If you're from the area, then you should know the first day of trout fishing in New Hampshire falls on the 4th April, every year. This day is something that many families have taken a part of annually! My Dad took me out and I'll never forget the feelings of getting up at 2am to get there early to get a spot on the shore... always shoulder to shoulder, but seeing small boats and Yaks launching around us. They would come back of epics tales from the day, and we'd normally have a more tough time on the shore.

This year I'm going to partake in this again! It's been many years since I have... I have one spot in mind that I could go, but I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on ponds / lakes to take my Kayak for the first day this year. It's been over 2 decades since I've taken part in it, but now that I have one of those little boat my dad and I always drooled over, I want to give it a go.

Is Stonehouse Pond stocked and ready on the first day? I've always done Lucas Pond or Barbadoes... this year I'm probably doing Lucas Pond if nobody has any suggestions here.


Thanks for reading and commenting!

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I have never heard of there being a season on trout. My state it is legal year round. Is there a reason that they do seasons.

4 minutes ago, mrmacwvu1 said:

I have never heard of there being a season on trout. My state it is legal year round. Is there a reason that they do seasons.

Firstly, thanks so much for reading and taking part in the thread MrMacwvu1!

As for "why" I'm not entirely sure, but here's a link to my state's website showing all the dates for fishing season. It's all about the Trout and Salmon I do believe...I'm possibly (probably) wrong here though (If you don't want to navigate to the link, I put the verbage below in quotes)

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fishing/seasons.html

 

Quote

Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout & their Hybrids

 

• Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15
• Wild Trout Streams: January 1 - Labor Day
• Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15
• Wild Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - Labor Day
• Lake Trout and/or Salmon Waters: January 1 - September 30 (fish can be taken by ice fishing only January 1 – March 31)
• All Other Waters: No closed season

 

Lake Trout

 

• All Waters: January 1 - September 30 (Fish can be taken by ice fishing only January 1 – March 31)

 

Landlocked Salmon

 

• 4th Saturday in April - September 30 (Pleasant Lake, New London)
• All Other Waters: April 1 - September 30

 

Largemouth Bass & Smallmouth Bass

 

• Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15; Catch & Release May 15 - June 15
• Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15; Catch & Release May 15 - June 15
• Lake Trout and/or Salmon waters: No closed season (Fish can be taken by ice fishing only January 1 – March 31)
• All Other Waters: No closed season; Catch & Release May 15 - June 15

 

Rainbow Smelt: See the current NH Freshwater Fishing Digest

 

All Other Species

 

• Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15
• Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15
• Lake Trout and/or Salmon waters: No closed season (Fish can be taken by ice fishing only January 1 – March 31)
• All Other Waters: No closed season

 

 

There's no season for Bass for the most part. They mostly care about the rivers and trout it seems?
Maybe I can dig in and find out "why" as I'm curious as well

Ok, after diggin.. I found all the rules. Wowsers!

 

Quote

Lake Trout and/or Salmon Lakes

Several waterbodies are managed for lake trout and/or landlocked salmon, and are open year-round subject to restrictions listed below. For information on bag and length limits for species other than trout and salmon in this waterbody, see Lakes & Ponds: General Rules.

1. The taking of brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, trout hybrids, and salmon between two hours after sunset and one hour before sunrise is prohibited.
2. Minimum Length:
   • Brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and their hybrids: 15 inches.
   • Lake Trout: 18 inches
   • Landlocked Salmon: 15 inches.
   • The head and tail must remain intact while on or leaving the waters of the state.
3. From January 1 to March 31:
   • Fish may be taken by ice fishing only;
   • The combined daily bag limit for all trout species, including lake trout, is 2 fish;
   • Closed to the taking of landlocked salmon (salmon season is from April 1 to September 30);
   • Two (2) ice fishing devices are allowed per person. Single hook with single hook point for bait, or an artificial lure or flies shall be used to take fish through the ice;
   • Six (6) cusk fishing devices may be used to take cusk on approved waterbodies.
4. From April 1 to September 30:
   • The combined daily limit for lake trout, salmon, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and their hybrids is 2 fish;
   • Open to the taking of all species, except no smelt may be taken from March 15 to June 15.
5. From October 1 until December 31:
   • Closed to the taking of lake trout, salmon, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and shad (whitefish).
6. From April 1 through December 31, no person may take fish through the ice, from the ice, or from any object supported by the ice.

Trout Ponds

Designated Trout Ponds are managed for trout, and are open to fishing for all species from the fourth Saturday in April through October 15. Fishing for any species is prohibited from October 16 until the fourth Saturday in April the following year. For information on bag and length limits for species other than trout, see Lakes & Ponds: General Rules.

1. The taking of brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, trout hybrids and salmon between two hours after sunset and one hour before sunrise is prohibited.
2. Trout ponds open on the fourth Saturday in April. Closed to salmon October 1 and to all species October 16.
3. The daily combined limit for trout is 5 fish or 5 pounds, whichever limit is reached first.
4. The use or possession of live fish, or their eggs, for bait is prohibited. The use of salmon eggs, however, is permitted.

Fly-Fishing-Only Ponds

All rules listed above for Trout Ponds apply. In addition, fish may be taken only by fly-fishing (fishing by trolling or casting with only fly rod, fly reel, and fly line combination with an artificial fly or cast of artificial flies attached, and does not include the use of spinning, spincast, and casting rods and reels and lead core lines).

Wild Trout Ponds

All rules listed above for Trout Ponds apply, except:

1. Open season dates are from the fourth Saturday in April through Labor Day;
2. All fish shall be immediately released;
3. Only single hook, barbless artificial lures and flies shall be used.

 

So, as you can tell... we basically celebrate the first day of fishing up here in New Hampshire! The trout get stocked realllllll good and it's kind of a family tradition. One that I haven't taken a part of in many many years...until this year!

So I was hoping someone from New Hampshire, or surround area with experience, could chime in and give me their valued thoughts on this subject



 

wow thanks for digging into that

 

In my state unless prohibited 6 trout may be taken daily 365

 

however one is not allowed to have more than 12 at any one time

 

so basically no stocking up for fish fry's

 

I was just wondering if the closed season was for breeding season or so the young trout have time to get bigger

 

Good luck this April

21 hours ago, mrmacwvu1 said:

wow thanks for digging into that

 

In my state unless prohibited 6 trout may be taken daily 365

 

however one is not allowed to have more than 12 at any one time

 

so basically no stocking up for fish fry's

 

I was just wondering if the closed season was for breeding season or so the young trout have time to get bigger

 

Good luck this April

Wait, you're not allowed to stock your freezer?! This is blasphemy. I do not eat fish, but my dad always used to. He'd catch his limit per day, and not always eat them. After awhile he had a freezer loaded with fish.

Nope only allowed to have 12 at one time. A guy that we know got caught with a freezer full as he was saving up for a family fish fry and he was fined thousands of dollars.

Not in NH but in northern Mass, we would go around in a small vessel trolling small diving lures like the rebel crickhopper and shiny flatfish. Even small bass crankbaits. The stocked rainbows and browns would be happy to cooperate with that presentation.  

It's getting closer to the day.. anyone else from New Hampshire have any thoughts on my original post?
Thanks in advance