Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[guidoStow]

Decided to stay local so put in at Long Lake (Littleton) as I tried to beat the wind while getting out before it starts rain again...

Got the Kayak on the water by 7:30 and started working the first drop without success. So I swapped lines on the 10 weight to floating and headed for the lilypads. After a couple of stops I switched colors of my worm-like-fly to olive -- oops I mean watermelon -- and things started to pick up. A number of swirls and follows later I hooked up with a couple of nice size fish but came unbuttoned as they buried them selves in  the pads. By then the wind was starting to really make things unpleasant. I worked another drop-off for a while and then paddled back to the put-in.

Almost an inch and a half forecast from Larry tomorrow. Hopefully no additional contributions from Moe and Curly

[DogBone_384]

Took a quick trip to Hedges this afternoon.  Got three SMB in the kayak and lost two acrobatic jumpers.  All I needed today was a clown Vision110jr.  They were shallow, near a drop off, off a gentle point.

 

Air pressure was 29.9, winds were STIFF from the south, and water temps hovered around 76.  

[The one that got away]

Road trip to CT river this afternoon.  Launched out of Hatfield in the canoe with my partner in front.  Wind out of the south was a major issue, especially in a canoe.  Luckily there was a bend to the east just north of the launch point that we used for a windbreak.  Otherwise, it probably would have been a very short trip.  I got a smallie on my second cast using a Rapala and had hopes for a great day.  Not for a while.  I missed a spinnerbait hit about 20 mins later.  My buddy got three near a laydown within a 5-10 minute period about a hour in.  Then zero bites for about 3-4 hours.  Zero.  Like when you are just practicing casting because you're 100% confident you won't get bit.  The only highlight during that period was seeing a bald eagle at fairly close range.  Very cool.  We found fish on the sonar but they just wouldn't bite, and we threw everything at them.  Around 7pm, the smallies finally became active around a huge flat and we picked up some more fish.  He got his on a wacky rig and I was using a 1/8 ounce jig head with a 4" Swing Impact in green pumpkin.  A couple were pretty good fish with awesome aerial action.  The fight from a river smallie is unreal.  The last 45 minutes or so made the trip.  We both ended up with 5-6 fish.  It could have been much better if the wind wasn't such a major factor.  

Good trip overall and will definitely be back.  I'll definitely make sure the wind won't be an issue next time.  

Only took a few photos but for some reason I can't post them.  I think the file size is too large.   

 

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Yesterday’s trip to the cape for albies didn’t yield the target species, we did get blues, sea bass and fluke. But I wanted albies, bones, Spanish macks king mack, puffers, triggers, banded rudders etc

[guidoStow]

Another pond on another windy day. Maybe it was the high pressure but the Bass seem to have been retreated to the main dropoff and decided to wait till things settled down a bit. Lots of fish on the sonar but nothing I through at them generated the least interest. And the weed beds were completely quiet as well.

For my persistence I got to share a few moments with a honking big Chain Pickerel who in classic Esox fashion hit with an explosive strike right at the boat, put up quite a fight with multiple splashy jumps and dogged runs. She then bit through 1x tippet (15 lb test FC) like it wasn't there because she is a pickerel.

Then it rained on me as I put the kayak back on the car. Ah fishing...

[Mr. Aquarium]

Took a kayak trip around the backyard with a few buddies. Few beers and laughs, I caught 3 stripers on the albie snax, 1 buddy missed one on a pencil and got 1 one. Fun when a 15-20 inch pulls your kayak around on your bass rod. The other buddy didn’t get any fish but found some lures 

[guidoStow]

My next visit in my new pond series was further west. The tea colored water was high and there are clumps of waterlily along the shoreline and sparse beds of coontail in deeper water. There was a good crowd of pumpkinseeds and small baitfish by the put-in. My third cast with the 6" watermelon worm fly brought a 4 jump fight from a fourteen inch largemouth. I missed another take about 10 minutes later on the same fly. But that was it for action, not even a tap for the next 3.5 hours.

Oh well... 

[DogBone_384]

Fished a private pond in Wesport Thursday afternoon with @Fishing Rhino.  We did pretty good with 8-10 LMB and one each white perch, yellow perch, and crappie.  Tom got big fish of the day with a 3.02 LMB.  I got one LMB and the white perch on a perch colored Rapala Shad Rap Shallow and the rest on misc. soft baits.  

 

It was mostly clear and windy, from the south.  Air pressure was 29.8.

 

...I forgot to mention the weeds are starting to die off...

[MassBass]

Hey guys, here are some images of my better bass, mid-late summer. All local river fish. You can see the lures, that is the only bait that consistently gets me bites. The old hunch back was the biggest at 18"; from a canoe.  

[Mr. Aquarium]

Nice fish @MassBass that’s a great day @DogBone_384

 

 was watching football over some family’s house. Get a call that there’s a big blitz of big fish. Get down there about 530 greater with 20lb fish blitzing right at my feet. They were on peanut bunker. Had a few blow ups but not really committing to my topwaters.  See an ever bigger blitz down the beach a bit. Got a beautiful 20lb fish on a pencil. Few more blow ups. Change up to a lanciotti psycho gill. Got a small keeper on it, mid 30 inch fish.  I move back to my first spot, nothing else. Then some beach goers told me they were going nuts in side the channel.  I managed 3 more fish, 2 20lbs fish on a bucktail jig.

Best blitz I’ve seen in years. Haven’t gotten this many big stripers in one day in years either. Very happy about it.  The striper fishing has been horrible this season for me. 7 stripers since June 1st.  All schoolies to.  Feels really good to finally get some big fish. 

