Massachusetts Fishing Report – February 3, 2022

In anticipation of the imminent blizzard last Saturday, anglers took to the ice in droves. There must have been a lot of bad acting as folks pretended they were sick to get out of work! Out west the sense of urgency just wasn’t there as comparatively speaking – they got just a few flakes!

Massachusetts Fishing Report

According to Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate on Friday business was booming while the weekend was a bust thanks to the blizzard. Anglers have been getting out this week, however, with good reports coming from Whitman Pond in Weymouth, Lilly Pond, Cohasset Reservoir and Little Pond. Arguably the most impressive catches this winter have been big bass and jumbo yellow perch. Local options for those species are the Monposett Ponds, Robbins Pond, the Burrage Ponds and Oldham Pond.

Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston said that the coves of Lake Quinsigamond have been among the most popular ice fishing destinations in Central Mass. Be careful of the wind-swept open areas of this lake which have been slow to ice over, but those who drop down a shiner could catch anything from trout to pike. Anglers have been fishing for bass and panfish at the A-1 Site, Lake Chauncey, Maple Springs and Moosehorn Pond. The latter is unique in that it’s relatively remote and has good size largemouth bass, yellow perch and crappie.

Rodney Flagg of Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange points patrons who want variety towards the Connecticut River coves/setbacks. Whether the specific spot is The Oxbow, Barton Cove or the “setbacks” of Hinsdale New Hampshire, the diversity of quarry of a river simply cannot be matched by a “closed” water body. In addition to walleye, pike and bass, panfishing can be exceptional! Largemouth bass up to 5 pounds have been taken from Lake Rohunta while Lake Ellis, Moore Lake and Clubhouse Pond all have their fans, especially those who are fishing for trout. Captain Patrick Barone of Charter The Berkshires is supplementing his hardwater habit with fly fishing the Swift River – still! Trout are arguably our most beautiful freshwater fish but never more so when the scenery is snowscape!

For ice fishing kicks, the big lakes out west rule – Cheshire, Buel, Onota and Pontoosuc! From pike to perch the variety of species in these big water bodies is impressive. Pontoosuc just might get the nod for trophies owing to its smelt forage base.

David of Merrimack Sports knows a thing or two about rivers being so close to the mighty Merrimack River. Upstream and downstream of the Lawrence Dam teems with pike but don’t ignore the unsung heroes of white perch, yellow perch, crappie and smallmouth bass. The shop’s pick to dupe all those species is a chartreuse Swedish pimple spiced with a spike! Trout are still tops at Forest Lake and Millvale Pond. For a warm water species variety, Country Pond and Chadwick Lake deserve a shot.

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

The midweek thaw has curbed much of the difficulty of accessing good ice and with a convenient drop-in temperature predicted for this weekend, conditions should be good! If you need to keep warm this weekend consider keeping on the move and employ the seek and catch method for panfish. Sonar, a nice light jig stick, and a tungsten jig-and-grub are standard issue for this fun way to fish frozen water. Even a 10” perch with an ultralight outfit is a blast! Far bigger perch lurk on the South Shore with the Monposett and Burrage Ponds two favorites. Closer to Boston, Whitman Pond in Weymouth is a warm water species option. Moosehorn Pond in Hubbardston can be as much a treat for the eyes as well as what tugs on the line. For variety, the coves/oxbows of the Connecticut River in Northhampton, Turner Falls or Hinsdale New Hampshire are hard to top. Regulars of the Merrimack River, however, may disagree with pike, smallmouth bass and white perch all in the offing.