BAY

Bass as long as 40 inches have been taking splashy lures near the Red Bridge over the Seekonk River, said David Henault of Ocean State Tackle. He speculates that the fish will also take clam bellies and sea herring. Smaller bass have been hitting on the Warren River, he said. The bite is best before dawn. There have been some large bass near the Division Street Bridge, said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle. Small stripers are biting near the corners of Middletown’s beaches, said Sam Toland of Sam’s Bait & Tackle. The recent shot of warm weather has everyone anxious to catch stripers, he said, but it is still early in the season.

Contrary to last week’s report, squid have not appeared in Newport, said Toland. There have been a few squid in Jamestown and off the Sakonnet, and they should arrive in Newport in the next few days, he said.

Blackfish were biting near Castle Hill and Beavertail Wednesday, said Toland. Keeper size tautog are biting in Bristol Narrows, on the Warren River, Stone Bridge and near Hog Island Light, Henault said. Anglers are also catching tautog near Conimicut Light, and in the Barrington and Warren rivers, said Littlefield, but keepers are scarce.

BEACHES AND SALT PONDS

Flounder fishing season opens tomorrow on the salt ponds, and fish must be 12 inches long to keep. Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina recommends fishing slopes at the head of Point Judith Pond. Ron Mouchon of Breachway Bait & Tackle suggests fishing the narrows in both Point Judith and Ninigret ponds. In Connecticut, there have been scattered reports of flounder biting near Enders Island, the Mystic River, and some of the coves around Stonington, said Don Michaud of King Cove Outfitters.

A slug of small stripers has moved into Ninigret Pond, said Mouchon. Schoolies are also biting in Cemetery Cove on the Pawcatuck River, according to Michaud. Conti reports that the bite at the West Wall hasn’t been consistent.

OFFSHORE

The charter boat Drifter has been catching cod on Cox Ledge and south of Shark Ledge, said Al Conti. The skippers of the Frances Fleet have also been reporting good cod fishing.

FRESHWATER

Trout as large as 2.5 pounds have been taking shiners on Spring Grove Pond in Glocester and a 3.5-pound bass was taken on Waterman Lake – also on a shiner – this week, said Beverly Mouradjian of Big Bear Supply.

Trout are rising steadily on the Wood River where the water temperature is 57 degrees, according to Ed Lombardo. “I did see hatches of large Gray Slate Spinners both half spent and full, in sizes # 14 and #12,” he reports. “I used a burgundy Loop Wing Emerger in size #12, dead drifting the surface film. The wing on the fly was slate blue in color. The other burgundy emerger I used had a loop wing of Bill’s Body Braid, also in sizes # 14 and #12. The same size spinners would better at just before dark. Those Black Quills and Gray Slate Spinners were all over the water. A few Tan Caddis were also on the water. Smaller Blue Winged Olives also worked.”

Fishing on the Blackstone has been quiet, he reported.

Trout have been nailing night crawlers, shiners and Power Bait on Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods State Park, said David Henault.

DOCK TALK

Television personality Don Coyne will join charter boat skipper Jack Sprengel to talk about fishing when the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association meets Monday at 7 p.m. in the West Valley Inn in West Warwick. More information is available at the group’s Web site, www.eisaa.org.

THE TIDES

The moon causes tides and affects the activity of saltwater and freshwater fish as well as animals on land. Anglers generally find the best fishing two hours before and after a high tide, but fish and other animals also become active around the time of low tide. This table shows the height of tides in feet at Castle Hill near the mouth of Narragansett Bay. Recreational shellfishermen prefer to dig for clams when the tides are lowest, shown on the chart as "minus tides."

tmeade@projo.com