Lake Winnipesaukee Fishing Report
The constricted channel concentrates current and bait, giving you a second shot without changing tactics.
Smallmouth bass on deep main-lake points with a Ned rig from 6–8 PM tonight. Start on the windward side of the large island in the central basin.
THE CALL
The best move is a finesse smallmouth bite on deep rocky structure during the evening major feeding window. Work a Ned rig or tube slowly down the wind-blown points adjacent to the big island.
WHY IT WINS
- Temperature and trend: Water is 59°F, historically cooling, which locks smallmouths onto the first deep breaks near the main basin for stability.
- Clarity demands stealth: Gin-clear water requires natural colors, light line, and a slow, precise presentation—big smallmouths won’t chase in high visibility.
- Evening solunar + wind: A major feeding period (5:33–8:03 PM) lines up with a 5–6 mph NW wind, creating just enough chop to hide line and position fish on windward points without blowing you off the water.
START HERE
Windward points around the large central island (the main landmark in the middle of the lake). Focus on the north/west side where the wind pushes food onto the rock. Look for a visible depth drop—any point with deep water close (20+ feet) and scattered boulder is your first stop. Position the boat in 15–25 feet and cast shallow, working the bait back down the slope.
THROW THIS
- Primary: 1/10 oz Ned rig in green pumpkin or goby, fished on a 7’ medium-light spinning rod with 8 lb fluorocarbon. Let it sink to the bottom, then drag it slowly with subtle hops.
- Backup: 3.5” tube on a 1/4 oz jighead in smoked shad. Same retrieve—deadly when they’re tight to rock.
- If wind kicks up a stain line: Run a natural shad-colored paddletail swimbait on a 1/4 oz jighead along that clarity edge.
BEST WINDOW
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The wind, solunar, and dropping light all peak within this block. The low sun angle will also help fish use the deep rock to ambush upward. Be set up by 5:45 PM.
NEXT MOVE
If the island points are dead after 30 minutes, slide 1–2 miles south into the neck/narrows where the wide main lake pinches into the southern arm. Fish the first deep point on the windward shoreline with the same presentation. The constricted channel concentrates current and bait, giving you a second shot without changing tactics.