Connecticut Fishing Reports

Two brown trout pushing 8 pounds — each taken on a shiner by different anglers fishing separate sections of Saugatuck Reservoir — set the week's high mark for CT inland fishing, per Rich at Fisherman's World via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. USGS gauge 01184000 is logging 56°F water, a prime late-spring temperature for trout and transitioning bass alike. Spring stocking continues at pace: Rod Teehan's column in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater lists trout drops into the Hammonasset River, Saugatuck River, Coginchaug River, Bantam River, Moosup River TMA, and Salmon River TMA between May 4 and 7. Colin at Fishin' Factory 3 confirms action remains outstanding at the Salmon River, Coginchaug River, Day Pond Trout Park, and Chatfield Hollow, with angler numbers well down from opening-week peaks. The Connecticut River's Middletown-to-Rocky Hill corridor is also producing shad, carp, and striped bass on sandworms and chunks, per the same report.

May 12

Water temperatures holding at 52°F across Long Island Sound — confirmed by NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 — have proved enough to trigger a strong spring striper run. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, fresh sea-liced bass are pushing in from offshore and stacking alongside resident fish from Norwalk to New London. Bobby J's reports anglers fishing fresh bunker chunks are landing stripers into the 20-pound-plus class, with jighead plastics and topwater equally productive. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle notes over-slot 40-inch fish turning heads, while typical action runs 24 to 29 inches along the suds and tidal rivers. Fisherman's World in Norwalk calls striper fishing "the best game in town right now," with the freshest arrivals concentrated on deep-water reefs including 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy. On The Water's May 8 migration map confirms the 2026 striper push is at full speed regionwide.

May 12

Water temps checked in at 53°F on NOAA buoy 44025, and the striper bite in Long Island Sound is running hot. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, shops from Norwalk to New London agree: striped bass is the dominant story this week. Bobby J's reported fresh sea-liced fish mixing with resident bass, with bunker chunks producing fish into the 20-pound-plus class; plastics on jigheads and topwater have also been effective. Fisherman's World described striper fishing as "the best game in town," with fish spread from inshore harbors out to deep-water structure on reefs like 11B, Can 13, and the OB Buoy — the freshest migratory arrivals holding on those offshore grounds. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle noted that feeding has cranked up, with over-slot fish to the low 40s turning heads alongside steady slot action on swimmers along the shoreline. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirmed that "tanks" were landed in Long Island Sound last week, underscoring that big fish are firmly in the mix.

May 11

Water temps on the Connecticut River registering 57°F (USGS gauge 01184000) with flows elevated at 17,000 cfs signal a classic mid-May inland transition. Fisherman's World out of Norwalk — reporting for The Fisherman — New England Freshwater — delivers the week's standout: two brown trout pushing 8 pounds were recently pulled from Saugatuck Reservoir on live shiners, with that same impoundment also giving up solid largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappies, and perch. Stocking activity is running full tilt: Rod Teehan's NE Freshwater column in The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes fresh drops on the Hammonasset River (May 4), Saugatuck River (May 5), and on May 7 the Coginchaug River, Bantam River, Moosup River TMA, and Salmon River TMA. Fishin' Factory 3 calls trout action "outstanding" at stocked ponds and streams. The Connecticut River's Middletown-to-Rocky Hill stretch is additionally producing shad and carp, with some early striped bass on sandworms and chunks in the tidal reaches.

May 11

Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, reported in The Fisherman — Connecticut, described over-slot striped bass — fish running 30 to 36 inches — crashing bays and lower tidal rivers right around last week's full moon tides, with topwaters and swimmers drawing violent strikes. Water temperatures registered 55°F at NOAA Buoy 44025 and 54°F at Buoy 44065, cool but squarely in the productive spring striper range. Fisherman's World (CT) noted bass pushing into the far western reaches of the Sound on both troll and topwater, while Bobby J's (CT) confirmed consistent schoolie action in river mouths and harbors alongside larger fish chasing herring runs. The Fisherman (Northeast) flagged tanks landed in Long Island Sound as part of a broad Northeast surge. The spring tautog season has closed per Connecticut sources, and winter flounder has wound down — striped bass own the spotlight. The Connecticut River shad run, per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut, adds fresh forage that should keep migratory bass anchored in the area.

May 10

Water temperature sits at 49°F per NOAA buoy 44065, and the spring striper surge is firmly underway in Long Island Sound. Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle, reported via The Fisherman — Connecticut, noted that over-slot bass (30–36 inches) broke through the Sound last week, slamming topwaters and swimmers in bays and lower tidal rivers around the full moon tides — non-stop action for those who timed it right. The Fisherman (Northeast) also confirms tanks were landed in Long Island Sound this reporting period. Bobby J's, per The Fisherman — Connecticut, reports schoolie and slot-size bass stacking consistently in river mouths and harbors, with larger fish keying on herring runs. Fisherman's World adds that migratory fish are pushing into the far western reaches on both troll and topwater. The Connecticut River shad run has kicked into gear as well, per Aaron Swanson in The Fisherman — Connecticut. Spring tautog season has closed, shifting focus fully onto stripers.

