Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[MassYak85]

14 hours ago, Don51 said:

Absolutely!   https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife

I've seen a decent amount of EPOs down that way to when I do make it down. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Fished in RI for chub mackerel today. Saw plenty but couldn’t get them the weeds were brutal. I caught 2 scup and a puffer fish. My first local puffer, I’ve caught them in NC a few years ago. 

[MassYak85]

Anyone getting into any tanks this summer? I've been taking a bit of a break and doing more hiking. Gonna try and hit it hard in the fall though.

[Mr. Aquarium]

11 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Anyone getting into any tanks this summer? I've been taking a bit of a break and doing more hiking. Gonna try and hit it hard in the fall though.

Almost went bassin yesterday, haven’t really

been since April.  We decided for salt instead. I’m going to try and get out this week

[DogBone_384]

12 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Anyone getting into any tanks this summer?

It’s been dink-city for me since April. I haven’t fished much fresh water this Summer. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

4 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

It’s been dink-city for me since April. I haven’t fished much fresh water this Summer. 

Im Happy you’re getting on the salt! 

[MassBass]

20 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Anyone getting into any tanks this summer? I've been taking a bit of a break and doing more hiking. Gonna try and hit it hard in the fall though.

Not 'tanks', but some quality LM, 18" was the biggest.

[MassBass]

Cont.

[JQ-92]

I know this is a eastern, MA thread but it seems all other MA threads are dead…..I live on the north shore (Haverhill). I have a 17ft tracker. Anyone fish Martins pond in North Reading? Can I launch a boat? Any info is a appreciated…..

[MassBass]

6 hours ago, JQ-92 said:

I know this is a eastern, MA thread but it seems all other MA threads are dead…..I live on the north shore (Haverhill). I have a 17ft tracker. Anyone fish Martins pond in North Reading? Can I launch a boat? Any info is a appreciated…..

Hey, I am from Haverhill. A lot of spots around there. With a boat that size I would reccomend looking into Lake Attitash and the Merrimack River. A smaller craft would open up all the local ponds. 

[JQ-92]

1 hour ago, MassBass said:

Hey, I am from Haverhill. A lot of spots around there. With a boat that size I would reccomend looking into Lake Attitash and the Merrimack River. A smaller craft would open up all the local ponds. 

Just got back from attitash. Worst thing is….I live right on the merrimack in Haverhill. That stretch freaks me out with the tide and how rocky/shallow it is. Always looking for a fishing partner let me know! 

[DogBone_384]

20 hours ago, JQ-92 said:

I live on the north shore (Haverhill)

Haverhill’s East of Worcester… welcome to the thread!

[MassBass]

15 hours ago, JQ-92 said:

Just got back from attitash. Worst thing is….I live right on the merrimack in Haverhill. That stretch freaks me out with the tide and how rocky/shallow it is. Always looking for a fishing partner let me know! 

Attitash isnt always easy but there are plenty of ~4lb largemouth. The legend goes that tiger musky were stocked in the '80s, and they are still down there somewhere. There are loads of big pickerel to. It does get boat traffic and fishing pressure because of the camps and good ramp. Also there is a bait shop worth checking out right near the entrance to the launch. I have heard/seen on FB how low the river is below the Lawrence dam. So probably you could still boat around downriver from haverhill bridges, but the smallmouth are more spread out that far down. They are still there if you want to grind and search for them. 

[MassYak85]

On 7/29/2022 at 8:28 PM, JQ-92 said:

Just got back from attitash. Worst thing is….I live right on the merrimack in Haverhill. That stretch freaks me out with the tide and how rocky/shallow it is. Always looking for a fishing partner let me know! 

Years ago when I was a kid my dad and I launched his fiberglass stingray on that stretch and went upriver from Haverhill in hopes of some spring stripers. Sketchiest experience of my life on a boat I don't know how we didn't hit something. He did manage to get one 39" striper but that was it, never doing that again lol.

[Sputterbug]

Got this 5.5 last night. Great battle, had to pull some moves just to keep it from going into the pads. My fourth and biggest over 5lbs this year. Last year I only broke 5 once so definitely a bounce back year.  Got a 4 earlier and a 4.9 the night before...good weekend.

