Janderson45 Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Was out on the Norton Reservoir today from 11-4 in my kayak. Have only fished there once previously but have read and heard decent things about it over the years. Forecast called for a lot of clouds and wind today, so with that in mind I was thinking about fishing in the many real shallow weedy areas around the reservoir with a hollow bodied frog. When I got there this morning it was only partly cloudy and it was almost noon, so although I did throw the frog for about 20 minutes when I first got there I only had one blow up on it (that I missed) and then quickly decided to change tactics and paddle around a bit. I saw a ton of empty bass beds, which I haven't really seen too many of so far this year to be honest. I figured it had recently changed to a post spawn pattern so I decided to go with a finesse technique thinking the bass would be recovering and a bit sluggish. Finesse is not my cup of tea, mainly because I've never been good at it or gotten comfortable with how to fish different rigs. I decided on a "Ned rig" of sorts. A 2.75" Finesse TRD in green pumpkin rigged on a 3/32oz ball head jig also painted green pumpkin. It was MONEY. Only trouble was I couldn't keep the pickerel off of it... Managed 20+ pickerel, 5 crappie and 2 modest large mouths. I was fishing it on a fairly fast retrieve, letting it fall and shaking the rod tip, repeat a few times then burning it back to the boat when I thought I was out of the potential strike zone. In certain spots it was almost constant action with the pickerel. In the past I would've enjoyed this a bit more as these days I'm starting to find pickerel a bit more of a junk fish, but none the less I can't complain about catching 30 fish in 5 hours, especially since time fishing vs time paddling around was probably only 2:1. If you haven't checked out the "Ned rig" yet be sure to give it a look/try. I havent loved "down sizing" my baits in the past but this trip today showed be how a little bite sized morsel can be infinitely more attractive to all sorts of fish than a big power bait that's only going to get strikes from the larger bass around. 1 Quote
BR1AN Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 http://s10.postimg.org/xrurx2cc9/KIMG0002.jpg Finally on the board.. Only took till june. 1 Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted June 5, 2015 Super User Posted June 5, 2015 http://s10.postimg.org/xrurx2cc9/KIMG0002.jpg Finally on the board.. Only took till june. CONGRATULATIONS! I'm still waiting.... it's really been an off year.... Â I was in Lincoln NH the other day and stopped at Beaver pond. Â My SonarPhone showed surface water temps in the 40s. High 50s & low 60s @ Stinson Lake, about 1/2 hour south of Lincoln. Not so much as a strike at either using t-rigged worm, in-line spinner, & slow crank baits I usually catch SOMETHING on.... Quote
Lostinthewoods Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 Hey guys, After a bleak May I'm finally on the board. I'm just over the border from you all, beating the bank in RI. Though I do fish many of the same spots as you all in Mass. First two this season were both solid 3 pounders, one on a weightless Senko and the other on a weightless Rage Bug (Texas rigged). Both watermelon red flake. Success this past Tuesday came on a bone white crank, running parallel to a wall. That yielded me 2 dinks and another nice 3 pounder. I haven't seen much as far as beds locally, recent rains seem to have mucked up otherwise clear water though. All I can do is fish shallow and cross my fingers at this point. Lol Tight lines! 1 Quote
BR1AN Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 CONGRATULATIONS! I'm still waiting.... it's really been an off year.... Â I was in Lincoln NH the other day and stopped at Beaver pond. Â My SonarPhone showed surface water temps in the 40s. High 50s & low 60s @ Stinson Lake, about 1/2 hour south of Lincoln. Not so much as a strike at either using t-rigged worm, in-line spinner, & slow crank baits I usually catch SOMETHING on.... This year has been weird and I also haven't been fishing nearly as much as I want to. Some weeks I don't get out at all. Last night I was using a real nice blue senko with white flakes wacky rigged. Had another one on the line about the same size but he jumped and spit it. I guess I missed the bass spawn?? That's what everyone is saying... Pretty bummed because we killed it last year. Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 5, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 5, 2015 Was out on the Norton Reservoir today from 11-4 in my kayak. Have only fished there once previously but have read and heard decent things about it over the years. Forecast called for a lot of clouds and wind today, so with that in mind I was thinking about fishing in the many real shallow weedy areas around the reservoir with a hollow bodied frog. When I got there this morning it was only partly cloudy and it was almost noon, so although I did throw the frog for about 20 minutes when I first got there I only had one blow up on it (that I missed) and then quickly decided to change tactics and paddle around a bit. I saw a ton of empty bass beds, which I haven't really seen too many of so far this year to be honest. I figured it had recently changed to a post spawn pattern so I decided to go with a finesse technique thinking the bass would be recovering and a bit sluggish. Finesse is not my cup of tea, mainly because I've never been good at it or gotten comfortable with how to fish different rigs. I decided on a "Ned rig" of sorts. A 2.75" Finesse TRD in green pumpkin rigged on a 3/32oz ball head jig also painted green pumpkin. It was MONEY. Only trouble was I couldn't keep the pickerel off of it... Managed 20+ pickerel, 5 crappie and 2 modest large mouths. I was fishing it on a fairly fast retrieve, letting it fall and shaking the rod tip, repeat a few times then burning it back to the boat when I thought I was out of the potential strike zone. In certain spots it was almost constant action with the pickerel. In the past I would've enjoyed this a bit more as these days I'm starting to find pickerel a bit more of a junk fish, but none the less I can't complain about catching 30 fish in 5 hours, especially since time fishing vs time paddling around was probably only 2:1. If you haven't checked out the "Ned rig" yet be sure to give it a look/try. I havent loved "down sizing" my baits in the past but this trip today showed be how a little bite sized morsel can be infinitely more attractive to all sorts of fish than a big power bait that's only going to get strikes from the larger bass around. Great Post! Quote
massrob Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Hey guys I have a question. I work nights and sometimes I work 3 to 11 and I'd like to try night fishing. Does anyone know of any places that allow night fishing? Everywhere I go has a sign saying no trespassing after dark. Thanks guys. 1 Quote
BR1AN Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 Hey guys I have a question. I work nights and sometimes I work 3 to 11 and I'd like to try night fishing. Does anyone know of any places that allow night fishing? Everywhere I go has a sign saying no trespassing after dark. Thanks guys. Â That stinks.. Not familiar with norwood or the area. If you havent already, open up google maps ive found so many bodies of water that arnt named and hold fish. Night fishing is awesome! Top water frogs are fun as hell at night. If you get a full moon youll be slaying them all night! Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 7, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 7, 2015 Little League is over finally, we lost in the playoffs. We started the last week in March and it's now June 7th. I finally got my fishing license today, cleaned my reels and hope to hit Buckmaster's Pond later this afternoon. I have no idea what stage the bass are in nor do I care at this point. All I care about is making some casts and hopefully, catch some fish. Â Wish me luck! Â Hope you all are enjoying the fishing season so far. Quote
Mike2841 Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 Haven't had much time to go out lately, but decided to hit the beach for a few hours yesterday. Managed to hook into 2 stripers. Landed the first one, the second came unhooked in inches of water and got washed out by a wave before I could grab him. Both were about 20-25 inches. 1 Quote
grampa1114 Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 Little League is over finally, we lost in the playoffs. We started the last week in March and it's now June 7th. I finally got my fishing license today, cleaned my reels and hope to hit Buckmaster's Pond later this afternoon. I have no idea what stage the bass are in nor do I care at this point. All I care about is making some casts and hopefully, catch some fish. Â Wish me luck! Â Hope you all are enjoying the fishing season so far. Good luck, throw something small and throw it deep and bounce it back ....you'll be fine. 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 7, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 7, 2015 Good luck, throw something small and throw it deep and bounce it back ....you'll be fine. I ended up fishing with my 10 y/o son. We spent about an hour and a half and didn't catch anything. We left when he wanted to leave which is fine with me. Always a good time when I can spend time with him. Â I'll try again some other time. Quote
