That’s Chuck DeGray of North Country Fly Shop, anxiously waiting for a northern pike to gulp down his orange and white offering (that’s the “Creamsicle”, in case you’re wondering). The problem today was that there was still ice in some places along the Connecticut River’s edges – no pike for either of us today …

While we covered some of the river and did more than our share of walking, we took the bagel for the day, which is not uncommon at this time of year.  While some nice days (today was sunny here and 50 – 55 degrees) have you entertain the thought that good fishing is just around the corner, the all important water temperature (36 – 38 degrees in a number of places where we took readings today) really might be what determines the level of fish activity.

Thus, we feel we might still be a week away before things start to heat up for chasing Esox on the Connecticut River near Dalton and Littleton, NH. Just a few degrees could make the difference from a productive day of exciting pike fishing, and a day of maximum effort and little return. We still have much to learn about the water wolf …