Massachusetts Fishing Report – February 2025

UPDATE: 2/27/25

South Shore through Greater Boston

Metrowest through the North Shore

Central Mass through Western Mass

Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts

UPDATE 2/13/25

Snowfall has been a change agent for many and in some cases has made yesterday’s hot spot today’s dead zone. Those who are cognizant of the smothering effect snow can have over what stirs below are adapting to more oxygenated water bodies and still chasing flags.

For many hardwater addicts the first part of the season was the best of times. A quick freeze along with little if any snow provided ease of access and opportunity to fish spots earlier than in years. Coinciding nicely with that was a solid bite as droves of anglers reveled in an ice fishing season reminiscent of a bygone era. Unfortunately smothering snowfall seems to have put the brakes on much of that euphoria. With sunlight no longer searing through to the depths there is less oxygen, movement of bait and as a result lethargic fish. This is hardly a phenomenon as it takes place throughout the ice-belt in mid-winter but nevertheless is alarming as the fishing almost overnight gets slow.

Not all are suffering from this malady with anglers who are focusing their efforts on water bodies which benefit from moving water doing just fine. Ponds/lakes which are spring fed, have inlets or are bays off rivers are more oxygenated and feature more active fish. By the end of the month and into March the sun will be our ally as it will trigger increased current and melt sun-swept shorelines which will be a magnet for all kinds of fish. If you’re not familiar with water bodies which feature safe ice/moving water consult our partners who own local bait and tackle shops who will point you in the right direction.

Massachusetts Fishing Report

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland said that the northern end of Lake Cochiuate is serving up a mixed bag of rainbow trout and warm water species. There is no need to tailer bait/gear/tactics for the gamut of what swims here as medium shiners are catching most everything.

For brown trout Hopkinton Reservoir is proving a better bet while nearby Ashland Reservoir continues to give up a more steady pick of rainbows. Possibly the best bass in the area are being hauled out of Heard Pond with runner-up status split between Stump Pond. Fiske Pond, Dudley Pond and South End. Fairhaven Bay off the Sudbury River is one of those well-aerated water bodies which thanks to moving water should be oxygenated enough to ward off the mid-winter blahs.

The way Rick from Jerry’s Bait in Milford describes it, Masswildlife must have unloaded an entire hatchery into Comet Pond in Hubbardston. Anglers are catching everything from rainbows to browns to brookies – and even tiger trout! As to a one-size-fits-all offering Rick said that anglers can’t beat good old shiners with dillies the second choice. When asked for a choice jigging lure, he picked the Swedish pimple with the green iridescent strip.
His crappie choice is Lackey Pond and the Mumford River. Anglers have also been doing well at Robinson Pond, Lake Chauncy and Stump Pond (A-1 Site).

Lake trout reports from B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston are hardly unusual – but not in February! All the more odd is that the lakers are coming from the Nashua River spillway below the Wachusett Dam. I have a hard time envisioning pulling a laker out of an auger hole in Mass but that’s been the reality for some. A Wachusett size smallie – 4-9 – was recently caught from East Waushacum Pond. For a shot at a similar Sally, Eddie suggests setting up your traps near the island. Moosehorn Pond has been productive for patrons looking for panfish and the same can be said for South Meadow Pond and Maple Springs. Reports from Brigham Pond indicate a solid number of 3-pound on average largemouth.

Gerry of Crack of Dawn Bait and Tackle said that some anglers are bemoaning a sudden drop-off of action. This is nothing to panic about but rather typical of mid-season and after all it is mid-February. Expect things to improve in a major way once March approaches. Meanwhile the blueprint to beat back the mid-winter blues is to find a place with current/oxygenated water. Lake Mattawa is one to consider thanks to its inlets as is The Oxbow off the Connecticut River. Also off the Connecticut River is Barton Cove which is known to give up species as varied as walleye, pike and channel catfish. Lake Dennison is one of Gerry’s favorites with the two streams entering it one reason why.

Big Mike from Merrimac Sports told me that pike up to 43” are still being pulled out of ice in quieter sections of the Haverhill and North Andover sections of the Merrimack River. Tops for trout are Round Pond and Stiles Pond. Some are crossing the border to fish for black bass and black crappie in Big Island Pond. Other options for bass are Lake Attitash and Tuxbury Pond with smallies in the former and largemouth in the latter.

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

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

The blanket of white covering most water bodies has made the fishing a lot more challenging than a few weeks ago. If you’re hardwater honey holes have gone quiet then it may be time to look elsewhere. With little sun getting through weed die-off will plague inshore areas reducing plankton and moving panfish fry and predators in search of aerated water. You should follow the same recipe with stream fed ponds/lakes as well as oxbows/bays/setbacks off of rives meeting the oxygen requirement. The other option is to just be patient a little longer and wait for that big orb in the sky to do its job. In a few weeks the sun will begin melting shorelines, rocky outcroppings and island edges in earnest and you’ll be wondering where all those fish came from!