Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[Janderson45]

2 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Janderson45's late season success got me curious about 'the Nip' so I diverted from my original plan and gave it a whirl.  It sure is a BIG, SHALLOW place.  It was very windy and appeared significantly lower than normal from the dark lines on rocks I saw.  Surface temps were 54.X.  I cruised past the big island to see what was to see.  I turned back about 100 yards from the farthest shore from the launch because it was so shallow and worked the 3-3.5' areas around the big island where my Lowrance marked skads of fish.

I started with a little gold Yozuri square bill I did well with at one of Fishing Rhino's haunts and a Perch flavored Shadow Rap.  The Rapala didn't pan out so I switched between my go-to Zoom U-Tail and a white/chartreuse spinner bait.  The Yozuri got me a bass, roughly a pound or so on the NW side of the island.

I continued, without luck for the rest of the afternoon.  I tied on a Mepps spinner to see if I could coax ANYTHING out of hiding.  No such luck, but I didn't get SHUT OUT.

It looks like a good place to fish.  Perhaps I'll give it another shot in the Spring.  Hopefully we'll get a lot of rain/snow this winter and water levels will come back up.

Wish you had let me know, I would've hit it again with you, haha!  

I fished the wachusett reservoir with a buddy and all we managed was one smallmouth, not very big either.  The wind was brutal out there.. I'm sure it wasn't much fun at the nip either.  Definitely a change in the weather today, might've shut the bite down a bit.  

I may try to target pike next time I can get out, but I'm sure I'll hit the nip a couple more times before the ice comes.  I've also got a spot or two in Plymouth I'd like to get out on before winter... We'll see, time is growing short here I'm afraid. 

 

P.S.  That super shallow area that you turned back from on the far northwestern shore is where I've caught probably half of my fish the past few weeks there, granted none of the big bass I caught came from that area, but both of the huge pickerel I caught did.  Ranges from 1-2.5' and is loaded with green weeds and life still, just a bit of a challenge to figure out how to fish it with the water so shallow and the weeds fairly dense.  

[Mr. Aquarium]

got a chunky 3.10 lbser last night at about 11:30 on a swimbait 

[Fishing Rhino]

God bless you guys for upholding the honor of the northeast fishermen. 

Time for me to get to the chores around the house so they won't interfere with the next season.

I went to the Nip once, back in 208.  Spent most of the day in my canoe and didn't get so much as a tap.  Never went back.  The posts have got me curious.  May have to try it next year, preferably with someone who knows how to fish the pond.

My Nitro might be overkill, but I can run it all day on the trolling motor, and move around in it without doing a balancing act.

[Janderson45]

2 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

God bless you guys for upholding the honor of the northeast fishermen. 

Time for me to get to the chores around the house so they won't interfere with the next season.

I went to the Nip once, back in 208.  Spent most of the day in my canoe and didn't get so much as a tap.  Never went back.  The posts have got me curious.  May have to try it next year, preferably with someone who knows how to fish the pond.

My Nitro might be overkill, but I can run it all day on the trolling motor, and move around in it without doing a balancing act.

Under normal water levels/conditions it's plenty fishable from a bass rig, had a good long chat with a guy fishing solo in his bass boat there just last week.  Under present conditions you do have to exercise a lot of caution though, especially near the boat launch and in the northern section of the lake.  Water levels appear to be down about 2' from normal right now. It is also a very nice place to fish from a canoe or kayak, I've fished it from both 

[DogBone_384]

Looking at the dark spots on the rocks past the big island I'd say the Nip is down more than 2'.

When I passed it on the right yesterday I had to raise my trolling motor all the way up and measured it at a paddle blade deep.

Tom, I'd leave the Nitro at home and recon with your canoe.

I'm off Tuesday day and the foecast says 60....

[Fishing Rhino]

38 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

Looking at the dark spots on the rocks past the big island I'd say the Nip is down more than 2'.

When I passed it on the right yesterday I had to raise my trolling motor all the way up and measured it at a paddle blade deep.

Tom, I'd leave the Nitro at home and recon with your canoe.

I'm off Tuesday day and the foecast says 60....

I won't be going to the Nip until next year.  Hopefully, it will be at full pool next spring.  Heh, heh, full pool is something I heard for the first time on the first road trip.  It refers to the normal water level.  They use it all the time.  The lake is three feet above full pool.  The lake is two feet below full pool, etc.

