New England - New England Freshwater Fishing Reports
New England Video Fishing Forecast – July 29, 2021
Offshore fishing really blossomed this week as more tuna moved into a wider area and new species joined the party. It’s not just bluefins anymore, we have yellowfins at the Ranger Wreck, we have mahi on the weedlines and highflyers, we have white marlin popping up throughout the region and giants out east of the Cape. Closer to shore the striper action around Block Island continues to pump out big fish and The Race has fired up as well. The best surfcasting has been on the sand beaches of the Outer Cape and the Canal has fallen quiet. The best fluke catches have been centered around Block Island and Montauk. Sea bass action has been hot west of the Vineyard, between Point Judith and Block and in the deep holes between Niantic and Old Lyme, CT. Bonito and chub macks continue to spread out in Rhode Island and catches are being reported with greater regularity… there’s a lot going on this week, where are you fishing this weekend?
Since 1963 the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has been conducting the Massachusetts Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program. This program awards commemorative pins to anglers who catch a fish that meets or exceeds the minimum weight for that species in the kept-fish division or the minimum length in the release-catch division. Anglers who participate in this annual program often refer to each other as pin-fishermen, and a fish that qualifies for a pin is called a pinfish. It could be a largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or any one of the 22 eligible species. If it qualifies for a pin, its called a pinfish even if its not entered in the program. (Most of my pinfish I have not submitted in the contest. But I do keep a record of all qualifying catches in a special Pinfish Log.) In past reports Ive used the term pinfish infrequently and reluctantly fearing that readers who are unfamiliar with the program might be confused. I hope this brief explanation helps clear up and prevent any misunderstanding because Id like to employ the term more often. Knowing what the term means will also help the reader understand why in reports I often mention fish such as a 12-ounce bluegill or 10-inch rock bass. I do so because both are pinfish, the bluegill qualifying by weight in the kept-fish division, the rock bass meeting the minimum length requirement in the release-catch division. Editors Report: On July 21 John Chrisant, accompanied by his fly-fishing cousin Peter, bass-fished Quabbin Reservoir out of Gate 31 in New Salem. Fishing proved difficult, but they did end up with twelve largemouths and a couple of smallmouths, one of the latter a pinfish bronzie scaling 4 pounds. Throughout the half-day session Pete stuck to bass buggin while John spin-fished topwater plugs and Yum Dingers. All the largies bit Dingers in reeds, the 4-pound smallie blasted a KVD Sexy Dog Jr. walked along the surface over a large flat. The best bucketyaps measured 18, 17, 17, and 16 inches. Water level at Quabbin is high for the time of year.
CONNECTICUT
Karen over at AW Marina in New London said there were some fluke landed from the Fort Trumbull Pier this week by anglers hoping for porgiesthey were more than happy to find some over the...
CONNECTICUT
Karen over at AW Marina in New London said there were some fluke landed from the Fort Trumbull Pier this week by anglers hoping for porgiesthey were more than happy to find some over the enhanced fishing area limit of 17 inches, for which Fort Trumbull qualifies. Porgies were also still red hot at Pleasure Beach and Avery Point. There were some local surf guys getting some over-slot fish from local waters, but they werent saying exactly where.
Andrew from Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown said porgy fishing remains your best bet for shore success, just about any spot with rocks will have them and, while worms are the best bait, clams, squid strips or nearly any other natural bait will also work. Striper guys are grinding it out on the beaches adjacent to the mouth of the River with eels and chunks for the occasional fish over 40 inches. Pluggers are catching mostly shorts, but if you get near the right school of bunker, you might connect with something north of 30 pounds. The mouth of the river has some big blues and small bass.
Over at Rivers End Tackle in Old Saybrook the bass bite seems to be slowing down a bit. Guys are still getting a few good ones but theyre working hard under the bright moon to connect. Chunked bunker seems to be the most popular method for getting a bigger fish.
Over at Captain Morgans in Madison said not much changed over the last seven days; the stripers are still in along the local beaches taking live eels and swimming plugs in the dark. The lower tidals still have large schoolies and a few slots for the fly guys and spin fishers tossing soft plastics. Harbor blues are in the same spots as well. Porgy fishing continues to produce excellent results for the shore sect.
The guys at Bobby Js in Milford said its been tough for the surf guys this week, the water is very warm and the stripers seem to be staying deep for the most part. The guys that are finding fish are doing it in the dark and fishing deep, moving water. There are some medium blues around the beaches mornings and nights, but theyre always moving around. Porgy fishing is awesome from shore though and everyone that goes seems to be hooking up.
Max over at Fishermans World in Norwalk said that despite the balmy water temps, there have been decent numbers of bass being taken by the hardcores early in the morning and through the night. Most of these fish are in the 20- to 30-inch range, but there have been some better fish into the low 20-pound class taken as well. Topwaters are scoring fish at dawn, the night crews are hooking up on eels and fresh chunks. There are some big blues around too which can be caught any time of day or night, you just have to find them. Porgy fishing remains hot from all the usual sports, lots of nice fish being taken. More
From Jay at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown we heard that anglers are catching channel catfish on night crawlers, chicken livers, and chunk shad and bunker in the Middletown stretch of the Connecticu...
