Last Saturday, there was an opportunity for anyone wishing to fish the Quabbin Reservoir in a private boat to have the boat washed and sealed at the House of Wax Car Wash in Orange. All private boats must have an intact Quabbin Boat Seal (QBS) to launch on the reservoir. Seals can be obtained through a DCR approved decontamination and inspection process. You can make an appointment by calling the Quabbin Visitor Center at 413-323-7221. The seal must be intact when arriving at the reservoir for launching. At that time, DCR personnel will inspect QBS, then break it before launching. After a day of fishing, as boats are removed from the reservoir, they will be sealed to the trailer by the attendant.
Saturday, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Ranger Taylor was in charge and DCR staff was busy cleaning, inspecting and sealing boats in preparation for the fishing opener next week on April 16. The Quabbin Reservoir is the drinking water supply for 3 million Massachusetts residents. Since 1946, shore fishing has been allowed at the reservoir, and since 1952 a limited boat fishing program has been in existence. Fishermen have two active organizations, the North Worcester County Quabbin Anglers and The Quabbin Fishermen who advocate for fishermen and encourage all users to do their part to help preserve those fishing privileges and protect Quabbin’s resources by following all rules and regulations. The season will open at 6 a.m. on the 16th and launch areas will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. until closing. The 2022 season closing times: April 16 – May 9 at 8 p.m.; May 10 – July 25 at 8:30 p.m.; July 26 – Aug. 15 at 8 p.m.; Aug. 16 – Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 6 – Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Historically, there has been a line of vehicles, with “Quabbin boats” in tow, lined up Friday night at Gate 31 in New Salem in anticipation of the opener. It is a social event as the veteran Quabbin fishermen wait in line for the crack of dawn and a chance to motor down the reservoir in search of “the big one.” Most will be outfitted for trolling, the preferred method for taking lake trout, rainbow and brown trout, and landlocked salmon. In most cases, decades of experience will come into play as the choice of what make and color lure or bait and what depth and speed will all be factored in and then it is up to the fish.
In addition to the seal, you must have a valid Mass. Fishing/Sporting License or a Quabbin Fishing License in your possession and also have fishing tackle and engage in fishing (no sight-seeing). Chock blocks on vehicles when launching or removing boat from the reservoir and rubber boots are required when launching and removing your boat from reservoir plus every boat must be equipped with all safety equipment needed to be in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard Regulations. There is a maximum of four people per boat. Everything you need to know can be found at the DCR webpage regarding fishing at Quabbin.
My father, John E. Roche Jr. was a troller and every Saturday from the opener until the water warmed in June and things slowed down, he was there. Most Saturdays it would be him and his long-time hunting and fishing buddy, Dr. Ed Donnelly, but he had many other fishing partners over the years. Big brown trout were always the special target, but the catch was mostly lake trout. The best fish laker to come over gunnels weighed 14 pounds and came during a trip with Greenfield Recorder outdoor columnist Bob Dolan. This writer caught a 4½-pound brown when I was in junior high school and it was the winner in the Athol Daily News fishing contest and my prize was a Shakespeare fiberglass spinning rod, which is still catching fish. Dad was a lead-core line user, with a Dave Davis spinner and “sewed on” shiner or a one of his hand-tied steamers like the grey ghost. He really enjoyed Quabbin and the neat things like eagles and deer that were often seen.
My guess is that this week there will a lot of action from the trout stocking trucks and local waters will begin to get fish. You can get “real time” stocking information 24/7 by going to the masswildlife web site. Remember that until May 15, anyone in a kayak or canoe must be wearing a life jacket. This writer is getting ready to “visit my sister” in Kansas. She sent me a text message from the clerk’s office in Leavenworth where she purchases my turkey license. Since she bought the license, I suppose I should do some hunting while I am there “visiting.”
As always, this writer tries to keep up with the latest and greatest in turkey loads. It is a “one shot” game and you want to use the best available. To that end, I have tested loads for over 25 years and watched the improvements, particularly the use of “heavier than lead” alloys for shot and mixing sizes in loads. This year, that continues but the big news is effective loads in small gauges with a number of 20 and 28 gauge loads with alloy shots being marketed. Also, smaller shot sizes including #9 have been proven to be effective using the heavier, but more expensive shot. If you want the best 12-gauge loads for effective patterning, Federal TSS in #9 or a blend of #7 and #9 is what you should buy. A box of five will set you back either $59.99 or $75.99 for five. That is $12 or $15 every time you pull the trigger.
After writing about the leaping brook trout license plate, this writer went online and ordered one for the Silverado. It came in the mail two days later.
Mike Roche can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.