A Shoutout for NH Fishermen!!!

[jaystraw]

Nope never fished it...

I got out this morning for a couple hours. Even though it was VERY windy, I did OK for the amount of fishing I got in. Caught a nice 2 pound smallie on a senko in pretty shallow water under a tree. I also caught 3, 2+ pound pickeral on a Daiwa crankbait. I wish they were all smallies, but I'll take any action on such a cold and windy morning.

[jaystraw]

got out in the late afternoon/early evening for a few hours.  Caught nice sized smallmouths on senkos,and my buddy caught a nice sized larry and a really tiny smallie on a rapalla.  Beautiful day with almost no wind.

[jaystraw]

GReat day today as I caught some nice fish and beat my PB by almost 3 pounds!!

Here is my new PB...a 6+ pound Larry I caught today in deep water on a t-rigged senko:

and yes, she went right back in after these pics.

[baboosicbass08]

congrats jay, good to know someones still getting out there, haven't been out in almost a month :'(, keep up the good work

[jaystraw]

Thanks babosicbass!  I'm still riding high from catching that lunker yesterday.  I may just end my fishing season on a high note.  

[wagn]

awesome fish jay

[llPa1nll]

Nice Fish, Jaystraw!!! I plan on getting out on Sunday on my home waters. It looks like it should be a great day, Monday with temps approaching 80s would be a stellar day to get out and stick em tight lines everyone...

[jaystraw]

Thanks guys!!!!!!  Seems like they are getting really hungry now that the water temp is dropping.

[Yakfish]

Hey guys, long time. I'm wondering if anyone has any input on Thorndike Pond in Jaffrey? A co-worker had a blast there a week or so ago; lots of smallies and I'm thinking of heading there next week. If anyone is familiar with it I'd appreciate some insight into when and where to fish it as well as bait recommendations. I figure I can't go wrong with Ikas and senkos but I've had very little luck with hard baits other than jigs this year and I'd like to mix it up if at all possible.

Thanks and I'm glad to see the NH guys are still out there catching!

[wagn]

Yakfish....the senko's, ikas, and jigs should work well. I'd also try some type of small jerk bait, like a husky jerk. In jerk baits and crank baits i've been getting hits on perch patterns pretty consistantly. hope this helps

[llPa1nll]

Hey Guys thought I would report in. 10/28 on my home lake in Southern NH was a good one. I saw one other boat and I think he was fishing for trout the whole day, I had the lake to myself. The lake was 55°F and we had a great day out on the water. Im still catching fish using topwater although it has slowed way down in its production. Its become a challenge now just to see if I can coax one into biting now. Various lures were putting fish in the boat sunday, from tubes and jigs to crankbaits. Surprisingly enough didnt get one on the jerkbait, most likely I didnt find the right cadence for them. All in all we had a real good day, my friend and I, Id say we boated 30-40.

One thing out of the ordinary the water is definitely cooling. I had a small 8-12in LM bass on that hit my tube and was reeling it in and right behind it on its tail in close pursuit was a good 15-18in Brown Trout. I dont know if this Trout was looking for a meal or what but he definitely was interested. We came up on 2 balls of Alewives about the size of my bass boat so thick and numerous they looked like black clouds underwater. The weirdest thing was I think cause I dont know, but I think that we came across 2 Brown Trout spawning. What I saw was 2 massive Brown Trout splashing and swimming in circles with each other and every so often one would take a jump at the other. These Trout were in the area of 18-22in and my guess would be around 4lbs or so, Im guessing but they were pretty thick. I tried running a rattle trap through the area but they were too interested in what they were doing to even notice us. So after watching them splash around for a minute or two they swam back down and we never saw them again. So my question is this do Brown Trout spawn in the fall? Was that what I was looking at? I also was under the impression that stocked trout dont actually spawn either. Anyway was a good day out on the water. Good luck and tight lines everyone...

[jaystraw]

Wow, to even see a few big Brown Trout, much less see them at that distance is pretty cool.  They are notoriously spooky fish.

I'm not too sure of the spawning question, but it's great that you had such a productive day on the water.  I'm very jealous!!

I have not been out for a while, and it's getting COLD!

[ewokmonsta720]

    I believe brown trout spawn in the spring. I live in Rochester so we don't have an area difference here. Stocked rainbow trout don't spawn well in wild. I heard brown trout are hard to catch. I've never caught one myself but its awesome you saw some trout. What lake were you on?

[llPa1nll]

    I believe brown trout spawn in the spring. I live in Rochester so we don't have an area difference here. Stocked rainbow trout don't spawn well in wild. I heard brown trout are hard to catch. I've never caught one myself but its awesome you saw some trout. What lake were you on?

It was at Cobbets Pond. I did some research and it does look like Brown Trout spawn in the fall. You can read more about it here...

Brown Trout

Spawning

Brown trout spawn in the fall and early winter (October to February) at the same time Brook (speckled) trout spawn, or later.The female uses her body to excavate a nest (redd) in the gravel. She and the male may spawn there several times. A 5 lb female produces about 3400 golden Coloured eggs that are 4 to 5 mm in diameter. Females cover their eggs with gravel after spawning and the adults return downstream. The eggs develop slowly over the winter, hatching in the spring. A good flow of clean, well-oxygenated water is necessary for successful egg development.

