THE JITTERBUG: DANCE AWAY THE NIGHT ALONG OVERLOOKED BASS HOES

Now that summer has departed and is just a memory, the serious business of fall bass fishing is about to begin. As water temperatures start to drop in many local ponds, the bass fishing improves greatly with good sized largemouth feeding heavily in preparation for the winter months ahead. There is a period when bass become very active and it falls just after water temperatures start to drop. This active period generally falls during the month of October.

Nighttime largemouth bass fishing can be a time of peace and quiet but it also offers anglers a chance at some fantastic top water action. One o f the most favored of all top water baits has to be the jitterbug. This longtime favorite causes a commotion on the surface due to it’s cup shaped metal mouth. The side to side motion of a slowly retrieved Jitterbug might emulate a small mouse, a dying perch, frog or bird struggling on the surface. This triggers an aggressive response from any good sized bucketmouth in the general vicinity.

Work your Jitterbug slowly along the weedlines and fallen trees, but don’t overlook open water, where bass will often roam after the sun goes down. After your plug hits the water, allow it to rest until all the ripples have dispersed. At this time start to retrieve the plug slowly. Some times the initial landing of the plug will startle a lunker but often times the lunker will return to the scene quickly to inspect the intrusion. The gurgling of a correctly retrieved plug will find bass unable to control the instinct to strike and strike hard.

Largemouth bass fishermen will often agree that the spring and fall are the best times of the year to be on the lookout for lunker sized bucketmouths. Aggressively looking for food, largemouth bass will seldom pass over any offering. Bait fishermen do extremely well during this period but there is nothing like the explosive action created by the bass savagely attacking a surface lure. The waters turn into a mini storm and the splash of a striking fish grabs your attention and sets off a stream of excitement that is hard to duplicate.

Every fisherman has his preferences for bait whether it is live or artificial so during this article we will look at some of the local bass holes around Boston rather than the baits used to catch bass. We will be looking at some of the bass holes that are often overlooked but quite productive. All the bodies of water are within easy reach of Boston and hold the promise of great fishing with the potential of hooking up with a prized fish.

LYNN: The first pond we will look at is located just a short distance outside of Boston in Lynn. This pond is located in the heart of the city and is generally overlooked as a pond that is heavily over fished. Just north of RT. 129, Flax Pond has earned the reputation of being a "sleeper pond". There are many access points along the pond but the main access is along Magnolia St. There are no launching facilities but is suitable for car-toppers and canoes. There are no designated parking areas and often times during weekends parking can be a challenge.

Flax Pond is a 71 acre body of water that has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. The bottom consists of sand and rubble with aquatic vegetation common throughout the pond. Though easily fished in a day, this pond provides plenty of quality fishing. The heaviest fishing pressure is from the local kids and every year trophy bass make the outdoor columns.

WOBURN: The second pond we will look at is Horn Pond. Horn Pond is located a short distance outside the town of Woburn. This 102 acre pond has an average depth of 10 feet with a maximum depth of 40 feet. The shoreline is lightly developed and a launching ramp is located on the southern end of the pond at Pond St. Water transparency is limited to about 6 feet.

Fall is a very productive time of the year for bass fishermen. Night fishing is fantastic with good numbers of lunkers falling for surface baits, jerk baits and live offerings. Unfortunately, the town of Woburn closes the boat ramp early thus limiting night fishing to the shores. This is truly a pond that is generally forgotten about by most bass fishermen. It is definitely a pond

LYNNFIELD: The next pond that we should look at is located just about a mile south of Lynnfield Center. Pillings Pond is an 86 acre pond that is truly under fished. One might say that it’s productivity is a well kept secret. Water transparency is limited to about 5 feet. Aquatic vegetation is spread out over the pond and provides adequate cover for lurking bass.

Pillings Pond is heavily developed with very limited parking and access. Small car-toppers and canoes have to be carried from the road to the public access which is not far from the road. Access to the pond is gained from Summer St. Even from this point, fishermen have scored nicely of aggressive bass. Often times the best fishing takes place along the northern shore. The pond was dredged a few years ago and has helped to increase the fish populations that inhabit the pond.

DANVERS: The next pond, Putnamville Reservoir, located in Danvers just off Rt. 35, is a popular bass hole but is generally forgotten about during the fall months. This productive pond is popular throughout he summer and covers 207 acres with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water fluctuations throughout the year makes Putnamville a challenging pond to fish. Just when you think you have everything figured out, things change.

Conditions at the pond change frequently. There are productive coves, drop-offs, weeded areas, an island, under water hills and outflow. The western side of the reservoir is generally most productive during the late afternoon into evening. Night fishing at the reservoir is very productive with lunkers caught along the walls and the island. This is another body of water that should not be overlooked during the fall season.

There are numerous other smaller bodies of water that are very productive during the fall. Many of these ponds are very small and can not sustain the fishing pressure of hordes of fishermen. Stop by your local tackle shop to gain some insight as to just where some of these ponds are. Another way to locate productive ponds is to look over maps and then go exploring.

Well, these are a few of the better bass holes that are overlooked by many fishermen. I hope that you have the opportunity to try out one or more of these ponds so that you may enjoy the thrill and excitement of tight lines.