Connecticut Fishing Reports

The Salmon River TMA and TTA received fresh stockings on May 13, and The Fisherman — New England Freshwater reports that one angler hit the river and caught 'as many trout as they wanted.' With USGS gauge 01184000 reading 59°F on the Connecticut River corridor, water temps are in a prime window for trout while nudging largemouth bass firmly into spawn mode. Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, notes largies are 'now spawning and proving trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' while area reservoir bass action is 'steadily improving' with shiners leading over soft-plastic swim baits. Interest in Connecticut River shad and carp is building this week, with anglers gravitating toward the main stem alongside the traditional trout fisheries. Spring flows remain elevated — the CT River corridor is pushing 34,100 cfs per USGS gauge 01184000 — so reservoir and tributary fishing will offer the most comfortable conditions right now.

May 18

Water temps of 55–56°F at NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 have Long Island Sound right in the wheelhouse for spring striped bass, and the bite is delivering. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, the May new moon supercharged striper activity across the Sound and its tributaries, drawing fish onto a broad buffet of squid, bunker, mackerel, herring, silversides, and rain bait. Fisherman's World described the week as simply "bass, bass, bass," with fish spread from inshore flats to deep-water structure. Bobby J's noted the inshore bite currently outpaces the deep reefs, though outgoing tide windows at depth are worth targeting. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reported artificials — flies included — keeping easy pace with live bait as big fish hammered the shallows on tidal cues. Rock and Roll Charters kicked off their season this past weekend. Per On The Water, the spring migration has now extended all the way to Maine, confirming a full-coast push in progress.

May 18

Fresh stockings hit the Salmon River TMA and TTA sections as recently as May 13, and at least one angler fishing the river reported landing 'as many trout as he wanted' on stockies, according to Fishin' Factory 3 in Middletown. Connecticut River mainstem temperatures are reading 58°F with flows at 37,600 cfs (USGS gauge 01184000) — warm enough to pull shad and carp into the corridor, which Fishin' Factory 3 customers are now actively targeting. On the bass front, largemouths are deep into the spawn and turning 'trickier to entice than they were in prespawn,' per Fishin' Factory 3, while Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports that both largemouth and smallmouth activity at Saugatuck Reservoir 'keeps steadily improving,' with shiners and Keitech swimbaits the standout producers. The smaller interior gauge at USGS 01193500 shows 99.6 cfs — modest, walkable spring levels on lower-gradient tributaries statewide.

May 18

Water temperatures holding at 56°F across Long Island Sound — confirmed by NOAA buoy 44025 and NOAA buoy 44065 — and CT anglers are making the most of it. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports a full-court striper blitz from Norwalk to New London: Bobby J's notes fresh fish with sea lice mixing with resident bass, and bunker chunks producing stripers into the 20-pound-plus class. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle calls feeding "cranked up," highlighting over-the-slot 40-pounders turning heads alongside slot and throwback fish on swimmers and plastics along the shoreline. Fisherman's World in Norwalk confirms bass spread from inshore harbors to deep-water structure, with reefs like 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy holding the freshest arrivals. The Fisherman (Northeast) describes the 2026 New England striper season as "supercharged," and On The Water's migration tracker placed fish all the way to Maine by May 15. With the new moon now underway, tidal current is running strong — ideal for working rip lines and structure.

May 17

Two 8-pound brown trout surrendered by Saugatuck Reservoir this week — each taken on a shiner from a different part of the impoundment — headline a freshwater bite that's firing on multiple fronts across Connecticut. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Fisherman's World in Norwalk confirms the reservoir is also yielding solid largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch alongside those trophy browns. Stocked-water trout action is rated "outstanding" by Fishin' Factory 3, with the Salmon River TMA, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond Brook Trout Park all delivering consistent catches. On the Connecticut River — logging 57°F at USGS gauge 01184000 — Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass all active in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill corridor, with sandworms and chunks working for linesiders. Rivers including the Mianus, Mill, Saugatuck, and Norwalk remain reliable trout spots. The New Moon this weekend sets up a favorable daytime feeding window across all species.

May 17

Striped bass dominate the Long Island Sound scene this week, with sea-lice-fresh migratory fish mixing with resident bass from Norwalk to New London, per The Fisherman — Connecticut. Fisherman's World in Norwalk reports fish spread across inshore harbors, bays, and deep-water structure — reefs including 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy holding the freshest arrivals. Bobby J's confirms bunker chunks are producing bass into the 20-pound-plus class, while topwater plugs and plastics on jigheads are generating steady inshore action. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle notes over-slot 40s have turned heads alongside a consistent supply of slot fish (24–29 inches) on swimmers along the suds. Surface water sits at 52–54°F per NOAA buoys 44065 and 44025, still brisk but clearly warm enough to have the migration fully engaged. Tonight's new moon brings stronger tidal flows — classic feeding conditions after dark. Tautog and early fluke are beginning to register on the regional radar as secondary options.

