Gate 5 / New Salem Accesson Quabbin Reservoir
What's working on Quabbin Reservoir
- 01Mysis Shrimp (size 16): A staple for deep-feeding trout and salmon.
- 02Epoxy Minnow (size 6): To imitate baitfish that are actively being targeted.
- 03Balanced Leech (Black) (size 10): A versatile stillwater pattern for aggressive fish.
- 04Blood Dot Egg (size 12): Crucial for targeting trout and salmon keying on eggs.
- 05Zebra Midge (size 20): A subsurface workhorse, especially for picky Rainbow Trout.
- 06October Caddis (size 8): For potential surface feeding activity on warmer, calmer days.
- 07Perch Pattern (size 4): To mimic juvenile perch, a significant food source for larger predatory fish.
What to tie on at Gate 5 / New Salem Access
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Blood Dot Egg
Fall is egg season for trout and salmon, making this a crucial pattern for fish keying on available protein sources near spawning areas.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Midges are the most active winter insect. A black or red Zebra Midge is an essential subsurface pattern for resident rainbows and brook trout when other hatches are dormant.
Buy at AmazonBalanced Leech (Black)
Leeches are a staple forage for predatory fish in stillwaters year-round, effective in mimicking sluggish prey in cooling fall waters.
Mysis Shrimp
Mysis shrimp are a consistent, year-round food source for deep-dwelling fish in Quabbin Reservoir, particularly Lake Trout and Landlocked Salmon.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis
The October Caddis is one of the largest caddis hatches of the year in fall, providing a potential dry fly opportunity on calmer days for rising trout and salmon.
Epoxy Minnow
Imitates baitfish that predatory fish, including Lake Trout and Landlocked Salmon, will be actively targeting as they prepare for colder water.
Buy at AmazonPerch Pattern
Perch are present in Quabbin Reservoir, and fall is prime time for their imitations for larger predatory fish like Lake Trout and Landlocked Salmon.
White Woolly Bugger
A critical winter pattern for Quabbin's Lake Trout (Togue), white streamers effectively imitate the pale underbellies of deep-water forage like smelt or whitefish.
Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early spring, especially on overcast days, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults on Quabbin Reservoir.
Massachusetts season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Fly shops nearby
Local flies, current advice and guided trips.