September 30, 2002

As tradition holds, this being our last fishing report of the 2002 season, we'll be focusing on what remaining opportunities will be best for the fall angler. We hope you'll stand by for next year's edition, which will restart the first Monday of the New Year. We're always open to suggestions for potential new information sources and enjoy the numerous email and phone inquiries asking for more detailed information.

Chris Henson at Kittery Trading Post's Fishing Department has presented seminars on various angling techniques at sportsmen's clubs and the Kittery Trading Post. Chris has some suggestions for stretching your angling experience well into the frost.

"From now until the end of the New Hampshire trout season, the upcountry rivers, the Connecticut and Androscoggin, are two super places for fly fishing. As the season progresses, the trout and salmon get the 'itch of fall' and become much more aggressive. There are fall hatches that will extend through the whole month of October. In the section of the Connecticut River below Murphy Dam in Pittsburg, huge brown trout to over ten pounds are not that uncommon, with some caught each year. From there down through Columbia, brook, brown and rainbow trout stay active. The river has all kinds of different water to fish from small stretches of white water to long, placid pools. The inlets of smaller brooks entering the big river often hold some pre-spawning fish."

"On the Androscoggin, you'll find all three species of trout and a scattering of landlocked salmon. The fly-only stretch above Brag's Bay can be a great adventure this time of year. Down below the Thirteen Mile Woods, smallmouth bass are included in the mix of fish. Although these river-smallies aren't that big, they make up for that with their feisty attitude. Small Mepps or similar spinners are deadly on both the smallmouths and the trout in that section of the river," Chris suggests.

"If you want a real thrill at the 'King of Fish', you'll want to try the special open season on the lower Merrymeeting River in Alton, at the inlet to Lake Winnipesaukee. Each year big landlocked Atlantic salmon swarm into this stretch of water, right up to the dam in Alton. This is catch and release fishing, but you don't have to feel guilty about fishing for spawning run fish. There has been little-to-no natural salmon reproduction noted in this river. But you can have an incredible experience with tail-walking salmon up to five pounds or larger. Depending on the mood of the fish, bright streamer flies or bottom bouncing nymphs are the ticket here."

Chris also is high on the increasing quality of sea-run trout fishing available, both in New Hampshire's coastal streams and in Maine. "The Salmon Falls River is a new location that is being managed for sea-run trout. Maine is stocking brown trout there in the fall, while rainbow trout have been known to trickle downstream to the salt water from New Hampshire's stockings. The Ogunquit and Mousam Rivers in Maine have seen improving fishing that lasts well into the early spring. These rivers are stocked with catchable fish in the fall and there are some holdovers and trout that return from spending the summer at sea that will scare you. New Hampshire's Berry Brook sea-run fishery has been around for nearly a half a century. Although a trophy situation with chances of a lot of action are slim, there have been brown trout over ten pounds taken."

Chris ends with suggestions for fall bass fishing. He thinks that fall is the best chance at the largest fish of the year. "Prospect along rocky drop offs and out on flats with stick baits or spinner baits. Be patient," he warns.

Maine has a lot of other opportunities for extended trout fishing. Locally, there's the Presumpscot, Royal and Saco Rivers. In the Downeast Region, Grand Lake Stream is producing salmon to 19 inches, according to Regional Fisheries Biologist Ron Brokaw. From October 1st -20th, it's catch-and-release fishing only.

In the Western Mountain Region of Maine, Fisheries Biologist Dave Boucher reports extended fishing opportunities on the Androscoggin River, Rangeley River, South Branch of the Dead River (Rte 16 in Dallas to Langtown Mill Bridge), Dead River, Upper Dam Pool, Sandy River (Rte 145 Bridge in Strong) to confluence of Kennebec River, and the Kennebec River. The Kennebec River below the dam in Fairfield is becoming a nationally known area for outstanding fall fishing for outsized brown trout. A fall run of baitfish--this year's hatch of sea-run alewives, migrate downstream, turning the normally cautious big fish to become greedy and an easier target for fly fishermen.

In the Moosehead area, Dan Legere at the Maine Guide Fly Shop in Greenville loves the chance to fish the East Outlet (Kennebec River) from where it exits Moosehead Lake down to Indian Pond. This stretch also has an extended fall fishing season, which is catch-and-release-only. Although much of the other trout waters, especially the rivers, will close September 30th, there are numerous ponds in the area that remain open to October fishing. There's a large section of the Piscataquis River that is open to fishing all year.

