Super User Crestliner2008 Posted April 30, 2014 Super User Posted April 30, 2014 Due to the cold spring and ice up lasting into the beginning of this month, the Quabbin didn't open until this past weekend. Two weeks late! And this weekend was bad, weather-wise, with rain, cold temps and wind. Monday was the most decent day, which is when my fishing partner & I decided to start our Q season this year. Walt & I hit the water between 8:30 am, until we pulled off at 2:00 pm, in search of one species - the lake trout. I know, many folks do not have a fondness for this species (most preferring to target smallmouth bass and salmon), but we do. They fight and bulldog and twist to the very end. Great fun on light spinning tackle. We launched a little after 8 am this morning, out of Gate #31. stiff breezes and cool temps were the rule of the day. The parking lot was filled and we had to wait in a line of about 3 other rigs putting in, when we arrived. Walt had the first fish of the day before 8:30 am. A very nice smallmouth bass. Unfortunately, while trying not to get a hook in his hand, the bass freed itself before I could get a picture. A very promising start of the day! We lost about 1/2 doz. lakers, from about 45', during the morning and early afternoon. But before we show you our catches, here's what we were greeted with for scenery: Doesn't get much better than this. And we had a low fly over by a bald eagle. (Just wish I had a better camera to capture it with.) The loons however, never fail to entertain: Here are some shot of the lakers we did mange to boat, starting off with a couple of Walt's fish: And here are couple of my cookie-cutter lakers: BTW, for you blade bait aficionados, this fish destroyed my 5/8 oz. "Cicada" blade bait ($4.49/ea!). Bent the blade, bent the rear double hook and we never were able to find the front hook! I would not recommend them for such tough fish as lake trout. Our "el cheapo" Barlows blades (at $1.50/ea.) performed much better. JMO! And our "fish of the day"; I managed this bad boy around 1 pm today. Really taxed the 10# test PowerPro with an 8# test fluoro leader on a med-light spinning rig. But it did the job. Probably one of my all-time best: Also picked up one small smallmouth bass to round out our day: And there I am, in full regalia; sun hat and sun gloves. No more cutting hunks of meat off my body for cancer. I've learned my lesson....life is way too short! A great start of the 2014 season for us today. The rest of the week is not shaping out too good, weather-wise, but we'll see. Hope some you got out to enjoy it all. 3 Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted April 30, 2014 Super User Posted April 30, 2014 Nice report & photos. My first trip out on lake erie resulted in a few lake trout. They are always a welcome suprise. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 30, 2014 Super User Posted April 30, 2014 Congrats on a Sweet first trip. Nice job A-Jay Quote
je1946 Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Way to go Cresty, looks like you guys had a great day regardless of species. You ever run into any Crappie, I hear they have some gd ones. I've fished the Q for many yrs and have caught many different species but never any Crappie. Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted April 30, 2014 Author Super User Posted April 30, 2014 je1946 - Yes, I've taken some nice crappie up there. Takes some doing to keep track of them though as it's a big reservoir. We've had our best luck just north of the "Pass" in depths down to 45'. Some decent perch down there too. I've been fishing the Q since the early 80's. Quote
Janderson45 Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Sweet! I've only fished the Quabbin once, strange beast she is. I'm more used to fishing shallower and more stained or muddy water that we have out here in eastern MA... nothing quite like the ultra clear and deep water. Needless to say the Quabbin smoked me, we got the skunk! Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted April 30, 2014 Author Super User Posted April 30, 2014 Sweet! I've only fished the Quabbin once, strange beast she is. I'm more used to fishing shallower and more stained or muddy water that we have out here in eastern MA... nothing quite like the ultra clear and deep water. Needless to say the Quabbin smoked me, we got the skunk! No doubt about it, you have to put in your time on this body of water to make her give up decent fish on a regular basis. Right now is prime shallow water fishing for smallies and lakers. When the water temps get above 60, the lakers move back down deep. The smallies follow them shortly after that. I'm not much of a salmon fisherman though, Have caught most of my salmon while fishing off-shore structures for smallmouths. Quote
Mike2841 Posted May 1, 2014 Posted May 1, 2014 Awesome fish. Never fished the quabbin before, but it's on my list this year along with wachusett Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 11, 2014 Posted May 11, 2014 I have fished the Quabbin for many years. Great body of water. Looking to be out there next Friday 5/16 & Saturday 5/17 if anyone wants to join me. Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 How has the fishing been out here this week? Any reports? Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted May 15, 2014 Author Super User Posted May 15, 2014 The lakers are still up shallow. The smallies will be shallow as well. Problem with the shallies is that most will be smaller bucks. The larger females will be just off the spawning flats, awaiting a temp spike to set them on the beds. I don't fish for salmon, so I couldn't tell you! Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 15, 2014 Posted May 15, 2014 The lakers are still up shallow. The smallies will be shallow as well. Problem with the shallies is that most will be smaller bucks. The larger females will be just off the spawning flats, awaiting a temp spike to set them on the beds. I don't fish for salmon, so I couldn't tell you! Great news. Thanks for the report. Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 17, 2014 Posted May 17, 2014 Did pretty well today at the Quabbin. Caught a bunch of smallmouth bass. Did not catch one lake trout. We fished for hours for lake trout and did not see or get one bite. Fished between 15-30 feet. Went up even more shallow and still no lakers. Plenty of smallmouth though. They love the Rapala X-Rap Hot Steel. Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 24, 2014 Posted May 24, 2014 Hitting up the Quabbin Tuesday 5/27 if anyone wants to join me. Smallmouth and hitting like crazy. I will probably be there between 6-7am. Let me know if you can make it. 1 Quote
jaystraw Posted May 26, 2014 Posted May 26, 2014 Hitting up the Quabbin Tuesday 5/27 if anyone wants to join me. Smallmouth and hitting like crazy. I will probably be there between 6-7am. Let me know if you can make it. I wish I was not working that dayo or I'd be there. I live in Peterborough, so the Quabbin is not too bad aof a drive. I've never fished it because they won't allow my 90hp Nitro on it, and I have not gotten the courage to rent one of thier boats. Maybe some Friday in the next few weeks if you plan on going again. I'd love to check it out. By the way,I just saw that one of your favorite lakes is Newfound. Mine as well. 1 Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 27, 2014 Posted May 27, 2014 I wish I was not working that dayo or I'd be there. I live in Peterborough, so the Quabbin is not too bad aof a drive. I've never fished it because they won't allow my 90hp Nitro on it, and I have not gotten the courage to rent one of thier boats. Maybe some Friday in the next few weeks if you plan on going again. I'd love to check it out. By the way,I just saw that one of your favorite lakes is Newfound. Mine as well. I actually rent their boats all the time. They are not that bad. Have caught a ton of smallmouth from those little boats. I have a Nitro as well with a 125 on it. It is a pain bringing a bigger boat when you have to be on the trolling motor the whole time. With their boats I use a drift sock, use the anchor and troll. Ya I love Newfound. Grew up there my whole life. My parents sold our cottage last year. Such a bummer. I learned how to fish on that lake. Quote
jaystraw Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 I was wondering if I could bring the Nitro and just use the trolling motor. Does seems like a big waterbody to have to deal with that. Can you bring a trolling motor and attach it to thier boat? I have a trolling motor that I use on my canoe that I could easily attach to it if it was allowed. I was gonna head to Newfound soon...spawn has got to be getting going there now. Quote
InfamousBG Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 I was wondering if I could bring the Nitro and just use the trolling motor. Does seems like a big waterbody to have to deal with that. Can you bring a trolling motor and attach it to thier boat? I have a trolling motor that I use on my canoe that I could easily attach to it if it was allowed. I was gonna head to Newfound soon...spawn has got to be getting going there now. Yes you can bring your own trolling motor and use it with their boats. Quote
coltondel Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 Will there be alot of people on a wednesday should i get there early even on a week day?? Quote
FirstnameLastname Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 Haven't been in a while, gotta go this year. Nice fish by the way. I've been spending my time around the scantic river and hamilton resevoir. Anybody else fish those spots? Quote
InfamousBG Posted June 20, 2014 Posted June 20, 2014 Probably going to hit up the Quabbin Sunday if I can. Rent one of their boats. The smallmouth should be right off the banks. Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted June 20, 2014 Author Super User Posted June 20, 2014 I was there yesterday and we did pretty well. The smallies are off the banks now and setting up on their summer structures. We even got into some nice LM well off-shore: You should alright with either the drop shot and/or floating a Senko. Good Luck! 1 Quote
InfamousBG Posted June 20, 2014 Posted June 20, 2014 If you guys dont mind me asking how deep down were the fish? Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted June 20, 2014 Author Super User Posted June 20, 2014 If you guys dont mind me asking how deep down were the fish? The smallies were down around 30'. We got the largemouths a little shallower. None were relating to bait balls, which is peculiar. But you have to find deep water structures with weeds. Quote
InfamousBG Posted June 21, 2014 Posted June 21, 2014 The smallies were down around 30'. We got the largemouths a little shallower. None were relating to bait balls, which is peculiar. But you have to find deep water structures with weeds. 30' already? Wow I am surprised. I guess the drop shot is coming out early. I thought I would not have to use it till early to mid July. Quote
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