Nhbass603 Posted March 10, 2014 Posted March 10, 2014 There's a launch right under 293. Opposite side of brown ave. Can get there from south river rd in Bedford. Not sure the name of the rd you take a left on but it's right at a hotel. I haven't put my canoe in that section yet. Looks like you might only be able to go north on river though. Just south of the launch there were rapids and lots of rocks. 1 Quote
Spyder Bass Posted March 10, 2014 Posted March 10, 2014 for some reason im a little intimidated about putting my boat in the river. what are people catching fish on in the merrimack. maybe this is the year i suck it up and try it Quote
Nashua Nev Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 The river can flow fast, So just pay attention. Wear your life jacket and make sure people know you are hitting the river. Maybe go with a buddy if you not 100% comfortable. always better safe than sorry.  Remember if you go up river to start the flow will bring you back naturally even if your motor dies, if you go downstream first then you have to fight current to get back to the launch. Its no different than a lake except for current, and wind. 1 Quote
Mainebass1984 Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 I went out fishing this weekend for bass and pike. I was fishing out of my truck which I drove on the ice. The ice is still almost 3 feet thick on Lake Champlain. I caught a few bass. Â This one looks very odd... Â I caught a couple of these two 6 Quote
clr9933 Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 Right on Maine! That is awesome. It's nice to see a post of a recent catch on here, makes me want to get out even more than I already did. Were you jigging or using bait? Quote
bobh64 Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 Looking at my boat diary my first day of season were as follows; Â 3/29/13 Swains water temp 48, cloudy 38 low breeze. 3/24/12 Swains water temp 50, sunny cool 46 wind 15-25mph 4/18/11 Swains water temp 46, mild 52 wind 5mph, Winni ice out a day later. Â I wonder what it will be like this year? Â Thinking middle April? 2 Quote
clr9933 Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 Looking at my boat diary my first day of season were as follows;  3/29/13 Swains water temp 48, cloudy 38 low breeze. 3/24/12 Swains water temp 50, sunny cool 46 wind 15-25mph 4/18/11 Swains water temp 46, mild 52 wind 5mph, Winni ice out a day later.  I wonder what it will be like this year?  Thinking middle April?  I would be satisfied if I were fishing big water by the first week or two of April. Hopefully some of the smaller ponds open up sooner than that, a few days of mid 40 degree weather could speed things up nicely. Quote
KlubbaT Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 I went out fishing this weekend for bass and pike. I was fishing out of my truck which I drove on the ice. The ice is still almost 3 feet thick on Lake Champlain. I caught a few bass.  This one looks very odd...  I caught a couple of these two Nice fish! I'm going back to Lake Champlain in August. Will be my second time there. Great place to fish. Hoping to catch some large pike and bass there. Quote
NEjitterbugger Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 10-16" for those of you in the northern part on NH/VT... JEEEZZ!!!!! We're supposed to only get 1-3" thankfully! We just gotta wait this stuff out, spring is coming... But she's taking her sweet 'ol time! 2 Quote
Mainebass1984 Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 10-16" for those of you in the northern part on NH/VT... JEEEZZ!!!!! We're supposed to only get 1-3" thankfully! We just gotta wait this stuff out, spring is coming... But she's taking her sweet 'ol time!  Yeah we got 21 inches Quote
YungAngler Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 I've been monitoring the weather on the seacoast like a hawk. 1" to an 1.5" on the ground right now, and temps are in the 20's. Only bright spot, the 40 degrees and rain yesterday melted quite a bit of the snow and ice around here. 50 degrees on Sat should also help. Murphy's Law: buy a Yak late in the fall; endure the longest winter ever! Quote
Tlaz Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 for some reason im a little intimidated about putting my boat in the river. what are people catching fish on in the merrimack. maybe this is the year i suck it up and try it Same here. I see lots of rocks and fast moving water. If I am to put my bass boat in, I want a lower moving area where Rock are not an issue. Quote
Tlaz Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 I would love to meet some of you locals and do a little fishing. Im not in any clubs and have never done a tourney but I think it would be fun to meet up and catch some fish. I have a spot on my boat for a non boater. Take a day off from work and hit a local lake. Â Tom Quote
Nashua Nev Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Gotta pay attention to the rocks and areas, also depends on the size of the boat.  my 12 ft jon boat with small gas motor and troller motor or my canoe with troller work great. the fish are in the rocky areas. (structure) If i had only a big bass boat not sure i would be taking it into these rocky areas.    my 12 foot jon boat is for sale. $400 with trolling motor. also comes with basic depth finder / temp. Quote
