FOR ANGLING EXCITEMENT AND SUCCESS, JUST SAY BASS © CHARLES WILLEY PHOTO 88 May/JuneMay/June 20042004 •• WWILDLIFEILDLIFE JJOURNALOURNAL ishing for black bass — largemouth and fishing trip, and visit Fish and Game’s website for lots more F information on warmwater fisheries management and bass smallmouth bass — is a popular and grow- fishing in New Hampshire. — Gabe Gries, Fisheries Biologist ing sport, with thousands of anglers spending II/Warmwater Project Leader, Region 2 countless hours bass fishing in New Hamp- Where to Fish? shire each year. The Granite State boasts more than 250 Location, location, location — the real estate mantra should waterbodies that contain one or be yours as well when deciding both bass species; a 1996 survey which waterbody to fish for bass. showed that bass anglers were Do I feel like probing weedlines, the most satisfied with their fish- timber, or other heavy cover for ing experience out of any group bucketmouths? Or scouting open, of fishermen. What other reason rocky shoal areas for smallies? © ETHAN GORDON PHOTO do you need to begin or continue Or should I look for a place where fishing for bass in N.H.! They I can fish diverse habitats and are a great fish and a lot of fun to have a shot at catching both spe- catch. cies? Am I interested in catching Unlike brook trout and pick- numbers of bass, targeting tro- erel, black bass are not native to phies, or a combination of quan- the state. According to Jack Noon tity and quality? What type of in his book, The Bassing of New access will I need — full boat- Hampshire, smallmouth bass launch facilities, canoe/cartop, were introduced into N.H. in walk in/float tube, or shoreline 1865, followed by largemouth casting? What type of angling bass in the 1930s. These fish experience do I want — an iso- quickly flourished and can now lated, quiet, small pond, with few be found reproducing naturally other recreational users, or an throughout the state. Bass are expansive lake with many op- not stocked. tions, amenities and other people? Black bass are the largest Obviously, many of these factors members of the sunfish family, work together; for example, related to pumpkinseed and blue- ponds off the beaten path with gill, and spawn in the spring. primitive access sites tend to re- Smallmouth bass generally pre- ceive relatively little fishing pres- fer lakes and streams with cool, sure and much less recreational clear water and rocky bottoms, traffic. But all of these factors while largemouth bass are found make a big difference in your in warmer, weedy lakes and ability to fish effectively, your streams — though there are many Act fast! A striking bass chose the wrong lunch. The potential catch and the overall waterbodies in N.H. that contain angler will now reel the fish in for his own lunch — or enjoyment of your bass-angling thriving populations of both spe- gently release for another day. experience. cies. Crayfish, small fish and Some excellent sources to help insects are important food items for bass; largemouth are also you decide where to fish are the New Hampshire Atlas and known to eat water snakes, mice, frogs and — believe it or not Gazetteer by DeLorme and Clark’s Fishing Guide, along with — the occasional duckling. Fish and Game’s statewide Boating and Fishing Access Map Read on for some practical tips to try on your next bass- continued on next page BY GABE GRIES, ANDREW SCHAFERMEYER, JOHN VIAR AND MARK BEAUCHESNE WILDLIFEILDLIFE JJOURNALOURNAL •• May/JuneMay/June 20042004 99 continued from previous page Recommended New Hampshire Bass Waters by Region and Freshwater Fishing Guide. You can also contact a Fish and Game regional fisheries biolo- WATER BODY TOWN LARGEMOUTH SMALLMOUTH gist or check our website for information (see sidebar). We can’t make the fish bite — but, Region 1 – Northern N.H. fisheries survey work, our own recreational an- Mirror Lake* Whitefield X Umbagog Lake* Errol X gling experiences, and our many contacts can Moore Reservoir Littleton/Dalton X provide you with the knowledge you need to Cedar Pond Milan X X make the most of your trip. For instance, if taking Martin Meadow Pond Lancaster X X children to learn how to bass fish, you may want Region 2 – Central N.H./Lakes Region to make a quiet location and a high catch rate the Wentworth Lake* Wolfeboro X top priorities. If you need a depth-contour map or Balch Pond* Wakefield X a general description of the extent and type of Lake Winnipesaukee* Gilford/other X X* weed cover available, or just want to know how Squam Lakes* Holderness/other X X* busy a particular waterbody may be in the middle Wickwas Lake* Meredith X of summer — we can help. — John