Crestliner2008

The show is well made and while not promoting fishing products, it does tend to promote local places to fish; which isn't a bad thing. I just prefer watching fishing shows if they teach me something. For entertainment, I'll watch the Walking Dead.

I agree. Half of fishing is using equipment which is more specific to the species you seek. Yes, you can shoot a rabbit with .475 Nitro Express Rifle, but that's hardly enjoyable. Walmarts always has in-expensive combinations you can choose from. For less than $25.00, you can pick up a light action spinning rod and matching reel; with 6# test mono and you are good to go.

You are saying the sonar is telling you there are fish there. Possibly. Are you using the "Fish I.D." feature on the sonar? You know, the one that shows the icons of fish at various depths? If so, turn it off and start to learn how to use the regular sonar with the "arches" instead. The Fish I.D. uses a lot of the signal to render those little icons. So, it can miss-interpret what it is actually pinging on. Using this feature, the sonar could be pinging back floating debris, or weed clumps, or submerged sticks. Go to the web site of your sonar's manufacturer and I'm sure they will tell you the same thing. Don't give up on the off-shore structure. If there are bass residing in the waters you are fishing, they will utilize deeper off-shore structures. More so during the warmer months, but you can find them there just about anytime. Remember, not all fish do the same thing at the same time. The presentations you are using are just fine. I think you may be fishing where they ain't though!

I toss them all year long. I just fish them differently at various times of the year. Cold water means I'll be fishing it a lot slower. In summer, I keep it in motion more.

Good to hear! I like it when someone tries something new and it works for them. Don't worry too much about your approach. Rather once you get there and settled in, give it a few minutes to settle down. Have a cup of coffee or eat a protein bar. Then commence to fishing. That should make things better.

I feel your pain. From I'm gathering in the news, it would probably not be safe for you to venture out on the water right now. Flooding and severe conditions are in your area. Be safe!

Maybe your parents should visit the local police and let them know what is going on. They (the police) may just pay this grumpy neighbor a visit and straighten him out. You need to get it on record with the police in any case....just in case the situation escalates. JMO!

No doubt about it, you have to put in your time on this body of water to make her give up decent fish on a regular basis. Right now is prime shallow water fishing for smallies and lakers. When the water temps get above 60, the lakers move back down deep. The smallies follow them shortly after that. I'm not much of a salmon fisherman though, Have caught most of my salmon while fishing off-shore structures for smallmouths.

je1946 - Yes, I've taken some nice crappie up there. Takes some doing to keep track of them though as it's a big reservoir. We've had our best luck just north of the "Pass" in depths down to 45'. Some decent perch down there too. I've been fishing the Q since the early 80's.

Due to the cold spring and ice up lasting into the beginning of this month, the Quabbin didn't open until this past weekend. Two weeks late! And this weekend was bad, weather-wise, with rain, cold temps and wind. Monday was the most decent day, which is when my fishing partner & I decided to start our Q season this year. Walt & I hit the water between 8:30 am, until we pulled off at 2:00 pm, in search of one species - the lake trout. I know, many folks do not have a fondness for this species (most preferring to target smallmouth bass and salmon), but we do. They fight and bulldog and twist to the very end. Great fun on light spinning tackle. We launched a little after 8 am this morning, out of Gate #31. stiff breezes and cool temps were the rule of the day. The parking lot was filled and we had to wait in a line of about 3 other rigs putting in, when we arrived. Walt had the first fish of the day before 8:30 am. A very nice smallmouth bass. Unfortunately, while trying not to get a hook in his hand, the bass freed itself before I could get a picture. A very promising start of the day! We lost about 1/2 doz. lakers, from about 45', during the morning and early afternoon. But before we show you our catches, here's what we were greeted with for scenery: Doesn't get much better than this. And we had a low fly over by a bald eagle. (Just wish I had a better camera to capture it with.) The loons however, never fail to entertain: Here are some shot of the lakers we did mange to boat, starting off with a couple of Walt's fish: And here are couple of my cookie-cutter lakers: BTW, for you blade bait aficionados, this fish destroyed my 5/8 oz. "Cicada" blade bait ($4.49/ea!). Bent the blade, bent the rear double hook and we never were able to find the front hook! I would not recommend them for such tough fish as lake trout. Our "el cheapo" Barlows blades (at $1.50/ea.) performed much better. JMO! And our "fish of the day"; I managed this bad boy around 1 pm today. Really taxed the 10# test PowerPro with an 8# test fluoro leader on a med-light spinning rig. But it did the job. Probably one of my all-time best: Also picked up one small smallmouth bass to round out our day: And there I am, in full regalia; sun hat and sun gloves. No more cutting hunks of meat off my body for cancer. I've learned my lesson....life is way too short! A great start of the 2014 season for us today. The rest of the week is not shaping out too good, weather-wise, but we'll see. Hope some you got out to enjoy it all.

