Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[JAB50]

Well,

Ill be making my yearly trek back to Cape Cod on May 4th. I'll be there till May 12th. If anyone is going to be fishing down there from now till next Friday? I'd appreciate any fishing condition updates as we get closer to that time. Water temps, pre spawn,spawn or etc. 

Any info would be great! Thanks

[Mr. Aquarium]

i bet there will be some stripers around during that time! 

[Janderson45]

22 hours ago, je1946 said:

Were you at gate 8??

 

No, launched from Gate 31.  First time I've been up to that gate for opening weekend, thought I'd find the smallies in 25-35 feet up that way, but just found a bunch of lake trout instead.  Even though I launched at gate 31 I didn't exactly fish close to gate 31, more towards the middle of the reservoir, north and south of the "cut" by Mt Zion island into the main Res.  

[Deeare]

12 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

i bet there will be some stripers around during that time! 

Capes a big place.  Can you narrow down some locations?

[Mr. Aquarium]

pretty much any inlet, river mouths will have migrants. i dont fish down that way much for shore stripers, i live on the ocean so why bother when i can literally walk out back and get stripers. 

[Dunks N Dinks]

23 hours ago, JAB50 said:

Well,

Ill be making my yearly trek back to Cape Cod on May 4th. I'll be there till May 12th. If anyone is going to be fishing down there from now till next Friday? I'd appreciate any fishing condition updates as we get closer to that time. Water temps, pre spawn,spawn or etc. 

Any info would be great! Thanks

New member here,

Quick cape freshwater report ya'll might find useful...just my rando thoughts FYI

Last 3 weekends ive been out on Long Pond (Harwich), Mashpee-Wakeby, and Wequaket (Barnstable)...and the conditions haven't exactly been ideal but things are starting to look more constructive...

 

Water temps have been grinding (slowly) higher this month from around 43-45 range to high 40s this past weekend, which still has the smallies locked in winter(ish) patterns, though i have spotted a few 'cruisers' on steeper banks. This is probably subject to change in next few weeks as we near the 50-degree mark (and full moon this weekend), which should get the largies more active and shallower to a degree (pre-spawn-ish). 

For the most part, ive had the most luck fishing in the 14-20ft zone on rocky banks/points/contour lines. Ive been using a two-pronged approach of reaction baits (blade baits and lip-less) and then following up with more finess-ey type stuff (drop-shot and ned rigs) if i see anything on my graphs or get bit. For the most part, it seems like being around grass/weeds has been most productive, with several smallies coming on the 'pop' after pulling the faster moving baits out of grass clumps.

Still haven't really come into contact with any decent schools of fish, its been more of a grind it out feeling...but quality fish are there (see attached) and hopefully the quantity is on the way as the weather turns more stable...good luck out there 
 

 

 

 

 

[DogBone_384]

9 hours ago, Dunks N Dinks said:

For the most part, it seems like being around grass/weeds has been most productive, with several smallies coming on the 'pop' after pulling the faster moving baits out of grass clumps.

 

Exactly my experience at Hedges in Plymouth and Hinkley’s in Harwich.

 

I fished Ponkapog in Canton a little while this morning. Water temps were 55.x at launch and 56.x on the northern bank. Got one each pickerel and Larry. Nothing to weigh, but beats a goose egg in the rain.

[Mr. Aquarium]

 i fished a little honey hole on tuesday. searching for one big bite.  caught a little 1-2lb fish on a swimbait. saw lot of panfish up top feeding at dusk. water felt warm, no fish finder

[KenP]

On 4/23/2018 at 12:40 PM, Janderson45 said:

No Quabbin smallmouth for me opening weekend, it was an unexpected slug fest on lake trout though.  All on bass baits and in some my typical smallmouth locations.  Water level is higher than it has been for the past couple years, DCR claimed it's at 95% capacity, I would guess it's still lower than that by looking at some old maps and Water lines/levels but either way, it's up by 5 or 6 feet from last fall in some spots.

