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Now is the time to put away the ice gear. Open water is showing on most lakes and ponds. Snow ice, honey combed ice and soft ice render the ice unsafe to support the weight of humans and animals. Successful anglers fish the edges of the remaining ice cover. Be safe and stay off the ice!
The following trout ponds were stocked during the week of March 21: Pentucket Pond in Georgetown,Sandy Pond in Ayer, Baddacook Pond in Groton, Forest Lake in Methuen, Dug Pond in Natick, Lake Massapoag in Sharon, Pleasant Pond in Wenham, Horn Pond in Woburn, and Lake Pearl in Wrentham.
Trout stockings and fishermen have been taking advantage of the stockings. Good numbers of trout have been caught as excited spring trout fishermen have been working local trout ponds. Fishermen have scored on power bait, trout worms, crawlers and grubs. Small spoons have also attracted good numbers of trout. Morning and evening action has been best during this early part of the season.
Good numbers of pickerel have been caught by persistent fishermen presenting shiners of all sizes. A few pickerel have been caught on a mix of spoons and small spinnerbaits. The best pickerel waters have included Chebacco Lake, Longham Reservoir and Pillings pond. A few pickerel have reached weights in exceww of three pounds. It appears that the largest pickerel have come from Tewkesb ury Pond and Jojnson Pond.
More fishermen have been telling of increased largemouth activity. Successful anglers have caught bass when presenting shiners with a clipped pectoral fin, jigs, sweetened with a night crawler and slowly retrieved spinnerbaits. Chebacco Lake has provided limited activity for anglers. The smaller ponds have had steady action when anglers fish the sunny side of the pond where water temps can be slightly higher. Make it easy for the fish to strike by "injuring" the bait or using a slow retrieve.
Flounder fishermen have been catching good numbers of flounder and have returned them to the water unharmed as the season remains closed until May 1. Many requests for seaworms have led to reminders of the closed season. Remember that any fisheries laws that are ignored can result in serious problems for the angler.
Anglers have been reporting the return of the larger fish. Many reports have included cod weighing up to thirty-five pounds. Even though some fishermen have reported great success when presenting sea clams and sometimes strips of herring, jig fishermen have scored best. A slow worked jig will generally produce the largest cod, especially when rigged with a teaser. The most productive areas have been along the edges of hills, banks and ledges. Good sized cod were caught along Stellwagen Bank, Jefferies and Tillies. Numbers of cod were also caught at Newcomb's Ledge, Saturday Night Ledge and many of the smaller hills and bumps in the area. There have been reports filtering into the shop about private boats scoring on cod within a short distance from shore. Cole Ridge has been one of the best inshore areas. Reports have also been heard of cod caught from the Castle Island pier and Plum Island.
Both party and private boat fishermen have been enjoying great haddock fishing along Jefferies Ledge. Although jigs have attracted a few haddock, the most productive bait has definitely generous portions of sea clams. Rigged on a top and bottom rig that uses a wide gap hook, sea clams are hard for haddock to resist. Known for their soft mouth and light take, this rig helps to put the barb of the hook deep into the mouth of the fish, helping to eliminate "tear-out". Make sure hooks are sharp for best results. The best catches have been made along the edges of the ledge and using an in-line chum pot. Limited numbers of haddock were also caught along Stellwagen Bank.
Winter winds down with another storm. Thank goodness it was not a major storm as that would surely have dampened spirits. This seems to be the winter that just will not quit. Spring will be here when stocking trucks start to roll through the district.
Just a reminder that we will be closed on Easter Sunday. Make sure you make arrangements to get your bait early. We will be open regular hours for the rest of the weekend.
Cod catches during the past week remained good but many fishermen have reported smaller cod in the catch and numbers of fish that were caught were slightly lower. This, in no way, indicates a predicted decline in cod catches. Fisher,men still enjoy a catch of cod that allows a good fish feed with enough cod left for the freezer. What seems to frustrate most anglers is that the cod will turn off to jigs and start looking for bait and visa versa. Jigs, sweetenecd with a piece of beit as a teaser is still a good bet for attracting hungry cod. Party boat fishermen still score nicely. Walsh's Deep Sea Fishing sails every weekend and reservations are strongly suggested.
e conditions differ greatly from pond to pond so extreme caution is urged. Some local ponds have limited amounst of open water to less than six inches of ice while other ponds showed as much as a foot of ice. Ponds that had the greatesat amounts of ice could be found north and west of our area. Many ponds had a layer of snow ice that could be easily scraped away indicating soft conditions and the start of rapidly deteriorating ice cover.
Largemouth bass fishermen enjoyed a week of sporadic action and numbers of good sized and hungry bass. Bass were quick to take offerings of medium and large shiners. Shiners that were presented with a clipped pectoral fin were soon taken as they were the easiest to strike. Fair to good numbers of bass were caught along bottom structure, points and drop-offs. Some of the bass that were landed approached weights slightly in excess of five pounds.
