looking for tackle shop in lowell/lawrence area

[uncle4]

Hi there. I'm stuck on a contract in the Lowell/Lawrence area.

I'd like to learn about fishing opportunities in the area, and need
gear to do it. If you've got any recommendations as to waters
near by, and esp. tackle shops for fly gear (flies, lines, etc)
I'd really appreciate it.

I'm on the Merrimack, and would be willing to explore NH as well.

Thanks, and tight lines,
Uncle 4

[PeteV]

I don't know of any spots in the Lowell/ Lawrence area.
But this is where I go

Boston:
Orvis,Faneul Hall
Fire Fly
Around Boston:
Rivers Edge (ORVIS), Beverly/Hamilton area
First Light Anglers They just moved from the Manchester Mass Spot.,
Blue Northern Ayer Mass

Maine
Kitterry Trading Post, Kittery Maine 888-587-6246
eldridge Hardware?? Cape Neddick (awesome for materials);

New Hampshire
Hunters Angling supply, 603-487-3388 (good shop but a haul);


For fishing some of those Canals have great Smallmouth Bass also the Merimack River has very nice smallmouth & the creeks around Vesper Country Club are pretty good. In a month or so the Shad run is a big deal up through Lawrence in the Merimack, Also I always here reports of folks gatching monster Stripers underneath the Lawrence dam in the early season.

Please be careful around the Merrimack ...it can be a dangerous river. So be wise as you pick your spots to fish & don't get greedy.

[scruffy_fish]

Actually, you are in a great location. Half hour drive in either direction; Down river the stripers will be coming in another month. Up river, New Hampshire brod stock Atlantic Salmon stocking is going on now with the season opening April 1st. Go to NH fish and game web site for salmon information.
The LL Bean Outlet in Concord, NH usually has some fly tackle. Or, if you what a better selection, Hunter's in New Boston is a top quality shop.

[Lurch]

There is SMOKING smallie action in the merrimack river under and around the Aiken street bridge as well as down river near Stackpole street. I know this time of year the river is VERY high so please be careful if you are wading in the river. During the warmer months the river is low enough (below the bridge) to wade across which allows you to fish the prototypical smallie hotspots.

You may also want to try some of the stocked trout ponds as there are some goos spots to fish such as Walden pond.

Unfortunately there are no good tackle shops in the Lowell area. However, Kittery Trading post in Maine has everything you need for any type of fishing.

Here is a link to the area of the Mac I am talking about.

Merrimack River near Beaver Brook in Lowell (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=19&n=4725214.00005862&e=310026.999940665&datum=nad83)

[lowwall]

I fish the merimack in that area quite a bit . There is some great smallie action and from what I hear shad at the water treatment plant.i have also caught stripers there to! I plan on trying the shad out there mid april. There are also a number of good small ponds in the area.

As far as tackle shops it is slim pickins in this area. There was a Fly shop in Salem,NH but it closed this year. There is/was also a decent Bass Tackle place "Extreme Bass" , Windham NH. I would call this place first but they to may be gone. If you don't mind the ride there is Northern Bass Supply in Brentwood, NH. This place is 1hr from lowell but worth the trip. Has everything you could imagine for bass with no sales tax. Kittery trading post in ME is also great and has everything but pricey. I get most things online but still hit kittery and northern bass quite a bit. All the usuall stuff works well at the mack but 4" Garry Yattamoto (sp) Sinkos are tough to beat.

We should hook up and fish. The spring on the mack should be great, not much rain or snow melt. I launch my boat at a place called captains cove on 110 on the merimack im methuen (I think that is the route), serves a decent breakfast to , usually Solo.
PM or email @ m7noonan@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Mike

[Quicksilver]

First Light Anglers is close, no? Their new location is in Rowley, MA at the intersection of Rt. 133 and Rt. 1A. The grand opening last weekend was totally over the top! --127-3-

[hydroTechNoCrat]

I fish the merimack in that area quite a bit . There is some great smallie action and from what I hear shad at the water treatment plant.i have also caught stripers there to! I plan on trying the shad out there mid april. There are also a number of good small ponds in the area.

