LAKES REGION FISHING FORECAST - 2008

In the Lakes Region, lots of lakes and lots of fish
By John Viar, Fisheries Biologist, Region 2/New Hampton

Landlocked Salmon 
Like the proverbial broken record player, but one skipping on your favorite song, Lake Winnipesaukee will continue to churn out numbers of chunky landlocked salmon in the 18-21 inch range, with some larger fish in excess of 4 lbs.  Anglers hunting for trophy landlocks over 5 lbs. should continue heading to Sunapee and Big Squam lakes, where 2007 fall netting revealed salmon in excess of 6 lbs.  All three lakes will offer a robust age-3 class, making for a nice combination of quantity and quality.  Looking for a change of pace or a “sleeper” lake?  Pleasant Lake in New London, Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham, and Ossipee Lake in Ossipee/Freedom can be well worth the exploration.

Lake Trout
In terms of overall quantity and quality, the three kings still reign – Winnipesaukee, Newfound, and Winnisquam – but watch out, Sunapee is on the rise.  Fall 2007 netting at Winnipesaukee revealed the average laker at a healthy 20 inches and 2.5 lbs., with specimens over 9 lbs.  But in any lake where the “denizen of the deep” lurks, fish from 15-20+ lbs. are possible, as evidence by the Trophy Fish Program (click here) and Fish and Game netting surveys past and present.  Tarleton Lake in Piermont, Silver Lake in Madison, Dan Hole Pond in Ossipee/Tuftonboro, Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham, and Great East Lake in Wakefield, all fit the “sleeper” bill.

Rainbow Trout
Winnipesaukee and other large lakes such as Wentworth Lake in Wolfeboro produce some of the nicest rainbows on the horizon, but if smaller water bodies are your style, how about Lower Beech Pond in Tuftonboro, Little Sunapee Lake in New London, Stinson Lake in Rumney, or Waukewan Lake in Meredith?  In addition to the numerous heavily stocked Designated Trout Ponds like Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford, don’t forget river bows in the Winnipesaukee, Newfound, and Pemigewasset – including bruisers which have dropped down from the lakes. 

Brook Trout
Liberally stocked Designated Trout Ponds such as Spectacle Pond in Groton, Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford, and Perch Pond in Campton; fly-fishing only waters such as Profile Lake in Franconia and Sky Pond in New Hampton; the adventure of remote White Mountain hike-in ponds (click here); miles of rarely explored small brooks and streams yielding wild brook trout gems – if it’s old squaretail you seek, look no further. 

Brown Trout
Compared to other species, brown trout opportunities are relatively limited in the Lakes Region, but still water anglers will find action at Mirror Lake in Woodstock, Crystal Lake in Eaton, and Lower Beech Pond.  Flowing water fans should check out the Baker River in the Rte. 25 area, the Pemigewasset River in the Franklin Falls area, and the Bearcamp River in Tamworth.    

Smallmouth Bass
Between the endless rocky shoals, maze of islands, and countless bays and coves on Winnipesaukee and Big Squam, even the most pesky smallmouth itch will be soundly scratched.  Peak bites occur pre- and post-spawn in the large lakes, from not long after ice out through late June/early July.  For quality smallies, be prepared to go much deeper during the summer “dog days”.   River smallie opportunities are vastly underfished – check out the Winnipesaukee, lower Pemigewasset, Connecticut, and Merrimack rivers, and many days you will be the only angler targeting bronzebacks.  And if you still don’t believe the “pound for pound hardest fighting fish” smallmouth adage, tie into a river specimen!   

Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel
Too much water to fish in several lifetimes!  Back bays of most large lakes won’t disappoint, including Squam and Winnipesaukee, but small to medium lakes and ponds abound – Pemigewasset, Wickwas, Mascoma, Balch, Crescent, Grafton – the entire list would fill pages!  Don’t forget the sometimes overlooked river backwaters such as the lower Pemigewasset and Merrymeeting River/Marsh.   

Walleye and Northern Pike
The Connecticut River contains self-sustaining walleye and pike populations due to particular water quality characteristics of the Connecticut River valley (contrasted with most of New Hampshire's acidic/soft waters).  Watch for early spring walleye spawning movements at dam tailraces, and spring/early summer ravenous pike bites in and near the oxbows/setbacks.

Panfish
Legendary Winnipesaukee white perch over 2 lbs., palm-sized bluegills and plate-sized crappie in numerous warmwater ponds and large lake bays, and yellow perch just about everywhere – all eager to pull a youngster’s bobber into the depths!  How about an evening of family bonding by the warm glow of the Coleman lantern, in pursuit of the nocturnal brown bullhead, better known as the “horned pout”?  It’s time to make some memories...

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