A New Season

We’re at the start of the trout fishing season yet again in New Hampshire, but that’s not altogether right. Fishing on the Connecticut River has been open since January 1, so some of us up here have been fishing right along through the mild winter that we just had. However, the season opens on all NH trout waters this Saturday, April 22.

If you had told me two weeks ago that there would actually be water to fish this coming Saturday, I would have doubted that possibility. It was still cold and wintery up here back then, and it certainly looked to be a late April / early May opening for fishing in the northern reaches of the state. But, that all changed with last week’s unseasonably warm weather. Five days straight of 70+ degree temperatures weakened that theory, and the ice, considerably.

The ice on Back Lake barely held on yesterday near the lodge and in the area of the town beach, but it has disappeared today – one of the earlier “ice outs” that we’ve had in our forty-one years in business. It’s a similar story on some of the other Connecticut Lakes. Lake Francis is open for business, and First Connecticut Lake will soon be as well. Of course, it will be a bit longer at Second and Third Connecticut Lake …

Even though we have had an early ice out and it seems like the last vestiges of winter are gone for good, we should probably all “cool our jets” just a bit in regards to actual fishing. Water temps on the lakes and the river are still very cold (at or below 40 degrees), and river flows below junctions with major tributaries (Perry, Indian, Hall, etc.) are likely to be high and muddy with the runoff.

While this is the time of year to pick up sizable holdover trout here and there, the stocking trucks of NH Fish & Game are just getting rolling, and I anticipate that they’ll be a common sight on our roads over the next two months. They have a lot to do, too. Sections of the river, the lakes, and the outer trout ponds will all receive a charge of fish over the next eight weeks or so.

If you are going to get out on the river, check the river flows and wade safely. The water is mighty cold, and you certainly don’t want to take an unwanted dip. Streamers and nymphs are recommended right now, as mayfly hatches will take a while to materialize. More information will be forthcoming, as it becomes available.