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+--- Thread: DESIGNATED TROUT AND FLY-FISHING-ONLY PONDS OPEN SATURDAY, APRIL 28 (/showthread.php?tid=736568)
DESIGNATED TROUT AND FLY-FISHING-ONLY PONDS OPEN SATURDAY, APRIL 28 - FishNews - 04-13-2012
CONCORD, N.H. -- Fishing in New Hampshire's designated trout ponds and
fly-fishing-only ponds opens this year on April 28, 2012 (the fourth<br />
Saturday in April), offering anglers the chance to experience exciting<br />
fishing in some of the Granite State's most scenic surroundings. These ponds<br />
are managed specifically for trout, and fishing is allowed through October<br />
15.
"These trout ponds are often the best waters in a given area for a variety<br />
of reasons," said New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Fisheries Biologist<br />
Don Miller. "Excellent habitat, low species competition and the fact that<br />
these ponds are closed to ice-fishing allow these waters to be managed for<br />
the trout fishing enthusiast." Ponds managed for trout may be stocked with<br />
one or more species, including brook, rainbow and/or brown trout, with age<br />
classes ranging from "yearlings" (8-12 inches), 2-year olds (12-15 inches),<br />
and 3+ year olds (measured in pounds!).
"Trout are prized by anglers because they can be a challenge to catch, and<br />
fishing for them is one of the traditional rites of spring," Miller<br />
said. "Whether your passion is a multi-colored brook trout, a leaping<br />
rainbow or the determined fight of a brown, there's a New Hampshire trout<br />
pond within reasonable driving distance for you."
Hot Hole Pond and Clough Pond in Loudon, French Pond in Henniker, Mount<br />
William Pond in Weare, Dublin Lake in Dublin, Lucas Pond (tiger trout) in<br />
Northwood, and Barbadoes Pond in Madbury are a few of the generously stocked<br />
early season hotspots where opening day trout are taken. It gets no better<br />
than this for taking the youngsters along with a simple garden hackle under<br />
a bobber, or floating PowerBait fished just off the bottom.
Due to the mild winter we have experienced, this year may find some of our<br />
northern ponds ice-free. There are many popular ponds located from the Lakes<br />
Region north to Pittsburg. They include Echo Lake in Franconia, Russell Pond<br />
in Woodstock, Conner Pond and Duncan Lake in Ossipee, White Lake in<br />
Tamworth, Perch Pond in Campton, Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford, Spectacle Pond<br />
in Groton, Back Lake in Pittsburg, Fish Pond in Columbia and Little Diamond<br />
Pond in Stewartstown.
For those looking for a true wilderness experience, check out one of the<br />
approximately 50 remote trout ponds Fish and Game annually stocks with<br />
fingerling brook trout via helicopter (listed at<br />
http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/trout_remote.htm). Flat Mountain Pond in<br />
Sandwich, Cole Pond in Enfield (fly fishing only), Butterfield Pond in<br />
Wilmot, Peaked Hill Pond in Thornton, Black Pond and Lonesome Lake in<br />
Lincoln are just a sampling of these delightful ponds, where fingerling<br />
brook trout often grow to 8-10 inches by their second growing season, and<br />
it's not unusual to pull in brookies 15 inches or longer. Trophy,<br />
remote-pond brook trout three or more years old, some in excess of 17-18<br />
inches, are available to the anglers who wish to fish in the "backcountry."
Archery Pond in Allenstown (with a wheelchair-accessible casting platform)<br />
and Stonehouse Pond in Barrington are two popular fly-fishing-only ponds<br />
that will be ice-free and well stocked for the opener. If you travel over to<br />
Antrim and fish Willard Pond (produced the state record tiger trout caught<br />
in 2011), you will be treated to forested, undeveloped shorelines and the<br />
"triple treat" of fly-fishing: brook, rainbow and tiger trout.
Further north, some excellent fly-fishing-only ponds include Upper Hall Pond<br />
in Sandwich, Sky Pond in New Hampton and Profile Lake in Franconia (check<br />
the fish digest for special regulations) on these waters. In addition, White<br />
Pond in Ossipee and Coon Brook Bog in Pittsburg offer excellent<br />
opportunities to "match the hatch" throughout spring and early summer.
For a list of trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds in New Hampshire, as<br />
well as a description of special rules that apply to certain ponds, consult<br />
the 2012 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest, available online at<br />
http://www.fishnh.com/pubs/fishing.html or from any Fish and Game license<br />
agent when you buy your license.