Ice-Out 2009

[meredith weekender]

In 2006 the lake temp was 37 degrees on the 28th of March and ice out was April 3rd. I prefer for ice out to be earlier than later. If you look at the weirs cam the ice is starting to look preety black and the ice Meredith was really retreating pretty well this past weekend.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

How is the Lilly Pond doing? Isn't that the usual two week indicator?

Ice-out occurred today on Silver Lake here in Hollis. Lake Winnipesaukee's ice-out the past few years has been two weeks after that.

We can't wait to get back to the lake!!!

[islander10]

I was at the lake on Friday and Lily Pond was frozen and white. The lake looked much darker.

[Pineedles]

As I understand it, salmon fishing is best 1 month after ice-out. Anyone want to confirm?

[bilproject]

I believe most find it to be best from ice out till the water begins to warm to 50 at the surface. That is usually the first weeks of May. By June they are spawning and do not feed. I caught a few during the summer of good size. If you watch you will see some cheaters fishing by boat in Wolfboro and Alton on the cams. They will be right up against the edge of the receeding ice. Bet before the weekend you will see some small row boats on those cams fishing near the ice edge. Salmon are usually deep but will be at the surface or in the top 20 feet this time of the year looking for food. Lake trout will also be in shallow water for the same reason.

[farechofisherman]

bilproject; good post about ice out fishing. actually the salmon fishing stays strong right through the summer, you just have to go deeper as the surface water warms. the salmon like mid 50's temp wise. for the first few weeks after ice out they (and lakers) will be at the surface chasing the smelt. the smelt are the ones getting ready to spawn, atlantic salmon spawn in the fall. but the landlocked on winni really do not spawn in the lake although their bodies do all the biological things towards a spawning run in the fall. it is wise to troll with larger baits in the spring (to match adult spawning smelt) and as the water warms, late june july and august, go to shorter baits which match the yoy smelt (young of the year) that have just been born from the sring spawn. i am not a biologist or science guy, but i've caught hundreds of salmon following these tendecies. good luck to and tight lines.

[Never Satisfied]

That is funny, I e-mailed Barry yesterday too. He must have gotten a milion e-mails... Thanks again Barry!!!

[Grant]

Originally Posted by farechofisherman

bilproject; good post about ice out fishing. actually the salmon fishing stays strong right through the summer, you just have to go deeper as the surface water warms. the salmon like mid 50's temp wise. for the first few weeks after ice out they (and lakers) will be at the surface chasing the smelt. the smelt are the ones getting ready to spawn, atlantic salmon spawn in the fall. but the landlocked on winni really do not spawn in the lake although their bodies do all the biological things towards a spawning run in the fall. it is wise to troll with larger baits in the spring (to match adult spawning smelt) and as the water warms, late june july and august, go to shorter baits which match the yoy smelt (young of the year) that have just been born from the sring spawn. i am not a biologist or science guy, but i've caught hundreds of salmon following these tendecies. good luck to and tight lines.

Thanks -- good stuff. Can't wait to wet the lines in a few weeks.