Damariscotta is a pretty lake with good smallmouth and largemouth fishing. It is close to Pemiquid beach state park and Boothbay Harbor so that you can get the best of Coastal Maine for both you and your wife.
In the western Maine mountains there is Kezar Lake; also good fishing for both small and largemouth with mountain activities and nearby north conway NH for dining and shopping
Ice has been out for more than a month. Early spring is mostly over and the fish are in prespawn with a lot of fish up. Fish docks and rocks and wood with jigs tubes or senkos and fish the transitions and flats with jerk baits cranks or spinnerbaits. Its been warm all week and water is going to be into the mid 50's and more by the weekend.
Next two or three weeks is prime time for a giant
I would choose natural lakes rather than rivers or reservoirs.
Smallies often stack in front of inlets and they should be checked out.
Throw a jerk bait all day and you will catch fish with a slow cadence. Fish will hit during the pause and will usually be a subtle tick like a worm or jig bite.
If your wrist and elbow aren't burning at the end of the day your not doing it right or enough
Where are you finding the yozuri? I am having a devil of a time finding the bigger 600-1000 yard size of hybrid that I have always used. Don't care much for the ultra soft and the small spools seem to waste too much.
I pretty much use 6lb 10lb and 20lb yozuri depending on the bait more than type of fish.
I don't know the lake well enough yet to give advise but found Live Earth to be very helpful for Candlewood. The satellite shots were taken during draw down so give you a good view of the bottom and likely spawn areas and shallow cover.
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