To talk in terms of ice fishing now that it is April almost seems like a belated April fool’s joke, but some hardwater addicts are still at it. But most are biding the near-historical season of 2013/2014 a fond farewell and reconnecting with their casting motions. Timing couldn’t be better for that since brook trout and rainbows are being reloaded throughout Massachusetts from the Southeast District throughout the Northeast.

Pete Belsan is back in this report, which is as sure a sign of April as the spring peepers. Belsan’s B&T in Scituate busted a big move during the offseason as he has a new address at 50 New Driftway in Scituate. Pete’s old shop was a fixture for 17 years and the new-and-improved one is sure to provide tackle, bait and good advice to patrons for many years to come. It almost seemed strange for Pete to be talking in terms of cod fishing, which has been a subject under the radar of most for the longest time, but Gulf Of Maine recreational fishing for cod begins on April 16th. The shop is getting their groundfish wares in line for the much anticipated opening. Meanwhile the talk has turned to trout, many of which are brookies, which have recently been stocked in First Herring Brook, Norris Reservoir as well as the previously stocked Little and Long Ponds in Plymouth. You can’t discount warm-water species such as crappie in Lilly Pond and largemouth bass in Jacob Pond. The latter is custom made for a pram, kayak or canoe, just make sure you are wearing a PFD and are dressed for the elements. For furious toothy action, check out one of the cornucopia of cranberry bogs that dot the South Shore: the pickerel should be on a tear.

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland is giving the thumbs up that Ashland Reservoir has been stocked with rainbows by the fishery folks. Usually when this place gets them, so does Hopkinton Reservoir, and Lake Cochituate should not be far behind. Sometimes stockings wake up holdover residents such as salmon and previously stocked trout; Eric got word of a nice brown that survived the ice-fishing onslaught and was just taken from open water in Ashland. One customer loaded up on shiners, hit Lake Winthrop for largemouth bass and was soon back to the shop for more bait.

Laura from Ippi’s In Lynn has been tying cod terminal tackle as customers anticipate that first cod cruise of the year, which will be soon. Another event worth longing for is the Sluice Pond derby at the end of the month which is also sponsored by the Lynn Fish and Game and features the stocking of tagged trout and a boatload of prizes. Speaking of Sluice, a patron of the shop was floating Berkley Power Eggs the other day hoping for a holdover trout when they wrestled with a 22” bass – all on 2-pound line.

And then there’s the Connecticut River Valley Region of Massachusetts where according to Rod from Flagg’s, ice fishermen are enjoying the briskest sport of the season. The biggest bass that the shop weighed in all season – a 7 ½ pound largemouth – was just caught from Lake Moore. Lake Mattawa has been responsible for rainbow trout and some solid smallmouth bass fishing as well as good yellow perch. Common sense should prevail especially during this time of the year as much of the shoreline is unsafe. Look for sheltered north-facing coves for more solid access.

All bets are off regarding the planned Quabbin Opening Day of April 19th, while the most recent proposed opening day for Wachusett, April 12th, is looking probable as the ashen ice appears to be ready to go.

Tim from Suds ‘N Soda said that the Winnipesaukee focus has shifted to targeting landlocked salmon from bridges, marina piers and docks as space becomes available to float a smelt. It’s too soon for boaters to be out and about since the big lake is mostly ice-capped still. Start your salmon search among Alton Bay, Moultonborough Bay and Meredith. The shorelines in Southern New Hampshire have mostly given up the ghost, but if you don’t mind traveling to the Connecticut Lakes Region there’s plenty of ice there and while panfish are generally not the topic of talk up there, the crappie fishing is really good.

Dag’s Bait kind of sounds like an electrical shop as the talk there turns from traps to conduits. Conduit fishing has to be one of the most bizarre regional pastimes in New England. When shorelines open up yet there is not enough room for casting, Downeast anglers simply adjust. As in adjusting a 100-foot section of electrical conduit from which to present bait under ice. They tote to their favorite fishing holes up to ten 10-foot sections of PVC conduit, tighten them up on site and attach a line, hook and smelt to the tip of the conduit which they lightly loop under a rubber band. Once the contraption is extended as far under the ice as it will go, the line is tugged thereby releasing it from the rubber band and hopefully presenting a smelt right in front of a hungry landlocked salmon. Two top choices for this are Thompson Lake and Lake Auburn. The first is promising because salmon cannot be kept while ice fishing,while the latter is a solid choice since ice fishing is simply not allowed.

Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine

On the South Shore the spring peepers are in full chorus and there are freshly stocked brook trout in the First Herring Brook as well as Norris Reservoir. Another option is stirring largemouth bass among the tailwater of herring runs upstream in the North River, the Indian Head River and most any river which empties into Boston Harbor. That first wave of scout river herring is imminent and it seems as if the bass in these places become aggressive in anticipation! If you still can’t shake the hardwater hangover check out Clubhouse Pond in the Connecticut River Valley Region or farther out west Plainfield Pond or North Pond. The game in the Granite State is all about seeking salmon with a lively smelt among the marinas of Moultonborough Bay, Meredith and Alton Bay.