The rivers and bay water temps have climbed into the mid 50's. Shad fishing continues to improve throughout the Susquehanna River with lots of hickory shad and some American shad too. Fishing poor on Cape this week,& it was a long 612 mi. Book online or call for information. American shad are currently the most numerous migratory fish on the Connecticut River. The Farmington River joins the Connecticut River about 57 miles upstream of Long Island Sound. Fish that do survive incur injuries as they pass downstream through the turbines. 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. All Outdoors: Camping, Hiking, Photography, Mushroom Hunting, etc. Anglers targeting shallow water rockpiles with clams and sandworms reported good togging with several limits reported back to the shop. Most recent Connecticut River Basin Fishway Passage Counts. Autumn is another phenomenal time of year on the river. We know this because we count the number of fish passing through these structures. George I'm so glad to see you back for the spring and really look forward to your reports all season long. Captain TJ Karbowksi at Rock and Roll Charters told me hed been working on the boat daily and was looking forward to the coming season. Shad are the larger cousins of river herring, spending most of their adult lives in marine waters and moving in from the ocean to spawn in freshwater in springtime. 8:44 PM Waders off, car in drive, Im on my way home. All Rights Reserved. Boaters hit the walls that also heated up as togs in varying sizes were caught and/or released. 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. We are humbled to once again be nominated for the "Best of the Best" in The Day's contest. DOI and the bureaus do not guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Along the Connecticut River, action with crappies in coves and marina basins has been very good while at Candlewood Lake anglers are contacting a few smallmouth bass. The only bass news he had arrived from Candlewood Lake where fishermen are connecting with smallmouths on jerkbaits, a Megabass Vison 110 being super popular. Also, school striped bass are taking sand worms in the Middletown stretch of the Connecticut River. Atlantic Salmon (about Atlantic Salmon Management Areas) Taking of Atlantic Salmon is prohibited. Booking a trip with Lopstick is a good way to get to know the upper Connecticut River. +45 Fresh Fishing Reports from Connecticut Spring 2023 Striper Run And the shad are exhausted. A BIG WARMUP Only 2 folx working the rock pile, and no shad. 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. Let's hope you are able to salvage some of it by the time the girls are in town. 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. Hell be back fishing the week of May 20th and dates for prime weekends are already booking fast. Its a good way to catch many of the species of fish that swim these waters. 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. I covers specie, spots, seasons, fly shops, and more. The Connecticut River is no exception. Our environmental reporter is Mike Polhamus. The last seven miles of the river is a striper and bluefish haven, thanks to the abundance of bait in this large estuary. info@thefisherman.com A little while later, another shadaholic C&R a very small roe. During spring, striped bass and bluefish swim 4 miles or more upriver to feed. Comments. Hell be back fishing the week of May 20th and dates for pri Black Hall Outfitters said that fishing locally continued to be slow although as temperatures hopefully warming temperatures and longer days change that soon. Jigging trophy crappies, bluegill, and perch is popular, and so is using shiners on tip-ups for big pikes. Sinai, NY 11766 The fishing is great in each state along the way, with hot spots spread throughout. 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. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS. We cover the states hospitals, the states psychiatric care system, the Green Mountain Care Board, insurers, state health care policy, Medicaid and Medicare. This will make it easier to release other fish that you're not aiming to catch. I live only 2 miles from there and the shad fishing is legendary from the shore. Minor runs also occur in the Quinnipiac, Hammonasset and East rivers. Within a few weeksusually starting in mid-May, both American and hickory shad begin migrating into our Northeast tributaries as well. 8th.May, Happy Mother's Day to the Mothers out there. VTDigger regularly publishes stories about Vermont politics. It was breezy, but not as hard or cold as yesterday. As Early Bird said many fond memories of fishing the Enfield Dam with my dad. W, Mt. Some of the diehards were out targeting winter flounder over the last week and they hadnt heard back at the shop if theyd been successful or not. 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. Mouth slightly larger than other herring (end of jaw to middle of eye in juveniles and to back of eye in adults). Captain Morgans emailed over their report to say, We definitely had a week of Summer come early. Serving Middlesex and surrounding counties for over 20 years, Fishin Factory 3 is your Connecticut River and Long Island Sound specialist. I was not aware that gizzard Shad came in in the abundance that they evidently do, as I had assumed that it was a species that did not have a very large presence in this state. We look forward to seeing everyone this season! We look forward to seeing everyone soon! Bob Popovicss Hollow Fleye is a great pattern for large predator fish in the Connecticut River. Fish are liking that combo! All rights reserved. On average, only 5 percent of those migratory shad are able to pass the Turners Falls dam and move successfully up the river to Vernon. 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. But, stripers aren't the only migratory fish of the season. An email address is required to associate with your Fishidy premium subscription. Our seasonal hours have changed with limited disruption due to fisheries meetings, etc. Everything from bait to spinners and swimmers were reportedly taking fish. 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. Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Connecticut River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission (CRASC). Recreational Marine Angler Data-- How you can help us to improve fishing. American shad has been an important food fish in the Connecticut River since colonial days and has become our State fish in recognition of that fact. Captain Mike Roy at Reel Cast Charters told me he is excited to announce that this season his team will be running three boats, the Conch 27, Pathfinder 23DV and the Jones Brother 23 so they can better accommodate clients and take on more bookings. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. try { Give Captain Mike a call now to book your spot for the season. SeeCT DEEP Fish Community Datafor updated distributions. Hartford, CT. Females (roes) are larger than males (bucks). No one else in my recollection has had that honor 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. Seems the shad were bigger back then. American Shad ( about shad assessments) Harvest of American shad allowed only in the Connecticut River system. document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); Your recon is much appreciated. Connecticut River trout fishing is really good. You will be directed to the following website in 5 seconds: We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable. World Record 11.3 pounds. All Reel Cast trips will be sporting new gear from Shimano, G Loomis, Minn Kota, Humminbird and Dakota. The decisions that result from this relicensing will affect our river and these fish until we revisit this license in 2060 or so. 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. The Connecticut River flows through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We also specialize in coverage of state finances and the impact of tax and budget policy on Vermonters. It is here that the fishing can get pretty hectic as boats converge on the concentrated fish while shore. Benais Saez Jr. Aug, 09, 2020 - Connecticut River. Please see ourPrivacy Pagefor more information. He wanted bucks for the smoker. document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); Dad even won a prize in the derby one year. It has both giant smallmouth and largemouth bass, and fish are quite abundant. That bite will only continue to improve as the fish continue spread out. Hatches on the river are strong enough to draw the attention of almost every fish in the river sometimes. Commonly 15 to 24 inches. Dry flies in the spring and summer and nymphs or streamers year round can land a trout of lifetime here. Ban them. Connecticut River fishing is amazing. Mostly in the tailwater stretch in New Hampshire, the Connecticut River holds brown, brook, and rainbow trout. Peak fishing season in the Northeast usually starts around May and runs through October. } catch(err) {} The lower Connecticut River empties into Long Island Sound. That said, the warmer weather should lead to some better flounder action, however limited it may be. I always, as a former shad fisherman, enjoy your reports each year. Adult shad are green-gold, nearly two feet long and can weigh up to 5 lbs. Striped bass and bluefish are the primary targets here in spring, early summer, and fall. 2022 [ Re: No Fish Today ] No Fish Today. Fishing: the art of casting, trolling, jigging, or spinning while freezing, sweating, swatting, or swearing. Fish and Wildlife Service. Another regular showed up as I was rigging up. The American Shad run is in full swing, and your chances of catching Trout and Salmon are still strong. I was a part owner of a ski chalet on the upper Delaware River that we used as a hunting/fishing camp. I live near the idisn head river and bite just died last week. At least the water was nice and clear, down less than 1' from Wednesday, and the current was good; 3/4 oz was weight enough. This is an excellent opportunity for anglers to target these hard-fighting fish and enjoy some great fishing. She can be reached at ehewitt@vtdigger.org. var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-677254-1"); We can't wait to get out there! Thanks for your frequent and detailed shad reports. Where can you park. #1828950 - 03/23/22 06:05 AM Re: SHAD! When I talked to Andrew at Fishin Factory 3 told me the striper bite in the river started to pick up this week. Utilize alternate means to pass American eel if the ladders cannot adequately provide effective and timely passage. Mothers Day was the magic time for roe shad to arrive in our area. If you have a minute, please check it out and vote for us! 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. Shallow water flats, estuaries, bays and harbors are still the best bet for locating hungry bass. The state record for common carp in Connecticut was well over 40 pounds, and caught out of the Connecticut River. Fishing below Holyoke, you can catch dozens of shad on a good day. The folks at Surfland Bait and Tackle in Newburyport tell me that while the wait is on for stripers more imminent are river run species such as shad and white perch! 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 ? Lures such as topwater plugs, jigs, and soft plastics can also be effective. 2023 FishingBooker.com. I know it will be fresh water. A detailed fishing report for the Connecticut River will make the difference between a good fishing here and a bad one. Perfect. 6:24 PM About 20 minutes late, I text Mike Taylor and let him know Ive arrived at our pre-determined meeting spot on the Connecticut River. A great time to fish for Sea Bass on the sound. The last time these hydro facilities were licensed was 1979. Captain Mike at Tartan II said hes pulling the boat and starting on a new paint job next week. Tidal river activity is up as linesiders are taking worms, swim baits and some topwaters. Hope for sufficient recovery by mid April to be able to take out the boat or maybe fish from a chair at The Wall in Cromwell. He can be reached at jcraven@vtdigger.org. Fishways have opened up hundreds of miles of river to migratory fish in the Connecticut River watershed! The Flashail Whistler is an important fly to carry if you want to catch Connecticut River pike. Finally got on some shad N of water gap. 1; 10; Details; May 09, 2020 Arthur Huttemeyer Sr. 0. nice catch Brett Fila. Bob of the Sunbeam Fleet reports we've been busy getting the fleet ready for the season. Your email address will not be published. Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report. Required fields are marked *. 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. Such a long flowing river must have some fishing. Looking for the best flies for fly fishing? If you are passing the Salmon River in East Haddam, check out the shadbush at the Leesville fishway, which I planted about 25 years ago.