A Shoutout for NH Fishermen!!!

[wagn]

spent some time hanging out at my folks house on the Piscatequog river. Wasn't much of a bite going on, except for this one huge pickeral i caught. It was by far the largest pickeral that i have ever hooked, and the toughest fight that i've had bringing in a fish to date. I didn't weight it, but it was 27 inches long. Caught on a 5 inche senko

This is me and my dad holding the fish

And here is another picture of the fish with my brother, my son, and my dad

[jaystraw]

NICE FISH WAGN!!!!!!!

Holy smokes is that a big pickeral!!!! It's much bigger that your son!!! LOL!

And d**n, you and your brother could be twins.

Now, for my NH fishing report from this past weekend:

On Friday night, I skipped fishing to hang with my wife (which she was VERY happy about).

Saturday I met a friend up at Post Pond in Lyme NH. We looked at a map and it was halfway between Northern Vermont and Hillsboro NH, so we went for it. I am glad we did becasue I caught 2 big smallies. One was 3 pounds (on a torpedo), the other was 2 pounds 10 oz (on a senko)...also caught numerous BIG rock bass...one was 13 oz!! Here are the pics of the smallies(cell phone pics..sorry):

Here is the 2 lb 10 oz

3 pounds

Sunday we fished Loon Pond in Hillsboro. Caught some nice smallies, but the funniest thing was catching 2 sunfish at the same time on the same lure, the F9 Rapalla. I threw it out under a tree and I thought a decent bass took it, but it was 2 sunfish teaming up on my lure:

Sunday night was Kezar Lake in Sutton. Not a lot of fish, but a couple nice Largemouth.

[mdntridr]

Spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday up on Winnisquam.  The fishing was tough, especially since we were in a rowboat with no motor :'(   Bright sun, no clouds and tons of boat traffic made for some tough catching but we caught our share.  During the day we rowed out to a nice little flat near a dropoff and caught 'em on the c-rig lizard or the t-rig senko.  Nothing would touch a crank, jerk or spinner during the day.  The nite bite was decent, I was absolutely slaying them with a 1/2 ounce black spinner with a huge nickel colorado blade.  They wouldn't touch anything topwater.

All in all, I can't think of a better way to spend Labor Day weekend!

[kayakbill]

Fished Pine Island Pond in Manchester today....not so great.  First off it was windy and I'm in a canoe and I was feeling pretty lazy so I only covered the southern half of this itty bitty body of water.  Caught one bass near the dam at the southern tip.  Had a few more bites but no serious takers, just tire kickers ya know?  Which is strange because I've been rockin the senko lately and there were some pretty cozy looking laydown trees and pads and what have you.  The fish just weren't interested and I was too lazy to do it right.  So I came home and watched the Red Sox instead  8-)

That end of the pond is dead,the other end of the pond is all lilly pads and a lot of bass!

[Dean]

u ever fish grafton pond dbrev its not that far from mascoma?

heard of it, never tried it though

[mdntridr]

That end of the pond is dead,the other end of the pond is all lilly pads and a lot of bass!

dammit, now I have to go back  8-)

[llPa1nll]

Hey guys, checking in from labor day weekend I was able to get out on Northwood Lake in Northwood. It was tough all day long. It took all I had too not go skunked. We were on the water for 11hrs and I got 3 bites 3, yes 1, 2, 3. I threw most of all I had at them and had just about every rod out of my rod locker and on the deck(You know its a tough day when that happens). Friend I brought caught 4 dinks none of which was over 2lbs. During the day asking some locals I found out that this lake was treated for "Milfoil" this year. Most of my spots that I go to were bare of grass just a muck bottom. So I didnt get skunked. Im happy about that fact. The 1 bass I did catch came on a topwater frog, 30 minutes before we left.

[baboosicbass08]

Well what started out to be just going over a friends house to practice for opening day for archery the 15th turned out to be a decent day of fishing and finding my new fav spot. After a while of shooting my friend asked if i had my fishing gear with me and he took me to a spot he had seen driving by but never tried. So we went out in the inflatable and half hour into hooked a small LMB and didn't really have high expectations for the small pond, little later reeling in my c rig lizard it was less than a foot from the boat and i turned away for a second and heard a huge splash something went for it but missed . Not long after i was slowly reeling in and BAM huge strike start reeling in see the head on this larry and it was huge, he jumps out of the water and i got a good look at the fish it was easily the biggest i'd ever gotten , but he spits it out before he hits the water again . Tie the line again and a few casts later, BAM theres the big strike again drag starts screaming go to adjust the drag and snap. AAAGGHHH!!!! But i am 99% sure that within a couple weeks i'll be posting some pics of my new p.b. . will keep you posted

[jaystraw]

Where is this little spot you are talking about?