Trout fishermen spent many frustrating hours on the ice in the hopes of attracting a catch of trout with numbers plentiful enough so that they could enjoy an evening meal. Not many fishermen were lucky enough to find even a single fish. A seasoned trout fisherman might be lucky enough to score on a single trout but even single catches were difficult to come by. It seems that all of a sudden trout have developoed a very soft bite making it difficult for fishermen to detect a hit. Most of the trout that were caught were reported to be slightly deeper than during past weeks. Stockings will start soon. Are you ready?
Pickerel fishermen have put in a great week with tilts set off on a regular basis by aggressive pickerel. Pickerel were found along areas that are usually choked with weeds during the summer season. Good numbers of pickerel in the two pound class were caught by anglers that were not afraid to present large and pike sized shiners. Many local ponds provided almost steady action. Some of these bodies of water included Putnamville Reservoir, Chebacco Lake, Tewksbury Pond and Lake
Quannapowitt. Most fishermen scored best when they used shiners but still attracted limited numbers of pickerel when jigging.
Perch fishermen continue to score on good numbers of yellow perch. Although there have been good numbers of perch, many of the perch have been running between 3/4 and 1 pound. Some perch fishermen that have been fishing along Cape Ann and some of the bodies of waster along the New Hampshire boarder have reported and weighed in perch that have tipped the shop scales at better than 2 pounds. Anglers have scored by presenting small and medium shiners, drifting worms and working jigs. Tipping a jig with a bit of bait helps to attract hungry perch. Chumming also helps to attract fish as well as to hold them in the area.
The spring season starts Sunday with the promise of great weather and the continuation of impressive fishing. This has been a brutal winter but is exiting as a lamb. Open water fishing is just around the corner. Are you ready?
With the promise of perfect weather and the predictions of finally seeing above normal temperatures, it looks like this will be a very busy weekend with scores of fishermen heading out for that last winter outing. Spring arrives on Sunday with the promise of great weather and the threat of a higher demand for shiners looking likely to be higher, It would be a good idea to stock up on bait early.
It appears that it is a good bet that this weekend will be the last of this years ice season. With ice cover now at an average of abour six inches and the predictions of warmer weather. this weekend promises to be very busy. As this may be the last of the ice season and promised perfect weather fishermen will bw out in force. It shou;d be a great weekend.
Pickerel fishermen were quick to pick up on the preference shown by pickerel for large and pike sized shiners. Although the pickerel action for anglers that used the largest baits was slow, it was rewarding. Although big baits generally attract big fish, it was surprising to see smaller piclkerel go after thesae huge baits. You had to wonder what these fish were thinking. The largest pickerel came from some of the smaller ponds like Longham Reservoir.
Despite the complaints of a very few bass fishermen, most anglers wer pleased with the late season action. There were good numbers of two pound fish pulled through the holes of anxious fishermen. The numbers of trophy bass that were landed or even hooked was very limited. Successful fishermen seemed to score best along exaggerated bottom structure. It appeared that successful bass fishermen preferred medium and large shiners, leaving the pike sized baits for pike and pickerel fishermen. Fishermen scored at Putnamville Reservoir, Chebacco Lake, Hood Pond and Round Pond. Bass fishermen found numbers of fish throughout the water column. Although trophy bass were far and few between, there were some big fish caught by persistent anglers.
Trout fishermen put in a fairly good week but were haunted by too many periods of inactivity. Only the patient anglers scored with any amount of consistency. Successful anglers were on the ice early, fished the top of the water column and resisted the urge to congregate around the baited holes. Trout took offerings of small and medium shiners, small worms, power bait and meal worms. Fishermen found trout fishing best at Pleasant Pond, Baldpate Pond and Horn Pond. Trout fishermen failed to land any numbers of trophy sized fish.
Perch fishermen enjoyed a great week of perch fishing with many periods rated as very active. Perch fishermen scored heavily from the New ampshire boarder, through the local area, and down to the Cape. Many anglers reported good numbers of perch feeding heavily on small and medium sized shiners. Others told of heavy action as they worked small jigs "sweetened" with bits of worms, meal worms and other small baits. For the first time this season, fishermen were talking about the small no name ponds and reservoirs located off Rt. 128 throughout Cape Ann. Fishermen that worked the odten forgotten locations reported great catches with some individual perch catches tipping the scales at better thazn two pounds. Somewhat smaller perch were caught by jig fishermen, but the numbers that were caught remained good. This is the time of the year that perch fillets are at their best as table fare. Th extremely cold water works to keep the perch fillets flavorfull, sweet tasting and without thw muddy taste that the fillets pick up later in the season as the water warms and they start to feed off the bottom. The best freezing technique is to freeze the fillets in a plastic container filled with water or stock to keep the fillets from getting freezer burnt. Now is the time to stock up on fillets.
