23 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

How's January 12th at the Redwing Diner on Rte 1 in Walpole?

Going to do my best to meet up with everyone.

OK, Jan 12 is in the calendar @ 1:30 PM @ the Redwing Diner, Route 1 SB, Walpole, MA.

 

Everyone's welcome.

Merry Christmas MA Bassers

Merry Christmas fellas, hope Santa is good to you guys

 

Ho, Ho, Ho!  Merry Christmas to all of you.

Merry Christmas & see you on January 12th!

Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

My curiosity got to me today while out and about.  I visited Ponkapog, Houghtons, Blue Hills Reservoir, and St. Moritz.  Ponkie and Houghtons were WIDE OPEN, Blue Hills was skimmed over by the granite retaining wall, and St. Moritz was completely skimmed over.

 

I might just brave the wind and try Ponkie tomorrow.  Worst case I’ll nab a couple picks on a slow moving spinner bait.  Best case, a couple of nice winter bass!

 

Good luck to anyone else that gets out.

 

ADD: 

 

It’s not 2019 yet and I’m already looking for new waters to try next season. It’s gonna be a L O N G 12-16 weeks.

Happy holidays to all!

Mike, if you hit Ponkie you more than likely will run into some picks, probably some good sized ones! Give it hell!   ?

I think I can probably take the kayak racks off my car for good. I was planning to go Saturday but they're calling for 25mph winds...no thank you lol. 

 

I'm just about finished cleaning my reels too so I'll have to find something else to tinker with until we get some decent ice. 

Im still going to attempt at open water down  here all winter unless we get a deep freeze. I HOPE NOT!!!! 

Got a trailer hitch on my car, so ITS TIME FOR  A NEW BOAT!!!!! CANT WAIT!!!!!! with this new boat, im going to tear it up in 2019

Unless it turns around and we get a brutal January/early February I wouldn't be surprised if you could find open water all winter.

 

Good luck with the new boat Mike! I hope you find a good one! 

During that brutal winter we had a few years ago when we got that 100 inches of snow in February, I saw open water. Never got to fish it tho, it was a killer ice season. The pond was wide open! I was SHOCKED!!!!! 

1 hour ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

During that brutal winter we had a few years ago when we got that 100 inches of snow in February, I saw open water. Never got to fish it tho, it was a killer ice season. The pond was wide open! I was SHOCKED!!!!! 

The only thing worse for the ice than this warm rain is the snow! Too much snow and it starts insulating the ice from further freezing. I remember that winter, tons of crappy white ice 'cause of the snow. I'm hoping for a chilly January with little snow! 

8 hours ago, Don51 said:

Mike, if you hit Ponkie you more than likely will run into some picks, probably some good sized ones! Give it hell!   ?

@DogBone_384 lives at Ponkie

On 12/27/2018 at 1:33 PM, MassYak85 said:

The only thing worse for the ice than this warm rain is the snow! Too much snow and it starts insulating the ice from further freezing. I remember that winter, tons of crappy white ice 'cause of the snow. I'm hoping for a chilly January with little snow! 

yep!! I hate that slush under the snow. 

 

I'm thinking of picking a day next week to fish the lower Charles in my kayak. Does anyone have any tips fishing it this time of year? It seems a lot of the really late season fish I see caught are out of the Charles. I was thinking of targeting the deeper areas near the esplanade. 

On 12/27/2018 at 1:38 PM, JG233 said:

@DogBone_384 lives at Ponkie

It’s my home pond.

I hit Ponkapog after I got home from work this morning. 

 

I kept it simple.  A M/M rod for jerkbaits, a M/F for Senko, and a ML/F for whatever else came to mind.  Ponkie's water level was as high as I've ever seen it and the surface temp settled in at high 37.x - low 38.x.  

 

Even though the forecast said low/mid 40's a strong wind from the  S/SW made things difficult.  The wind pushed my kayak, with 5 pound anchor between .6 - .75 mph and broke through my layers in 2 hours.  

 

I pulled up some weeds with my treble hooks, and blew the bird's nest of the century due to numb thumbs.  If it weren't so windy, I'd have stayed longer, but no-go.

 

Needless to say, I struck out today, but I've got all month.   I might try casting with my hunting gloves and see how that goes.

I went out yesterday for a shore mission on a shallow bog pond, got nothing! not surprised. 

I admire the perseverance, and determination of you guys.

I'll be out this weekend! maybe try for a night bass! 

 

Night fishing this time of the year would really be pushing it. Things could go bad rather quickly. 

Tried a bit from shore today with a Hudd at Ashland state park. Definitely not known as a bass lake but I figure there's gotta be a few in there eating some of the trout. No takers, there was only one spot I felt I was deep enough to stand much of a chance this time of year anyways. Very nice park though. The trail around the perimeter is a fun hike. Busy today though! The weather was also all over the place. I think it's the first time in my life I've ever experienced hail, rain, and snow on the same day...and throw in some bright blue sunny skies in between it all. 

 

Any chance to open water fish in January here though is one I'll take! 

 

Speaking of which, Wednesday is looking like the last day before it gets truly cold for the season. I doubt I will but if everything lines up (low wind, snow instead of rain, my desire to go freeze my *** off lol) I might consider loading my kayak up for one last hoorah for the year season.