The “Other” Housatonic

Within the past year or so a national fly fishing magazine featured an article expounding the virtues of small mouth bass fishing on the Housatonic. It’s a great article but my thinking of what the “Other” Housatonic is, in terms of an alternative fishery, is much different.

I live about one hour and ten minutes from the T.M.A. Fortunately for me I’m only a stone’s throw away from a 12 mile portion of the river which stretches from the Ousatonic Dam in Derby, to the river mouth at Milford and Stratford. This section of the river is truly a world-class fishery. You can catch stripers, blues, white perch, American and hickory shad, small and large mouth bass, pike, sea run trout, and an occasional salmon escaping from the Naugatuck River. Many of these fish stack up right at the dam. Almost all the “Keeper” stripers in this section are caught on the Shelton side. Unfortunately it is not an ideal place to fly fish unless you have a boat. On the Derby side however, there is enough room to accommodate 2-3 fly fishers if the water level is low enough at the corner of the dam and canal abutment. It is here that on one May afternoon I caught a number of American shad in the 5-7 lb range, as well as small mouth bass, schoolie stripers, and a number of white perch.

Another prime fishing area is Sullivan’s Island in Derby, located 1 ½ miles below the dam. H.F.F.A. member Lou Eagle has fished this area relentlessly over the years and has caught a number of sea run trout, salmon, and countless stripers. Years ago Lou was one of only a few fishermen to fish this area. At times now, it can get pretty crowded. Sullivan’s Island is a great early season striper hot spot. A little later in the season a run of herring brings large numbers of monster bass right up to the dam.

Other prime fishing areas include:

State Boat Ramp, Devon – There is room to handle 8-10 wading fisherman to the left of the ramp. To the right of the ramp is the Devon Power Plant. The plant discharge holds stripers all winter long but you are limited to spin fishing because there’s no room to back cast. Former H.F.F.A. President Ralph Harnois used to fish this location quite often.

Short Beach, Stratford – Excellent fishing all year long for stripers here, strictly at low tide though. I prefer to fish this area at the turn of the low tide, on the flood. Wade out approximately ¼ mile to the sand bar with the stone monument. You will be standing over the main river channel. Be careful!! You can access the bar 3 hours after the high tide, and your good there 2 ½ hours after the low.

Stratford Gun Club – Just past Short Beach is the former gun club. Monster stripers are taken from here. The best chance to hook up with these fish is during the nighttime hours. Wading here is very difficult though due to large boulders and rocks which characterize the shoreline here.

Audubon Preserve, Devon – Most times you can park right at the preserve parking lot. You must access the Housatonic via the beach and not bye private road which services the cottages. This area has also become extremely popular. I fear that the ability to fish here may be threatened by those fishermen who fail to respect the wild life resources and the rights of the private residences. Fish the high tide here going out to the low. You have the option here of fishing the marsh outflow, the river channel, or at the mouth of the river where it meets the sound. This area is productive all season long. You also have the opportunity to catch blues and on some occasions, false albacore.

If you want to fly fish the Housatonic, and are interested in a totally different fishing experience from the T.M.A., then I strongly recommend fishing the “Other” Housatonic. You’ll never know just what you might catch and you just might get the rod ripped out of your hands. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 203 734-7879 or e-mail me at

pdinice@snet.net

“Tight Lines”

Paul