Whoever the Murphy was who came up with the “rule” that bears his name, he has nothing on diehard anglers who are tormented by mild mid-week weather only to have it sour just in time for the weekend. However, it is December – the meteorological winter – and when it gets cold, it’s time for cold-water species. In these parts, that means trout!
Massachusetts South Shore Fishing Forecast
A cold-water species that was a staple this time of the year not all that long ago – the sacred cod – is cooperating in just 50 feet of water, according to Pete from Belsan Bait in Scituate. With the one fish per angler limit (19″ minimum) the goal is more fun than feast, but on a pleasant day you and a few buds can cruise on out there and have a reasonable chance to bag a brown bomber or two. For a chance at another historic cold weather favorite, rainbow smelt, you’ll have to travel north a bit to Nut Island where reports are solid. Of course, something can be said for sweetwater this time of the year, made all the sweeter when there’s a trout dancing at the end of your line. Shop assistant Connor Doherty caught a beautiful 20-inch brown the other day on a shiner. A few kids have been kicking around the Winter Street cranberry bogs and getting a lot of action with panfish, pickerel and the occasional bass on shiners. For a chance at a better bass, the perennial favorite Lilly Pond in Cohasset ranks high and for an unheralded sleeper consider Magoon Pond in Marshfield.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Maria from Fore River Bait and Tackle told me that she and Lisa are hoping to stay open during the week as well as the weekend throughout the winter for open and hardwater addicts. And there’s reasons to be optimistic about hardwater prospects as patrons have been heading to Plymouth, where they are scoring a variety of salmonids from Little and Long Pond. If you’re looking for something a little closer to the city, check out Jamaica Pond. This urban gem is heavily stocked and holds over brown trout! Historically, December has been the best month to catch those wily brownies. An unexpected windfall of the now-defunct broodstock salmon stocking program may be better trout holdover potential, not just here but in other water bodies as well. Anglers who used to catch trophy trout out of JP theorized that the broodstock salmon – being big voracious predators – depleted available forage. Now that the salmon are long gone, those 8- and even 9-pound browns – pictures of which used to hang in the boathouse – just may be back! Greater Boston remains your best smelt bet, in fact shop owners from elsewhere are steering patrons to Nut Island as well as piers in Hull and Hingham.
Central Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts
The book is closed now on the Wachusett Reservoir season until the first Saturday in April. The good news is that there were a lot of lakers in close during the last week and many were full of smelt. While the forktails could have been bigger, the presence of so much forage bodes well for their growth rate. If you’re having a hard time letting go, Eddie of B&A suggests you suspend a shiner or crank in a “Kroc” spoon at the Stillwater Basin. The other option is to poke around pools for trout upstream in the Quinapoxet River. Big chunks of both ‘Chu tributaries remain open all year long, and if you’re adventurous, you even can locate wild brook trout! For warm-water species, check out the largemouth bass fishing in South Meadow Pond or search out the smallies in picturesque East Waushacum. The wait is on for the runny nose brigade out in the western part of the state according to Jim from JCB in Cheshire. The scuttlebutt is limited to frosty mornings and skim ice, but it shouldn’t be long until the “Hilltown” ponds begin to freeze! Meanwhile take advantage of the trout fishing these aesthetically pleasing places offer such as Planiville Pond, Dukes Pond and North Pond. If you’re looking for a toothy fix or maybe an oversized largemouth bass, Jim suggests the middle basin of Cheshire Reservoir. The weeds here attract perch which in turn attracts the predators.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
Dave from Merrimack Sports said that the few who are still poking around for pike are catching plenty throughout the Merrimack River. In fact, recently a monster upper-40-inch toothy took down a soft-plastic mouse by the Route 110 section in Methuen! Some are even picking up schoolie stripers on both sides of the Lawrence Dam. For a shot at a close cousin of the striper, the Exeter River off Great Bay has been a winner for white perch with anglers even using Power Bait to catch these slabs. Bait alternatives for white perch run the gamut from crawlers to grass shrimp. For a shot at a 3- or even 4-pound smallie, Dave suggests you rip a Rooster Tail Spinner along the Merrimack River in the Bradford section. Apparently, there’s been a spike in impressive smallies there. The rainbows recently stocked in Plugs Pond are good-sized and by-and-large they have been ignored.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
If you prefer your December’s salty, cherry pick a day and set sail for 50-foot depths off Green Harbor where cod are cooperating. Smelt fishing remains steady at Hull, Hingham, Nut Island and Winthrop. No need to weep at Wachusett as long as the Waushacum Road section of the Stillwater Basin is free of ice and holds lake trout. You don’t hear every day talk of a 47-inch fish in December, but then again there’s nothing ordinary about some of the northerns that prowl the Methuen section of the Merrimack River!
FYI – I love your articles and information for the us avid anglers, however, my only critique is if you could give us better or specific details of locations ( popular landmarks), for an example, Merrimack River is a big river and saying to go to the Bradford section doesn’t help a lot of us unless you know the area very well. Thanks!
Christian. You just have to put the time in at these places. Plus, today’s fishing reports are yesterday’s fishing. Good luck
Any known access points to the Merrimack in Metheun near where these fish are being pulled in?
There is a new boat ramp in methuen i use it all the time i usually fish from the 495 bridge and up stream the shoreline on the west side is best a lot more cover and structure. Good luck
Would you give up your hot spots?
I would be reluctant to give up my hotspots, but if we’re just catching and releasing what’s the harm in sharing. I’m going put it back in order to give someone else the chance of catching the fish of a lifetime – pay it forward so to speak. Anyway tight lines and screaming reels everyone.
Cudos to the reports on the Chu the week prior to closing, I caught my first two lakers – cross that off my list! 🙂