Author Topic: A-1 (Read 3623 times)

bumps · « **on:** Jan 25, 2006, 12:52 PM »

has anyone been out here lately? How's the ice? Thinking about heading out there this weekend. Has anyone taken any big fish out of here recently. I went a few times earlier this season, and caught a good amount of bass and pickerel, but no really big fish. Good luck to everyone this weekend!

chilly willy · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 26, 2006, 09:53 AM »

I went out last Sat and Sun. The ice was 5 1/2" on Sat, down to 4 1/2" on Sun. We had to plank the shore.There were some open drain holes that you had to watch out for. I live in SE Ma, so I assume there is roughly 8" of snow on top, so not sure how it is holding up. We did mostly small bass. We were fishing in roughly 8' with the weeds only 4' down, was wondering how to set my baits. I usually set them 1' off the bottom. I started working them higher and higher to get up out of the weed. Is it OK to have them hiding in the weed (camouflaged) or get them above it. I just kept checking the baits and pulling weed off the baits every 30 mins. Any help would be appreciated.

Mugz · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 26, 2006, 10:00 AM »

Not sure how the ice is there, but to answer your question about the weeds: I fish mine just under the ice (maybe 3 ft down) and have good luck. Sometimes you can see you shiner just laying in the weeds not even moving, so I like to keep them above the weeds. Do a lot of bait checks. I'll even move a trap or two if I'm in the thick stuff and try to find a hole. I also recently stopped using weights there. I just use my 2 foot leader with no weight. Have had better success and gives the shiner more freedom.

chilly willy · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 26, 2006, 11:30 AM »

Thanks I'll try that. Hope to be there Sat. I'll travel untill we get ice locally, probably the rest of the season.

EscapeIsNever · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 26, 2006, 07:35 PM »

i dont use a weight/sinker either really wherever i fish and i usually have great luck. i fished with splitshots this past weekend and didnt do too well.

Mark Barlow · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 27, 2006, 03:15 PM »

Fishing just under the ice or on top of the weeds will get you a ton of pickeral in this place if that's what your looking for. If you want the bass, fish a foot up from the bottom. I catch them using split shot about a foot above the hook.

Tight lines

Mark Barlow · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 27, 2006, 03:21 PM »

I also drove by there again today. Nobody fishing it and it looks like the ice has pulled away from the shore. You may need a plank to get on and I didn't check to see if it was safe or not.
If you do get on becarefull you don't get too close to the spillway. There's current in front of it and the ice is always thinner there.

GlovelessPro · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 28, 2006, 08:36 AM »

I've fished ponds similiar to A-1 ( havent made it there yet - maybe in a boat this year to scout some icefishing spots. ) but when I do I fish above the weeds even if it is 3 feet down. I didnt do too well with weights on so I took them off and did much better, the fish were taking but spitting after they pulled a few feet. This year however, Ive been using bullet weights that you would use with a plastic worm, with the pointy end down, the weights dont spin and twist, they never fall off and seem to glide through the weeds without fish spitting them... try them out on 1-2 traps and see for yourself.... good luck to all

chilly willy · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 30, 2006, 08:52 AM »

Fished A-1 this Sat, ice wasn't too bad stayed hard all day. Probably 4" of black ice with a couple inches of white on top. There were drain holes everywhere so you had to pay attention. I ended up fishing out toward the island up against the West shore in 8' of water. I fished 4' down without weight. I caught about a dozen bass and a half dozen pickerel. My 2 partners did about the same. Didn't get any nice ones though,they were all about 1 1/2 lbs (or the same fish.) I think I will try to fish larger bait next time, we had some large but mostly med. There were a few nice fish taken by the next group over from us.

bumps · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 30, 2006, 01:19 PM »

Hey chillywilly, I was at A-1 saturday also, the guys next to me caught a beautiful 7lb bass and also a 5.5lb bass. My friends and I were right next to them, we caught about a dozen pickerel and a half dozen bass. Most were in the 2lb range, but we did manage to pull in a whopper weighing 6+lbs!! Biggest one for me this season. I will try to get a picture up here soon.

chilly willy · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 31, 2006, 09:45 AM »

Nice fish Bumps, I've been traveling the last 3 weekends hoping for a nice bass. I'm looking at the weather wondering how the ice will be for Sat. Not sure if I'll make it this weekend(my partner is headed to Florida for the next 2 weekends). Were you guys using extra large shinersfor the big bass? We did have a couple of real fast/hard runs but both ended with broken lines, I guess pickerels. I use 12lb test, used to use 6lb, I like to fish light, maybe too light.

bumps · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 31, 2006, 01:08 PM »

Chillywilly, We were using med/large shiners , I can't remember what size was on the line at the time. I don't think I am going to make it out this weekend either, the weather has been pretty crappy and I am not sure how the ice is holding up.

Porter · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 01, 2006, 10:37 AM »

Chillywilly,

I fish A all the time. I would recommend 15-20lb fluorocarbon as a 2-3ft leader. It is strong, still flexible enough, invisible under water, and can handle pickerel teeth and the occasional small/med size pike in that pond. I get lots of bass too and have no breakoffs/cutoffs. Good luck & pray for cold! - Porter

chilly willy · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 02, 2006, 08:16 AM »

Porter do you use a special knot for the fluorucarbon, or can I tie a regular knot? I would probably need to have extra leaders tied and ready because I tend to cut a lot of hooks if it's too deep. Any idea how the ice is. I'm going to try to get there Sat.

Massfisher · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 02, 2006, 05:55 PM »

a 2 foot leader is plenty long enough so just make them all 3 feet long and then you can replace the hook 1 or 2 time and your leader will still be 2 feet long but by the time you catch that many fish on a single leader that you replace the hook more than 2 time you should replace the leader from all the rubbing on the ice.

Roncarr · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 02, 2006, 06:09 PM »

chilliwilly a palomar knot is my favorite

Porter · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 02, 2006, 06:27 PM »

Palomar knot for me too is good - I also start with a longer leader(3ft) so that if any nasty pickerel or pike come along I can quicky retie after catching the toothy critter!

Mark Barlow · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 10:13 AM »

Who are the group of guys that are taking the bass from here and making fish chowder?

amazinmoose · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 10:25 AM »

fish chowder.. sounds tasty!!

Mark Barlow · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 10:31 AM »

Hey if the toxins won't hurt you, they will kill you...lol Read the sign if you are able to, out in front of the boatramp. This is why your losing those green teeth.

amazinmoose · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 11:16 AM »

ahh polluted waters eh??

Porter · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 12:53 PM »

Unfortunatley - big time mercury - a1 is part of the assabet river chain. Oh well... that's probably why the fish get so BIG!

Roncarr · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 05:34 PM »

mark are you serious bass chowda

if I was on survivor maybe I think Id go for maggots first less pcbs and merc

chilly willy · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 08:12 PM »

Does anyone know how the ice was at a1 today? I'm planning to check it out in the morning, unless someone knows how it is.(you can save me 70 miles)

BJ · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 03, 2006, 10:31 PM »

You might want to call Barrys bait shop before you head out in the morning. He usually opens by 6:00 on the weekends. He usually checks the local ice too. Here is his number 508-616-7977. Good luck.

cslater · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 06, 2006, 08:32 AM »

A-1 was mostly open water this morning! From halfway from the ramp all the way to the island- plus a big hole around the spillway, and other holes here and there...

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Author Topic: A-1 (Read 3623 times)