Massachusetts Fishing Report - January 21, 2016

Thankfully none of my contacts attempted to sing it, but if there were a theme song for this coming weekend it would be Etta James “At Last!” Finally shops across the state are ordering bait, getting foot-traffic through the door and humming on all cylinders because at last – there is ice! And as most everyone knows, first ice fishes best!

Rod from Arlington Bait and Tackle has seen brisk sales of hardwater hardware such as the made-in-Maine Max Traps he is carrying. He’s also ordered the full gamut of bait from grubs to XL shiners. A few hardcore customers have already been out among the coves of Waltham section of the Charles River. Rivers are obviously composed of moving water so make sure you stick to the shoreline until you’re certain it’s safe farther out. Other groups are aspiring to haul out to Heard Pond in Wayland and Rod’s betting that the pond in Oak Grove Cemetery should be sporting good ice also. Those who are targeting trout are taken the trip up north to Baddacook.

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland was anticipating a big order of bait from Tom’s almost as much as his customers were anticipating getting out on the ice for the first time this season. Early lock up favorites from Eric are Little Chauncy and Winthrop Lake. There has even been a report of an angler sampling the ice on Whitehall Reservoir near the boat launch.

Pete from Belsan’s said it’s looking good for hardwater action this weekend for a number of smaller water bodies in the Southeast area. Bets for good action for warm-water species are Jacob Pond, Norwell Reservoir, Greenbush Pond, Oldham Pond and Pembroke Reservoir. Little Pond in Plymouth may be a go and that would be a solid choice for trout. In the past trout have surprised anglers at Greenbush Pond and Scituate Reservoir even though these places are not stocked. The hunch is that the trout meander in from Tack Factory Pond.

While Eddie of B&A in West Boylston is playing hooky, fishing for trout out west, Jarrod is minding the shop for the areas first busy ice fishing weekend. Anglers have just begin heading out for warm water species on South Meadow, Coach Lake and Moosehorn. Wekepeke in Sterling has some activity also and you may catch a brookie there.

After a season of doing without many are simply looking to catch a fish, any old fish. But then there’s the pike guys who prefer quarry which are big enough to intimidate the average angler as they make sustained runs run under foot with gills flared, mouth agape and looking like a northern alligator with fins. Brandon has already seen pictures of 15 pound specimens and they’re out on Pontoosuc, Buel, Onota, Quabog Pond and The Oxbow. Should you fish The Oxbow you’ll short shrift yourself if you just set up your traps and forget about them – the panfishing here (as with most rivers) is often excellent. So don’t forget your jigging accoutrements.

For trout try Goose Pond. For bait it’s hard to top Granby’s, in fact they just got a delivery of big Arkansas shiners as well as suckers. Customers of JCB in Cheshire are showing Jim that the proof is in the pictures as they flash photos of pike up to 14 pounds! Most of the activity has been occurring in the first lake but northerns are nothing if not nomadic and undoubtedly are prowling in the second lake as well as the adjoining Berkshire Pond. Jim has also heard of a rumor of a 17-pound pike taken from Pontoosuc.

Dave from Merrimack Sports sampled the ice on Lake Attitash on Thursday morning and found 8 inches in the coves and 5 inches in the middle. This place has pike and while it’s not known for a lot, if there ever was a time to try it’s during the current conditions of first ice along with an impending front! For trout give Forest Lake, Plug’s Pond and Round Pond a go. And for largemouth bass and panfish, Tewksbury should be your target.

Best Bets for the Weekend

This should be a special weekend on many fronts. Foremost is the confidence from Patriots nation that our team takes care of business and marches toward yet another Super Bowl. And then there’s that little old combination of first ice and a front coming in on Saturday. Those of the frozen fraternity who have worn out countless auger blades know that this alchemy is rare and often explosive, especially for pike. Pike are indeed your best bet this weekend, Spy Pond might be special for those closer to Boston. Out west you have more of a variety with Quabog, Oxbow, Cheshire and Pontoosuc all pike possibilities.