Connecticut Fishing Report- May 12, 2022

(Above) Matt Stone found some quality bluefish from the kayak earlier this week.

Connecticut Fishing Report 

Matt, at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook told me that the striped bass are starting to fill in much more around the river and creek mouths. School striped bass action has been good in those areas and along the beaches, while the upper river herring runs are still holding some better fish. If next week’s forecast holds, and we get some sustained warmth, we should see the striped bass fishing really take off. Some sea lice covered bass are being reported in Rhode Island, so we shouldn’t be too far behind. Small soft plastics on jigheads is still the top producer of bass, but as the water warms we should see them become more willing to hit larger plugs and topwater offerings.  

Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown said that the fishing in the Connecticut River has improved significantly this week, as the flows dropped, cleaned up, and are starting to warm. There has been an increase of slot to slightly bigger fish reported this week from anglers dunking sandworms and/or tossing plugs near the herring runs. 9-inch sluggos, topwater spooks, and Refins have been popular for the anglers tossing artificials. The striped bass aren’t the only species taking interest in the herring runs, as the pike fishing has improved in the river as well around the same tributaries. The shad fishing has also been strong in the usual hotspots throughout the river. Freshwater anglers are still reporting good trout catches in the Salmon, Farmington, and Saugatuck Rivers, while bass anglers are reporting good smallmouth action in the CT River and Candlewood. Carp anglers are starting to report better fishing up and down the CT River as well.  

Mike Roy at Reel Cast Charters is seeing new schools of bass showing up regularly in and around the large tidal rivers. Big numbers of school bass have been common, and most trips are seeing plenty of slot fish in the mix as well. Fin-S fish and Sluggos have been the top producers, and he has also found some better fish willing to hit topwater offerings around the herring runs. Reports of bunker are starting to trickle in the lower stretches of the river, so we should be close to seeing some bigger fish push in and for everything to blow open. Be sure to contact Mike for a spring-run trip before it’s too late! 

Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports that the local beaches continue to be loaded with striped bass. School-class fish have dominated the catch, but there has been increasing numbers of slot fish lately. SP Minnows and soft plastics have been the top producers, but the increasing water temperatures should help the topwater bite. Some better fish have been taken on the troll to the west, and there has also been some better bass pushing around schools of bunker. The scup bite has been good on the NY side around Northport, and the first few fluke reports have come in from that side as well. Freshwater fishing has remained very good, especially for those targeting trout in the recently stocked bodies of water. The Saugatuck Reservoir is putting up good numbers of smallmouth on shiners, small swimbaits, and crankbaits. 

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Connecticut Fishing Forecast

Summer-like weather appears to finally be arriving, and it is bringing with it some summer like striped bass action. Striped bass action has been steady throughout Narragansett Bay and across South County, as some newer (and larger) fish are starting to trickle in each day. Connecticut anglers can find striped bass just about everywhere, with schoolies around the beaches and river mouths, along with some better fish following the herring upriver. As we start to see some schools of bunker trickle into the harbors and river mouths, I’d expect to start seeing some larger bass right behind them. Saltwater anglers in Rhode Island can continue to cash in on a quality spring tautog bite, along with somewhat steady cod action around Block Island.  A large push of squid into Rhode Island waters has also provided anglers with a great saltwater opportunity and should help with the fluke bite as we approach June. The CT River pike and smallmouth action has also improved, along with the shad fishing, which is a true sign of spring. Trout action has been good across both states, especially in the areas that continue to get stocked heavily.