Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    Well, September is here again, marking the end of Salmon season. 14
    days left to be exact. I'm planning a trip up real soon. Has anyone
    out there been doing anything up on the big lake? Can you offer any
    advice on what there hitting on, i.e. flies, spoons, live bait? I
    have a downrigger which I'll most likely be using along with a little
    surface trolling. Hey, I'll hit 'em hard one way or another...but I'm
    always open to first hand advice.
    
                            Thanks,          Jeff (Captain)
                                             Team Starcraft

    
    
      Jeff, 
    
       When I lived in NH, and fished winni we always used sutton #44
    copper and silver, 4-5 colors on leadcore, or 20 foot down on the
    riggers. also try little (2-3 inch) rapala's 100-200 foot back or off
    sideplaners. troll at 1.5-1.8 mph.
    
       We always fished on the opposite side of rattlesnake island from
    aimes farm. there used to be a dock tilted up about 3/4 way down the
    island, we would run in about 40-60 foot of water and we always caught
    salmon there, not big ones but we did get fish there. also we ussaully 
    got salmon and lakers around barndoor and blackcat islands.
     
      try some alpena diamonds and small needlefish lures too.
    
                                                      Lee
    who now fish's NY where the only thing smarter than a fisherman is FISH
    
    

    Well, I made it up to the big lake yesterday. It was a real foggy
    start. I worked the h*ll out of my downrigger. Started the day with
    a #44 Sutton @ 35ft and a orange Mooselook @ 25ft. Got a release after
    about 20 min. I could feel a nice fish, it took a run and spit the
    hook. I was trying all different depths between 5-60ft. Couldn't hook
    up to a Salmon all day but I can tell you where the Bass are, suspended
    over deep water between 20 and 40 ft deep. The first bass was around a 
    pound and a half. The second was a little better than 2 lbs. The last
    2 were in the 3-5 lb range probably closer to 5 lb mark. The last bass
    of the day chowed down on a smallish copper Mooselook set down at 35ft.
    I want to go up 1 more time before the end of the month. I still have
    Salmon fever, bad!
    
    I did try some surface work but all I was catching were 1-2 ounce bass,
    to the point they were a hinderance.
    
    I pretty much stayed in Alton Bay, Rattlesnake and Diamond islands the
    entire day. 
    
    When I was reeling in the first bass, it seemed that a large Salmon
    was rolling on the surface watching the whole thing. This Salmon which
    was about 30 ft from my boat came out of the water at least 5 times one
    after another. On the last rise I could see at least 20 inches of
    Salmon clear as day, but that's as close as I got to one all day.
    
                                   Jeff (Captain)
                                   Team Starcraft
    
    

    
    
         Are we going to make history this year for the earliest ice-out?
    
         Has anyone been up lately....must be alot of open water!
    
                                          Jeff (Captain)
                                          Team Starcraft

    JEFF,  We're not going to be setting any records this year.  I drove up
    to Winni, yesterday Sunday March 29.  I went to the public ramp t
    Alton Bay, and as a matter of fact WALKED ON ALTON BAY!  There was
    fresh snowmobile tracks and foot prints in Saturday night's snow.  There 
    is lots of ice!  There was some open water in the Merrymeeting River but 
    not much.  I also drove over to Merrymeeting Lake, and watched a couple of
    guys ice fishing!   I would say don't bother to waste any vacation
    time until next week.

    This note has been awfully quite.  Any trip reports from the derby last
    weekend?  I hope to get out on Winni this weekend for the first time.
    How's the fishing been?
    
    Mark,
    

              Just call (603)627-9702.  It has a recorded message
    with all the details.  Sometimes it's not on and just keeps
    ringing but just keep trying.  A fellow angler told me about
    it and I've found it to be very informative.  
    
               Bob

    I fished the derby last weekend. I picked up 3 keeper Salmon but no
    trophy winners. 
    
    My tip would be a flourescent orange Mooselook Wobbler, a 50 ft +\- set
    back, 20 feet on the downrigger, over 30-60 feet of water at about 
    3 to 3 1/2 mph. It worked for me fri. and sat. but not sunday...but
    nothing worked on sunday. Lengths were 2 @ 17" and 1 @ 16". 
    
                              Jeff (Captain)
    

    Thanks.  That's pretty much what I tried yesterday with no luck.  But
    then I only got to fish for about an hour and a half.  Maybe next
    time...
    
