New England - New England Freshwater Fishing Reports

Rich at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk did not hear any news regarding Saugatuck Reservoir last week. So, for his report he reiterated his suggestion that anglers focus on the north end of the impoundment where the Saugatuck Reservoir enters. The current there attracts all kinds of fish including largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleyes, and trout. With one outfit, freeline a live shiner; on a second, work a soft plastic bait close to bottom or have a heavy spoon ready to cast in case trout are spotted chasing alewives on the surface.

Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown did not have a great deal of freshwater fishing information, mostly news of continued good action with channel catfish on chunk eels and bluegills in the Connecticut River at Harbor Park in Middletown and Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam. He also mentioned selling loads of Whopper Ploppers and phony frogs, an indication that topwater bassin’ in local private and public ponds including Millers Pond in Durham and Higganum Reservoir is still good. Nothing last week from trout fishermen, but a few carpers reported catching buglemouths in the Connecticut River.

Jeff Sullivan in Bristol has been fishing in saltwater recently but did have a late freshwater report from about two weeks ago. At that time, he targeted white perch in brackish water far up Narrow River inside Narragansett Bay. The whities were feeding on small mummichogs, and Jeff caught them on Roostertails Yum Money Minnows, and small Little Cleos. With weather looking iffy for saltwater fishing, Jeff plans to do more sweetwater angling this week.

From Max at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay we heard that the smallmouth bass bite continues at Mashpee-Wakeby Pond in Mashpee and Little Sandy Pond in Plymouth. A Jitterbug in the early morning and late evening has been a hot lure for the bronzies. Largemouth action slowed a bit, but anglers were still getting them on Senkos. Last week Max did not hear any reports of trout on PowerBait from a boat in the evening at Big Sandy Pond in Plymouth, but he was sure anglers there were still catching some big browns but not reporting their success.

Rick in Milford pass along reports from several anglers including a youngster named Logan who popped a 5-pound largemouth on a shiner from shore at an undisclosed site (probably Louisa Lake), and Bill Alando whose 12-year-old grandson scored a 5-pound smallmouth bass on his third cast with a jig at Wachusett Reservoir. Bill later caught a 4+-pounder on a topwater lure. Rick also mentioned the bike-ridin’ kids who had a ball catching panfish, bullheads, and small largemouths at Louisa Lake and Milford Pond, and two fellows who unhooked fifteen largemouths to 3 pounds on spinnerbaits and other artificials while fishing out of kayaks at Stump Pond (A1 Site) in Westborough.

Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen said lesser ponds in the Northeast Wildlife District are yielding small largemouth bass along with an occasional larger specimen thrown in. He fished Rock Pond in Georgetown, and in addition to little largies, he popped one weighing 4 pounds on his very first cast. At Baldpate Pond he logged several largemouths on a large swim bait. Along the Merrimack River smallmouth bass action remains excellent in the Lowell -to-Lawrence stretch and the Hooksett, New Hampshire, section.

Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. in Southwick thinks that all three ponds (North, Middle, and South) at Congamond Lakes have been chemically treated to eradicate weeds. Water is discolored in places, weeds are dying, and some dead fish are floating. Also, the bass bite has been a bit tougher, presumably due weed-control measures. However, some nice fish were caught during Thursday evening’s big-bass event. A 4-pound largie finished first in the biggest-bass category, and 10+ pounds netted best-three honors. Besides largemouth bass, Skip is still picking up trout, especially at one well-known deep-water hump in Middle Pond. The hump is also producing smallmouths, largemouths, crappies, big yellow perch, and lunker bluegills.