2/26/07- Lot’s of work, but not enough to stop me from getting out. I have been making some night trips that have been on fire. Mainly I have been fishing for Crappie and perch, both yellow & white and the bite has been exceptional. Which, on some nights I can’t even bait my hooks fast enough to keep up with the traps and have had to limit my-self to only two or three traps. With the longer days and warmer weather though the ice season is starting to come to an end at some places, so if you’re venturing out at night, please be careful. Most people are off the ice when that sun goes down & I don’t blame them. It gets very cold out there at night, but some times the action can keep you sweating. For me I enjoy fishing and some times just want to get out after a long hard day at work, which usually ends around 5 or 6 at night and begins at 6:30am. So getting out at night is my only option before the weekend. If you plan to do some night time fishing it’s good to dress extra warm, have plenty of hot liquid to drink, & lights and if you have a portable shanty then even better. Also always let some one know where you’re going and what time you’re planning on coming back. Fishing at night on the ice can be dangerous but fun. Over the years I’ve caught some big fish at night and recently have taken yellow perch to 2lb 2oz and many Crappie in the 1lb 8oz to 1lb 12oz at night. I will be giving the ice a few more weeks before I turn over to open water and start targeting some of the Cape Ponds for both trout & salmon. Be safe out there
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| 4lb 9oz Pickerel |
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| 1.11 & 1.12 Calico Bass |
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| 16.4 & 11.8 Pike |
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2/7/07-Now they come a dime a dozen..lol I was fishing Lake Chauncy in hopes of a tiger musky, when one of my flags popped and my hart stopped. After a good fight and its first pass by the hole, I realized it had no stripes. It was still a very impressive fish and went 15-1/4lbs on the boga before being released.
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| 15-1/4lb Pike |
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| 16lb 5oz Pike...Finally!!!!!! |
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2/2/07- Last Sunday a huge weight was lift off my shoulders, when I landed a 40” pike that went 16lbs 5oz. The fish took a slab pond shiner in tight to the bank and fought hard & long. Unfortunately the day was also sad for me & some of you might not under stand how I feel about this situation, but I was unable to keep the fish alive. This is the first fish that I have killed in many years that was not a salmon or trout (and one sunfish), and that, has made it kind of hard to be excited about my accomplishment. Some of you may think I am being a woos about it and even though one fish might not hurt the fishery. For me I would have felt a lot better knowing it was still swimming around. I don’t think I will never kill another Pike again, unless and this is a maybe it’s over 25lbs and even then I’ll probably let it go if there is a chance of it not surviving. I’m Sorry about the rambling, but I feel like I need to get it of my conscience. Even though the fish is no monster I am having a skin mount done. I owe it that much and would even feel worst if it had gone to waist.
Well the ice is finally here. Lots of places are locked up with 6-8” of solid ice, but I still encourage people to be careful. Many big bodied waters and moving streams are yet to be safe, especially when heading south and over the bridge to Cape Cod. I have heard many good reports from all over the state. I my self have gotten out three times and all three for Pike, with two of those days being exceptional fishing. I will be spending some time fishing for Tiger Musky. The last species I have left in my quest to be Mass wild life’s first Master Angler. Tiger’s don’t come easy and it might never happen, but it’s not going to because I didn’t try. My reports might be a little slow over the next couple months, but I will up-date the site if I catch any thing worth mentioning. Don’t forget this is a great time to get after some of the salmon who commit suicide under the ice for some reason. I like to set my baits just under the ice, 2 to 4 feet down. These broods aren’t as leader shy as you would think, so using 10 -20 lb test is okay, unless you’re looking to for the light line rush. Some guys like to use a gaff to land the fish thru the hole, I my self don’t use them at all, but I can see it being handy. Just remember take your time and try not to panic when fighting big fish especially at the hole. This is where most make mistakes are hade and fish lost. There is still some open water to had if you can bare the cold. I got out to the cape a few weeks back and it was tought conditions, but the fish were still hiting good. Had an amazing day at peter's while wading with both trout and salmon. I also want to congratulate my good buddy Joe Baker for winning this years Angler of the year award for his 11 species. Joe is a great friend and deserves it. It’s not easy doing what he did, while working a 60 hour work week and welcoming a new born this past year. He will be getting his trophy at the Worchester sportsman show on Saturday the 10th of February I also want to congratulate Todd Matera on his recent monster Pike that taped out at 44” and tipped the scale at 25lbs 1oz. I will be at the Worchester Outdoor expo next weekend and will be working the fishing academy booth, so please stop by and say hello, and if possible make a contribution to the academy every bit helps. We will have a few cool items to raffle off as well.
