Saltwater Angler Registry: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

Stocking report: Stocking is done for the season. Previous reports at http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm

><> North Country

As New Hampshire anglers watch the calendar turn to August, some serious adjustments are made in order to be successful. If you are a trout fisherman, middle to late summer is when your skills and talents are really put to the test. Water temperatures have been at levels that make coldwater fish seem to disappear. One of the greatest challenges to fishing at any time of the year is finding fish and predicting their movements. Preferred habitat now is deep, well-oxygenated, and cool water. Finding all three is rare, so fish will settle for one or two of these refugia. Once these areas have been identified, you may have to employ additional tactics like fishing early in the morning or at dusk. To complicate matters even further, fish like trout and salmon will decrease their energy expenditures when they are under stressful conditions. A brook trout, for example, will be less likely to aggressively rise for food in these warm water months. If you hope to fool one with a

delicate, lifelike presentation, you could be doing battle with a fish who may not even want to feed. Good luck.

August is still one of the best months to fish in Northern New Hampshire. They daylight is still quite lengthy and conditions on the water can be very comfortable for fishermen. If the deerflies don't carry you away, you can spend an entire weekend trying to figure out where fish are and, more importantly, where they are not. – Andy Schafermeyer, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Lakes Region/White Mountains

Sorry folks, no report this week but I’ll be back next week. – Don Miller, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Monadnock/Upper Valley

Night sampling has been keeping me busy and away from fishing for the past few weeks, but reports I have received at the office from anglers have been promising. Rainbow trout are still being caught with regularity in Spofford Lake (Chesterfield; some up to 22”), Swanzey Lake (Swanzey), and Silver Lake (Harrisville). I have also heard of some very nice landlocked salmon and lake trout being caught at Nubanusit Lake (Hancock/Nelson). Bass anglers have been having a banner summer in southwestern NH. Reports of nice largemouth have come in from Highland Lake (Stoddard), the Connecticut River (Hinsdale), Warren Lake (Alstead), Crescent Lake (Acworth), and Laurel Lake (Fitzwilliam). For smallmouths, I would try Swanzey Lake (Swanzey), Dublin Lake (Dublin), Stone Pond (Marlborough), and the Connecticut River (Chesterfield/Westmoreland). If the bass aren’t biting in the shallows, try the deeper water off of reefs, deep shorelines, and secondary points. – Gabe Gries, Regional

Fisheries Biologist

><> Southeast NH/Merrimack Valley

While there are many public boat ramps and shoreline access points for saltwater fishing, shoreline fishing opportunities on freshwater can be difficult to find in New Hampshire. Most shorelines are privately owned and access to many lakes and ponds is limited. However, if you look hard enough you can find some excellent fishing spots in southeastern New Hampshire. Swains Lake, in Barrington, can be accessed along France Road. The two small bridges are good places to cast for largemouth bass and yellow perch. The Cocheco River is known for its brown trout. It can be accessed, at a number of points, by an unpaved road that runs along the left side of the river looking downstream from the Watson Road Dam in Rochester. The Cocheco River is one of three rivers in southeastern New Hampshire that have extended catch and release seasons for trout. The other two are the Lamprey River, downstream of the Wiswall Dam to the first Railroad trestle downstream of Packers Falls, and the

Isinglass River, from the Route 125 bridge to its confluence with the Cocheco River. More warm water fishing (for bass, pickerel, and sunfish) can be found on the section of the Isinglass River that parallels Route 126 and eventually crosses under Route 202 in Barrington.

The black crappie in the lower Lamprey River are best approached through the ice, or by canoe, but there is shoreline access along the back side of a graveyard in Newmarket, near the confluence with the Piscassic River. If you would prefer a little peace and quiet, Northwood Meadows State Park contains a small pond with bass fishing and trout in season. Although it is not technically a shoreline access site, the UNH Rec Center on Mendums Pond, off of Hall Road in Barrington, has very reasonable rates for canoe/kayak rentals, which provide access to a smallmouth bass population that gets relatively little fishing pressure. I could go on, but the best way to find new shoreline fishing opportunities is to go for a drive. With respect for private property and careful attention to "no trespassing" signs, check all the places where a road crosses a river or runs along the shoreline of a lake or pond. With patience you might stumble onto a new fishing spot that is too good to

share. – Matt Carpenter, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Seacoast Area

Well, of course the day that I write there are bluefish is the day they disappear. One of the headboat companies reported hooking into a school of them last week, but we have not heard a thing of them since. Striper fishing hasn’t been too bad, still most of the catching has been out in the ocean, not much going on in the rivers. One thing of note on the groundfishing front this week, a lot of white hake (a member of the cod family) was brought in over the weekend. The time is approaching again with incoming tide happening at dawn and dusk, check those tide tables and get out fishing, don’t let the summer disappear without visiting the coast! – Rebecca Heuss, Marine Biologist

><> Federal Aid: 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.wildnh.com/SFWR_program/sfwr_program.htm.

