As the season expands, big water opportunities will emerge but for the time being anglers are content with simply sampling hardwater in smaller ponds. Safe ice at the moment is confined to the northern sector with New Hampshire and Maine both having options.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
While the “ice in” declaration for Winnipesaukee has a ways to go, Jim from The Tackle Shack in Meredith told me that anglers are content with hitting smaller spots such as the smattering of water bodies in Sandwich. Anglers should always view unfamiliar ice as unsafe and a goodly dose of caution should be packed along with your gear. More solid ice can can be found in the Connecticut Lakes Region with 6” of solid ice reported at Lake Francis.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Brady from Dag’s Bait & Sportgoods in Auburn told me that both Sabattus and the “Andro” had good ice prior to the rain/thaw. He’s expecting those places along with the Otter Ponds and the Rangs to all lock up solidly sometime next week! Pike can be found in the latter two while trout are the target in the latter. Brady also said that increasingly black bass and crappie have become a factor in the Rangs as well as the Otter Ponds. Dags has a distinct advantage over other shops because Brady is a bait trapper so select shiners there are seldom a problem!
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Until bigger water bodies ice in, the hardwater game is confined to smaller water bodies such as the Rangs and the Otter Ponds. Inverse of that are what you’ll find in the Connecticut Lakes Region where the rainbow trout bite is hot!
? if I didn’t know better that looks like a brown trout in the picture.
Good eye!