Smelt in CT

Smelt "NEAR" CT.

CTRich,

Not sure how far it is from you, but East Branch Res. in Brewster, NY has smelt. No dipping because it's a NYC watershed, but you can catch them thru the ice. I would imagine the CT river has a run in the spring as well. Start checking tribs in Mid March. Hope it helps.

Mako Mike,

No not alewives. They're in there too, but there are smelt in West Branch Res. because Iv'e caught them through the ice, and seen them running up tribs while trout fishing in the spring. In fact the DEC stocked landlocked Salmon this year in West B. to keep the population in check. I've heard they're in East Branch too but I've never caught any. I may try w/ a sabiki rig for them this year to up the catch. USually I fish 3 ice flies on a line just under the surface w/ a lantern after dark.

Tom B,

It was just a thought. I know the Hudson used to get a pretty good run years ago and you can still take 8 qts. if you can find them. I rarely fish in CT. but I think the CT. river is an estuary, right? Anything is possible.

Mako Mike,

No not alewives. They're in there too, but there are smelt in West Branch Res. because Iv'e caught them through the ice, and seen them running up tribs while trout fishing in the spring. In fact the DEC stocked landlocked Salmon this year in West B. to keep the population in check. I've heard they're in East Branch too but I've never caught any. I may try w/ a sabiki rig for them this year to up the catch. USually I fish 3 ice flies on a line just under the surface w/ a lantern after dark.

Tom B,

It was just a thought. I know the Hudson used to get a pretty good run years ago and you can still take 8 qts. if you can find them. I rarely fish in CT. but I think the CT. river is an estuary, right? Anything is possible.

Sorry for the double post.

Landlocked Smelt

MakoMike,

I guess technically they are landlocked. Many anadromous fish (start life in fresh, go to salt, and return to fresh to spawn) like salmon and striped bass can make it in fresh only conditions. The pacific salmon runs in the great lakes or the stripers in lake powell and other western reservoirs are perfect examples. If theres enough forage in a lake the adult fish can make it. They smelt are generally smaller than those I've seen from the hudson but I get a few every year around 10".