I fished Dodge Pond yesterday in Lyman NH. Caught a nice smallie (2 lbs) and a nice largie (2 lbs). Also caught numerous pickeral, but my catch of the day was a Northern Pike on a Rocket Shad!!!!! I did not take a picture because it was pretty small..maybe 1.5 lbs and about 15 inches. At first I thought it was another pickeral, but then I saw the spots instead of the usual pickeral markings.

Wahoo! My first Pike ever, and it fought like crazy.

[mdntridr]

bumped into a guy on a raft on Nutt Pond in Manchester tonite.  I was the guy in the red canoe catching them on the popper.  If you're out here it was nice to make your acquaintance, I'm sure I'll see you around.

Greg.

[jaystraw]

Did a little early moring fishing at Gould Pond in Hillsborough today and it paid off nicely.

Early on I caught a nice 1.5-2 pounder on a black jitterbug. About a half hour after that I caught another nice 1.5-2 pounder on a senko. About 15 minues after that I was paddling my canoe to another spot while trolling my ten shad husky jerk and I caught a really big red breasted sunfish. I mean BIG for a sunfish..I thought it was a bass the way it fought!

About 10 minutes later I caught this pretty fish on a senko(which you can see just above the fish on the left side floor of the canoe..the thing on the right is a stick)). Weighed almost 3 pounds and was bigger than my good sized tackle box:

Not a bad morning for such a small pond with so much pressure, and only fishing for a couple hours. Oh, and all the bass were larry's...could not find my smallmouth friends.

[baboosicbass08]

Did a little early moring fishing at Gould Pond in Hillsborough today and it paid off nicely.

Early on I caught a nice 1.5-2 pounder on a black jitterbug. About a half hour after that I caught another nice 1.5-2 pounder on a senko. About 15 minues after that I was paddling my canoe to another spot while trolling my ten shad husky jerk and I caught a really big red breasted sunfish. I mean BIG for a sunfish..I thought it was a bass the way it fought!

About 10 minutes later I caught this pretty fish on a senko(which you can see just above the fish on the left side floor of the canoe..the thing on the right is a stick)). Weighed almost 3 pounds and was bigger than my good sized tackle box:

Not a bad morning for such a small pond with so much pressure, and only fishing for a couple hours. Oh, and all the bass were larry's...could not find my smallmouth friends.

Sounds like you've been doing good lately jay first a northern, then a 3lber not bad at all. Going to the "secret pond" tomorrow with a friend for the morning and most of the day hopefully will post pics of a new pb???? keep up the good work jay and everyone else

[jaystraw]

Did a little early moring fishing at Gould Pond in Hillsborough today and it paid off nicely.

Early on I caught a nice 1.5-2 pounder on a black jitterbug. About a half hour after that I caught another nice 1.5-2 pounder on a senko. About 15 minues after that I was paddling my canoe to another spot while trolling my ten shad husky jerk and I caught a really big red breasted sunfish. I mean BIG for a sunfish..I thought it was a bass the way it fought!

About 10 minutes later I caught this pretty fish on a senko(which you can see just above the fish on the left side floor of the canoe..the thing on the right is a stick)). Weighed almost 3 pounds and was bigger than my good sized tackle box:

Not a bad morning for such a small pond with so much pressure, and only fishing for a couple hours. Oh, and all the bass were larry's...could not find my smallmouth friends.

Sounds like you've been doing good lately jay first a northern, then a 3lber not bad at all. Going to the "secret pond" tomorrow with a friend for the morning and most of the day hopefully will post pics of a new pb???? keep up the good work jay and everyone else

The one day I did not talk about was the 2 dinks and a sunfish night with my buddy(who caiht a nice 3 pound smallie in deep water).  Otherwise, yeah, I've been doing pretty well since I learned to fish plastics (a lot of the thanks goes to wagn for teaching me how to fish that stuff!)

One thing I've noticed here in NH is that the LM's seem to be starting to get shallow, and the SM's are still fairly deep for the most part.  I've caught all my 2+pound SM's in deeper water, and all my 2+ pound LM's in shallow water the last couple weeks.  Seems to be holding true no matter where I go in the Southwest corner of the state.

