Wachusett and Quabbin Open This Weekend
Flounder and Stripers Start Biting

With Red Sox opening day in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to anticipate some angling opening days. Two high profile ones are taking place this weekend with the Wachusett and Quabbin Reservoirs opening on Saturday. And while unofficial, it’s feeling like saltwater opening day to many as they are reacquainting themselves with the tide, salt spray and occasionally a flounder or striper!

Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

There have been some fishermen who simply could not wait for Wachusett Reservoir to open and have been spending productive time catching lakers, rainbows and even pickerel in the Stillwater Basin tributary. In fact, for those looking to steer clear of the crowds and not looking for an epochal walk, this location just off Waushacum Street could be a sleeper since almost everyone will be traipsing the shoreline of the ‘Chu.

However, the crowds shouldn’t be too bad for anyone who would be interested in exploring the Reservoir’s nearly 37 miles – Eddie of B&A in West Boylston told me that the shoreline around most of the reservoir is navigable. It’ll be very interesting to see if the smelt surge continues this season and if we’ll be seeing 4-pound and maybe 5-pound landlocked salmon. If you’re packing Kastmasters, Trophy Spoons and Krocodiles, work all stages of the water column for landlocked salmon; generally the lakers will be found closer to the bottom but should they ball-up a shoal of smelt, all bets will be off.

For Quabbin anglers who have aspirations for renting one of the DCR boats from Gates 8, 31, and 43, Rod from Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange recommends arriving plenty early to have a chance this Saturday. Two offerings are most productive during the early stages of the season: shiners and streamers. Rod recommends that anglers hug the shoreline and troll their wares on the surface as slow as their motor will allow for salmon. When asked how shallow to go, he replied, “So that you can easily see bottom.” Long leaders of 6-pound-test fluorocarbon are a must. My friend Bobby May, who has been one of the top salmon fishermen in the Q for over 40 years, prefers leaders of 30 feet. If you go the streamer route, make sure you swab it with BioEdge Smelt Wand, which has become standard issue among salmon fanatics here.

 

Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Report

It was great to reacquaint with Pete from Belsan’s in Scituate, who is now keeping full hours in the shop. With news of river herring appearing, he feels that the arrival of American shad to North River and Indian Head River is imminent. The shop should be stocking seaworms soon for anglers looking to find a few flounder or even cod. Your best bet for blackbacks from shore is between Mann Hill Beach and Egypt Beach.

Stripers are stirring folks! I’m not suggesting that these fish are migrants, because they most certainly aren’t, but increased stimuli like bait movements, increased water temperatures and improved sun angle combined with more fishermen fishing for them is resulting in more reports. Anglers have been observed cranking in linesider-friendly lures among the Neponset River, Black Creek and the Pines River. A regular of Fore River B&T swears he saw schoolies causing a commotion off Wollaston Beach. Could that just have been an overactive imagination combined with a worm spawn, or have holdover harbor bass become active off this beach?

Boston Harbor’s dynamic duo of Dave Panarello and Carl Vinning are past 100 holdover stripers to date, and their catches keep getting bigger with the keeper-ceiling giving way to fish of 31 inches! Look for even bigger fish to become motivated once that first wave of alewives course the rivers. There have also been reports of schoolies in the Saugus River from two different sources. Holdovers in the Saugus are never big fish, but in mid-April who could complain.

That mythical mid-April flounder can be a tough catch. With water temperatures stuck around 40 degrees, they have a short feeding window. Tuesday morning that window was clamped tighter than a drum as I caught a beautiful morning, views of loons, merlins, mergansers and ospreys, but no flounder. I struck out on an incoming tide, but the next time I’ll be toting a chum sack and fishing the ebb. According to Laura from Ippi’s in Lynn, some have been doing better from Gas Wharf Park and the nearby boat launch. I scouted some shoreline paralleling the Lynnway and while time has not been kind to the one-time sturdy Lynn Harbor wharves where as kid we bailed buckets of blackbacks, there are pockets where an angler can still launch a good cast and then secure a rod spike.

Laura did tell me of the Sluice Pond sweetwater option thanks to a recent stocking of trout and broodstock salmon. Word is that there are even tiger trout now lurking in this deep urban kettle pond. And there is an additional trout stocking planned in anticipation of a derby to be held there April 27^th.

The Massachusetts Striped Bass Association will be hosting a spring fishing event this Sunday in Braintree. There will be great deals on tackle and of course, On The Water will be there.

 

New Hampshire and Southern Maine Fishing Report

Tim from Suds ‘N Soda has been devoting a good portion of his time to chasing white perch in the tributaries of Great Bay. The method is a spinner/worm combo that is either cast from shore or drifted along by pram or kayak. There are indications that there are fish on the move in the Squamscott and maybe the Oyster Rivers, although so far Tim’s luck hasn’t been good. What has been good is the haddock bite off Eastman’s Headboat out of Seabrook. Hatchery trucks have been on the move, meaning that it is time to target trout from rivers such as the Exeter and Oyster. Designated trout ponds and lakes do not open until April 27^th.

Ken from Saco Bay Tackle Company told me of a wild brookie explosion that is happening among many of the streams in brooks in southern Maine. Spots like Deep Brook, Nonesuch River and tributaries as well as Ossipee Brook have been hot for these colorful, feisty natives. Unadorned Mepps spinners, all manner of flies and garden hackle have been effective. Ken suspects the sea run brown trout fisheries in the Mousam and Ogunquit Rivers should be on as well. Small gold spoons and flies tied to look like crustaceans often dupe these wily unique salmonids.

 

Fishing Forecast

The Bay State’s blue ribbon Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs open for business Saturday the 13^th. To avoid the crowds, you may want to sleep in and venture out in the afternoon in the ‘Chu, just after the early risers are staggering back to their cars. With the Q, you had better line up the night before if you intend on reserving one of the hotly contested rentals, or even if you have your own Quabbin-ready boat and would like to launch early. Stick with shiners and streamers and shadow the shoreline for a salmon; stick more toward the middle for lake trout. Holdover stripers are becoming more active among the Greater Boston rivers with a dropping tide fishing best. A dropping tide while employing lively seaworms may also bag you a flounder from a Scituate Beach, Castle Island or Lynn Harbor. Up north, white perch are on the move in Great Bay tributaries and for a heck of a good time, haul in a few haddock from Eastman’s head-boat.