ice fishing 1/18?

[4Fun]

Looking to try out our new portable shack this weekend. Do you think there will be good ice left after this week???

Any suggestions on a spot on the Meredith side of the lake?

[joey2665]

What kind of portable do you have? We have an Eskimo with six seats and we love it. Pull it out with the ATV and take 5 minutes to set up.

[4Fun]

Just bought a Cabelas 4 person hub style. 6'X6'. It's made by Clam

We are new to ice fishing and are anxious to actually land a fish!!

[riverat]

Be very Careful near Meredith ramp, I heard a four wheeler towing a camper broke through the ice around 7pm last night and now a huge hole at the ramp.

[Lakegeezer]

Up in M'boro bay area, we have over a foot of ice (up to 18"), even after all the warmth and rain. There are some soft spots where the rain ran-off into the lake, but once you are beyond that flow, or if you can gain access away from a stream, you should be fine. Check with others in your area to assess the depth and consistency. There was a bit of grapple the other night, so walking isn't as slippery as it was. With today's snowfall, things should be getting back to normal.

[Winnisquamguy]

Originally Posted by 4Fun

Looking to try out our new portable shack this weekend. Do you think there will be good ice left after this week???

Any suggestions on a spot on the Meredith side of the lake?

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

Master New Hampshire Guide Tim Moore at Suds-n-Soda Sports in Greenland reports that most local waters still have fishable ice but the word is “proceed with caution.” “Although we’ve still got ice on Great Bay and the tributaries, there’s plenty of thin ice in some areas. Also, even though we do have ice, the smelt seem to be in hiding with very few fish being caught that we’ve heard of.”

“Most of the good news on smelt has been coming from Maine, where when the ice is good on the York River, smelt catches have been much better than here on the Bay.”

“Plenty of action on both panfish and trout in our area. Both crappie and rainbow trout have been active at Willand Pond in Somersworth. Pleasant Lake in Deerfield has been very good for rainbow trout with a few browns and brookies being taken along with white perch. The Bellamy Reservoir is one of the most popular places for our crappie fishermen to head for, but on average these fish are smaller than the ones that our people catch at Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham, but more numerous.”

Willand Pond, which is within sight of the Dover Marine’s Sport Shop, can’t help but be a favorite among the crew there. “Day in and day out, we’re shocked at the amount of fish that come off Willand Pond. We’ve seen too many trophy-sized bass from there! Lots of nice crappie and wall-hanger sized rainbow trout. This is an amazing place as it’s right off the state highway and has all kinds of good access and parking and supports quite a few anglers, but the fish just don’t quit there!”

Another favorite of the Sport Shop’s open water fly fishermen is the special regulation section of the Cocheco River nearby. “The winter weather so far has just been too brutal for many open water fly guys over there, but whenever the conditions are right they are quick to get over there and try their luck.”

Alan Nute at AJ’s Bait and Tackle in Meredith at Lake Winnipesaukee reports that ice conditions on most of the lake are okay, but wouldn’t recommend straying off into some of the more open parts of the lake where warm weather and winds have caused some deterioration of the ice.

“Here on our end of the lake the big action has been mostly on lake trout, along with a few rainbow trout, and those that are fishing for the lakers are also having some good luck on big white perch as well. Good reports are coming from Spindle Point, Black Cat Island, Center Harbor, between Three Mile Island and Long Island, Swissdale for white perch as well as Nineteen Mile Bay and Moultonboro Bay for white perch. A few crappies are being caught in some of the shallow bays.”

“Lots of lakers in the 18–21 inch range from Leavitt Bay as well as a few rainbow trout and white perch turned on at Moultonboro Bay and on some days over at the Weirs.

“Over at Winnisquam Lake most of the luck has been coming from the northern end where most of the fishing pressure is centered with a nice mixed bag of both panfish and lake trout and some rainbows being caught. Over at Newfound Lake the lake trout have really turned on with some nice lakers averaging in the 18-21 inch range.”

“And actually, some of the best fishing has been in some of the local ponds that are being managed for rainbow and brook trout as they were being heavily stocked just prior to the ice forming.”

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