New England - New England Freshwater Fishing Reports

Rich at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk let readers know that trouters have been catching plenty of stockies—many of nice size—in the Wilton section of the Norwalk River. Water level is high, so most anglers are drifting worms. However, Roostertails, Mepps Spinners, Kastmasters, and a host of other trout tempters are also being employed. Latest word from Saugatuck Reservoir is that lots of smallmouth bass are being hooked but only a few trout. More of the latter are coming out of the Saugatuck River south of the reservoir. Rich thinks some of those trout are individuals that washed out of the reservoir.

“Awesome.” That is how Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown described the kind of trout fishing his customers and friends are experiencing at stocked waters including Chatfield Hollow (Schreeder) Pond and Brook Trout Park, Day Pond, Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Jeremy River, and Blackledge River. However, the most exciting news in freshwater fishing concerns the Connecticut River where (1) shad action is good in the Middletown and Cromwell sections of the river, Willow Leafs being the best lure and (2) flow volume is down and carp fishing is surging. Indeed, carpers are coming in to the store in droves to gear up for carpin’ the Conn. Fishin’ Factory 3 carries a full line of brand name carp-fishing baits, tackle, and accessories. New this year is the Carp Maxx line of products which includes gigantic 30-mm boilies.

Red Cattey in Litchfield passed along more information regarding launching boats at East Twin Lake. Daily launch fee at the old O’Hara’s site is $20. A season’s pass costs $250 which is an increase of $100 over previous years. Smaller boats and other watercraft can be launched for free at the state-owned property located near O’Hara’s. The boulders that had been blocking the launch site there have been removed. Red also heard from a gentleman who docks his boat at Wononskopomuc (Lakeville) Lake. He has been catching and releasing lots of brown trout in the 16- to 21-inch range.

Jack at Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans let us know that freshwater fishermen are connecting with trout, bass, and pickerel in Cape Cod ponds including Herring Pond in Eastham, Crystal Lake in Orleans, and Cliff Pond and Flax Pond inside Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Goose Hummock held its annual kids’ derby at Flax Pond April 20, and the youngsters—all 140 of them—had a blast catching trout and bass. One participant also scored a big yellow perch.

According to Connor at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay bigger trout are now being caught in ponds on and just off Cape Cod. Browns are running 3 to 5 pounds and tigers 2 to 5 pounds A couple of larger-than-usual rainbows have been taken too, but Connor was not sure of their sizes. Among ponds yielding bigger trout are Mares Pond, Marys Pond, and “fan-favorite” Long Pond in Plymouth. Spoons and PowerBait have been productive. Bass fishing, at least for Connor and friends, has been “incredible to say the least” on big wakebaits at night at Mashpee-Wakeby and other herring-run ponds. The largies are big ladies up to 6 and 7 pounds; the smallies, equally impressive females peaking at 5 pounds.

Word from Rick in Milford is that trout fishing is hot in all stocked ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams in the Central Wildlife District. No one site is better than any other, but last week’s most popular venues were Louisa Lake where anglers (including youngsters in an annual kids’ derby held April 20) caught scores of browns and rainbows, and Ashland Reservoir and Hopkinton Reservoir where in two sessions Billy D. landed and released a total of twenty-five trout on pink and red Rough Riders. Rod Delgado and Eddie Dunbar continued catching lakers on hardware at Wachusett Reservoir, their latest outing resulting in eight forkies. Bass reports were scarce, only a few including one from a couple of Rick’s friends who logged nice largemouths at Singletary Lake.

Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen announced the arrival of shad in the Merrimack River. The fish are just trickling in, and action is not that good yet. Also, the river is still high and fast, so the shad are moving upriver without slowing down anywhere. Rog picked up a few at the mouth of the Parker River. He also continued caching nice pike in the 32- and 33-inch brackets in the Merrimack River in Haverhill. Local trout ponds have been stocked with some very nice specimens. Stiles Pond, for example, is producing browns to 5 pounds and tigers to 4 pounds. (Stiles was most recently stocked April 15, the allotment comprising browns, brookies, and tigers.)

From Skip at Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. In Southwick we heard that water temperature at Congamond Lakes is in mid to high fifties, and bass action is getting better by the day. Last week he took two people fishing on different days, and each enjoyed a satisfying session, one boating several small largemouths and a trio in the 3-pound-class, the other catching many largies in the 1- to 1.5-pound bracket. Skip also fished a couple of times by himself and did very well each outing, posting a top-five total of 17+ pounds and 12+pounds respectively. Included were largies scaling 5-pounds and 5+ pounds, giving him three in the 5-pound-class in the past two weeks. All three Congamond ponds—North, Middle, and South—are producing, and Skip’s hot lure has been a 4-inch finesse worm. Many of the bass, especially the bigger ones, are ready to spawn. The 5-pounders, for instance, were fat with eggs. Trout are still “all over the place.” During calm moments the insects and baitfish upon which they are feeding can be seen dimpling the surface.