Anyone Have Any Luck In Southern Nh Yet? (4/6/12)

[Beverly Bassman]

Massabesic - what are the views on this fishery? The few comments here are very mixed. It's a hike for me but the places in southern NH with public access for trailered boats are few and far between. I have been fishing Big Isand Pond with mediocre results. They are having a tournament there almost every weekend now. The place is too small to sustain that. The good spots and good bite that used to exist have dried up (at least the day after tournaments, and forget fishing the day of, as they take up all the parking.

I thought Massabesic may be worth a try. The place is so big, with relatively small public launch parking, it would seem to be able to withstand the pressure it gets. I gather there is a lot of shore and cartop fishing, I have fished lakes this size in Minnesota, and it takes a while to find the active areas where fish are holding, but when you do, you can catch them pretty well.

Thoughts!

[deaknh03]

Massebesic is worth it, I have found the bite to be hot and cold there, but with so much water, it's a fun place to fish.

[unhbass37]

Massabesic - what are the views on this fishery? The few comments here are very mixed. It's a hike for me but the places in southern NH with public access for trailered boats are few and far between. I have been fishing Big Isand Pond with mediocre results. They are having a tournament there almost every weekend now. The place is too small to sustain that. The good spots and good bite that used to exist have dried up (at least the day after tournaments, and forget fishing the day of, as they take up all the parking.

I thought Massabesic may be worth a try. The place is so big, with relatively small public launch parking, it would seem to be able to withstand the pressure it gets. I gather there is a lot of shore and cartop fishing, I have fished lakes this size in Minnesota, and it takes a while to find the active areas where fish are holding, but when you do, you can catch them pretty well.

Thoughts!

It's a very busy place during the weekend so if you can go during the week. I always seem to catch a few fish there, but it gets alot of pressure. Good Luck.

[bobh64]

Did Greateast Lake the other day, I find this lake under rated at times even by me, if there was a definition of a hot or cold lake this is it. Caught 14 bass both lg and sm including 5 around one island. I have been fishing this lake for well over 35 yrs and I am still finding some surprises. Including a new smallmouth area.

[unhbass37]

Did Greateast Lake the other day, I find this lake under rated at times even by me, if there was a definition of a hot or cold lake this is it. Caught 14 bass both lg and sm including 5 around one island. I have been fishing this lake for well over 35 yrs and I am still finding some surprises. Including a new smallmouth area.

Bob where is that lake located?

[bobh64]

Hope this works one bad boy from Greateast lake NH

It is a border lake with Maine near Wakefield NH, It has a really nice ramp able to handle plenty of boats. It is well marked showing all the rocky areas, If you know how to get to Poor Peoples Pub then its not to far from there. If you ever want to try it let me know.

[unhbass37]

Got out with my son today and we hit up the Nashua River by the Mill yard. Caught a few smallies, but no giants. BTW I hate river fishing, but it was a place to hit during this busy boating weekend. I also hit Mill Pond and caught a nice 3 pounder LMB and 3 others in the 1.5 lbs range. All on a inline spinner. That place is a mess though since the weed kill. GRRR!!!!

[Nashua Nev]

Went with a buddy for 2 hours this morning... to Sandy pond we had some good luck today with spinners and big spooks and 1 on a rage tail craw.

2 right at 5-1/2 , a bunch between 2 and 3 and 2 huge pickerel 1 over 24 inch and too thick to handle

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[Nashua Nev]

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b407/ktm313/F8679743-5571-499B-AFF6-522B66DC1340-2722-00000712B1AFF78C.jpg

[nhbassin13]

NEV WHAT BODY OF WATER/RIVER IS THAT?

[deaknh03]

Cobbetts Sunday and Monday morning. Not many fish, but what I did catch was quality. Sunday was 4 Lm all 4lbs, plus a 4lb smallie, then Monday another 4 Lm all 4lbs. Launched right before sunrise, and luckily the clouds obscured the sun for most of the morning and kept the jetskis and waterskiers off the pond for a while.

[unhbass37]

Cobbetts Sunday and Monday morning. Not many fish, but what I did catch was quality. Sunday was 4 Lm all 4lbs, plus a 4lb smallie, then Monday another 4 Lm all 4lbs. Launched right before sunrise, and luckily the clouds obscured the sun for most of the morning and kept the jetskis and waterskiers off the pond for a while.

To bad the rest of us can't fish it. Grrrr.

[bobh64]

Is it to early to start thinking about the weekend? Winni and Merrymeeting sounds good to me.

