MassBass

Thats intersting..a river?

Yeah, blade baits are in my box and arsenal now after that expedition. Did get a nice largemouth on a chatterbait (first cast first day) and had something huge show for a glide bait in the back of a marina. Bank fishing, hopping around in a rental car.

Strictly moving baits. In water that clear it would be a small black spinner during mid day, topwater in evening.

Its a great multi-specie bait, in creeks and rivers they always work. Just a matter of twisting wire, and playing around with color for different conditions. I really like about a 1/4 oz for bass. Here is some more recent makes;

First week of November was pretty bleak in New Hampshire last year, I won't bank on repeating a trip at that time.

@TnRiver46, Its a search bait. Run and gun. Sure the fluke jig will out fish the spinnerbait if you are soaking a spot, but for a fast drift with the spinnerbait, one or two cast on a spot and then you are onto another target. Another good use is when you need to fan cast. Say there is a big flat of submerged weeds, all looks the same, you can fan cast a spinnerbait over the flat and get bites, reaction strikes.

Good job, looks like it was good fishing weather for the trip.

Always a lot of love for spinnerbaits here, justly so. I found that painted blades are good in clear water. And you can jump the gun with the hookset, I try to let the fish load on to the rod a little before I set the hook. I am usually fishing a steady retrieve, speed based on where I want the bait in the water column.

Recently I was at a coldwater lake in the norh of New England. My buddy and I approached a bank, with overhanging oaks. The acorns were falling in with a slight breeze in a particular spot, PLOP, PLOP. I threw out a floating crankbait, bam smashed as soon as it hit water. Landed the fish, close to 3lbs. Next cast, smash on splashdown, didnt connect. My bud had two hits to, on splashdown. By then I had tied on a walkbait, with another hit, on splashdown, not on the walk. When the frenzy cooled off I said man we should have had 5 fish there, only got one. I thought you could throw a kiwi over there and it would get hit. My point is, I think these fish were keyed in on acorns. The sudden loud splashdown would trigger a reaction strike, whether the smallmouth ingested the acorns I am not sure. The way the fish reacted to lures made me think they were looking for that splashdown. Would a smallmouth react to a blueberry, blown off a blueberry bush on the edge of a rocky island? There was a myth at a campground I once stayed at that this was so. Thoughts on herbivorous smallmouth behavior?

Hey I was also in Portland for my cousin's wedding. I fished alot, I wrote about it in the Western forum. My main takeaway is if you want to score a salmon or steelhead in some of the smaller streams, best fish in the spring when there is more water. I stayed in Troutdale on the edge of the city. Homeless camps under every bridge.

Check out this pattern

So for example most of the summer the Merrimack valley was in mild drought conditions. This makes the river very low, even more so at low tide. Above the dam it seems like there is always alot of water regardless of recent precipitation. If you choose to paddle, the current will greatly effect you. When I did it I would go upstream as far as I could, then work back down to where i put in. You have to be a strong kayaker or rower to make headway. So is it safe, yes if you are a capable kayaker. Maybe try kayaking the river without any fishing gear first so you can feel it out and look for spots.

Made a 7 ct. batch of 1/4 oz. White/gold flash

Absolutely I was at a river some weeks back and I caught about 30 smallmouth in 2 hours. The fish were in rapids, small turbulent pools, and above falls. They must climb this stuff like a salmon. I usually like pools after the rapids, but I learned they would literally be in the most turbulent whitewater. Here is some pictures

When the Merrimack is low it is easily fishable by foot. The first dam isnt until Lawrence so from Plum Island to Lawrence is all bank fishable with consideration of the tide and water conditions. Where those people passed at Deer Island the current is very swift, and the tide is faster because it is still close to the ocean. I wouldn't let it scare you from exploring the fishery. The fall bite can be fire for smallmouth with micro stripers mixed in. There were years when it was said it was the best smallmouth fishery in the state. There is also a substantial Pike fishery that has become well known now. It is a big waterbody, the kind where if you want to put the time in, you won't need to go anywhere else. I am not going to say where to go and how to fish, I am just reccomending that the river is worth an honest effort to figure out.

Welcome, but rather harsh words for 'bassachusetts'. There are some big rivers that offer noteworthy opportunities for smallmouth, largemouth, and other species; such as the Connecticut, Merrimack, and Charles. There are ponds with big bass potential all over the place. The sea is close with striper and bluefish inshore. Try to figure it out the fish are there.

Targeted pike 36", on chatterbait with wire leader. Chain pickerel on a spinner, not the best photo. The chain pickerel is a native fishery in Maine.

I use an ugly stik light spinning rod. M action, graphite. I recently tried a fiberglass rod, and it seemed to have no backbone. You want the rod to bend and absorb shock, but for big fish you need backbone. The rod shouldnt be maxed out all the time fighting big fish. Paired with a cabelas salt striker baitrunner reel.

Definetly some yellow perch vibes there

I could see how if you were just starting the learning curve now, you would probably suffer from paralysis by analysis. Regional differences in bass waters can only compound the confusion. When I first started reading bassmaster and searching the web, most all of the advice given was about southern reservoirs. So if you are fishing a natural northern pond or lake, you first have to recognize the difference in the water, and then try to adjust the tactics discussed for your own use.

Find current and make a chum slick. Once you can either find or attract the carp, think about using a hair rig. If a carp feels the hook, it will spit it and move on. Not that the carp knows its a hook, but it just feels inedible. With the hair rig, the carp takes the bait into the throat without feeling the hook, usually. It can turn bite and spits into strong takes.

Yeah. Only go to finesse if I have to.

Did the big esox take a chatterbait

also called 'cusk'. The NH state record was broken last year. You have to fish through the ice at night to catch them.

I had some fast action with carp and cats. One of the white catfish is state pin worthy at over 19".