Bow Lake

[Notso]

Anyone been on this lake recently?

[Steve H.]

Gave up on that lake years ago. Used to be a gem.

Let us know how you do.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Gave up on that lake years ago. Used to be a gem.

Let us know how you do.

Been junk for cold water fish for about 20 years now

[Notso]

Didn’t get much feed back here so I decided I’d go to 19-mile Winni instead.  Great day to be out but no catch to brag about.

[Steve01987]

I’m not coldwater fisherman but can generally smell out some bass and I’ve only caught a couple yellows in two trips there.  There’s prob some good spots for Larry’s and smallies but I haven’t found them. Kinda gave up seemed real slow. Saw a couple very small bows pulled out.

[Steve H.]

I’m not coldwater fisherman but can generally smell out some bass and I’ve only caught a couple yellows in two trips there.  There’s prob some good spots for Larry’s and smallies but I haven’t found them. Kinda gave up seemed real slow. Saw a couple very small bows pulled out.

NH F&G hasn't been stocking many rainbows in the last couple of years, as they haven't been able to get them through their usual provider.  But earlier than that (early, mid 90s)  I used to troll for them in the spring and early summer and they never seemed to put on any weight or hold over.  I think there's a forage issue, personally.  Lake used to have smelt (long time ago) and later alewives, but not sure what's in there now other than stunted perch.  Even the bass fishing has gone way downhill used to be slammin' for smallies and had it's share of JUMBO (8 lb) largies too. 

[zwiggles]

Didn’t they stock kings in there back in the day, and they ate the whole damn lake? I know NH stocked kings in a few lakes and they just destroyed the fisheries forage base, and then they had to start over. The lakes that had to start over had some huge fish several years later, but eventually they took out the bait and crashed again is my guess.

[stripernut]

Lived on the lake til about 15 years ago, saw the state drop in alewives a few times then never saw the fish again. Lots of bass back then; large and small and plenty of trout, in the open water, but never did all that well thru the ice. And not for lack of trying... Never did see anyone do all that well thru the ice either. Sorry to hear if it has gone down hill...

[Steve H.]

Didn’t they stock kings in there back in the day, and they ate the whole damn lake? I know NH stocked kings in a few lakes and they just destroyed the fisheries forage base, and then they had to start over. The lakes that had to start over had some huge fish several years later, but eventually they took out the bait and crashed again is my guess.

Yeah, many decades ago it was stocked with king salmon and lake trout.  I'm pretty sure landlock salmon too. 

Here's a thread from a few years back that gives a few different perspectives, including one from you stripernut.  https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=335780.0

[Roccus]

Didn’t they stock kings in there back in the day, and they ate the whole damn lake? I know NH stocked kings in a few lakes and they just destroyed the fisheries forage base, and then they had to start over. The lakes that had to start over had some huge fish several years later, but eventually they took out the bait and crashed again is my guess.

They did, I think they tried walkeys too, every time they try these experiments they end badly, remember  a few years back they dumped "excess" salmon into some of the 6 trap lakes, those salmon  ate all the forage, and no one that I know ever caught one, one lake I fish frequently still hasn't recovered, and any Rainbow  there under 3lbs. didnt raise an eyebrow.. now your lucky to catch a stockie, even the white perch and smallmouth  suffered, just not as. Badly.

 Back to topic, Bow used to be good, I got some Corker browns there, but as Frank alluded,  it's been 20 years.

[Steve H.]

They did, I think they tried walkeys too, every time they try these experiments they end badly,

Forgot about the walleyes, Joe, but I think you're right.  I've read that somewhere too.

Yeah NH F&G has done some stocking head-scratchers over the years, in my lifetime alone.  They've put pike in some really weird places, with zero suitable habitat (depth, cool water)  PowWow Pond in Kingston?  Just cause a place has weeds doesn't mean it can support pike.  Doesn't take a fisheries biologist with an advanced degree to know that either.

[800stealth]

Yeah NH F&G has done some stocking head-scratchers over the years, in my lifetime alone.  They've put pike in some really weird places, with zero suitable habitat (depth, cool water)  PowWow Pond in Kingston?  Just cause a place has weeds doesn't mean it can support pike.  Doesn't take a fisheries biologist with an advanced degree to know that either.

