With ice cover gradually releasing it’s grip on water bodies, for many it’s coming down to luck and timing to be among the first to fish a choice spot. Southern rivers are often a raging torrent this time of the year, but reports from anglers fishing them is that the conditions are sweet!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Jim from AJs Bait in Meredith told me that opening day – April 1st – on Winnipesaukee kicked off in fine fashion even though random ice kept most boaters at bay. Salmon and rainbow trout were caught on smelt off marina docks, especially in Meredith Harbor. The mouth of Jewett Brook was fishing well also. Those using shiners aren’t doing nearly as well as those using smelt and AJs has smelt!
Chad from Dover Marine said that he has patrons hooking salmon and rainbows in the Wolfeboro area with tiny jigs and meal worms or pieces of trout worm. The bass bite is picking up a lot in shallow water bodies which are gradually warming up. Chad suggests that customers try crankbaits and jerkbaits at Willand, Bellamy and Pawtuckaway. Pleasant Lake has been productive for those trolling for trout. Anglers have just started picking up salter white perch in the Exeter/Squamscott Rivers.
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Southern Maine Fishng Report
Brady from Dag’s in Auburn said that the shop has been catering to real odd couples coming in for bait and gear. While most are open water fishing there are a few hardcore anglers who are bottoming out their augers on northern lakes and loving it! Many feel that last ice is best ice and for them Moosehead Lake and trophy brook trout are calling! Closer to the shop, Lake Auburn is expected to shake free of the last of the ice by this weekend and it’s expected that folks will be out in force trolling spoons, streamers and shiners in search of salmon and togue. Lake Sabattus is wide open and the Androscoggin River is flowing nicely. Both are noteworthy right now for northern pike since they are spawning and in close. Sebago Lake lost the last of the ice on March 21 this year and more good news is that the State Park docks are in and you shouldn’t have to troll a spoon, streamer or baitfish far to hook into a laker!
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
If you’ve been yearning for a Winnipesaukee salmon for what seems like forever, redemption awaits you this weekend as the big lake is expected to be completely ice free. A slowly trolled smelt on top is hard to top especially by inlets/rivers and AJ’s Bait has them in stock. Bass are stirring to life in Southern New Hampshire and there’s even some news about salter white perch in Great Bay. For diverse options it’s hard to top Maine where while some will be trolling up salmonoids in Lake Auburn and Sebago Lake others will still be drilling auger holes for brook trout in Moosehead!