When hardwater necessities turns from traps and augers to planks and ladders in order to access safe ice, it is time to seek alternatives. Fortunately there are two solid options for ice junkies who have witnessed the thaw trash local ice. You can take a short road trip or wait and hope for the predicted chill of next week to lock up lakes and ponds once again.
Massachusetts Fishing Report
Meanwhile Jim from JCB Bait in Cheshire offers a word to the wise: a report of good ice is not a substitute for good old common sense. Until we get a sustained cold shot shorelines should be treated with skepticism. Providing that you spud or chisel the first few feet from the shore you should find safe ice among most water bodies in the western part of the state. Latest reports peg the ice at Cheshire Reservoir between 8” to 10” but be cautious until you are sure where you intend to fish is safe. Anglers are also out and about at Lake Pontoosuc as well as Lake Onota. All three of these water bodies should be on your list if you’re goal is to ice a pike.
Brandan from Granby’s B&T told me that most are likely to run out of energy cutting holes before they run out of ice in the Berkshires. A couple salmonid best bets are Goose Pond and Plainfield Pond, both of which are stocked with a variety of trout. Brandan also recommended Lake Buel as well as Pontoosuc and Onota. Beware of rivers: post-thaw the Oxbow on the Connecticut River reportedly rose 6 feet!
The Connecticut Valley Region survived the thaw quite nicely. There are no worries for those targeting trout at Clubhouse Pond, slab crappie at the “Specs” as well as black bass from Rohunta.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
There is a lot less concern about safe ice once you cross the border according to Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair in Nashua, New Hampshire. Cobbetts Pond as well as Canobie Lake have the enviable combination of plenty of ice and no shortage of trout. In fact Cobbetts has been responsible for at least one 7 pound brown trout this year! Joe’s stoked about what just might be the hottest trout lure of the year – the PK Minnow! Second on that list is the firetiger Jigging Rap. A panoply of panfish is there for the taking among the setbacks or oxbows off the Nashua River where the crappie bite has been crazy. Some have taken slabs up to 17” long have by anglers downsizing to 2-pound test, tiny tungsten jigs as well as Maki soft plastics. In addition to rod and reel repair Joe’s shop is just the place to get your traps back in order.
Jason from Suds ‘N Soda said that caution should be exercised regarding the channels of Great Bay, at least until things harden up again – but the bay itself still has hard ice! The problem is that the smelt are still not cooperating as of yet regardless. Jason did hear of a better bite up north in Dresden, Maine where patrons are reporting 50 to 100 fish outings. Jason also recommends Pleasant Lake in Deerfield for a mixed bag of species. Please note that ice fishing is not allowed on designated Trout Ponds. More info here: http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/fishing/freshwater/lakes-ponds-general-rules/
Maine Fishing Report
Dylan from Dag’s in Auburn, Maine said it was an uneventful week in those parts; however, the angler who was spotted struggling to lift an insanely big pike on Sabattus may take exception to that belief. Two other potential pike hotspots are Taylor Pond and North Pond. Not all talk is about toothies; some of the scuttlebutt in Southern Maine revolves around splake: that dynamic brook trout/lake trout hybrid. These are hard-fighting fish and once you catch one you’ll forever be a fan. Some of the water bodies which support splake are Trickey Pond, Toddy Pond, Coffee Pond and Mount Blue Pond.
Best Bets for the Weekend
You can take a few days off and finally organize your gear until the predicted Alberta Clipper assault kicks in or head out to the Berkshires where ice is nearing a foot! Cheshire Reservoir has ice and pike big enough to make you wish you drilled a bigger hole! For trout check out Goose Pond, Plainfield or Clubhouse. Panfish are plentiful in Pleasant Lake in Deerfield New Hampshire and the pike sweepstakes keep getting entries from Lake Sabattus.
Note: An earlier version of this report mentioned fishing on Lucas Pond in New Hampshire. Please note that Lucas Pond in Northwood, NH is a designated Trout Pond and is closed to fishing until the fourth Saturday in April. More info here: http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/fishing/freshwater/lakes-ponds-general-rules/