May 10

Water temps on the Connecticut River are holding at 55°F per USGS gauge 01184000, and inland fishing is hitting its stride. The Fisherman — Connecticut reports the Connecticut River shad run came to life over the past 10 days, with very good fishing now underway. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's Fishin' Factory 3 corroborates it, noting shad numbers climbing daily and action continuing to build — the shop's Steaves Leaves willow-leaf blades on ¾- to 1-ounce casting sinkers have been moving so fast they had to reorder 200 units. Spring trout stocking rolls on statewide, with The Fisherman — New England Freshwater documenting recent plants in the Farmington River West Branch, Norwalk River WTMA, Higganum Reservoir, Millers Pond, and more. Rich at Fisherman's World in Norwalk confirms stocked fish are biting well on worms, Roostertails, and PowerBait throughout Norwalk-area rivers. Fishin' Factory 3 also notes a growing shift toward largemouth bass in ponds and lakes, as carp begin appearing in the rivers — the mid-May transition is fully underway.

May 10

Water readings of 49–52°F across the outer Sound (NOAA buoys 44065 and 44025) aren't dampening what is shaping up to be an encouraging early-May striper push in Connecticut. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, Captain Morgan's Bait and Tackle reported that "over-the-slot striped bass broke through the Sound barrier this past week," with fish from 30 to 36 inches slamming topwaters and swimmers through the bays and lower tidal rivers timed to the full-moon tides. Bobby J's Connecticut report adds that schoolie action in river mouths and harbors has been consistent for most customers. Aaron Swanson's Connecticut roundup notes migratory fish are already creeping into the far western Sound, with trolling and topwater reports picking up. A secondary opportunity is building on the CT River, where The Fisherman — Connecticut reports the shad run kicked into gear over the past 10 days with improving numbers daily. Wave heights of 5.2 feet at buoy 44025 favor inside-water approaches for smaller boats.

May 7

The Connecticut River is reading 59°F at USGS gauge 01184000, and the shad run has hit its stride. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut (Aaron Swanson), the migration kicked into gear over the last 10 days with some very good fishing along the river. Fishin' Factory 3 (via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater) reports shad numbers climbing daily, with Steaves Leaves willow-leaf rigs on ¾- to 1-ounce casting sinkers so popular that a reorder of 200 units was needed. Trout action remains strong statewide: The Fisherman — New England Freshwater confirms late-April stocking on the Farmington River West Branch, Moosup River TMA, Norwalk River WTMA, and several ponds. Anglers near Norwalk are taking stocked fish on worms, Roostertails, and PowerBait (Fisherman's World, via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater). A nighttime largemouth bite is emerging — angler Jeff Sullivan reported a 7.25-lb bass on a bladed jig last week, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Panfish including white perch and crappie are active at multiple sites.

May 7

Water temperatures registered 51°F at NOAA buoy 44025 this morning, and the striper migration is tracking right alongside those numbers. The Fisherman (Northeast) reported April 30 that western Long Island Sound — the Connecticut doorstep — already holds bass to 30 pounds, while fish from 25 to 40 inches are crashing bays and river mouths throughout southern New England. The Long Island forecast from The Fisherman (Northeast) confirms schoolies and slot-size bass are now consistent, with bunker schools pinning fish in place; anglers are scoring on plugs, soft plastics, bucktails, and fresh-chunk presentations timed to tide changes. On The Water's May 1 migration map notes the run "snowballs" once large post-spawn females clear the Chesapeake — a wave that tends to lift southern New England numbers fast. Tautog fishing in Connecticut appears to have wrapped up for the spring season per The Fisherman (Northeast). An 8.9-foot wave height logged at buoy 44025 makes this a nearshore game this week.

May 6

Water temperature at USGS gauge 01184000 hit 59°F on May 5 — prime territory for largemouth and smallmouth bass moving into pre-spawn mode across Connecticut's inland lakes and ponds. The Connecticut River is running at 13,200 cfs, indicating elevated, likely off-color conditions on the main stem; anglers should pivot to backwater eddies, tributary mouths, and sheltered cove pockets rather than open current. A smaller tributary gauge (USGS gauge 01193500) shows a more fishable 99.6 cfs. MidCurrent's recent coverage flags caddis emergences accelerating across the Northeast — a hatch cycle that typically reaches Connecticut rivers by early May, pointing toward active evening feeding windows for trout on soft-hackles and emerging patterns. Field & Stream's early-season guide cautions that elevated, turbid water can suppress surface-feeding bites, reinforcing slower subsurface presentations when flows are up. Check state regulations before targeting any species.

May 5

Water temperature at 56°F on the Connecticut River main stem (USGS gauge 01184000, read 10:30 AM today) puts statewide inland conditions squarely in peak spring territory. Flow is running high at 13,100 cfs, making wade fishing on larger rivers challenging — boat anglers and shore casters targeting back-eddies and slack-water pockets hold the advantage right now. A secondary tributary system (USGS gauge 01193500) is comparatively tame at 99.6 cfs, offering wade-fishers steadier footing and better visibility. May is Connecticut's signature trout month, and at 56°F, browns and rainbows should be feeding actively — Hatch Magazine notes that caddis emergences are a defining trigger at this time of year, making caddis nymphs and soft-hackles productive choices. The current Waning Gibbous moon typically concentrates feeding activity during low-light windows at dawn and dusk. Bass are transitioning toward pre-spawn mode at these temperatures. Check current state regulations before targeting bass, as season dates vary by water body.

May 5