Connecticut Fishing Report
Matt at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook told me that most anglers have started to transition to freshwater fishing throughout the state. Saltwater anglers are looking to striped bass in the tidal creeks and tributaries for the most consistent action. That bite will hold up all winter, as long as we don’t enter a deep-freeze period. There are still a few nice-sized schools of bass moving through the Western Sound as well, but they’re predominately schoolies. Freshwater action has been good, with panfish in the coves, and largemouth bass in local ponds all producing, since we are once again mostly devoid from ice. Trout and salmon fishing has been the top freshwater draw, as improved flows and fall stockings have helped anglers find fish, regardless of where they reside in the state. The shop will be stocking up with a selection of freshwater tackle, so stop by and check it out!
Heather from the Blackhawk in Niantic provided the following report: “Even though we lost a few days over the weekend, when we got back out there, we found excellent sea bass fishing, with jumbos coming over the rails, some of the biggest fish we’ve seen in years! We had a good mix of porgies and some nice cod as well. Now is the time to join us for some winter fishing and fill the freezer. Who knows how many nice days we’ll have left, so be sure to get out when you see the weather will cooperate! As a reminder, we have gift certificates available for holiday gifts for that fishing enthusiast in your life. We certainly appreciate everyone who is shopping small and local this year. Your local tackle shops, bookstores, toys stores, and specialty shops can all use the support. Tickets are now posted for the remainder of the season (through December 31) so check the weather and join us! We look forward to seeing everyone soon!”
Anthony from Game On Lures provided the following report for the week: “Unfortunately, similar to the last few years the weather has been a roller coaster this winter. Northern CT is mostly frozen up and central/southern CT is seeing skim ice or wide open water. If you’re an ice fisherman, it’s looking like another year of driving north for safe ice, at least early on. Anglers targeting holdovers in the rivers have been reporting some lights-out bites with solid numbers and a few big bass in the mix. Soft jerkbaits, paddle tails, A-rigs and blade baits have been getting it done. Our 7-inch Duratech Soft Jerkbait on a 1/2-ounce unleaded jig has been money this season so far! Guys braving the night shift have been reporting big plastics and paddletails in black or purple landing some big bass. The 10-inch Duratech Eel in black/purple is a killer option for the nighttime outings. On the freshwater side of things, the lakes that do have open water are still providing some action. Jerkbaits, hair jigs, football jigs, and paddletails on a ball head jig are all phenomenal baits for the cold water. Look for any remaining grass, steep banks, rocky points, and channel swings. With the recent rains, the rivers have been on fire! Trout and salmon anglers have been reporting some hot bites and fired-up fish. Guys targeting the panfish, pike, and bass have also been reporting some exceptional fishing. Tributaries, coves, creek channels, protected mud flats, and bridges are all great places to target in the winter on the river! Hope everyone has a great holiday and a Happy New Year!”
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Bobby J’s in Milford reported that the rivers hold the best winter striper bite around throughout the colder months, which is no big surprise. Depending on what the weather does, the bite can be good, but crowds can be a bit of a nuisance. Either way, striped bass will usually inhale a soft plastic fished slowly along the bottom throughout the winter. Fishing deep on warmer days can help, as will downsizing your baits. By this time of year, most of the fish have moved upriver where they’re stacking up. Freshwater fishing can be very good this time of year, too, especially in the Farmington River where the bite can get pretty consistent and predictable if conditions allow. Other customers target the salmon in the Naugatuck River. The shop will run on their winter hours for the rest of the season, and they will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. If you’d like a custom rod built, now is the time of year to get your order in as they have the most time to get them done.
Rich at Fishermen’s World in Norwalk reports that striper fishing throughout the winter months is usually the most reliable way to bend a rod. There are some local schoolies to be found in the backwaters, rivers and harbors but the most reliable bite can be found at the Housatonic. This time of year, the bite can be pretty predictable depending on weather conditions, and the fish tend to be schooled up. The colder it is, the more the bass will stack up into deeper pockets. A bit of a warm spell can spread them out some, but for the most part, when you find one fish there are more with them. Fishing with soft plastics on the lightest jig head possible is the name of the game, and downsizing as the winter wears on is usually the best bet with most anglers electing to bounce bottom with lures in the 5- to 7-inch range. There should be some herring in the harbor this time of year, as well; though their arrival has become less predictable in the past couple of years. The stocked TMA’s also fish well and the Saugatuck and Mill Rivers are good options. Bait is usually the best bet during colder temperatures, but small jigs and flies worked near the bottom will take fish as well. The Saugatuck Reservoir was still yielding warm-water species including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Also, the reservoir received a stocking of Seeforellen brown trout greater than 14 inches on December 4. Unfortunately, the impoundment closes December 31, but there are still a few more days to get out there and give it a try.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Saltwater anglers across Connecticut are still looking to striped bass to scratch the itch, although now the bite has fully transitioned to the tidal rivers/creeks/estuaries. We are fortunate to host a few holdover striped bass populations throughout our tidal rivers from one end of Long Island Sound to the other. The most celebrated and reliable of these fisheries is no secret, the Housatonic River. But if crowds aren’t your speed, there are other opportunities to tangle with less-pressured stripers. The weekend’s cold weather may slow things down a bit, but the temperatures are set to rebound around Christmas.
Freshwater anglers likely lost any skim ice that was in their way on the lakes and ponds, so they can continue to work the open water panfish, bass, and pike bite until we get some legitimate ice, which may at least begin to form this weekend. Some of the smaller ponds in the northern elevations may provide some safe ice by Christmas, but exercise extreme caution. The streams and rivers are producing nicely also, with good trout numbers across the state, and broodstock Atlantic Salmon stocking right around the corner.