Trout have transitioned from an afterthought to the main quarry for those who are trying to cope with striper withdrawal. Not all kicks are salt-free however, as there’s at least another month of top tog fishing and after that, there’s even opportunity to slay a giant.
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Salmon is the word around the Wachusett Reservoir watershed according to Eddie of B&A Bait in West Boylston. And those silver leapers are making their presence felt throughout the tributaries as well as the reservoir. While the wild strain of adult landlocked salmon are preoccupied with making other salmon in the Stillwater River, the “stocked” salmon do not mix with the natives and instead spend their days roaming the Chu’. Those stocked salmon were excess brood from landlocks intended for Quabbin and this is expected to be a one-time effort. The perk for those who stick to the reservoir is that the stocked salmon provide the occasional surprise to those fishing for lake trout. Stocked salmon to 2 1/2 pounds have been hitting ½-ounce gold Kastmasters by Gate 6, while the larger wild salmon are spread out between the “S Turns” in the Stillwater through the field upstream of Crowley Road. Lakers are active throughout the reservoir and have even been found in the Stillwater Basin. Smallies are still close to shore with specimens up to 4 pounds falling for yellow perch by Gate 36.
Ironically, on Wednesday night I received an email from my friend Mike Dumais who during a 15-minute window scored 5 lakers to 3 pounds just a short hop from where he parked his truck!
While Patrick Barone of Charter the Berkshires outfitters chases everything from false albacore to pike depending on the season and patron preference, he told me that right now he’s singularly focused on, “trout, trout and more trout”! While conditions aren’t suitable for rainbow trout to pull off a spawn in most Bay State waters, they still often go through the motions. Right now in the Deerfield River those trout are territorial and aggressive as they “protect” false redds. Patrick is doing particularly well presenting those trout a San Juan Worm fly pattern.
For a closer look at the Deerfield River you could do worse than Mike Didonna’s Deerfield Fly Shop in South Deerfield. According to Mike the fishing has really heated up this week. The “stockers” have had their fun but now the “residents” have gotten hungry. Woolly Buggers and mop flies have been the top producers. There are a few risers as well. The river has been dropping to reasonable wading levels. The Westfield can now be waded and it’s expected that the Miller will soon be there too! Mike offers float trips and wade trips and they still have a few vacancies this month.
Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing is usually hit or miss, and Captain Jason Colby is finding that is especially so while chasing tog outside Westport. When found, the tog are hitting tenaciously, and the crew can limit out (5 fish, 16 inches or greater) within minutes. But they are schooled up tightly, and on the move, so it takes some probing to find the motherlode of fish. Should you jump aboard the Little Sister, suggest the skipper tutor you on jigging. Odds are, once you get the hang of the Tidal Tails Jig’z technique you’ll never go back!
In November cod start becoming a factor and South of Cape Cod, you can actually keep cod! If you’re one of those “different” folks who prefer the holidays with liberal doses of chasing tuna, then you’re in luck since the Feds are reopening the “General Category” for large-medium and giant bluefin tuna as of December 1. And to think, that’s only one month away! The few who are out there during December month often regale about how many tuna are still out there.
Pete from Belsan’s Bait in Scituate said that schoolies are still putting on a show off Peggotty Beach, Egypt Beach and Cedar Point. Lest you think that all the fish are schoolies during the day, consider the graveyard shift Glades gang, who have practically begged Pete for more eels but sadly the distributor is done for the year. Lisa from Fore River said that there have been periodic Nantasket and Wollaston Beach blow ups as schoolies put on a show! Hingham Harbor remains a best bet for smelt with Captains Cove and the pier behind the Quincy Southern Artery CVS as historically productive smelt spots. Prior to the Nor’easter, Deer Island had been productive for stripers up to 30 inches with the fish falling for plugs and jigs/soft plastics.
Liam from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem said that there are still schoolies around in spite of so few fishing for them. Fish have been found in the Danvers River and off Dead Horse Beach. There has even been some luck for smelt fishermen off the Beverly Pier. Consider the Congress Street Bridge as well. In the past Tomo has told me of customers catching there. Skip from Three Lantern Marine mentioned the imminent re-opening of the season for tuna as the big local news. Anecdotal evidence from anglers who catch and release Charlie during the offseason indicate that there are still tuna out there from Thatcher Island out to southern Jeffrey’s Ledge. What is also still present is mackerel both in Gloucester Harbor and just outside of the harbor.
Martha from Surfland reported that now that the mercury has dipped below 50 degrees angling effort has plummeted as usually the case. However, eels at night were still accounting for stripers up to 20 pounds off the refugee. That’s the good news but the bad news is as of November 1st night fishing is no longer allowed on the refugee! So you’ll have to sling those serpents once the sun is up. Remember that it is November after all, which makes those who are still at it a special breed indeed!
Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts
For many, dreams of stripers swimming in their heads have been supplanted by images of trout! Lakers are in tight to the shore of Wachusett with smallies and salmon making it possible to achieve an enviable hat trick! Farther out west, Deerfield River rainbows are full of attitude now that they are protective of river redds. Gaudy fly patterns which look like a would-be egg stealer to the trout are working best. Saltwater pursuits currently consist of tautog among the South Coast and schoolies in increasingly smaller numbers farther north. For those who don’t mind waiting another month, there’s a potentially interesting Yuletide gift as of December 1, namely the re-opening of the tuna season!