For much of New Hampshire this next week will be last call for ice! Farther north in Maine anglers are still sweating through a foot plus of the stuff and with pike on the prowl there is plenty of reasons to keep at it.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Tim Moore of TimMooreOutdoors is calling it after this weekend on Winnipesaukee! It’s not that there isn’t plenty of ice, there certainly is but the sketchy shorelines, ice fractures, untapped springs and generally sloppy conditions are making the effort not worth it. Ironically the white perch seemed to have adopted the same mindset. With feeding taking a backseat to breeding, those fish have developed lock jaw. On a recent outing Tim marked white perch moving through his baits like an armada and he got nary a sniff! Not surprisingly I’m hearing of the same fate in the Bay State from anglers targeting river pike in that they are spotting fish and even getting their baits bumped but not inhaled.
However all is not totally lost as Tim, as well as Jim from the The Tackle Shack in Meredith, reported white perch and laker action at Suissevale with Jim also mentioning Melvin Village. Another tidbit from Jim that should assuage anglers into giving it a few more attempts is the total drop-off of angling pressure. Should you head out there you will not feel as if you’re transported back to the Meredith derby, for sure!
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair in Nashua said that anglers are turning their attention to open water, even though in some cases it’s as little as 20’ of open shoreline! He suspects Round and Mill Ponds should be wide open by this weekend! Many a personal best pickerel has been caught just after ice is out as big breeders move into the shallows in earnest. A shiner is as close to a sure thing as you could ask for when water temperatures are still cold and with the same bait you never know when a big bass is looking for an easy snack. If you don’t mind traveling, Massachusetts is stocking ponds right now beginning with the Southeast District.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Scotty from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn said that the shop has once again found a supply of big baits which dovetails nicely for pike pushing into the shallows and strapping on the feedbag. It might be time to revisit Lake Sabbattus, especially among the “stumps” along the northern side, Pike prowling around the Belgrade Lakes area are no doubt stirring as well. Not all is about northerns of course, just ask Scotty who targeted Thompson Lake togue recently and jigged up 5 nice ones. Since smelt run a bit on the small side here, size 3 or 4 ice Swedish pimples make for a great bait imitator.
Andrew from Sebago Bait and Tackle said that with Sebago shoreline ice receding some are making the trip to Moosehead where there is plenty of ice. His latest intel puts the bite best in the Greenville area.
Even though it’s not quite mid-March, is it really ever too soon to start thinking of the salt? I was inspired to think that way recently thanks to a call I received from my friend Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters out of Great Bay Marina. He’s planning on targeting cod and haddock beginning April 1st and quite possibly redfish even before that. This guy books out early so now may be a good time to schedule a trip! With not much going on take comfort knowing that there will be salty options in only a few weeks!
• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
It’s almost time to play taps for the ice and reveille for open water! If you’re careful Winnipesaukee remains an attractive option for white perch and lake trout, especially in the Suissevale and Melvin Village areas. Just watch the shorelines and make sure your boots are waterproof and shorn with creepers! Farther north in Maine ice is faring better with best bets a big bait fished among the stumps of Sabattus or among the Belgrade Lakes. If you’re just itching to reconnect with casting then head south where ponds are opening up in the Nashua area.