Weekly Fishing Report: January 16, 2023
Fishing Conditions & Updates for Maine & New Hampshire
Week of January 16, 2023
Things have improved slightly over the past week with the colder nights. We have seen reports of some lake trout caught on Lake Winnipesaukee, loads of crappie and other warm water fish throughout New Hampshire and Maine, and lots of brook trout from trout waters that are frozen. There are far more places to fish this week than last and ice conditions should improve over the next week. Hang in there and be safe.
Greg Cutting at Jordan’s Store in Sebago told us that things are still slow, but slightly better than last week, and improving almost daily. He says people are catching pike at Turtle Cove on Sebago and heard of people ice fishing a couple hundred yards off of Raymond Beach. “They’re talking about it getting cooler here, so hopefully we’ll get more ice,” he said. He says he heard some people have started fishing Hancock and Tricky Pond, but ice conditions vary.
Vern at Cobbossee Bait in Winthrop told us that things are happening up his way. “We have walking ice pretty much everywhere. I don’t know of a lake that didn’t have people on it yesterday. There are some nice pike being caught lately. Most people are just heading out for their first trips of the year, so we aren’t hearing much back yet. Cochnewagon in Monmouth has been slow, but has been producing some nice white perch,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Tim Moore.
Full-time New Hampshire fishing guide Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors tells us that he is hoping to begin his guiding season this coming weekend. “I’m extra cautious when it comes to ice fishing and especially guiding clients. I am cautiously optimistic that the ice will tighten up enough this week to where I am comfortable bringing people out. There are a lot of smaller ponds and a couple coves and bays on Winnipesaukee that people are fishing. The smaller ponds are the safer bet for better ice and fewer crowds,” he said.
Jason MacKenzie at Pawtuckaway Trading Post in Raymond reported a slight uptick in customers heading out ice fishing but says most of them are still heading north. “There are a few local smaller ponds that are frozen, and people are fishing them,” he said. He is optimistic that things will improve over the next week.
Mike Crouthamel at Wildlife Sport Outfitters in Manchester says that from what he is hearing and seeing, things have improved slightly. “Ice reports are much better, even down here. Small ponds have as much as 6-inches of ice. People are fishing the edges of Pleasant Lake in Deerfield and I was on a lake with 6-inches in Dunbarton. That whole area is pretty consistent,” he said. Mike says the further west you go the better the ice conditions get. He says the shop is fully stocked with bait, including smelt and two sizes of suckers.
Because of inherent time restrictions of gathering fresh, up-to-date information, editing & 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 & tackle dealers, well-known successful anglers, and state & federal fisheries and natural resources enforcement officials. We also welcome and use reports forwarded to us by fishermen that use this report. - Kittery Trading Post Fishing Report Editor