THIS WEEK’S BEST BET:
The best fishing action at this time is on freshwater ponds and lakes. Very popular are Plymouth’s Long and Little Ponds. These have been stocked three times recently with larger trout and some retired broodstock Atlantic salmon. We learn there have been rainbow trout in the 21- to 24-inch size released there. Spicing the action is the occasional tiger trout. Best lures are live shiners, and as the water warms, artificial lures will work equally well. We learn from our report sources old-time favorite lures like Acme’s tiny Kastmasters with bucktails and Little Cleo do well. Al’s Goldfish continues to hook trout. Spinner lures like Rooster Tails or Mepps always take trout. My favorite fly pattern is the Hornberg, size 10 hook. Rollie Johnson casts a black wooly worm with deadly effect!
MARSHFIELD / GREEN HARBOR
Skipper/owner, Bob Pronk, of Green Harbor Bait & Tackle is still thanking friends, patrons and speakers that attended the sold out Super Tuna Bowl held at the Ocean Deck Restaurant, next door, last week. All hands had a grand time! We hear the food was equally grand! How about that? Plans are to have this Super Tuna Bowl an annual event. Bob said guys were getting their boats around the shop ready to launch for the season. Warm weather will have them blossoming with fresh paint and scrubbed clean ready for the season ahead. Early reports tell about larger groundfish around Stellwagen Bank. Asked about what’s selling, Bob said rod/reel combos are selling well and so are codfish jigs. Oozzie Jigs stocks were recently re-supplied along with BioEdge. What a deadly combo! In the shop’s rebuilt like new gear section, Bob has four like new 130-class rod/reels for sale. The reels are two-speed Penns; the rods are custom built. Worth a look! Prices are much less than brand new.
Big Mac Sportfishing Charters under Capt. Jim McFarland is ready to go fishin’! The new boat is here; it’s a 35-foot Down-easter commercial sportfisherman powered by a #3208 375hp Cat-diesel. Cruising speed a comfortable 16 knots with a high speed of 20 knots. Wow, will the Wildcat waters seem closer? The craft has a half tuna tower and custom rails for anglers comfort and safety. Full electronics with back-ups make the craft a true fishin’ machine! Season opens April 17 for codfish, haddock, and pollock. Last season, late April through the third week in May yielded great fishing on Stellwagen’s shoal waters. Bouncing jigs were the ticket to the fights! A call at: 781-837-0308 or e-mail at: [email protected] will provide prime dates.
SCITUATE
Belsan’s Bait & Tackle report by a busy Peter Belsan tells us local anglers are chasing trout in those freshly-stocked Cape Cod and local ponds. Little and Long Ponds in Plymouth are favorite trout waters. Sales of trout lures have Peter smiling as he rings the cash register like the harbor bell buoy on a beautiful Sunday afternoon! Hot trout lures are Acme’s tiny Kastmasters and Little Cleos; old time favorites. Yes, Al’s Goldfish continue to hook trout also. Belsan has the liveliest shiners within miles! The shop’s supply of trout worms, grubs and other live bait is pleasing angler patrons. Yes, BioEdge Potions and Waxes are also hot items. Though saltwater fishing is still frozen, expect to hear local flounder reports soon. April 15 will see more cod and groundfish action.
WEYMOUTH
Russ Eastman of Monahan’s Marine & Tackle told us some holdover striped bass have emerged from their slothful winter ways and are hitting lures at the confluence of North and South Rivers. The area is always a prime fishing place. Russ said those plastic/rubber shad lures do well. Marinate Lunker City’s Slug-Go’s or their Fin-S Shads overnight in BioEdge night crawler and shiner potions and hold tight! These lures marinated in BioEdge Potion without doubt produce the most aggressive, hardest hits by the largest fish in the school! They are a beginner’s delight – a pro’s winner! Berkley’s Power Baits have enticed mother anglers to join the sport. Russ has replenished the shop’s supply of those deadly shad darts. Make ready to see all these and so many more tackle sales items at the shop’s Annual Open House; April 5, 6, 7. This year’s Open House is the best yet!
QUINCY
Little Sister Charters news is quoted from Capt. Jason Colby’s e-mail report: “Little Sister is almost ready for her 2013 launch. The first official charter is on April 27th. A bit early by the last two years standards but I’m sure we will get "some". I am looking forward to May and June where the boat will run "open" (by reservation only) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Many of these trips are already booked and weekends in May and June are 100% booked (except the two trips on Monday, Memorial Day). There are some openings for weekday charters if anyone wants to book but they should do so quickly as most dates are already taken. The flounder fishing has been so good that we can only hope it stays this way for years to come!
NEEDHAM
My fishin’ buddy, Rollie Johnson of Needham, is a retired U.S. Coasty and he has become a freshwater top-rod! Last Tuesday he and a friend fly-fished Peter’s Pond on Cape Cod. There were several other anglers wading and tossing flies near them. Now hear this! Rollie casts a long line and on his third cast he tallied a big brown trout, 21 inches. It was quickly released in fighting mad shape! The fish hammered a Goldie Pattern Fly—it imitates a shiner. That was the only fish anyone caught –all afternoon. Interesting was Rollie’s comment that he exchanged pleasantries with the other wading anglers and when he told them he was from Needham, they said they are Fisherman Magazine readers and enjoyed reading The Fishin’ Pole’s column! How about that?
BOSTON
Capt. Roger Brousseau of Midnight Charters sent us an informative report about his Naples, Florida fishing. He lamented the north wind that lowered water temperature from 70 degrees to a mere 66. Nevertheless, he tallied Spanish mackerel, seatrout and sheepshead. Because the wind was wicked he switched to the Everglades and tried for tilapia. Fishing is Roger’s Business – he caught five nice fat fish for dinner. Water is low so hooking fish is more difficult. Weather reports for this week promised 80-degree temps so Roger believes his angling will improve. His flounder bookings are even better than last season’s good mark. Month of May has only seven openings for flounder charters. How about that? He is getting antsy to return for the flounder action! Call: 6176-653-3772.