Super User DogBone_384 Posted January 2 Super User Posted January 2 I checked off January with a nice 1 1/2 pound SMB out of Plymouth on a 4" Senko dead-stuck. I packed my waders and one rod. It was almost refreshing to KISS.  That's 35 straight months catching fish in open water in MA.   Best of luck to everyone else getting out there. 3 Quote
919ProXP Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Ticked off January for an open water bass. I got 4, my buddy got 8, all largemourh. Lipless cranks and jerkbaits were the ticket. Water was still 43 degrees mid cape but with the cold weather and wind coming in it could be shut down city. 2 Quote
JAB50 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Hopefully, It shuts down, for you two! 919ProXP is my brother. He likes to send me the pics while fishing. Hopefully, the Cape gets some safe ice this year, I might not make it up there for it. But, I have pulled several 5+ lbers through the ice, on the cape. Quote
Mr. Aquarium Posted January 6 Posted January 6 I may actually have to blow off the dust on my ice gear! 1 1 Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted January 7 Super User Posted January 7 Long term looks great for a nice ice season. I'll be hiking this weekend but hopefully the 18th I can get out. Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted January 7 Super User Posted January 7 On 1/6/2025 at 9:17 AM, Mr. Aquarium said: I may actually have to blow off the dust on my ice gear! I have an ice tent and plenty of tip ups if needed. 1 Quote
bwillis Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Got out on a local pond the other day. A solid 6 inches of ice on it. Got a nice trout, a solid smallie, and a very ambitious perch that went after a my rather large shiner 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 13 Author Super User Posted January 13 Any Massachusetts anglers finding lead jigs being sold at retailers like DSG or WalMart or even some of the hardware stores? I may have picked some up yesterday that are made with lead, but I can't be sure. At least I'm hoping they're unleaded. Quote
Mr. Aquarium Posted January 13 Posted January 13 2 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said: Any Massachusetts anglers finding lead jigs being sold at retailers like DSG or WalMart or even some of the hardware stores? I may have picked some up yesterday that are made with lead, but I can't be sure. At least I'm hoping they're unleaded. I order online, I like to support the smaller companies. More variety, better quality.  I love Lead Free Bass jigs. He’s my go to. Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 13 Author Super User Posted January 13 2 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said: I order online, I like to support the smaller companies. More variety, better quality.  I love Lead Free Bass jigs. He’s my go to. Ok....yeah...just seeing if retailer(s) are putting the right products on the shelf Quote
bwillis Posted January 13 Posted January 13 4 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said: Any Massachusetts anglers finding lead jigs being sold at retailers like DSG or WalMart or even some of the hardware stores? I may have picked some up yesterday that are made with lead, but I can't be sure. At least I'm hoping they're unleaded. Im in NH, but I saw some Googan Jigs at Walmart the other day. Pretty certain they're standard lead jigs 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 13 Author Super User Posted January 13 51 minutes ago, bwillis said: Im in NH, but I saw some Googan Jigs at Walmart the other day. Pretty certain they're standard lead jigs Are you guys still using leaded jigs and sinkers up in NH? We were banned in like 2011 and retailers have been pretty good about selling alternative products. I think I got a rogue full lead package. I'm guessing the retailer had no idea.  Kinda weird talking about this after all these years  Quote
bwillis Posted January 13 Posted January 13 5 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said: Are you guys still using leaded jigs and sinkers up in NH? We were banned in like 2011 and retailers have been pretty good about selling alternative products. I think I got a rogue full lead package. I'm guessing the retailer had no idea.  Kinda weird talking about this after all these years  I think it's 1 oz or less can't be lead. This excludes anything with a blade like chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. For a while it was anything under 1 oz OR 1 inch couldn't be lead, now the size doesn't matter.  Fortunately Tungsten prices have come down quite a bit, so that's helped, but I was a huge Spot Remover fan, and had to sell them all once the ban took effect. 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 13 Author Super User Posted January 13 11 minutes ago, bwillis said: I think it's 1 oz or less can't be lead. This excludes anything with a blade like chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. For a while it was anything under 1 oz OR 1 inch couldn't be lead, now the size doesn't matter.  Fortunately Tungsten prices have come down quite a bit, so that's helped, but I was a huge Spot Remover fan, and had to sell them all once the ban took effect. Ok…so yeah, pretty much the same as us. I ended up selling a couple of molds and lead.   Quote