May 17

Water temps registering 55°F on the Connecticut River (USGS gauge 01184000) confirm a classic mid-May window across Connecticut's inland fishery. The standout story this week comes from Rich at Fisherman's World, who reports two brown trout near 8 pounds pulled from Saugatuck Reservoir on shiners — caught by separate anglers fishing different sections of the same impoundment, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. That reservoir is also producing largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and perch. Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 calls trout action outstanding at stocked ponds, lakes, and streams, naming the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond and Brook Trout Park as reliable producers. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes spring stockings continued through early May on the Hammonasset River, Bantam River, Saugatuck River, and several TMAs. On the Connecticut River, the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch is yielding shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks, per Fishin' Factory 3.

May 17

NOAA buoy 44025 clocked water temps at 53°F overnight, and Long Island Sound stripers are making the most of it. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, as reported in The Fisherman — Connecticut, says anglers are 'laser-focused on striped bass,' with sea-liced fresh fish now blending into resident populations and over-slot 40s already turning heads along the CT shoreline. Bobby J's confirms quality is improving across the board — bunker chunks producing fish into the 20-pound class, while plastics on jigheads and topwater plugs are also drawing strikes. Fisherman's World tells The Fisherman — Connecticut that the freshest arrivals are stacking on deep-water structure: Reef 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy. The Fisherman (Northeast) frames the broader New England context as a 'supercharged spring striper run,' with 40-pound-class fish now documented in regional waters. Today's new moon amplifies tidal movement and should push more bait through the Sound's rips — a setup that typically sharpens the bite through the week ahead.

May 17

Saugatuck Reservoir is producing trophy-class brown trout — The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Fisherman's World report notes two browns pushing 8 pounds taken recently on shiners by different anglers in different parts of the impoundment, with largemouth, smallmouth, crappies, and perch also active. The spring stocking program is running strong: Rod Teehan's roundup in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirms recent plants in the Coginchaug River, Salmon River TMA, Bantam River, and Moosup River TMA, among others. Down on the Connecticut River, Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass all showing in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch — classic mid-May fare for that corridor. USGS gauge 01184000 puts mainstem water temperature at 55°F, a comfortable zone for late-run trout and the shad migration. Bass anglers have an added edge: Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling big largemouth into heavy cover and within range of topwater and frog presentations.

May 17

Water temps checked in at 52–53°F across nearby NOAA buoys overnight, and striped bass have taken undisputed center stage on Long Island Sound. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports linesides running from Norwalk all the way to New London, with fresh migratory fish — some carrying sea lice — arriving to mix with resident bass already working the system. Bobby J's confirms fresh bunker chunks are producing fish into the 20-pound-plus class, while Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reports over-slot 40s have "turned some heads," with slot fish and throwbacks providing steady volume. Swimmers and plastics on jigheads are working along the shoreline; deep-water structure like reef 11B and Can 13 is holding the freshest arrivals, per Fisherman's World. OTW Saltwater's May 12 migration update places 50-pound-class bass already staging off Long Island, signaling the heaviest part of the push is within reach right now.

May 13

Saugatuck Reservoir is the headline freshwater story of the week — Fisherman's World reports two brown trout pushing 8 pounds each were taken there recently on shiners by different anglers working different sections of the impoundment. Spring stocking is firing statewide: Fishin' Factory 3 calls trout action "outstanding" across the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow Pond, with Rod Teehan (The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) logging additional stockings on the Hammonasset, Saugatuck, Bantam, and Moosup rivers as recently as May 5–7. The Connecticut River at USGS gauge 01184000 is reading 58°F and running at 15,400 cfs — productive spring flows driving a multi-species bite in the Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch, where Fishin' Factory 3 reports shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks. Saugatuck Reservoir is also kicking out largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch alongside those trophy browns.

May 13

Water temperature has settled at 52°F along the Connecticut shoreline—confirmed by NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065—and the striper action is running hot with it. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reports over-slot fish in the 40-inch class have turned heads this week, with most daily action on slot and throwback-sized linesides running 24–29 inches on swimmers and plugs along the surf and tidal rivers. Bobby J's confirms fresh migrants carrying sea lice are mixing with resident bass, and bunker chunks are converting 20-pound-plus class fish at anchor and on the troll. Fisherman's World's Tyler notes the freshest fish are likely holding on deep-water structure—reefs 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy—as these schools shift locations daily. Per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut, linesides have made their presence known from Norwalk to New London, with inshore harbors, bays, and tributaries all producing. Topwater is building, and plastics on jigheads remain a reliable backup.

May 12