Another thing to pay attention to is when they will be "drawing water" at the dams to generate electricity.  They will tell you how many generators will be drawing water.  When they draw a lot of water, and the current is running, the fish in the middle of the river will head to the shore and inlets to get out of the current.  When they are drawing much water, and there isn't much current, the fish tend to move toward the deeper water.  That doesn't mean you won't catch fish along the banks or in the coves and creeks.  As we all know, the fish do not always abide by the "book".

[Janderson45]

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

Looking at the dark spots on the rocks past the big island I'd say the Nip is down more than 2'.

When I passed it on the right yesterday I had to raise my trolling motor all the way up and measured it at a paddle blade deep.

Tom, I'd leave the Nitro at home and recon with your canoe.

I'm off Tuesday day and the foecast says 60....

For what it's worth I've never seen those rocks without dark marks on them and I've been fishing there for years now, but you're right there are certainly marks higher on those rocks than 2'.  

My last trip there the water level was actually up noticeably from my prior outting if you can believe that... 

To the right side and north of the main island is incredibly shallow you're absolutely correct there.... There are a few other points too that I can't even get over in a kayak.  I think the bass boats I see on it must stick to a pretty predictable route due to the various very shallow areas.  

I've got Tuesday off as well.  If the weather is nice and you'd like to meet up, we can try Nippenicket or where ever else youd prefer. 

[Fishing Rhino]

I'll take Tuesday under advisement.  Maybe I'll show up with my canoe, and chase you guys around.

[Janderson45]

High rising pressure and bluebird skies after overnight lows in the high 20s- perhaps not ideal conditions, but at least it'll be warm!  I think I know how we could coax them out..

Im planning to go scout it out and do a few hours of fishing tomorrow afternoon, if you guys would like to coordinate something for Tuesday shoot me a PM.  

If not I'll report back on how it is anyways!

-Joel 

[MassYak85]

I might try and go out Friday (I know I've probably said "this will be my last time out" like 4 times already but hey, the water is still soft). Weather forecast is looking optimal. A few steady days beforehand in the mid/upper fifties and then Friday is supposed to be partly overcast with wind before a cold front for saturday and sunday. Hopefully it stays that way as the week goes on. 

[DogBone_384]

To Fishing Rhino, Janderson45, and anyone not working Tuesday that wants to get out, I'll suggest Long Pond, Great Herring, or the Nip., around 9:00. 

I can fish until about 3:00 pm then have to get to work.

Long Pond has trout, salmon, Larries, and smallies... gives up a good shot at success.

I'm just south of Boston and can get to all easily.

[Janderson45]

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

To Fishing Rhino, Janderson45, and anyone not working Tuesday that wants to get out, I'll suggest Long Pond, Great Herring, or the Nip., around 9:00. 

I can fish until about 3:00 pm then have to get to work.

Long Pond has trout, salmon, Larries, and smallies... gives up a good shot at success.

I'm just south of Boston and can get to all easily.

I was checking out halfway pond the other day, right next to long pond.. That would be a fantastic option as well, but no trout or landlocks there, just SMB and LMB, albeit of above average quality.  Really cool fishery if you guys aren't familiar with it.  

I'm up for any of those options.  I'll let you guys decide.  I'm still gonna go paddle the nip for a few hours this afternoon regardless.  With little to no wind and sunny skies we may have better luck targeting smallies at one of the Plymouth ponds. 

[DogBone_384]

I've never fished Halfway, so I'd be game.  

[Janderson45]

Halfway would be cool, parking is very limited however and there is no boat ramp, just a few parking spots scattered along a dirt road with places to put in.  I would be up for Halfway, Long pond or Great herring, just let me know and I'll meet you there.  

Fishing Rhino are you still thinking about tagging along??

 

I paddled around for a few hours this afternoon and caught a few on a jig.  Nothing special size wise, but sure felt good to set the hook.  It was pretty cold out there by 4pm and I wasn't quite dressed for it so I decided to call it.  

 

 

[Fishing Rhino]

I won't be able to make it tomorrow.  Have to tend to a couple of repairs around the house.

[DogBone_384]

Too bad Tom. This might be the last trip of the year.

I'm game for Halfway.  I've never been there.  I have a wheel cart for my kayak.  

What's the best launch point? Looking at the map I'm guessing by the boggs. 

[MassYak85]

Hey @Janderson45 How do you like your anchor wizard? Currently I just have a kite spool with some nylon rope wrapped around it and it's a mess sometimes. I want to get something else in the spring along with a stakeout pole. 

[Janderson45]

2 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Too bad Tom. This might be the last trip of the year.

I'm game for Halfway.  I've never been there.  I have a wheel cart for my kayak.  

