Connecticut Fishing Report
Update: January 30, 2025
The best ice fishing season in years continues in Connecticut this week. Anglers across the state are enjoying good fishing for just about everything through the ice, including pike, musky, salmon, largemouth bass, panfish, and even striped bass. In some places, there’s currently over 7 inches of ice.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end at some point. The forecast for the next week is mostly mild, which will likely melt away some of the ice, making conditions a bit sketchy. The highs will be in the upper 30s and low 40s, so if you haven’t gotten out on the hard water yet, Saturday looks like the best opportunity (despite some rain and mild temperatures forecasted for Friday). That said, some areas have almost a foot of ice, so keep a close eye on your neighborhood ponds—the ice just might last through this upcoming stretch of warmer weather.
Here’s what’s been happening around the Constitution State since the January 16th update:
Anthony from Game On Lures reports: “It has been a couple years since we have had a proper ice fishing season, but the past few weeks have been cold enough to make just about every body of water in the state lock up with safe ice! As always, proceed with caution and have all the proper safety gear on you at all times. With larger bodies of water finally starting to have safe ice, anglers looking to target northern pike have been having some success on the slack water of river systems and the few lakes that hold them in the state. Live pike shiners, suckers, and big dead baits have been getting the most commits. For anglers looking to target trout, perch, panfish, and bass, I recommend shiners on a tip-up for the best action. Jigging raps, rip raps, spoons, micro jigs and grubs, and micro plastics have also been providing some hot action for those who prefer to catch on artificials. Anglers who are able to find open streams have been having some success with trout, but the past week has put skim ice on a lot of areas. The forecast is looking like on and off freezing temperatures, so hopefully ice season is here to stay!”
Joe Diorio of Diorio Guide Service reported that he hasn’t been fishing the trout streams as much recently because the ice fishing’s been so good. He had a trout trip scheduled for Friday which, unfortunately, will probably be cancelled due to rain. However, Joe said there’s anywhere from 6 to 13 inches of ice depending on your location, so safe ice should stick around for a bit even with some mild temperatures around the corner. He’s been catching crappie and perch through the ice on the mighty Connecticut River. The pike fishing has slowed down at most of his spots, which he attributes to the typical mid-season lull. But Joe also took OTW’s Chris Megan out for some striper fishing through the ice earlier in the week, and while the bite wasn’t exactly hot, they managed to catch a few that were willing to eat. Always a cool opportunity to catch everyone’s favorite fish on hard water. Give Joe a shout if you’re looking to do an ice fishing trip or if you’d like a guided trip on one of the trout streams in the coming weeks!
Max at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reported that not much has changed since the last update aside from more anglers getting out on the ice. The upper sections of tidal rivers like the Housatonic have been giving up stripers through ice, along with some stocked salmon and even tiger musky! Talk about a stellar mixed bag. Most anglers are catching their stripers on jigging raps and live shiners. Herring fishing, he added, continues to be spotty in the Norwalk area. Max said the sea herring run usually starts around Christmas, but in recent years, they’ve been showing up in mid to late February. We’ll see if that pattern holds true again this year. For anglers interested in catching largemouth bass and panfish, all of the local ponds have plenty of ice, but remain cautious as there is some mild weather approaching. They’re stocked up on shiners, so swing by the shop before hitting the hard water this week!
Matt Stone at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook had just returned from a killer fishing trip down in Louisiana, but he said the word back home is that ice fishing season remains in full swing. He’s received word of northern pike, chain pickerel, and largemouth bass all chewing well. His friends have been jigging small soft plastics and running tip-ups with mummichogs, which have been responsible for some of the larger, noteworthy catches through the ice. The shop doesn’t carry ice fishing gear, but they’ve got plenty of tackle for the upcoming saltwater season, and now is the time to stock up before the earl-spring rush!
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
With plenty of safe ice around the state, from small ponds to larger lakes and rivers, ice fishing opportunities abound. As mentioned throughout the report, the ice may be anywhere from 6 to 13 inches thick, but with some temps in the 40s forecasted for the next week, anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution when selecting a spot to drill a few holes and wet a line. All freshwater species remain on the table, and if overnight temperatures hold around 30 degrees or lower, the ice should remain on the rivers for those interested in targeting striped bass or salmon. Secure live shiners from your local shops in advance, and stock up on ice fishing jigs when you can—if February is anything like January, ice tackle will be tougher to come by.
Anglers living along the Sound are also encouraged to keep an eye on local harbors and estuaries, as a late-winter run of sea herring could spice things up on the saltwater front.
Stay safe, and good luck out there!
Update: January 16, 2025
After skimming and thawing and skimming again, the freshwater lakes and ponds across much of the Constitution State are freezing solid, which has allowed anglers in western and northern Connecticut to get out fishing for pike, bass, and panfish. Some areas closer to the coast are still waiting on safe ice to take hold around the shorelines of smaller ponds.
Matt at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook said safe ice has taken hold in their neck of the woods. The shoreline area is just now getting safe while areas further from shore, have been fishable for a few days. They’re getting lots of calls about live minnows from the pike and bass enthusiasts, which, unfortunately, they don’t carry—but they do have ice fishing jigs in stock. Anglers on the trout streams, he said, are finding just barely too much ice to cast or drift, so there’s not much happening on that front. Swing by the shop to pick up some jigs for your next ice fishing trip!
Anthony from Game On Lures reported: “With the recent cold temps and the wind finally calming down, a lot of the lakes in northern and central CT now have safe ice and anglers have been taking advantage! Jigging spoons, small jigs with grubs, rippin raps and a good old tip up and minnow have been producing best locally! Just because a lake appears to be frozen over does not mean it’s safe! Always double check with a spud as you walk and make sure you have your safety spikes on you at all times! Holdover striped bass fishing has definitely slowed and the fish seem to be in full hibernation mode. If you are going to target them I recommend going during low light conditions and slow way down with your retrieve. The “dead stick” tactic always seems to get those lethargic bass to bite. Streams and small rivers have also been producing a great bite for anglers looking to target trophy winter trout!”
Capt. Joe Diorio of Diorio Guide Service was out on the ice fishing for crappie with a client when we spoke. He said they had 5 or 6 inches of ice but the fishing was pretty slow, and even though they were catching, it was not the class of fish they were looking for. Joe said they’re fishing crappie jigs instead of traps. He’s still running guided trips on the trout streams, like the Farmington, which he said are starting to see some ice, but they’re fishable. He’ll be back to trout fishing tomorrow and while the action may have fallen off a bit since the drop in water temperatures, he hopes to pick up right where they left off with fish taking drifted egg sacs, single eggs, pink worms, or small, white and tan hair jigs. Give him a shout to book a guided trip this winter!
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Max at Fishermen’s World in Norwalk reported that not much has changed in the way of reports aside from the fact that safe ice has taken hold on many of the local ponds. There are some sea herring kicking around in the harbors and river mouths, but they’re not as abundant as they have been in years past. If you’re looking to give herring fishing a try, the best places to begin the search will be closer to the mouths of harbors where the fish tend to stack up a bit. Standard sabiki rigs will do the trick. Holdover fishing has slowed down drastically, but in some of the deeper holes in lower portions of the tidal rivers, a few guys are picking away at stripers on soft plastics. They have plenty of bait for the ice fishing crowd; small, medium, and large shiners are available for the anglers targeting pike, bass, and panfish on the frozen ponds.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Now that safe ice has locked up most of the freshwater ponds and even some of the larger, deeper rivers, Connecticut anglers are in full-fledged ice fishing mode. Bass, pike, yellow and white perch, and crappie are all accessible through the ice. And if hardwater is not your thing, there is still open water on the trout streams and in the harbors of western and central CT, where herring have been popping up sporadically.
Winter fishing show season is also well underway. This Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. you can swing by Clinton Town Hall for Connecticut Surfcasters Demo Day. Sit in on Toby Lapinski’s seminar about fishing soft plastics for big stripers and stop by a few booths to support some of your favorite local exhibitors like Z-Belt, JoeBaggs Outdoors and more. See the full list of exhibitors below.
Stay warm, and remember to use extreme caution when checking for safe ice. Use the buddy system and carry the necessary safety gear to make your day on the ice a memorable one for the right reasons. A list of ice fishing safety tips can be found here, in case you need a refresher.
Tight lines and good luck!
Update: January 2, 2025
With more fluctuating air temperatures this week, freshwater anglers in Connecticut are met with the challenge of finding open water or safe ice. So far, this winter has been a mild one, and some southern portions of the state have accessible open water for wading/bank fishermen and kayak anglers targeting bass, panfish, trout, and pickerel or pike. However, that may change soon. Overnight temperatures are forecasted to progressively drop into the low 20s through the weekend and into next week, which should (hopefully) put some safe ice on smaller ponds, especially in the northern reaches of the Constitution State.
