Spring fishing got off to a slow start, at least for me. Cold weather kept the water temperature lower than normal. In May, the weather radio ran constant advisories about the danger of falling overboard into a cold lake or pond.
Early on it became obvious that warm water fishing would be delayed for at least a month.
In late May, the Eastern chain pickerel came to life. I caught a bunch of toothy critters around the weed beds in Mascoma, including a pair that were close to 30 inches.
Pickerel fight hard, but they don’t put on a tail-walking display like smallmouth bass. I always feel a little disappointed when I catch one. Then there’s the chore of avoiding their teeth while removing the hook.
In the second week of June, I finally caught a nice smallie on a red and white diving MirrOlure.
The bronzeback, close to three pounds, didn’t put up much of a fight, jumping only once. Highland Lake in Andover, N.H., was still cold enough to render it sluggish.
As the water continued to warm, the pre-spawn bass became more active. The recent heat wave should enliven all warm water species for July fishing.
A common misconception is that warm water slows down the fishing. It is true that in summer, cold-water species like trout go deep to find cooler bands of the thermocline. However, warm-water fish move between the deep and shallow areas, feeding voraciously to support their sped-up metabolisms.
In hot weather, the best fishing times for the shallows are early morning and late afternoon, but depth finders make it possible to locate the deeper fish that hang around rocky areas and weed lines. Bass will also suspend near the surface, anywhere from 10-15 feet down, even as other fish cling to the bottom. I’ve caught big bass on jigs and surface lures in the middle of the day.
Another plus this time of year is the use of live bait. After June 15, anglers are allowed to present live minnows for all species. Minnows are tremendously effective and will work when the fish aren’t hitting anything else.
There are several effective ways to fish with live minnows.
My favorite technique is free lining, using a snelled hook with no sinker. After anchoring near rocks or weeds, I cast the minnow as far as I can and let it sink. Hooking the minnow through the lips allows it to swim naturally to attract bigger fish.
Drifting minnows is another method. Because the boat is moving, a split shot should be used to keep the minnow down — otherwise, it will swim back to the surface.
Some anglers employ a setup similar to those used for panfish: a simple hook, sinker and bobber rig. This seems to work best in shallower water. Of all the ways to fish minnows, I have found this to be the least effective. I have no reason why it doesn’t work for me.
Though the results are often incredible, fishing with minnows presents a few complications.
As mentioned, minnows cannot be used for bass during the spawning season. Minnows can also be hard to find at bait dealers. Though purveyors of live bait sell minnows during ice fishing season, most of them do not carry minnows in the summer. The reason given by dealers is that minnows are harder to keep alive in warmer weather. It’s unprofitable if some of the inventory perishes in transit.
Minnows cannot be transported across state lines, either. Even if a bait shop in Vermont carries minnows, it is against the law to fish with them in New Hampshire.
Fish may also swallow minnows into the gullet, making it harder to remove the hook. Should this happen, I always cut the line and let the fish go. The hook will rust out, allowing the fish to live.
Trapping minnows for personal use is allowed, but a permit is required if they are to be resold.
The trap can’t be longer than 18 inches, with two holes no larger than 1 inch. The owner’s name, address and phone number must also be displayed on the trap.
Once the trap is ready to go, bait it with a couple of slices of bread. Find a shallow stream in a swampy area and set the trap during the morning. That afternoon, the trap will probably be full of minnows.
Though most minnows are referred to generically as shiners, there are actually 16 types of minnows that qualify for use by Granite State anglers. This list, along with all the other rules governing the use of live bait, are displayed on the New Hampshire Fish and Game website.
We are entering prime time for warm-water species, so get out there an wet a line!
Coleman Stokes can be reached at stokecoles@gmail.com.