Derrick Cotnoir of Northampton paddles his fishing kayak along the shoreline of the Connecticut River Oxbow near the mouth of the Manhan River in Easthampton on Monday. Cotnoir, who brought along half a dozen rods — and had caught two largemouth bass by noon — noted that with the seasonal higher water levels, he could fish in places he couldn’t normally access.
Derrick Cotnoir of Northampton paddles his fishing kayak along the shoreline of the Connecticut River Oxbow near the mouth of the Manhan River in Easthampton on Monday. Cotnoir, who brought along half a dozen rods — and had caught two largemouth bass by noon — noted that with the seasonal higher water levels, he could fish in places he couldn’t normally access. Credit: STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

NORTHAMPTON – Derrick Cotnoir of Northampton paddled his fishing kayak into unexplored parts of the Oxbow shoreline on Monday thanks to the seasonally high waters of the Connecticut River. The higher levels in the Oxbow, just across the city line from the mouth of the Manhan River in Easthampton, allowed him to fish in places he couldn’t normally access. Cotnoir brought along half a dozen rods and had caught two largemouth bass by noon in the shallower, and warmer, waters along the shore. Cotnoir estimated the deep water has yet to get above 50F.

Kevin Gutting can be reached at kgutting@gazettenet.com.