New Hampshire Fishing Report
Al from AJs had tidings of good joy when we spoke, specifically that Alton Bay, Center Harbor, Paugus Bay, 19 Mile Bay and a number of other Winnipesaukee winter wonderlands are sporting ice. Of course, we do have that little rainstorm/thaw to contend with first but on the backside of that it’s looking promising for the first of the year. Meanwhile those who can’t wait are catching rainbows and warm water species from Waukewan, Highland, Webster and a host of other smaller water bodies. The good news for those who do as they should and employ a goodly dose of common sense along with their creepers and ice picks is that generally at this time of the year the rainbows are in tight to shore in only a few feet of water! All Chad from Dover Marine wants for Christmas is a promise that he’ll have a cushy ride next year for chasing Charlie! If you patronize the shop, you know Chad had to take a pass from pursuing pelagics last year thanks to boat issues. Now he has one and it’s in need of but a few tweaks and he’ll be well on his way towards tackling tuna next year.
Among the best local bets for rainbow trout are Willand Pond where small tube type baits fished in tight to the shoreline are accounting for 16” specimens. Bellamy Reservoir has been a hit for crappie with some considering the less pressured Belleu Lake as possibly a better score. Jason of Suds ‘N Soda said that the smelt zones of the Squamscott/Exeter River had locked up as we spoke. Surely the storm will end that, but after the area should freeze over again with no problem. While Great Bay in recent years has not been the smelt producer of times past, the Squamscott/Exeter still harbor smelt. In anticipation of smelt, the shop is planning on stocking sandworms. Shop steadies have been catching warm water species from Pawtuckaway and Bellamy while Pleasant Pond in Deerfield gets the nod for trout.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
I had a hard time moving past the trophy brook trout fishery I learned/reported about at Moosehead Lake last week so I just had to ask Scotty from Dag’s Bait & Tackle for a little more. He did say that he took advantage of it last fall in one of the natal tributaries for brookies and landlocked salmon and took trophy brookies up to 5 pounds on flies! During those outings he also hooked an incredible salmon that looked to be all of 7 pounds before it launched and threw the fly. File this one under the things-to-do category for next fall! Favorite flies for him were the Shoe Felt Special and Montreal Floozie!
Brady happened to be in the shop when I called and I got word that snowmobiles were even buzzing around Sabattus recently! The pike on average seem to be a bit bigger this year perhaps owing to the forage base of landlocked alewives. For a few other productive pike places check out the Winthrop Lakes region especially Cobbossecontee Lake. Brady’s pick of the week is the Androscoggin River and it has nothing to do with pike! Crappie are an under-appreciated quarry often in Maine but with a light jigging rod are fun and the Andro is loaded with them. The shop is carrying the new Strikemaster Lithium Ion auger and from a number of reports those who are giving it a try are saying goodbye to their gas augers! Sebago Bait had a bang-up weekend thanks to their annual open house and anglers have been putting those new purchases to good use on a number of smaller water bodies such as North Gorman Pond, Otter Pond and Thomas Pond. Little Sebago has some skim ice and with reports of Winnipesaukee freezing up, it’s hoped that it won’t be all that long for big Sebago!
Fishing Forecast for Northern New England
May you all have a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays! Along those lines it looks as if Mother Nature has your best interest at heart also as ponds and lakes keep freezing!