Complements of The Kittery Trading Post

Activity for the 2nd week of March, 2001

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March 12, 2001

            This is the in-between period of fishing along the coastal areas that lots of fishermen dread each year. The coastal saltwater fishing hasn't really started yet, and the steam has run out of a lot of the ice fishing, with the coastal smelting affected by loss of ice and spawning fish becoming "soft". Because of the snow-filled past week, just getting onto some lakes without the aid of snow travelling machines has become a real test of endurance. In some cases, slush has even made mechanical travel very difficult.

            While Maine's coastal smelting, especially at the smelt rental camps in the mid-coast areas, has virtually ended, New Hampshire still has some isolated smelt fishing areas that not only have plenty of ice, but the smelt are hitting. Jim MacKenzie at Suds-n-Soda in Greenland, suggests taking a look at the Squamscot River (actually, the saltwater portion of the Exeter River) in the towns of Exeter and Stratham.

            "We've been told that in some of the areas there, the ice is still close to two feet thick, and we know that the smelt are still hitting, with catches of up to a hundred fish coming daily. Most of the saltwater bait dealers have stopped handling sea worms, but as several of the old time smelt fishermen will attest to, plain old earthworms or night crawlers are a good substitute bait. Cut smelt will also work," he instructed.

            Mac said that as of this weekend, the area at the end of River Road in Stratham was producing the best results and urged caution, as conditions will start to change daily.

            Captain Bill Brindamour of Hampton reported that recreational clamdiggers showed up over the Friday and Saturday opening in spite of the weather. "Those that are willing to listen to a few instructions are not having any trouble getting a limit of clams in 45 minutes to an hour," he advised. Bill said that he expects the season to be closed well before the scheduled dates, as a lot of run-off from the snow depths may advance the closing dates. "So now's the time to get out there," he urges.

            Saltwater open water fishing is about to start, as party boats along the coast usually gear up for a regular schedule beginning the end of March or the first of April. According to Craig Bergeron at Saco Bay Tackle in Saco, Maine, their local legend party boat skipper Tim Tower will be ready to go the end of the month. "Call and make reservations. Timmy is always booked pretty solid. The reason for this is that he's such a hard worker and gets his fish, often when others are not," Craig said.

            Bergeron added that the sea clam gathering along the shoreline, especially at Old Orchard Beach, had been great last week after the storms, and advised people interested to mark their calendars for the next full moon tides or to consider checking the beaches out after any coastal storms.

            "We're also seeing a lot of interest for people getting ready to go after the sea-run brown trout here. Usually they've been able to get in some winter fishing, but ice had closed in on most of the old standby areas. This March, as the ice starts to leave, there should be a lot of trout available and given the right conditions, fly hatches in the upper marshes can make for some spectacular fly fishing--even dry fly fishing. Snow depths have hampered the freshwater ice fishing here on local ponds. " he ended.

            While reports from northern Maine were a bit sketchy, the Sebago Region had plenty of action and some very respectable fish taken. "Snow traveling on Sebago isn't that tough," reported Carroll Cutting at Jordan's Store in East Sebago. "There's about six or seven inches of snow on the ice, and even the four-wheelers don't seem to be having any trouble, except in scattered areas where patches of slush should be avoided. We had some very nice togue (lake trout) show up this weekend, the largest was a 15.66 pounder caught by Mike Farrell. Cusk fishing has also been excellent. Everyone seems to have their favorite cusk spot, but nearby Camel's Pasture probably has been the most productive over the years. One of our customers had pulled nine cusk out of one hole using a glow-in-the-dark Stinger jig and bait. He was fishing on the Camel's Pasture. There are also great cusk grounds off the Dingley Islands and Raymond Cape," Cutting advised.

            At the Kittery Trading Post's Fishing Department, Dave Ganter wanted to pass on some word about Sebago Lake's ice pressure ridges. "This big lake has big pressure ridges that need to be taken seriously by snow travelers. The ridges are caused by the expansion of the ice, and where they lift or drop, there can be voids in the ice covered with snow that make them a concealed trap. We are also getting reports that some of the pressure ridges have slush fields surrounding them that will trap the unwary snowmobiler or ATV rider. If you can avoid those pressure ridge areas, do so," he warned.

            "We've got plenty of bait here, after the scarcity of a few weeks ago," reports Dave Garcia of Naples Bait at Long Lake. "We've seen a big slowdown in the amount of fishermen around here. Sebago continues to produce some exciting togue fishing, and Long Lake still is providing some very steady white perch fishing along the backside of Long Point, in 20 to 35 feet of water. Hancock Lake just hasn't produced the brown trout fishing that it usually does for this time of year. Little Moose Pond in Oxford, Little Sebago Lake in Windham and Lovewell Pond in Fryeburg are all producing some fine white perch action. My advice is to fish small shiners or cut bait near bottom in depths from 20 to 40 feet," Dave instructs.

            Open water fishing is on the mind of many in the Sebago Region. Fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam gives an update on pond reclamation efforts there:  "Broken Ridge and Crocker Ponds were reclaimed this past fall. Both ponds are located in the White Mountain National Forest and were treated with rotenone to eradicate abundant populations of trout competitors, including brown bullheads, golden shiners, pumpkinseed sunfish and chain pickerel. In the past, Broken Bridge Pond has demonstrated the potential to produce quality brook trout, and we are excited about rebuilding this fishery. Both ponds will be restocked with 8 to 10 inch brook trout this spring," he noted.

            "Overset Pond in Greenwood has had remarkable success since our 1998 reclamation. Ongoing monitoring there indicated the stocked brook trout are abundant and growing well. The pond has been restocked for two years, and both year classes are well represented in the fishery, indicating good survival. One and a half-year-olds were up to 12 inches long, weighing over a half-pound. Two year olds pushed 16 inches and weighed over one and a half pounds," he enthused.

            John Boland, fisheries biologist from the same office, reports that ice fishing on Kezar Lake in Lovell is producing some of the fastest lake trout fishing in his area.

            New Hampshire's freshwater ice fishermen met with challenging conditions last week, but some made out pretty well. Shirley Remick at TR's Bait in Pittsburg, reported some outstanding catches at nearby First Connecticut Lake: "We saw the largest lakers of the season this weekend. Steve Rodder of Gilford had some outstanding fishing. He came in and weighed a 38 inch laker that was 20 pounds, 10 ounces and had another one at 35 inches long and  17 pounds, 9 ounces. He got them on live smelt and shiners," Shirley said.

            She said that down on Lake Francis, the lowest of the Connecticut Lakes, brown trout fishing had been excellent over the weekend, and snow travel had been ideal.

            George Malloy at River's Edge General Store in Berlin, reported some outstanding catches of fish from Vermont's Memphremagog Lake. "Bob LeBlanc from Berlin brought in a 14 pound laker and local fisherman Roland Goulet had a four pound landlocked salmon caught there. But even though 'Magog is still open for ice fishing, the trout and salmon season has now closed," he warned.

            Being close to both Vermont and Maine borders, Malloy sees fishermen from three states. His customers continue to find some great bass fishing in Maine's Moose Pond in Bridgeton, where Andy Nichols returned with a 6 lb. largemouth, caught on live bait.

            Bill Martel at Martel's Bait in Laconia, reported that lake trout fishing on Lake Winnipesaukee had continued to produce good results, in spite of the weather, but warned that lake travel was tough in a lot of areas. " ATV riders are having an especially tough time. There's just too much snow." Bill said that the lake trout he's seen were from four to eight pounds. One outstanding rainbow trout of four pounds was caught from Lake Winnisquam last week--from the lower part near the Winnisquam Bridge.

            Tink Nelson at Nute's Trading Post in Wakefield, said that fishing pressure had dropped way down in his area, but recommends that some very good fishing is possible there late in the season. He said that in the last few years, some outstanding walleyes had been caught late in the season from Lovell Lake in Sanbornville. "You might try in front of some of the little inlets or out in the deep parts of the lake, fishing at various levels from bottom. Shiners are the favorite walleye bait, but nightcrawlers also are an effective walleye method. We also have some great, late season bass opportunities here. For big largemouths, try Balch Pond (Wakefield) or the Milton Three Ponds. And if you catch a big female, remember that she's full of spawn. Give some thought to releasing her," he urged.

            George Taylor at Taylor's Trading Post in Madbury, reported that the saltwater smelting in his area was very spotty and that he'd stopped handling sea worms. "There's still enough ice in Durham on the Oyster River. Reports from the Lamprey River in Newmarket are that the ice is scary, with some open water." He also recommends night crawlers for the remaining season.

            "We're still seeing some excellent results from our freshwater spots. Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham continues to produce some outsized crappie. Swain's Pond in Barrington has been great for bass and panfish, and the Bellamy Reservoir here, in spite of a lot of fishing pressure, provides fast action for crappie and pickerel and is the place to try for late season trophy largemouths. Last year's late ice fishing season produced some huge ones. We are also seeing some nice rainbow trout fly fishing on the open water of the freshwater Lamprey River," he added.

            George warned that on some of the lakes where water levels are managed, such as Bow Lake in Strafford, dams have been raised, and levels are coming up. As this happens, a ring of open water surrounds the ice pack, making it difficult or impossible to get onto the ice. "Don't be fooled by a little morning skim ice."

            (Last year late in the season, this writer was using planks to access the ice pack on some of these lakes. They were providing some great late fishing.)

            Dave Ganter at the Kittery Trading Post, had some suggestions gleaned from a couple of open water bass fishermen who'd been fishing below the warm water discharges at the Merrimack River near Bow. "There were plenty of fishermen using lures, but my guys were fishing with live shiners and outfishing the others by a big factor. It was nice to note that virtually everyone there were releasing their fish," Dave said.

(A nearby boat ramp is usually clear for launching, and the warm water keeps the area virtually ice free.)

Past Fishing Reports 2001

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