Log

Why keep a fishing log?

If you keep track what you’re using to catch what, when you did what and take notes of the area and situations you can go back and analyze what works and what doesn’t work. In time you will begin to see patterns. It is these patterns that become the great and intuitive tools for you, in becoming a better fisherperson. I have kept a log since day one. When I look at what I did back when I first started, it was horrifying. There is no place for a super newbie to be using a spinnerbait. Except for general entertainment.

Fish Swami has a nice, free printable fishing log. Their online personal fishing log is a great tool.

My online fishing log

Trip Rating Legend: ☆ (Sucky) :: ☆☆ (Coolness) :: ☆☆☆ (Heck Yes) :: ☆☆☆☆ (Holy Mother Mackerel) :: ☆☆☆☆☆ (MAN ON FIRE) Call in the Fire Engines!

Trip #34:  April 30th, 2012 – Sunday, 10:00pm-12:00am, Pitch black, 49-50° :: ☆☆☆
At sundown we headed out to Stage Harbor in Chatham for go squiding. Low tide. A small dock with about three groups of folks. I can hear sounds of ‘spitting’ coming from the buckets which at first I didn’t know what it was. My friend using a salt rod with a squid jig immediately hooks up with a large squid, I was stunned, never seen this before. I look below and it is about 5’ deep, ok visibility too, because I can see schools of squid meander through the water, in and out of the fixed lighting above on the deck and also next to the folk’s temporary electrical halogen work lamps set yup. I see the pink is the hot color now so I remove my green jig for a pink Yo-Zuri lure. I get a hookup right away, it was strange. It fought like a panfish on my medium 7 footer. I am using 30lb braid which is over kill with a 17lb mono leader. I read that braid with a 20lb mono leader is fine, on a lighter rod, like a fresh water medium is fine. My other squid lures were too heavy but my pink Yo-Zuri was good. You are meant to lift and drop the lure. The fellas to my left were killing the squid, caught about 30 to our six. They jigged fast and aggressively. Meanwhile to folks to my right weren’t catching as much. I heard surface splashes later on, towards the open water. Several times. I hooked a 9” white sluggo to go after that with my 9’ surf rod, just in case I could hook up with stripers. Nothing. This window for squid is fading fast. Mid to end of April, maybe early May is the time for squiding. Must be done on the outside portion of the cape, not towards Boston Harbor

Trip #33:  April 30th, 2012 – Sunday, 5:30pm-8:30pm, Mostly sunny, 55° :: ☆☆☆
Cool day, a breeze, not many fisherman, sundown to midnight for two separate trips. My buddy and arrive at Scusset Beach on the jetty, hoping to get mackeral for bait and for eating. Went out to the end of the rocks, fishing the beach side. We had silver mack rigs casting with a 3oz bank sinker. Soon enough my friend was nailing macks, two to three at a time. I did too until my sinker caught onto a rock. I had fish on but had to cut my line after 45 minutes. My buddy pulled up 35 macks, most one after another, lost many up reeling in. I caught three, spent most of my time trying to unsnag my rig. Afterwards I used a X-Mas tree rig, with green, yellow and red tubed hooks, but the macks didn’t like those. I tried to cast silver Kasmtaster XLs and Spros, basically anything silver, nothing.

Trip #32:  April 22nd, 2012 – Sunday, 6:30am-9:15am, overcast, 58° :: ☆☆☆
Wachusett Reservoir. We passed by a good amount of fisherman fishing the bridge area, I guess for salmon. Might be the basin. Arrived at Gate 6.  58-60 degrees when we got there, but changed to 49 when leaving. Got there an hour past sunrise, should have been there earlier. Overcast, light sprinkles, Nor’easter coming later in the day. Two days after the new moon. Had large and medium shiners, was fixing to target lakers by tossing bait low on a sliding sinker rig. Threw the new Kastmaster XL, one and a quarter ounce, was awesome. No other fisherman, save for the old timer arriving later with a shorter rod. Water was choppy, a good breeze, wind. Casted into the wind along the first cove. Clarity was much more stirred than usually. Some vegetation when scrapping lures across the floor. When packing up to leave, I did not see anything on my bait rod at all, but when reeling it up, a fish jumped out of the water, not more than ten feet away from me. I realized I had a smallmouth, which took the large shiner off of my #8 hook intended for laker.  The smallmouth weight in at 2.13lbs. I didn’t get the length but approximated it at 18” plus.

Trip #31:  April 16th, 2012 – Monday, before lunch, sunny, 72° :: ☆☆
Lake Coco at the beach with family, 2 hours. Humid, hot, vegetation about cast’s length. Throw a worm and bobber rig, caught a good size sunnie, light colored with red ear. When the officers were checking my license, an officer told me I had a bite. I ran to my deadsticking rod and hooked a 12″ rainbow, I bet a newly stocked, not fat. Cool deal. Also threw kastmasters to no avail.  Water was still earlier but began a slight chop, then the wind changed direction. Vis is ok, about 3′, normal for this lake. Officers told me to use large shiners for salmon.

Trip #30:  April 15th, 2012 – Sunday, 7:30pm-8:00pm, partly cloudy, 71° :: ☆
Heard bullfrogs at Sucker Pond. Near sundown. Saw lots of surface feeding, a splash. Humid and lots of bugs. Not too bad though. Nothing for my Kastmaster.

Trip #29:  April 15th, 2012 – Sunday, 11am-11:45am, sunny, 65° :: ☆
At the ‘Chu. Gate 6 just at the first cove. Opening day was last weekend. Met a threesome in which the lady caught a nice 18-20″ laker, first time seeing one, looked like a brownie. The word is to use shiners high up for salmon, way down for lakers. I used an inflated night crawler on a sliding rig and a gold spoon on my noodle rod and Wild Series. Visibility is so good, 10′ plus. Gravel bottom. Lots of people fishing. Fella across I heard caught  one using a gold spoon.  Great morning. Broken glass found where cars are parked.

Came back at 4:30pm until 5:00pm. 72 degrees. About to rain soon. Kid coming up the path said he caught three smallies with a 4″ Rapala, said they’re in there. Met the Indian family and helped them with the Zebco spincaster which was funny. Used worms until I found dead shiners on the ground. Threw a Fire Kroc. Nothing for me today.

Trip #28:  April 14th, 2012 – Saturday, 7:00am-9:30am, sunny, 48° :: ☆
Wallum Lake in Douglas MA/RI. Meetup with John. Opening day. The word is salmon and trout. Clear water, pristine almost. 10′ visibility. Boulders, paths alongside the banks. Ok access for us, because we missed out on the primo spots with grills and benches. Water was 48 degrees. Needed to be around 50 for salmon. From atop a rock I threw a black Rapala 5″ jointed crankbait, Kastmasters, and deadsticked. Water was about 4-6′ in front of us but I hear just around full casting length it drops off considerably. John did catch three smallies later in the day on 1/8oz Roosters in the shallows.

Trip #27:  April 10th, 2012 – Tuesday, 4:0pm-5:00pm, overcast/cloudy, 57° :: ☆
JP, warm today. Some wind, did draw a bite with the doughbait but missed it. Lot of kids, more vegetation than usual. Met Lenny, long leader, green narrow fly, casting bubble.

Trip #26:  April 9th, 2012 – Monday, late afternoon, cloudy, 52° :: ☆
Hop Res by the dog shelter. Windy, low levels, stained but more at 5-8′ vis. No action, dead sticked, spoons.

Trip #25:  April 8th, 2012 – Easter Sunday, 1:30pm-2:00pm, overcast, 48° :: ☆
At Coakely Park near JFK. Meet a homie said folk catch striper here. I used my travel fresh water rod because that was all that i had. I rigged a red plastic strip for bait looking for mackerel. After high tide, chop, no veggies at my point where I was standing but a lot towards the cove. Seemed promising if I had real bait.

Trip #24:  April 6th, 2012 – Friday, 5:45pm-7pm near dusk, sunny, 49° :: ☆
Sucker Pond, chilly, lots of baitfish, saw some surface feeding, caught a large shiner for funs. Used big stickbaits for possible bass. Though for sure I was gonna get something like a bass, carp or pickerel. Nothing.

Trip #23: April 1st, 2012 – Sunday, 4:40pm-7:00pm, overcast/raining, 49° :: ☆
A Meetup with John and the group. Lake Coco, North Pond. I launched from the docks. A stickbait for possible pre-spawn bass, spoons, doughbait. Cast and trolled. Steve told me to fish the culverts, the tunnels, that area. A kid caught a salmon there from the Russian Wall a few weeks ago. Jesse got a bite from the docks, the Asian fella caught two chain pics. Slight chop and a tad of wind.

Trip #22: March 31st, 2012 – Saturday, 5:30pm-6pm, partly cloudy, 41° :: ☆
Wayland side of Lake Coco, on the docks. Gearing for trout. Storm coming tonight, chilly, still water, no action. Asian fella using inline spinner next to me.

Trip #21: March 29th, 2012 – Thursday, late afternoon, overcast 45° :: ☆
Boat ramp at Lake Coco , overcast with snow coming tonight. Visibility is better than usual, about 5′. Dead stick, spoons… kid said he fished everyday with nothing to show for. Did snag a set of rigs, a pair of salmon synthetic salmon eggs. This is the second time I’ve seen this rig.

Trip #20: March 27th, 2012 – Tuesday, late afternoon, sunny, 44° :: ☆
Sucker Pond, 5:00pm-5:45pm, 3′ vis, stained, but varies, somewhat manicured shore, minimal cabbage, tons of panfish at first bank, using senkos then switched to kastmaster which I managed to snag a huge golden shiner or creek chub. Front coming in tonight.  Was a super cold day earlier.

Trip #19: March 24th, 2012 – Saturday, noon, overcast/sprinkly, 51° :: ☆☆
Lake Monomonac, Winchendon, MA, near NH border.  By the dam, deeper area of the cove, visibility 3-5′. Charlie told me to check out some coves and points there, a big Calico Bass area. Fished two spots, second one produced tons of bites. I got a nice little largie on a kastmaster, gold next to a fallen tree. Charlie came down later and rigged me up a crappie jig with a cinch knot, demo’d a drop and lift technique, kill crappies.

Trip #18: March 23rd, 2012 – Friday, late afternoon, partly sunny, 72° :: ☆
Boat ramp at Lake Coco with the little one.  Kastmaster, cruising for anything. Some light action on the surface here and there. 5:30pm-6:30pm. Visibility better than usual. Almost no weeds.

Trip #17: March 21st, 2012 – Wednesday, sunny, 70° :: ☆
Dark green senkos at the Amputee Vet’s area on Lake Coco. Vis is about 8-10′ much better than usual, shallow, minimal weeds, lots of erupting surface action when I threw out to the right, so I switched to spoons to scan the area. No bites, but there are fish. Lunch break. In the midst of a warming trend, an anomaly for this time in March.

Trip #16: March 18th, 2012 – Sunday, sunny, 72° :: ☆☆
Lake Coco, boat ramp after groceries, 5:00pm – 5:30pm, threw a kastmaster for a few minutes for the hell of it, caught a super nice rainbow around 12-13 inches, fattest one at Coco within minutes.

Trip #15: March 15th, 2012 – Thursday, mid-afternoon, hazy, 46° :: ☆☆☆
Hop Res, at the rear cove by the kennel,  2:30pm-3:30pm, dour day. Decided to setup a deadstick with PB and run a live stick with s spoon. Was getting hits right away. I managed to land the biggest ‘bow, at 14″, 1.3lbs… moments later while at another bank, I saw my bobber rise on my stick and ran to it, finding another ‘bow, roughly the same size and weight. It was amazing, the bite was hot but I left, as I had my share for dinner that night. I got a trout on both PB and Kastmaster.

Trip #14: March 14th, 2012 – Wednesday, late-afternoon, overcast, 44° :: ☆
Jamaica Pond, saw Lenny, said he caught five trout the day before on the same but larger kastmaster. He told me to use a shorter leader. Visibility is good, 10′.  The other guy already caught his limit today. I used PB and spoons. I am not at the best spot, but ok.

Trip #13: March 12th, 2012 – Monday, late-afternoon, overcast, 70° :: ☆
Jamaica Pond, vis is good, less veggies, Meet Genja the warden, got a bite, missed the hookset. Met Robert, told me about his salmon.Lots of tips I learned on this day.

Trip #12: March 11th, 2012 – Sunday, late afternoon, sunny, 49° :: ☆☆
Ash Res. About 4:30-6:30pm. They just stocked the lake with trout last week. Went to my favorite spot and threw some spoons. Tired of running my second stick with Powerbait so I tossed in a trout worm. 30 minutes passed, nothing, not even a mouse. I decided to toss some Powerbait and within minutes, I seen my line go taut. I fumbled foolishly to set the hook, in the process my utility belt unsnaps and falls down and almost tripped. I messed up my chance, I set it way too early, should have let him run with it. Two more times he took my bait and twice I incorrectly set the hook. Fourth time a charm, I let him run with the bait, then adjusted my drag correctly and set the hook. Got the sucker. Maybe a 13″ Rainbow, good fight, some aerials, on my ultralight rod, good stuff. Visibility more than before, about 5′ or more. Slightly stained, pretty still water, no wind, lots of dog walkers.

Trip #11: March 3rd, 2012 – Saturday afternoon, sunny, 70° :: ☆☆
Arrived at 4:00pm until 6:00pm at the Lower Salt River, Tonto National Forest, near Mesa, Arizona. I was informed that trout were stocked at four points after the dam. Bass were also coming alive at this time. Rapala Crawfish diving crank-baits, Powerbait and inline spinners are current popular lures. Using a medium rod I waded about using a Rooster Tail, a black Senko and a crankbait. Water on my right here was fast flowing, shallow with some boulders and a gravel bottom. To my left was still water in which the transition took place, however other anglers were at where I considered the best point was, just before the transition from slow to fast. There was tall cat-tails across from me on the other side of the bank creating some nice places for bass to reside.  Just after a few minutes my buddy using the crawfish crankbait hooked onto a nice, large trout nearly two feet in length. I reeled in and tried to grab the fish without a net but soon unhooked itself. The rest of the day proved unproductive. Other anglers were in the area, which was a bit congestive. There area was surronded by large boulders and small mountains which was a stunning backdrop. This was a very exciting place to fish with many opportunities. Small pools were around, along with some nice coves and a variety of banks from sheer cliffs to pebbly beaches. Depth judging from other wading fisherman must be deeper than a person’s height in the still area but much of the stream was about two to three feet. The width of the stream here was about one long cast; about 100 feet. I can almost reach the other side with a 5″ Senko, unweighted, 8lb test on a 6.6 foot medium rod. An angler told me to throw the Rapala upstream or into the wind so that it swims downstream and to reel about five cranks and let the diver rise and continue. He said to continue this for a bit but to change it’s direction which will initiate a strike from the fish. Throwing the lure upstream will increase your chances of a hookup about 75% as the fish face into the current watching for prey to whiz by. I couldn’t get the hang of fishing like this as I am terribly new to stream fishing. A word of note, if you wish to park here, you need to purchase a $6 parking pass, 10 miles back down the slow and windy road to Mesa at the Walgreens or gas station. We wasted gas and close to an hour of driving when we could have been fishing.

Trout are stocked at Water Users (where the tubers put in), Blue Point Bridge, Phon D. Sutton Recreation Area and the Granite Reef Recreation Area.

The following tip was featured here. My tip for spin anglers is to use light line with a small split shot and a night crawler. Cast at a 45-degree angle upstream, then let the current carry the bait down to the trout waiting in ambush. Trout will actually face into the current in kind of a pecking order, like chickens, with the dominant more aggressive trout positioned in the sweet spots to gobble the delectables floating downstream.

Trip #10: March 2nd, 2012 – Friday sundown, 66° :: ☆
At an Urban Pond, Veteran’s Oasis in Chandler Arizona. This place was recommended by a fisherman at Dicks. Fished with a Rooster Tail from 6:30pm to 7:45pm on the west cove across from another angler. Depth max was 14′, 8-10 feet visibility although the sun was rapidly descending. The fella across landed a fish from a lure.

Trip #9: March 2nd, 2012 – Friday morning, sunny but hazy,  quite windy 56° :: ☆
At an Urban Pond in Veteran’s Oasis in Chandler Arizona. This place was recommended by a fisherman at Dicks due to it’s recent trout stocking. This great looking place was completely opposite to what I am used to back home in New England. A nicely designed pond with picture perfect trees, shrubs and trails all around the banks. It featured two restroom facilities, grills, ample space for parking, manicured lawns all to be used by the community. I saw kids to fly their kites, women doing group exercises and regular family outings. Fished with a small silver Kastmaster and later a Rooster Tail from 9:30am to 11:30am all around the 5 acre, manufactured pond. Lots of reeds and cat-tails on the banks but also had many great access to fish. Depth max was 14′, 8-10 feet visibility. Deepest point was off the peninsula where some catfish guys set up shop. And angler by the name of Darren told me that he caught five catfish two days ago but today was dry. The state was going to wrap up it’s trout sticking schedule and being the catfishing rounds in a week. The sidewalks with stone benches were peppered with almost all deadstickers, mostly snowbirds in lawn chairs enjoying the sun.

An interesting note: Anglers can either purchase an Urban Fishing or a general state fishing license. Arizona has an Urban Fishing program which features many small, stocked ponds withing the greater Phoenix area. You can also just purchase a Trout Stamp only as well as a Second Pole stamp. Combos are available too. What I liked was that you can add a day of fishing to your license for only $8 at any time, anywhere.

Trip #8: Feb 24th, 2012 – Friday late afternoon, sprinkling, rain 36° :: ☆
Jamaica Pond after work, 4:30-5:45pm targeting trout. Near sundown. Cloudy and rainy. I fished the whole cove this time with Powerbait and a big 3/8oz. Kastmaster. Nothing. Low water levels, the tree at the island was down. No other anglers.

Trip #7: Feb 19th, 2012 – Friday late afternoon, sprinkling, rain 25-45° :: ☆
Hop Res in a canoe with my friend, 9:30am-2:30pm, light wind, sunny and clear, cold. Pressure rising, tea colored water, lower water levels, a bit of cabbage by the north side of the first island. I scouted the area a day before, met Pak who had a nice kayak rigged to the bone, he fished the middle trolling to no avail. I met another guy who said his friend caught some 18″ tigers and ‘bows from the shore recently which reflect exactly the other reports I have been hearing. I fished high and low, near shallows and in the deepest part of the res, from the canoe and from the second smaller island. I even trolled as my buddy was the oar man for a nice ride across the lake. Goose egg. Many fisherman in the banks, also reporting no bites. Used large Roosters, Kastmaster, Powerbait and a Yozuri Minnow.

Trip #6: Feb 11th, 2012 – Saturday morning, cloudy, light wind, slightly snowing, 30° :: ☆
At Great Pond, coming out of Hatch Cove en route to Oak Island and below the top point of the cove. Out from 9:00am-12:00pm. There was a cold front coming in the evening. Ice was more than two feet and a half here and were at a massive flat with some weeds below consistently at 14 feet deep, with the ice over 16 feet. We popped nine holes, jigged and laid traps. Shiners of all sizes and two salvaged 8 inch suckers. Jesse’s transducer saw a large fish approach our camp and left. That was quite thrilling. 

Trip #5: Feb 10th, 2012 – Friday afternoon and night, Partly cloudy, 35° :: ☆☆
On the Kennebec River, at the Baker’s Smelt Camp in Pittson, Maine just below Augusta. I was with Fishark’s crew and my buddy Jesse met me as well. Had to be there at 3:30pm, fishing the incoming tide at 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Sunrise was 5:45pm-ish I think. I bought two of Baker’s smelt rigs, already ready to go and got six jigs. Also a dozen sea worms. Water was about 30 feet deep, but 28 when it was going out around 9:30pm. We were supposed to leave at 10:00pm but stayed until 12:30am. At 10:30pm it became somewhat productive between 9-15 feet deep. Jesse caught two Tommy Cods at the bottom and four smelt. I caught just three later on.We left around 1:00am. I think the previous group that we were part of either in part caught nothing but a few got some Tommy Cod and a couple of smelt.  I heard that a bad night at the camp yielded about 200 fish, while a good night was 800 plus.

Trip #4: Feb 10th, 2012 – Friday morning, Sunny 15-19° :: ☆
In Maine at Great Pond with Hatch Cove in the Belgrade Lake system. 8,533 acres, average depth is 21 feet with a max depth of 69. Much of the lake shallow, and of good water quality. Used to be a trophy trout destination but for the last decade it is know for trophy pike and brown trout, since the smelt population dwindled.

I was out between 6:45am to 9:30am. Sunrise was around a half hour earlier. The day before I went to Nicki’s Bait and Tackle got tons of sewn hook leaders and rigs for trout and pike. They said folks were catching white perch directly across the lake from my place and around Oak Island above Pine Island people were catching pike as of late. I was warned to stay away from the right side of my shore as it was open water, although many people liked to fish there and to watch out if I walked passed the cove nearing Oak Island because there was a string of huge boulders and rocks littering the bottom and there could be thinner ice there. Up at the top of the map where it was deepest I heard of pike reports there. But the owner’s father of my rental told me he won two events for largest pike two years in a row and he told me to go out towards the sun, keeping the shallow buoy to my left and walk 50 yards passed that. I did just that and pre-drilled a hole marking it at about 8 feet. Ice was about two and a half feet thick. I had to dig deeper because he said I had to be deeper than 12 for pike. I went further out and drilled five holes, and found out it was still about 10 feet. My auger had broke at this time too.

I ran four traps, three on with trout hooks and small shiners for browns and one big Indian Hill using a sucker on a 4/0. I also jigged a shiner on a Rattlin’ Trap for pike. Later I tried Rattlin’ spoon and a Bro’s Bug both tipped with spikes for trout and pannies respectively.

On the way back a neighbor was fishing close to shore in the shallows. He chiseled out about 10 holes with just a chisel. I talked to him, Marty he said he was, said was looking for brown trout, still no luck.

Trip #3: Feb 4th, 2012 – Saturday morning to mid-day, Partly sunny 32-39° :: ☆
Out with Ice Shanty boys on their annual ice fishing meetup at Barton Cove in Gill, MA. Barton Cove which is in a quarry ranging up to 20 feet deep is on the Connecticut River. Bass, yellow perch, crappie, pickerel, pike, trout, cats, and walleye, yes walleye all can be found here. I got there around 7:15am after stopping at Flagg’s out in Orange for spikes and shiners. A cold day but not bad at all considering it was early February and we’ve been having such a strange winter with the warm trend. Pitched four tip-ups, loaded with small and large shiners. Looking for crappie and pike. Jigged with Stripernut’s vertical rattler jig tipped with a shiner, and tried one of his ‘Quick Strike’ rigs on a tip-up. I also did a Genz jig tipped with two spikes. No action on any of my jigging rods, even with Stripernut a hole away watching my technique on a flasher. He did see fish around my lure. I believe some folks got a few pike and a pickerel. I did get a small run on my reel on one of my traps… however as the Captain was coaching me, I set the hook way too hard and nearly pulled the lips off the poor fish. Never did get to know what it was. Nice day, had beef, potatoes, shrimp, banana bread and chicken on the barbi. Saw a mink hole and a hawk. Left at 1:30pm.

Trip #2: Jan 21st, 2012 – Saturday mid-day, Sunny 32° :: ☆
Hopkinton Reservoir. Just for an hour, fished at the south end by the dog kennel by the road. The ice was paper thin along the edges, and maybe an inch inwards, but after a hundred feet it was all soft water. At the cove, was an inlet pouring water into the reservoir. I fished here, it was all soft water in cone going out into the lake. Kastmaster, Yozuri Minnow, and PowerBait did not do the trick. I heard that trout were hitting slowly reeled stickbaits in the Cape ponds so I thought I’d give it a try. An Officer that I know paid me a visit and a routine license check.

Trip #1: Jan 1st, 2012 – Sunday mid-day, Cloudy 35-40° :: ☆
AJ’s Bait and Tackle told me to go for trout (not too large fish here) at Mirror Lake, 333 acres, max depth of 42 feet, not far from lake Winnipesaukee, NH. I went with Josh, with a dozen emerald shiners, which emulates smelt. I hear the locals are here and it was busy on Saturday. Arrived at 12pm, left at 2:30pm. Drilled the max of six holes, with tip-ups and shiners for five, and one for jigging. We were unknowingly at a beach with a gradual decline, so the depth although we thought was deep ranged from a foot to about five feet, two hundred feet out. The ice was about 2 inches to about 5 inches as we walked out, much of it has been rained on, due to a warming trend and also black. Some cracks but wasn’t noisy and spooky like Lee’s Pond a day before. We set a line of hole form shallow to deep. Shiners were a foot off the bottom.  Jigged with a Lindy jig, tipped with a spike.  There was also no signs of other fisherman no tracks or holes. However, we needed to be in the center of the lake but outside of our cove it was all soft water. We should have found another access point instead of being in the shallows and tried early or late in the day.

________________________________

Trip#136: Dec 29, 2011 – Thursday mid-day, Sunny 25/12° :: ☆
Ice fishing at Lee’s Pond, a small, 179 acres, max depth of 37 feet near Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Warm December so far so only the small lakes are iced. AJ’s Bait and Tackle, the best tackle store ever told me about Lee’s Pond for crappies by the dam, and two trout waters, Whites and Mirror Lake. I also hear from a guy at BPS that Long Island bridge at night, cusk was being taken by locals on large shiners. The guy at AJ’s and a local at the pond told me folks kill it at the center of the lake or near the dam with crappies. However, the local said to be wary of the dam area. I guess the current makes ice thin as I could see that it was all soft water near the dam.

Got there at noon, left at three. Ice was 2 inches near land, about 4 near the center. Young ice, lots of cracking going on, and sounds from air pockets in the water. Very spooky and nerve-wracking.  Temperature was about 25 degrees but with a fierce wind which made it about 12 degrees. Sunny, and not too easy or obvious to drive to. Spend so much time screwing around the other side of the lake on private property.

Used two light jigging rods, one with a Lindy Jig, other a Swedish Pimple, the Lindy had ‘Mike’s attractant spayed on. No spikes for trailers which was the death of me, I should have added bait to my jigs. Used a standard drop and lift, then pause technique. Fished shallow and deep. I should have fished early morning or early dusk with bait.

Trip#135: Dec 11, 2011 – Sunday afternoon, 38° :: ☆
High was at 11:30am, sunny but cold. 11-1pm. Smelting at Belle Isle Ave, terrible, no depth to the poor river. Went to Deer Island, already tide was going out, nothing. Using sabiki rigs with squid trailers. A fella told me that the smelt guys fished at the marina down the road at night. Good tip.

Trip#134: Dec 10, 2011 – Saturday noon, 38° :: ☆☆
Hopkinton Reservoir. The cove at the south end by highway. 12:30-2:30pm, partly sunny, water was stained. Used shiners, caught a 11” largemouth in a somewhat weedy area, although I was targeting the 15-18” trout that I hear was going for live shiners. Green Powerbait for smaller trout. Salmon supposed to be released soon.

Trip#133: Dec 1, 2011 – Thursday afternoon, 45° :: ☆
Jamaica Pond, after work, almost sundown in one hour. Powerbait and metals, same area, trees are thinning, water was clearer, less debris atop. No others fishing.

Trip#132: Nov  30, 2011 – Wednesday late afternoon, 48° :: ☆
Lake Cochituate, boat ramp, partly cloudy, saw the warden again, choppy water, less vegetation, visibility a foot only. Kastmasters, nothing.

Trip#131: Nov  30, 2011 – Wednesday early morning, 48° :: ☆
Lake Cochituate, boat ramp, sunny, choppy water, was alerted by another fisherman who was playing a guitar on the dock that there was a warden in a car, busting people. I always buy a license myself.

Trip#130: Nov 27th, 2011 – Sunday afternoon, 64° :: ☆
Lake Buel in Great Barrington, West Mass. 3-4pm, fishing at boat ramp. Unseasonably warm, around mid-60’s, sunny. 3-5 feet visibility, some dying vegetation on the right. No action. Used metals and a mealworm.

Trip#129: Nov 25th, 2011 – Friday, dusk, 58° :: ☆
It is sundown around 5:30pm. Black. Portsmouth fishing pier target smelt again. At apex of the low tide. Bad tide for us although we caught two smelt on sabikis. Tons of little bites, but no commitments.

Trip#128: Nov 22th, 2011 – Tuesday morning, 42° :: ☆
With the fam at Ashland Reservoir. 9:30-11:15am, sunny, cold, at the same spots, water was stained but clearer than last time. Thought I had a line tighen up on me, pulled in line, a snag, but nothing. Interesting. Powerbait and kastmasters.

Trip#127: Nov 19th, 2011 – Saturday afternoon, 53° :: ☆☆☆
I went to Portsmouth ME on the public pier. 4:00pm. Using sabiki rigs with squid trailers I got 21 smelt in about 45 minutes. A but sunny and cloudy, cool, not too far from low tide. First time targeting smelt.

Trip#126: Nov 13th, 2011 – Sunday, noon, 45° :: ☆
Hopkinton Reservoir. Went further past previous spot, along Rt. 85 for a bit than down, by second stream. Sunny, cold, windy around 45 degrees. Going for trout, and for bass for shits and giggles. Powerbait, worms, metals and plastic worms. Did get one strong bite on the Kastmaster at the second spot. Was promising. Water was very stained, and very choppy.

Trip#125: Nov 11th, 2011 – Friday, mid-afternoon, 39° :: ☆
Charles River in Watertown. With windchill it’s 39 degrees, partly sunny, stained water, a fair amount of spinach along the shore. Found a cool chronometer. Fished up and down for bass using metals and worms. Nothing.

Trip#124: Nov 9th, 2011 – Wednesday late afternoon, 61° :: ☆
At Jamaica Pond, warm spell continues. Sun is fading, chop slightly, leaves in the water not as bad as the last few days. Fished cove. I thought I had something, bobber on line pulled. Talked to Lenny, learned a lot, he showed me a picture of a 13lb salmon he caught he a few years ago.

Trip#123: Nov 9th, 2011 – Wednesday morning, 60° :: ☆
Lake Cochituate boat ramp, sunny. Water looks like crap, stained and has so much bright green film built up, up to a few feet wide all along the ramp. Warm spell.

Trip#122: Nov 8th, 2011 – Tuesday afterwork, 5:15-6pm dusk, 58° :: ☆
At the new spot on North Pond at the lock. Almost completely dark, Powerbait and lures. Explored a bit, it is a great area. I saw two two docks too, which I fished on. The moon was rising, almost full. A warm spell begins.

Trip#121: Nov 7th, 2011 – Monday, dusk, 62° :: ☆
I finally checked out the new spot on North Pond. Afterwork, 62 degrees, nearing dusk. Freaking awesome. Had to screw around in the woods to find the path. When I found the water I was blown away. It was a lock I believe. A nice inlet with a rushing waterfall depositing into a cove. Nice paths around and a bridge. The best part was, the bridge was tagged, ‘Bass Assassin.’ Nice. I fished it a bit, it was deep maybe 5′-15′ deep. I caught up on some weird stones or petrified greens, dunno. Feel like I was getting some rumbles or scrapping rocks, not sure. Looks like a promising place. Wow.

Trip#120: Nov 7th, 2011 – Monday morning, 46° :: ☆
Went to the Wayland side of Coco. Sunny, early morning, slight breeze, 46 degrees not counting the chill. Water looks receded a bit or the vegetation is dying back or both. It also looks clearer than usual. Steve the old man told me to use my Kastmaster like a Rapala and throw it out, let it sink all the way, and pump and rip it back… salmon killer.

Trip#119: Nov 6th, 2011 – Sunday mid-morning, 44° :: ☆☆
Went to Hopkinton Reservoir. 10:15-12:45pm. New place, along the highway where the water floor drops off. Sunny, 44 degrees with a chill of 38. Water was stained, low visibility. Little vegetation save for a few trees here and there in the water’s edge. 2-3 feet visibility. Great place, not much fishing pressure I hear. Saw some anglers at the easier side but I was at a low accessible spot. Lots of bushwhacking, crossing muddy areas, steep slopes. Saw one angler trying to access my spot but left. Tossed Powerbait, spinners, and Kastmasters. Did get a brown trout in poor condition at 12″ or so. Feisty, very energetic. Fin rot and some blemishes, had a bass hook already in the mouth. No other action at all other then the quick catch. There was a rushing stream close by too. This is the area John recommended. Truck also to fish high with lures when its warmer, and deep in the column with Powerbait when it is cold.

Trip#118: Nov 4th, 2011 – Friday afternoon :: ☆
Jamaica Pond. After work, tons of leaves in water, snagging up on everything. Sunny. Met the guy that I’ve been chatting with, his name is Lenny. Told me today to not throw too far, keep it shallow and switch to fluoro. The hispanic guy is killing it again today at the same spot, caught two trout.

Trip#117: Nov 2nd, 2011 – Wednesday afternoon, 51° :: ☆
Jamaica Pond afterwork. Water was clear, sky sunny, 51 degrees. Since I learned that a fella was using a plastic minnow for salmon I tried the same. Fished along the cove. I also used a Krocodile with color, an orange and chrome Little Cleo as well. I saw one trout break the surface is all. One guys was using a water bobber and a fly, said yesterday he caught threee trout. An old timer who dunks his Powerbait caught a trout deadsticking. Tough day for me.

Trip#116: Nov 1st, 2011 – Tuesday afternoon, 39° :: ☆
Jamaica Pond after work. Clear water, sunny, 39 degrees. Saw a new fella fishing with a Hopkins Shorty on a 6’ rod. Said he catches a lot of trout and salmon, though he was targeting salmon today. I lost a lure in the trees. I had one good bite right in front of me. I saw the trout swim to the lure but I couldn’t set the hook as it was about three feet away from me, was already pulling the line out of the water.

Trip#115: Oct 30th, 2011 – Sunday morning, 35° :: ☆
Wachusett Reservoir. Targeting lake trout and salmon. 35 degrees with 40 mph gusts, very cold. Several inches of snow on the ground. Gate 8 was snowed in, so Gate 6 it was. Choppy water, no birds, no humans. Very clear water, sunny. Fished in front of the island with metals dragging on the bottom for 2.5 hours. Nothing.

Trip#114: Oct 28th, 2011 – Friday morning, 30° :: ☆
Cold. Just snowed for the first time this fall. At the Wayland side of Coco. Noodle rod, 3/8 oz brown Rooster Tail. Choppy water and totally windy. Just a weather report for you is all this morning. O’ferville.

Trip#113:: Oct 26th, 2011 – Wednesday afternoon, 48° :: ☆☆☆
I dropped by Jamaica Pond after work. I immediately saw trout breaking the surface and leaping clear out of the water. It was cloudy, water stained, Cormorants were eating, sprinkling a bit, rain earlier and later on in the night. A fella with a 5′ ultra light told me he just caught five trout. In the shallows, he said he know all the hot spots and worked the pond already. He used a minnow imitation. Said that others too were onto trout using flies, casting diagonally. I had my big noodle rod, which was great for casting way out to where I saw the trout jumping. I worked the whole cove area but when I returned to the beach, I got a hookup, caught my first rainbow this season. 12.5″, a nice one. I managed to get another bite but set the hook prematurely… and later I got a few bumps as well. This is the most that I have seen trout hanging out in one area for such a long time ever.

Trip#112:: Oct 26th, 2011 – Wednesday, sunrise, 42° :: ☆☆
Hopkinton Reservoir. 6:30am, cold, water was 54 degrees, cloudy then rainy. I got a 10.5′ noodle rod, it was awesome. I caught two 8″ largemouth bass on a 3/8 oz  gold Rooster Tail, one from the ramp, one from the cove. Nothing on the Powerbait.

Trip#111 :: Oct 25rd, 2011 – Tuesday morning, 44° :: ☆
At the local lake by the wall at North Pond by the Russians, threw a Kastmaster and Powerbait. Very windy. Choppy water.

Trip#110 :: Oct 24rd, 2011 – Monday afternoon, 53° :: ☆
Lake Cochituate at 4:30pm in the woods to the left and later the ramp. Turned cloudy and windy but in the trees, was very buggy and no wind. Right when I threw a Powerbait offering I got a bite. I set the hook too prematurely, then a passing boat killed any chances left. Very weedy, so much salads, unbelievable. Senkos, spoons and Powerbait.

Trip#109 :: Oct 23rd, 2011 – Sunday, sundown, 52° :: ☆
Went to the Wayland Side at 5:15-6:50pm on Sunday. Chilly, almost sundown, higher water levels,  still water, no breeze, no baitfish. Powerbait, worms, spoons and spinner. Big O’ferville on the trout. Unreal. My friend did catch a bluegill on a Jitterbug of all things.

Trip#108 :: Oct 23rd, 2011 – Sunday,  noon 58° :: ☆
11:30-12:30pm, Houghton Pond, first time. Beautiful stocked pond, small, 24 acres, water as clear as gin, little vegetation with a nice sloping gravel shelf from the cove I was at. I saw about seven fisherman in the area. Was sunny then became cloudy. Saw a little of surface action. Threw my whole tackle bag at said lake. O’fer.

Trip#107 :: Oct 22th, 2011 – Saturday, sundown, 52° :: ☆
Chilly, still waters, at the Wayland side by the docks. Spoons for thirty minutes – nothing.

Trip#106 :: Oct 20th, 2011 – Thursday, sundown, 59° :: ☆
Windy as hell, at Jamaica Pond. Water was so choppy although I’ve seen more fisherman today than any other day. I threw some metal, nothing.

Trip#105 :: Oct 19th, 2011 – Wednesday, sundown, 61° :: ☆
At 6:30pm, I went to Hopkinton Res, almost completely dark, sunfall, 56 degrees, chilly, water was still. I was at the ramps. Saw some surface feeding. Powerbait and spoons,  nothing.

Trip#104 :: Oct 18th, 2011 – Early Tuesday morning, 55° :: ☆☆☆
Went to Lake Cochituate on the Wayland side around 6:30am, it was still dark. Wind slight, from the east (fish bites lest), 55 degrees, chilly, water was still then later a bit choppy. Storm tonight. Threw a worm and Powerbait then later spoons targeting the few erupting trout I saw on the water. I got a big, 10” white perch on the trout worm, first time catching one of these guys. Later on my Kastmaster I got a chain pickerel, good size about 14” and right after that I landed a nice largemouth about one foot long. I was surprised by all of these fish. I was going for stocked trout.

Trip#103 :: Oct 15th, 2011 – Saturday late afternoon, 58° :: ☆☆
Newton, at the Charles River, 4:30-5:30pm, 58 degrees, partly sunny, almost dusk. The water is very stained, a lot of vegetation… actually more than I think. I used to be able to throw a lure back across without hitting greens. Now, I can’t use any lures at all unless I change my tactics. Caught with trout worms 4 sunnies, dropped one. Easy. Large too, the biggest around 8″ maybe. Spoons and worms a no go.

Trip#102 :: Oct 15th, 2011 – Saturday noon 60° :: ☆
Ash Reservoir, 9:30-11am, sunny, 60 degrees, a bit of wind, choppy water, stained water, rained the night before, 3′ vis. Went to the rock, metals, trout worms and Powerbait. Nothing, not even a nibble. Did see the surface break close to me once.

Trip#101 :: Oct 14th, 2011 – Early Friday morning, 61° :: ☆
Local lake near the house, sprinkling, stained water no surface action no others fishing. Some spoons were offered to the lake – just a big 0′fer. What is going on here? I was catching trout last year at the same time and same place like I was at a fish hatchery.

Trip#100 :: Oct 13th, 2011 – Thursday late afternoon, 62° :: ☆ ☆
After work dropped by Jamaica Pond, fished the north cove pretty well.  Humid. Spoons and Powerbait. Surprisingly I hooked up with a nice looking yellow perch, 6″. The fella I was talking to said he just caught two trout from where I was earlier, using the same lure. Damn him.

Trip#99 :: Oct 13th, 2011 – Early Thursday morning, 61° :: ☆☆
Stopped by the local lake this morning before work. Rainy a bit, cloudy, no action on the water. I decided just to toss a few times just in case. Lo and behold, after about 20 casts I hooked up with a little largie, about 6″ on the boat ramp.

Trip#98 :: Oct 12th, 2011 – Late Wednesday afternoon, 60° :: ☆
After work, went to Jamaica Pond. 60 degrees, partly cloudy in front of a front. As soon as I tossed a powerbait rig, I got a bite. I saw the bobber bounce up and down and the line go taut. However I must have reeled in too quickly. As soon I set the hook I lost what was there. I also threw Kastmasters, Crocodiles, and Daredevles. Nothing bumped the line. A local gave me tips on using the Kastmaster and how to use the Powerbait better than what I was currently doing so that was good. Did see a trout clear jump out of the water and well out of my range. North Cove area, in three locations I fished. One hour. He told me he caught a salmon two years ago on a Crocodile here. Wow.

Trip#97 :: Oct 12th, 2011 – Early Wednesday morning, 61° :: ☆
Saw fisherman at the boat ramp at the local pond, I tried my hand. Nothing. However, the kid said he caught a bunch of trout on a diving bass crankbait a few days ago. Weird. Partly cloudy, before a new front, stained water, tons of vegetation, slight chop.

Trip#96 :: Oct 11th, 2011 – Early Tuesday morning, 55° :: ☆
Went to the canal at sunrise, chilly, full moon, just past low tide, flowing east. Rode bike from the Herring Run to Pole 260 near the Bourne Bridge. No action other than two small bursts in the water. Threw metals, nothing. Talked to locals Bill and Dave, said no luck either. Baitfish is herring.

Trip#95 :: Oct 10th, 2011 – Monday afternoon, 84° :: ☆
Passed by South Meadow Pond in Clinton, MA, saw a good looking pond. I offered a dark green Senko, really worked both sides of the road where the access was… tough to throw anything. Managed to get a bite but that’s it. Sunny, hot, the water was really stained, a but murky, some lily pads, water was a bit choppy from a southwest wind.

Trip#94 :: Oct 9th, 2011 – Sunday afternoon, 86° :: ☆☆
Just hanging out with my daughter tossing small Kastmasters at the local beach. Managed to catch a small bluegill today. That’s it.

Trip#93 :: Oct 8th, 2011 – Saturday noon, 72° :: ☆☆
I wasn’t intending to fish, but when we went apple picking in Stow, I saw a little pond right next to where we parked. It was a private pond for sure, not supposed to be fishing here but I had my rods with me anyways. I threw a Senko worm, thinking that there might be bass, right away I got a hookup! A foot long chain pic, was so amazed, so was he. Pretty fun! Lots of vegetation, murky swampy bog, really. Quite hot out.

Trip#92 :: Oct 7th, 2011 – Friday early morning, 42° :: ☆
Lake Coco again, North Pond. First time at the town beach. Sunny, fog on the water, shallow, some visibility. Powerbait and spoons. Later went to the kayak docks. Saw some surface feeding, saw a trout leap out of the air. I targeted all these to no avail. Very surprised. I talked to the old man of the woods. Said only two fish were caught earlier by the wall.

Trip#91 :: Oct 6th, 2011 – Thursday afternoon, 55° :: ☆
At Jamaica Pond from 4:30-6pm. Sunny, choppy water but later still. 3-5′ visibility, 55 degrees. Water higher than usual. First cast I got some bites on my Kastmasters. Nothing commiting. Threw powerbait, nothing. Caught a tiny largie, 2″. Some folks caught a trout yesterday and some smaller bass. Was stocked last week with trout. I see some fish slurping at the surface.

Trip#90 :: Oct 6th, 2011 – Thursday early morning, 48° :: ☆
Back at the boat ramp, then quickly back in the car after working the ramp. Nothing. My god. This is getting sucky.

Trip#89 :: Oct 4th, 2011 – Tuesday late afternoon, 56° :: ☆
After work I cruised the boat ramp again at Lake Coco to scout for trout fisherfolks. I saw a bass boat close the shore. So I jumped out and threw some lures for a bit to see if they know something that I don’t. It was dry, so I left and went to the docks at North Pond. I threw out a Powerbait rig and deadsticked that and threw metals and later plastic worms to see if I can lift some bass. Looked promising, felt right, but no trout dinner on the menu tonight. Sprinkling, partly cloudy, water was dirty, higher levels than usual, choppy and a slight west wind. If I had to guess, I think the lakes are ‘turning over’ now.

Trip#88 :: Oct 4th, 2011 – Tuesday morning, 55° :: ☆
Back again this AM at the boat ramp. Old timer said trout has been stocked here last week. He and I said, one wouldn’t have known that due to the lack of bites as of late. I worked the ramp with kastmasters, nothing. Yet.

Trip#87 :: Oct 2nd, 2011 – Sunday evening, 62° :: ☆
Boy, I couldn’t get a bump on the line at Lake Coco for some time now. I worked the boat ramp with plastic worms, spoons and a jitterbug. I think there are no fish here. Almost pitch black, coudy crescent moon, cool and super still water.

Trip#86 :: Sept 30th, 2011 - Friday late afternoon, sunny, 68° :: ☆
New spot on Lake Coco’s middle pond today, just right behind a computer company. No trespassing it says. A great looking area, tons of brushy structure, but totally terrible casting opportunities. I threw a smoke senko, hitting trees, busting leaves, scaring squirrels and every time snagging weeds. So hard to cast, I am basically flipping the worm and trimming the plants. I get caught up in the trees a few times, unfortunately this is third time this week I sacrificed my senkos to the fish gods. But Imma come here on my bike soon, I see another cool spot to fish.

Trip#85 :: Sept 29th, 2011 – Thursday late afternoon, mostly cloudy, 70°, humid ::  ☆☆
I was at a lake close to work, ready to work the north cove, scanning for trout. First cast with a spoon, got a tiny, 2″ largemouth bass. I couldn’t believe it. I also threw plastic worms, a couple of bites is all. Water levels have returned to normal. Just rained earlier. Water slightly stained, 3′ visibility.

---