Stealth is important and often gets overlooked. No luck for me yet. The initial migration of stripers reach the southern most parts of New England in mid April. Thames River is a stream located just 3.3 miles from Groton, in New London County, in the state of Connecticut, United States, near New London, CT. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including bluefish and striped bass here. If you look at a chart, you will notice the river has a lot of turns that provide good current breaks. This is the “spook” style that zigzags back and forth in the water as you retrieve it, a motion commonly referred to as “walking the dog.” If you’re new to walking the dog, it is best to practice a little before you find yourself in the middle of a topwater bite. The Connecticut River is a very unique river system. American shad, alewives, and blueback herring are the three main baitfish that draw spring stripers up into the Connecticut River. Fishing for stripers and bluefish in New London, CT? Looking to try a charter with light tackle on the CT river. This lure does not get very deep, but it has a lifelike swimming action that closely matches a herring. Thank you for your time and i look forward to hearing from you. As far as colors go, I keep it simple and fish white, gray and black for the most part, saving black for fishing at night. The Thames River and the surrounding area in Long Island Sound is some of the finest, most prolific waters for catching striped bass, blue fish, fluke and black fish. Also anywhere you would suggest I could shore fish? I give this area special attention especially on bright, hot days in May. My light gear limits the use of these oversized baits, so I stick to lighter swimbaits. A large range of age classes will make the journey, with similar-sized stripers tending to travel together. Phone calls to area tackle stores are made early in the week and the information is usually posted on the web site by the middle of the week. Happy fishing and thanks for any advice you can give me. Watch OTW’s Kevin Blinkoff and Eric Matland catch big stripers in the shallows at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Any good spots to striper fish off the shore on the Ct River? Fishing for stripers in Connecticut is primarily in Long Island Sound and the tributary waters leading into the sound like the Connecticut river. Love the many details about the spring striper, glad to be educated on this much important information. It is a very navigable section that is entirely fresh water. This year i tried giving the Stipers a go on the t river and was lucky enough to get 2 keepers. I live in Granby CT. Use a trolling motor if you have one, or at least kill your engine well upcurrent of the area you intend to fish and drift down on it. As the water warms through mid-June, the striper fishing on the Connecticut River shifts toward the mouth, where there is greater influence from Long Island Sound, which delivers cool water and baitfish. I bass and trout fish a lot. Let's face it, there's a lot we can learn and share from one another like what bait or lure is generating the best results. I don’t have a boat so I am at the mercy of the land! I typically fish the Middletown to Hartford stretch of the river. It's located eight miles southeast of Niantic Bay at the mouth of Long Island Sound. Use the natural flow of the tide to set up a quiet drift. Hello I am interested in some striper fishing and looking for some more info and tested. Rapala Skitter Walks and the old standard Heddon Zara Spook are two lures that fall into this category. I want to fish the river only. Sign up for our FREE Fishing Reports Today! The only sound is the quiet splish-splashing of the plug as it zigzags along the surface—left, right, left, right, left—and then suddenly the plug disappears in a small explosion of whitewater and the silence of the river is replaced by the noise of your spinning reel’s screaming drag. Along the Thames there are many places you can park within a short walking distance to public access along the river, where stripers and snapper blues can be caught at different times of the year. Some anglers can be seen successfully catching these fish in the Thames River in Connecticut, to the Haverhill section of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts, to the many tributaries of Great Bay on the New Hampshire/Maine border. Most of these fish are schoolies but offer winter �fishing-fever� patients an outlet to sanity when required. where are the best places to catch striped bass from shore.? The Connecticut River is a very unique river system. Thanks! Scroll down to see all the reports. Mia. Captain Brian, of Big Game Sportfishing, reported continued consistent striper fishing around the island, both day and night. My friends don’t fish ty .Gerry. I fish from shore in East Haddam ,I had a boat but because of my illnesses I had to sell it.So my question is how is it to fish from shore and what should I be using for bait and equipment. It flows south for 15 mi. The sea bass fishing also remains lights out in the same areas, with easy limits