The Connecticut River is the biggest warmwater fishery in Massachusetts, a diverse, productive river that holds smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, carp and more over long stretches of varied water. The famous Oxbow and countless coves and setbacks add largemouth and pike habitat to the main-river smallmouth fishing.
The water
Smallmouth hold on the main-river rock, current seams and wing dams; largemouth and pike stack in the weedy coves, setbacks and backwaters like the Oxbow. Walleye relate to current and structure, often best in low light.
How to fish it
Fish river smallmouth with drop shots, tubes and crankbaits on the current structure; largemouth in the coves with stick worms, Texas rigs and spinnerbaits; and pike in the weedy backwaters with big swimbaits and spoons on a wire leader.
Tip Let the river’s two personalities guide you. Fish the current and rock for smallmouth, then duck into the coves and setbacks for largemouth and pike, often you can do both in a single stretch of river.