Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[Cyacnba]

Whereabout on the Charles did you catch these? I'm headed back home to Boston this week and will be trying my luck anywhere I can around the city.

 

Where the Muddy River connects with the Charles River. You can also try at the Brookline Reservoir or Jamaica Pond.

[DogBone_384]

I can remember the days of my youth, when I could not get out as often as I'd have liked.  That was back when Massachusetts fishing season opened on the third Saturday in April.  Don't hold me to that third Saturday in April.  It may have been the second or the fourth Saturday.  Been a long time.

 

I couldn't sleep a wink for a week or two before the season opened.  Those were the days when "I wished my life away", wishing those two or three weeks prior to opening days could go by faster.  In the four years following our marriage in 1965, the wife and I lived in Holliston, MA, and one of my favorite haunts was Lake Winthrop in Holliston, and when I felt like taking a journey, I'd toss the jon boat on the roof of my car and drive to Lake Whitehall in Hopkinton. 

 

Somewhere along the line, after having lived on Cape Cod from '69 - '72, we moved back to our home town of Westport.  After a short stint of making grandmother and grandfather clocks as well as school clocks and mantle clocks for a company on Cape Cod in Osterville, I became a commercial lobsterman.  Did that for over twenty years, and when I quit that profession in '98 I did not care if I spent another minute on the water, fresh, or salt.

 

Been through the raising of two daughters, and pinching pennies so we did not get over our heads in debt. My wife is a thrifty Yankee, who is a much better money manager than I am.

 

In 2008 my wife thought it would be nice if we got a couple of kayaks, or a canoe to get some exercise as weather and time would permit.  That was when I resumed recreational fishing for freshwater bass, and any other fish that might take the bait.  Being semi retired at the time, and with a pond only minutes from our door, the fishing bug bit me.  Off to BPS and returned home with two spinning and one bait casting combo, and I was off to the fishing wars once again.  On the water at or before daylight, and fishing 'til mid afternoon, or later was enough to satisfy my fishing "fix". 

 

For a year, I fished out of the paddling canoe in my avatar.  In 2009 I got a square stern canoe and a trolling motor.  In 2010 I got a new Nitro Z7 and two years later traded it in on a new leftover Z8.  My wife had not yet retired, so I was on the water, either in the Nitro, or the canoe with the trolling motor, several days per week. I'd fish until the ponds iced over and resume as soon as the ice was gone.  Never interested in ice fishing.

 

When my wife retired from her day job, she became my "supervisor" wanting to get this or that done around the house and the yard.  I've always been handy with tools so we never had to hire an electrician, or a plumber, or a carpenter.  So, being able to satisfy the fishing bug when the weather was nice, and being able to get the household stuff done during the off season turned out to be an arrangement that satisfied both of us.

 

So now, I'm getting the household stuff out of the way.  Clean up the gardens, fight the wars with the falling leaves, replace the carpet in a room or two with pre-finished hardwood flooring, install a built in double wall oven, etc., keeps her happy enough so that in the fishing season, from late March, early April through October I can fish to my heart's content.  I take care of the lawn, and emergency.  When we visit our daughter who lives in GA in October or November, I may drag the Nitro along to get a few days of fishing in down there.  Come late April or early May, I've hauled my Nitro to the forum's Road Trips.  Since that has been a 1200 mile trip, one way, I've turned the road trip into a two week fishing expedition to Pickwick, KY Lake, Guntersville, Wilson Lake, all on the Tennessee Valley Authority waters of the Tennessee River.

 

At the end of those two weeks, I look forward to returning home, where the bite is usually heating up.  On all but one year, I've made the drive by myself, only stopping for food, fuel, and to answer nature's calls and a few naps along the way.  I know where all the best prices for gasoline are along the way, and how to avoid purchasing gasoline in states with high taxes on fuel, such as Pennsylvania.  A fill up, just before the state line into PA will allow me to get to Virginia before I need fuel.

