"All of the southeast region ponds get really good action when they freeze in winter," Hartley said. "But they are all good spring open-water ponds," he added, pointing out that there is no ice-fishing allowed at Quabbin or Wachusett. "Quabbin is really good all the time if you know where to go, and Long Pond is very good when it freezes. It's a popular tournament lake with good catches year 'round.

"Options for the northeast part of the state include the Charles, Concord and Nashua rivers, which have all really come into their own as bass fisheries," Hartley said. "It's pretty much open water, but when they freeze, anglers can fish the coves." In central Massachusetts, anglers should try their luck at Webster Lake.

In the Connecticut Valley, the Connecticut River is a great producer, Hartley continued.

"The Congamond lakes in Southwick are No. 1 other than the Connecticut River, and consistently produce good largemouths in all seasons."

Anglers in the western part of the state should try the Cheshire Reservoir and Lake Buel.

"While smallmouth bass are limited in distribution, we have some fantastic smallmouth waters," Hartley said. Best bets include many of the waters listed above, as well as Peter's, Spectacle, Great Herring, Cliff, Flax and John's ponds.

For fisheries information, visit www.masswildlife.com or call (508) 792-7270. For travel information, go towww.visit-massachusetts.com.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Granite State has over 1,300 lakes and ponds, with bass populating about half of them. An ambitious dam removal program has restored bass habitat along several rivers, as well. The 10-foot-high, 137-foot West Henniker Dam has been removed from the Contoocook River, opening up new habitat for the river's plentiful supply of smallmouths. This was the fourth dam to be removed in the state for the purpose of habitat restoration since 2001.

With so many great bass waters, four-season action isn't hard to find. Gabe Gries, a New Hampshire fisheries biologist, said big spring largemouths have been taken from the Connecticut River setbacks and from Pool Pond, and noted that New Hampshire bass fishing really heats up by mid-May.

As summer approaches, some best bets for hungry bass include the Connecticut River, Willard Pond, Forest, Warren, Highland and Laurel lakes, Lake Monomonac and Thorndike, Rockwood and Pearly ponds.

"Laurel Lake's smallmouths and largemouths are abundant," Gries reported, "with most fish being less than 15 inches long. This particular population would benefit from some harvest of 10- to 12-inch bass, so if you like catching lots of bass and are willing to take a few home to eat, this is the place to go."

By July, Gries said, smallmouth bass are in full summer patterns, with most anglers reporting success in water as deep as 25 to 35 feet. As with most sport fish, early morning and late afternoon until dark are prime times for smallmouth bass. One of our favorite methods is fly-fishing poppers over rock shoals late in the day.

"In our clear waters, smallmouths will come a surprising distance for an easy meal, often 20 feet or more," he said. "With the majority of quality-sized bass down even deeper, it certainly is not the most productive technique at this time of year, but there is nothing like a smallmouth smashing a popper."

Gries said that bass fishing on the big lakes remains outstanding into the fall.

The fun continues into winter, with anglers pulling bass up through the ice at Highland Lake, Island Pond, Contoocook, Lake Potanipo, Cresent Lake and Drew Lake.

Some good waters to try for include Pemigewasset and Wickwas lakes, the shallow bays along Lake Winnipesaukee, Hawkins Pond, Lees Mills Pond and Suncook Lakes.

For fisheries information, visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us or call (603) 271-2501. For travel information, go to www.visit-newhampshire.com.