Open water on Rhode Island is right around the corner. Some ponds have cleared while others remain locked up with skim ice in shallow; but skim ice hasn’t been stopping anglers from finding fish after a long winter.
Andre at Big Bear Hunting and Fishing in Glocester says for the most part ice fishing is done. Right now they’re stocked up on trout season goodies such as rooster tails, eagle claw hooks, and live bait is on the way. The trout season opens on the second Saturday in April. Join in on the action at Big Bear and download the app “Fishing Chaos” to take part in one of their several fishing tournaments; all you have to do is download the app, login and start fishing!
As the remaining skim ice clears, Dustin Stevens of Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures is looking to get on the water in the near future. Last week Dustin found a consistent largemouth bass bite and even got into some white perch. He guides saltwater and freshwater fishing trips, and the spring is a great time to get back on a kayak. Book a trip with him to get on some early season action!
Angler Dan Zunino of Rhode Island says stripers are actively feeding where the tide is moving. He got out on a kayak with friends this week and reported finding open water despite breaking skim ice along the shoreline. Dan says they found success on small soft plastics and swimmers, but the real trick was fishing jerkbaits of 5-inches and under, like the Yo-Zuri Hydro Minnow. His most productive colors of the day were white, blue and pink while working his lure low and slow.
Dan’s friend Vinny also managed to land a 38-inch, 23-pound holdover striped bass while they were out on the kayaks; this is a remarkable catch for this time of year and a clear sign that the winter holdovers are feeding well.
If holdover bass isn’t quite your speed, Mike from Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly said they are ready for trout fishing. They have been providing licenses for the 2022 season and stocking the shelves with everything from trout spinners and PowerBait to SP Minnows and ducktail trailers. There’s been chatter of holdover stripers being caught in the area, and a few more warm days should see that fishing improve despite their heightened activity on cloudy, overcast days. Whether it’s winter holdover stripers or stocked trout in the weeks to come, Watch Hill Outfitters is open 9-5 daily and Sunday until 2pm.
Jeff at Lucky Bait and Tackle in Warren said that freshwater has been producing some decent largemouth bass fishing recently after the ice melt. He mentioned white perch have been feeding heavily in tidal estuaries, and there have even been reports of active bass in the rivers. The holdover schoolie striper bite is slowly but surely heating up, and Jeff reports anglers catching on SP minnows so far. These could be signs of a productive and exciting spring fishing season ahead. Over the coming weeks, the schoolie bass bite should continue to progress, and trout season will reopen on the second Saturday in April for freshwater fans.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
Look out for more winter holdover action in the coming weeks. A kayak with a fish finder is a fantastic tool in locating sluggish, yet hungry striped bass that are hunkered down in back bays. Slowly jigging soft plastics is the key, but small plugs and hard plastics will become more viable baits as the month progresses. Largemouth bass, black crappie, chain pickerel and yellow perch will be active in freshwater ponds, especially after sunny and clear weather. Locate weed beds, downed trees and rock piles for stacked schools of fish in order to produce a more consistent bite from fish like black crappie and yellow perch. The fishing will only continue to improve from here, especially with stocked trout season coming up.
“Git Yur Gear Reddy!” as gramps would say! Tight Lines.