow suit, but they tend to bite less frequently than rainbows in icy temperatures. Be sure to make a reservation beforehand to lock in a spot and time on the river, as this time of year it is a popular choice.
The Carman’s River is a good spot to fish for white perch, and the occasional winter holdover striper. A bit further west, the Nissequogue River has become a frequented stretch of water as well. It hosts a small population of sea-run brown trout, and both fly and spin fishermen have been wading it’s waters more consistently this winter.
According to Sean Conway of Saint James, this river also hosts a healthy population of yellow perch, which are commonly found amongst longer, slow-flowing pools. The picture above shows that brown trout in this river system will target the plentiful yellow perch as a main source of forage in the winter months. Yellow perch have been active both in streams and beneath the ice, and they can provide a continuous bite if a school is located.
Westbound towards Nassau and Queens Counties, anglers have had to wait a bit longer for ice- which means many salty backwaters remain relatively open for targeting white perch. While trout streams are crowded, they’re currently the number one producer of fish given the current air and water temperatures. If you find moving, unfrozen water this time of year, there’s a good chance you’ll find some fish.
Long Island Fishing Forecast
It would appear that we have not yet seen the end of the cold snap stretch. This Saturday calls for snow across much of the Northeast, which we can only hope will bring an overnight freeze for safe ice and a fishy “Sunday Funday”. The cold might lead to ice for shore anglers, but that won’t be great news for offshore wreck trips.
The headboats around Long Island have been docked almost since the turn of the new year. Captree’s Laura Lee Fleet cancelled offshore wreck trips for the past several weeks due to too much ice around the boat basin. Point Lookout’s Super Hawk is ready to sail if the conditions call for it, and they’re keeping a close eye on the forecasts for any sunny, warmer days to head offshore. Until the conditions cooperate, they’ll be docked to err on the safe side. Super Hawk’s Captain Steve can be reached at (516) 607-3004 for immediate updates and near future bookings. Montauk boats have been docked for several weeks as well. Offshore trips are a possibility for the coming month though, as January has kept almost all boats at the moorings, or out of the water entirely.
Ice fishing season is upon us. The rivers have kept anglers busy, and unless air temperatures get significantly lower than the 20’s and 30’s the creeks will continue to provide open water opportunities to winter fishermen.
Thank you for your great fishing reports.
what your prediction for striper return?