One of the sure signs of spring has shown up in the Merrimack. Carp and catfish have arrived along the Merrimack. Fishermen have reported limited numbers of these popular fish caught from the Haverhill area of the popular river. Carp and catfish are the first fish to be caught in the river signalling the beginning of the early spring fishing season. This event is anxiously awaited by winter weary anglers. Successful fishermen have presented night crawlers, dough balls and other popular carp offerings in the hopes of realizing the first hookup of the season. Most of the fish that have been caught have been somewhat short of being classified as trophies or rod bustin' catches. Look for heavier catches to be made as the season progresses.
Recreational fishermen have been scoring on good numbers of narket sized cod. For the most part, fishermen have been fishing on local party boats. Bouncing jigs and working bait, both seaworms and sea clams, result in active periods where ten to fifteen pound cod get turned on and start to feed. From the reports that have come into the shop, it appears that jigs, rigged with teasers, have been the most productive artificials. Norwegian style jigs, Herring jigs and diamond jigs all produce well with the Norwegian style jig the most popular. Stellwagen Bank and Jefferies Ledge remained the most popular locations for cod fishermen. Although party boats continue to be the choice of most cod fishermen, as more and more pleasure boats enter the water these sreas are becoming more populated by smaller boats. It has not been uncommon for fishermen to head home with limit catches of cod and haddock. Many party boats report full compliments of amglers with rail space at a premium. Smaller boats work inshore locations with limited success.
The time of year has come that anglers must be aware of ice conditions. Conditions can and do change swiftly from now on. Already there have been animals and anglers go through the ice. A swim in March is not worth the chance of going out on questionable ice. Exercise caution and fish safely.
Trout managed to keep tension high among fishermen as they consistently stole bait exercised light hits and drove fishermen crazy. Despite their challengin techniques, anglers managed to score with some consistence. Most of the fish that were caught came from the top couple of feet of the water column. Small and medium shiners caught the attention of hungry trout. Some fishermen reported success when they presented grubs, trout worms and power bait on a small jig. Best action took place during the first part of the day at Pleasant ond, aldpate Pond and Horn Pond. Sluicew appeared to be the slowest.
Brood stock salmon have become one of the most sought after fish of the winter season. There is little more exciting than watching a ten pound fish come closer to what appears to be a tiny hole drilled in the ice. The first question that comes to mind is "How am I going to get that monsterous fish through this small hole?" Samon fishermen scored at Pleasant Pond and Horn Pond. The fish that were caught weighed in at about ten pounds and put up a good fight. Medium and large shiners were best at attracting salmon.
During the past week as throughout the winter season, largemouth bass demand the attention of local ice fishermen. Although bass are relatively easy to catch, to be successful at landing a trophy can be a remarkable challenge Fishermen presenting the largest baits had the best chance of landing a trophy if he followed a few simple steps. Successful anglers clipped the fins of their bait, worked dtructure and continually shifted trap positions along structure and contour lines. Fishermen were successful at Chebacco Lake, Pillings Pond, Leggs Hill Pondand Beck's Pond. The fishing at Beck's was described as slow but when a fish was caught, it was generally of good size.
Pickerel have proven to be very active throughout the local area during the past week. Fishermen armed with dozens of shiners headed out to their favorite pickerel waters to work for a trophy catch. The numbers of pickerel that were caught were good and some anglers made multiple catches. Fair numbers of pickerel were caught at Putnamville Reservoir, Chebacco Lake, Leggs Hill Pond and Longham Reservoir in Beverly. Although none of these pickerel could be considered trophies, but they did provide plenty of action for shiner fishermen. The largest pickerel caught during the past week fell to large and pike shiners presented at Tewksbury Pond, Johnson Pond and Lake Attitash. Pickerel were quick to rerspond to any bait that swam through their territory. The biggest pickerel that we heard about tipped the scales at just over four pouncds and was caught at Tewksbury Pond on a pike sized shiner.
Yellow perch and crappie are considered by many to be the staple of ice fishing. Fishermen will drill holes, set traps and systematically jig in the hopes of landing enough perch and crappie for a good old fashioned Saturday night fish fry. Combine these popular panfish with a pot of homemade Boston baked beans and a thick slab of brown bread and you have a perfect New England Saturday night banquet. Perch fishermen have been scoring steadily all over the area with the biggest perch coming from many of the smaller no-name ponds that are found along Cape Ann. Larger numbers of perch have been tallied from Chebacco Lake, Pillings Pond and Flax Pond. Small and medium sized shiners seem to attract the greatest numbers of perch and jigs, tipped with a small bait run a close second. Crappie fishermen have found the use of jigs to be best at holding crappie and enticing them to strike. Best Crappie action has been at Pillings Pond, Putnamville Reservoir and Chebacco Lake. The top half of the water column produces best.
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