Massachusetts Fishing Report
UPDATED: 3/26/2026
Trout in both freshly stocked and holdover versions are what most anglers are pursuing for their first open water excursions. With water temperatures still stuck in the 40s, the bite has been challenging and probably will remain so until things warm up a tick or two. Additionally, a couple of opening days are fast approaching, with haddock season beginning April 1st and Wachusett a few days thereafter.
When you got wind of the stocking report, you may have made haste to get in a few casts among freshly stocked trout ponds. After a long winter, no one could blame you for rushing to reacquaint yourself with that magical connection between angler, rod, reel, and a fighting fish. Reality doesn’t always jive with expectations, however, with some anglers wondering if the stocking reports were a hoax. My friend Rick, who spends probably more time checking water temperatures than is probably healthy, shed some light on the temporary lockjaw. His take is that the predominant southeast hatchery maintains a water temperature of about 52 degrees, and with local water temperatures stuck in the mid-40s, trout scatter and are hard to find. That makes sense to me and is an analgesic for the “not a bite” blues. Meanwhile, it might be best just to be patient a little longer until water temperatures normalize.
Most anglers will have to wait for the first wave of breeder bass to file into the Bay State to hear the sweet sound of a singing drag, but if you can overlook an undeniably ugly mug, why wait? If there ever was an underappreciated, yet gamey freshwater fish in these parts, carp would have to be it. During a recent river trip, while hoping for Larry luck, backup plan C saved the day. While my assortment of jerk baits, jigs, and various soft plastics was largely ignored, the bag of corn I brought found its mark pretty quickly. I set up at a Greater Boston River where a tributary ushered in additional current. I tossed a few handfuls of corn into the current, figuring the scent would bring Mr. Carp in close. I kept it simple with a few kernels threaded on a size 6 hook tied to 6-pound fluorocarbon spooled on an outfit, which was basically a trout rod. It didn’t take long before the tiny strike indicator began slowly moving off while I swore I heard the Jaws soundtrack strumming in the background. It’s always a cool thing when you know that very shortly your tackle and your resolve are about to be tested – big time.
After a couple of runs and a shoreline give-and-take which seemed to go on forever, I flopped the 15-20 pound football onto the bank. After a quick pic, it powered off, leaving me with one undeniable conclusion – man, that was fun. What carp lack in glory, they sure make up for in guts, and chances are, there are carp thriving within minutes of where you live.
According to Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate, anglers are dividing their time between recently stocked trout and largemouth bass. Plymouth and the Cape have been regular stops for the full spectrum of trout, with rainbows, browns, and brookies all in play. As for lunker Larrys, folks are playing it simple with large shiners and getting rewarded with fish up to 6 pounds, especially where there are herring runs.
Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy said that anglers are fastidiously checking out the MassWildlife trout stocking reports and patronizing those ponds. There have been a few surprises this year, such as Hobart Pond in Whitman, where fishers have been catching rainbow trout on worms and Powerbait. Some are rolling the dice with clams, and soon seaworms, off Nut Island Pier and Pemberton Pier with the long-shot hope of catching a flounder or even a cod, the latter of which must be released. There are alewife reports in the Weymouth Back River, and I suspect other greater Boston runs as well.
Pete from Fishing FINatics in Everett is moving groundfish goodies out of the shop as New England headboats are increasingly heading out into the Gulf of Maine. Options for a trip out to the deep are Walsh’s Deep Sea Fishing out of Lynn, the Yankee Fleet out of Gloucester, and Eastman’s Fleet out of Seabrook, New Hampshire. Redfish and cusk had been the primary quarry, but that will change as of April 1st, as haddock will garner the most interest. As for freshwater, Horn Pond holdovers have been joined by hatchery trout while Lake Cochituate is still giving up a brisk bite for fall-stocked rainbows. A multitude of species are cooperating at area rivers, including crappie and white catfish.
“Why wait?” has been the attitude of anglers in the Metrowest area, according to Eric from Lunkers in Ashland, as holdover trout have kept anglers preoccupied in both Ashland Reservoir and Lake Cochituate. For warm water species, Heard Pond has been a hit with the other strong option shiners throughout the Sudbury River and into Fairhaven Bay. Like many Bay State Rivers, a variety of warm water species are potentially available, with pike a major player in the Sudbury.
Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston said that it’s looking good for opening day at Wachusett Reservoir, slated for April 4th. The remaining ice is disappearing fast; additionally, water levels are extremely low. Skinny water will still hold lake trout at first light, with many lingering later in the day when conditions are overcast. A date to consider is April 17th, when there is a new moon with smelt shoaling in close and spawning. Should you find spent smelt washed up on the shoreline, then you’ve hit the jackpot, as salmonoids should be nearby. Meanwhile, some are spending their time catching recently stocked rainbow trout in Lake Quinsigamond.
Josh from The Fishing Hole in South Hadley said that with ice fishing now in the past, most in his area are gearing up for the Connecticut River shad run. The shop is fortuitously situated adjacent to the Holyoke Dam on the river where the shad bunch up: as for shad darts, you will not find a larger selection anywhere. Other possibilities there are holdover stripers as well as numerous catfish species.
In the Merrimack Valley Region, anglers have been targeting white catfish in the Amesbury section of the Merrimack River. Those cats are significantly more sporting and a bit bigger than the more common brown bullhead most think of when catfish come to mind. Shawn from The Nuke’s Bait & Tackle in Merrimac said that he’s been fielding calls from anglers catching saltwater white perch in the Exeter River in New Hampshire. While not as prolific, the Parker River in Byfield also has a run. Lake Attitash is now ice-free with kayak anglers already out and targeting horn pout and smallmouth bass.
TJ from Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester said that the shop will soon be stocking seaworms for those looking for that first flounder of the season. As to likely blackback haunts, he recommends the shallow muddy flats right behind the shop, as well as Cripple Cove and off the Granite Pier in Rockport. For a surer bet, check out the plethora of headboats which are increasing their schedule now that haddock are in the offing beginning April 1st.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
With MassWildlife hatchery trucks rumbling forward, trout are a Bay State best bet, with every region in the state now getting fish. For sheer variety, a trip to the panoply of Plymouth ponds or onto the Cape is worth the effort. While lures will have their day, with water temperatures still on the cold side, a shiner floating in the current of the Connecticut, Charles, Mystic, or Merrimack Rivers is a good option to connect with that first nice bass of the season. While not likely to win any beauty contests, river carp are just the thing to knock off dust and rust from your spool. Elsewhere, there are a few opening days of note, namely headboat haddock fishing on April 1st, while forktail fans get a shot at them three days later as Wachusett Reservoir opens for the season.
UPDATED: 3/12/2026
Massachusetts Fishing Report
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.