By Tim Moore:
Well, ice fishing season is coming to an end and what an incredible winter it was! We had the best ice (we still have fishable ice) that we have had in 10 years, and we tripled the number of ice fishing clients from last winter. We will conduct a few more trips in early April, but as much as we love ice fishing, there is spring fishing to prepare for.
There will be little happening along New Hampshire’s coastal waters this month. Some brave souls will venture out into some of the protected harbors in hopes of catching a few winter flounder, but there are not very many caught until the water warms up in May.
Ground fishing will get progressively busier this month, especially when cod fishing season opens on April 16. Remember, the Gulf of Maine Cod Spawning Protection Area (CSPA) remains closed through June 30. All hooks must be removed when traveling through the CSPA if you have ground fish aboard. Haddock can be caught prior to April 16, and charter companies such as Eastman’s Fishing Fleet out of Hampton/Seabrook Harbor have been running trips all winter. They will be ramping up their efforts throughout the month.
Salmon season opens on April 1 on New Hampshire’s lakes that are managed for lake trout and salmon, but good luck finding a lot of open water to fish on. With most lakes having over two feet of ice this winter, ice-out will likely be declared sometime in May. Because of all the ice, most of the bridges, like the one in Alton Bay, and larger docks with bubblers that create open water will be lined with anglers vying for their chance at one of Lake Winnipesaukee’s highly sought after landlocked salmon. The most common methods for catching salmon from bridges and docks are to use live smelt or streamer flies when there is room to cast.
As soon as the smaller ponds are ice-free, we will be targeting post spawn crappie, bluegill and white perch. Drifting silently in a kayak and casting a slip bobber rig with typical panfish jigs into shallow water is an absolute deadly, yet peaceful way to catch panfish. We will have to be content getting our gear ready for now. We are thrilled to be adding a third kayak this year so we can take two fishing clients out at the same time. Rigging the new boat should keep us preoccupied until the striped bass show up in May.
FORECAST BY: Tim Moore, (603) 842-3572. Tim is owner of Tim Moore Outdoors LLC, offering NH kayak and ice fishing charters, and turkey hunting. He is also a member of Clam, Ice Team, Vexilar, Maki Plastic, Release Reels, and Oozzie Jig Pro Staff. Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.