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I was born and raised in western Mass and have fished Quabbin for years.
This is a good body of water for really exceptionally large Lake Trout
but, one has to understand that fishing the quabbinOq
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in like predicting
New England weather. The days you hit it "right on" are few and far between.
A veteran Quabbin salty will average about 8 to 10 hours of angling for
a keeper while someone unfamiliar to these waters probably will have to
return more than once to secure his(her) first Quabbin beauty. I'll
give you some secrets to my families success over the years and perhaps
you or some other Quabbin-nite can give us theirs.
- Quabbin is a very large lake and there are at least 3 good launching
areas for your boat. Shore fishing can be productive in the spring but,
drops off rather quickly as June approaches (my brother's fishing buddy
picked up a 13 lb. Oq
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pole popper from the shoreline of gate# 16 this spring).
If you have a boat you'll increase your chances of a productive day but,
you should know that bass boats get eaten up by the waves out there and
I won't chance going out on the lake in anything less then a 14 ft. "V"
bottom.
- If you are lucky enough to have some of the modern fishing whistles
and bells, such as downriggers, graph recorders, temp. gauges, etc.,
you probably know how to use them so I won't get into that. Just
realize that most lake trout in Quabbin are caught near the bottom
so you have to get down there but, watch your depth gauge because
the bottom out there runs like a roller coaster.
- If you don't have all the fancy stuff but want to catch lake trout,
the best way (at least the most productive way we know) is to still
fish, right off the bottom. Find the largest shiners, smelt, you can
get your hands on ( 5" + ) will work well and some barrel (slip) type
sinkers and a strong pole and you should make out. At this time of year
the fish will probably be in 60+ feet of water so don't waste alot of time
looking for them in shallower areas. Hook you shiner through the back
or lips and rig a slip barrel sinker about 18" about the hook (the barrel
sinker must be slid on before the hook is tied on) and grimp on a very
small split shot between the barrel sinker and the hook at this 18 to 24"
location. The split shot will keep the barrel sinker from sliding down
the mono line to where the shiner is hooked. Drop this set up overboard
and sit back, enjoy a drink or two or three, .... until you connect. It's
very important that you set your drag as loose as possible after lowering
this bait rigup TO THE BOTTOM. I like using an open faced reel for this type
of bottom fishing because I like
to just leave the bale open to let the line
run out freely. The reason for this is that when a laker picks up your shiner
he'll choose to run like hell for a while and if he feels any resistance on
your line he'll drop the bait (thus the reason for the slip type barrel sinker).After and only after the trout has stopped and ran two times do you prepare to
set the hook. Prior to setting the hook remember to tighten up on your drag or
flip over your bale if you use open faced reels. Then get your net ready!!
- Favorite spots (from a boat) include launching from gate# 8 off of rt. 202
and anchoring straight out from the launch area, near the tower next to the limit barrel markers. Ask the attendant about this location when you pay to rent or
launch your boat.
- Another good spot is next to the ledges, which is directly across from the
tower mentioned above but on the opposite shoreline.
- You might want to motor your boat awhile north, after launching from gate# 8,
and try your luck around the gate# 16 area, you may pick up a fish or two there.
- Gate# 16 shoreline area is my favorite for spring shore fishing.
- The Russ Mt. area from Gate# 43 is also productive but, takes alittle time to
get there with a boat.
- Just one thing, if you bring your boat remember that Quabbin's M.D.C. does notallow motors over 20 hp to be used on the lake, no canoes or jon boats either.
Also make sure your boat has all the right number of life preservers,etc.,
because the MDC may check you out.
Hope this has been of some use !!
Make sure you let us know how you made out. My brother went out last weekend andcaught a nice 6 1/2 pounder.
- GOOD LUCK -
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ANSWER ONE WAS VERY GOOD. BUT FROM ALL MY PAST EXPERIENCE, AND
GRANDPA'S AND HIS GRANDPA'S AND SO ON ...... WE HAVE USED THE SAME SHINNER
RIGS WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.
1) THE SHINNER SHOW BE OF A SMALLER SIZE.(3") THE SMELT IN Q. ARE NOT
VERY LARGE, AND ARE GETTING TO BE FAR FEW. SO THE MEDIUM RANGE WORKS
THE BEST.
2) DON'T USE GOLD HOOKS LIKE MOST TROUT FISHERMAN (PERSON) USE.
I LIKE A BRONZE OR MUSTARD HOOK. FOR TWO REASONS:
A) GOLD REFLECTS MORE IN THE CLEAR Q. WATER. SOME PEOLPLE
THINK THIS ATTRACTS FISH, BUT IS NOT A NATURAL.
A LAKER IS VERY CURIOUS AND A SHINNING HOOK MIGHT
CATCH HIS EYE, BUT HE IS ALSO CAUTIOUS AND A SMELT
(SHINNER) DOES NOT HAVE A SHINNING OBJECT STICKING
OUT OF HIS BACK.
B) ALSO YOU WILL LOOSE A FEW AS WELL AS CATHING A FEW.
GOLD HOOKS TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THE PLATTING TO
RUST. HAVE SEEN MAY HERT FISH WITH GOLD HOOKS IN
JAWS AND STOMACKS. METAL WILL RUST FASTER AND THE
FISH HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF PASSING IT.
3) USE A VERY SMALL LEADER MATTERIAL. I USE 2LB. OF
A VERY DARK COLOR. BROWN OR NATURAL GREEN. IT SHOULD BE ASLONG AS YOU
ROD. TO LONG CANT NET FISH BECAUSE OF WEIGHT. TOO SHORT SHINNER
DOES NOT HAVE ROOM TO SWIM.
4) USE A SMALL BLACK SWIVEL AS THE STOP POINT FOR YOUR SLIDDING SINKER
AND THE END OF YOU LEADER.
THIS RIG HAS PRODUCED THE BEST RESULTS. THE WEIGHT GETS YOU DOWN, THE
SWIVEL IS NOT ENOUGH OF A DRAG ON THE TROUT, AND THE LONG DARK LEADER
GIVES A BAIT A SWIMMING POINT IF IT LAYS ON THE BOTTOM NO TROUT!!!!
AS TO MY BEST SPOTS. THE LEADGES AT GATE #8 AS IN NOTE1 ARE SLOWER FISHING
THEN THE FIRE TOWER, BUT ALL MY RECORD CATCHES HAVE COME FROM THERE.
THE GAP OR GUT WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT HAS ALSO PRODUCED GOOD RESULTS.
AS WELL AS THE 18TH. HOLE OF THE OLD GOLF COURSE, BEHIND THE COUFFER DAM.
IF YOU CAN FIND A TOPO. MAP OF THE ARE BEFORE Q. WAS BUILT. AS WELL AS
A TOWN MAP. THE SLOPES OF THE OLD GOLF COURSE ARE NICE BECUASE THE TROUT
LIKE THE GRASS.
IN THIS WARMER WEATHER OF THE SUMMER THE TROUT DON'T MOVE MUCH. TRY THE
SHADY DOWNWARD SLOPES OF THE HOLES AND HILLS.
LAST WEEK I CAUGHT A 9lb. 3 OUNCE LATER OF THE LEDGES, ON A FLYROD WITH
THE ABOVE RIG. TWO HOURS BEFORE I WAS THE FISH AN 45 MIN MORE TO GET IN BOAT.
ONLY FISH THAT DAY. TOO HOT. BUT I WAS WORTH IT.
IF YOU USE FLY RODS TRY FISHING BAIT WITH MONO LINE. IT COULD PROVE TO BE A
LOT OF FUN.
GOOD LUCK AND DROP A NOTE WITH YOUR RESULTS.
BOB P.
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