As far as tackle shops it is slim pickins in this area. There was a Fly shop in Salem,NH but it closed this year. There is/was also a decent Bass Tackle place "Extreme Bass" , Windham NH. I would call this place first but they to may be gone. If you don't mind the ride there is Northern Bass Supply in Brentwood, NH. This place is 1hr from lowell but worth the trip. Has everything you could imagine for bass with no sales tax. Kittery trading post in ME is also great and has everything but pricey. I get most things online but still hit kittery and northern bass quite a bit. All the usuall stuff works well at the mack but 4" Garry Yattamoto (sp) Sinkos are tough to beat.

We should hook up and fish. The spring on the mack should be great, not much rain or snow melt. I launch my boat at a place called captains cove on 110 on the merimack im methuen (I think that is the route), serves a decent breakfast to , usually Solo.
PM or email @ m7noonan@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Mike

Hey Mike,

I have a 19' CC that I usually fish salt. Is that type of set up too big for smallie fishing in the Mack? I was wondering if there is shallow fast water that the boat would be too big to get through.

Thanks,

Dom

[lowwall]

99% of the river is navigable with a Fiberglass boat, there are some rocks up in the Lowel area but none that sneak up on you. The river is best fished early before the water skiers get there. There is a Sloumn coruse set up mid river.But it doesn't get crazzy till noon or so.

It is a real nice place to fish, With many miles of fishy loactions.There are some strechs that look more like maine than lowel ,I even saw a family of deer on the shore one morning. There is a public ramp in lawerence , but I perfer to pay the $8 bucks for the saftey of my truck and trailer. Captains Cove marina and the white Horse Salon (maybe wrong name) have pay to launch ramps. The fishing in the river is pretty good with some hog smallies and enough mid to little guys to keep it interesting.

See You Out There
Mike

[hydroTechNoCrat]

99% of the river is navigable with a Fiberglass boat, there are some rocks up in the Lowel area but none that sneak up on you. The river is best fished early before the water skiers get there. There is a Sloumn coruse set up mid river.But it doesn't get crazzy till noon or so.

It is a real nice place to fish, With many miles of fishy loactions.There are some strechs that look more like maine than lowel ,I even saw a family of deer on the shore one morning. There is a public ramp in lawerence , but I perfer to pay the $8 bucks for the saftey of my truck and trailer. Captains Cove marina and the white Horse Salon (maybe wrong name) have pay to launch ramps. The fishing in the river is pretty good with some hog smallies and enough mid to little guys to keep it interesting.

See You Out There
Mike

Thanks Mike!

[Pauper Piscator]

Gets a little dicey. The tides are BIG even waaayy up river. So be very very careful.

That river eats props. But the fishing is good.

[lowwall]

The area I am talking about is above the Lawernce Dam so the levels don't change with the tide but while on the subject, I would love to find a ramp for the lower strech . I checked out the rockvillage ramp but that is cartop only for sure. I will soon be comuting the strech of 495 between Salem,NH to 95. So I need some after wrk spots. It would seem that wadding with a pair of corkers would be productive any where along the river. Does anybody fish here that way?

Mike

[bigbonita]

The area I am talking about is above the Lawernce Dam so the levels don't change with the tide but while on the subject, I would love to find a ramp for the lower strech . I checked out the rockvillage ramp but that is cartop only for sure. I will soon be comuting the strech of 495 between Salem,NH to 95. So I need some after wrk spots. It would seem that wadding with a pair of corkers would be productive any where along the river. Does anybody fish here that way?

Mike

i have a 12ft sea nympth v-bow from lowe. is this enough boat for that (rockvillage) area? I'd like to try the shad fishing in that area. while we're at it, is this enough boat for way back in buttermilk bay (narrows) down in bourne or some of the flats and estuaries of the merrimack up north in the other direction? thanks
rich

[lowwall]

From what I can see of this area the 12' would be great as long as you can carry the boat down the ramp. As far as Joppa goes it would be fine on the flats but getting there through the boat trafic would be rough. Early or late would be Ok though. Another good small boat spot is Quincy Bay, I used to fish it in a 12' square back canoe with out any problems.
Good Luck

[uncle4]

And what about a 10' kayak? Or would I be
better off with a canoe or tin boat (like the Nymph)?

I'm hoping to do some "walk around" fishing, but might drop the
nickel and get something to float me around.

Thanks in advance,

Uncle 4