Massachusetts Fishing Report – February 1, 2018

Pictured above: With plenty of ice and hungry jumbo perch, February is getting off to a great start!

While caution is as essential an ice fisherman’s tool as his or her creepers or auger, those who have been out post-thaw have found that the back-end freeze has locked things back up again. In fact, even South Shore members of the frozen fraternity are anticipating pre-Super Bowl catching and for that matter post-Super Bowl celebrating!

South Shore through Metro West and North Shore Fishing Report

Sometimes catching can be almost as painful as a skunking. According to Pete from Belsan’s Bait there was talk of trophy largemouth bass – up to 7 pounds – from Furnace Pond and nice northerns from Nippenicket Lake until the rain/50-degree temperature one-two punch seemed to end that. In all likelihood, a warm spell such as that in March would be lethal, but late January/early February is far kinder to ice-making and anglers are cautiously optimistic that this weekend will be a go once again.

The other option is a trip out west. Locals are buying flats of sea herring from Belsan’s and taking trips out to Cheshire Reservoir and catching insane toothy beasts. Pete should know, his patrons are showing him the pictures of those pike and they are impressive. I do know a guy who fishes dead saltwater bait for pike in Maine and he pre-soaks the stuff in BioEdgle eel potion to make smelt/herring even more appealing.

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland said that local water bodies hardened right back up nicely after the thaw. He put his boots to good use recently and found that groups were catching trout from Ashland Reservoir. A shop regular’s fortunes at Farm Pond were good for largemouth bass up to 5 pounds. Hopkinton Reservoir and Heard Pond had slowed down and the word from Fairhaven Bay has been nil on northerns but considering that the Sudbury River remains a self-sustaining pike factory you can never count this place out. While you are waiting for a toothy to strike, see if you can find one of the piles of crappie which are ubiquitous here.

Dave from Merrimack Sports said that most weekends find the shop out of bait by mid-morning Sunday. Smaller shiners are the rage at Baldpate Pond where anglers are finding rainbows in the shallows with bigger brown trout a bit deeper and more inclined to wallop a larger shiner. Jigs with mousies are working well also. Both yellow and white perch are proving plentiful at Lake Attitash as well as the coves in the Haverhill stretch of the Merrimack River. He suggests you fill up on your bait requirements early, even on pike bait, as the weekend is expected to be wild!

Central Massachusetts to Western Massachusetts Fishing Report

Patrick Barone and clients in his Charter the Berkshires Outfitters business have been having a ball targeting rainbow trout among the Hilltown trout ponds among the Berkshires. The trout are nomadic, looking to chase down minnows and sip emerging nymphs as well as small crayfish throughout flats and irregular bottom. They seem to be getting dexterous at robbing shiners from the hook while worms seem to hook-up better. Tiny jigs/waxworms are a high-percentage combination also. Either way, start your search just below the ice for fish that will pin minnows against the ice surface, but don’t forget the occasional bait just above the bottom for those groveling for small invertebrates. Sometimes the trout will be concentrated or choose a familiar feeding route; after a few fish from a particular area don’t be afraid to saturate that spot. On a recent outing, Patrick put all his traps in a 10’ square and was sure glad he did.

Finally, from Flagg’s in Orange, came a fresh report regarding South Spectacle Pond. In addition to consistent catching of very impressive crappie, this spot harbors a unique ice fishing quarry – hornpout. Hornpout or brown bullheads aren’t likely to make any top-five lists of favorite fish through the ice, but if every place was like South “Speck” it might be different. This place grows them big and when caught from clean water hornpout are a treat on the dinner table. For more ordinary frozen fare, Rod recommends the big perch from Tully Lake. Lake Mattawa has some corker yellows as well, but you’ll need sonar and a penchant for keeping on the move to find them.

Jim from Barry’s in Worcester said that Super Bowl Sunday might be your best chance to have your favorite honey hole all to yourself. Evidentially – and I’ve heard this from other shops – there are Pats fans who put the day in its entirety aside to do nothing but revel in the big game! In fact, some of the proprietors (from a business stand point) are less than thrilled that the Patriots are in it so often because it’s such a business killer! Do you sense opportunity? After all, kick-off does not occur until 6:30. While others are distracted you may want to pursue pike from Quinsigamond, Lake, Sewell Pond, Newton Pond, Flint Pond, Quaboag Pond and Brimhall Pond. While South Pond in E. Brookfield/Sturbridge is held in high esteem for its trophy brown trout reputation, it holds some enormous pike. As proof, that is where the 35-pound state record came from!

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

If all goes as planned, in addition to another parade of the Duck Boats, Furnace Pond in Pembroke will give up another 7-pound hawg largemouth. Locally your best bet for a big pike remains Nippenicket, although some South Shore sharpies are flexing their saltwater muscles, hauling out to Cheshire Reservoir and showing those big pike who’s boss thanks to – sea herring! Ashland Reservoir remains a good choice for Metrowest trout while on the North Shore Baldpate is among the best for rainbows and browns. Out west, South Spectacle Pond is fishing best for crappie while designated Hilltown trout water has been hot with rainbows having a hard time passing on a wiggling dilly.