CTFishTalk.com: CT River~Old Lyme~Stripers - Connecticut Saltwater Reports ( CT Saltwater Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

jmazz888 · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 14

Got to the DEP fishing pier around noon fished until 3
Tide was coming in but of course the river doesn't stop going out.
Used sand worms and squid.
Had a couple of runs but didn't hook any.
Guys a the far end were getting some schoolies I saw them land a couple around 18 inches.
Heard that they had landed a few keepers too before I got there.
PS Lots of snags off the pier, I made 10 or 15 casts and lost 5 rigs.
Whatever, still a great day to be fishing.
Tight Lines

asianfisher · Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 920

Fish derby for live bait and lower housy by the mouth.

RobO · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 285 Location: South Windsor

JMazz,

Thanks for the great report. I am one of the few guys from this site that will fish that dock. I appreciate the info. Glad to hear some stripers are being caught from there.

All the flooding must have moved some wood, garbage etc causing the snags.

The turtles usually mess the sandworms, bunker etc causing me to think I have a bite. I accidently caught two turtles from there last year. One was caught when I was using Gulp Sand Worms.

Was anyone fishing or catching shad?

Keep the reports coming!
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I'd rather be fishing, than sitting here in front of this computer,,,

jmazz888 · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 14

Noone was fishing for shad, they were all throwing sand worms for stripers

mustang11 · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 65 Location: Deep River, CT

Yeah DEP pier in Old Lyme has a lot of places to get snagged especially toward the bridge. I used to fish there very frequently.

It's hit or miss too, they are either there it's nice and active or you can go hours where nobody on the pier sees any action.

Brian

Crest Daddy · Joined: 20 Jan 2011 Posts: 994

Just had a talk with a dude from the DEP. Said old lyme is hot right now and saw 40" + fish coming out up there. Anybody hooking up and keeping it hush? Too far for me to drive so i'm patiently waiting for them to come my way. He also told me some stories of fines for keeping short stripers, boy am i glad I'm not that stupid. 1 guy last yr got his license revoked permanently along with his gear, his truck and his motorcycle !!!

Crest Daddy · Joined: 20 Jan 2011 Posts: 994

BTW the big 40" + fish came out on sandworms.

jmazz888 · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 14

I'm not surprised...
Water is in the low to mid 50's and the bigger fish are almost here...
I used to fish the Farmingon and CT river way up stream with live alewives until they put a ban on them.
We had some banner days and nights up there.

Townsends ledge off of East Haven is a good early season spot as is South West Reef off Madison.
if you can't find fresh bait, drifting or slow trolling Smilling Bills jigs with pork teasers works well (Did I spell Smilling right?) A nice strip of squid is a good sub too.
Get there before the blues do!!
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Tight Lines!

mustang11 · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 65 Location: Deep River, CT

It's the right time of year for them so I'd believe the action would be pretty good. Very early May is when I started really getting them in the Old Saybrook to Essex area last year, although the weather and conditions were a bit different.

If the river will stay down I'm hoping to get out on the boat this Saturday to find out.

Brian