04-20-2005, 05:25 PM
[size 2]CONCORD, N.H. -- Fishing in New Hampshire's designated trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds opens this year on Saturday, April 23 (the fourth Saturday in April), offering anglers the chance to get out and experience some of the Granite State's most relaxing and scenic settings. These ponds are managed specifically for trout, and fishing is allowed through October 15.
"These trout ponds are often the best waters in a given area for a variety of reasons. Excellent habitat, low species competition and the fact that these ponds are closed to ice-fishing allows the department to effectively manage these waters for the trout enthusiast," said Don Miller, a Fisheries Biologist for N.H. Fish and Game.
While trout ponds are found throughout New Hampshire, many of the most popular are found in the White Mountain, Monadnock and North Country regions. Ponds managed for trout may be stocked with a variety of different-aged fish, depending on the management goal. There are 55 remote trout ponds stocked with fingerling brook trout via helicopter each spring. Chapin Pond in Newport, Cole Pond in Enfield and Coon Brook Bog in Pittsburg, all fly-fishing-only waters, are just a sampling of these wonderful ponds, where fingerling brook trout often grow to 8-10 inches by their second fall in the pond. Trophy fish in these areas are brook trout that live to three or more years old.
Clough Pond in Loudon, Dublin Lake in Dublin, Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford and Lucas Pond in Northwood are a few good early season hotspots for trout anglers. Ponds further north, such as Long Pond in Benton, Echo Lake in Franconia and the Hall Ponds in Sandwich generally "heat up" a week to ten days later because of elevation and ice conditions.
"Trout are prized by anglers because they challenging and elusive to catch and are one of the 'rites of spring,'" Miller said. "Whether your passion is a multi-colored brook trout, a leaping rainbow or the determined fight of a brown, there is a New Hampshire trout pond for you."
For a list of trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds in New Hampshire, as well as a description of special rules that apply to certain ponds, consult the 2005 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest, available from license agents or online at [/size][url "http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm"][#0000ff][size 2]http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2].
Annual fishing licenses cost $35 for New Hampshire residents (age 16 and older) and $53 for nonresidents (1-, 3- and 7-day licenses are also available for nonresidents). Fishing licenses can be purchased from local license agents statewide, or online anytime at [/size][url "http://www.nhfishandgame.com/"][#0000ff][size 2]http://www.nhfishandgame.com[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2]. Kids under age 16 do not need a license to fish in New Hampshire.
Each year, more than 267,000 anglers fish in New Hampshire -- taking advantage of the state's 975 lakes and ponds and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams. Get out and explore them for yourself! For more information, visit [/size][url "http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/"][#0000ff][size 2]http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2]. [/size]
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"These trout ponds are often the best waters in a given area for a variety of reasons. Excellent habitat, low species competition and the fact that these ponds are closed to ice-fishing allows the department to effectively manage these waters for the trout enthusiast," said Don Miller, a Fisheries Biologist for N.H. Fish and Game.
While trout ponds are found throughout New Hampshire, many of the most popular are found in the White Mountain, Monadnock and North Country regions. Ponds managed for trout may be stocked with a variety of different-aged fish, depending on the management goal. There are 55 remote trout ponds stocked with fingerling brook trout via helicopter each spring. Chapin Pond in Newport, Cole Pond in Enfield and Coon Brook Bog in Pittsburg, all fly-fishing-only waters, are just a sampling of these wonderful ponds, where fingerling brook trout often grow to 8-10 inches by their second fall in the pond. Trophy fish in these areas are brook trout that live to three or more years old.
Clough Pond in Loudon, Dublin Lake in Dublin, Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford and Lucas Pond in Northwood are a few good early season hotspots for trout anglers. Ponds further north, such as Long Pond in Benton, Echo Lake in Franconia and the Hall Ponds in Sandwich generally "heat up" a week to ten days later because of elevation and ice conditions.
"Trout are prized by anglers because they challenging and elusive to catch and are one of the 'rites of spring,'" Miller said. "Whether your passion is a multi-colored brook trout, a leaping rainbow or the determined fight of a brown, there is a New Hampshire trout pond for you."
For a list of trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds in New Hampshire, as well as a description of special rules that apply to certain ponds, consult the 2005 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest, available from license agents or online at [/size][url "http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm"][#0000ff][size 2]http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2].
Annual fishing licenses cost $35 for New Hampshire residents (age 16 and older) and $53 for nonresidents (1-, 3- and 7-day licenses are also available for nonresidents). Fishing licenses can be purchased from local license agents statewide, or online anytime at [/size][url "http://www.nhfishandgame.com/"][#0000ff][size 2]http://www.nhfishandgame.com[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2]. Kids under age 16 do not need a license to fish in New Hampshire.
Each year, more than 267,000 anglers fish in New Hampshire -- taking advantage of the state's 975 lakes and ponds and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams. Get out and explore them for yourself! For more information, visit [/size][url "http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/"][#0000ff][size 2]http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2]. [/size]
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