[PECo]

I arranged to paddle the Mattabesset River with Megaman (aka Aris), today. We were supposed to meet and launch into the Mattabesset at the Dunkin Donuts on Shunpike Road, but Aris was running late, so I drove down to Harbor Park in Middletown to check it out. I didn't realize that Wesleyan University and Middletown High School have boathouses and a boat launch ramp on the west bank of the Connecticut River:




After I checked it out, I told Aris to meet me there, instead. It's much easier and nicer to paddle up the Connecticut to the mouth of the Mattabesset than it is to paddle down the Mattabesset from the muddy launch on Shunpike Road. I launched into the Connecticut in El Habañero just after 9:00 am. The sky was completely overcast and what little wind there was came out of the south. There was a layer of haze over the water. Unfortunately, the water was murky, which hasn't been good for me at all when I've gone fishing this year. I wandered a little downriver from the ramp without any action. I threw a white 3/8 ounce Strike King Redeye spinnerbait and a white four inch grub on a 3/16 ounce shakeyhead jighead. I paddled back upriver past the Canoe Club and the tied up Lady Katharine Cruises ship, Mystic, while trolling the spinnerbait. As I passed the Mystic, I got a light hit and reeled in a BIG surprise:



I never thought that I'd ever catch a tiger trout, but today I did! Whoo hoo! After I released the trout, I saw a guy standing on the floating dock in front of the ramp, so I headed back. It was Aris. We soon had his kayak and gear unloaded from his car, and we launched back into the Connecticut just after 10:00 am:



Aris is new to kayaking, so we took our time as we paddled upriver toward the mouth of the Mattabesset:



We fished the piers of the railroad bridge for a while. In addition to the spinnerbait, I threw a blue/black 1/2 ounce rattling jig. Aris threw a Texas rigged curlytail worm and a wacky rigged Yum Dinger on a round jighead. We didn't get any action, so we continued upriver underneath the Arrigoni Bridge:



When we finally arrived at the mouth of the Mattabesset, I was disappointed to see that it, too, was filled with murky water:



We fished the piers of the Route 9 bridge and the railroad bridge as we paddled into the Mattabesset, but didn't get any hits. I yelled to Aris that I was shocked we didn't get anything, but made one last cast with the spinnerbait toward the railroad bridge pier on the south bank as I paddled past it. I got a strike on the spinnerbait as soon as it hit the water. As the fish pulled and tugged down into the center of the river channel, I knew that it was a decent river smallie:




It was 18 inches long and weighed three pounds, two ounces. Whoo hoo! I really needed that, after seeing the photos of the smallies that pikePERSUADER1 (aka Dan) has been catching, lately. Thanks for the inspiration, Dan! We continued up the river toward the Cromwell Meadows State Wildlife Area (aka the Meadows). I got ahead of Aris and paddled past a couple of carp fishermen on the shore who were packing up their gear. They told me that they had caught some catfish and a smallie, but no carp. As I continued upriver, I began to wonder where Aris had gone. I couldn't see him behind me and when I reached the next bend in the river, I turned back to find him. When I finally spotted him, he was paddling toward me, but he had lost his shirt. He had tangled the lines on his two setups and tried to pull out on a fairly steep bank when, well, you know what happened. Luckily, although he took a swim, he didn't lose any of his gear. THAT's why I rarely go ashore during a kayak fishing trip. We paddled into the Meadows, where I saw a nesting pair of swans in the still dormant grass:



Although I saw and heard one huge splash in the Meadows, I don't know whether it was a northern pike, a carp or maybe even a beaver. I didn't get any hits on either the spinnerbait or the four inch curlytail grub, and spotted only a small largemouth bass in the shallow water. Unfortunately, neither Aris nor I got any more action until we had to head back to the ramp at 2:15 pm, although there WAS this snake:



I just met Aris, but I already know that he has a phobia about snakes. You should have heard him yell when I picked it up by the tail to show it to him. After we left the Mattabesset, we headed fairly quickly down the Connecticut, although we stopped for a few minutes to fish the piers of the railroad bridge, again:



We got off of the water before 3:30 PM. I had a great time, but I'm not too sure that I'd bother fishing in very murky water in the future. We'll find better water the next time, Aris.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[AlexF]

Nice day of fishing! that looks like a lot of fun. I actually caught a tiger trout myself, I was surprised as well. Beautiful smallies too, congrats!

[SeaDog1]

Hi Phil,

Oh! talk about luck!

All these years of trout fishing and I've still yet to hook my first Tiger.
Nice strong markings.

When Cynthia and I lived in Middletown, I use to fish the upper reaches of the Mattabesset River.
In the fall there is a small Searun Brown Trout run! (Big strong fish!)

Way up river where Aetna use to be on the hill there are some really deep pools where the spring run Shad will hold.
Had fun catching them on a fly rod.

Have only seen the upper reaches ever having clear running water.
Near the marshes the water tends to always be murky.

SeaDog1

[slim2043]

Cool trip. Nice smallie. Don't feel too bad Aris it happens to the best of us.

What I really want to know is, when is the season premier of Phishing with Phil?
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Never give up!

[PECo]

Yeap, Stephen, the sun shone on this dog's ass, today.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[catch&release]

What I really want to know is, when is the season premier of Phishing with Phil?

I stated the same thing, Phil should have his own fishing show
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Bad fish! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycod. This shark, swallow ya whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', down you go.

[DirtyDawg10]

Go get 'em tiger!

Looks like a nice trip for sure.

[pikePERSUADER1]

that trout park in hamden is loaded with tigers, wharton brook state park is the name I believe! Nice smallie phil!!! glad i could inspire you!

[pikePERSUADER1]

I wonder if you can use a snake as bait, (legally speaking)??? anyone know?

[Michael]

Nice smallie Phil! Congrats on your first tiger trout. They are strong, vicious fish and will go after almost anything you throw.

[Michael]

[MarkO]

Excellent report Phil!

[catch&release]

Aren't water snakes poisonous?
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Bad fish! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycod. This shark, swallow ya whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', down you go.

[catch&release]

Wharton Brook State Park is in Wallingford pikepersuader. We used to have family BBQ's there when I was a kid. It is a TMA though
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Bad fish! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycod. This shark, swallow ya whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', down you go.

[jomonkey527]