Hes looking forward to another awesome year of fishing for stripers, blues, sea bass, blackfish, porgies and fluke. A quick round-up of our 2022 year of fly fishing including all the destinations we fished, as well as a bit about what's in store for 2023. All maps created in 2009. Much like the bass fishing this time of year, those reporting success when targeting tog usually head to western LIS. Captain John and first mate Chris were wonderful!! Shad once ran in several rivers, including the Thames, Housatonic, and Naugatuck , but industry . Weather has been unusually warm along with climbing water temperatures. Boaters hit the walls that also heated up as togs in varying sizes were caught and/or released. The tailwater stretches near Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, are the best for trout fishing the Connecticut River. it might be a ride for you but the CT river downsteam of the South Hadley / Holyoke MA route 116 bridge is a great place to shad fish and the bite is on right now. Copyright 2023 On The Water, LLC. Connecticut, United States. Most recent Connecticut River Basin Fishway Passage Counts Fishways have opened up hundreds of miles of river to migratory fish in the Connecticut River watershed! Latest it took for me to land first shad in many years. Shad Derby is always fun too. Recreational Marine Angler Data-- How you can help us to improve fishing. The backwaters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont all hold big northern pike. The state record for common carp in Connecticut was well over 40 pounds, and caught out of the Connecticut River. This is quite a bit north (upstream) from the Bethlehem area. Bridges, jetties, and rocky shorelines are all good places to start your search. Booking a trip with Lopstick is a good way to get to know the upper Connecticut River. 1 oz. 2022 [ Re: No Fish Today ] No Fish Today. info@thefisherman.com Good to see you here bright and early in the season, no need to file a CTF missing persons report as in other years when you do not post early. This horseshoe-shaped pond was formed when the river cut a new channel during postglacial times. Five Mile is a 48-acre pond located immediately north of Route 20A in a highly urbanized section of Springfield. Westfield River joins the Connecticut River 75 miles upstream of the Long Island Sound. Connecticut River ice fishing can be a fun way to beat the winter doldrums. Please see ourPrivacy Pagefor more information. Benais Saez Jr. Aug, 09, 2020 - Connecticut River. A 5% passage rate is unacceptable. I am very interested to catch some shad fish.. Ill come from Long Island, NY. Available for purchase at theDEEP Store. Kathy Urffer: Fish should have safe, easy passage at Connecticut River dams. I'll give you three guesses what I did after work today, and the first two don't count No Fish, to be more specific, the Chalet was in Masthope which is just above the junction of the Delaware River and the Lackawaxen River in Lackawaxen Pa. VTDigger publishes Vermont business and economic news. The Buck Pond is a natural great pond. Fish big flashy streamers, spinnerbaits, or deadbaits under a float for Connecticut River pike. Karen at AW Marina told me they were back open this weekend and will be open weekends for the rest of the month while adding in weekdays as the eastern sound season gets going. In April and May the arrival of herring should start the striper bite. The most consistent striper fishing still lies to the west but that wont be the case much longer. Bob of the Sunbeam Fleet reports we've been busy getting the fleet ready for the season. 116 Shore Rd. Saltwater Sinker Guide for Northeast Bottom Fishing. SeeCT DEEP Fish Community Datafor updated distributions. Shad migrate by the hundreds of thousands from the Atlantic Ocean up the Connecticut River each spring. VTDigger publishes stories about Vermont environmental issues, including water quality, toxic waste, climate change and biodiversity. Minor runs also occur in the Quinnipiac, Hammonasset and East rivers. The West Springfield dam (formerly called the DSI Dam) in Massachusetts is the first dam on the Westfield River, and is located 4 miles upstream of where the river joins the Connecticut River. Hes very knowledgeable and conservation minded. Andrew recommended those who want to blackfish in the central and eastern sound keep an eye on water temperatures. The river has fish from the mouth to the dam, spreading out some of the angling pressure. They can be caught with 10 wt fly rods, spinning gear, or conventional gear. awesome. Tailwater The tailwater stretches near Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, are the best for trout fishing the Connecticut River. This is also the best part of the river for shad fishing. The river was at about the same level as yesterday, the water was a little clearer, and the current a little more robust, but I still didn't need more than 3/4 oz of weight to hold the bottom. Bass fishing was good again and fish continue to spread out as the water warms. info@thefisherman.com Saltwater Seaworms for Spring Tautog. This migration into the river depends on water temperature but often begins in April and peaks in June. They offer a wide variety of rods, reels, tackle and baits as well as rod and reel repair. Dont be surprised if a giant bass eats one too! Every year, for decades, hundreds of thousands of American shad have been successfully lifted via a fish elevator over the Holyoke dam, only to be stymied by the next obstacle upstream the Turners Falls dam. The best action right now is still mostly a bait bite but those looking for stripers chasing newly arriving herring reported getting into fish on lures. Your recon is much appreciated. The ice fishing for perch and other panfish was quite good. // --> These look like a jig head but are usually much smaller. No boat livery. It could catch big brookies and rainbows there, or dinner plate sized bluegills in the Vermont sections of the river. Their staff of experienced fly fishing guides are well suited for both wading and drift boat trips. Anglers were buying clams and green crabs and taking them to shallow w Captain Bob of the Sunbeam Fleet reports Capt. The shad stack up in large numbers in May. Seeing red tail hawks, Eagle, great blue heron, Cormorans, ducks, and last but not least turkey buzzards. Anglers dropping Asian crabs, mostly on jigs are picking away at spring limits of keeper blackfish. At the Vernon dam, about 43% pass in any given year, but that number should be higher. Give Captain TJ a call now to save your spot today before the season starts. Fishing Media: Videos, DVDs, Books, Magazines, etc. 