 

Went back out today same area in the boat.  Bait was there but so was a big seal. Ended up getting a few whacks. My buddies son  got a nice schoolie. Glad he got one! Wish he could of gotten fish like yesterday.

[desmobob]

 

Nice fish!  

 

I think this year's spring vacation to the Cape for stripers was one of my worst in 27 years... I don't think I caught a fish over 26" long in two weeks of fishing.

[bass.slayer69]

1 hour ago, MassBass said:

Hey guys, here are some images of my better bass, mid-late summer. All local river fish. You can see the lures, that is the only bait that consistently gets me bites. The old hunch back was the biggest at 18"; from a canoe.  

Great fish man, in-line spinner is always a go-to in rivers.

 

With school starting back up and my weekends taken over by sports, my fishing season is effectively over. Just wanted to give everyone on this forum a huge thanks for all the tips and tricks I got during my first full year of bass fishing. A little recap: 

 

1. Most importantly, set my new largemouth PB with a 3-6, 18 inch fish caught out of the yak on the cape.

2. Got my first boat, a 14 foot canoe w/trolling motor that has been great so far. Can’t wait to take it out next spring.

3. Got on my first bluefish in over 5 years

4. Learned how to fish many different lures, especially the T-rig, squarebills, and spooks. Still trying to figure out jigs tho. Maybe next year.

 

Finally, this fall, when I get a chance, my only time to fish is after 8 pm. I also have a friend who belongs to a country club that has a pond which is rumored to hold some bigs. Would it be acceptable to go in there at night, or should I just hold off all together? 
Anyways, thanks again, and tight lines everyone.

 

 

[DogBone_384]

On 9/13/2021 at 9:05 PM, bass.slayer69 said:

my fishing season is effectively over.

You’ve never caught smallies with a blade bait, have you?

[DogBone_384]

@Fishing Rhino and I launched at Quabbin Fishing area 3 this morning at the opening bell. The weather was nearly perfect, with some fog, and little breeze, and air pressure sitting at 30.1.

 

We decided to pack it in shortly after noon, where at that point Tom had a handful of dink SMB and I was eating an egg.  I threw a Vision 110 hail mary cast near the launch and came up with my own dink SMB.

 

In attempt to save face, I fished Sunset Lake around dinner time.  A cute little bluegill tried eating the same V110 I succeeded with at the Quabbin and I lost a good LMB at the kayak from a T1000 Whopper Plopper 110.  
 

Water temps at Sunset was 76.x.  We didn’t have electronics at Quabbin.

[bass.slayer69]

18 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

You’ve never caught smallies with a blade bait, have you?

I have not, but I did get a blade bait last week in case I get a terrible case of cabin fever. No clue how to use it, though.

[Mr. Aquarium]

On 9/13/2021 at 9:05 PM, bass.slayer69 said:

 

 

Finally, this fall, when I get a chance, my only time to fish is after 8 pm. I also have a friend who belongs to a country club that has a pond which is rumored to hold some bigs. Would it be acceptable to go in there at night, or should I just hold off all together? 
Anyways, thanks again, and tight lines everyone.

 

 

I’ll come with ya!  I love night fishing, ive had some killer nights in November even with ice on the rods.  My buddy got a 6lbs bass in December at night on a wake bait. 

[DogBone_384]

2 hours ago, bass.slayer69 said:

No clue how to use it, though.

If you're on the South Shore, @Mr. Aquarium and I will give you a lesson.  I keep my kayaks ready to go all year, and my Ranger goes out in most weather.  This forum and YouTube have tons of blade bait info.  

 

At the least, if you have neoprene waders, we can meet at Hedges before it freezes.  Smallies there like the blade bait.

[MassBass]

On 9/13/2021 at 9:05 PM, bass.slayer69 said:

With school starting back up and my weekends taken over by sports, my fishing season is effectively over. 

 

Hey man I won't hold a gun to your head to go out and grind. Make the most of school/college and the fall bites will be there in future years to.  

[Mr. Aquarium]

Absolutely hammered  the stripers. Ok this is the best day of striper fishing Ive had. Not a soul insight! Aggressive fish. Caught many and hooked many. 
Got my new PB at 32lbs!  They loved  the Scabellys 5inch and 7 inch spook!  Few fish over 20lbs

[Mr. Aquarium]

23 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

If you're on the South Shore, @Mr. Aquarium and I will give you a lesson.  I keep my kayaks ready to go all year, and my Ranger goes out in most weather.  This forum and YouTube have tons of blade bait info.  

 

At the least, if you have neoprene waders, we can meet at Hedges before it freezes.  Smallies there like the blade bait.

Yep. I love blades and hair jigs in winter. Or big swimbaits 

[MassBass]

That looks quite epic, Mr. Aquarium; especially from the surf. This is the fall migration I reckon? South of the Canal?

[Mr. Aquarium]

54 minutes ago, MassBass said:

That looks quite epic, Mr. Aquarium; especially from the surf. This is the fall migration I reckon? South of the Canal?

Nope this is north of the canal. Lot of fish around 

[MassBass]

21 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Nope this is north of the canal. Lot of fish around 

I read another inspiring report to, I am plotting to head to the surf later in the month! South of Cape Anne??

[DogBone_384]

Dropped into Sunset Lake for an hour after work this evening.  It was misty and almost calm.  Threw a whopper plopper, Vision 110, and a 3.5" bluegill flash Swing Impact.  My little bluegill flash garnered me a cute little Sunny.  That was it.

 

Water temps were 74.x and air pressure was 30.2. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Another killer day. Fished 8-2. Smoked them. Scabellys pencils and albies snacks. Few fish over 40 inches. Lot of schoolies and slot fish