Earlier in the week went out to Leonards pond for the first time. Got a couple around 2 1/2 and a few more smaller ones. Tons of hydrilla but weed free in the middle. Water was coffee colored. Caught all on a spinnerbait. Like to fish there in the spring when less weedy. Almost stopped at Mary's pond on the way back but ran out of time.

 

[The one that got away]

Many many small small fish on the Charles this morning.  These are two of the stupider ones.  

[Styguy922]

On 7/29/2022 at 12:03 PM, JQ-92 said:

I know this is a eastern, MA thread but it seems all other MA threads are dead…..I live on the north shore (Haverhill). I have a 17ft tracker. Anyone fish Martins pond in North Reading? Can I launch a boat? Any info is a appreciated…..

I’ve fished Martin’s before.  I don’t believe there is any real official boat launch.  Place is basically a weedy bowl, getting to around 5-6ft at the deepest and no real interesting structure or anything.  I would go elsewhere if you have other options! 

[DogBone_384]

Fished Hinckley’s (twice), Goose, Buck’s, and Snake ponds over the weekend. Not much to report. One good bass at Goose that came in at 2 1/2 pounds, and a couple small bass & perch at the other ponds. 
 

I threw the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
 

Water temps were 83.x - 84.x across the board.

[DogBone_384]

Fished Walkers Pond this afternoon, throwing assorted T-rigged baits, chatterbait, Whopper Plopper, jerk bait & shallow cranks and came up empty.

 

Water was 86.x and winds were 20+ mph by the time I left. The water looked like coffee w/milk. I asked @Saltysmalljaws if it were normally weedy. He said yes, but there was no vegetation that I could find.

 

Walkers reminded me of Sunset Lake a few years ago when Braintree treated the water, killing the vegetation - and effectively, the fishing.  Regardless, don’t waste your time here. There are better ponds on the Cape.

[bass.slayer69]

For me the saltwater fishing has been so good this year I haven’t had much motivation to go freshwater. Sure on a windy day in early July I had a great day for smallmouth but combined with the good marine weather this year it has meant a year of the stripey fish instead of the green ones for me. I did set a new PB of 3-10 in May though

[DogBone_384]

Fished with @Fishing Rhino in his home pond today.  As usual, he took me to school with at least four fish over 4 pounds and one probably 5+.  He started off with 5 bass in short order to my ZERO, but I made a late charge with a black/blue chatterbait and bagged a new PB Larry at 6 pounds.  Overall I'd say he out-fished me at nearly 2:1 for the day.  Thanks again Mr. Chatterbait.

 

We didn't have any electronics, but the water was bathwater warm.  It was cool and overcast most of the morning and air pressure was 30.1.

[bass.slayer69]

12 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

bagged a new PB Larry at 6 pounds. 

Congrats! That is a nice fish especially for around here

[MassYak85]

Congrats on the PB! 

[Frezzy]

14 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Fished with @Fishing Rhino in his home pond today.  As usual, he took me to school with at least four fish over 4 pounds and one probably 5+.  He started off with 5 bass in short order to my ZERO, but I made a late charge with a black/blue chatterbait and bagged a new PB Larry at 6 pounds.  Overall I'd say he out-fished me at nearly 2:1 for the day.  Thanks again Mr. Chatterbait.

 

We didn't have any electronics, but the water was bathwater warm.  It was cool and overcast most of the morning and air pressure was 30.1.

Congrats on the new PB. 

 

Yesterday's big change in the weather had them chewing hard.  I smashed them as well.  Best 5 went 18.14lbs.  I was on the bank and only fished for about 3 hours.  Bassman Spinnerbait (chart/white) and Bobby's Perfect Frog did most of the damage.

[DogBone_384]

Fished Massapoag in Sharon yesterday afternoon.  As usual, it was nearly calm when I launched and quickly got to 10-12 mph.  I came up with one 1-14 SMB, a 2-9 LMB, and two white perch.  Sally ate a 5" watermelon bluegill Yamamoto Heart Tail.  Larry and one YP took an American shad LV500.  The second perch tried eating a clown Vision 110.

 

The water level was down 2-3', and temps were 77.x. Air pressure was 30 and falling.

 

And, as usual, the wind died down as I loaded up and pulled out of the parking lot...