JoyoftheCatch Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 I am getting very sick of this weather! I just want the ice to melt so I can get back on the water. Really looking forward to some tournaments this year. Are there any new baits that you guys are excited to throw? I cannot wait to throw a buzzbait and chatterbait.  Quote
DevilDoc Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Snow snow go away, want the season to start today! 1 Quote
Nashua Nev Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 from shore in the Nashua / Merr / Bedford area there are lots of spots to hit in the Merrimack river.  if you get up near the old train bridge towards Bedford theres some good shore fishing area.  Fish the areas where the water is not flowing so fast, the outer areas , also behind Margaritas, fish right into the water discharge area and towards the building. I do not go to these areas alone this time of year and i wear my good life jacket this time of year. . always bring a friend. Too easy to slip and never be found,   In the warmer times i do go alone and lots of times i wear my basic life jacket when i fish there alone and i am at the rocks on the edge.  If you get stuck in those currents they will pull you right under.  If you follow further there are spots to fish where you are standing on solid shore and these places i dont use the jacket.  I fish a bunch there in my waders also, and always wear the life jacket.  Although good neoprene waders will keep you afloat for the most part.  its the freezing water that kills you right now.  also in the Nashua area, behind bridge street buildings (behind M AND M SPORTS) where the Nashua meets the Merr, completely open , Fish that complete area closer to where they come together. fish all those rocks.   Across the to the other bank is better but i do not know anyone in any of those houses.  I fish this a lot in my kayak , its a steep hill , easy going down but a little work getting back up.  I made myself a shoulder strap for my kayak just for this place.  I also used a long rope and a pulley tied to a tree to pull my canoe back up , now that i have the kayak i dont do that anymore.   Its all depends on how much you want to fish. I do not consider it work , i enjoy it.  if you find it too much of a hassle to do stuff like this there is nothing wrong with that, many of my buddies and my wife think i am nuts. 1 Quote
DevilDoc Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 I have fished that bridge area last year but had no luck. The hill is a pain to get up but it's manageable. My wife dropped me off, as I wasn't comfortable leaving my car there. Nev, where did u put ur vehicle and what lures where u using there? Thanks! Quote
Nashua Nev Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Yup , i leave my truck there in plain view , nothing of value in it.   What i throw depends on when you go, slow slow right now, on the bottom or slow slow crank baits that dive , i throw a bunch of top water stuff there too as it warms up a bit ,  if you get towards the bridge throw as far across to the other side as you can get , there are some big rocks sticking up on shore , fish past them right to the shore if you can, its a long cast. as it warms up throw some spinner baits in black/blue or white, i use double colorado blades for noise.   its tough to fish jigs with out losing them in the rocks here.  One thing i do here is throw a huge bobber for weight with a rage tail baby craw with the weight stuck in the craw tail about 6-7 feet from the bobber.  the bobber will drag the craw over those rocks and across the bottom. Have to try to throw over to the slower moving water. you need the bobber for weight to cast as far as you can.  just watch the bobber. once the bobber starts hitting the fast current i usually pull it in.  Its a little early in the season right now for this i think. Quote
bobh64 Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 How many of you have been looking at those live target bait balls? I might just pick up a couple they look interesting and I like the concept. 5 Quote
clr9933 Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 How many of you have been looking at those live target bait balls? I might just pick up a couple they look interesting and I like the concept.  I've been looking at those also. I like the look and the idea for sure, it's one of the more original ideas that I've seen. I think it came out of the umbrella rig craze; since those things are so bulky and not allowed in so many places Live Target came up with a way to get a "school of fish" look out of traditional baits. That's just what I came up with, I could be way off.  Keep us posted if you get one! 1 Quote
NEjitterbugger Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 I have, live target's explanation is that when a fish goes for a normal crank bait they think it is a ball of bait. So their new lure embellishes the fact that it's a ball of bait, whether that true or not those and normal cranks catch fish... I just picked up a live target field mouse to try out. Quote
bobh64 Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 looking at the 951 glass minnow series jerk bait ball that will have more applications to my fishing style I love throwing a jerk bait near grassy and lily pad shorelines. 1 Quote
Mainebass1984 Posted March 15, 2014 Posted March 15, 2014 Live target makes some great lures. Live target crawfish.... Ya don't bother buying any of those 1 Quote
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