Smallmouth in massabesic?

[mikez]

Just started fishing NH. Interested in Massabesic. Heard there were smallies in there. Tried it once so far but no smallies.

Is it a worthwhile smallmouth lake?
Do guys get em there through the ice?

[zwiggles]

I’ve never fished it, but my buddy from work does all the time as it is right down the road from his home. He is a bass fishermen, but in all the stories he has told of the lake he always catches largemouth bass (pretty decent sized too). He doesn’t ice fish. I’ll ask about smallmouth if I remember, and let you know.

[mikez]

Thanks.
We found plenty trout but no bass.

[haightdaddy]

IN the summer I fish it from the boat and have caught some very big smallmouth

[Trowder]

Nice brown ! I ice fish massabesic often and usually find it very slow with mostly perch and occasional crappie.

I have targeted trout there many times with zero success.

Catch smallies in the summer but for some reason can never get em through the ice.

[jpease]

I was out on Massy yesterday too miles. first time I've fishing it. caught a largemouth and a small smallmouth, a bunch of puckered and yellow perch. did manage to land a 16" rainbow. what part of the lake where you on, we went off of auburn side. I have fished it once in summer and caught a pile of smallmouth in short time. like to find a good trout spot on that lake, looks like you may have found it!

[jpease]

wow auto correct destroyed my post! mikez not miles, and pickerel not puckered!

[mikez]

Hah, puckered pickeral.

Not sure exactly, I wasn't navigating, first time there. Near a boat ramp and what seemed to be a river.

[jpease]

do you know what town you went on from? you didn't happen to see an old snowmobile running 2 jet sleds like a train behind it did you?

[troutman97]

I think he launched auburn side by claires landing boat ramp....

[mikez]

Clairs landing sounds right.
Only other people I saw were walking way out by some islands. Never saw the snow mobiles but they were way out there.

With trout, in a lake like that, techniques are more important than spot.
I see alot of guys going blank over really good spots when trout fishing.
Finesse is the name of the game. Light long leaders, small tackle, stealth on the ice.
That last is ignored by many. Ice creepers absolutely not allowed. Why guys wear creepers when trout fishing I can't imagine. Especially when the ice isn't even slippery.
Now a bunch of guys will tell me all the trout they catch wearing creepers.
Still. My opinion from year after year of good trout action while watching others struggle.

[jpease]

I agree, technique is key. we were way out on one of those islands. stealth on ice was tough on Saturday for us. crew of seven just out to have a good time. I grew up trout only fishing in maine.... I guess technique pulled through for me. found shallow water on back side of island away from the group and was happy to be the only one to catch a trout! can't overlook shallow water and small bait. the rest of them said I was nuts....

[mikez]

Btw, it was Friday I was out, not sat. Was nice n quiet.