Today's forecast was too nice to stay in and paint my daughter's room, who's away at college: Hedges called, and I launched at 1030 and just fifteen minutes into the trip a 2.86 pound (ANGLR app doesn't do ounces) SMB took my Damiki blade bait off the bottom.  It had great colors, a healthy gut, and enough fight to get airborne a couple times.

 

Forty-five minutes later I felt a 'tick' and pulled in a 1.43 pound SMB, also on the Damiki.

 

Today's big SMB is the biggest I've pulled out of Hedges.

 

Water temperatures were 39.x, wind was on-off from the west at about 10 mph, and the air temperature was in the low-mid 40's.  So far, 2020's been pretty dang'd good!

 

After a couple errands OTW home I got Kat's room primed and ready for paint...  tomorrow's project.

 

ADD: I drove by Ponkapog and Blue Hills Reservoir (BHR) while out doing my errands.  Ponkie was iced over and BHR was skimmed and is likely going to open up by week's end.

 

 

Nice January outing!  A record may be set for the warmest January of all time! 

Crazy mild winter were having. Still a solid 8 to 10 inches of ice up here in VT/NH but the long term forecast has the start of February looking pretty warm. I might take a trip down to MA with the Kayak in a couple weekends if it holds. 

I’m going to try to get out this weekend 

Are most places in SE Mass open rught now or should I plan on hitting one of the bigger lakes down there? 

Cape is open

 

So I went back to my new honey hole I found a few weeks ago. Wasn’t getting anything so I decided to try out my new Matt’s shad. Wanted to see the action and get a feel for the bait. I was shocked it immediately got hit as soon as I twitched it. So I decided to stay a little after sun down. Tried the Matt’s nothin had a new slammer with me so I tied it on. Nothing for a bit, on the last cast it got bit. 
 
I’m shocked I got topwater fish so early in the year. 

I drove by Blue Hills Reservoir after lunch and found it wide open.  I tied on a gold, 1/4 oz Binsky, and a few casts along the stone bank on the street side, landed a cute yellow perch.  February's in the books.

 

It was very windy, and sans gloves, I didn't stay long.  

The storm probably just gave you guys rain but thanks to VT's nearly nonexistent road crews the 6 inches we got here was plenty for me to not want to drive down. I've got plans the next few weekends but I'm hoping the warm winter continues so I can come down and hit the ground running in March. 

12 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm hoping the warm winter continues so I can come down and hit the ground running in March. 

I'll be in Dennis Port during the week of March 9 - 16.  If you don't have a kayak to fish from, I have two and would be more than happy to meet you for some SMB hunting.

58 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

I'll be in Dennis Port during the week of March 9 - 16.  If you don't have a kayak to fish from, I have two and would be more than happy to meet you for some SMB hunting.

I'll keep it in mind that would be fun, uggh I'm itching to get out!

With a great forecast, I got home from work, packed up, and headed to my SMB go-to: Hedges.

 

It was in the low/mid 40's, a light breeze from the west (mostly), and an air pressure of 30.2.  Water temps settled in the high 40.x.

 

It was also a nice, calm, day after a couple of rainy days ... the smallies & perch were on vacation.  I stuck with my plan of blade baits, jerk & crank baits, and a Jackall Deracoup tail spinner the Bait Monkey made me buy.

 

Try as I might, I got skunked for the first time in '20.  

Hey, you gave it a shot! Nice to be able to get on open water in Feb.! 

16 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

ckall Deracoup tail spinner the Bait Monkey made me buy

You and me both.

 

Oddly enough the bait monkey has a YouTube channel and disguises himself as Matt Allen.

maT izz r00ky cumpArD 2 M3 

3 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

You and me both.

 

Oddly enough the bait monkey has a YouTube channel and disguises himself as Matt Allen.

I watch him daily....

Got out for a shore mission at a new spot.  Got 2 fish nothing big. But only fished one spot on it. Not a lot of shore access.  Tried multiple baits. Got fish on an 8 inch hudd and a rattle trap. 

I beat the rain at Hedges for a couple hours late this morning.  I was smart enough to bring my good rain gear for the second half of my trip.

 

I got two SMB, both right in at 1 3/4 pounds, to the kayak, and lost one.

 

Everyone was caught on a blade bait off the bottom in 15-18’.

 

Water temps were 39.x, wind was light/moderate from the south. Air pressure was 30.2.  
 

2020’s gonna be G O O D!

Got in some early Spring training this past saturday down on the Big O. Didn't time the moon right so we targeted these lovely pre-spawners on the outside reed-edges with swimbaits and swimjigs in 5-6ft early in the morning, then transitioned to flipping plastics in the afternoon. Only 13-14 bites fishing the north shore, but quality was decent.   

 

Couple of good ones! Got to make it over there one of these days! 

On 2/18/2020 at 4:47 PM, DogBone_384 said:

I beat the rain at Hedges for a couple hours late this morning.  I was smart enough to bring my good rain gear for the second half of my trip.

 

I got two SMB, both right in at 1 3/4 pounds, to the kayak, and lost one.

 

Everyone was caught on a blade bait off the bottom in 15-18’.

 

Water temps were 39.x, wind was light/moderate from the south. Air pressure was 30.2.  
 

2020’s gonna be G O O D!

It’s awesome you are getting out and catching. We are starting to get some ponds opening up here in the Merrimack Valley. What are you wearing when you kayak with those water temps? You have a a sit on top?

Got 2 little bass yesterday shore fishing the new spot. Hit a different area. Had 2 good hits on the hudd and real prey. Got 2 small bass. 1 on Matt’s shad and the other smaller fish on a jerkbait. Fishing the windy sun baked shore 

17 hours ago, Crankin4Bass said:

What are you wearing when you kayak with those water temps?

I have a FeelFree Lure 11.5 with Overdrive.  It's got a great seat and is stand up stable.  An excellent SOT fishing kayak.

 

I layer up with a good thermal base, heavy T-shirt, fleece/sweatshirt, and some type of wind proof jacket.  Heavy thermal bottoms and fleece lined jeans below, with neoprene boots.

 

I stick to smaller ponds and keep a change of clothes in my truck in case I get wet.

 

I always wear a PFD and let the family know where I'm at and when to expect me home.

I'm heading out tomorrow, I might stay local if I can find open water, if not I'll be heading southeast. Sunday I'm gonna try some new spots from shore. I've got a weedless 8" Hudd I've been waiting to get wet. 

18 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I'm heading out tomorrow, I might stay local if I can find open water, if not I'll be heading southeast. Sunday I'm gonna try some new spots from shore. I've got a weedless 8" Hudd I've been waiting to get wet. 

Good luck dude. Hook sets on the weedless hudds can be tough. You really need to drive that hook In