Ice Fishing Season 2019 (Part Two) - Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Trout

This year we rented a cottage on Meredith Neck, just a short walk to The Lake.  I drove up on Sunday and stayed through Thursday.  Cynthia drove up with the dogs on Monday and left on Wednesday.  

February 3, 2019

The first stop was in Tilton to buy bait at a general store. Next I drove over to Sanders Bay and fished till sunset.  No catches, not even a flag on the tip up. Before leaving I set up six Cusk Devices baited with extra large live shiners.  Stopped at a pizza joint to buy a chicken parm sub for dinner and settled into a cozy cottage for the night.

February 4, 2019

The next morning I got up early to check on the Cusk Devices on Sanders Bay.  Half of them had the bait stolen.  I chummed the holes with chopped mackerel and reset the the devices.  Headed back to the cottage in Meredith to spend the rest of the day fishing nearby while waiting for Cynthia to arrive with “the boys”, Choggie and Scuppy our newly acquired rescue dogs. Choggie is a Bichon Frise. Choggie is also another name for a Cunner, a small saltwater fish in the Wrasse Family.   Cunners have sharp little teeth so there is somewhat of a resemblance. Scuppy is a white Toy Poodle and was named after the Scup, another small saltwater fish.  

Cynthia and Scuppy

Just before Cynthia came out onto the ice a tip up flag went up signaling that a fish had taken a bite on a large smelt.   A few minutes later I pulled in a Lake Trout.  It was the only fish we caught for the day.  However we enjoyed the unusually warm winter day and Choggie had a great time barking at his echo. 

February 5, 2019

We had a leisurely morning and then drove over to Sanders Bay to check on the Cusk Devices.  As I started to pull in the second device I felt something heavy tugging on the end of the line.  It was a twenty two inch Cusk!  We pulled up the devices and drove back to our cottage in Meredith where we fished for the remainder of the day.  One other fish was caught.  It was a Landlocked Salmon that was immediately released because in New Hampshire it’s illegal to harvest a salmon caught through the ice. In fact the fish shouldn’t even be taken out of the water.  At least we had the Cusk for dinner.  

Cusk aka Burbot

Cusk Tacos Fixings - fish francaise, spicy coleslaw, soft tacos

February 6, 2019

Cynthia took the dogs and headed back home in the morning.  I chose to spend the day fishing close to our cottage.  This was a decision I later regretted.  Got skunked!  Not even a bite.   

February 7, 2019

This was to be my last day of ice fishing for the year.  I decided to go to an area where there would be more action.  The area is called States Landing and is located along the northern shore.  Last year I caught Chain Pickerel and Fallfish at this spot.  

Once out on the ice I drilled one hole over a shallow weed bed and another in deeper water.  It only took a few minutes for a flag to pop up at the shallow spot.  As I expected it was a Pickerel.   Then soon after I caught another pickerel...and another...and another.  Meanwhile the Yellow Perch found the bait in deeper water.  Pulled in the tip up from the Pickerel spot and tried some jigging before packing up and heading home to Cape Cod.  

The home waters were still frustrating local anglers by being frozen enough to deter open water fishing yet not frozen enough to support ice fishing.  Fortunately for me I would soon be fishing in tropical waters.

Ice Fishing Season 2019 (Part One)

Cusk with a baited line.

The local weather here on Cape Cod was just cold enough to hinder open water fishing on the ponds but not cold enough to produce safe ice conditions.  As a result I only had one day of local ice fishing.  

Better conditions were found to the north.  This year I made two trips to Lake Winnipesaukee.  Here’s the details.

January 15, 2019 - Lake Winnipesaukee - Long Island

Arrived at the bait shop in Meredth, NH just before noon to buy shiners and smelt. I decided to spend the afternoon at Long Island in Moultonboro.  This has been a good spot in the past for Lake Trout and big Yellow Perch.  It was quite cold and windy when I got there.  Only had one flag go up on a tip up. It was a nice size Yellow Perch (12in.).  Usually when you catch a Yellow Perch, more of the same will soon follow, but not today.  I wanted to go over to Sanders Bay in Gilford to set my Cusk lines out before it got dark.

Yellow Perch

Got to Sanders Bay as the sun was reaching the horizon.  I set out six Cusk devices to leave  in overnight. Chummed the holes with cut up fish (Yellow Perch and Mackerel) and baited the hooks with extra large live shiners.  Checked in at the Bear Tree Inn in Meredith and settled in for the night.

January 16, 2019 - Lake Winnipesaukee - Sanders Bay/ Twenty Mile Bay

Next morning I went back to Sanders to check the Cusk lines. There were two Cusk on the lines.  The Cusk is more commonly called a Burbot.  The same species is found in cold deep northern lakes in North America, Europe, and Asia. It’s a freshwater member of the Cod family. Like the Cod its a very good food fish.  

