Wade/Shore casting for LLSalmon

[Greenhornet16]

Really hoping to get out around Lake Winni and cast for LL Salmon....I am from Maine and have never fished in NH except once up at CT Lakes region....are there any productive outlets or inlets or areas to wade that will offer good wade casting on Lake Winni, or is shore access an issue....for example there is a great spot on the outlet of the Crooked River on Sebago Lake right where it empties into the lake ... one can cast into the river and strip a streamer back from where it widens into the lake (of course this is a major boat thoroughfare so you sometimes have to time your casts in between boats.)
Anyways...any advice would be helpful...I am hoping to slip away for a couple hours from 4:00 am to 7:00 .... I have found that is the most productive times for salmon pounding the smelt

[fessiewig]

There are three places that come to mind. The bridge to Governors Island, Alton Bay, and Wolfboro. All three can be accessed from shore but there are drawbacks to each. I don't believe there is a "perfect" place for shore fishing. Off the docks in Alton and Wolfboro and off the rocks beside the bridge at Gov. Island. The big hassle at Gov. Island is the parking. There is almost none and the cops will ticket. Of the three, I'd choose Alton Bay.

[Steve H.]

Alton Bay has pretty decent shore (dock) fishing and excellent parking. I was there Sunday morning and saw several dozen people fishing from the shore I didn't see anyone hook up while fly casting but I know the salmon are around. Being in a small boat, I trolled a tandem Green Ghost on a sink-tip line for an hour or so with no hits. Desperate for a fish, I cheated and tied an orange and white Cecil Smelt lure to my leader. Within a few minutes I had a leaping 18" salmon on the line. Definitely not fly-fishing but still great to get that first fish of the year. A purist I am not.

[MJ]

Purist? What's that? I have, myself, managed a few fish while trolling a spoon on my leader. When one is paddling around for a few hours with no action, one has to sometimes take drastic measures!

[fessiewig]

You guys ARE purists! When I go into a slump, I've been known to try for chubs. :oops:

[Squaretail]

Without a doubt my favorite type of fishing is for brook trout on a dry fly floating in a Mountain Pond. Second would be wading in gin clear river or stream nymphing for trout.. but I will fish for almost any species with almost any method there is if it will put a fish on the end of my line. Give me a nice June day with a spinning rod and a lake full of 2lb Smallmouth and I'll be a happy camper. I had a great morning late last July on the Contoocook River. It was 80 degrees at 6AM and when I left for the river I knew there wouldn't be a trout to be found. I had to be at my daughter's softball game at 1PM so I couldn't venture any further north- So from 6:30 in the morning until noon I fished with my 4wt rod and and a #18 elk hair caddis and caught a mess of 6-8" sunfish. I had a blast!!!! The only way I won't fish is with worms and a bobber. I've seen too many fish belly up because they swallowed a worm and a #8 hook. S I guess I'm not a purist- I just love to fish but I hate catching any fish unless it swims away. If it's legal and ethical then have at it!!! I'm headed for the Souhegan either Wed or Thurs. I tried my waders on last night and they must have shrunk over the winter...they are a little tighter this year!

[BugChucka]

As for Alton Bay, this will be the most neck to neck year on record I bet.

As for flyfishing... I now consider it a sin to fish any other way :twisted: .