Freshwater bass action has been strong in Rhode Island with a good largemouth bite and the smallmouth making their appearance.

Connecticut has declared an early opening to trout season and with the mild winter and the increases in stocking, things continue to get better on the trout front.

Fishing continues to be good with anglers finding brown trout hanging close to shorelines and steelhead still feeding in the streams.

UPDATE 3/26/20: As the COVID-19 situation escalates in New York, it’s essential that fishermen take all precautions to maintain social distancing on and off the water.

Regardless of what was going on in the world, anglers could always take comfort in a few hours on the water.

Amid concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced several changes to the 2020 trout season intended to protect the safety of the public and staff.

Hatcheries are pushing out all available trout out to ponds and lakes already teeming with a quantity and quality of trout the likes of which may never happen again.

The Sandwich Hatchery has put in their broodstock, giving anglers an opportunity to tangle with a trophy-sized trout.

Above: The winter flounder bite has been great.

Trout stocking has been ongoing with tigers, brookies and browns joining the first batch of rainbows in water bodies throughout the state.