Conference wahoo::fishing

Jack:

I spent a lot of time on the river last year (from Hollis to North Nashua)
and never came across a boat ramp.  I've seen boats that *may* have been
big enough to trailer and launch from a ramp but mostly they are car-topper
size, with small (9.9 or less) hp gas or trolling motors. I don't have a
boat but if you want some company, let me know.

Tim

    Hi Y'all
    
    I recently saw a cable fishing show (Fishing New England) that was
    taped on the Nashua river.  They two guys were fishing from a 
    Ranger, or clone type boat.  I'm not positive about the exact location
    they were fishing, but I believe if was around the MASS border.
    I'd be interested in fishing the Nashua myself.
    
    				Buschmaster
    
    P.S.  FWIW the guys on the show were using Jig-N-Pig combos
    	  exclusively, in the fall (October or November) and were
    	  landing some very nice fish ( one 4+ lb Hawg ).  Of 
    	  Course as with all fishing shows, who know how many days
    	  it took to film, then splice ...   ;^)  ;^)
    
    	
    

    Jack, check out note 548. Let me know if you want some more info
    in the Mass. area.
    
    Ed

    Jack,

    I don't know the exact directions, but there is a public ramp of of 130
    in Nashua.  If you get the "Clarks" book, it will give you exact
    directions.

    keith

    Nashua has two "ramps", one on the merrimack behind Greely Park, and
    one on the Nashua (just upstream from the Mines Falls Dam) behind the
    Public works garage.
    
    The one on the merrimack is steep but paved and looks to be in good
    shape (as of last year).  The access road to it is the pits, and it's
    rather in the boonies (for Nashua that is) so I never felt comfortable
    leaving my Jeep and trailer parked in the woods.  In fairness though,
    I never met anyone who has had any problems with vandalism.  
    
    The Nashua River ramp is located off Rt 111 (West Hollis street) and is
    behind the Public Works garage.  Its more a "launch opening" in the
    bank than a ramp, all dirt, but I've been told that "light" trialer boats 
    can get in and out. There is not much parking right at the launch area
    but alot of room in the fields araound the Public Works garage.
    
                                                Tom Urban   

    The Nashua River "launch" by the public works garage is posted 
    'no outboards' and it's really not a launch, it's a carry in for car 
    toppers, although with 4wd and a trailer with high clearance you could 
    probably get in.      
          
    The Nashua River launch that Keith mentioned off od Broad St. sounds 
    like the best one available.  I haven's used it yet but plan on
    doing so this year.
                                                             
    The Merrimack River launch behind in/behind Greeley park is pretty 
    good.  The access road does get a bit soggy during wet weather.
    Haven't had problems leaving the truck and trailer there.
                                               
    donmac (love them merrimack river smallies!)
                                               
    

    Since my condo complex is right on the Merrimack (lucky me) I thought
    it might be fun to take the ol' canoe and trolling motor up to Nashua
    and drift with the current back home, and fish along the way...
    
    Can anyone tell me if this is possible, or are there any dams or
    other obstructions that would cause problems along the way?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Ed

    Yeap there's a couple damns, one in downtown nashua and one in mine
    falls park... there's also some rips at the confluence of the nashua
    and merrimack (but no big deal)
    
    donmac 

    Don, are you saying that we should be able to get around the areas
    you mentioned? I'm not sure portaging is an option with a boat,
    tackle, trolling motor and batter to carry, unless it's a very easy
    (and short) portage. I'd probably be doing this with my brother,
    who is no whimp, but all that stuff is *heavy* if it has to be carried
    far...
    
    Ed
    

    Couldn't tell ya how far the portages are Ed, but I wouldn't think
    that it would be *too* bad... Minus the battery and trolling motor
    it probably wouldn't be bad at all... the AMC river guide probably
    lists the portages... donmac

    Ed:  I've never done it, but I believe that you could put your canoe in
    at the bridge in Hollis (right off rt 111) and drift down to Mines
    Falls, getting out at the Public works garage just before the dam.
    
    Or, you cound put into the river at the behind the millyard and run
    upstream towards the mines falls dam then drift back.
    
    Don:  I've been downstream on the Merrimack from Greely Park, but never
    Up..out of curiosity, how far upstream can you get before you bump
    bottom??
    
                                                   Tom

    Just a note of caution. There were several drownings last year 
    just below the bridge on Rt.111 at Hollis. I know there is a drop of a 
    few feet about 75 yards down river. 
                   

>>    Don:  I've been downstream on the Merrimack from Greely Park, but never
>>    Up..out of curiosity, how far upstream can you get before you bump
>>    bottom??
>>                                                     Tom

The river's water level fluctuates quite abit so it will not always be the 
same, but when I was there a few times towards the later part of this past 
season I was able to get quite aways up river, and could have gone farther.

If you head up river from the launch, about 1/4 mile up there's a section that 
can be pretty bad, lots of BIG rocks all over the place, some barely out of the 
water, some inches below, you have to be real careful.  A couple miles (?) 
up there is a section that is worse. Same deal with the rocks, but the river
drops a few feet here creating some mellow white water, probably class I 
rapids.  Fun stuff to climb in a boat 8^)

Anyway, you do have to be careful in that section of the river, but the fishing
is good in spots - although probably not as productive overall when compared
to other sections of the river.  Didn't seem to have as much basic structure 
along the banks as other sections.  But because the structure wasn't plentiful
most of the spots that looked like they'd hold bass - held bass.

I guess I can share a tip. 8^) Try the incoming feeder creeks.  The water from
the small brooks and streams is much cleaner and more oxygenated than the main 
river.  The creeks will often cut away sections of the bank forming a nice
edge, with a deep hole on the inside corner.  Bass can be stacked up in spots
like this.  One of these types of spots that I tried was loaded with bass,
both largemouth and smallmouth.  Toss a gitzit way up into the brook, let it
drift down with the current, as soon as it dropped over the edge of the hole,
SLAM! Fun stuff...

donmac 

The ramp off of rt 130 (Broad St) is pretty good. It is small, but large enough
for a small boat w/outboard.

 I can't remember exactly what the street names are to get there, but if you go
towards the river at the street which is close to the Country Motel, you will
be very close. From there, you have to go two blocks- then take a right (I 
think). In any case, I'm pretty sure the street you're looking for is called
Winchester Street. The Ramp is at the very end of that road. If you go down
into that neighborhood and look for Winchester street and follow it to the river,
you'll have no problem. It really isn't very difficult to find.

 Once you put in, go upstream. The fishing is real good about a mile or
two upstream. Lotsa bass there- and pickerel and yellow perch. Somebody said
you could catch trout in there- maybe you can- but I'd never eat one from there.

 I agree with Don about the feeder creeks. I used to live about two miles
upstream on one of those creeks, and it was beautifully clean and full of 
gorgeous native brookies. Lots of food gets washed down the creeks during a
rain and the fish hang out at the  mouth of these streams and GORGE. They are
quite easy to catch at this time.

 the Doctah

    Something I heard not long ago that may raise a few eyebrows. I
    was speaking with the fellow who owns the local tackle store in
    Pepperell. He pays attention to this stuff. Anyway he said the salmon,
    that's right, son, SALMON, are expected back in the Nashua next
    year. I guess a few years ago they were stocked in the Nashua. He
    thought they would come up as far as the dam in Pepperell, at Rt111.
    
    If I hear anymore I will update the note.

    Hi Jack
    How's that there mariner running? I think you could get your fishin
    machine in the nashua if you went out to Groton where rt.119 crosses
    the river. off to the right there looks to be an opening good for
    launching. Don't know if you have a 4 X 4 but it might come in handy.
    
    Give us a fishin report when you catch em.      Walt
    

Anyone care to share some info on the Nashua River were it crosses 119 in
Groton?   I plan on fishing it tomorrow after work with a co-worker and 
would appreciate any info.

I've fished it once or twice but have not covered much water.  What I'd 
primariliy like to know is:

1. running - how safe is it to run - any spots to be careful around?
2. fishing - any spots that are fairly productive?  Any flooded timber? 
   rocks? weeds? What should I look for?

For those who are interested, the section of the river in Nashua NH from the
dam above mine falls park, west to the falls at Rt 111 is safe to run, has 
lots of flooded timber to fish, its loaded with crappie and a fair amount of 
bass.  While fun fishing I'll normally use grubs and gitzits with small 
gitzit jig heads around the timber and catch bass, crappie and large panfish. 
Tournament tactics would probably be different.  

If you don't want to share you secrets with the whole world, send mail 
and I won't tell anybody, honest 8^)

donmac

     Don you forgot to mention that the Nashua River has alot of
    
    
    
*************************** P-I-C-K-E-R-E-L ************************************
    
                         AND I DO MEAN ALOT!!!
    
