Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Fishing Report – January 2, 2020

This has been a week of firsts. The most obvious was the turning of the calendar to 2020 but for hardwater junkies, the big news is that bays of Winnipesaukee are sporting ice and fishermen.

New Hampshire Fishing Report

For many there is ice fishing and then there’s Winnipesaukee! According to Chad from Dover Marine, there are reports of 4 to 5 inches of ice on Alton Bay. He’s heard similar reports coming in from other bays on the big lake as well as news of a good laker and rainbow bite.

For a better grip on ice conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee check in with the folks at AJs Bait in Meredith which is the gateway of all things fishing there and they should have smelt in stock which are the best bait on Winnipesaukee.

I’ve also been hearing good things about brown and rainbow trout close to the shore on Canobie Lake and Cobbett’s Pond. The latter of which has given up some real trophies over the years. For warm water species, the volume of ponds and lakes where anglers are catching is too numerous to list! Suffice to say, most everywhere has safe ice and anglers are exploring.

Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair did say that anglers who don’t mind fishing relatively inaccessible spots, which require more effort to reach are catching better. I have a hunch if you drop by the shop, Joe will give you the insider track towards those “ponds-less-fished”. Manning Lake is one to consider where you may find willing trout, pickerel and yellow perch.

Southern Maine Fishng Report

If you’re looking for something different in southern Maine consider Beals Pond in Turner. This pond is a regular stop for broodstock brook trout from the IFW. The problem is that illegal stocking of pike has occurred, and as is often the case when pike are first discovered, the specimens are big.

There have been good reports regarding trout from Kennebunk Pond as well as Little Ossipee. If you are looking for a field trip, one to consider is Sebec Lake in Willimantic. An acquaintance of mine who works in a New Hampshire bait shop took a togue trip up there and couldn’t stop talking about the awesome lake trout fishing. What was most surprising is that the biggest togue they caught was found in just 8’ of water. Obviously lakers are deepwater fish but if the forage is shallow than that’s where you’ll find them!

New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast

First ice/any ice euphoria has now been supplanted by the opportunity to fish the legendary Winnipesaukee! Just play it safe and stick to the bays where you have company until other sections catch. Meanwhile while the wait is on for Sebago and the smelt camps some are finding frozen fun on Beals Pond, Kennebunk Pond and Sebec Pond.