Massachusetts Fishing Report - January 2025

Update: January 30, 2025

From above, ponds and lakes throughout the Bay State must look like giant vanilla ice cream cones sprinkled with jimmies as anglers take to the ice en masse. While noteworthy water bodies continue to attract most of the attention, some are enjoying the challenge of trying new places most give short shrift to.

South Shore through Greater Boston

Pete of Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate said an oft-echoed comment in the shop lately has been “you caught that there?’! The “that” has been 5-7 pound Larry’s and the “there” is spots too numerous to list. Yellow perch have been the target in Furnace Pond, Oldham Pond, Scituate Reservoir and Tack Factory Pond. For trout many are taking advantage of rarified Cape ice and catching all kinds of trout from Upper Cape kettle ponds and numerous other on-cape water bodies. Of course, Plymouth’s twin dynamos – Little and Long ponds aren’t half bad either.

Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett will soon be embarking on his yearly sojourn to Galapagos where he oversees a pretty impressive outfitter service specializing in pelagics of all sorts. I spent some time on local hardwater with hm over the weekend and of all the tales he had to tell the anecdotes about battling Goliath grouper and amberjacks I found most impressive. The shop should have limited hours over the next few months but be sure to call before you visit. Meanwhile the bait vending machines in the front of the store will continue to offer 24-7 service for a variety of baits and tackle. Area hardwater options are Walden Pond, White Pond and Horn Pond for trout. Don’t dismiss those spots as salmonoids or nothing as they all hold solid panfish and bass. Some have been traveling south a bit and doing well at Houghton Pond and Ponkapoag.

Metrowest and Central Massachusetts

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland is experiencing a different quandary than in years, he’s having a hard time keeping bait in stock! Recent reports put Farm Pond as slow while Winthrop Lake has been hot by the Pleasure Point side. Anglers continue to experiment and spread out with some having luck at Morses Pond. The Sudbury River offers solid pike fishing. Trout are the target in Ashland Reservoir and Hopkinton Reservoir. Patrons of the shop fish Lake Cochituate for a possible mixture of both warm and cold water species.

Rick from Jerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford touted the recent 38th Annual Lake Singletary Ice Fishing Derby as a smashing success with several regulars of the shop winning outright! But best of all is that the event’s focus is on kids participation, scholarships, local sports and other community causes. Standout reports have been trickling in for bass and pickerel from the A-1 Site, Little Chauncy, Big Chauncy and Nipmuc Pond.

April may seem like lightyears away but many even in January entertain thoughts of Wachusett Reservoir. To that I had to ask Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston for an update. He said that the reservoir has been iced in for about a week now. He also said the Quinapoxet River restoration project is moving along nicely and when finished this year will be a major shot in the arm to an already stellar “Rezy” salmonoid fishery. As for hardwater options, many patrons are putting in the time for pike from Indian Lake and Newton Pond. The Coachlace Lakes are a solid option for bass and pickerel while Comet gets the nod for trout.

Connecticut Valley Fishing Report

Gerry from Crack of Dawn Bait in Phillipston touched on a couple of subjects in the previous report when we spoke. He agreed that Comet Pond was definitely a top trout spot but he also added Lake Mattawa to that list. Mattawa is special and as much a treat for the eyes as it is productive for smallmouth bass, perch and trout. In fact this lake has been rated as one of the most beautiful in the state! Many are jigging up the trout with gold and copper Kastmasters and other spoons just under the ice. Worms set just under the ice is also an effective technique but never discount targeting big trout in deeper water which shadow shiners and white perch fry. Sonar is necessary to find the forage and the predators which often hover around humps/ledge. Once found skip out on any finesse stuff and go with medium to large shiners fished close to the marks.

Gerry also mentioned the merit of introducing fishing to kids. Usually it’s a simple case of just adding water and the youngsters take it from there. Two local examples of that are Shannon Connoly of Templeton who was first exposed to the sport last year and this year is on her way to amass a Mass Sportfishing Awards collection beginning with her first pin for a nice largemouth bass! Who knows one day she may be competition for Kyler and Ryker Leslie who tied for Junior Angler of the Year in the program. These young anglers have totaled 113 pin fish so far:one can just imagine what their trophy room must look like! When asked about Quacumquasit Pond, which is a designated trophy brown trout pond, he heard that folks were out on the coves but couldn’t comment on the middle of this deep place. Nearby Quabog however is plenty locked up and is noted for northerns. Other options are Lake Monomonac for smallmouth and largemouth bass and farther out west anglers have been having luck finding brown trout and pike in Lake Onota.

