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Subject: Quabbin Gate 43, Massachusetts
Submitted by Jjl (ip 24.63.109.43)
Date Fished: 6/7/2008
Water Temperature: 68
Water Clarity: 0 I usually wait until after July 4th to open my Quabbin season to make sure the lake trout/salmon seekers and spawning bed fisher stealers are done for the summer. The wife and I felt like going today, so we headed out.
Way too many people in line at the gate. I am used to having the lake to myself during the dog days of summer. There were 20 plus cars lined up before 6am. Note to all; the downrigger equipment is pretty funny. Using deep water tactics easily done with homemade stuff to catch 12-14 pound salmon or lakers cracks me all up.
Made our way to a bay not far from the launch that has old stone walls submerged under the water (old farm boundaries?). A little slow, but we landed 2 largemouth at around 3 pounds, One 3 pound smallmouth, and the wife got a pickeral that was scary big, maybe 6 pounds! Good fish. Weeds not up as much as the summer, obviously, but bay was still productive. All fishing done with 5 or 4 inch Senkos.
Shot over to the baffle dam, and located a great point off the south tip of Den Hill, and we got around 8 fish from 2 pounds to 4 pounds in 15 feet of water. Good new spot for the summer.
Around 10am made the move to my favorite area to drift fish, between Leveau Island and Stevens Island. Too many people in the area to do it. Focused on the south edge of Leveau and was able to coax some 3 pound smallies from about 12 feet of water.
After lunch we went over to Russ Mountain. The southern boulder strewn point of Russ produced around 4 smallies, but each was over 3 pounds with one in the 5lb range. This area does not produce in summer, so I was surprised. Only about 8 feet of water deep. Mr bald eagle was in his tree, and the nest had a baby eagle as well. Too cool. The eagle is located at the red buoys. Please STAY AWAY from the area, just look, no fishing near the markers.
After a bathroom stop, started back towards the other side of the reservoir. On a large shallow (4 feet) flat on the northern edge of Mount L (near the emergent grass) I saw a big smallmouth. Huge. Tossed senkos and nothing. I had some nightcrawlers, switched to that, and he liked it! Big fish! I would say in the 6 pound range. Cannot be sure because he got loose at the boat! Wife has the fight on video though! I look retarded when in a fish fight.
Made one last stop at the same bay we started at in the morning, and we got 2 big yellow perch. Headed out after that.
Pretty good day, but I will be waiting for after July 4th to go back. Less people, deep water summer patterns, and much bigger fish at that point. Another note, if you are taking fish out of the Quabbin, Why? The supermarket has plenty of fish for sale. Local ponds have all kinds of fish to take home if you are a "stringer" type fisherman. Leave the fish alone here. The average size keeps going down because folls keep removing the larger fish. Grow a brain and do catch and release. Good luck all!
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