Members of the frozen fraternity received a pre-Thanksgiving reason to be grateful a few days ago as sheltered water bodies skimmed over. It appears that once the balmy bump of Turkey Day subsides, we are headed back to a big chill. For those that think that heaven should consist of endless hardwater, I’ve listed a few water bodies which may lock up soon.

Saltwater Fishing Report

The lack of any real winters the last two seasons has put the kibosh on smelt fishing as experienced anglers know it. Simply put the lack of snowmelt in the spring has meant dry tributaries where smelt would customarily spawn so recruitment has been poor. Even if you don’t ice fish, if you long to catch something/anything in the salt this time of the year you should hope that Old Man Winter has been hitting the gym and we get a goodly dose of ice. Lisa from Fore River Bait and Tackle in Quincy said that some smelt continue to be picked off among the Hull piers. But I’ve been hearing of more heartbreak than high-fives.

However, you’ll hedge your bets if you employ a glow-head-bead Sabiki rig, pinch the head off the grass shrimp, toss this part in the water (chum at a smelt-sized scale) and thread the body of the shrimp on so that it snugs up tight to the Sabiki head. Find a light source or bring your own and target the lower half of the water column. Even if you actually see smelt swimming near the surface don’t focus on what is probably the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Smelt out of sight are usually more rapacious. Joe who was pinch-hitting for Tomo at Salem’s Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle said that some smelt stalwarts are picking off a few here and there from the piers and docks from Marblehead through Gloucester. Jason from Suds ‘N Soda in Greenland, NH told me that he has a few dedicated patrons who pursue smelt with Swedish pimples and other ice fishing type jigs/spoons from the piers of Rye and Hampton Harbors. While most outings do not result in a killing, these diehards do scrape together a few to make it interesting.

Freshwater Fishing Report

If you’re among the runny nose brigade you’ve doubtless noticed smaller water bodies skimming over. Maybe, just maybe we are going to have a sustained ice fishing season! I consulted friends who own B&Ts, who are diligently stocking the shelves and lining the walls with all the latest and greatest hardwater gear, for a few early season best bets.

Jim from Barry’s in Worcester is ready to begin again carrying bait so big that he refers to it in pounds – in aggregate of course! He recommends keeping an eye on Little Chauncy which has a healthy population of standard ice fishing fare such as panfish, bass and pickerel as well as the occasional surprise that results in a “how did that get here?” from startled anglers. Another early season lock-up/favorite is Hocomonco Pond which also supports warm water species. Should the freeze be more of a farce than open water smallie action at Webster Lake has proved productive. Blade baits as well as tube/jigs fished as slowly as possible over the noggins of marked fish between 18 and 25 feet of water are scoring bronze.

The Wachusett Reservoir swan song is upon us as the season draws to a close on Saturday. Last call from Eddie of B And A Bait and Tackle in West Boylston was that salmon are much more random in the Stillwater than they were and many are spent, yet hungry, after spawning. Parts of the river were frozen and salmon in the 27- to 28-inch category were spotted under a cloak of ice and totally out of reach. There is still some sweet rainbow trout action in the Quinapoxet for those drifting dillies. Finally the real Res’ has awoken as proved by Joe Maple’s 7-11 laker that he caught and released on the Gate 35 section of Wachusett. Scads of smelt were observed washed upon the shoreline of the southern side of the reservoir, which bodes well of the future.

All is not lost for this watershed once December 1st kicks in. Fishing in the Stillwater upstream of the railroad bridge off Waushacum Street and upstream of the Oakdale dam/pumphouse in the Quinapoxet is legal all year long!

Jason from Suds ‘N Soda said that those who’ve got game in the Granite State should keep watch over the Lamprey River in Newmarket as well as the Squamscott River in Stratham which have already shown signs of glazing over. The Lamprey River is a crappie and largemouth bass sleeper waterbody and in the Squamscott you could pick off a few scout smelt.

It’s no exaggeration to state that during the last two seasons Maine has been the hardwater bailout for southern New Englanders longing for ice. According to Dylan of Dag’s in Auburn it looks as if we can once again count on the Pine Tree state. Looking at the foreseeable forecast Dylan is optimistic that some choice ponds next week will have good ice. While for most, January 1st signals the official kick-off to the ice fishing season in Maine, some view December 1st as the “soft open for hardwater”. The reason is that many of the smaller stocked ponds have a D designation in the IFW rulebook which allows bait fishing even in December through the ice. And many of these ponds are teeming with brookies which were stocked in the fall. A couple favorites of Dylan’s are the second and fourth of the four Otter Ponds in the Sebago Lake area. Closer to Dag’s but very fishy are Worthley Pond, Hall Pond and Little Pennesseewassee Pond (Hobbs). Bring worms for the brookies and nerve for some of the brown trout – there was a 13-pounder caught from Hall’s last winter!

Best Bets for the Weekend

Don’t let guilt get the better of you; treat yourself to an extra helping of those Thanksgiving fixings and use the excuse that you need the fuel and added “insulation” because soon you’ll be ice fishing. The best hardwater bets remain in Maine with plenty of brookies swimming around in the Otter Ponds in the Sebago Lake area and the occasional trophy brown trout terrorizing most which swims in Hall and Hobbs Ponds. Wachusett Reservoir looks as if it is going out with a bang as bigger lakers are cruising for smelt closer to the shoreline and you should still be able to pick off a straggler salmon from the Stillwater before they venture back to the reservoir. And while there have been better smelt seasons, a handful have been getting a pail full of the little silver streakers from the piers of Hull. The motivation of a plate full of friend smelt is all the incentive some need to keep at it on a chilly night.