Massachusetts Fishing Report
UPDATED: 3/12/2026
The one-two combination of the mid-March sun and the near-historic thaw has Bay State hardwater on the ropes, but there’s been no knockout yet. The feeling among many, after an ice fishing season which began in earnest in late December, is that they are dying to reconnect with their casting reflexes.
South Shore through Greater Boston
December’s ice watch has morphed into March’s open water watch on the South Shore, according to Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate. Shorelines are opening up, especially in Plymouth, with some anglers already floating Power Bait and other trout goodies in ice openings. Considering the volume of nice brown trout and rainbows that were caught there when frozen, the prospects of catching that first open water trout are good. A lot of Pete’s patrons took advantage of solid ice among Boston Rivers to fish for holdover stripers, with many able to achieve that glorified and unique “striper on ice” shot. The caveat being that the downside was having to convince law enforcement that, yes indeed, the river ice was safe. As for a chance at a South Shore holdover striper, Pete’s picks are the Green Harbor River, Mill River, and Weir River. Seals have been observed working the North River between Damon’s Point and Marshfield, probably in anticipation of that first volley of alewives which should arrive by the end of the month.
While winter flounder fishing has not been a South Shore highlight in recent years, some anglers are talking of searching for an early blackback bite in Scituate and Cohasset Harbors. Doubtless, flounder are already present in some capacity, but during this time of the year, they are preoccupied with breeding and not feeding. The tipping point for flounder to begin feeding with purpose is 50-degree water temperatures, and we are far off that mark.
A friendly voice answered the phone at Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy as Lisa is back at the helm of this Quincy Bay institution. The shop is once again carrying shiners with anglers focusing on open water in rivers and in some cases ponds as the ice recedes. One spot worthy of attention is the Muddy River, where it meets up with the Charles River. Everything from black bass to black crappie to white catfish and holdover stripers are potential quarry here. Another option that some are checking out that is heavy on hope and light on promise, is soaking clams off the Nut Island Pier. Flounder, as well as catch-and-release cod, have been taken there in the past in mid-March. Odds are that about all you’ll really catch there are crabs, but as we near spring, we all know that hope springs eternal.
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett said that one of the hottest open water bites is happening in Horn Pond, where moving water at the culvert has carved a big swath of open water through the ice. Additionally, the current is attracting brown trout and rainbow trout. Rivers such as the Charles, Mystic, and Malden Rivers offer almost limitless options, especially for “unsung heroes”. A worm on the bottom could catch you a 4-pound white sucker or possibly a brown bullhead. Tossing out a handful of corn could call in carp and reacquaint you with the sweet sound of a singing drag! Seven Acre Park/Rivergreen Park allows access to a nice stretch of the Malden River where largemouth bass and pickerel are in play.
While a long shot, clams on the bottom of the Sugar Bowl in South Boston, the Deer Island Pier, Point of Pines, and the Lynn Pier may interest a flounder. Those locations are prime breeding grounds for flounder, and while hardly rapacious with water temperatures as they are, sooner or later, those fish have to feed. During the halcyon days of the flounder fishery, St, Paddy’s Day for some meant more than green beer – it meant the kick-off of the flounder season!
Metrowest and Central Massachusetts
“Limbo” was the way Eric from Lunkers in Ashland described the state of fishing affairs in the Metrowest Area. With talk about how long a plank is required to bridge eroded shorelines, it’s time to call it for ice fishing in the area. A better bet if you’re still yearning for hardwater is to travel west or north. The shop is carrying shiners, worms, Power Bait, as well as trout hardware such as Panther Martin and Rooster Tail spinners. That trout candy should be able to be put to good use as soon as open water. Never one to be at a loss for words, when Rick from Jerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford starts enquiring about open water possibilities on the Cape, it’s obvious that things are dead locally. I had no news regarding south of the canal for Rick, as he had no news as to anything fishing related in his area – touché!
Fortunately, the other “Gerry” from Crack of Dawn Bait in Phillipston had a better report as black bass are responding to thawing conditions and feeding with renewed urgency. Anglers who are doing best are probing for live, green pond weed and setting up shiners along pockets and edges of the structure. A few of the better water bodies have been Lake Rohunta, Moore’s Pond, and Gardner Lake. While some ice assessments put the depth at over 15”, shorelines, inlets, and springs are weakening quickly, so be very careful with every step you take.
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Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston weighed in on conditions at Wachusett Reservoir, with open water appearing and increasing daily from the causeway and beyond. In anticipation of upstream snow/ice melt, water levels in the reservoir have been dropped to where they are the lowest Eddie has ever seen. He has had a few customers still getting out on the ice for pike at Indian Lake, as well as trout from Comet Pond. Well out west, there are no such concerns about a lack of ice, as Cheshire Reservoir and Lake Onota have plenty, as well as a solid pike bite. For trout, check out Plainfield Pond, North Pond, Windsor Pond, or Windsor Lake for a shot at a Hilltown trout.
In the Merrimack Valley Region, the only open water is where tributaries of the Merrimack River dump into the main river. Effluences of the Spicket, Shawsheen, and Concord Rivers are opening and offering opportunities. Among the possibilities are pike, black bass, white perch, white catfish, and channel catfish. Regarding white perch, a call should be coming soon for Nukes Bait and Tackle in Merrimac for bloodworms as the Exeter River run is imminent. A hint as to when the perch are in thick is when the bloom is on the apple trees!
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
For all practical purposes, it’s last call for ice fishing as the searing sun and recent thaw have been kryptonite to hardwater. The Plymouth area ponds, such as Little and Long, are among the first to open up and should offer trout action. Snow/ice melt is eroding ice in breakneck fashion, making rivers a first open water option for most. River alternatives are numerous, with crappie and carp in the offing in the Charles River, as well as bass and pickerel in the Mystic and Malden Rivers. Further north, the Merrimack River is quickly opening up with pike in play there. For the never-say-die hardwater addict, the western district calls with Cheshire and Onota options for pike, while Hilltown ponds offer high times for trout.