Warm Water Fishing - Rivers & Streams

[MJ]

Tom Jutras posted a rather interesting Fishing Report regards warm water fishing, focusing on Pawtuckaway Lake in particular. I’d be interested in hearing from others regards other warm water fishing experiences or suggestions. I’d be especially interested in hearing about river and stream opportunities in the southeastern part of the state. How are rivers like the Exeter and/or Lamprey or others? Does anyone have any warm water fly fishing experience on Beaver Brook or other local streams? How about wadeable locations? Anyone else interested in such? Anyone have any advice?

[fessiewig]

Mark,

What is it you're looking for? Generally speaking, during the "warm water" months Trout fishing is restricted to very early in the AM and "the evening hatch". When fishing this period don't play the fish; it's better to bring them in as quickly as you dare and release them as fast as you can, taking care to make sure you give them plenty of time to revive before sending them off on their own.

With regard to particular rivers and streams in the southern section, about the only water that could qualify which I'm familiar with would be the Contoocook (sp?) between Hillsborough and Heniker. There are quite a few deep holes in that stretch and plenty of riffle water. Fish the riffle water in the early AM and the pools in the evenings.

Tight Lines. Remember, try to stress the fish as little as possible. Some advocate not fishing during this "warm water" period, however, I just have to sneak out from time to time. I'm really considering doing a bass thing during the warmer months of the year and leave the Trout until fall and cooler water conditions.

p.s. If you need someone to show you around let me know.

[MJ]

John,

Yes, I guess my inquiry was a bit lacking. I was seeking info regards warm water fishing as it pertains to warm water species, smallies and LMB in particular. I understand completely your advice regards hunting and handling trout stressed by warm temps. That is why I was was seeking some leads on wading the streams down here around Salem. Now, that being said, I understand the 'tookie" (as in Contoocook) is a fairly solid smallie fishery. If you have some insight on the Contoocook and you want to visit it together some time soon, let's do it. I'd be a fool to pass up an opportunity to learn from an "old sage." :wink:

[BugChucka]

I have a lot of experience fishing warm water around Southern NH. I'll tell you this... during the heat of summer the fishing can be very challenging. Just about every pond around can offer good warm water fishing. Southern NH is loaded with warm water fishing. Get out there with a canoe if possible and do some exploring. Sometimes you may have to go deep. If you're forced to wade I reccomend exploring all the slow flowing rivers that aren't known for holding trout. You're not restricted at all if you choose to wade, just fish the ponds on shore early and late and spend the mid day in the rivers. PM me for specific waterbodies.

[fessiewig]

Ahhhhhh, warm water species. The Contoocook does have a good population of smallies, but they are small smallies. I don't think I've ever caught anything over 1/2 pound. But then again I've never really fished the river specifically for smallies. It used to be the water behind the dam was good for them, but as you probably know, they took the dam out this spring.

EDIT: I just thought of something. Those of you who have experience fishing for Smallies, could you recommend flies that are good for them, particularly in rivers?

[BugChucka]

Marcus told me he's just looking for some wadeable water since he's already covered all the ponds in his area. I reccomended the Merrimack to him. Guys, I've landed a couple smallies out of there that were an inch from breaking the state record. I believe next year when I put some more time into it, I'll break it pretty easily...and on the fly.

[petegas]

as far as flies are concerned, when fishing for smallies on the CT in and around hanover, i always have luck with anytype of brown wooly bugger with some rubber legs on it, probably looks like general forage/baitfish/crayfish.

[BugChucka]

My favorite is a size 6-8, olive tail, 4 strands of crystal flash, olive chenille, brown grizzly or furnace hackle. I also like using olive rabbit as a tail and wrapped as a body with a conehead....both simple yet effective flies.

[MPSheets]

Marcus1951,

I have visited Beaver Brook (Rte 111 overpass) consistently since mid-May with very little success. Mostly, I’ve landed pan fish and chubs between the hours of 5:30 and 8:30 AM and a few brookies just after F&G stocked at the end of May. Upstream from the overpass is completely open and warms quickly, so I suggest wading in the early morning. There are two consecutive ‘runs’ and one hole that occupy my attention when I’m able to find time to put on my waders. Downstream from the overpass is heavily shaded and I imagine temps are a little lower very early in the morning. Beyond the first 100 yards or so downstream it is better suited for light spinning tackle. Lastly, I’ve never seen anything that remotely resembles a hatch on either stretch of water.
I recently fished two sections of the Exeter R. (Rte 111 and 108) with the same result (pan fish and chubs). I don’t carry a thermometer routinely, but while rinsing off the slime from the first chub I noticed the water had to be in the mid-70s around 6:00 or 6:30 AM.
Just a bit farther north (near Newmarket – Wiswell Rd overpass and/or Packers Fall Bridge) is a F&G managed, quality stretch of the Lamprey R. that I’ve not yet tried, but have heard is easily wadable and provides an opportunity to catch ‘fish’. Sorry for being obtuse, but that was a word for word quote recently passed along to me. If you see a green Jeep near any of the overpasses mentioned above that’ll be me and should our paths cross thereafter I’ll be glad to pass along any further observations.

Regards,
MPSheets

[Owl's Roost]

I whole heartedly agree with Fessiewig that now is a tough time on trout. And I understand the fascination with bass but I'd like to offer up another thought. Some years ago a bunch of us started a chapter of PU (Pickerel Unlimited) centered around the Merry Meeting Marsh in New Durham and Alton. It's a lovely piece of water that streches for miles. F&G did stock large mouth bass in it over 30 years ago. They have prospered but the pickerel population is actually much stronger there. Pickerel are prone to lying in the weeds at the edge of the open water. They make vicious strikes and they have very sharp teeth that actually tip back in their mouths. This bit of trivia leads me back to our local chapter of PU. We devised all sorts of fly patterns trying to keep them from cutting us off. Usually the longer the fly the better we did. We tied marabou creations with a tandem stinger to keep those fresh water baracudas from cutting us off. Finally we happened upon the ultimate lure. As a boy growing up in the Lakes Region I often used pieces of salt pork rind cut into strips with a split to imitate a frog. The leap was made that if we took a piece of velcro (the fuzzy side) and cast it into the weeds we actually had a weedless fly that those nasty backward pointing teeth would get entangled in and as long as you kept a tight line you could bring one of the famed Esox Niger to hand. This was a very sought after fish by old time New Englanders. They are probabaly one of the sweetest tasting fish in all of our waters. Yes the dreaded forked bones :? are annoying but that too can be overcome. I'll leave that for another post. Try it you'll like it. :lol:

[fessiewig]

You're putting us on with the velcro, right?

[Steve H.]

I don't think he is. I've seen something similar for...yes, it's true... fly fishing for GAR! The flies I've seen for this are simply pieces of nylon rope that have been pulled apart slightly so the fibers are loose on the outside. When the gar strikes the fly it's long curved teeth get tangled in the fibers of the rope. Steady pressure brings them to, ummm, net? Anyway, I think the principle is the same with the velcro and the pickerel.

[Owl's Roost]

I'm crushed Fessiewig. Actually, bait dealers on Memphormagog use pieces of nylon stocking to catch smelt for re-sale. No hook makes the survivorbility better. But should you not believe me contact some charter members of PU like Ellis Hatch, Duncan McGiness, Don Ham, Mike Daum,or Mac Magranahan. Well that last one would take a seance. :P

[fessiewig]

Now there's a crew for you. I'll bet more than one wild story has circulated around the camp fire with those guys. :D

[BugChucka]

I've done a good bit of pickeral fishing also. I've never used any "gar tactics" but imagine they'd work well. I've also fished the Merrymeeting during the summer in Alton and caught a variety of different species including pickeral and bass. The huge chubs were in there also and I caught a small one that was probably 19 or so inches. I'll never forget how those things were feeding!

[MJ]

Hey! Pic fishing played prominently in LeGrand Cannon’s 1942 book “Look to the Mountain”, a story about New Hampshire colonial life centered around Manchester and Tamworth. One of the main characters, Whit, loved to “skit” strips of pork along the surface of the water inevitably enticing “arm long pics” into a strike. And it’s true, Pickerel flesh is tasty indeed. As kids we often hunted pics and cooked them up, having to pick between those nasty bones very carefully. I understand Pike have the same “Y” bone, and that the pros have a technique for removing such resulting in a bone-free filet. Owl, you must share with us that technique.