Some shops have informed me that with demand so high procuring bait has been tough but there is no such issue at Merrimac Sports according to Shawn. As a shop which is continually on the loop from the bait distributor, getting them their bait is a priority. And when sold out, Shawn will make the trip to pick more up. PIke are still being pulled out of the oxbow by Kimball Island and occasionally Lake Attitash. Attitash is one big fish-bowl where anglers are likely to catch darn near any warm water species including smallmouth bass. Trout are tops in Round Pond, Baldpate Pond and Stiles Pond with the former giving up a few holdover brown trout along with the more numerous rainbows. A few other warm water species favorites of the locals are Mill Pond and Artichoke Reservoir.

The last person I expected to get an ice fishing report was from Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing and odds are – it’s his last! While I don’t picture him swapping out his saltwater charter business for guiding on ice anytime soon, his chums fared much better at Ames Pond in Tewksbury. The highlight, other than watching the underdressed captain shiver, was a 14” pickerel slammed hole-side by a monster pickerel AND both were landed! Most likely a big chunk of the reason Brian was bemoaning being on the ice was a lack of proper attire. Should anyone have an extra set of big boy Ice Armor garb hanging around, I know a guy who could use it.

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Nearly an entire generation of anglers grew up with no exposure to ice fishing. Across the board shop owners have told me that when given the chance these young sport-fishers take to it and love it! Dovetailing nicely with that is the affordable gear that most offer. This underscores how valuable these small businesses are to accessing the outdoor world. They are doing their part, now it’s up to you to take kids ice fishing! It’s a simple formula – just add (hard!) water and they’ll be hooked for life.

Update: January 16, 2025

The tackle shop owners sound as if they’ve been working out. Thanks to the best ice fishing conditions in years these guys are lugging around hundreds of pounds of – shiners! They are also burning through a lot of petrol as bait demand necessitates repeat trips to distributors. Welcome to an ice fishing season the likes of which we haven’t had in a very long time.

South Shore through Greater Boston

Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate recently offered up a volume of information that would rival the salt in season. Anglers are exploring and setting up traps in ponds which haven’t been ice fished in years. Moreover, these smaller water bodies are weed-chocked in summer so they get scant pressure period. Targeting them with traps/shiners through the ice is one of the best ways to see what’s lurking and in many cases the “what” is big bass! Hardly a day goes by when Pete does not have a customer show him of a picture of a 3, 4 or even 5 pound bass plucked out of some nondescript pond that most give scant attention to. The multitude of cranberry bogs in the South Shore are options as are Old Oaken Bucket, Pitts Pond, Jacob’s Pond, Lilly Pond and Furnace Pond. And then there’s Plymouth which holds an almost limitless amount of ponds/lakes of all sizes. The larger of those may not have good ice yet thanks to the ceaseless wind but after next week’s forecast they should be good to go as well.

Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett told me that the shop is ramping up bait acquisition to meet demand the likes of which he hasn’t seen in years for this time of the year. Patrons are plucking out warm water species in Fellsmere Pond, Swains Pond, Towners Pond as well as the Golden Hills and Wright’s Pond. The top trout picks are Walden and White Pond where some sharp looking browns and tigers have been part of the catch along with rainbows. Of note is the smelt fishing which is taking place on the Exeter River in New Hampshire as well as the smelt camps in Maine. The Granite State fishery is especially interesting since there hasn’t been suitable ice to pull that off in years! If you’ve driven by that area you’ve no doubt noticed that anglers have seized this rare opportunity and bob houses are now dotting the
river.

Metrowest and Central Massachusetts

Nuno of Lunkers in Ashland gave me a long list of water bodies which are holding ice fishers. Some included the coves of the Charles River in Waltham, Kaufman Cove in Lake Cochituate as well as a plethora of ponds and lakes such as Dug Pond, Farm Pond and Winthrop Lake. He did not have any word on how the pike fishing was in Fairhaven Bay on the Sudbury River but similar oxbows/setbacks in the region have ice and are fishing well. In addition to fish with chomp, crappie jigging here can be very effective.

