Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[Dunks N Dinks]

Cape Update: Cool Runnings

 

Went to Cliffs Friday evening and Saturday morning. Friday was relatively calm and drizzly, which meant being harassed by mosquitoes to no end (which abbreviated the trip). In that short window we caught a few keeper small-mouth and I managed a decent rainbow on a fly that we spotted at the surface feeding. 

With a healthy application of bug-spray and renewed optimism, we returned at sunrise and started fishing the outer weed-lines in 16-20ft that we had found the night prior. There was a decent amount of bait-fish around, but 2 hrs later and just a few 1-1.5lbers to show for it, we made the audible shallower. We eventually connected with a few decent ~2.5lbers; casting hair jigs and ned rigs into shallow rock-piles was the ticket. The better caliber fish were surprisingly shallow (3-5ft). All in all, we ended up catching 5-6 fish a piece until noon before heading in.

 

One potential reason for the shift shallow could be the trend lower in water temperatures...as far as I see it in my journal, peak water temps were about 3 weeks ago (Cliffs @ 81, now 78, Wequaquet @ 82, now 79, Long Pond @ 80, estimating its about 78). While just a small change on the margin, perhaps the internal bass clocks are clicking into early fall mode. That should (hopefully) improve the fishing, as its been a bit slow since late July...             

[Mr. Aquarium]

Fished friday ALLLLL DAY. we grinded for fish. i was on a mission for some quality fish, found the fish stacked up we fished the entire pond multiple times.  most of the fish came in one area.  my buddy had better luck managing 3 or 4 3-4lbs fish and handful of 2lb smallies. i managed 2 bass 3-4lbs. i missed 2 big fish, one hit really friggin hard on a swimbait crawled up a drop off.  the next one was on a jig. came up tried jumping couldnt. spit the hook. we both saw the fish and it had some weight.  i stuck with the jig and swimbait the WHOOLLLEEE day. had some good solid whacks but couldnt stick em. my buddy fished tubes and the small savage gear 5 inch swimbait. 

[DogBone_384]

Hit Ponkie around 2:00 this afternoon and stayed until dark.  The weather was perfect for topwater so that's what I stuck with most of the trip.  I don't know where the large Larries were, but I nabbed a few little ones and a pile of various sized pickerel.  

 

The highlight of the afternoon was the bluegill colored Rapala Skitter Walk I found just after launching.  It was the one a I lost when an assumed pickerel that bit through my line kept earlier this year.  It's the second lost lure I've recovered this year.  The first was a yellow perch blade bait I lost at Hedges over the winter.  Who'd have thunked!?!?!?!

 

I also went back to shore when a quick thunderstorm passed through, and while waiting two rainbows came out.  It's not often you see the base of a rainbow, let alone two next to each other.  I couldn't find either pot of gold .... 

 

Water temps were 72.x and the Canadian Geese are showing up in numbers.... looks like the Fall transition is here.  All I have to do now is find the big bass!

[Mr. Aquarium]

im pumped for the fall.  got some new tricks up my sleeve

[Dunks N Dinks]

what's the best ramp to fish the Charles this weekend?

[je1946]

On 9/12/2018 at 10:55 AM, Dunks N Dinks said:

what's the best ramp to fish the Charles this weekend?

I know there's one in Brighton, by the yacht club off of No. Beacon St.  Good ramp

[Chris186]

Hit Mashpee last Friday, got 8 smallies all on crank baits. Biggest was probably 2.5lbs, only had one dink. No largemouth to be found. All were caught in 4-5 feet of water, water temp was 73-74. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

water is cooling down! SWEET!!!!! i tried on saturday for a quick mission at a good spot, but bad shore spot, fishing swimbaits, no fish.  monday, hit the beach got onto a blitz of stripers in the surf chasing peanut bunkers! 

[gjfisher]

10 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

water is cooling down! SWEET!!!!! 

Yes!  I see better fishing ahead!

 

A friend and I fished three ponds last Thursday on the cape.  Water temp was 75.  First pond we saw shad busting up everywhere and tried to match the hatch by fishing flukes and chatterbaits in white pearl.  I only got two dink largies.  Second pond I got skunked but missed a giant fish on topwater.  Third pond I did better and got four smallies, largest being about 2.5lbs.  Overall a slow day.  It seemed that the bass was still in transition and not feeding aggressively.

 

On Sunday I fished Whitehall.  Caught like 10 picks but only two dink bass in three and a half hours but at least there were more actions LOL.