Janderson45 Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Was out on Wordens pond in Charlestown RI again a few days ago. 1000+ acre pond that's fairly uniform in depth and runs to a max of only 7'. Supposedly one of the premier LMB fisheries in RI and super close and convenient to my buddy's house down that way.. Anyways I've yet to pull anything too impressive out of it. Fished it 5 times this year so far and have yet to be skunked, but a few times I thought I was going to do significantly better than I actually did. Got out there a few days after the recent cold fronts and rain passed through, air temps had started to creep back up and it was a partly cloudy evening. Was out there from 630pm-10pm in our yaks with head lamps. Only managed two fish, a good sized pickerel and a 15" LMB. Was throwing a hollow bodied frog almost exclusively, as I had myself convinced that the conditions were right for a good top water bite (just happens to be my favorite way to fish as well) but it just wasn't the case. Tons of emergent weed beds all over this pond, and I was chucking the frog every where, skipping it, hopping it, walking it, working it slow, working it fast... Just wasn't productive. Typically when I frog fish I'll at least get numerous "slaps" or small little blow up reaction strikes on a frog where the fish doesn't really try to eat it or just flat misses the bait. Wasn't the case that evening, had two fish that ate it good and landed both of them, didn't have a lick of action other that that. One of my buddies was also out in his yak and taking some nice photos with his DSLR camera, he got a sweet action sequence of me setting the hook on one of the fish, hopefully he sends me it soon and I'll share it here on the forum. Good hunting boys! Quote
Chris186 Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Was out on Wordens pond in Charlestown RI again a few days ago. 1000+ acre pond that's fairly uniform in depth and runs to a max of only 7'. Supposedly one of the premier LMB fisheries in RI and super close and convenient to my buddy's house down that way.. Anyways I've yet to pull anything too impressive out of it. Fished it 5 times this year so far and have yet to be skunked, but a few times I thought I was going to do significantly better than I actually did. Got out there a few days after the recent cold fronts and rain passed through, air temps had started to creep back up and it was a partly cloudy evening. Was out there from 630pm-10pm in our yaks with head lamps. Only managed two fish, a good sized pickerel and a 15" LMB. Was throwing a hollow bodied frog almost exclusively, as I had myself convinced that the conditions were right for a good top water bite (just happens to be my favorite way to fish as well) but it just wasn't the case. Tons of emergent weed beds all over this pond, and I was chucking the frog every where, skipping it, hopping it, walking it, working it slow, working it fast... Just wasn't productive. Typically when I frog fish I'll at least get numerous "slaps" or small little blow up reaction strikes on a frog where the fish doesn't really try to eat it or just flat misses the bait. Wasn't the case that evening, had two fish that ate it good and landed both of them, didn't have a lick of action other that that. One of my buddies was also out in his yak and taking some nice photos with his DSLR camera, he got a sweet action sequence of me setting the hook on one of the fish, hopefully he sends me it soon and I'll share it here on the forum. Good hunting boys! I hate that place, but I always seem to catch fish there. I have never heard it being called one of the premier fisheries here, just one of the largest. I have seen a few 5's pulled out of there, and I had one come off at the boat that was probably pushing 6 or so. IMO there are much better places in RI than wordens, at about half the size or less. The state record came out of a 39 acre pond. Quote
Janderson45 Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Hey guys I have a question. I work nights and sometimes I work 3 to 11 and I'd like to try night fishing. Does anyone know of any places that allow night fishing? Everywhere I go has a sign saying no trespassing after dark. Thanks guys. Interesting, some areas I fish do have signs posted that say something to the extent of "park closes at dusk". "No trespassing without written permission" etc.... However most of those same signs also state that fishing is the one exception. Are you fishing from a boat or from shore? I frequent numerous places that you can do both, and on the off chance you're not allowed to, I've certainly never been approached or told otherwise. Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 10, 2015 I was able to make my second trip fishing today, wound up at Houghton's Pond on my way home from work. I got on the board for 2015. Not big, but a good way to break the ice. Â Â Quote