 

water temp was 42-46, wind picked up nasty in the afternoon out of the north and we lost our anchor on a stump early on, made for tough bass fishing.  All of the Lakers came in 20-35' of water, mostly on ned rig or finesse swimbaits, although one hit a jerkbait as well.  They all had some good size to them (probably 4-6lb range) and we released them all since we didn't bring a cooler.  

 

Fun day, hope to be back soon and find some smallmouth that have been eluding me here so far this spring!

I hiked in from gate 16 on sunday morning. Was calm till mid morning but the amount of boats all trolling the shore line spooked a lot of trout into shallows. You could see them but they were so spooked they didn't know what to do. I lost a salmon at the bank because I was a dummy and forget to step back away. I sent out for my night pass I want to do the gate 16 area on some full moon clear nights when the top water starts later on. Some really nice coves and the drop offs in some spots are instant.

Instead of an anchor have you tried a large drift sock or tied a couple 5 gallon buckets to drag. I find on my tracker in deep water it slows the drift way down just using a single 5 gallon bucket.

[MassYak85]

@Dunks N Dinks Welcome to the forum! Nice report as well! 

[Janderson45]

2 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

@Dunks N Dinks Welcome to the forum! Nice report as well! 

 

Report is spot on, good to have another contributer!  Finding the sparse grass in the spring can be absolutely pivotal, especially on the cape lakes for some reason it seems.  

7 hours ago, KenP said:

I hiked in from gate 16 on sunday morning. Was calm till mid morning but the amount of boats all trolling the shore line spooked a lot of trout into shallows. You could see them but they were so spooked they didn't know what to do. I lost a salmon at the bank because I was a dummy and forget to step back away. I sent out for my night pass I want to do the gate 16 area on some full moon clear nights when the top water starts later on. Some really nice coves and the drop offs in some spots are instant.

Instead of an anchor have you tried a large drift sock or tied a couple 5 gallon buckets to drag. I find on my tracker in deep water it slows the drift way down just using a single 5 gallon bucket.

That's a good idea with the drift sock/drift bucket, I'll have to give that a try next time out.  Having an anchor and an effective way to slow the drift will make things a lot easier when fishing in the wind for the smallies.   I've never fished it from shore, but wouldn't doubt there's some great areas you could have shore access too.  I also wasn't aware you could get a night permit, pretty cool!

 

I've got a tournament on watuppa Saturday.   Never fished there.. neither has my partner.  Not going into it with real high hopes but hopefully we can figure something out.  My plan without much knowledge of the lake is just to beat the snot out of it with reaction baits. Water temps should be mid to high 50s I think, gonna be grinding with spinnerbaits, lipless, and jerk baits for a limit I think... any advice is appreciated 

[je1946]

8 hours ago, Janderson45 said:

 

Report is spot on, good to have another contributer!  Finding the sparse grass in the spring can be absolutely pivotal, especially on the cape lakes for some reason it seems.  

That's a good idea with the drift sock/drift bucket, I'll have to give that a try next time out.  Having an anchor and an effective way to slow the drift will make things a lot easier when fishing in the wind for the smallies.   I've never fished it from shore, but wouldn't doubt there's some great areas you could have shore access too.  I also wasn't aware you could get a night permit, pretty cool!

 

I've got a tournament on watuppa Saturday.   Never fished there.. neither has my partner.  Not going into it with real high hopes but hopefully we can figure something out.  My plan without much knowledge of the lake is just to beat the snot out of it with reaction baits. Water temps should be mid to high 50s I think, gonna be grinding with spinnerbaits, lipless, and jerk baits for a limit I think... any advice is appreciated 

Blades, blades, blades, Hair Jig.  Anytime the water is below 57 degrees I have one on.  Gd luck.

[Mr. Aquarium]

got my first striper of the year today! so pumped. ITS GAME TIME!!!!!!!!!!!  caught 2 missed 2

[DogBone_384]

Tomorrow’s forecast looks pretty good and I’m not working.... I’m thinking of Great South in Plymouth to start and if that doesn’t pan out, maybe Sawdy in the afternoon. Fishing Rhino’s not around so I know there’ll be some fish there for me to catch...