    BASS-O-MATIC    

    Yeap, I forgot, since I don't think I've caught one there.  That 
    anti-pickeral spray works well.  donmac

   Just out of curiousity, what does "safe to run" mean?

   I spent about an hour on the banks of the Nashua yesterday, near the
   high school.  Saw a few jump, but I kept getting hung up, lost two
   lures, cut my thumb, got frustrated (see personal name...  :-)), and 
   left before catching anything.

   -- Sam

	If the local fish and game officers don't chase people, then its 
	"safe to run".  This is one reason why lightweight graphite fishing 
	gear and soft tackle packs are so popular these days, you can run 
	really fast with this high tech stuff. 


	Sorry... I couldn't resist  8^)

	By 'safe to run' I meant is the river clear enough for boats to
	get up on plane and 'run' at fast speeds.

	donmac - who won't be eating the fish and releases 99.9% of his 
		 bass anyway

    Reply to .17
    
    There are a number of problem spots on the section of the Nashua
    accessible from route 119 from the point of view of a power boat. 
    
    1. About 100 yards upriver from the ramp is the remains of an old dam. 
       The spot can be identified by a significant increase in current. 
       There are stones there that could cause damage if hit at high 
       speed. I stay toward the middle and go slow.
    
    2. The most popular fishing spots seem to be down river toward the
       Pepperell ponds section. The ponds are wide but shallow with
       winding river channels running through them. Generally the channels 
       are deep enough to run but hard to identify. When you get
       out of a channel you are likely to hit bottom or worst a
       stump. In high water there tends to be a lot of floating logs
       throughout the section.
    
    3. Once past the 119 bridge going upriver things are pretty clear for
       about 7 miles. But once you pass the Groton Academy boat house on
       the left you need to be careful. The section from there up to
       route 2A in Ayer has a number of places where you could hit 
       ground/stumps/rocks if your not careful.
    
    The Nashua used to be one of the most polluted rivers in the area
    from industries in Fitchburg, Leominster, Clinton etc.as a result 
    there are a lot of PCBs in the sediment that will be there for a 
    very long time. The last time I heard of fish being tested in the 
    Pepperell ponds by the the Nashua River Watershed Association they
    were found to be very unfit for eating.It is kind of deceptive now 
    because the water looks quite clear now and you will see people 
    taking fish.
    
    Jack
    

    >1. About 100 yards upriver from the ramp is the remains of an old dam. 
    >   The spot can be identified by a significant increase in current. 
    >   There are stones there that could cause damage if hit at high 
    >   speed. I stay toward the middle and go slow.
    
    At slow speeds this will only cause minor cosmetic damage...  Oh well, 
    my new outboard didn't have a mark on it for 12 whole days, I couldn't 
    ask for more than that 8^).
    
    I just bumped it and scratched a little paint on the skeg and prop, no
    big deal at all - but your first scratch does make you wince 8^).
    
    Anyway, the previous reply summed it up pretty good.  We went down
    stream all the way ti the dam and upstream a couple miles.  No fish. 
    (well, phil got 1 pickeral) I saw a guy in a row boat land a couple 
    small bass in the ponds.  I talked with a guy in a Ranger who hadn't 
    had a bite.  
    
    The water looks and smells alot nastier there, compared to the section I
    fish in Nashua.  
    
    donmac - who is not sold on this section of river, yet...

    I can assure everyone you do catch those toothy devils. Don, I remember
    the time you and I fished the Nashua and you caught a couple of small
    pickerel. I know your a real sportsman and a heck of a bass addict, but
    there not "all" bass you catch. It probably has something to do with the 
    new boat. 
    
    ed

    Come on now Ed, I know a long mouth bass when I see one... 8^)
    
    donmac   

    For those of you looking for a productive and scenic bout of fishing
    who live in So NH, consider the Nashua. I was there yesterday and the
    river has been drawn down a good 3 feet. The river is still as
    navigable as ever and the draw down has concentrated the fish. My 4
    hours on the Nashua netted 27 Bass with 6 over the 3lb mark. The best
    LM was 20". I bet even the LEGEND could have caught fish there
    yesterday, just by doing what he does best, opening his mouth.
    

    
    Have any of you had a chance to fish the lower parts of the river,
    towards the Clinton, Ma. area? I just moved to Clinton and was thinking
    of putting in somewhere (any suggestions) up river and fishing my
    way down. From reading this topic and #548  I'm not too sure if it
    would be worth the time and effort to fish it. I certainly wont eat
    anything out of there. Thanks in advance.....Walt