Fall Fishing Solitude

Fall is one of those seasons that seems to get forgotten in the fishing community. Many sportsmen are dual outdoor activities and when fall comes around, they concentrate their efforts more in the woods than on the water. But for those that stick with the water aspect of the fall time, these anglers are the ones that are going to reap the rewards. Fall fishing is probably one of the best times to catch that trophy of a lifetime and there maybe a number of them caught at that. The fish are feeding heavily to get ready for the long winter ahead and at the same time become very aggressive as well. Fast moving baits are a charm at this time of year as they allow you to cover vast amounts of water in a short period of time. Once you locate an area that has a school of fish using that area, then you can slow down a little and fish it more precisely if that is the case. Fishing in the fall I find is the best as more times than not you will have the whole lake to yourself and what other time of the open water season do you get that.

Tips at BWS OutDoors

Open Water Picture Page Updated

We have updated our Open Water Picture page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for our latest fishing trip on October 9

Open Water Pictures at BWS OutDoors

Maine IFW Biologists Discuss Impact Of Bear Referendum With Biologists From States Where Similar Referendum Passed

With Maine’s bear management program the subject of a statewide referendum, Mainers are hearing a lot about Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Massachusetts, four states that have passed similar measures.

ME Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Tide Chart page updated

We have updated our Tide Charts page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the month of December for the state of New Hampshire

Tide Charts at BWS OutDoors

Rhode Island DEM's Aquatic resource education program offering saltwater fly-fishing workshop and fly-tying programs this fall

The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold several fishing programs this fall. With stripers and bluefish plentiful in Narragansett Bay, autumn is one of the best times of the year to fish. Hosted by the Division's Aquatic Resource Education program, the programs include an introduction to saltwater fly-fishing workshop and a series of fly-tying classes. Pre-registration is required for most programs.

RI Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Tide Chart Page updated for Maine

We have updated our Tide Chart page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the month of December for the state of Maine.

Tide Charts at BWS OutDoors

Fall Crankin’ Difference

As the fall season continues on and the water temps keep dropping, fishing with a Crankbait only gets better as times draws nearer to ice up. There are a couple of differences in the cranks that we throw at this time of year and may help increase your hookup success. There are fat bodied and thin bodied Crankbaits on the market and they have their place and time to be fished. The fat bodied cranks have a wide wobble that is attractive to fish in the warmer times or when fish are more aggressive. But the thin bodied cranks really shine at this time of year with a very tight wobble on the retrieve. Fish in the cold waters of fall are a little more lethargic and will react much better to the thin bodied tight wobble Crankbait and should be a part of your tackle at this time of year. This is a reason why the rattle trap will work so well in the fall and spring as well. Try a thin bodied Crankbait the next time you are out there and this may put a few extra fish into the boat for you....

Tips at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report October 5 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Partly cloudy skies, air temperatures mid 60 degrees, water temperatures 63 degrees, high winds and best bait – jig/pig black and blue

Since I was at this lake this previous week and found an area that was holding some nice jig fish, I wanted to give it another try with this technique and find some other areas. Fall time is a great time to be on the water as typically you will have the whole lake to yourself for most of the day. As the day went on, more boats started appearing but the winds were getting relentless and tough fishing some areas.

Continue Fishing Report at BWS OutDoors

CLAM PRO TACKLE Blade Spoon

Cover a swath of horizontal territory with the water slicing, random fluttering Blade Spoon. The secret is the flat rhombic triangle front – slices through the water on the upward snap, then contributes to an incredibly realistic, dying baitfish flutter as you let it free-fall on slack line.Unique blade knife-like profile fish haven't seen. Blade cuts through the water column to reach the depths. No way to keep it in the cone angle until it settles back. Call fish in, then yo-yo it in their face to finish the job.

New Product at BWS OutDoors

 

Vermont Moose Check Stations Open Oct. 18-23

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds moose hunters with permits for the October 18-23 moose hunting season that if they take a moose, they must bring it to one of the five designated biological moose reporting stations within 48 hours.

VT News at BWS OutDoors

N.H. Food Bank Seeks Meat Donations from Hunters

New Hampshire hunters can share their fall harvest with the needy through the “Hunt for the Hungry” program at the New Hampshire Food Bank. Once again this fall, the food bank is collecting donations of whole or processed game animals for distribution to more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and group homes statewide.

