Nashua Nev Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 The Merrimack river is running hard, The Nashua river not so bad.  especially if you put in off of the Broad st ramp.  The big orange safety balls and line are not across the river at the dam area yet so be careful at that end.  The river is tough fishing, there is a lot of water there, very big area but a lot if it is just like the bottom of a clean bowl. smooth and dull with no structure. Round pond is completely ice free in Nashua as is Sandy pond.   water is still wicked cold , keep your life jacket on. both have a lot of area you can fish from shore ,  both are easily accessible with a canoe or kayak.   fish slow slow slow, and when you think you are fishing slow enough, slow down just a bit more.  try some of everything and dont be afraid to give them a nice 8 inch worm meal or lobster sized rage craw.  slow lightweight swim baits , really slow sinking jerkbaits , twitch ultra slow and let them sit.  fish the bright sunlight areas and maybe youll find some sunning and warming.   i really like white this time of yr.  the new floating rattle trap in some of the less than 5 ft deep areas where the sun is bright on the water.   as always just out of the water flow areas , inlets, outlets , points.  probably no green growing yet but if you see some growing green ..... that means oxygen and sunlight.    Nashua river behind Clocktower place,  the side area of the building where the water is a few degrees warmer (need a boat/canoe.kayak to get there) as well as the buildings on both sides at the Main st bridge.  Again you need a boat/canoe/kayak.   there is some decent structure in the water just past and under the Main st bridge. (smallmouth not largemouth)  also concerning the Bow power plant area............, On 2/23/2016 at 7:32 AM, 603eng said: I went out there at the end of November and had the same problem.  It's about an hour drive for me so it sucks having to roll the dice on whether or not they are pulling water that day. I think there is a way to find out if they are pulling water .  may be just a simple as a phone call.    Shane ? anyone else? know. 3 Quote
603eng Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 I just got finished reading through this whole thread, as always great info Nev, appreciate it. Â Looks like we fish a lot of the same water. Â Just got back into fishing a couple of years ago so I'm still learning a ton. Â I plan on spending a good amount of time on the Nashua river trying to learn it. Â My girlfriend got me an inflatable boat last year, I built up a floor for it and picked up a trolling motor this fall, just need to go through the PITA process of tracking down the bill of sale so I can register it. As far as open water goes, I stopped by the Tinker Rd bridge the other day to learn how to use my new baitcaster. Â It's starting to open up nicely, warm temps next week should open up a lot of areas. 3 Quote
Fly_Fisherman Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 Says it will be around 40 on Saturday/Sunday and sunny so maybe Jitterbug and I will hit up either Sandy, Round or another pond in the area. That or I will drive north in search of safe ice or a river worth fly fishing. If you can't tell already I'm itching to fish lol. Thank for the updates and advice! Quote
Phil_NH Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 14 hours ago, Nashua Nev said: . Round pond is completely ice free in Nashua as is Sandy pond.   Hows your experience been with Round Pond ? I might try it out this weekend. Quote
bobh64 Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 NIce hearing talk about open water but I will have to wait a little longer for water to open up for my boat and the fact I'm getting a new engine put into my truck this week. Thinking of making a trip to Swains to see how the ice is there. It's usually the first place for me to ice out. Quote
nhbassin Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 On Wednesday Baboosic Lake in Merrimack was 99% frozen over and by sunset on Thursday, it was more than half open water. Its exciting to see the larger bodies of water opening up so early. I will have the boat in by the middle of next week if the weather cooperates. Quote
Phil_NH Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 Took a ride by Flints Pond in Hollis this morning. The launch has some a little bit of ice on it. I would say about 10-15 ft out, but the Pond itself has a lot of open water. Looks like  a hot streak coming up so we should see some more ice outs soon. 1 Quote
MikeOGNR Posted March 5, 2016 Posted March 5, 2016 Just some PORN for the brothas up in the north. 2 Quote
bobh64 Posted March 6, 2016 Posted March 6, 2016 A buddy of mine just sent a picture of him in his boat catching bass on open water. Still trying to find out where he fished but I think it might be Onway lake in Raymond. Quote
Super User deaknh03 Posted March 6, 2016 Super User Posted March 6, 2016 Its open everywhere in my area. 1 Quote
Phil_NH Posted March 7, 2016 Posted March 7, 2016 Went to Horseshoe pond in Merrimack today. Got there about 8 ish. The shores had ice on them, by about noon it was all gone. Caught nothing but was happy to be on the water. Noticed a bunch of new vegetation growing, so that was encouraging. I also took a drive over to Round pond off exit 8. Fished it for a while and nothing was biting for me. Warm weather coming up this wrek, so maybe that will get them to move up some.  1 Quote
Super User Shane J Posted March 7, 2016 Super User Posted March 7, 2016 Anybody looking for a 10' Jon boat? Or know anybody? '07 Starcraft. I think I'm gonna make a move to go up to a 12', now that the boy is getting older. I'm gonna sell it with the Humminbird downscan GPS. Padded floors, and carpeted seats make it pretty d**n comfy, especially for 1, VERY stable, all welded. I have spent probably thousands of hours in this boat, and I've always been glad I had it, even when I did still have the big boat. Seriously A LOT of fish mojo in this thing! I've caught more big fish out of this boat, than any other vessel ever, and it's because it's so easy, always ready to go. Zero maintenance. Going to also include the 45lb Minn Kota Endura, but not the battery. $750 takes this bass assassinator home. Feel free to txt me with any questions or whatever. It's registered for 2016, too.  (603)219-8487. Thanks, dudes! Whoever gets it, gets to take me out fishing wherever they want, we'll go for biggest fish, and if I get beat, I'll knock $50 off. That's an old pic. I got her tightened up a bit more since then. 4 Quote
MikeOGNR Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 The Big Broads came out tonight to play. These 2 came off  the keitech swimbait. Hopefully warm weather and tight lines for the Bass Bros up north be home in 15 days hopefully it's all opened up by than. Quote
603eng Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 Lucky enough to have every other Friday off, so with the warm weather this week I think I'll get the maiden voyage in Friday. Â Somewhere in the Nashua area, most likely the river near Stellos or Mill Pond. Â I've never really fished bass at ice out, I've heard jerkbaits and jigs usually do well. Â I've never really spent time with jerkbaits so this should be a good opportunity to start to expand the skillset. Â Any advice when the water is this cold, other than slow down, then slow down some more? Quote
Phil_NH Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 4 hours ago, 603eng said: Lucky enough to have every other Friday off, so with the warm weather this week I think I'll get the maiden voyage in Friday.  Somewhere in the Nashua area, most likely the river near Stellos or Mill Pond.  I've never really fished bass at ice out, I've heard jerkbaits and jigs usually do well.  I've never really spent time with jerkbaits so this should be a good opportunity to start to expand the skillset.  Any advice when the water is this cold, other than slow down, then slow down some more? I would say try the Rapala Husky Jerk. The action on it is very tight and just after ice out that seems to be what they like. I would say go small with your jig, something like a finesse jig. Those Uncle Josh's meat trailers seem to come highly recommended for the conditions we are in. By Friday we will have had a nice solid stretch of 50 degree plus days, so they will probably start moving up, 10 ft or shallower. When you retrieve the jerkbait take a look and see if your bringing in any fresh vegetation/grass. If you are, then try switching up to a lipless crankbait, and drag it through the grass. Best of luck ! 1 Quote
bobh64 Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 6 hours ago, 603eng said: Lucky enough to have every other Friday off, so with the warm weather this week I think I'll get the maiden voyage in Friday. Â Somewhere in the Nashua area, most likely the river near Stellos or Mill Pond. Â I've never really fished bass at ice out, I've heard jerkbaits and jigs usually do well. Â I've never really spent time with jerkbaits so this should be a good opportunity to start to expand the skillset. Â Any advice when the water is this cold, other than slow down, then slow down some more? I have had real good luck with the shadow rap from rapala both the deep and shallow diver silver with black top. first fish last year with ice still in the water was with the shadow rap. I cast then reel it then let it sit and maybe twitch it every 30 seconds near any structure sunken trees or rocks that come close to the surface in the water fish like that because big rocks will hold some heat. if you see any grass growing thats a good place to catch roaming bass. Don't be afraid to throw square bills either banging on shallow rocks. Quote
Fly_Fisherman Posted March 8, 2016 Posted March 8, 2016 Heading to Miami Saturday night and was planning on fishing all day before I get on the plane. Anyone know if the ice is out around the Deering area? I know a few ponds I'd like to hit but I'm not sure if they're still hard water or not. Thanks Quote
603eng Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Thanks for the great info guys, I'll be sure to report back!  13 hours ago, Fly_Fisherman said: Heading to Miami Saturday night and was planning on fishing all day before I get on the plane. Anyone know if the ice is out around the Deering area? I know a few ponds I'd like to hit but I'm not sure if they're still hard water or not. Thanks I don't have the best info on that area, but my parents have a camp in Windsor on White Pond.  My dad was up there Saturday night and said that they edges were still iced up and there was probably 3 inches of ice or so.  That being said with the temps the past couple days, the continued warm temps and rain tomorrow, I can imagine everything around there should open up very quickly. 1 Quote
nhbassin Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 On 3/8/2016 at 9:39 AM, 603eng said: I've heard jerkbaits and jigs usually do well. Â I've never really spent time with jerkbaits so this should be a good opportunity to start to expand the skillset. Â Any advice when the water is this cold, other than slow down, then slow down some more? With jerkbaits in very cold water, I prefer suspending jerkbaits that stay in the same place between twitches. Let us know how you do. 2 Quote
JoyoftheCatch Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 One more thing on jerkbaits at this time of the year, I prefer a slow drag instead a jerk of the rod tip. It is a more subtle presentation and the bait has a tighter action. It allows the bait to sit still and slowly twitch to the side. This has been most productive for me at this time of year. 2 Quote
salmotrutta Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 Couple smallies from yesterday.4-2 and 3-11.Thru the ice. 4 Quote
Phil_NH Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 Got out early, about 6am and fished till 10. Nashua river. Got six, all of them were under a pound. Caught them all on a Rebel pop r. The bite is back! 5 Quote
Fly_Fisherman Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 4 hours ago, salmotrutta said: Couple smallies from yesterday.4-2 and 3-11.Thru the ice. Saw those on the shanty, didn't catch the usernames being the same lol. VERY nice fish, hopefully I can get some of those in open water soon enough. Quote
Super User deaknh03 Posted March 11, 2016 Super User Posted March 11, 2016 22 hours ago, salmotrutta said: Couple smallies from yesterday.4-2 and 3-11.Thru the ice. Those are beautiful. Quote
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