Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[MassYak85]

Me and my dad headed to Lake Webster today. Got to the ramp around 6am. The weather was pretty crap, we wore sweatshirts the entire day in mid July, who woulda thought. At least there was no rain though. With the huge swing in weather from what we have been having I figured today was either going to suck, or be great. And GREAT it was!!!!! We launched at the smaller ramp but headed over to the shallow area near the main one. I gave my 40 size Spro Rat it's maiden voyage and man, it delivered. Started off with a keeper probably a little less than 2 lbs. Then I got a 2.8lber. We went a little shallower and there was one spot that just looked to perfect not to cast to. Two overhanging trees with a nice little gap between them and a stick submerged in that gap. After three casts in there working it like I had been (they had been hitting on fast twitches rather than a straight retrieve) I tried slowing it down, with two twitches followed by letting it soak for about 30 seconds. After a couple minutes a big girl came up and inhaled it. Got her in and weighed her, 4.8 lbs. My third biggest bass ever. The bite died down in there and we moved out to the main lake. For about an hour we didn't have any luck. We tried fishing one area we usually get some stuff, where a large shallow flat drops into deeper water. I was fishing a spinnerbait and my dad a swimjig and we were getting little hits but none were taking them, until my dad got a 2lber on the swimjig. We knew the fish were around but it was a question of what they wanted. The wind was starting to pick up and I decided to try some topwater action since I remembered reading that buzzbaits could produce on windy days. I chose the 130 size whopper plopper I recently got instead. Best  fishing decision of the year!

Absolutely KILLED 'EM with that. Started off with two smaller keepers which gave me confidence I had made the right choice.Bite slowed down so we decided to take another pass. On the  end of the flat there is a sharp drop off into 25 feet of water. We were over there when a big smallie CRUSHED the whopper plopper. Unfortunately for me he decided to practice his olympic routine with my lure still in his mouth. Came clear out of the water twice and spit the hook. We stayed in that spot spot for a while and I managed a few more smallies and a largemouth,all around 2 lbs. There is a lone patch of lilypads on that flat and I had a blowup right next to it, but whatever it was wrapped me around 20 lilypads and went to go get the lure I had a big salad and no fish. We moved again to a spot we have gotten big ones before in the spring. I had another big girl come up and smoke it about 25 feet from the boat. I thought for sure it was going to be over 5 once we got her in the boat, but the scale only rang her up at 4.4. But it was still my 5th biggest bass ever so I'm not complaining . We moved into a nearby "bay" full of weeds with some lilypads. I was killing them in there (again on the whopper plopper). Probably got about 10 in total in that area. Lost one about 100 feet from the boat that was probably over 3, lost another around 3 due to my mistake, where I tried to pull the fish into the net rather than properly net it, which ripper out the hooks and it got away right at the boat. Got another smallie around 2lbs near some pads.

As we started to head back to the ramp I made a cast parallel to  a dock, as soon as it passed the end a bass killed it. I could tell immediately it was a largemouth and it jumped, but it was still hooked, it pulled hard after that and without so much as a head shake it just slipped off. I'm pretty sure the front treble hook was in it's mouth, and the back one in it's side, and when it jumped I think the one in it's mouth came out and the extra pulling I felt was because I was pulling the fish sideways after that, and the hook pulled out. I think that one may have been around 4 though, it felt good. Kind of left a sour taste in my mouth after that but I managed one more little keeper smallie to end the day on a high note. Right as I was releasing it an environmental police boat pulled us over. They were very friendly, asked us to show some safety things in the boat and out fishing licenses and we went on our way back to the ramp. It was about 6pm when we pulled the boat out. 

All in all, probably around 15 bass. A bunch of smallies which I am not used to. A 4.4 and a 4.8, numbers 3 and 5 on the list of my top 5 biggest bass. And the cherry on top...I didn't have to deal with a single pickerel. Best fishing day of the year so far. Other than the 4.8 and a couple smaller keepers, all fish were caught on the whopper plopper 130. Great lure! Only downside of the day was my dad, who did not have a whopper plopper, only caught 3 small fish. He tried everything and couldn't get the same kind of bite. I even gave him my 90 size whopper plopper to use, but it seemed like they wanted the extra commosion the 130 size generates. The key seemed to be the wind today, the best bite seemed to be on the shore the wind was blowing into. 

 

 

[DogBone_384]

Whopper Plopper ?!?!?   Never heard of it.  ...  Gonna have to look into one...

Congratulations on a great day.

[MassYak85]

22 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Whopper Plopper ?!?!?   Never heard of it.  ...  Gonna have to look into one...

Congratulations on a great day.

Thanks. River 2 Sea makes it, a little pricey (17 bucks) but worth it IMO. Definitely check them out. I haven't had such a fun fishing day in a long time. Now I kind of wish we had stayed longer, they were still hitting when we left. 

 

 

Oh and PS @Mike Dixon, guess who I saw in the latest Bassmaster magazine holding a Big 'Ol Smallie.....congrats! That really is a nice picture. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

@MassYak85 thanks buddy! i cant believe i caught that fish! fish of a life time and i highly doubt i will beat it! but i will keep trying! 

[DogBone_384]

You're not going to start charging for autographs now, are you,  Mike?

[trupp30]

Since you guys are talking about the whopper plopper, what size and color do you find most effective in this area?

[Mr. Aquarium]

20 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

You're not going to start charging for autographs now, are you,  Mike?

i wouldnt do that to you! but how much you think i could get? i should start doing autographs at the mall! i will be there friday 10-1

12 hours ago, trupp30 said:

Since you guys are talking about the whopper plopper, what size and color do you find most effective in this area?

ive been doing well with the 90. colors just depend on the conditions. 

