For many in the North Quabbin Region, River Rat Saturday is a huge day each April. Last weekend, the weather was good and the canoeists and the large crowd watching the race had a great time.
There is, however, another Saturday which is also eagerly awaited by many in the area. Back in time, fishing season in Massachusetts opened on the third Saturday of April and throngs of anglers swarmed every trout-stocked body of water, eager to catch a trout after a winter of waiting.
Today, however, Massachusetts has year-round fishing, with one exception – the Quabbin Reservoir. The Quabbin, the principal drinking water supply for 2.7 million Massachusetts residents, has allowed shore fishing since 1946 and offered a limited boat fishing program since 1952. Opening day for the Quabbin is the third Saturday in April and a large group of “Quabbin Faithful” eagerly await that morning when the gates swing open at 6 a.m.
A majority of those fanatics are deep trollers who target lake trout and landlocked salmon. Most use downriggers, a device used for fishing when trolling a line behind the boat. A downrigger allows fishermen to troll a lure at the desired depth. It consists of a three to six-foot horizontal pole which supports a cannonball, generally 10 to 15 pounds, by a steel cable (generally stainless steel or wire).
A clip, also known as a “release,” attaches a fishing line to the cannonball weight. The bait or lure is attached to the release and the weight lowered to the desired depth. The clip releases the lure when a fish strikes. Traditional trollers use weighted line, usually lead core or wire, and know about how much line must be released to reach different depths. Long-line trolling is still used by many and some combine methods to run multiple lines.
All boats launched at Quabbin Reservoir must have an intact Quabbin Boat Seal upon arrival. The boat is resealed to the trailer by the boat launch attendant upon removal from the reservoir. There is a fee to fish Quabbin and a parking fee at all three Quabbin gates (31, 43 and 8) with boat launches. There are scheduled boat cleaning opportunities, including at the House of Wax Car Wash in Orange.
You can go to the Quabbin Reservoir web page to sign up, and you can also see all the requirements which must be adhered to to launch your boat and fish at the Quabbin. Only fishermen may use boats on the Quabbin. Shore fishing is also good, particularly at Gate 31 in New Salem. A parking fee is required, and the gate closes at 8 p.m.
Local trout ponds have all been stocked and the fishing has been excellent. Beside Lake Mattawa, the “crown jewel” of trout shore fishing in the region, Clubhouse Pond (AKA Sheomet Lake), Laurel Lake, Moore’s Pond, Comet Pond in Hubbardston, and Connors Pond in Petersham are all great spots and stocked with big trout.
Reports indicate that at least one party was apprehended locally by Massachusetts Environmental Police for exceeding the bag limit. If you see someone breaking the law, call to report violations at (800) 6632-8075. If you do not, you are enabling poaching.
Let there be no doubt that black bears are out of hibernation and prowling around. You need to at least take your bird feeders in at night. Even that is no guarantee. A big bear got my dogs barking at 3:30 earlier this week, but there was nothing for him to feed on. You can take down feeders now, as insects are hatching and natural foods are there for the birds, as they are busy nesting.
Reports have indicated that tom turkeys are displaying and you can’t miss those gobblers with red heads due to being gorged with blood and full fan displays. Combined with thunderous gobbles, it is getting turkey hunters all fired up for the Massachusetts spring turkey season, which opens April 27.
The Petersham Gun Club is always extremely supportive of youth hunting, and this year is no exception. The Massachusetts Youth Turkey Hunt is April 25 and there will be a demonstration at 2 p.m. at the club, where young hunters will be able to learn how to preserve the tailfeathers of a wild turkey and create a tail mount.
The tail-mounting demonstration at the Petersham Gun Club grounds off Tom Swamp Road in Petersham will be conducted by Kyler Leslie, a very accomplished young hunter and fisherman. Young hunters who are successful can bring their turkey and there will be additional tails available, so anyone can learn how to successfully mount and preserve a wild turkey fan.
The Youth Turkey Hunt takes place before the regular season opener the following Monday and is a great chance for young hunters to experience turkey hunting and enjoy the day. The Youth Turkey Hunt Program is run by MassWildlife, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and participating sportsmen’s clubs. It includes a required turkey hunt seminar (online or in-person, required only once) and after completion, a mentored turkey hunt.
For 2026, the mentored hunt is scheduled for April 25. To participate, you must be 12–17 years old on the day of the hunt, graduate from a Basic Hunter Education course before the hunt, complete the youth turkey seminar (online or in-person), and be accompanied by an adult mentor who is over the age of 18, and is a licensed Massachusetts hunter with a turkey permit. Only one minor per licensed adult is allowed.
If you are age 15–17 and hunting with a shotgun, you must have a Massachusetts Firearms Identification (FID) card. The youth hunt is statewide, but limited to Wildlife Management Zones 01–13. Hunting hours for the youth hunt begin a half hour before sunrise and end at 5 p.m. All other turkey hunting laws apply, including bag limits and methods. If you missed the requirements for this season, plan ahead for next spring.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.