A
nice catch by avid angler Ian Aldrich! Photo courtesy of
Eric Aldrich
This week, Fishing Report veteran Mark Beauchesne
gives us a statewide roundup on fishing activity and tips on what's
biting -- even a recipe for a fish fry, so you can bite back! Yum!
It's here -- N.H. Free Fishing Day is this
Saturday, June 5! On Free Fishing Day, residents and non-residents
are allowed to fish any inland water in the Granite State without
a license. Bring your friends and family and let them experience
the thrill of a fish on the line -- they'll be hooked for sure!
Click
here for details and restrictions.
Brood-stock Atlantic salmon anglers should
note that some fish are being stocked this week. Please practice
catch-and-release on this special fishery. A new health advisory
from the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services recommends
that people limit
their consumption of brood-stock fish; for details, click here.
Fish New Hampshire and Relax... We have what
you're looking for.
Fishin' in the rain... and loving it! By Mark Beauchesne, Let's Go Fishing coordinator
What a spring! Unusually hot weather, then rain
and cold and more rain. Conditions in the state the last part of
May brought some tough fishing -- and some wet anglers. But that
didn't stop me from hitting my favorite fishing spots.
The big lakes had an early warm-up. This pushed
the salmon deeper and started the bass spawning. We are in the middle
of the catch-and-release season for black bass -- smallmouth and
largemouth bass. The male bass, which is smaller than the female,
guards the eggs and fry, defending his offspring from egg- and fry-eating
predators. The male rarely eats during this time, with the exception
of insects and small baitfish that happen to be close by. This is
where it gets dangerous for the fish; ill-advised anglers fish for
these papa bass with no consideration for the next generation. There
are plenty of other fish to target, so please leave the bedding
fish alone. They are protecting the bass of the future!
Some fish that are not "bedding" are
the larger female bass. To find these fish, look for dropoffs and
edges near gravel flats. I look for about 12 to 15 feet of water,
and use topwater baits in low light conditions. Yes, smallies love
rainy weather, so don't let that stop you. I have had my best days
in the rain and cold. The fish will attack your offering with the
spirit of a prizefighter. Slowly presented, deep-diving crank baits
can bring success in these areas. A ball-head jig-and-grub combination
is also worth a dunk.
This spring, northern pike have been a favorite
target for me. I have made several trips to the Connecticut River
with great results. The larger setbacks still have hungry pike waiting
for you. Fishing for pike brings a whole new level of excitement
-- working soft jerk bait just below the surface and watching the
water "bulge" and chase my bait is almost too much for
my nerves. Last week I had several fish just destroy my jerk bait,
jumping clear out of the water to inhale the bait. Perch colors
seemed to work best. Spinner baits brought a few fish, too, as did
big inline spinners. Several fish fell to the fly also. My fly of
choice is the "seducer" -- with a name like that, you
know the fish can't resist.
Because of my newfound interest in the pike I
have not been salmon fishing this year. From what I hear, there
are some big landlocks out there.
Trout fishing is going all-out right now. A variety
of insect hatches are happening around the state. You can't go wrong
with throwing some sort of caddis imitation.
Mayfly hatches are exciting to fish. I do get
to go trout fishing now and then, and one of my favorite hatches
is the "hex" hatch. This large mayfly emerges in late
June, primarily as the sun is going down. Flies for this hatch,
that's easy -- " the usual." No, I'm not being sarcastic.
There is actually a fly called the usual, tied entirely from snowshoe
hare. This fly gives the perfect silhouette of this trout candy.
Other fish species take advantage of this bounty also. I have had
some jumbo white perch come up and eat... the usual!
New Hampshire's brooks appear to have the best
water levels in years. Now, you can get back to basics. A #6 hook
and can of freshly dug "mud worms" (that is what my Nana
called them) and you're good to go. This is what started my love
of fishing, and I still do it today.
The ultra-light rod comes out for a trip to a
brook -- the shorter rod helps when you are in tight cover. Go to
the places on the brook that other people won't go because it is
too difficult to cast or walk, and you'll be pleased with the results.
I like to drift the "mud worm" as natural as possible
-- no weight or very little. I make short casts and I meticulously
fish every pool and deep riffle. I have no problem with a few brook
trout to cook in the morning bacon fat. What a treat when you are
out camping!
For more tasty and exciting ultra-light tackle
fishing, you have to try fishing for bluegills. Small jigs with
a plastic trailer, small spinners and many trout flies will get
the job done. You say you have never eaten bluegills? Well, you
are missing out. This fish is extremely popular down south, where
sunfish are called "brim."
Get your children into fishing the way you learned
-- fishing for sunfish is almost guaranteed success. The fish haven't
changed since your first cast -- they are still fun, feisty and
delicious! Use simple tackle -- half a worm under a float -- and
you have the recipe for family fun. Speaking of recipe.... Filet
your bluegills, heat up a couple inches of vegetable oil to 375,
wash the filets, place in flour seasoned with your favorite seasonings.
Dredge the floured filets in milk, then in the flour once more.
Cook filets until they float. A fish fry is a delicious way to cap
off a fishing trip with the kids.
I hear that there are stripers around. You can
bet I'm ready for some rod-bending action. The fly rod is my tool
of choice. I have been known to throw a mackerel or two for the
really big ones.
Be safe on New Hampshire's waters. Share fishing
with a child and keep only what you and your family can use -- release
the rest to be caught another day.
Great fishing!!!
Mark
A
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