Massachusetts Fishing Report – March 31, 2022

It’s only fitting that the first full month of spring heralds in a number of fishy firsts. Among them will be 30 plus miles of Wachusett Reservoir shoreline which opens this Saturday, April 2nd! For salts, beginning this Friday it’s open season for haddock and for two weeks a loosening of the cod regulations.

Massachusetts Fishing Report

Let’s get right to the Chu’ shall we or as the “regulars” call it – the Rez! Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston had an interesting tale to tell when we spoke on Wednesday. As he looked out from the causeway into the main reservoir he spotted a significant patch of “nervous water” in otherwise flat conditions. The hunch is that it was smelt and smelt to salmonoids is like a hambone to a dog! With more rain predicted, the flow from the tributaries and through Thomas Basin should have more current, and with the presence of the preferred forage, this area could be among the hotter spots. While lakers, smallies and white perch will hunker down near the bottom, the nomadic landlockeds will be up top over the next few weeks. It sounds inexact but your best bet to land one of these noble critters is rig up a sliding float rig and find a spot with the wind to your back and send that shiner on a salmon-seeking mission out as far as you can. While most of you will be perfectly content with catching a few forktails or maybe a stirring smallmouth or white perch, I guarantee that should you hook what has been referred to aptly as a “silver leaper”, you will never view Wachusett Reservoir the same again!

Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate said that interest is building in anticipation of the groundfish kickoff on of the first of April. The shop is brimming with jigs, rigs, bait, and the full gamut of gear needed to put you into cod/haddock. Cod should be cruising in as close as lumps, bumps, clumps and other intersecting bottom almost as soon as you clear the South Shore harbors. For haddock it may be early for Stone Ledge but it’s worth a look with northern haddock haunts: the northern edge of Stellwagen, Tillies and Jeffrey’s being better bets for limits. Trout remain the top target and with temperatures finally on the uptick, hardware and feathers should be every bit as effective as bait which has been the only thing they were interested in recently.

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy had no more “lonely” flounder stories when we spoke but she did say that anglers were hoping to catch a cod beginning on Friday! Hull has garnered interest both at Hull Gut and behind the Hull High School. There’s always the Nut Island and Castle Island options and just maybe the new Deer Island Pier as well. A generation ago, we used to count on cod off Castle Island right at the the time of the first trout stockings. It’s funny but I remember leaning against the pier railing watching for a bite as the conversation revolved not about the cod we were catching but how the trout were biting at Jamaica Pond! The shop is selling big bass bait for cooperative pre-spawn largemouth bass in Whitman Pond, Jacobs Pond, Cushing Pond and Sunset Lake.

Of course you can never count out the Bay State rivers for all sorts of action. Chris McGrath and his 4 year old son, Wesley, are sure glad they didn’t. While floating a shiner among one of the Waltham coves of the Charles River, the bobber sounded; Wesley set the hook with his push button reel/Ugly Stick combo and proceeded to show a 6 pound class bucketmouth who was boss! When dad saw the size of the fish he was tempted to take the plunge to salvage the catch but there was no need as Wesley proved a pro! With anadromous species runs improving, rivers throughout the state are becoming THE choice for a special catch, just ask Wesley!

Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett suggested the Malden Reservoir for a pre-spawn breeder largemouth bass. As for the Charles River, the warm water outflow where the Muddy River mixes with the Charles is always an early season favorite. Bring along some small jigs/spinners to see if you can’t catch one of the crappie which should be moving in there about now. Pete’s picks for trout are Walden, Horn and Sluice Pond. The captains choice for an early cod is the deep water drop-off by Deer Island Light, Graves Light and the humps by the B Buoy. Eric from Lunkers in Ashland said that most anglers are dividing their time between Lake Cochituate, Ashland Reservoir and Hopkinton Resevoir. For bass the local best bet is the Sudbury River, Heard Pond and Whitehall Reservoir.

Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Massachusetts

David from the Merrimack Sports said that the shop is carrying seaworms once again which in the modern era usually is an indicator that sea run white perch sleuths are finding them in the Squamscott River. My friend Dave Panarello even gave it a go in the Parker River by the Governor Dummer Academy and despite feeding a few perch didn’t leave with any of the tasty critters. However, he could only get a hold of earth worms: seaworms as well as grass shrimp and mummichogs are far more effective! Regarding other river activity the mighty Merrimack River has a nice little burgeoning channel catfish population growing in it. With holdover stripers, pike, smallmouth bass and the litany of panfish that call that place home, the question could be, “what doesn’t swim there? I’ve seen pictures of double-digit specimens of those cats too! Patrons of the shop have been loading up on haddock necessities with some planning on jumping aboard one of the Eastman’s Fleet boats beginning this Friday!

Rodney of Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange told me that the awakening big bucketmouths are getting a lot of attention. The Rohunta Lake bridge which spans the inlet that leads to North Spectacle Pond has been among the most consistent. He’s also hearing good things about bass from the Barton Cove/Turner Falls area. For trout the big draw is the Swift River with Rod giving a nod to the Bondsville section where a seldom-fished small pond exists which collects all kinds of trout. I have a feeling if you patronized his shop he’d give you an insider’s perspective on this gem.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Now that the lion of March seems to have morphed into a kitty cat, expect angling action to really take off! For those whose ride is at the ready, cod are calling just off Scituate, Hull, the Harbor and Magnolia on the North Shore. In fact regarding the latter some hardcore kayakers are readying for a launch at a moment’s notice should seas be gentle. The trip should not be a far or long one – in the past, fish have been found as shallow as 50’! Still, at the doorstep of April, you’d expect sweetwater to rule with Wachusett Reservoir one of the more interesting options. For other options, every bit as fishy, are the Bay Stater Rivers. While not likely to be called “pristine”, the action more than makes up for it with quantity and quantity!