padlin Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Cut from the Ma Regs Lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead jigs weighing less than an ounce. Any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce, and any lead jig (meaning any lead-weighted hook) that weighs less than 1 ounce, is prohibited for use in all inland waters of the Commonwealth. The term lead sinker shall not include any other sinkers, weights, fishing lures or fishing tackle including, but not limited to, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, and lead-core or other weighted fishing lines. 1 Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted January 15 Super User Posted January 15 On 1/13/2025 at 10:44 AM, Jigfishn10 said: Any Massachusetts anglers finding lead jigs being sold at retailers like DSG or WalMart or even some of the hardware stores? I may have picked some up yesterday that are made with lead, but I can't be sure. At least I'm hoping they're unleaded. The majority will be lead. Idk how they let that fly but it is frustrating. Some types of jigs are very difficult to find in tungsten or other materials. I order almost all online these days.  1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 15 Author Super User Posted January 15 Just now, MassYak85 said: The majority will be lead. Idk how they let that fly but it is frustrating. Some types of jigs are very difficult to find in tungsten or other materials. I order almost all online these days.  So I got fooled  S41T!! hahaha Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted January 15 Super User Posted January 15 IMO the law is extremely vague and open to interpretation. I don't think an EPO would give you a hard time for anything other than an actual jig or weight made of lead. The real issue for the birds is lead split shot and smaller weights. But things like spinnerbaits are obviously exempt, so by extension you could argue underspin jigs are also exempt. The line is grey to me. And then it explicitly calls out "weighted flies" as okay but I fail to see how that's any better than a jig. 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 15 Author Super User Posted January 15 It has to do with loons and how they pick up rocks. I read about it years ago and really don't remember what they really do with rocks, I think it was a digestive thing. But the concern was that a jig heads and sinkers were being mistaken by loons as rocks and causing all kinds of problems. Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted January 16 Super User Posted January 16 21 hours ago, MassYak85 said: I don't think an EPO would give you a hard time for anything other than an actual jig or weight made of lead. I wouldn't sweat it. I buy tungsten as much as possible but have some lead jigs/bladed jigs/spinner baits. The few times I've come across an EPO, they've checked my license and asked me what I caught and the usual small talk.  I drove through Plymouth yesterday looking for open water. Every pond I drove by was locked up except Long Pond, which was wide open. I might toss the waders and warm clothing in my car today and head over the bridge and cruise the Cape.  Lastly, who's going to the New England Fishing Expo?  ReelNorthernBass, a New Hampshire YouTuber has a booth this year. It's a good channel focused on our waters. Show him support.  It's Jan 31 - Feb 2.  https://nefishingexpo.com/ Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted January 16 Super User Posted January 16 22 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said: It has to do with loons and how they pick up rocks. I read about it years ago and really don't remember what they really do with rocks, I think it was a digestive thing. But the concern was that a jig heads and sinkers were being mistaken by loons as rocks and causing all kinds of problems. Yes I agree with the premise of the law. One of my local lakes now has a nesting Loon population in the last several years which has bene cool to see. I think the main concern are things like lead split shot and smaller lead weights that mix in easily with the rocks. I don't see a Loon accidentally eating a whole bass jig. 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted January 16 Author Super User Posted January 16 9 minutes ago, MassYak85 said: Yes I agree with the premise of the law. One of my local lakes now has a nesting Loon population in the last several years which has bene cool to see. I think the main concern are things like lead split shot and smaller lead weights that mix in easily with the rocks. I don't see a Loon accidentally eating a whole bass jig. I agree. But I'm guessing over time, the rubber band collars eventually dry rot off and the skirt gets blown away blah blah blah ... anyway, not in my pay grade to speculate HAHAHA ... it's here to stay and we have alternatives to enjoy it, right?  Love the dialog  Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted January 21 Super User Posted January 21 On 1/6/2025 at 9:17 AM, Mr. Aquarium said: I may actually have to blow off the dust on my ice gear!  It looks like we're ice fishing .... who else ice fishes around New England.  It might be a good chance to get together. I have a shelter and plenty of tip ups... Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted January 22 Super User Posted January 22 I drove over the bridge this morning with my auger & tape measure... My #2 kettle had 5" of ice. Â I'll be back Sunday when I have time to really set up and drill some holes. Â Anyone else looking to hang around in the cold hoping for a bite, drop me a PM. Â Quote
JAB50 Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Dogbone, could you private message me the location(town) of the kettle pond and what the average depth is. I’ve fished all over the Cape. Just trying to get an idea in my head of the other bodies of water might be. My brother is 919ProXp. So we know the Cape better than most. Not all kettle ponds down there, freeze the same way, if at all. I am trying to come up there President’s week. Hopefully, there is safe ice down there still. Quote
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