Quabbin Report 5/21

[MJEFF]

Hi everyone, went to the Q on the 21st, water temp 61deg, 59deg in some coves.

We launch out of 43, checked some shorelines, a few beds but very few fish on them. Fished humps from 43 to Dana point. Caught a scattering of fish on jigs and tubes at 15-20ft, a few shallow fish on spinnerbaits, no fish on jerkbaits or topwater.

By noon, lots of waves and by 1pm whitecaps all over the lake, we were the last boat out of the water at 5pm. Very tough fishing in the afternoon.

Overall fish were inactive, air temp 87, water temp never went up 1 deg due to wind and chop.

Biggest fish was 3.5lb , lost a 4lb at the boat , caught a 1.5lb smallie on a tube, spit up a 6" pickeral.

No largies caught, tough day , fished some of the western shore after the pass.

From the water temp situation we have plenty of pre-spawn and post spawn smallies to catch and release. jeff

[Crestliner2008]

Good report...THANKS. I fish the Quabbin twice a week, on average, but I've been without my truck for the last week & 1/2!  > Have it back now, so I'll be back up there next week....if this freakin' rain ever stops!  ;D The smallies I'm after will be off their beds and setting their summer time camps. Right now there are pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn fish available. Just takes a lot of looking around to find them.

[MJEFF]

Unfortunately I cannot fish it twice a week , lucky you!  I have to say I think the spawn will be delayed or extended, just my opinion .

Everywhere we went to look for beds , shallow and  deep ones, we really did not find beds in great quantitys.

Certainly the surface  water temp must have kicked back to 58deg or so and 10-15ft down well  below that.

I hope it won't be so windy this coming week.

I was reading a report about how different the water temps are in certain area's , like the golf course is always behind some area's like 43 and Graves Landing. I guess its the southerly/northerly winds pushing the cool water around.

Do any of the authorities up there take daily temps? It would be nice to have that info or it would be nice to have a fisherman manning the gate who would volunteer to do that and post it every once in a while at the check in shack.

Are you old enough to qualify for the "senior" pass? Only 25 bucks , what a deal.

Glad to hear your truck will be back in action and you will be on the water soon.

I think we will be up there on Sunday, though we prefer to fish during the week.   Jeff

[Beardog]

Fished there Fri out of 31.  Weather conditions were good--fishing bad.  Way fewer beds than usual, and only a ferw of them had fish on them.  Adding together reports from four friends who have worked the Q for over 20 years, the inescapable conclusion is that the bass numbers are down significantly (tho average size is up somewhat).  The rock bass disappeared a few years ago.  I hope the smallies don't follow.  Time to lobby for a catch and release only period from opening through Julu 1.

[Crestliner2008]

MJEFF - Yep....64 here and retired! I've seen plenty of beds in the mid section (around the Pass) and north from there. Fish were on them about 2 weeks ago, but not anymore. I believe, any bass remaining on or near the bedding grounds now, are the smaller males. The big girls are heading on toward their deeper, summertime haunts.

Beardog - Have no fear! There are plenty of quality smallmouth up there and there will be for years to come. What I am concerned about, however, is the reduced water clarity, even on the main. Using an Aqua View, the bottom 3' - 4' of some structures are pretty murky!

Plenty of bait around to keep the smallies fat; perch seem to be predominating over the smelt though. Not sure what that's all about?