A Shoutout for NH Fishermen!!!

[Yakfish]

Hey guys,

Well the Ice had to be broken through at the launch again yesterday. A good skim coat remained approx 3/4 of an inch of ice. It didnt slow us down. We got out on the water yesterday around 9:15 am water was colder than I thought it would be with temps at 34.5°F. I thought we were in for a slow day. I was happy to see my fishing partner land 2 quick ones when we got to the main lake on a jerk bait. I then landed one on a jig. We ended the day catching a total of 9 fish. I caught 6 biggest being 3lbs and my partner caught 3 his biggest was a shade under 3lbs. It was a great day to get out on the water. Oh its on NOW!

Oh yea I forgot to tell you guys that this was at Cobbet's Pond.

Nice! Glad you guys had such a good outing. I'm hoping Thursday's not too damp because rain or shine I'm getting back out. I hear Potanipo is pretty much open...bassin13, is this accurate?

I've only spent a couple of hours shore fishing Naticook and haven't done Baboosic but have heard mixed reviews on both of them.

Oh yeah, welcome abord Walkingboss!

[llPa1nll]

I was wondering if there is a private or public boat launch on cobbetts pond. never fished it but heard good things about it.

Unfortunately for most of the people in NH Cobbet's pond is a private lake unless you know someone on it its extremely hard to get on it. I however have a place water view to it, so I luck out.

[nhbassin13]

i havnt been able to swing by potanipo but from what ive heard and from the looks of melendy pond near me i would say potanipo is almost ready

[nhbassin13]

I just drove by potanipo and 3/4 of the lake is still covered with thin ice.

[Yakfish]

How is Melendy Pond? I've never fished it.

[Walkingboss]

I just got back from my annual "hope there's no f'ing ice on the pond" trip only to find her still heavy with ice.   :'(   My canoe is already ticked 'cause I bought a new boat.  I told the canoe that we could still hang out now and then, but this ice thing is really stressing my relationship.  Most of the big water round here is clear, but our 'special place' remains only a dream for now.  At this rate it'll be at least another week.  

I'll probably hit Canobie again this Friday, since it's close.  Any word on Winni and ice?  Should be out, but I haven't heard.  My first tourny is on the 22nd and I need to get on the big girl a few times before then.

Oh, and thanks for the welcomes.......

[nhbassin13]

melendy pond is 32 seconds away from my house and i fish it very often. it used to be a very good pond but recently in the past three years the fishing has been terrible. most of the fish are only about a pound now possible because they treated the pond to kill the millfoil.

[Walkingboss]

Kingston Lake is open for those interested.  From what I can see the rains did the job.  No visible ice from the ramp.  I've only fished there twice, even though it's 10 minutes from home.  I've heard rumors of smallmouth in the lake, but I've only pulled largemouth.  How does it stack up against other water in Rockingham County, i.e. Canobie, Arlington, Big Island, etc.?  

[nhbassin13]

lPa1nl i was wondering how big that bass is that you are holding in your picture. It looks like a true nh pig

[llPa1nll]

Kingston Lake is open for those interested.  From what I can see the rains did the job.  No visible ice from the ramp.  I've only fished there twice, even though it's 10 minutes from home.  I've heard rumors of smallmouth in the lake, but I've only pulled largemouth.  How does it stack up against other water in Rockingham County, i.e. Canobie, Arlington, Big Island, etc.?  

The secret to fishing Kingston lake is to fish it early. This time of year you should do well if you can locate them.  I have heard of big fish coming out of Kingston lake. Canobie is good too, only thing about that lake is the launch and whether it will be usable in August or not. Its a very shallow launch and its also Salem's water supply so in a dry summer its nearly impossible to float a bassboat.

Arlington pond is private so unless you either have a cartop canoe or know someone on the lake its pretty much off limits. The same goes for Millville pond and Captains pond, all of which are in Salem. Big Island has got some Monster bass as well, if your up for paying the yearly gate/key fee of $40. If so I suggest going often and early that place is notorious for Jet Skiers being idiots...

I hope you guys are getting out on some water. I wont be able to get out this weekend but I will be checking into to see how you guys do.

[llPa1nll]

lPa1nl i was wondering how big that bass is that you are holding in your picture. It looks like a true nh pig

nhbassin13, That is my personal best LM bass caught here in NH. She weighed in at 7lbs 11oz. Fishing from shore no less. As far as I know she is still swimming around. She was weighed, photographed, and released.

[llPa1nll]

Why is it I went fishing Sunday the Red Sox opened their season this week and I am cleaning almost 5 inches of snow off my boat?

[Yakfish]

I got nearly a foot.

I don't understand?  >

[nhbassin13]

I got 8 inches of snow and i am ticked. just when i thought the fishing season was going to start i was wrong. Every year i usually get my first bass of the year in april so i will have to see what i can do to keep that going.

[Walkingboss]

Yeah, enough already...had plans for 2 full days out, then got the flu.  It's only 30 degrees out this morning, so I don't know if I'd have gone out anyway.  Will go tomorrow for at least 6-7 hours.  Canobie or Kingston.  It'll be Kingston if I'm alone because of Canobie's ( town of Windham ) launch here, but don't park here B.S.  I don't know if I'd get a ticket this time of year, but I don't need the headache.

[Walkingboss]

Oh, btw....I'd still like to know the smallie presence in Kingston....Clark's Guide says mostly largemouth and a buddy says there are very few smallmouth there.  I really need to establish some sort of smallmouth pattern before the 22nd.  I'll be fishing Winni then, and since it's not open yet, I need water that is somewhat similar.  That's why I've been fishing Canobie....Clear/sharp breaks, etc.  Any thoughts...

