CTFishTalk.com: Keeney Cove - 7/4 & 7/5 - Connecticut River Reports ( CT River Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

imsafanct · Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 118

Nothing wild and crazy to report, but here's how we did.

Bill and I got together early Friday morning and fished Keeney Cove North of Point Rd. until 11:00AM, just before the heavy rain started. We threw everything we had. I caught one 20" Pike in the channel moving into the Northern part of the cove, North of the Putnam Bridge. He hung me up in a floating branch, which I had to reel in along with the fish. He bit through the fluorocarbon at the boat as I was reaching for him and took my chartreuse spinnerbait with him.

We worked the North part of the cove and then made our way back down to the shallow, weedy Southeastern corner of the cove, where a small stream runs into the cove. Bill and I each caught our first bowfin there. What a fight! Not a very pleasant fish, with serious teeth. Mine destroyed my spinnerbait. I know some anglers would rather see these fish dead than catch them, but I was impressed with the fight.

That was it for Friday.

I met Mike at Keeney early Saturday morning and fished the same spots until 7:30 or 8. All I could muster in the MUDDY water was a nice 3lb. Largemouth and a good-sized white perch, both in the tunnel channel, both on a chrome 1oz. Mag Force Rat-L-Trap.

Bill and I hit Salmon River Cove Saturday afternoon/evening and with the exception of a yellow perch, got skunked. Too muddy because of the rain.

-Eric

snap fisher777 · Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Posts: 238

I fished Keeney yesterday with a size three silver bluefix and all I aught were live five bluegill and one crappie. Not that great. But it is bowfin time in the CT river and I caught my first one two years ago and it was really big at least two and a half feet long. And always liked catching them ever since.

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

imsafanct · Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 118

Dan1 · Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Posts: 31

That would be a male Bowfin, based on the black spot.

imsafanct · Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 118

I went back to the same spot this morning to have another go from shore but no luck. The fish in the picture fought HARD!

Though I am concerned about these fish and how their existence in a certain body of water might affect other more popular game fish like bass and pike, I'm happy to catch and release them unharmed. The fish was a blast to catch and I look forward to my next bowfin.

-Eric