MassWildlife will stock nearly 500,000 trout across the state this year. That stocking is well underway and all bodies of water that are scheduled to be stocked have already received fish and some, more than once. Here in the North Quabbin region we are right in the middle of some of the best trout fishing waters in the state. Not to steal the web page’s thunder, but rather to point out how many nearby waters are stocked with trout, here is a list by town, taken from the webpage.
Orange: Lake Mattawa, Millers River, Orcutt Brook, West Branch Swift River
Erving: Laurel Lake, Keyup Brook, Millers River
New Salem: Middle Branch Swift River, Quabbin, West Branch Swift River
Warwick: Keyup Brook, Moore’s Pond, Moss Brook, Orcutt Brook, Richard’s Reservoir, Sheomet Pond (Clubhouse Pond)
Wendell: Millers River, Mormon Hollow Brook, Osgood Brook, West Branch Swift River
Athol: Ellinwood Brook, Miller River, Silver Lake, West Brook
Petersham: Connors Pond, East Branch Swift River, Quabbin, West Branch Fever Brook
Most of the trout stocked will be over 12 inches in length and more than 160,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches. More than 50,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches, including 550 retired brood fish that are over 18 inches long! Of the brown trout released, more than 52,000 will be over 12 inches, including nearly 1,000 retired brood fish that are all over 18 inches as well! More than 3,000 tiger trout will be over 14 inches in addition to being spectacular in color.
Whatever fishing tactic you prefer, now is prime time. The brooks and rivers, however, are high and that can be a challenge. Also, Quabbin is at near-record high water and that is making shore fishing quite difficult. It seems that the colder than average weather and higher than average winds have impacted Quabbin and other spots, with participation down. Anyone who has spent time on Quabbin in a boat can attest that Quabbin is “big water!” The result is usually very high waves, and it makes fishing hard and a bit risky as well. This column could have been written entirely from complaints about this lack of a spring and how it is impacting fishing, turkey hunting and life outdoors in general.
There is one thing to think about, however. The cold temperatures have suppressed the black flies and mosquitoes, but you can bet that after all this rain, they will be out with a vengeance once it warms. Black flies have driven many a turkey hunter from the woods and, because they prefer cold, clear flowing water to breed, they can make a day trout fishing miserable. Over the years, a number of tips have come my way and here are a few:
Cover yourself by wearing long sleeves and long pants. They like dark colors, so wear light colors.
Cover your head and face. Black flies are attracted to the carbon monoxide you exhale.
Natural repellents include lavender, vanilla extract and pine pitch.
Avoid sweets like soda and candy and perfume and cologne.
Fanning helps.
Apple cider vinegar is supposed to work when you take 3 or 4 teaspoons a day for 3 or 4 days.
Garlic (if you can stand it and do not repel other people) works by eating a clove a day for 3 or 4 days.
If you get bitten and are sensitive, wash with soap and water and DO NOT SCRATCH! Aloe vera, witch hazel or calamine lotion can bring relief.
MassWildlife officials are reminding the public that hungry bears have emerged from their winter dens and are seeking out food. It is clear that there are a growing number of bears in the region, and it is time to take down your bird feeders. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager. Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. Other species including wild turkeys and coyotes may also frequent bird feeders, leading to a variety of nuisance issues.
To avoid these problems, MassWildlife asks property owners to be proactive by removing bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost. If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs and trees to attract birds. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife. There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts and their range is expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears.
The turkeys have been a great challenge to me this year as hens are still very available to gobblers and it is hard to compete with the real thing. Windy, cold, wet weather is not enjoyable for me, so this writer has been doing a lot of walking and not hearing much gobbling. Still fun and the only really hot tom that responded to my calls was across a large brook. A mile drive later, he was still gobbling but after being spooked by my arrival his persistent gobbling lured in two real hens so that was that.
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 been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor for over 40 years. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.