BAITNH

welcome Mike Hooksett NH here

the smelt are gone endangered there was none on the whole east coast.

I just got some Chinook divers in the mail today all stainless cant wait to try them

I hear this past winter was slow fishing for smelt

Once the ice is thick enough to walk on get a fish house cut a 2 x 4 foot hole in the ice matching a hole in the house the same size hook up a 100 watt bulb with a generator and a dimmer switch. the smelt come up into the hole to feed on plankton in the light slowly dim the light and they will ball up tight. that's how we fish for them with a drop net

its very hard to do in open water something you want to do through the ice.

I am thinking of going back to the big O I have been going to Fair Haven and slammed the fish in April. I wonder if the lake may be set up there? Would the bar be a good bet considering the water is still ice cold from what I hear? Looking for my best bet to find some kings. any advise ????

Newburyport will have stripers there lots of places to fish from shore either at Plum Island or the state park in Salisbury Lots of bait shops will have frozen bait. Outgoing tide is best. Surfland is one of the largest tackle shops there drop by and find out what is going on I have some friends that charter out of there check back with me and ill let you know whats going on. FYI take a ride a bit south of there to Essex The Clam Box best fried clams in the world

what model HMX are you putting on riggers ? i used to use dr82 c wish i had some more of those

these days using wire, copper, lead heavy mono and god knows whats next has anyone tried the splizzors made by Buck for cutting these lines ? a bit pricy i think

I may have some will check tonite

Hey where are you in NH ? I can lend you my 1/2 keels to try just replce them is all.

are there landlocks in NH big enough to trip the release ?

I had the same issues what speed are you trolling at ? I played with the strings like 10 times and then it seemed to work right for me also using washers on the back side so you don't get a pull through. I did get the 2nd keel this year and it helps more. I know it was a pain in the ass playing with them but at last I got them to work

bearing endplay should be hand tight and no more. a water resistant grease is best to be used, and cool down your hubs before backing in the water. If you pop you caps and see the grease getting milky it is breaking down with the water. always carry a spare set of bearings with you. I get 5-7 years on a set of bearings and then I change them only cause I feel its time. use American made bearings there are so many out there from China and they are junk first of all they have a problem with 52100 bearing steel and quality is poor that's why that almost what you see out there even from the trailer mfg. I have sold bearings for 35 plus years and have seen all kinds.

go a bit more west to Fair Haven try Little Sodus Inn or Screwy Louies to stay

welcome Matt, lots of info on this site

we will have 2 boats fishing out of Fair Haven starting Saturday 4/20 and another joining us the following week im not sure on how often I will be able to post , so if you want reports pm here and ill set you up with a number to call

after talking to many on this forum I have gone to wire from ATOM MICK I spooled it up just fine, when you ger out there ley out slowly all the way and reel it in.