Conditions look as if they are about to flip considerably from snow-free access to “how badly do you want it”stuff! However with good news spanning the spectrum from smelt to bass, hopefully you’ll find the effort to get out there worth your while!

New Hampshire Fishing Report

Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair in Nashua said that most every local water body has good ice and good fishing! For trout, top spots are Beaver Lake, Pleasant Pond, Canobie Lake and Cobbetts Pond. Beaver also holds a nice pile of crappie as well as the occasional big bass! Naticook gets the nod for warm water species as well, especially largemouth bass.
 
Now that ice is in at Winnipesaukee, according to Michael of the Tackle Shack anglers are in exploratory mode. While unencumbered access will soon take a turn for the worst, once you’re out there you should find good action for lakers at the Broads with jigs/sucker strips the way to go. Center Harbor has been hot for white perch with smelt soaked under tilts working well. Conveniently the shop has ideal sized smelt, along with those killer AJ jigs, in stock! Rainbows off the beaches are cooperating and are the perfect quarry for those who don’t want to venture far. Bows have a neat habit of cruising close to shore as they grub about for insect larvae, small crayfish and minnows. If Michael has his druthers, he’d opt for a Hali Jig/worm combination: he’s bested 6 pound bows with that combination!

Southern Maine Fishing Report

Scotty from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn told me that Thompson Lake togue fishing has been good. The Turner Boat Ramp section of the Androscoggin River is still giving up pike with the bite best during inclement weather. With big water locking up some are venturing out on Sebago Lake, Moosehead Lake as well as Great East Lake and West Grand Lake. Togue are the top target in many of those water bodies with brook trout a possibility most everywhere save Sebago.

Regarding Sebago, Sebago Bait and Tackle’s man-in-the-know Andrew, told me that laker fishing is looking good by Frye Island, The Station and Raymond Beach. During a recent outing in Jordan Bay an angler lost a beast which gnawed its way through 30 pound line; doubtless the work of one of the big pike that have taken hold there. While Sebago would be better off without those toothies, the specimens in Sebago are very colorful and robust.

Zach from Saco Bay Tackle Company told me that the Smelt Camps are all in business and that the bite seems best on an outgoing tide! He’s heard especially good things from the Bowdoinham area. Meanwhile it’s hard to fault the fishing for trout in Worthley Pond and Parker Pond. If you’re looking for after-hours bait than swing by Saco Bay Tackle which has a 24-7 bait dispenser.

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!

New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast

Hopefully the Fishing Forecast makes the weather forecast a little more tolerable! In Southern New Hampshire a few nice bass have been pulled out of the likes of Naticook and Beaver Lake. The quieter stretches of the Nashua River deserve attention as well. Trout is tops at Canobie and Cobbetts but should you decide to bump it up a bit, Winnipesaukee has infinite options highlighted by white perch in Center Harbor and lakers in The Broads. Sebago togue off Frye Island are feeding well with the occasional pike crashing the party. Farther north, big water thrills await on Moosehead Lake, Great East Lake as well as West Grand Lake. For those who appreciate a plate full of fried smelt, the Downeast camps are at your beck and call.