The night before two guys in the room next door said they caught Lake Trout and a bunch of White Perch in Twenty Mile Bay.  I decided to give it a try. When I got there I noticed lots of old frozen holes but nobody else was on the ice.  There had been a lot of activity here over the weekend.  I fished until after sunset but didn’t catch any Lake Trout or White Perch. Only caught two more Yellow Perch. Packed it up and went home.   The Cusk and Perch went into the Chowder Pot. 

January 22, 2019 - Santuit Pond

By the third week of January we finally had a cold snap long enough to put a good layer of ice on the local ponds.  I headed over to Santuit Pond in Mashpee where the shallow north facing coves were sure to be iced over.  I found a solid four inch layer of black ice, definitely safe enough to walk on. I had a few small killifish and some nightcrawlers for bait.  Only had three tip ups out when the flags started to pop. Caught a pickerel on a killi and a bunch of Yellow Perch on the crawlers. 

Chain Pickerel

It was fun to be ice fishing locally, but I knew it wouldn’t last.  Sure enough warm temperatures over the next few days put an end to Cape Cod’s very short 2019 ice fishing season.  It was time to plan the Annual Family Ice Fishing Trip To The North Country.

2019 New Years Resolution (Or My Species Wish List)

Schoolmaster Snapper, Belize, February 2015

2019 Species Wish List

I made a wish list last year that included 18 species.  By the end of the year seven of those targeted species had been caught.  They were: Cusk (Saltwater), Whiting, European Perch, Blue Runner, European Ling, Lizardfish, and Freshwater Cusk (aka Burbot. 

The Saltwater Cusk was caught while bottomfishing for haddock on a party boat from the Yankee Fleet in Gloucester. The Whiting was also caught while party boat fishing for Haddock this time with Captain John Boats from Plymouth. The European Ling was caught on a Party/Charter boat off the west coast of Ireland.  Also from Ireland was the European Perch which I tried but failed to catch in the Azores last year. A few Blue Runners were caught while Kayak fishing off Dowses Beach in Osterville.  The Burbot, a freshwater relative of the Cod was caught while ice fishing in New Hampshire. 

I found the Lizardfish at the same location where I last caught one four years ago, just off the beach in Megansett Harbor. These odd looking fish with their lizard-like heads are only found in my area from late August to early October. They rest on the bottom in shallow sandy areas and ambush small baitfish using large toothy jaws.   

This year’s list includes 19 species separated into three categories. 

Lizardfish, Megansett Harbor, October 2018

Species caught in 2017 that I shouldn’t have missed in 2018.

Wolffish

False Albacore

King Mackerel

Spotted Hake

The Plan: 

1. Plan on additional party boat trips out to Stellwagen Bank to provide a shot at catching Wolffish.   

2.  More Kayak fishing on the south side of Cape Cod to target False Albacore and King Mackerel.  

3. Planning a vacation to Belize in March which will provide another shot at catching False Albacore and King Mackerel.  

4.  A few more hours spent Kayak fishing in Cape Cod Bay might help with bagging a Spotted Hake.

Wolffish, Captain John Boats, June 2017

New species to target 

Ocean Pout

Walleye

Banded Sunfish

Mahi

Snook

Bonefish

The Plan:

1. Best chance for Ocean Pout is as a by-catch while fishing for Haddock on a party boat. 

2. Could get lucky with Walleye while Ice Fishing this winter.  The Connecticut River would be the place to go.  

3. There’s a chance of bagging Mahi, Snook, and Bonefish in Belize.  

Species that I haven’t caught in a while that will be targeted in 2019.

Northern Pike

Weakfish

Redfish

Skate

Gray Snapper

Mahogany Snapper

Yellowtail Snapper

Schoolmaster Snapper

Bluestriped Grunt

The Plan:

1. Northern Pike, like the Walleye, is a good ice fishing target. Both species are found in the Connecticut River.  Pike are also stocked in a number of other large ponds closer to home.  

2. On Cape Cod, Weakfish occasionally move into the estuaries during the Spring. I have a couple locations in mind to try this year.  Party Boat fishing during the late fall in Rhode Island is another opportunity for Weakfish. 

3. Redfish are another Haddock fishing by-catch species.  

4. Fish at night off the Cape’s north side beaches or Kayak fishing in Cape Cod Bay for Skate. 

5. I caught all of the other species on this list on my last trip to Belize in 2015.  Hoping to be just as successful the second time around. 

