Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[MassYak85]

5 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

Hey everyone! I just recently moved to Waltham for a new job and I have been itching to get out and catch some bass. I'm originally from Granby CT and spent most of my time fishing in the Berkshires and other areas of western MA out of a kayak. My favorite techniques are two opposite ends of the spectrum, that being finesse, specifically drop shotting and then throwing big soft swimbaits like the Trash Fish and the Beast Coast Creep.  I decided to join this forum because it seemed like a lot of you guys are pretty active and knowledgeable about the area which leads me to my main question. Where would y'all recommend I go for numbers, size, best chance of getting bit on big baits, etc. for this weekend? I'm really looking to be exposed to as much new water as possible and I'm willing to drive a decent amount of time but I would like to explore some more local waters first. Any suggestions on spots, tips and tricks, or some hot baits right now would be much appreciated. I'm not looking to invade anyone's honey hole just looking for a little push in the right direction for some success.

Charles River shouldn't be overlooked and it's right in your back yard. If you wanna drive you've got tons of options. Lots of great water down on the Cape especially if you wanna chase smallies. Central MA just start scouring Google Maps. Cochituate in Newton has a good variety of structure and is good sized, can be tough sometimes. I grew up near Whitehall in Hopkinton which can be good, gets a lot of pressure though. I won't name drop any of the tiny ponds but basically if it has water in it and you can fish it it'll have at least decent bass. 

 

As for baits going small this time of year can pay off, little paddle tails, underpins, tailspins. But so can going the other way with big swimbaits if you want that big fall bite. Water temps are low 50s a lot of places right now and some lakes have probably turned over already especially with the past couple storms. Once the water gets into the 40s I feel like the Fall feed gets pretty heavy usually if you get the right conditions.

[Styguy922]

2 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Charles River shouldn't be overlooked and it's right in your back yard. If you wanna drive you've got tons of options. Lots of great water down on the Cape especially if you wanna chase smallies. Central MA just start scouring Google Maps. Cochituate in Newton has a good variety of structure and is good sized, can be tough sometimes. I grew up near Whitehall in Hopkinton which can be good, gets a lot of pressure though. I won't name drop any of the tiny ponds but basically if it has water in it and you can fish it it'll have at least decent bass. 

 

As for baits going small this time of year can pay off, little paddle tails, underpins, tailspins. But so can going the other way with big swimbaits if you want that big fall bite. Water temps are low 50s a lot of places right now and some lakes have probably turned over already especially with the past couple storms. Once the water gets into the 40s I feel like the Fall feed gets pretty heavy usually if you get the right conditions.

 

Awesome Synopsis!  I can second the small bait focus based on my experience last year.  I was amazed how well they were biting with truly cold water and small baits

[DogBone_384]

7 hours ago, Don51 said:

They are in there!

Thanks... I'll look for them.

 

.....

 

Dropped into Ponkapoag for a bit late this afternoon.  Threw a perch Rapala Shadow Rap Shad, green/chart Fluke, bluegill Yozuri square bill, a 7.5" green pumpkin Kut-tail, and a T1000 Whopper Plopper 130.  I needed only the Rapala, getting one pick and one short (but fat) LMB. Light, short jerks did the job.

 

Water temp was 54.4, air pressure 30.1, and cloudy.  Surprising was that the vegetation was still thick and healthy, compared to Hedges and Sunset Lake.

[NE.Angler]

15 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Charles River shouldn't be overlooked and it's right in your back yard. If you wanna drive you've got tons of options. Lots of great water down on the Cape especially if you wanna chase smallies. Central MA just start scouring Google Maps. Cochituate in Newton has a good variety of structure and is good sized, can be tough sometimes. I grew up near Whitehall in Hopkinton which can be good, gets a lot of pressure though. I won't name drop any of the tiny ponds but basically if it has water in it and you can fish it it'll have at least decent bass. 

 

As for baits going small this time of year can pay off, little paddle tails, underpins, tailspins. But so can going the other way with big swimbaits if you want that big fall bite. Water temps are low 50s a lot of places right now and some lakes have probably turned over already especially with the past couple storms. Once the water gets into the 40s I feel like the Fall feed gets pretty heavy usually if you get the right conditions.

