DogBone_384

I've never had a problem with my two piece rods, but I'll keep it in mind if I do.

Hedges is open. More later. OK, it's later: I launched at Hedges at 10:30 and stayed until 3:00 when the wind picked up enough I started looking for Dorothy and the wicked witch. Until then I used the same baits I scored with last week plus a jointed, yellow perch, Rapala. I worked clockwise around the whole place and a short time in the middle, working 8' and deeper and couldn't buy a hit. Surface temps were 39.2 and 39.6 at the pond's north shore.

I started with an Ascend fishing ‘yak, which are a lot of kayak for the buck. Last I knew they’re made in MO too. Also, have you tried Craigslist and your local want ads? Either way, best of luck getting one. Kayak fishing opens a whole new world!

I dress as if I’m working outside with a winter base layer, jeans, and three layers up top. I wear a Milwaukee heated jacket and pack ski pants if it’s really cold.

I have three 25’s and two 30’s. They’re light and smooth as silk. The only spinning reel I like better is my Patriarch XT (which I bought only because Gander Mountain had it 50% off at the time).

It will. I fished Hedges Pond in Plymouth, Mass. yesterday with my kayak. Long Pond and Great Herring are also open. Everything from exit 5 on rte 3 northbound is solid.

I fractured 8 vertabre in different accidents and have arthritis in my lumbar. I stretch constantly, use an inversion table, see a chiropractor regularly for tune ups, and swim at least three times a week to keep my core strong. The only time I have back pain is when I’m idle for long periods. I can fish sitting or standing all day as long as I stretch. My wife herniated a disc in a car accident years ago. Between our chiropractor and yoga, her disc worked its way back in place in 6 months. My advice is to see your doctor and follow their instruction. Best of luck with your back.

Hedges is 20’ max. Tried deep for a while without so much as a nibble.

A gold blade bait’s worked best so far this winter, netting 3 yellow perch and 3 smallmouth bass, with the biggest being 1-4 and 2-2, respectively. Plymouth, MA has some open water right now which is rare this time of year.

Open water in VA! Not bad... my Tundra gets 15 mpg ... I’ll just wait for the northern thaw. Today, for example, I launched at Hedges Pond in Plymouth around noon and fished until 4:00. Gaught 3 SMB and 3 yellow perch, with the biggest of each being 2-2 and 1-4, respectively. A gold blade bait, mud minnow finesse TRD, and 4” wacky rigged green/red Yum dinger did the trick. Surface temps were 39.x and all fish were caught in 8-12’ of water. Oh yeah, I also landed an old discarded minnow net. Boy did it put up a fight ?.

Get out there Mike. I’m sure there’s some open water in Plymouth after yeaterday’s rain & warm temps.

Wax your truck more.... improved aerodynamics ?

I finished up this morning, loaded the kayak and headed south. Hedges had too much skim ice for my taste so I launched at Great Herring a little after 2:00. I kept is simple with a black/blue hair jig, yellow perch colored blade bait, and gray/white Ned rig. I worked slopes between 30-15' along the SE shoreline. All said and done I hooked onto something that got away, landed my first stick and two yellow perch for the season. The stick came on the blade bait, one perch on the Ned, and the second perch came late on a perch colored Yozuri slow sinking minnow. The surface temp settled in at 36.x degrees. January's checked off my list. Eleven months of catching fish in MA to go.

Agreed. Gonna be a heck of a game.

I use a 7’ ML/F Kistler Magnesium 3 and 6’ 10” ML/F *** paired with a PXY68 or Shimano Brenious. A++ no matter which combination I play with.

Thanks. I live 10 miles from Fenway. I was Crestliner's chops... I believe he was thinking of Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play, not Fenway.

Contact Mike at Delaware Valley Tackle. He's a site sponsor and does great work. He has 4 of my reels right now. DVT's link is on the right of the page with the other sponsors.

When did they build a BPS in Boston? You mean I don't have to drive to Foxboro anymore? YAY!

I didn't get out ice fishing today, but ended up near Plymouth so some recon did I. Little Pond: Locked up solid. I walked out a ways and saw some healed ice fishing holes. Billington Sea: Locked up but had a very gray look to the ice. It's much shallower than Little Pond. I didn't test it. Lout Pond: Looked locked up as I drove by it OTW to Little/Big South. Little South: Locked up. I walked across it to get to Big South. A few ice fishing holes on the NW side near the pump house. Big South: 80-90% Locked up. The shallowest areas were open. I walked out a short way but didn't want to chance it. The small canal connecting Big & Little is open. Halfway Pond: 70% locked up. DEFINITELY not worth walking on. Long Pond: W I D E open except for a skim coat at the private beach to the left of the boat ramp. Little Long Pond: 50-75% locked up. Like Halfway, I wouldn't try it. Hedges Pond: 50% open. Another week above freezing and there'll be enough open water to drop a kayak in. It might be fishable this weekend. There's enough open water to cast to deep sections. Great Herring: Mosty open. There's some skim/thin ice in the shallow section along Herring Pond Road. Plenty open for a kayak/skiff/canoe - Fishing Rhino - leave the Nitro asleep.... at least for now.... Whitmans Pond (Weymouth): Locked up. Two people were ice fishing as I pulled in the parking lot. One way or the other I'm getting out next week. I have a half day job Monday morning, so if anyone wants to meet, drop me a PM.

Funny, a MA State Trooper Sgt. said the same to me while we discussed MA gun laws on a hazmat call.

Scouted Jacob's Pond in Norwell, Houghton's in Blue Hills, and Ponkapog in Canton for ice conditions. All three ponds were iced over. There was a guy ice fishing at Ponkie so I walked over to him to chat. He had a LMB in his sled, about 1.5#, when I got to him. He said he'd caught a couple picks and this was his first bass. Ponkie's ice measured just about 7" thick. If my job runs quick tomorrow I'm going to hit Pokie tomorrow try drilling some holes myself and see if I can get me something. One of my 2018 goals is to catch a fish in MA every month. I missed January 2017. My next trip might be to my new favorite spot in Plymouth.

Anyone been ice fishing lately?

I started with a Spiderwire backpack in 2011, wore it out in 2017 and tried the Plano Z Series backpack. I liked the Z-Series’ material, but sold that and am on my second Spiderwire. The Spiderwire is built very well, has good starage capacity and has integrated rod holders. It’s $79 @ Dicks Sporting Goods.

Welcome to the forum. This forum answers all your fishing questions. You'll find the membership friendly and willing to help out.

I’ve got the monkey barricaded in a snow bank until *** has *** polymer bearing kits for its other baitcast reels (as promised this Spring).