NH Smallies

[Tokyo Tony]

Just got back from a weekend in NH fishing my favorite little smallie lake.  The bite was slower than I've ever seen there, but still somewhat decent by normal standards (14 smallies in 5 hours Saturday, 6 in 3.5 hours Sunday - and this is a lake where a month ago I had a 70+ fish day, literally).  I had my float tube with me, but decided not to use it because the water was freezing cold and my waders are not insulated.  We just had a front roll through after the much needed rainstorms at the end of last week, so I'm thinking this was the main reason the fishing wasn't as good as usual.  Almost all fish were caught on either white X-Rap or white/yellow or silver/blue LC Sammies, twitched slowly, and for the first time, I didn't catch a single largie there.

Do you guys have any ideas as to what would, if anything, work better than jerkbaits?  The problem is, I had to fish from shore there so really couldn't work the offshore structure, which made it tough.  Most of my fish were caught at the end of very, very long casts.  I wasn't able to cast a tube far enough to be worth the effort, and didn't get a bite with a jig.  The fish seemed to be suspended about 6-10 feet off the bottom, but I could be wrong.

Any tips for next weekend?  What I am gonna do is respool my 7 foot medium action rod with 6 lb braid instead of flouro so I can really wing it out there.

[roadwarrior]

#1 Fat Ika

#2 Single tail grub or Hula Grub

#3 Silver Buddy or Cordell Gay Blade

[jaystraw]

First of all, I live in NH and I need to know where this lake is to be able to help you out.

I've been doing pretty well with spinnerbaits, senko's and floating rapallas for my smallies lately, but I've been fishing from the canoe.

[Tokyo Tony]

RW - I assume weightless t-rig for the Ika (skirt up), and a 1/16 to 1/8 jighead for the grub?  And just fish super slow?

And jaystraw, the lake is called Boston Lot Lake, it's just outside of Hanover, across from the big dam on the right from Hanover to West Lebanon.  There's a dirt parking lot and the lake is about 1/3 mile up the mountain.  It's really beautiful.  I'll be up there next weekend as well - I plan on fishing from shore but if you have a canoe are are anywhere in the area, let's go fishin'  8-)

[roadwarrior]

Yep, but if you feel like you need more weight for the jig head, it won't hurt a thing.

[jaystraw]

RW - I assume weightless t-rig for the Ika (skirt up), and a 1/16 to 1/8 jighead for the grub? And just fish super slow?

And jaystraw, the lake is called Boston Lot Lake, it's just outside of Hanover, across from the big dam on the right from Hanover to West Lebanon. There's a dirt parking lot and the lake is about 1/3 mile up the mountain. It's really beautiful. I'll be up there next weekend as well - I plan on fishing from shore but if you have a canoe are are anywhere in the area, let's go fishin' 8-)

Jeez, I'm not too far from there at all. Can you bring the canoe right to the lake or does it have to be carried in from the parking lot? Sounds sweet either way. If I have some free time this weekend I would love to hit it, and then head over to the Connecticut River to do some Pike fishing!

[Crestliner2008]

If I were limited in what I could fish with up here, I'd have to say a 3" Kalin single tail grub (smoke w/blk flake) on an 1/8 oz. plain ball head jig. Has accounted for quite a few smallies in my day. The IKA is also good, but don't discount a 4" Senko wacky rigged either    (Try RED)

[bass109]

fat ike is the best 8-)

[Tin]

So baits that you can cast a mile and catch smallies with...

1/2 oz chrome rat-l-trap

1/2 Winnipausake Special of course, chartruese spinnerbait with 2 small chartruese willow or colorado blades

 4" slim senko(junebug or white/chart laminate) texas rigged with an 1/8 or 1/16 oz, depending on wind and depth