CTFishTalk.com: Connecticut River - Hamburg Cove 03/29 - Connecticut River Reports ( CT River Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

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

I’ve been traveling so much, lately, that I hadn’t even caught my first Connecticut largemouth bass of the year! I decided to kill two birds with one stone by checking for white perch and fishing for largemouth bass at Hamburg Cove.

I schlepped my kayak, El Habañero, down to the cove and launched at 12:20 pm. The sky was totally overcast and there was an occasional drizzle of rain. The air temperature was in the mid 50s. The water was very clear and its temperature was 46 degrees. I caught the last of the outgoing tide. The water level was already extremely low and still dropping.

Despite the clear water, the lack of sunlight made it hard to see much in the shallow inner cove. However, I didn’t see any perch at all, either yellow or white. It didn’t take long for me to give up on looking for perch and begin searching for bass. And it took even less time for me to boat my first Connecticut largemouth bass of the year:

I ended up boating five keeper largemouth bass and three shorts as I circled the inner and outer coves. I also managed to shake off a small chain pickerel before I had to touch it.

By the time I left the water at 3:45 pm, the water temperature had risen to 48 degrees. Hopefully, the anadromous white perch will begin migrating into the cove soon.
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PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

I almost forgot to mention one of my favorite things about fishing at Hamburg Cove, which is going to Rustic Cafe in East Lyme for something to eat after getting off of the water. It has one of my favorite sandwiches ever, the Fish Reuben, which is made with batter-fried fresh cod:

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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

Mr.Cranky · Joined: 26 May 2012 Posts: 57

Thanks for the report. Looks like your season is under way with a good start (fishing) and a tasty finish (lunch!). Looking forward to reading about more of your trips this year as usual.
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hila2006 · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 582 Location: Ellington

Well done Phil. You beat me out again lol. I had great time going to Hamburg Cove with you a few years back, nice place to go. Congrats