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Copyright 2010 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive,

Concord, NH 03301. Comments or questions concerning this list should

be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov.

NH Natural Leaders – Final reminder! JUNE 1 deadline for NH teens (ages 14-17) to apply for the NH Natural Leaders program. Scholarships available. Please spread the word! See http://www.wildnh.com/naturalleaders.

Stocking report 5/17 – 5/21: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nhfishandgame

Saltwater Angler Registry: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

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><> North Country

Get ready. Spring is about to turn into summer and freshwater fishing in New Hampshire is about to get exciting. Trout ponds have been stocked often and early and, as insects react to warming air and water temperatures, fish respond by feeding very heavily. No one can predict what the summer will be like, but if we see warm, dry conditions, trout fishing won’t get any better than it is now.

Bass are beginning to spawn and visit shallow water. They are also driven by the warming water and an increased metabolism to feed, feed, feed! Many times, predicting fish behavior is the key to successful angling. Right now, warmwater fish are following predictable patterns and offer an awesome fishing opportunity. – Andy Schafermeyer, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Lakes Region

Water temps are soaring...big lake temps are now in the mid 60s, and bass are on the nests. A recent netting foray to Big Squam Lake revealed that some bass eggs have already hatched as schools of bass fry were observed along the shorelines. Trout pond fishing is still hot; try fishing in the evening from 6:00 to dark, that’s when the fly hatches (mayflies) will peak.

Now is an excellent time to catch a mess of horned pout (bullheads) for a delicious meal. Any soft-bottomed cove in any lakes region water has pout. Squam has some nice ones -- we netted bullheads up to a foot long, although some prefer younger fish for a meal. Silver Lake, Tilton/Lochmere has excellent shoreline fishing for pout. Bullheads are not fussy, a generous nightcrawler fished on bottom at night will do the trick. Just be careful of the dorsal and pectoral spines, they can inflict a painful wound! – Don Miller, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Monadnock/Upper Valley

The phone always seems to be ringing off the hook at the regional office in Keene this time of year. Anglers want to know where the hot spots are and what to use to tempt their respective species of choice to bite.

An interesting phenomenon that always presents itself is the difference in success rates among anglers. In a single week, I might get calls or emails from three different anglers that have all fished the same water with drastically different results. For example, last week it was trout anglers calling about the Souhegan River. One angler was frustrated after a couple days on the water without so much as a strike and seemingly no sign of trout activity, while the other angler was thrilled with his catch rates and the size of trout he was catching. The two anglers were fishing in the same general area of the river and both using fly tackle.

After offering condolences/suggestions and congratulations to the respective callers, I began to think about the disparity between the two callers. The number of trout stocked into a waterbody each year does not typically change, and stocking location and timing generally remain consistent (disclaimers to this are extreme environmental conditions such as floods and/or emergencies that the Conservation Officer must respond to such as Search and Rescue events).

It is always frustrating to not catch fish or to feel that the fish are not there; believe me, I have been there plenty of times myself. However, I always try to remind myself that the opportunities are there and that the next fishing trip might be the one where everything comes together perfectly. If you find yourself having a fruitless day, don't despair. It is likely the fish are there but perhaps weather conditions are wrong, the fish are not on the feed, you are in the wrong location, or you are using the wrong bait/lure/fly.

Don't hesitate to call your regional Fish and Game office with your questions or concerns. We can offer you suggestions on where to go and what to use for tackle, but we can't make the fish bite! – Gabe Gries, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Southeast NH/Merrimack Valley

Anglers have been reporting good days at several of southeastern New Hampshire's lakes, ponds, and rivers. Several trout indicative of holdovers have been reported in Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), Stonehouse Pond (Barrington), and the Cocheco River (Dover). Anglers targeting bass have also noted both largemouth and smallmouth bass beginning to occupy early summer habitats. The recent decrease in flow in the local rivers and streams and high jumps in temperatures are beginning to be a concern. Fish kills, primarily of sunfish species, have been reported in some smaller, shallower ponds throughout this region. The examination of collected specimens indicate high algal counts and weakened immune systems associated with spawning and decreases in oxygen from spikes in water temperature. – Ben Nugent, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Seacoast Area

