Time for a calendar check and a gut check! For many water bodies in New Hampshire, you have less than 2 weeks for ice fishing as you know it. Bobhouses must be pulled by the end of the month, salmon and lake trout can no longer be targeted then, and a laundry list of regulations take effect. For the Granite State gang, the time to strike is now! For denizens of Downeast the going is easier as rules are much more liberal. The restrictions now are mainly environmental and apply to rivers where snow/ice melt will eventually lead to the end game.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Jim from AJs in Meredith told me that anglers are taking advantage of the hardened iced and pulling their bobhouses in earnest in preparation of the season ending on March 31st. Look for less harried hardwater now which is a good thing since smallmouth bass have put on the feedbag. The 17’ – 20’ deep zone by Spindle Point has been good for bronzebacks, white perch as well as lake trout. Smelt under a trap has been the trick as has jigging with Swedish Pimples tipped with a fish sliver. For a warm water species mixture spend some time at Waukewon Lake, which also can be a winner for white perch and smallmouth bass.
Rick from Suds ‘N Soda was the weighmaster last week when that 2.99-pound slab crappie was brought into the shop from Pawtuckaway Lake. He said that in addition to that fish, the angler had a full pail of other good-sized crappie as well as white perch! Patrons of the shop have been heading to Winnipesauke and the ones catching most of the white perch have been targeting bays less pressured. Some are sporting binoculars and looking for where bobhouses are scarce figuring that less pressured places will produce a better bite and it looks as if they are right!
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair is passing along a valuable tip for anglers to consider. This never-ending winter has taxed shallow water bodies, snuffing out oxygen on some of them, especially toward the bottom region. He suggests that folks place only one or two shiners close to the bottom if they are fishing a shallow pond and keep the rest up closer to the surface, at least until you get a handle on the condition of the pond. There’s nothing more frustrating than setting up your traps and checking an hour later to find all dead bait! A best bet this week is the killer calicos which grow big at Big Island Pond. There are occasionally reports of big trout taken from here as well. Other spots to target trout are Beaver Lake, Massabesic Lake, the Suncook Lakes and Tower Hill Pond. For bluegill, try Turkey Pond, yellow perch Wash Pond and brookies, Clough Pond.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Brady from Dag’s in Auburn has been heading to big water in search of big fish! The Rockwood section of Moosehead has been in his sights where a jig pounded on the bottom usually comes up clenched in the mouth of a cusk. A buddy took a 5-pounder there in 25’ of water. Keep your rig a little higher in the water column for togue which have been averaging between 18” and 22”. The northern, shallow side of Sabattus is favorable for pike which should be getting very aggressive right about now. For a best bet to jig up a good togue in Southern Maine, work a jig at Jordan’s Bay in Sebago. Keep on a search and destroy mission, the lakers will follow the smelt and could be caught anywhere between 40’ and 80’ of water. It’s time to bid adieu to the smelt camps in the Kennebec River/Merrymeeting Bay area. The cocktail of a 2 quart limit as well as environmental conditions has resulted in most of the camps pulling their shanties. In summation, it was a solid year and gives hope for next season!
Fishing Forecast
It’s nearly last call for Lake Winnipesauke and the blue ribbon white perch fishing as the season ends at the end of the month. Now might be the time to strike in 17’-20’ for smallies at The Spindle as the bays are emptying of bobhouses and the pressure which comes with them. For big water you can fish into April, check out the cusk from the Rockwood region on Moosehead Lake and the togue fishing in Jordan’s Bay in Sebago. Time is short for river adventures and combined with pike on the prowl, it should be prime time to target toothies from the Androscoggin River.