January 31, 2012The word to the wise when it comes to ice fishing is to go north my friends! Reports coming from the New Hampshire tidal coastline are pretty grim and in Maine the coastal ice situation is still okay but not as good as the smelt fishing crowd would like it.
The word to the wise when it comes to ice fishing is to go north my friends! Reports coming from the New Hampshire tidal coastline are pretty grim and in Maine the coastal ice situation is still okay but not as good as the smelt fishing crowd would like it.
Both the Lake Moosehead Region and the Lake Winnipesaukee Region are seeing good ice conditions that continue to improve, but because of the shape and location of Sebago Lake, much of their ice has disappeared due to wind and warm temperatures, although the smaller lakes in the Sebago Region mostly have plenty of ice and some really good fishing.
This is one of those weeks when positive news is rampant, with both ice conditions improving and fishing success being found in several of our reporting areas. One area in particular, the saltwater smelt fishing, has been picking up in Maine's mid-coast region but in New Hampshire's Great Bay area there is still a lot of problems with lack of ice in just about all the areas. Also some of Maine's special brook trout ponds that are stocked to provide ice fishing opportunities remain very active with a lot of angling pressure and fish being caught.
“There's been quite a transition among the saltwater ice fishermen in choice of gear, both in shelters, ice cutting and actual fishing gear. More and more anglers are going for portable icefishing houses instead of the traditional permanent ones,” according to Seth Legere at Kittery Trading Post's fishing department.
“The downside of the permanent ones mostly are about their weight and the responsibility of having to tend to them to keep them from freezing into the ice. When tides flood the surface of the ice and the permanent smelt house freezes-in, you're in big trouble and looking at a lot of backbreaking work to get it free, and probably damage to the structure while doing it. But with the portable fishing shelter you just haul it out easily with no snowmobile or ATV needed, and just as easily haul it back to shore with you after fishing. The lightweight portables mostly have a built-in sled and when broken down for moving are ideal for carrying your fishing gear so another sled isn't usually needed.”
“The only knock on the portable shelters is the fact that they are affected by strong winds, but veteran ice anglers will anchor their portable to the ice and don't have much problem with this.”
“Traditional saltwater smelt ice-anglers used chisels and saws to clear their fishing hole but the ones that are into the portable rigs more often use either hand or power driven augers along with chain saws. The chain saw users normally will drain the petroleum-based oil from their machines and replace with vegetable oil to minimize the pollution effect but keep their chain lubricated. Vegetable oil will thicken and clog when exposed to real cold temperatures so keep that in mind.”
Seth also says that even the fishing gear used to catch the smelt has undergone a big change. “Most of the fishermen have given up on the heavy spreader rigs that used to be the most popular gear and now the small, light jig rods and light mono line rule. A lot of them are going to the multi-fly rigs (Sabiki-type) and just tip the hooks with bits of sea worms, shrimp or nightcrawlers. Little jigs or a very light sinker complete this rigging.”
“Saltwater ice fishing has one big difference than the freshwater that often is the cause for anglers getting a dunking. It's the tide change. At high tide there's apt to be a separation of open water or very thin ice between the ice and the shoreline. In some areas the gang of fishermen will put out a plank bridge to the ice but plenty of areas that are popular don't have this advantage. The trick is to plan your trips around the tides and avoid coming or going at the high part of the tide. And besides the safety thing, high tide is often the most productive time to stay out on the ice,” Seth recommends.
“Recently KTP has been in contact with one of the popular Maine Smelt Rental Camps, James Eddy’s Fishing Rental Camps in Dresden. They report that they are fishing both the incoming and outgoing tides and that their fishing times are posted on their website at www.angelfire.com/me3/JamesEddySmeltCamps.”
This writer’s group of five anglers fished the night outgoing tide at James Eddy on Wednesday, January 25. The anglers coming off the water that had fished the daytime incoming tide had great catches of over a hundred fish, while our group and several others nearby fished the outgoing tide. Our fishing was slow but we did catch three dozen nice smelt, enough for a nice group dinner the next night.
