Rivers and reservoirs are red hot!
More than just blooms and bulbs are popping as some interesting river options are opening up. With shops carrying seaworms, or poised to do so, there are finally reports of a flatfish on the feed. Trout in ponds and lakes now have competition from the Chu and soon – the Q!
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
Josh from The Fishing Hole in South Hadley said that anglers are putting the shop’s voluminous collection of Willow Leaf Spoons as well as shad darts to good use as shad have made it up to the Holyoke Dam. Another unique species – walleye – has become active in that stretch of the Connecticut River. There aren’t all that many places in New England where these magnum members of the perch family swim, but they are common here. Jerk baits as well as jigs/paddletials will catch them.
April in the Bay State means that the angling spotlight is shining brightly on Wachusett Reservoir. One of the unique things about this Bay State gem, especially this month, is the potential for it to produce wow moments at any given time. There’s been a bit of a buzz about a 14-11-pound laker recently taken there on a medium shiner, and fortunately, Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston had the scoop. The guy who caught it did so within a hop, skip, and a jump from Route 140 near Boylston. For those, myself included, who are convinced that it takes a haul worthy of Magellan to find the best spots, there’s proof that big fish can occasionally be found nearly in view of your parked vehicle.
That in-close big laker is hardly an exception. I recall interviewing the late Mike Sienkiewicz, who arguably caught the biggest Wachusett lake trout ever – a 42”, 24-pound beast, and among other surprising twists to the story was where he caught it. He did not have to trek to some 1 1/2 mile remote portion of the reservoir but simply parked on River Road at the mouth of the Quinapoxet River, walked the short path down to the water, and proceeded to catch a once-in-ten-lifetimes fish. That’s the wonder of Wachusett, on any given day at any given spot among the 37 miles of shorelines – not including the tributaries – the fish of your dreams could be swimming right in front of you.
Next up is the mighty Quabbin Reservoir, which is open for fishing as of this Saturday, the 18th! The last I heard was that, like most water bodies, the Q is historically low. Beginning next week, we should have two shop reports to pass along.
Eric from Lunkers in Ashland said that bass are hitting shiners and assorted artificials at Farm Pond and Stump Pond. Anglers are also doing well at the Oxbow on a host of species from bass through crappie to pike and even the occasional bowfin. The north side of Lake Cochituate has been solid for rainbow trout. Rick from Jerry’s Bait in Milford said that most of his customers are dividing their time between trout in Lake Louisa and Uncas Pond. He’s also selling shiners, Kastmasters, and Gut-a-Bites for guys catching lake trout near the causeway and by the Fish and Game Headquarters.
Shawn from The Nuke’s Bait & Tackle in Merrimack told me that pike have picked up their game all along the Merrimack River. Some anglers are even getting them to take down topwater plugs. If I had to pick a pike-preferred topwater, unquestionably it would be as big a loon Whopper Plopper as I could find. The going is good in Georgetown for bass in Johnson Pond and Rock Pond. Folks have been having success for trout in Sluice Pond, Plugs Pond, and Round Pond.
Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Report
Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate told me that anglers are beginning to reacquaint themselves with the salt, with that reintroduction a work in progress. The weather buoy area has been giving up a few haddock and redfish, but nothing remarkable. Tautog should be moving into estuaries soon to spawn with Powder Point Bridge, Manomet Point and Cedar Point a few South Shore spots to get them. Meanwhile, a seaworm dropped in the midst of a ledge in the Minot area, the Glades, or off Egypt Beach could interest one. There are no flounder reports as of yet or shad, the latter of which, if they’re already in the Connecticut River, should be moving into the North River any day.
Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy is now carrying seaworms as shop striper sharpies are reporting an uptick in interest from holdover stripers. While unsuccessful, one angler reported sizable swirls in Osprey Overlook Park in the Weymouth Back River as bass appeared to be belting alewives. Another patron of the shop has been catching holdover stripers on squid off the Black Falcon Cruise Ship float in the channel. This guy’s not sure which he’s enjoying more – catching striped bass or the convenience of the parking.
