Although largemouth bass are available, and in some waters in good supply, most waters contain mostly smallmouth bass. This is because Vermont waters are generally cold and largemouths, with their slow growth rate, have trouble surviving in many areas. Also, on some of the state's smaller waters, where there is a history of stunted growth, slot limits have been implemented to increase bass sizes.

Lake Champlain, Lake Bomoseen north of Castleton and Lake St. Catherine north of Wells are three of the Green Mountain State's best bets for bass.

Lake Bomoseen has a healthy population of largemouths, with some in the 6- to 8-pound range. Smallmouth bass are also present. Lake St. Catherine is known for its trophy bass.

Other spots that should offer good fishing this year include Lake Dunmore in Dunmore, Lake Hortonia in Hortonia and Glen Lake in Benson and Castleton.

For more information on bass fishing opportunities, contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, 103 South Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676; call (802) 241-3700, or visit the VFW Web site at www.anr.state.vt.us.

Today, Massachusetts' bass fishing is considered some of the best in New England, with a year-round fishing season, a five-fish-per-day creel limit and a 12-inch minimum length limit.

The state's management strategy consists of the ongoing monitoring of populations through electroshocking studies, netting, angler creel surveys and the monitoring of fishing tournaments. Data gathered in 2003 showed that length, weight and growth rates of bass in the state are good; populations are stable; recruitment is high and there are plenty of big, even some trophy-sized, fish. Given all this, look for some excellent opportunities in 2004.

Finding good bass water in Massachusetts is not difficult, and trophy-sized fish are available in a number of lakes, ponds, reservoirs and rivers. West Onota and Pontoosuc lakes in Pittsfield, Lake Buel in Monterey and Goose Pond in Lee are considered top spots. In the Connecticut Valley, take a look at the Congamond lakes in Southwick, Hamilton Reservoir in Holland, Quabbin Reservoir and the Connecticut River. Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, Webster Pond in Webster, Singletary Pond in Sutton and the A-1 Site in Westboro offer good bass fishing in the central region.

In the northeast, Lake Cochituate in Natick, Saltonstall Lake in Haverhill and the Concord River are good bets; and in the southeast region, places like Sabbatia Lake in Taunton, Sampson Pond in Carver, Long Pond in Lakeville and Mashpee-Wakeby Pond in Mashpee all produce giant bass.

For more information, contact MassWildlife, Route 135, Westboro, MA 01582; call (508) 792-7270, or visit their Web site at www. masswildlife.com.

Present management strategies include regulations such as the state-wide five-fish-per-day creel limit and 12-inch length limit; monitoring programs and creel census studies, plus stockings in waters such as Tiogue Lake in Coventry, Pausacaco Pond in Burrilville and Watchaug Pond in Charlestown, where 8- to 12-inch bass have been stocked since the mid-1970s. Fisheries division personnel sample these and other waters through angler surveys and electroshocking studies to monitor catch rates and fish size.

A statewide stream and pond survey that has been underway since 1993 is just about complete. The next step is to determine if any new regulations or management techniques are needed on specific waters. Meanwhile, 2004 should be another good year.

Some top waters include Worden Pond in South Kingston, Indian Lake along Route 138, the Flat River Reservoir near Coventry, Stafford Pond (good for smallmouths) in Tiverton, Belleville Pond in North Kingston and Pascoag Pond, generally considered one of the best warmwater fisheries in the state.

For more information on bass fishing in Rhode Island, contact the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, Great Swamp Headquarters, West Kingston, R.I. 02892; call (401) 780-0281, or visit the division's Web site at www.state.ri.us/dem.

Biologists feel that any management change should be based in part on the desires of the angling public. For that reason, the Department of Environmental Protection conducted preliminary angler surveys across the state and found that they desired higher quality fishing and that they would favor lake-specific management to reach that goal.

The end result has been the creation of trophy bass management areas (TBMA) on certain waters and big bass management areas (BBMA) on others. The plan is to increase the number of big bass or trophy bass in these waters by implementing a slot limit, increasing length limits and decreasing bag limits.

There are presently five TBMA waters. They include Amos Lake in Preston, Midge Pond in Sharon, Moodus Reservoir in East Haddam and Pattagansett Lake in East Lyme.

On these waters the slot limit is 12 to 18 inches and the daily creel limit is six bass, not more than one of which may be over 18 inches. Lake Saltonstall in Branford is also on this list, but the minimum length is 18 inches and the daily creel limit is one bass.

As for BBMA, there are presently 24 of them. On 17 of these waters, including Bashan Lake in Bashan, the Bolton Lake in Bolton, Lake Chamberlain in Bethany, Coventry Lake in Coventry, Hayward Lake in East Haddam, Lake Kenosia in Danbury, Pickerel Lake in Colchester and Wononscopomuc Lake in Salisbury, the slot limit is 12 to 16 inches and the daily creel limit is six bass, no more than two of which may be over 16 inches. On seven ponds, including Gardner Lake in Salem, Highland Lake in Winchester and Taftville Reservoir, however, there is a minimum length limit of 16 inches and the daily creel limit is two bass.

For more information and a complete list of these special management areas, contact the Connecticut DEP, 79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106; call (860) 424-3555, or visit their Web site at www.dep.state. ct.us.