MAINE: Master Maine Guide Stu Bristol of Lyman sends this report: “Been a tough year for ice fishing. Anglers really need to watch the ice thickness very carefully. Lakes and ponds that were frozen solid enough to hold snowmobiles last week have become so thin a single angler may break through in spots. That warning aside, those who have found sheltered bays and inlets have been taking home some very nice fish.”
“One of my regular fishing buddies headed up to Lake Arrowhead over the weekend (can’t divulge the exact location) and caught 2–3 pound bass and to my surprise a couple 18–20-inch brown trout. The same is true on probably the most popular lake in my area, Little Ossipee in Waterboro. My friend Bob Menard of Limington picked up a whopper brown trout. Can’t vouch for the actual weight until I speak with him but it was in the 6–7 pound range. The side of the lake beside Route 5 is safe but anglers need to check the ice as they go farther out. I have seen patches of gray ice and open water over the past few days.”
“My advice to anglers headed out this weekend is to stick with the smaller ponds and try for brook trout, rainbows or crappie and bass. The forecast is for 6–8 inches of snow over Friday and Saturday. If that happens the ice conditions will be very dangerous. Even skim ice with six inches of snow will hide weak or thin ice. Other bass ponds in the area have a reasonable amount of ice, and brown trout and bass angling could be hot this weekend. West Pond and Long Pond, both in Parsonfield, have been giving up hefty fish of both species. Parking is at a minimum so go early. Some of the ice fishing derbies have been cancelled while others have been put on a watch list. You’ll need to keep abreast of the conditions before making weekend plans to fish a derby,” Stu warns.
Please note that this info came to us from the Sebago Lake Derby Committee on January 25, 2012 and since that date ice conditions on Sebago Lake have deteriorated greatly. So please keep up on the current derby dates and possible cancellation or later scheduling. This has been edited for brevity.
“Dear Ice Fishermen/women, the Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby is now the first weekend of school vacation week...Feb 18 & 19 this year.”
Derby events are:
- Sebago Lake Derby – Feb18–19 Ice Fishing weigh stations open 7AM–5PM each day; Polar Dip - Sat, Feb18 @Noon, Snowmobile Speed Runs - Sun, Feb19 @10AM.
- Kids Fishing Derby – Feb 18, Range Pond State Park - Poland, ME - 8AM–Noon; Free Ice Fishing Equipment for 500 kids!”
- Statewide Ice Fishing Derby – Mar 3–4, Ice Fishing weigh stations open 7AM–5PM each day; Over 20 weigh stations across the state of Maine.
“Registration for each of these is available NOW on our website, www.icefishingderby.com. Please note we are updating our website almost daily, and some of the information there refers to last year’s events. Let us assure you that this year’s events will essentially be the same as last year’s. We’ve even kept prices of all events the same as last year!”
“But it’s not all same old, same old. When you visit the website, check out our new 30 Days of Derby drawings. Each day, from January 19 through February 17, we will draw one winner from everyone who has registered for the Derby by that day. We plan to offer at least $100 worth of goods and services each day during the 30 Days of Derby. Winners will have Gift Certificates in hand when they come visit our region. We encourage you to fully enjoy your Derby Weekend and visit some of the wonderful businesses that have provided these Gift Certificates.”
“And please visit all our major sponsors who make this Derby possible: PLATINUM: Kittery Trading Post, GOLD: Big Apple Food Stores, Cabelas, The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, SILVER: RE/MAX Allied Real Estate, SebagoCam.com, Town of Windham, RoyAl Technologies, Bob the Screenprinter, Windham Weaponry, BRONZE: Norway Savings Bank, Gorham Savings Bank, Town of Raymond, Shad’s Custom Countertops, Clark Insurance, Cross Insurance, Lee’s Family Trailer. Together, our Sponsors and 30 Days of Derby contributors have donated over $35,000 of prizes for you! Remember to have your Derby/Raffle # with you when you bring fish to the weigh stations. See you on Feb 18! In the meantime...pray for ice!” So, what are you waiting for...go to www.icefishingderby.com and register today!
At Long Lake in the Sebago Region, Dave Garcia at Naples Bait and Tackle is pretty thrilled with the amount of nice brown trout being caught there on Long Lake. “It’s some of the best ice fishing for better than average sized brown trout we’ve seen in a few years. They are averaging from three to five pounds. Best results came from using live shiners on tip-ups fishing just off bottom in 20 feet of water. The thin ice has allowed enough sunlight to move the fish to stay around the lake’s bottom.”
“My son fished in the Lake Arrowhead Shoot Out contest over the weekend and said it was a blast, but he wasn’t in the money. Sixteen teams of two anglers each were entered in the contest that had a limit of twenty, so it was well attended for a first ever event. The targets were crappie and white perch and were limited to ten of each per angler but only eight each were weighed-in.”
Dave said that some nice splake were coming off Trickey Pond and the brook trout fishing at Thomas Pond in Casco has been very productive.
At Jordan’s Store in East Sebago, Greg Cutting reported that most of the ice had been blown away on the big lake but that some of the coves still had ice, though it could be questionable as to safety. “The big news was the huge salmon that came out of Trickey Pond this week. It weighed 8.36 pounds, had a 15-inch girth and was 25 inches long. It was a hooked jaw male and one of the prettiest salmon we’ve seen. Also over at Hancock Pond, a friend’s group caught five nice brown trout. That place is famous for big fish but catching five was a very unusual day. The fish were between 16 and 22 inches—fat and healthy. All caught on live shiners fished with tip-ups.”
Registered Maine Fishing Guide Bob Hamer at the Greater Moosehead Chamber of Commerce provided this info: “The 2012 Moosehead Lake Togue (lake trout) Ice Fishing Derby was held this past weekend. In 2011 the winning fish weighed 14 pounds and was an indication of the success of Inland Fish & Wildlife’s current management approach to Moosehead Lake. At the turn of the century Moosehead was overrun with small under-nourished togue; Moosehead simply did not have enough baitfish to feed all our togue, brook trout and salmon. In 2007 IF&W started a controversial program to significantly reduce the number of small togue, bag limits were liberalized, an annual fishing derby was started with the Moosehead Chamber, & lake levels were manipulated to kill many togue eggs in the fall.”
“It seems to be working, the annual derby is no longer won by four pound togue. No, in 2011 a six, eight and two 10-pound togue were not winners. This year it took a 15+ pound togue to win, followed by a nearly 10-pound and three 81/2+-pound togue. Hundreds of togue were registered at the weigh stations and they looked fat and healthy.”
“Inland Fish & Wildlife biologists out on the ice collected the stomach contents of many of the togue caught during the past few days and early indications are that there are a lot of smelt in the lake and, even better, the smelt showing up in togue have a significant age range, they are not all one age class.”
“Ricky Craven visited anglers out on the ice on Saturday and handed out the checks to the winners on Sunday. This year’s Derby winners were: First Place: John Bohl, Greenville, Maine with a 15.14 pound, 35-inch togue caught in Moosehead’s Sandy Bay on a smelt. Second Place: Ten year old Doug Kane, II, Monson, Maine, who is the son of local IF&W Biologist Doug Kane with a 9.92 pound, 31.75-inch togue. Third Place: Ernie Case, Milo, Maine with an 8.64 pound, 29-inch togue. Fourth and Fifth place togue both weighed 8.6 pounds.”
“Noland Farias won the Grand Door Prize which was an Otter Magnum Sled Package including a fish house donated by Indian Hill Trading Post.”
“While this was a togue only derby there were plenty of brook trout caught this past week. Reports are coming in from all over the lake of three and nearly four-pound brookies. The brookies have the same full bellies as the togue so they must be getting their fair share of food. We still have two weeks until salmon season opens on Moosehead and based on accidental catches so far this winter it looks like it’s going to be a very, very good year for salmon.”
“Brassua Lake continues to have good salmon fishing, Wilson Pond is producing some nice brook trout and Mountain View and Prong Pond are also giving up brookies. Fly fishing while slow is still happening. Bob Hamer had a nice salmon at East Outlet on January 1 and since then numerous fly fishermen have been catching salmon & brookies below the dam.”
“Remember, East Outlet is open to fly fishing from the dam to the yellow markers in Beach Pool. Up the road, West Outlet also has open water with a few anglers hooking salmon under the dam.”
George Poveromo and the SALTWATER SPORTSMAN NATIONAL SEMINAR SERIES announced their seminar on Saturday, March 10 to be held at the Westbrook, Maine Middle School Performing Arts Center in Portland. “It’s the nation’s longest running and most popular educational seminar on recreational marine fishing techniques. For more info, visit www.nationalseminarseries.com or www.saltwatersportsman.com.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: The ice fishing for coastal smelt has been a washout, according to all sources. Jason MacKenzie at Suds-n-Soda Sports reported that all of the normal Great Bay ice access areas are ice-free or without ice that would support fishing. “Actually, we still have some pretty good freshwater ice here as it’s been cold enough each night to make some ice. Taylor River in Hampton Falls has been producing some fast pickerel fishing and a few largemouth bass. The Bellamy Reservoir in Madbury as well as Willand Pond in Somersworth is also producing some good catches of crappie and Willand has some great rainbow trout to boot. So it’s not completely a bad scene here.
The word was much the same from Dover Marine Sports. Bellamy River’s crappie seem to have increased in size and some incredible rainbow trout fishing at Willand Pond, as well as good crappie there. Also word from Alton Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee is that the cusk and rainbow trout have been hitting well along with some big white perch. 19 Mile Bay on Winni is also producing some fine white perch.
Alan Nute at AJ’s Bait and Tackle in Meredith was enthusiastic about the ice conditions, as cold nights have allowed the ice to keep building on Lake Winnipesaukee. “It’s because we had the whole lake frozen over and the wind didn’t get a chance to break it up. In some places there’s as much as 14 inches of solid ice but there are still places, especially around moving water, that would be chancy.”
“More and more lake trout have been in the catches, especially around Center Harbor where one group had caught 14 of them off One Mile Island. More and more bob houses are moving onto the ice.”
“Both white perch and crappie have been hitting well at Swissvale and State’s Landing—in fact, we’ve heard that parking was becoming a problem at those two places as fishermen have discovered how good it has been.”
“Also crowds of fishermen at the Weirs, Paugus Bay, Winter Harbor with mostly lake trout being caught but more and more cusk are also showing up in the catch. We had one come in that was caught at Black Cat Island on one of the bucktail jigs we make. That cusk was eight-and-a-half pounds!”
“Other places on Winni producing good laker fishing were Gorilla Landing and South End of Long Island, while the area off the Center Harbor Docks was hot for rainbow trout. Alton Bay was packed with anglers, as was Wolfeboro Bay. In the Squam Lake area, Little Squam was hot for recently stocked rainbows and at Winnisquam Lake off Mohawk Point the lakers were also hitting.”
“Next weekend, the Pond Hockey Tournaments and Super Bowl. How can you beat it?”
Because of the inherent time restrictions of gathering fresh, up-to-date information, editing and producing this report in a timely manner, occasional errors or marginal information may slip by us. We try our hardest to provide accurate information. We urge readers to use this report as a tool to increase their fishing pleasure and not to rely on as their sole resource. First or second hand information is offered by fishing guides, commercial fishing charters or party boats, bait and tackle dealers, well known successful anglers and state and federal fisheries and natural resource law enforcement officials. We also welcome and use reports forwarded to us by fishermen that use this report. Thank you, Dick Pinney Kittery Trading Post Fishing Report Editor.
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