Fish culturists at New Hampshire’s six state trout hatcheries have been holding on, waiting for Mother Nature to provide conditions favorable for spring stocking. After a brief delay, the stocking trucks are now rolling! New Hampshire hatcheries have close to one million catchable-size trout ready for this season.
"As open water begins to appear and shoreline ice starts to break up, anglers – including me – can’t help but look forward to open water trout fishing," says N.H. Fish and Game Fisheries Chief Jason Smith.
The late spring meant fish culturists were not being able to stock trout in early April. "Ponds locked in with ice and high, cold water conditions have made it necessary to delay stocking in every region of the state," says Smith. "Many of our ponds are accessed by dirt roads, so even in places where the ice has receded enough to receive fish, muddy roads do not provide access for the heavy commercial vehicles used for stocking trout."
Smith explained that it will be a few weeks before some rivers and streams are at "fishable" levels. Most trout species are reluctant to bite until the streams reach temperatures in the mid-40’s. "We don’t want to stock streams too early, because cold, high water early in the season does not present suitable conditions for trout angling."
New Hampshire’s designated trout ponds, which open April 25, 2015, are generally places where you might find early season success. "Although stocking crews and Conservation Officers will do the best to provide fish for opening day, it might be unrealistic to have all of our designated trout ponds stocked this year, particularly in the North Country," says Smith.
As the season progresses, fishing on smaller streams will pick up, from south to north, with the larger rivers to follow. A good rule of thumb is to follow the black flies as they move north.
An additional bonus for 2015 is the unexpected availability of some surplus Atlantic salmon broodstock, some weighing over ten pounds. New Hampshire Fish and Game was able to acquire these fish from the Nashua National Fish Hatchery for release into the Merrimack River watershed. Broodstock Atlantic Salmon permits are no longer required.
Upstream of the Garvin’s Falls Dam in Bow, N.H., general fishing rules apply, meaning two salmon per day, minimum length 15 inches. Downstream of the structure will be catch and release for all salmon, with the intent being to protect any wild Atlantic salmon that could potentially be returning from the ocean.
Raising nearly one million trout each year is no small task. New Hampshire’s hatchery system, funded by fishing license sales and federal Sport Fish Restoration funds, includes six facilities across the state:
- The Berlin Fish Hatchery provides the three primary trout species to the North Country, including Coos County and the northern reaches of Grafton and Carroll Counties.
- The Twin Mountain and Warren hatcheries provide trout to the White Mountain Region.
- Powder Mill Hatchery in New Durham provides trout from the seacoast through the Lakes Region and into Carroll County. Powder Mill Hatchery also provides the Lakes Region with rainbow trout and landlocked salmon for New Hampshire’s large lakes program. April 1 was the opening for salmon season in lakes managed for landlocked salmon. Conditions should be improving as the ice recedes. Avid salmon anglers are encouraged to help sustain this fishery by taking the Landlocked Salmon Anglers’ Pledge (visit http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/salmon_anglers_pledge.html).
- In the Southwest region, Fish and Game’s Milford Fish Hatchery has gained the reputation of growing "the big ones," and with good reason. Well water provides favorable growing temperatures for trout year round, giving this hatchery a slight advantage over other facilities during the winter months.
- New Hampton Hatchery is responsible for providing trout from central New Hampshire up to the White Mountains. In June, fingerling brook trout raised at New Hampton Hatchery will literally take flight, as they are stocked by helicopter into remote ponds in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. These remote ponds provide a special opportunity for those who wish to get off the beaten path and spend a day hiking and fishing in the White Mountains. The fishing season for designated trout ponds, including remote ponds, opens on the fourth Saturday in April (April 25, 2015).
"Remote pond fishing is a great experience and one of my favorites," says Smith.
To help fund the remote pond aerial stocking program, the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire has established a dedicated donation account at nhwildlifeheritage.org; be sure to specify "remote pond stocking fund.
Visit FishNH.com for stocking updates, fishing reports and to buy your license.