From Jay at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown we heard that anglers are catching channel catfish on night crawlers, chicken livers, and chunk shad and bunker in the Middletown stretch of the Connecticut River. Theyre also pulling a few largemouth bass out of Millers Pond in Middletown on Senkos and plastic frogs. A few fellows are taking trout on small Rapalas and mealworms in the Coginchaug River. More
Rich at Fishermans World in Norwalk heard from several reservoir regulars that bass fishing at Saugatuck Reservoir remains consistent, hits coming mostly early in the morning or late in the day. Tro...
Rich at Fishermans World in Norwalk heard from several reservoir regulars that bass fishing at Saugatuck Reservoir remains consistent, hits coming mostly early in the morning or late in the day. Trout bites, on the other hand, are occurring just about any time when trout chase alewives to the surface and watchful trouters respond by throwing heavy Kastmasters or Krocodiles to the on-top activity. Walleyes are also hitting. Theyre taking live shiners toward dark. Asked if hed received any news from anglers pursuing trout in local rivers, Rich answered in the negative. At this time of the year, he added, local rivers see very little angler traffic. More
Red Cattey in Litchfield relayed news from Frank Barata who said Billy Bones and wife popped a dandy 6.5-pound brown trout while trolling at Lakeville Wononskopomuc) Lake last week. Billy and his brid...
Red Cattey in Litchfield relayed news from Frank Barata who said Billy Bones and wife popped a dandy 6.5-pound brown trout while trolling at Lakeville Wononskopomuc) Lake last week. Billy and his bride also had several throwback 15- and 16-inchers. Frank also heard from other fishermen that East Twin Lake is kicking out nice trout and West Hill Pond is producing trout at night. Franks been fishing Mount Tom Pond for up to three hours per session and picking up trout down deep. Red checked Bantam Lake and found water level way up. While there, he also spoke with a young bass anger from New Hartford whos been doing well with bass at Highland Lake and whose friend caught a big pike at Winchester Lake. (Last week we reported the possible stocking of northern pike from Minnesota into Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, and probably Lake Lillinonah. A search of the Internet for confirmation brought up a YouTube video of pike stocking at Bantam Lake on July 29, 2020. The video contained all the information in the original report. Since weve not been able to find any verification on the DEEP website of any recent stocking of northern pike, well assume that the 2020 YouTube video was mistaken for a 2021 news release.) More
RHODE ISLAND
The guys over at Crafty One Customs in Portsmouth said that there were some nice bass being caught in the lower reaches of the passages into the Bay this week. Nighttime has been the best...
RHODE ISLAND
The guys over at Crafty One Customs in Portsmouth said that there were some nice bass being caught in the lower reaches of the passages into the Bay this week. Nighttime has been the best time to connect and live bait has been the best method. But dont sleep on that first light bite with a pencil or spooksome nice fish are have been going to the early birds this week.
Over at Snug Harbor Marina in Narragansett the big news was the thresher sharks that were sighted in close to the beaches this week, the most famous one was recorded on video at Narragansett Beach. Chub macks are around in big numbers with more exotics to come. Bass fishing has been best at the breachways, but a few better fish are coming from the rocks in Gansett on live eels and deep plugs after dark.
Abbie over at Quonnie Bait and Tackle in Charlestown said there were bonito and chub mackerel running the beaches all week, but anglers were having a hard time connecting. There were some nice bass taken from the breachways on late night tides this week. Blues have been tougher to find, but scup fishers are crushing it.
The story over at Weekapaug Bait & Tackle was that the Breachways had a decent week for the guys who fished late into the tide. There were fish into the 30-pound class reported with slots and shorts mixed in as well. Chub macks are in with a vengeance and can be found reliably from Watch Hill to Charlestownthere are bonito with them and some boat anglers have connected, there has not be a confirmed beach bonito yet. Blues have been less numerous this week, but they are still around. Scup fishing is awesome.
Over at Watch Hill Outfitters Harrison said he had seen lots of shad and schoolies along the beaches and up into the river as well. He was putting on a show with his Star Wars combo catching small bass and shad. The guys fishing the breachways had a decent week fishing the tale ends of the dropping tides with bass to 30 pounds reported. More
Tim at Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans provided this weeks angling update. He began by saying that water in Cape Cod ponds is wicked warm, and for that reason bass action is limited mostly to earl...
