May 11, 2026 - 10:34:47
Plenty of good fishing news from Colin at Fishin’ Factory 3: Trout action remains outstanding at stocked ponds, lakes, and streams including the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond and Brook Trout Park, the only change being the decreased number of fishermen. The main attraction at this time, however, is the Connecticut River which is producing shad, carp, and striped bass in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch, the latter species on sandworms and chunk baits. Bass in area ponds are just moving into the shallows, so as weather and water warms, action with them should surge. Presently, Candlewood Lake is the place to be for big bass. Among top-ten finishers in recent tournaments the average size of bass weighed-in is 5 pounds. Some of the biggest fish caught include a 6-pound, 2-ounce smallie and a 7-pound largie. The Coginchaug River and Salmon River TMA and TTA were stocked May 7.
May 11, 2026 - 10:34:42
Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 led his report this week with shad again as the bite has been very good for many customers coming through the shop to reload on willow leaves and weights. The action has been consistent with some days producing fast fishing. Mornings and evenings have been best but the lunch break crowd has been getting in on the fun as well. Andrew said that a willow leave fished behind a drail weight of a half to three quarter-ounces seemed to be the most popular way to catch one of these hard fighting fish. The striper fishing in the river continues to improve and while fish are spread from the mouth to the dam, the fishing in the lower river seemed to outpace other sections. Reports came into the shop of good fishing on artificial lures like soft plastics and glidebaits for fish in the 20-pound-plus class. Upstream, sandworms were still the bait of choice for most anglers, especially those fishing locally. There are still fish to be had around the tributaries as the herring run continues. There haven’t been many reports of striper action in the sound from the river to east yet but some of the structure adjacent to the river is now holding fish. Andrew said he expects more reports of fish from the Connecticut to the Thames after this next new moon. Beyond bass fishing, a few customers had been in to gear up and head out on party boats pointed toward the Peconics. If you’re looking for some early season scup, that would be the best bet to pound some porgies. Local trout fishing is still keeping lots of folks and families busy and the action has been excellent as the state continues to stock fish. Worms and shiners are working as are lures like Rooster Tails and Thomas Bouyant Rough Riders. The shop is open seven days a week for the season.
May 04, 2026 - 10:29:46
News from Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 is that trout fishing is still going strong although he has noticed a slight decline in interest with local anglers turning to bass in ponds and lakes and shad and carp in the Connecticut River. Shad numbers in the river are rising daily, and action is improving accordingly. This year’s most popular shad lures are Steaves Leaves, a kind of willow leaf, fished with a ¾- or 1-ounce casting sinker. Andrew has been selling so many he had to order another 200 from the company. He also mentioned being on the river in the Glastonbury section and watching carp flipping all over. On the bass-fishing scene the only reports Andrew heard were from several tournament bass fishermen who told him that smallmouth bassin’ is very good at Candlewood Lake. Higganum Reservoir and Millers Pond were stocked with trout April 29; Chatfield Hollow Pond (Schreeder Pond) and Brook Trout Park received trout April 30.
May 04, 2026 - 10:29:41
Andrew at Fishin’ Factory 3 said shad fishing had vastly improved over the last week with lots of customers in to buy weights and willow leaves reporting good action. The popular local spots have been crowded early and late in the day as well as on lunch breaks. It sounded like most days were good but the bright and sunny times were best for most of the folks they’d talked to. Striper fishing in the river is also ticking up with sandworms doing the bulk of the heavy lifting for bass in the school to slot range. Andrew said he expects to see a noticeable tick up in bass action this week as more and more fish are on the move. Striper fishing anywhere from the Enfield Dam on down to the river mouth is now a viable option and bait fishing is likely to produce the best results. Plugs and artificials are working better, mostly on bass chasing herring in some of the tributaries. Though the blackfish season is over they did hear one notable report from the Niantic River from a customer who’d caught a couple of jumbo porgies while looking for tog. Hopefully that is a sign of a good scup season to come as it is now open for the year. They are loaded up with rigs and tackle for scup and all your bottom fishing needs for the year. Local trout fishing continues to produce great results with lots of happy anglers reporting good quality fish. They hadn’t weighed any monsters yet but the overall size and quality this season seemed to be very good. The shop is open seven days a week for the season.
