This could be a case of Mother Nature giveth and then she taketh away – ice that is! While the nine inches of ice reported out west should survive, the expected deluge should clean off most places of any semblance of ice back east. But not all are bemoaning the “one last shot” at open water trout!
Fishing Report for Massachusetts
Customers of Belsan’s in Scituate seem to be living by the adage, “no ice, no problem!”. According to Pete, anglers continue to yearn for Yuletide trout from Little Pond, Long Pond and many are taking the trip across the bridge to fish for browns in the Cape at such spots as Peter’s Pond. Most are keeping it simple by floating Power Bait off the bottom or going the other bait route with worms and small shiners. A few are shrugging off the dusk to dawn chill and slowly waking stick baits for holdover browns at night.
The good news regarding ice fishing is that if you didn’t get a chance to fish the first round of black ice, you might get another shot at it after the rain and balmy temperatures this weekend melt all the ice from ponds near the coast. West and Northwest of Worcester however some of the water bodies had nine inches of black ice which will survive the storm/thaw. Shorelines obviously will become eroded and this will have to be safeguarded against once the cold weather returns. Until those shorelines lock up again, Captain Patrick Barone of Charter The Berkshires Outfitters will be targeting smallmouth bass, walleye and maybe even holdover stripers throughout the Connecticut River near his home base of South Hadley. While the two latter species are notorious night biters, when the current cooks after a storm, those fish will often be active during the day. Look for backwater areas, current seams or any sort of structure which deflects the current.
When winter returns, play it safe when you get back out on the ice. Patrick suggests you consider toting along a 500’ length of rope, especially if you are flying solo. Secured to a tree and your person, with a little creativity you should still be able to fish most spots especially since at this time of the year since most gamesters are not far from shorelines. There’s good reason to be prepared for the eventual return to that hardwater says Jim from JCB in Cheshire. Pike are on parade at Cheshire Reservoir with some fish coming close to double-digits! In anticipation of that first gator northern coming from Cheshire, Pontoosuc, Buel or Onota, the shop will be carrying suckers beginning this weekend. Some shop customers have been hitting nondescript ponds in the Berkshires and reports are that the warm water species have been cooperating. Dave from Merrimack Sports found 6” of ice on Attitash last week. Post-storm and prior to shorelines locking up again, the Merrimack River pike factory remains one of the east’s most attractive options. Merrimack Sports is moving big bait and it’s because of those pike, especially at tributary effluences, that the big bait is hard to keep in stock!
Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts
When I was young and more naughty than nice, my parents used to scold me with the threat of little more than ice water waiting under the tree. I think inadvertently they were creating a monster! Here’s to the best Christmas for you and yours imaginable and for ice fishing loonies, a holiday season filled with hardwater!
Merry Xmas.” Ron Tight Lines.”