They're Back

It's been a tough couple of weeks in the Providence River with a fish or two here and there along with lots of dry runs. But, that all ended yesterday as the fishing lit up, once again. Mix a lot of rain, a big high tide at night, and a strong northwest wind and you've got the recipe for hot holdover striper fishing in the Providence River. Landed over 30 fish the last two evenings/nights at the river fishing a Zoom fluke in a smokey shad color on a quarter ounce head. The fish were all sizes from 12 inch dinks up to 28 inch keepers (see photo of keeper on right). There's a ton of fishermen out there just waiting for the first striper to be caught off the West Wall in mid April. Why wait, catch the action in Providence right now!

Uncomplicated Spring Schoolies

The first migrating schoolies are about to arrive in early to mid April. Catching them is not the complicated game it becomes later in the year. There are just two main lures to stock up on that will catch most of the fish.

Along the oceanfront the hot lure of the last few years has been a white, Cocahoe minnow (see photo at left). This fan tailed, plastic, fish-like body in a three or four inch length must be threaded onto a jighead from one quarter to three quarter oz. Go with a slow retrieve along the bottom with an occasional bounce of the rod tip. It works well in spots like the West Wall, Matunuck and Narrow River. Can't find these lures.....try Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle.

In Narragansett Bay, it is the Zoom Fluke in a light color like albino or smokey shad that will catch most of the schoolies from shore. Mount these fork tailed fish bodies on the smallest jighead that you can cast effectively (see photo at right). It works real well in places like the Providence River, The East side beaches and East Greenwich Bay.

These lures are best suited to light spinning outfits spooled with 10 lb. test mono. Expect April schoolies to run 12-24 inches, all throwbacks, but great to catch on light tackle.

Hot Week in Providence River

This has been a hot week of fishing for holdover striped bass in the Providence River. The two days of rain and unusually high moon tides have set up some strong currents and water flow and that's the trigger mechanism that gets the fish active. I suspect that strong water movement stirs up the bottom where the fish are grubbing for things like worms, shrimp and other tidbits.

The nights have been the best time to fish with the high/dropping tides producing the most action. I have been using a Zoom flukes (smokey shad color) on quarter ounce jigheads with light spinning gear. Monday was my best night this week with over 30 fish and several keepers. On all the other evenings I managed to grab an average of 6-10 fish. While there are a ton of striper fishermen out there anxiously waiting for mid April to bring the first migrating fish along the south shore, there are a small core of guys just smiling away in Providence every night this week.