Shore fishing

What are some of your favorite spots to fish when you're stuck on shore? Small ponds are good now but I'm worried it won't be when they warm too much. I'm in the Spot Pond/Mystic Lakes area.

I like quarter mile / spot area. Although I have never caught anything in spot to speak of, I haven't given it it's fair amount of chances in good conditions. Always seems to be mobbed with people too. Same with 1/4 mile. A pretty fishable pond with some good sized bass, but it way overfished, tons of livebait fisherman there too. Harold Parker up in the North Andover, North Reading area has some good fishable shoreline in a few different ponds. (Fields and Brackett being the best bass bets).

Every time I drive down the mystic river pkway in the medford/arlington area, I see tons of fishable shore on that river. Does anyone know if there are bass in that area? It looks shallow but calm, so I always wonder.

Hope this helps, good luck and maybe I'll see you out and about.

Greg

Every time I drive down the mystic river pkway in the medford/arlington area, I see tons of fishable shore on that river. Does anyone know if there are bass in that area? It looks shallow but calm, so I always wonder.

If you mean the Mystic River then yes.

Quarter Mile Pond has been kind to me this year with the bass, but they're pretty small. Maybe I'll try the Mystic. Thanks!

I fish from shore quite a bit as well in the area, and a couple favorites to consider:
1. Wedge Pond, Winchester. Just across from Stop & Shop is an outflow creek that usually holds some bass. Most in the 12-16 inches range, but occasionally larger.
2. Wright Pond, Stoneham/Medford line. can walk back to the shore areas.
3. Horn Pond. On the causeway where the pipes allow flow between the two ponds, plus near Sturgis street boat ramp usually have fish
4. Upper Mystic: walk past the beach to the end of path and there is a channel narrowing to connect two of the lake areas, plus the lake to Aberjona river bridge area (thanks to KMAN who gave me heads up on this), then also the prominent point just south of the beach. When they open the dam area parking lot, the lake overflow area holds bass.
5. Lower Mystic is awesome this time of year. Caught a striper Sunday night below the dam, as well as about 7-10 bass and some yellow perch. Stripers near the dam, bring stiff rod or surfcaster. The bay just south/east of the dam has a huge hydrilla bed. Bass are almost out in the middle of the bay in the hydrilla.
6. Winter Ponds, Winchester. Two small ponds between Wedge and Horn. It has really warmed up, the bass have mostly spawned and there are already groups of bluegill spawning beds. Several places from shore.

Could go on with a few more....

Wow great info! Where do you access Lower Mystic and where are the dams?

I live in that area too and am very interested in hitting the Mystic River. I have never been there before, but have heard there are some nice largemouth bass in there. Someone also told me there are smallmouth in the Mystic, does anyone know if that's true? If you park at the Target plaza on rt 16 there is some good shore access that I'm pretty sure extends quite a ways up the river. There is also some sort of trail across from the Meadowglen mall on rt 16 that has some shore access.

yes there are Smallmouths in the lower lakes and river, I have also heard of them caught in the upper but I have never seen any. The upper is connected to the North res in Winchester and there are smallmouths in there, so surely the upper Mystics has some.

I know I have said this many times on this forum, but SPOT POND!!! It is definitely one of my all-time favorite spots. I went there with hersey 617 Sunday and after about twenty minutes I pulled out a 7.5 lber. Not only did I catch the biggest fish of my life there last year, I have pulled out three 5lb+ fish there in less than a year. I love that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that same spot ?

No I had never been to this spot. It's actually right near turtle rock. I finally know where turtle rock is!

just saw the fish in your profile, very nice. What did you get her on ?

I know I have said this many times on this forum, but SPOT POND!!! It is definitely one of my all-time favorite spots. I went there with hersey 617 Sunday and after about twenty minutes I pulled out a 7.5 lber. Not only did I catch the biggest fish of my life there last year, I have pulled out three 5lb+ fish there in less than a year. I love that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had zero luck with spot from the shore. Where did you cast from and what was your lure?

hack attack jig, 1/2 oz. We were at a typical Spot Pond spot, a shallow cove next to a deep drop off. We scoured the whole cove with square bills and got nothing. We didn't even see one fish in any shallow areas, so I think they are all still deep there. We started tossing jigs deep and thats where she was.

Wow great info! Where do you access Lower Mystic and where are the dams?

To get to the dam that between the lower/upper Mystics, take Mystic Valley Parkway between Winchester and Medford. You can see it on Google maps, the Medford boat club and Tufts boat club are marked on the maps, and the dam is in-between. Right now construction takingg place, but you can park outside the construction area and walk around to get in to the lower lake.

Also, lower lake access from shore along Mystic Valley Pkwy near Medford right where the river goes out of the lower lake. You can also access the south lower lake shore by wlking the sidewalk on the south shore, park near corner of Hayes St/Mystic Valley Pkwy (Google maps).

The Lower Mystic is full of Herring right now so my favorite place, can catch LMB, SMB (they do have SMB) and stripers. Caught a striper Sunday evening.