Massachusetts Fishing Report- December 22, 2022

Got ice? They do out west and north of the border! Other than that sliver of hardwater opportunities, there’s not a heck of a lot going on even among the hardcore. As for those never-say-die casters they are still basking in that rarified opportunity in late December.

Massachusetts Fishing Report

Once winter arrives I reconnect with shops out west and up north as I search for ice intel. I have to admit I feel a bit sheepish during that first conversation because it’s been awhile. All was good when talking it up with Jim from JCB Bait in Cheshire on Wednesday, in fact it was more than good it was great because Jim had a hardwater report! Anglers are already out and about on the ice on the pike and bass rich Cheshire Reservoir! It’s a big place but if Jim had to point to one spot which has the most potential he circle the middle basin. Jim should know, a few years ago his son Justyn hauled a 20 pound pike out of there! If big old Cheshire has ice, you have to think that “Hilltown” smaller ponds such as Plainfield, North, Windsor and Goose have ice, the latter three of which are stocked with trout.

That news prompted me to call Spencer of Berkshire Bass, who is a little south of JCB, to enquire if he’s been out on the ice at all. “This week” was his answer as the backdoor of the “monsoon” is expected to deliver a sustained freeze which should lock most everything up. You know that anglers want it really bad when they are willing to drive all the way from Rhode Island to the Connecticut Valley Region just to see if there’s ice! Such was the reality of one customer of Rodney Flagg of Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange recently. Sadly that angler’s effort was for naught, save South Athol Pond there was no solid ice to speak of. Regarding South Athol, Rod said that some anglers did manage to get out near the shoreline. This pond excels at giving up a nice ice bite for warm water species. Along with Sheomet and Moores these should be among the first to lock up this week. Should the predicted temperatures hold true those hard water bodies will have plenty of company.

“Not yet” is the best way to sum up hardwater prospects between the central part of the state through the coast. Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston said that as recently as a few days ago anglers were still catching open water rainbows and browns near the boat ramp section of Comet Pond. The enemy of the effort to cast right now is skim ice and many are greeted with this heartbreak on site. Moving water wards off most skim ice, making rivers such as the Charles, Sudbury, Mystic, Shawsheen and Merrimack Rivers open water options which should hang in there for awhile. Captain Carl Vinning is noting if not tenacious and has been finding that docks at university yacht clubs along the rivers are still holding crappie! The moorings, chains and other structure which abound around those docks hold weeds and small organisms which crappie feed on. Above all, go small and light, with line limited to 4 pound test, jigs no larger than 1/16th ounce and soft plastics of 2” or less. As for the coast it’ll continue to be all about trout until ice is prevalent: right now those trout are cruising but a cast away from the shoreline in ponds/lakes to numerous to list.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

There are additional options which await you north of the border! I’ve learned that there are finally hardwater opportunities throughout New Hampshire and Maine and I’ll be reporting on those beginning this week and lasting for the duration of the winter! Meanwhile Massachusetts anglers would do well to enjoy their Christmas, stay put just a bit longer and odds are that next week will bring along ice fishing options aplenty! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays one and all!