If like many hardwater junkies, you’ve had one eye skeptically on the weather forecast than finally it looks as if Old Man Winter is going to be returning from parts-unknown retreat next week. That would be timely, since we could surely use some dropping temperatures to salvage a sorry season for most of the Bay State and to fortify the disappearing ice out west.
Connecticut Valley Region Fishing Report
If like most in Massachusetts you’re realm is soggy ponds and lakes, the reports from Orange must seem like they are coming from Siberia. Thankfully it really is a different winter a scant 75 miles out west from Boston.
Regardless, not all water bodies have survived the balmy conditions. Rod from Flagg’s in Orange has not been seeing anglers out on Mattawa and an open water section has opened up on South “Spec”! I would not count on fishing those places this weekend. A better bet may be the “ice belt” where a number of prime ponds and lakes are all nestled close to each other. Some of them are: Clubhouse Pond in Warwick, Laurel Lake in Erving/Warwick, Lake Moore in Warwick, Tully Lake in Royalston and Lake Wyola in Shutesberry. Regulars of Rod’s shop say that there’s plenty of ice on all of these places.
Good reports have come in from Lake Moore for trout, and even though it’s not stocked, an occasional trout is reported from Lake Wyola where trout enter from Tully River and Lawrence Brook.
Western Massachusetts Fishing Report
While there is still plenty of ice in the Western region, the recent thaw has made it foolish to just storm out on the ice without regard. Some shorelines, inlets/outlets and wind-swept middles of water bodies are unsafe. That should all change if the predicted freeze comes to fruition.
Meanwhile you should be able to bank on the Berkshires! The hardwater of the Hilltowns is the best the Bay State has to offer and while some were reserving these places for winter’s last gasp. If you intend on getting out this weekend, those ponds/lakes are your best alternative until temperatures dip again.
Some possibilities for warm water species are Mauserts Pond where you should find willing pickerel. Pelham Lake has been a good choice for yellow perch in the past. Then there’s the town of Savoy’s double trout threat – North Pond and South Pond, which were both stocked in the spring and fall with multiple species of trout and not just rainbows.
Berkshires Report From Paul K Tawczynski of chartertheberkshires.com:
Despite the recent weather out east and unfavorable conditions throughout most of the state, the ice has remained solid on most of the lakes in the Berkshires. There are definitely places NOT to attempt, but overall the ice remains solid.
This past weekend was maybe the best weekend for pike the Berkshires has seen in a while. The number of high teen fish and even high 20 pound range fish taken in one week was inspiring. That being said, those anglers who have logged the most ice time are seeing the best results, and local knowledge is key to landing a big one. But without local knowledge, try using the Navionics app to locate features that might help you get into a big toothy!
Last week I had mentioned that the crappie bite was heating up. Schools of crappie are definitely bunching up to the night time angler, but now roaming white perch are out there too! This week I was able to get on a strong bite using small HT tungsten drop jigs to coax some nice whites.
Trout are still easy quarry, but the “community holes” are getting hit hard with the influx of eastern anglers migrating west in pursuit of ice. Try shooting to high elevation locations, or try off the beaten path when the bite slows up.
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
There’s little else to do other than chill and prey that the weather gods do some chilling of their own. Meanwhile if you must indulge in Massachusetts seek out higher elevation water bodies in the Connecticut Valley Region or the Hilltowns of the Berkshires. A better bet may be to cross the border with one eye on the New Hampshire/Maine section of this forecast. I’m betting that once you see those pictures, you’ll be pointing your ride north!