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

[bobh64]

Been hearing from a bunch of my angler buddies who are lucky enough to have time off to fish. They have found the lake temps are way down, almost 10 degrees lower now compared to last year temps at this time of year, any one else seeing this? 

[RMcDuffee726]

Could it have been a pickerel?

I was thinking that too.  Did you check the knot by any chance?  See if the line snapped or the knot came undone.  Very interesting none the less.

[mebisho]

It wasn't the knot, I checked that. If it was a pickerel, I would have loved to have seen that monster. The pull was incredible. I was using a heavy action, 7' Shimano rod with an Ambassadeur reel that has a 3.8-1 ratio. Oh well, at least I got to feel a good adrenaline rush. Been away from fishing a long time, feels good to be back

[bobh64]

Finally going out fishing Tuesday after a two week wait. Will be hitting Horn pond for some de-stressing therapy with some lunkers I hope.

[jaystraw]

Been hearing from a bunch of my angler buddies who are lucky enough to have time off to fish. They have found the lake temps are way down, almost 10 degrees lower now compared to last year temps at this time of year, any one else seeing this? 

Absolutely.  At Highland Lake, the water temp was 68 at the southern end. and 61 at the northern tip.  I'm not sure what it is supposed to be, but 61 is incredibly cold for this time of year for as far south as it is.

[Mainebass1984]

Fishing this past weekend was really good. My plan for Friday was locating fish for Saturday. My friend Chris wanted to go fishing. He fishes once or twice a year, when I take him. Fishing Friday was great. The details about Fridays fishing is in the who wants in thread. When I got to the lake Saturday it was as if I was at a completely different lake. The water level had risen 5 feet, water temp went from 78 to 62, clarity from 5 feet to 5 inches. The fish I found Friday were gone. The first 5 hours of the day sucked. We had 4 fish between the 2 of us. It was time to change tactics. We went shallow. Really shallow where the warmest clearest water was. Once we had them figured out our fishing success changed significantly. We started catching fish and big fish too. My friend caught the biggest bass of his life a 5 lb 2 ozer off a tree.

Not to far from where he caught his big bass I caught a big bass after losing a lunker. The big bass weighed in a 6 lbs 8 oz.

 After a couple pics a few cast later my friend got a 4 lb 8 ozer the second biggest bass of his life.

The fishing stayed red hot until dark. Had them figured out by that point. We had found a pattern and the next 2 spots which were very similar to that produce a lot of good fish. For the day we caught 24 bass, biggest was the 6-8.The rest of the fish were pretty good too, 5-2, 4-8 and 9 3lbers including a 3 lb 5 oz smallmouth.

 

So after that amazing I had to sneak out after my nieces birthday party to get a few hours of fishing in before heading back to Vermont. The fishing was great again. My first bite of the afternoon was a 5 lb 10 oz

After catching a few more bass on a jig with a rage craw trailer I caught a 5 lb 4 oz which I think I caught on Friday... It wasn't very far from where I caught a 5 lb 4 oz on Friday and it looks like it could be the same fish.

After the jig bite died down the frog bite took off. I wasn't getting a ton of bites but when I did get a bite it was a good one. I pulled into one particular cove filled with reeds. All the lilies were submerged because of the high water. There were bugs and birds flying around everywhere. I watched as a big fish exploded on a small bird that was skimming the surface catching bugs. I couldn't believe it. I had never seen that before. I figured that fish must have been huge to eat a bird. I made a mental note of where it happened. After 10 min or so I had made it over to that section of the cove. I cast my frog out, plop, plop, KABOOM. A fish exploded on it and the fight was on. After a spirited fight I netted the fish. It was a decent fish a 4 lb 11 oz. As I was weighing the fish I noticed saw something out of the corner of my eye. Half way in between where I caught the fish and the boat something was quivering on the surface. I went over to check it out and I couldn't believe it.

