Hi Mike,
I just returned from a trip to Northern Bass Supply in New Hampshire. I'm not sure if you're familiar with this place, but the owners and all the employees are big time bass fisher-people! They informed me that the winnie pre-spawn and spawn are well underway... particularly in the central and northern sections of the lake.
I too have a 18 foot bassboat and wouldn't hesitate to cruise up to the area around Long Island (as I mentioned.... make sure you have a map, and pay close attentions to the numbered bouys... it's very easy to get turned around on the big lake). You cannot go wrong with the aforementioned jerk baits... I like Bomber Long A suspending baits.... Blue/silver or yellow/red "clown" colored baits....
Specific locations:
The South/East side of the Long Island bridge.. on either side of the channel are rip-rap walls that drop off into deep water.... I *always* catch fish here if the fish are still in prespawn... to the right, a nice dropoff extends off the riprap out towards the little island and the red marker near it.
ALL around Dow, Whortleberry and Ragged Islands are nice rock/gravel shoals that will definitely hold spawing smallies. The northeast side of Cow Island down to the Barber's Pole will also be great.
If you want to stay a bit closer to home... head out of Paugus Bay and over past spindle Point and fish that cove... then head through sally's gut (always a nice "tour" spot!) and fish all those coves... I wouldn't bother heading into Fish Cove..... as it sandy/mucky.... and not really a smallie spot.
One other thing I thought I'd mention.... NH now has a requirement that all boaters take a boater safety course and be "certified" (aka Licensed) to operate a boat in NH waters. the requirement has been "grandfathered" in and only people over the age of 45 (I think) can still operate a boat without this certification.
Good luck and let us know how you make out!
Cheers...
Gusman
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