Tim at Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans provided this weeks angling update. He began by saying that water in Cape Cod ponds is wicked warm, and for that reason bass action is limited mostly to early morning and after sunset. Fishing is still quite good, but anglers have to work a little harder and offer the right lures. For ponds hosting herring runs Tim highly recommends a small (3-inch) Texas-rigged paddletail swim bait swum close to bottom and a wacky-rigged or Texas-rigged Senko (his favorite colors are green pumpkin and watermelon red flake) worked along drop-offs. He also advises fishermen to stick with ponds inside Nickerson State Park in Brewster (Flax Pond, Little Cliff Pond, Cliff Pond, and Higgins Pond), the two main reasons being (a) all four offer easy boat and wade-fishing access and (b) each is loaded with bass and other game and panfish species. Before ending his report, Tim provided readers with a tip for catching summertime bass in the Capes kettle ponds. He said not to focus on shoreline cover. Instead work lures along drop-offs. Baitfish tend to relate to the drop edge, and where there is bait, there youll find bass. More
Dom at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said bass fishing remains about the same in ponds on and just off the Cape. The fish are in summer mode, and anglers should fish accordingly. Be on the wa...
Dom at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said bass fishing remains about the same in ponds on and just off the Cape. The fish are in summer mode, and anglers should fish accordingly. Be on the water early or late and focus on summertime cover and structure. Froggin in lily pads and over submerged weeds is working, as is plastic worming and jigging drop-offs. Flippin thick shade-providing brush has also been effective. Among productive sites in addition to well-known ponds in Plymouth such as Long Pond, Little Sandy Pond, Big Sandy Pond, and Halfway Pond are Billington Sea in Plymouth and Tihonet Pond in Wareham. Accessing Tihonet requires a pass from A.D. Makepeace Company, but obtaining one can be well worth the effort considering the excellent bassin at the 89-acre venue. Dom has not heard any trout fishing reports in quite a while. The anglers he knows avoid fishing for trout at this time of the year. More
South Shore Massachusetts to Maine Fishing Reports
Theyre catchin fish everywhere. Thats how Rick in Milford started his report. One of his friends has been hooking largemouths to 4.5 pounds on shiners and fake frogs at Hopedale Pond; Paul M...
Theyre catchin fish everywhere. Thats how Rick in Milford started his report. One of his friends has been hooking largemouths to 4.5 pounds on shiners and fake frogs at Hopedale Pond; Paul Morins been logging two or three largies on plastic worms every time out at Hopedale Pond; and Eddie and Danny Dunbar had bigmouths to 23 inches on a jig n pig at North Pond. Rick even had a report from a couple of guys who trolled up trout at Quacumquasit (South) Pond in East Brookfield. After completing his report, Rick handed the phone to Jerry who told us about Melissa Clarks 21-inch largemouth from Waite Pond in Leicester. Melissa was fishing with Stevie Janik, whose name has appeared often in Rick and Jerrys reports over the years. Stevie has had a great season so far with bass. Since May 9, hes tallied largemouths weighing 4 pounds, 5 ounces; 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and 5.8 pounds at Waite Pond and 5 pounds, 3 ounces and 5 pounds, 1 ounce at Webster Lake. Hes also beached a pair of 18-inch smallmouths at Webster Lake. Stevies guardian (also named Steve) scored a 4.5-pound largemouth while fishing with Stevie at Waite Pond. All the bass mentioned fell for shiners from shore. More
Word from Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen is that water in lakes, ponds, and rivers in the Northeast Wildlife District is even higher than it was two weeks ago, a result of seemingly interminable rain. Th...
Word from Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen is that water in lakes, ponds, and rivers in the Northeast Wildlife District is even higher than it was two weeks ago, a result of seemingly interminable rain. The Merrimack River below the dam in Lawrence is so high and swift, its dangerous. In the Lowell stretch above the dam water level is lower and current less powerful making it easier to get on the river and safer to fish. A few pike are being caught above the dam, but as Rog noted, there arent very many people out fishing because of all the wet and windy weather. Up north in New Hampshire, Lake Winnipesaukee remains a hot spot for both largemouths and smallmouths; Northwood Lake is churning out largemouth bass but not in the numbers for which the lake was once famous; and Lake Sunapee is producing nice bass, including big ones. (The winner of a recent tournament at Sunapee brought in a five-bass total weighing 22 pounds. Catch included a pair of 7-pound largemouths.) More
Word from Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. in Southwick is that bass at Congamond Lakes continue to cooperate. The fish are relating to summertime cover and structure including weeds, drop-offs, lil...
Word from Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. in Southwick is that bass at Congamond Lakes continue to cooperate. The fish are relating to summertime cover and structure including weeds, drop-offs, lily pads, and docks in all three ponds, and theyre hitting summertime lures such as plastic worms, swimbaits, grubs, jigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and so on. Whats especially appealing is that the fish are shallow which makes them easier to contact and entice. Although Skip fishes at various times of the day, he agrees that for the average angler early morning is the best time to be on the water. Not only are bass usually active at daybreak but also fewer people are out and about. Congamond Lakes can be jammed with boaters, swimmers, water skiers, and fishermen throughout a summers day and well into the evening. Skip also fished a tournament at Great Sacandaga Lake in New York where he did well in practice but struggled during the tournament. More