    Mark,
    

    Anybody have any salmon reports before the Big Derby gets underway???
    
    Hoping not to get skunked two years in a row!!!!!
    
    Bob�

    With the decline in the lake Winny salmon fishing a few years ago, and
    the birth of my kids, I hadn't done much salmon fishing in the lake in
    the past 3-5 years.  I tried again this weekend with the most success
    I've had in a long time.  Since this note has been SOOOO quite, I
    thought I would post it here:
    
    I trolled a total of 4 hrs early and late over the 3 days.  I got
    a small laker, a smallmouth bass (@50' over 90' of water), and 5
    salmon (23 1/2", 20", 18", 17" and short).
    
    The big one was by far the biggest landlocked I've caught and was a 
    beautiful fish.  Most of the fishing was done with my son, who will
    be 4 yrs old next month.  I let him hold the rod with the fish and
    I would operate the reel.  He was thrilled!  He paraded the fish all
    though the neighborhood showing everyone.
    
    All fish were caught on orange mooselook wobblers between 40' and
    50' deep.
    
    Mark,
    

    
    
    Ok, it's about that time again. Earliest ice out is April 2nd...in
    1913.
    
    Anyone have any first hand info on "ice-out" this year.
    
    -Jeff

    I was up at the lake yesterday. Meridith ice is 50ft out from docks and
    all along the edges for 20ft. Center Harbor about the same. Weirs area
    should clear this week. A few large openings out in the center areas.
    Continues sun and some wind and rain I'd say April 12th to 15th for ice
    out.
    
     regards
    
     Don B,

    Last weekend, April 1/2, there was quite a bit of open water by the
    Long Island Bridge... there were even some 15-17' fishing boats in the
    water for the salmon.  Up by Moultonboro bay, there are large spots of
    open water, mostly created from dock bubblers - but with the wind, and
    the spray freezing on the existing ice - things should go quickly.  I
    think the 12-15'th is a good guess - but even this weekend, there
    should be plenty of water to boat around in, as long as you use the ol'
    ice-prop :-)
    
    bill

    Has anyone been doing any fishing on Winni for the elusive Landlocked 
    Salmon? Mostly wondering how the fishing has been. What the baitfish
    are up to and any surface temps available?
    
    Anyone heading up for the Derby this week?
    Thanks,
    Bob Mercier

    
    
    Hi Bob,
    
    While I haven't been salmon fishing, I was up at 
    Winnie this past Saturday for a bass tournament.
    the surface water temps around the long island
    area were in the low 50's.
    
    I never ventured out to the broads, but would imagine
    colder temps as you headed south from there.
    
    Gusman
    

    Thanks Gusman,
    
         That water temp sounds perfect for the Salmon. In fact, with the
    cold, wet spring we have been having. I'm sure the Salmon haven't been
    hit as hard as usual.
    
         You guys must be ripping your hair out trying to get Largemouths
    to bite this year?? We hit a couple of Smallies while at Ontario. One
    was a beautiful female. She was loaded with eggs and I would say tipped
    the scales at around 5 pounds. They have quite the Smallmouth fishery
    up there. As well as every other fishery...........
    
    Thanks for the update.....
    Bob M�

    The salmon fishing has been pretty good this year - not for me -
    but I've spoken with a few other folks who have got some real nice
    ones.  I've spent a couple hours trolling on a couple of occassions
    without luck.
    
    We did pretty well on the smallies on sat - but the weather was less
    than wonderful - I left early.
    
    -donmac

I've been going up every weekend. Fishing has been pretty good
but you have to work for them. Fish have been healthy.
I've been using live bait.

Good luck at the Derby. Look for a 23' Sea Ox with a 175 Johnson.

Don't forget your rain gear :(

		Jim on the Xpensive Habit

    Thanks for the replies. It looks like a good weekend for it. We'll be
    heading up tomorrow. Were staying at some new place my buddy found. I
    believe that it is halfway up Alton Bay but I can't remember the name.
    
    Might be a little wet!!! Hell, I'm getting used to it. As far as I'm
    concerned some rain might just be what the Doctor ordered. I wont have
    to worry about those Mad Boaters up there with their 454, Twin Screw,
    Gas Guzzling, Wake Making, Monsters ripping our lines out of the reels.
    Which has happened more than once.
    
