Fishing Report March 30, 2026

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 fishable again. Those wanting to scratch the trout fishing itch might want to head south, as reports are of rolling stocking trucks and some already well-stocked ponds. While you wait for local open water, it might be fun to stop in and stock up on Powerbait or spinners.

Maine:
Greg Cutting at Jordan’s Store in Sebago told us that there is very little fishing activity around Sebago right now. “There has been almost no one fishing, but I did see some guys fishing out front here yesterday (Sunday) who did pretty well and there are some guys out there today. I’m told there is 8 inches out in front of the store, but the coming rain and high temps will wipe that out pretty fast. The shorelines are already looking pretty open. A lot of the brook mouths are starting to open up. There was a guy on Sticky River fishing the other day. There is quite a bit of open water out off the Songo River, but it’s pretty shallow where it is open now. It shouldn’t take long for that to open up a lot more,” he told us.

New Hampshire:
Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors/Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Guide Service on Lake Winnipesaukee was on ice watch, waiting for the ice to go out on Winnipesaukee and for salmon season to open. “There isn’t much to report. I haven’t seen anyone fishing Winnipesaukee. I did hear there were a few people going out off of Gilford Beach over the weekend. The temps were plenty cold enough and the lake looked like it tightened up a bit. After Tuesday it is illegal to ice fish the lake so it’s almost a mute point. I saw yesterday (Sunday) that Alton Bay has quite a bit of open water out to where the state boat ramp is. There is a bit more around the Mount Washington dock, and then spots here and there, mostly around shallow south facing points. There wasn’t a ton of ice in the broads, so I expect the rain and warmer temps this week will do a number on that ice. I’m guessing around April 18 for the ice-out declaration,” he said.

Alan Nute at Winnisquam Country Store in Tilton was busy packaging spoons when we spoke. “There isn’t much happening, but there were a few people on Winni over the weekend. They headed out off of Gilford Beach. I don’t know how they did. Most of the small stuff is getting open around the edges. It’s pretty much over. Wednesday is opening day of open water season. We just got some fresh smelt in today. The bridges and public docks will be busy Wednesday morning,” he said.

Ki at Dover Marine/Covered Bridge Sports told us that the only activity he has seen is the catch-and-release fishing in some of the trout rivers. “I’m not hearing much lately. Just the Three Rivers stuff for catch-and-release trout. They are buying a lot of Copper Johns and some beaded nymphs. Most of the lakes and ponds all have about 8 feet of open water all the way around them. Haddock opens Wednesday, so things will start picking up,” he reported.

Eastman’s Fleet in Seabrook reported on their website that the fishing was pretty decent over the weekend, with Sunday being the better day. “Back on the mother load! Excellent, low man on the LAM had 40, closer to 100, few more for some. Pics are from LAM. LMA had a tide issue and a few less hours, so numbers were down, 30-40 were the high guys, but bigger Reds on both boats. Haven’t heard from the 12 hour trip aboard the LVII but I’m sure it was good. We have openings next three days,” Capt. Les.

Massachusetts:
Pete Santini at Fishing Finatics in Everett has been reporting trout stocking for the past week, along with good crappie, pike, and striper bites. “The stocking trucks have been rolling. Horn Pond in Woburn, Houghton Pond in Milton, and Jamaica Pond have all been stocked with nice rainbows and browns, depending on where you go. Power Eggs and shiners have been working well. Speedy Shiner spoons have been doing really good right after they stock. Cast them out and let them flutter down. They have been catching holdover stripers up to 40 inches at the Muddy and Charles River for the past week. They have been getting them on rubber shads, Rapalas, and live shiners. Horn Pond and Mystic Lake have been producing some nice bass on live shiners and they have been catching crappie just before dark. The Merrimack River up near I-495 has been producing some nice pike. Haddock opens on April 1st and we will have plenty of clams,” he said.