Too soon?

[Ravo_Himself]

Is it too early to start switching back to fish finder? Might have to break out the fly gear soon

[imsafanct]

Hell no! Let's get this party started.

I'll be at Keeney or Mansfield this Sunday morning, looking for pike. Fishfinder will be installed into the yak tomorrow. I'm SO ready!

-Eric

[eiderz]

Looks like the softwater is on! Remember to check regs to make sure the lake or river you want to fish is still open, many close the last day of February. I'm looking forward to the early tog season, won't be long now and the water should warm up enough for a good bite.

[Raquettedacker]

The sooner the better...  Its getting way easier for me to launch a boat than walk across a frozen lake...   

[willytrout]

No way Ravo. Heading  out with my fly rod in the am. Looking to find a few natives in roaring brook

[wastingtime12]

With the way this weather has been this is the perfect time to start getting ready for some open water!!

[imsafanct]

As promised, I made it to Mansfield yesterday morning. There was still a small amount of ice left in certain spots but most of the place was nice and open. It was my first day yaking with electronics and the new Helix 5 worked perfectly.

I made a beeline for the Fenton River and tried a 6" weightless Slug-Go, a Bucher Slopmaster, a Mann's 1-Minus, a 6" Jake and a 7" weighted Suick. I focused on an area of water that was no more than two-three feet deep where I saw pike staged to spawn last April. Water temps ranged from 35-38 degrees so I wasn't expecting too much. I had one small pike stalk the Jake to within 15' of the yak as I was twitching it very slowly, only to turn and bail on me as soon as I saw him. I also saw a larger pike cruising slowly in the same area. I had the Slopmaster in my hand and cast past the fish and ripped it right back into the fish's face but I didn't get a reaction. That was the only action I had all morning.

Still probably a touch cold for artificials but my Winter tweaking of rod/reel/lure combos worked perfectly, so I'm happy and ready for more. I'm hoping the action gets better as things warm and I'll be back this coming weekend to try again. I'm going to try to get in on the ice-out/pre-spawn/post-spawn pike bite over the next couple months as much as I am able to.

I'm ready!

-Eric

     

[willytrout]

i did hit roaring brook up in ashford sunday. it was a beautiful day. thru nymphs a lot with no action so i switch to streamers and land 2 nice browns on a small dace pattern.
they werent big as natives usually arent 8-9 inches but boy are they colorful.

jim

[octanehi5]

Most fishing in lakes with trout,ends today ,until the second sat in april, This includes all of our lakes that contain Walleye,except Batterson,Paugatopaug which is private, What morons made walleye season open all yr ,then close 95%of the lakes that hold them. And by the way were going to raise the price of fishing for trout. welcome to the not sportsmen friendly State

[bug-chazer]

Malloy is a city liberal , don't need fishing for inner city people to survive , just welfare