[djs fishing]

Walkingboss,

I have fished Kingston and Wini, I have not fished Canobie

Kingston does have smallies. If I were practicing for Wini I would try Bow Lake. That is more comparable to Wini then Kingston.

Last Bow lake report was not good still lots of ice.

[llPa1nll]

Yeah, enough already...had plans for 2 full days out, then got the flu.  It's only 30 degrees out this morning, so I don't know if I'd have gone out anyway.  Will go tomorrow for at least 6-7 hours.  Canobie or Kingston.  It'll be Kingston if I'm alone because of Canobie's ( town of Windham ) launch here, but don't park here B.S.  I don't know if I'd get a ticket this time of year, but I don't need the headache.

Walkingboss this is becoming a statewide problem. The more and more local towns and lake/pond associations get away with it, it will become the norm. The state doesnt do or care to do anything to stop it. Country Pond in Newton has become this way, same with Greenwood Pond to a point in Kingston, Rocky Pond in Hollis, Big Island Pond in Hampstead.

The reason that its happening is that the lake/pond associations can keep outsiders off their lakes, by limiting the launch access parking to town residents only. At the same time keeping their launch designated as public. With the launch being designated as public, they are still able to reap the rewards of the state's stocking of fish.

This means that the fish you are paying to raise and stock via your license fees, when stocked in a lake that has a public launch but no public parking you cant get access to those fish. The other thing I have an issue with this state is the price of their license fees. They do nothing and I mean nothing to improve the LM or SM fishing in this state. They only stock various trout and salmon species. They rarely improve launches at public lakes/ponds and when they do such as at Canobie Lake. I believe they made it worse because they filled in the launch hole. All of this and I saw in a newspaper a story of how the Fish and Game Dept is claiming they are going to go into a deficit because there revenue isn't growing but their benefits costs are rising.

I think it may come to a point where if this continues I might call the Fish and Game Dept up tell em where I live and ask "Where can I fish?" Ok I am done my rant sorry for going off.

[Walkingboss]

Thanks for the info on Kingston Lake.  I agree that Bow would be a good tune-up and it's my favorite smallmouth lake in the state, but the ice reports don't lie.  Another week or two.  I looked at the Winni live cam from Gilford today and, from the looks of it, there may be no tourny there on the 22nd.  Locals say at least 3 more weeks.  That's with average temps, which as we all know, isn't happening lately.  

All that said, I'm going to Massabesic tomorrow morning.  My second tourny is there on May 6th.  There's still a little ice hanging near Claire's landing, but oh well.

Regarding the states' management of its warm water fisheries..........gag.............choke.............

Towns want the fish, but not the traffic.  Go figure......I've seen better ramps at skateboard parks.  You're made to feel like white trash if you don't like trout and God forbid you don't flyfish.  The state is doing little to nothing about the infestation of Rock Bass in western NH lakes.  Trust an old Indiana boy...you don't want rock bass in your lakes.  Long and short:  No money in NH gov., except for my property tax.  Until this state gets some more revenue, we're all doomed.

I'm off to rig-up for the morning......

[nhbassin13]

walkingboss is that a picture of your pb largemouth? how big is it?

[Walkingboss]

No sir, that fish is 7 lb.s 8 oz...The second of two 7 lb. plus fish on CONSECUTIVE casts!  My wife came unglued because both casts were on spots she was eyeing!!  It was July 5th last year and was a good day.  The reason I have the fish turned this way is to show how packed the stomach was.  No eggs, just a fat, happy girl.  This fish did come off the same pond as my NH pb, which was 10 lb.3oz.  April 1st, 2004.  I took that fish for the wall and I've never forgiven myself.  I'll NEVER do it again.  I feel awful.  I caught her before my digital camera and haven't scanned the photos yet.

Sorry about the secrecy of where this pond is, but I'd be swimmin' with the fishes if I coughed it up.  It's an 85 acre jewel 15 minutes from my dooryard and took me several near butt-kickings to get onto.  The folks who have camps there know what they've got and protect it with a vengence.  There are some pigs there for sure.  I've caught bass off this pond (twice) that had Horned Pout tails sticking out of their throats.  My greatest bass fishing day EVER was here last May.  27 bass, 18 over 3 lbs. and 9 over 5, the biggest that day just over 7.  All on Horny Toads and in under 5 hours.  It was nuts.   If only I could get my boat on it!  Canoe only.......

[nhbassin13]

That sounds like an unbeliavbl place to fish truely a lucky find in nh. Keep up the good work on catching the 7 plus lbs fish. you are right thats one of the biggest stomachs ive seen on a bass

[Yakfish]

It'll be Kingston if I'm alone because of Canobie's ( town of Windham ) launch here, but don't park here B.S. I don't know if I'd get a ticket this time of year, but I don't need the headache.

So is there any parking near a launch at Canobie or at least a spot where you could slide in a couple of kayaks? I've heard of towns that have sneaky regs like this but haven't encountered it in my area before.

[ben watson]

hello, i live in milton nh, just wanted to say, hi everyone.  btw has anyone ever been to ZYLAS in merrimack nh? they have a pretty nice selection of fishing supplies fresh and salt water.

[Walkingboss]

That sounds like an unbeliavbl place to fish truely a lucky find in nh. Keep up the good work on catching the 7 plus lbs fish. you are right thats one of the biggest stomachs ive seen on a bass

It is a special spot, but beauty is two-faced. I fished this pond almost exclusively for two years for obvious reasons. I can place every piece of structure on this pond in my mind. It's like the bass have mailboxes. I know where to go Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Cold or warm, windy or rainy.....But.....talk about an unrealistic place to judge ones true ability. I got cocky after that banner day and went up to Winni with a friend, telling him that he was about to lose his butt. I ended up paying his bar tab for a week!!!