Not much has changed since last week’s fishing report. Ice fishing continues to be the most productive method for fishing across much of the state, particularly in northern CT. The ice is getting thinner, though, and that may make some locations susceptible to winter holdover stripers again in the rivers. For the past week or so, the striped bass have shut off with the exception of the Housatonic River- but the snowmelt will soon lead to more accessible, open water. However, snow melt will also keep river temperatures on the icy side, which isn’t promising for a striper bite. Soon enough they’ll be on the move as it is, and with limited fishing time, it might be better spent fishing for trout on streams. The water will be moving fast, but rising water levels should encourage trout to move to new areas in the river, and draw them to feed.
For now, headboats remain docked- but with air temperatures rising it’s possible that some boats will be getting out to offshore wrecks in the coming week or two. It will all depend on the conditions. But, a promising sign of ice thawing in local harbors means herring will be available to anglers from shoreline. When they’re around, they can be easily caught using Sabiki rigs. As temperatures warm, those winter holdovers will begin to feed on some of the herring, and in a heartbeat, Spring will be well on it’s way.
From the Shops
Max over at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reported some stripers still being caught in the northern stretches of the Houstaonic River. Certain portions are relatively locked up with ice, but fishermen are scouting there spots and catching bass, with most fish coming in at night. Off of the river, popular fishing destinations have been Highland Lake and Bantam Lake. On Bantam Lake, Northern pike have been coming through the ice, along with some largemouth bass to keep the multi-species bite alive.
Matt Stone of Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook received reports of yellow perch and trout being caught through the ice. He created a report of his own by getting out onto some healthy yellow perch.
Yellow perch are not always the most exciting or strong fighters, but they are a beautiful fish that can often be caught in high quantities- and the added bonus is they taste great. They can be caught using a multitude of presentations through ice. Some options include live bait, trout magnet nuggets, small paddletails or grubs, blades and more.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Over the coming week, use extra caution when fishing through ice in southern Connecticut. After the weekend, anglers could have open water on select ponds and in tidal waters. As the ice melts, white perch, holdover striped bass, freshwater bass, trout and pickerel will all be on the chew- it’s only a matter of time. Potential for the spring fishing season to pick up early, is already in the air. Don’t miss out on some great freshwater fishing opportunities before shifting gears to saltwater in a few months!