Mass Bass Association Supporting Bass Fishing Throughout Massachusetts Mass Bass Electronic Newsletter Founded By Mark Linehan Mass Bass Newsletter # 0003 DESCRIPTION SECTION Water Levels Dropping? 1 Just Doing It 2 Lake Reviews For October 3 Bait & Tackle Shop Moving 4 WATER LEVELS DROPPING? It seems the water levels in the area just continue dropping at an alarming pace. Now I recall a couple of years ago, people screaming that we must conserve water, but the water levels were fine then. Now that the water levels are lower than I've seen them in a very long time, no one is saying a word. Is someone missing the point here? Most places I've been fishing are down by at LEAST 4 feet, and some even more than that! I think we need to start asking some serious questions about this. As fishermen, we know that when the water gets low, the fish become concentrated in specific areas, and that means easier prey for pike and snapping turtles. Less fish. It also means a significant drop in vegetation along the edges of the water area, which means less hiding and feeding spots for bass. Less fish. I am wondering if there is some sort of ban going on that I am just completely oblivious to. I think we may even have to slow our fishing down a little to insure we don't burn out any of the local lakes. Above all else, especially with the decreased water levels and rampant littering please support catch and release! JUST DOING IT I know I had mentioned this in an earlier issue, but again I feel the need to stress the importance of NOT LITTERING. Trash is piling up quickly at our favorite fishing spots, I'd hate to think this was brought on by smart fishermen. I've been chalking it up to novice anglers and children, but it is getting out of hand and I can only believe that everyone is dropping their garbage and walking away. This bugs the HELL out of me. These people go to the lake or pond to catch fish, and what do they do? They kill fish by leaving all their trash behind when they leave. Bait containers, broken traps, used line, broken lures, plastic bags, lure cases, empty scent bottles, soda cans, and everything else you can imagine someone would take for fishing, and even some things you wouldn't! What is wrong with these people? I have no respect for anyone who has no respect for nature. Any angler who would throw this dangerous trash at a spot where he/she fishes is a waste of a good fishing rod in my book. I complain about this to everyone I know. However, the MASS BASS ASSOCIATION does have a plan! I bring a trashbag with me everytime I go fishing, I keep it in the trunk of my car. I pick up all the trash I see when I go fishing. Although it is back again the next time I appear. If you value your fishing experiences, please do what I do, bring a trash bag along with you, and pick up some or all of the trash left behind by yourself and others. I know, no one wants to do it, and we shouldn't have to, but we must protect these precious and fragile water area's from those with less intelligence and common sense than ourselves. Here is a list of what litter around our lakes and ponds does to our fishing. 1. Kills fish 2. Chokes vegetation 3. Pollutes the water 4. Angers local residents 5. Bans fishing at a lake or pond The damage is extreme, the cure is simply picking up after yourself, and others if you must. I don't know if anything can be done about it, but if I find a way to have these angler-trash boneheads fined for littering, I'll start turning them in myself. Don't worry, there'll be more on this subject another time. LAKE REVIEWS FOR OCTOBER Surface lures have gone downhill now in the lakes I usually use them at, but they've increased at other spots as far as activity goes. If you like surface lures try the boat landing at Sluice Pond in Lynn. I saw some very large fish jumping out of the water at least every other minute or so. Good spot when the time and weather is right, but it is dead every other time. So don't be discouraged when you go here. Spend at least an hour, if you don't get something within the first hour, pack it up and head somewhere else. If you did get hits, you'll continue to. Still more reports have floated to me about large bass at Browns Pond in Lynn, yet still I have pulled nothing out of there except sunfish, small mouth, and a pickerel. Good luck if you want to try it, I've been there. I tried a heddon torpedoe (great surface lure), a hula-popper, a jointed rappala, power worms, a single blade spinner, a double blade spinner, jigs and I even resorted to night crawlers (and I dislike using live bait). Nothing as far as large mouth bass go. Putnam Reservoir, Danvers is DEAD! That's right, I threw dirt in its grave. I have caught absolutely nothing there in several months. I don't know if it is because of the drastically low water level there, or if it is over fished or not, but the place is dead. I'll avoid it until next year. Paradise Pond in Wenham, great! I've regularly pulled large mouth out of this hot spot, don't ask me exactly where, I aint spilling it, heh. I'll give you a hint though, bring a boat, there's only one hot spot from the shore that I've found. TACKLE SHOP MOVING There is a small tackle shop, or rather there was, in the town of Middleton located on East Street. If you know the place, then make a mental note that they have moved. They are now located, according to my source on route 1, northbound side in Danvers, about fifty feet past the Purity Supreme store. Their prices are great on live bait, their lure prices are a little high but they have a nice selection, and from what I hear the proprietor is an avid angler, and knows the local lakes in Middleton, Boxford and Topsfield. If you get a chance drop by and pay them a visit. They have a large inventory of fishing supplies. This was not a paid advertisement for this tackle shop, it is a public notice to let people know they have moved. This should save people from travelling an extra 5 miles or so, and I liked the tackle shop when I visited it. If I pay a visit to any shop and it impresses me you can believe they will appear in the MBA newsletter. THE MASS BASS ASSOCIATION A non-profit organization dedicated to BASS fishing in and around Massachusetts MEMBERSHIP FOR 1994 IS ONLY $5.00 To join the MASS BASS ASSOCIATION: Submit your Name, Address, Phone # to MASS BASS ASSOCIATION 32 Beaver Street Salem, MA 01970 This is a brand new organization, and we don't offer much yet, but that is why membership is $5.00 As we grow and we can offer things for becoming a member we will charge a modest membership fee. All money brought in will be used to FURTHER "The MASS BASS Association", and to sponsor various events involving BASS Fishing such as the following: Lake & Pond Cleanups Tournaments Purchase & Evaluation Of New Fishing Products The collection and distribution of pertinent information We Need Your Help! That's right, we need the help of other bass fishermen in and around Massachusetts who are willing to send us the following: Hints & Tips Lure Reviews Lake & Pond Reviews Information on conventions and seminars and any information that pertains to Bass Fishing in Massachusetts All submissions are done voluntarily and no fees are paid for this information. All information and submissions become the property of The MASS BASS Association. Send submissions to The MASS BASS Association 32 Beaver Street Salem, MA 01970