KTP Fishing Report
FISHING CONDITIONS & UPDATES FOR MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE & MASSACHUSETTS
April 21, 2025
Things are picking up. The only real saltwater fishing game right now is haddock and redfish. Stripers are making their way up the coast, but there are some holdovers in front of some of the Massachusetts rivers. As waters warm, fresh fish should arrive. It could be any day now. Trolling for salmon has been very good throughout New England lakes that have them. Many anglers are taking advantage of shallow cruising lake trout to jig and cast to them before they move back out deeper after the smelt runs are over. We are also hearing of an increase in largemouth bass activity.
Maine:
Greg at Jordans Store in Sebago said the fishing has been great on Sebago. “There are a ton of smelt around. The Crooked River is full of them and they’re up on a lot of the bars outside rivers like the Songo. They’re catching lake trout and salmon. There have been quite a few salmon caught in the 4-pound range. Some guys are catching brook trout in the Songo Locks area. Some other guys were fishing from shore and off the trestle by Sticky River and catching lake trout. The lake trout jigging is more popular than ever. They’re catching some nice fish out in that deeper water. They are catching some nice salmon up to Thompson Lake too,” he said.
CJ Harmon of Burnt Meadow Guide Service in Brownfield furnished the following report: “Another busy week of guiding clients that wanted to see what jigging deep lakers on Sebago is all about. We noticed a shift this week with bait moving up shallower in search of the warmer water and the fish are not far away so key in on the bait and you’ll find both lake trout and salmon. We had salmon rising around the boat this week so that’s a good sign of things heating up!”
Photo courtesy of Tim Moore.
New Hampshire:
Tim from Tim Moore Outdoors/Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Guide Service on Lake Winnipesaukee was happy to report that his new boat was in the water and they were running trips. “I finally got the boat in, and the motor broken in, just in time for my first trip. The fishing has been good. A lot of smaller salmon, but keepers just about every time out. As the water warms up, the salmon will grow pretty fast. We are finding fish in shallow water right on top. Live smelt has been hot for us,” he said.
Alan Nute at Winnisquam Country Store in Tilton told us that there were a lot of people fishing and pretty much everyone is catching salmon and lake trout. Sounds like everyone is getting salmon, but a lot of small ones right now. All around the Weirs and Meredith Bay have been good. Orange spoons and flies have been good. The fish are still right on top or just down a little bit,” he said.
Massachusetts:
Pete Santini at Fishing Finatics in Everett reported good haddock fishing, trout fishing, and herring in the rivers. “The haddock bite is going off out on Jeffreys Ledge. They are loading up on haddock out there. We’re still waiting for the fish to move in shore a little bit, but if you don’t mind running out to Jeffreys, the bite is good. For trout, Lexington Reservoir, Crystal Lake in Newton, Brookline Reservoir, and Horn Pond are all producing some nice rainbows. They’re getting some nice largemouth out of Mystic Lake too. Herring are starting to come up the Charles and Mystic Rivers more now too. There should be some fresh stripers any day now. The water is still a little cold for flounder,” he said.