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Boston's Charles River Fishing Report: Spring Bounty Hits the City's Waterway
Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your April 23rd fishing report for the Charles River, right here in Boston.
We saw a calm start today with sunrise around 5:52 AM and sunset expected at 7:35 PM. Weather’s looking pretty cooperative: spring shades with temperatures in the low 50s early, warming up near 60 by afternoon, light winds out of the southwest, no major rain in the forecast. Water clarity is decent, and river level is seasonally steady. The tidal impact diminishes as you go upriver but does influence the Lower Basin, peaking late morning and again in the early evening.
Spring fishing is heating up. This is prime time for bass—largemouth and smallmouth both active now, thanks to warming water and prepping for the spawn. Striped bass are moving into the system from the harbor, chasing the alewife herring and shad runs. Carp and panfish are feeding well as the river greens up but before any big summer algae blooms set in[1][2][4][5].
Local catches this past week have included largemouth bass in the 2 to 4 pound range, especially downstream from the BU Bridge and around the Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons. Reports also mention solid crappie, some big sunfish, and the first wave of schoolie stripers nosing into the Lower Basin after dusk. Carp up to 15 pounds have been seen cruising shallow edges, especially on calm sunny afternoons[2][4][5].
For baits and lures, you want to go with what’s proven: soft plastic worms, tubes, and creature baits in green pumpkin or black for the bass. Lipless crankbaits and small spinnerbaits are drawing aggressive hits, especially near bridge pilings and dropoffs. For striped bass, small swimbaits and bucktail jigs are reliable now. Panfish are taking live worms and small jigs, and the old school nightcrawler works if you’re tempting carp or catfish[1][2].
Top hot spots to try today:
Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons—great early bite for bass and panfish, plus sunset striper potential.
BU Bridge down to the Museum of Science—focus on bridge shadows and dropoffs with a jig or crank.
Elliot Street Bridge area near the Cambridge Boathouse—consistently produces quality bass, especially on moving tide[1][2].
Early morning and late evening are your best bets for active fish, but the bite should hold steady through the day thanks to moderate spring temps and overcast skies drifting in later. The river’s alive, the city’s waking up, and it’s an awesome time to wet a line in Boston.
Tight lines from Artificial Lure—see you on the Charles!
We saw a calm start today with sunrise around 5:52 AM and sunset expected at 7:35 PM. Weather’s looking pretty cooperative: spring shades with temperatures in the low 50s early, warming up near 60 by afternoon, light winds out of the southwest, no major rain in the forecast. Water clarity is decent, and river level is seasonally steady. The tidal impact diminishes as you go upriver but does influence the Lower Basin, peaking late morning and again in the early evening.
Spring fishing is heating up. This is prime time for bass—largemouth and smallmouth both active now, thanks to warming water and prepping for the spawn. Striped bass are moving into the system from the harbor, chasing the alewife herring and shad runs. Carp and panfish are feeding well as the river greens up but before any big summer algae blooms set in[1][2][4][5].
Local catches this past week have included largemouth bass in the 2 to 4 pound range, especially downstream from the BU Bridge and around the Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons. Reports also mention solid crappie, some big sunfish, and the first wave of schoolie stripers nosing into the Lower Basin after dusk. Carp up to 15 pounds have been seen cruising shallow edges, especially on calm sunny afternoons[2][4][5].
For baits and lures, you want to go with what’s proven: soft plastic worms, tubes, and creature baits in green pumpkin or black for the bass. Lipless crankbaits and small spinnerbaits are drawing aggressive hits, especially near bridge pilings and dropoffs. For striped bass, small swimbaits and bucktail jigs are reliable now. Panfish are taking live worms and small jigs, and the old school nightcrawler works if you’re tempting carp or catfish[1][2].
Top hot spots to try today:
Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons—great early bite for bass and panfish, plus sunset striper potential.
BU Bridge down to the Museum of Science—focus on bridge shadows and dropoffs with a jig or crank.
Elliot Street Bridge area near the Cambridge Boathouse—consistently produces quality bass, especially on moving tide[1][2].
Early morning and late evening are your best bets for active fish, but the bite should hold steady through the day thanks to moderate spring temps and overcast skies drifting in later. The river’s alive, the city’s waking up, and it’s an awesome time to wet a line in Boston.
Tight lines from Artificial Lure—see you on the Charles!