[baboosicbass08]

Did a little early moring fishing at Gould Pond in Hillsborough today and it paid off nicely.

Early on I caught a nice 1.5-2 pounder on a black jitterbug. About a half hour after that I caught another nice 1.5-2 pounder on a senko. About 15 minues after that I was paddling my canoe to another spot while trolling my ten shad husky jerk and I caught a really big red breasted sunfish. I mean BIG for a sunfish..I thought it was a bass the way it fought!

About 10 minutes later I caught this pretty fish on a senko(which you can see just above the fish on the left side floor of the canoe..the thing on the right is a stick)). Weighed almost 3 pounds and was bigger than my good sized tackle box:

Not a bad morning for such a small pond with so much pressure, and only fishing for a couple hours. Oh, and all the bass were larry's...could not find my smallmouth friends.

Sounds like you've been doing good lately jay first a northern, then a 3lber not bad at all. Going to the "secret pond" tomorrow with a friend for the morning and most of the day hopefully will post pics of a new pb???? keep up the good work jay and everyone else

The one day I did not talk about was the 2 dinks and a sunfish night with my buddy(who caiht a nice 3 pound smallie in deep water). Otherwise, yeah, I've been doing pretty well since I learned to fish plastics (a lot of the thanks goes to wagn for teaching me how to fish that stuff!)

One thing I've noticed here in NH is that the LM's seem to be starting to get shallow, and the SM's are still fairly deep for the most part. I've caught all my 2+pound SM's in deeper water, and all my 2+ pound LM's in shallow water the last couple weeks. Seems to be holding true no matter where I go in the Southwest corner of the state.

Plastics are all i use this time of year c-rig lizrds plus it doesn't really matter if you lose them cause they come in packages of 9 for the ones i get. About the LM's being shallow i'll try that out tomorrow at the spot, but its a tiny pond so it should be realitively easy to find and hook into the bigguns of the pond, well hopefully at least, will post the pics.

[wagn]

Anyone been having trouble with the nite bite lately? Up until about a week and 1/2 ago, i could go out late at night at any of the closest lakes near me and be garunteed at least 2 decent bass in an hour or so from shore. However the last 3 times out i haven't been able to get a bite at all. I've tried plastics, colorodo spinners, willow-leaf spinners, buzzbaits, and topwater.

              Is it just getting to cold at night for the largemouths and they are moving deep until it warms up in the day? I'm waiting to get a hitch on my new car too, so I can't even take my boat out at this time. Ah well

Jay your giving me to much credit for the plastics. we didn't even catch anything the time i went out with you. But i'm glad to see that you've been doing so well lately. You've been putting up some nice fish

[baboosicbass08]

Anyone been having trouble with the nite bite lately? Up until about a week and 1/2 ago, i could go out late at night at any of the closest lakes near me and be garunteed at least 2 decent bass in an hour or so from shore. However the last 3 times out i haven't been able to get a bite at all. I've tried plastics, colorodo spinners, willow-leaf spinners, buzzbaits, and topwater.

            Is it just getting to cold at night for the largemouths and they are moving deep until it warms up in the day? I'm waiting to get a hitch on my new car too, so I can't even take my boat out at this time. Ah well

Jay your giving me to much credit for the plastics. we didn't even catch anything the time i went out with you. But i'm glad to see that you've been doing so well lately. You've been putting up some nice fish

I'm with you wagn can't buy a bite at nite. Idk if i'll get to that spot tomorrow cant get in touch with my buddy but i will try to get out anyways, keep ya posted

[jaystraw]

I've done OK right up until it's dark, and then nothing.  I wonder why....

The thing you helped me with most wagn was just having you show me how to t-rig the worm.  I had another friend show me the exact same thing, but for some reason it clicked when you explained it to me.  

And next time when we go, we will both catch fish!!    Plastics RULE!

[baboosicbass08]

Need help with the weight guys this ones been bugging me for a year lol. Caught this fish last year at baboosic but i did not have a digital scale at that time i had a $3 kmart special spring scale, lol, and it said it was only 3lbs but now having a digital and seeing all the 2.5lbers i catch i know this was bigger than 3 lbs theres no way it was only .5 lbs bigger than the 2.5 lbers i've been catching any guesses on what it weighed, by the way it was taken with a underwater camera which explains quality and i don't have a scanner so i took a pic of the pic with my cell so thats why it looks bad and that was when i didn't no how to hold a fish too, lol.

