The “ice in” declaration was made on Lake Winnipesaukee, which is music to the ears for those who look forward to ice fishing on this massive lake. Smelt camps are mostly open, the timing of which is perfect, as shacks appear to be set up right over the main body of fish.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
On Tuesday, Emerson Aviation, after a fly by of the 5 major harbors, declared that all of Winnipesaukee had at least some ice cover! While big news to some, that news elicited merely a shoulder-shrug out of Lon of Berry’s Bait on Alton Bay. The meager response was because Alton Bay, as well as other bays, has had good ice and happy anglers for over a month. Currently, there is at least a foot of ice in Alton, and reports put a similar depth in 19 Mile Bay, 20 Mile Bay, Meredith Harbor, Ellacoya, and Center Harbor. It could be said that there is no shortage of Winnipesaukee water to ice fish on. The bite has been especially good at Alton Bay as lakers push smelt and perch into the shallows with action in as little as 12’ of water. Regarding perch, there’s a bumper crop of good-sized yellows this year, which makes for fast action and good eating. Anglers are also catching cusk and rainbow trout. For white perch, Lon said that the main body hasn’t been found yet; that will take evidence of more solid ice farther out to allow anglers to search. Above all, just because the “ice in” call has been made, it doesn’t mean anglers can blindly buzz off to faraway parts on their snow machines. Stick to the bays and harbors until there’s evidence of better ice in such spots as The Broads and Winter Island. Considering the in-close bite, you won’t be missing much!
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair in Nashua told me that Canobie Lake and Cobbetts Pond have a good little brown trout bite now. Potanipo Pond has been producing good black bass and pickerel action. Pleasant Pond is living up to its namesake with cooperative white perch and trout. The bass have been biting well at Beaver Lake, but it looks as if there’s an invasive apex predator now in the lake. A Mass shop I know well informed me that at least one pike has been taken there! The coves of the Nashua River were giving up good smallmouth and largemouth action – but considering the thaw, it’s wise to give it a while longer to safely stiffen up again. TJ from TJs Bait told me that Lake Francis is fishing well for lake trout and pickerel in the shallows. Medium shiners are accounting for both. The first Connecticut Lake has been serving up cusk – with dead bait on the bottom – as well as rainbow trout.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Mike from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn said that anglers fishing Sabattus Lake and the Andro continue to do well with pike. The former is also an under-appreciated killer crappie lake. A friend of mine who was an extraordinarily skilled pike fisher swore that fishing during an impending storm was the trigger to put trophy toothies on the feed. A dropping barometric pressure is something to pay attention to as well. Thompson Lake has good ice, even if the lake trout bite remains challenging. The logic is that anglers simply have to figure out this year’s pattern before they find the togue. The smelt shack bite at the smelt camps is exceptional this year, with such outfitters as D’s Camps doing especially well. Because the shacks were set up earlier than in recent years, the belief is that anglers are able to take advantage of the main aggregate, which in some years has already moved on by the time the fishing begins.
“Not quite yet”, was the word from Andrew of Sebago Bait and Tackle regarding ice conditions on the big lake. The feeling among Sebago watchers is that once the winter blast returns, the big lake should lock up. Meanwhile, anglers are preoccupying their time with splake from Trickey Pond, warm water species from Little Sebago, and brown trout from Kennebunk Pond. Should waiting not be to your liking and you’re itching to fish a big lake, consider massive Moosehead Lake, where your auger and traps should get a workout.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Big moments at big lakes are at hand as Winnipesaukee has iced in with a blistering lake trout, rainbow trout, and cusk bite close to shore in Alton Bay. The First Connecticut Lake has also been good for lake trout and rainbows, while nearby Lake Francis adds trophy pickerel to sterling salmonoid fishing. For a shot at a nice pike, check out Sabattus Lake or the Androscoggin River, especially just as the flakes are falling. It’s shaping up to be a banner year for smelt in the southern Maine estuaries, but you had better book a trip fast because demand is high.