Saltwater action may have ground to a halt but freshwater options remain numerous. With many trout and salmon waterbodies restricted, rivers rife with warm water species increasingly are taking center stage.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
A few of my casting chums and me have been taking to Bay State rivers and having a blast with a plethora of species. Those rivers which provide an angling assortment are the ones which harbor herring/shad runs. While the adult alewives and blueback herring will occasionally be dispatched by pike or a magnum sized largemouth bass it is the fry which provides the fuel for everything from crappie to white perch to black bass to walleye.
The timing for our current crush coincided nicely with an impressive report I received from Gabe Gries who has been having his way with big Larrys and walleyes in the Connecticut River. The predators are keying in on 3” shad fry making the Bill Lewis Scope Stick the perfect offering. The river is also giving up slab crappie and large yellow perch. I also heard from Tim Moore of TimMooreOutdoors. As a seasoned and sought-after New Hampshire guide, there isn’t much down time for him even in November. While taking a break from prepping his extensive ice fishing gear for another guiding season he took time out to talk about crappie. From now until ponds/lakes “turnover” crappie will be schooled up tight to structure, especially among blowdowns or submerged timber. A tin or tungsten jig/2” soft plastic will catch them up. A few picks from Tim are Turkey Pond, Bellamy Reservoir and Willand Pond.
Maine Fishing Report
There are interesting options in the Sebago Lake Region according to Maine Fisheries Resource Technician Brian Lewis:
“Now is a time of lower angler competition and of varied opportunity. One of the most exciting opportunities in southern Maine is the Little Androscoggin River below Welchville Dam which is newly open to year-round angling under general law regulations. One exception is a two fish limit on brook trout but otherwise general law for lakes and streams prevails allowing the use of bait, lures, and flies. While this regulation is not new this year, the scheduled fall stocking of rainbow trout in several locations is a new bonus. Keep an eye on the current year stocking report for your chance at some very nice rainbows! Popular locations include the Route 26 crossing below Welchville Dam, Jordan Road crossing, and the crossing at Hotel Road in Auburn. If pond fishing is your preference, several reclaimed trout ponds are open to fall angling under “artificial lures only” and catch and release regulations. Broken Bridge Pond in Albany, and Abbott Pond in Woodstock are two of these waters to try your luck in. Remember to double check regulations before fishing and remember to wear those PFDs, particularly as surface waters cool this fall”.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
With many northern New England sportsmen turning to hunting, chances are good that you’ll find prime fishing spots devoid of other anglers. Consider the Connecticut River and its smorgasbord of species which have been growing fat on a shad forage base. Elsewhere crappie, which are cherished by anglers in many parts of the country, are chewing right now with downed trees, sunken branches and flooded timber concentrating them. For many fall means trout and thankfully Maine has no shortage of options in the Sebago Lake Region.
No northern New England regional report for 2 months. That sucks because the publication is a new england edition