2018 Species List

Top - Pollock (aka Coalfish),  Bottom - European Pollock
County Clare, Ireland
May 30, 2018

One of the most satisfying aspects of fishing is the pursuit of different species.  My goal is to catch as many species as I can in one year.  This approach is similar to the activities of birdwatchers.  My birdwatching past is what inspired me to take a species diversification approach to fishing.

Here's the list for 2018.  A total of sixty three species were caught; twenty six in freshwater and thirty eight in saltwater. One species, Brown Trout, was caught in both fresh and salt water. The list includes two new species, European Ling and European Pollock.  Both were caught on a fishing excursion off the West Coast of Ireland.  The list also includes quite few species that I haven’t caught in a number of years.  Some examples of these are Burbot, Rock Bass, White Sucker, Bonito, Chub Mackerel, and Needlefish to name a few. 

All species are listed by one or more common names followed by the scientific name.  The number indicates how many were caught during the year. Letters following the number indicate mode of fishing (see key).  Also included are the locations where each species was caught in 2018.

Mode Key:

K  Kayak

SH Shore

MB Private Motorboat

PB Party Boat

CH Charter Boat

IF Ice Fishing

Saltwater

Winter Flounder and Atlantic Mackerel
Scorton Creek in Sandwich, MA
July 1, 2018

Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus (5) SH

Location(s): Cape Cod Canal

Atlantic Cod,  Gadus morhua (7) PB

Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, Northeast of Stellwagen Bank 

Atlantic Herring, Clupea harengus (4) MB, SH

Location(s): Cape Cod Bay, Cape Cod Canal

Atlantic Mackerel, Scomber scombrus (122) CH, SH, MB, K, PB

Location(s): Cape Cod Canal, Cape Cod Bay, County Clare Ireland, Scorton Ledge, Coxes Ledge

Black Sea Bass, Centropristis striata (289) K, MB, SH, PB, CH

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Westport MA, Coxes Ledge, Woods Hole MA

Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (52) K, SH, MB

Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Westport MA, Woods Hole MA, Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Dowses Beach Osterville MA, Oregon Beach Cotuit MA

Blue Runner, Caranx crysos (3) K, SH

Location(s): Dowses Beach Osterville MA

Bonito, Sarda sarda (60) SH

Location(s): Cape Cod Canal

Brown Trout (Sea-run), Salmo trutta (13) SH

Location(s): Scorton Creek Sandwich MA

Chub Mackerel, Scomber colias (5) (SH)

Location(s): Cape Cod Canal

Cunner (aka Choggie), Tautogolabrus adspersus  (37) PB, SH, MB, PB  

Location(s): Coxes Ledge, Cape Cod Canal, High Pine Ledge, Plymouth Bay, Scorton Ledge, Woods Hole

Cusk, Brosme brosme (2) PB

Location(s): Northeast of Stellwagen Bank

European Ling Molva molva (2) CH

Location(s): County Clare Ireland

European Pollock Pollachius pollachius (18) CH

Location(s): County Clare Ireland

Fluke (aka Summer Flounder), Paralichthys dentatus (11) MB, K, SH

Location(s): Westport MA, Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Dowses Beach Osterville MA, Woods Hole MA

Grey Triggerfish, Batistes capriscus (1) MB

Location(s): Westport MA

Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (51) PB

Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, Northeast of Stellwagen Bank, Coxes Ledge

Hickory Shad,  Alosa mediocris (1) SH

Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA

Menhaden (aka Bunker, Pogy), Brevoortia tyrannus (7) SH, K

Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Cape Cod Canal

Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus (2) SH 

Location(s): Red Brook Mashpee MA

Needlefish, Strongylura marina (2) (SH)

Location(s): Westport River, Menehaunt Beach East Falmouth MA

Northern Kingfish, Menticirrhus saxatilis (2) K

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Old Silver Beach MA

Northern Puffer, Sphoeroides maculatus (2) K

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA

Northern Sea Robin, Prionotus carolinus (1) K

Location(s): Woods Hole MA 

Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboidalis (1) K

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA

Pollock (aka Coalfish), Pollachius virens  (26) PB, MB, K 

Location(s): Coxes Ledge, County Clare Ireland, Plymouth Bay, Scorton Ledge Sandwich MA

Red Hake (aka Ling), Urophycis chuss (10) PB

Location(s): Stellwagen Bank, Coxes Ledge

Sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius (5) PB, K

Location(s): Stellwagen Bank,  High Pine Ledge, Plymouth Bay, Scorton Ledge Sandwich MA

Scup (aka Porgy), Stenotomus chysops (189) K, PB, MB, SH

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Woods Hole MA, Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Westport MA, Browns Ledge, Coxes Ledge