What's the best launch point? Looking at the map I'm guessing by the boggs. 

Off of Mast road.  You won't be able to miss it, there's only a few parking spots scattered along the dirt road 

 

1 hour ago, MassYak85 said:

Hey @Janderson45 How do you like your anchor wizard? Currently I just have a kite spool with some nylon rope wrapped around it and it's a mess sometimes. I want to get something else in the spring along with a stakeout pole. 

I like it a good amount, just don't quite love it.  I use it with my anchor trolley, I haven't used it anchor tube that comes with it yet.  Occasionally if you're careless in operating it the anchor line can still get all tangled up on the winch and it's a bit of a pain to get untangled.  Only other complaint is that it doesn't hold quite solid in my slide trax with the two slide trax bolts included.  Works well enough that I'm glad I have one though, I use it nearly every time out and it has definitely helped my kayak fishing.   It comes with 60' of anchor line which is nice too. 

[Janderson45]

Me and Dogbone had a tough day out at Halfway, we each managed a few pickerel and yellow perch but no bass.  Water temps were in the low 50's.  It was a beautiful day out though, sunny and highs in the low 60s.  

All of the pickerel I caught came on a rattle trap, they hit it on the fall.  I also had a couple of decent sized yellow perch hit a 3/8oz bass jig I was throwing.

 

With still relatively stable weather I plan to get out again in the coming days, I'll post back when I do.

this was my big pickerel on the day, was about 3lbs. 

[DogBone_384]

Ditto on the Pickerel liking my Rapala Rattle Trap at Halfway with Janderson45.  It was good to meet and fish with another member.

I scouted/fished Big Sandy in Plymouth yesterday, just to see if I could coax any large/small mouth out of hiding. Water temps were 54.x compared to Halfway's 51.x.  

I didn't catch any bass, but some nice Rainbows liked my Mepps spinner and jointed Rapala crankbait flavored in small mouth.  I had get to work, so I left at 3:00 and dropped the Rainbow off at my in-laws.

Tuesday's weather looks fishable.  If I'm not working, I'll be somewhere.... Plymouth perhaps? 

[Janderson45]

Got out this afternoon for a few hours on Whitehall. Water temps ranged from 48-50.  Didn't do as well as I had hoped, it did manage to catch a few.  Caught 2 largemouth on a rattletrap in 6-7' of water.. But I couldn't produce anything consistently doing this, definitely just reaction strikes as I pulled the trap from the remaining grass.  

then I went out to the deepest part of the reservoir and marked a boat load of fish.  I attempted to more or less fish vertically for them with a blade bait.  I caught a few fish doing this, but they were all yellow perch ? .  I saw no life at all in the shallows, so I figured bass might be holding deep and feeding up, if they were there and it wasn't just perch and crappie I was marking everywhere then I've got nothing to show for it.   

[Mr. Aquarium]

im still getting some bass at night on topwater! 

[Janderson45]

12 minutes ago, swamp hawgs said:

im still getting some bass at night on topwater! 

What sorts of topwaters are you throwing?  Wake baits?  Large, small?  I've had best luck with topwater this fall using wake baits that create a "V" behind them.  Also caught a few on a megabass pop x. 

[MassYak85]

Got my first hudd (68 weedless) in the mail. I went to whitehall this afternoon to test it out, it was pretty windy and cold so props to Janderson for getting out there. I might try to fish on Sunday when it's a little warmer.

I'm pretty sure I got a ROF 12 though even though I ordered and the package says ROF 5 (it sinks head tilted down vs horizantal and counting it down it definitely falls much faster than 5 feet per 10 seconds). Honestly I'm glad that  mistake happened though after fishing with it for a little bit, half the fall rate would be hard to keep bottom contact with I feel like. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

yea the rof 12 will sink head first due to the weight. the 68s are badass! fish em like a jig or crawl em along bottom right now. they should work good in the weeds but the 5 is better for that. pitching the 5 to pads and slow rolling i think will be killer. i want the 8 inch weedless in ROF so i can fish it in the thick stuff up top!! 

 

7 hours ago, Janderson45 said:

What sorts of topwaters are you throwing?  Wake baits?  Large, small?  I've had best luck with topwater this fall using wake baits that create a "V" behind them.  Also caught a few on a megabass pop x. 

yes im using wake baits! big swimbaits! been testing a bait for a buddy so ive been getting fish on it! my buddy from maine has been smoking them at night with wake baits! he caught a 7.9 halloween night on a shellcracker slow waked