Recent Posts ctfisherman.com en-us Tue, 26 May 2026 09:08:07 EDT https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm 5 connecticutfisherman@gmail.com Ice Fishing Discussion Ice Fishing Discussion https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/images/general/default/rss_icon.gif https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm 2025 - 2026 ice conditions thread https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1859184#Post1859184 Buck
on: 03/10/26 12:30 PM

Originally Posted By: Mark S.
Ice was crap.. shot 12 rounds at a 100 yards thru my New Haven made Winchester 30-06...all my shoulder could take lol..it's dialed in..wish I could hunt Ct state land with it..


I had the same problems with my 7mag until I got it ported by a gun shop here in Ct. My solution for the shotgun-only rules in Ct. state land and in some parts of NY was to buy a Savage 20g bolt action slug gun (model 220). Excellent accuracy and grouping out to 100 yards and very little recoil. Both solutions are relatively inexpensive.]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:30:09 EDT https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1859184#Post1859184 CT 10-year-old's ice fishing catch unreels national debate https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1859164#Post1859164 Mitch P.
on: 03/06/26 04:11 PM

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:11:34 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1859164#Post1859164 Ice-fishing Instagram https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1859143#Post1859143 PDona
on: 03/03/26 08:11 AM

Originally Posted By: JohnS
Originally Posted By: Paul D.
Nominating Bill For Member of the Year.

X2

x3]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:11:47 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1859143#Post1859143 Boston stripers through the ice https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858963#Post1858963 kayak fisher
on: 02/11/26 06:49 AM

15 year old housy video.
https://youtu.be/anHtLgtwcPw]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:49:25 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858963#Post1858963 Ice-fishing in April in CT https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858946#Post1858946 cat_in_the_hat
on: 02/09/26 04:05 PM

The year when I picked up my new 2.5HP outboard in April (2014???), the Thames river salt water cove was frozen still and the marina could not get their customer boats out of storage on schedule. Shenipsit Lake was still frozen boat day 2nd Saturday in April, us in the boatyard made jokes about pushing our boats onto the ice and fishing through holes cut in the ice from the boat as ice fishing there was prohibited. My guess good ice this year into March. and maybe try some of those southern CT lakes not usually frozen.]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:05:50 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858946#Post1858946 Lake trout ice fishing rush of adrenalin. https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858930#Post1858930 Ltoolmanb
on: 02/06/26 03:49 PM

that was awesome]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:49:33 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858930#Post1858930 ice holes https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858754#Post1858754 kayak fisher
on: 01/18/26 12:25 PM

Xtra tall sizes sold me on this one.
]]> Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:25:54 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858754#Post1858754 2024 - 2025 ice condition thread https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858721#Post1858721 Buck
on: 01/13/26 03:05 PM

Ball Pond; I saw a couple of people ice skating in the center of the pond and the boat launch cove is safe based upon some holes that were cut. But the northeast corner where Ball Pond brook starts has been open or iced over with skim ice most of the winter. There is an up-welling of warmer bottom water that is pushed up the slope to the cove where the brook starts and that keeps that area open or unsafe.
The boat launch cove is shallow and sometimes late in the winter is hypoxic with no oxygen in the water so ice fishing is no good. The first slope into deeper water is at the mouth of the cove on a line from the private beach on the west side to a white house with pillars on the east side. Fish that slope out into deeper water for trout and some bass and perch. The trout will be suspended near alewife schools. There are usually herring balls all over this area.
Squantz Pond; Very dicey right now. I saw one fisherman last night using a shanty in the boat launch cove out past the sand bar into the deeper water. It appeared that the east shore, where the stream bed is located, may not be safe. It is a different color, indicating new black ice and no snow ice, so it is not safe and this guy was fishing right at the edge of it and if it was safe he would be on it since this is a good area. I saw him move twice so he was probably jigging. Squantz is very stingy in the winter especially after the draw-down due to compression factors which bring the herring balls closer to the strike zone of the walleye, bass, perch and trout. It is very easy for one of these predator fish to feed and with their lowered metabolism they don't get hungry very often.
Candlewood is very problematic with open water still in some areas up in New Fairfield. There are coves that could be fished but access would have to be through private properties and the water may be too shallow for a productive bite. But by the end of the month the New Fairfield cove off the beach and marina, which is currently iced over, may be safe and the gate to the marina is open so you can park in the beach parking lot and walk down to the boat docks and boat launch and get out on the ice there. This is a good perch area.
The northwest corner of the state probably has better options especially for panfish.]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:05:27 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858721#Post1858721 Pro Icefishing Tip https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858476#Post1858476 BaldPelican
on: 12/15/25 09:06 PM

]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:06:30 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858476#Post1858476 Coventry is Still Open Water - 12/7 https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858434#Post1858434 BaldPelican
on: 12/11/25 05:03 PM

Thanks for the walleye tips!]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:03:23 EST https://www.ctfisherman.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1858434#Post1858434