Connecticut Fishing Report
Matt, at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook reports that backwater stripers are a viable option now, although the local holdovers have been a bit scarce compared to the past couple of years. Small paddletails fished low and slow, or flukes on a snap-snap-pause cadence usually get them to eat. Water temps are creeping towards 50, so there’s still some time before topwater action picks up. The shop is now carrying crabs, as well as sandworms and fresh squid, for early season tautog anglers. With the cold winter we had, Matt probably won’t try tog fishing until the second week of April, but plenty of people do catch them before then. Clams are an option for early season tog as well, though most anglers just use crabs and keep it simple. Freshwater anglers are starting to report better largemouth bass action, as some fresh vegetation is starting to pop up. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and small jerkbaits have been getting the job done. Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook will be having their Summer Kick-Off weekend from May 1-4 with storewide sales, promos, door prizes, and raffles (some brands are excluded from the sale). Mark your calendars—it’s their biggest event of the year!
Heather from the Blackhawk in Niantic provided the following early season report: “The countdown is on—we are excited to get out there and start fishing! We are currently booking private charters, so be sure to email the office soon if you’d like to get your top choice for a date; some prime dates are filling up already. Congrats to the winners of our coloring contest: Benjamin and his anglerfish won for the most likes on Facebook, and the crew chose some of their favorites as well. We can’t wait to see everyone soon!”
Daniels Bait, Tackle and Charters in New London reported that the warmer temperatures earlier in the week have been key to a strong calico bass (crappie) bite in shallow, inland ponds where perch are beginning to spawn. Early season trout action (in the bodies of water which remain open) has been good, due to some strong stocking numbers. Black Rock State Park in Watertown, CT and the Natchaug River in Eastford have produced some nice catches on light line under 8lb, on meal worms and PowerBait with and without bobbers. The sunnier days have made searching for holdover striped bass a bit more tolerable when compared to the rainy days that are forecasted for this weekend, and Norwich Harbor has seen just a few 20-inch schoolies, but not the monsters we’re accustomed to. The tautog bite is moving, just make sure to mark your piles and structure—if you aren’t occasionally getting snagged, then you’re not in the right place for tautog. The tog bite should only improve from here, even with the short season. We’re not too far off from some optimal water temperatures on the structure in the lower Thames.
Captain Mike Roy at Reel Cast Charters said they’d been hard at work getting the boats ready to fish for the season and were planning to start running trips on April 8th. Early season charters can expect light-tackle fishing, mostly with small soft plastics on jigheads. A 5 and 3/4-inch Fin-S fish on 1/4- to 1/2-ounce heads is par for the course this time of year. Prime dates for the season ahead are already booking fast so give Captain Mike and his team a call to reserve your spot now.
Anthony at Game On Lures provided the following report for the week: “This has really been a proper Northeast spring so far. With the warm weather lacking, water temps have been pretty steady in the 42- to 48-degree range in most lakes and ponds. The freshwater bass bite has been phenomenal recently with some really nice fish being caught around the state. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and blade baits have been getting the most attention. The herring are starting to show up in some good numbers and fish in the rivers are taking advantage, which is very nice to see. Striped bass are starting to pack on the pounds, with the recent arrival of their favorite springtime snack. Large soft plastics like paddletails, straight-tails, and even eel-style baits have been the best herring imitations. Our 10-inch DuraTech Eel in sand eel or pearl white, rigged on a jighead, has produced some solid bites this past week. It is shaping up to be a great year!”
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Max at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports that the local fishing is heating up right along with water temperatures. Striped bass fishing has been good, especially for schoolies, but it requires putting in some time. The best bet for some action is fishing with sandworms and bloodworms. Customers fishing in Norwalk Harbor, in the river, and Sherwood Island all said they’re catching schoolies on bait. There are some better fish to be had too, mostly around herring runs. They are seeing some herring, but it’s been a little spotty; they are waiting on a bigger push to bring more and larger migratory bass in with the herring. Customers heading to the Housatonic are having better luck with bigger bass, especially at night. Max said it’s not just soft plastics and jigs anymore, as swimming plugs and darters are also working. Some customers are starting to try for early season blackfish, but reports have been quiet thus far. The store has plenty of tog tackle, and sandworms and bloodworms in stock if you’re looking for a spring blackfish. Local trout fishing has been very good, and they noted the state is doing a great job of stocking this year. The Mianus, Saugatuck and Aspetuck Rivers have been fishing especially well. It’s still strictly catch-and-release until April 12th, but hungry trout have been falling to small jigs and flies. The shop is loaded up with everything you need for spring trout fishing if that’s how you want to kick off your season.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Early blackfish reports have been on the quiet side. This weekend’s weather doesn’t look ideal, but a steady warm-up next week should make you consider a tog trip or two if you have the means.
Holdover striped bass action has been improving across the state all spring, especially in the western part of the state. Things have been slower to the east, but if we can see a rise in water temperature, we should start to see more herring and striped bass activity.
Shad reports have not been confirmed yet either, but we are likely only a few days away from the first reports of them showing up in the Connecticut River. We’re still a few weeks out from the true peak “spring run”, but there are certainly fish to be had at the moment.
The TMLs, which remain open for trout, have been well-stocked and are fishing great for anglers who don’t want to wait for the “put and take” opener later this month. Largemouth reports have also been strong, as baitfish like yellow perch are beginning to spawn and vegetation is starting to grow in the ponds, providing bass with ample structure to ambush baits and fatten up prior to their own spawn later this spring.