NH News at BWS OutDoors

Prime Fall Time Fishing

Many anglers enjoy fishing throughout the summer months and one can’t blame them as the weather is so much more tolerable as opposed to either the spring or fall. But to those that put their boats and equipment away after the Labor Day weekend holiday; these anglers are the ones that are missing the best part of the year for catching quality fish.

As the temperatures are getting cooler with everyday that passes, this will take the temperature of the lake down with it as well. Taking the waters from around 80 degrees down into the low 60’s, this is like a trigger that is being pulled as the fish know that it is time to put the feed bag on and start putting some weight on them before the long winter ahead.

Many fish go into somewhat of a dormant stage in the northern part of the country throughout the winter months. So for them to be able to handle those long northern winters they need to put on more weight so that they will be able to draw from that as each day of the cold season passes. So to put on this extra weight that they will need, these fish are eating and chasing everything in sight.

Continue Article at BWS OutDoors

Bluegill Parmesan

Ingredients:1/4 cup butter, melted1/2 cup dry bread crumbs1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon paprika1/4 teaspoon dried oregano1/4 teaspoon dried basil1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound bluegill or crappie

Directions:Place butter in a shallow bowl
In another shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese and seasonings
Dip fish in butter, then coat with crumb mixturePlace in a greased 15-in x 10-in x 1-in baking pan
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork
Yield: 4 servings

Recipes at BWS OutDoors

Halloween Wildlife Festival and Jack-O’-Lantern Hike at Kehoe Conservation in Vermont

Looking for a “wild” family-based adventure for Halloween this year? The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is inviting families to attend the annual Halloween Wildlife Festival and Jack-o’Lantern Hike at the Education Center of the Edward F. Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp on Point of Pine Road in Castleton on Friday, October 24, from 5 to 8 p.m.

VT Outdoor News at BWS OutDoors

Sunrise/Set Table for Providence Rhode Island

We have updated our sunrise sunset table web page for Providence, Rhode Island for the month of November.

Sunrise/set table at BWS OutDoors

Get the Ice Gear Ready

As fall fades away to winter, the open water season is coming towards an end but not quite yet. For those that are still venturing onto the open waters, there are still fish to be caught. Sure it is getting a little harder to get out there and the weather is getting cooler, but a little preparation will go a long ways in these cooler fall days. Panfish are a great choice of fish to chase as they can be found fairly easily and give a great fight. Many fishers target panfish in the winter months and why not enjoy today catching them as well. This time of year will also allow you to use your ice fishing gear and that is another point at getting ready for the ice season ahead. Take advantage of these fall days of fishing as many other fishers out there are missing out as they are waiting for the ice.

Tips at BWS OutDoors

KIDS OutDoors New England Outdoor Education Classes

We have updated our KIDS OutDoors web page for the upcoming New England Outdoor education classes being offered for the week of October 6-13

KIDS OutDoors at BWS OutDoors

Vermont anglers, hunters and boaters reminded about cold water safety

With the onset of autumn and resulting cold air and water temperatures, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is urging anglers, hunters and boaters to take caution and exercise safe practices while on the water this fall.

VT OutDoors News at BWS OutDoors

NH offers Free Outdoor Adventure Talk – Wild Game, from Field to Table

Master game chef Denny Corriveau, founder of the Free Range Culinary Institute, will take the mystery out of cooking venison and other wild game at a free talk on Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H.

NH OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Baked Haddock

Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground dried thyme
4 haddock fillets
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F
In a small bowl, combine the milk and salt
In a seperate bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and thyme
Dip the haddock fillets in the milk
Then press into the crumb mixture to coat
Place haddock fillets in a glass baking dish
Drizzle with melted butter
Bake on the top rack of the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily, about 15 minutes

Saltwater Recipes at BWS Outdoors

BBQ Smoked Pheasant

Ingredients:
Several Whole Birds
Liquid Smoke
Soy Sauce
Garlic Salt
Bacon
Wood Chips and Coals
BBQ sauce
Salt
Pepper
Seasonings

Directions:
Soak birds for 24 hours in a brine of water, soy sauce, liquid smoke, and garlic salt
Remove birds and truss with bamboo skewer
Make slice along breast bone and insert 1/2 piece of bacon along each side
Wrap birds with bacon
Smoke birds over a charcoal smoker for 4 hours at approx 200 degrees or so
Remove birds and completely debone - go ahead and scrape all the meat off
Try not to eat all the breast meat (it will taste good, though) and save some fo remainder of recipe
Place meat in large crockpot with BBQ sauce and your choice of additional seasonings
If you like yours spicy, then throw in some hot sauce
Heat on high until hot, and then turn to low for 4 hours
Stir every 45 minutes or so to break up meat
Game Bird Recipes at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report September 26 2014 Massachusetts

 

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures mid-50’s to mid-60’s degrees, water temperatures mid-60’s degrees, no wind to start to moderate winds later and best bait – jig/pig

Wanted to fish this lake at least once more this fall to finish mapping what I had left so that we are ready for the ice season ahead. Always is amazing that while idling around mapping with the Lowrance Insight Genesis, you see structures on the lakes bottom that you had never known were there before. Really amazing how the electronics has gotten to where we are today and it will really be something to see what the future will bring.

I started on a new underwater ridge that I had found and there wasn’t much for grass on it but there was definitely a lot of rock and gravel. Fished this area for quite a while with a few different baits, 4 inch plastic worm, crankbait and a sunfish style crankbait, and only had bites from the plastic worm and could tell that they were panfish.

Continue Report at BWS OutDoors

 

 

Fall Fishing

Fall fishing can be some of the best fishing as well as some very tough fishing with the ever changing water temps and fall turnover occurring. The name of the game for a successful fall fishing trip is to cover as much water as possible. Try and locate green vegetation as this is some of the only things that are still putting fresh oxygen into the waters. Green vegetation is a fish magnet and the fish in the lakes are searching out these areas of green vegetation. By covering vast amounts of water, this will allow you to present your bait to more fish in that particular lake. Once an area is found to hold fish, then you can slow down and work that area more meticulously and hopefully catch a number of fish. These areas may have schools of fish in them since fall time the fish are doing more schooling together now as opposed to other times of the year. Get out there and enjoy the fall weather and cover water as much as you can.

More Tips at BWS OutDoors

Another Promising Year for Vermont's Winooski River Salmon

Vermont anglers have something new to smile about. Strong spawning runs of landlocked Atlantic salmon from Lake Champlain have been returning to the Winooski River in the fall. The runs are monitored annually at the Winooski River fish lift, the main feature of a trap and truck fish passage project built into the Winooski One hydroelectric facility above the Salmon Hole in Winooski.

VT OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Fall Fish are Shallow

We are getting deep into the fall season here in New England and many anglers have put away their gear for the winter. The anglers that are still out there on the water, these anglers are the ones that are catching nice fish and numbers of fish as well. There is a surprising thing that the angler can take advantage of at this time of year and that is fishing shallow water. The waters are still somewhat warm and there are still green weeds in the shallower waters. Fish are still using these areas to feed heavily as they fatten themselves for the winter ahead. If you are fishing deep in the fall try fishing shallow as well and this may increase your chances of catching some nice fish. If they are not biting shallow, then move out deeper but don’t overlook the shallow bite.

Tips at BWS OutDoors

Connecticut DEEP Announces Opening Days of Upcoming Fall Firearms Hunting Seasons

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced the Opening Days of the upcoming fall firearms hunting seasons. Peak hunting occurs during early morning and late afternoon, primarily during the period from mid-October through mid-December.

CT OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Vermont Big Game Reporting Stations -- Updated

Hunters who take a bear, deer, turkey, or moose during the Vermont hunting seasons must bring the animal within 48 hours to the nearest game warden or to the nearest Vermont Fish & Wildlife reporting station

VT OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Bacon Topped Venison Meatloaf

Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbls cider vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 pound ground venison
1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
4 bacon strips

Directions:In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients
Crumble venison and sausage over mixture and mix well
Shape into a loaf in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish
Top with bacon strips
Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°
Let stand for 5-10 minutes before slicing
Yield: 6 servings
Recipes at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report September 23 2014 Massachusetts

 

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures mid 50’s to mid-60 degrees, water temperatures in the upper 60’s, winds light and bait of the day – Rapala Scatter Rap shallow diver

 Have you ever had one of those trips to the lake that you detested going there as you arrived to the boat landing? The lake that I fished today is that lake. I like fishing here in the spring as you can always throw a jig and come up with some large bass but once that time of year has come and gone, this lake is that one that we just cannot figure out.

