Herring Runs
 

Any recent reports?

Took the kids to the Pembroke run the other day and there were no signs of life yet. Water was way low.

Anyone have any other reports to share?

With the lack of spring rains like we usually get, most if not all waterways are low at this point.
If and when we get a good saoking, the herring (and shad in some places) will be able to reach their spawning grounds.

Until then, it will provide us with an unplanned extra.
let me explain......

A few years back, in the mid 2000's, we had a similar spring where we had virtually no real rain through the end of April. My favorite shad spot was REALLY low, low to a point that it wasn't worth the drive to even try.
So, seeing that I wanted to fish for something I ventured to one of my first striper spots of the season. Well, with the lack of rain affecting the waterways where the shad and herring run to spawn, these fish had nowhere to go, so they stayed in the bays and estuaries at the river mouths. This provided the first bass arrivals with a "trapped" food source. I had a field day catching bass one after another, and saw shad and herring leaping out of the water as they were being pursued by the predators.

That was the first couple of weeks. Then the larger bass showed up to take part. It wasn't until early May when the rains finally arrived, flooded the rivers and allowed the herring and shad to swim upstream. Then the striper action cooled down to normal conditions.

So, although we NEED the rain, there are a few benefits to be reaped before the weather changes!!!

pembroke run
 

The Pembroke run has been in sad shape for years and it seems like less returning fish each year.

I was there March 28 and it was empty as well. Swung by the Jenny Grist Mill in Plymouth the same day and it was loaded.

I know the Jones River in Kingston was loaded a month ahead of schedule.

I got a report "way" farther down stream of big numbers of herring and shad.

Anyway we could get a bunch of people together to clean up that run? Clear out logs, brush etc, etc?

Some observations at my local fish ladder. | The Dented Bucket
came across this the other day on fb

Do they have volunteer programs in MA that allow ppl to net and transport for the runs that are sub par?

[QUOTE=Piscator;933101Anyway we could get a bunch of people together to clean up that run? Clear out logs, brush etc, etc?[/QUOTE]

I'll bet you need all kinds of permits before cleaning a river.....you surely don't need them to trash a river!

Pembroke clean up
 

It needs more than a clean up. The floods a couple of years ago destroyed it and the flow is messed up. It needs a fish ladder. I believe the NSRWA received a grant and the construction was supposed to be done last fall but it never happened.

www.nsrwa.org

My good friend Alex who is also a S-B member but doesn't post often would be the guy to talk to if you are considering putting together any type of cleanup. He is the Ecology Director at The Jones River Landing. I've participated in past cleanups on the Jones but I'm not sure how it would work in Pembroke. I"ll let him know about this thread and maybe he can chime in.


Jones River Landing

Checked out a herring run down in Carver/Wareham that feeds into a nice sized pond. Tons of herring going up the latter and into the pond yesterday.

Stacked up like cord wood in the Weymouth run. All BIG..
Very very good sign..

I'm a fly fishing guide on Utah's Provo River, but this is my first time visiting the East coast. I want to do some striper fishing while I'm here. Any good places close to Brockton? Are there any good opportunities from shore this time of year? Anyone wanna get together and show me the ropes?

Wareham was full Saturday morning. AND....lots of suckers.

Middleboro had a bunch on Saturday.

I have heard Weymouth is in great shape numbers wise.
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Pembroke run is filling up

The two of three runs in Yarmouth have herring. And one of them which was the absolute pits for years has rebounded with an incredible amount of herring. Whoever took an interest in that run, your efforts have paid off.

Like Van said, tons of fish and BIG, now just waiting on what feeds on these critters

Canal run was loaded yesterday. Brought my boys down and we followed large groups of them up to Foundry Pond then Great Herring.

http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/h...rfish1/074.jpg
town brook in Plymouth is stuffed from seashore to ladder.

http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/h...rfish1/072.jpg
1/2 mile of bait. So thick you couldn't spook em.(nowhere to run)
There has got to be over a thousand in this pic alone!

That's a beautiful thing!
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awesome pics! now if we could get rid of the mid water trawlers herring #'s would be back in no time...

those are great pic's! we can only hope the stripes are that thick behind them!!:jump1:

That's what the Charles river looks like right now. Never seen so many in all my life. Theyre right up inside the galleria around the fountain.
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Wow, take a picture of that, I've never seen them up the Charles in 30 years up here

I have vid. I'll figure out how to post it from the iPhone tomorrow
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that would be nice to see.