[Dunks N Dinks]

Never made it to the Charles this weekend, but fished Johns Pond on Sunday. Temps were down to 73-74 from 80 a month ago. Fishing was still a bit slow and couldn't get any bites up shallow, but managed to get 4 fish between 1-2.5lbs off the main point in the SW section of the pond. Outside weed lines were the key, fishing a 1/4oz rat-l-trap and small swimbait, popping them outta grass clumps. Thinking that following the bait should be the key going forward as the fish should become a bit more mobile in cooling water...

[DogBone_384]

I can't say I'll get out this weekend, but next week for sure.....  best of luck to everyone who gets out there this weekend!

[LadiMopar]

Bite was really slow this week, one bitty bass and a pick on Thursday up here. We got whacked with 4.5 inches of rain Tuesday as the remnants of Florence blew through. Still have some minor flooding along the Nashua (Groton area).

 

Water temps came way down from last weekend. Fished Tully (Royalston) last Sunday and it varied from 73-81 by days end. Thursday at Lost Lake in Groton temps were 63-68. Amazing what a "little" rain will do. ?

 

Won't get out this week most likely, but maybe by the weekend. Took the grandkids to the Big MOE (Mass Outdoor Expo) in Sturbridge today at the Hamilton Rod and Gun. Great day, and a really great event (who doesn't like free?) First time at this club and I have to say they have it together. Three beautiful ponds tucked into some stellar woodlands, and some very well maintained shooting ranges too. If you've got kids/grandkids this is a fabulous opportunity to introduce them to many outdoor activities...and get their little paws off those video screens.

 

Have a good week everyone!

[je1946]

Tom (Fishing Rhino) and I hit Quabbin last Thur. our total for an entire day of hard fishing was 5 keeper smallmouth with the two biggest pushing 4lbs,along with a half doz dinks, our efforts at LM came up empty.  We tried a variety of baits but finesse tactics were the winner on all of our fish but one. We didn't find the 2 biggest until late in the day in a location we hadn't fished before and by that time we had very little time left to explore the area. Water temps were still high for this time of yr on the Q 71 to a high of 74 in the afternoon. Hopefully this wks cooler temps will get the water temps down where the fish become a little more predictable and more willing to bite.  For those heading to Quabbin be advised you have to be off the water by 5PM and I believe the Res. will close for the season on the 14th of Oct.

[MassYak85]

On 9/24/2018 at 8:41 AM, je1946 said:

Tom (Fishing Rhino) and I hit Quabbin last Thur. our total for an entire day of hard fishing was 5 keeper smallmouth with the two biggest pushing 4lbs,along with a half doz dinks, our efforts at LM came up empty.  We tried a variety of baits but finesse tactics were the winner on all of our fish but one. We didn't find the 2 biggest until late in the day in a location we hadn't fished before and by that time we had very little time left to explore the area. Water temps were still high for this time of yr on the Q 71 to a high of 74 in the afternoon. Hopefully this wks cooler temps will get the water temps down where the fish become a little more predictable and more willing to bite.  For those heading to Quabbin be advised you have to be off the water by 5PM and I believe the Res. will close for the season on the 14th of Oct.

Is that standard closing for the quabbin? I don't fish it but that seems really early to me. 

[je1946]

1 hour ago, MassYak85 said:

Is that standard closing for the quabbin? I don't fish it but that seems really early to me. 

Yes that is the usually the date. I and a lot of other fisherman wish it was later but that is usually the date.  You could always call the Quabbin visitors center to confirm.

[LadiMopar]

On ‎9‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 8:41 AM, je1946 said:

Tom (Fishing Rhino) and I hit Quabbin last Thur. our total for an entire day of hard fishing was 5 keeper smallmouth with the two biggest pushing 4lbs,along with a half doz dinks, our efforts at LM came up empty.  We tried a variety of baits but finesse tactics were the winner on all of our fish but one. We didn't find the 2 biggest until late in the day in a location we hadn't fished before and by that time we had very little time left to explore the area. Water temps were still high for this time of yr on the Q 71 to a high of 74 in the afternoon. Hopefully this wks cooler temps will get the water temps down where the fish become a little more predictable and more willing to bite.  For those heading to Quabbin be advised you have to be off the water by 5PM and I believe the Res. will close for the season on the 14th of Oct.

I checked the official 2018 Quabbin Regs and the final date is October 20. 

To see the whole document: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/quabbin-reservoir-fishing-season-and-contact-info

[Mr. Aquarium]

the 20th is pretty late, nice! 

