Dropping temperatures are running inverse of soaring expectations as water which was previously unsafe to ice fish begins to catch. While hopes of ever catching smelt from a Bobhouse in Great Bay this year are not looking good, the sizzling hot smelt bite from Maine is more than making up for it.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
According to Al from AJs Bait in Meredith, The Broads caught just yesterday (again!) and with no predicted thaws forecasted there should be an entire new world of exploring and catching at Lake Winnipesaukee over the foreseeable future. Rave reviews have been coming in for lake trout from Leavitt Park, Center Harbor, Saunders Bay and Meredith Harbor. If perch are your preference, namely white perch, then check out One Mile Bay, Paugus Bay and Spindle Point. As for smelt, how does 11 dozen sound? That was the tally of a recent customer of AJs and many of those sweet eating critters were Jacks! The cusk are cooperating as well.
Tim Moore of timmooreoutdoors.com reports that wildly fluctuating temperatures have caused more pressure ridges on Winnipesaukee than usual so if you fire up the sled take it slow. Always the chameleon, Tim who ordinarily is a jigging machine, has taken to augment the stick with the trap. Live bait hung below traps has been the ticket for lakers, perch and rainbows by Leavitt Park. There will be less roughing it for Tim’s charters since he just took possession of a comfy 8’X12′ fish house!
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair told me that on average there is 6″ to 8″ of ice but because of warm spells it is wise to enter unfamiliar water bodies from shady shorelines. With the predicted reappearance of old-man winter look for conditions to improve. The catching at Canobie Lake and Cobbett’s has been good, with angler’s who are downsizing their line and wares accounting for more fish than those sticking with more noticeable tackle. Warm water species have been cooperating at Potanipo Lake. Chad from Dover Marine said that trucks have been observed on 15″ to 18″ of ice on 19 Mile Bay! Other sights which have been encouraging in Wolfboro Bay are smelt with salmon in hot pursuit just below auger holes. Some of the best rainbows are falling for anglers fishing as close to sandy, gravelly or small rock-strewn shorelines as they can get.
Jason from Suds ‘N Soda does not not believe at this late stage that Great Bay will lock up for smelt fishing. The antidote is the Downeast smelt camps where the word is that the fishing is great. Those making the most out of The Moat (an oxbow of the Lamprey) are tallying bass as well as the occasional trout. Bellamy is best for crappie by the numbers, while slabs are more likely from Pawtuckaway.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
There’s good news for those who spell ice fishing S-E-B-A-G-O! Renee from Sebago Bait recently saw ice skaters zipping around the Raymond Beach area! That’s not to suggest that it’s time to fire up the skimobiles and blindly head out there but it is a start and if the expected chill does occur than most of Sebago may be a go.
There certainly is no issue for smaller water ice such as Otter Pond and Norway Lake, the latter of which has been giving up foot-long brookies! For fish big enough to snack on most brookies, pike are pleasing at Sabattus, where there is a heavily-fished tournament this weekend. Just in time for that event Sebago will be carrying large suckers.
Brady of Dag’s fished Long Lake recently and caught a few small salmon for his efforts. If ever you wanted to see some impressive pike, odds are that this tournament will do it. The feeling is that it will take a 22 pounder to take first! Dag’s has a fresh supply of suckers and sea smelt for the event. Brady’s been hearing of good things from the Rockwood area of Moosehead for both brookies and togue. Pike fishing along the Androscoggin River has been a bit on the slow side, but the crappie and yellow perch action will keep you hopping as you wait for that big northern to cooperate. Another good alternative for crappie is Bunganut Lake. The buzz from Bakers’ and others at the smelt camps is that the solid bite is leading to a list for bookings! You better call now if you want to reserve a shack.
Maine, New Hampshire And Vermont Fishing Forecast
With news of The Broads catching at Lake Winnipesaukee, the prospects of fishing unpressured water make this a “best bet”. With so much attention on Winnie along with a rather “big game” this weekend, you may be able to sneak out on Cobbetts or Canobie and have it all to yourself. With some of Sebago sporting ice sturdy enough to skate on, one eye should be on this big lake and what first ice on it has to offer. The other option is to jump aboard a shack on one of the smelt camps in Maine, but you had better call first; the word is out on the action and they are booking up fast!