May 5th 2013: Finding new hot spots!

Once again, I hate bass fishing on blue bird, high pressure days.  Sometimes I go for trout on those days, other time I like to break out google maps and the GPS and try to find access to new spots.  I've found some great spots already since moving to Southern NH last summer.  My batting average is about 0.500.  Some times I strike out, but I find a winner often enough to keep swinging - plus I just like exploring new fishing spots.

Here's how my Sunday afternoon went...

Pond 1.  Looked good from space (google maps satellite view) - nice weed beds + some good structure (rocks + trees).  After some sniffing around, I found a conservation area to park at (perfect!).  Sometimes legal parking is the main barrier to entry.  Now all I needed was a narrow slot to slide the kayak down within walking distance of the car.  One of the advantages of having a small kayak is that I can launch the 'yak in something as narrow as a storm drain washout.  But this particular pond was overgrown with brush, steep rock banks, water was down a good 5'....and I had visions of myself twisting an ankle, getting tangled up in thorns, and getting poison ivy...so I decided to pass.  It might be worth a shot during ice fishing season.

Pond 2.  Again, looked good from space - surrounded by weed beds + trees with an inlet from a swamp.  Access was down an old cart way which I used the kayak wheels on to get to the pond.  Nice and easy roll down the cart way.  The water was very dark - I'm guessing tannin stained from the swamp which can make the water acidic.  I did a lap around the pond with a jig, but didn't have any takers.  I didn't even see much in the way of fishy activity (swirls, bait, etc.).  Based on the weather, I decided to switch gears and try targeting panfish - but no luck there either.  Beautiful pond, easy access (with the wheels) - it might be worth another try when conditions are more favorable, but it won't be at the top of my list.

Pond 3.  This is a pond that I've fished before, so it wasn't really exploring - but I wanted to catch a fish.  As soon as I launched, I saw LM bass on beds.  The dreaded SPAWN has come to Southern NH....which means it's time for me to go north or switch over to salt.  Anyway, I caught 1 pickerel on a spinnerbait, shook it off next to the boat, and called it a day.