Irritated parents have been known to forewarn misbehaving kids that Santa would leave little more than ice water under the tree unless they clean up their act. Considering the rate at which water bodies are freezing over, there must be a lot of anglers out there who are far naughtier than nice!
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
“We’ve got ice!”, said Jim from JCB in Cheshire when we spoke Thursday morning. In fact, participation was so high that Jim was making a trip to Granby because he was all out of bait! Cheshire has caught with 3” to 5” throughout most of the reservoir but there is no substitute for caution and common sense!
You should always assume that there is no such thing as “safe” ice but never more so than this early in the season. Don’t go out without a buddy, a set of ice picks over your shoulder and a spud which you should be using to sample ice depth along your route. Many of the higher elevation Hilltown Ponds, such as Plainville Pond, have good ice and anglers are already on them catching trout. Some of the coves of Pontoosuc even have good ice.
Patrick Barone of Early Rise Outfitters has already been out among smaller warm water species spots among the Berkshires. The tally has been terrific so far with perch, pickerel and black bass all cooperating; all the while, while perched over mesmerizing black ice! There’s no need to venture out on larger water bodies, that’ll come soon enough. Meanwhile live by the “great things in little packages” credo.
According to Eddie of B&A in West Boylston, customers have been catching on the ice by the boat ramp at Comet Pond. There’s also been activity at Moosehorn, South Meadow and Peter Carr. Some have been making the trip to the Connecticut Valley Region at Clubhouse Pond, Lake Rohunta and the Spectacle Ponds. An iced over Indian Lake is imminent with Quinsigamond expected soon thereafter.
I was surprised when Donny from Merrimack Sports said that anglers were already looking for pike on the coves of the Merrimack River! Donny recommended Tewksbury Pond near Attitash Lake as a more trustworthy target for warm water species. Border water Big Island Lake has ice fishing traffic and this place is often one of the better bets for crappie.
With one eye on next weeks forecast, Eric from Lunkers is stocking shiners to the hilt. In fact some patrons are already out on East End Pond and even some coves of Ashland Reservoir.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
I’m not sure if ol’ Saint Nick has anything to do with it, but next week’s weather forecast looks like one prolonged Christmas gift! Soon in may be academic but for now stick to out West. Cheshire Reservoir already has anglers out looking for pike while next week at this time odds are there will be further options in the from of Pontoosuc and Onota. Hilltown honey holes such as Plainfield and possibly Windsor and North should be solid and they have trout. While we wait for the east to lock up more consistently, there are central Massachusetts spots that already feature ice fishing such as Moosehorn and South Meadow.