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your April 23rd fishing report for the Charles River, right here in Boston.
We saw a calm start today with sunrise around 5:52 AM and sunset expected at 7:35 PM. Weather’s looking pretty cooperative: spring shades with temperatures in the low 50s early, warming up near 60 by afternoon, light winds out of the southwest, no major rain in the forecast. Water clarity is decent, and river level is seasonally steady. The tidal impact diminishes as you go upriver but does influence the Lower Basin, peaking late morning and again in the early evening.
Spring fishing is heating up. This is prime time for bass—largemouth and smallmouth both active now, thanks to warming water and prepping for the spawn. Striped bass are moving into the system from the harbor, chasing the alewife herring and shad runs. Carp and panfish are feeding well as the river greens up but before any big summer algae blooms set in[1][2][4][5].
Local catches this past week have included largemouth bass in the 2 to 4 pound range, especially downstream from the BU Bridge and around the Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons. Reports also mention solid crappie, some big sunfish, and the first wave of schoolie stripers nosing into the Lower Basin after dusk. Carp up to 15 pounds have been seen cruising shallow edges, especially on calm sunny afternoons[2][4][5].
For baits and lures, you want to go with what’s proven: soft plastic worms, tubes, and creature baits in green pumpkin or black for the bass. Lipless crankbaits and small spinnerbaits are drawing aggressive hits, especially near bridge pilings and dropoffs. For striped bass, small swimbaits and bucktail jigs are reliable now. Panfish are taking live worms and small jigs, and the old school nightcrawler works if you’re tempting carp or catfish[1][2].
Top hot spots to try today:
Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons—great early bite for bass and panfish, plus sunset striper potential.
BU Bridge down to the Museum of Science—focus on bridge shadows and dropoffs with a jig or crank.
Elliot Street Bridge area near the Cambridge Boathouse—consistently produces quality bass, especially on moving tide[1][2].
Early morning and late evening are your best bets for active fish, but the bite should hold steady through the day thanks to moderate spring temps and overcast skies drifting in later. The river’s alive, the city’s waking up, and it’s an awesome time to wet a line in Boston.
Tight lines from Artificial Lure—see you on the Charles!
We saw a calm start today with sunrise around 5:52 AM and sunset expected at 7:35 PM. Weather’s looking pretty cooperative: spring shades with temperatures in the low 50s early, warming up near 60 by afternoon, light winds out of the southwest, no major rain in the forecast. Water clarity is decent, and river level is seasonally steady. The tidal impact diminishes as you go upriver but does influence the Lower Basin, peaking late morning and again in the early evening.
Spring fishing is heating up. This is prime time for bass—largemouth and smallmouth both active now, thanks to warming water and prepping for the spawn. Striped bass are moving into the system from the harbor, chasing the alewife herring and shad runs. Carp and panfish are feeding well as the river greens up but before any big summer algae blooms set in[1][2][4][5].
Local catches this past week have included largemouth bass in the 2 to 4 pound range, especially downstream from the BU Bridge and around the Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons. Reports also mention solid crappie, some big sunfish, and the first wave of schoolie stripers nosing into the Lower Basin after dusk. Carp up to 15 pounds have been seen cruising shallow edges, especially on calm sunny afternoons[2][4][5].
For baits and lures, you want to go with what’s proven: soft plastic worms, tubes, and creature baits in green pumpkin or black for the bass. Lipless crankbaits and small spinnerbaits are drawing aggressive hits, especially near bridge pilings and dropoffs. For striped bass, small swimbaits and bucktail jigs are reliable now. Panfish are taking live worms and small jigs, and the old school nightcrawler works if you’re tempting carp or catfish[1][2].
Top hot spots to try today:
Esplanade and Storrow Drive lagoons—great early bite for bass and panfish, plus sunset striper potential.
BU Bridge down to the Museum of Science—focus on bridge shadows and dropoffs with a jig or crank.
Elliot Street Bridge area near the Cambridge Boathouse—consistently produces quality bass, especially on moving tide[1][2].
Early morning and late evening are your best bets for active fish, but the bite should hold steady through the day thanks to moderate spring temps and overcast skies drifting in later. The river’s alive, the city’s waking up, and it’s an awesome time to wet a line in Boston.
Tight lines from Artificial Lure—see you on the Charles!