After hatching, the young fish (called alevins) remain buried in the gravel and take nourishment from their large yolk-sacs. By the time the yolk-sacs are absorbed, water temperatures have warmed to 44 degrees to 53 degrees. The fish (now known as fry) emerge from the gravel and begin taking natural food.They mature in their third to fifth year and many become repeat spawners.

Its starting to get pretty cold now in our NH waters. I was out 2 weeks ago and the water temps were 55°F. I am pretty sure with the cooler temps and all the rain its cooled off some more. Id guess we are looking at water in the 40-50°F range now. Anyone still getting out on the water? I plan on getting out on Sunday. Tight lines everyone.

[llPa1nll]

Well its getting cold out here in NH, and this past Sunday I got out and it was no exception. I had to break through some Ice at the ramp and the cove that the launch is in. My partner gave me the "you ever hear of that boat named the Titanic, look." I need to punch a path in the ice about 50ft long. The fish for the temps were biting but we didnt get many bites. I ended up catching 9 and my partner boated 6. He got the biggest of the day at approx 2.5lbs. All our bites save 3 came on dead sticking plastics in 10-20ft. The other 3 came on blade baits pumped over deeper breaks and flats in the 15-25ft zone.

If we dont get a warm up soon its going to be all done by Thanksgiving, in my opinion. Anyway I'll leave you with a nice bone chilling pic of my graph with a temp reading...

[jaystraw]

Yep. it looks like things are finally winding down. Not much like last year unfortunatly. Good to see someone still catching though!

I'll be gearing up for sone ice drinking..err, I mean ice FISHING soon with these temps lately.

[llPa1nll]

Well we got 4-6in of snow where I live yesterday/last night. I dont know about anyone else but I think I am going to hang it up for this year and go ahead and winterize my boat. Was a good year and I cant wait to get back at them again in the spring. Are there any diehards left getting out? I went by my home lake the other day and there was a good solid 15-30ft of ice around the perimeter of the lake. Howd you guys do this year find a new favorite bait or technique? So the next big question is do we get out for our first day in March or April. My birthday is in late March and thats how I see if Mother Nature gives me an early birthday present or not. Good luck and tight lines to those of you still getting out...

[llPa1nll]

got snow?

[Tokyo Tony]

It's comin' down in CT - same up there in Noo Hampshah?

[llPa1nll]

Ahhh yup. Looks like we are going to get 5-8inches tonight. With more coming down on saturday/sunday.

[FishGeek]

I'm up in Hanover.  The connecticut river is good for smallmouth and walleye (yes, walleye).  Love to get to Lake Winni whenever possible.  I am gettig geared up for the winter derby by the Rotary Club on Feb. 9&10.  Biggest tagged rainbow wins a boat!  ;D

[Tokyo Tony]

I'm up in Hanover. The connecticut river is good for smallmouth and walleye (yes, walleye). Love to get to Lake Winni whenever possible. I am gettig geared up for the winter derby by the Rotary Club on Feb. 9&10. Biggest tagged rainbow wins a boat! ;D

You live in Hanover?  I'm totally in love with that town and will be spending some time there come ice out  ;D

[FishGeek]

You live in Hanover? I'm totally in love with that town and will be spending some time there come ice out ;D

Yes, great place to live.  Lots of great outdoor activities and nice town with the college.  Try fishing the CT river above the wilder dam if you get the chance.  Smallmouth bass and walleye.

[Tokyo Tony]

Yes, great place to live. Lots of great outdoor activities and nice town with the college. Try fishing the CT river above the wilder dam if you get the chance. Smallmouth bass and walleye.

Is Wilder Dam the one on the right on the way to West Leb?  If so, I've ALWAYS wanted to fish below it in the rapids, but in my 3 attempts haven't found a way to get down there.  It looks like there's a parking lot and a lot of fishable shoreline.  Any advice?

My advice for you: if you haven't fished Boston Lot Lake (right across from the dam on your right on the way to West Leb), you need to.  There aren't any huge smallies in there (at least that I've caught in 10+ trips), but you can get them around 2 lbs.  It's best if you have a float tube or small watercraft, but you can still nail 'em from shore.  It's a beautiful pond, crystal clear water, and I've had a 70+ fish day there, literally, in my float tube.  From shore you can have 25+ fish days, but the bigger ones are on the offshore structure.  I saw the lake 10-12 feet below full pool so I know every little nook and cranny  ;D.  Can't wait til ice out!

[FishGeek]

My advice for you: if you haven't fished Boston Lot Lake (right across from the dam on your right on the way to West Leb), you need to.

Thanks for the tip!... I know exactly where it is, but have never been up there nor fished it.  And yes, that's the Wilder Dam right across the street from where you park for Boston Lot (in Lebanon).

I usually fish above the dam, but I believe there is a boat launch in White River Junction, Vermont at the intersection of the white river and the connecticut river.  Unfortunately, I can't find you a link to a map online.  I'll post again if I can find one.  Anyone else know where that one is?