Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[MassYak85]

50 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Good luck dude. Hook sets on the weedless hudds can be tough. You really need to drive that hook In 

Yea I figured. I've got a Muse Black 8' Heavy Fast, that thing is basically an oversized frog rod. I've got 65lb braid to 25lb leader. Should be up to the task but I've only hooked up with 68s on it no 8" fish yet. I set it up with 12/0 beast Hooks in mind. 

 

I got to "The Nip" around 10am. The lake was open.... Except about 50ft around the ramp. Figures. I went further south to Snipatuit and it looked promising. There was still about 30ft of ice only around the ramp, nowhere else. It's a shallow ramp but I only got out about halfway before I was up to the top of my boots. It was thick too about half an inch. The wind was picking up too and I didn't want to shred the sides of my kayak trying to force it out there so I just decided to fish from the causeway for a bit. The wind made it much colder than it was so I only stayed an hour. No bites on the Hudd. A couple other guys were there too. I'm gonna try from shore tommorow as well at other ponds, the wind is supposed to be better and a bit warmer. Gonna try jerkbaits and finesse footballs jigs I think. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

1 hour ago, MassYak85 said:

Yea I figured. I've got a Muse Black 8' Heavy Fast, that thing is basically an oversized frog rod. I've got 65lb braid to 25lb leader. Should be up to the task but I've only hooked up with 68s on it no 8" fish yet. I set it up with 12/0 beast Hooks in mind. 

 

I got to "The Nip" around 10am. The lake was open.... Except about 50ft around the ramp. Figures. I went further south to Snipatuit and it looked promising. There was still about 30ft of ice only around the ramp, nowhere else. It's a shallow ramp but I only got out about halfway before I was up to the top of my boots. It was thick too about half an inch. The wind was picking up too and I didn't want to shred the sides of my kayak trying to force it out there so I just decided to fish from the causeway for a bit. The wind made it much colder than it was so I only stayed an hour. No bites on the Hudd. A couple other guys were there too. I'm gonna try from shore tommorow as well at other ponds, the wind is supposed to be better and a bit warmer. Gonna try jerkbaits and finesse footballs jigs I think. 

Check out Dunham’s pond In carver. I believe it’s open. Good ramp to. Also Sampsons. Both got good fish 

[Dunks N Dinks]

Got on the board (in Mass) today on the home lake. Buddy and I nabbed a handful of smallies each in 17-25fow on an offshore flat. Blades did the dirty work, with the biggen of the day at about 3.35lbs taking a 5/8oz gold binsky. Looks like the Cape lakes will get through this Winter ice-less, pretty awesome start to the year. Good luck all.

[DogBone_384]

I started at Little South this morning around 10:00.  I marked a lot of targets around the pump house, but nobody agreed with me.  I took a lap around the place on the way before heading to Great South.  The canal between Little and Great South was solid and too thick to break up with my paddle so I packed up and headed to Hedges.

 

I launched at Hedges just before 1:00 and left just after 4:00.  My Lowrance showed a target rich environment along the beach, but nobody seemed interested in my offerings here either, so I took a lap here too, slow trolling a couple different Rapalas.  I worked along the north shoreline with a Dimiki blade bait, brown/purple finesse jig, Vision 110+1,  an LV500, and a black 2.8" Keitech fat impact on a Ned head.... nope, nothing .... 

 

There was a moderate breeze at Little South, and a steady 10-15 mph wind at Hedges (with 20+ mph gusts), but my 5 pound anchor did the trick.  I made it back to the beach just before 4:00 for one more go with the blade bait, and snagged a sucker that came in just under 2 pounds.  I let the poor thing go and switched to the little black Keitech.  The next two casts got two SMB in the kayak, 2.2 and 2.16, respectively, in about 8' of water.  Both SMB had hit the Keitech pretty hard and had more fight than the last couple I've taken here.

 

Little South showed water temps from 38.x to 39.x.  Hedges was just a little warmer at 40.x.  Air pressure started at 30.1 and dropped to 30.0 by the end of the day.

 

I came pretty close to goose-egging the whole day, but luckily, the kitchen opened just before I left.

[Don51]

Should have given Little a shot! I bet the trout would be willing to play!

[DogBone_384]

On 2/23/2020 at 5:41 PM, Dunks N Dinks said:

Looks like the Cape lakes will get through this Winter ice-less, pretty awesome start to the year.

I’ll be in Dennis Port for the week of March 9 - 16... looking forward to some G O O D smallie hunting!

[DogBone_384]

I had too much gas in my truck so I shot down to Hedges for a short pedal.  Weather conditions were cloudy, breezy, and in the low 50's.  Water temps were 42.x and air pressure was 29.9.

 

I caught one dink SMB on a black 2.8" Keitech on a 1/8 oz Mattlures underspin.  The little bugger did its best to smash it in 6' of water.

 

Wednesday's forecast might force me further south onto the Cape .... 

 

 

[DogBone_384]

I fished Sawdy Pond in Westport today, launching around lunch and leaving at 3:30 when I got called into work.

 

I got two LMB and one little pickerel, 3.11, 2.0, and .92 pounds respectively.  All fish were in about 4’ of water.  The first bass grabbed a Vision 110 in GG Trout, the second bass and pickerel both took a 3.8” Ayu Keitech Fat impact on a 1/8 oz Coolbaits underspin.  I never felt the first bass hit my jerkbait.  The line just got heavy.  Neither bass had much fight in them, though they had great colors.

 

The weather was cloudy, around 50, with a breeze from the N/NW.  Water temps were 43.x - 44.x and air pressure was 29.9.

 

Where to next?  CAPE COD!

[DogBone_384]

I repaired some trailer wiring for Fishing Rhino this morning and headed to Sawdy afterward.

 

After two and a half hours of nothing I headed back to go somewhere else, didn't see a rock and broke my Overdrive unit.  I paddled back to shore, packed up, and headed home.  I lucked out and Go Bananas, in Wareham, MA, had one in stock so I'll be able to pedal next week when I'm in Harwich/Brewster.

 

Water temps at Sawdy were 44.x along the north shoreline and high 42.x about 2/3 southward, near the second set of rocks.  Air pressure was 29.9, with a 5 mph wind from the S.  I'm going with 'bluebird' conditions after a rainy night.

 

Though expensive and not how I planned on starting March, today's 'oops' turned out well.  It was great weather and I located another Overdrive in time for next week's trip to Cape Cod.  

[LadiMopar]

55 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

After two and a half hours of nothing I headed back to go somewhere else, didn't see a rock and broke my Overdrive unit. 

 

Really sorry to hear this, but glad you were able to get a replacement so quickly. I had the same issue last season 4 days before a tournament and was fortunate to get one from Contoocook River Canoe/Kayak in Concord, NH. I bought my yak from them, and they usually keep a fair amount of FF parts/accessories on hand should you ever need another "local" source. 

I know it's a long haul for you to get there, but would be happy to pick up and deliver to you at a mid point here in MA.

 

Did you get the 8 ball shifter?

[DogBone_384]

2 hours ago, LadiMopar said:

I had the same issue last season

I hit the rock HARD, snapping the L-shaped bracket that holds the Overdrive to the hull and the tail above the propeller.  Go Bananas is in Wareham, about an hour away AND on the way to the Cape....  

 

I'm on a 'first name basis' with a couple of the FeelFree guys and can get parts quick.  They're sending me new covers for my '15 11.5's seat, cheap too.  

 

FeelFree's staff and customer service are phenomenal.  They've pretty well got a customer for life.  Hopefully I can convince them to put 4 rod holders on the next generation Lure: just like your aircraft carrier.

 

No, I didn't get the 8-ball.  It sticks up too high for me.  

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Went out on an after work shore mission today. Hit 2 ponds. Both were great. Nothing big. I got 10 bass. Most on the ned rig. Got 2 on the big swimbaits. Lost a good fish on a 6 inch hudd. My buddy had a big fish hit his wake bait. I got a nice crappie on the 7 inch slammer 

[je1946]

12 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Went out on an after work shore mission today. Hit 2 ponds. Both were great. Nothing big. I got 10 bass. Most on the ned rig. Got 2 on the big swimbaits. Lost a good fish on a 6 inch hudd. My buddy had a big fish hit his wake bait. I got a nice crappie on the 7 inch slammer 

Nice crappie.  I'd love to get into a bunch of those.

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

I love crappies. I need to try targeting them more. I get some big slabs on big swimbaits. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Got out on a quick shore mission yesterday close to home.  Couple of hits, and small fish. Few hits on a 6 inch hudd. Got small bass on a chatterbait ned rig the biggest fish on the s waver. Got the fish s waver fish in a super super shallow windblown cove. 

[DogBone_384]

Congratulations on a couple of great outings Mike!

 

I crossed 'the bridge' for the first time in 2020, launching at Snake Pond a little after 1100 and leaving just after 1500.  It was in the mid 40's with NW winds around 10 mph.  Air pressure was 30.0.

 

I kept it simple, working towards the northern/windblown shore with a Damiki blade bait, LV500 lipless, 2.8" Keitech on 1/8oz Coolbaits underspin, and a couple different jerkbaits.  

 

Nothing happened for the first hour and a half when the kitchen opened for a short twenty minutes when five SMB picked my Damiki blade bait off the bottom, in roughly 12 -15'.  The kitchen closed and again, nothing until 1500 when I'd had enough of the wind.  Four smallies were around 1 1/2 pounds and one scaled at 2.76.  Everyone had a good belly and some fight in them.

