News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
March 30, 2005
Phone: (603) 271-3211
Email: info@wildlife.state.nh.us
For information and online licenses, visit 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us

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CONTACT:
Don Miller: (603) 744-5470 
John Viar: (603) 744-5470 
Jane Vachon: (603) 271-3211
March 30, 2005 


OPEN-WATER FISHING STARTS FOR LAKE TROUT, SALMON

CONCORD, N.H. -- Enthusiastic anglers may want to start their weekend 
early, as Friday, April 1, marks the true start of spring for sportsmen 
and women with the launch of the open-water fishing season on 
landlocked salmon/lake trout managed lakes. 

While many New Hampshire waterbodies are still ice-covered, anglers 
will seek fish in open water near bridges and public docks and near the 
inlets and outlets of the 14 lakes New Hampshire Fish and Game manages 
for landlocked salmon: Big Dan Hole Pond, First and Second Connecticut 
Lakes, Conway Lake, Lake Francis, Merrymeeting Lake, Newfound Lake, 
Ossipee Lake, Big and Little Squam Lakes, Sunapee Lake, Lake Winnipesaukee 
and Winnisquam Lake. (Pleasant Lake in New London also is managed for 
landlocked salmon, but is classified as a trout pond, with a 2005 opening 
date of April 23.)

In early spring, salmon feed heavily on spawning rainbow smelt, which 
congregate near tributary inlets. In Winnipesaukee, smelt usually spawn 
at the end of March and beginning of April. Salmon, lake trout and 
rainbow trout are attracted to shallow waters at this time of year because 
of gatherings of smelt near the shore, warming waters and the influx of 
nutrients carried by tributary streams. As a result, anglers can enjoy 
some of the most exciting fishing of the year. 

"Salmon action should be very good this year. We're expecting high 
catch rates in Winnipesaukee, with fish upwards of three pounds," said Don 
Miller, Fish and Game's Large Lakes Fisheries Biologist. 
"Winnipesaukee's Alton Bay, at the mouth of the Merrymeeting River, has lots of good 
fishing in open water around docks and piers; ditto for Long Island 
Bridge and Smith River mouth in Wolfeboro - locations with current flow 
such as these are opening day hotspots." 

"It's been a tough winter, but recent rains will help the water flow 
and may cause salmon and rainbow trout to run up the Merrymeeting River," 
Miller said. Depending on flow rates, the Merrymeeting can offer some 
excellent early spring salmon and rainbow trout fishing. Upstream from 
the bridge in Alton, special regulations apply from January 1 to June 
15, when the river is restricted to fly-fishing (barbless) and 
catch-and-release only. 

Early season anglers generally fish for salmon using live bait -- 
smelt, shiners and worms, from shoreline, docks and bridges. "My earliest 
recollection of spring salmon fishing was drifting a smelt under a bobber 
at the mouth of Black Brook in Lake Winnisquam," Miller related. As the 
ice recedes, and open water appears around brooks and bridges, one of 
the most popular methods to catch salmon is by trolling. Successful 
trollers use slowly presented smelt or shiners, or an assortment of lures 
including stickbaits (such as Rapala, Rebel, Yo-Zuri), spoons 
(Mooselook, Flash King, Sutton, Top Gun, DB Smelt) and various flash lures (Super 
Duper, Harry Lure, etc.). 

In tributaries and rivers like the Winnipesaukee, fly-fishermen often 
have success working weighted nymphs, such as olive or black Woolly 
Buggers, various bead-head nymphs and heron flies. Other proven methods 
include fly-casting or trolling smelt-imitating streamer patterns, such as 
the Gray Ghost and its many variations, Nine-Three, Supervisor, 
Winnipesaukee Smelt and Maynard's Marvel.

Don't let the snow banks get the best of you! Get out and check the 
inlets and outlets of our salmon/lake trout lakes. It definitely is 
true...the early bird does get the salmon! 

Sneak a peek at what anglers have caught this winter by visiting N.H. 
Fish and Game's "Big Fish - Ice-fishing" web page at 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/big_ice_fish.htm. 

Anglers can purchase licenses online -- and find a boatload of 
information on fishing in the Granite State -- at 
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us. 

Fish New Hampshire and relax...we have what you're looking for. 

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Copyright 2004 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.