We were out on the Piscataqua River for most of the day yesterday during our SCUBA program for lobster monitoring. We observed several large groups of birds (terns and gulls) working the bait hard. The largest bird activity was near Henderson Point on the Kittery Side of the river near the old Navy Prison, but other flurries of activity were near the mouth of the harbor at the Coast Guard Station and by Pepperel Cove. We couldn’t get close enough to see the bait, but at nearly this time last year there were a large number of juvenile sea herring in the river, so hopefully this is a repeat. As any good coastal fisherman is likely to say, “FOLLOW THE BIRDS!” When bait are balled up in schools tight enough for terns to divebomb them, there are no doubt stripers below. We have measured some keeper-sized striped bass from the Great Bay this week, as well as some landed in Exeter near the boat ramp downtown.

The winter flounder season is open again. As always, I strongly suggest Rye Harbor for shore anglers targeting winter flounder, and Great Boars Head for those with access to a boat. – Kevin Sullivan, Marine Biologist

><> Federal Aid: 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.wildnh.com/SFWR_program/sfwr_program.htm.

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

NH NATURAL LEADERS – Deadline extended to JUNE 1!: Do you know a NH teen ages 14-17 who is interested in a career in natural resources? ...Wants to make a difference for the environment? ...Would like to hike, camp, canoe and plan a conservation project for their community this summer? Please tell him or her about NH Natural Leaders! Applications due June 1. Scholarships available. See http://www.wildnh.com/naturalleaders

STOCKING REPORT 5/3 – 5/7: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm

Find us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/nhfishandgame

SALTWATER Angler Registry: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

><> North Country

What a crazy spring it has been. We have experienced summer and winter weather all during the last two weeks. Twelve inches of snow one day and 70 degrees the next. The hatches have been on and off, with blue-winged olives hatching during a snow flurry. That was a sight! All in all, the water temperatures are still in the forties and trout fishing remains slow. There have been some salmon caught in the Connecticut Lakes, so don’t shut the door on us yet - grab your rod and head north for a jumper or two! – Dianne Timmins, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Lakes Region

The last week has been a roller-coaster ride in the Lakes Region. Cold overnight temperatures in the 20s have dropped water temps into the upper 40s again. Bass spawning has seen fits and starts this season, and now bass have moved back off the nest sites. Look for bass to cruise the flats once again as soon as temperatures stabilize. (A reminder that May 15 – June 15 is catch-and-release only for bass.)

Trout fishing is the name of the game now, with great insect hatches (mayflies have appeared), look for pond fishing to be excellent now. Large lake rainbows are still cruising the shorelines of Winnisquam, Newfound and Winnipesaukee. Salmon fishing continues to be excellent with average fish of 19” and 2.5-2.75 lbs. – Don Miller, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Monadnock/Upper Valley

The Contoocook River is a great place to fish for both cold and warmwater fish. A recent paddle on a short section of the river upstream of Powder Mill Pond made for an awesome late afternoon trip. Using light spinning gear and in-line spinners for hardware, we managed to catch five different fish species in just a few hours. We caught a bunch of smallmouth bass and yellow perch, along with a brown trout, brook trout, and a couple of fallfish. This river gets pretty warm in the summer, so now is the time to go after trout. Fish and Game stocks the Contoocook River with thousands of trout from Peterborough to Henniker each year and the stocking trucks have been very busy this spring. Get out and enjoy what these small New Hampshire rivers have to offer this spring. – Jason Carrier, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Southeast NH/Merrimack Valley

There are some good activities for the whole family this weekend in southeastern New Hampshire. The annual Cocheco Field Day and River Cleanup Event will be held Saturday May 15 in Dover. The event begins at the lower lot of Measured Progress (off of Sixth Street) and goes from 10am to 2pm. Participants will learn about the effort to restore public access and maintain good water quality, as well as have the opportunity to help clean this scenic river. Additionally, there are several kids’ fishing derbies scheduled for southern New Hampshire this weekend; see http://www.wildnh.com/Fishing/fish_tournament_kids.htm. – Ben Nugent, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Seacoast Area

The first reports of stripers in New Hampshire have begun surfacing. I was told that a few anglers were catching ‘schoolie’ sized striped bass in Hampton Harbor, so it looks like they are starting to come a little bit farther north than the Merrimack. In a conversation this morning, I was told that someone encountered a striped bass in the Great Bay already this year as well, so hopefully it will be heating up in the coming weeks!