 

And I know where every Cracker Barrel, and every BPS is along the way (Harrisburg, PA, Bristol, TN, Sieverville, TN, and Nashville, not to mention the BPS in Birmingham, Alabama.  And, there is always the Cabela's staring you in the face on I-78 west, in PA.

 

My heart's desire for all my fishing friends is that when you reach my stage of life, you are healthy enough, and have the means to live life on your terms.

 

It's a system that works well for my wife and me.

I've been to only two Cracker Barrels, one being at the Wrentham outlets, but had to stop at almost every Waffle House we saw the last couple trips to FL and VA...

 

I'm heading to Long Pond in Plymouth before dawn to see what I can dig out of the water....  

[Fishing Rhino]

The Waffle House chain is a long time survivor.  We've seen a lot of other franchises come and go in our lifetime, and that is one of the few that have endured.

 

I can remember when Howard Johnsons was the largest chain along the country's highways.  I'm sure you're familiar with Route 24 and the service area at the junction of 24 and 495.  When 24 was first built, there was a Howard Johnson's on each side of 24.  They probably sold more ice cream than food during the summer months.  Not many vehicles had air conditioning in those days, so ice cream sold very well when temps rose.

 

Traveling south we used to stop at the now defunct Dutch Pantry Chain for lunch or dinner and Aunt Sarah's Pancake House chain for breakfast.  Stuckeys was also a popular restaurant/gift shop chain.

 

I'm thinking that McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Subway, among others did a tune on those early food chains. 

 

When heading south, we rarely use I-95, opting to travel I-81 west of the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountain ranges.  And, the only toll we hit is at the NJ/PA state line, on rte 78.  No traffic jams like there are between here and Richmond, VA., and for the most part, a nice scenic drive.

[DogBone_384]

Got to Long Pond in Plymouth just before sunrise.  Kept it simple: a 3 1/2" swim Senko on 1/8 oz jig head, gold 1/16 oz spoon, and a 1/2 oz black/blue chatterbait.  Water temperatures were 55-57, but after 4 1/2 hours of nothing, frustration got the better of me and I quit.  

 

My wife convinced me to try another pond, so I headed over to Sampson Pond, in Carver.  My neighbor says he does well there.  I've only fished it once, catching just a couple of panfish and a dink LMB.  After about 45 minutes of half a@@ed effort with the swim Senko I just wasn't in the mood to fish, so I packed it in on probably the most beautiful fall day we'll have.

 

To try and be positive about today, I used my new Diawa Pixy68 SPR reel on my 6'10" *** ML/F with the swim Senko & 1/8 oz jig head and it casts like a dream.  So much so that I over-casted a couple spots and landed the bait on shore/in trees.

 

This is likely it for my season.  I have more side-work booked than I really want, but I can't say no.  

 

I caught fewer fish this season while fishing more, but managed a new PB, AND fished out of state three times (with moderate success).  As much as today didn't pan out as hoped, I had a decent season and hope to break the 4 # mark for next year and locate bass better, which I believe is my biggest problem (other than patience).

 

Have a great Holiday season and tight lines to those who are good at catching bass out there!

[DogBone_384]

Not  that this hasn't been tried before but...why don't you guys try fishing with each other? Believe it or not there are some pretty savvy fishermen out here in Eastern Ma. that you just might have something in common with...It worked for me...

 

This sounds like a plan for Spring.

 

I've got two fishing kayaks if a member without one wants to try their 'next addiction'.

[JG233]

I've fished with a few of the guys from here. Good times. 

 

I'd take one of those yaks for a spin in the spring. 

 

Also, I went out this morning to a small pond near me and got skunked. The season's over! 

[DogBone_384]

I've fished with a few of the guys from here. Good times.

I'd take one of those yaks for a spin in the spring.

Also, I went out this morning to a small pond near me and got skunked. The season's over!

 

I'm just south of Boston, consider it a plan.

