Fishermen rejoice! Trout season opens on Saturday
Don't miss Kettlebottom Outdoor Pursuits on NESN this Saturday
Island Fishing Report By Robb Roach

Spring has entered the building! This is a very exciting time of year for the local outdoor enthusiasts and I have to admit the anticipation has been killing me! Over a month ago, I broke out the fishing rods and replaced monofilament, cleaned and lubed the reels and brought the rods in need of repair over to Bob at Wickford Rod Works.

I won't have to wait too long to wet a line, albeit in freshwater, as this Saturday at 6 a.m. is "opening day" for trout in the Ocean State. You may have to fight the crowds on opening day at most of the local rivers and ponds, but it is an exciting experience that includes adults and children and everyone is almost always in good spirits. Try your luck at Silver Springs Pond in North Kingstown, Melville Pond in Portsmouth or, for children under the age of 14, the "kid's pond" at Arcadia is a sure bet. For bait fishermen, our best luck on opening day includes pink or orange "power bait," which is basically a small ball of a puttylike material that easily attaches to a hook. Cast your power bait a short distance from the shore and try different depths, hanging the power bait just under a bobber or adding some split shot weights on the line just above the hook to send it to the bottom.

For those who like a more active fishing style, try a Mepps' spinner or any small gold or silver lure. The fly guys might want to try a wooly bugger, streamer or beaded nymph. Cast in and around structure, including river bends, rocks and boulders or fallen branches and trees. Don't forget to let your lure or fly sink a bit before retrieving, as the cool early season water temps push the trout deep. The Wood River holds big numbers of trout and is a great spot for both spinning and fly fishing on opening day and throughout the season.

If you are lucky enough to tie into a trout, make sure you save it for dinner, or better yet breakfast! I love cooking my trout simply gutted and beheaded, lightly floured, in a cast iron skillet. Complimented by scrambled or poached eggs and toast, it is a breakfast fit for any hungry fisherman!

Fishing for striped bass is a year-round experience here in New England. You can find "hold over" striped bass right now just below Slater Mill in Pawtucket south to the hurricane barrier in Providence. There are also micro stripers showing up at the West Wall in Jerusalem (Galilee) and they will soon arrive at Second Beach in Newport. Break out your light tackle (8-10 lb. test) spinning rods and throw on a oneounce bucktail or lead head with a rubber tail and cast into the current and near structure. The spring color of choice for the Kettlebottom Crew is definitely white, it out fishes all other colors by a significant margin, probably due to the lack of water clarity and the springtime forage.

I saw Jeff Fantoli at the N.E. Saltwater Fishing show this past weekend and he reported seeing turkeys in North Kingstown "strutting their stuff." This was confirmed by my father and another friend from southwest Connecticut who also witnessed frisky toms looking to get lucky. The turkey population in Rhode Island and throughout the United States has exploded in recent years and become one of the most successful re-introductions of any species in history. Thank your local hunter for this, as the hunting license fees and hunter-supported conservation groups like the "Wild Turkey Foundation" are largely responsible for the resurgence. Your chance to harvest one of these tasty birds starts at the end of this month, so start practicing your calls and go pattern your gun.

The month of April is a fantastic time to experience the multitude of hiking opportunities throughout our state. It is also a great time to view birds of all varieties on their northern migration. Grab your kids, cousins, and neighbors and head to Great Swamp, Arcadia, Card's Pond, or Big River before the ticks come out. Research the trail and if you can bring along a small fishing rod for a few casts you may get lucky.

Here at Kettlebottom we have a ton of exciting fishing shows in the pipeline to get you primed for the season. Tune in to NESN each and every Saturday at noon.

This week on Kettlebottom Outdoor Pursuits, Captain Ralph Perna hosts John Longo and Todd Mannarino aboard his boat, Amalia, off the coast of Connecticut. While fishing for striped bass, the trio hooks up with a much underrated game fish, the dreaded bluefish. After catching a couple blues for the table, Ralph heads to Fisher's Island to hook up with fluke and scup. Once home, the Pernas host John Longo, preparing a delicious Sicilian recipe, pesce e patate, showing that bluefish, despite its reputation, can make a great meal.

We'll see you there!