As a note, the winter flounder fishing season has a short closure this year; this species may not be taken between May 15 and May 24. – Kevin Sullivan, Marine Biologist

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Welcome to a new season of the NH Weekly Fishing Report!

If you’re new to the list, this is the first weekly fishing report for 2010. Each week from now through September, we’ll bring you fishing news and information from our regional fisheries staff, along with a link to the most current stocking report (during stocking season). If you know someone who might like to sign up for the Fishing Report, send them to http://www.fishnh.com/Inside_FandG/join_mail_list.htm.

Here’s the stocking report for April 12-16: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm

And guess what? NH Fish and Game’s now on Facebook! Link up today at http://www.facebook.com/nhfishandgame. ***If you’d rather get this fishing report on Facebook than by e-mail, fan or “like” us on Facebook, and click through the link at the bottom of this message to “uncheck” your subscription to the e-mail fishing report.

Happy Earth Day, and best wishes for an excellent season!

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>><> North Country

We have been sampling pike out of Jericho and Partridge Lakes and they have been pretty sly. Capture rates have been low and the quick snowmelt has us wondering if we missed the spawn. We saw a huge one swirl by the net opening at Jericho and unfortunately our timing on the net adjustment wasn’t good since we scared him out of the net. DARN!!!! But at least we know they are out there.

Last weekend’s snow/rain event is keeping brook and river temperatures low and water levels elevated, which is good for the trout stocking. It helps to spread the fish out. Fish have also been stocked earlier in some spots, allowing them more time to acclimate to their new environment. This helps all of you wild trout seekers. Temperatures in the rivers up north are still in the low 40s, but flows are receding and fish are hungry, so head out this weekend and try your luck. --Dianne Timmins, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Lakes Region

Lake temperatures are rapidly warming up into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Smallmouth bass are cruising the shorelines and are becoming more active. Look for the white perch spawn to begin within 3 or 4 days at the usual spots -- Winnipesaukee River, Laconia, Smith River, Wolfeboro, and the Melvin River, Tuftonboro.

Trout ponds open on the 24th (Saturday) and insect hatches are way ahead of last year. Some real nice rainbows are being caught in high current areas of Winnipesaukee, check out Paugus Bay. --Don Miller, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Monadnock/Upper Valley

Fishing on the Connecticut River is heating up fast. Walleye have been biting below the dams and river mouths for the past month and will continue for about another month. The yellow perch have spawned in most southern NH setbacks and the largemouth bass and black crappie are starting to bite well in the coves and backwaters. --Gabe Gries, Regional Fisheries Biologist

><> Southeast NH/Merrimack Valley

Trout anglers should be very satisfied when the reel in a trout at one of the southeastern designated trout ponds (these waterbodies open on Saturday, April 24). Fish are larger than previous years as indicated by recent sample counts. Yearling brook trout and brown trout will be around 11 inches and about half a pound while yearling rainbow trout will be about 12 inches and average close to a pound apiece. Some of the stocked three-year-old brook trout will be over 17 inches and 2 pounds. Anglers pursuing other species should find bass, crappie, and panfish starting to become real active now. Try fishing shallow areas in dense vegetation. --Ben Nugent, Regional Fisheries Biologis

><> Seacoast

The recreational groundfishing season has begun in New Hampshire. Due to a delayed start of the federal Atlantic Cod season (April 16th this year), many anglers have been targeting and successfully landing large catches of haddock but have had to reluctantly release those keeper-sized cod with a frown on their face. Some reports have indicated that anglers are leaving the waters with as many as 15 to 20 haddock each before the 16th, but now that the Atlantic cod season is open anglers can keep 10 cod per day in addition, with a minimum length of 24 inches! Most of the cod and haddock fishing is occurring offshore near Jeffreys Ledge, but Atlantic cod CAN be found closer to shore this early in the season. --Kevin Sullivan, Marine Biologist

FISHING SEASON RESOURCES:

*Main Fishing page: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fishing.htm

*Buy your license online: http://www.greatlodge.com/nh

* Saltwater angler registry: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

*Boating & fishing access map: http://www.fishnh.com/pubaccess_maps/pubaccess_map.htm

*Past fishing reports: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fishing_reports.htm

*Tournaments: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fishing_tournaments.htm

* Depth maps: http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/bathy_maps.htm

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Copyright 2010 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive,

Concord, NH 03301. Comments or questions concerning this list should

be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov.

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