Providence River Wintering Stripers.

Believe it or not it is possible to catch stripers every month of the year. Although most stripers go south for the winter, a few will winter over in a few spots in New England. The most famous winter over site is the Thames River in Connecticut. In Rhode Island some fish winter over in the Providence River. Sometimes fishing can be hot and heavy, other times you can get skunked for a week. The reason these brave fish winter over instead of go south is the warm water discharge at the Power Plant at the Hurricane Barrier. Since the water is warmed by the Powerplant some stripers stick it out up here.

I am confident that if every person that has ever caught a striper in New England reads this post and I tell them exactly how to catch stripers from the Providence River, I will still have very little competition. Most striper fishermen know about this fishery but very few people fish it. During the occasional 45 degree night a few guys might be found, but on a typical 25-30 degree night in December theres only a couple die hards.

This is a winter fishery. So it is cold. Also, it is a night time fishery so you are fishing in the city after dark. Maybe a lot of people don't feel safe. I don't know. I have been fishing for years in Providence at night and never had a problem. Lastly, although keepers are sometimes caught and getting one isn't to much of a suprise, this is mostly a schoolie fishery. Average size fish is about 22 inches. There are plenty of fish in the teens and a few bigger. If you are planning on catching keepers consistantly, your best bet is to wait until May.

Equipment is easy for this fishing. Using a light saltwater pole between 7-8 foot will get the job done. It has to be light enough to cast a 1/4 ounce jig. A medium heavy freshwater rod will work also. Most guys use 12 pound line.

For lures that is even easier. Use a 4 inch zoom fluke in white or albino on either 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jig head depending on how fast the water is running. Bring a flashlight or headlamp and pliers. Thats it. It is very simple. This can fit it all in a ziplock bag in your pocket. You do not need to carry a tackle box.

Usually the best tide is 3 hours either side of high. If you go and the water is closer to low. Your best bet is to fish right on the Point Street Bridge. If you do hook a fish ( and the bridge is a great place to fish)you will need some way to bring the fish to the top of the bridge or you can walk to the end of the bridge to the get down to the water. This is where a bridge net comes in handy. http://www.popnetnets.com/ . Sometimes I will try a 3" shad body if the fish are not hitting, but usually if the fish aren't hitting the zoom fluke, they are sulking and won't hit anything.

The more important issue is keeping warm in this weather. Bundle up as best you can if its cold out. Nothing will destroy a trip more than cold. Keep your feet and core warm. The hardest thing to keep warm are your hands. Find a pair of gloves that you can wear and still cast with. Also remember if you catch a fish you might have to take a glove off and get your hand wet.

I don't ice fish ( yet) so catching stripers in the winter is a good way to kill time in such a depressing boring season. I know that no one will actually give it a try but if anyone dares to brave the cold and the supposed crime, Good Luck

Pictures:

1. Striper from last night

2. Bridge Net. Used for lifting fish from bridges and piers.

3. All the equipment you will need to be successful winter striper fishing.

Washington D.C. Part II later in the week.

Postscript: A reader named Chris left me a question in Comments at the bottom of my post. He wanted to know if I had any advice for how to fish the zoom fluke. 95% of the time I just reel it in with a steady retrieve with the rod tip at about 45 degree angle. I get most of my hits this way. I try to fish it a little on the slow side. My friend Dave pumps his rod tip up and down while using a steady retrieve. When we fish together we usually catch about the same amount of fish. Chris- also there are a lot less fish the last couple winters as there were before that. It was very common to have5-10 fish nights. Skunkings are much more common than they used to be. You might not be doing anything wrong. Good Luck!