 

Tom, best of luck at Pickwick!

[Janderson45]

Fished watuppa on Saturday and caught a handful up shallow on reaction baits, nothing with any size. Others fared better slow fishing plastics and jigs up shallow in select areas.

 

Water temps were 54-56, the day started foggy overcast chilly and calm.  Shortly after 9AM the clouds broke, it warmed up nicely, and a relatively stiff but manageable wind kicked up out of the south. Water clarity was poor, probably about 2' of visibility.  Watuppa is FULL of rocks and large boulders, I was bouncing cranks off of the rocks along the shoreline for a while and couldn't buy a bite, started to do the same thing with a chatterbait and that's what ended up getting me bit.

 

This warm weather and recent full moon ought to have the bulk of the fish up shallow scoping out spawning grounds.  With water temps pushing thru the mid 50s the crawfish are active now for the first time in months, bass should be predictably gorging themselves on said crawfish. All of the bass I caught at Watuppa had the telltale red lipstick on.  It should be a good few weeks here leading into the spawn... finally! 

 

Heres a couple of the cookie cutter (young and dumb) bass that I caught.  Still grinding for my first big bite of the spring.. got a good feeling it's coming this weekend!

 

I plan to fish the Quabbin out of a rental on Sunday, and will probably look for some big prespawn green fish in my Kayak on Saturday.  If anyone is interested in meeting up either day let me know!

[Mr. Aquarium]

wellll glad things are warming up, its time to get JIGGY WITH IT

[DogBone_384]

Launched in Plymouth around 8:00.  I started on the northern shoreline and worked west to a flat where I saw beds and lots of dark shadows around them.  Figuring I hit the jackpot I tossed a Rapala Shadow Rap ... nada .... Yozuri square bill .... nada ..... Rage Tail Menace .... nada .... 

 

What gives?!?!?!?!  I paddled/drifted over the beds and the fish I saw sure weren’t bass, or anything I’d seen before.  Mr. Aquarium told me they were white suckers.  I moved east to a flat that drops a quick 20’ hoping for some bass... nope ... more suckers.  

 

After the kitchen sink hit bottom I packed it up and drove back up to Ponkapog for a while before my daughter’s LAX game.  I covered a LOT of Ponkie, tossing a bluegill Yozuri square bill, perch Rapala Shadow Rap and a 4” T-rigged zoom U-Tail.  Try as I might I came up with nothing more than a dink pickerel.  

 

Water temps in Plymouth were low-mid 50’s and Ponkapog were 58.x - 59.x.

 

A lot of driving and paddling for a dink pickerel doesn’t seem like much, but May is off the list, I learned of a new fish, and there are Loons at the big Plymouth pond.  I’ll take it.

 

Can’t say I’ll be out again this week, but will be in Harwich Tuesday to Thursday next week.  Have to plan my attack!

[LadiMopar]

Finally managed to get a bass, albeit a teeny 1lb today! Not the most exciting first of the season catch but it sure was better than being skunked..again. Missed a few who were chasing my bait right up to the yak, and then poof! Gone. They are obviously starting to think about filling their stomachs before the spawn. 

 

Was on Grove pond in Ayer, water temps were ranging from 55-60 depending on water depth/location. Only covered about a quarter of it but so far it's very shallow with a max of 4'9''. Didn't see any beds, but this pond is loaded with vegetation; lily pads are up and many have buds already. Once the weather gets consistently warmer it will be pads so thick you could almost walk on them.

 

The most exciting thing besides the bass was the fabulous bald eagle that flew right over me...not something you see everyday up here. 

 

Taking the grandson and one of his friends out tomorrow. Should be an interesting afternoon seeing as the friend has never fished before and is excited to try it. And a new generation of fish hunters is born. ?

