the 2010 digest - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2010
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
freshwater fishing
2010 DIGEST
anglers welcome
When I was a kid growing up in Goffstown, I fished for
trout on the Piscataquog River any time I could. I was kind
of fanatical about it, actually; I made my rods and tied my
own flies—especially White Hornbergs and White Millers,
which were easier to see toward sundown. My friends and I
would be out every evening fishing below the dam in town,
or upriver toward New Boston on Route 13. In those days,
opening day for all trout fishing was the fourth Saturday
in April. We couldn’t wait to get on that river every spring.
Few of us have that kind of time to spend fishing these days, but you don’t
need to dedicate all your spare time to fishing to get out and drop a line in 2010!
I still look forward to those evenings and weekends when I can get out and spend
some time on the water.
New Hampshire has more than a thou-
New format for 2010!
sand waterbodies where you can fish, from
remote trout ponds and little streams packed
with native brook trout in the mountains…
to lakes and ponds of all sizes in our beautiful
Lakes Region…to major rivers like the
Merrimack and the Connecticut, where you
can catch 10 or 12 different kinds of fish.
Given the state’s geography, you’re probably
not more than a short drive away from some
pretty amazing fishing—and the relaxation
and great scenery that go with it.
Want to take the kids out and bring home
a few sunnies for supper? Take it from me,
kids love to go fishing, and there’s no better
way for families to spend some time together
outdoors. Since children under 16
fish free, fishing in New Hampshire is also
affordable for families. If you don’t know
where or how to get started, try Fish and
Game’s website at www.FishNH.com for New
Hampshire fishing info and places to go.
Don’t forget about ice fishing. Once our lakes and ponds freeze over, a whole
other world of fishing opens up on (and under) the ice. If you’ve never tried ice fishing,
check our story on page 26. Pick a nice day without wind and you’ll be hooked.
I invite you and your family to take advantage of New Hampshire’s multitude
of fishing opportunities this year. Let us know how it goes!
Glenn Normandeau
Executive Director
NH Fish and Game Department
We hope
you like our
new look!
We’ve fully
revised and
reformatted
the NH Freshwater Fishing
Digest to make it more
readable and user-friendly
for anglers. Because of
additional advertising and
production support, this new
Digest is more cost-effective
than the old one—leaving
more funds for us to spend
on important fisheries and
habitat programs.
NH Fish and game — our Mission
As the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources, the New
Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to:
• Conserve, manage and protect these resources and their habitats;
• Inform and educate the public about these resources; and
• Provide the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources.
On the cover: A catch-and-release of one of
Mother Nature’s jewels—a wild northeast brook
trout. (photo by Barry & Cathy Beck)
Contents
2 Important Telephone Numbers
2 Law Enforcement Districts
4 License Information
5 License Fees
6 Definitions
8 Important Laws and Rules
10 Rules for Lakes and Ponds
18 Rules for Rivers and Streams
23 NH Record and Trophy Fish
24 Boating in NH
26 Ice Fishing
28 Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
29 Freshwater Smelt Rules
30 Fish Identification
32 Know the Difference Between
Salmon and Brown Trout
33 Atlantic Salmon
34 Interstate Waters: VT, ME, MA
36 Fish Consumption Guidelines
38 Reel Fun: Go Fish With the Kids
39 Sunrise/Sunset Table
40 Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH