Chatting about the weather has always been a cordial conversation starter but lately it’s been taking a darker side. In fact some of the adjectives used to describe the lack of a consistent freeze by ice fishing fanatics would not go over well in mixed company. Fortunately relief awaits out west, north of the border and just maybe a lot closer if we can believe next week’s weather forecast!
Massachusetts Fishing Report
Eric from Lunkers in Ashland has had the same shiners swimming around in his tanks for so long that he’s starting to recognize individuals. While we were discussing that during a recent conversation, he began calling out a few by name which was really concerning. Just like the rest of us, he’s pinning any hopes of salvaging some semblance of a local hardwater season on a weeklong frosty forecast that’s predicted next week.
Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston has become an ad hoc Chu’ camera regarding the reservoir’s state of flux and it’s trending in the wrong direction. What once looked like a sea of ice from the point of view from the Causeway has now been reduced to a sliver between Route 110 and the Stone Church. That’s not supposed to happen this time of the year. The steady rains have the reservoir extremely high and with the Quinapoxet River raging it’s looking as if there will be plenty of water from which to wet a line come April. High water brings the lakers into shallows which ordinarily don’t hold fish. This significantly evens the playing field for all with more on specifics later. Eddie did say that Indian Lake, Maple Springs, Lake Quinsigamond as well as a number of other water bodies are wide open! Be that as it may, casters in Central Mass can take advantage of open water options for everything from trout to pike depending on where they decide to fish.
Frozen water fortunes are more promising in the Connecticut Valley Region according to Rod from Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange. Moores Pond, Clubouse Pond and few nondescript water bodies in Warwick all have good ice. Clubhouse gets the call for jumbo yellow perch with 13/14” breeders not unusual there. Rod is pumped about the frosty forecast expected next week which should result in all sorts of options. Moving forward, Rod is also anticipating April for more than just the opening of Quabbin Reservoir as increasingly anglers are interested in a booming Connecticut River catfish fishery. Even Quabbin salmon sharpies are all in on those catfish with average between 1 1/2-2 pounds with the occasional monster crashing their baits. Chicken livers/gizzards have been the go-to baits and Rod intends on carrying them. Rod’s a master fly tier but I think he’d be hard pressed to whip up something that looks like a chicken liver!
There are no such qualms about next weeks forecast out west according to Martin of B&R Bait and Tackle in Cheshire Reservoir. If there ever was an auspicious time to begin a bait business this was the year as that area seems to exist in a frozen bubble while everyone else in the Bay State bemoans the lack of ice! Cheshire Reservoir continues to give up pike as well as really good crappie in the middle basin. Pontoosuc remains the top pick for a trophy with at least two 20 pound pike coming out of there. Anglers are catching smelt out of Onota from 50’ depths which are but a short distance from the boat ramp. The caveat with the smelt for some is “dinner or bait?”. After all, smelt are prime brown trout bait with nights the ideal time for the forage as well as the quarry. As far as Martin is concerned, Fish Pond in North Adam’s is tops for trout.
Rennie from Bridge Road Bait and Tackle in Salisbury said that he is moving a few shiners for anglers fishing open water in the Artichoke Reservoir in Newbury. Another possibility is Chebacco Lake in the Essex/Hamilton area where the crappie and bass fishing can be impressive thanks to the infusion of alewives in the spring and later the hordes of their progeny which are prime bait.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
If busting a move out west just isn’t cutting it for you than thankfully north of the border there are interesting big water options this week such as Winnipesaukee and Sebago. Meanwhile keep those fingers crossed that the predicted freeze will ice up a number or water bodies throughout the commonwealth. Before that happens grab a bucket of shiners and take advantage of the rare opportunity to tempt a pike, bass or trout from open water as we near February. Just be prepared for the shop owner who just might be getting a little sentimental as he says goodbye to shiners who he’s gotten to know all to well!