Anglers are glad to be bidding a chilly April a fond farewell as cold water temperatures have resulted in dismal results. The antidote is May and with 70 degree temperatures on the horizon many are predicting the fishing to go from zero to sixty faster than an Epping Dragway funny car.
New Hampshire
AJ from AJ’s said that post-spawning smelt have drawn gamesters away from the shallows and they are now hunkering down about 25-30 feet of water in Lake Winnipesauke. Five to six colors of leadcore should put you in the salmon strike zone. The usual smelt, streamer and spoon offerings will do the trick; if I had to pick one, I’d go with streamers and lather them up with BioEdge Smelt Wand! Expect the fish to come up top once hatches become apparent as temperatures warm. Smallies are beginning to stir among shallows. Look for sun-drenched coves and embayments in the afternoon.
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair gave the Nashua River recently 4 good hours of spinning and tallied perch, pickerel and bass to show for his efforts. It was a one lure show thanks to a Rooster Tail Spinner. Cobbett’s and Canopie are “alleged” to have trout but the bite is hardly hot, with most blaming the April chill as the culprit. Look for the much more favorable weather forecast beginning this weekend to fix that.
Fortunately flatfish fortunes are better according to Jason of Suds ‘N Soda. He has heard of a number of positive reports from Seabrook, Hampton and Rye Harbors. This encouraging news combined with a Squamscott River white perch bite has resulted in a need to stock flats of sandworms again. While I don’t know the New Hampshire habitat, I can tell you that the best Boston flounder bite right now, when water temps are stuck in the 40s, is taking place during the latter stages of an afternoon or late morning ebbing tide. Look for mud flats interspersed with muscle beds, especially in an estuary. Any place that was due to get trout has them now! They’re getting a nice mixture of rainbows and brook trout in the Lamprey River and Exeter Reservoir. Cormorants have been observed working by the Double Point Bridge as well as the Route 4 Bridge indicating that the arrival of alewives to Great Bay is imminent. According to Jason who keeps extensive logs on the subject, last year they “arrived” on May 5th!
Southern Maine
Dylan from Dag’s said that ice out just happened locally. Lake Auburn broke free of the ‘berg on Sunday and it didn’t take long for anglers to tally 19 fish outings, principally of landlocked salmon. Until the water “turns-over”, even the salmon are lethargic making a crawl of a troll imperative. That turnover phenomenon occurs when surface temperatures reach 39 degrees and this “dense” slice of water sinks, flushing warmer deeper water toward the surface. Many feel it’s as if a switch is flipped and fish, especially salmonids, become more active. Stick to live smelt for bait until the salmon become aggressive and will then wallop a streamer. Dylan’s preferred streamer is a Gray Ghost with a splash of red or fluorescence. He’s hearing of similar salmon results from Lake Thompson and Sebago. Look for things to get buggy soon with the predicted 70 degree temperatures spurring on surface action for salmon and trout.
I sure didn’t expect Nick from Saco Bay Tackle to be talking about a striper when we spoke, but he did! A 24″ holdover gulped a lump of clam from the Scarborough Marsh recently! He has a few patrons who are targeting flounder off the Camp Ellis Jetty but there’s no word on how they’re doing. The alewife watch is on as they should be migrating back into the Saco River any day; hopefully, with shad not far behind. The Sebago Salmon bite has been productive with sewn smelt trolled within the top ten feet of the water column working best. Don’t be afraid to free-spool that offering as far back as 150 feet in the wash.
Fishing Forecast
The predicted surge in air temperatures should make Lake Winnipesauke’s silver leapers earn their name as hatches should bring them to the surface. Early in the weekend look for the fish to be down about 25 feet but as temps rise be ready to troll smelt or a streamer up top. For a more salty take on New Hampshire fishing, check out the white perch run in the Squamscott River or you may be able to find a few flatfish off Seabrook. Salmon are the prize in Lake Auburn, Lake Thompson and Sebago and a slowly trolled live smelt is the surest way to catch one. If you just can’t wait for migrant stripers to arrive in a few weeks, soak some sandworms or clams in Scarborough Marsh – odds are good the recent 24 incher that was caught was not alone.