[CavScoutA21]

Quick question:  When using a trailer hook do you recommend the hook be the same size as the one on the lure?  Or should it be slightly smaller?

Also, I have been getting a little lunchtime action on the Charles River between the Arsenal and Elliot St bridges (Soldiers Field Rd side).

Thanks for the help!

[MassYak85]

21 hours ago, trupp30 said:

Since you guys are talking about the whopper plopper, what size and color do you find most effective in this area?

I use the 130 the most, I have the 90 too but like the 130 much better. I have been doing very well on the perch color, but the belly is white so any color with a white belly I would imagine would produce the same results. I am also going to be getting the Loon color (black belly) for some night fishing. 

 

The 130 might seem a little big at first but you'll still catch 1 pounders on it all day. I fish it on 40lb braid on my jig rod (7' 2" heavy fast). It's 1 3/8 ounce so it casts a mile. I can spool my Conc. A on a cast with it. 

 

Also @CavScoutA21 I personally don't ever use trailer hooks. I feel like if they are short striking then that is them just telling me that they like what I am using, but that there is one thing that is throwing them off a little. Maybe it's the blade color (spinnerbait), the retrieve speed or cadence, the size, the color. I feel I can usually change something to make them commit instead of using the trailer. 

Edited July 12, 2016 by MassYak85

[DogBone_384]

Packed up and ready to hit Great Herring, in the morning, provided I don't snag an extra shift.  Then it'll be Ponkapog, since it's close to home.  The plan is to give jigs and Neds a try to see what happens...  I've not had much luck with either and should give them a fair shake.

No OT today so down to Great Herring went I.  I launched around 9:00 and followed my normal path armed with a Junebug Ned and a T-rigged blue/black Kreature.  The wind was brutal by 10:30. My 5 pound claw anchor wasn't slowing me much, but on the first cast I hooked something good, though I lost it under the kayak when the knot failed.  

I managed 3 smallies, a pound to pound and a half; two Larries, one just over 2 pounds, and what I think is a white perch until I reversed my trolling motor to avoid a floating dock, felt a vibration, then discovered I'd lost my prop ?.

It was an hour and twenty minutes back to the launch in a STIFF headwind... I don't have to do arms tonight ?.

Ned proved a winner and the Kreature a bust.  No complaints, I'm off to Bass Pro for a new prop.

[Mr. Aquarium]

good luck @dogbone_384

i took my buddy striper fishing yesterday! he caught his first striper ever 30 inch fish.  we caught pollack, sea bass,cunners,mackerel and a striper

[JG233]

@DogBone_384 and I are going to do some kayak fishing early Monday morning. Anyone else interested in joining us? We haven't decided where to fish yet, but weigh in here if you want to meet up. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

wish i could tag along! i gota work 

[DogBone_384]

3 hours ago, Mike Dixon said:

wish i could tag along! i gota work 

Do you have any days off in the next couple weeks?  I work a combination of days & nights, so I'm flexible.  Derek is a teacher if I remember right.

[Mr. Aquarium]

weekends 

[Fishing Rhino]

On ‎6‎/‎19‎/‎2016 at 2:46 PM, DogBone_384 said:

 

10 hours ago, JG233 said:

@DogBone_384 and I are going to do some kayak fishing early Monday morning. Anyone else interested in joining us? We haven't decided where to fish yet, but weigh in here if you want to meet up. 

I'm interested as long as it's early enough to beat the traffic mess around Boston.  I'll be bringing my canoe, unless it's a body of water with a decent launching ramp.  Then, I'll bring my bass boat. Either way, I'll have a seat available.

 

[DogBone_384]

1 hour ago, Fishing Rhino said:

 

Derek and I are heading out to the Quabbin in search of smallies Monday AM.  We're going to rent one of their boats.  What are your thoughts?

[Fishing Rhino]

Can't make it to Quabbin. 

Hope you guys do well.

[JG233]

Thanks Tom, hoping to get into some big smallies. 

I can fish next Tuesday as well, are you available to go out then?

I've got to drop the car off at my mechanic later on in the week. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

17 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Derek and I are heading out to the Quabbin in search of smallies Monday AM.  We're going to rent one of their boats.  What are your thoughts?

fish deep near structure. 

i went out last night got half dozen all 2lbsers!  mix bag of smallies and largies 

[Jigfishn10]

Little League season will finally be over in 1 week. Hoping to hit the water for the first time starting Monday the 25th. Thinking about going old school with Slug-Gos, Traps and Jerkbaits.

Doesn't that look scrumptious!

[MassYak85]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Little League season will finally be over in 1 week. Hoping to hit the water for the first time starting Monday the 25th. Thinking about going old school with Slug-Gos, Traps and Jerkbaits.

Doesn't that look scrumptious!

Can't go wrong with good 'ol Slug-Go's

[DogBone_384]

6 hours ago, Mike Dixon said:

fish deep near structure. 

i went out last night got half dozen all 2lbsers!  mix bag of smallies and largies 

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to bring my Vexilar SonarPhone (castable fishfinder) and a lot of water.  It'll be my first time out there. We're meeting @ area 3 / gate 43.

[Mr. Aquarium]

nice dude! fish drop shot c rigs jigs tubes down deep

topwater in the morning 

[Cyacnba]

Caught this bass today at the Charles River on a Cabin Creek jig. Biggest fish of the year so far at 5lbs. I also lost 3 that were similar in size.