Printer Friendly Version - Meteorological Springs Begins on Friday, March 1

These large Block Island-to-Montauk striped bass frequent the federal waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone, where recreational fishing for them is currently prohibited and allows for transit only. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

In the blink of an eye, here we are flipping another page of the calendar that brings us into the month of March—two weeks before St. Paddy’s Day and six weeks until opening day of trout season. March is known to have a storm or two, but more important for anglers, it’s recognized as a month that gears up for Connecticut’s springtime stocking program.

Since Captain Morgan’s prognosticating parrot squeaked once for an early spring—and because we have faith in our feathered friends—then perhaps we should be looking forward to just that. Last year, we were thrown a late start with unrelenting ice dams and high water. So far, repeated barrages of rain are keeping most river levels high and flows above normal. However, for now, it does not appear that the stocking schedule will suffer nearly as much since waters have been gradually moderating.

For you trout anglers, take note. To date, our hatcheries are on schedule to deliver a preseason stocking of 307,000 trout, including 25,600 upwards of 12 inches. Scheduled are standard-size brookies (43,100), browns (161,300), and rainbows (76,000). In addition, there will be browns (8,100) and rainbows (17,500) in excess of 12 inches, along with 1,000 broodstock trout. Several catch and release Trout Management Areas (TMA) including the Hammonasset, Moosup, Pequabuck, Saugatuck, and Willimantic rivers, have already received fish with other waters to follow, so it might prove fruitful to head out, do some exploring, and catch a few trout in the process.

On the marine side, fishers are looking forward to the spring run of striped bass. While they can be caught in the main rivers, some of their offshoots, and occasionally in the lower parts, success is still dictated by the presence of bait. However, before contemplating the run, consider what will transpire with the transit area of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) positioned by Block Island Sound. Many believe that recreational fishing for striped bass should remain closed in order to protect large bass known to frequent that area, while others are advocating for the moratorium to end. If it does end, this will be the only section of the entire EEZ on the Atlantic Coast that would allow recreational striped bass fishing. Currently, we are waiting for the results of latest assessment. More to follow.

Long Island Sound water temperatures remain around 38 degrees as the Connecticut side continues to experience transitional weather. The regular pattern of snow to sleet to freezing rain ending in all rain is certainly keeping plows on edge as travelers navigate through varying snow accumulations and slushy conditions. Meanwhile, air temps have bounced around from the teens to as high as 50 degrees.

All of this has anglers scratching their heads in a state of befuddlement. Is there safe ice to be found or are conditions such that trout rivers have calmed down enough to be fishable before waters (with the exception of the TMAs) edge closer to Thursday, Feb. 28? That is the date through which people can fish most stocked trout waters, before the season closes until opening day. Note that Trout Management Lakes (TML) will remain open through Thursday, March 31, allowing a creel limit of one fish at a 16-inch minimum length. Fishing those could be quite productive considering the iffy ice conditions.

Something else to consider is the broodstock Atlantic salmon fishery. Despite being touch and go during the past two weeks, there has been a rebound with the easing of the rivers. Catching these formidable salmon is always a thrill and, like the TML, fishing for these line strippers continues through March 31 at a limit of one fish per day. Remember that trout and salmon stamps need to be added to your license.

Fish, on the other hand, are acting normally. They are taking advantage of the temperature changes in the water column and their systems are compensating accordingly, even though they are also undergoing an unseasonal adjustment. Keeping an eye on temperature variations will give an indication as to how their metabolic rate is coping. The colder it is, the less active their system is. The warmer it is, the faster digestion occurs, requiring the need to replenish depleted energy. In short, fish will move around more as water temperatures rise and, therefore, forage more often. Live shiners are a good bet!

This explains why striped bass, for example, have been actively chasing forage imitations in key holdover tidal rivers. It also explains why largemouth bass and trout have been feeding in lakes that have experienced an early ice-out or why there have been other species including baitfish, showing intermittent sprees of activity in the Sound. We still have March to contend with, but considering the recent patterns, along with longer days and the sun being higher, any winter events ahead can be anticipated to be short-lived.

Another activity that has been quite active in light of the recent amount of rainfall is shellfishing. Although the clam beds have been opened and closed repeatedly, the recent Full Snow Moon tides were outstanding. In between weather bouts, the beds bared their bottoms for all to see and with good results.

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 reel repairs, 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...

Preseason trout stocking has already begun as the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection delivered more than 300,000 fish like this rainbow, as well as 1,000 broodstock, to its Trout Management Areas. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan