March 24, 2025 - 09:09:05
Roger Aziz, Jr. in Methuen told us that ice is history on ponds and lakes in the Northeast Wildlife District, recent rain, fog, warm air, and wind having hastened its departure. Trout stocking is just getting started in the northeast sector, Baldpate Pond and Lake Pentucket having received trout March 20 and 21 respectively, and fishing for fresh stockies will be a best bet for early April action. Panfishing—particularly for crappies—is already very good, and by the middle of the month prespawn largemouth bass will be moving into shallow cover and structure and hitting well. The Merrimack River is running very high and fast again. For a short while, though, flow was down, and Rog was able to bag a bunch of “pinfish” carp and suckers. (Pinfish are specimens that qualify by either weight or length for a bronze pin in the Massachusetts Sportfishing Awards Program.)
