Wachusett Reservoir Question From Sr. Citizen

[Robert11]

Hello,

First time Poster.
Looks like a great forum; glad I found it.

Am in my 70's now (sure does catch up with you !), and it has become a real problem for me to hike-in to places where I leave the car to get to the water.

Quabbin is really good, as i can rent a boat very close to the car parking, and it is a great area, irrespective of what, if any, I catch. Really love the place.

I would like to try the Wachusett this spring, but other than looking at a map of the place, really know nothing about it. Have never fished there.

Might anyone suggest a Gate No. that is close to parking that I can walk in from that is "very" close, and offers the possibility of catching something, please ?

Also, I enjoy fly fishing and just using a spinning outfit.
What would you think is better here ?
Enough room for a flyrod's backcast, etc. ?

If I use a Smelt pattern, should it be fished on the surface, or deep ?
Smelt a good pattern for these waters ?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Much thanks. Appreciate any help,
Bob

[bb1]

Try the causeway area....right in front of the hot dog truck. Close parking w/ backcast room. Or maybe under the high tension wires on the other side of the causeway.
The boat ramp @ gate 36 is another spot, but tighter and usually crowded w/ arm chair fishermen.

[lhonda]

C&P from another site.

Wachusett Reservoir
Article by Jason Foster
Added on February 14, 2008

"Lake Trout is the most common coldwater species caught, as the reservoir has had an overpopulation of these fish since the mid 1990's. They are a self sustained (non-stocked) fish that can be found in almost the entire reservoir in the early and late seasons when waters are still cold. However, most of the fish are caught in the main body, and will only be found in very deep water when the temperatures rise.

Landlocked Atlantic Salmon are also self sustaining in the reservoir, using some select tributaries to spawn in late October and November. These great fighting fish are far less common than the lake trout, but do offer a nice surprise for persistent anglers. During coldwater months they can be almost anywhere, even the tributaries. But they will suspend over deeper drop offs come summer.

The Rainbow trout are all of hatchery origin. They are usually stocked in the reservoirs major tributaries and in the Quinopoxet and Stillwater basins, but many work there way into the main body, hold over and grow. The 1999 state record of 13lbs 13oz shows that some can get real nice, but that is an exception.

Brown trout are the stuff of legend at Wachusett. Back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, monster browns grew fat on then healthy smelt stocks. While some tributaries still have wild and stocked browns, this fishery has long ago declined with the smelt. A catch of a large brown at the reservoir these days is very rare. But some smaller browns are still caught at the pump station near the mouth of the Quinopoxet River.

Black Bass are also an attraction to the reservoir. While bass fishing at the Chu starts getting better as we move into May and June, some are caught earlier in the season. Smallmouth dominate most of lake, but there are some good sized largemouths to be had and they get more common in the weedy areas of the coves and basins of the reservoir.

White Perch are another angler favorite there and are common. Most of the fish average about 1lb, but have been caught up to the 3lbs 5oz. With these sizes I felt compelled to include these panfish in the list of gamefish here.

The reservoir also includes many other species of fish such as Chain Pickerel, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullheads, and a variety of baitfish.

Bait techniques vary, but can often be applied with success for multi-species. The most common method used on Wachusett is an egg sinker above a barrel swivel with a 3 foot leader. Usually attached to the bait holder hook is a live shiner or an inflated night crawler. The shiner rig probably takes more lake trout on the Chu than any other method, but it also accounts for many smallmouth bass and occasionally other species. I prefer to hook the bait through the nose, but some like the tail or back. This rig with an inflated crawler is effective for almost any of the species in the lake, but is particularly good for rainbow trout and white perch. When fishing this rig, it is advised to anchor the rod and open the bail so the fish can run the bait. I like to put a small stone on the line to keep the wind from blowing some out, but easy enough for a fish to pull off. The crawler is inflated with a worm blower device sold at the reservoir area shops. Make sure it floats before casting.

Another common method is the classic bobber and shiner. I like to have 3-4 feet between the float and hook and a tiny split shot weight about 8” above the bait to keep it down. This is great for almost all the game species here when the fish are near the surface or when fishing shallow water.

Free lined bait is another method. If the depth is 10 feet or more, I love to lob a full crawler or crayfish with no weight over these spots. The slow descend into the water sometime is too much for the fish to resist. Great for bass, white perch and rainbows.

Almost any lure technique will take fish. For lakers and salmon, I like to throw large spoons so I can cover water and reach deep spots. Lakers love a slow retrieve just above the bottom with a jigging type action. Salmon and rainbows are usually 5-15 feet below the surface in April and May and will take a spoon reeled fast with action added. Favorite spoons are the Krocdille, Castmaster, and Phoebe. I will also throw large inline spinners like the Thomas EP Spin or a big Panther Martin and work the same levels as the spoons but without the jigging action. Sinking and suspending stickbaits are also a good choice for lakers, rainbows and salmon as well.

Bass anglers try it all. Jigs, Senkos, power worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, stickbaits, to name a few. Almost all are effective in the right areas. Look for large rock structures for bass, particularly smallmouths. Weedy shallow coves and basins can be great for bigmouths.

Both B & A Bait and Anglers and Archers are right near the reservoir in the town of West Boylston for all the supplies and bait you may need.

Here are some additional links about Wachusett from the MassWildlife site.

Facts on the Wachusetts Reservoir Fishery

Wachusetts Reservoir Information with Map (PDF)

Good luck and please keep the reservoir clean."

Maps and other info on the W can be found here:

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/wachRes.htm

HTH,

L

[Pondjumper1]

The Wachusett is easy to find a place to fish. Try gate 18 off of Rt 140 in Boylston, park just above gate and pump sta. Gate 36 off of Rt 110 in sterling. easy walk good place to meet other fishermen with same issues. Good Laker spot with live bait. very easy walk and close to help if needed. this is the last spot to fish before it become a no fishing zone. This is a spot that is near where On The Water Magazine will fish. Gate 10 off of route 70 in Boylston is also a great spot down hill. fish at the old MDC boat house celler hole. Gate 16 is a short walk with good action off of ledge. In West Boylston fish the Old stone church area Ok fishing for Pans and junk fish. sometimes rainbows.
Gate 25 under the power lines good place easy walk. Gate 26 park away from the gate and fish the the boat ramp. very easy walk. The great spot at the Wachusett are not a long walk. people just say that. The outdoor shows that you might see flim at some of these spots that I listed. Go get them you old buck. remember the story of the old Buck and the young buck over looking the young does. Remenber what the Old buck said. Now get fishing.

[lhonda]

Nice, helpful post. Welcome aboard, guy.

L

P.S. The way I heard the story they were buffaloes looking down at the herd... ;)

[Fish Farmer]

I saw the boat launch comment and got excited. Could I get the canoe in there?...No such luck. I called Dept of Conservation to be sure and they said nope.