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Great Fishing In Rhode Island

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Guide to fishing in the Ocean State

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Beach Pond
  • Indian Lake
  • Johnson Pond
  • Pascoag Reservoir
  • Stafford Pond
  • Watchaug Pond
  • Worden Pond

Rhode Island may be small, but it boasts a variety of fishing opportunities thanks to its diverse water bodies, including ponds, lakes, and rivers. The state's coastal location also offers access to marine fishing opportunities. Anglers can find a wide variety of fish species in Rhode Island's waters, making it a popular destination for both recreational and sport fishermen. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.

In the warm water fisheries, popular species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, white perch, and sunfish. These warm water lakes and ponds provide excellent fishing experiences for anglers of all skill levels, and many are easily accessible for fishing from the shore or by boat.

Rhode Island also offers some fantastic cold water fisheries, particularly in its rivers and streams. Brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout are frequently stocked in rivers like the Wood River and the Pawcatuck River, providing ample opportunities for trout fishing enthusiasts.

One of the highlights of fishing in Rhode Island is the excellent striped bass fishing in its coastal waters. The state's saltwater fisheries offer opportunities for catching striped bass, bluefish, fluke (summer flounder), tautog (blackfish), and other saltwater species.

With numerous ponds, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, Rhode Island provides a diverse range of fishing experiences for anglers. Whether you prefer freshwater or saltwater fishing, warm water or cold water species, Rhode Island has something to offer every fishing enthusiast. From beginners to seasoned anglers, everyone can find their favorite fishing spot and enjoy the abundance of fish that the state's waters have to offer.

Fishing Boats For Rent In Rhode Island

Rhode Island offers a variety of fishing including lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white catfish, black crappie, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill, white perch, yellow perch, Atlantic salmon, stripers, chain pickerel and northern pike in local waters. Many of these species can be caught while ice fishing at lakes and ponds across the state.

Major Rhode Island Lakes & Species

Rhode Island major lakes and fish chart

Lake & Fish Chart

Top angling destinations, along with the major fish species found in each of the lakes or ponds. For a detailed list of primary fish species in RI, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Beach Pond is a 390-acre lake on the western border of the state, at Beach Pond State Park.

Indian Lake is a 200-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Indian Lake Shores.

Johnson Pond, aka Flat River Reservoir, is a 650-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Coventry.

Pascoag Reservoir, aka Echo Lake, is a 350-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, at Pascoag.

Stafford Pond is a 480-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Eagleville.

Tiogue Lake is a 200-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Spring Lake.

Watchaug Pond is a 570-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Fort Ninigret.

Woonasquatucket Reservoir is a 300-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Spragueville.

Worden Pond is a 1,040-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Tuckertown.

Smallmouth Bass

Find additional Rhode Island fishing details at the State of IR DEM website. Click here to obtain a Rhode Island fishing license.

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Rhode Island.

If you have information on fishing in your area and would like to contribute articles or information we would like to hear from you.

There is a section dedicated to activities for kids in RI, including stories, photos and tips for where and how to take a kid fishing in RI.

You can find a listing of RI fishing guides here.

Rhode Island Fishing

All About Fishing wishes you the very best with your fishing endeavors in the great state of Rhode Island.

Bass fishing book

Fish for big bass

Excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.

Fish Species & State Records in Rhode Island

Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

World record: 22 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 11 lbs 3.2 oz

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

World record: 11 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 5 lbs 15 oz

Catfish

White Catfish

White catfish

World record: 22 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 16 lbs 12 oz

Crappie

Black Crappie

Black crappie

World record: 6 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 3 lbs 0 oz

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 11 lbs 0 oz

Brook Trout

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 3 lbs 12 oz

Brown Trout

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 7 lbs 9 oz

Panfish

Bluegill

Bluegill

World record: 4 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 1 oz

White Perch

White perch

World record: 4.6 lbs

State Record: 2 lbs 0 oz

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

World record: 4 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 4 oz

Salmon

Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic salmon

World record: 79 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 21 lbs 9 oz

Striped bass

Striped Bass

Striper

World record: 81 lbs 14 oz

State Record: 77 lbs 6.4 oz

Other species

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

World record: 9 lbs 6 oz

State Record: 6 lbs 14 oz

Northern Pike

Northern pike

World record: 55 lbs 1 oz

State Record: 35 lbs 0 oz

Click the images and links above for species details.

 

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