IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Massachusetts => Ice Fishing Massachusetts => Topic started by: Papa Sly on Feb 19, 2023, 04:00 PM
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There are still plenty of lakes ponds in the Berks with between 9 and 13 inches and they are building more with the cold temps up there now and in the next 10 days. We should be fishing well into March.
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I enjoy the enthusiasm and the determination of some to get out there. However my boat is uncovered and ready to go. Good luck to everyone braving it out and stay safe.
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Yes there are some places that have that much and a bunch more that only have 4”-6” and access is beat up with water on edges. Hopefully there will be more cold on the way. Hope to extend the season for a couple more weeks.
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I never stop fishing, ice, no ice. Doesnt matter. Where I like to ice fish isnt frozen and it isnt going to freeze.
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I never stop fishing, ice, no ice. Doesnt matter. Where I like to ice fish isnt frozen and it isnt going to freeze.
Spot on. I can chase ice or I can chase fish.
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Good Report Papa
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I'll take the open water at this point. I love ice fishing but I'm not driving to the berkshires to hit small ponds and big crowds when there's excellent fishing to be had from my boat locally. All the places I really wanted to ice fish never froze this year.
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I'll be chasing ice. I can fish open water all year. There is plenty of ice out in the Berks, but the quality I am seeing is not great. Sun is high. It's almost March. This is from the NW end of Pontoosuc this weekend. 8 1/2" total.
(https://i.postimg.cc/sMvpZGhP/20230218-154431.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sMvpZGhP)
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I'll be chasing ice. I can fish open water all year. There is plenty of ice out in the Berks, but the quality I am seeing is not great. Sun is high. It's almost March. This is from the NW end of Pontoosuc this weekend. 8 1/2" total.
Right with ya. I think part of why I like ice fishing so much is the limited window you have to chase it. I was on almost a foot on Saturday. Beware the female EPO seems to be making her rounds more frequently than I've seen previously. She came out checked our licenses and was pretty pleasant. Even let one guy catch a break because he didn't have it on him or was able to pull it up on his phone. Nicely called into dispatch to confirm he had a current license. Been checked twice this year after never being checked in MA previously.
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Very Very cold weather comming, -1 on Saturday...Maybe get on some ice in April!!! It happened in 2019!
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Right with ya. I think part of why I like ice fishing so much is the limited window you have to chase it. I was on almost a foot on Saturday. Beware the female EPO seems to be making her rounds more frequently than I've seen previously. She came out checked our licenses and was pretty pleasant. Even let one guy catch a break because he didn't have it on him or was able to pull it up on his phone. Nicely called into dispatch to confirm he had a current license. Been checked twice this year after never being checked in MA previously.
I have encountered EPO's twice this season (one male at Cheshire and one female at Fish Pond) this season, a real rarity.
Both were quite pleasant, and we chatted about how many EPO's are assigned to the northern Berkshire district.
My understanding is that there are five EPO's who patrol the District, stretching from VT down to Pittsfield and from NY to Orange.
Since the ice is so limited on the eastern (CT river valley) end of the district this year, they have been able to concentrate their efforts more heavily on the western end.
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You are correct Mike, we will be ice fishing well into March.
There will always be those that don't believe you and they're the ones that sit on fb or shanty complaining there's no ice while we are walking on 12" with good tight edges.
Some people are not true die hards and will never travel more than 30 min from their front door to fish.
Nothing wrong with not traveling as long as they're not crying about no ice all over the internet while many are fishing on ample ice !
Some people will never travel to those "small ponds " in the Berkshire's because they're "overcrowded." However, had these same people ever tried these small hill ponds in the Berkshire's, they would see that they don't get much pressure even on a weekend.
12" Saturday and there were 5 people fishing the pond , we were 2 of the 5 😁.
Don't count out small ponds , you might just get your next pb !
9lb bass or 6lb pickerel
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I guess I am different than both Keith and Mike. I dont care about guys who wont travel, I dont care about guys that do. All I care about is how I fish and how I deal with a season like this. However, there hasnt been an April fools day I havent ice fished in a long time. This season will be no different.
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I guess I am different than both Keith and Mike. I dont care about guys who wont travel, I dont care about guys that do. All I care about is how I fish and how I deal with a season like this. However, there hasnt been an April fools day I havent ice fished in a long time. This season will be no different.
Where did I say I "cared" about if people will travel. I stated a fact, some will never travel and that's fine. I have no doubt you will be fishing April 1st , but you're one that's willing to travel.
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Im going to ignore this thread and go fish. :tipup:
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I don't really fish the small ponds out there, but do chase the toothy critters. There's been plenty of room on the big lakes except for tournament days. I've been out 13 times this season as a weekend warrior. Last trip was an overnight. I have traveled over an hour 1 way every time and spent about $20 in gas every trip. I think those are small prices to pay for doing what I love every weekend. I can understand those that live on the cape and travel 2+ hours to get out there. I wouldn't want to do that either. Everybody has their own threshold, I guess.
All I know is the pike are putting on the feedback right now and they are getting fat with eggs. I love seeing a flag pop on a 12" dead bait. Can't get that on open water. I'll be in the Berks again this weekend
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I don't really fish the small ponds out there, but do chase the toothy critters. There's been plenty of room on the big lakes except for tournament days. I've been out 13 times this season as a weekend warrior. Last trip was an overnight. I have traveled over an hour 1 way every time and spent about $20 in gas every trip. I think those are small prices to pay for doing what I love every weekend. I can understand those that live on the cape and travel 2+ hours to get out there. I wouldn't want to do that either. Everybody has their own threshold, I guess.
All I know is the pike are putting on the feedback right now and they are getting fat with eggs. I love seeing a flag pop on a 12" dead bait. Can't get that on open water. I'll be in the Berks again this weekend
It can be tough but like you said, you do what you have to do for what you love.
2hrs for me and 40 in gas each trip . Unless I go with a friend in his car and split the cost.
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Spot on. I can chase ice or I can chase fish.
Same here, I've been "ice" fishing on my small Jon boat like I was on hard water. Flasher, jig pole and all.
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Looking good for the weekend weather wise with cold weather to keep things firm.
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Best fishing of the season is coming, and yea, it's not over, this snow is a blessing .its hammer time.. and yea, I drive 4 hours each trip, and its worth every drop of gas I put in Silverado 2500.
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Best fishing of the season is coming, and yea, it's not over, this snow is a blessing .its hammer time.. and yea, I drive 4 hours each trip, and its worth every drop of gas I put in Silverado 2500.
Not sure I would say a blessing lol.
Hides the hazards and insulates the ice from the cold. However, it looks like a lot more mixing going on so very wet icy snow will freeze up adding to the ice. But it's still hiding hazards .
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Not sure I would say a blessing lol.
Hides the hazards and insulates the ice from the cold. However, it looks like a lot more mixing going on so very wet icy snow will freeze up adding to the ice. But it's still hiding hazards .
It hides the hazards but keeps that March sun off of the crap snow ice..
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It hides the hazards but keeps that March sun off of the crap snow ice..
I agree. Just enough to insulate and hide the iffy spots so they have a chance to freeze once the Sun drops. I will be heading to N. Central part of state Mon, Tues. ,and Wed. Hammertime is a good way to put it.
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I'm more worried the 8-12 inches there talking about for Monday night into tuesday.
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I just got back from a couple of days fishing in N.H., and this thread is going south fast. Please don't reply to this thread if your going to trash someone.
BJ
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I just got back from a couple of days fishing in N.H., and this thread is going south fast. Please don't reply to this thread if your going to trash someone.
BJ
No trashing going on. But I do see the forum going downhill every year!
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After ALL the trash talking that goes on in here and you think this post is going south??? I dont see any trash talking but there was plenty I sent you that you did nothing about. And yet we wonder why all the old timers from here are gone ...SMH
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After ALL the trash talking that goes on in here and you think this post is going south??? I dont see any trash talking but there was plenty I sent you that you did nothing about. And yet we wonder why all the old timers from here are gone ...SMH
Definitely not like it used to be, which is a shame. Met many people on here that I still fish with today.
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I've seen bans handed out on here for next to nothing but the guys writing "you're just lazy if you're not on ice every weekend" repeatedly on different threads have no consequences. Mods could have put a stop to those kind of comments when they started in early January but they have chosen not to so we'll keep hemorrhaging users who don't want to be insulted instead.
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I've seen bans handed out on here for next to nothing but the guys writing "you're just lazy if you're not on ice every weekend" repeatedly on different threads have no consequences. Mods could have put a stop to those kind of comments when they started in early January but they have chosen not to so we'll keep hemorrhaging users who don't want to be insulted instead.
Unfortunately for you, you joined long after the forum was full of regulars helping and having get togethers on the ice. Now it's more a ghost town.
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This site was awesome back in 08 when I joined but unfortunately Facebook took over and I don't have fb but see on my gfs account the groups that took over this site and alot of the members
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Still some great anglers on here, met a number of them at our "Mini Gathering" we had a few weeks back! Sadly for me, it is work that is killing the fishing for me...
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Still some great anglers on here, met a number of them at our "Mini Gathering" we had a few weeks back! Sadly for me, it is work that is killing the fishing for me...
the G.O.D.s and Coconuts all met here..close to 20 years ago..still fishing together..
burp
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After ALL the trash talking that goes on in here and you think this post is going south??? I dont see any trash talking but there was plenty I sent you that you did nothing about. And yet we wonder why all the old timers from here are gone ...SMH
I am an old timer and have been on here for 22 years. I saw all your complaints you sent me and spoke on most of them. Sorry you don't approve of my actions. So don't say I didn't do anything. I try not to lock up threads and hope people can be adults. But I see sometimes they can't.
