Enjoy

my recent video stash:

http://vimeo.com/22924672

also check out the on the water report:

http://www.onthewater.com/FishingForecastNHx.html

The humble fisherman

http://www.vimeo.com/13845689

If you haven't seen this guy's stuff, you need to get with the program. The mans living the dream.

Inspirational fix

How could I forget!

My personal favorite:

Another good one; enjoy
Fly Fishing is a Joke on Vimeo

Update

I have failed to successfully probe the recently stocked brooks and streams to tell what species of trout they stocked this year. Two years ago it was browns which survive for very long periods of time and were great fun since they took a dead drifted dry. Brookies are the other option which are cool and all, but don't react as well to dead drift fly tactics (in my opinion).
On the north shore hit list for brooks:
Fish Brook
Dow Brook
Bull Brook
Alewive brook

The usual trout ponds should be getting a second stocking this week. This usually includes browns, tigers and more rainbows. Remember, though, that the fishing only gets better as the season goes on, since they are stocked again the week before memorial day. Many people stop fishing trout in ponds after April; for me, May and June are the best months of the year for pond trout.

The saltwater scene is getting geared up. Alewives are pretty much across the board now, notably in the Parker and Essex rivers. The stripers can't be too far behind. To prove this, take a look at this schoolie caught on Saturday.

The shad are here in slim numbers as well. This was caught today:

Strangman's update

If fished Strangman's pond this morning in the rain and caught a few very small rainbows on chironomids. There was a solid hatch going on, and I fished them right under the surface film. I won't be able to get pictures when it is raining in order to take care of my camera, but maybe thursday. The brooks should be stocked with browns or brookies this week, and you can check which ones have been stocked on friday.
Enjoy:

Strangman's Pond, Gloucester

I called MassWildlife the other day to see if they stocked a small pond in gloucester yet, and they said they did. I arrived at 5:30 this morning. Normally, when trout are in a small pond, especially very recently stocked trout, they tend to flip around on the surface, or at least break the surface once in a while. After about a half hour, I had neither heard nor saw any disturbance of the water. I threw small crankbaits and a couple spoons before switching to worms under a bobber. I fished the place hard both upper water column and lower. MassWildlife claimed online that they stocked it today. What I think is most likely is that they are stocking it this afternoon, as the reports are based on what will be stocked by Saturday and is simply posted on friday. Here are some pictures of the pond if you have never been there.

Just Like Ron was saying

 Wachusett Laker. Game time...

On the Water Report

With air temperatures expected to pass the 60-degree mark, this should be a bust-out weekend. I expect many to be searching for that first blackback of the season from the South Shore to Southern New Hampshire. I would bet that winter flounder will be stirring among the mudflats of Scituate Harbor, Green Harbor, Hull, Quincy and Boston Harbor. Don’t worry about early rising just yet, water temperatures will improve with the sun and the flounder feed will increase exponentially. You may score a slab or two from Lynn Harbor and considering how red-hot Plum Island was last year, can it ever be too soon to start scouring the sands with clams or seaworms from the mouth of the Merrimack to the Parker River Wildlife Reservation? The big game in town is opening day for Wachusett Reservoir on April 9th and hungry forktails will be foraging for food all along the 37 miles of shoreline here. If you are new to the ‘chu, then take along ½-once Kastmasters and 5/8-ounce Krocodiles, which are easier to retrieve among the skinny water where the lakers will be lurking, and roam this grand place. Here’s a hint: if you see any guys with duct-taped pack baskets and pink/orange flagged “Gut-A-Bite” strike indicators on their rods – they know what they’re doing!  If you get the chance to catch any of these fishermen in a talkative mood, listen attentively, it’ll reduce your learning curve dramatically. If you’re a fly fisherman and are looking for a challenge, then take your scud and shrimp patterns up to the Parker and Mill Rivers, to catch, photograph and then release an honest-to-goodness sea run brook trout or brown trout – that’s something to brag about!
 -Courtesy of Ron Powers "On the Water" writer

http://www.onthewater.com/FishingForecastNHx.html

I'm sure we could all benefit by reading this:
http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/flies/soucie_woolly_buggers.aspx

Stunning

4/12 Report

I fished Pleasant Pond today in Wenham. I loaded the kayak into the truck, threw my 5 weight into the back with a box of flies and took off. I arrived at the pond late, around 6:30 am. The fish were already breaking, some coming clear out of the water. There was a solid midge hatch going on, and trout were going bananas. I caught a nice 15" rainbow right off the bat on a #10 black wooley bugger but failed to get a picture as the hook popped out right at the boat. After about 15 minutes the sun came out and sent all the trout toward the bottom. Some of the "old folk" locals got a few on the bottom on powereggs. I was disappointed that the sun came out, since I did not bring a sinking line. None the less I switched over to a #18 griffins gnat and caught bluegills that were sipping midges on top in the back cove. 

A typical bluegill on a dry

The sun came out and the fish dove down

Daily Inspiriational Fix

If you're on the Cape those browns are in there. If you're up in the northeast, in a few weeks they'll be there. I'll be out there tomorrow morning fishing midges at Pleasant Pond. Will report back tomorrow. Enjoy

Recent Stockers

Take a look; these fish were taken out of Massachusetts ponds within the last week:

 

All fish were caught on hardware such as spinners and spoons while the browns were caught on jerkbaits

No Excuses

You have no excuses to not get out there now as there are plenty of trout in the major lakes and ponds (that are selected to be stocked) throughout Massachusetts. Many ponds especially on the Cape have received all three species brookies, browns and rainbows. Ponds in the northeast have been fishing well as they were recently stocked with rainbows, many of which are up to 17-19 inches.
The rainbows at Pleasant pond in Wenham have seen a lot of pressure recently and have started to key in on the midge hatches that occur in the late afternoon-sunset. Last night I fished Pleasant pond and hooked up with 4 rainbows on chironomid patterns. Fish them deep and painstakingly slow.
To find a lake or pond near you that has been stocked see : http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/trout/trout_stocking_schedule.htm
- Brooks and rivers should be stocked this coming week, with the small brooks receiving mainly brook trout and browns.

The daily dose of fish vids: