Go fish! It’s the ultimate activity for social distancing - Lowell Sun

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Wattles Pond is dotted with lily pads, umbrellaed by lush local flora and almost completely insulated from the sounds of Longley Road, which abuts its western boundary. The secluded pond is a closed-system estuary that has no natural incoming or outflowing water, causing fluctuations in its depth and footprint. But whatever its depth, it provides residents from Groton and neighboring Pepperell with a bountiful supply of bass, pickerel and catfish.

PHOTO BY SCOTT SHURTLEFF

Phal Uy checks the lure before tossing it into the waters of the Concord River in Lowell.

It is just one of dozens of locations in the area that provide a respite from online phishing to line fishing. Nashoba Valley, Middlesex County has an expansive spider web of rivers that keep local anglers well-supplied with trophies and photo-ops and, in rare cases, dinner.

“There is no better example of physical distancing than fly-fishing,” said Charlie Shadan, owner of Evening Sun Fly Shop in Pepperell.

The downtown specialty shop rests near the banks of the Nissitissit River, a 10.5-mile stream that snakes its way through town. In normal circumstances, the river would offer brook trout by the dozen to fly-fishermen. But the prolonged and persistent drought has dried up the sport, as it has at other area rivers like the Concord, Merrimack, Squanocook, Nissitissit and Nashua, among others.

PHOTO COURTESY ERIC CURRAN

Eric Curran shows off the bass he pulled from Kenny Pond while dad Mike Curran celebrates. Kenny Pond is the unofficial name of Dunstable’s conservation pond

Many of the region’s fishing spots are part of protected conservation lands, but Willard Brook in Townsend is a state park that offers camping, hiking and a plethora of year-round outdoor activities. The brook is woven into the contours of Main Street, running beside, under and along both sides of Route 119 like two tendrils of the same being.

Here, too, like all Massachusetts lakes and rivers, a valid fishing license is required. Anyone aged 15 and older must procure a license from the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Yearly licenses cost $27.50 for residents, $16.25 for persons aged 60-69. Licenses are required for ages 70 and older and ages 15-17, but are free. Short-term and out-of-state licensing is also available. Check the state’s website for details, including riders for saltwater fishing.

Leaving Townsend via the Squanacook River reveals dozens of sweet spots all the way into Shirley. There, you will find many high-profile casting points and several secretive ones.
“Getting people to reveal their secret fishing spots is like asking for their bank-card PIN number,” Shadan said.

PHOTO BY SCOTT SHURTLEFF

Even from her wheelchair, Sareut Roum can pull sunfish from Lowell’s canals.

Understandably, locals are equally protective of their environment and urge out-of-towners to respect the surrounding neighborhoods and the grounds around the fishing areas.
“Don’t leave your trash or belongings here,” said more than one person.

Fitchburg — or in this instance, Fishburg — boasts visits from the waters of the Nashua River as well as several ponds and reservoirs. Mostly located within the urban area, these ponds offer a walkable respite from the city’s to-do and noise.

PHOTO COURTESY REBECCA CURRAN

Rebecca Curran catches a beauty at Kenny Pond in Dunstable.

Situated inside Crocker Conservation Area, Overlook Reservoir (aka Overbrook) is a remote recreation area that serves up trout and other native species. Only shoreline fishing is allowed here, as well as at Scott Reservoir a few miles away. Walking trails encircle the pond, which is contained by a dam to maintain levels.

Squanacook, no matter where along its banks you cast from, is a mecca for fly-fishers. Flowing water is most conducive to fly-fishing, but still water offers a unique set of challenges and triumphs, albeit with different species. Again though, only upriver of the dam is there enough water for fruitful casting.

Even the mighty Merrimack River is an emaciated version of its normal plumpness, summer’s suffering of winter’s laziness. The mild winter produced less than normal snowfall, thereby reducing an expected spring melt-off to a mere trickle by the time it arrived in Lowell.

With no current, no depth and no contiguous network of water, the Merrimack’s bass and stripers were forced into densely packed pools of standing water. Like students this past spring, the drought has forced the fish to home-school, shrinking their numbers and growth. But some of the canals still have adequate depths.

The Concord River, too, remains full in some locations, particularly behind the dams. In Billerica and into Lowell, the river is more popular than ever. As other flowing waters dissuade anglers, the Concord welcomes them. Largemouth bass and even catfish provide a challenge for sportsmen and women.

STAFF PHOTO BY JULIA MALAKIE

Bobby Desrosiers fishes with his daughter, Brinley, 3, at Lake Mascuppic in Tyngsboro.

Along most of its winding mileage, the Concord is accessible by car, foot or motorless crafts. The competition for the fish comes from hawks and herons, who do not “catch-and-release” as most Massachusetts fishermen and women do.

Damon Pond in Ashby is one of few places you can swim with the fish and fish with the swimmers. It is one-stop shopping for aquatic activities and perfect for family outings — even kayaks are welcome. Although often overlooked by its larger cousin in Ashby, the Fitchburg Reservoir, Damon is a secret gem known mostly for its tranquility.

Locals likewise have “secret” inlets and coves that have brought years of successful bounty. But anywhere around its perimeter can serve as a sweet spot depending on bait, time of day and season.

Kenny Pond is the unofficial name of Dunstable’s conservation pond that is tucked away from roadways. It appears anonymously on most maps, and its location is on a need-to-know basis.
And townies are the only ones who need to know.

The surface is the calm dividing line between two raucous ecosystems. The restless and hungry bass below are formidable opponents for the restless and patient anglers above.

There’s a look at some of the best fishing holes around. All you have to do is pick one and grab your rod and reel.

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Go fish! It’s the ultimate activity for social distancing - Lowell Sun
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