CT Fishing Charters

January 2012 - Happy New Year!

The only game in town for striped bass is the Housatonic River and the action has slowed into the typical winter deep hole dredging scene.....read on!

With over 30 years experience Captain Chris Elser specializes in connecting anglers with big striped bass whether you prefer to cast large herring and bunker flies, drift live eels or live line adult menhaden! This is an addictive pursuit and our success rate on stripers over 30lbs. is second to none in the Western Long Island Sound with fish up to 42lbs. locally in 2011. But, if you want to get more adventurous the Captain is also dialed in to the Block Island fishery in which 2011 produced 11 stripers over 50lbs. and this 62.5lb. cow shown below! Rest assured that Captain Chris Elser will give you your best shot at a fish of a lifetime and you are certain to enjoy the hunt!

The 62.5 lb. striped bass above was weighed in at the Block Island Boat Basin and caught by Heather Elser in less than 20 feet of water. Should have made it official as it could have been a women's world record!

The Insider's Report section of On The Water Magazine will be up and running in April of 2012 again, pick up a copy to see Captain Chris Elser's forecast for the upcoming season on the salt as well as freshwater scene updates.

Check out the collages of previous year catches on our photos page. A huge Thank You goes out to all that supported us this year and the ongoing support we received again from Lamiglas rods, Sage, Reddington and Orvis .Please visit the links above to check out their new and innovative rods, reels, lines and apparel for 2011!

Connecticut TIDES • Rhode Island TIDES

Fish the Legendary Norwalk Islands, Long Island’s North Shore, the Housatonic River and Estuary, Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah and the Farmington River.

Specializing in Fly Fishing, Live Bait, Spin & Sight Casting to Striped Bass, Bonito, False Albacore, Fluke, Trout, Smallmouth Bass and Pike. Experience Trophy Striped Bass fishing with Captain Chris Elser who has had over 35 years of angling passion guiding you to the fish!

As a USCG licensed captain and fully-insured guide, he uses his cumulative experience to put anglers on fish. Chris is a natural teacher with a winning personality who will make you feel comfortable even before you step onboard.

Many productive techniques are perfected each season and his specialty is locating and catching trophy size striped bass on live bait and fly fishing tackle in the near shore waters of the legendary Norwalk Islands and also the Housatonic River in Stratford, CT.

Captain Chris Elser has recently been published in Fly Fishing Saltwaters Magazine, Outdoor Life magazine with quotes related to tactics for big fall stripers and was also published in Saltwater Sportsman Magazine demonstrating live bait tactics for trophy striped bass and bluefish! Also, read On The Water Magazine and get detailed Western Long Island Sound Reports written by Captain Chris Elser - STARTING again APRIL 2012! Captain Elser was also invited to speak on the Saltwater Sportsman Guide panel hosted by George Poveromo.

After fishing with Captain Elser you will appreciate his intensity and passion for fishing whether stalking trophy striped bass casting a fly or drifting live menhaden over a deep water rip. When you fish with Capt. Chris you will be guaranteed a world class angling adventure for certain! CaptElser@CT-Fishing.com

Please click on the images below to visit my sponsors websites!

Shore Guiding and Kayak trips are also available and I highly recommend Peter Viviano for either - you can check out his info at Fishflyes.com! Pete is a classic fly fisherman and accomplished caster who is able to adapt to any current situation the western sound has to offer from the surf. If you are interested in obtaining a wealth of knowledge about the ecology of the western sound as well as catching striped bass on the fly Pete is a go to guide. His custom flies are amazing to look at but more importantly they catch fish! I personally fish his bunker and herring yak patterns exclusively when targeting big fish on the fly. In July of 2010 I caught my personal best striper on one of Pete's spun deer hair eel patterns, that epic fish measured 48 inches and weighed over 40 lbs.

To experience world class trout fishing right here in CT you can contact Derrick Kirkpatrick for targeting trophy brown and rainbow trout on the Farmington River. Derrick is also an ice fishing guru targeting pike and trout on local lakes, there is no off season for this angler! In the late spring through the fall he is surf casting for striped bass at night in the Milford, CT area and has taken several stripers in the 30lb. class over the past few years - check out his info at CTfishguides.com. There are very few anglers tuned into the Farmington River trout fishery like Derrick, he will ensure you come away with a valuable lesson!