Introducing…Friday Fishing Tips – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, feature writer

The warm weather Rhode Island is enjoying is also bringing out the hunger in the warm water fish. Even though Opening Day for trout is Wednesday April 7th there are a host of ponds and lakes one can fish for large and small mouth bass, pickerel, pike and panfish. Fishing people all over the state are catching lunker bass in the 3 to 5 lb. range, routinely.

However, Jessica Bulpit caught a monster Largemouth Bass weighing in at 10lbs. That is just 1 pound and 3.2 ounces shy of the state record. The bass was so large it could have inhaled a softball. The fish was gently released and next year may tip the scales with a new state record!  Rubber grubs and other soft baits appear to be the choice for bass right now.

IMPORTANT FACT:  TROUT WATERS ARE OFF LIMITS TO ANY AND ALL FISHING UNTIL OPENING DAY APRIL 7TH! YOU CANNOT FISH FOR BASS IN TROUT WATERS UNTIL OPENING DAY! THE TROUT WATERS ARE CLOSED FOR NOW TO ANY AND ALL FISHING! 

That may seem excessive but right now there are people fishing for bass in trout waters and that is illegal until April 7th! They apparently don’t know about or don’t understand the regulations.

What it is time to do is to clean up your gear and reline you fishing rods. Dave at Sandy Bottom Bait and Tackle, in Coventry, has a great selection of equipment for you. And a strong supply of bait with a major bait delivery coming in next week. Grandparents take note: Sandy Bottom has plenty of poles for the youngsters who are first timers.

Today starts my Friday Fishing Tip Feature! Every Friday I’ll share with you a fishing tip for novice or skilled outdoors people. Rhode Island is a beautiful place to fish or explore – and sometimes all you need is some tips to get you started. If you have a question you’d like answered, I’ll do my best to answer it – or find out the answer for you – just use the email, below, and let me know what you need help with. Also, we’re always looking for great photos to share – so send us some – family fishing fotos would be great to share! That’s just how Jessica got hers featured here!

With that…

Friday Fishing Tip: If your boat battery fails you can use a battery charger to operate you bilge pump in an emergency. It works – as I learned as I bailed my full-of-water Jon Boat yesterday using that method. The amp usage on a bilge pump is minimal so a battery charger provides enough power to do the operation.

We have all been locked up for more than a year. It is time to go outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and see what nature has to offer. Looking to do something different for date night? Go fishing! Nothing like watching your bobbers sit there catching the last rays of a setting sun. Or better yet, the bobber suddenly disappearing in a rapid crash dive. IF she likes to fish, gentlemen, she is a keeper!