Connecticut Fishing Reports

With water temps at 65°F on the Connecticut River (USGS gauge 01184000) and the Middletown-to-Cromwell stretch packed with shad and stripers, late May is delivering one of the year's strongest inland fishing windows. Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown called the Connecticut River "the most popular fishing destination at this time," with the Rocky Hill boat launch area also running hot. White perch are showing up as a consistent bycatch for striper anglers drifting sandworms. On the trout front, Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports the Wilton section of the Norwalk River is fishing well on recently stocked fish, with Roostertails, Kastmasters, and Mepps Spinners all getting strikes. Smaller tributaries are running at moderate levels, giving wading anglers good access to their best runs. The waxing gibbous moon should keep feeding windows elevated through the upcoming weekend.

17h ago

Fisherman's World in Norwalk is reporting an influx of bass up to 40 pounds and larger this week, concentrated on deep-water reefs over schools of bunker holding in the water column. Water temps sit at 56 to 57 degrees F per NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065, a dip from a recent high near 61 degrees, but Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle notes that fish migrated up the coast and from the Shelf regardless, settling into structure rather than retreating. Captain TJ Karbowski of Rock and Roll Charters told The Fisherman — Connecticut that striper fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal, with slot fish and larger taking both bunker and squid. Bait diversity is excellent across the Sound, with squid, bunker, mackerel, and silversides all in play depending on location. The fluke bite is beginning to pick up per Bobby J's, and bluefish have arrived at three locations across southern New England per The Fisherman (Northeast), putting them at LIS's doorstep.

1d ago

Water temperatures on the Connecticut River have climbed to 64°F (USGS gauge 01184000), and the warmth is driving prime conditions across CT's inland waters. Andrew at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports the Connecticut River as the most popular freshwater destination right now, with the Middletown-to-Cromwell stretch packed with shad and stripers. The Rocky Hill boat launch area is also producing steadily. White perch are coming in on sandworms intended for stripers, making trips doubly productive. On smaller tributaries, Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports trout enthusiasts doing well in the Wilton section of the Norwalk River, recently stocked on April 2, April 29, and May 9, with Roostertails, Kastmasters, and Mepps Spinners accounting for most catches. A smaller inland gauge (USGS gauge 01193500) reads 203 cfs, suggesting moderate, fishable flows on tributary systems. The waxing gibbous moon adds low-light feeding windows worth planning around.

1d ago

At 62 degrees Fahrenheit (USGS gauge 01184000, recorded this morning), Connecticut's inland waters are in full late-spring transition. Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports plenty of trout still around on the Salmon River, with one angler catching as many stockies as he wanted, but notes customer interest has shifted toward shad, stripers, and carp on the Connecticut River plus largemouth in local ponds. Those largemouths are now largely on beds or just transitioning off, making them trickier to entice than they were in prespawn, per Fishin' Factory 3. Up at Saugatuck Reservoir, Fisherman's World in Norwalk says largemouth and smallmouth action keeps steadily improving, with shiners the top bait and Keitech swim baits and Lunker City paddletails also producing. The Salmon River TMA and TTA were stocked on May 13, giving trout fans a fresh target even as bass and shad command most of the attention heading into the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

1d ago

Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reports plenty of trout in local waters, with Salmon River anglers catching "as many trout as they wanted" from recently stocked stretches; the TMA and TTA were re-stocked on May 13. Customer interest has shifted toward shad, stripers, and carp in the Connecticut River, where the spring migration is drawing steady traffic. Water temperature at USGS gauge 01184000 reads 61°F, putting the river squarely in the sweet spot for American shad and pushing largemouths firmly onto their beds. Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk notes that largemouth and smallmouth bass at Saugatuck Reservoir are steadily improving as water warms, with shiners the top bait and Keitech swimbaits and Lunker City paddletails also producing. Spawning largemouths are proving "trickier" to entice than they were in prespawn, per Fishin' Factory 3, so finesse presentations and live bait will outperform power fishing this weekend.

2d ago

Water temperatures have climbed to 55°F across Long Island Sound, per NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065, and the timing couldn't be better — multiple Connecticut tackle shops are reporting the best striper bite in years. Fisherman's World described this week as simply "bass, bass, bass," with fish caught on virtually every method across inshore and deep water alike. The Fisherman's Connecticut roundup, drawing on reports from Aaron Swanson and area shops, confirms the May new moon supercharged bass activity throughout LIS and its tributaries, with fish feeding on squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, and silversides. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reported that artificials, including flies, are easily keeping pace with live bait, and noted tide rather than time of day is the primary variable right now. OTW Saltwater's May 19 striper migration report confirmed Long Island Sound is "loaded with big bass on bunker." Bluefish have just arrived in southern New England and are beginning to filter into the region.