Don't give up on this season yet. I'd been bass-less since the end of September (though a nice trout and a few big pickerel came my way) until today. I bagged a 3-10 and 1–1 today on a 4" Senko @ Ponkapog Pond in Canton. Water temps were 56-ish.

[DogBone_384]

Launched at Great Herring Pond @ sunrise this morning. It was overcast and windy. Following Fishing Rhino's advice, I started at the channel left of the boat ramp. Bagged a 2-10 Larry in short order on a Rapala Shadow Rap. Worked (drifted, really, my anchor wasn't big enough to overcome the wind) over to the little bay hidden by a large point. Caught another Larry, two Smallies, and a Pickerel. The second LMB and one Smallie ate a 5" gourd-green T-rigged worm. Smallie #2 and the pickerel attacked a jointed Smallie flavored Shad-Rap. I played with a brown/craw jig and a couple different Senko rigs but nobody took.

None of the last fish were bigger than two pounds, but two weeks before Thanksgiving, I'm calling it a win.

It took me about an hour to paddle back to the launch because of a pretty stiff headwind.

Thanks for the tips on this pond Tom, if this is my last trip for the year, a good way to finish up.

ADD: Forgot to mention that water temps were 57-58.

[Fishing Rhino]

I went fishing with a friend yesterday, in salt water.  Didn't use a rod and reel.  Used an oyster rake.  Got over a half bushel in about an hour.  On the way home I bought an oyster knife to open them.  Opened many, and did not spill a drop of blood.  Ate some raw on the half shell, and about an hour ago, I roasted ten of them in a 425 degree oven for about five minutes.  Yummy.

 

No catch and release, other than the undersized oysters, when "fishing" for shellfish, be they clams, quahogs, or oysters.

[DogBone_384]

Looks like we're not done yet... Weekend & early next week's forecast calls for warm...

Good luck to everyone who gets out there!

[WPCfishing]

Looks like we're not done yet... Weekend & early next week's forecast calls for warm...

Good luck to everyone who gets out there!

 

I'll be on the water throwing whatever it takes to land another lunker. The wind is supposed to calm... It's been nuts for the last month or more. I'm going to Ct. for a change of scenery.

[DogBone_384]

Finished EMT continuing-ed class after work this morning.  The weather was too nice to pass up a late morning/early afternoon at Long Pond in Plymouth.  I kept it light, a small in-line spinner, 1/8 oz jig head w/small craws/plastics, and a trout flavored Scatter Rap. Water temps were 52-54.

 

Went most of the day without a nibble.  Managed three dink LMB an hour or so before dusk.  Luck gave me a 1-10 Rainbow while trolling the Scatter Rap on the way back to the boat ramp.  Mr. trout tasted good for dinner.

 

While I didn't catch much, I learned a lot about Long Pond and picked some spots to try next year when the bass come back.

[Fishing Rhino]

That certainly shortens the off season.  I was done almost two months ago.  Fortunately, I don't suffer from cabin fever.

 

Two months down, four or five to go, and I'll be after them again.  I'll be glad when December 21 rolls around.  The days will be getting longer. 

 

See, I've just "wished away" a month of my life.

[DogBone_384]

That certainly shortens the off season.  I was done almost two months ago.  Fortunately, I don't suffer from cabin fever.

 

Two months down, four or five to go, and I'll be after them again.  I'll be glad when December 21 rolls around.  The days will be getting longer. 

 

See, I've just "wished away" a month of my life.

 

Saturday's forecast is supposed to hit 50ish.....  Dunno where I'll end up, but I plan on getting out somewhere, if just for a couple hours.  After that, it'll be time to break out & sight in the shotgun for deer season (I already bought my season ski pass...).  

[Fishing Rhino]

On my schedule is the holidays.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are always a busy time of the year. 

 

After that we'll be off to Daytona for speedweeks, and hopefully much warmer weather.  Late March or April, we may go to visit out daughter in Georgia.  I'll check the long range forecast and if it looks decent, we'll tow my bass boat to GA.  There are several lakes within and hours drive, or a little longer.  Alatoona, West Point, and three or four lakes in Rocky Mountain State Park to the north.  One of them is a trophy lake, open only the first ten days of each month.

 

Weiss, and Logan Martin in Alabama are also within an hours drive.  Another hour would get me to Guntersville, or Wheeler.

 

The bite around here should be getting serious about the time I'll be getting home.

[DogBone_384]

On my schedule is the holidays.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are always a busy time of the year. 

 

After that we'll be off to Daytona for speedweeks, and hopefully much warmer weather.  Late March or April, we may go to visit out daughter in Georgia.  I'll check the long range forecast and if it looks decent, we'll tow my bass boat to GA.  There are several lakes within and hours drive, or a little longer.  Alatoona, West Point, and three or four lakes in Rocky Mountain State Park to the north.  One of them is a trophy lake, open only the first ten days of each month.

 

Weiss, and Logan Martin in Alabama are also within an hours drive.  Another hour would get me to Guntersville, or Wheeler.

 

The bite around here should be getting serious about the time I'll be getting home.

 

Have a great warm season!  I'm getting out somewhere Friday, perhaps Great Herring or Long Pond.  Best of luck this winter!  I'm going to try to go until my baits bounce off the ice....

 

Happy Thanksgiving & thanks for your help with Great Herring.

[Fishing Rhino]

You're quite welcome.  Glad I could help. 

 

Maybe we can get together next year.

[grampa1114]

Happy Thanksgiving y'all from SC 70's and sunny.

Grampa

[carlm01]

Nice 

[styksnstryngs]

I went out yesterday, got nothing. I slow rolled a colirado spinnerbait in white with a 4" curly tail white trailer. I was fishing the charles on the newton/needham border, right next to route 9. Any tips? There is a steep bluff where the water gets pretty deep. New pond is frozen over now. Happy thanksgiving!

[DogBone_384]

You're quite welcome. Glad I could help.

Maybe we can get together next year.

Sounds like a BBQ at a pond that has picnic area with other members too ?!?!?!?!

[Fishing Rhino]

Happy Thanksgiving y'all from SC 70's and sunny.

Grampa

 

Did you have your grits for breakfast?

[long island basser]

Happy Thanksgiving y'all from SC 70's and sunny.

Grampa

This is where I want to go after retirement , lake secession.

[DogBone_384]

Did you have your grits for breakfast?

My cousin came back to MA when he retired from the Marines. He ended up in SC. He loves it down there.

[DogBone_384]

Took the day off and drove down to Great Herring Pond around 0800, hitting the water just after 0900. There were three bass boats there, all working 20-30' off the shores that drop off quickly.

I kept it pretty simple: a DT-10 Rapala dressed in Smallie, a 1/8 oz jig head with a 3.5" swim Senko, and a Rapala lipless perch. The DT10 smallie quickly produced a yellow perch, much bigger than what I catch around Boston, by the point, left of the boat ramp.

I drifted across the pond and worked to the farthest cove where I caught a couple nice smallies last time I was here. I spoke to a guy on a nice bass boat who lives on the pond and said he'd been catching perch and pickerel, but no bass. He was using a drop shot rig while I was near him. I paddled over to the drop off by the red beach house where I caught my smallies. By this time the wind was strong enough that it was futile to try keeping my kayak still (read: off the beach) so after a half hour or so I made my way back to where I started.

After blowing up the biggest bird's next of my life, I switched out to another reel and got back to it, left of the launch. After A LOT more casting practice, I caught my second perch with the jigged swim Senko. I managed one more just before dusk.

I'd hoped to catch at couple more bass, but I'll take the perch instead of a GOOSE-EGG. After two trips to Great Herring, I'd have to say it's better on a bass boat than a Kayak. It's a LOT of water to cover and very windy. I sure won't have to do arms tomorrow in the gym.

ADD: Water temperature was 49.x all day.