Massachusetts Fishing Report
If you’re seeing solid ice in the Bay State you’re most likely a clairvoyant, eternal optimist or both, because at the moment – hardwater simply isn’t on the agenda! The good news is that, at least for the time being, many water bodies have shaken free from junk ice giving anglers the rare opportunity to cast in January.
Thanks to Captain Jim Walsh, available options don’t begin and end with ice or open freshwater. Jim plans to continue to put the Amercian Classic out of Lynn into the thick of pollock, redfish, hake and haddock! It’s so good to have Captain Walsh back in the game; anglers now have something salty to look forward to virtually all winter long. Obviously this time of the year weather is the whale-sized factor with Jim keeping close tabs on conditions as he prepares to launch at a moments notice. While ideally he’d like to set sail during the weekend, he has anglers in standby mode who are willing to fish during the week should seas cooperate. Keep in touch by facebook or other means and hopefully your schedule is flexible because these trips are hoot. While it’s been a few years, I recall jumping aboard the American Classic for one of the crew’s “Snowball Cod” trips and – yes – there were a few light flakes flying that day! The fishing was so good it was a watershed event among my fishing moments that I will never forget. While cod are no longer part of the equation, the other gadoids make for fast action and a nice bag of fillets!
Just this Thursday Pete of Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate talked about the unique, under-appreciated salter white perch population on the South Shore. While I’m unable to glean specifics, the fish live among the tailwater of herring runs possibly off of either the South River or the North River. The brackish water that supports these white perch, which often obtain trophy size, also in some cases harbor holdover stripers! As it was described to me years ago by the DMF biologist in charge of the anadromous species program, if there is ample forage the need to feed will override instincts to migrate southward even for some breeders. It could be a combination of that and the summer droughts we’re experiencing more and more frequently that “traps” those stripers.
Regardless, sleuths out there who don’t mind doing their due diligence should be able to find those big white perch and their much larger cousins! I’d like to pass along details but understandably anglers who enjoy this fishing keep specifics close to the vest. Once found the fish are not fussy and will hit shad darts, small casting spoons as well as a jig/soft plastic or jigs/marabou. The other option South Shore anglers are partaking of is crossing the bridge to fish the cape for the panoply of water bodies that hold trout. There’s no secret that the Sandwich hatchery does one awesome job rearing trout of all varieties and ponds such as Peters, Spectacle and Sheep are amply stocked.
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett‘s’ report pretty much echoes last week as trout remain the top target. A tip Pete wanted to pass along is to use as long and light a leader as you dare for trout which at this juncture have been pressured for months. One of his customers who was putting in the time at Jamaica Pond with little to show for it needed a tweak to start having success. One look at the anglers tackle had Pete pointing out to him that bright orange braid without a leader wasn’t going to cut it. It was nothing a few feet of fluorocarbon couldn’t fix and the last report was that the angler was now finding that the rainbows were suddenly cooperative. A Power Bait/mealworm combination has been working best as has been the case with the mixed bag of brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout in Walden and White Pond. Horn Pond continues to have it’s fans as well.
Eric from Lunkers in Ashland is keeping shiners in stock for those looking to take advantage of newfound open water in Lake Cochituate as well as Hopkinton Reservor. Prior to the thaw nearly every water body in Metrowest had some degree of ice cover and the hope is that once sub-freezing temperatures resume there should be no shortage of hardwater opportunities soon.
Rod from Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange told me that less than a week ago anglers were out and about and having a blast on pretty solid ice but that’s just not happening right now. As for open water options, Rod recommends the Swift River, in part thanks to an easing of the restrictions as well as a “secret spot”! While the section of the Swift from the Winsor Dam to Route 9 remains fly fishing/catch and release only, as of January 1st up until June 30th, the area between the Route 9 Bridge to Cady Pool is open to all forms of sportfishing and trout can be harvested as well. That secret I mentioned was the section of the Swift which flows through the town of Palmer. According to Rod, that area is chock full of trout and few fishers take advantage of it. Additionally there are no exceptional restrictions to trout fishing there.
I wasn’t surprised to hear Spencer of Berkshire Bass tell me he was in Florida when we spoke recently. After all it is January and Savoy State Forest in Massachusetts has some pretty good ice fishing spots but the Florida he was referring to – was the state of Florida! Such is the new normal for winters around here. Hopefully his stay in the Sunshine State will not be long since beginning this weekend temperatures, at least out west and among higher elevations, are supposed to be back to freezing.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
South Shore anglers have a few open water options one of which involves a little detective work. Trout among the smattering of Cape ponds is the surer bet but the satisfaction from finding a slab saltwater white perch or two might be more satisfying. For the freshwater version, Furnace Pond in Pembroke has a solid population. Greater Boston through Metrowest has solid trout options from Jamaica Pond to Lake Cochituate. Farther out west, at least until winter begins behaving like it, Swift River trout fishing offers variety of trout and habitat. While January and salt water are not often thought of together in the modern era there is a headboat out of Lynn that has game and might be just the antidote for cabin fever.