It’s fitting that with this spate of cold, raw weather, cold water species fisheries are peaking. The other option is black bass which as spawning urges kick in make for interesting targets.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair reported that Rooster Tails were doing the trick for brook trout and rainbow trout in the Souhegan River and Nissitissit River. The Nashua is a better bass pick with jigs and jerkbaits catching pre-spawn largemouth bass.
Chad from Dover Marine said that catch-and-release trout fishing among the Isinglass River and Cocheco River has been pretty good. Check the regulations regarding these watersheds since Chad was under the impression that harvesting trout there will be permissible this weekend. Ned rigs have been effective for bass and spawning breeder pickerel in close at Milton Three Ponds. Chad did say that some took advantage of the slim window in between the nasty weather fronts and found willing haddock east of Stellwagen Bank in 180’ of water.
Al from AJs Bait in Meredith apparently tired of patrons having all the fun so he decided to give Paugus Bay in Winnipesaukee a shot and found willing rainbows bent on eating nearly everything! Tributaries are now featuring a sucker spawning run and the bows are shadowing them and aggressive. Al caught on flies, smelt and spoons. As the smelt run wanes, landlocked salmon are falling back from the rivers and into deeper water – 30-40 feet. Al’s salmon pick of the week is Black Cat Island in Center Harbor, especially the northern side which is a few precious degrees warmer. The shop is still carrying smelt but Al expects that to end soon as the smelt run subsides.
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Southern Maine Fishng Report
Regarding smelt, Brady from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn is still dip-netting them to keep patrons of the shop into this premier togue, salmon and trout bait. The top local choice remains Lake Thompson for both lake trout and landlocked salmon. Sebago Lake has plenty of action but it’s overwhelmingly thanks to lake trout. The rivers are gradually receding making slower sections of the Androscoggin River ideal for pike right now. Pre-spawn bass are becoming more active also with Weber Lake Brady’s top pick.
The weather and the calendar have not exactly been allies of anyone looking to catch something in the salt. The only option is haddock and with reports from Massachusetts indicating that there are more inshore haddock than in recent years you may be able to catch a few in close. Of course something can be said for the always reliable Platt’s Bank, Tantas or Jeffrey’s Ledge.
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
The Paugus Bay Area of of Winnipesaukee has become productive for salmon as rainbow smelt exit spawning tributaries and aggregate in deeper water. Thompson Lake in Maine has been terrific for togue and salmon with sewn-on smelt a good choice. Saltwater fishing has yet to offer much promise with haddock on Jeffrey’s Ledge and Stellwagen Bank the best choices.