As most anglers have packed up their ice fishing gear due to the loss of ice or the lack of safe ice, shops and guides are following suit. Guides across New England have stopped running trips and begun focusing on open water preparations. Almost every shop has transitioned to open water, except for last minute deals on remaining ice fishing inventory. There is very little fishing activity, but not none. Rivers that are open to legal fishing have come down and cleaned up a bit, making them more f …

Most people consider the 2026 ice fishing season to be over, but there are still a few anglers looking to take advantage of the great March fishing. We caution everyone to be very careful out there if you head out ice fishing. The latest freeze/thaw cycles have opened up large holes and fissures that have skimmed over and are now covered with snow. Areas that look safe may not be. Treat this time the same as early ice and check wherever you go, every time you go. Maine:Greg Cutting at Jordan …

The ice is still holding on in central Maine and New Hampshire, but it is deteriorating fast. Southern Maine and New Hampshire are reporting bad edges and many are using planks to access the ice. Everyone we spoke with reported better catches all around. Late ice is most anglers’ favorite time to ice fish. Increasing oxygen levels and longer days is increasing fish feeding activity. That said, late ice should be treated like early ice. Conditions are changing throughout the day most days a …

In just a week, the weather turned from winter to spring. It does look like some slightly more seasonal weather is coming later this week. While many anglers hate to see warm weather eating away at their ice, many others know that all the melting ice oxygenates the waters and kicks the fish activity up a couple of notches. Late winter is a time ice anglers hate and love at the same time. They are either over ice fishing for the season, or they can’t get enough and love the incredible fishi …

Here we go into the home stretch and what many regard as the best ice fishing period of the season. March ice fishing is what many wait all season long and it looks like the ice will be around for a while. There is some warm weather in the forecast, but with a good thick base of ice and still snow cover, it will take time for the ice to go. All accounts are that the fishing has been great. Lake trout lakes are producing lots of fish, warm water fish are biting well and we are hearing of some big …