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. Catch and Release Only from September 1 to 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April. This video documents the full story of American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) migration in the Connecticut River. This post covers the species, the spots, guides, and even more. Hed been selling sand and bloodworms to anglers looking to tangle with their first bass of the year. Here are some tips for a successful spring striper fishing trip: Best Fishing Times near Niantic River. Distribution. 2 lb. The traditional Pheasant Tail Nymph is a good choice of fly when fishing the upper Connecticut River tailwater. data-event-category="Navigation header guest". Not going to The Wall as planned this morning, wife has recruited me to help her spread 8 cubic yards of cedar mulch she had delivered. Stripers continued to spread out in pursuit of various schools of ba Bobby Js said tog fishing was very good over the last week. 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. Practice catch and release: Striped bass populations have been under pressure in recent years due to overfishing and environmental factors. They spawn in the main stem of the Hudson and the largest of creeks during the month of May. American Shad with a dart. Word from Colin at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown is that trout fishing is excellent at many recently stocked places including Day Pond Trout Park and the Salmon River. Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Bass, pike, stripers, carp, troutit all happens. These Connecticut River Basin Fishway Passage Counts are compiled by the U.S. Dry flies in the spring and summer and nymphs or streamers year round can land a trout of lifetime here. Our first trip will be the weekend of May 6 & 7 for Peconic Bay Captain Mike at Tartan II said hes pulling the boat and starting on a new paint job next week. Practice catch-and-release to help ensure the health of the population for future generations. You never know what might happen on a day of Connecticut River fishing. Over time his interest in fly fishing turned from a hobby to passion to a full-blown obsession. Its truly exceptional. That said, schools of spearing were sighted in the sound as well. No one else in my recollection has had that honor here. Captain Mike at Tartan II said hes pulling the boat and starting on a new paint job next week. Captain Mike Roy offers light tackle and fly fishing trips on the lower Connecticut River and surrounding Long Island Sound for striped bass, bluefish, and other species. Fishing reports are still trickling in as water temperatures slowly increase. Tickets will go on sale soon, so be sure to check our website. The Fisherman For those with kids who are off for vacation next week, Massachusetts is running a series of trout stocking presentations all over the state next week and your kids will have the opportunity to personally release trout, you can find that info at www.mass.gov/news/school-is-out-help-stock-trout. This report is compiled by the U.S. Although some of the popular spots may start to get picked over, the warm weather should help give anglers more areas to find themselves a spring tog bite. 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. 8th.May, Happy Mother's Day to the Mothers out there. Connecticut River trout fishing is really good. All rights reserved. There has been a variety of bait in the area, likely none more important to spring stripers than herring. Black Hall Outfitters said that fishing locally continued to be slow although as temperatures hopefully warming temperatures and longer days change that soon. The Leesville Dam on the Salmon River in Connecticut is monitored only for Atlantic salmon. This area holds both big stocked and wild trout, and even landlocked salmon. Anglers from both states will undoubtedly be out in full force for - what many consider to be - the unofficial start to the fishing season. Shallow water flats, estuaries, bays and harbors are still the best bet for locating hungry bass. An email address is required to associate with your Fishidy premium subscription. While Great River Hydro, the owner of the Wilder, Bellows Falls and Vernon dams, has proposed significant positive operational changes in its revised application, it has offered little other detail to address migratory fish passage. Maximum depth: 21 feet. A wide selection of gear and accessories focused specifically on the fresh and saltwater fishers, clamming and blue crabbers is available. 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. Depth averages 12 feet with a maximum of 35 feet. I live only 2 miles from there and the shad fishing is legendary from the shore. We cover state elections, the Vermont Legislature, the governors office, state agencies and major political parties. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. Good fight. When they are on, it can be lots of fun. The shop sold plenty of green crabs last week to anglers looking to take advantage of the spring blackfish season. The Oxbow is a fertile, 204-acre, warm water pond occupying the old riverbed of the Connecticut River. VTDigger publishes daily stories on health care. Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report. 3rd.May, 4:30 pm after work, at the Wall. Tackle: We Use a light action rods with a fast action and a good reel with a high gear ratio to handle the fast runs of stripers. font size, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. I got stuck at work yesterday until almost 4:30 pm, so I bailed on going to the Wall, and arrived at the Bissell by 4:45. Fish are liking that combo! To give you a little bit of first-hand intelligence I happened to fish one of the local coves on the middle portion of the Connecticut River today and we experienced a few fish breaking on the surface. Free Classifieds- Buy, Sell, Trade, Want Ads, etc. Technical Help, Test Posts, Feedback, Computer talk, etc. We know this because we count the number of fish passing through these structures. Season: Open year round. Hatches on the river are strong enough to draw the attention of almost every fish in the river sometimes. American shad is an economically and ecologically important migratory fish species that once supported a robust fishery in the Hudson River. Although the Connecticut River run is at a fraction of its historical levels, it has recovered considerably during the past 50 years and is currently one of the largest runs on the East Coast. American shad are currently the most numerous migratory fish on the Connecticut River. Shad populations in the Connecticut River have substantially decreased compared to historic levels due to factors like climate change, overfishing, river alterations, pollution, water. A detailed fishing report for the Connecticut River will make the difference between a good fishing here and a bad one. In short, the trout bite has been excellent! This commentary is by Kathy Urffer of Brattleboro, and a river steward for the Connecticut River Conservancy in Vermont and New Hampshire. World Record 11.3 pounds. Fishing reports are st New England Video Fishing Forecast April 13, 2023, New England Video Fishing Forecast April 6, 2023, May 1 November 30. Not too hot and not too cold. River flows spiked early last week before dropping and moderating. And they're saying temperatures could get down into the 30s on Friday! A dark spot on shoulder sometimes followed by several others. A new species, and a new fishery discovered. American Shad ( about shad assessments) Harvest of American shad allowed only in the Connecticut River system. despite the dog days of summer , especially with this serious heat we are pushing into the night and finding large bass willing to take artificials .. starting to see loads of rain bait pour into the local area just in the last week , great sign for a big time fall run ? The fish-smelling slime never seems to leave my hands, even when I wipe them on my waders, but I wear it like a badge of honor, a lasting reminder of my first American shad. We've been booking lots of privat Captain Gerry from Drifter Charters said they are looking forward to another season on The Drifter and it wont be long until the boat is back in the water. It was a big week for big largemouth bass as anglers across the region found success on aggressive, prespawn giants. DEC has announced the release of the Recovery Plan for Hudson River American Shad. The DEEP dock in Lyme was giving up some fish and word was more action was creeping north as water temperatures increased during last weeks warm weather. Wills & Dellinger-Pate: Menthol and flavors are the lures that hook kids to tobacco. Trying to take 7yr old whos never fished before. Long Island Sound water temperatures touched the 50s which bode well for blackfish (tautog) as well as the striped bass bite and balls of baitfish. Lopstick Lodge in Pittsburgh, New Hampshire provides a great guide service. Crappies, yellow perch, and big sunfish are hitting in coves up and down the flowage, and there are loads of herring around in the main river which means striped bass will soon be available as well. this is a great boat to fish from. I feel very privileged to live so close to this great fishery. Fishing Niantic River, CT on 4/15/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. Peak fishing season in the Northeast usually starts around May and runs through October. The lower Connecticut River empties into Long Island Sound. fishing is as good as it gets ! In the Connecticut River, shad have migrated as far north as Bellows Falls, Vermont (272 miles from Long Island Sound), navigating three dams along the way via fishways. In addition to the Holyoke Fishlift, fishways at the Turners Falls and Vernon dams are now open. The last time these hydro facilities were licensed was 1979. Close-up of heads of juvenile American shad (top) and blueback herring (bottom). Since then, I've followed his photos, and updates on social media. American eel live their adult lives in our rives and migrate out to sea to spawn. Conn. State Record 9.3 pounds, 25.8 inches. In the winter, some backwaters of the river freeze solid enough for ice fishing. River is about normal level and 50 degrees. I was told they were gizzard Shad by one of the local kayak Anglers with a lot more experience than myself in this particular location. Where can you park. The Partnership is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Trout season will open in Rhode Island this Saturday, April 8th at 6 a.m. and at that very same moment, Connecticut's harvest season for trout will also begin. VTDigger covers criminal justice issues including Vermont legal issues, Vermont courts and the Vermont Department of Corrections.