Rivers and Streams: Monsta Cats!!

This just in from Channel Matt:

“I wish I could describe Terry’s battle with a big cat in 3 feet of water better, but it was about as close as you can come to sight fishing for cats. Just a big, angry cat on the hook fighting like a b@stard, peeling out line and all ! Dang thing was in sight, then out of sight a few times.” This account from a night trip on the CT River by Matt Schoel and Terry Rand. Terry’s fish weighed in at 9.5, and Matt had a 7lber as well.

Steve Sliva of Rocky Hill boated a 5lb Largie in the CT on Wednesday using a 10” Ribbontail Power Worm.

Hickory shad are slowing a little this week

Smallmouth fishing is still doing very well in the usual places; fast moving current near weedlines and deeper holes. 

Walleye fishing in the Ct River System! Another customer reported hooking up 2 fish in the lower Mattabesett near Cromwell/Middletown line. No weights but one was over 16”.  It appears we have a Walleye population you can target year round in the Connecticut. Great news for Anglers, not so good for the “Salmon Restoration Guys”.

Trout are still doing well in the larger, stocked, catch and release areas (TMA) of the state. Fly fisherman doing nicely with Blue Wing Olives and Terrestrials.

Lakes and ponds:

Large Arkansas shiners are working well enticing the Pike Bite; now that the waters have cooled slightly.  This weekend’s rain has raised the water heights and cooled the temps down a few degrees. This week should be a good week to target the waterwolf.

Fishing Deep at Chrystal Lake in Ellington is reported as “great” by a few trollers we had in the store this week.

A lot of customers targeting huge ‘Gills this month.  Bob Sampson’s article in The Fisherman must have had an effect! The panfishing is doing well with Yellow Perch, Black Crappie and Bluegills in the mix.  Worms, grubs and shiny metallics.

Marine:

Striper fishing inside the sound continues to be slow.  Bunker east of Hammonasett are few and far between, but Hickory shad are around in modest numbers. Many guys favoring the Eel Bite at night for this week, and reports are good. Schoolie fish still in good numbers. Only 3 days of CT Fluke season left. Not much to report…

Snapper Blues still in great numbers, whodathunk?

Offshore:  Trolling opportunities slowed this week, so many crews opted to Chunk Fish the night bight, and did well. The west wall reported the most action in 600 feet of water.

This week we may begin hookin into the Speedsters? (Bonito and False Albicore) keep your fingers crossed, and GET OUT!

Well, spring is officially here and if you haven’t already been fishing this year then it’s time to start. After another banner ice fishing season here in Connecticut, the early season anglers have already been testing the local waters and there is plenty of good information to report on.

Rivers & Streams – The Connecticut River is currently experiencing the first wave of the spring high water season. Waters are running well above normal making access to boat launches difficult. But, there are areas to launch small, car top boats and there is also plenty of shoreline access to find if you look in the right places. Northern pike fishing has been productive with a number of fish in the high thirty inch range being reported as well as numbers of smaller fish. Bass fishing will continue to improve as the water temps warm of the coming weeks. Herring will begin making an appearance in the weeks to come with large striped bass nipping at their heels. There have already been confirmed reports of two larger sized stripers being caught in Wethersfield Cove on one of the new Reaction Strike Revolution Shad swim baits! American shad will arrive shortly as well so there is plenty to look forward to in the near future.

Lakes & Ponds – Largemouth reports have been quite good for this time of year. Many reports have been coming in from all over the state of five pound fish being caught at various locations such as Lake Congamond, Moodus Reservoir, Silver Lake and some other smaller ponds. Water temps are in the mid 40 – 50 degree range depending on the body of water. Small, shallow, mud bottom ponds will warm quicker than large, deep lakes so find a small body of water to fish and you will likely find some active bass. Productive lures for this time of year are jerk baits, rattle baits, spinner baits and jigs. Smallmouth bass reports have been very good at Candlewood Lake with 1-3lb fish being common. These fish are moving around a bit throughout the day as the water warms with a few fish being found shallow but many are still deeper and can be caught on small jigs crawled slowly across the bottom.

Marine District – Reports of striped bass beginning to show in the lower portions of the major rivers are just beginning. Winter flounder season will begin in April and although we are all hoping for a more productive season than last year, the news has been made official that this years creel limit will be two fish per angler. The season will run from April 1 thru May 30. Your best bet for success will be to fish the entrances and lower portions of rivers such as the Connecticut River, Thames River and Niantic River. Sandworms impaled on a flounder rig will provide the best results.