Just got back from a three day trip to the big lake. Each day was successful but in different ways. Fished the same spot in Moultonborough where I caught a Lake Trout two weeks ago. I used only large smelt on wooden tip ups. Many ice fishermen are using electronic fish finders and jigging rods these days for targeting Lake Trout, but I seem to be doing just fine fishing the old fashioned way.
Day One - January 29, 2017
Arrived at the lake around 11am. It was slow for the first couple hours. Then the schools of Yellow Perch started to move through and the flags popped up steadily right up until sunset.
I caught ten perch and kept seven. Fried some up when I got home.
Concluded the day watching a gorgeous sunset.
Day Two - January 30, 2017
Got on the ice at 8:30am. Placed one tip-up on the same spot, in 10 feet of water, where the Laker was caught two weeks earlier. This was also where most of the perch were caught. Set the second tip-up about 80 feet out in 25 feet of water. It wasn’t too long before the flag popped up on the second tip-up. As soon as I set the hook I knew it wasn’t a perch. The way it fought indicated a decent size Salmonoid of some sort. When I got it to the hole I was staring at a 22 inch Landlocked Salmon! The Salmon was promptly released since it’s illegal to keep Salmon caught through the ice in New Hampshire. The Landlocked Salmon was on my New Year's Resolution Species Wishlist.
On this day the Yellow Perch bite was slower. Caught only three perch. No Lake Trout but the Salmon made it a fun day.
Day Three - January 31, 2017
Arrived at 8am. Set up on the same spots as the previous day. One tip-up in 10 feet of water and one in 25 feet of water. Figured these spots were sufficiently chummed with all the dead smelt that I dropped through the holes.
First flag popped up soon after at the Salmon hole in 25 feet of water. The fish took out a few feet of line then dropped the bait. About 45 minutes later another flag. Hardly any line taken. Pulled gently and felt something solid on the other end of the line. Set the hook and pulled in a 19 inch Lake Trout. It had and extended pot belly from eating chum.
One hour later the flag popped up on the other tip-up. The spool was slowly and steadily tuning. I set the hook and brought in the second Lake Trout of the morning! I could have stayed longer to catch and release for the rest of the day but was satisfied enough to start heading home to Cape Cod.
Hoping to make one or two more trips to Winnipesaukee this winter. Though with the current cold spell we’re having there should be some fishable ice closer to home for the next few weeks.
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