Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[MassYak85]

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

The salt water inlets where I live were iced over when I came home from work this morning.  I’m booked for the Cape next weekend.  Anyone know what it looks like?

 

I’m planning on Flax and Sheeps, which are both pretty deep.  I’m not expecting ice, but this IS New England!

This time of year is always so weird. There were guys ice fishing out in the higher elevations of central MA today, we were out in a boat in Worcester (water temps on Quinsig were 38-40 by the way), and I'm sure some of the Cape Ponds are still in the mid-forties right now. All within a couple hours drive. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

I got on some open water north of the bridge on Saturday. Fished a new pond.  I missed one good whack early on the blade.  had a few whacks on a small swimbait on bottom as well. I managed a smallie on a blade later in the day.
fished the hair jig and blade mostly. Went to go find access to another pond I want to fish. It was half frozen. 

Not bad for no fish finder and fishing a new pond in the cold.  

wanted to get out sunday before football. woke up saw the weather, went back to bed.  I ABSOLUTELY HATE fishing in the wind in the yak. I NEED A BOAT! 

[DogBone_384]

Got out to Hedges for a few hours today.  It was in the lower 40's, overcast, and almost calm.  I kept it simple with a 1/2 oz. perch chatterbait, a 1/2 oz. gold Binsky, and a ghost colored single tale grub on a 1/10 oz head.

 

The Binsky was the only bait I needed to bring.  I landed 2 SMB (2-0, 1-14) and 4 yellow perch (all but one were over 1 pound).  The two SMB picked the Binsky off the bottom in 18 - 20' of water and the perch felt like they hit it higher up, on the fall.  All fish were caught in the N-NW corner of the pond.

 

Everyone was fat except the second smallie.  He was dark colored and looked old, with a big, skinny body.

 

I came up a layer short and fished only 3 hours.  It was warmer at home than in Plymouth.... time to break out the real winter duds.

 

Water temps were low 42.x.

[MassYak85]

12 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

wanted to get out sunday before football. woke up saw the weather, went back to bed.  I ABSOLUTELY HATE fishing in the wind in the yak. 

You and me both. If it's the summer I'll tolerate up to about 15-20mph winds in my kayak, this time of year if the leaves are even moving on the trees I get second thoughts lol. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

11 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

You and me both. If it's the summer I'll tolerate up to about 15-20mph winds in my kayak, this time of year if the leaves are even moving on the trees I get second thoughts lol. 

Right! The summer its manageable and not miserable. Problem with this time of year and the wind is that the bites are light. With light bites and a bow in your line from the wind, good luck. If I had a boat and motor Id be out all the time. Especially with my 2 kickass fish finders.  No need to cast. Drop it right on em 

I've caught fish be drifting blades on bottom. Not actively working the bait, just let it hang on bottom and slowly drift over the spot with the wind. 

[MassYak85]

5 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Right! The summer its manageable and not miserable. Problem with this time of year and the wind is that the bites are light. With light bites and a bow in your line from the wind, good luck. If I had a boat and motor Id be out all the time. Especially with my 2 kickass fish finders.  No need to cast. Drop it right on em 

I've caught fish be drifting blades on bottom. Not actively working the bait, just let it hang on bottom and slowly drift over the spot with the wind. 

Yea a lot of my blade bait bites are on the fall and unless you've got a good feel of the semi-slack line you basically just have to hope they are still on when you lift it up again. Earlier in the fall when they were more aggressive I could feel them crush the blade as it sank but not much anymore. I feel like it's one of those techniques where we'd be disgusted to know how many fish took and spit it out before we even felt anything. 

[Janderson45]

On 11/26/2018 at 9:21 PM, MassYak85 said:

You and me both. If it's the summer I'll tolerate up to about 15-20mph winds in my kayak, this time of year if the leaves are even moving on the trees I get second thoughts lol. 

 

I remember those days last fall ?..  just fished 35-45mph winds on the cape a couple weekends ago, still wasn’t *ideal* but more than doable with the Ultrex.  Definitely wouldn’t have been on the water in the kayak let alone caught a 4lb+ smallmouth!

