Fall trout stocking and shallow bass bite set the tone

What's biting

What's next

Expect the cooling trend to continue, with the waxing crescent moon keeping nights fairly dark. Early morning and late afternoon are the windows worth planning around, when bass push shallow and trout feed near stocked shorelines.

Per Fishing the Midwest, fall fish tend to relocate to the green weeds that remain as the rest die back. Look for live vegetation and cover edges, and fish jigs or a bladed swim jig slowly. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, a Connecticut-area livery angler had to fish very slowly to draw strikes from largemouths, with a nearly dead-sticked plastic worm taking a 4-pound fish. On slower days, downsize and slow down.

Trout stocked this fall should hold near where they were released for several days, so shorelines at recently stocked waters are a good bet while the novelty lasts. The 18,000 cfs reading at gauge 01193050 shows the big river running high and fast, so keep to the quieter edges and tributaries there. Check state regulations and stocking schedules before you go.

Context

Mid-October is on schedule for Connecticut freshwater. Surface temperatures have dropped out of the summer range and fish are shifting from deeper summer haunts toward remaining weed edges and baitfish concentrations. Bass feed heavily ahead of winter, so this period typically offers some of the year's best fishing with fewer boats on the water. Fall stocking also adds trout opportunity in many ponds and rivers.