It was the bird that got eaten. The bass spit it up as I was fighting it towards the boat. I think It was a tree swallow. First time I have seen that happen. The fishing was great right up til dark. Not as many big fish as the day. I caught 15 bass including a 5-10,5-4,4-12,4-11,3-0 and a 3-2 smallmouth. It was an amazing weekend of fishing. I am ready to get back out there ! I also caught a red breast sunfish, kind of a rare catch  in the area of Maine I like to fish.

[Beverly Bassman]

Merrimack River at Tyngsboro, MA was 67 degrees on Saturday.   One year ago it was 81 degree.  Fishing was incredibly slow.  One smallie in four hours.   They wouldn't even touch the drop shot.   I spoke to a guy who lives on the river and he said there was a tournament on the river last weekend and he heard they did ok.  But it was dead Saturday.   Most of the boats at the Pawtucket Blvd ramp caught nothing.   

[bobh64]

Fishing this past weekend was really good. My plan for Friday was locating fish for Saturday. My friend Chris wanted to go fishing. He fishes once or twice a year, when I take him. Fishing Friday was great. The details about Fridays fishing is in the who wants in thread. When I got to the lake Saturday it was as if I was at a completely different lake. The water level had risen 5 feet, water temp went from 78 to 62, clarity from 5 feet to 5 inches. The fish I found Friday were gone. The first 5 hours of the day sucked. We had 4 fish between the 2 of us. It was time to change tactics. We went shallow. Really shallow where the warmest clearest water was. Once we had them figured out our fishing success changed significantly. We started catching fish and big fish too. My friend caught the biggest bass of his life a 5 lb 2 ozer off a tree.

Not to far from where he caught his big bass I caught a big bass after losing a lunker. The big bass weighed in a 6 lbs 8 oz.

 After a couple pics a few cast later my friend got a 4 lb 8 ozer the second biggest bass of his life.

The fishing stayed red hot until dark. Had them figured out by that point. We had found a pattern and the next 2 spots which were very similar to that produce a lot of good fish. For the day we caught 24 bass, biggest was the 6-8.The rest of the fish were pretty good too, 5-2, 4-8 and 9 3lbers including a 3 lb 5 oz smallmouth.

 

So after that amazing I had to sneak out after my nieces birthday party to get a few hours of fishing in before heading back to Vermont. The fishing was great again. My first bite of the afternoon was a 5 lb 10 oz

After catching a few more bass on a jig with a rage craw trailer I caught a 5 lb 4 oz which I think I caught on Friday... It wasn't very far from where I caught a 5 lb 4 oz on Friday and it looks like it could be the same fish.

After the jig bite died down the frog bite took off. I wasn't getting a ton of bites but when I did get a bite it was a good one. I pulled into one particular cove filled with reeds. All the lilies were submerged because of the high water. There were bugs and birds flying around everywhere. I watched as a big fish exploded on a small bird that was skimming the surface catching bugs. I couldn't believe it. I had never seen that before. I figured that fish must have been huge to eat a bird. I made a mental note of where it happened. After 10 min or so I had made it over to that section of the cove. I cast my frog out, plop, plop, KABOOM. A fish exploded on it and the fight was on. After a spirited fight I netted the fish. It was a decent fish a 4 lb 11 oz. As I was weighing the fish I noticed saw something out of the corner of my eye. Half way in between where I caught the fish and the boat something was quivering on the surface. I went over to check it out and I couldn't believe it.

It was the bird that got eaten. The bass spit it up as I was fighting it towards the boat. I think It was a tree swallow. First time I have seen that happen. The fishing was great right up til dark. Not as many big fish as the day. I caught 15 bass including a 5-10,5-4,4-12,4-11,3-0 and a 3-2 smallmouth. It was an amazing weekend of fishing. I am ready to get back out there ! I also caught a red breast sunfish, kind of a rare catch  in the area of Maine I like to fish.

I remember doing a tournament many years back and a bass spit up a chipmunk in the weigh in bag because it was in the fish it had to be weighed with the fish. Glad it wasn't my bag. Also witness a bass ambush some ducklings before getting one for a meal.