 

Just brought my boat down to the dealer this weekend to have it serviced and fitted for a cover.  The service manager asked me if I wanted them to winterize it and I agreed.  Past few days has me regretting that decision already.

8 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Yea a lot of my blade bait bites are on the fall and unless you've got a good feel of the semi-slack line you basically just have to hope they are still on when you lift it up again. Earlier in the fall when they were more aggressive I could feel them crush the blade as it sank but not much anymore. I feel like it's one of those techniques where we'd be disgusted to know how many fish took and spit it out before we even felt anything. 

Have you seen the tactical Bassin YouTube  video on this topic for jerkbaits?  Incredible watch if you haven’t, it’s insane how fast the fish can inahle a jerkbait and spit it all while the bait is motionless. I could see a blade being similar.

 

 

[DogBone_384]

On 11/28/2018 at 12:12 AM, Janderson45 said:

it’s insane how fast the fish can inahle a jerkbait and spit it all while the bait is motionless.

I saw a pickerel do just that a few feet from my kayak. I never felt the bite. 

[DogBone_384]

Fished Sheeps from 1100 to 1500 and Seymore from 1530 to dark.  Threw a gold blade bait, black/blue hair jig, and a couple different Rapalas.  Sheeps gave me a rainbow trout and yellow perch, both around a pound, and both on the blade bait.  Seymour gave me nada.

 

Water temps at sheeps was 46.x and low 42.x at Seymour.

 

I’m here for the weekend.  Tomorrow’s plan is a toss up between Flax, Bucks, and Hinckleys.

[Janderson45]

Might go mess around somewhere in my kayak this weekend since the boat is in the shop.  Looks like fairly mild temps and wind, especially Sunday.  Most of the water around me was freezing up last weekend but has been pretty much wide open all this week.  Tonight is supposed to be just below freezing but rain and 50+ degrees forecasted for Sunday. 

[DogBone_384]

56 minutes ago, Janderson45 said:

Might go mess around somewhere in my kayak this weekend

I’m down the Cape for the weekend and Mr. Aquarium is planning on fishing Bucks pond down here too....

 

ADD:

... just walked out to my truck... we’re getting snow flurries in Dennis Port.

[Mr. Aquarium]

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

I’m down the Cape for the weekend and Mr. Aquarium is planning on fishing Bucks pond down here too....

 

ADD:

... just walked out to my truck... we’re getting snow flurries in Dennis Port.

Ill see you tomorrow bud! 

[Don51]

Go get em swamp hawgs!  ?

[Janderson45]

I’m doing tackle and yard work today, might still get out around here tomorrow though.  I need a few more bites before I pack it in for the next 3+ months, still got the itch.  Let us know how you guys did today, tomorrow looks like winds are gonna be a bit stiff down the cape with .25” of rain on the way too.  I think I’ll stay local and see if I can’t find a big largemouth, winds don’t look nearly as bad around here which is a key factor for me this time of year in the kayak.  

[DogBone_384]

I met up with Mr. Aquarium and one of his friends for some Cape Cod fishing. We hit Bucks, Josephs, and Hawksnest. Water temps were 44.x, 46.x, and 42.x, respectively.

 

Mike caught a good bass at Bucks and a couple picks at Hawksnest.  Phil and I struck out completely.  I didn’t get so much as a nibble.

 

Tough day fishing, good company, and excellent Cod Ruben sangies for lunch, so a good day...

[MassYak85]

Was going to go out in my kayak today but I check a few lakes and ponds near me and they were all mostly or completely locked up. Maspenock and A1 (past the island) had open sections but I figured it was best not to use my kayak as an ice breaker, although the thought did cross my mind, the ice was only about 1/8" thick. Maspanock had a section along the road that was open due to the sun heating the rocks so I stopped there for an hour to cast. Tried a jerkbait, hudd 68 and hair jig with no takers. Beautiful day though, I was bummed I couldn't take the kayak out I was actually pleasantly warm just standing there in the sun. It was probably my last time of the season given this week is supposed to be almost all below freezing. Looks good for quality black ice and hopefully fish-able ice in the next couple weeks. I started cleaning my reels today too.

