SausageFingers23

I struggle with this as well. What I try to do is learn lessons from the water bodies that I am comfortable with. I lean on my experiences locating and catching fish at my usual fishing spots during different seasons and weather conditions and apply them to the unfamiliar locations. Granted, all lakes, ponds, and rivers are different but the same, general fish finding rules usually apply. If nothing else, establishing some form of a strategy for my outing helps boost my confidence while Im on the water. To me, thats the most important thing. Good luck.

Excellent fish! What seems to be the pattern,if you dont mind me asking?

Congrats! I cant wait for that first hook set. Im still trying for my first that wasnt through the ice this season.

Water at 42 isnt bad at all. I expected colder in all honesty. Once we get close to 50 I expect the action to pick up significantly. The Elite Series is fishing in 50-60 degree water right now and they havent really seen the fish move up yet. Soon enough we'll all be pulling them in. I hope to grab a few before they really start to get active.

Welcome. There are a lot of good people on this board. I dont fish much out in the Keene area but the NH Fish and Game website is a pretty good place to start for information. Here's a link. Good luck this season. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/bathy_maps.htm

The beaver dam that Im aware of is pretty tough to get to via the shoreline. If I toss the canoe in I can catch them pretty consistently up against the dam that Im thinking of. I walked a bit down that road until I saw a little outcropping of matted grass that had a narrow walkout made of downed logs. Its about half way down the bank. I dont fish here often but when I do I launch from this point. Its probably submerged right now though with all this rain. I havent caught bass there yet - only crappie and some pretty large pickerel. It does look like it should hold bass though. That 14.5 crappie is a very nice fish. I believe the qualifier for a NH Fish and Game trophy black crappie is 15.

[quote author=3B3D273464656567550 link=1161703020/1202#1202 date=1268596992 Where did you try?

Found a patch of open water and threw out from shore today with a new baitcast reel. I've only thrown spin cast to this point so Im still getting used to it. It worked great until I screwed with the drag, set it too light, and fired it into the wind. Biggest freaking nest Ive ever seen. But it was awesome to throw into open water for the first time since early Dec. Hope everyone else is coping with cabin fever better than me.

Hey guys. Its been a while. For what its worth, there is open water on the Mill Pond. Not much, but its a start.

Didnt realize that b**stards was a blocked word. The automatic replace feature used scoundrels. Not my first choice...

Yes indeed. Those scoundrels are flat out nasty.

I got out on Sunday morning with two of my buddies from 6-10. Ended up with 5 LMB and 63 pickerel for a total of 68 fish. It was pretty ridiculous.

Got out Tuesday night. Went to Little Massabesic in Auburn. Boated four chunky pickerel using a shallow diving crank and a strike king mini. They were tucked back in a shallow creek channel. The water is definitely cooling off but Im sticking with it until Im convinced its a lost cause. The fishing is definitely slowing down a bit though. Hope everyone is still having luck on the water.

Im going to try to get out tomorrow if possible. I got out once last week as well and it dropped into the low 30's while I was on the water. Got a couple though. My times are limited to after work and that usually only leaves me a solid hour or so before dark. Im going to keep at it until the water freezes.

Anytime you can get on the water is a good time to fish. Sometimes the bite is slow and theres nothing you can do about it. Yesterday may just have been one of those times. Most important thing is to not get frustrated. Keep at it and eventually all the pieces will fall into place.

Welcome to the forum. Lots of great people on here and some solid info. In in southern NH. For what its worth, I used to chase the "fish" on the depth finder and it eventually drove me insane. Now I turn the volume off and the gain up to find submerged vegetation, rock piles, bait, etc. It takes patience and I am by NO means an expert but Im getting better. Youll get frustrated at times but stick with it. Right now, my success has been on deep diving cranks with erratic presentation, spinner baits, and plastics fished slow in 8-12 ft. Bite has been slowing down for me lately though and Ive spent more time hitting up trout ponds. Good luck out there. Let us know how youre making out.

Got out last night to Hot Hole Pond in Concord for some trout fishing. Was cold when the sun was gone but we did manage to get on a Rainbow.

Very interesting. Cant say Ive had that experience. Mind if I ask where you were fishing? I was fishing on my home waters of Cobbetts Pond, relatively a small lake approx lil less than 300acres. Thanks. Cobbetts isnt too far from me but Ive never been out on it.

Very interesting. Cant say Ive had that experience. Mind if I ask where you were fishing?

Nice job Unh. Still burying them right up until the end I see. I havent had as much luck with the fall feed as I would like but I was knocking them down when the temps were up.

Even the smallest smallmouth put up a pretty solid fight. Im trying to come to grips with the idea that the fishing season is starting to wind down. Im not giving in yet but Im starting to get a little nostalgic for the summer already. :'( Its been a great season thus far.

Thanks. I appreciate the input. Might not be worth wasting a trip. Maybe Ill try somewhere else.

Anyone have any experience with Beaver Lake in Derry? I was thinking of giving it a go. Thanks in advance.

I have been fishing here and there. Ive actually been doing pretty well. Though lately the bite has been slowing down a bit, for me anyway. Im still catching fish, just not pulling in the same numbers that I was. All in all, its been a very solid season for me. I have to hit the water after work and the shorter days are making that a bit difficult now. I think Im going to switch over and try to hit up some of the trout ponds before theyre off limits in a couple of weeks. Good to see that youre still hauling them in.

Youre not alone. I cant figure that place out either. It is pretty heavily pressured. That might have something to do with it.