[bass anytime]

This is my first time posting to this board, but I have read it for awhile.  BobH64 I saw where you were going to fish Horn Pond , I was thinking of going there next week.  Did you go and if so how was the fishing.  

[mhtranger]

Welcome to the group.

[mhtranger]

I went to Winni today and fished out of Lees Mills. Fished from 7am to about 11. The lake was like glass and the water temp was 76 degrees. Caught on Senko wacky rigged and the big one was caught on a 1/2 oz jig with a berkley 7" power worm. Caught 7 fish sizes from 4 inches to my biggest of the year a 4lb large mouth. So hard to take pictures by myself. 

 

[mebisho]

Nice fish. Speaking if pictures, how do you post them to this site? The Help section doesn't

[mhtranger]

Sent you a PM.

[Mainebass1984]

  I went fishing after I got out of work at 4. I fished wit my friend Tim until dark which was about 815. The fishing was good. We were catching the out in 8-15 feet of water off of the primary drop off. The first fish of the day was the best. A 5 lb 2 ozer. Most of the rest of the bass we caught were 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 lbs. Did get a 3-0. Between the two of us we caught 30 bass.

 

[bobh64]

This is my first time posting to this board, but I have read it for awhile.  BobH64 I saw where you were going to fish Horn Pond , I was thinking of going there next week.  Did you go and if so how was the fishing.  

Yes I did fish Horn Pond after using my truck battery to start my big motor because I forgot to check my batteries the day before. It was slow going the whole time I was there. A dozen fish total biggest in the boat was @2lbs but lost a good 5 pound fish right next to the boat as I was struggling to get the net by myself. I talked to the locals and they said that fishing has been really off the last two weeks there. What worked for me was jigging the known rock piles in the pond both up the top and just past the launch channel. Chatter bait worked on the second rock pile that holds all the cabbage. Wacky rigged senko's skipped very deep under docks picked up a couple I was there from 7:30 till 1:30. Hope this helps and welcome to the group.

[bass anytime]

Thanks for the information on Horn Pond BobH64. I have never been there but had picked it out to try. I'm not sure how to get your info to show with this post, new to any forums. I have fished for a lot of years but seem to always struggle during the middle of the day during the summer. I'm always looking for lakes that are not highly pressured but still have a decent launch.

[mebisho]

Fished Mill Pond this morning. Caught a few small ones. Only brought jigs and trailers oy learn how to use them. Will go somewhere tomorrow

[NEjitterbugger]

Fishing with Shane tomorrow morning, work is finally over thank god! So I'll finally be able to do some bassin now... Maine that bird thing is really neat, I've got the Flipin the Bird frog and use pretty frequently...

[mebisho]

Fished Horseshoe in Merrimack today. Got a 3pounder off a Senko and my first fish off the jig and Rage craw, it was small but it's a good start for learning to use a jig

Vacation next week, I will be fishing Pine Island in Wakefield on Saturday and Massabesic during the week. Any inside info for fishing from Clare's Landing will be appreciated, it will be my first time there. Thanks

[PLombard68]

Fished Horseshoe in Merrimack today. Got a 3pounder off a Senko and my first fish off the jig and Rage craw, it was small but it's a good start for learning to use a jig

Vacation next week, I will be fishing Pine Island in Wakefield on Saturday and Massabesic during the week. Any inside info for fishing from Clare's Landing will be appreciated, it will be my first time there. Thanks

If your're using a boat off Claire's landing then head towards the weeds and fish near the mouth of the inlet to the right. Also try the small island scattered to the SW. I've had my best luck in those areas while others haven't caught a thing. Massabesic can be frustrating at times and your best friend other times. If you're shore fishing then I would move up the road north towards the inlet and fish near the bridge over at the 4 way as well as the small falls north of there. If you can, hit the other side on bypass 28 and fish wish the canoe launch is. I've had some great luck under the bridge. Walk about 1/4 mile down the trail near the canoe launch and you will come to a beach area where there is some good fishing as well. Hope this helps and good luck.

