Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[Janderson45]

I would agree that I'd prefer a bass boat on all of the water bodies you'd mentioned @"hamma" and I'd love to fish with you out of yours anytime you'd have me. Like I said earlier, all things considered if money wasn't a concern I would certainly own a full sized bass rig. Again, All of the things you stated are invaluable out on bigger lakes and reservoirs, storage, comfort, vantage point, boat positioning, electronics, more rods, etc. etc... However, go try to fish A1 (incredibly shallow in spots and has literally thousands of stumps sticking out everywhere above water level) or Winnecunit (shallower than ever and choked out with heavy heavy Eurasian milfoil) or Nippenicket (1' or less of water surrounding the boat launch from the drought) or Halfway pond (perfectly fishable with a full sized bass rig EXCEPT there's no where to launch one) right now in your bass boat.. You probably won't be able to fish any of them, and they can offer some of the best fishing in the state at times  

 

I chickened out on the wind today.  I actually use a "shallow water anchor" or "stake out pole" on an anchor trolley in my kayak that works very well as long as I'm in 6' of water or less, if I'm in deeper water I use my "kayak anchor wizard" in the anchor trolley and that also works great.  I plan on experimenting with a drift chute this fall as well, and want to install a second anchor trolley like you said @DogBone_384 .

[DogBone_384]

I planned to go out today but had to get tires put on my father-in-law's car.  I also spent a couple hours driving around with my daughter who's on her learner's permit.  I might take Wednesday off and head to Long Pond in Plymouth.  Long Pond has Larries, Smallies, Trout, and (I think... never caught one there) Salmon.

I have a drift chute but never used it.... though I keep telling myself I'm going to.

["hamma"]

A-1, Winnecunit, and the Nip,.. I've fished before. Never fished halfway. But!  I fish A-1 on my basshunter anyways, its smaller, and can get further back in there than with my tracker. Theres some giants in there, or at least there was 20 years ago. And any water body that I know of, I consider the waters depth before I head out.

 My Tracker is a deep v model, it does get into some skinny waters, but its best suited on large lakes. Its just been mostly sitting on the trailer this year. And last floated up on Winnipesaukee, in August no ramp issues there. So I have no idea how the ramps are looking these days around here with the drought.  But, i digress,...

  My Tracker has a few seats, or even if I had to use my basshunter, and you your kayak, Id be willing to fish a mutual pond or lake sometime, just to get to meet some of you guys, and put a face to a name, is better than not knowing each other.

 As I've been fishing New England for many decades, Im not after any spots, or looking for any secrets. I have enough experience around these parts that I need no help. Eventhough it is nice to learn new techniques, and in this sport no matter how experienced one may be? and theres always something new? Im not like that at all.  I just wanna fish. be it the tracker or basshunter.

 

[MassYak85]

6 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

MassYak85, will your kayak accept a trolling motor?  My 128T does, so when I fish bigger water like Great Herring.

There is enough flat space in the back where I could get a mount and use one, but then there is the whole issue of getting it registered. Not that I would realistically ever get fined for it, but still. 

I went out with my father in his boat this afternoon, wind was absolutely brutal. Forecast said gusts to 30....it wasn't exaggerating. My dad got one early on on a spinnerbait, about 3lbs. We decided to brave the full brunt of the wind and fished on the back side of a large exposed rockpile, we both hooked up at the same time, him on a rooster tail on his ultralight (that was fight), me on a Rat-L-Trap. Both fish were about 3lbs. I got a dink on the next cast and then nothing. We moved into a sheltered cove but no bites, it was kind of obvious they were hanging out in the wind. We moved back out and drifted along the west shoreline, a few small bass, a few pickerel and we decided to call it a day. I got a pretty big perch on the Rat-L-Trap that had a small crappie in it's throat. My Rat-L-Trap was similar in size and color so it made sense why he went after it. I suspect that may be my last outing before the hard-water season, probably won't make it home from college again for at least a few more weekends. 

[DogBone_384]

Getting it registered is easy as pie. More of a money grab for the state.

I was lucky I kept the receipt for my 128T...

[MassYak85]

15 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

Getting it registered is easy as pie. More of a money grab for the state.

I was lucky I kept the receipt for my 128T...

I'm sure it's not difficult but that's just more money out of pocket every year for an otherwise "expense-free" means to get on the water. 

[DogBone_384]

Quabbin Reservoir boat rentals stop on 15 October.  Anyone interested in closing out the season tomorrow?  

[Janderson45]

2 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Quabbin Reservoir boat rentals stop on 15 October.  Anyone interested in closing out the season tomorrow?  

I've gotta work tomorrow otherwise I'd be in... Could do Friday or Saturday, but Friday looks like some high winds right now.. 

[DogBone_384]

I'm working nights this weekend and the boss, er wife, has me going to a baby shower Sunday....

No vacation/personal time to burn?  

Worked an OT shift last night so no Quabbin today. If plans open up for tomorrow, might just give it a go. Will know later today.

ADD:  Launched at Long Pond in Plymouth around 10:30.  Long Pond has trout, salmon, Larries, and Smallies, so I figured there'd be high probability for success.  I started at the Southern end and pulled a 2-8 Larry out from a sunken tree using a wacky rigged 5" Senko on a 3/16 oz. tungsten jig head.  Shortly thereafter I caught a nice *** salmon on a Helsinki Shad colored Clackin' Rap (!?!?!?) at roughly 10-12'.  

I lost some fishing time talking to a property owner and getting some ice for my cooler (salmon & trout = DINNER), but back at it, unsuccessfully, for a couple more hours until I found a school of trout in about 5' of water.  Surprisingly, one of them struck at the Whopper Plopper I was throwing.  The school would follow it and break off.  I've never seen that before....   I switched to a 1/4 oz. Mepps in-line spinner and straight away nabbed a 1-4 and 1-6.  Again the school only followed the spinner, so I switched it out for a different style Mepps, and sure enough, WHACK, a 1-10 hit it straight away.  The 1-10 was caught before: it had a braid strand and two mono lines coming out if it's mouth, with a swivel still attached to one.  I guess what I've read is true, that fish will survive with hooks in their guts.

I took the trout and salmon home for dinner.  My boss, err, wife, did a great job cooking them up and dropping them on a kale salad....  

[MassYak85]

On 10/12/2016 at 1:23 PM, DogBone_384 said:

I'm working nights this weekend and the boss, er wife, has me going to a baby shower Sunday....

No vacation/personal time to burn?  

Worked an OT shift last night so no Quabbin today. If plans open up for tomorrow, might just give it a go. Will know later today.

ADD:  Launched at Long Pond in Plymouth around 10:30.  Long Pond has trout, salmon, Larries, and Smallies, so I figured there'd be high probability for success.  I started at the Southern end and pulled a 2-8 Larry out from a sunken tree using a wacky rigged 5" Senko on a 3/16 oz. tungsten jig head.  Shortly thereafter I caught a nice *** salmon on a Helsinki Shad colored Clackin' Rap (!?!?!?) at roughly 10-12'.  

I lost some fishing time talking to a property owner and getting some ice for my cooler (salmon & trout = DINNER), but back at it, unsuccessfully, for a couple more hours until I found a school of trout in about 5' of water.  Surprisingly, one of them struck at the Whopper Plopper I was throwing.  The school would follow it and break off.  I've never seen that before....   I switched to a 1/4 oz. Mepps in-line spinner and straight away nabbed a 1-4 and 1-6.  Again the school only followed the spinner, so I switched it out for a different style Mepps, and sure enough, WHACK, a 1-10 hit it straight away.  The 1-10 was caught before: it had a braid strand and two mono lines coming out if it's mouth, with a swivel still attached to one.  I guess what I've read is true, that fish will survive with hooks in their guts.

I took the trout and salmon home for dinner.  My boss, err, wife, did a great job cooking them up and dropping them on a kale salad....  

I had something very similar happen with trout at Quinsig, a big school kept following lures in and then breaking off, probably all around 2lbs. I had never seen that before either. I know nothing about trout behavior but maybe it's some kind of seasonal behavior for them to school up shallow? 

[DogBone_384]

I'm working tomorrow so it looks like it'll be opening season next time I get to the Quabbin.  Lemme throw this out there: let's try to get a half a dozen or so members out there for a meet and fish next Spring when the boats rentals open again....   

For now I'll be happy getting out a few more times before it really gets cold....   Weather permitting Fishing Rhino and I are heading out somewhere next Wednesday.

[Fishing Rhino]

On ‎10‎/‎14‎/‎2016 at 5:25 PM, DogBone_384 said:

I'm working tomorrow so it looks like it'll be opening season next time I get to the Quabbin.  Lemme throw this out there: let's try to get a half a dozen or so members out there for a meet and fish next Spring when the boats rentals open again....   

For now I'll be happy getting out a few more times before it really gets cold....   Weather permitting Fishing Rhino and I are heading out somewhere next Wednesday.

Here's an alternative suggestion.  In the dead of winter, after the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years holidays, we could meet up at the BPS in Foxboro, then take route one north three or four miles and have lunch at the Red Wing Diner.  Good prices.  Good food, and they can put tables together to accommodate a group.

[je1946]

7 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

Here's an alternative suggestion.  In the dead of winter, after the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years holidays, we could meet up at the BPS in Foxboro, then take route one north three or four miles and have lunch at the Red Wing Diner.  Good prices.  Good food, and they can put tables together to accommodate a group.

I'd be up for that.  Always gd to meet with others to have gd food and drink and gd conversation.

["hamma"]

4 hours ago, je1946 said:

I'd be up for that.  Always gd to meet with others to have gd food and drink and gd conversation.

me too, sounds like a good time.

[Mr. Aquarium]

went to upstate NY this past weekend. caught some good fish. i caught a small king and brownie. my buddies girl caught 2 20lbs kings.  my 2 buddoies werent so lucky they hooked up but couldnt land em. cant wait to go this weekend 

[MassYak85]

NICE FISH! 

I should be home this weekend and will try to get out for one or two final trips (unless this year is like last year and it's 60 degrees on Christmas). Hey, I don't mind it staying in the 60's, it's when it hangs around in the 40's I don't like. Fish really slow down and it's not cold enough for ice to form. 

[DogBone_384]

Drove to Jacobs pond in Norwell after housework was done.  Water temp was 67.x and just a breeze from the west.  Jacobs was down 2' from Spring, leaving just 2-3' of water for the fish to play in.  I started with a Bluegill Whopper Plopper and small yellow perch Rapala Minnow.  After two hours and nothing more than a couple small 'pick' 'picks',  I packed up and moved over to Luddhams Ford in Hanover.

Luddhams' temp was 62.x and calm.  Luddham is an extension of the North River.  I found the depth between 2 and 5' so I stuck with the Whopper Plopper and my go-to T-rigged Zoom.  The Whopper Plopper saved my shut out, netting me 6 little bass and 4 pickerel.  None were scale breakers, but good enough for mid October.

Picked up an extra shift tomorrow so my plans of getting down to Long Pond for more trout will have to wait for another week. If I get out of work at a good hour, I'll head out to Ponkie or Sunset Lake and enjoy some Indian Summer Fishing.

BTW: Gongrats on some awesome fish Mike! 

[Mr. Aquarium]

thanks fellas! going back up this weekend to! should be some rain this weekend. i got a feeling its going to be epic 

[DogBone_384]

Boy, to be single and not have to work two jobs....  what a life!

Hopefully I'll fish like Mike when I retire in 15 years!

[Mr. Aquarium]

im 27 work a full time job. single and no kids. its awesome! havent settle down yet so im fishing butt off until i find that lucky gal who can put up with my crap

[MassYak85]

Ahhh yea, who's going out this weekend? Sustained 20-25mph winds and rain...woot woot!

In all seriousness I might try Sunday if the wind isn't super bad. I ended up with a few quality fish two weeks ago when the winds were 30+ so who knows. 

[MassYak85]

Went out today on A1 in my kayak, unsurprisingly with the conditions I was the only one on the lake. Started out slightly windy and cloudy, a little mist too. The lake was down about a foot despite the heavy rain. I quickly got a 3.3 on a Matt Lures Ultimate Bluegill. It was funny because I kind of just pitched it out maybe 15 feet on a "test cast" to see it swim and immediately I watched the bass come up and roll on it. This fish was very skinny though. I caught another fish about the same weight later on a whopper plopper 130 and that fish's mouth wasn't even close to as big as this one's. I would guess it was around 4lbs at some point. It's mouth was very red like it had been eating a lot of crawfish, although it's teeth were very sharp still. There was a lot of activity up shallow, the bluegills were hugging the shore like their lives depended on it....and I'm pretty sure they did. One bass bolted into like 2 inches of water chasing some bluegills. They were definitely feeding up. When paddling around I disturbed more than a few larger fish that bolted off and left a pretty sizeable wake. I tossed my swimbait in the direction that one had headed off. Something knocked about 5 feet of slack in my line and when I reeled down and set.....nothing.  The rain and wind picked up a lot, the rain stopped but the wind never let up. It got so bad I could no longer paddle against it with my outriggers dragging in the water so I headed back in. All in all I got two fish in the 3lb range and four in the 2lb range. Most were caught on a swimjig, a couple on the whopper plopper, and the one on the mattlures bluegill. 

 

 

["hamma"]

Kudos to ya Massyak, I remember days when I was much younger, and would head out there on my basshunter, undetered by weather. its a rewarding feeling when you take those cold wet day chances and they pay off. There sure was some hogs out there back then,..probably some still considering the terrain. As they continue to feed up those "skinny" fish will fatten up quickly, if novemeber is favorable fishing the fish are gunna be hogs

 

[DogBone_384]

I too am not done yet.  Last year I fished into November and the weather looks like it's holding for me.  I'm planning on closing out the season on Long Pond in Plymouth.  It's got bass, trout, and salmon, so my odds for success are good.

Fishing Rhino and I got out last Wednesday to one of his local haunts.  We both did well.  Tom worked soft baits and I caught most of my fish on a little yellow/orange Yo-Zuri shallow running square bill.  Tom landed big fish at 2-14.  Water temps were mid-lower 60s.

["hamma"]

oh im not done,...just done with the basshunter this year. The tracker is still ready to go