Fishing Report March 10, 2025
Ice fishing season is winding down in many parts of New England but still going strong in others. We are approaching what many ice anglers agree is the best few weeks of the entire season. The ice on southern waters took a hit with a few days of warm temps and rain. More warm weather this week will further degrade ice conditions. Central and northern New England ice is holding strong though. With slush conditions now gone, travel by foot or ATV is back in the equation. It is also that time of year when anglers need to use extreme caution. Warm sun on long days will cause ice to expand dramatically. Pressure ridges often form when the sun hits the ice and collapse in the afternoon sun. Be careful how far you travel and keep booming ice in mind, as noise this time of year means the ice is moving and cracking.
MAINE: Greg Cutting at Jordan's Store in Sebago reported that there was still ice and people fishing Sebago, and some great fishing. "There are a few peekaboos where there has been some movement and some openings, but a lot of it has refroze. The fishing out front slowed a bit, but there are still guys getting into some good fish, I think over in the Gut. We found a few fish on the lower end of The Shoals and, wow, what a bunch of bait we found. The lake trout were just full of smelt and alewives. There is no snow left on the lake, it's all glare ice. A few guys that were in were headed up to Hancock and it's a good time to fish Tricky. We should have at least a couple more weeks of ice, I would imagine. The edges are the first to go," he said.
CJ Harmon of Burnt Meadow Guide Service in Brownfield furnished the following report: "The ice conditions are still holding strong, and the slush is gone in my area making the fishing much more enjoyable! The fishing is continuing to pick up as the warmer weather approaches. The fish are moving in much shallower than they have been, 6-12 feet, and relating more to the southern shorelines where the melting run off is warming up the water. In that warmer water everything is starting to come out of hibernation so soft plastics resembling bugs and small minnows have been our baits of choice this week!"
Vern at Cobbossee Bait in Winthrop said that fishing conditions were excellent in Kennebec County. "We've had a lot of changes. All that rain and now the slush is gone. We have brand new ice again. We have up to 18- inches of ice and everything is flat. ATVs are back out on all the lakes. There has been an uptick in the fishing. I heard of some nice pike, up to 10-pounds and a bunch of brown trout up to 6-pounds coming from Cobbossee. The trout and salmon lakes have been producing quality fish. Not the best numbers, but the fish caught are mostly very nice ones," he said.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors/Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Guide Service on Lake Winnipesaukee reported a crazy week and weekend of ice fishing. "The rain made for some very slushy conditions, but once the slush refroze the added oxygen kicked the fishing into high gear. We haven't been able to keep the lake trout off our lines. The jigging is still slower than normal, but live and dead smelt on tip ups is crushing it. We are mostly using the Clam Outdoors Predator Tip Up hook setting devices and having a blast. We are fishing live smelt about 2 feet off bottom. I have been pinching the larger smelt in half and fishing the head end sitting on bottom. Both have been great," he said. Tim also reported that while ice conditions are decent at the time of his report, he expects warm weather and sun this week to quickly eat away at the ice and cause cracks and pressure ridges.
Alan Nute at Winnisquam Country Store in Tilton says that the bite has picked up and conditions are holding strong. "The weather is getting really nice. There should be some good fishing this week. A lot of people have taken their ice houses off, but it's a great time of year for perch and cusk. Smelt are still fishing well and everyone wants sucker. Dead bait on the bottom works well. The white perch bite should be getting really good over the next week. The rain and now daily melting should get them going," he said.
Jason MacKenzie at Pawtuckaway Trading Post in Raymond was sad to report that the shop was officially closing. "We are having a going out of business sale. I think we will be fully closed by next week. That said, we still sold a ton of shiners this week. A lot of people are still fishing. Most of them are heading north to Winnipesaukee and up into Maine," he said.