[mebisho]

If your're using a boat off Claire's landing then head towards the weeds and fish near the mouth of the inlet to the right. Also try the small island scattered to the SW. I've had my best luck in those areas while others haven't caught a thing. Massabesic can be frustrating at times and your best friend other times. If you're shore fishing then I would move up the road north towards the inlet and fish near the bridge over at the 4 way as well as the small falls north of there. If you can, hit the other side on bypass 28 and fish wish the canoe launch is. I've had some great luck under the bridge. Walk about 1/4 mile down the trail near the canoe launch and you will come to a beach area where there is some good fishing as well. Hope this helps and good luck.

Thanks, I will be in my canoe. I hope to try both sides during the week, It should be quiet with summer being done

[Mainebass1984]

The fishing the past few days has been pretty good. There were times though when I went HOURS with out a bite. Saturday I got up real earlier and made it to the northern end of Lake Champlain. The fish were biting as soon as we launched the boat. I was getting a bunch of blow ups on a frog. We found fish in 2 weed beds. All the other areas we fished sucked. We tried for smallmouth and there was not much happening there. I did loose a big smallmouth but tat was about it. We started an finished the day on the same productive weed bed. For the day the two of us boated 35 bassour biggest five went around 17 lbs with a 3 lb 11 oz largemouth lunker.

 

Sunday I fished a tournament out of Larabee's point on southern Lake Champlain. Between the tournament I was fishing and the 4 other tournaments that day there were over 80 boats fishing tournaments on the southern area of Lake Champlain. Then of course there were other fisherman not in the tournaments and recreational boaters. The place was a zoo. I didn't catch very many fish at all. The morning bite was good though. My first 2 fish in the boat were good ones and we needed them. The first fish slammed a jig pitched into some Milfoil at our first spot. At the second spot we went too after the fog lifted I was getting some frog blow ups. I got my second fish of the day here a nice one that exploded on my frog. The rest of the day was pretty slow. Nothing of any size the rest of the day. My partner and I went hours with out a bite. At the weigh in everyone said they had a tough day like we had had after the morning bite. We finished in 1st place with 15.6 lbs of fish and missed lunker by .07 lbs. Without the two bigger fish bites we would have not finished well at all.

 

The two biggest fish 4.95 and 4.5 lbs

 

Monday I had a few appointments in the morning. I decided to fish for smallies in the afternoon. It was hot with almost no wind. They didn't cooperate at first. I hadn't fished this lake for 2 years. After fishing a few spots and figuring them out I started catching fish. They were holding in deep weeds. I caught 26 bass for the day. Mostly around 2 -2 1/2 lbs. I saw 2 big smallies swimming by my boat. I toss my jig out there and they both go for it. As my jig was sitting on bottom both of them were nose down on it , one on each side. I hop and the bigger one inhaled it. The fight was on and I could see it was a real nice smallie.  The fish was making strong runs and on one run the hook pulled out, bummer. It was a good one. In the same spot I hooked into a big fish I didn't see. It was like setting the hook into a stump, big fish. Big fish and 8 lb flouro carbon... The fish broke my line, bummer. I did manage to catch a couple better fish but nothing the size of those two. I finished the day with  a 3 lb 1 oz and a 3 lb 5 oz. Definitely going to go back there soon.

 

3 lb 5 oz

[Nashua Nev]

waiting for Shane and Jitterbug to post those tankers they must have caught over the weekend.  Jitterbug posted they were fishing together.  They must be going thru their pics to post the best ones. 

[bobh64]

Cant wait to go out and fish Great East Weds It's going to be a tough day bluebird sky near 90 with humidity but bring it on! Heavy cover bank fishing and channel fishing will be the plan of attack for me.

[mhtranger]

Good luck. My brother and I fished last Wed (not on great east) and found no fish on shore or shallow. Most were in 10-12' and steep dropoffs.  Granted weather was way different than tomorrows forecast.