Massachusetts Fishing Report – March 7, 2019

Sooner than later our ice is going to lose the battle between the searing March sun and freezing temperatures, but not yet. However, for a surer and safer bet, it only makes sense to head to more northern and higher elevations. If you make that move you may be surprised at the lack of other anglers still at it, who apparently have become afflicted by a malady that could be called “frozen water fatigue”!

Fishing Report for Massachusetts

The whipping wind and frigid temperatures have kept most off the ice this week according to Rod from Arlington Bait & Tackle but interest is high for at least Saturday this weekend because of favorable ice and temperature conditions. Walden and White Ponds still have their fans but some have expanded their horizons to include the sprawling Harold Parker Reservation in the North Andover/Middleton area. In addition to the numerous warm water species water bodies, folks are fishing Berry Pond and catching trout! I fished that picturesque spot years ago and caught some beautiful brookies by the inlet. Rod has also been hearing of warm water species action at Ames Pond in Tewksbury!
 
It’s hard to top a first hand angling report, so Eric form Lunkers in Ashland hit Coughman’s Cove in Lake Cochituate to make his own news and boy did he do just that! He and his chums had a hard time keeping up with flying flags as they tallied about 40 bass and pickerel! While no trophies were taken it’s hard to complain about 2 pounders! There was one trout fisherman nearby who despite his best intentions was a little off base in his presentation. The gent opted for Power Bait below his traps and not surprisingly didn’t get a sniff! Small shiners and dillies are the way to go and a good spot to consider according to Eric to do just that is Dug Pond!

For the ice fisherman Eddie of B&A in West Boylston had good news, however, for those who are counting the days until the opening of the Chu’, there’s potentially bad news. There’s a lot of ice out there and many anglers are capitalizing on Comet Pond trout and bass, with the latter species more common in the middle. But all that ice may be putting the scheduled opening day for Wachusett Reservoir – April 6th – in jeopardy. Additionally, water levels are extremely high; if you were one of those who were casting among the trees last year, you may be repeating the effort! Of course a lot can happen in the subsequent month, meanwhile consider the crappie catch at Indian Lake in Worcester or the mixture of bass and pickerel from both Maple Springs and Eagle Lake.

Rod from Flagg’s in Orange said that South Pond in the East Brookfield/Sturbridge area has been getting a lot of interest for it’s noteworthy brown trout population. I have fished it about a dozen times through the years and in addition to catching quality trout each time, we seemed to more often than not also catch at least one four pound-plus largemouth! The Spectacle Ponds continue to be special, especially South “Spec” for crappie!

While there is still plenty of ice and ice fishing opportunities in his stomping ground, Patrick Barone of Charter The Berkshires Outfitters is putting the finishing touches on a stellar season to make room for the next phases of his guiding endeavors such as raft fishing among trout rivers as well as pike and walleye fishing in the Connecticut River.

For Jim from JCB in Cheshire however there is no such change as there remains enough ice in his neighborhood to drive on! Many according to Jim have hit an ice fishing “wall” after months of effort. A recent spot check among Cheshire Reservoir and Pontoosuc revealed hardly anyone there! Onota remains an outlier with all the publicity from those big pike but nearly everywhere else has few and far fishermen.

When asked where patrons are fishing, Donny from Merrimack Sports replied, “Where aren’t they?” The frosty forecast has locked up nearly everything making for great conditions to catch pike throughout the Merrimack River, trout at Round Pond and Plugs Pond and bass at Millvale, Attitash and Artichoke Reservoir. Tomorrow is never promised, especially when it comes to safe ice so take advantage of the ideal March conditions while you can. The shop will have plenty of bait in anticipation of a bustling weekend.

If ice fishing at this juncture just isn’t cutting it for you and your looking for some saltwater satisfaction consider joining me and the good folks at Plum Island Surfcasters this Saturday for their 23rd Annual Fishing Show at Hope Church in Newburyport. As a looney who has caught striped bass locally all 12 months of the year, I’m going to be covering a lot of water!

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

The current cold blast made for an unexpected stay of safe ice allowing what may be the last waltz for bass and pickerel from Lake Cochituate. Farther north, Berry Pond is one of the best bets for trout while Artichoke Reservoir gets the nod for warm water species. To hedge your bets for better conditions and quite possibly fewer anglers consider crappie in South Spectacle Pond, brown trout among South Pond and pike from Pontoosuc and Cheshire. However, if it’s more therapeutic for you to think striped bass thoughts than I’ll see you at the Plum Island Surfcasters show this Saturday!