In the winter, some backwaters of the river freeze solid enough for ice fishing. Technical Help, Test Posts, Feedback, Computer talk, etc. Fishing Niantic River, CT on 4/15/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? In short, the trout bite has been excellent! As I do, I notice a text from him saying, The bite is on.. Here are a few hot spots. Much like the bass fishing this time of year, those reporting success when targeting tog usually head to western LIS. They are fully stocked with trout lures, artificials baits, minnows, dillies, crawlers and meal worms along with plenty of terminal tackle, line as well as rods and reels. Discovering the Connecticut River Shad Run by Ryan Bibeau May 6, 2016 A few years ago I met Mike Taylor at the Springfield Sportsman's Show. reported size 30 inches. Note the additional rodholders for creating a "rattling" spread . Carry them in a variety of colors and sizes from 2 to 4/0. With a good gust (35-40 mph), we could get almost an extra 10 yds distance on the cast. local waters are stacked with rain bait and the fish are moving in on them !! The last time these hydro facilities were licensed was 1979. Gray to bluish green on back when alive, silver on sides, white on belly. Cast out and let the bait drift with the current. We look forward to seeing everyone this season! Connecticut River fishing is really incredible. Anglers dropping Asian crabs, mostly on jigs are picking away at spring limits of keeper blackfish. Conn. State Record 9.3 pounds, 25.8 inches. No trout water. Karen said she is looking forward to seeing everyone soon and has high hopes for another great year. Some adult shad migrate back out to sea after spawning, but spawning stress is great and dead shad are a common sight during late spring. // -->. Access is from Mountain Road off Route 202. 8:44 PM Waders off, car in drive, Im on my way home. The backwaters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont all hold big northern pike. Just a great time for Shad fishing! We've been booking lots of private charters- so if you want a specific date, email Heather as soon as possible to get your date on the calendar. The Connecticut River flows through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. By 5:30, I hooked my first shad a small buck that hit fairly close to the bank. On the freshwater side of things, trout fishing continues to produce great action for many anglers taking advantage of good fishing conditions. Reports like yours and the weather will help me decide. Elizabeth Hewitt covers the criminal justice system for VTDigger. Although some of the popular spots m Captain Morgans emailed over their report to say, We definitely had a week of Summer come early. Some parts are very pressured and the fish can be finicky, but time and effort will yield good fish. Meanwhile, holdover striped bass activity is getting better by the day. Dad even won a prize in the derby one year. I will be getting out there for sure this weekend to experience it first hand. Improving the effectiveness of the Vernon, Bellows Falls and Wilder fish ladders to accommodate diadromous species such as American shad, American eel and sea lamprey. But, stripers aren't the only migratory fish of the season. document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. When I talked to Andrew at Fishin Factory 3 told me the striper bite in the river started to pick up this week. I used a hammered silver, in white w/4 red dots to catch him. Use the right technique: When fishing with live bait, use a fishfinder rig or Carolina rig with a 3 to 5 oz weight. I was a part owner of a ski chalet on the upper Delaware River that we used as a hunting/fishing camp. Largemouth bass bite crawling wake baits, DEEP stocks lake trout in select waters, and herring ignite better striped bass fishing amid mild weather. Ive even met people who had traveled all the way from Europe to fish for carp here. Trout are reacting differently to various baits and presentations depending on conditions so, it is recommended to take along a few alternative baits and lures to mix it up. In addition, various trout derbies are taking place where more fish are being privately stocked. On my first cast I picked up a blue back right next to the Wall, by 5:O'Clock I had C&R a second, and Bill C had one himself. CT River water flow stable around a fish-able 37,000 cu ft/sec, should be nice and clear. Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Lures: Topwater lures, such as poppers or stickbaits, are great for catching the attention of stripers on the surface. Fishing poor on Cape this week,& it was a long 612 mi. All Rights Reserved, Discovering the Connecticut River Shad Run. The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a comprehensive effort to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms. W, Mt. VTDigger covers criminal justice issues including Vermont legal issues, Vermont courts and the Vermont Department of Corrections. Seeing red tail hawks, Eagle, great blue heron, Cormorans, ducks, and last but not least turkey buzzards. Expand fishway operation to accommodate resident riverine species such as walleye and sucker that make spawning migrations. All Outdoors: Camping, Hiking, Photography, Mushroom Hunting, etc. It is suitable for trailer Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. The decisions that result from this relicensing will affect our river and these fish until we revisit this license in 2060 or so. Tickets will go on sale soon, so be sure to check our website. If one anadromous species is making the move, certainly others are on the verge. Its hard to whittle down a simple fly selection for such a large river with so many species, but here are some good flies to try. Asked if hed heard any reports from anglers targeting lake trout recently stocked into Coventry Lake, Crystal Lake in Ellington, Tyler Pond, Squantz Pond, and Bigelow Pond, Colin answered that his buddy caught a 10-pound forkie one day at Coventry Lake and then blanked at the same venue the next day. Throwing big topwater plugs on spinning gear is also a fun way to catch Connecticut River stripers. This was the first week shops reported nascent bass activity in the Connecticut River, a bite that will only get better and better over the next couple of months. Its an incredible fishery for trophy fish of all sorts. Stripers can be aggressive feeders, so don't be afraid to try different retrieves to see what they respond to best. Max. Use the lightest line you can find for the size fish available in your region. The shop is open every day from 9am to 5pm and is a certified repair center for Shimano, Avet, Penn, Accurate and Tsunami reels and also offers rod repair as well. Connecticut River spin fishing is every bit as varied and fun as fly fishing. Thanks! These fish are cool-blooded so their movement is strongly influenced by water temperature. After he nets the fish I catch my first glimpse of what the the dozens of shore fishermen in sight are casting toward. You can catch a 30 pound striped bass near the mouth. The Farmington River, from below Goodwin Dam (Hartland, CT) to its confluence with the Connecticut River (Windsor, CT), contains a diversity of habitat, fish species, and fisheries. Fishing: the art of casting, trolling, jigging, or spinning while freezing, sweating, swatting, or swearing. Unlike the sea lamprey in Lake Champlain, sea. We can't wait to get out there! Bridges, jetties, and rocky shorelines are all good places to start your search. pageTracker._trackPageview(); Respect the Fish: Stripers are an important species in many coastal ecosystems and are also highly prized by anglers. Fish are liking that combo! DEC has announced the release of the Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad. This will be my first time..thanks, What are good spots from shore in CT for shad? Having to make their way downstream, many of them go through the turbines in the hydro-facilities. And they're saying temperatures could get down into the 30s on Friday! Tried a bit north first but no hits and heading a bit south made the difference. You put in the time and effort. That'll put a damper on your season. 238 East Main St Middletown, CT 06457phone: 860-344-9139. We need to push for changes to fish ladders at all of these facilities to support the restoration of these species by increasing fish passage effectiveness, accommodating their migration timing, and improving safety. While the attempt to restore Atlantic salmon failed, we still have a chance to support the restoration of American shad, sea lamprey, blueback herring and American eel populations in the river, as well as the resident species, by advocating for more effective fish passage through these facilities. However, gizzard Shad are an interesting fish and a welcome sign of things to come. And the shad are exhausted. Hell be back fishing the week of May 20th and dates for prime weekends are already booking fast. Eelways have been constructed at some tributary dams to improve their migratory success. Look for areas with good water flow, structure, and baitfish. This commentary is by Kathy Urffer of Brattleboro, and a river steward for the Connecticut River Conservancy in Vermont and New Hampshire. These hard-fighting fish can be caught in a variety of ways, making them a favorite among both fly and conventional anglers. Better bass action can be found to west where the Housatonic River is still the best bet The shop is now open seven days a week for the season and Andrew encourages anyone who stops in to check out the new rod room that has been added to the store. Late report, Thursday, 13.April: I arrived at Bart's 4:15 pm.