Schoolie stripers provide fast fun all winter long in Connecticut’s tidal rivers.
Rods? Check. Tackle bags? Check. Lunch? Check. Six layers of clothing? Check. Three massive Thermoses of scalding coffee? Check.
We had everything we needed to venture out onto the river. However, as we slid the 16-foot Sea Nymph into the icy waters, I had doubts that the trip would be worth it—standing on a boat, floating down a river at 5:30 a.m. seemed like the last thing I should be doing on a mid-December morning. And, for the better part of three hours, I was correct.
We scoured the upper half of the river without marking so much as a dot on the fishfinder. It also didn’t raise our spirits that we hadn’t seen another boat in those first few hours. After a fruitless hunt on the upper half of the river, we decided to head downriver along with the tide. We took our time going down, hoping the sonar would pick up some sign of life.
Then, as we came around a sharp bend, things took a drastic turn for the better. About two-dozen boats were spread out over a half-mile stretch of the river, fishing rods bent on almost every one of them. And the fishfinder—my goodness, the fishfinder—it was lit up from top to bottom with that red glow of life. We had finally found what we were looking for.
We spent the next four hours hooking up with holdover striped bass up to 35 inches. We were taking fish on nearly every cast and loving every minute of it. Between the three of us on the boat that day, we landed 200 fish in that four-hour period. The cold air and stiff wind no longer mattered—it was just flat-out fun.
The winter months often provide a “hibernation” period for many Northeast anglers, a time to perform maintenance on your gear, catch up on lost sleep, and fatten up for the spring run. Winter months can be brutally cold up here, and, for those who choose not to brave the ice, the fishing opportunities can be limited.
There is one option, however, that is often overlooked by avid anglers. For those who can get past a little chill down the spine and some iced-up rod guides, there is always the tidal river. And the Housatonic River in Milford, Connecticut offers some incredible fishing for school-sized striped bass fishing from November through May.
Taking Residence
As the fall run dwindles and the air and water temperatures drop, juvenile striped bass begin to make their way into the Housatonic. This tends to happen anytime between October and December, depending on the water temperatures. These fish become what are called holdover fish, as they take residence in the river and hold there until spring. Usually by the time December hits, you can find hordes of them from the mouth of the river all the way up to the Derby Dam in Derby, Connecticut. It’s not uncommon to find schools up to a quarter-mile long. The sheer number of fish that hold in the river can be impressive.
The average size of the striped bass taking winter residence in the Housatonic would certainly be classified in the “schoolies” category, as they most commonly fall in the 10- to 20-inch range. However, anglers who learn the popular spots and techniques of the river will be rewarded with their fair share of keeper bass over 28 inches. Although not the common catch, the river has yielded stripers well into the 30-pound range.
Consider The Elements
These winter stripers that make their way into the river are every bit the same breed of fish you will find scouring Long Island Sound during the summer months. With that said, you must take into consideration the change in environment the fish are experiencing and apply it to your techniques. Water temperature is one element that is often overlooked when considering its…
