New England - New England Freshwater Fishing Reports

Rich at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk was pleased to announce that several local rivers including the Saugatuck River TMA Fly Area in Westport and Mill River TMA in Fairfield have been stocked and are producing trout. Fly-fishers are doing well with Woolly Buggers, nymphs, streamers, and various worm patterns while spin-fishermen are scoring with all the usual baits and lures including trout worms, mealworms, shiners, and spinners, especially Roostertails. These flowages will be restocked periodically and should continue to yield trout on a regular basis. Saugatuck Reservoir is scheduled to open for the 2023 fishing season the second Saturday in April. The Mill River TMA was stocked February 17; the Saugatuck River TMA Fly Area, February 21.

According to Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown trout fishing is the main game in his locale. Perhaps the most productive venue is the Salmon River TMA where one of Andrew’s buddies described the fishing as “easy.” Black Pond in Middlefield/Meriden has been another hot spot, customers there having a grand time with Seeforellen brown trout in the 5-pound range. (The Seefs were stocked in Black Pond February 7.) Fishing for just about every species available in the Middletown area will improve dramatically in April with crappies and yellow perch in coves along the Connecticut River, pike in the Haddam stretch of the river, and schoolie stripers in the river proper all hitting nicely. And, of course, local ponds will start kicking out largemouth bass, and action with trout in recently stocked waters will be even better than it is now. Beginning April 1 Fishin’ Factory 3 will be open full time.

Red Cattey in Litchfield passed along reports from Dave Dodge and Frank Barata. Dave’s grandsons have been catching and releasing lots of nice-size brown trout to 20 inches, most on Roostertails and various metal lures, at East Twin Lake. Frank and his buddy, Billy Bones are still getting broodstock Atlantic salmon to 22 inches at Mount Tom Pond. They’ve been fishing out of kayaks on mild days and emphasized that they have had to work hard for their fish, all of which have been released. Live bait has been catching a few salmon from shore too. Frank and Billy hit West Hill Pond March 13, again fishing from kayaks, and caught and released quite a few 16- to 18-inch browns along with a 5-pounder bested by Billy and an 8-pounder boated by Frank. West Hill Pond’s water level is down a bit as is Highland Lake’s. Anglers at Highland have been connecting with 18- and 19-inch rainbow trout. Highland was stocked for the third time March 16; East Twin for the fourth time March 7; and West Hill for the third time March 7. Mount Tom was stocked February 16.

From Hudson at Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans we heard that trout fishing in recently stocked Cape Cod ponds is “great.” All kinds of baits and lures are working well including shiners and small spoons. Among ponds producing consistently are Big Cliff Pond, Sheep Pond, Baker Pond, and Crystal Lake. Bass fishing has been okay and will get much better, especially for larger specimens, when herring begin spawning runs into freshwater. Starting April 1 Goose Hummock Shop will be crammed full of new inventory for fresh and saltwater anglers, so come in and browse around.

Connor at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said numerous local ponds on and just off the Cape have been stocked with trout. Best reports are coming from anglers plying Grews Pond in Falmouth and Long Pond in Plymouth. Baits such as shiners, night crawlers, and PowerBait have been working better than artificial lures, but that should change as water temperatures rise. A few of Connor’s buddies are also catching largemouth bass, none of impressive size, on small swimbaits in area waters, particularly those in Plymouth. From March 25 through April 2 Red Top will be holding its annual spring sale featuring loads of deals on rods, reels, line, lures, and so on.

Rick in Milford began his report by telling us that people have been catching stocked trout at Hopkinton Reservoir, one of the best reports coming from a pair of youngsters who caught five rainbows on PowerBait Twist from shore. Not much going on with bass in the Central Wildlife District, but sharpies such as Danny Southwick have been hooking some good-size largemouths on big swimbaits in ponds in the Southeast Wildlife District which includes Cape Cod. Rick also heard from a few of his buddies who pulled up largemouths to 4 pounds, 10 ounces through ten inches of ice on a pond in the Berkshires. Rick thinks they were fishing Cheshire Reservoir. Rick also alerted us to a fish consumption advisory in effect covering several Massachusetts waters frequently mentioned in our reports. The advisory results from unsafe levels of PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) found in fish from these ponds and lakes which include Ashland Reservoir, Lake Cochituate, Fearing Pond, Pequot (Hampton) Pond, Lake Quinsigamond, Walden Pond, and Wallum Lake. Advisories vary depending upon the level of PFAS found in fish at a particular waterbody and range from limiting consumption to no more than two meals per week to refraining from eating any fish at all. Very importantly, the recommended restrictions apply to native fish but not to recently stocked trout. Much more information is available on the MDFW website. Lake Cochituate and Hopkinton Reservoir were stocked March 10.

Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen told us that there wasn’t much ice on ponds and lakes, so not a lot was happening on the freshwater fishing scene in the Northeast Wildlife District. Even in New Hampshire ice is iffy. Asked if he thought thick hardwater would develop in February, Rog said he didn’t know, considering how mild the winter has been. The Merrimack River is very high, but a few carp are being taken. For February, Rog offered an unusual suggestion. Assuming ponds and lakes will remain ice-free, he said to get on your favorite water and try trolling a spoon or minnow plug at different depths using lead-core line. Wintertime trout, bass, pike, pickerel—all will hit a lure if it passes “close by their noses.”

Spoke with Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. in Southwick who said water temperature at Congamond Lakes is forty-two degrees, and all three ponds (North, Middle, and South) are completely ice-free. Bass fishing has been slow, and bass fishermen are looking ahead to April and the start to the prespawn season. Trout schools are roaming on top, and fishing for them should be excellent whenever weather cooperates. Trout stocking has started in Massachusetts; but as of the day Skip and I talked, no Valley District waters, including Congamond Lakes, had yet been stocked. Congamond did receive a slug of trout from the state of Connecticut January 13.