[llPa1nll]

Need help with the weight guys this ones been bugging me for a year lol. Caught this fish last year at baboosic but i did not have a digital scale at that time i had a $3 kmart special spring scale, lol, and it said it was only 3lbs but now having a digital and seeing all the 2.5lbers i catch i know this was bigger than 3 lbs theres no way it was only .5 lbs bigger than the 2.5 lbers i've been catching any guesses on what it weighed, by the way it was taken with a underwater camera which explains quality and i don't have a scanner so i took a pic of the pic with my cell so thats why it looks bad and that was when i didn't no how to hold a fish too, lol.

Sorry to burst the bubble but that looks like a 3-4lber to me. My guess would be 3.5lbs hope that helps.

[baboosicbass08]

Need help with the weight guys this ones been bugging me for a year lol. Caught this fish last year at baboosic but i did not have a digital scale at that time i had a $3 kmart special spring scale, lol, and it said it was only 3lbs but now having a digital and seeing all the 2.5lbers i catch i know this was bigger than 3 lbs theres no way it was only .5 lbs bigger than the 2.5 lbers i've been catching any guesses on what it weighed, by the way it was taken with a underwater camera which explains quality and i don't have a scanner so i took a pic of the pic with my cell so thats why it looks bad and that was when i didn't no how to hold a fish too, lol.

Sorry to burst the bubble but that looks like a 3-4lber to me. My guess would be 3.5lbs hope that helps.

lol ok it probably was but it seemed so much bigger because thats the biggest i've ever gotten and it waslast year when i just started getting into fishing heavily but it looked so much bigger in person at least 4 lbs woulda been my guess, it was just shy of 20 inches

[Walkingboss]

I am going to be going to cabelas and hopefully bass pro too in a couple weeks and was wondering what kind of lures are working for you guys or what you would reccomend me getting (brands, colors,...) Also i will be getting a new rod/reel combo due to my car door ;D. What would you recommend or what should i be looking for for a combo i do mostly bass fishing but i will be doing some pike fishing soon after i return from cabelas also any tips on what to buy for pike? thanks guys.

I'm one of those arrogant shimano/g.loomis guys, but they've NEVER let me down.  However, I do own a few All-Star rods and they are very nice as well....and easier on the pocketbook.  

As far as lures go....I will always recommend jigs first and foremost for all occasions.  Spider jigs/tubes/skirted/deerhair you name it.  I usually have an Uncle Josh pork trailer attaced in a color that matches the jig (tubes excluded).  Clear water stay natural in color (browns/pumkins/greens).  Stained go brighter.  Dark sky?  Dark color.  Spring?  White.  Next I'd say soft jerks like Sluggos and flukes.  Hard jerks like the X-rap and Stike King's new King Shad are going to be hot again soon.  Blade baits like the Silver Buddy and Heddon's Sonic Blade will pull boatloads of bass out of deep water haunts all year long, with Spring and Fall being the best times.  Shakey head worms have been working well around docks.  Spinnerbaits of course and chatterbaits, which again can be a lifesaver in early Spring and late Fall.

Now for pike...Trolling a good sized Johnson's silver minnow has never let me down, but it's kinda boring.  Big bucktail spinners.  Mepps makes some as do many others.  Really big spinnerbaits (3/4-1 oz.) with willowleaf blades burned just below the surface get their attention.  Big Huskey jerks.  My favorite all time pike bait is a wooden jerkbait called a Suick (sp.?).  I've never seen them in New England, but I own several and even have one that's 12 1/2" long!  They destroy larger pike in late fall.  My advice for pike fishing no matter what you throw is to make noise.  Splash your lure hard into the water near the boat now and then like you were trying to get weeds off of it.  Pike are at the top of the chain and are pretty territorial.  They WILL come around to see what all the commotion is about.  Then it's up to you.

[Walkingboss]

I'm going to double up on posts....

I am almost finished with my first full tournament season.  It has been a lot of fun and I've learned a boatload from the guys I'm competing against.  There have been 130 teams that have competed in the trail I'm in (not 130 boats every tourny, usually @40) and my partner and I are sitting 4th with two regular events and the Tournament of Champions in late October at Winni left.  Our best 8 fish bag was just under 20lbs. and good for third place at Pawtuckaway, also our best event finish.  We've been in the top half of every tourny we've entered (Massabesic in April the exception....big fat 0), and have been lucky enough to be in the top 15 more often than not.

