North Country Fishing Report
Everyone knows that participating in outdoor activities must be undertaken with the mindset that Mother Nature is in charge. Weather is an important and unpredictable variable. It can be summarized, then that an angler’s two biggest challenges are finding fish and overcoming water conditions that may keep them from you. Rarely is this relationship more obvious than spring conditions in northern New Hampshire. There are sections of my favorite river that I have fished a thousand times, and I understand very clearly where the fish prefer to be. Certain drifts demand certain casts and, under typical water conditions, I will catch them. When water is high, cold, and a little muddy, the challenges accumulate, and fishing gets very tricky.
A rainy weekend has left the Connecticut River and its tributaries in these exact and unfavorable conditions. In a typical May, I like to wade into Lyman Falls and fish bright, heavy nymphs. Having tied flies all winter, I am eager to try new patterns and my fly boxes are full. Soft hackle patterns with a bead head usually entice early season trout. I fish them slowly and deliberately and hit the same water over and over again. These types of approaches also work on the Ammonoosuc River in Bethlehem – another favorite early season spot for me. This river is less dynamic than the Upper Connecticut and is often more approachable.
Although it is two weeks later than last year, the smelt have begun to spawn in most of my large lakes. A visit today revealed a temperature of 40o F, and I observed some eggs on the substrate of a small, feeder stream. These important forage fish spawn at night by swimming up brooks and laying their eggs in them. Keeping an inventory of this process allows me to observe their health and status in those lakes that support them. An interesting aspect of observing these runs is that I always see large predator fish swimming into the small streams, looking to make a meal of these abundant smelt. I routinely see brown trout over five pounds in brooks no deeper than my knee. Brook trout and smallmouth bass will do the same.
For the trout pond enthusiast, I have heard good reports from Mirror Lake and Airport Marsh, both in Whitefield. These waterbodies have been fishing well and both provide significant shoreline opportunity for anglers. Most fish are being caught on worms and bobbers, while Power Bait sunk on the bottom is also effective. Don’t forget, our trout ponds depend on water temperatures for their success, and by August, fishing will have slowed down significantly. Now is the time to be concentrating on these ponds. – Andy Schafermeyer, Regional Fisheries Biologist
Lakes Region Fishing Report
Lake levels are high right now; Lakeport Dam is discharging 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) into the downstream watersheds of Opechee and Winnisquam lakes. White perch are actively spawning now; Salmon Meadow Cove, Black Cat Island and Paugus Bay in Lake Winnipesaukee are prime, and don’t forget the Melvin River up in the northern reaches of the lake.
The Winnipesaukee River in Laconia is a good spot to try for white perch; watch the river flows, when they are reduced, the fishing will improve. The southern end of Winnisquam, around Mohawk Island up to Mosquito Bridge, is a great area to find spawning perch. Lake temperature is stuck in the mid-40-degree range, although some bays and coves are warmer. I spoke with a bass fisherman in front of my camp on Winnisquam the other day, and he related how he had caught some nice smallmouth bass and a large lake trout!
At this time of year, it can be a real mixed fishery out there. A recent trip to Winnipesaukee found both salmon and smallmouth bass hitting trolled smelt. This is generally the key time when I look for salmon further offshore. Some decent rainbows have been taken from Newfound and Winnipesaukee lakes. I like to troll a small bright streamer on a sinking tip fly line around points and islands in search of rainbows.
Sunapee Lake has produced some nice salmon this spring, but you have to work for them. We recently checked on smelt runs in area lakes and found a very good run at Purity Lake, up in Eaton, NH. This is a gem of water with rainbow trout and a great assortment of warmwater species. Our Department recently built a great cartop access on this lake, so if you want some peace and quiet in the North Country, try Purity!
Trout pond fishing is heating up now, and stream fishing is just as good. Stocking trucks are rolling daily, distributing some great rainbows, brookies and brown trout. Some ponds in the White Mountains have yet to be stocked because of poor road conditions, but that will change in a couple weeks.
We look forward to the upcoming Winni Derby on Lake Winnipesaukee May 16-18; conditions should be prime for some great fishing on the “big” lake. – Don Miller, Regional Fisheries Biologist
Monadnock/Upper Valley Fishing Report
I have been hearing positive reports from trout anglers fishing a number of waters in southwestern NH. Stone Pond (Marlborough) has been producing lots of brook trout, as has Roaring Brook (Winchester). A friend has been taking his kids to Newell Pond and they have been catching “tons” of trout. While I haven’t had any reports on lake trout yet, anglers are catching some nice rainbows in Nubanusit and Silver lakes. This is a great time of year to troll area lakes for trout, as most are still relatively shallow and anglers can get away with using sinking fly line.