Viar, Newfound Lake Bristol/other X Ossipee Lake and bays Ossipee/other X X Fisheries Biologist, Region 4 Merrymeeting Lake New Durham X Winnisquam Lake Sanbornton/other X X Bassin’ Basics Goose Pond Canaan X X Bass fishermen traditionally rely on medium- Webster Lake Franklin X X heavy to heavy action rods, in part because fish must Little Sunapee Lake New London X Pleasant Lake New London X sometimes be dragged through thick or rough cover Lovell Lake Wakefield X X — but also because the sheer size and fighting power Great East Lake Wakefield X X of the fish sometimes demand it. That said, lighter- Region 3 – Southeast N.H. weight equipment increases the intensity of battle. Harvey Lake* Northwood X An appropriate fly rod for bass fishing should be Big Island Pond* Derry X* X between a five and seven-weight setup. When fly- Bellamy Reservoir* Madbury X casting, the most important match is sometimes Bow Lake Strafford X X choosing a rod size that can throw the larger and Pawtuckaway Lake Nottingham X X heavier flies associated with bass fishing. Northwood Lake Northwood X X Swain’s Pond Barrington X One key to bass fishing is finding the fish. Lake Massabesic Auburn X X Their movements can be yearly, monthly, daily Canobie Lake Windham X X and even hourly. A hopeful angler must consider Powwow Pond Kingston X water temperature, depth and cover. A careful Turtle Pond Concord X examination of one of these factors will usually Robinson Pond Hudson X Mendums Pond Barrington X X pinpoint fish. Sometimes you must look for fish Jenness Pond Northwood X X indirectly by identifying a food source and track- Northwood Meadows — ing it — you can see how an electronic fish-finder State Park Pond Northwood X can be a valuable piece of fishing equipment. In Wheelwright Pond Lee X X general, bass can be found in near-shore areas Nashua River Nashua X Merrimack River during the spring, early summer and fall. As water and oxbows Concord/other X X temperatures warm in the summer, bass typically seek out deeper, cooler water. During this time, if Region 4 – Southwest N.H. you find deep-water structure such as rocks or Wilson Pond* Swanzey X sunken logs, you will generally find bass. McDowell Lake* Peterborough X Otter Lake* Greenfield X A successful bass angler is one who can move Highland Lake* Stoddard X* X around and employ different strategies and pre- Forest Lake Winchester X sentations. Bottom line: if bass fishing is slow, Lake Warren Alstead X X change something! Choose a different location, Lake Skatutakee Harrisville X X change lures (style, color, size, etc.), or target a Lake Monomonac Rindge X Hopkinton Lake Hopkinton X different depth. Baboosic Lake Amherst X You can get some of the most important infor- Haunted Lake Francestown X mation about unfamiliar bass water by word-of- Island Pond Stoddard X X mouth. Ask about recent catches and proven bait Gregg Lake Antrim X X preferences, and piece together weather trends Lake Horace Weare X X Connecticut River Hinsdale/other X X and overall catch rates relative to effort. Before I venture out into unfamiliar bass wa- * particularly good for high catch rates ter, I prepare in the following ways: My first NOTE: This is just a sampling of local bass waters. Contact a Fish and Game regional office for more ideas. inquiry is into the access points offered on the waterbody. This will help me decide if I should 1010 May/JuneMay/June 20042004 •• WWILDLIFEILDLIFE JJOURNALOURNAL bring the bass boat, the canoe or the float tube. I’ll also gain a good understanding of what type of angling pressure might exist. Next, I take a look at my Freshwater Fishing Di- gest, to learn of any special regulations. I also try to talk to fellow anglers who have fished this waterbody before and might be able to give me tips on what lures to use and where to fish. When possible, I like to print out a depth- contour map of where I’m headed. Armed with this kind of © ERIC ENGBRETSON PHOTO information and the right gear, I’ve got a great chance of hooking into a fighting bass at my new fishing stand-up style jig head has tentacles that tantalize Think like a bass: spot. — Andrew Schafermeyer, bass. stumps, rocks and Fisheries Biologist, Region 1 The past few years I’ve seen an increase in other irregular popularity of the soft, stick-like plastic baits, espe- Jig, Grub, Popper, Jerk! bottom cover provide cially for new bass anglers; these do-nothing baits bass habitat, When you think of bass fishing, the first thing come in many sizes and colors, and seem to catch especially as waters that comes to most people’s minds is fast, shiny fish when nothing else will! Stick baits are impreg- warm.