New England - New England Freshwater Fishing Reports

Tyler at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk began by saying trout fishing in stocked rivers—Mianus, Norwalk, Saugatuck, and Mill in Fairfield—is very good and will remain so until water warms. Right now, flow levels are high in these and other flowages, and trout are spread out; therefore, you might have to move around and fish all kinds of water to make contact. Later, when flow recedes, trout will drop into deeper pools and holes, at which time you can focus on those structures. Tyler also had news from Saugatuck Reservoir which opened April 13. Some very nice walleyes weighing 3 pounds and up are being taken along with a good number of decent smallmouths. Shiners have been the ticket for walleyes; jigs and suspending crankbaits, best baits for bronzies. A reminder that Fisherman’s World carries Aquarion Water Company fishing permits for Saugatuck Reservoir. Cost is $10 for a day permit, $30 for a season’s pass.

Reporting from Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown, Colin said trout fishing has been pleasing at Chatfield Hollow (Schreeder) Pond and Brook Trout Park and the Salmon River. Flow level in the Connecticut River has diminished, but water is still muddy. Lots of ospreys are around which might indicate the presence of herring in the river, and shad are being caught in the Farmington River.

Red Cattey in Litchfield could not reach Frank Barata but did get a report from Frank’s wife who said her husband and Billy Bones were already at Mount Tom Pond April 15 when a DEEP stocking crew arrived and dumped in a load of stockies. Frank and Billy had a ball catching and releasing one trout after another. Red also heard from Skip Zander and Dave Dodge that launching a boat at East Twin Lake now costs twenty dollars.

Jack at Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans let us know that trout and bass are hitting in local waters including Flax, Cliff, and Little Cliff ponds inside Nickerson State Park at Brewster, Sheep Pond in Brewster, and Baker Pond and Crystal Lake in Orleans. Bass are eating live shiners while the trout are biting gold spoons.

Largemouth and smallmouth are “taking off” at Mashpee-Wakeby Pond according to Connor at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay. He and his buddy have been shore-fishing the 737-acre double pond in Mashpee and doing very well with largies in the 2- to 6-pound range and smallies in the 3- to 5-pound bracket on live shiners, swimbaits, and Chatterbaits. Trout fishing remains outstanding in all stocked ponds on and just off the Cape with heavily stocked Long Pond in Plymouth, Peters Pond in Sandwich, and Hamblin Pond in Barnstable among the most productive. Just about every lure and bait is working including PowerBait, spoons, and spinners.

Word from Jerry in Milford is that stocking is going on in the Central Wildlife District, and all stocked waters are churning out trout. Last week’s hot spots were Ashland Reservoir where nice browns were hitting and Louisa Lake where rainbows were active. A few crappies have been mixed in taking small shiners meant for the stockies. Largemouth bass are just getting underway, but laker activity at Wachusett Reservoir continues unabated with one exception: the forkies are mostly 3- to 5-pounders now rather than the giants that were in evidence opening week. Enjoying the hot laker bite at the “Chu are Rod Delgado, Danny Dunbar, and Eddie Dunbar who have been catching their forkies on hardware. Just starting to heat up is carp fishing in the Blackstone River. Water in that flowage is still cold and fast.

Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen blamed lousy weather for poor trout fishing in his locale. All the usual waters have been stocked at least once, but none as far as he knows are providing great action. Best reports have been coming from Pentucket Pond. Rog fished Stile’s Pond once and Round Pond twice, blanking at both. He also worked the Merrimack River, which is “over its banks,” and lost two fish when both got into flooded brush. He thought one was a legal-size northern; the other, a smaller pike or decent bass.

Talked with Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. In Southwick who said water temperature at Congamond Lakes is in the low fifties, and bass action is improving accordingly. Many bass are still tight to bottom in deep water, but increasing numbers are starting to cruise shorelines. During his latest outing, which lasted only three hours, Skip boated fifteen largemouths. The top five weighed 15 pounds and included a 5-pound, 3-ouncer that bit a finesse worm in two to four feet of water. Trout are “all over the place” including on the surface where they are eating insects. Skip’s buddy fished a tournament at Webster Lake. Among the biggest bass during the event were a pair of 6-pound-class largies. Skip’s friend had a whopper crappie scaling 2.5 pounds.