The frozen puddles and frigid forecast are getting more than just ice fishermen pumped! Tog are still pounding crabs on the South Coast while all that rain has brought an unexpected visitor to the Swift River.
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Anglers with aspirations for a landlocked salmon are viewing the recurring rains as either a friend or a foe depending on where they are fishing. Eddie of B&A in West Boylston said that many have had it with the historically high water of the Stillwater River and have simply given up on trying to locate a landlocked in the middle of that raging maelstrom of water. Patrick Barone of Charter The Berkshires Outfitters however, views the storms as a blessing since they are flushing salmon from the Quabbin into the Swift River. This phenomenon is all the more special since it doesn’t happen every year! The best fishing is in the Fly Fishing Only section. Patrick recommends treating the salmon as if they were a rainbow by offering them an egg pattern. Sometimes playing to their territorial side works well and for that you should try a gaudy streamer that may dupe the salmon into whacking what they view as a trespasser.
Meanwhile back at Wachusett, the rain-swollen reservoir is presenting challenges to anglers as shoreline access has been reduced. Some are beginning to look like their counterparts hunting in the woods as they are having to cast while standing among trees. According to Eddie of B&A, for many the effort is worth it especially on the southern side of Wachusett where the lakers are cooperating. Smallies are still being found in close, especially off the Gate 35 side. Mark Mahoney caught and released a 4-15 bronzeback on a shiner. When asked about the Quinapoxett, Eddie said that a customer claimed that the water was so high that salmon were attempting to swim up the archaic fish ladder to surmount the dam and gain access to upstream reaches of the river. This is another one of those things that doesn’t happen every year!
Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Report
Striper reports have completely dried up, save one from Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing who did see some surface activity at the mouth of the Mystic River the other day. This was most likely the handiwork of holdovers preying on hapless herring fry which were flushed out from upstream nurseries after all the rain. Visual clues as well as temperatures are all pointing to the inevitable, it’s time to say goodbye to migratory striped bass until next May!
The good news for those who want to still stay active in the salt is that interest in South Coast tautog is still high. Thursday morning, in spite of the big chill and a weekday, the Westport River boat ramp had plenty of traffic and prime rock piles in Buzzards Bay had plenty of boats. Captain Colby and the crew of Little Sister Charters found a steady pick of tog with the only caveat being that the ratio of keepers to shorts could have been better.
Pete of Belsan’s in Scituate said that some of his customers were finding tog at Woods Hole as well as Westport.
Lisa from Fore River in Quincy said that the most consistent catching is for mackerel off Nut Island. Second to the macks is smelt off the Winthrop Public Pier, Hingham Harbor and Hewitt’s Cove. Lisa also said there is word of Marina Bay smelt as well. Certainly no-one is talking in terms of limits but if you yearn for something to do than give this a shot.
On the North Shore mackerel also are a best bet according to Tomo of Tomo’s Tackle in Salem. Reports are encouraging from Salem Willows but even better from kayak anglers working the channel edges between Salem and Beverly. While I have no confirmation this week, odds are you’ll be able to have similar success in Gloucester Harbor.
Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts
Your best bet for a blackfish is to search out rockpiles in 30 to 45 feet of water on the Westport side of Buzzards Bay. Farther north Nut Island has mackerel as does Salem, Beverly and Gloucester. Smelt are less of a slam dunk but you might be able to put a few in a pail off the piers of Hull, Hingham and maybe Winthrop.