As glorified as the patrician landlocked salmon is, arguably it is the rainbow trout which are creating the most buzz in Lake Winnipesauke. Bass are beginning to shake off their early spring stupor and are smacking slowly worked baits. For those who prefer their fishing with a fly rod in hand, Sebago salmon are slamming Gray Ghosts.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
A Massachusetts shop is selling a steady supply of sea worms for anglers targeting white perch in the Exeter River! In addition to white perch, you are likely to find freshly-stocked brook and rainbow trout in the Exeter River. They are also swimming around in the Cocheco River, the Bellamy River and the Lamprey River. A patron of Suds ‘N Soda said that he took a few 14” flatties out of Hampton Harbor. In response to this the folks at the shop are conspiring to start carrying seaworms soon.
AJs in Meredith reported rainbow trout up to 6 pounds following the smelt around close to the shore and by the mouths of tributaries of Lake Winnipesauke. Salmon eggs as well as Power Bait are working well. While trying for trout you could catch a few white suckers which are in pre-spawn mode. Boaters are out in force with the only “chunk” of ice left out in Wolfeboro. Salmon averaging between 20 to 22 inches feeding within the first few feet of the water column. Orange is the hot color! Top Gun spoons, fire-smelt streamers and of course smelt are all catching salmon. This is hardly a boaters-only event, most any marina and bridge offers a real possibility of hooking something.
Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair recommended crankbaits and jerkbaits for bass from the Nashua River. When asked if he suggests a slow retrieve, he replied, “Slower still”! Pauses for as long as you can stand it will often make a difference as well.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Scotty of Dag’s in Auburn said that the salmon trolling in Sebago by the state park has been solid. The bite is best up top with sewn smelt working well with anglers working more deeply catching lakers. Scotty has been fly casting Gray Ghost streamers at the Songo Locks and catching salmon. For a real mixture try fishing the Kennebec River north of the Skowhegan Dam, you’ll liable to catch rainbows, browns as well as brook trout there!
Curtis from Saco Bay Tackle Company has been finding handsome brookies throughout Cascade Falls. Pools behind Goodwin Mills have numbers of brook trout perfectly willing to take a trout worm drifted in the current with only enough split shot to keep the offering down. According to Curtis some have been tackling bass with brightly colored spinnerbaits which stick out among the roiled spring-melt water. The “no-name” pond behind Industrial Park Road has been good for early season bass. Little Ossipee Lake is higher profile but prolific bass water as well.
Fishing Forecast
For something different, consider suspending sea worms or (if you can find them) grass shrimp just off the bottom in the Exeter River for white perch. Rainbows from 3 to 6 pounds are shadowing schools of smelt which are hugging the shoreline and tributaries of Lake Winnipesauke. The Songo Locks of the Sebago area have landlocked salmon. And if you hope bass are on your horizon try crankbaits in the Nashua River and spinnerbaits at Little Ossipee Lake.