Anglers can also ply the recently-stocked rivers, like the Naugatuck and Shetucket, for trout and salmon on the fly, and, depending on which stream/river, with inline spinners, small hair jigs, and lightweight spoons. Remember to check the river and stream regulations before you go, as some TMAs require single barbless hooks for flies and artificial lures.
Saltwater fishing opportunities are slim to none, as many headboats like the Blackhawk in Niantic have ended the season now that sea bass and porgy fishing is closed. Up until the holidays, there was good fishing for sea bass, cod, and porgies out by Block Island, but with the calendar turning to January, the only salty options left are for holdover striped bass in the rivers, like the Connecticut and Housatonic, and the few sea herring that may be kicking around in your local harbor. White perch fishing is also an option. Like stripers, they school up and can be difficult to locate, but they populate the brackish portions of rivers and marshes, they taste great, and the season is open year-round. Regulations allow a maximum of 30 fish per angler at a minimum size of 7 inches. White perch can be caught using small soft plastics, underspins, hair jigs, spoons, and grass shrimp (if you can get your hands on some) on a high-low rig.
Matt at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook said that many of the nearby lakes and ponds are locked up with skim ice right now, but the rivers and streams ae running well with the recent rainfall. Trout and salmon are happily feeding on flies as a result of improved flows. He hasn’t heard of anyone making a go at winter holdover striped bass yet, but for those who have been quietly fishing the banks, he assumes mid-size soft plastics worked along bottom are doing much of the heavy lifting. The hardest part is locating the fish, which will likely be willing to strike when you find them, so don’t stick to one area too long if you’re not getting any feedback or seeing signs of life.
Reminder: Don’t miss Demo Day 2025, hosted by the Connecticut Surfcasters Association in Clinton. See flyer below for more details.
Capt. Joe Diorio of Diorio Guide Service said he’s been hitting the rivers like the Farmington for trout, and the fishing has been very good, despite the changing conditions and slight crowds. He’s catching plenty of browns and rainbows, sometimes up to 30 or 40 a day. Joe and his clients fish mostly with centerpin setups, so they’re drifting egg sacs and single eggs, pink worms, or small, white and tan hair jigs. He said euro nymphing has been working well for the fly guys, but there have been a couple of fly hatches as of late, which has led to some increased surface activity in mild temps; Joe said the fish have been pretty fired up, enough that one or two even hit the bobber. There was also a midge hatch on the Farmington recently, even though temperatures were ranging between 23 and 34 degrees, which found some fish rising but unwilling to cooperate for Joe and his clients. He plans to continue guiding for trout between his personal pike fishing trips, so if you’d like to try fishing a centerpin combo for trout, give him a call to inquire about availability.
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Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Connecticut
Heather from the Blackhawk in Niantic ended their fishing season on a high note with some hefty sea bass while fishing out near Block Island. But with sea bass and porgy fishing now closed, they’re wrapping it up until the spring. Check out their website for updates to stay in the loop with availability going into the 2025 season.
Fishermen’s World in Norwalk reported that there are rumblings of sea herring in the harbors and tidal estuaries. Standard sabiki rigs are doing the job, with a 1/4-ounce sinker or 007 diamond jig to help the rig reach bottom. There may even be some small striped bass chasing those sea herring in the river mouths, as well as on the far Western Sound beaches, where a few anglers are braving the cold and reporting their results to the shop. However, as most people know, winter striper fishing is best in the rivers, where soft plastics like GT eels and paddletails, as well as Lunker City Slug-gos, are catching fish. Rig your soft plastic of choice on a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce jighead, and bump up to a 3/4-ounce jighead when currents are moving a bit faster due to rainfall.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
The best bet for CT anglers this coming week is to seek out some safe ice, which is generally 4 inches thick or more, to target pike, bass, and panfish. Traps will be the best way to approach fishing for pike and bass. If you can locate some schooled-up perch or bluegills, micro-sized soft plastics, hair jigs, and lures like the Acme Hyper Glide can bring some quality fish to hand. Largemouth bass will also readily take jigs.
For anglers interested in fishing open water, pick up a fly rod and hit the rivers for trout and salmon, and bring a variety of flies like Wooly Buggers, small streamers, or Clousers for fish hanging in deeper pools.
White perch and holdover stripers are also available to those who are willing to cover some ground and locate congregations of fish. For perch, start in the brackish creeks and work your way upstream. Light tackle is favored, but you’ll want a rod and reel combo strong enough to outmuscle school-size striped bass in case you run into them. For the best chance at stripers, look for sea herring in the harbors, or head toward the upper reaches of local rivers—just be aware, depending on how far inland you fish, it may require a freshwater fishing license.
Good luck and tight lines.