Real fishermen will try anything!

Your decision should be made based on what seasonal period the bass are in at the time you are on the water. And, of course, the water conditions, i.e.: stained, temperature, forage, etc.. I would start off with a search lure that you have confidence in, one which you have had success in the past, such as a lipless crank, spinnerbait, swimjig, etc.. There is no one definitive answer to your questions. Experience will guide you.

I agree with all that's been said. Unless you do not want to bother with live bait. Then by all means, tie on a 1/16 oz. white marabou crappie jig and put a bobber about 2' - 3' below it. All species will readily attack this combination.

Rapala Sub Walk.

The Zara Puppy is a great river small mouth lure.

Reverse rigged, the Fat Ika is a very deadly bait for any species of bass. Rigged in this fashion, after each raise off the bottom, the lure literally "backs up". This action and the pulsing tails are a sure cue to bass that it is a crawfish - I believe anyway. Work it slowly on/off the bottom. Works in rivers, streams, lakes & reservoirs alike. One of my true go-to baits. Color doesn't seem to matter either!

Very simple solution. Go to the boat registration section of your local RMV. Tell them it's a homemade trailer. They will give you a form to send to Boston to obtain a new title for it. I've done this a couple of times with no problem. They will issue you a temp. registration that you can use until you get the new title from Boston.

You really need to be tossing some suspending hard jerkbaits around here now. Get some X-Raps in Hot Steel. Fish the Quabbin starting tomorrow. You will not be disappointed.

Fat Ika for sure!

THANK YOU! Great deal indeed.

Western MA here and I can tell you that my flukes will not be coming out until at least the spawn starts, which is a ways away at this point. Water temps in this part of the state are barely breaking 50 degrees right now. When it starts getting upwards of 58 - 60 degrees, then I'll bring out the flukes. Suspending jerk baits are a much better options right now, as they do not sink and provide minimal "action" during the presentation, which, it seems to me, the fish like much better.

I've never been a fan of excruciating detail in lure color patterns for fish. Depth & speed control are always paramount, but when it comes to top waters, color is even less of a significant concern than presentations below the surface. Bass are certainly opportunistic feeders and I seriously doubt that those detailed lure patterns play any significant part in whether or not the strike occurs. More importantly though is if using those kind of lures increases your confidence or not. If it does, then that's a big plus for your success. For me, it isn't.

I like a longer 7' rod in ML or Med. action spinning, depending on what technique I'm doing. For some reason, drop shotting for smallies has this "stigma" about 6'6" rods being "ideal". I go longer, to 7' ML. Gives me better control with the presentation. Hard to find rods like that though.

Bill Norman "Little N's" use to be made in gold plate w/black back. I wore out (plating completely gone) 2 of those purchased in the 80's. Still have 2 left but they're getting pretty "ragged" as well. Bass love to chew the plating off! Wish I had a nickle for every bass & northern pike I've taken on those little lures. We call them our "Little Goldies", which we rarely take out anymore for fear of loosing them. Great lures.

I'm starting to use them more & more in recent seasons. Ever since I read the article about them back a few years ago, in the In'Fisherman. I have about a doz. 5/8 oz. Tony Spoons, with clackers attached as such: I actually prefer the gold to the silver. However, it's a tough call between spoons and blade baits. I've only targeted small mouth bass with them however. Both are jigged on/off the bottom. I find it more work to use the spoons as you have to keep it "going". Whereas with the blades, you do not have to be so aggressive. JMO.