Mike2841 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 What kind of spoon were you using, I like the looks of it. I've never had much luck at Houghton myself, glad you're on the board now. 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 11, 2015 What kind of spoon were you using, I like the looks of it. I've never had much luck at Houghton myself, glad you're on the board now. That's a Little Cleo pulling a Zoom Mini Tube. The hook is a Mustad Live Bait single hook. I know what you mean about Houghtons, it can be a head scratcher pond to fish. I've found that moving baits have been better producers than their dragging counterparts. The second weed line is a good cast away where cooler waters are. I get most of mine there. Quote
Pradopower Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Fished at Forge Pond in Westford for the first time this morning. Only out about two hours and caught two bass. One real small and one really, really small. Stayed close to the grass lines where the brook with the boat launch opens up to the pond. Sure looks like there should be bass around. Hope to get back out on a day when I have more time. 1 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted June 11, 2015 Fished at Forge Pond in Westford for the first time this morning. Only out about two hours and caught two bass. One real small and one really, really small. Stayed close to the grass lines where the brook with the boat launch opens up to the pond. Sure looks like there should be bass around. Hope to get back out on a day when I have more time. Â Glad to have you aboard Pradopower. I wish you luck on your next trip out! Quote
massrob Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 I'm going to Plymouth the week of the 22nd does anyone have any suggestions on where to fish? Gonna be there the whole week so I'm probably going to try a bunch of different spots. I know there's smallies in some ponds there and I'm going for my first one. Any baits that work especially good down there? Thanks in advance. Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted June 13, 2015 Super User Posted June 13, 2015 I'm going to Plymouth the week of the 22nd does anyone have any suggestions on where to fish? Gonna be there the whole week so I'm probably going to try a bunch of different spots. I know there's smallies in some ponds there and I'm going for my first one. Any baits that work especially good down there? Thanks in advance.  Long Pond, off exit 3 is supposed to be really good.  I've never fished there, but worked on the 6,000 square foot house on it (you'll know it when you see it).  There's a paved boat ramp there, but I don't know if it's open to non Plymouth residents.   I've fished Little Pond, in Morton Park, quite a bit.  Dawn and dusk are very good, along the grass beds and docks where the few houses are.  It's $25 for non residents during the day, but I've never been charged if I show up after 3:00 for afternoon & evening fishing. Perhaps the gate attendant goes home then?  This is where I caught the only two rainbows of my life - off a T-rigged worm and DT-10, respectively.   If you go in Morton Park's south gate and bear left you'll hit Billington Sea, just behind Little Pond.  I've only fished there twice, without much luck.  It's got a dirt boat ramp & parking lot. Paddle left around the corner from the boat ramp you'll see Billington Sea Kayak - nice Mom & Pop shop where I bought my Lure 11.5.  Good luck!  ADD: try looking for trips & locations on MAFishfinder.com Quote
massrob Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Thanks alot I've heard alot about those places. Hopefully I'll be able to get my first smallie. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted June 13, 2015 Super User Posted June 13, 2015 Do you have a boat of any type?  If you do, I'd suggest Great Herring Pond. If you are determined to catch a smallmouth, this is the place. The largemouth fishery is better than that described in the Mass ponds information.  http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/dfw/habitat/maps-ponds/dfwgrea.pdf  If you're interested, I'll send you a private message with some particulars on baits and areas that have been consistent producers, and some others worth trying but are usually feast or famine.  One word of advice. Get to the ramp early. There is not much parking and the cops love to ticket those who park off the side of the nearby roads. Quote
massrob Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 I do have a kayak and yes please send me a message with any info you have. I need to buy some more baits this weekend so that would be awesome. Thanks alot. Quote
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