In the eleventh month, some striped bass fisherman have something in common with leaf peepers – it may be past prime but they just can’t help taking another look! The majority however have put their seven-striped obsession away until the spring and thanks to sweetwater that’s not much of a sacrifice.
Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report
According to Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait in Scituate, the Pats notwithstanding there was actually a reason to be cheerful about football on Sunday – football tuna that is! On Sunday, baby bluefin were blitzing on bait around Minot but the audience was limited to lobsterman who were ill-equipped to more than stop and stare. More prepared were anglers catching November “micros” off the Minot shoreline with fly guys having their way with those schoolies. Spinners caught as well on 5/8 once silverside epoxy jigs. But then there’s the rest of the folks who are all in on freshwater in Fearing Pond for freshly stocked trout. Little Pond, also in Plymouth, has been good with Leland Trout Magnets doing the job.
The last time Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters fished Buzzards Bay for blackfish he left them biting but uncooperative. Weather has made that seem like light years ago even though it was only last week. Generally the biggest white chins strap on the feeding bag once water temperatures drop below 60 degrees so odds are that the captains crew will be into real drag-pullers once the weather cooperates.
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Greater Boston Fishing Report
Thanks to smelt fans there is no rest for the ladies of Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy as demand for bait has them sloshing through South Shore sloughs in search of shrimp – grass shrimp that is! Patrons are catching smelt off Summer Street Bridge in South Boston, Marina Bay and Quincy Bay. With the big chill predicted for the foreseeable future hopefully Lisa and Maria have neoprene waders and wool at the ready.
The few who are still chasing stripers are missing more often than catching with Nantasket Beach, Hingham Harbor and the Weymouth Back River among the standouts of this late-inning fishing.
Freshwater fishing however is getting the majority of the angling attention now. Houghton’s is among the hottest for trout while Ponkapoag is a pick for pickerel and bass. For a potentially big urban trout, the heavily stocked Jamaica Pond is hard to top. Matt from Monahan Marine said that some sweetwater customers are doing well for brown and rainbow trout in Concord’s Walden and White Ponds. On the South Shore some are catching trout from Jacobs Pond. The most consistent reports for late season schoolies is the Weymouth Back River with a few also being caught in the Neponset River.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
Liam from Tomo’s Tackle told me that there are a few striper fanatics still chasing linesiders but most have trout and black bass on the brain. Mackerel continue to provide surface sparks in Salem especially by Derby Wharf. Latest striper luck has been concentrated in the Lynn, Swampscott and Marblehead areas. Most fish are micros, but every once in a while something more interesting tugs at the line. For trout, patrons are putting in time at Sluice Pond and Pleasant Pond with the latter living up to it’s name!
David from Merrimack Sports said that stockings this fall included the unusual and greatly appreciated Northeast gift of brown trout! Some local spots where brown trout are swimming are Plugs Pond, Round Pond, Forest Lake and Harold Parker Reservation. As water temperatures cool, Concord River and Merrimack River pike are on the prowl and the shop is selling big bait for these big fish.
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Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
It’s hard to top the Chu this time of the year! On Thursday, my friend Rick Holbrook and I hooked rainbows, lakers and smallies and we used no bait! Metallic perch and red/gold Kastmasters did all of the damage and there was hardly a soul around.
According to Eddie of B&A in West Boylston 13 year old Percuoco did better still with a recent catch of a 7-pound, 15-ounce laker on a yellow perch on the Gate 35 side of the reservoir. Brown trout and landlocked salmon are cooperating in the Stillwater and Quinapoxet Rivers. It seems as if everything which is swimming in Wachusett is in close and has strapped on the feedbag!
Patrick Barone of Charter the Berkshires said that cooling water temperatures are bringing walleye in close and within casting distance of the shoreline of the Connecticut area in the South Hadley. Patrick skips out on the bait and gets those ‘eyes with jerk baits! Best times to fish for them are at night, cloudy days or when the water is stirred up. Walleye are masters at picking up and picking off their prey when sight lines are challenging. Smallmouth bass are consistently part of the catch and soon pike will be a player also.
From Mike Didonna of the Deerfield Fly Shop came news that good rain over the last couple weeks has improved fishing. The river has been running pretty high and he suggests anglers focus on the C & R areas below the Fife Brook Dam. There has been some good BWO hatches in the afternoon but with the higher water you’ll want to fish nymphs and streamers. Remember to vary your retrieve methods when fishing streamers. Sink Tip line is highly recommended. Eggs are becoming more effective this time of year as well. Mike’s been hearing some good reports from the C & R area (Chesterfield Gorge) of the Westfield River. With cooler weather arriving this is shaping up to be a good November! Closer to the coast Captain Carl Vinning has been snooping around Greater Boston Rivers and finding willing white perch and solid largemouth bass as well. His hint for having a heck of a time of your own – find the herring (fry) and you’ll find the predators! Baby herring will appear as “rain bait” as they flee their pursuers on the surface.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
It’s hard to top this “November new normal”! Diehard salters are still finding stripers from the North Shore through the South Shore with Marblehead, Nantasket and Minot all recently holding fish! However, a better bet may be to give the striper thing a rest and take a shot at the menagerie of what’s available in sweetwater! Great Boston rivers which support river herring are teaming with fry right now and a small swimmer could catch you a crappie, black bass or even a holdover striper! Wachusett is brimming with beautiful trout, salmon and smallmouth bass and with almost limitless shoreline it’s easy to find solitude as well. Farther north, trout in Pleasant Pond, Plugs Pond and Round Pond are the areas best bets. Walleye out west make the trip to the South Hadley section of the Connecticut River a worthwhile adventure!
Trout from Jacobs Pond really???