Pictured above: Guide Tim Moore put the Fedele family into a fine smallmouth bass bite recently on Lake Winnipesaukee!
It has been said that one’s perception is their reality. Away from the ice, the perception is that the thaw has been a melting machine, but the reality is that the snow/slush have been in many cases a protective cloak of armor for the ice. Caution must be exercised, especially when entering and exiting sunny shorelines, but provided you pack with you a healthy dose of common sense, the fishing you’ll find should be fantastic.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Tim Moore of TimMooreOutdoors termed Winnipesaukee a “slushfest” but the good news is that all that stuff is insulating and protecting the ice! Anglers especially must be cautious now when entering and leaving the ice since the edges will be first to go. There is plenty of reason to ride it out however as smallies are really stirring. Tim recently put the Fedele family from Massachusetts into an impressive bronzeback bite in Center Harbor. The fish have been consistently found in 30′-40′ of water and they have been duped by the Clam Rattlin’ Blade Spoon, sans bait. The smallies have also been smacking a new Tim Moore Signature Series prototype which he has been developing for Daddy Mac Lures.
Harold of AJs Bait in Meredith pointed out that there’s more to New Hampshire hardwater than Winnipesaukee. For crappie, you could do worse than an angler recently did on Webster Lake when he slid a 2-pound, 4-ounce slab (one ounce under the state record) onto the ice! Of course something can still be said for the Granite States big “pond”; to that end Harold heard of good laker fishing off Leavitt Beach in Center Harbor, anglers are also still catching jack smelt throughout the lake. For other options Chad from Dover Marine suggests nearby Willand which continues to give up crappie, bass and the occasional trout in spite of being in the spotlight.
Roland from Suds ‘N Soda pick for the week is Bellamy Reservoir. Sonar is a must here to spot suspending schools of slab crappie but once found will usually cooperate.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Scotty from Dag’s is enjoying a lot of luck his first season as a Maine Guide but not as much luck as clients who he’s put into a terrific togue bite from Thompsons Lake. The fish have been hitting on marked structure right next to drop-offs. A favorite of Scotty is a 40′ hump right next to a 100′ drop off. Traps and jigs are both doing the trick for fish up to 24″. The only caveat said Scotty is that client’s action is so intense he’s unable to fish himself.
The Androscoggin River and Sabattus continue to give up slow but steady pike action with best periods revolving around imminent storms. Now is not the time to quit since the breeder pike become more active the closer it gets to the end of the season. Don’t neglect shallow water; a Massachusetts angler recently caught an upper teen pike in only 1 foot of water! There’s been pretty solid smallmouth action on Mousam Lake with anglers targeting suspended fish under schools of alewives. Blade baits are effective for bronzebacks. Mousam also has some impressive brown trout.
Peter from Saco Bay said that reports from the smelt camps are poor. The reason may be that the main aggregate of smelt has moved into skinnier water in the tributaries and beyond reach of the camps. While the middle of Sebago remains shot, anglers are ice fishing and catching lakers in more sheltered coves!
Maine, New Hampshire And Vermont Fishing Forecast
Snow cover has been a blessing as its insulating properties has protected the ice despite spring-like temperatures. Along with shiners, you should pack a goodly dose of caution and common sense, especially along sun-swept shorelines. For Winnipesaukee smallies drop a blade bait in front of marked bronzebacks in Center Harbor. Leavitt Beach may be a best bet for jack smelt and lakers. Thompson Lake might be tops in southern Maine for togue with targeting drop offs the top tip. The coves of Sebago have caught but stick close to the shoreline and enter through shady areas for safety’s sake.