CTFishTalk.com: Housatonic River - Shelton 12/21 - Connecticut River Reports ( CT River Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

NWDarkcloud (aka Bob) and I wanted to celebrate the Winter solstice on the water, so we made the long trip down to the Housatonic River in Shelton. As we approached the Sunnyside Boat Launch Facility on River Road (aka Route 110) in Shelton, we passed another fishing boat being trailered in the opposite direction. We worried that the parking lot might be full at Sunnyside, but were relieved to see a couple of parking spaces left. Phew! Rolling Eyes

When we pulled up in front of the ramp, we were approached by a guy who got out of a car parked next to the ramp. He was from the City of Shelton and was checking to make sure that anyone who used the ramp to launch a boat had a permit. Which I do. Cool

Anyway, to make a long story short, we were on the water from about 8:15 am to 4:15 pm. Low tide was at 8:44 am and high tide at 2:17 pm. The water temperature ranged from 35 to 36 degrees. There was very little wind for most of the day and the air temperature rose to over 50 degrees. We stayed in the area around the boat launch ramp. Although we marked fish with the fish finders, they were really finicky for most of the day. The best bite came in the middle of the day. Come to think of it, the bite began to die right after the solstice, which was at 12:11 pm. Shocked

Hmmm. . . I wonder whether that had anything to do with it. Bob and I ended up boating only 85 schoolie stripers between us. All of them were small; we didn't get anything much over 20 inches in length. One of the highlights of the day, besides the relatively pleasant conditions, was that each of us caught a fish with a pink lure. I got mine with a Bubble Gum Zoom Super Fluke, while Bob got his with a lure he made himself:

Now that the solstice has passed, each day will have a little more daylight time than the last. For me, that means I'll have more time for fishing. Whoo hoo! Very Happy

Merry Christmas, everyone!
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Wanna Fish · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 662 Location: Earth I Think

219 more and you would officially be RZ2 beating him by one LOL
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Don't hold your farts in! They travel up your spine to your brain and thats where shitty ideas come from.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Wanna Fish · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 662 Location: Earth I Think

Merry Christmas Phil!
_________________
Don't hold your farts in! They travel up your spine to your brain and thats where shitty ideas come from.

AlexF · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 136

nice!!!!! for the most part, do you stay close by the boat ramp the entire day or do you go ever go far upstream or downstream?

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

fishfinder · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 1672 Location: Naugatuck, Ct.

Yeah, that makes me wonder if fish are right in the spots where Ive been fishing and just not biting as Ive hit just about every spot that can be hit from shore lately trying to find the fish!!!
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There's a fine line between fishing....

and standing on the shore like an idiot!