Merrimack smallmouths stay active in the Concord stretch

What's biting

What's next

If these clear, stable flows hold, expect water temps to keep sliding slowly toward the upper 40s over the next couple of weeks, typical for mid-October in this region. Low flow means high clarity, which favors the spinnerbait and topwater presentations already working the Concord stretch — early morning and low-light windows around the new moon are worth building a trip around, since smallmouths tend to push shallow to feed before full light this time of year. A rain event would push flows up and color the water, so the current clear window is the one to use while it lasts, likely through the coming weekend.

Context

This is right on schedule for NH freshwater in mid-October: rivers and streams are in their seasonal cooling phase, with smallmouth bass holding shallow, shoreline-accessible water before temperatures push them toward winter holding patterns. Lake Winnipesaukee and similar NH lakes are in the window where fall turnover typically begins reshuffling where fish sit over the following weeks. Nothing in the current readings points to an early or late season — just the ordinary October transition for this region.