O, forgot to mention, water temps were 68 degrees.

Got out for a couple Father’s Day sessions with my dad. Yesterday afternoon was cloudy and a bit chilly. My dad has taken more interest in swim bait fishing so we went out dual wielding the Psycho Gills. He got 7 I got 3. All about the same size a bit over 2lbs. No big ones. Fished until it got dark.

 

Went out again today and it felt a lot nicer with the sun. We targeted the edges of spawning areas that drop into deeper parts of the lake. I got 8 he got 5. A lot of them on a bluegill spinner bait. We got twin 3-3 largies, his on the spinnerbait and mine on a 10 inch power worm. I also hooked into what I believe was my PB pickerel at 26 inches. Solid day overall. Water temps flirting with 70 and all fish seemed to be that skinny spawned out build. 

Cape trip this weekend, hit up two ponds, one brand new to me and the other I fished once ten years ago. Friday was at a pond I've been researching for a while now, and all my research paid off. I got incredibly fortunate with conditions lining up perfectly alongside a raging cicada hatch going on. I caught 17 bass, 4 yellow perch, 2 pumpkinseeds, and 2 pickerel in total with the biggest two bass topping out at 3.1 lbs each. Average weight around 1.5-2 lbs. I had a blitz early in the morning and must have landed 9 or 10 in an hour. For my level of fishing this was the best I've had in years.  Topwater frog was the ticket, with a texas rig being my follow up bait. I could have had 30+ fish too but I both lost and missed hooksets on so many fish I lost count. I also lost a 25+inch pickerel at the kayak too on a swinghead. An absolutely insane day by my standards. With the cicada hatch going on the fish were all fat and plump, very unlike the skinny frame they should be at now with the post spawn, very fortunate! Water temps 71-74 with winds 4-7 mph Northeast. The quadfecta of bluegill beds, wood/submerged vegetation, shade lines, and boat docks were the key; if these conditions weren't met I wouldn't get bit.

 

Saturday I weaseled out 2 hours before dinner, this time at a pond I fished many years back, I landed a 4 lbs largemouth then on a smoke colored tube, but this time was very different. Conditions did a 180 from Friday - from sunny and gentle winds to rainy and windy. I caught two dinky yellow perch on a jerkbait and managed to get a couple chases from the biggest school of smallmouth bass I have ever seen, but no commits. Disappointing but I mean I can't complain with the day I had earlier. Water temps 71-70 and winds 11-23 mph Northeast.

 

Sunday I had a couple hours at the local river when I made it back home. I focused on ultralight fishing and landed a bunch of redear sunfish and some small smallmouth bass. Fishing has been hot recently. Hope to see some good fishing this weekend when I hit the salt.

On 6/6/2025 at 8:56 PM, Banned User said:

d**n bro maybe it's time for me to hit some salt, why do i even bother with dinks in a pond

If you need me I’ll still be in the ponds. I can’t split focus.

Went out on Friday with my uncle on the salt despite the wind advisory, but we kept it safe by fishing in the river protected by the marshes. We fished the outgoing tide and trolled a tube and worm for our fish. We landed three, two over slot and one slot striper. There was a whole lot of nothing except for a 45 minute time window where we and the three other boats around us hooked into the fish. What's concerning for me was the complete lack of schoolies and bait, which according to fishing reports has been the theme this season so far. If we missed that window then we would have gotten skunked. Has anyone here experienced similar situations this year regarding the stripers?

 

Saturday was a chill day, no fishing, but Sunday I went out both morning and evening. The morning was filled with distant thunder and rain, but cleared out for the last hour I was out. Went out for three, caught two 1 lb smallmouth bass. One was caught in 10 ft on a jerkbait off of a ridge, and the other was caught dragging a dropshot off a ledge in about the same depth. Water temps were 74 degrees, getting warm!