 

I'm very much looking forward to next week's fishing blitz on the Cape....  I'll be around Brewster/Harwich.  If anyone has the time/wants to meet up during the week, shoot me a PM.

 

Lastly, I caught a t-shirt at Hedges last week and today Snake gave me a sock.  I'll tell ya, Damiki blade baits catch ANYTHING!

 

Oh yeah, ... March ... CHECK....

[Fishing Rhino]

6 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Congratulations on a couple of great outings Mike!

 

I crossed 'the bridge' for the first time in 2020, launching at Snake Pond a little after 1100 and leaving just after 1500.  It was in the mid 40's with NW winds around 10 mph.  Air pressure was 30.0.

 

I kept it simple, working towards the northern/windblown shore with a Damiki blade bait, LV500 lipless, 2.8" Keitech on 1/8oz Coolbaits underspin, and a couple different jerkbaits.  

 

Nothing happened for the first hour and a half when the kitchen opened for a short twenty minutes when five SMB picked my Damiki blade bait off the bottom, in roughly 12 -15'.  The kitchen closed and again, nothing until 1500 when I'd had enough of the wind.  Four smallies were around 1 1/2 pounds and one scaled at 2.76.  Everyone had a good belly and some fight in them.

 

I'm very much looking forward to next week's fishing blitz on the Cape....  I'll be around Brewster/Harwich.  If anyone has the time/wants to meet up during the week, shoot me a PM.

 

Lastly, I caught a t-shirt at Hedges last week and today Snake gave me a sock.  I'll tell ya, Damiki blade baits catch ANYTHING!

 

Oh yeah, ... March ... CHECK....

Speaking of catching things other than fish, I'll go back to the annals of history.

 

While hauling lobster gear in Buzzards Bay a sail from a yacht , a 46 foot Hinkley,  came up, tangled in our ground line.  The next time we hauled  that gear we "caught" the sail bag for the afore mentioned sail.

 

Over the years we also acquired nearly five gallons of lead sinkers and jigs from the party boats out of Montauk when they dragged their baits across our ground lines.

 

The real prize was when basking sharks would become entangled in our ground lines.  It could take a couple of hours of cutting and splicing to get a trawl back in fishing order.

[MassYak85]

Did anyone brave the hurricane and sub-freezing wind chills today? I was wondering, with such a strong wind out of the north do you think it actually sets up the south side of some lakes to be warmer than the north for a little bit since the wind is pushing the warmer surface water? 

[DogBone_384]

2 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

Did anyone brave the hurricane and sub-freezing wind chills

No, I'm working all weekend.  I'm fishing Harwich/Brewster this week and am preparing for typical Cape wind.  I'll be out there, regardless of the weather.  Sheeps, Cliff, Flax, and Hinckley's are top of my list.

[Mr. Aquarium]

Nope. Restocked today at dicks with soft plastics  and chatter baits.  Heading out tomorrow morning on the boat. first time at the new honey hole in a boat! Super stoked. Hope this cold day didn’t put a damper on the bite 

[MassYak85]

Helped my dad get his boat ready today, we're gonna hit Whitehall tomorrow afternoon. I think I've got a plan, just gotta stick to it and trust the process this early in the year. Whitehall isn't always kind to us, but it occasionally gives up some good days and good fish. I'm hoping for a good start to the year but it will be good to just be out there again, everything is still ice, snow, and mud up in VT and will be a few weeks at least until I can get the season started up there. Glad to be able to get an early jump on spring down here. 

[DogBone_384]

6 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I think I've got a plan, just gotta stick to it and trust the process this early in the year.

Best of luck out there. My most productive bait all winter is a 1/2 oz. Damiki blade bait.

 

I’ll surely have it tied on down the Cape this week.

[MassYak85]

Spent 6 hours in Whitehall. We tried the deeper section targeting steep banks and deeper structure. Spent a lot of time with the jerkbaits, got some nice perch and some dink pickerel but no bass. No luck on the blade baits but I didn't spend a ton of time with them, also tried jigs and a Ned rig. Water temps were 40.x Consistently across the whole lake. It was a nice day but a little windy early afternoon. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

I fished the new honey hole. Get boat down to the water. Motor is broken. Works fine out of water.  The shear pin broke. So I tried to paddle around, the winds quickly picked up and it just went down hill from there. Got a decent pickerel on a swimbait.  Shore fish another spot after lunch. Got nothing. Tough day out there 

[JQ-92]

anyone here fish lake pentucket? I know they stock it with trout in the spring but hows the bass fishing? It's been iced out for a couple weeks now and thinking about giving it a shot today.