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Inland Fishing Opportunites
Capt. Jim White
March 5, 2010
Narragansett Bay - Freshwater Fishing Report
This winter has been excellent for ice fishing many of lakes and ponds that Rhode Island has to offer. We had a lot of ice this winter. On some lakes it was 14-inches thick which we haven't seen in quite a few years. It's like the old days when I was a kid.
Many nice largemouth bass, northern pike and even stocked salmon were taken through the ice in the last two months. The weather of late has rendered much of the ice un-safe, all though there maybe a few ponds in out-lying areas that might still have safe ice.
Make sure you remember that fishing licenses ran out on February 28th 2010 as they do every year. There were a few anglers cited by Wardens the beginning of the week for fishing on expired licenses, so be sure you go and get your new one. Also remember that you can not fish in any waters that are stocked with trout from now until opening day in April, which is usuall the second week of April. All other ponds are open to fishing.
This is the time of the year when northern pike become very active in the ponds and lakes where they have been stocked. Look for them to got to the shallows right after ice-out to try and spawn, although no natural spawing is or has occured to my knowledge since they were stocked back in the 1960's. The state keeps the program going by pound-neeting the big fish in various lakes, stripping their eggs and spawining them out at the hatchery.
Pike will taken big spoons, big swim baits and cut bait fished on the bottom. It can be cold fishing, especially if you go in a small boat, but the rewards can be well worth the effort.
Narragansett Bay Fishing Forecast:
By mid to late April, we should see the first arrivals of school stripers into Narragansett Bay. These first fish usually show up along the south shore coastline in Narragansett, Matunuck, Charlestown, and Westerly. These first arrivals are normally the smaller guys.
The bigger fish, the monster size stripers will right behind them by the middle of May and then into June. They'll be following the squid and then the menhaden as they migrate into our bay system.
Target Species:
Northern Pike, Striped Bass
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