New Hampshire, Maine And Vermont Report
New Hampshire, Maine And Vermont Report Provided By Ron Powers
More than the calendar has transitioned. With herring runs waning, the striped bass bite has shifted from Great Bay tributaries to the Piscataqua River. Flounder continue to cooperate in the bays and harbors, but if you prefer your fishing in fathoms, there’s no shortage of haddock waiting for you out deep.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Rick from Suds ‘N Soda said that angling attention for striped bass has shifted from the tributaries of Great Bay as herring runs are drying up. From my perspective, that might be foolhardy. While certainly there are fewer herring now, bass will linger as long as there are herring dropping back from upstream spawning habitats. River sluiceways and other fast tracks of current will often be a conveyor from the spent, famished herring, and a well-placed net should catch them. With less forage, it won’t take long before a blueback is besieged by bass, and chances are the fish will be substantial.
New Hampshire guide Tim Moore said it’s harder to not find schoolies throughout the Piscataqua River and Little Bay. The trick is to cull through the smaller stuff to get keepers; Tim’s accomplishing this by upsizing his swim shads, letting them sink a bit and then ripping them in. He’s betting it’ll be eel time soon in the river for larger linesiders. If you’re in the mood for learning this weekend check out Tim’s Kayak University Seminar this weekend, read about the particulars since it’s jammed with two days of goodies. Chad from Dover Marine told me that flounder can be found in 4 to 8 feet of water by drifting seaworms along Hampton, Rye and Wentworth Harbors. He’s also heard of a pretty good bite at Peperell Cove. High points of Jeffrey’s Ledge is loaded with haddock and anglers continue to report releasing a ton of cod.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
While New Hampshire anglers are pulling away from herring runs, according to Kenny from Saco Bay, that is still where most of the striped bass action is. Incoming tide has been best for upstream locations while outgoing is best for closer to the Saco River mouth. The tube and worm has been effective but there’s also been some impressive top water action with Lonely Angler and Surface Tension plugs really standing out. Beaches are just starting to wake up with bait being the best bet from Pine Point, Biddeford Pool and Old Orchard Beach among others all fishing well.
Brandy from Webhannet Marine said that there’s been an invasion of mackerel in Wells Harbor and Kennebunkport with anglers catching easily from jetties and docks with shiny “metal” such as Needle Eels, Swedish Pimples and Kastmasters. Stick to soft plastics which imitate the ubiquitous sand eels, especially if you’re fishing in Ogunquit. If you do make an Ogunquit run, try your skill at a truly novel fishery – sea run brown trout. Catching one of these wily salters is enough to earn anyone bragging rights. They can also be found in the Mousam River where there have even been shad reports! The ratio of short to keeper stripers is still weighted to the little guys but those putting in the time are reporting 28-31 inch fish by upsizing their presentation.
Jeffreys Ledge is loaded with haddock, but in order to catch the bigger let your clam rig rest on the bottom while you’re giving it the “haddock wiggle”. Shaking the rod tip and quivering that quahog can make a big difference.
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Fishing Forecast
If you target the herring runs of Great Bay, you’ll find less herring and less pressure, but if you put forth the effort a live herring or big swim shad may catch you an early June cow! Elsewhere it’s schoolie central throughout the Piscataqua River and Little Harbor. Mackerel have invaded Maine and are but a cast away from the shore in Wells among other spots. To work the casting them a bit more it usually takes more than a few casts to dupe a wily salter brown trout from Ogunquit but the effort will surely be worth it.
L.L. Bean Maine Fishing Report
L.L. Bean Maine Report Provided By L.L. Bean’s Matt Bickford
Bass Report
By Ed Gauvin
Bass are in a transitional phase between spawn and post spawn and locating fish can be tricky. Big exhausted females are typically the first to make a move off the beds and relocate near structure. This can be a slight drop-off into cooler water or stumps and rock piles. Finesse style baits are a great choice for post spawn bass. This will allow for a longer presentation time in the strike zone. I have had great success recently focusing on prominent points and rock structure near known spawning habitat. I found the ZMAN finesse T.R.D. in green pumpkin rigged on a 1/10 oz. Finesse Shroomz jig head (Also known as the NED Rig) to be very productive. I typically fish this bait with a slow bouncing retrieve allowing it to rest on bottom in between hops. For best results try this on a 6’6”medium or medium lite action rod spooled with 15 pound Power Pro Super Slick combined with a light 8 pound fluorocarbon leader. By using light braided line you’ll detect more of the subtle takes that would otherwise go undetected. This is finesse fishing at its finest and will produce strikes when nothing else will. Bring the NED Rig along on your next trip to the lake, you won’t be disappointed.
Trout Report
By Matt Bickford
Trout fishing in Central and Southern Maine continues to be excellent and is just beginning to head towards peak in the northern parts of Maine. Consistent hatches of caddis have begun and terrestrials have just begun to show themselves with flying ants being one of the first that trout key in on. Having a solid box full of flying ants caddis dries and emergers size 14 to 18 with various shade of body color is important to a successful outing in June.
The streamer fishing has still been consistent on overcast days but will slow as water temps are quickly heading towards 60 degrees. Smaller streamers like Kelly Galloup’s Zoo Cougar was a consistent performer this past week, paired with a smaller streamer like a woolly bugger as a trailer you can quickly figure out what color and size streamer the trout are keying in on.
Lots of life in the salt right now. Go get em!!!