Eastern Ma & New England Area Fishing Reports

[DogBone_384]

The Tackle Monkey forced me to go to Bass Pro to get some new trebles for some older lures so on the way back I drove by some of my local spots.

 

I'm happy to say Ponkie and Blue Hills Res. are OPEN.  St. Moritz had just a skim coat on it.

 

When Mother Nature cooperates again, I'm gonna see if I can snag me some early season bass from Ponkie.

[Fishing Rhino]

15 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

The Tackle Monkey forced me to go to Bass Pro to get some new trebles for some older lures so on the way back I drove by some of my local spots.

 

I'm happy to say Ponkie and Blue Hills Res. are OPEN.  St. Moritz had just a skim coat on it.

 

When Mother Nature cooperates again, I'm gonna see if I can snag me some early season bass from Ponkie.

 

Tuesday's weather should have the fish stirring.  

[DogBone_384]

5 minutes ago, Fishing Rhino said:

 

Tuesday's weather should have the fish stirring.  

 

You gonna take the Nitro out Tuesday?  If so, I'll meet you..... 

[Fishing Rhino]

I was thinking the canoe on South Watuppa.

If I still had this, we could handle it.

[MassYak85]

Only place I could find that wasn't frozen was Quinsig. Tried from shore for about an hour and a half just south of the 290 bridge. Started with a jerkbait and then switched to a hudd 68. No bites on either, had to call it quits when this started happening...The itch was scratched though. I also drove by A1 and to my surprise there was about a half inch of ice on almost the entire pond. It was 90% open yesterday. 

.

 

[DogBone_384]

I'm gonna take a ride tomorrow and see if there's any open water. Planning on starting in Plymouth and working north....

 

I'm betting we've been set back at least a week ?

[je1946]

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

I'm gonna take a ride tomorrow and see if there's any open water. Planning on starting in Plymouth and working north....

 

I'm betting we've been set back at least a week ?

Hey Mike, My sister lives in the Plymouth area says they got mostly rain down in that area.  I don't know what it's like further inland.  This latest storm will help with the Quabbin water level, which the last time I checked was at 79% capacity.  Good luck

 

[DogBone_384]

Thanks. Will post my findings tomorrow.

[Mr. Aquarium]

ill be out this weekend 

 

[DogBone_384]

OK, after burning almost half a tank of gas, here's what I came up with:

 

Blue Hills Reservoir is open.

 

Houghton's Pond is open on South/South West half.

 

Ponkapog is 80 - 90% locked up.

 

All water along the highway from Route 1 south from Bass Pro to 495s to 44E was 50 (or more) percent locked up.

 

Little Pond, Billington Sea, Long Pond, Black Jimmy Pond, and Hedges in Plymouth were all wide open.

 

I bought a pair of Neoprene waders that were $50 off @ Bass Pro and figured Hedges would be a great place to try them because it's a cereal bowl you can wade all the way around and cast to 8-10' depths.

 

I got there about 2:00, rigged up my travel rod, dressed and walked down to the water.  On my second cast I blew up a 'cut me out' bird's nest that ended my day.  I can't say for sure how because Diawa T3s are set and forget reels. Regardless, it's still balled up in the back of my truck... I'll try to pick it out at work tomorrow.

 

At least I waded far enough to know I made a good purchase.

 

The highlight of the trip was the Bald Eagle I saw flying above Rte 3 between exits 10 & 11.

 

[MassYak85]

I might see if I can find somewhere to fish from shore tomorrow or saturday. If nothing else so I can test and get used to fishing my new Swaver 200. My main problem fishing from shore right now is the shallower places are pretty frozen, and the deeper places that stayed open are hard to access the deeper spots from shore. 

[DogBone_384]

How far are you from Plymouth/Cape Cod? It's wide open down there.

 

Add: I talked to a guy leaving Hedges who said he did well on the Charles River from shore just last week.

[MassYak85]

48 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

How far are you from Plymouth/Cape Cod? It's wide open down there.

 

Add: I talked to a guy leaving Hedges who said he did well on the Charles River from shore just last week.

I'm an hour from Plymouth. I usually don't drive far to fish if I can help it when there's like 10 lakes/ponds within 15 minutes of me. And where do people usually fish from shore on the Charles? I keep hearing good things about people fishing it when it's cold. 

[DogBone_384]

I'm not sure where people shore fish the Charles.  Looking at pictures posted here I'd say from Watertown back in towards Boston.

 

Maybe other members can chime in and help.

[CavScoutA21]

15 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm an hour from Plymouth. I usually don't drive far to fish if I can help it when there's like 10 lakes/ponds within 15 minutes of me. And where do people usually fish from shore on the Charles? I keep hearing good things about people fishing it when it's cold. 

The only place I know people have been catching fish on the Charles River is where the Muddy River drains into the Charles(the exit off storrow drive to get to Fenway Park).  I've fished there a couple of times this winter for about an hour each but got skunked both times.  I think it had more to do with me struggling to use a jerk bait more than fish not being there.

[Mr. Aquarium]

ill be out on the RI boarder tomorrow. new pond my buddy knows it!  hoping the fish are chewing! 

[MassYak85]

I gave Quinsig another hour and a half from shore today. This time I tried near the beach. I figured it might be a better spot since it drops into about 30 feet of water pretty quickly. Tried the hudd 68 again and also a jerkbait. Water is still so cold that my "suspending" jerkbaits are more like slow sink. Didn't get bit on either so I switched to a football jig. No luck with that either. 

 

1 hour ago, swamp hawgs said:

ill be out on the RI boarder tomorrow. new pond my buddy knows it!  hoping the fish are chewing! 

Good luck man. Let us know how you do down there. 

[Cyacnba]

For those asking about where to fish from shore at the Charles River during the winter, it's the spot described by CavScoutA21. You have to fish right next to the wall; there's no need to cast it out away from the wall. Just drop the bait down or you can cast from the right side shore parallel to the wall. The closer to the wall, the better. Drag football jigs, and you will catch at least 1 bass. The bottom is rocky, so it's great for jig fishing. There are a LOT of bluegills and good sized crappies during this time of the year.

There is another good spot during the winter that's behind some hotel towards Cambridge, but I've never tried there.

[MassYak85]

12 hours ago, Cyacnba said:

For those asking about where to fish from shore at the Charles River during the winter, it's the spot described by CavScoutA21. You have to fish right next to the wall; there's no need to cast it out away from the wall. Just drop the bait down or you can cast from the right side shore parallel to the wall. The closer to the wall, the better. Drag football jigs, and you will catch at least 1 bass. The bottom is rocky, so it's great for jig fishing. There are a LOT of bluegills and good sized crappies during this time of the year.

There is another good spot during the winter that's behind some hotel towards Cambridge, but I've never tried there.

I've had some good luck at that spot from a boat during the summer actually. How is parking in that area? Do you have to park on one of the parallel side streets and walk over? 

[Cyacnba]

8 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I've had some good luck at that spot from a boat during the summer actually. How is parking in that area? Do you have to park on one of the parallel side streets and walk over? 

You can park every other block on Beacon St, and the closest spots are on Beacon St & Mass Ave. It's metered parking though. 

[Cyacnba]

I will be going to the spot at the Charles River tomorrow if anyone wants to join me

[MassYak85]

Went to Cochituate from shore for another skunking. Was there fore a couple hours and tried the hudd 68 and a football jig again. It's a delicate balance when the water is this cold. If I feel like I'm covering enough water I feel like I'm fishing too fast but if I really slow down it feels like I'm not covering much water. There were some casts I spent 5+ minutes retrieving. 

[DogBone_384]

Drove past some local haunts yesterday while out doing errands and I'm sad to say we're losing ground south of Boston.

 

Houghton's Pond is half locked up.  The middle half is open.  

 

Blue Hills Reservoir has a skim coat on about half of it.  Some of the rock shoreline is fishable.

 

Ponkie is locked up and looks borderline safe.  

 

St. Moritz is completely skimmed over.

 

Brockton Reservoir looked half locked up with a skim coat on it from route 24 NB.

 

I'm taking my daughter to the RMV first thing in the morning to get her license and will have my waders and a couple light setups ready for who knows what later in the day.  With this cold spell I'm bringing blade baits, hair jigs, some jerk baits and NO expectations.

 

Best of luck for anyone else getting out there.  

[Mr. Aquarium]

went out to RI got a late start cuz of st pattys day. first pond was a bust, access was locked. 2nd pond was a tiny pond water temps at a nice and warm 37. no fish!  so we went  shore banging at different pond. long walk in.  my buddy caught a pickerel.  his first fish of the year he was happy.  we called it a day. still had few hours before sunset. hit a pond i started fishin last year, lost a friggin GIANT. well  i didnt get any fish here either. 

im loosin my F'n mind!  I NEED WARM WEATHER AND A DECENT BITE!!! everytime i go out im lucky if i get a hit! 1 fish all day aint cuttin it! 

[Micropterus]

Anyone know of anywhere that's thawed out on the North Shore/ Merrimack Valley area?