Who's up for a ice fishing derby?

[pete santini]

O.k. guys it's pretty damn cold out what are we gonna do about it sit around on the keyboard and complain or we gonna have an ice fishing derby some sunday morning Everybody throw in 20$ we'll get some burgers sausage coffee what ever have alittle bbq and catch bass pickerell perch and maybe trout lets find a pond about 20 miles away from boston with plenty of acceess and decent fishing as far as dates how about jan 16 a sunday we'll decide on what the prizes will be ie 1 2 3rd for each cataegoryLets make sures its catch and release does anybody have a portable digital scale?bring the kids we'll doit fr7;30 a.m until 1p.m or something like that.whaddya think santini

[reelecstasy]

I will join ya, as long as I have the day to play...The new xmass Korkers will come in handy...

[fishweewee]

Mind if I jig your hole?

That's a nice tip-up you have there.

[pete santini]

any ideas on where to have the derby gotta be close to boston about 20 miles or so

[BigFish]

On some ice? I would be interested but I am unaware of any safe ice. Plenty spots over my way...Whitmans Pond in Weymouth, Ames Nowell in Abington....Plymouth is great with Little Pond and Long Pond.

[fishweewee]

Buddy can you spare an auger? I can't seem to find mine.

[CANAL RAT]

i would wait till middle january for a ice fishing derby thats when the ice is very safe

[In The Surf]

I've got a couple of choice spots in Rhody and CT. Catching large LM's is nice but my ice pursuit involves northerns over 20#.

[tynan19]

I'm game, but I have to work that Sunday. Could always call in sick.

[reelecstasy]

No safe hard water round here yet...but, soon come... Gonna have to get the sweet water license early this year, if we are talking the 2nd week of the year...

I just wanna watch BF run across the ice after the flag...

[FishermanTim]

I already got my fiching license for 2005 last week.
The MassWildlife website has online licenses, and it is mailed within 3-5 days.
They have lists that tell places that should be good for specific species such as Largemouths, Smallmouths, Pike/Muskies, stocked trout waters, and even Broodstock Salmon.
They also have printable pond maps for most of the state, so there is a very good selection to choose from. About 95% of the maps also have survey information that list the most recent sampling of fish taken from that particular body of water.

I found a few ponds that were productive (for me) for my first season on the ice.

I'm interested in a derby, but alas, I will have to plan to "not be working" that weekend. (I'm helping my brother with his summer cottage project up near Winnipesauke.)

[Canalratt1]

I live to ice fish! Best bet is a pond with lots of perch, bass and pickeral. Trout fishing tends to be pretty slow. The better ponds for action with plenty of parking around my way is Whitmans Pond in Weymouth, Sunset Lake in Braintree, either of the Twin Lakes (Monponsett) in Halifax/Hanson. Further south towards Plymouth Billington Sea in Morton State Park is great too. I have a digital scale, Catch and release! My favorite spots are on the Cape if you get the ice! I hear yah Inthe surf chaseing northerns is an obsession to me!

[pete santini]

Lets see what we get for weather for the next week we should be o.k. for mid jan hows that ponkapoag pond in randolph is it easy access and can you fish it?

[bart]

Originally posted by In The Surf
I've got a couple of choice spots in Rhody and CT. Catching large LM's is nice but my ice pursuit involves northerns over 20#.

don't forget about me dave. i'll follow your tracks in the snow if need be

[Shawn B]

I'm am game for something like this as well. How would some of you guys feel about going to Lake Winnicunnet (winny) which may be a little furter south of Boston than you were thinking but can be well worth the little extra drive. Lots of big bass and pickerel in the lake with an outside shot at tiger muskies and an occasional big brown trout. Plenty of parking there in a big lot by Ann's restaurant which is right off 495 at the Taunton/Norton line. I have a Rapala digital and a jiffy power auger ready to go just waiting on some safe ice.

[reelecstasy]

power auger=You can ride with me I have some shweet ponds a little south but not very user friendly for more than a couple of guys...

[Canalratt1]

Pete, Ponky has a rather small parking area. I don't like to ice fish there cause the rat pics drive you up a wall! Winnicunett can be good but have never heard of trout caught there????

[Shawn B]

Canalrat, I didn't think there were any in Winny myself but I did witness an older gentleman take two Browns out there last winter way out in the back by the river. One of them was 2 lbs plus I would say. I believe they stock that river every spring so the fish may be able dump into the lake if they want to but I'm not sure? I was hoping to get out there yesterday but it wasn't safe yet. First ice there can be awesome!!!!

[CANAL RAT]

long pond in plymouth is right up the street from me its very good for trout(BIG browns),salmon and i have seen some lunker smallmouth and largmouth taken out of there. you need a deep freeze for long pond to be safe. in some spots its 100ft deep

[thefishingfreak]

can i bring my boat

[pete santini]

O.k so winnicutt looks good for me how fare is it from downtown boston and how you get there from 93 south?

[Shawn B]

Pete, I would say it is about 45-50 minutes from downtown. It's really easy to get to. Take 93 south to 128 then onto 24 north. Take exit 14 off of rte 24 to 495 north before the burger kings and then take exit 9 off of 495 the norton exit. Take a right off the ramp onto Bay st towards Norton and the lake is immediately on your left. follow it for a few hundred yards and you will see a big restaurand called Ann's and there is a big parking lot which would be where we could all meet up.

[pete santini]

Very important does the restuarant have a bar? I think the winner has to buy us a round

[Shawn B]

I believe it does have a bar inside! I have about a dozen extra traps if someone here wants to come but doesn't have the equipment to go. Just shoot me a pm if you are interested in using them.

[JohnR]

You all have fun and send pics - I'll be away in Balmy Bridgeport, CT that weekend

[S-Journey]

I'm interested, sounds like fun.

[reelecstasy]

Originally posted by thefishingfreak
can i bring my boat

As long as it handles ice better than the Titanic

[fishweewee]

Originally posted by JohnR
You all have fun and send pics - I'll be away in Balmy Bridgeport, CT that weekend

Whatchoo doing there?

[tattoobob]

i am thinking badacoock in groton or whites pond in concord

i am looking to catch some salmon and some brookies and bows

i have a power auger and a chipper no power auger for whites

bob

with the snow it acts as a insulator and it will take longer to freeze
first week in feb is usually good around me

bob

[pete santini]

Tatoo trout fishing can be mighty slow through the ice and whites is a pain because you cant use a gas auger and parking tight same over at waldon i used to fish both of them with smelt for nice browns Thats why i think we should focus more on bass pickerell and maybe a trout or salmon Besides its a catch and release tourney and trout die really easy once they swallow a bait. But lets have a vote everybody pick a pond they like and we'll see which one wins