Put away the ice fishing gear when the temps hit 79-degrees on Monday. Rigged up the trout poles and headed to a local CT stream. 4 big rainbows and 4 Browns (all released, of course). Had the waders on but didn’t even need to leave the banks. A couple of the Browns were 12”+. Great official start to open water season.
Smitty

It was really hot in Florida. Hit almost 90 in the interior. Even beach-side it was in the low 80s. Humid too, most of you would have hated being down here. Kids swimming in the surf, sun bathing in those thong bikini bathing suits, and others walking the beach; all getting in the way of surf fishing for whiting, pompano and black drum. I am exhausted from being disappointed. See you all soon,

Plan to do some lip rippin' with John S next week in Poncianna. If you end up anywhere just south of Orlando give us a heads up! I'm still just fishing wires thru walls and ceilings up here , and escaping regularly to fish/fish down there.

Got out on the ice on a private pond a week before the warm weather blew in, got a 15" rainbow. Gonna try (again) to hit some unusual spots not fished much (or at all) like the Park River in Hartford. So on that subject, I have a question. Not looking for anyone to give up a secret hot spot but I found a small pond in Tunxis forest off West St. in West Hartland. Its on the map as Foster's Pond. I hiked in during deer season just to see what it looked like (jumped 3 deer). Its a good hike in and not easy to get to. Pretty little pond with a small island. Most of the shore is pretty choked up and getting a kayak or canoe in there would be a chore. Spoke with one guy in the area and he hadn't fished it but heard its quite shallow and loaded with mattresses of weeds. Anyone know anything about it? Its not far from Howells Pond which has a small boat launch and much easier to get to. But this Fosters pond looking interesting if you're willing to work for it.

Looks like Paul is bringing a cold front with him the day he arrives….

Should be good for crappies!

March was typically the start of the spring white perch bite that I really enjoyed kicking off the freshwater season in years past.

Places like Hamburg cove and Lieutenant river had some great fishing as well as down by the Essex docks.

Lots of good memories of hitting the sea run browns at lattimere brook this time of year, although we were only successful a handful of times.

As I discussed with Buck earlier this year when I was picking his brain for retirement wisdom, I am on the verge of semi retirement. Lord willing I look forward to having more time soon, to reconnect with some fisheries I used to partake in. Also maybe time to visit the in laws in Vero and do some fishing there in winter/early spring.

Mitch, you may have motivated me with this post to toss some hardware this month in a lower Middlesex county coastal stream that I’ve a suspicion may have some sea run trout. I’ll certainly post a report if I go.