Roger Aziz, Jr.

From Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen we heard Plug’s Pond (Lake Saltonstall) and Round Pond (Lake Pentucket) received a stocking of tiger trout, but that species is not cooperating. Instead, anglers are catching rainbows at both sites. Baddacook Pond was stocked May 4; Lake Pentucket (Round Pond) and Forest Lake in Methuen were stocked May 5; Baldpate Pond and Stile’s Pond got a slug of stockies May 6 followed by Pentucket Pond and Parker River May 7 and Squannacook River May 8. The Merrimack River is low but manageable. Herring are present in good numbers, along with some stripers and shad. This week should see higher numbers of all three species in the flowage. Some nice-size pike to 36 inches are being caught in the river too. Up north in New Hampshire very nice smallmouth and largemouth bass are hitting at Lake Winnipesaukee and Northwood Lake.

Roger Aziz, Jr., in Methuen let us know that local anglers in general are having a hard time catching stocked trout, most likely because weather has not been pleasant: too cold and windy. He has been catching a fair share of stockies here and there. Last week he hit Forest Lake in Methuen for a bunch on Golden Demons. Lake Saltonstall (Plug’s Pond) was stocked April 28. Elsewhere, a few fishermen reported contacting northern pike in the Merrimack River behind the island in Haverhill and at the confluence of the Shawsheen River. There are a few shad in the river, but the run really has not begun in earnest. Rog also heard that nice-size white catfish are being caught in the Charles River in Cambridge. Up north in New Hampshire bass action in small waters is getting better and better, numerous 7- and 8-pound largemouths reported last week.