Massachusetts

[massbass10]

I know there are a good number of Mass and New Hampshire guys here who are much more experienced than I so I was wondering about good spots to fish for big fish. I don't need you to hold my hand as I go I was just wondering what lakes or ponds are good spots for big fish. I primarily fish local ponds with quantity but not quality.

I'm not looking for any secret spots I'm just looking for a guide in the right direction.

Thanks Eli

[KyleAvilla]

Not sure where in mass youre located but Sawdy Pond down on the southcoast (Westport, MA) has been a huge producer for big bass this year for me

[MA Frog Man]

I'm pretty confident that most places I've fished that are even of decent size in Ma have fish over 7 in them. Don't focus so much on where you fish but learning the places you already fish. They're there you just gotta get them

[Sciaramitaro]

I have always looked at it as if there are LMB in the place you're fishing, there is anything over 6(at least). anybody can correct me if I'm wrong but I don't fish anywhere where i dont think there are fish bigger than 6lb. at this point, it's a waste. I believe every pond that everyone in MA fishes, hold a 6lb plus...but there are other experts here that would disagree. there's my .02. 

[northeast_trev]

i agree with Adam. Most of the spots i swimbait fish at now and catch 5-6+ are the same spots i used to throw senkos and rarely exceed 2lbs. Every pond has a big fish in it, not always a giant but it's there. Learn the spots that are easiest for you to access often and you'll find them

[Onthefly_25]

I fish all the same bodies of water that I did back in the dark days of tossing conventional gear. I thought these spots were quantity and not quality spots. Tossing bigger baits changed that opinion. The bigger ones will show themselves. Plus you already know your own waters like the back of your hand, so you can weed out a ton of unfeasible water.

[timcauliffe]

Fish areas you are used to fishing conventional gear like guys stated. If they are highly pressured during the day, fish them later in the night or earlier in the morning for more confidence. Every pond holds fish for the most part. Don't focus on the big fish. They will come.

[dub4502]

Agreed with what others have said, most places hold good fish. I fish all the same spots I used to fish senkos and what not at, and would occasionally catch a big one, now its much more frequent with swimbaits. Don't count out those local small ponds either, for instance last night caught a 5.6 out of a, at most, 5 acre puddle on a slammer.

[bigpoppabass]

Take a look at trout stocking reports and start from there...only a handful of lakes get a fall stocking....but I tend to focus my time on a local pond because I can put so much time on it...

Edited October 10, 2017 by bigpoppabass

[waynem]

I always figure in Mass anything 50 acres and up must have bass at least 7# swimming around- not to say smaller waters don't also.  You are a lot better off knowing 3 bodies of water extremely well than 10 places only so-so.  Its a lot easier to fool a 2 pounder than a 5 pounder.  Its also a lot easier to fool a 5 pounder than a 7 pounder.  Those really big fish are around ,but in Mass or NH there is a good chance that they have been caught and released at some time- maybe multiple times.  This makes them wary.  Big glides 10" and up are not always the best fish catchers but they will bring out the monsters who will most often just give you a look at them.  They are out there.

[Willluvstafish]

In Ma if you're looking for bigger bass you want to go South to the Cape area. Also see big bass out west past Worcester but definitely potential for 5+ everywhere I just believe they're hard to catch.

[tybo jones]

Western mass is a little tough. There's just so much more water with greater opportunities in Eastern mass. Greater opportunities meaning herring runs,more trout stockings, and so much more water.

[Dsouth]

Ramp areas that get stocked are great places to land a PB size fall LM best advice is search the Mass DEP web sites for maps and information on all lakes there’s also a trout stocking list. A milk run of 3 or 4 freshly stocked trout ponds is a great fall pattern. Freshly stocked ramp area C+R shot added from last fall. 

 

https://www.mass.gov/masswildlife-fish-stocking-program

[bassturds]

i have a pond  that  people say it sucks cuz all they catch is small fish or get skunked, but i love it cuz i throw swimbaits there  and crush the big bass!  its weird! youll either catch a 5 plus or less then 3lbs.  most 1s and 2 then a 5plus!  so people dont fish it. fine by me. i caught my PB 7.8 on slammer here, i know there bigger fish there. 

[urbanhick]

Not sure where in MA you are from but I live in southern MA on the banks of the CT river.  Not a lot of lakes in this area like Tybo said, and the ones that are around me get pounded. I focus most of my time at Quabbin reservoir during idiot season ( memorial day to labor day) to avoid the idiots but I do hit the local spots hard from ice out till opening day of Quabbin and till the lake freeze in the fall.