Non-addicts may view ice fishing as a way to while away the winter but then there’s the other guys such as Dan Southwick. Dan routinely catches corker pike and even a few pure-strain musky – and if there’s one lesson he’s learned it is that there are no shortcuts. Preliminary work begins with bait acquisition and while he’s a fixture at Gerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford you’re not likely to see him clutching a bait bucket in the shop. Rather he’s more likely to be found trapping his own fallfish which in some cases rival a stocked trout in size. Recently he did it again by landing a monster pike that would be the envy of any angler who fishes anywhere throughout the snowbelt. The trophy toothy he caught was not a first trap-in wonder but a fish he patiently waited out for three days! That’s kind of the way it should be: happenstance should give way to hard work. When asked where he iced the gator, Dan answered “the Berkshires”.

For Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston there is no rest for the weary but he’s not complaining! With Wachusett Reservoir closing for the season little more than two weeks ago and good local ice not long after the shop has remained busy. Good ice in the area has been universal with reports of anglers catching trout, pike, bass and panfish. A best bet for nearby northerns is Indian Lake but some are heading towards Quabog.

Many are also branching out and trying water bodies which haven’t had good ice in years. The thrill of icing a big bass from a small pond many give short shrift to has to be one of ice fishing’s sweetest pleasures.

Two spots which have warm water species game, especially crappie, are South Meadow Pond and Mossy Pond. Angler’s have also been out on Quinsigamond, Brigham Pond and Comet. The latter of which is a favorite for a variety of trout species.

Connecticut Valley Fishing Report

While I appreciate any shop that passes along good fishing information, those which have anecdotal tidbits have a special place in my heart. Far from just sliding along a report, Gerry Balchuinas is in this one! Hunkered down with three chums in a shanty, he found the yellow perch bite brisk from Lake Dennison. The go-to rig was gold/black and charteuse/yellow Hali Jigs tipped with spikes and worms. Along with the perch, bass and trout came out to play. Other options in that area are Clubhouse Pond, Lake Mattawa and Moores Pond for trout while Lake Rohunta and Laurel Lake get the nod for warm water species. Farther out west, ice is good in the Berkshires as well as large water bodes such as Buel, Cheshire, Onota and Pontoosuc. Gerry also passed along a tip for Quabog pike; the combination of low water volume and vigorous vegetation means paying special attention to shiner placement is essential.

Of all the reports the one I was most hoping to hear good news about was the state of the Merrimack River coves and Shawn from Merrimac Sports did not disappoint. Anglers have already been out on quieter sections of the river and the pike have been cooperating. Generally islands provide a current cushion and allow the formation of good ice. Most of the effort/action has been by Kimball Island near the Covanta plant. In the past the area around the Greater Lawrence Yacht Club has also been good. The same can be said for the Stanley Island section. White perch thrive throughout the Merrimack River so bring along a jig/stick and maybe a white Clam blade spoon to stay busy while waiting for a pike to come along. Of course this is a moving water body so toss a set of ice picks around your neck, bring along a buddy and continually spud the ice depth as you amble along. Lake Attitash is looking good as well as is Tuxbury Pond. For trout, try Round Pond, Lake Saltonstall and Forest Lake.

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Anglers are reveling in an ice fishing season the likes of which we haven’t seen in years. Dovetailing nicely with ample ice and opportunity is the lack of snow – these are rarified conditions to say the least. In addition to renowned water bodies, many are channeling their inner Magellan and exploring nondescript water which is often ignored. What’s hard to ignore is the intrigue when dropping a shiner down a few feet and wondering what’s down there. The drama increases the nth degree when that first flag pops and the trap spool is chattering away. It’s been awhile since we had a hardwater winter like this, so take advantage of it. In addition to the places mentioned here consider what’s going on north of the border such as at Lake Winnipesaukee which was declared “ice in” – meaning all of the surface has at least some ice. The other option beyond the Bay State to consider is the smelt camps in the Kennebec River/Merrymeeting Bay region. Outfitters such as Worthing’s and Bakers have had their shacks out for at least a week and reports are that the bite is brisk. Some of that has to do with timing as an early start on open portions of the rivers/bays puts anglers right over the main body of fish before they travel upstream in preparation of the spawn. You’re probably done with all hints of the Yuletide season but if I may reference one more Christmas Carrol – it truly is a winter wonderland out there!

