N.H. WEEKLY FISHING REPORT -- September 22, 2005
This week, Hatchery Supervisor Bob Fawcett gives us the lowdown on
late-season lake and pond stocking and how that activity helps us count on
a great ice fishing season ahead. Jon Greenwood offers tips on catching
a big brood stock salmon this fall.
Buy your fishing license and salmon permit online, any time -- at
http://www.nhfishandgame.com.
Check out fish stocking information from April-July at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm.
Know someone who might like to sign up for the Fishing Report? Send
them to http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/join_mail_list.htm.
Fish New Hampshire and relax... We have what you're looking for.
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FALL STOCKING UNDERWAY
By Robert S. Fawcett, Fish and Game Hatchery Supervisor
Fish and Game stocks 26 New Hampshire lakes or ponds with trout in
September or October. In all, we'll stock 6,237 rainbow trout, almost
yearlings (8 or 9-inchers); 4,993 two year old rainbow trout (11 to
14-inchers); 2,820 eastern brook trout yearlings; 3,960 eastern brook trout
Kennebago-strain fall fingerlings (3 or 4-inchers); 973 tiger trout
(10.8-inchers); and 250 brown trout (13.6-inchers).
Where are we stocking? The list of waterbodies managed using fall
stocking, and species of trout stocked, can be found in the web-based
version of this report at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/Fishing_Reports/Fishing_Reports_2005/fishing_report_092205.htm.
Fish are stocked in the fall for a variety of reasons: Most are
intended to recruit into the winter ice fishery. The tiger trout take longer
to reach a larger size at time of stocking for better survival and a
more pleasing size fish for the angler. They are very difficult to raise
successfully, because they are a cross between two different genuses and
have poor initial survival in the hatchery. Those few that do survive
have the potential to make up for that in growth to a trophy size with
time.
We also stock in the fall for research reasons -- to help the regional
biologists answer questions about subsequent performance of the fish
after they are stocked. Biologists mark the fish and then perform creel
surveys to figure out what percentage of what fish are caught through
the ice. So, if you contact Gabe Gries at Fish and Game's Region 4 office
in Keene at (603) 352-9669, he will be able to tell you that 87% of the
fish caught last winter at Laurel Lake in Fitzwilliam were from spring
stocking and 13% were from fall stocking, and probably a whole bunch of
other things, too. This data can be useful in making management
decisions.
Most of the fall stocking activity is simply to make sure you have the
opportunity to catch some trout this winter. This is a change from
years ago, when any trout caught in the winter ice fishery were just
holdovers from spring stocking, and no special effort was made to stock for
the ice angler.
Many anglers look forward to ice fishing for trout in waters that
remain open to the taking of trout year round. Make sure and check the N.H.
Fishing Digest for which waterbodies remain open, or visit the Fish and
Game website fishing page at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm and scroll down to
"All about trout" and click on the list of lakes and ponds, or rivers
and streams, managed for trout without a closed season.
EXCITING FALL FISHING FOR BROOD STOCK SALMON
By Jon Greenwood, Coordinator, Merrimack River Anadromous Fish
Restoration Program
If you're looking for some challenging catch-and-release sport fishing
while you're out enjoying the beautiful fall weather, head to the
Merrimack and Pemigewasset rivers to hook the "King of Fish" -- Atlantic
salmon. Fisheries statistics tell us that the success rate for catching
salmon is higher in the fall than in the spring season, thanks to better
wading conditions and cooler temperatures.
This fall, Fish and Game will stock the Merrimack and Pemigewasset
rivers with big salmon -- about 500 brood stock Atlantic salmon weighing
from 3 to 8 pounds each. You might also hook into some of the brood stock
salmon stocked last spring. Expect some great fishing by the first week
in October, as the fall stocking will take place very soon. Note that
the brood stock Atlantic salmon season runs year-round, but all salmon
caught from October 1 through March 31 must be released immediately.
Brood stock anglers need a New Hampshire fishing license and an $11
Atlantic salmon permit; both can be purchased online at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us, or from license agents statewide. (As
of 2005, stamp and possession tags are not required for salmon
anglers.) By buying a permit you're supporting a good cause: all proceeds from
salmon stamp permits support the Merrimack River Anadromous Fish
Restoration Program, created in 1993 by Fish and Game, in cooperation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to help restore migratory fish
populations to the Merrimack River watershed.
