Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    WHEN DOES FALL TROUT STOCKING HAPPEN IN MASS ?

    There was an artical in the sports section of the local news a couple
of weeks ago listing the waters, numbers/sizes of fish, HAVING BEEN stocked
in (western) MA
    There were a good number of B I G fish - I think Hositonic(sp), Deerfield,
were mentioned - Littleville Lake I know for a fact has been dumped into (it's
'home' water) the Westfield river was stocked along rt20 in Russell last week
(told this by B&G Sporting).
    I suspect you could get the up-to-date from the hatcherys - Belchertown
etc.
    You might also try a call to Mass F&W

Joe Whittemore - From where the Westfield
                      Meets the Westfield
                         By the Westfield
                            In Huntington (MA)

    Can any of you folks tell me anything about Comet Pond? North of
    Worcester, I believe. Walter Bickford told me some interesting things
    about it, including that it is *heavily* stocked with trout each year. 
    
    I'm curious to hear/read what some your impressions of it are. This was
    the first I had ever heard of it.
    
    Thanks.
    
    John H-C

    Do any of you folks fish the Shawsheen River for trout?

    
    I fished the Shawsheen River a few years ago. Not a whole lot of action
    though. We use to fish by the Horn Bridge. I think thats what it was
    called.
    
    Can someone tell me of any trout bearing waters in the Hudson/Marlboro
    area. I'm looking for a spot I can fish after work by boat or by shore.
    Greatly appriciated..Thanks..
    
    Gus
                                 

    I fish Comet Pond in Hubardston every year. It's heavily stocked and
    has a public boat ramp. The only problem is that it is also heavily 
    fished.

    Jim

    Here in N.H. we have a book called Clarks Fishing Guide. This book
    lists lakes, ponds, streams, rivers by the county. It also gives
    much needed information like if there is a launch and its condition,
    type of fish available, PH and oxygen levels and depth maps for
    the lakes and ponds. 
    
    My point...MA. must have something along the same idea and if so,
    it might be a good idea to pick one up.
    
                                      Jeff (Captain)
                                      Team Starcraft

    
    
       Jeff,
            I live in N.H. and was wondering if you can tell me were I
    might be able to pick up the Clarks Fishing Guide...Do they have at any
    book store??? Thanks.
    
    Gus

 Most well stocked tackle chops have 'em. Few bookstores do. Call your favorite
tackle shop and ask.

 Pete's Gun and Tackle (Hudson) had some the last time I was there.

	I got one at Zylas in Merrimack last years...it was a few bucks cheaper
then what some to the tackle shops were asking for it.



mc

    You can get one at Northern Bass Supply. Gary Clark who wrote the book
    is also part owner of NBS.
    

    I'll be hitting Webster this Sunday morning for some fall rainbows (I
    hope!).  According to the newspaper it was stocked a few weeks ago.
    
    Anyone fished there recently?  
    
    Any reports or last minute advice would be greatly appreciated.
    
    I'll be mostly trolling...or fishing worms...or using powerbait...or...
    
    -Stevie D

    
    A friend stopped by last saturday after hunting nearby and said he
    was going to spend the afternoon on the lake. Said he's been raking in
    the browns.   Wish I could tell you where. If you go look for a 19
    or 20' aluminum with twin evinrudes on the back.  The boat is whatever
    Gauch sells. Name escapes me.  Usually the best spot for trout is
    at the 52' hole on 1st lake if you know where that is.  Once'nawhile
    they throw in some nice ones at the Indian Ranch. Play the east side of
    the cove about 50 yds out trolling.  Off the northwest corner of the
    big isle is also a nice trolling spot.      Good luck...
    
    Fred

	Cound be a SeaNymph as that's what I bought from them
	19' Alum 70hp

	Those twin evinrudes must make that baby fly?
	
	I'm surprised to hear there is a 52' hole in that lake?
	I only been on it a few times and most of it seemed quite shallow
	and the bottom came up fast at certain spots.

	I live next town up in Oxford yet don't use the lake much.
	I enjoy Saltwater fishing more then fresh.  
	But hearing about those trout sure could change my views fast.

	Good luck this weekend
	-< Tuna Tail >-

    Thanks for the quick reply, guys!
    
    I saw the 52' hole on my bathymetric map of Webster and figured that 
    might be a good place to start.  We'll start off flat-lining some 
    streamers, I guess, and see what we can get into.  
    
    Thanks for the pointers on the trolling hot spots, this will be my first 
    time fishing Webster, and it's nice to have something to go on besides 
    my limited fishing instincts...  8-]
    
    I'll report back on Monday.
    
    -Stevie D

    
    I wish I'd've known it was your first time on the lake. The fast
    rising bars just love the taste of lower units...  
    
    My usual advise to those unfamiliar with "ole Chargogg" is " if
    you're approaching a point, stay 50 yards out!"  Yeah, I know -
    How do you get into third lake then?  If you don't have someone 
    to follow, go slow and watch the bottom.    
    
    I've watched that lake change from the mid 40s when one could
    swim across from the beach and back on a sunday afternoon and
    not worry about being turned into chum, and when you could see
    a dime in 20 feet of water to the weed infested, over populated
    aquatic racetrack it is today.  My son'n I have covered most of
    the interesting spots with our scuba gear.   Interesting and
    educational.  Very early or late in the boating season with
    the wife following the bubbles up in the boat with the electric
    and dive flags flying.  Don't dare go out THERE with just a tag
    along flag.  Them clowns use it for a turning buoy. :^)
    
    Anxious to know how you did.  If you plan to go again, let me know.
    I'm a mile'n a half from 395 and we could chew the fat over a
    coffee before you launch.
    
    Fred

    re .14
    Tuna Tail,
    
    I read this file a lot and have been fishing a lot of saltwater the
    last three years.  You seem to spend a lot of time on the water, that's
    great.  The thing that is puzzeling me now is that you always talk
    about fishing the Merrimack.  Have you ever tried the southern NE
    coast, particularly in the RI/CT border area????  I go with my fishing
    buddy who lives in Webster.  From his house the Barn Is. boat ramp in
    Stonington, Ct. is 1:15 from his house.  There are still lots of
    Stripers around  that area.....
    
    If you are interested in more info on the area, contact either thru the
    notes conference, call me at dtn 237-6090, or e-mail at SPESHR::GSMITH.
    
    Regards,
    Greg
    
    

RE: .14 - I'm not a great trout fisherman. I occasionally go in the early
spring right after they stock streams, just to catch put'n'take trout for
breakfast. But, I read this conference avidly. I just wanted to thank you
for the open spirit in which you shared your detailed information here.

I've seen too much / too many "Sorry, it takes too long to find fish for
ME to tell YOU where I found them" developing. I offered to swap/share loran
numbers with one person, who answered with, "I have all the numbers I
need." Sounds like they've been reading Tim Coleman of the New England
Fisherman too much.

But back to .14. Thank you for being a gentleman, brother fisherman. It
would be an easy decision to assist you if I came upon you broken down on
the road or out on the water.

Art

    
    Didjya make it out on the lake saturday?
    
    If you hit the 52"hole first thing, then the chainsaw you heard 
    running about 0700 up on the hill behind the closest shoreline
    was me!  THINKIN'A U !!!!  :^)
    
    If the leaves were offa the trees I could've spied on ya..
    
    Geez, maybe wunna them tha'r sand bars took a bite outta
    his engine and he's still out there...
    
    Fred

    Well, our trip to Webster was pushed out to next Sunday, as my friend 
    who knew how to find the boat ramp in the dark had to leave early for
    a business trip.
    
    But, this past Sunday, The Human Skyscraper (T.H.S.) and myself took my 
    little Whaler to Quinsig for some crack of dawn fishing.  Although the 
    fishing conditions seemed perfect (cloudy, not too cool, light chop on
    the water) we came back fishless after 6 hours of trying.  We went to 
    the hot spots suggested in note 1368 of the *old* fishing notesfile.   
    The cove north of the 290 overpass and off the armory was just as 
    described, and I was able to locate the submerged pine trees on the 
    fishfinder.  
    
    Started off trolling some streamer flies at various depths; with and 
    without lead core.  Then tried some small spoons; no luck with them 
    either.  Talked to some guys fishing the cove from shore.  They said 
    people were getting a lot of Browns lately, but eventually we saw them
    leave fishless also.
    
    We motored down south of the public boat ramp and under the bridge. 
    Found a good dropoff (and some other fishing boats); tried trolling
    again for an hour of so but no luck.  The other boats didn't have any
    fish either, which made us feel better, sort of...
    
    Motored north back up to the cove and tried some good ole Powerbait on 
    a bobber (the bottom seemed too yucky to use the usual 18" off the
    bottom rig).  Ate our lunches and some of our kids candy while we
    watched bobbers.  After 30 minutes without even a hit we decided to
    pack it in.  This was the boat's first real extended cold water fishing
    trip and it ran great, so the day wasn't a total loss.
    
    I went home and put new pads on truck's front brakes, contemplating our
    trip to Webster next week.
    
    >Geez, maybe wunna them tha'r sand bars took a bite outta
    >his engine and he's still out there...
    
    Thanks for the warning Fred, but I'll be in my buddy's boat next week. 
    I'll still make sure someone is on sandbar alert.  Maybe you'd like to 
    come out sometime with myself and T.H.S. before the water gets stiff.  
    We'll even bring the coffee!
    
    -Stevie D

    
    Believe me, I'd love to...
    
    Just to show you how much free time I've got, about the end of june
    I took the boat off the trailer one day, (15' glastron & 70 Evin.)
    for it had a surface like sandpaper from not being used and under
    cover for nearly 4 years. Said I was going to use it at least a few
    times this year. Buffed it up, scrubbed the carpeting and seats,
    cleaned up the elect terms, mounted the sonar, checked the CB,
    lubed 'er up, tanked'er with hi test and added a little lead,
    and there she sits - ready to go!  Almost put the cover back on 
    yesterday and parked it for the winter.  Always something with
    a higher priority. it comes with building your own home. Almost
    done.  Doing my damndest to keep ole man winter on the outside now.
    Insulaion and small leaks.   WAIT'LL NEXT YEAR!  Y'HEYUH ME, HUH? :^)
    
    Steve, if you'd care to pop by before launching for a coffee
    lemme know. You go right by the house if you're using the state
    ramp.
    
    Fred

re: .17

	Greg,

	I have taken the "FishTeaser" mostly out on the Merrimack as I know
	the River from fishing with buddies since mid 70's in their boats.
	I also have done the Cape from Sawquatucket harbour, Allen's harbour
	out to Monomoy Island etc as my brother-in-law showed me around.
	Been in the Charles R twice out to Boston Harbour and back. 
	A few lakes around area also including Webster Lake and yes I did
	hit bottom going between the lakes...but was going "real slooooooow"

	I don't like trying new ocean launches unless I can get some
	safety tips from those who have "ventured" before me.
	If ya going again before the ocean freezes I'd love to take the
	"FishTeaser" down if I can tag along?

	Lemme know as she is still ocean ready and I fished the Merrimack
	till mid Nov last year.

	I already have my trailer sticker for next season too.
	so this year maybe DECEMBER???????

	Your buddy and I are neighbors as I live in Oxford exit 4 off I-395 

	-< TunaTail >-

Hi folks,
My son and I had a great time at Comet Pond (Mass.) this weekend. We trolled
streamers and got some nice browns and rainbows. They averaged about 14".
The fish were very colorful and healthy. One big brown spit out a gob of 
caddis larvae. The small caddis were all over the place, even landing 
on our heads and flyrods, but the fish were not rising at all. We got 
them about 7' down, over deeper water. The ice came off on Friday. 
There were LOTS of boats on the water - it was crowded but the fisherfolk
were nice people. Shore fishermen got some fish, and bigger boats with 
HW got some, but the fish really preferred small bright streamers to 
anything else. This will probably continue for a short time until those 
tiny midges hatch out there, and the fish start getting really picky
(as they did last year and the year before).

Didn't see any salmon caught, but we got browns, rainbows, and a 
brookie. Caught and released quite a few more browns. We really had 
to work for the fish, they came slowly all day -  but it was FUN!



Next is the opener of N.H. trout ponds, 4/24.
I plan to use the same techniques there, for the brookies.

Dave

    RE:23

    Thanks for the update on Comet Pond. I'll have to hit it this week on
    the way to work, before the fish get shell shocked.

    Jim

    My neighbor and I found some nice brook trout action in Fall Brook in
    North Bernardston two weekends ago (Nov. 14).  To get to North Bernardston 
    we took route 2 to Greenfield and then I91 North.  We fished the
    upstream side of the first bridge.  We found many nice pools formed by
    downed trees.  We fished several nice rapids ideal for drifting the
    small garden worms with no sinker.  Where we fished would be good to
    take kids as the brook can be easily crossed in spots without waders,
    has good access from both sides, and has some nice pools fairly close
    to the parking which are deep enough and with enough cover to hold fish
    even though it must get plenty of pressure.  I was a bit more
    successful than my neighbor in hooking the fish maybe due to the
    tru-turn hooks.  We were using the same size hooks (8 or 10) I think.
    
    Conditions were light rain,sprinkles and very mild.  Water level was
    good and I saw more action than when we fished the brook earlier in the
    summer.  I did not have much luck fishing the portion downstream of the
    first bridge as there seemed to be fewer nice pools and some disruption
    due to cows being grazed near the brook during the summer.
    
    We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of action this late in the 
    season.  
    

    Has anybody fished a lake in Wilmington called Silver Lake for trout?
    I found out they do stock it and its only about 2 miles from my house
    so I think I'll give it a short this evening.
    
    	

    
    Howdy,
    
    I grew up 500 feet from Silver Lake in Wilmington, but have
    never fished for trout there.  I believe it has just recently
    (within the last 5 or 6 years) begun to be stocked with trout.
    I used to walk there almost every day in the summer.
    
    I used to catch lots of bass and panfish there from shore.  In
    addition to the stocking of trout, the F&G also stocked Northern
    Pike in the lake several years ago, in an effort to control the 
    large population of panfish.
    
    The lake is a natural lake that is spring feed.  The deepest section
    (I believe) is about 25 feet or so.  The water is relatively clear 
    for a small lake, but does get pretty warm in the summer so resident
    populations of trout or holdovers are probably fairly scarce.  The
    shoreline along route 38 has a fairly quick drop off, while the 
    shores along Lake Street and Hobson (??) Ave are more gradual.
    There is another fairly deep hole on the opposite side of the lake
    between the "town" beach and a small park.  Look for a concrete
    wall between the two and the deeper section is directly out in 
    front of there.
    
    There is no ramp on the lake, but car-toppers can be dropped in
    on the Rte 38 and Lake Street shores.   I believe electric motors
    are allowed (not positive though).
    
    I haven't been fishing there in years, now that I bought a bass boat,
    but my parents still right down the street.  Everytime I drive by 
    that place, it brings back great memories of learning to fish there.
    
    Good luck, and let me know how you make out!
    
    Gus-man