Massachusetts Fishing Report - March 29, 2018

Fresh from the hatchery fleet making their rounds, most anglers have trout on the brain – but not all. Hardcore “hawg” chasers who divide fish into two categories – bass and the rest, know that warming water temperatures mean that pre-spawn largemouth bass are on the move.

A muddy, shallow, west-facing shoreline takes but a few sunny days to attract pre-spawn largemouth bass. The late-morning/afternoon sun is just the tonic to lure Larry and the gang in close among brush, blowdowns and weed stalks. If you find a place where turtles are sunning on nearby rocks, all the better. Sometimes the fish will be in water so shallow that their dorsal fins are exposed. Stealth is everything and creeping up to prospective shorelines is a must. I enlisted the opinion of my friends in the tackle shop business for a few pet early-seasons places as well as tips.

Massachusetts South Shore Fishing Report

Aaron Reservoir according to Pete from Belsan’s in Hingham awakens early around April. Nestled in the Wompatuck State Park this place is a South Shore gem. Favored lures for black bass fans here are crankbaits/swimbaits. Take along a few which do different things such as Yo-Zuri’s Pins Minnow, Rapala’s Rippin’ Rap and Sebile’s Puncher. Jacob’s Pond in Scituate is another choice early season spot since it’s shallow and warms up early. Another Hingham honey hole is Cushing Pond. Of course, when water temperatures are still hovering in the mid to upper-40s, it’s hard to top the meat option – lively crawlers or a shiner! The shop is getting requests for seaworms: flounder anyone?

Massachusetts Greater Boston Fishing Report

Holdover harbor stripers are hungry! Boston’s never-say-quit, dynamic duo – Carl Vinning and Dave Panarello – are trolling and twitching up all kinds of schoolies throughout Greater Boston estuaries/marshes/rivers. By “twitching” I refer to Carl’s well-crafted cadence which involves an almost imperceptible twitch of a jigging spoon or bucktail over marked fish. This slow-and-steady technique would give an ice fisherman pause and it is just as deadly. Most fish are schoolies, but Dave remains haunted by a days-old singing drag which resulted in – a drop and heartbreak!

Seaworms are your best bet and shops are beginning to hatch plans to carry them.

To shortcut your search, check in with Noel Leslie from Bridge Street Sports, he has a stable of diggers who are traipsing through the mud almost daily now. Soon, I expect to have the first report of flounder!

For largemouth bass, check out where the Muddy River/Charles River join up. The Muddy gets a significant warm up traveling beneath Storrow Drive and the fish are drawn to it. While we are on the river track, largemouth bass throughout the Mystic River generally begin feeding about now. Some of the best locations are where tributaries, inlets and rivers meet up with open water. Check out the stretch between the river and the lower lake, where Mill Brook empties into the lower lake as well as where the Aberjona adjoins the upper lake. Don’t be surprised if a crappie doesn’t crash the bass party.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Donny from Merrimack Sports mentioned the Merrimack River as one of the best bets for an early season bass. Most anywhere from Haverhill all the way downstream to Rocks Village, bronzebacks thrive in this river. Occasionally anglers searching for that first shad of the season in the West Newbury stretch happen upon a school of smallies! One can only imagine how much better the catch rate would be if the smallmouth bass were actually targeted!
For a chance at a nice largemouth, Donny suggests Lake Attitash. However, if late March to you means trout, than check out the numerous ponds and lakes among northern mass which are well stocked by now. When asked what is working, Donny said “copper”! Almost anything copper colored, especially Thomas Buoyants and Colorado’s are killer.

Central to Western Massachusetts Fishing Report

Eddie of B&A said that while water levels at Wachusett remain very high, there is hope that the gradual snow melt will result in better access between now and opening day on the April 7th. Currently the south side of the reservoir still has a lot of snow but the rest of the “Rez” is losing it fast. Largemouth bass are not tops on many Chu’ lists, but there are some real corkers which swim there. Unlike smallmouth bass, largemouth do not come in close to shore until well into May at a time when the spotlight on Wachusett has dimmed considerably. It is plausible that your personal best largemouth bass swims there! Spots to consider for that slob largemouth are the Causeway, the Cellar Holes and the cove between the peninsula and the Rook.

If you’re looking for that first good largemouth of the year from the Connecticut Valley Region you are late – regular’s of Rod Flagg’s shop have already been catching! Lake Rohunta has given up a few 3 pound fish as has the Spectacle Ponds. Quabbin Reservoir is another under-appreciated largemouth location according to Rod. Not long after opening day – April 21st – some impressive bass begin gathering in 3’ of water in the stump-field of Moosehorn Cove in the New Salem area of Quabbin by Gates 26/27. A paved road runs close to Quabbin by Gate 41, thereby warming up that section, luring in largemouth bass. The Booyah Flex crankbaits should be an effective offering here.

Most bay state anglers don’t begin losing sleep until at least the month of May, when the stripers return. But Patrick Barone of Charter the Berkshires outfitter is already short on winks. The reason – walleye! Walleye are nocturnal predators and can be found among depressions, rockpiles, blowdowns and other sorts of irregular bottom all along the Connecticut River in the western portion of the state. And some of these fish are big! His tip: if you’re not losing jigs than you’re not fishing where walleyes swim! He’s also finding smallies mixed in with the walleyes.

For pre-spawn largemouth bass, check out setbacks and coves off of the Connecticut River, especially sun-drenched areas in the afternoon. If a Massachusetts walleye is on your list, book a trip with Patrick! Far from just a shot in the dark, as recently as Wednesday night he was catching them in the dark!

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

You’ll find no shortage of ponds, lakes and rivers now loaded with trout. In addition to rainbows, browns and brookies have been added to the mix. There are other more “wild” options however. Pick a sunny afternoon, grab a bucket of shiners or your favorite crankbait and be on the lookout for stirring pre-spawn largemouth. But then there are those who are shunning the sun and beholden to the night shift – for them, the reward is Connecticut River walleyes!