By Mike Roche

Spring has grudgingly arrived and that means trout stocking of local waters is underway. Those of us ‘Old Codgers’ remember when fishing season in Massachusetts started on the third Saturday of April and it was a much-awaited event. Many would gather the night before in anticipation of the great day and hordes would descend en masse on local fishing spots which would usually be elbow to elbow.

The Millers River in Orange was typical and this writer recalls sitting on the huge concrete blocks behind the Orange Foundry casting out into the Millers in hope of a freshly-stocked trout grabbing your spoon. Local brooks were also a definite target of fishermen, as the limit on brooks was 12 (albeit small by today’s standards) trout. Lake Mattawa—then as now—was also a destination, with many fishermen lining the shores or trolling back and forth in what always seemed to be Artic weather. From riding my bike to the lake to spending an eventful night before with friends who rented a lake house, 10 tears later, it was always a hoot.

One particular opening morning was spent with Jay Rossi. We had use of a boat and crossed Lake Mattawa to fish the far lee shore. As my mind recalls, we caught a bunch of nice trout before triumphantly returning to the dock to gloat. There was a flotilla of boats trolling parallel to the road. Tiger Brooks comes to mind as one of the more passionate trollers, but we did as well as anyone and may have celebrated with a cold beverage.

Although Massachusetts instituted year-round fishing over two decades ago, Quabbin Reservoir still opens the third Saturday of April. The tradition of lining up the night before to be among the first to launch that opening morning still carries on and dedicated Quabbin fishermen have to adhere to specific regulations, besides a different opening day. Boats using Quabbin must be at least 12 feet long and may carry no more than four people. Outboard motors are limited to 20 horsepower for two-stroke motors and 25 horsepower for four-strokes. All boats must be inspected and sealed at an MDC site. The MDC website has a schedule for cleaning.

MassWildlife posts trout stocking information on the agency’s web page and is updated daily for ‘real-time’ info. The trucks are rolling daily and you should check it out regularly. As of Wednesday, when this column was penned, only Lake Mattawa in Orange and Connors Pond and the East Branch of the Swift River in Petersham had been visited by the stocking trucks. But other spots are slated for stocking anytime. The hatchery system had another banner year and MassWildlife will stock nearly 470,000 trout across Massachusetts this spring! Most of the trout will be over 12 inches and more than 175,000 rainbow trout will be over 14 inches. In addition, more than 51,000 brook trout will be over 12 inches will be stocked, including 300 retired brood fish that are all over 18 inches. My favorite, brown trout, will also be plentiful as 50,000 over 12 inches (including nearly 700 retired brood fish over 18 inches) will be stocked. Included in the stocking will be 2,500 of the very popular tiger trout over 14 inches long. More than ample incentive to go online, buy your license, and go fishing this month.

Spring, of course, is also all about wild turkey hunting as the spring hunt fires up a large contingent of sportsmen and women. The toms are gobbling and hens usually start peeling off from the flock to nest in mid-April. Strutting gobblers are showing up in good numbers and the season should be a good one. Things kick off with the Youth Hunt on April 22. Massachusetts has a special hunt with special regulations for hunters aged 12 to 15. Check out the rules online or in the Massachusetts abstract of hunting and fishing laws. Young hunters must have successfully completed a Massachusetts Hunter Education Course and attended a one-day seminar prior to the hunt and have a mentor. There are special rules for that day.

The regular spring turkey season opens April 24 in Zones 1-13 and runs through May 20. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon and a turkey permit is required. You are also required to have an official safety sticker mounted on the top of your shotgun where it is visible to the hunter when sighting down the barrel. The spring limit is two bearded birds, and both may be taken on the same day. Shot size may not exceed #4. You should review the “Ten Commandments of Safe Turkey Hunting” or the Turkey Hunting Safety Tips on page 33 of the Massachusetts Hunting and Fishing Laws booklet to remind yourself of the things that will keep you and others safe while turkey hunting. Hunting is a very safe statistical activity but when turkey hunting you make yourself invisible by wearing camouflage clothing and imitate the game you are hunting. Never wear anything red, white, or blue as these are the colors of a gobbler’s head!

This writer will soon be flying off to Kansas to “visit my sister” and also do little turkey hunting. Happy Easter!

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, Counselor and Director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.

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