[je1946]

3 hours ago, LadiMopar said:

I checked the official 2018 Quabbin Regs and the final date is October 20. 

To see the whole document: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/quabbin-reservoir-fishing-season-and-contact-info

Thanks for the update lady Mopar.  After fishing the place for 35yrs  you'd think I would have known it's always the 3rd Sat in Oct.

 

[Fishing Rhino]

On ‎9‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 8:41 AM, je1946 said:

Tom (Fishing Rhino) and I hit Quabbin last Thur. our total for an entire day of hard fishing was 5 keeper smallmouth with the two biggest pushing 4lbs,along with a half doz dinks, our efforts at LM came up empty.  We tried a variety of baits but finesse tactics were the winner on all of our fish but one. We didn't find the 2 biggest until late in the day in a location we hadn't fished before and by that time we had very little time left to explore the area. Water temps were still high for this time of yr on the Q 71 to a high of 74 in the afternoon. Hopefully this wks cooler temps will get the water temps down where the fish become a little more predictable and more willing to bite.  For those heading to Quabbin be advised you have to be off the water by 5PM and I believe the Res. will close for the season on the 14th of Oct.

Ain't it amazin' that a couple of decent fish can transform an otherwise tedious, quiet day into a good day of fishing?

[je1946]

1 hour ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Ain't it amazin' that a couple of decent fish can transform an otherwise tedious, quiet day into a good day of fishing?

Yes your right Tom,  a few decent fish always helps, but I like fishing in general, I also enjoy the tranquility of the Quabbin,  and of course the company of the people I'm with. 

[Fishing Rhino]

2 hours ago, je1946 said:

Yes your right Tom,  a few decent fish always helps, but I like fishing in general, I also enjoy the tranquility of the Quabbin,  and of course the company of the people I'm with. 

Well, I had some good company, but I'm not so sure about you.

[je1946]

54 minutes ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Well, I had some good company, but I'm not so sure about you.

LOL Thanks for the kind words.   I enjoy your company and your always welcome in my boat

[DogBone_384]

Got out a few days ago to Wequaquet lake with Fishing Rhino, launching around 5:30 AM before the rowing club showed up and took the only spot big enough for Tom's Silverado & trailer.

 

It was cloudy in the AM and the wind picked up quickly.  We did OK, each picking up a dozen or so mix of LMB and picks.  We couldn't find the big bass, but well, bass are bass.  I nabbed a 3+ pound pick late in the trip with a swim Senko 'playing dead' on the bottom.

 

I tried an assortment of lures and wacky Senkos and T-rigged swim Senkos were the ticket.

 

Water temps were in the high 60's, just touching 70 as we packed it in for the day.

 

I'm planning on getting down to Plymouth at least a couple days this week.

 

Good luck to everyone else that gets out too!

[mrcimon]

Had a good weekend.  Fished several places by shore, with my new finesse combo in hand.  Caught 4 LMB, 3 Chain Pickerel (One 2LB awesome fight!)  Went to several bodies on the North Shore.

 

Wacky Senko, 4" Kaitech T-Rig Weightless.  Very successful.  I'm now curious to the hook up ratio of a T-Rig vs a Wacky Rig Senko, I felt like I got more curious biting with the Senko, but with more meat than hook I got a better hook up ratio on the T-Rig.  My first time getting out finesse fishing with a bait-caster, or anything for that matter haha

 

Tight Lines All

[Janderson45]

Got my first tournament win in the new boat this weekend on Winnipesaukee!  Caught a bunch of smallmouth during practice and the pattern I figured out on Friday carried me through Saturday and Sunday.  Nothing overly impressive weight wise, but bringing in 5 healthy smallies both days helped edge out the competition that struggled to find fish at all, especially on Sunday.  The key for me was fishing deep offshore structure in the middle of the lake, I had numerous humps and deep points all to myself, not another fisherman in sight for 3 days.  Water temps were 65-68, the majority of my smallmouth came out of 45-50 feet of water if you can believe it.  I found some shallower in practice, but the deep spots were producing with a lot more consistency.  

 

Top producers on Sat/Sunday for me were a dropshot and a football jig.  Smallies were very particular on color, a 3.5" dropshot bait in smoke/purple was the ticket for me.  Went through 3 packs of em and they landed me probably 40-50 smallmouth over the 3 days.  I think the deep smallies I was catching were primarily feeding on smelt.

 

All in all had a blast, Winni isn't as good as Champlain, but it's a fun lake with tons of fish in it's own right, with beautiful scenery to boot!