    If you see a White, American International (Larson), center console
    with a 135 hp Black Max Outboard stop by and say hello. It has a 
    white, 15 hp Johnson for a kicker. The boat is 21' long.
    
    Good luck to everyone heading up. I'll be looking for the baitfish 
    tomorrow night!
    
    Bob M
         

    SO, how did you make out on Winni last weekend?  I'll be trying it
    next weekend, so any info on the fishing, depth, or water temp
    would be interesting.
    
    Thanks,
    Mark
    

    I liked to hear how you made out also.. Sunday I heard from a friend
    that a 13lb laker was caught during the Derby. Can anyone confirm this?

    Gus

    
         Well, we didn't win! We did get more fish than usual. Unfor         
    tunately, they were all Xerox copies of 17". We had a tough time
    catching anything after 6:00 a.m. as the boats this year were many. It
    made the Bubble at Lake Ontario look like a cake walk.
    
         The fishing for us was slow. However, the place we stayed at had
    some story tellers for sure. On Friday, this guy supposedly got 22
    Salmon, On Saturday, he got 40!!!! When I asked him where his Derby
    entry was he replied that they were all under 21". Can you say
    Pinochio? Sure, you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
         I'm sure you didn't tune in to listen to me babble. These are the
    facts. The majority of our fish catching was done at first light at the
    top of Alton Bay. The water temp. was between 51 and 54 depending on
    time of day and where you were. On the radio it appeared that a lot of
    fish were being taken between Rattlesnake, Diamond and Govenors. Large
    area I know but these guys are criptic during the tournament. Another
    good area was East of Wolfboro. I believe the name on the map was Grant
    Island. Worth a shot!
    
         It would be easier to say what they weren't biting on. We
    personally caught them on both silver and copper Mooselooks (SP?),
    trolled 2 to 3 colors down on the Leadcore. While on the surface we
    were doing well with those little blue and silver squids 30
    inches behind a silver Dodger about 100' behind the boat. On the radio
    Grey Ghost and Smelt were working but not for us. It seemed like a
    different lure would work in different areas. Very strange?????
    
         Hope this helps. As for me, I think a nice relaxing trip to the
    Quabbin this weekend for Salmon in the early day and Smallmouths as the
    sun gets higher.
    
    Good Luck and let us know how you do. Oh yeah, the smallies were very
    active. Bring your Bass gear in case the Salmon aren't cooperating.
    
    Bob M�                        
    

    Yes, a 13.6 pound Laker was taken. The funny thing is that it was
    caught off a planer board trolling a live smelt on the surface. Like
    Grandma always told me. "It's always better to be lucky than good!"
    
    Bob M�

Anyone go to Winni this weekend ? 
I was wondering how far out the ice is ? I'm thinking of
trying Alton bay this weekend.

	Thanks Jim

     I was at Alton Bay this past friday. Ice was about 70 yards out. I saw
    some small boats looking for some salmon.
    
    
    
     Fred.

Winisquaum is you best bet now.  In Merideth and Center Harbor, you 
have 50x100 yards of water.  This may change by the weekend.  

Long Island has more water by the bridge but it's stricly a hand 
carry launch at this point.  I'll let you know when the boat launch 
is open at the bridge on long island.

keith

Yesterday it was about 50 up there and there was some melting.  The 
boat lauch by the bridge is open out to about 30'.  You can follow 
the showline to the channel under the bridge and then have 10 or 20 
acres of open water.  I watch a guy in his 14' aluminum boat do this 
this morning.

The very large piece of ice in front of the lauch is about to break 
free.  When this happens it could block the lauch and you would need 
to go to the marina to pu$$ the boat.

keith

	Ice is out to Sandy point in Alton bay.

	Ames Farm also has some open water.

	
		Jim

I call Silver Sands in Gilford yesterday and was told that
the ice is out.

		 -Jim

    There was still a fair amount of ice on the lake on Monday.
    
    The broads were pretty much open but Wolfeboro and Center Harbor 
    were both mostly ice. Alton Bay, Meredith and the area around
    Whortleberrry Island all had lots of ice left to go.
    
    I'd hope most of it would be clear by now.  Water temp was
    in the high 30s amd low 40s - depending how close you got to the ice.
    
    Will hopefully be back up there on Sat strolling for salmon.
    
    -donmac