Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report 4-5-2012

The theme for this forecast is going to take on a whole different dimension over the next few weeks as fisheries by the boatload open. With Wachusett ready to kick into gear on Saturday the 7th, Quabbin to follow on the 14th and Gulf Of Maine cod to open up on the 16th, things are sure to get mighty interesting. And can the first migratory schoolies be very far behind?  Meanwhile for many it is hawg heaven as some huge largemouth bass appear to be pre-spawn bingeing.

Massachusetts Fishing Report
Pete from Belsan’s in Scituate is now keeping weekly hours for those who wet a line on the South Shore. Timing is good for this because patrons of the shop are finding that big black bass have gone on a tear. Jacobs Pond, Lilly Pond and the Cohasset Reservoir are all responsible for some quality catches of 4-pound-plus fish. Yellow and chartreuse spinner baits, as well as plugs such as crank baits, stick baits and jerk baits are all doing the trick.

Another way to find brute bass is to target herring runs. Rick from Fore River B&T said that there are some real monster largemouth bass making meals out of alewives in Whitman’s Pond in Braintree, which is the tailwater of the Weymouth Back River herring run. A Koppers Live Target blueback herring swimbait or green back Sebile Magic Swimmer could be just the thing for the titans that swim there. Along with the bass there are pickerel here nearly as big. Don’t discount the live shiner option either.

For Eddie of B&A in West Boylston this weekend is his Super Bowl, World Series and Kentucky Derby all rolled into one, because Wachusett officially opens on Saturday. Due to the lack of winter snow and little rain the res’ is low with loads of access to the shoreline. This makes roaming for a honey hole full of fish one of the best option and a good way to steer clear of any crowds. Certainly among 37 miles of shoreline, you can get “lost”.  Load up with Kastmasters, Krocodiles and Fiord spoons and go find those forktails which should be shallow right now.  In the meantime the Stillwater Basin remains hot for largemouth bass that are taking spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

Rod from Orange weighed in an 8-pound 12-ounce largemouth bass that was taken from Fort Pond in Lancaster on a plug. Rodney believes it was a crankbait that took the trophy. The rivers have received scant attention as more options become available. And they are delivering bigger fish including a 21½” brown trout that inhaled an Elk Hare Caddis from one of the catch and release pools by the Wendell Depot section in the Miller River. The Swift River, which was harried during the winter months when there wasn’t much else doing, has been experiencing little pressure and fine fishing for those looking to downsize to size 20 and 22 midge-patterns. Eyebrows were raised in the shop the other day when a guy came in with a limit of 8” wild brook trout that he caught in a stream close by. The near drought conditions have resulted in bunches of brook trout all balled up in pools. See Rod, he’ll point you in the direction of some likely looking native trout lairs.

Russ Eastman was out and about in South Pond and while the target was big brown trout, the 6-5 largemouth bass that his buddy Duncan Parker caught, was a cool consolation prize. The big bass hit a shiner slowly trolled in about 35 feet of water. Russ had good news for shad sleuths; they are in come nightfall at the Indian Head River in Pembroke.

Eric of Lunkers suggests that you pitch a spinnerbait or soak a shiner at Whitehall Reservoir, they’re getting 4-pound plus bass there. If you’d rather best a broodstock, Hopkinton Reservoir should be more to your liking; a 9-7 just came in for a guy fishing a shiner. No toothy talk from the Sudbury Reservoir or Heard Pond, but a 15-8 carp was taken from nearby Baldwin Pond.

Dave of Merrimack Sport echoed the South Shore report, when he told me that shad have already been caught in the Merrimack River by Rocks Village in West Newbury. The appearance of American shad this early is almost unprecedented. Not to be outdone by all that largemouth love elsewhere, Millville Pond just across the border in New Hampshire has been producing 4-pound bass for those suspending shiners. Nat Moody from First Light Anglers in Rowley told me that mackerel can be found among a number of north shore locations. Some are getting them in Gloucester, Beverly Harbor and off Nahant. No word on the sea run trout returning to the Mill River as of yet, some are waiting for the smelt to leave Plum Island sound and head upstream to spawn dragging with them the predators. One hint when that may occur: smelt often spawn during a new moon!

New Hampshire Fishing Report
Headboats are hauling in plate-sized redfish among the rocky bottom of Jeffrey’s Ledge according to Jamie from Dover Marine.  Some of these fish are pushing 3-pounds and are very sweet eating. These colorful fish will hit jigs, but you’ll fare better with bait. Freshwater fans are finding the rainbow trout and landlocked salmon fishing just fine from Lake Winnipesauke; Jamie was out and about on the big lake lately and trolled up big bows to 4 pounds on shiners. The salmon are closest to river mouths/tributaries where smelt should be shoaling in anticipation of imminent spawning. Strangely most of the rainbow success has been in open water within the 5 – 15 feet of water. On Wednesday, a hatchery vehicle visited Willand Pond and left a truck load of trout there. There’s been a pretty good rainbow trout bite at Bow Lake and Pleasant Lake.

Jason of Suds ‘N Soda told me that Whaleback Humps has been producing some haddock but a lot of redfish. Whaleback is off-limits to the taking of cod until June 30th. The big news is big mackerel – 16” specimens – have been out by the 2KR Buoy, when winds subside enough for folks to sail. A sweetwater best bet is the catch and release section of the Lamprey River. You cannot keep any fish here until the 4th Saturday of April, making now prime time for sportsman.

Southern Maine Fishing Report
Marcel for Dag’s B&T said that an amazing landlocked salmon, all of 8-pounds was just caught from Lake Auburn on a sewn smelt. Thompson Lake has been terrific for togue of up to 7-pounds, which have been belting Mooselock Wobblers and DB Smelt spoons. Some are trolling shiners with great success as well. Ken from Saco Bay Tackle told me that hard core fly fishers are working over the sea run brown trout populations in the Mousam and Ogunquit Rivers. These salters are spooky and it takes a stealthy angler to land one but the bragging rights make it all worth it. Small spoons and spinners will catch them as will flies such as scud and shrimp patterns.

Weekend Fishing Forecast
You have to give it up for Wachusett this week as, hopefully, the lakers, salmon and smallies will be showing much love by the basin off Gate 6 or the beach front of Scar Hill Road. Other options are the peninsula off Gate 19 or behind the West Boylston Fire/Police Station.  Bull Rock is a promising promontory as are The Ledges, Tahonto Point and the Cellar Holes. Take along a pail full of shiners, cast some magic metal and make sure you stop by B&A Bait Shop to see who had amazing moments during opening week.  Big bass are belting spinnerbaits and smashing shiners at the Cohasset Reservoir and Whitman’s Pond. If your boat is at the ready, jig up a few mackerel at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Or if you feel really lucky “sew” up some smelt and see if you can be the next one to troll up an 8-pound salmon from Auburn Lake in Maine.