Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report 1-3-2012

Bait and tackle shop owners, most of who survived last year on a shoe-string budget, sound as if they won the Kentucky Derby, and it’s all because of a little ice. And with no depth-deterring snow predicted in the foreseeable future, it looks as if the “little” may become more than enough on most water bodies. While southeastern Massachusetts waits their turn, augers are already turning out west and up north.

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland is getting the calls and the visits at a dizzying pace and they’re all peppered with two questions: “do you have bait?” and “where’s the ice?” Many are finding that it is like a brand-new world out there as they lay claim to black ice on water bodies that haven’t been ice-fished for what seems like eons. Just play it safe out there—being first should take a back seat to being careful. Don’t head out without a friend, have ice picks at the ready and a spud to measure ice thickness along your route. Many places were sporting 2 ½ to 3 inches of black ice and should add more over the next few days. White in Concord is looking good for the weekend, as is Hopkinton Reservoir. Heard is worth checking out and maybe spudding the shallows for a depth check, but expansive Cochituate was open save for a cove or two. And for the answer to that most-posed question, Lunkers is loaded with bait.

How big and plentiful are the shiners that Jim has from Barry’s in Worcester? He’s talking in terms of pounds! Well…in aggregate that is. But he’s not only doubling his order for pike shiners, he is getting the highly coveted suckers beginning next week! It’s looking good for Ripple Pond, Newton Pond and quite possibly Quaboag Pond and The Oxbow. Not yet on Quinsigamond, since guys were open-water fishing that only a few days ago. Eddie of B&A in West Boylston has a complete assortment of shiners including pike bait. Word is good for Peter Carr in Holden, and a drive-by patron of the shop became hopelessly distracted when he saw pike chasers out on Chauncey. Comet was locking up by the beach on Thursday and may be solid in a few days.

Rod from Flagg’s in Orange told me that Lake Mattawa already has a few anglers out but they are sticking within about 30 feet of the shoreline. The sound of augers churning is already echoing from North Spectacle Pond, Lake Rohunta and Clubhouse Pond. Rod has people ready to sniff out the setbacks, which are oxbows and ponds off the Connecticut River in the Claremont/Hinsdale area of Southwest New Hampshire. Those unique waterways harbor pike and even walleye.

Bob from Merrimack Sports told me that Lake Attitash was largely skimmed over as was nearby Tewksbury. With the cold snap continuing, especially the ice-making nights, look for these places to lock up soon. No word on broodstock salmon water bodies yet such as Plugs Pond and Forest Lake, but odds are that they will be next.

First ice is old news for some New Hampshire fishermen according to Chad from Dover Marine who said that 4-plus inches of ice has been entertaining anglers for days. They are catching warmwater species as well as trout from Willand Pond in Dover. Swains Pond as well as Baxter is all a go! For something bigger as in lake trout big there’s Lake Stinson in Rumney, which Jamie from the shop will be checking out soon after not long ago hooking a leviathan of a laker that gulped a 9-inch Storm Shad and proceeded to break him off! And for smelt fans, Tim from Suds ‘N Soda is predicting that by the weekend there will be Bob Houses on the bay – Great Bay that is! It looks as if smelt season is upon us!

Regarding smelt, plans are underway for a number of Merrymeeting Bay/Kennebec River smelt camps to be opened for this weekend. The link is; http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreational/smeltcamps/index.htm and you had better book your reservations now! And where there’s smelt, there will be something to eat them. Marcel from Dag’s in Auburn told me of an angler on Thursday who caught something that could eat a good deal more than a smelt, namely a 21-pound pike! Along with that trophy toothy, this guy took a 15-pounder and 9-pounder at the Turner Boat Ramp on the Androscoggin River. Most any pond or lake that is part of the Andro watershed has pike, so don’t limit yourself just to the river. The bite has been good also at Lake Sabattus. The brown trout bite is best at Worthley Pond with a mixture of trout are cooperating at the Range Ponds.

Fishing Forecast

Certainly the Fishing Forecast has been greatly improved by the weather forecast, which should lead to ice, ice and more ice. Play it safe if your homebase is along the eastern side of the Bay State. Instead, check out the much more ice-friendly regions out west or, even better, up north. If crappie is your flavor, drop a glow-jig tipped with a grub into North “Spec” in the Orange area or try tempting a toothy from Lake Chauncy. For trout, Peter Carr is looking good and by this weekend just maybe Comet. Over the border the prospects of a pail full of smelt are promising from Great Bay and the Merrymeeting Bay. But for the absolute best bite, literally, give Lake Sabattus or the Androscoggin Watershed a try where there are pike big enough to scare you!