Update: January 9, 2025

An extended period of cold weather has opened up ice fishing opportunities around Massachusetts, with small ponds providing shots at tip-up fishing for pickerel, bass, and panfish, while larger waters give anglers a chance to catch pike and trout. Stay safe on the ice, never venturing out on less than 4 inches of ice.

Update: January 2, 2025

The spirit of New Year’s is supposed to be less about that day and more about the future! For those who are fanatical about frozen water, the future looks a lot more promising than the present. Prior to the thaw, anglers out west were walking on water and catching fish. It only stands to reason that those first-to-freeze spots should be on your list.

Western Massachusetts Fishing Report

West is definitely best when it comes to first ice. If you were picking up your shiners at B&R Bait in Cheshire chances are you’ve been enjoying ice fishing already. The shop’s owner, Martin Farrell, told me that anglers have already been out on Cheshire Reservoir and the pike, bass and crappie have all been cooperative. While he hasn’t heard of any double-digit toothies, fish up to 8 pounds have been iced on the northern basin. Some eschew the stationary practice of setting traps and instead bounce around with sonar and a jigging stick and find good crappie there. This big reservoir also gives up some solid largemouth. Additionally Lake Onota had good ice prior to the thaw with one guy unfortunately pushing his luck and crashing his new truck through it.

Trout have been the top target in the smaller ponds in the Berkshires. Martin listed Dukes Pond, Windsor Pond and good old Plainfield Pond as trout spots which had safe ice and after the upcoming freeze should have good ice again by this weekend.

Connecticut Valley Fishing Report

As for the Connecticut Valley Region, Gerry from Crack of Dawn Bait in Phillipston had impressive early ice reports. In fact he said that this was the first time in nearly a decade when anglers were able to ice fish before the first of the year. Equally good is that in spite of the thaw/rain most of the ice has retained its integrity with only shorelines questionable. Give it a few more days and many of the following spots should be ready to go again. Clubhouse Pond had good ice as this water body is habitually among the first to freeze in the Bay State. Clubhouse – or Sheomet Lake as it is officially called – is a trout pond but has some solid warm water species as well. Lake Rohunta is known for largemouth bass, perch and crappie and is worth a watch. Other nearby locations that deserve a nod are Lake Mattawa for trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass and the Spectacle Ponds which are renowned for crappie. One report which really surprised me was from Indian Lake in Worcester where a few have already been out on coves looking for pike.

Central Massachusetts Fishing Report

Angling is anticlimactic in Central Mass with the Wachusett Reservoir fishing season coming to a close on Tuesday. With historically low water levels the “Rez” fished like a much smaller water body. Ordinarily this late in the season lakers would be roaming in close proximity to most anywhere along the 37 miles of shoreline – but not this year! A lot of Wachusett was simply too shallow to support much in the way of prey and predator making for uncharacteristically large swaths of dead water. Fishers who consistently found the forktails knew where the deep water was. In addition to the staple of spoons – Kastmasters, Krocodiles, Deadly Dicks, Hopkins Shorties and the like – some did extremely well on jigheads/white paddletials.

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The day after the 8 month season finale, I expected to hear of Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle in West Boylston playing solitaire but instead he was dolling out shiners! All the more impressive was that he was cleaned out of pike and medium-heavies. Thankfully the bait was not sold to scofflaws looking to “extend” their Wachusett season but rather anglers targeting pike in Indian Lake as well as bass in Quinsigamond. Later I would learn that those pike in Indian Lake were actually caught through the ice. As for other hardwater prospects, some anglers have been out on Peter Carr Pond as well as Rutland State Park.

Rick from Jerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford told me that there was auger action on Lake Wallum earlier in the week. There’s good reason to frequent this multi-tiered water body as it is stocked with trout and has a healthy population of both bass and pike. Lake Singletary had a few anglers out on ice by the boat ramp earlier in the week and it should freeze back up soon thanks to the frosty forecast. Some serious smallies are what’s special about this lake.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

While the wait is on for the east, meanwhile you can feast on some western Mass ice fishing prospects. Just to be safe give those water bodies a few more days to stiffen up. If you’d like to add to those options check out the New Hamsphire/Maine forecast where anglers are ringing in the New Year on the ice with pike, bass and trout.