Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[Sputterbug]

Yeah DogBone tonight I'm sure about it, yesterday maybe not so much.

 

Got this 5.12 tonight!  It was awesome, as soon as I set the hook there was no doubt it was a good one. Was skunked and battered by the wind yesterday. Went back to same pond tonight grinding away, it paid off. Caught it on a weightless plastic worm. Looking forward to it warming up a bit.

[1984isNOW]

@Sputterbug killer fish bro, water depth?

 

North shore or south shore?

[Sputterbug]

South Shore, about 4 or 5 feet deep.

[ne_dan]

Went out for a couple hours this afternoon, it was tough.  Only one fish but it went 6.1 lbs, flipping a jig to a down tree in 6ft of water.  

[Mr. Aquarium]

That’s awesome! Haven’t broke 3 in a month.  I need to change that. I need a fish like that 

[guidoStow]

I fished a northern MA river for four hours today and got zilch to show for it. 41.5 degree water, with way too much current. Early days yet...

[DogBone_384]

1 hour ago, guidoStow said:

our hours today and got zilch to show for it

 

All the fish were watching the eclipse!

 

 

Our very own @Mr. Aquarium is a celebrity.  He's on the cover of The Fisherman, New England edition, 08 April 2024!

 

He really is Mr. Aquarium!

 

Look it up and buy a PDF copy!

 

Congratulations Mike!  

 

Now go get that eight pounder you've been looking for!

[Mr. Aquarium]

Thank you @DogBone_384. I appreciate it! 

[guidoStow]

36 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Thank you @DogBone_384. I appreciate it! 

Awesome fish dude!

[ne_dan]

Got out the last two days after work.  Monday was a bust, dead calm, eclipse, no fish.  Yesterday at a different lake; windy, water warmed more.  Managed to get a boat load of fish, I think it was between 14-17 fish lost count at one point.  All over 2 pounds, biggest two were 3.3lbs same exact weigh but two very different fish. 

 

Fished the wind blown shore, they were shallow anywhere from 2'-5' hanging out on any blow down or rocky piece of shore.  Missed a bunch of fish as well when the wind was really blowing, they would hit the jig and swim towards the kayak while I was getting blown towards them and couldn't manage a good hookset .  Everything was on a 1/2oz Black and Blue jig with a Green Pumpkin Berkley Pit Boss trailer.  Weather ahead is looking pretty good and hopefully the cold weather is behind us.

[1984isNOW]

6 hours ago, ne_dan said:

14-17 fish lost count

Sounds like a great day bro! You know the water temp?

 

Looks like you fish south shore, am I close?

Congrats @Mike, that's awesome

[GSil]

6 hours ago, ne_dan said:

Got out the last two days after work.  Monday was a bust, dead calm, eclipse, no fish.  Yesterday at a different lake; windy, water warmed more.  Managed to get a boat load of fish, I think it was between 14-17 fish lost count at one point.  All over 2 pounds, biggest two were 3.3lbs same exact weigh but two very different fish. 

 

Fished the wind blown shore, they were shallow anywhere from 2'-5' hanging out on any blow down or rocky piece of shore.  Missed a bunch of fish as well when the wind was really blowing, they would hit the jig and swim towards the kayak while I was getting blown towards them and couldn't manage a good hookset .  Everything was on a 1/2oz Black and Blue jig with a Green Pumpkin Berkley Pit Boss trailer.  Weather ahead is looking pretty good and hopefully the cold weather is behind us.

my favorite lure/combo, black and blue jig with green pumpkin trailer 🤘

[Sputterbug]

Got this 5.0 tonight out of a bog pond that I hadn't fished in a few years. Almost no signs of life til I hooked this one. Caught on a plastic worm. She shot up out of the water like a cannon ball and looked bigger on first glimpse. Only fish of the night.

[Mr. Aquarium]

That’s awesome dude. I haven’t broke 3lbs in a month. I’m struggling HARD. 

[Sputterbug]

Yeah it's been a great start for me. It has not been easy though. Other than the 3 Fives I haven't hardly caught anything else. Had my share of skunks as well.

 

Two of them I caught on a much larger pond than I'm used to fishing. Im trying to step out of my comfort zone, focus more now on places a bit larger and deeper that I know are holding more big fish.  With a 12' canoe the hook sets and dealing in the wind can be an adventure though but hoping it will pay off. Also, thinking of getting a new rod to start fishing swimbaits.

 

Just keep throwing those glide baits, you'll be hoisting another giant soon.

[throttleplate]

For @ol'cricketyand the other fine fish folks in maine.

 

Lawmakers on board with protections for Maine’s lakes and ponds

Environment

Apr 04, 2024 | 5:34 am ET

By AnnMarie Hilton

Share

 

Description

Variable-leaf milfoil. (Maine Department of Environmental Protection photo)

The Maine Legislature threw bipartisan support behind multiple bills to protect freshwater lakes and ponds in the state from burgeoning issues such as invasive species and shoreland zoning. 

“Our freshwater lakes and ponds are a core part of Maine’s identity,” said Francesca “Ches” Gundrum, advocacy director for Maine Audubon, in a news release. “The support from the Maine Legislature for these bills indicates a strong desire to keep our freshwater resources clean and healthy for our state’s wildlife and generations of Mainers to come.”

Maine Audubon, a statewide wildlife conservation organization, supported all four of the bills, which the House and Senate voted on over the past month. 

Fighting invasive species

As a result of the changing climate, invasive species, particularly Eurasian water milfoil, have increasingly crept into Maine’s fresh waterways, clogging lakes and ponds across the state. Two bills will specifically help address invasive species. They include:

• LD 2141, which provides $2 million for the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund to address aquatic plant infestations in inland waters. It also requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to recommend more stringent inspection protocols.
• LD 1342 increases the cost of the sticker all motorized watercraft must display in Maine. In January 2025 and again in 2028, the cost will increase by $10 for in-state residents and $15 for out-of-state boats. The bill also reallocates the distribution of those fees so 70% goes to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund and the rest goes to the Lake and River Protection Fund.

