While the wait is on for the local landing of the first linesiders, anglers are preoccupying themselves with pretty good freshwater fishing. For those who are counting the days until there is inshore salty action, birds on bait are a harbinger of things to come!

New Hampshire Fishing Report

While the wind has hardly been an ally, that hasn’t stopped Captain Andy from Adventure and Catch Charters from bailing the groundfish. His report this week reads a bit like the Groundhog Day script from years ago – the same thing just a different day! But that’s not necessarily a bad thing when charters are limiting out on 18-21” haddock from Platts and Jeffrey’s. When asked about flounder, the skipper mentioned the Portsmouth Navy Yard area as well as inside and off of the Rye Harbor jetty. At his slip in Great Bay Marina he’s not seeing much bird and bait activity but that’ll change in a week to ten days when migratory bass show up to push the bait.

Jim from the The Tackle Shack in Meredith said that one patron put the boots to 32 salmon at Squam Lake the other day! Winnipesaukee is a case of all-or-nothing now that smelt are roaming. One angler caught salmon within a few hundred yards of his launch in Meredith while another carved up the place for six hours and all he caught was the skunk!

Will from Dover Marine said he heard of a few trying for flounder in Rye Harbor but he was not privy to the results. What he’s more certain about is the good largemouth bass bite at Willand Pond and the rainbow action at Barbados Pond.

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for New Hampshire

Southern Maine Fishing Report

Tracey from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn is a black bass aficionado and expects her favorite fish – smallies – to move into the shallows in a week or two. While the Androscoggin River is the rage for ice-fishing for pike, it’s also one of the better water bodies around for bronzebacks! Lake Auburn gets the nod for togue and salmon.

Scott from Webhannet Bait and Tackle said that the Saco River is alive with cormorants, gulls and herons all coming up with baitfish! The fuse is certainly lit for fun once the stripers show up. Lobstermen are reporting mackerel out among their traps. Tantas Ledge has had little more than small pollock while reports coming out of Northern Jeffrey’s are of limits!

Zach from Saco Bay Tackle Company said that there is plenty of catching going on in the Saco River but it is all upstream of the Skelton Dam. He’s heard reports of everything from trout to black bass to shad! For haddock, cusk and redfish most are making the haul out to either Platts or Jeffrey’s.

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!

New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast

While not the lock-and-load landlocked luck of two weeks ago, some anglers are finding willing Winnipesaukee salmon a short-haul from the Meredith launch. While the fish may not be as big, Squam Lake is a better choice for action! Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are moving into the Skelton Dam area of the Saco River as well as the Turner Stretch of the Androscoggin River. For a dash of salt to your fishing, haddock continue to cooperate on Platt’s Ledge and Northern Jeffrey’s Ledge.