Every ice fisherman has been in this situation: The meteorologist drops a frozen bomb on the general public and in the midst of the groans you let out a yelp of approval – and you get “the look.” It gives you a bit of a window as to how Yankee fans must feel in these parts. But while the boys of summer must wait until April, for hardwater homers it’s time to play ball!

However, first some bad news for those hoping to play tug with a broodstock salmon this season. You may not be aware but fishery regulators have totally gotten out of the Atlantic salmon restoration efforts in the Bay State after years of little return for the efforts and billions of dollars expended on the program. The last federal hatchery, which is in Nashua, will be spawning out the last of the stock this year and will then retool to rear something else. So there could be about 250 broodstock salmon targeted to be stocked throughout the Masswildlife regions. The caveat is that these salmon have not spawned as of yet and if they don’t naturally soon, they will be injected with hormones, which complicates whether the fish are than suitable for public use. This is still in the offing, and I’ll pass the news along when I hear it. The good news is that some of the remaining hatcheries will be used for rearing broodstock brook trout and landlocked salmon. The immediate benefactors for the brook trout plans will be other hatcheries, which will get the brookie eggs, and there may be a program where the broodstock brook trout are stocked. And those fish will be huge! The increased capability to breed landlocked salmon will ONLY be used to stock Quabbin Reservoir, not other ponds or lakes, which was surmised by some.

Some potentially good news is that plans are being hatched between Masswildlife and the MWRA to remove the Oakdale Dam, which would allow unmitigated access for all salmonids that live in Wachusett Reservoir. This would increase spawning habitat for landlocked salmon substantially and increase the fishing potential of the scenic Quinapoxet to the nth degree! As special as the Stillwater River is, it is but a muddy marsh compared to the Quinnie, which perfectly fits the mold of a classic trout stream!

Massachusetts Fishing Report

While the eastern portion of the Bay State freezes over, out west they are already basking in solid black ice! Jim from Barry’s suggests you give Ripple Lake in Grafton a shot, which while being a good warm-water fishery occasionally delivers a trout surprise as some migrate into it from an adjoining tributary that is stocked. Flint Pond should be hardening up as well as Jordan Pond and just maybe Little Chauncy. Barry’s is loaded for bear or at least everything from kivvers to pike as his tanks are lapping with everything from pinheads to 12-inch-long suckers!

Eddie of B&A in West Boylston feels that safe ice should be available by this weekend. A few early lock-ups that deliver good action are Mossy Pond in Clinton, which is stocked with trout in the spring, as well as South Meadow, which is a special place for warm water species and has some particularly big bullheads.

According to Rod from Flagg’s, “why wait?” Guys already have their augers slicing through ice at Clubhouse Pond. Rod suspects Lake Rohunta, Tully Lake, Laurel Lake and Moore Pond should all be fine for those this weekend who don’t mind a little bit of snow.

New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report

Great Bay is freezing up as you read this folks! After a total dud last season, this place may be looking like Shanty Town again soon and the target will be smelt! Clam Pro Team member Tim from Suds ‘N Soda broke in some new gear and broke through nice solid, safe ice at Carleton Lake on Thursday. He told me that the new Dave Genz Legend rods are really sweet as he got to test it out on his first fish of the season, a brown trout. What duped the wily brownie was a Clam epoxy drop jig with a maki dragi soft plastic. Tim is spooling up with P-Line Ice in 2- and 4-pound denominations. His gut tells him that higher elevation water bodies such as what you’ll find north of Tilton, should be good to go by this weekend. A personal favorite of Tim’s is Waukewan Lake, which is hot for warm water species.

Scuttlebutt among the smelt camps of the Kennebec River and Merrymeeting Bay is if the weather forecast holds true then the shacks could be out as early as next week! However, if it takes you something substantially larger to get you out on the ice, then how does 44 inches and 22 pounds, 12-ounces of pike sound? That’s what Mike Dumais recently dragged onto the ice of the Androscoggin River and according to Dylan of Dag’s in Auburn, and another angler caught its virtual twin there! He’s wondering when someone is going to catch a “real” northern, something in the 28-pound category! Best bait bet – as big a golden shiner as you can find! The shimmer of a goldie attracts those toothies from afar. For more traditional Downeast fare Dylan suggests Hall Pond by the Hebron Academy. This is a brookie and brown spot which you can fish for in December! A versatile artificial that both will hit is the florescent orange Swedish Pimple.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Experienced ice fishermen are not dreading the snow forecasted because the cold temperatures should make it light, fluffy stuff that should eventually make white ice. For those itching to ice a few fish in Massachusetts, give Clubhouse Pond or Cheshire Reservoir a shot. Closer to the coast, fingers are crossed that Mossy and South Meadow will be sporting solid hardwater by the weekend. While many are keeping a watchful eye on Great Bay, smelt stalwarts are already predicting that the smelt camps of Southern Maine will be flying their “open” flags by next weekend. In New Hampshire, check out Waukewan Lake which yields good numbers of white perch and has great smallie action. And for a mixed bag of salmonoids in Maine, try jigging a Swedish Pimple in Hall Pond.