When do you call it quits in Ma ?

[Skunkd]

Wondering how late in the fall people typically fish in Ma ? I’ve  spent more time, and had more fun fishing freshwater this year than I have in a long time. Usually, for me fall is about stripers, the fall run etc. I may forego fall stripers for more time on the lake. How do your tactics change as fall sets in?

Thx T

[MassYak85]

This past year was the first year I fished every month. I made a seamless transition between open water and ice fishing on both sides of the winter. I even took my kayak out in February on the assabet River in the middle of ice fishing season (yes you read that right) . Sometimes you've just got to scratch that itch lol. I wasn't very successful in the colder months but I was trying to use jerkbaits fished slowly and Huddleston swimbaits mostly. Also some blade baits which I did get some bites on. Generally October is the last month I do well in but warm days in November and December can get them biting. I remember a few years ago it was 60 degrees on Christmas day and they were chewing. Each year is different too, we can have 4 months of ice some years and others the Cape ponds won't even freeze. But every month of the year you will have opportunities to catch bass somewhere in the state. 

 

 

[Don51]

I used to kayak fish right up until Thanksgiving. I can remember being out there with snow blowing around. Can't say that I miss that! Anyway, as the water gets colder stay with the shallow ponds. Fish are much easier to locate. Jerkbaits, cranks and ratltraps will usually get it done. 

[PourMyOwn]

I fish right up until ice just over the border in NH. Don51 has you covered for baits, although I would add a jig and pig to that. I throw a lot of them in dying vegetation in November. 

[Deleted account]

19 hours ago, fishnbear said:

When do you call it quits in Ma ?

I would have said July, but at 5 and a half games behind the wild card, It's now time for sure. Go Yanks!

[DogBone_384]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

 

I try to fish year round as long as there's open water.  I find that deeper Plymouth and Cape Cod waters don't freeze as soon as shallow waters.  I caught fish in open water every month in 2018.

 

Like MassYak85, I had my kayak out in the middle of winter.

 

Like Don51 says, stick with small, shallow ponds.  It's easier to find fish and being closer to shore makes for safer extrication should you fall in.

 

When waters freeze over, I try to ice fish at least a couple times.

 

Just prepare for the cold, keep a change of clothes in your car, and ALWAYS wear your PFD.

[MassYak85]

2 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

I would have said July, but at 5 and a half games behind the wild card, It's now time for sure. Go Yanks!

As much as that hurts, good joke.

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

As much as that hurts, good joke.

I'm sorry, what? It's hard to hear with all the Pennants flapping in the wind, and the huge rings clacking together...  

Sox have done alright last few seasons, I'd tar and feather your front office if I were yous though. Besides, Brady and Belichick will have all of NE walking around with their chests puffed out here shortly.

 

[Boomstick]

My season ends in later October for two reasons. #1) My youngest son plays travel hockey, my washing machine died last year and died again this year so it's extremely hard to find time to do anything and #2) I went through chemo last year and my hands and feet go very numb in the cold. I am hoping that doesn't continue forever.

[Jigfishn10]

On ‎9‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 12:55 PM, fishnbear said:

Wondering how late in the fall people typically fish in Ma ? I’ve  spent more time, and had more fun fishing freshwater this year than I have in a long time. Usually, for me fall is about stripers, the fall run etc. I may forego fall stripers for more time on the lake. How do your tactics change as fall sets in?

Thx T

 

I try an go as long as the waster is soft. I can't fish much during the spring and summer with my son's baseball schedule, but this time of year I try and get out as much as I can.

 

Tactics don't change much in early fall, pretty much what you did in spring and summer will work. You may find that as the fall season moves along and the waters cooling, there will be more forage about, hence more active bass. This is a great time for horizontal presentations - Crankbaits, spinnerbaits. topwaters, etc. As the water cools to the low fifties, you can pretty much slow down and use those bottom baits - worms/soft plastics, jigs, etc.

 

It's pretty much spring iceout in reverse.

 

For me, early fall is bass fishing looking for the big ones filling their bellies for the long winter months under hard water. As fall progresses and the bass bite starts to slow down, I switch to more inline spinners and spoons looking for anything that will bend a rod. I'd rather spend time catching something than a cold.

[LadiMopar]

On 9/3/2019 at 12:55 PM, fishnbear said:

Wondering how late in the fall people typically fish in Ma ? I

 

Until I can't get the yak on the water, and then I fish from the bank until there isn't a hole big enough in the hard water to get a fish through. I reverse this process in the spring...