Massachusetts Fishing Report
Like a runaway Zamboni machine, the making of ice just can’t be stopped – and ice fishers couldn’t be happier! While some have even been out on a few inches on the South Shore ice, the prudent thing to do is head up north or west, where there have been reports of ice as thick as 7”.
Not all have a hardwater or bust mindset, according to Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate. A few are enjoying solitude and loads of trout in Plymouth in Fearing Pond, as well as the plethora of ponds in Nickerson State Park. These guys are passing on the Power Bait and deploying worms and shiners, believing that the bigger holdover trout will fall for something larger to sink their teeth into. The result has been not only larger fish but impressive numbers as well. As far as imminent ice is concerned, Pete’s picks are the no-name, smaller ponds that dot Marshfield Hills and the Pembroke area. Next time you’re in, have Pete ping specifics on your phone.
Rod from Arlington Bait & Tackle told me that he intends to match his shop hours with ice fishing conditions. While he’s open more often than not, he intends to expand hours once Greater Boston water bodies freeze up sufficiently. Customers right now are remaining content with catching crappie where the Muddy River meets up with the Charles River, while others are all in on Wachusett Reservoir for the last two weeks of the season.
I got more than just an update on the status of Wachusett Reservoir when I spoke to Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston, as he also had some ice fishing news. Folks have already been out on ice in such warm water bodies as Indian Lake, South Meadow, Paradise Pond, Peter Carr, and Brigham Pond.
With less than two weeks to go in the season, I’m not ready to give up on Wachusett Reservoir yet, so when Eddie mentioned Chu ice, I briefly slipped into panic mode. Fortunately, the “ice” he was referring to was not in the main reservoir but rather between the Stone Church and the causeway bridge – “whew”! That gave me a window to put in a few frigid hours this week, and I was rewarded with six solid lake trout one morning. My go-to lure was a 5/8th ounce gold Krocodile. I noticed a feeding fish just out of casting range, which convinced me that I was in the right spot. The characteristics of that spot were a ridge between the shallows and deep water. I surmised that lake trout were probably pushing smelt in among the shallows, so I opted for the shallow swimming Krocodile, which is more suited to skinny water than the standard issue Kastmaster, which most everyone else employs.
Smelt have a slim profile, and the back of the bigger jacks are amber/gold in color, making the solid gold Kroc a fitting choice. My first choice – a firetiger Krocodile – didn’t produce a whiff. Something tells me that had the fish been feeding on perch fry, that color would have done it. Again, we have less than two weeks to go in the season at the Chu, get your forktail fix while you can!
There are many reasons why I enjoy conversing with the fine folks at Granby Bait, not the least of which is that they have a unique perspective on where the action is. As the premier bait distributor in the state, they know that demand usually follows feeding fish. Paul Junior served up Buckley Dunton Lake as popular for the full spectrum of warm water species, with largemouth bass a standout. The Oxbow should be your option if pike or walleye are in your sights. Woods Pond was also mentioned, especially for jiggers who want fast-paced action for panfish.
Clearly, the Berkshires is the early-season ice fishing jackpot with Martin Farrell of B&R Bait in Cheshire reporting 7” of ice on the namesake reservoir. While there have been no impressive pike reports as of yet, there have been Larrys up to 5 1/2 pounds taken out of the first basin. The twin Windsors – lake and pond – have been among the best for early-season Hilltown trout, while pike reports are trickling in from Pontoosuc, Onota, and Buel.
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Not to be outdone, Shawn from Merrimac Sports said that northern Mass is brimming with ice fishing prospects. Johnson Pond has been among the best for bass, with a few big fish reported. Mill Pond has been good also, especially for fast-paced pickerel action as well as panfish. Holdover trout have also been reported from Round Pond, Plugs Pond, and Forest Lake. Honorable mentions should also go to Stiles Pond for trout, as well as Manning Lake, Attitash, and Tuxbury for warm water action. If you can’t find your favorite freshwater fish somewhere in this list, then you had better switch bait.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
Pick your passion, whether it be open water or hardwater, and chances are you’ll have an option not far away. Casters looking to connect with trout can find fish at Fearing Pond in Plymouth or take a trip to Nickerson Park on the Cape. Chances are that the trout will outnumber fellow anglers at these places. Something can be said for Boston’s “dirty water” as the Muddy River basin is producing a solid black crappie bite. With the Wachusett fishing season withering away, Chu lakers and rainbows are in close, hungry, and pushing smelt onto the shallows. Look for that all-important seam between deep water and the skinny water and cover it all with shallow spoons and deep water spoons. A far different world awaits those who want an early jump on ice fishing, with both the western and northern sections of the Bay State sporting plenty of ice and fishing opportunities.