Continue Fishing Report at BWS OutDoors

Connecticut Tide Chart Addition

We have updated our Tide Chart page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors to include the November Tide Charts for Connecticut's waters.

Tide Charts at BWS OutDoors

Vermont Sends An Archery Season Reminder from F&W

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds hunters that no antlerless deer may be taken in three Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the Northeast Kingdom during the 2014 archery season. The boundaries of several of the WMUs also were changed this year.

VT  OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Maine's Hunting Report for September 30, 2014

In Region A, October 1 marks the beginning of pheasant season, and IFW biologists and clubs have been busy releasing birds throughout the region.

ME OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Connecticut Announces Temporary Closure of Silver Lake State Boat Launch, Berlin

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that it will temporarily close the Silver Lake State Boat Launch, Berlin on Wednesday, October 1st for removal of heavy equipment from a completed dredging project

CT OutDoors News at BWS OutDoors

Connecticut Begins Fall Atlantic Salmon Stockings

Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that its 2014 autumn stockings of broodstock Atlantic salmon have begun. DEEP’s Inland Fisheries Division last week released 500 salmon into the Naugatuck River (150 fish), Mount Tom Pond (100 fish), Crystal Lake (Ellington –125 fish) and Beach Pond (125 fish).

CT OutDoors News at BWS OutDoors

New Ice Fishing Bait Spotlight

We have added a spotlight for a NEW Ice Fishing Lure out for this coming ice season from CLAM PRO TACKLE.

 

Built using a similar design concept as last year’s Bomb Spoon, the new Time Bomb adds an elusive sound that fish know well. The clicking, ticking sound of prey moving along bottom. The underwater world is full of chirps and ticking sounds, but nobody has been able to replicate the ‘bottom click’ better than this. Time Bomb is a fast-dropping bait with an amazing array of attractions. Tiger-bar pattern in six color schemes. Swarovski gem eye. Glowing epoxy treble. The deal-sealer is the brass element and how it clicks against the other components. It took a lot of tinkering, but was worth it. Tick, tick, tick. When will your Time Bomb go off?

 

New Fishing Product Spotlight at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report September 19 2014 Massachusetts

 

Conditions: Sunny skies, 45 degree start to 65 degree air temperatures, 66-70 degree water temperatures, moderate winds and best bait – dropshot a 4 inch BearPaws Shad

 This is to be my 5^th day in a row on the water and decided to head back to the same lake that I was on day one as I needed to redeem my trip from yesterday. I started the morning fishing shallow shorelines by casting weightless plastic shad bait right onto shore and twitching it back to the boat through the emergent grasses. The waters had definitely cooled in these backwaters of this lake and after a while of fishing here, definitely could tell that the fish that were here before, have vacated the area for deeper and warmer waters.

The half of the lake that I started in is basically only 3-4 feet deep and the whole basin is cooling off fast so figured to spend the rest of the day fishing the other half of the lake that is deep with a lot of bottom contour irregularities.

The main lake had been dredged many years ago and the plan was to do the whole lake but issues arose and only half was completed. This has changed this lake from being a swampy sewer infested city lake to a lake that only some anglers know that it holds some very nice fish in it. I know a lot of people that have grown up around this lake and now when I show them pictures of the fish that are being caught; there are a lot of shocked faces that goes along with it.

 

Continue reading this report: Fishing Reports at BWS OutDoors

 

 

Massachusett’s November Tide Charts added

We have added the November Tide Charts for Massachusetts to our Tide Chart’s page on our website BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors.

MA November Tide Charts at BWS OutDoors

New Hampshire’s Atlantic Herring Days Out Meeting October 3, 2014

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section will hold a meeting on October 3, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., to review landing effort and discuss ‘days out’ measures for 2014 commercial herring harvesters. The meeting will be held via conference call.
The 2014 Area 1A allowable catch for Trimester 3, October 1 to December 31, was set at 8,142 metric tons.

NH OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Connecticut’s Annual Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Artistic Competition Begins

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is once again encouraging artists to enter their waterfowl artwork in the annual Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp Art Contest. The winning entry will be featured on the 2016 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. The inaugural contest in 2012 was won by wildlife artist Richard Clifton, whose depiction of three wood ducks appeared on the 2013 Connecticut Duck Stamp. The 2013 contest was won by John Brennan, whose depiction of hooded mergansers graced the 2014 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. Last year’s contest was won by Guy Crittenden with his depiction of northern shovelers.

CT OutDoor News at BWS OutDoors

Fishing Report September 18 2014 New Hampshire

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures 50-65 degrees, water temperatures 65-70 degrees, little wind to start with a stiff wind by days end and best bait: 4 inch French fry style plastic worm

I wanted to make a trip to a Southern New Hampshire lake but the one I wanted to fish has a long idle ride down a river to get to the main lake and my time wouldn’t allow for fishing there. So I ended up at a smaller lake that has always been good in past years but as of lately been a tough lake to figure out for catching better sized fish.

The morning started out fairly cold but at least the sun was shining and giving you a warm feeling as the time went along. Another objective of fishing this lake today was to finish mapping the lake on my Lowrance electronics for finding lake features that I was unaware of as well as getting setup for the upcoming ice season. It didn’t take long to find a location that had an underwater island towards the middle of the lake that came up to 5 feet deep on the top.

Once I found the top of this island, I put out a marker for a reference so that I could have a bearing as I used the graph’s fishing around it. There were areas that had some sparse grass on and there were also areas that you could tell that there were gravel and rock. Fished for quite some time here in varying depths and you could tell that there were some panfish in a few locations, and did get one solid hard hit that when the battle started, it ended just as quickly when the line broke. These areas that have gravel and rock you have to constantly check your line for any frays that may lead to the line breaking.

Wasn’t able to get a fish to the boat here and my search was on once again looking for new areas. Tried another couple of sunken islands with no returns and moved to an underwater point that has yielded fish many times in the past. As I worked to outer edges of the point, the water was 5-8 feet deep with a lot of grass, and didn’t take long and got that tap on my plastic worm. Wasn’t a big largemouth bass but at least it was a fish as it was getting to that point of frustration of not catching anything.

Worked around this location for a while and that was the only fish that was caught. Moved to a large flat area that was thick with grass that the previous trip here, was the only location that fish were caught in. this day they were not biting here and you could feel the aggravation starting to set in that not being able to figure the lake out, was getting quite annoying.

At this point it was time to start fishing the shorelines with a shallow diving crankbait and try and find some active shallow fish. Starting on a deep shoreline, was casting to some reeds and a fish grabbed on with a bit of size but as soon as I felt the bite, the rod went limp and the fish was gone. This was getting to be the theme of the day that there was getting to the point that the wind was taking over the lake no matter which area you were in.

So decided that I had other things that needed to get done and pulled the plug and headed out to getting the boat ready for the next trip tomorrow. Tomorrow will find us back on a city lake that we were on Monday and look for some deep water bass…so until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON….
 

Fishing Reports at BWS OutDoors

Updated Kids OutDoors events for the week of 9/30-10/6

We have updated our KIDS OutDoors page for the week of September 29 thru October 6. This weeks outdoor education event dates and times are listed now and take advantage of these if your kids are wanting to learn and then get into the OutDoor hunting and fishing activities.

Kids Outdoors BWS OutDoors

Connecticut’s DEEP Begins Fall Trout Stocking

Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that its 2014 autumn trout stockings have begun. From now through mid October, DEEP is releasing 30,000 trophy and adult sized trout into selected waters throughout the state. Among the areas scheduled to be stocked this fall are twenty-three lakes and ponds, fifteen rivers and streams that include twelve of the Trout Management Areas (TMA), and eight Trout Parks.

BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors

New Hampshire offers Free Outdoor Adventure Talk – Hunting Dominant Bucks

Get an edge on that big buck in the woods this fall by coming to a free deer hunting talk by local hunting expert Dave Priebe on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. No pre-registration is required.

Whitetail deer hunting in New Hampshire can be challenging. Priebe’s presentation, “Hunting Dominant Bucks,” takes some of the mystery out of it.

BWS OutDoors NH News

Fishing Report September 17 2014 Massachusetts

 

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures started around 50 getting to 70 degrees, water temperatures in the upper 60 degree, light winds and best bait – 4 inch French fry style plastic worm

As I map more lakes that I have been fishing lately, I find areas that I like to fish off shore that has structure that I didn’t even know was there. So today started fishing an area that has an underwater point that comes out and there is an indent into it that has had fish in the past. With the late winter we had last season, so many of these lakes the weeds have not even grown typical and when there is weeds it is sparse at most. Also, there is a lot of thin clogging grass that grows in a number of these lakes that I am finding this year.

I fished all around the point tip and went into the indent as well and couldn’t get anything to bite. The next location was an underwater hump that came up to 8 feet deep and this hump had a lot of weeds on it but fishing all around it couldn’t find anything that was going to bite. Next was to move to one of the few points on the lake and the one side drops quickly into deep water and wasn’t able to find the fish here as well.

Now it was time to do more mapping of the lake that I haven’t done yet and after a while of doing this, I had found another underwater hump that I didn’t even know was there. Once I marked out this location, mid lake hump, it didn’t take long and I was into some largemouth bass. I was fishing the 4 inch French fry style plastic worm and they liked it here. Wasn’t able to catch any large bass here but the 1.5 pound fish were giving up some very nice battles coming back to the boat. After working the area over and the fish had dried up I had moved to another couple of locations on the lake.

The first location was another underwater hump and this wasn’t yielding any fish here as well. There is a huge flat that comes in front of a creek inlet and typically in the early season this area holds numbers of fish, but as the water is cooling, haven’t been able to get them going here. The last location was a deep water shoreline that I ran with a crankbait but same results came from here.

For the day there wasn’t a lot of fish caught, but being able to find new locations is what I am trying to do with this open water season. I still need to come back here once more before ice up and finish mapping a portion of this lake. So until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON…

 

 

Fishing Report September 16 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Overcast skies with rain falling later morning, air temperatures low 50’s, water temperatures near 70 degrees, light winds and best bait – 4 inch French fry style plastic worm

Had an appointment first thing in the morning but was able to get to the water by 9:30AM and also before the rain started to fall. There was no wind to start the fishing and very overcast skies and as the morning went on the rain started to fall and luckily it never really got to heavy of a rain but just enough to make things somewhat miserable.

There are two locations that I target on this pond and started first on the ridge in the middle of the lake. The ridge is only a few feet wide at the top of it and drops off into deep water on both sides. Typically the fish are sitting on the right side edge and there is one sweet spot that has a few rocks that attracts the fish. Fished all around this area and was not able to get anything going to bite and followed the ridge all the way to the end with nothing biting. Off to the left of the end of the ridge, there is a small underwater hump and worked all around this area as well and still haven’t been able to pull a fish out of this location as well.

Time to make a move and towards the other end of the pond there are two underwater humps that have gravel and sand on top. Fished all around the first one and was not able to locate any active fish. Moved over to the underwater point that has gravel and rocks on top and was not able to get any bites except for sunfish were pecking at the bait. There is a saddle in between these two locations and is around 12 feet deep. As I was fishing through this, there was a bite and the fight was on to a beautiful largemouth bass that gave up a great battle. The rains were still falling and with the cold temperatures was making it difficult keeping your hands warm so that you are able to feel the fish biting.

After not getting any more bites here, motored back towards the ridgeline but started at the beginning and worked my way back to where I had started the day. the fish just were not going to really cooperate today and you can really tell that fall is setting in and this lake the fish haven’t put that fall feed bag on quite yet.

That will conclude my day 2 of 5 days of fishing and tomorrow is going to find me a bit further north in MA and hopefully do some grass fishing and dig some big girls out. So until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON…

 

 

Fishing Report September 15 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, 50 degrees air temperature warming to 68 degrees, 66-70 degrees water temperature, light winds and most productive baits - Rapala Scatter Rap shallow diver and a 4 inch plastic french fry worm

Starting this week of a 5 day fishing week at the new pond that we have been fishing and hoping to see if we can locate some of the nicer bass in the lake. Will start in the same areas as last week and that is shallow shorelines with a weightless shad plastic bait. Did notice that as soon as I turned on the electronics that the water temperatures had dropped 10 degrees in a weeks time. Worked the shallow bay right off the shoreline and just couldn't get any fish to bite as I think that the colder water temperatures may have driven the fish out or locked them down. After working this area for a while with nothing to show for it, headed to the other end of the lake and started fishing the shorelines here casting the Rapala Scatter Wrap to the shorelines and was picking up smaller bass here and there. Just couldn't get anything of size going and only had an hour or so left, decided to go deep and fish the 4 inch french fry worm looking for the bigger fish on the main lake structure. Was getting a few bites and just couldn't get them to connect until I thought that I had hooked the bottom as the rod bent over. It didn't take long and you could tell that it wasn't the bottom as the fish started to move. This lake has a huge carp population and the whole time it was on my mind that I had hooked into one of these. The fish was digging and refusing to come to the surface and the rod was totally bent over. I have not had a fish fight like this in quite some time and at this point all I wanted to do is see what was on the other end of the line. When it finally surfaced it was a solid 3.5 pound largemouth and it sure give up a great battle. I didn't have a lot of time left so never really able to totally work the area to see if there were any others hanging around. Not quite the day like I had the week before but fish were still being caught and that is all that matters.

Tomorrow is a rain day but if it doesn't rain much, you will find us on the lake once again...so until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON...

Fishing Report September 8 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, low 70's air temperatures, 80 degrees water temperatures, moderate winds and most productive baits - shallow Rapala Scatter Rap and weightless plastic shad

There is a pond that I know of that many of my freinds grew up around and from years past, no one would consider that there are fish in this waters. Over the years there was some extensive work to the pond to bring it back so that fish and people can enjoy it for years to come. Half of it was worked and the other half they were not able to finish the dredging and everything else that went along with it. So the half that didn't get done, it is still muddy and around 4 feet deep as the better end gets to depths of 18 feet deep and had hard bottom in many locations.

So arriving at the landing, I decided to fish it during the week sk that I would mainly have the pond to myself. There were a couple of older gentlemen launching before me and after talking with them, I was now pumped to get onto the water. Started fishing just up from the landing and being it is shallow and no structure, worked the shoreline with jigs, spinnerbaits and weightless plastic shad darters. It didn't take long and I was into some fish and quality ones at that. The pattern that I was finding was key this morning was shorelines that had shade and some weeds and casting the plastic shad to the shoreline and working it back was producing the best. If there was sun on a particular shoreline there was no fish caught or bites detected. But once back into the shade again the fish would start biting. So this was the pattern and used it as long as I could.

As the morning went on, the shade was fading away and had to find another new pattern for finding the fish. Tried a number of lily pad fields and had a few small blowups but no hookups were hapenning. So I moved down to the other end that is deeper and tried a different tactic. Since most of the shorelines are fairly deep, I worked most of them with a Rapala Scatter Rap and was starting to catch fish once again. Along with good numbers of bass, there were some nice perch caught as well.

After fishing here now, this pond is definitely on my list of city lakes to fish and will be back there fairly soon once again...so until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON....

 

Fishing Report August 17 2014 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, mid 60's air temperatures, 74 degrees water temperature, moderate winds

Since I had found some very decent fish at a local pond, I wanted to go back today and see if we can duplicate the last couple of trips out there. Upon arriving at the lake, there was already an angler fishing our best big fish spot. So we headed for the backup location that typically has numbers of fish, but size is the question. The winds were whipping around quite a bit and made it a bit more difficult staying on the key locations. We fished all around this location and there were a handful of short strikes but just couldn't connect on any of them to getting anything to the boat. The other angler had finally left so we headed over to that location and fished around there as well only able to catch a couple of small fish. Since these two spots were not producing wanted to see if these fish may have moved over to the shorelines. We fished down the better shoreline and did catch a number of small fish along the way, but couldn't connect with anything of size. Along the shoreline I typically fish a small crankbait so that we are able to cover water looking for actively feeding fish. After doing most of the shoreline, we moved back to the other two locations to see if there were any fish that moved back up. Did catch some smaller fish but never could find those big fish that have been caught in the past. My plan was to fish with a couple of other baits, jig/pig and a drop shot, but with limited time I stuck with the 4 inch french fry style dark worm on a 1/8 oz weight. Since we weren't finding a better quality fish, this pond is close to home, we can pick up at any time and head out and don't feel like we have to spend a lot of time since the drive is so short.

