Not everyone is feeling frustrated by the sight of frozen puddles, hardwater junkies are hoping it’s a harbinger of an early season. Meanwhile, while there are slim pickings in the salty world, freshwater pursuits are making up for it.
Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Report
The lion’s share of saltwater success that I’m hearing of is courtesy of Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters who when conditions warrant is now finding a nice little pick of keeper cod to go along with tautog out of Westport. Cod there can be kept and for those who relish fresh cod fillets, there’s none fresher than cod you catch yourself! Weather permitting the crew should be targeting tautog and cod until the end of the month.
The only other saltwater prospects I’m hearing of are smelt with reports of 24 fish outings between the Reserve Channel and Fort Point. The true indicator of luck is the requests the ladies of Fore River Fishing Tackle are getting for grass shrimp. Historically marinas/piers throughout Hull, Quincy, Charlestown, East Boston and Winthrop have all held smelt. Efforts by the DMF are ongoing to restore eel grass flats throughout the harbor; this marine flora is essential for the survival of smelt and with the construction of the Deer Island Pier, that spot will have some real smelt potential.
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Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Pete from Belsan Bait in Scituate said that he’s selling plenty of shiners for those targeting trout locally and throughout the Cape. He’s had good reports of holdover browns from Long Pond in Plymouth with shiners and Yo-Zuri Pins Minnows doing the trick.
One of the more popular multi-species South Shore hot spots is Myles Standish State Forest where both warm-water species and trout reside. Morton Park in Plymouth also reeks of potential with Billington Sea standing out as the headwater of the Town Brook herring run. Few types of forage feed freshwater gamesters as effectively as herring fry. Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett said that rainbow trout fishing has been good at Horn Pond! He mentioned the Flag Pole and culvert as good choices. Wright’s Pond in Medford get the nod for largemouth bass, pickerel and panfish. Walden and White Pond’s are best for a real mixture of trout including holdover browns. For smallies, Walden is one of the best in the east.
Eddie of B&A in West Boylston said that the causeway area and the Route 140 side are fishing well for lakers. The Route 110 side might be a better choice for rainbows and smallies. Gold/neon red Kastmasters have been king with metallic perch a runner up. The rivers still have salmon, rainbows, browns and the occasional lake trout.
Rod from Flagg’s said that brown trout are creating the biggest buzz in the Connecticut Valley Region. One customer caught a few four pounders recently on shiners by the boat ramp in Lake Mattawa! Similar sized browns have also been caught in the Miller River. Recently 2000 brown trout were stocked throughout the Miller, so you should find no shortage of fish! Rod gave the nod to the Wendell Depot as a good bet for access and angling success. If you target the Fly Fishing Only sections, you’ll find no shortage of flies in the shop, hand tied by Rodney Flagg who is master at this craft.
At this time of the year water temperatures run inverse of walleye opportunities according to Patrick Barone of Charter The Berkshires – as temps drop, activity increases. Patrick has a feel for walleye holding holes throughout the Connecticut River out west. Smallies are still hanging in there with pike increasingly becoming a factor. To target all these species you might think a tackle box the size of a locker would be required but he’s doing most of the catching on similar jerkbaits!
Pike on the prowl is hardly the sole province of the western part of the state according to Dave from Merrimack Sports. The demand for big bait from the shop says it all – patrons are finding pike. As for a specific spot, he’s mentioned in the past the Ward Hill Neck area in Haverhill. Other rivers where pike roam are the Shawsheen and Concord Rivers.
From Mike Didonna of the Deerfield Fly Shop came news that The water levels on the Deerfield are up and the fishing has been good. Streamers and nymphs (eggs) have been doing really well. A sink tip line or leader is highly suggested to get your streamers down. A heavy nymph with an egg dropper has been pretty deadly also. Nymphs which have been working are McCheese Clown Eggs 14-16 and Golden Stone 8-12. For streamers try white/olive Sculpzillas 8 and Wooly Buggers olive/black 6-10. Recommended equipment is 4-6 weight rods, weight forward and sink tip lines and 4X-6X leaders and tippets. Studded boots and a wading staff is strongly urged.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
For a taste of the salt, should your boat not be mothballed quite yet, then consider dumping in at the Westport River; cod and tog are cooperative not far into Buzzards Bay. Or take the prudent route, hire Captain Jason Colby and his Little Sister. Regarding the sweet-eating-from-the-salt category, smelt seem to be increasing in activity throughout the harbor’s Reserve Channel. While smelt are not likely to be targeted at Wachusett they are the reason for the Chu’s stellar salmonoid fishing with the Route 140 side fishing best. Of course something can be said for rivers with toothies making a fine target in the Merrimack back east and the Connecticut out west.