Awesome thanks so much for the info! I've been looking around on maps and using the Fishbrain app to find some places and it seems like there are a lot of lakes that are actually  illegal to fish, even though there are posted catches on Fishbrain. Does anyone know where I can get a definitive answer on whether or not it is legal to fish some of these places, because a google search isn't much help either. Specifically Weston Reservoir, Norumbega Reservoir, and Cambridge Reservoir.

[MassYak85]

2 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

Awesome thanks so much for the info! I've been looking around on maps and using the Fishbrain app to find some places and it seems like there are a lot of lakes that are actually  illegal to fish, even though there are posted catches on Fishbrain. Does anyone know where I can get a definitive answer on whether or not it is legal to fish some of these places, because a google search isn't much help either. Specifically Weston Reservoir, Norumbega Reservoir, and Cambridge Reservoir.

I'm fairly certain those are off limits even to shore fishing. There's Sudbury Resevoir which is further from you but you can shore fish a good majority of it, just can't put anything on it. There is a season rewtriciton on that one though it might have ended already. Generally if you're looking on Google Maps and there's no shoreline development and it's named as a Resevoir it's probably a no go but you can also look at the Mass website and see if there's a pond map. I believe they have at least a basic map of any publicly accessible pond of any decent size.

[Mr. Aquarium]

Basically every reservoir in MA is off limits. Except the Quabbin, wachusett and Sudbury, limited season. Very regulated 

[Frezzy]

4 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm fairly certain those are off limits even to shore fishing. There's Sudbury Resevoir which is further from you but you can shore fish a good majority of it, just can't put anything on it. There is a season rewtriciton on that one though it might have ended already. Generally if you're looking on Google Maps and there's no shoreline development and it's named as a Resevoir it's probably a no go but you can also look at the Mass website and see if there's a pond map. I believe they have at least a basic map of any publicly accessible pond of any decent size.

Sudbury and Wachusett Reservoir are open until Nov 30th every year.

[NE.Angler]

4 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm fairly certain those are off limits even to shore fishing. There's Sudbury Resevoir which is further from you but you can shore fish a good majority of it, just can't put anything on it. There is a season rewtriciton on that one though it might have ended already. Generally if you're looking on Google Maps and there's no shoreline development and it's named as a Resevoir it's probably a no go but you can also look at the Mass website and see if there's a pond map. I believe they have at least a basic map of any publicly accessible pond of any decent size.

Good to know, its a shame though I'm seeing some giant smallmouth come out of those reservoirs. Do y'all have any experience on Norton Reservoir? I've heard that's pretty good for some big largies. I'm also intrigued by the Concord River and the potential for some big pike, anyone had luck there? 

[guidoStow]

1 hour ago, NE.Angler said:

 I'm also intrigued by the Concord River and the potential for some big pike, anyone had luck there? 

Water has been quite high for weeks so the Concord River Pike bite is highly variable at best...

[Styguy922]

2 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

Good to know, its a shame though I'm seeing some giant smallmouth come out of those reservoirs. Do y'all have any experience on Norton Reservoir? I've heard that's pretty good for some big largies. I'm also intrigued by the Concord River and the potential for some big pike, anyone had luck there? 

 

1 hour ago, guidoStow said:

Water has been quite high for weeks so the Concord River Pike bite is highly variable at best...

 

Yeah - probably big smallmouth because they aren't harvested/pressured due to the lack of fishermen!    Concord river has some decent bass fishing as well.  Pike are pretty elusive there - I think you really need to put the time in or just go out to Western MA they're more plentiful there.  I go through periods of targeting them but I'm primarily a bass guy!!  I went a few weeks ago to the Concord and to @guidoStow's point, the water level was super high and made things tricky. 

[MassYak85]

4 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

Good to know, its a shame though I'm seeing some giant smallmouth come out of those reservoirs. Do y'all have any experience on Norton Reservoir? I've heard that's pretty good for some big largies. I'm also intrigued by the Concord River and the potential for some big pike, anyone had luck there? 

Norton is decent. Very shallow though and when they decide to treat it for weeds it can get tough cause there's not a whole lot of other cover for them. 

