Fishing Report April 13, 2026

Most central and southern waters are ice free or mostly ice free. Ice-out was declared on Winnipesaukee last weekend and anglers are reporting good salmon and rainbow trout catches. Stocking trucks are rolling in Southern New Hampshire and throughout Massachusetts. Migrating stripers have reportedly reached Connecticut waters, but holdovers are keeping many busy in and around Boston Harbor rivers. Warm weather this week should kick things into high gear.

Maine:
Greg Cutting at Jordan’s Store in Sebago reported some very nice salmon being caught on Sebago. “Holy cow are they catching some very nice salmon right now. Most people are trolling bait. The smelt are already bunching up in front of the rivers, so that’s where a lot of guys are fishing. A friend of mine caught two lake trout jigging that were over 10 pounds out in front of the Songo River. They’re doing well in front of the rivers. Square Pond is producing some beautiful browns trolling bait. Another friend of mine went over there and caught some beauties,” he said.

New Hampshire:
Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors/Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Guide Service on Lake Winnipesaukee said that ice-out was officially declared on Sunday. “There is still quite a bit of ice in some areas of the lake, but the Mount Washington route is ice free and ice-out was declared. What ice is left is going fast with the warm temps, rain, and wind. The boat goes in this week and it’s go time. Trolling smelt slow and shallow is my favorite this time of year. It always produces good salmon and trout catches,” he said.

Alan Nute at Winnisquam Country Store in Tilton reported a lot of fishing activity now. “People are starting to catch fish, especially with the nicer weather. I saw some nice salmon and some nice rainbows that were caught from shore on a fly. Shiners are working well, too. 5 feet to 25 feet down is where you want to be right now. The Weirs Channel has been productive, Alton Bay is picking up, and Opechee has been good. Either end of Opechee is where you want to fish right now. Where the water comes in and where the water goes out,” he said.

Ki at Dover Marine/Covered Bridge Sports told us that with stocking trucks running all over the seacoast, the store has been hopping. “They stocked just about everywhere. Trout ponds aren’t open yet, but you can fish Willand year-round and it got stocked. Slow rolling a chatterbait or a ned rig is still good for bass, and panfishing is still good with a jig and plastic or small shiners. I haven’t heard much about haddock, it’s been too rough for most guys,” he said.

Massachusetts:
Pete Santini at Fishing Finatics in Everett reported more stocking and still-good holdover striped bass in the rivers. “They’re getting some nice lake trout at Wachussett using big pike shiners or 1-ounce gold Kastmasters. Rainbows are hot in Jamaica, Horn, White’s, Walden, Sluice Pond. They’re getting a bunch of carp up in the Charles River along with some freshwater bass. The Amelia Earhart dam and there are herring in the rivers already, so it’s time. No haddock reports, but seaworms will be in this week. I imagine they will start picking up a few flounder soon,” he said.