Hopefully the next fishing will be sooner than later but as schedules and other obligations are coming up, it may be a couple of weeks before we get back out there again...so until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON...

Fishing Report August 10 2014 Massachusetts

 
Conditions: Sunny skies, 70 air temperatures, 78-80 degree water temperatures, no wind

Decided that since yesterday was not a good day on the water, I needed to redeem myself and went early in the morning to a small local pond to try some things that I had found there the last time fishing. The last time here, I had found a couple of very nice sweet spots that had some very nice fish on one, and the other had a good number of fish on it. After leaving the boat landing I went to the first spot that yielded the biggest fish that I have caught here in a while. This location has a shallow rocky sandy hump that has a ridge that runs out past the boat landing. The top of the ridge is in the 3-4 foot depths and is not very wide as the sides drop off fairly quickly and if you don't watch the electronics, you are off the location very quickly. With having the boat positioned where the ridge comes off of the hump, casting out towards the end of the ridge is the sweet spot that the fish had been hanging. After about 20 minutes of fishing, I found that sweet spot once again and the bigger fish were definitely there as well as some good numbers of smaller fish as well. These fish weren't as big as the previous trip here, but a fish is a fish in my book and as long as I can catch them, that is all that matters to me. I fished here for an hour or so and decided to give it a rest and head off to my other sweet spot. This location is an underwater hump that comes up to 4 feet of water and is a bit bigger than a good sized bass boat. It is positioned in the corner of a cove and it feels like there is gravel and rocks on top of this as well. I had only made a couple of casts and broke off a very big fish. After re-rigging and casting around the hump again, I hooked into a nice and fat largemouth bass. This one was a solid 2.5-3 pound fish and is now the biggest fish that I have caught off of this place. I fished around this hump and caught some more small fish and decided to head back to the first location. I rotated between these two places and caught fish off of them each time there, but as the morning went on and the little wind there was died, the bites were getting harder and harder to get so it was time to head home and do some yard work. I was fishing the small 4 inch french fry worm in a dark color once again and thinking the next time out there I am going to switch to fishing a jig and also a dropshot rig.

Hoping that we are able to get back to this lake fairly quickly once again as now that we have something figured out it is a lot of fun catching some nicer fish once again...so until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a FISH ON....

Fishing Report August 9 2014 New Hampshire

Conditions:Partly cloudy skies, mid 80's air temperatures, 80-81 degree water temperature, no wind

Was time to go visit some family again and luckily for us they are at a campground on a lake that we fish a lot and spend countless hours on as well. This body of water when it is slick out with no wind, for me is always a very tough bite added the heat factor as well. Today was not going to be any different as the bite was off once again. My main objective though was to finish mapping out one section of the lake so that I have a current lake map that when the ice season comes, there are a number of different places now that we will be targeting. It is amazing that after fishing a particular body of water for so many years, that once you have an actual map of it in front of you, there are so many areas that you didn't even know about. I tried a few new areas this day that didn't produce anything, but for that matter, even the usual places were fishing very tough. The couple of bass that were caught were caught in deeper water on a 4 inch french fry style worm in a blackish color weighted with an 1/8 oz slip sinker. There were a number of locations that I wanted to fish but every time I made a move to those, there was always a boat on them. Talking with fellow anglers that fish here regularly as well have said that their best fishing is the time frame from after dinner till dark. Unfortunately I don't have that luxury so we fish when the time comes that we get to go. It can only get better going forward as the weather will start to cool off and the fish need to start feeding heavily for the winter months coming.

Tomorrow is going to find us home on a local lake and going to go back and check out some locations that we have found some very nice fish on...so until next time may your lines be TIGHT and you have a...FISH ON.....