 

Concord can be good. Like others said the Pike are elusive other than Western MA. They're around if you wanna dedicate the time to chasing them, but that time would be better spent driving to places with better opportunity. My dad did pull a 36" out of the concord a few years back though. 

 

Half the fun of fishing this state is just exploring all the bodies of water. We definitely have it good in that regard. I know certain areas of the country you might have a couple big resevoirs with true monsters in them, but you're gonna drive 4 or 5 hours round trip just to fish them. Here you've got so many spots to try in just a 30 minute drive of basically anywhere in the state.

 

Even where I live in VT. They really don't dam up any of the streams, so you don't have many lakes in certain areas of the state. Whereas in MA basically every little trickle has been turned into a pond.

[JQ-92]

19 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

Good to know, its a shame though I'm seeing some giant smallmouth come out of those reservoirs. Do y'all have any experience on Norton Reservoir? I've heard that's pretty good for some big largies. I'm also intrigued by the Concord River and the potential for some big pike, anyone had luck there? 

You can fish Schnecks pond in Weston from shore........no one has ever bothered me and it has smallmouth. 

[DogBone_384]

I dropped into Jacobs Pond yesterday morning for a couple hours.  Threw a perch Rapala Shadow Rap Shad, Elegy Bone Megabass X-80 Trick Darter, and 5" green/red flake Senko, and came up with a decent size crappie on the Trick Darter.  A pickerel also grabbed the trick darter and ran, but I had my drag too light and it let go when I tried to set the hook.

 

Water temps were 53.x - 54.x, air pressure was 30.2, and winds were light from the west.

[NE.Angler]

21 hours ago, Styguy922 said:

 

 

Yeah - probably big smallmouth because they aren't harvested/pressured due to the lack of fishermen!    Concord river has some decent bass fishing as well.  Pike are pretty elusive there - I think you really need to put the time in or just go out to Western MA they're more plentiful there.  I go through periods of targeting them but I'm primarily a bass guy!!  I went a few weeks ago to the Concord and to @guidoStow's point, the water level was super high and made things tricky. 

 

22 hours ago, guidoStow said:

Water has been quite high for weeks so the Concord River Pike bite is highly variable at best...

Good to know, hopefully the water levels go down soon because I'm planning on giving Fairhaven Bay on the Sudbury a shot pretty soon. It reminds me of a lot of the big coves that shoot off from the CT River

19 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

Norton is decent. Very shallow though and when they decide to treat it for weeds it can get tough cause there's not a whole lot of other cover for them. 

 

Concord can be good. Like others said the Pike are elusive other than Western MA. They're around if you wanna dedicate the time to chasing them, but that time would be better spent driving to places with better opportunity. My dad did pull a 36" out of the concord a few years back though. 

 

Half the fun of fishing this state is just exploring all the bodies of water. We definitely have it good in that regard. I know certain areas of the country you might have a couple big resevoirs with true monsters in them, but you're gonna drive 4 or 5 hours round trip just to fish them. Here you've got so many spots to try in just a 30 minute drive of basically anywhere in the state.

 

Even where I live in VT. They really don't dam up any of the streams, so you don't have many lakes in certain areas of the state. Whereas in MA basically every little trickle has been turned into a pond.

 

4 hours ago, JQ-92 said:

You can fish Schnecks pond in Weston from shore........no one has ever bothered me and it has smallmouth. 

From what I've heard Norton is consistently producing big fish so I am pretty eager to try it out. Schnecks pond is pretty close to me so I will definitely check it out soon, I'm always chasing that big smallie bite

[bass.slayer69]

8 hours ago, JQ-92 said:

You can fish Schnecks pond in Weston from shore........no one has ever bothered me and it has smallmouth. 

There goes another spot ?

[bass.slayer69]

Since you already know it, let me let you in on some info about Schenks. While Shenks does have good fish, the better fishing is found in the bigger body of water to the south, Norumbega Reservoir. It is much deeper, less weedy, very rocky, and has clearer water than Schenks. One of the best smallie fisheries I know of. Main forage are perch and bluegill, have seen some craws around there too. Caught my PB smallie out of there around this time last year on a Ned, making my first trip there in a while this weekend. Also, anyone know how to fish late fall smallies? 

