Merrimack-area waters cool into fall pattern, low flows hold

What's biting

What's next

Low flows and stable low-50s temperatures point to a steady, unhurried pattern over the next few days. With the moon at First Quarter, expect the best feeding to cluster around dawn and the hours before dusk, when baitfish move shallow and smallmouth follow.

If cool nights continue, temperatures should keep sliding, and the bait-chasing bite described by Tactical Bassin should strengthen. Midday sun on shallow flats can warm the water a degree or two and bring fish up, so a mid-afternoon window is worth a look on clear days.

Fishing the Midwest notes that living green weeds are a good starting point in fall, since baitfish and gamefish relocate to the weeds that stay green as others die back. That is a general pattern worth testing on weedy Merrimack and Winnipesaukee shorelines. Walleye anglers can slow down with a plain rig and nightcrawler along bottom, which the same outlet says works in cooler fall water.

Context

Mid-October in southern New Hampshire is typically the heart of the fall transition. Surface temperatures have dropped from summer highs into the low 50s, weed beds are thinning, and bass and walleye feed up ahead of winter. Low autumn flows on the rivers are common this time of year and keep water clear, so lighter line and natural colors often help. Expect the fall bite to remain productive until water drops into the 40s, when fish slow and move deeper. Check state regulations before harvesting any fish.