 

The evening was way windier, almost 30 mph gusts. I went to the legendary sunken forest to try fishing it before the weeds choke it out too hard. Maybe not the best choice but I am stubborn lol. Slow day but I landed three, the good news was that I landed my biggest lmb of the year so far - a big headed 19.5 incher on a toad. The key was targeting openings in the mixed vegetation when the wind settled. Overall a pretty good weekend. I might try night fishing if the daytime keeps slowing down however, any tips from our nighttime anglers? I've done it once or twice with little success, I plan on going during the upcoming full moon.

I checked off June with three SMB, two dinks & one 1.5#, from shore, in Plymouth.

 

If you’ve not read my “one lure challenge” thread, I’m using only one lure for a dozen trips and challenge the membership to do the same. That ONE lure is of their choice.

 

For me, that lure is a 1/4 oz Mepps Aglia spinner.

With the heat rising and the pads filling in we're getting close to one of my other favorite techniques....punching! I've never actually been a huge fan of frog fishing. The blowups are always fun but the missed fish gets old fast. I find it difficult in the wind too cause the line gets blown into a big bow that then gets tangled between pads and makes any hookset that much worse. I'd rather go in a get them with the heavy weights. 

On 6/24/2025 at 11:08 PM, DogBone_384 said:

I checked off June with three SMB, two dinks & one 1.5#, from shore, in Plymouth.

 

If you’ve not read my “one lure challenge” thread, I’m using only one lure for a dozen trips and challenge the membership to do the same. That ONE lure is of their choice.

 

For me, that lure is a 1/4 oz Mepps Aglia spinner.

It would be one of my jigs I tie. But what I’ve you lose the one lure?

2 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

But what I’ve you lose the one lure?

If you don’t have a backup, head to BassPro or click on TW.

Got out to Hingham this morning. Grabbed a small LMB & YP on my Mepps, then promptly lost Mr. Mepps in a snag.

 

Walmart didn’t have one so I’ll just use it as an excuse to ride my bike down to Bass Pro in Foxboro.

 

Oh yeah, water temps were 79.x - 80.x.

Went out Saturday evening and had a pretty good day, lots of pressure at this spot I went to but they're in there and they get big. Stuck a 4.7lber on a texas rig way up under the trees, my biggest of the year. Landed two more using the same method and lost two more. Even with the fog and clouds they were tight to cover, none of my bites came further than three feet from cover.

Sunday morning I went back to a spot I went to last month but got informed that the boat ban they never inforced had changed. Kind of a waste of a morning but not so bad since I got to experience a peaceful morning and got to be productive when I got home.

 

I got out for my afternoon session at my favorite river and learned what a difference two months can make! In April the water levels were 3-5 feet high and it was nigh impossible to find fish since they were spread out, now the water levels are low again! There was also a large tournament in the morning so I got to fish some water that had a lot of pressure from earlier. I got into a school of crappie and white perch to help improve my morale but I had a real tough day getting anything going. My only bites came from a buzz toad but they weren't committing to it. Right as I reached the sunset the fishing picked up and a healthy 3lbs bass destroyed my plopper. About twenty minutes later right before I packed my bags I had another huge blowup. After about five seconds on the line I tried to both maneuver the fish and drop my anchor, but I fumbled with my anchor and gave the fish just enough slack to shake off my lure. Absolutely heartbreaking since the fish was big, at least a 20 incher. Next weekend I am definitely going back; while the lows are low here, the highs more than make up for it and I want my revenge.

June 30th

After a two week break I was eager to get back on the water.

Weather was sunny then a few clouds by 12pm. First couple of hours the water was like glass. Seen some baitfish being chased and top water is fun. Air temps in the a.m. were low 60s and quickly climbed to mid 80s. Water temps started at 75 then rose to 80.

Got bit off as well as my friend who got bit off a few times.  Although, the last outing my friend caught a nice 25 3/4" pick. Those pesky pickerel. However, I don't mind them at all, only when I lose a lure  

Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel were the fish of the day.

Most productive lure were soft plastics, worms, etc.

Cheers.

 

2 hours ago, Angler Andy said:

June 30th

After a two week break I was eager to get back on the water.

