Yes, winter stripers are available in the Providence River during the months of January, February and March. But, are you ready for the winter cold and the demands of winter fishing on a 25 degree night?.
Here is a checklist of necessary equipment.
Clothing- Keeping your hands and feet warm are priorities. I like to use quality hunting gloves that offer lots of dexterity as well as warmth. I use waterproof Rocky hunting boots that are rated for 130 degrees below zero (yikes). Pack boots also work well. Cabelas is a good source for boots and gloves. Quilted ski pants, winter hat, sweatshirt and a warm coat are also a must.
Fishing gear- Keep it light. Spinning reels spooled with 10 lb. test mono and seven foot rods are ideal. For lures, fluke-like bodies threaded onto jigheads are ideal. I like Zoom flukes in 4 and 5 inch lengths in an albino color. Mount these onto jigheads. Quarter ounce is ideal, but sometimes 3/8 and 1/2 oz. models may be needed for long casts. Fan tailed lures such as Storm shads also work.
Other gear- A landing net is a must to land a keeper bass in many locations in the Providence River since you are often high above the water. I always carry a Popnet (type of bridge net) with a long rope that can be lowered. These nets can be purchased at online stores such as http://www.tackletogo.com/. Some type of headlight is also handy.
For more detailed information, check out my latest article, "Gearing up for Holdover Stripers" in The Fisherman magazine in the Jan. 8, 2009 edition.