Most warmwater anglers are probably finding, as I have, that local lakes and ponds are taking their time to warm up. We are netting a local pond this spring to obtain more information on black crappie, and the temperature has been stuck at 49 degrees for a week! It is interesting to see what we are catching in the shoreline nets – and what we are not catching at these temperatures. Bass are almost non-existent along the shorelines thus far, and our catches have predominantly been made up of panfish (crappie, small yellow perch, and pumpkinseed) and common white sucker, which are in the process of moving to tributaries to spawn. Bass anglers should take note of this and would do well to focus on deeper water until water temperatures warm up a bit.
I finally heard a positive report on walleye in the Connecticut River and was told some fish were caught below the Bellows Falls Dam this past weekend. Panfish are active in the Connecticut River setbacks, and anglers are starting to pick up some largemouth bass as well. Northern pike can still be found in these areas, too. As in the past few springs, Spofford Lake (Chesterfield) is again producing some big pre-spawn smallmouth and largemouth bass. – Gabe Gries, Regional Fisheries Biologist
Southeast NH / Merrimack Valley Fishing Report
It’s still a wait-and-see situation regarding the stocking of the Atlantic salmon broodstock. While most rivers in southern New Hampshire appear suitable for stocking and fishing, the flows in the Merrimack and Pemigewasset rivers are not cooperating. Best-case scenario, the fish will go out the week of May 12. We need to wait until we see how the rains forecasted for the early part of this weekend influence river flows.
Early May is arguably one of the best times to fish for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. As with other fish species, they are seeking warmer water to feed on congregating forage species and prepare for spawning. Warmwater anglers should have the opportunity to catch some of the largest bass of the year during this time. These fish become vulnerable as they seek out shallow water with warmer temperatures. Anglers should try their luck in shallow flats, entrances to shallow coves, and locations near tributaries that deliver a pulse of warmer water. Suspended husky jerks and shallow running crank baits fish slowly with erratic retrieval patterns are two of the most traditional techniques. Even live bait may be worth trying at this time of year. When choosing a color, try to match local fare that bass would be targeting.
Sunfish species (redbreast sunfish, bluegill, and pumpkinseeds), as well as golden shiners and white and yellow perch are also shallow at this time. Try lures that match the appearance and swimming patterns of these species. Southeastern New Hampshire has a large selection of waterbodies and slow-moving rivers where a trophy largemouth or smallmouth can be caught. I would recommend Bow Lake (Strafford), Jenness Pond (Northwood), Northwood Lake (Northwood), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham), rocky sections of the Merrimack River, and the mouth of the Contoocook River. As the months progress (and more summer-like conditions prevail), I tend to switch to top water lures (poppers, floating frogs, jitterbugs, and other floating stick baits) and try to time my fishing for bass near dusk and dawn. This method can be particularly effective along rocky shorelines and outcroppings.
Depending on the year, the window of fishing for hatchery trout in the rivers and streams in southern New Hampshire can be fairly short. We supply fish for these rivers with the hope that angling opportunities, although sometimes short-lived due to summer water temperatures, are made available to the public. Once water temperatures reach unacceptable levels, hatchery trout will do their best to disperse and find more suitable conditions. Rivers stocked with trout can be found in all areas of southeastern New Hampshire. Stocking trucks are now on the road every weekday. Reports from the Lamprey, Soucook, Winnicut, and Exeter rivers, as well as Beaver Brook (Derry/Pelham/Windham) indicate good catch rates. As the season moves along, it is recommended that anglers try less-easily accessed sites where fish may have redistributed. To help ensure future access, please be respectful of landowners. – Ben Nugent, Regional Fisheries Biologist
Seacoast Area Fishing Report
The weather seems to be slowing things down a bit this year. With the water temps jumping between the mid 40’s and low 50’s, and the stream flows ever rising, it has the river herring second guessing their urgency.
A few New Hampshire anglers have attempted striper trips recently, but we haven’t heard of any successful trips yet this far north. However, there are reports of striped bass off Plum Island, so it shouldn’t be too much longer, as the river flows diminish and the water warms.
Flounder fishing is just around the corner too; any day now would be a good one for the first attempt. Remember to call bait shops ahead of time, though; they usually wait until there is enough demand for clam worms. – Becky Heuss, Marine Biologist
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