Spring fishing is here. Opening Day in Rhode Island for trout is Saturday, April 13. Anglers are catchingholdover striped bass, tautog season opens April 1 and soon we will have an abundance of migratingstriped bass.
Here are six places to fish first — three on the salt and three freshwater hot spots. They are some of myfavorite places to fish in early spring. All these fishing spots can be fished from shore.
The thing about early spring fishing is that the water is cold, it has had all winter to cool off, so beextremely careful not to fall in. And, as far as the fish go, they like warm water, too.
Tiverton angler Greg Vespe, former executive director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, said: “Ilike to fish the windward side of lakes in early spring, as that is usually the warmer side watertemperature-wise, and often where fish will feed more actively. For saltwater, bay mudflats and rockbreakwaters seem to warm and hold fish early on. I like to fish the channels on the edge of mud flatsand often like the afternoons without-going tides as that most often provides the warmest water.”
Saltwater
East Greenwich Cove (East Greenwich/Warwick)
The cove provides an accessible fishing spot both on the eastern Godard Park (Warwick) side and the East Greenwich side to the west. It is a hot spot in early spring for school (and larger) striped bass starting in April. The East Greenwich side of the cove provides plenty of parking at the town parking lot on an upper parking tier. Anglers fish off the town dock and all along the shore. All the shoreline on the Goddard State Park side is open for fishing with a nice parking lot at the boat ramp.
Narrow River (Narragansett)
The Narrow River has been a great spot for holdover stripers, new migrating striped bass as well as spring river herring. Anglers fish from the Sprague Bridge area (state has ample parking there) on both sides of the river as well as farther up the river depending on where the fish are. Local fly fishing expert Ed Lombardo said: “Often the bite is much better on the incoming tide on the river.”
Colt State Park (Bristol) and Rocky Point State Park (Warwick)
Two state parks with parking and access. Both locations feature great shore fishing as well as fishing from a pier. Spring bass fishing happens early at these parks, and later in the spring and summer, they hold other types of fish, too. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick said: “The Rocky Point Fishing Pier is a fish magnet. Multiple anglers with a lot of bait in the water have attracted more fish there than ever before.”
Freshwater
Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods
Olney is fished 12 months a year as the state owned pond often freezes in the winter. Anglers can expect to catch trout, bass, pickerel, crappie and carp there. The pond is state-owned. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “Olney Pond is one of my favorite freshwater ponds to recommend because it has great shore access, good parking and is stocked well.”
Willet Avenue Pond (Riverside)
Riverside is stocked well for a small pond several times a year by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Anglers fish the pond from shore on all sides and from kayaks and canoes. It is a great place to fish for trout on opening day and beyond as it is family friendly with ample parking, great access with benches and a lot of fish to catch.
The Wood River at the Old Stone Dam (Richmond/Hopkinton)
Steve Brustein of North Kingstown said: “The Old Stone Dam in Richmond is one of my favorite spots. Parking is easy. You can fish above the dam, but I hammer the trout in the white water. Live bait with worms or meal worms work well; spoons work well, too. Working the white water takes some practice but pays off all summer long.”
Where’s the bite?
Freshwater. Anglers are advised that the trout fishing season reopens in Rhode Island on Saturday, April 13; however, many trout ponds are open for fishing in Massachusetts. Ian Lumsden of Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay said: “The largemouth bass bite has been good with one customer catching a 5.5-pound fish this week. And the trout fishing in stocked ponds has been outstanding. Long Pond, Plymouth, Mass., and Peters Pond, Mashpee, Mass., are producing trout for customers." Vincent Cataldi of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown said: “The largemouth bass bite along with crappie and pickerel has been particularly good. Ryan Park, North Kingstown, has been producing.” Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly said, “Anglers are catching largemouth and salmon, and in the Pawcatuck, where we have brackish water, anglers are catching catfish.” For freshwater fishing information in Massachusetts, visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov; and in Rhode Island, dem.ri.gov/fishing.
Saltwater. Anglers continue to find holdover school striped bass in estuaries. Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said: “We have a few customers that are targeting winter flounder and doing well; but as far as migrating striped bass, the water is still cold. This morning [Wednesday], the Chesapeake Bay, where many of our migrating bass come from, was only 50 degrees. This is very cold. We do have river herring in the Pawcatuck River so that is on schedule; however, we heard some fish got stuck in a pooling area at the Potter Hill Mill Dam.” .
Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boardsand commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energ, and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit noflukefishing.com.
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