Massachusetts Fishing Report - March 22, 2018

Finally, after sustaining repeated blows from March’s lion, we caught a break! With the latest Nor’easter proving more to be more wimp than a witch, redemption is at hand in the form of freshly stocked trout throughout the bay state. You also need not fear the prolonged weather forecast – it’s looking sweet!

Massachusetts Fishing Report

We might as well get the bad news out of the way – Wachusett Reservoir is looking like it’s going to be a cruel combination of fishing/bushwhacking on opening day, sorry!

Eddie of B&A in West Boylston said that water levels are high and with a lot of local snow, you can expect snow/ice melt to further reduce access to shore spots. Unless something unexpected happens within the next two weeks, you can prepare for opening day at the Chu’ to be similar to last year – challenging!

I did get some good news from the Wachusett neighborhood, Caleb Slater who heads the Anadromous Fish Project for the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife did say that it is expected that the eventual removal of the Quinapoxet Dam will free up three times the spawning habitat which currently exists in the Stillwater River for landlocked salmon! Of course, the million dollar question is when is this going to occur, stay tuned! Caleb also clued me in on the ongoing process the division is going through to thoroughly revamp their online maps/charts regarding Commonwealth water bodies. Currently, they have 80 drastically new-and-improved pond/lake charts and fishery assessments on their website: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-pond-maps-list-view and they’ve just gotten started. Far from just a warm-over, the staff is mapping out these places with a chart plotter on site. This should be quite the tool to assist in really learning the nuances of a pond or lake.

Access will not be an issue regarding Quabbin Reservoir. Due to extraordinarily low water levels, opening day should go off without a hitch on April 21st, which is the third Saturday of April and is usually opening day. Occasionally when ice is out as early as it was this year, shore access is allowed a few days prior. Check on the DCR website beginning in early April for information which is not yet posted.

From a number of sources the rainbow trout recently stocked are healthy, colorful fish and it looks as if all the districts now have them. If there was an upside to the nasty weather it is that the trout were slipped into water bodies almost stealthily. Due to access issues and in some cases post-stocking skim ice, those “snow bows” have hardly been touched!

If you’re looking for bigger game, you may want to consider what customers of Merrimac Sports are doing – catching big open water pike! Some are finding that a big baitfish swimming under a float in the Merrimack River won’t last long from the Route 113 stretch in Haverhill to just upstream of the Lawrence Dam. With herring and shad numbers steadily on the incline, this toothy fishery is only going to improve!

Regarding shad, I heard a glowing report of a presentation given by Eric Roach, who is the river’s shad steward if there ever was one, given at this week’s Plum Island Surfcaster’s meeting. The point was to promote the fishery and the annual cleanup that occurs by Rocks Village in West Newbury each year in April. In case you’re interested this year the event takes place on April 21st. Apparently, the fish gods view those who participate in this event favorably because post-work, there are usually a few shad caught. And those shad are doing very well, with Eric reporting that he tallied 750 shad last year!

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

We dodged the proverbial bullet – finally – thanks to a Nor’easter which was far kinder than the previous three. Your just desert – snow bows – await you throughout the Bay State! Another option is the annual Kittery Trading Post’s Fish ‘n Hunt event which takes place this weekend. Some are lamenting the demise of a certain toy store giant which is making the news, but for many of us “kids” who’d rather be outdoors than play with toys – KTP was always the real toy store!