Greg Moniz Loc: Massachusetts

Hi I am heading to Western Massachusetts for 3 Days on vacation I would like to know if anyone knows what's biting on the two Two Lakes pontusack and Oneida what I should be trying to catch I know there's a variety of fish but I wonder if anybody knows what's biting the bass or trout or anything else any information would be much appreciated have a great day

Razbass Loc: Worcester, MA

It’s a little lengthy, but I give you details.
I used to fish Pontoosic 6-8 times a year. I live in Worcester, so it’s 2 hours away.
I went, specifically for the northern pike and Tiger Muskie’s. The state record Tiger Muskie, came from Pontoosic. Now, they started spraying the weeds, instead of harvesting them, Pontoosic is toast. It was top 5 fisheries in this state. Huge bass too.
I haven’t returned, since 2010. I call a bait store and ask if they are spraying or harvesting. If they still spray, I’d avoid it.
I threw large lures(3 oz, 12+” long spinnerbaits). Super shad raps, worked awesome. I only threw big lures. Caught many bass, 3.5lbs and up. I got multiple Tiger Muskies back to the boat, that were well over 20lbs.
I caught 26 pike there in 2009, on Rod and reel. 26 more out of Quabog(Also got a 22 lb pike here, my friend caught a 24lbr thru the ice.
52 total pike on Rod and reel in 2009.
Biggest pike was just at 10lbs at Pontoosic. But saw many huge muskies. My son was ten, and he caught a 9lb 4oz pike. His cast. His lure choice…(my favorite picture of him). Plus, he outfished me that day, 7 pike to my 5. Catching 12 pike in one day, in Massachusetts, is a great day.
It was, repeat, was, crystal clear water, and northern pike, shooting out of the water everywhere. You could see them dart at the Jerkbaits I used from deep very deep water. It was my favorite place.
Was.
If it were me, I would go to Onota. It’s a trophy brown trout lake, and you can catch them very shallow now. I used a Rapala Rippin Rap, size 5, 2 years ago, and I caught over 40 brown trout. While trying to catch bass. Crazy. It was the lure of choice that day.
Also, it’s your best chance at a State Record Northern Pike. In 2009 or 2010, someone caught a 34lbr.
2010… One pound shy of the record. I’ve fished with the man who caught the state record(35 lbs). And I fish that lake too. According to Biologists, they shocked a Northern pike there, that they classified as “considerably larger”, than the state record.(South Pond)
Onota, probably has many, well over 40lbs, and maybe even 50lbs, by now. These trout lakes, with landlocked alewife’s, grow absolute monsters. It’s dinner heaven, for pike. Shoot straight up, out of the water. It’s how I caught my 22 lb pike. It shot up and out of the water, I threw my bait, he hit it. 14 lb fire line, on a 1/4oz lure. My biggest fish.
Throw a trout swim bait for pike. I have the big 8oz, version from Spro.
And Basstrix, 6” soft ones. Fish love them.
Onota, has multiple State Records in there. Probably crystal clear water too.

Pontoosic, I’d call and see how they are managing the weeds. Ask if they still catch pike? It was, one of the few lakes thats been proven, to grow pike, that reproduce. So sad, how bad the lake turned. I still see my Super Shad Raps, all, torn up from the nasty hits on them.
Human intervention sucks!!!!
Really does. Ruined my lake I just built on. Was a great clear water fishery, now it’s coffee color. Sprayed weeds!!!
Northern Pike are a stocked fish, mostly. But fun to chase and catch.

Also, in Lee, you could try Laurel Lake. Trophy pickerel there every year. 6lbs plus.
A simple Crocodile Spoon(use this on any of the lakes out there). The one with the blue, worked best for me.

I would try Onota. Go for a trophy Brown or Rainbow trout. Or go big, for a record Northern.(That’s my choice).

Find the bait balls, and fish them too, in open water. It’s very effective.
Awesome fishing out there.
Good luck.
That’s my son at 10 years old, with his almost 10 lb pike. He was so scared to hold it, and I got a smile for half a second and got a lifetime picture.
The other, a 24lb pike.

44marty Loc: Cheshire, ma

Onota has warmed quickly this year. Best bet for stocked trout probably around 12' down. Look for the sweet 53° water
Pontoosuc should be heating up. ALL warm water species should be biting well

44marty Loc: Cheshire, ma

Great report, thanks. Saved me a lot of typing. You are spot-on
The north end of Lake Champlain ...from Isle LaMotte across to the Great Chazy and Little Chazy in NY is fantastic for pike, and a very few HUGE muskies (the musky crush the spawning walleye....use 24" baits/lures/flies). The place where the fish tow your boat around

Greg Moniz Loc: Massachusetts

Thank you so much for all the information Raz Bass it's really appreciate it. I went my father-in-law he's 88 now I'm 66 we just fishing from Shore I've caught smallmouth bass down by where the the park. On a simple green pumpkin Ned rig at pontusek all your information is much appreciated thank you very much

Greg Moniz Loc: Massachusetts

Thank you Marty much appreciated we'll have to see what we could do from offshore last thing I've caught a few years back with some yellow perch and a couple of nice Smallmouth on an edge rig green pumpkin at pontoosek. We'll see what happens thank you very much

Crappieman1970 Loc: Whitehall new york

Any one no any good crappie lakes around lee mass area ,an is there crappies in pontoosek be down that way second week of May love to hook up ,thank for info in advancce