While meaning no disrespect toward Frosty, we recently got a glimpse into the malevolent side of snow. The insulating properties have thwarted and in some cases eroded much longed for ice in much of New England. The antidote is rain and a thaw and then a post-front freeze and fortunately that is precisely what is in our future.

Massachusetts Freshwater

Of course if you’re working up a sweat drilling through the 6 to 9 inches of the hard stuff among the Berkshires you’re probably not complaining about not enough ice. And according to Brandon of Granby’s Bait and Tackle that’s what the word on the ice is at The Oxbow, Plainfield Pond and Goose Pond. Being an offshoot of the Connecticut River, the Oxbow is notorious for a real mixed bag of everything from northern pike to slab crappie. If pike is your target you might want to keep your eyes on Quabog Pond, guys have been seen ice fishing not far from the boat ramp of this pike producer. After the thaw, this place should harden up again quickly. Goose Pond is worthy of a special mention since it’s ability to holdover brown trout once resulted in a Masswildlife designation as a trophy brown trout water body. Those unique regulations have since been lifted but it speaks to the potential of Goose.

Rod from Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange told me that the Connecticut Valley Region is not lacking in ice but the same can’t be said for ice fishermen! Hardly anyone is out on good hardwater in Tully Lake, Lake Moore as well as Lake Mattawa. Rod saw a couple of beautiful bows between 16 and 17 inches long that were taken on small shiners not far from the boat ramp and the beach of Mattawa. Moore is stocked with trout as well. For worry-free ice conditions you may want to cross the border into the Hinsdale area of New Hampshire. The Connecticut River “setbacks” are already sporting shanties! This multi-species watershed produces pike and even walleye.

Donny of Merrimack Sports told me that Plugs Pond in Haverhill had 4 inches of good ice recently and while doubtless it will survive the thaw a big chill should lock it up again. Don told me that snow-cover has kept one of his preferred ponds—Tewksbury Pond—from hardening up but this warm water species grab bag is usually a quick freeze pond and once the slush is washed away this is a place to keep watch over.

New Hampshire and Southern Maine

Thankfully, things improve dramatically once you cross the northern border! Tim Moore of Suds ‘N Soda has been testing Clam goodies among numerous Granite State gems and his results have been eye-opening. While a multi-species angler, a personal favorite of his is panfish. According to Tim, the new Dave Genz Legend Series Rods are packed with features such as blanks specifically extruded for ice fishing and fly rod-style guides. The advantage of these guides is that seldom jam with ice which is the curse of the hardwater rod. Tim has been making a ‘gill/crappie killing with tungsten size 12 epoxy drop jigs in white/red topped with Maki Jami soft plastics. A top choice of Tim’s for rainbows and crappie is Willand Pond in Somersworth. Bellamy Reservoir is another good choice. And if you’ve been wondering how well Clam’s new Drill Auger works it appears to be a winner. At only 14 pounds and powered by a lithium powered drill, it even suits a hole hopper such as Tim who follows roving schools of fish on the move.

Jamie Savage from Dover Marine had some interesting things to say when we spoke and it had nothing to do with present fishing conditions. But you just may want to file away what he says for future Groundfishing excursions. Jamie runs a charter business out of Seabrook New Hampshire and last year he caught 3 halibut! In fact he actually began targeting them. If, like me, you regard catching the world’s largest flatfish as the holy grail of New England than you should consider his tip. All of his halibut hookups, even the one’s he lost, were courtesy of a blue cod fly teaser and a fresh mackerel chunk! Jamie did experiment with other offerings but when it came to halibut this combination was a winner! Closer to the present, the Squamscott River was sporting good ice and should be smelt shanty ready soon!

Dillon from Dag’s in Auburn told me of untapped potential from Lake Sabattus as most await January 1st when baitfish can be used once again. Meanwhile anglers can enjoy some fast-paced panfish action on white perch as well as crappie. What makes Sabattus so prolific is that it is stocked with alewives which provide an almost limitless bounty of bait for most of what swims there. Folks are still chasing pike among the “Andro”, knowing that there are 25- to 30-pound pike prowling below the ice there. A couple best bets for the area are Arrowhead Lake (Ossipee Flowage) and Papoose Pond. Both excel as warm water species spots but an added, unexpected bonus from Papoose is that it’s effluence with the Crooked River brings with it occasional brook trout and even landlocked salmon!

Best Bets for the Weekend

You can ride out the thaw this weekend and hope that the cold snap forecasted for next week brings solid ice to the coast and southern parts or you can top off the tank and find hardwater nirvana a relatively short drive away. Odds are good that the 9 inches of ice that some places such as Plainfield Pond in the Berkshires has are going to hold fast. Similar reports of solid ice are coming from Clubhouse Pond in the Connecticut Valley Region. However, to stack the odds in your favor check out the setback sloughs and oxbows of the Connecticut River in the Hinsdale/Claremont region of New Hampshire. Or if Maine is on your menu than the panfish bite is on at Sabattus and there’s is real mixed bag waiting for you from Papoose Pond.