LD 2141 was placed on the budget committee’s special appropriations table for discretionary funding. 

Shoreland zoning, wake boats

The other two bills target other threats to inland waters, namely shoreland zoning violations and boats that create extra large wakes. They include: 

• LD 2101, which authorizes the Maine Land Use Planning Commission and municipalities to take action on shoreland zoning ordinance or statute violations. This could include revoking a permit, claiming a lien or filing a civil action. 
• LD 2284, which addresses impact from wake boats by prohibiting a person from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline when the craft is engaged in a wakesurfing activity. It also promotes increased safety and education.

[je1946]

28 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

For @ol'cricketyand the other fine fish folks in maine.

 

Lawmakers on board with protections for Maine’s lakes and ponds

Environment

Apr 04, 2024 | 5:34 am ET

By AnnMarie Hilton

Share

 

Description

Variable-leaf milfoil. (Maine Department of Environmental Protection photo)

The Maine Legislature threw bipartisan support behind multiple bills to protect freshwater lakes and ponds in the state from burgeoning issues such as invasive species and shoreland zoning. 

“Our freshwater lakes and ponds are a core part of Maine’s identity,” said Francesca “Ches” Gundrum, advocacy director for Maine Audubon, in a news release. “The support from the Maine Legislature for these bills indicates a strong desire to keep our freshwater resources clean and healthy for our state’s wildlife and generations of Mainers to come.”

Maine Audubon, a statewide wildlife conservation organization, supported all four of the bills, which the House and Senate voted on over the past month. 

Fighting invasive species

As a result of the changing climate, invasive species, particularly Eurasian water milfoil, have increasingly crept into Maine’s fresh waterways, clogging lakes and ponds across the state. Two bills will specifically help address invasive species. They include:

• LD 2141, which provides $2 million for the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund to address aquatic plant infestations in inland waters. It also requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to recommend more stringent inspection protocols.
• LD 1342 increases the cost of the sticker all motorized watercraft must display in Maine. In January 2025 and again in 2028, the cost will increase by $10 for in-state residents and $15 for out-of-state boats. The bill also reallocates the distribution of those fees so 70% goes to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund and the rest goes to the Lake and River Protection Fund.

LD 2141 was placed on the budget committee’s special appropriations table for discretionary funding. 

Shoreland zoning, wake boats

The other two bills target other threats to inland waters, namely shoreland zoning violations and boats that create extra large wakes. They include: 

• LD 2101, which authorizes the Maine Land Use Planning Commission and municipalities to take action on shoreland zoning ordinance or statute violations. This could include revoking a permit, claiming a lien or filing a civil action. 
• LD 2284, which addresses impact from wake boats by prohibiting a person from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline when the craft is engaged in a wakesurfing activity. It also promotes increased safety and education.

This is utterly tucking it to the non-resident, the fees are already ridiculously high to begin with.  Tell the residents to stop fertilizing their lawns which is a major contributor to the weed problem.

[guidoStow]

9 hours ago, je1946 said:

This is utterly tucking it to the non-resident, the fees are already ridiculously high to begin with.  Tell the residents to stop fertilizing their lawns which is a major contributor to the weed problem.

Or ban the chemical fertilizers to take the choice out of hands of the irresponsible. 

[MassYak85]

Made it out today and fought the wind. Water temps were around 50 and I was hoping to find a shallow bite. The water was pretty churned up but we did hit a decent window in the shallows. I got all fish on the windblown side of a spawning flat wirlth a chatterbait. Only 4 bass but all healthy and feeding up. Biggest might have been 2.5lbs. The highlight was actually the pickerel. Hooked one around 24 inches and a couple others around 20 inches. 

[DogBone_384]

I took a friend's son out last Wednesday.  Evan just got back to the US after earning a Master's Degree in SIngapore and was anxious to catch fish.  Unfortunately he didn't catch anything, but he was happy enough to be on the water.

 

I caught two Larries and two picks.  The picks were small and the bass were 4.34 and 2.66, in that order.  I threw the full assortment and the only thing the fish wanted were a perch Stunna 112 and a red LV500.

 

Water temps were 52.x.  It was windy and mostly cloudy.  Air pressure was 30.1.

 

I'm planning on hitting the Cape tomorrow, hoping the feed bag will be on.

[Mr. Aquarium]

Got out early this morning. 2 dink bass 2 decent crappies and a small pick. The struggle continues 

[DogBone_384]

33 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

The struggle continues 

You’re just saving up for your 8 pounder!

[Mr. Aquarium]

10 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

You’re just saving up for your 8 pounder!

Good I need another! I can’t find anything big. Been a month since I’ve broke 3lbs 

[DogBone_384]

I left the house before dawn and drove to Sandwich in search of bass. I threw enough of an assortment to figure out the bass were absent. I marked almost nothing and had two big picks follow my lipless up from 15’. One grabbed it and spit it right in front of me and the other peeled off when it saw me.  Four hours later I was packed up and heading to Plymouth. Water temps were 51.x.

 

Plymouth was better. I grabbed a 2 pound smallie on a lipless in short order. I hooked up with a few more but got spat, also on the lipless. I hooked a yellow perch that easily rivaled the smallmouth I landed but that one got off too. I guess its mouth wasn’t big enough to swallow a 3.8” Keitech on an Owner Flashy Swimmer.  Water temps were 54.x here and there were minnows tight to shore when I left.

[guidoStow]

Water sure is taking it's sweet time warming up... We have a couple more warms days on tap let's cross our fingers...