Weather was sunny then a few clouds by 12pm. First couple of hours the water was like glass. Seen some baitfish being chased and top water is fun. Air temps in the a.m. were low 60s and quickly climbed to mid 80s. Water temps started at 75 then rose to 80.

Got bit off as well as my friend who got bit off a few times.  Although, the last outing my friend caught a nice 25 3/4" pick. Those pesky pickerel. However, I don't mind them at all, only when I lose a lure  

Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel were the fish of the day.

Most productive lure were soft plastics, worms, etc.

Cheers.

 

I'll take the pickerel as long as they're over 2' lol

Does anybody fish the Ma Kayak Bassin tournaments? I registered for this weekend’a at The Nip had some questions… I know I could ask the organizers but I’m here with you all now.

New lake, put in at sunrise. Air temp 70 degrees, water 78. 

 

 

 

 

Went out on sunday for two sessions, had a real fun time. For the morning session I returned to the site of the lost 20 incher, and I got some of my revenge. Three bass on topwater for the first hour of sunlight, then none for three hours before a buzzer beater on a texas rig in submerged brush. I saw a group of bass feeding on an elevated grass patch surrounded by weeds up to the surface, and my popping frog managed to coax them to bite. The biggest one pushed 3 while the other was a 1.5 and the other a D I N K. Four bass on a hot summer morning is a good trip in my opinion. I almost had a panfish grand slam too but I was missing a white perch; I got a yellow perch, pumpkinseed, bluegill, and a black crappie. 

 

My second session involved a lot of driving around and not finding any parking. I went to my initial spot but had no place to park the car, so I did the reasonable thing and drove an hour the opposite direction to a totally different lake. The gamble paid off though because I landed 8 alongside some big bluegills. The sun was high and the temps were hot; water temps pushing 86 in the shallows there. I managed to survive the wake boat and pontoon boat militia and patterned most of my fish flipping soft plastics under the shady part of docks, both under and beside. I got two of my larger fish on a popper in a grassy cove around the last hour and a half of sunlight. Nothing crazy regarding size - most fish hovered around 1.25-2 lbs. Overall a fun weekend filled with great memories with friends and family. Also fishing...

Had an interesting situation over the 4th weekend. My dad and I were fishing a deeper area of the lake. He was getting some on a reaction bite and I was dropshotting. I set the hook and immediately snap off (pickerel 🙄). About 15 minutes later my day catches a 24" pickerel and guess what's hanging out of it's mouth. Greedy little things. At least I got my weight back. 

I continued with my one lure challenge today, hitting 3 ponds close to home.  #1 was a first timer.  It was 4' deep at max and coffee/chocolate milk colored.  Needless to say I goose-egged.  I also didn't stay longer than I needed to.

 

I did OK at #2, with two Larries, one 2_12 and the other one 2_0.  

 

I hooked onto a decent bass at #3, but it didn't make the kayak.  

 

I called today a win until I got to the ramp at #3 and asked the guy coming off at the same time "DID YOU WIN?" .... He told me he did and that his best 5 was over 21 pounds.  He had pictures to prove it.

 

I know there are good fish at #3, but that bag was beyond belief for eastern MA.  Congratulations to him!

 

Water temps at all three ponds was 80.x - 81.x.

 

I think I'm putting my side scan transducer on my kayak for tomorrow and heading back to 'door #3'.

 

 

10 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I continued with my one lure challenge today, hitting 3 ponds close to home.  #1 was a first timer.  It was 4' deep at max and coffee/chocolate milk colored.  Needless to say I goose-egged.  I also didn't stay longer than I needed to.

 

I did OK at #2, with two Larries, one 2_12 and the other one 2_0.  

 

I hooked onto a decent bass at #3, but it didn't make the kayak.  

 

I called today a win until I got to the ramp at #3 and asked the guy coming off at the same time "DID YOU WIN?" .... He told me he did and that his best 5 was over 21 pounds.  He had pictures to prove it.