3d ago

The Salmon River's Trout Management Area and Trophy Trout Area were stocked May 13, and per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, at least one angler fishing the river since has caught 'as many trout as he wanted.' Water temps on the Connecticut River have reached 62°F (USGS gauge 01184000), putting inland Connecticut squarely in its late-spring transition. Largemouths across local ponds are deep into the spawn and proving 'trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' according to Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown. Fisherman's World in Norwalk hears from Saugatuck Reservoir regulars that both largemouth and smallmouth bass action 'keeps steadily improving,' with shiners the clear top producer and Keitech swim baits and Lunker City paddletails also working well. The Connecticut River continues to draw interest for shad and carp. Verify current bass season dates with state regulations before harvesting; catch-and-release is the standard during the spawn window.

3d ago

'Long Island Sound is loaded with big bass on bunker' — that was OTW Saltwater's lead line in its May 19 Striper Migration Report, and every Connecticut shop this week confirms it. The May new moon acted as a catalyst: Aaron Swanson, writing in The Fisherman — Connecticut, reported that the moon 'seemed to supercharge striped bass activity in Long Island Sound and its tributaries,' with a full buffet of bait — squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait — now spread across the Sound. Fisherman's World summed up their week simply as 'bass, bass, bass,' with fish responding to every technique across all structure types. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle added that artificials and even flies are 'easily keeping pace' with live bait as 'the big gals' tear up the shallows, with tide dictating the bite more than time of day. Water temperature at NOAA buoy 44065 is holding at 56°F — prime range for aggressive striper feeding.

May 19

Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown — per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — reports the Salmon River TMA and TTA received fresh stockings on May 13, and at least one local angler pulled as many trout as he could handle from those stocked stretches. But the broader freshwater picture has shifted: largemouth bass across Connecticut's inland ponds are now deep into the spawn and proving "trickier" to entice than they were during prespawn, according to the same source. Customer interest has notably pivoted toward shad, stripers, and carp working the Connecticut River main stem. At Saugatuck Reservoir, Fisherman's World in Norwalk notes largemouth and smallmouth bass action steadily improving as the water warms — shiners lead the lineup, with Keitech swim baits and Lunker City paddletails also drawing bites. USGS gauge 01184000 puts Connecticut River water at 62°F and a robust 20,400 cfs, flows that concentrate shad in slack-water pockets and eddy lines along the main stem.

May 19

The May new moon delivered a surge of striped bass action across Long Island Sound, with shops and charter captains throughout Connecticut reporting one of the best bites of the season. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, Aaron Swanson described a 'major influx of bait' as the tinder that ignited already-excellent striper action, with fish feeding on squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait across every type of structure. Fisherman's World kept it brief: 'bass, bass, bass.' Offshore buoys NOAA 44025 and 44065 both show 56°F sea-surface temperatures, with nearshore water reportedly variable — Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle noted temps 'bouncing around' as the season transitions. Bobby J's confirmed the inshore bite is currently outpacing deep-water fishing, though outgoing tides remain the key window for reef action. Rock and Roll Charters just launched their charter season this weekend, with Captain TJ Karbowski eager to start bending rods.

May 19

Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown reported the Salmon River TMA and TTA were freshly stocked on May 13, with one regular pulling as many trout as he wanted from that stretch. Largemouth bass are a different story — most are in full spawn mode now, which is making them "trickier" to entice than the eager prespawn fish of a few weeks back. The bigger shift in angler attention, per Fishin' Factory 3, is toward the Connecticut River, where shad, carp, and even stripers are drawing crowds away from traditional trout waters. At Saugatuck Reservoir in Norwalk, Fisherman's World reports that bass fishing — both largemouth and smallmouth — is "steadily improving" as water warms; shiners are leading the way, though Keitech paddletails and Lunker City swim baits are also producing. USGS gauge 01184000 on the Connecticut River recorded 60°F and 27,700 cfs as of this morning — prime conditions for the spring shad migration.

May 19

Water temps across Long Island Sound are reading 56–57°F per NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065, and the fishery is fully awake. The Fisherman — Connecticut's Aaron Swanson reports that the May new moon "supercharged" striped bass activity throughout the Sound and its tributaries, with a massive bait influx — squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait — pulling fish onto every type of structure from deep reefs to shallow flats. Fisherman's World Connecticut called it simply "bass, bass, bass," with customers connecting on virtually every technique. Bobby J's Connecticut notes inshore action is currently outpacing the deep-water bite, though an outgoing tide can flip the script on the reefs. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle adds that artificials and flies are easily keeping pace with bait. On The Water confirmed the spring striper migration has fully extended through the Northeast, with 40-pound-class fish now entering New England waters.

May 18