[Saltysmalljaws]

10 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I met up with Mr. Aquarium and one of his friends for some Cape Cod fishing. We hit Bucks, Josephs, and Hawksnest. Water temps were 44.x, 46.x, and 42.x, respectively.

 

Mike caught a good bass at Bucks and a couple picks at Hawksnest.  Phil and I struck out completely.  I didn’t get so much as a nibble.

 

Tough day fishing, good company, and excellent Cod Ruben sangies for lunch, so a good day...

I live on bucks and surprisingly they have still been biting. The bites are so subtle though and with thickening mats of dying hydrilla and other subsurface vegetation you have to be johnny on the spot when setting the hook. I have fished a lot all over cape recently and have gotten quite a few bites. But they were just that... quick thumps and then nothing on the end of the line. Very non committal. Even on down sized baits

[DogBone_384]

Thanks for the info Salty. Weather permitting I’ll try again today or tomorrow.

 

Today was a washout. Tomorrow’s plan is KISS: 3/8 oz. black/blue jig, 1/8 oz. black maribou jig, and 1/4 oz. blade bait.  If the jigs don’t pan out I’ve got 3 & 4” Senkos and a 1/16 oz. jig head ready to go.

[Saltysmalljaws]

Blade bait for the win mid morning. 1/2 oz blitz in a perch pattern. 4+lb smallmouth hit it in 25/30 ft of water. Rain and wind seemed to activate the fish 

[DogBone_384]

Salty, was your 4+ at Bucks?

 

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum!

[Mr. Aquarium]

On 12/2/2018 at 5:04 AM, Saltysmalljaws said:

I live on bucks and surprisingly they have still been biting. The bites are so subtle though and with thickening mats of dying hydrilla and other subsurface vegetation you have to be johnny on the spot when setting the hook. I have fished a lot all over cape recently and have gotten quite a few bites. But they were just that... quick thumps and then nothing on the end of the line. Very non committal. Even on down sized baits

i had a good whack on a 3/4 bico baccarac jig and a samatis craw early in the day, first 10 min.   I caught my only bass on a 1/4 black hair jig. Had a few perch hits deep. all my bass and hits were 10-15 feet of water.

[DogBone_384]

I launched at Hinckley’s at dawn. It was foggy with light wind. Water temps were 43.x. I packed up after 3 hours of nothing, tossing a gold blade bait, black/blue jig, and black maribou jig.  The highlight here was a bald eagle chasing an osprey around.

 

I moved over to Flax, figuring I’d have a chance at smallies and trout. I caught one shiny rainbow on a perch Rapala scatter rap. Flax’s water temp was 44.x. It was sunny and fairly windy.

 

I left Flax and headed back to the main land, stopping at Hedges, still looking for a smallie.  I launched a little after 1400 and stayed until dark.  I continued with the same lures I used at Hinkleys until the last hour when I switched to a Mepps spinner and wacky rigged Senko. Wouldn’t you know the Senko would be the winner, netting a bright shiny 1-12 smallie in my lap. Water temps were 43.x - 44.x.

 

Seven ponds over three days netted me two rainbows, one yellow perch, and one smallie.  No matter, I fished with Mr. Aquarium, had a great lunch, and MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: I caught fish in open water each month this year.

 

Next year’s goal is the same and breaking the 5 pound mark added to the fun.

[Mr. Aquarium]

lets get you that 5lbs  mark. 

[je1946]

2 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

lets get you that 5lbs  mark. 

Can get him a 5lb smallie @ Quabbin.

[Mr. Aquarium]

12 minutes ago, je1946 said:

Can get him a 5lb smallie @ Quabbin.

oh ya, no doubt 

First time I went there, I lost one over 5lbs, my buddy first 10 min of the day caught one over 5. The 2nd time I went there, smallie fishin was tough, but I caught a 7lbs lake trout. The 3rd time I went there. It was a tough long day. Grind for bass, didnt get one until last 2 hours of the day. The last 2 hours resulted in 6.9, 5.5, 4.2, 3.5 and a 2.5 lbs smallie.