Tink Nelson, at Nute's Trading Post in Union, New Hampshire, finds it incredible that so few people are taking advantage of the wonderful fall rainbow trout fishing in the larger ponds and lakes. "As the surface water cools, the small smelt gather near shore and like to spend time at the surface of the lakes. Small streamer flies and lures will draw aggressive strikes from the rainbow trout that are enjoying a feeding spree on the smelt. Try Great East Lake, Silver Lake, Wentworth Lake, and Ossipee Lake."

"Just look at last year's stocking report on New Hampshire Fish and Game's website to find where the rainbows are. Then check your law book to find what the fall regulations are. You'll need to note that waters listed as special regulation trout waters close for all fishing on October 15th," Tink warns.

Pete Santini, at Fishing FINatics Bait and Tackle in Everett, reports that the Massachusetts freshwater fishing is open year round. "In the fall, many of our trout ponds and lakes are stocked to provide for ice fishing action. With the holdovers from the spring and summer fishing, and the new fall stockings, this can be the best time of the year. My favorite place is Horn Pond in Woburn. White's Pond, Walden Pond and a lot of other places scattered around the state will produce some fine action. Some of these ponds are also stocked with huge Atlantic salmon."

Saltwater angling also has plenty of remaining opportunities. Craig Bergeron at Saco Bay Tackle likes the way the fall groundfishing is shaping up. "The codfishing just seems to get better. In the fall you're apt to see cod move well inside their offshore haunts, making for some outstanding fishing on the closer humps and ledges. Out on the offshore ledges, such as Jeffrey's and Tanners, big pollock will make for some very interesting fishing. These fish will hit the same bait and jigs as you're using for cod and haddock, but will surprise you with their strength and fight. Don't sell these big fish short on eating quality. Often over twenty pounds, their flesh is white, delicate and great eating." (Some old coastal families used to refer to the big pollock as "Cape Cod Turkey!")

Chris Henson, at Kittery Trading Post, loves the chances at big stripers and fewer fishermen that fall brings. "There's at least another couple weeks of great opportunities locally. It can be hit-or-miss, but when you hit it, it will be memorable. Stripers and bluefish migrating along the shoreline lose their caution. When they overtake a school of baitfish, it's bedlam. The key here is to match the size and presentation of your fly or lure to the size of the baitfish. If you don't want to hang up your rods after the fish leave here, a trip to the waters in Boston Harbor, especially around the several warm-water discharges, will bring striper action. And for just another hour or so, you'll find action south of Cape Cod until and into November. Actually, in the lower reaches of the Connecticut River in the Hartford area, schools of over-wintering stripers provide non-stop action for the whole season."

Chris reminds local anglers to be ready for the return of mackerel as soon as bluefish leave. Flounder migrations will also put some of these fish back into their spring haunts for a few weeks each fall. Open water smelt fishing, available right in the city limits of Portsmouth, Newcastle and Kittery Point, is peaking about now. Good bets are at night off any of the harbor docks, the Witches Creek Bridge in Rye and docks at Rye, Hampton and Seabrook Harbors.

Jim MacKenzie, at Suds-N-Soda, reports that ice fishing for Great Bay smelt can take place as early as December, but recent warm falls and early winter haven't enabled fishermen to get out there.

"We'll have stripers and bluefish here for the month of October," was the word from Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island. "We could see the return of some mackerel, flounder and a few inshore codfish. It's been a tremendous year for stripers, bluefish and fluke."

"We're not sure how long this incredible blitz of school-sized bluefin tuna will last here, but we're going to enjoy it while it lasts," reports Pete Santini at Fishing FINatics in Everett. "We've been out there chasing those tuna for a couple of weeks, almost every day. We've had dozens of hook-ups but have yet to land one. We're going to have good striper fishing well past the end of October, especially at the warm water discharges. There's a few fish that hold-over below the Amelia Earhart Dam and the Charles River Locks. We'll see some outstanding, inshore codfishing. Our flounder won't come back until the bluefish leave. Cod, haddock, pollock and groundfishing have been the best in years. Take a trip on one of the weekend party boats if you want a great experience and some awesome fillets," Pete ended.

And so do we. See you in 2003!