Where open water can be found, winter trout options abound in Southern New England.
Sub-zero temps and frozen ground along with some fresh fallen snow, or a foot or two already on the ground; not necessarily the combination of factors that trigger thoughts of an amazing outing seeking trout on the rod and reel. Interestingly enough, though, winter trout fishing can be as successful, if not more so, as spring trout fishing given the right circumstances and techniques.
Any time is a good time to fish, but as we all know, certain times are better than others. And we need to realize that just like other times of the year, in winter, conditions vary too. Hence our techniques will as well. Fishing with river or stream water temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit will likely be unproductive. So if you are wanting to crush the trout, fish when water temps are in the mid-40s if possible. If you’re just looking to get out of the house, lower water temps will suffice. The biggest variable to keep in mind is it’s all about bait presentation.
Trout are cold blooded. Their body temperature is that of the surrounding water, and the colder the water, the slower they move. Hence, and I have written about this many times, when you think your presentation is slow, go even slower. When fishing in a river or stream let the water impart the action to your bait. A barely-moving spinner in yellow, black, or rainbow, Mepp’s preferred are great choices. A Rapala, 2-3/4 floating, in black and silver, allowed to wobble and meander past mid-river above and below surface boulders and stones, should put you in the money. Many varieties of beadheads and nymphs allowed to freely frolic on and just off the bottom will work extremely well also. Cast relentlessly, slightly upstream, reel several times, two to three turns just to get your bait moving, and let the river do the rest of the work. Similarly, cast straight across the river, and again, get the lure moving and allow the current to make the blade on let’s say your spinner, turn. Repeat slightly downstream with a cast, same concept. Work the pools and boulders methodically, looking for any flash of a brightly colored trout below the surface. If you spot that, cast over and over and study the behavior of the attacking trout to learn the behavior so you can tease the next one out from their lair. Remember this, the faster the current, and colder the water, the slower your retrieve. I repeat, when you think your retrieve is slow enough, go even slower.
While there are many winter trout options across Connecticut that remain open to year-round angling, two stand above the rest as my top choices. Be sure to check and double-check the regulations in your chosen waters as there are varying rules pertaining to open seasons and gear restrictions, and be sure to purchase your trout stamp.
Mianus River Trout
Management Area,
Merriebrook Lane,
Stamford, CT
This is a single-hook, catch-and-release-only spot. By far one of my top choices, this is a narrow river of maybe 20 to 30 feet wide with great runs and nice holes. There are plenty of large stones and boulders for trout to hide behind here so as to save themselves from fighting the current and allowing them to surprise and ambush prey as it is swept down river. This area gets stocked quite often and has a tremendous holdover population. Start at the bridge on Merriebrook Lane in Stamford and work the pools both below and above the bridge, at the foot of it. From there work each pool, small and large, all the way up this section until the dirt road that the stocking truck travels ends. Adhere to the ‘No Parking’ signs as you will get towed and it will be costly, and mind the ‘No Trespassing’ signs as well. Our fishing land is sacred and so is the personal property of the homeowners that surround this pristine area.
Farmington River Trout Management Area,
Route 318 Bridge,
Barkhamsted (Pleasant Valley Township), CT
This is another single-hook, catch-and-release area where I’ve caught many over-15-inch fish in the winter months throughout the years. If approaching from Route 44, take a left onto 318 and start by crossing over the bridge by car and take a right into the parking area. If you enjoy fly fishing, there are always fish under this bridge. If it’s spin fishing you prefer, drive the dirt road past the first parking lot and park near the gate. Walk past the gate and fish the river hard here. There are not tons of fish, but if you hook one it will likely be healthy and larger than the typical stockie. Work the section down until you can’t traverse the landscape any further. While you are in this neck of the woods, hop back in the car and explore. Head up to Riverton (another township) and fish the section above and below the bridge; above, on the center of town side, is easier to traverse. Also, head up, following the river higher towards the dam. There are sections of river up this way that are super-productive in winter. You’ll see many cars parked riverside on the right days, and the river here is amazingly beautiful. Even if you don’t happen to land a lunker, the fresh air will change your mood rather rapidly in this neck of the woods. This area is easily one of your best chances at landing a trophy. The author bagged two fish over 6 pounds in consecutive years in Riverton. A large brown on a sinking 1.5-inch rainbow Rapala, and a large rainbow on a 2-3/4-inch floating brown Rapala, coincidence? I think not.
As a younger man the search for winter trout was had by pouring repetitively over the State of Connecticut Anglers Guide. Trial and error proved successful, and the exploration was much enjoyed. If you have the same passions, similar information can be found online. However, Connecticut is not the only place where you can get trout in the winter. In Massachusetts, for example, there is no closed season and the state stocks heavily in the fall to supplement cold-weather pursuits.
I have spent some time targeting trout in Rhode Island, and the Wood River always has some high quality hold-over trout. This is due mainly to the fact that although it is the smallest state in the Union, Rhode Island has always stocked some bigger-than-typical trout. Further, the food supply in the rivers in Little Rhody keeps the stocked trout growing. Beyond, there is typically a rather hefty fall stocking, which bodes well for great winter fishing. Begin by trying the sections on Switch Road near the highway overpass (coming from Wood River Junction, heading towards Hope Valley) and upriver several hundred yards to the dirt road that enters the woods, and then just above the dam on Mechanic Street Continue upriver and explore all the pools below and above the bridge on Nooseneck Hill Road in Hope Valley (taking a right out of Mechanic Street) near the baseball fields. The riverside cover here is thick at points and wading is dangerous, but for those who are patient and careful, the rewards can be large.
Winter trouting is a great way to break away from the monotony of shoveling snow and hiding away indoors. So do yourself a favor, take a break, give it a try, and send us some of those amazing winter time trout pictures!
