Blade Baits on Quabbin, 4/26/18

[Will Wetline]

It's been a cool spring in New England and, as every season for the past 25 years, I had been anxiously awaiting the opening of Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts. Quabbin is a highly regulated body of water because it's Boston's water supply, but it's also one of the best smallmouth fisheries in New England.

 

Anyway, my first outing was April 23 and I can report that the weather was beautiful! Seasonally cool, sunshine and light breezes. If you want details on how the big smallies were caught there on this day, you'll have to ask someone else. I was humbled.

 

Undeterred, I headed out a few days later with Bassmaster Brad, a very savvy fisherman.

 

   

 

Yesterday's rain had stopped and it was supposed to become partly sunny. We were ready to get 'em. Smallies. Big ones.

 

So what's this?

 

 

It's a lake trout. These salmonids take up residence in the depths in the summertime but mix in with the smallmouth until the surface temp reaches the low 50ºs. (Today's temps ranged from 46º to 51º.)

 

Another one?

 

 

This laker sucked my blade bait offering off the bottom. My blade was nickel; Brad was fishing gold.

 

 

Nothing wanted the variety of hair jigs or suspending jerkbaits that they were offered. Nor soft plastics for that matter. Hmmph.

 

Mid afternoon the wind was up but we kept covering water hoping to bump into an active pod of smallmouth. Brad put out a drift sock and we made repeated passes over an area that's been productive in the past.

 

 

Hey! Finally. If you've noticed that the blade bait hanging from the upper lip of this smallie is missing parts, you're right. Go to the Tackle Making Forum for information on how to make this simple, inexpensive bait.

 

Catch you next week with another true tale from Quabbin.

 

Will Wetline

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

Looked a little Sloppy.

Nicely Done.

Congrats

A-Jay