Southern areas of New Hampshire have for all practical purposes lost the ice, but there are actually a few open water possibilities. There are no such worries about no ice in the Moosehead Lake area where the talk is all about salmon and trophy brook trout.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Trevor from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair said that while local ice is shot, an open water window has opened up. He splashed his kayak into the Nashua River and was rewarded for his efforts with a nice pickerel and largemouth bass, all on a jerkbait.
Jim from AJs Bait in Meredith said that although there’s plenty of ice on Winnipesaukee, access is getting challenging. The boob of the week prize has to go to some guy who drill-tested the depth of ice but a few feet from the Meredith Boat Ramp, which doubles during winter as an access point for ice fishermen. That hole not only sprung a leak and filled the place with water but it continues to erode, making access all the more difficult. In the “wow” story category, Jim told me of an experienced angler who while fishing near Rattelsnake Island hooked a laker that he estimated to be around 18-20 pounds. The fish came off and then things got really interesting. On the line was a small perch which was eaten by a cusk and then almost became dinner for the big laker! Obviously the hook sticking through two different fish was not able to gain purchase into the laker, so it got off. Stories such as that are priceless! An indicator that time is not on the side of the ice fisher is that there has been whole-sale pulling of Bobhouses. Again, it’s not due to ice depths but rather access. Jim did tell me that his son pulled a 16 pound laker out of Lake Sunapee and he reported 10-11” of ice and Sunapee is more southerly than Winnipesaukee.
Scott of Suds ‘N Soda in Greenland has customers still jigging up lakers form the Moultonborough area. He also mentioned Newfound Lake but the fish aren’t nearly as paunchy there. Another laker spot worth considering is Tarleton Lake which also has brown trout and rainbow trout. Soon the salter white perch run will begin in the Squamscott/Exeter River area.
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Southern Maine Fishng Report
Scott from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn has been taking advantage of the good ice still at Sebago Lake and he’s been putting in a lot of jigging hours by The Station and Raymond Beach. Pressure fronts often affect how good or bad the bite is. During one outing everyone around got skunked, despite marking lots of fish. The next day as a low pressure front came through, the bite went off and the lakers hit like gangbusters. He and a few pals are still putting in time at Lake Sabattus and finding willing northern pike up to 13 pounds!
Wayne from Sebago Bait and Tackle feels that there will be only one more week to safely ice fish Sebago, the melt is underway. However all is hardly lost as Moosehead Lake is more than making up for it and up there reports have the ice thickness at two feet in some areas. Timing is good for a trip to Moosehead since starting in mid-February, anglers have been able to selectively keep salmon! Reports of trophy brook trout continue with catches of fish up to 7 pounds! It’s a bit of a big place so when pressed where to go on Moosehead, Wayne suggested the Rockwood area where there is easy access and the brookies are often in close. The shop will continue to carry bait as long as demand warrants it!
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
While ice on Winnipesaukee and Sebago are on life support, many are finding hardwater heaven but a road trip away to such areas as Moosehead Lake. If you’d rather stick to more southern areas then it just might be time to reacquaint yourself with your casting reflexes as pickerel and bass awaken from their slumber in the Nashua River and – can the white perch of Great Bay be far behind?
I have been catching holdover trout in the upper valley region if that helps anyone…