Printer Friendly Version - Using Cover Will Enhance Your Fishing Experience

Young Jon Sicard (6) of Branford caught this spring-run eel, one of the striped bass’s favorite meals. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

It was the perfect morning for an ambush. Low-hanging, dense fog provided an almost impenetrable cover. We couldn’t see the fish or any evidence of them, nor could they see us. Even the bow wash seemed loud as the slightest sound appeared to echo from multiple directions. The spring migration started and the bite was on!

Since striped bass are attack predators and will use any cover as a strike point, this was an ideal feeding opportunity for them. However, the slightest noise reverberated through the water, sending vibrations that collected around their lateral line. If that signal didn’t mimic a struggle or a school of feeding or nervous fish, then any bass in the vicinity would suddenly become on high alert. It would return to its cover and most likely develop an immediate case of lockjaw.

Now, some fishers just love the opportunity to tease a bass into striking and then patiently play a game of battling brains—winner take all. Sometimes, the fisher would be the conquerer, with the reward being a quick release or a prized meal. Other times, the bass would prevail, either refusing to take the bait or take it all—hook, line and sinker. In that case, your fishing partner is all ears while you try to justify how a small brain outwitted a much larger one.

There was no talking, except for the occasional whisper, and no tapping the hull, either. Other than being familiar with the area and its nooks and crannies, our only indication of a fish’s presence was listening for any slurping sound or tail slapping. Since the tide recently flipped, any wave motion was just that—movement with little sound.

We heard periodic fish noise in between an hour or so of solid casting and retrieving before any interest could be generated. The fog was still dense, almost concealing the top water popper. Cast, plop, rest, pop, and then slowly retrieving before repeating the process was our sequence of events. That pop and gurgle was the first linesider’s downfall. After that, others followed suit, including a few decent keepers. All were released. The moral of story: Know your quarry’s habits and be persistent, but do not overwork a spot.

A period of chilly windy days gripped the shoreline and managed to keep inshore water temperatures in the low 50s. A few days after the heavy rains, they rose to the mid-50s as a slight warming trend developed. Even with some lowland flooding and much of the wetlands awash, May’s fishing scene is really coming together and looks promising.

Most fishers are finding the striped bass bite to be good both from shore and on the inshore reefs. Granted, a majority of the fish hooked have been under keeper size, but linesiders in the 30- to 40-inch range have not been out of the question. Several minor tidal rivers and harbors have been really hot and fun to fish with light gear. The migration out of the holdover rivers, coupled with those stocks beginning to move in from the Hudson and Chesapeake, are offering fishers excellent fishing opportunities. Don’t shortchange the white perch bite when running the rivers.

We have spring runs of menhaden, shad (both American and hickories), river herring, and eels that are taking place, prompting the typical spring spawn and feed syndrome. Add in the influence of moon tides with rising water temperatures and we have many pieces of the puzzle already in place. This will only improve as the marine waters of the Sound get warmer. More weakies are showing up. Check out Six Mile, south of Faulkner’s (60 to 85 feet), and the sand bar by West Haven on the flood tide. Bite-size baits usually get the most action, including rigs trolled or drifted with worms or squid.

Porgy (scup) and black sea bass seasons are now open as keeper sizes of both remain in deep water until temps rise. The winter flounder bite has varied with the turbulent weather and even catching an inshore limit of two offered challenges. Also, blue crab season is open. Don’t expect much until the estuaries warm up, but the season for Jimmies and Sallys looks promising.

The weekend’s downpour interrupted an otherwise upward trend in trout catching activity. More than 200,000 fish are scheduled to be stocked this month, bringing the total to more than 500,000. More hatches have been evident, expanding the variety of flies that fly fishers can use effectively from their arsenal of feathers and furs. Still, a mix of dries, nymphs, and streamers have been effective. Conventional fishers have found success with power baits, swimmers, and in-line spinners when fished by deep pools. Live shiners have been deadly, while worms and grubs have filled the gap with fish that have acclimated to natural food.

Large mouth bass catches are up again as nesting begins to take hold. Jerk baits, swimmers, soft plastics, and spinnerbaits are top producers. However, with the fluctuating temps, jerk baits bowed to jigs when the cold kicked in. Live shiners have been good producers, especially in the local ponds and smaller lakes. Smallie activity can be found in key rivers and along the plant line of most lakes holding them, but the bite varied, as did the baits. Pickerel, perch, catfish, and carp all have had good periods of activity and should be fished.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including flies, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Rebecca Wolf of Loudonville, New York (top) with her 2.5-pound, 17.5-inch rainbow trout and Josh Sexton of Guilford holding one of several released largemouths on his best day ever. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan