Wachusett chock full of 'runts'.

[bb1]

There are small (runt) lakers all over Wachusett....short casts w/ light 4-6lb. tackle is all you need!
8-10lb line if your looking for the (rare) larger fish.

We caught more on spoons that shiners....

[bdowning]

Sounds like nothing's changed since Nov. I couldn't keep the little lakers off my Kastmaster :cool:.

-bd

[BobG]

How big are these small lakers?

[bdowning]

The ones I was catching in the fall were mostly < 1 lb. One might have been slightly over.

-bd

[Tmayer]

Sunday I caught 10 lakers on green and chrome kastmasters, mostly 1-2 lb range.
I did get one around 5lbs, but like stated above on light tackle it was a lot of fun.

[bb1]

Sunday I caught 10 lakers on green and chrome kastmasters, mostly 1-2 lb range.
I did get one around 5lbs, but like stated above on light tackle it was a lot of fun.

That's a nice one....were you moving around or mostly in one area?

[BobG]

The way Ma F&W handles the lake trout situation at Wachusett is borderline disgraceful IMHO. :rolleyes: When I was young, I fished 'The Res' often. Often, and with poor results I may add. To catch a laker, of any size would have made my season, let alone my day.

Now, Ma F&W suddenly has this emerging fishery fall right into their lap. It costs them nothing at all, since they don't have to raise and stock them. But typical to the way we think work in in our state, rather than embrace this new fishery, and help develop it, they choose to almost discredit it. Portrait the laker trout as a borderline nuisance, trash fish due to their sudden abundance. No size limit at all.:rolleyes:
For some unknown reason, Ma F&W has always had rainbow smelt firmly in their sights. Smelt, which just happen to be a lakers (and all salmonoids) favorite food. Perhaps if they hadn't been trying so feverishly to erradicate the smelt all these years, these laker would grow at astonishing rates, and these 1-2 pound lakers would be 3-4 pounders, and all other fish subsequently larger all the way up the line.

[bb1]

I was thinking of going to the 'resy' today, until I looked outside and saw the snow flurries. Looking for a sunny day, to get the fish moving....

It's probably impossible, but I sure wish we could find a way to warm up the climate a little. Seeing that Wachusett will be under a mile of ice in 10-20K years.

[Strat]

Are the fish close enough to shore to reach with a fly rod?

I have never fished the Res before but it would be pretty cool to get a laker from shore (even if it's small).

Anybody tried this? I assume a sinking line and small streamers woud be best...

[Tmayer]

They are well within fly casting range, but all the fish I caught were near the bottom. I did see fish last fall, on a real calm day, feeding on the surface so dry flies may work.

[sagamoron]

I'm thinking about sneaking over there this afternoon.
Having never fished it, can anyone point me in the right direction?

[bb1]

They are well within fly casting range, but all the fish I caught were near the bottom. I did see fish last fall, on a real calm day, feeding on the surface so dry flies may work.

Last fall I also saw bait fish being chased to the surface by preaditors (balled up)....but they would not touch my spoon. Maybe a fly would have been better, but I did not even have my float n' fly?.

I am on my way as soon as possible this afternoon!

[bb1]

I'm thinking about sneaking over there this afternoon.
Having never fished it, can anyone point me in the right direction?

"right direction"....some people set up depending on which way the wind blows.

[Scunz]

I've only heard one person say they like the taste of togue.......never had it. Anyone else like it?

[bb1]

I've only heard one person say they like the taste of togue.......never had it. Anyone else like it?

****WOW****

[BobG]

I've had it smoked, and like anything properly smoked, it was great.:brow

[Soundking]

I have a 12 o'clock meeting in Holden tomorrow and then will be done for the day. I wanted to hit the 'chu and have never fished there before, nor have I ever even fished for lake trout. So, I'm totally clueless. It would be tremendously appreciated if someone could give me a little bit of guidance.

[lhonda]

****WOW****

:confused:

I've heard the same, Scunz; guys up north I have heard refer to them mudders, or somesuch, saying that they taste like dirt/earth.

Can anyone other than Bob and his smoker ;) actually comment from experience?

[lhonda]

I have a 12 o'clock meeting in Holden tomorrow and then will be done for the day. I wanted to hit the 'chu and have never fished there before, nor have I ever even fished for lake trout. So, I'm totally clueless. It would be tremendously appreciated if someone could give me a little bit of guidance.


Small tins would be the way I'd go, JJ. I know you're not exactly the bobber and shiner type... :)

BTW, just saw that you've been registered here for a decade. Holy crap!

[SteepBank]

I dont like them... Ive had it plenty of times but just doesnt do it for me..I know others who love them though

yea going to meetings and stuff jj...your gettin old on us!

[Fish Farmer]

I like them grilled over hot coals with skin still on. May try brushing with your favorite salad dressing (recommend caesar).
Very mild flavor with enough salmonid taste to keep it interesting. Liken it to a farmed arctic char or a pink salmon flavor-wise (no, not canned) which I believe are underrated as table fare.
Try it, if you like other salmonids you'll probably like it.

[Jacob K.]

I know you're not exactly the bobber and shiner type... :)


I've seen J slay 'em with a bobber.

[Slappy]

Try it, if you like other salmonids you'll probably like it.

Yes.

Smaller fish are better. I only eat them the day I catch, which usually makes any fish good. One day we did a taste test, laker versus yellow perch. The perch were gone in seconds, and there were laker leftovers.

[bb1]

Yes.

Smaller fish are better. I only eat them the day I catch, which usually makes any fish good. One day we did a taste test, laker versus yellow perch. The perch were gone in seconds, and there were laker leftovers.

Yes,

Yellow perch, rolled in flour & fried in bacon grease....my fathers favorite. But lakers from a clean reservoir feeding on smelt (& yellow perch), vs. stocked rainbows on liver pills?

Had a great day yesterday....caught a real nice 5 - 5 1/2lb smallmouth on the 110 side, should have brought it in for a pin (not the first pin smallmouth I through back in MA)....then to the 70 side, 4 lakers, 2 keepers on shiners, and 2 runts on spoon. Smallmouth was on same 3/4oz silver Kastmaster.