Till next time be safe and tight lines
Roy
Ps: just one more species left 
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Happy New Year Everyone!!!!
1/17/07-Not much to report since I spent the weekend at the Rockingham outdoors show. I would like to thank those that came by the Academy booth and dropped a donation. Every bit helps out. The show went well except for having to do my seminar with out the slide show since Danny broke down on his way with the projector. I would like to add that I was kicked out of the trout pond for catching to many trout...lol....Fishing for trout and salmon should continue to be good if you can find open water. If thing freeze, remember the salmon go nuts under the ice. They literally commit suicide. Run your shiners 3-5 feet under the ice and you should connect, but please be careful as ice may not be safe yet. I like at the very least 4-5" of good ice before I head out. Good luck and be safe out there.
Tight Lines,
Roy
1/8/07- First report of the New Year and the first in a long time. I have been meaning to put one up, but things just keep coming up. Kind of glad I waited because I now have an ending to a pretty incredible story. For those of you who have followed my site from the beginning, you might remember a report that I put up about an unscheduled trip for pickerel where I lost a lure to the toothy critters cause of light line. Vowing not to ever leave a man (lure) behind, me and my buddy Luis headed back the next day well equip and on my last cast of the day I hooked the pickerel that took my lure my lure. Well this time it has happened again only the story is even crazier then before.
Like some scene in a modern day commando war movie, a mission was set to seek and capture the enemy. In this case the enemy was recently stocked salmon. I had captured quite a few enemy soldiers in the first few weeks of December and interrogations had led my organization to believe that the big honcho him self Osama Bin Salmon was some where???..
Day one:
At 0900 (9:30 am) on New Year?s Eve: Operation ?Last day of the year? was initiated at 0900 (9:00 am) My self and 20 of my armed lures arrived at our destination not knowing what to expect. The first wave of attack was made quickly capturing an enemy soldier (salmon) & before darkness could fall 12 enemy fighters had been apprehended. One of those was a high intelligence officer and luetennant ranked # 13-1/2lbs. With the devastating blow to the enemy it was only right to keep on the attack the second day not letting them rest and in hopes of capturing Bin Salmon him self.
Day Two:
Operation ?First of the year? At 0600 (6:00am) under the cover of darkness a second attack was made. Sgt.Ko wobbler was sent to destroy the enemy and on his first attack made contact with Bin Salmon him self. The fight was then on. The fierce battle lasted 15minutes before all hell broke loose and things quickly fell apart for my men, the life line holding sgt Ko wobbler was severed and he was lost. At 0700 a line was captured and brought in by a lure soldier and after reeling it in by hand a fight broke out between I and bin salmon and again the line was severed. Again on the run a life line was captured at 1100 by Ltn Yo-zuri pins and after a long fight his life line was also severed and lost. It was a great blow to me and my lure troops. I had lost two great lure soldiers
Day Three
Operation ?Lure Rescue? Operation lure rescue was initiated this morning at 0400(5:00am) under the cover of darkness. As the light began to break the first wave of attack was issued and quickly two enemy fish were captured. Within the next two hours or so 3 more enemy fish were captured which brought the total for the day to five. Two were caught by Decoy?s ( shiners) and 3 by Ltn Yo-Zuri 3D crank. The decoys were deployed in an atempt to capture Osama Bin salmon. Who had elluded me in yesterdays attacks three times and is responsible for the death of two great lure soldiers. At approximately 1100 (11:00am) Bin Salmon was found and put up a fierce battle which ended up with him barricading him self in a natural made bunker. A dive team was then called in two retrieve him, but actions failed when he broke thru the barricade and made his escape for the 4th time. THE HUNT FOR Osama Bin salmon was now on and more intense then ever. He had last been seen as he swam away with two of my good lures. Cornell flat fish was rescued from this mission and is in fair condition at Lure Medical.
Day Four
Operation ?Search and rescue? with the incredible fall of his army and 18 soldiers captured in three days and interrogated we knew I had to attack fierce before Bin Salmon could make his escape. The search mission was tough and the terrain was dangerous, but at 1600 on January 6th,2007 Osama Bin Salmon was found and captured after a fierce battle that took a ½ hour. Cornell Kastmaster was responsible for the capture and may never walk again do to this battle. Sgt Ko Wobbler was rescued, but Ltn Yo-zuri Pins was lost for ever.
Not sure if you can call this destiny or I?ve lost my head, but this is what the last week of fishing has been like for me. Last day of the year went out with a bang when I caught 12 salmon including one nice fish that went 13-1/2lbs, then I hooked this monster fish on the 1st of the year and due to some crap line I had spooled up with the night before it was lost. After that I hooked the line with my lure 4 times and broke off the original line every time. The last time the fish actually got me hung up and my brother came down with his dry suit and scuba equipment, dove down and saw the rested fish before it took off breaking the line again. I had almost given up, but could not shake the feeling that some how it was meant for me to catch him. We had been working an area this past weekend (Luis & I) when I noticed three good fish following my lure in. I made another quick cast and again they followed, but I kept running out of room. The leader of the pack was huge and was the most interested of all 3. On my third cast not more then 10 feet out the bigger fish bit and the fight was on. I have never had a fresh water fish take so much line out. I kid you not this fish ran 175yrds 3 times during the fight and at least took another two runs of 75yrds. I wasn?t sure the 6lb test I was using was not going to handle it especially when it ran deep and I could feel my line scraping along the bottom. But after a half an hour fight we tailed the fish and carried it to the bank out of the water. Luis had tailed it for me and at this point I was shaking a little, but it wasn?t till we put the fish down and it flopped and I saw the orange Ko wobbler in it?s mouth that I realized this was the monster fish I had lost on New Year?s day. I screamed so hard and jumped around like a little kid. It was more of an accomplishment for me then, just another salmon over 20lbs. this I will never forget. It goes to show you that no matter what, you can never give up. This fish also shatters the world record for 6lb test both IGFA and Hall of fame, so will see what happens after I get my paper work in. I?ll keep all of you posted on it. I apologize for such a long report but it has been an exciting week of fishing into the New Year, and after such a long time I have much to say. Like On The Water Magazine has used one of my photo?s for it?s January cover photo. Something that I have always looked to some day do. It?s a picture of a Brown I caught coming thru the hole while ice fishing (something that looks far from happening this year) so go out and get your copy. Also I will be doing a swim bait seminar along with a kid?s fishing seminar at the Rockingham show this upcoming weekend if anyone s interested you can check out the shows time and dates at. http://www.rockinghamexpo.com/pages/seminar_schedules.htm#FishingAcademy Well im tired right now it?s been a long day of work and I got to get some rest, so good night and tight lines to all. Happy New Year
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| 21lb Broodstock Atlantic Salmon |
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12/6/06- Wow, It’s been so long since my last report, but hopefully this is the first of many more to come. My report travels back a few weeks before the closing of Wachusett Res. A bunch of www.Newenglandfishing.net members got together for Mikes annual Laker-thon get together. The fishing was slow in the am for everyone, except Brian who had the only fish of the morning. After the extremely slow am we decided to move to a new location which brought on some fairly fast (for the Chu) action. Most of the lakers were on the small side & I think all the fish were caught on Shiners of the bottom , but still worth the effort. I tried very hard to catch my first Sponge Bob laker, but it eluded me, as sponge Bob only managed a rainbow. …I guess better luck next year since Wachusett Res. closed on November 30th. More recently I got to get out two weekends ago. I head for the Cape, and pond hopped many of the trout waters from Plymouth to Brewster. After catching many browns and rainbows on both fly and lures, I decided to try some smallie fishing. I hit Long Pond in Harwich/Brewster on the float tube and along with me I brought the Sponge Bob pole. It’s funny because after catching a few small smallies and yellow perch I live lined one of the perch in about 35 to 40 feet of water on the Sponge Bob pole. Not even a minute later I thought I had snagged something. I then tried to free my snag by circling the float tube around when I realized that I was into a good fish. The fish fought hard and deep as my stomach filled with butter flies (something that I have not felt in years). After about a 5min fight of tough and war the fish came up and I finally got a look at the monster smallmouth that inhaled my perch. Talk about butter flies now, here I was with a 6+ smallmouth and I was literally playing around with a Sponge Bob rod..lol. Well I guess all that practice paid off, cause after 10 to 15minutes of fighting and trying to get the fish to where I could lip her with out loosing her it was over. Fish measured 23-1/4” long by 15-3/4 wide and officially 6lb 2oz. Got to hand it to Zebco they really know how to make some dependable kiddy rods. Well the trout fishing is going good and the Smallie fishing has been amazing. I recommend that you my readers bundle up and hit a nearby pond cause I got a feeling it’s going to be a long winter and if you don’t ice fish, this might be your last chance at some good open water fishing. On a side note am still working hard to get most pages up and running on the site so please bare with me it takes time. Thanks again, and be safe out there, till next week ….Tight Lines
Roy
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