mcdude
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Crystal Lake open to Trout Fishing All Year
Even with no ice, some lakes still open for fishing
January 18, 2007
CONCORD — Many of New Hampshire's water bodies are open to the taking of trout and other fish year round, whether anglers are fishing through man-made openings in the ice or in open water. Only certain lakes, those designated as "Lake Trout and Salmon Lakes" by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, are restricted to ice-fishing-only from Jan. 1 to March 31. The unseasonably warm weather will make ice conditions vary greatly, so play it safe and make sure the ice is thick enough before you venture out on it. In addition, designated Trout Ponds are closed until the fourth Saturday in April.
Winter anglers in New Hampshire have some trout stocked especially for them. New Hampshire Fish and Game stocks trout every year during the fall months, mostly to bolster the winter ice fishery. Last fall (2006), Fish and Game stocked a greater number of fish into more water bodies than are usually stocked late in the year. Before Fish and Game began stocking fish in the fall several years ago, any trout caught in the winter ice fishery were holdovers from spring stocking.
For anglers specifically going after trout, you can find a list of lakes and ponds that remain open to the taking of trout year round at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/year_round_trout_ponds.htm, and a list of rivers and streams open to the taking of trout year round at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/year_round_trout_streams.htm.
Rules for water bodies with special regulations are listed in the N.H. Freshwater Fishing Digest, available from license agents or at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm.
During the fall of 2006, Fish and Game stocked trout into a total of 24 New Hampshire lakes and ponds managed for trout with no closed season, putting in more than 11,230 rainbow trout, 6,000 eastern brook trout yearlings and 2,950 brown trout.
Following is a list of local lakes and ponds managed as a "two-tier" fishery (i.e., bass and trout) with no closed season that were stocked during the fall of 2006 (please note that many more N.H. water bodies are open for year-round fishing than are included on this list):
Opechee Lake, Laconia, Waukewan Lake, Meredith, Winona Lake, Center Harbor, Chocorua Lake, Tamworth, Lake Wentworth, Wolfeboro, Crystal Lake, Gilmanton, Big Pea Porridge Pond, Madison, Dan Hole Pond, Ossipee and White Lake, Tamworth.
Fall stocking is welcomed by winter anglers, but it also contributes to biological research done by Fish and Game. Biologists mark the fish and then perform creel surveys to determine what percentage, of various species, of fish are caught through the ice. For example, fisheries biologist Gabe Gries in Fish and Game's regional office in Keene has documented, from Laurel Lake winter creel survey data, that 13.7 percent and 26.7 percent of the winter trout harvest from Laurel Lake for 2005 and 2006, respectively, was made up of fall-stocked rainbow and brown trout. This kind of information is useful in making management decisions about the fishery.
Purchase or renew your New Hampshire fishing (and hunting) licenses soon, so you won't miss out on this winter's fishing action. New Hampshire licenses for 2007 are available online at www.FishNH.com, or from license agents statewide.
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