[Ratherbefishing75]

There’s nothing better then seeing them with there first fish 

[Mr. Aquarium]

11 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Launched in Plymouth around 8:00.  I started on the northern shoreline and worked west to a flat where I saw beds and lots of dark shadows around them.  Figuring I hit the jackpot I tossed a Rapala Shadow Rap ... nada .... Yozuri square bill .... nada ..... Rage Tail Menace .... nada .... 

 

What gives?!?!?!?!  I paddled/drifted over the beds and the fish I saw sure weren’t bass, or anything I’d seen before.  Mr. Aquarium told me they were white suckers.  I moved east to a flat that drops a quick 20’ hoping for some bass... nope ... more suckers.  

 

After the kitchen sink hit bottom I packed it up and drove back up to Ponkapog for a while before my daughter’s LAX game.  I covered a LOT of Ponkie, tossing a bluegill Yozuri square bill, perch Rapala Shadow Rap and a 4” T-rigged zoom U-Tail.  Try as I might I came up with nothing more than a dink pickerel.  

 

Water temps in Plymouth were low-mid 50’s and Ponkapog were 58.x - 59.x.

 

A lot of driving and paddling for a dink pickerel doesn’t seem like much, but May is off the list, I learned of a new fish, and there are Loons at the big Plymouth pond.  I’ll take it.

 

Can’t say I’ll be out again this week, but will be in Harwich Tuesday to Thursday next week.  Have to plan my attack!

im going to that spot we talked about on thursday, water temps in the low mid 50s, going to toss a topwater of some sort and jigs  mostly.  i never use swimbaits there, some reason they dont respond to swimbaits well. mostly just regular bass gear.  my  6.9 smallie came on a topwater with the water in the mid 50s so lets see if it works here. 

thinking about night fishing tomorrow as well. who knows, its May a new month. lets put April away. April SUUUUCCCKKEEEDDDD. caught 2 bass all month, that equaled 4lbs

[Mr. Aquarium]

2 hours ago, Ratherbefishing75 said:

There’s nothing better then seeing them with there first fish 

Thats awesome. congrats on  the first fish. nice white perch

[Janderson45]

If anyone has been out on the Quabbin since opening weekend would you mind sharing the water temp?  Game-planning for my trip to the Q on Sunday, water temps should be up from opening weekend with the warm weather we've got this week, just not sure how much!

 

Thanks in advance. 

[je1946]

3 hours ago, Janderson45 said:

If anyone has been out on the Quabbin since opening weekend would you mind sharing the water temp?  Game-planning for my trip to the Q on Sunday, water temps should be up from opening weekend with the warm weather we've got this week, just not sure how much!

 

Thanks in advance. 

Was there yesterday out of 43 by the ramp 48, 51 on the return at 6P  Out on the main lake eastern shore 46 to 49 out tru the pass we had temps from 44 to 49.  Fish were starting to move up can only imagine how it was today.  We managed only 4 with the biggest a little over 4 two on deep diving jerks one on a lipless crank and another on a fluke, threw the hell out of the blades and only had one hit.   We had a lot of followers, but couldn't get them to commit.

[Janderson45]

51 minutes ago, je1946 said:

Was there yesterday out of 43 by the ramp 48, 51 on the return at 6P  Out on the main lake eastern shore 46 to 49 out tru the pass we had temps from 44 to 49.  Fish were starting to move up can only imagine how it was today.  We managed only 4 with the biggest a little over 4 two on deep diving jerks one on a lipless crank and another on a fluke, threw the hell out of the blades and only had one hit.   We had a lot of followers, but couldn't get them to commit.

Tough day, at least you got a decent one though.  Appreciate the report.  Just looked back through this thread to this time last year and water temps were 55-60, hoping for similar by Sunday, but that might be overly optimistic. Either way I think we're gonna whack em.  

 

Also thinking of hitting A1 for the first time this season in the kayak on Saturday.  Will report back and let you know how I did after the weekend.

[Ratherbefishing75]

Went out to west meadow pond in West Bridgewater today there was a lot of blowups but not a lot of sinking the hook in them but did manage to land a decent pickerel