Black Hall Outfitters

Matt from Black Hall Outfitters said the frigid temperatures have finally won the battle and ice has spread across most of the coves and local ponds. It has been windy, and the thickness of the ice may vary, so it’s advisable to proceed with caution. Many of the popular coves on the river are safe and they have heard reports of panfish, pickerel, bass and pike taken through the ice this week. The striper guys have been forced to wait or make a ride to the Housy where a slower bite has been the main theme. Trout fishers are still doing well in the local rivers, but dealing with more ice flowing through in recent days.

Matt from Black Hall Outfitters said they have a lot of guys poking around the coves for holdover bass, success has been varied, but there are fish around. He suggests fishing deeper holes and keeping things low and slow. Smaller paddletails on light heads will, typically, get the most bites during this cold time of year. Panfish, pike and pickerel are another option for open water anglers on the CT River, and with a serious cold snap on the way, pulling those species through holes in the ice may be an option very soon.