 

I know there are good fish at #3, but that bag was beyond belief for eastern MA.  Congratulations to him!

 

Water temps at all three ponds was 80.x - 81.x.

 

I think I'm putting my side scan transducer on my kayak for tomorrow and heading back to 'door #3'.

 

 

Congrats on the fish! Have you found out anything new from your one lure challenge so far? Anything about time of day when it's most effective or wind speed?

The one lure challenge is definitely interesting. I think we get in this mindset that certain lures are for very niche situations or we need a different lure to do something else. I think a lot of lures are more versatile than we give them credit for and sticking with one for the day can really open your eyes to that.

2 hours ago, AverageAngler said:

Have you found out anything new from your one lure challenge

 

It's tough to stick with one bait when the fish aren't active, keeping the attitude of 'this isn't working, switch to something else'.  Yesterday was tough because the guy I talked to while leaving said his 6# came on a bladed jig.

 

Using one bait forces me to change my retrieve and pay close attention.  The fish wanted the jig moving yesterday.  All three hit it hard and had plenty of fight in them.

21 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

It's tough to stick with one bait when the fish aren't active, keeping the attitude of 'this isn't working, switch to something else'.  Yesterday was tough because the guy I talked to while leaving said his 6# came on a bladed jig.

 

Using one bait forces me to change my retrieve and pay close attention.  The fish wanted the jig moving yesterday.  All three hit it hard and had plenty of fight in them.

My dad got one of those gimmicky multi-jointed fish baits you see advertised sometimes and we were both pretty underwhelmed by it's action. It would only really swim at fast speeds. But he actually did pretty well with it and found a decent reaction bite if you let it sink and burned it off the bottom. Kind of along the same lines of sometimes you just have to vary how you're fishing something not always just change lures. 

 

He's usually the one to try a bunch of different lures on our outings where I usually sick more to basics and vary the retrieve or presentation a bit but sometimes he finds something unique like that where I probably would have changed lures immediately after the initial disappointment in how it was performing. 

41 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

It's tough to stick with one bait when the fish aren't active, keeping the attitude of 'this isn't working, switch to something else'.  Yesterday was tough because the guy I talked to while leaving said his 6# came on a bladed jig.

 

Using one bait forces me to change my retrieve and pay close attention.  The fish wanted the jig moving yesterday.  All three hit it hard and had plenty of fight in them.

Gosh I wouldn't be able to go more than two hours without going crazy if I limited myself to only one lure, especially if someone else is killing them on another lure(I love the bladed jig). Kudos to you for the patience. 

Went out Friday morning and Sunday afternoon this weekend. Fished from 4am-9am at a new spot on Friday and had a blast tackling some bass on topwater. It was ironically like a light switch as soon as first light came out the bite died and it was a grind to get the last few fish. 8 bass and 2 picks in total but 5 bass were in the first 40 minutes. I also spent around 10 minutes of that trying to get my trebles out of the net.

 

Sunday afternoon I tried a new spot in the three rivers I like to go to but I wasn't really feeling it too much; the sun was really high and hot and I felt like the shadowed areas weren't fishy enough for me. The water seemed a bit high and muddy too so I made an impromptu switch to a smaller pond that would have been impacted by the previous rains a bit less. I made the correct decision thankfully as I landed 5 bass all on topwater in a little less than 2 hours out. I missed a ton of hooksets too as the bite as weird. They only bit when my lure hit the water and sat there or was twitched once or twice. I fished my whopper plopper like a prop bait and that was the ticket for the bigger ones. I also got two on a popping frog tight to cover. Overall a fun weekend. Hitting the Cape this next one, might get some saltwater action in.

Monday July 14th

Foggy morning, eventually lifting to cloudy skies, light winds. Very humid.

Air temp 68 in the a.m. to 80 by noon. Water temps 80.

Morning started slow and picked up as the morning progressed.

Mostly LMB, couple of crappies, and one Chain Pickerel.

Most productive lure was a crankbait.