Silverside, Menida menida (9) K,SH 

Location(s): Bass River Yarmouth MA, Woods Hole MA

Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis (1) K, MB

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Westport MA

Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias (9) PB

Location(s):  Northeast of Stellwagen Bank, Coxes Ledge

Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis (71) K, SH, MB

Location(s): Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Cape Cod Canal, Westport MA, Plymouth Bay, Woods Hole MA

Striped Sea Robin, Prionotus evolans (56) K, SH, MB

Location(s): Megansett Harbor North Falmouth MA, Popponesset Bay Mashpee MA, Westport MA, Cape Cod Bay, Bass River Yarmouth MA, Woods Hole MA

Tautog, Tautoga onitis (5) MB

Location(s): Westport MA

Whiting (aka Silver Hake), Merluccius bilinearis (8) PB

Location(s): Plymouth Bay, Stellwagen Bank

Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus (5) K, PB

Location(s): Scorton Ledge Sandwich MA, Cape Cod Bay

Freshwater

Ice Fishing Tip Up on Scargo Lake in Dennis MA
January 9, 2018

American Eel, Anguilla rostrata (1) SH

Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashie MA

Black Crappie,  Pomoxis nigromaculatus (1) IF

Location(s): Long Pond Lakeville MA

Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus (33) SH

Location(s): Beaver Pond Franklin MA,  Flax Pond Bourne MA, Upper Artichoke Reservior West Newbury MA, Mill Pond West Newbury MA, Oyster River Durham NH, Lamprey River Durham NH, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA

Bridle Shiner, Notropis bifrenatus (1) SH

Location(s): Oyster River Durham NH

Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis  (5) IF, SH

Location(s): Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA

Brown Bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus (1) SH

Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashie MA

Brown Trout, Salmo trutta (18) SH

Location(s): Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Hamblin Pond Barnstable MA, Aille River County Clare Ireland, Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA

Burbot (aka Cusk), Lota lota (5) IF

Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH

Chain Pickerel, Esox niger  (33) IF, SH  

Location(s): Hoxie Pond Sandwich MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee MA, Long Pond Lakeville MA, Lake Nipennicket Bridgewatewr MA, Beaver Pond Franklin MA, Lake Winnipesaukee NH, Flax Pond Bourne MA

Common Shiner, Luxilus cornutus (4) SH

Location(s): Andrew Brook Newbury NH, Oyster River Durham NH

Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus (3) SH

Location(s): Andrew Brook Newbury NH

Eurasian Perch, Perca fluviatilis (9) SH

Location(s): River Fergus Ennis Ireland

Fallfish, Semotilus corporalis (10) IF, SH

Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH, Spicket River Salem NH, Oyster River Durham NH, Andrew Brook Newbury NH

Golden Shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas (17) K

Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashie Ma

Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush (4) IF

Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH

Landlocked Salmon, Salmo salar sebego (2) IF 

Location(s): Lake Winnipesaukee NH

Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides  (29) IF, SH 

Location(s): Long Pond Lakeville MA, Flax Pond Bourne MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee, Spicket River Salem NH, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Isinglass River Barrington NH, Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA

Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus (26)  SH

Location(s): Santuit Pond Mashpee, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH, Hartshorn Pond Milford NH, Cocheco River Dover NH, Lamprey River Durham NH, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA

Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss  (32) IF, SH 

Location(s): Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA, Mares Pond Falmouth MA, Johns Pond Mashpee MA, Long Pond Yarmouth MA, Hamblin Pond Barnstable MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA

Redbreast Sunfish, Lepomis auritus  (17) SH 

Location(s): Spicket River Salem NH, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH, Isinglass River Barrington NH, Lamprey River Durham NH

Rock Bass, Ambloplites rupestris (1) SH

Location(s): Lake Sunapee NH

Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu (11) SH

Location(s): Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH

Tiger Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis X Salmo trutta Hybrid (1) K

Location(s): Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA

White Perch, Morone americanus  (17) IF, SH

Location(s): Scargo Lake Dennis MA, Heard Pond Wayland MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee MA, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashpee MA, Johns Pond Mashie MA

White Sucker, Catostomus commersonii (9) SH

Location(s): Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Mashie MA

Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens (183) IF, SH

Location(s): Spectacle Pond Sandwich MA, Santuit Pond Mashpee, Ashumet Pond Falmouth MA, Hathaway Pond Barnstable MA, Long Pond Lakeville MA, Heard Pond Wayland MA, Lake Winnipesaukee NH, Quaboag Pond Brookfield MA, Pimlico Pond Sandwich MA, Flax Pond Bourne MA, Little Cliff Pond Brewster MA, Mascoma Lake Enfield NH, Cocheco River Dover NH