Connecticut Fishing Report
Matt Stone at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook provided the following report for the week: “Trout fishing is the best bite going locally right now and anywhere the stocking crews have visited the bite has been good. Small spinners, live bait and PowerBait are all effective and working well for the folks we’ve talked to in the shop. Holdover striped bass fishing is off to a slow start this season as we try to shake off these persistently cold nights, but the warmer weekend forecast has things pointing in the right direction. Winter flounder and spring blackfish just opened, though there won’t be many of either species caught in the eastern end of the Sound for a couple of weeks at least. The water temperatures are significantly cooler throughout the Sound than the past few Aprils, following this brutal winter. The best bet for an early season tog is to head west.”
Heather from the Black Hawk in Niantic provided the following early season report: “We’re getting closer! The boat is just about done at Derecktor’s, and we should be back to Niantic soon. We’re getting our schedule finalized and then we’ll have trips posted on our website before you know it. Don’t forget, if you’d like your first choice of dates for private charters, contact the office as soon as possible as dates are filling up quickly. We can’t wait to see everyone!”
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in Connecticut
Anthony Charnetski at Game On Lures provided the following report: “After a long and brutal winter the weather is finally warming up and spring has arrived! Herring are starting to filter into local runs across the state. There are still holdovers feeding on them, but I think we are only a couple of weeks away from the first push of fresh fish. Paddletails, soft jerkbaits, and straight-tail eel baits such as the 10-inch Game On DuraTech Eels have been great choices for resident fish. The freshwater bite recently has been hot on all fronts. I have been taking advantage of the lights-out prespawn bass bite. Jerkbaits, jigs, paddletails and glide baits are always my go-to lures this time of year. Focus on steep banks, flats with grass or rock, laydowns, or any remaining grass edges that survived the winter. The rivers have been good for panfish, but water temps are still a little cold, which has delayed things. With warm days in the forecast, the bite should pick up for bass and pike. The state has also stocked trout in a ton of lakes and rivers, so that is always a solid option for anglers.”
Tyler at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports that the bass bite over at the Housatonic was the most consistent “local” bite for most customers they’d heard from. The fishing there is generally on schedule compared to past years, if not a bit behind where it should be for late March and early April. He stressed that anglers should take advantage of the couple of warm days this weekend, and he mentioned that focusing on shallower mud flats is a good place to start. Sticking to soft plastics early on is probably your best bet, but don’t hesitate to try some hard-bodied baits as the month wears on. The blackfish season opened on Wednesday, but water temperatures are still a bit too chilly for any meaningful action at the moment. With that said, Tyler recommended fishing around shallow rockpiles that are quicker to absorb the heat of the sun. The shop has worms on hand, as well as tons of tog tackle and jigs for adventurous anglers looking to get a jump on the season. Trout fishing, he added, is excellent. The Saugatuck, Mill and Norwalk rivers are typically the best bets for early season trout fishing. They have loads of freshwater tackle and bait available whether you’re looking to cast spinners and spoons or drift shiners and worms. The shop is a certified repair center for Shimano, Daiwa and Penn, but will service any brand of reel they keep in stock. They also offer rod repair and roller guide replacement. If you’re looking to get some gear serviced, now is the time to get it in so it’s ready for the season ahead.
Captain Mike Roy at Reel Cast Charters said they’d been hard at work getting the boats ready to fish for the season and they were going to start running trips on April 8th. Early season charters can expect light-tackle fishing, mostly with small soft plastics on jigheads. A 5 3/4-inch Fin-S Fish rigged on a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce head is par for the course this time of year. Prime dates are already booking fast, so give Captain Mike and his team a call to reserve your spot now.
Connecticut Fishing Forecast
Early blackfish reports have been on the quiet side with colder than normal water temperatures, but this weekend’s weather should help those temperatures to slowly rise. Holdover striped bass action has started off a touch slower than usual but is starting to improve after a few warmer days. The Housatonic and points west have seen the most consistent action so far. We’re still a few weeks away from the true peak “spring run”, but there are certainly fish to be had at the moment. Things have been slower to the east, and if we have a steady rise in water temperatures, 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 week or so away from the first push in the big river.
The TMAs and other bodies of water which are 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. Check in with the CT DEEP website, which is an excellent resource to keep up with recent stockings and areas worth targeting. Largemouth bass reports have also been strong, as fresh vegetation is starting to grow in the ponds but hasn’t yet grown high enough yet to be a hindrance.