[Mr. Aquarium]

I’d fish blades for smallies 

[guidoStow]

5 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

 

Good to know, hopefully the water levels go down soon because I'm planning on giving Fairhaven Bay on the Sudbury a shot pretty soon. It reminds me of a lot of the big coves that shoot off from the CT River

 

 

What sort of boat are you bringing? Where are you planning to launch? The Elm street bridge was not passable when I went past it on Monday... The Lincoln Canoe landing has been fine if you are using a Canoe or Kayak...

[bass.slayer69]

On 11/3/2021 at 8:05 AM, NE.Angler said:

Specifically Weston Reservoir, Norumbega Reservoir, and Cambridge Reservoir.

While all of these are techically off-limits, the only one that I’ve really heard of being enforced is Cambridge Reservoir

[Frezzy]

13 hours ago, bass.slayer69 said:

Since you already know it, let me let you in on some info about Schenks. While Shenks does have good fish, the better fishing is found in the bigger body of water to the south, Norumbega Reservoir. It is much deeper, less weedy, very rocky, and has clearer water than Schenks. One of the best smallie fisheries I know of. Main forage are perch and bluegill, have seen some craws around there too. Caught my PB smallie out of there around this time last year on a Ned, making my first trip there in a while this weekend. Also, anyone know how to fish late fall smallies? 

I fish the Chu 3-4 days a week all season for Smallies.  This time of year if the water has good visibility I'd be throwing a Jerkbait for sure.  If you want to fish bottom a tube is a great option in late fall as well.  

[NE.Angler]

13 hours ago, bass.slayer69 said:

Since you already know it, let me let you in on some info about Schenks. While Shenks does have good fish, the better fishing is found in the bigger body of water to the south, Norumbega Reservoir. It is much deeper, less weedy, very rocky, and has clearer water than Schenks. One of the best smallie fisheries I know of. Main forage are perch and bluegill, have seen some craws around there too. Caught my PB smallie out of there around this time last year on a Ned, making my first trip there in a while this weekend. Also, anyone know how to fish late fall smallies? 

I was looking around Schnecks on maps and there is a gate that says no trespassing again leading me to believe that this spot is not legal to fish in, I saw the same signs around Norumbega. I really want to get on a good smallie bite but I also don't want to break any rules right after moving to a new city. Have regulations changed, or do the owners of the two bodies of water just not really care if people fish here?

11 hours ago, guidoStow said:

What sort of boat are you bringing? Where are you planning to launch? The Elm street bridge was not passable when I went past it on Monday... The Lincoln Canoe landing has been fine if you are using a Canoe or Kayak...

I fish almost entirely out of a kayak and I am planning on launching at the Lincoln Canoe Landing, it seems like an easy enough area to launch in with pretty quick access to the bay

[guidoStow]

34 minutes ago, NE.Angler said:

I fish almost entirely out of a kayak and I am planning on launching at the Lincoln Canoe Landing, it seems like an easy enough area to launch in with pretty quick access to the bay

Lincoln is a decent launch, you should be all set. Good luck!

[bass.slayer69]

2 hours ago, NE.Angler said:

Have regulations changed, or do the owners of the two bodies of water just not really care if people fish here?

The state owns the two, Schenks is 100% legal to fish with no fences or anything blocking it, but to access Norumbega you have to hop a waist high fence, and while I’ve seen the MWRA workers, they don’t seem to care. I’ve never been kicked out, but the worst that can happen is that you just get asked to leave.

[NE.Angler]

2 hours ago, bass.slayer69 said:

The state owns the two, Schenks is 100% legal to fish with no fences or anything blocking it, but to access Norumbega you have to hop a waist high fence, and while I’ve seen the MWRA workers, they don’t seem to care. I’ve never been kicked out, but the worst that can happen is that you just get asked to leave.

Where would I park if I wanted to fish Schnecks?

[DogBone_384]

I had about an hour before dusk, having finished the day's work that included front brakes on my truck, so off to Blue Hills Reservoir went I.

 

I tied on a perch Vision 110 and came up with a cute sunny, not much bigger than the bait itself.

 

A good warm up for my trip to Cape Cod next week.