Ayuh, I'm in New England. Massachusetts here. I've fished the heck out of the Wachusett Res, and I love that body of water. 4 lb smallies, keep going! I got a few state pins out of there , my biggest smallie was at that bridge near the stone church, using a 3 inch perch pattern sinking hard bait. I do occasionally thow a crawdad out there and you can't lose with those.
Some of the best spots for the smallies are on the south side of that bridge at the stone church crossroads, and along Rt 70 in W Boylston theres a few pulloffs near the pump house, before you get to the MA Wildlife office. Along the road, the res is pretty shallow, good in early season but keep walking when it gets warm, and go down that abandoned service road at the bend, and you'll have some amazing opportunities going around that inlet. If you're feeling frisky and you can take a bit of a walk, hike your way around that inlet, and along that granite outcropping, and it gets deep and rocky there, I've got some beauties there. Follow that slope around the edge and it opens into another inlet thats crazy rocky with some deep pockets. Wonderful day out. It'll be hard to leave that spot, I tell ya.
If you want some lakers or rainbows early season, get to that pump house near the rail trail entrance, off of 140. When that pump house lets go theres some fast, clear cold water from the Quinnepoxet rolling into the res. Fast water! Great for a spoon or a small jig presentation.
I got more stories... but that'd get you started I reckon.