BJ
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We have to remember there haven't been many posts this year because of a lack of ice in the Worchester area all of eastern Ma and the cape. I know of at least 10 guys that typically post every weekend that haven't posted at all this year because of a lack of ice. Ask any of the bait shops here in the eastern part of the state. The site hasn't gone south,the ice has gone west and north.
If you notice negativity goes along with a lack of ice. Actually there has been less negativity this year than in years past. Being moderator is a part time voluntary position and I think BJ is making the best judgement calls he can. He looks for personal attacks to lock up a post and just warns about posts that are general attacks. He doesn't have to take on this bullcrap. So lets enjoy the rest of a bad season for us easterners and hope the westerners can fish until April. Tight lines to all. ;D ;D ;D
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I love the site has gone south comments. This site is a business, one with lots of ad revenue. While some may feel dismayed at the lack of posts the site traffic is solid. Even wuth what seems to be a lack of SEO. I have been interested in making an offer to Scott but I think he likes hanging on to this business, and it's not because he's losing money.
The FB angle is laughable too. So many people deleting FB and many more who never used that platform and never will.
Dick, I hope you are well. Serious lack of crappie fishing this year.
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I love the site has gone south comments. This site is a business, one with lots of ad revenue. While some may feel dismayed at the lack of posts the site traffic is solid. Even wuth what seems to be a lack of SEO. I have been interested in making an offer to Scott but I think he likes hanging on to this business, and it's not because he's losing money.
The FB angle is laughable too. So many people deleting FB and many more who never used that platform and never will.
Dick, I hope you are well. Serious lack of crappie fishing this year.
Thanks Jon. Hanging in but my back and left leg issues continue to deteriorate. I personally think it's from all the radiation I've had that has caused this situation.
Well it is what it is. At least I can see other people on this forum getting out and enjoying themselves.
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Hope that gets easier for you soon. Nothing much to report fishing wise. I hit northern champlain where Jeff and crew like to fish on Friday. No wheelers on the ice let alone trucks. Caught 1 small pike and a ton of perch.
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🍻
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My season hasn’t even started yet. Maybe sometime in late December we will get some 2023 ice.
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Atleast were not seeing the same questions that get asked every year. The posts that do show up are good quality and minimal bs. No the site isn't what it used to be, just like a lot of other things in life over the last 10 years. Fishing stays the same tho!!
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cold weather still here... probably have ice until June unreal winter never seen ice conditions as good as this - Papa Sly
This has got to be satire lol. The only "good" ice this year is western mass ,NH, VT.
Central mass and Eastern mass might have had one or two days to ice fish this year. My local ponds in southern Worcester County should have at least a foot of ice right now. I haven't fished them once this winter. The most ice they've seen is 4" and that lasted a day or two.
We've been hitting northern mass and the Berkshire's. Yeah it sucks but I'll travel to wherever the ice is.
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I've seen bans handed out on here for next to nothing but the guys writing "you're just lazy if you're not on ice every weekend" repeatedly on different threads have no consequences. Mods could have put a stop to those kind of comments when they started in early January but they have chosen not to so we'll keep hemorrhaging users who don't want to be insulted instead.
Its not a big deal if you are not constantly complaining about no ice when there is tons...I just did my 25th outing no counting Champlain. Mods dont need to stop those comments...they are the TRUTH and if you dont like them scroll on by.
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cold weather still here... probably have ice until June unreal winter never seen ice conditions as good as this - Papa Sly
If you have nothing positive to contribute to my post scroll on by, sick of your sarcasm and a-hole comments.
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If you have nothing positive to contribute to my post scroll on by, sick of your sarcasm and a-hole comments.
There's always one class clown in every room. Best thing to do is just laugh at them because they have other issues as well.
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Its not a big deal if you are not constantly complaining about no ice when there is tons...I just did my 25th outing no counting Champlain. Mods dont need to stop those comments...they are the TRUTH and if you dont like them scroll on by.
I see you running your mouth about all these supposed complainers a lot more than I see any actual complaining.
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There's always one class clown in every room. Best thing to do is just laugh at them because they have other issues as well.
Yea you are right all computer gangsters.
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I see you running your mouth about all these supposed complainers a lot more than I see any actual complaining.
You haven't been around long enough to see all the complaining. The reason its less now, they're al on fb complaining more.
Mike is one of the best members and has given countless people great info and help throughout the years .
You can't see what gets removed either.
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I see you running your mouth about all these supposed complainers a lot more than I see any actual complaining.
If all you are going to do is try to start crap, please keep your comments to yourself.
BJ
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;D
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One of the nice features of this forum is the ignore feature.
That way, when you see posts from the people that annoy you, you get a nice message from the forum that "you're ignoring this user". ::)
The posts are still there, but it's nice to be reminded that you're ignoring them. ;D
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I'll add back to the original topic. I managed to get out yesterday in north central on 11in of ice. Jigged up a few crappie for dinner and caught a couple good sized pickerel getting ready to spawn. There is still ice around but definitely regionalized