Conference wahoo::fishing

    I beleave that the opening day  is this Saturday April 1st.
    

    an update to 1065.1  i just called the MDC in Clinton and ask and
    yes infact it does open on Saturday the 1st.
    

    Are the metal pollution warnings still in effect?
    

    
    
    		Has anyone been up to the resevoir lately?  I drove
    past last week, but didn't see any fish :-)
    		I did note pretty normal water level tho.  
    		
    		Thanks
    			CPeterson
    

    
    	Any one know when the closing day is? I'd hate to be fishin'
    when the MDC notifies me of this fact.
    
    	Thanks in advance
    	Dan

    
    
    
      Hi,
    
    
           Let's make this the Official Wachusett Laker Note. Since
     this Sunday is opening day and there are alot of other die hard
     Wachusett Anglers out there like me. I figured we'd get a note
     going on the action at the Resie. So if you see,hear, or get one
     yourself let's hear it. I read a newspaper article that the next
     3 years are going to be the best for Lakers as far as size goes.
     Also if ya want give some details on the gate,bait, and etc...
     For those of you who have a secrect spot just tell us what ya got.
     Any way good luck to all.....
    
    
                                                             Bri

    Hola,
    
    I here that it will be so crowded Sunday that its not worth the trip.
    If anyone has any experience on this, I would appreciate it.
    I figured the hotest spots would be packed, maybe all of it.
    Also,
    There's an article in what I think is the Feb. issue of Outdoor Life,
    on fishing for lakers in Wachusett.  It does not give any locations but
    is intended to describe technique.   It talks about using shiners and
    doing a lot of sitting and waiting.
    Is this the best way?  What about artificial lures?
    Looks like the Bass fisherman is coming out in me.   Oh well...
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Tex
                                                       

    
    
      Tex,
    
    
          Yeah the shiners on the bottom is the way to go. There are
    a few other ways. Lures:: The Castmaster or Crocadille are two good
    lures. Last year I got 2 salmon on a rainbow colored Roostertail.
    Also since the water is still cold use a big bobber with a shiner
    down 4-6 feet if things aren't working. The way to fishem is on
    the bottom..This Sunday if you go to the Resie bring your can opener
    you'll need it to squeeze into to a spot.
    
    
     brian

     Sure some of the popular spots will be crowded, but remember, this
    place is HUGE! If you walk in the fire trails at any gate on the rte 70
    side, you should have a lot of peace and quiet (and a chance for a
    MONSTER smallmouth).
     I don't do the rod sitting in a forked stick routine, but if you can
    stand it, I'll describe the rig to use. Run your main line through a
    1/2 oz. slip sinker and then through a bead. Then tie it to a swivel.
    Tie a 3' leader to the other end of the swivel, and run the loose end
    through a "corkie" or little flotation device (piece of foam,
    marshmallow, etc.). Tie on a hook appropriate to your bait, throw it
    out and wait. Yikkk!
    
    --The Bandit.

    Thanks for the info.  I didn't get to use it yet though.
    I'm just curious about what happened though.
    Okay guys, What did I miss?
    
    Any big fish stories.
    
    Tex
    

    I was out there Sunday, and it was definitley crowded...We
    fished for about 3 hours and didn't get a fish, didn't get
    a bite, didn't see anybody get a fish and didn't see anybody
    get a bite...It was my first time there, and I can't say I was
    to impressed. I was surprised by how shitty the water looked
    too...It looked like it was full of green slime (weeds???).
    I was fishing by the railroad causeway. Does anyone have any
    suggestions where to try another time ? 
    
    Marty
    

    
    I was there Sunday, as well. I didn't catch anything, but I saw a few
    small landlockeds taken and returned, the only keeper I saw was a
    laker. That was about 11:30.
    
    This was my first time there also. I'll be back.
    
    Ray

try Sawyers Bluff aka gate 8....you have to walk in a couple miles
and take the right trails to get there but its worth it. consult a
usgs topo map for the right trail route. I think it goes like this...
crosss first and second intersections at third intersection a 3 pronged trail
take the center leg that veers slightly off to the left and follow for 1/4 
mile then look for path on left to take you 100 yards through to the 
shore at Sawyers Bluff... Maybe we willl see you there Sat

Johnny Roach

    re -.1 
    
    Is this the kind of place that will get you in trouble with the law if
    you are caught there? I recall my brother telling me of a guy he knew
    who got fined just for walking his dog down one of those access roads
    to Wachusett.
    
