Stripers on the Housatonic Part 2
(South of Sunny Side School)
Once the water starts warming up in the spring, so does the fishing for stripers in the Housatonic. Things heat up
fast beginning the first week of April. The area from Sunny Side School to the river mouth, a distance of
approximately 8 miles, has access to some remarkable fishing for wade fishermen, canoeists, and boaters. Route
110 (River Road) out of Shelton follows the river all the way to Stratford and Milford. Along Rt. 110 there are a
number of little estuaries, such as the Mill River, and smaller streams. With a little effort, you can park your car, and
walk along these streams to where they meet the Housatonic. Wade fishing at these locations can be remarkable. I’
m not going to mention them specifically here because public access is difficult and they really aren’t locations that
can accommodate more than 1-3 anglers.
Southbank Open Space, City of Shelton
One of the first stops along Rt. 110 is the City of Shelton “Southbank Open Space” park. It’s a small park that can
accommodate parking for 10-12 cars. It also has a canoe/kayak launching/landing area. There are no signs for the
park but it is located very close to Moulthrop Lane. Opportunities for fishing here are best for surfcasters and spin
fishermen.
Caswell Cove
This is another location which is more a favorite of spin and surf fishermen. It’s on the opposite side of the river from
Shelton/Stratford. The cove is lined with a sandy beach area. There is room here to park perhaps a half dozen
cars. It’s also another location which provides a canoe/kayak launching/landing area. To get here take Exit 35 off of
I-95. Take a right on Naugatuck Ave, then go left on Caswell Street. Go across the railroad tracks and take the left
between the entrances for Caswell Cove Condominiums and the Sewage Treatment Plant. Unfortunately the
Treatment Plant is no longer operational. In past years the warming of the adjacent waters would result in large
numbers of hold-over fish in the cold winter months.
Milford (Devon) CT State Boat Ramp
This is a prime early spring location for wading fly fishermen on the Housatonic. The ramp is located right below the
I-95 river overpass. One of the first “southern river spots” that experience the spring bass run. It is located just
south of the before mentioned Treatment Plant. There is room here to accommodate at least 12- 16 wading
anglers. There is unlimited parking here. On any given day in the spring there’s a mix of spin and fly fishermen.
Also, there’s additional room for shore fishermen from the docks, small rock breakwater, and area immediately
adjacent to the plant. Be careful, there is a trick to wading here. Prime wading spots are located approximately 100
yards south of the boat ramp. Many try to walk along the shoreline to access this area. It’s way too muddy to do
that. Enter the water immediately adjacent to the small rock pilings which are on one side of the ramp. Wade out
approximately 10’-15’ from shore. Travel for a distance of approximately 100 ft. It’s a little mucky but very wadable.
Then wade diagonally out closer towards the river channel. The river bottom will firm up. Wading is impossible until
2 hours after high tide, but the fish are very close at the top of the tide and you can edge in the water with enough
room to cast and catch fish. Spring fly fishing here can be exceptional. Most of us use floating lines with a sink tip,
but intermediate and even floating lines will produce. One fly fishing technique that is very productive here is to just
dead drift your fly with the current. The State boat ramp is free to everyone. To get here take Exit 35 off of I-95.
Take a right on Naugatuck Ave, then left at the I-95 bridge.
Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point (a.k.a. G.T. Smith and S.E. Hubbell Wildlife Sanctuary, a.k.a. Smith’s Point
– Mouth of the River)
This is one of the prime salt water fishing areas in the State. Just made for a fly fisherman and a beautiful place to
fish. A number of fishing clubs from NY, NJ, CT, and RI make this a club trip destination. There are acres upon
acres of fishable areas, flats, bars, river channels, salt marsh outflow, and structure to fish around. Big fish can be
caught here. Please remember – Fishermen are guests here – be responsible and respect the rights of others.
Parking for up to 50 cars is available adjacent to the Administration building. Directly in front of the administration
building is a path with a pedestrian bridge that leads down to the “front” beach area. You must stay off the private
road. Access along it is prohibited. Fishing is good everywhere but most fishermen wade almost ½ mile out to the
mouth of the river ( adjacent to the breakwater). Another prime fishing area is the outflow of the salt marsh. The
marsh is visible from the parking lot (rear of the administration building). At high tide you must walk the “front” beach
area and around the point to access it. More than an hour after the drop its possible to walk just below the high
water mark along the Marsh. Do not walk on the dunes and posted BIRD NESTING AREAS. Striper fishing at the
mouth does die down with the hot summer temperatures but that can spell “big blue fish time”. Fall fishing in recent
years has been erratic, but can be exceptional. The only drawback to fishing here is that the parking area is gated.
It’s open only from dawn till dusk. At times the gate to the parking lot is locked at night. Some of the diehards have
joined the Audubon to obtain access to the parking lot during off hours. To get here take I-95 N and S to exit 34.
Turn right at light where exit ramp meets Route 1. Go 1/2 mile to third light at Naugatuck Ave. Turn left on
Naugatuck and go 0.8 mi. to second light at Milford Point Rd. Turn right and follow Milford Point Rd. 1/2 mi, passing
tennis courts on right and small wildlife sanctuary (at 1.1 mi.) to stop sign at Seaview Ave. Turn right, go .35 mi. to
Sanctuary. Road forks: take the right fork (left fork is private road) into parking area.
Short Beach Park, Stratford Municipal Beach
This spot is located directly across the river from the Audubon/Smith’s Point. The gate is open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.
m. Non-residents are charged a $5 fee to enter the Park. At times in early spring or late fall there the ticket booth is
unmanned. It’s a great fishing spot that has unlimited room for anglers and unlimited parking. At high tide you can
fish anywhere along the beach front. I’ve caught bass and blues right up close to shore. There’s also a salt pond on
the northerly side of the beach with a nice outflow. Visible from the beach is a round stone monument which defines
the Stratford side of the river channel. It’s approximately ¼ mile off shore. Two hours after the drop you can wade
out to the monument and fish anywhere along the river channel. Your good at least two (2) hours into the incoming
tide. Just be careful and don’t stay too long. This is a great spot to fish for bluefish during the summer. Pavilions
and bathroom facilities are available.
Stratford Gun Club
Just south of Short Beach is the former gun club. Wading and parking is difficult here. Parking is restricted to the
adjacent road just before the Light House access. In the past the police have not bothered fishermen, but problems
with teenagers have made things more difficult. Monster stripers have been caught here. The best chance to hook
up with these fish is during the late nighttime hours. Wading here is very difficult though due to large boulders and
rocks which characterize the shoreline.
Bond’s Dock, Town of Stratford
This is the location of a small but popular fishing pier and boat ramp. Usually loaded with bait fishermen. When the
shad are running I have fly fished adjacent to the boat ramp. Not a lot of room though. Parking is very limited,
enough for maybe 14 cars. Contact the Stratford Parks and Recreation Department for information and launching
fees at 203 385-4085. To get here take Ferry Boulevard to Lockwood Avenue.
Birdseye Boat Ramp, Town of Stratford
Another Stratford Municipal Boat Ramp. This is very good boat ramp, plenty of parking. You can get there by taking
Ferry Boulevard to Elm Street, then take a left on Birdseye Street past the sewage treatment plant.
Contact the Stratford Parks and Recreation Department for information and launching fees at 203 385-4085.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@snet.net