in the 3-4-pound range. The key to the spring striper fishery is baitfish. Connecticut striper fishing state Record Bass = 75 lbs - 6 oz I have been fortunate to partake in this fishery for the last 14 years, and light tackle only adds to the excitement. Connecticut Striper Fishing the Long Island Sound. Lastly, be careful not to drop anything and do your best to keep an organized boat to avoid tripping over gear. Lower River/Tidal Waters. Many times, just the excitement of seeing the fish attempt to eat the lure is enough to keep me entertained. never been before and would love some info, tips, good locations to go, lures/bait to use. It is commonly accessed from the Jordon Cove or Niantic River launches in Waterford. Stripers can be found throughout the 50 mile stretch of river from Hartford to the river’s mouth in Old Saybrook. He can be reached at DeBacco@cox.net. One of my favorites is similar to the lipless crankbaits popular for largemouth bass. We have tackle but are open to use boat tackle if available. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2020 On The Water, LLC. Unfortunately, it is not currently being manufactured. thank you! They can be found in the river year round, but the prime season begins in mid-May and extends into early June. In today's episode, we head to the mouth of the Connecticut River to meet up with Mike Morazzini and Capt. (Note that the possession of alewives and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, is prohibited in Connecticut, as their numbers are in decline.) Thx Shawn kingsley. The lure you use is important, but when fishing for stripers in water less than 5 feet deep, what you do while fishing can be just as important. Hi, I plan on fishing the connecticut river for stripers next week from shore. I like the Daiwa Samurai because it has a smooth finish that makes it quiet to cast. I even turn my sonar off and only use the GPS function to ensure that the transducer’s pinging is not spooking fish. You want to choose a rod that has a sensitive tip for fishing light lures but decent backbone to land large bass without unnecessarily prolonging the fight. Action is strong, limits are easy and fish over 40-pounds are relatively common. Good morning captain, was wondering if you got any available hartes for today and the price range I’m trying to go with two other friends so In total three people. Ive been hitting the Derby dam and the Derby boat launch. All Rights Reserved. This section of the river is diverse, and if the striped bass are not cooperating, you can target northern pike and largemouth bass in basically the same areas, with similar lures. (25 km.) The reels are matched with 7-foot St. Croix Avid series rods in either medium or medium-heavy weight sizes. Stripers In The Thames schoolie stripers in the thames live bail and some rubber bait . through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket Rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound. I use what I like, and that’s Shimano Stradic reels in the 5000 size spooled with 30-pound-test Daiwa Samurai braid. I categorize as crankbaits all hard lures that dive. Hi cpt. Sea B And Pies In New London Ct. Connecticut Fishing Report June 27 2019 On The Water. Light tackle for Stripers, Pike, Bass, Carp Catfish, Shad if still around etc. I like the Rapala Skitter Pop and the Yo-Zuri Hydro Pop. Swimbaits have become very popular with largemouth bass fishermen. Designated rivers & streams with no closed season including the entire Connecticut and Thames rivers, and downstream portions of the Coginchaug, Farmington, Housatonic, Mattabesset, Mystic, Naugatuck, Niantic, Quinnipiac, Salmon, and Yantic rivers. I bring a selection of lures in five categories that can cover the water column, including, of course, the surface! Fishing topwater plugs is very popular and a lot of fun because you get the thrill of seeing the fish hitting the lure. The state itself takes its name from the river, which is an adaptation of an Algonquin word meaning “long tidal river.” As its name reflects, there is a tidal influence extending about 50 miles inland. Big stripers hold in The Race all summer, thanks to the schools of baitfish that congregate there. I’m headed out your way to work for 3 weeks in Hartford starting on the 25th… I would be interested in hire a charter if my hours work out right. See CT DEEP Fish Community Data for updated distributions. Imagine drifting quietly through a calm, tree-lined stretch of shallow water, casting a topwater plug toward shore and rhythmically working it back toward your boat while a bald eagle watches from a treetop. After much searching, I found a 3/8-ounce jighead with a 3X-strong 3/0 hook made by Bill Hurley Lures. Your favorite saltwater lures will work in the river as well. A vast number of stripers stay over the winter in the Thames because of the warm water outflows from Norwich down via various factories. Fishing Information ... Fresh water from the Shetucket and Yantic rivers flows into Norwich Harbor where it mixes with salt water in the Thames River. 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