Yup... Sorta like stocking pike into the mud puddle known as Skatutakee lake in Harrisville... I think sometimes waterfront land owners have the right friends in the right places and then nonsense happens.

[Steve H.]

Yup... Sorta like stocking pike into the mud puddle known as Skatutakee lake in Harrisville... I think sometimes waterfront land owners have the right friends in the right places and then nonsense happens.

Dodge Pond in Lyman too (my '94 edition Clark's lists it as "recent stocking" with pike).  The only place I ever caught a pike in NH but definitely a mud puddle.  Not sure (don't care) if they're still present in nearby Partridge Pond, which is considerably deeper, but still shy of 100 acres.  The F&G information map/sheet lists it as having NP.

[DConICE]

Yup... Sorta like stocking pike into the mud puddle known as Skatutakee lake in Harrisville... I think sometimes waterfront land owners have the right friends in the right places and then nonsense happens.

Kind of like the effort the landowners around Spofford lake put on to get it closed to ice fishing... and the reasons quoted in those "hearings"  were insane. 

As for NP - Wilson Pond in Swanzey (70 acres, max depth 15 ave depth 7) is known to have NP in it. I haven't been there for years but the only thing I ever caught there were small perch...

[800stealth]

Kind of like the effort the landowners around Spofford lake put on to get it closed to ice fishing... and the reasons quoted in those "hearings"  were insane. 

As for NP - Wilson Pond in Swanzey (70 acres, max depth 15 ave depth 7) is known to have NP in it. I haven't been there for years but the only thing I ever caught there were small perch...

Right... If I remember correctly the biggest argument for Spofford was that a majority of the homes are vacant during winter and they didn't want ice fisherman breaking in...

Didn't know about Wilson pond and Pike... I'll go get me a trophy lol

[DConICE]

Right... If I remember correctly the biggest argument for Spofford was that a majority of the homes are vacant during winter and they didn't want ice fisherman breaking in...

Didn't know about Wilson pond and Pike... I'll go get me a trophy lol

Yea - I think it was that and how much urinating would be done in/on the lake....  I would be willing to bet more is done on a single weekend at public beach by kids than a whole winter by fishermen/women.

But it worked... closed Oct 16 to March 31 to all fishing and just in case we have a winter we never have: "From April 1 through October 15 no person shall take fish through the ice, from the ice or from any object supported by the ice"

Post pics of your Trophy Pike!

[Hottuna5150]

Add upper baker to the NP list

[Dirt23]

Some strange stuff has happened to post pond too. The state came in dipped almost all the smelt out to bring to other places and then put some walleye in which are still listed.  Only heard of two walleye coming out and that was in the first year they stocked.  I don't know how many groups have showed up to be very disappointed looking for them because it's listed they're there.

[Steve H.]

Some strange stuff has happened to post pond too. The state came in dipped almost all the smelt out to bring to other places and then put some walleye in which are still listed.  Only heard of two walleye coming out and that was in the first year they stocked.  I don't know how many groups have showed up to be very disappointed looking for them because it's listed they're there.

That is weird.

I doubt there are any walleye left in NH other than in the CT river and its tribs (during the spawn). Can't imagine any are left, or reproducing naturally, in the Merrimack, Contoocook or Lovell Lake. Or Post Pond as mentioned above. Didn't know the state tried that experiment. I'm sure there have been others. 

[Steve H.]

Add upper baker to the NP list

Forgot about Upper Baker.  Stocked with pike in '92. 

[Steve01987]

That is weird.

I doubt there are any walleye left in NH other than in the CT river and its tribs (during the spawn). Can't imagine any are left, or reproducing naturally, in the Merrimack, Contoocook or Lovell Lake. Or Post Pond as mentioned above. Didn't know the state tried that experiment. I'm sure there have been others.

The Walleye are still in the Merrimack, but they’re far and few between, I know a sizable one was caught in the last couple years, but couldn’t say if they reproduce naturally in there