Pictured above: Buzzards Bay blackfish will have less to fear soon as Captain Colby plans on pulling the Little Sister this Sunday!
At the risk of putting the proverbial cart before the horse, hardwater junkies are already thankful for what they expect to be an early ice fishing season as Berkshire water bodies are already sporting skim ice! For others, frozen thoughts will have to wait thanks to cooperative salmon and trout.
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Patrick Barone of Charter the Berkshires has been spending a lot of time lately taking the “blue line” and it has nothing to do with the subway in town either. He has been scouring maps throughout the Berkshires and the Quabbin area for telltale “blue lines” indicating streams and brooks and just maybe a hidden honey hole of brook trout or salmon. Chances are if you find either species it won’t take much to get their attention since both are feeding aggressively. If you have plans on seeking out a few Swift River salmon, it might be wise to do a little map reconnaissance first since popular spots have been crowded. Mike Didonna of the Deerfield Fly Shop had this tidbit to pass along to would be fly fishermen about river conditions for those looking to head out west, “The Fife Brook dam has been dropping down to 130cfs and there have been normal releases of 800-1000 cfs. Check the water release schedule before you head out.
The Swift river is almost 300cfs due to the overflow of water from the Quabbin. Fishing has been good there. The dry fly action has remained active.
The Westfield is approaching a fishable level and it isn’t too late to fish this river. The Millers is still way high and may not come down for a while.
The shop has launched a new online store and they are offering 10% off your purchase! Thanksgiving week is traditionally a big week for Wachusett Reservoir fishing so I wasn’t that shocked when I couldn’t get Eddie of B&A to pick up the phone.
If you do decide to head out on Turkey Day or the day after the big chill should give you plenty of casting room! By now most of the salmon have vacated the Stillwater and Quinnie and should be hungry. It should be a case of find the forage, find the fish. Keep on the move, cast Krocodiles and Kastmasters as you go and keep one eye out for the principle prey there—smelt and yellow perch fry. Should you spy shoals of either, chances are you’ll hit paydirt. When I asked Donnie of Merrimack Sports if he was carrying pike bait in anticipation of an early ice fishing season, he surprised me by telling me he had them in stock but was already sold out! He did say that a few hearty souls were already tackling toothies throughout the Merrimack, Shawsheen and Concord Rivers! Some have also been catching smallies in the Merrimack as well and you never know when a wayward walleye will show up.
Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Report
Just when you may think you’re hardcore, you spot a picture of some who take their passion to the next level! During conditions which dissuaded most from even stepping outside, Dan Casey and mates Dan Masters and Nick pounced on a brief bluefin window and fed a mackerel to 88 inches of sushi on Stellwagen Bank last week. The crew deployed two 130s and an 80 and naturally Charlie ate the lighter combo which led to 4 hours of war waged while trying to avoid slipping on a deck which had the consistency of an ice-skating rink! For more frozen saltwater fun Captain Jason Colby is ringing the last call bell this week as he plans on pulling the Little Sister this Sunday. He’s going out with a bang however as his latest find was a nice little pile of white chins just south west of the Westport side of Buzzards Bay. He and crew limited out on fish up to 8 pounds! The only other briny options are mackerel which are still hanging in there off Nut Island Pier (and perhaps Castle Island Pier) as well as Salem Willows, Salem Harbor and Gloucester Harbor. While a specter of what they once were, this time of the year would be lacking if there wasn’t some smelt scuttlebutt. Lisa from Fore River said that some are catching them off the usual spots such as the Hull Public Pier, Hewitts Cove, Marina Bay and the Summer Street Bridge.
Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts
Happy Thanksgiving forecast readers! If you’re looking to work off one too many helpings of the bird and fixins consider coaxing a salmon from the Swift River! Take the “blue line” for less pressured waters and you’ll catch a nice slice of tranquility if nothing else. Merrimack River pike are stirring now as water temperatures drop with the site of the old Haverhill power plant one of the better spots. For a salty fix tog remain a crab’s worse enemy among rockpiles of Buzzards Bay and for something a little closer to the city, try for mackerel off Nut Island Pier!
Any reports of haddock up on stellwagen