Connecticut River at the Enfield Dam

About 50 miles up from Long Island Sound, the Connecticut River spills over the broken remains of the Enfield Dam, which is now little more than a line of rapids across the river between Enfield and Suffield. It's the first real barrier for migrating shad and herring, and each spring striped bass follow them up the river and gang up below the rapids to feed. It's mainly a shore-fishing spot, and a good one for big bass.

When to fish

• Late April: small stripers show once the spring floods drop and the river nears normal flow.
• Mother's Day to early June: the peak, according to The Fisherman; by the second week of June the run has mostly faded.
• Summer: some small stripers stay and turn up on smallmouth anglers' lines.
• Time of day: first light for topwater, and after dark for the biggest fish.

Where to fish

The Fisherman's writer sticks to the first 1,000 feet or so below the dam, which he compares to a supersized trout stream: pools, eddies, current breaks and rapids, all worth a few casts. Stripers can be seen blitzing herring schools, sometimes at long range. Boating the rapids is only for experienced boaters; jet boats run them, but The Fisherman advises beginners not to try.

How to fish it

Bring surf spinning gear with a 9- to 11-foot rod, since you'll need long, accurate casts. At first light The Fisherman's writer throws pencil poppers; long soft-plastic stickbaits on a single hook and 7-inch swimming plugs also take bass. Herring can't be used as bait: possessing alewives and blueback herring is illegal in Connecticut.

Getting there

The Fisherman's directions: take Route 190 west into Suffield, turn left on Route 159 and left again on Canal Road, and follow it to the parking lot at the end. A bike trail from the south end of the lot leads to the river. The Connecticut River from Enfield to Old Lyme has its own bass, trout, pike and carp rules; see the Connecticut Freshwater Fishing Guide.