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The 2005 season is now underway with warming temperatures and increasing numbers of fish. Now is the time to get off the couch and get fishing.
The hunt for the season's first mackerel continues as anglers work the area around the "B" buoy and the dumping grounds for the first mackerel. Working herring ri8gs and mackerel trees search for the first schools of mackerel. As of today, there have been no reports of this popular bait and recreational fun fish.
The return of the stripers is only a short time away. If all goes according to hoyl, we should see the first stripers some time this week. Reports indicate that the first stripers have appeared down the Cape and on the south shore. Look for the first stripers to arrive to be hungry and will be quick to take offerings of bait and soft plastic lures.
Flounder fishermen have had little trouble filling their three fish limits when drifting seaworm offerings. The most productive areas have been found along Manchester and Marblehead. The best catches have been made when anglers cast and slowly retrieve their offering in a circular pattern around the boat. May first the limit changes to eight fish.
Fishermen have been celebrating the return of the shad by flooding the banks of the river and casting tandem rigged shad darts to the edges of the current. Successful fishermen have scored below the Roicks Village Bridge. An occassional shad is taken from as far up the river as the dam in Lawrence. The combination of a dart followed by a brightly colored fly has been a combination that has successfully attracted shad. You must catch the edge of the current in order to be successful.
Cod fishermen have been rejoicing at the numbers of cod that have been caught during the past week. The offshore banks and ledges have been very productive with numbers of good sized cod in the catch. Mixed in the catch were good numbers of haddock with the average size haddock running about eight pounds. The cod seem to have averaged around twenty pounds. The best news for anglers about the cod was the news that cod have moved inshore in good numbers. Cod have been caught along Cole Ridge, Newcomb's Ledge and Tinker's Ledge. Both inshore and offshore fishermenb reported better fishing when they presented clams in generous proportions. Jigs worked all right but the best jig action occured when teasers were used. Reports have been filtering into the shop about numbers of cod that have been caught from shore. Shore fishermen have scored along the Deer Island Pier, Nahant and Marblehead. Boat fishermen have scored along most any rise on the bottom from Boston to Plum Island.
The highly sought after trout has kept anglers casting a wide variety of baits in the hopes of scoring enough fish for a hearty meal. Fishermen have scored from numerous ponds and lakes as well as the Ipswich river and numerous brooks. Sluice Pond anglers have scored by drifting power baits and meal worms. It appears that the color of the power bait has little effect on the trout catch. It seems that those anglers that use orange power bait score, those that use red bait score and those that use the green bait score. It is obvious the presentation is more important than color. The best action has taken place during first light and a secondary spike in the action occurs during dusk. Sliding sinker rigs work like a charm and drifting baits under a float works well after you have determined what depth the fish are holding at. River fishermen have scored best when drifting dillies and trout worms along pools and heavy overhangs.
During the past week fishermen have been steadily reporting increased bass activity. For many anglers the best action has been taking place in the shallows during the afternoon. This is largely contributed to the warmer water that is present. Water temps can be as much as two or three degrees warmer thanthe main body of water. The warmer water in the shallows will draw bait that in turn will attract predators. By most accounts, shiners have been best at attracting bass followed by soft baits and jigs. The largest bass have been caught zalong dropoffs, overhanging trees and rocky structure. Weedbeds seem to support bass that are interrested in plastic worms as bait. A limited number of anglers have been reporting limited action when they present surface plugs along structure during the quiet period just before dusk. Look for explosive action.
AMESBURY Powwow River
BOXFORD Fish Brook, Pye Brook
ESSEX Alewife Brook
GEORGETOWN Penn Brook
GROTON Squannacook River
HAVERHILL Little River, East Meadow River
IPSWICH Bull Brook, Dow Brook
METHUEN Bartlett Brook, Spicket River
MIDDLETON Boston Brook
NEWBURY Mill River
NORTH ANDOVER Boston Brook, Mosquito Brook
ROWLEY Batchelder Brook, Mill River
SHIRLEY Squannacook River
TOPSFIELD Fish Brook, Howlett Brook, Pye Brook
After a week of summer-like weather, reality comes back into play. Water temperatures have risen 3 degrees, prompting better catches.
There have been no signs of any significant mackerel action so far this summer. Mackerel action should start before long - the first places to hook up will be around Stellwagen Bank. Anglers on the lookout are working Herring Rigs.
Schools of Herring have been reported in vast numbers outside of Boston and Nahant.
Good numbers of Cod have been caught along the offshore ledges. Limited numbers of Cod have been caught along the inshore hills, bumps, and ledges. Cod react to jigs rigged with teasers better than bait. The numbers of Haddock caught along the offshore banks have impressed many fisherman. Often times the numbers of Haddock caught surpass the numbers of Cod caught by a ratio of as much as 10 haddock to every cod.
Good catches of Flounder along Marblehead Harbor and the middle ground of Salem Harbor. Decent catches have been reported along Manchester and Beverly Farms. Some doormats mixed in the catch. Drifting techniques work better than still fishing.
Schoolie action has been reported along the Connecticut and Rhode Island shores. Some keepers have been mixed in, small plastic lures have been identified as best. Some rivers along Boston produce numbers of hold-over bass.
Here are the stocked waters for the week of April 11th:
ANDOVER Shawsheen River
ARLINGTON Spot Pond
ASHBY Locke Brook, Willard Brook, Trap Fall Brook, Souhegan River (S.Branch). Pearl Hill Brook, Upper Wright's Pond
ASHLAND Sudbury River
AYER Bennett Brook
BEDFORD Shawsheen River
BILLERICA Shawsheen River
BOXFORD Parker River
CANTON Ponkapoag Brook, Massapoag Brook
DANVERS Ipswich River
DOVER Charles River
GEORGETOWN Parker River
GROVELAND Parker River
HAMILTON Ipswich River
HOPKINTON Sudbury River
HUDSON Hog Brook, Danforth Brook
IPSWICH Ipswich River
LITTLETON Beaver Brook
LYNN Sluice Pond
LYNNFIELD Ipswich River
MEDWAY Charles River
MILLIS Charles River
MILTON Pine Tree Brook
MIDDLETON Ipswich River
NATICK Charles River
NEWBURY Parker River
NORFOLK Charles River
NORTH READING Ipswich River
NORWOOD Traphole Brook
PEABODY Ipswich River
READING Ipswich River
SAUGUS Griswald Pond
SHARON Beaver Brook,Massapoag Brook
SHIRLEY Catacoonamaug Brook, Mulpus Brook
STOW Assabet Brook
TEWKSBURY Shawsheen River, Strongwater Brook
TOPSFIELD Ipswich River
TOWNSEND Walker Brook, Squannacook River, Bixby Brook, Witch Brook, Mason Brook
WALPOLE Traphole Brook
WEYMOUTH Old Swamp River
Warmer water turns bass action on. Shiners have been working the best, Jigs and Jig n' Pigs work well if presented slowly. The back of Putnamville Reservoir from the island and along the wall have been prime bass waters. The wall to the outlet produces well for fisherman using artificial baits.
Stockings continued, Sluice Pond - a variety of baits and small spoons and spinners seemed to be preferred. Pleasant Pond - all colors of powerbait in combination with meal worms have been hot. Horn Pond - activity has been strong along the culvert, trout worms and dillies have been working the best. Baldpate Pond - nightcrawlers and dillies demand early morning activity.
Forecasters are predicting warmer temperatures with the mercury steadily rising throughout the holiday weekend. Warmer temperatures mean warmer waters which mean improved fishing! Because of the warmer temperatures and the amount of fisherman that could be out, bait shops may be in short supply of bait - best to get your bait early!
Also, we added a new feature to the website - a 10 day weather forecast all on one page - simply enter your zip or city and the forecast will display. Check it out at 10 day forecast
Panfish action has been very good at most ponds and it's a great time to "Take a Kid Fishing". Fishermen have been using bits of worms and shiners for the best results. Look for pockets of warmer water for the best action.
Bass Fisherman report good action at most Bass ponds when using shiners. Artificial bait users have been finding that jigs and plastic to work best - but they must be worked slowly.
Best Trout fishing has been in the morning but by sunrise the action dies. A wide assortment of bait has been working with trout and fishermen recently preferring worms. Artificials like small spinners and spoons have also been working work at many of the local ponds.
Here are the stocked waters for the week of April 4th:
BOSTON Jamaica Pond*
BOXFORD Stiles Pond, Baldpate Pond
BROOKLINE Brookline Reservoir
CONCORD White Pond
DUNSTABLE Massapoag Pond
FRAMINGHAM Lake Cochituate*
GLOUCESTER Strangman Pond
HARVARD/DEVENS Mirror Lake
LEXINGTON Lexington Reservoir
NEWTON Crystal Lake
NORTH ANDOVER Berry Pond
PEPPERELL Nissitissit River
WESTFORD Long-Sought-For Pond
WILMINGTON Silver Lake
*broodstock salmon stocked
Action has been good offshore with drift jigs on Tillies, Jeffries and Stellwagen. Bumps and hills have also been producing well. Inshore anglers have been using clams with satisfactory results. Offshore fishermen have been catching cusk and wolffish.
Recent Flounder action has been best around Beverly through Manchester and around the middle ground of Salem Harbor. Anglers have reported that slowly worked worms on the bottom have been working best.
From March 1st through April 30th, flounder are limited to 3 fish per person per day. Starting May 1st and continuing through February 8th, the limit increases to 8 fish per day per person.
Now that water temperatures are on the rise, ground fishermen have been telling of an increase in activity. At the same time, anglers are now on the lookout for early arriving stripers. All indicators seem to point towards an early start to the striper season. Are you ready?
BOSTON Jamaica Pond
CONCORD Walden Pond
FRANKLIN Uncas Pond
GROTON Knops Pond
HAVERHILL Saltonstall (Plug) Lake, Lake Pentucket, Millvale Reservoir
HOPKINTON Whitehall Reservoir
LYNN Sluice Pond
MILTON Houghton's Pond
WENHAM Pleasant (Idlewood) Pond
Cod fishermen are expressing pleasure as they score on good numbers of cod that are now moving into inshore waters. Small boat fishermen have scored on numbers of cod up to twenty pounds. Productive areas have included Newcomb's Ledge, Cole Ridge, Saturday Night Ledge, Gales Ledge, the 101 Hill, Hill 47 and Tinker's Ledge. Good numbers of cod, up to 15 pounds have been caught around the "B" buoy when anglers bounce jigs rigged with teasers of drift sea clams. Party boat anglers succeed at attracting cod from the offshore fishing banks. Many of the catches have been impressive. Cusk and wolffish have been a regular part of the catch.
Haddock fishermen have enjoyed a great season so far with good numbers of haddock filling fish boxes. Party boats and recreational vessell score consistently on 8 to 15 pound haddock from Jefferies and Tillies. Some haddock are also caught at Stellwagon Bank, but not in the numbers from a bit further north. Although jigs will attract Haddock, the best haddock bait remains generous offerings of sea clams. The best bait rig to use is a top and bottom rig that uses a wide gap hook so the barb is positioned well back in the mouth to prevent tear-outs. The haddock has a very soft mouth and caution must be used.
Striper have been steadily working their way towards local waters. Fishermen have been reporting catches of bright stripers along the New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. It won't be long before we see the arrival of the bass.Once water temps need to reach the magic 50 degree mark. Today, Boston Harbor was 49 degrees. Look for the first stripers to arrive before the end of the month.
During the past week, we got a taste a spring as temperatures rose into the sixties and true spring fishing suddenly became a reality. Scores of fishermen headed out to their favorite bodies of water armed with an arsenal of baits and a wide assortment of tackle so that they can succeed at any given reality. Fishermen lined the banks of popular ponds and lakes flogging the water with a wide assortment of secret baits hoping to entice a hungry target.
The trout stocking continue to roll through the State depositing their precious cargo into selected bodies of water. Initial stockings have been completed throughout the Northeast district and anglers are scoring consistently. A wide assortment of baits have made anglers successful trout fishermen. Once a pond has been stocked, It only takes a short time before word spreads faster than a wildfire. Although everyone has their favorite trout bait, fishermen have been creeling trout on trout worms, dillies, crawlers and meal worms. Productive artificial baits have included small spinners and spoons. Pleasant Pond anglers have found that meal worm/marshmallow combinations have been working well. Over at Sluice Pond, fishermen seem to prefer small spinners and spoons, Drifting grubs rigged with a "bubble" is also a favorite. Horn pond fishermen that have been working the culvert seem to score on just about everything.
During the past week, we have seen a fast decrease in the amount of ice there is left on local bodies of water. Most waters have open areas as some waters are completely ice free. This open water has drawn fishermen away from the TV and to the shores of their favorite bass pond. Armed with shiners and a select few artificials, anglers started to work proven areas of these ponds in the hopes of scoring an early season bass. For many anglers, the Gods have looked down on them with favor as the bass fishing was good and fishermen have scored on shiners, jigs sweetened with a strip of bait and slowly retrieved spinnerbaits. Fishermen also reported limited action when they presented slowly worked soft baits. Most of the bass that were landed were classified as being on the small size. Bass that were weighed in at the shop tipped the scales between two and four pounds and the bulk of the fish were caught on bait.
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