Other anglers are beginning to sound for flounder, which had me thinking of the earliest I ever caught Boston blackbacks. When my friend Captain Jason Colby kept his Little Sister in Quincy, we occasionally gave it a go locally in April with less than encouraging results. In fact, the best we did was one lonely 14” fish off of Peddock Island on April 13th, among 46 degree water temperature. The tipping point was always 50 degrees for those flatfish to begin to feed with purpose, which usually doesn’t happen until the first of May. Regarding Captain Colby, he’s readying his Contender for a brief splash-in later this month for river tog in Westport. After that, it’s onto Sesuit Harbor where he can target a more reliable biomass of flounder. Peppered in with those flounder will be an occasional tautog among rock pile waypoints the captain has saved.
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett in Everett told me that holdover stripers are becoming more active in Greater Boston rivers. One of the more reliable techniques to target them is to troll a red or Toscano Santini tube in tight to bridge/lock pilings and abutments. To complement his panoply of tubes, Pete’s planning on carrying seaworms by the weekend. A few haddock, redfish, and cunner have been found about 5 miles Northeast of the B Buoy. Now that the shop is carrying seaworms, expect increasingly frequent flounder reports as waters warm. While on the subject of flounder, brace yourself – Pete’s annual Zobo Flounder Tournament is less than one month away! If there ever was blast of a fishing event that checks off all the boxes this one is it – I’ll be there and I hope you are too. Former protege of Pete’s and master chum churner, Willy Goldsmith, has been having his way with Charles River Carp. David “Dee” Do has also been having a blast there with carp as well as white perch pushing shiners up against bridge abutments.
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Tops for trout are Silver Lake in Wilmington, the Shawsheen River, and Sluice Pond. Kelly worms as well as shiners are doing the trick at Fellsmere Pond and Wright’s Pond. Marty from Tomo’s Tackle said that while the wait is on for things to get salty, most are enjoying freshwater. His son, Marty Jr, is already dialed into big perch in Chebacco Lake with stripers on the horizon. While not a bass with stripes, largemouth bass are stirring among the smattering of freshwater bodies, which are surprisingly numerous in Gloucester. Apparently Cape Ann casters are not immune to the glide bait phenomenon which most are deploying to catch the bass.
Regarding Gloucester, Garrett from Three Lantern Marine told me that the shop is now carrying seaworms, as anglers have already found flounder in Cape Ann. Niles Beach has been good, as I suspect Manchester Harbor should also. Anglers on the lookout for something to hit a sabiki rig have been finding mackerel and harbor pollock between the Groaner and the Salvages.
One event that could pay off in fishy dividends is the annual demo day at Surfland Bait and Tackle. Liz informed me that the event will be held on May 9th and will feature some major players in the striper world who will be showcasing their wares. The bump in river herring among the Parker River continues as this run is looking healthier than in years. This should later result in some explosive striped bass fishing in the Plum Island Sound as the spent breeders move back out to the sea in June through July, with hungry striped bass waiting! There are no reports of shad as of yet in the Merrimack, with the North Andover stretch behind the “dance studio” among the first to get hot. Nearby Captain’s Fishing Charters begins their headboat pursuits of haddock and other gadoids on Friday.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
The first shad reports are beginning to trickle in, with the Holyoke section of the Connecticut River getting the first wave. While there, take along a few jerk baits as walleye are responding as well. Water levels may be low at Wachusett, but the place is still giving up the occasional big laker in unexpected ways, and catch rates of smallmouth bass are increasing. The Thomas Basin is worth a go for white perch and crappie. Holdover harbor stripers are feeding more often now that herring are becoming more numerous, with the Reserve Channel, the Weymouth Back, Charles River, Mystic River, and Saugus River all possible for resident bass. Another river option is the Merrimack, as the pike bite is on, while the arrival of shad could be but a tide away. Flounder are feeding off Niles Beach in Gloucester, while mackerel and harbor pollock can be found not far away.