October 05, 2026 - 10:51:07
Regarding freshwater fishing, Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown deemed last week “quiet.” One exception was the Connecticut River where action with catfish and carp stayed exciting at Harbor Park in Middletown, Haddam Meadows in Haddam, and Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam. Unfortunately, the Connecticut Carp Open, that big time tournament on the Connecticut River which usually occurs in October, will not be held this year. Tournament carpers are hoping the contest will return next year. Several venues popular among customers were stocked with trout last week including the Salmon River TTA and TMA, the Blackberry River, Black Pond in Middlefield/Meriden, and the Farmington River. The store has in stock standard trout-fishing lures and baits such as Roostertails, Rough Riders, Buoyants, Kastmasters, Phoebes, Rapalas, and PowerBait.
October 05, 2026 - 10:50:56
Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 told me he’d heard from customers who’d been catching striped bass this week as well as from others gearing up for the fall tog season. He said he’d heard from anglers catching bass from both boat and shore at all times of the day as fall run style action had picked up from the mouth of the river and to the east. The bass they were catching ranged from 20-inches to 20-pounds and larger on both live eels and artificial lures. A few boaters mentioned seeing schools of bonito from black point to the east but as far as most anyone connecting with hardtails can tell, the false albacore seemed to have gone missing for the time being. They are hearing from lots of customers who are getting ready for the blackfish opener on Saturday. He said the shop will be all stocked with jigs, rigs, rods reels and crabs for when the season starts on October 10th. He was also excited to share that the shop will run their fall blackfish tournament again this year. The tournament runs the full six week tog season and the heaviest fish will take the total pot at the end in the form a Fishin’ Factory III gift card. There will also be weekly prize winners each week of the season from different sponsors so keep an eye on their social media to see what’s up for grabs each week. Fish can be weighed at the shop or at Hillyer’s Bait and Tackle and you must sign up in person in Middletown to get in. Last year they had over 75 participants and at $30 a head to get in the payout should be a good one. The shop is open seven days a week for the season.
September 28, 2026 - 10:45:04
Colin at Fishin’ Factory 3 in Middletown heard from “fly guys” that the three sections of the Farmington River which were stocked with brown trout September 4 are “fishing very well.” He also picked up news of good fishing for catfish and carp at Harbor Park in Middletown and Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam. On the bass scene, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, and live shiners are working on largemouth bass at Beseck Lake and Higganum Reservoir. Colin thinks that rain from last weekend’s northeaster will increase flow levels in streams and rivers, thus improving conditions for fall trout stocking.
September 28, 2026 - 10:44:52
Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 told me the shop was steady over the weekend with customers in to browse and prepare for fall run fishing on the other side of this storm. A handful of customers were in to buy plugs and reported some good striper fishing both locally and beyond through the storm. Some hardy surfcasters reported catching bass around the mouth of the Connecticut and Thames Rivers as well as at Watch Hill and the Rhode Island breachways. He said he’d heard from folks who were hoping the fall was now kicking into full gear after the blow, some of whom said they were really hoping the albies stuck around. What really happens albie-wise won’t be found out until mid-week when forecasts appear to return to a place where anglers can get back on the water but the bass fishing does seem to be fired up for the time being. Other customers were in buying rods, reels, jigs and rigs meant for shallow water blackfish in anticipation of the coming fall season. Speaking of blackfish, they were tightening up the shop as we spoke with a fresh batch of Magic Tail tog jigs. He said the shop will be all stocked with jigs, rigs, rods reels and crabs for when the season starts on October 10th. He was also excited to share that the shop will run their fall blackfish tournament again this year. The tournament runs the full six week tog season and the heaviest fish will take the total pot at the end in the form a Fishin’ Factory III gift card. There will also be weekly prize winners each week of the season from different sponsors so keep an eye on their social media to see what’s up for grabs each week. Fish can be weighed at the shop or at Hillyer’s Bait and Tackle and you must sign up in person in Middletown to get in. Last year they had over 75 participants and at $30 a head to get in the payout should be a good one. The shop is open seven days a week for the season.