    Ed
    

Ed

	No Dogs 

	No  booze or beer

	No swimming or bathing that includes even just washing your hands
	
		off 

	No wading

	No boats    

	Have Fun Fishing and enjoynig the surroundings


johnny roach

    No smoking either for those of you who enjoy a ciggarette
    while you fish...only in Massachusetts :-)
    

    Re. last two.
    	Don't get caught enjoying yourself in any way while fishing on MDC
    property. Should you get caught smiling the fine is rather steep. 8*)
    
    Barry
    

    Hi Folks,,,
    
      Whats the good word out of Whacusett Reservoir? Has anyone had 
      luck? I go by there every morning and see a ton of people but
      i haven't had time to wet a line.
    
      Whats happening up by where the Quinapoxit river comes in?
    
        Info,,,,,,Info,,,,,Info..............Please?
    
                                                        Vic

	> Have Fun Fishing and enjoying the surroundings
    
    You mean that after all that you can fish anywhere you want in
    Wachusett Res. as long as you don't break the other rules?

    I take it you can't drive down those roads...
    
    Ed
    

    
    re:1065.19
    
    
        You can't fish gates 1-3. I think there's a couple of gates on
    the other side you can't fish either. As far as your car goes no
    way!! Bringing your car down there is like fishing with Smelt if 
    you catch my drift. Gate 8 is one of the good spots but, it's hard
    to get a spot there to. I have a spot i go to that's been good to
    me and there "usually" is not alot of people there. I'm taking the 9th
    off to get my line wet. Alot of people take the whole first week off
    to fish there. If anyone is going to be down there on the 9th let me
    know (on the rt70 side) and if the action is slow maybe i'll take
    a skip over to see what's happining at your spot. Best time is during
    the week untill the quabbin opens up then the number of people die down
    a little. 
    
    
    Brian

    What's this about smelt ? A friend mentioned this to me and
    I told him he was nuts...I had gone through the whole rules book they
    give out when you get your license and didn't see anything about
    smelt being restricted in Mass...Did they forget to put it in ?
    
    Marty
    

     Yep! You can't use smelt in Wachusett.
    
    --The Bandit

    
    
      RE::1065.21
    
          Smelt can get you a huge fine. Its in the rule book somewhere
      i'll look and let you know where..
    
    p.s.
    the lines are getting wet on the 9th
    
    Bri

    
    look under where they list the size and bag limmits.  Under Smelt
    there is a little 'c'.  If you look under the 'c' it states
    
    "Hook and line only. POSSESION or USE AS BAIT in inland waters other
    thsn during the smelt season is PROHIBITED."
    
    	This is taken out of the 1989 laws.
    
    Bassin Bob.  
    Hide the smelt bucket in the woods and set the hook about ten times
    real HARD if the warden is coming..  But look out!!  He will watch you
    for a long time if he sees you do that!  :^)
    

    Ok - the obvious question is WHY using smelt is a no-no. Is it because
    smelt is a magic bait or something?
    
    Ed
    

While returning from PKO to MKO today, I stopped by Nimrod's in Acton.  A 
guy and his girlfriend stopped in to weigh a laker SHE had just caught at 
Wauchusetts.  27.5" long and 6.9 lbs.  She caught it using a shiner on 4# 
test line.

Nice fish.

    
    re:27
    
         They didn't say which side they got it on did they rt 70 or 110.
    
    
    brian

    
    I was at Nimrods during lunch, the guy there said 110.
    
    He also mentioned that every one who seems to be catching anything is
    doing it on 4# test!!
    
    Ray

    
    I picked up a nice map of Wachusett at Gazo's bait and Tackle shop in
    Worcester, which provides details of the gates, and depths.
    
    If anyone wants a copy send mail. 

    
    While I was getting a tour of Wachusett fishing spots from a friend, we
    happened upon a sign regarding the issue of high mercury levels in
    Wachusett.
    
    If I remember correctly, last year they basically said, don't eat the
    fish. They have continued testing, and posted the following notice;
    
    It's ok to eat all salmonids under 24 inches, as frequently as you
    wish. However, do *not* eat any salmonid over 24 inches or any Bass,
    either large or smallmouth.
    
    Ray

    
    
    
        has anyone heard of any nice lakers pulled out in the last week??
    there's been a few nice bass but, i haven't heard of to many lakers
    pulled out... 
    
    brian