A Shoutout for NH Fishermen!!!

[Walkingboss]

Regarding Canobie Kayak Access:

There is parking near the water pumping station on N. Policy Rd. You can easily slide a rowboat, canoe, or kayak in at that location. That's where I park my truck/trailer after launching @ Windham. My fishing partner drives from the ramp to the parking area and I pick 'em up. I LOVE fishing by myself now and then, but cannot at Canobie.

Now for the Winter fishing report:

I literally had to play ice breaker yesterday morning on Massabesic in order to get to the western lake. Water temp was a teeth-chattering 38-39.5 degrees and all of my fish came in 35-55 feet of water off sharp, fast shelves. Note to self.....Crappie caught in deep, cold water don't like to be horsed up. At one point we had 3or 4 plate-sized crappie floating around the boat like dinner plates, stunned, mouths open. The bass didn't seem to have the same issue and swam right back down (we also slowed bringing them in). I caught one perch in 60 feet of water whose stomach had prolapsed into his mouth. Lucky turtle somewhere.....

Anyway, we did much better than I would've thought. Few smallies, a bunch of big crappie, some perch, and I even dredged up a sock! All on silver/gold buddies. Finished up the day on Captain's pond in Salem, catching largemouth and pickerel on husky jerks. Water there was 42-43 degrees.

[nhbassin13]

walkingboss that is a great pic of that bass. you dont get to see healthy fish like that everyday.

[Walkingboss]

No, certainly not in NH's public access waters. I finally have a nice boat, but my canoe won't gather much dust.  

Thanks for the props....

[llPa1nll]

I'll be trying my best to get out on Cobbet's pond this saturday, hopefully we will have decent weather. I heard a chance of snow for Thursday? Anyone else hear that? Nice pig Walkingboss. Always good to see some piggies. Yes I have been to Zylas its got a decent selection. My 2 top NH tackle shops are Northern Bass Supply and Granite Sate Rod and Reel.

[nhbassin13]

Im thinking about heading out fishing this weekend or next depending on the weather. hopefully this year i will catch a nice pig that i can post on this site. Last year i didnt catch anything in the 7lb range but i really got hook late in the season using crankbaits which were producing some good fish both smallies and larries

[ben watson]

very nice bass, congrats walking bass, ipalnl  i have been to northern bass but where is granite state rod and reel?

has anybody ever fished horseshoe pond in merrimack my buddy caught a 7lber there a few years back nice place right off dw highway.

[llPa1nll]

Granite State Rod and Reel is in Nashua NH. Small place but he is a great guy and full of knowledge. Catching bass in the +7lb range isnt an easy thing to do, if it was everyone would have a trophy on their wall. There are big fish in this state but they are hard to come by. It takes fish +15yrs to reach that size up here, with the shortened growing season. So when a big fish like that comes you know your doing the right thing. So take a picture and send it on its way, and get a fiberglass replica mount made if you want to have a trophy on the wall. Those are the fish we want to have breeding in our waters not the 1-3lb d1nks we have to weed through.

[Yakfish]

Granite State Rod and Reel is in Nashua NH. Small place but he is a great guy and full of knowledge. Catching bass in the +7lb range isnt an easy thing to do, if it was everyone would have a trophy on their wall. There are big fish in this state but they are hard to come by. It takes fish +15yrs to reach that size up here, with the shortened growing season. So when a big fish like that comes you know your doing the right thing. So take a picture and send it on its way, and get a fiberglass replica mount made if you want to have a trophy on the wall. Those are the fish we want to have breeding in our waters not the 1-3lb d1nks we have to weed through.

Well put. Save the hawgs!

[Walkingboss]

Gentlemen, I have called this meeting to discuss our mutual problem:  It's cold out........We have got to pool our resources to end this as soon as possible.  I'm seriously worried about my family's safety.  If I don't get some water temps in the 50's soon, one of them is sure to die.

Went to Massabesic again today, because I trusted the weatherman.  Water temps still under 40 and a pretty chilly NW wind.  5th cast produced a decent smallie (+/- 2 lbs.) and I thought I was off and running.  5 1/2 hours on the lake produced 4 bass, the first cleary the best.  C'mon, try and control the jealousy........I left when I realized a sloth could retie quicker than my frozen fingers.  Same story.....all fish were DEEP.  30' plus.  Charted schools of baitfish in 15-20 feet of water, but no bass to eat them.  Everybody's still holding deep.  If (not when) we get some better weather, things are going to happen very fast, and the pre-spawn is going to be short.

[baboosicbass08]

have any of you guys fished naticook or babosic lake?

Hi all i just started fishing baboosic last year and i love it but i dont think theres a public boat launch you can get in with a canoe in the beach area but during the summer the lifeguards sometimes don't let u bring a pole with your canoe. Does anyone know where a good spot to fish at the merrimack river is i wanna fish that this year

[nhbassin13]

welcome baboosicbass08. thanks for the info on baboosic lake. unfortunatly i havent fished the merrimack river but i hear theres good fishing there. I am sure someone else hear has fished the merrimack and will be able to give you some info.

[baboosicbass08]

nhguy have you fished wilton resevior yet this year? my father and i started fishing it last year and were amazed at the amount and size of fish that are in that small pond.

Wheres the reservoir in wilton???

[Yakfish]

Gentlemen, I have called this meeting to discuss our mutual problem: It's cold out........We have got to pool our resources to end this as soon as possible. I'm seriously worried about my family's safety. If I don't get some water temps in the 50's soon, one of them is sure to die.

;D

I hear ya Walkingboss.

Welcome aboard baboosic. The Wilton reservoir is about 5 minutes from "downtown" Wilton. I'm hoping to get out there or onto Potanipo tomorrow. I can get there blindfolded but couldn't give you street names if my life depended on it. I'll make note of the directions and post them for you.

[llPa1nll]

Hey guys, I have no idea what to expect from the weather on Thursday. I have heard anywhere from 4-12in of snow. I plan on getting out on Cobbets or Canobie Saturday but I'm worried about snow banks I might have to try and get the boat through. Id take water temps in the 40°Fs hopefully thats what they will be come Saturday. Theres a decent Launch in Nashua for the Merrimack River, the other that I know is in the Concord area, near a college. The Merrimack has an abundant supply of Smallies, just most are going to be small. If any of your are truly serious about fishing NH waters I would gladly suggest picking up a copy of Clark's Fishing Guide.

I have some reports from this past Sunday on Kingston lake and it was a tough cold day. Two of my good friends were on the lake and scavenged for bites. Water Temps were in the mid 30°Fs, they only managed to scrounge up a handful of Crappie.

Welcome abord to you new guys, feel free to offer up any questions info or tips you might have. Lets hope it warms up fast and we can get to sticking some pigs.

[lilfish]

Hello to everyone, I've been lurking around on this forum for a few weeks now, there is a wealth of good information  to be absorbs here.   I agree the Clarks Guide is a must if you fish NH waters, and are very easy to find,  my local Walmart carries them and Northern Bass Supply also has them. Hopefully the snow won't be too bad this thursday. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to know how your Canobie excursion turns out.  If you get the chance to go out please post back.  Hopefully I'll bump into a few of you guys this year while fishing. Good luck and keep those lines wet..

[NHfroggin]

hey everyone just checking in from danville. they just stocked the Exeter river with trout. just thought i would let everyone know

Bassmaster6

[nhbassin13]

walkingboss do you fish captains pond in salem often i just drove by it and it looked nice. is the fishing anygood in it?

[baboosicbass08]

thanks bassin and pain. where exactly is the launch for the merrimack river in nashua? im hoping to get out to baboosic lake saturday i'll let u all know how it goes

[ben watson]

hello, i hate this ##$##%%^&& weather, 4-12'' tomorrow a nor'easter monday, still about 2-3'' of ice in milton some clear spots, 1palnl all my buddies and i always practice catch and release, we didnt have a camera the day he caught that fish,

i agree clarks is very informative  for lakes and ponds, i used to live in hudson, thier are a lot of little ponds around there i always wanted to fish at bensons but never got around to it, i heard that there is alot of nice fish there, never fished the merrimack either  

[baboosicbass08]

has anyone here ever fished at mine falls park in nashua i was just on google looking for a spot on the merrimack river and that came up it said you can fish there and it has a few boat launches "it is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and on the south by the Millpond and canal system"

[nhbassin13]

baboosicbass08 i have fished mine falls late in the year and didnt catch anything but i have heard that the canal produces some great fish in the weeds. I have also heard mill pond is good fishing but has very dirty water. I plan to fish the canal and the main river this spring and i will let you know how i do. Thats a nice fish in your picture, how big is it?

[nhbassin13]

The nashua river itself above mine falls dam is also good all the way up to the bridge on 111 in hollis. I have already heard some guys are catching bass out of there on jig and pigs.

[baboosicbass08]

baboosicbass08 i have fished mine falls late in the year and didnt catch anything but i have heard that the canal produces some great fish in the weeds. I have also heard mill pond is good fishing but has very dirty water. I plan to fish the canal and the main river this spring and i will let you know how i do. Thats a nice fish in your picture, how big is it?

thank you bassin, thats my biggest so far its 19 3/4" and was a little over 3#s caught last year at baboosic and that same day i caught one a little over 17" and around 3#s right off the beach

[nhbassin13]

sounds like baboosic produces some nice fish i will have to shore fish it this year. keep up the good work and keep me posted if you catch any more pigs there.

[llPa1nll]

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thanks bassin and pain. where exactly is the launch for the merrimack river in nashua? im hoping to get out to baboosic lake saturday i'll let u all know how it goes

Ok the Launch onto the Merrimack R. in Nashua: Take the Rt 3 extension from Exit 17 off the Everett Turnpike to the RT 3 intersect. Turn Right toward Nashua and at .2 miles, turn left on Hills Ferry Road. At .25miles cross RR tracks and turn through gate. Access is .55miles further. Good paved ramp and turnaround. Parks 3-5.

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i agree clarks is very informative  for lakes and ponds, i used to live in hudson, thier are a lot of little ponds around there i always wanted to fish at bensons but never got around to it, i heard that there is alot of nice fish there, never fished the merrimack either

Those ponds I know pretty well. Musquash and Ottarnic Ponds both small and real shallow. They get choked with weeds pretty bad. I have done ok on both but nothing to big, from either. 

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has anyone here ever fished at mine falls park in nashua i was just on google looking for a spot on the merrimack river and that came up it said you can fish there and it has a few boat launches "it is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and on the south by the Millpond and canal system"

As for the Nashua R. its a great fishery although I fear its getting allot of pressure these past years. I usually fish the Mine Falls stretch. Some good bass are there for sure. Allot of great structure. For people new to the river Id suggest going slow for if you dont know the river channel you can get into some skinny water and do some damage to your boat.