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Hi Mike,

Did the local guy say why they were going to lower the lake 85 acres? I hope the state comes in to do something if the can. We are losing a lake or access almost every year. Webster is one instance but we do still have the state ramp. They ruined the fishing at Shirley and did a number at Singletary as well.

Too bad. That is a nice, close lake with a lot of tournaments. I was thinking of going there this upcoming Saturday but it sounds like the fishing was tough for you. Lake Shirley used to be a gem. It would take 15 pounds to win many of the events, espeically now. Well, for the last 3 years they have sprayed for weeds. In addition, they annually do a lake drawdown of several feet and folks believe that many of the fish were caught in a shallow cove and the birds ate them. For the past two years, it may take only 5.5 pounds for 5 fish to win and many of the fish are 10 inches and have sores on them. Very few big fish. They also sprayed for weeds at Singletary. During June in years past it took almost 16 pounds to win. Now it was 9. Not sure about this year as I have not been there but the fishing is getting very tough there.

Hi Jack,

Don't feel bad. That place is one of the toughest around. I was there a few weeks ago and only managed 3 keepers. Plus there have been a lot of big tournaments there lately so what few fish are there have been heavily pressured. I think the rowing season just ended so now they allow for tournametns. It is too bad as it is a nice lake that is close to many people.

There seems to be a trend now across the state for the local lake associaton folks to kill all the weeds on the lakes they live on. Anybody who fished Shirley about 5 years ago can vouch that the weed kill as well as the lake drawdown has killed the fishing there. I live on Forge Pond in Littleton, MA and they do a drawdown in the winter that has helped. I used to have prime fishing right in front of my house but now the weeds are 100% gone and the reason is that one of my neighbors illegally put chemicals in the water to kill the weeds so their kids could go swimming. I have spoken with some of the state biologists and this sort of thing is becoming more common.