With news of the spring striper run already hitting Massachusetts all the way through the North Shore, can New Hampshire and Maine be far behind? Meanwhile the supporting cast of sweetwater fish and groundfish are keeping anglers happy.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
A couple buddies of mine hauled their Hobies to Saunders Bay and treated themselves to a Winnipesaukee hat trick in that they caught lakers, salmon and smallies! The key was that they found some smelt at one of the local shops. Tim Moore of TimMooreOutdoors has had similar luck while trolling the edges of drop-offs with smelt also. Smelt are still on the move and odds are that where you find them you’ll find most of what swims in the big lake.
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters has a bead on beautiful haddock! If there’s a harder working charter captain I don’t know who he is? He keeps on the move and won’t let his patrons leave without fillets even if he has to haul out to Pigeon Hill, The Fingers or even Platt’s.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Peter from Saco Bay Tackle Company said that anglers are out there in earnest trying to be first on the board with a fresh striper! Pete’s picks for an early fish are the York River, Saco River, the Scarborough Marsh and Spurwink River. While there has been nothing to crow about yet, the fact that Mass already has fish bodes well for Mainers. Another hint of things to come thanks to your neighbors down south is the Saco River shad run. The Merrimack River has had a shad bite for about two weeks now so you folks should be due. Other options according to Pete are brook trout in the Ogunquit River, as well as sea run browns in the Mousam and Saco. While we’re on the subject of salmonoids, Rangely Lake is open now and reports are that the “silver leapers” are living up to their reputation with a whole lot of leaping coming from hooked landlocked salmon! Charters such as Relentless Pursuit and Catch ‘Em Up are reporting a good groundfish bite on Jeffrey’s Ledge!
• 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 haven’t got your gear in order than you had better soon because odds are that fresh striped bass are but a week away! Meanwhile many are taking advantage of a hot haddock bite on the groundfish grounds. The smallie, salmon and laker action is so good on Winnipesaukee’s Saunders Bay that even kayakers are able to get into the fish! For another sort of salmonoid, check out the sea run brown trout bite in the Mousam River and Saco River.
Almost May, why is the most recent report from a month ago?
It’s actually from April 27th, they must have made a mistake