I guess I'm saying this to encourage all to join a local club and fish some of the tourny's going on around here.  There are usually club events that allow non-boaters to be paired with boaters as well, so not owning your own boat doesn't have to mean your out of luck.  I can't speak highly enough about it.

So, as my club's motto goes....Quit wishin'  Go fishin'.

[baboosicbass08]

I am going to be going to cabelas and hopefully bass pro too in a couple weeks and was wondering what kind of lures are working for you guys or what you would reccomend me getting (brands, colors,...) Also i will be getting a new rod/reel combo due to my car door ;D. What would you recommend or what should i be looking for for a combo i do mostly bass fishing but i will be doing some pike fishing soon after i return from cabelas also any tips on what to buy for pike? thanks guys.

I'm one of those arrogant shimano/g.loomis guys, but they've NEVER let me down. However, I do own a few All-Star rods and they are very nice as well....and easier on the pocketbook.

As far as lures go....I will always recommend jigs first and foremost for all occasions. Spider jigs/tubes/skirted/deerhair you name it. I usually have an Uncle Josh pork trailer attaced in a color that matches the jig (tubes excluded). Clear water stay natural in color (browns/pumkins/greens). Stained go brighter. Dark sky? Dark color. Spring? White. Next I'd say soft jerks like Sluggos and flukes. Hard jerks like the X-rap and Stike King's new King Shad are going to be hot again soon. Blade baits like the Silver Buddy and Heddon's Sonic Blade will pull boatloads of bass out of deep water haunts all year long, with Spring and Fall being the best times. Shakey head worms have been working well around docks. Spinnerbaits of course and chatterbaits, which again can be a lifesaver in early Spring and late Fall.

Now for pike...Trolling a good sized Johnson's silver minnow has never let me down, but it's kinda boring. Big bucktail spinners. Mepps makes some as do many others. Really big spinnerbaits (3/4-1 oz.) with willowleaf blades burned just below the surface get their attention. Big Huskey jerks. My favorite all time pike bait is a wooden jerkbait called a Suick (sp.?). I've never seen them in New England, but I own several and even have one that's 12 1/2" long! They destroy larger pike in late fall. My advice for pike fishing no matter what you throw is to make noise. Splash your lure hard into the water near the boat now and then like you were trying to get weeds off of it. Pike are at the top of the chain and are pretty territorial. They WILL come around to see what all the commotion is about. Then it's up to you.

Thanks walkingboss i already went to cabelas and bass pro, i bought a Bass Pro Mega Cast combo, and a cheaper baitcaster one of bill dances models with a quantum reel on it, and a Cabelas Pro Guide combo. For pike i picked up some number 5 Blue fox bucktail spinners, some spoon buzzers, 5/8 oz spoons, and for bass a bunch of plastic zoom lizards, spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits, and some topwaters, and other stuff i cant think of off the top of my head have still not gone out for pike yet but am hoping to soon.

WAlkingboss thats cool about your tournaments is tthere an age that you have to be to enter?

[Walkingboss]

As far as I know there is no age limit.  If you have a boat, for example, and are over 16 and have more than 25 horses, you'd need your 'captains' license and a valid fishing license.  The 'draw' tourny's are where you stand a chance of getting on someone else's boat, but many boaters already have partners, so you have to cultivate relationships.  Try logging on to Bubba Bassin to learn more.  That's my club, but there are many, many more throughout the state.  Google NH bass clubs, or something similar, and I'm sure you'll find a club in your area.

[baboosicbass08]

Ok thanks walking boss, I'm 17 so I don't have a boat, my friend has an inflatable boat that we use to get around the lakes we go im guessing that would just be a joke in tournys, lol, I'd get him in it too if we could use it but i doubt they'd let us use an inflatable in a tourrny, hahaha. thanks again boss.

As far as I know there is no age limit. If you have a boat, for example, and are over 16 and have more than 25 horses, you'd need your 'captains' license and a valid fishing license. The 'draw' tourny's are where you stand a chance of getting on someone else's boat, but many boaters already have partners, so you have to cultivate relationships. Try logging on to Bubba Bassin to learn more. That's my club, but there are many, many more throughout the state. Google NH bass clubs, or something similar, and I'm sure you'll find a club in your area.