The salmon being stocked this fall are surplus brood stock from the
Warren Fish Hatchery. Brood stock salmon are kept to produce offspring, or
"fry," more than a million of which are released each spring to in an
effort to restore sea-running fish to the Merrimack River basin. After
spawning at the hatchery, the brood stock fish are released in the
Merrimack, creating the only managed salmon fishery in New England.
The brood stock salmon released in the Merrimack give New Hampshire
anglers an exciting recreational fishing opportunity. This fall, the large
fish will be stocked in the Franklin-Bristol area. The first good spots
to try for the big salmon are below the Ayers Island Dam in Bristol
along the Coolidge Woods Road, the Profile Falls Recreation Area, the
access site near the Smith River confluence and below the Eastman Falls Dam
in Franklin. Because the fish are migratory, anglers should also try
fishing downstream as the season progresses: in the Stirrup Iron Brook
area, the Contoocook River at Boscawen, Penacook and Sewall's Falls Park,
and below the dams at Hooksett and Garvins Falls in Bow. Find more
information and an access map at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/atlantic_salmon.htm.
My gear recommendations for fly anglers include 7- to 9-weight rods
with either floating or sink tip lines, depending on the height and speed
of the river flow. While most fly anglers prefer heavy weight rods with
10-pound test line, nymph fishing with lighter gear has proven
successful in catching big salmon. Recommended flies include traditional hair
wing flies and streamers. Some patterns to try are green highlander,
black bear green butt, cosseboom, soft hackle marabou and muddler minnow.
As the season progresses, try the area below the Garvin's Falls dam in
Bow to the Massachusetts/ N.H. border, which is open to both fly and
spin fishing. The best areas include the section of the river just below
the Garvin's Falls and Hooksett dams, where the river is fast flowing.
Fishing success in these two areas is best angling from a boat.
Excellent boat access is provided at Public Service of New Hampshire's ramp on
the west side of the river in Bow and at the state-owned ramp on the
east side of the river below the Hooksett Dam.
Spin-casting anglers would do best to use medium to heavy 6-and-a-half
to 7-foot rods with a minimum of 10-pound test mono line. Some of the
lures recommended are: Little Cleo (chrome, chartreuse colors), Blue Fox
Pixie, Trixie (silver, chartreuse), Rapala's CD model, and large in
line spinners such as Mepps Aglia (nickel, green, yellow) and rooster
tails. Remember that the use of lures for the taking salmon is by the use
of an artificial lure having no more than ONE hook point! A solution for
lures sold with treble hooks is to either cut off two of the hook
points or replace the treble hook with a #6 bait holder hook.
Brood stock salmon anglers can help the program by reporting their
catch to Fish and Game; fishing diaries submitted by January 15 are
eligible for a prize drawing. For a printable salmon diary and more on how to
send in your report, visit
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/atlantic_salmon.htm and scroll
down to the bottom of the page.
So get out and enjoy New Hampshire's great fall fishing!
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FISHING NOTES: Did you know?
Most of Fish and Game's funding comes from sales of fishing and hunting
licenses and permits. Even if you're not planning to fish this year,
you can support the important work of your Fish and Game Department by
buying a fishing license. Pick one up at any NH license agent; or online,
anytime, at www.nhfishandgame.com. Thanks for your support!
PROTECT YOUR WATERS:
Don't let invasive species ruin New Hampshire's waterbodies: Keep your
gear and boats clean, and visit www.protectyourwaters.net/nh to learn
more about what you can do to help keep out "aquatic hitchhikers."
A USER-PAY, USER-BENEFIT PROGRAM
Researching and managing fisheries and teaching people about aquatic
ecosystems are funded by your license dollars and by the Federal Aid in
Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program. Your purchases of fishing
equipment and motorboat fuels make a difference to New Hampshire's
fisheries. Visit
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/SFWR_program/sfwr_program.htm.
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Copyright 2005 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive,
Concord, NH 03301. Comments or questions concerning this list should
be directed to lpoinier@wildlife.state.nh.us.
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