[Nashua Nev]

http://www.cobbettspond.org/forms.htm

Here is the form for fishing Cobbetts pond. There are restrictions but...

Go find a friend who is a Windham resident... and go fish it.

i asked a friend who fishes and did not even know he could get in as a resident..

We will be taking the canoe or jon boat soon.

2012 WINDHAM RESIDENT FISHERMAN ACCESS CONTRACT

date----------- RESIDENT NAME

ADDRESS

Phone #

COPY OF CAR REGISTRATION

COPY OF FISHING LICENSE

COPY OF BOAT REGISTRATION

FEE COLLECTED (Amount & Method)

RULES

1. Access to the pond is for fishing only.

2. Your key to the boat ramp gate is not transferable. Don’t give it to another person.

3. Lock boat ramp gate upon entering and leaving. Do not allow other boats to launch.

4. The provided decal will be placed on the inside windshield of the vehicle.

5. Only craft of 15’ or less, with the exception of a canoe, are allowed.

6. The motor for the boat will be limited to 15hp or less.

7. No water-skis in boat, no swimming, and no pleasure cruising on the pond.

8. Please do not leave your lures attached to any wharves or dock.

9. Please do not rev up engines before sunrise or after sunset.

10. Boats may not be left unattended on the pond.

11. Ice fishing sheds must be marked with the owner’s name on the outside.

12. Ice fishing sheds may be moved onto the pond and replenished with a snowmobile. Snowmobiles will not be driven on the pond for any other purpose.

13. Ice fishing sheds must be removed from the pond before the ice melts. Owners of sheds left in the pond will be liable for all costs incurred in their salvage.

14. Fishermen will adhere to the New Hampshire Fish & Game Regulations.

15. Please do not tamper with the Fire Department’s lock.

16. Town of Windham residents only.

VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS MEANS A LOSS OF KEY AND DECALS ON DEMAND.

1 June thru 30 September – All boats and vehicles must be out of the area (lake and parking lot) by 8:00 AM and may re-enter after 8:00 PM if traffic in the parking lot permits.

1 October thru 31 May – Use good judgment and be considerate of residents on the pond when entering and leaving the pond.

THE $15 FEE IS FOR THE COST OF THE KEY. THE KEY IS ISSUED FOR THE PERIOD OF

1 JANUARY THRU 31 DECEMBER. THE LOCK IS CHANGED 1 JANUARY. THERE IS NO REFUND FOR THE KEY.

I have read this contract and accept the conditions and enter the access area at my own risk.

[deaknh03]

To fish cobbetts you only need to be or know a resident. The resident will need their fishing license, boat registration, and auto registration. They dont give keys to any boat over 15' and no canoes. They file your car registration so they know what cars are parked there, and they give you a sticker for your car window. They are very strict at the town hall, where the keys are obtained, and if you have that stuff, its $15 for the key.

[unhbass37]

To fish cobbetts you only need to be or know a resident. The resident will need their fishing license, boat registration, and auto registration. They dont give keys to any boat over 15' and no canoes. They file your car registration so they know what cars are parked there, and they give you a sticker for your car window. They are very strict at the town hall, where the keys are obtained, and if you have that stuff, its $15 for the key.

Well my boat is an18' footer and I don't have the luxury of knowing a Windham resident. BS if you ask me. I can see leaving out jet skiers,but why fisherman and WHY do you need to be a resident. Windham could make a fortune by charging 25 bucks a year to get a key. I know BIP does that. Sorry to rant,but it makes me mad when I hear about this pond because they just so happen to know this person etc. NH FISH AND GAME should do something about all this private BS.

[Beverly Bassman]

A lot of lake residents have experienced or heard about bass tournaments. Large numbers of over-powered bass boats go roaring around the lake, acting like they own the place, firing lures right onto the docks, churning up the lake, catching lots of big fish which are all released at the ramp. Some die right away (~4%), some experience delayed mortality (~20%), and only about 20% of the surviving fish return to their old locations. Over time, the fishing at that lake gets ruined.

This is happening right now to BIP. For any years, they only allowed 2 tournaments per year. This year I count 12, and I don't even have the schedule from June and earlier.

The casual weekend fisherman is losing access, in part, because of the negative aspects of tournaments. My wife's family owns a lake house up in Minnesota. It has incredible bass fishing, with the locals mainly targeting pike/musky. But forget fishing on a tournament weekend.

[unhbass37]

Ok so keep the tournaments to lakes over 1000 acres. My point is this I personally have lost alot of fishing areas close to me do to its now all the sudden private.

[Beverly Bassman]

Ok so keep the tournaments to lakes over 1000 acres. My point is this I personally have lost alot of fishing areas close to me do to its now all the sudden private.

I agree. It is very annoying. There are a lot of people like us who just want to go out on the water, quietly fish with a friend, son or daughter, admire the scenery, respect the lake and the homeowners, take care of the fish, release them where caught, etc. But we don't want to spend all day searching to catch two or three mediocre fish. Our access to quality fishing is being cut off because of the actions of water skiiers, jet skiiers, bass tournaments and others who do not respect the rights of the locals. So the locals lobby to close off the access. Then the remaining fisheries that do have access see the fishing go downhill.

Didn't Cobbetts used to have a key system like BIP? In the older versions of the Clark book something like that is mentioned (though it is crossed off in the blue version). In the newer green version of the book, he points out that access was taken away. This direction will only change if there is a more organized lobbying effort from fisherman. The laws in NH seem to allow the local cities and towns to take control. I don't know if Fish & Game can even do anything. Sorry to keep bringing this up, but in Minnesota, this is not legal, so access remains great everywhere.

[deaknh03]

The ignorant few have spoiled it for the respectful ones. UNH, you do know someone in Windham, me, the invitation stands. I have taken a few BR members fishing on Cobbetts, I am not selfish, but I cannot just open the gate and say have fun, it's not worth me losing my access. The members that have fished it always want return trips, its a prime fishery.

[unhbass37]

The ignorant few have spoiled it for the respectful ones. UNH, you do know someone in Windham, me, the invitation stands. I have taken a few BR members fishing on Cobbetts, I am not selfish, but I cannot just open the gate and say have fun, it's not worth me losing my access. The members that have fished it always want return trips, its a prime fishery.

Thanks, but my problem is I don't have a Jon boat anymore. I am getting a heavy duty inflatable but that may not be till next season. So I am fishing out of my 18' Bass tracker in which they won't allow correct? I usually can fish Friday AM after 8am till about 1ish.

[Nashua Nev]

Borrow my jon boat.

I have an extra 12 ft aluminum jon boat for sale for $250. You are more than welcome to borrow it. When my trailer was hit at the Nashua river last year, it was on the trailer i bought. I never advertised it for sale, it is just sitting there. So the offer is there, borrow it and then bring it back to me. I have 1 paddle that came with it. You will need a cushion and a life jacket.

Any one want to buy it they can pick it up in downtown Nashua during the day or Tinker road after work.

Same goes for anyone who wants to borrow it. The offer is there , it is just sitting.

[unhbass37]

Thanks Nev. I may hit somewhere in Nashua tomorrow for a few hours. Are you fishing in the AM?

[Beverly Bassman]

It is impressive the way people on this thread offer to help each other. Something about bass fishing brings out the good nature in a lot of people. I am new to this group, but you all seem like a good group of people. I hope you don't hold it against me that I am from Massachusetts. When I was growing up, we had a small place on Eastman Lake in Grantham, NH. My Dad lives there now, so that is my official tie to NH.

BTW, Eastman is not a bad smallmouth fishery. Not much in the way of size, but good numbers. I caught 19 smallmouth and a couple of largemouth there in one day last September. There is a decent ramp there any boat can launch, though there is a 10 mph speed restriction. It is a nice, quiet place. If you are ever up 89 just past New London, you can check it out.

[unhbass37]

It is impressive the way people on this thread offer to help each other. Something about bass fishing brings out the good nature in a lot of people. I am new to this group, but you all seem like a good group of people. I hope you don't hold it against me that I am from Massachusetts. When I was growing up, we had a small place on Eastman Lake in Grantham, NH. My Dad lives there now, so that is my official tie to NH.

BTW, Eastman is not a bad smallmouth fishery. Not much in the way of size, but good numbers. I caught 19 smallmouth and a couple of largemouth there in one day last September. There is a decent ramp there any boat can launch, though there is a 10 mph speed restriction. It is a nice, quiet place. If you are ever up 89 just past New London, you can check it out.

Honestly there are alot of good people here. I was just stating a point and not targeting anyone on here that's for sure. We usually try to get everyone together on here to do a fish get together. I was able to get to one once with everyone and it was a blast. I hope we all can do it again. BTW we won't hold it against just because your from Mass. All good people sharing there fishing experiences. Hopefully I'll see you out there if you come up to the Nashua area.