I love to see free fishing days or free weekends.  This is a great chance for parents that may not have the money or time to purchase a fishing license.  This allows them to spend a day or two fishing as a family.  It’s a great time for someone who does not have a license to get out and introduce fishing to a young person.  This is a great program brought forth in order to keep fishing of interest to people.

Here is a list of states in New England that will be offering free fishing days/weekends:

•  New Hampshire–June 2nd
• Mass–June 2nd & 3rd
• Rhode Island–June 2nd & 3rd
• Maine–June 2nd & 3rd
• Vermont–June 9th
• New York–June 23rd & 24th
• Connecticut does not have a scheduled free fish day this year.

Get yourselves out there and introduce a kid to fishing.  If you have not purchased a fishing license for whatever reason, utilize this time to get out and experience the great outdoors while fishing.

The past couple weekends I have been on a couple fishing trips that I will share with you in other posts.  Due to time restraints, weather, water level, and a mix of bad luck I have not been successful in my attempts at catching the kind of fish I wanted to.  I can relate to the disciples in this scripture we will look at today:

One day long ago, a master fisherman was walking by the water’s edge. Upon seeing a group of tired fisherman washing their empty nets after the fruitless efforts of a long night’s labors, he got in a small boat and put out a little from the shore. He called out to them asking if he could help them. He said, “Would you like to catch the “Big One”? Responding with a rousing chorus of “Yes!”, “You Bet!”, and “Of course we want to!”, the seasoned angler said, “Drop your net in the deep waters.” Suddenly, to their surprise the weight of their net tugged and pulled nearly bursting as it teamed with fish to overflowing. Startled and puzzled by the strange ability this man had to attract the catch to their net from another boat, the rowdy fishermen determined to hang on his every word until they discovered the secret to the irresistible lure that could hook the prized trophy from afar.
Passed on from man to man, and as effective today as on that first fishing excursion, the bait that never fails is yours for the taking.
B. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 16:31)
A. Acknowledge and repent of your sins. (1 John 1:9)
I. Invite Jesus into your heart and life (confess with your mouth).
(Romans 10:9)
T. Tell others about Jesus as Savior and Lord. (Mark 16:15)
Don’t miss the catch of your lifetime! The “big one”, eternal life, awaits you. The prize above all trophies is Jesus Christ. He is calling you into fellowship. He wants more than anything to share his secrets with you so you too can become a fisher of men. (Luke 5:1-11)

I recently received an email from the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department.  This would be a great way to spend time outdoors with your dad.  Or wives a great chance to get rid of your husband for the day….

Here is the information.  I can tell you if I lived in New Hampshire, I would be there with bells on.

NORTH COUNTRY FLY-FISHING WORKSHOP OFFERED

CONCORD, N.H. - If you’re looking for special something to do with dad on Father’s Day weekend — or just want a chance to learn more about the skill of fly-fishing — the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s “Let’s Go Fishing” Program and the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation have a perfect solution. “The North Country Experience” is a fly-fishing weekend offered June 16 and 17, 2007, at Coleman State Park in Stewartstown, N.H. This free course will give you the chance to learn about the traditional and timeless sport of fly-fishing.

Class space is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up, print out and return a registration form, which can be found on the Fish and Game website at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/lets_go_fishing_class_schedule.htm. Registration forms can also be obtained by calling Lisa Collins at (603) 271-3212 or emailing aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov. Participants will be notified of their registration status at least two weeks prior to the event. The class is open to anyone age 13 and over, however those 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Designed primarily for first-time fly-fishers, the workshop will cover the basics of equipment, fly casting, stream ecology, knot tying, safety and how to find those “hot spots” along New Hampshire’s rivers and lakes. The highlight of the two days will be Sunday, when we’ll pull on our waders and head out to Little Diamond Pond to put our newly learned skills to the test! Participants should plan to bring their own or borrowed equipment. A limited number of rods will be available for use, please let Fish and Game know if you will need to borrow their equipment. Non-local participants are expected to make their own arrangements for overnight accommodations; camping is available by reservation at Coleman State Park, and there are also motels and lodges available in the area.

Over the past ten years, the Fish and Game Department’s “Let’s Go Fishing” program has taught thousands of children and adults to be safe, ethical and successful anglers. The program is federally funded through the Sport Fish Restoration Program.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works to conserve, manage and protect the state’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, as well as providing the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources. Visit http://www.WildNH.com.

In order to kick off summer in high fashion, Vermont has set June 9th as it’s free day for fishing.  This is open to everyone, residents and non residents who would like to try fishing in Vermont for one day.  This is completely free and legal for all who would like to wet a line on that day.

“June 9 is Vermont’s ‘Free Fishing Day’ — the one day in the year when residents and nonresidents may go fishing without having to purchase a fishing license,” said Wayne Laroche, commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

“It’s a great opportunity to take the family fishing and create memories to last a lifetime.”

“Fishing Festivals” will be held between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the June 9 at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle and the Bennington Fish Culture Station in Bennington.

This would be a great opportunity for adults to introduce fishing to our youth.  For whatever reason you do not purchase a fishing license for the year.  This certainly would cut back on your chances to introduce youngsters to fishing.  However, this one day you can take that fishing equipment out of the back room, drive down to the pond, and let yourself and your kids do some fishing and enjoy spending time with the family while in the great outdoors.

With Vermont’s 284 lakes and over 7,000 miles of clear streams offer the greatest variety of high-quality, fresh-water fishing in the Northeast.  No matter what part of the state you are in, there is ample opportunity for everyone to get out and kick off summer with a free fishing day.

I will be in Vermont this upcoming weekend, May 18-20 doing some major fishing.  From my family there I hear the browns are biting and they “guarantee” me some action.  I will certainly keep you posted and have lots of pictures after this upcoming weekend.

It has been slow coming to the area but warmer temperatures and Spring is in full strut now.  My grandfather always taught me that when the tree buds were the size of a mouse ear, it was time to go fishing.  Well that time is here.  I will be out there going at it this weekend for sure.

One kind of fishing that will see a quick jump start with water temperatures warming up in Hancock and Washington counties is salmon fishing.  In a recent article in the Ellsworth American, Greg Burr, assistant regional fisheries biologists talked about action picking up.  Here is a list that Greg recommends for the local area:

Washington County: West Grand Lake, Pocumcus Lake, Cathance Lake, Big Lake, Pleasant Lake (Alexander), and Gardner Lake.

Hancock County: Long Pond (Mount Desert Island), Alligator Lake, Phillips Lake and Green Lake.

Brook trout fishing should also pick up starting next week according to Mr. Burr.  Here is his lists for those trout fanatics out there:

Washington County: West Branch of Machias River, Crooked River, Pleasant River, Old Stream, Mopang Stream, Fifth Lake Stream and the West Branch of the Narraguagus River.

Hancock County: West Branch and the Middle Branches of Union River

This week there will also be loads of waters that will be stocked with nice brookies ranging from 7 to 11 inches.

Huntley Brook Pond in Cutler, Middle River in Machias, Simpson Pond in Roque Bluffs, Fox Pond in T10 SD, Witch Hole Pond in Bar Harbor, Simmons Pond in Hancock, Fox Hole Pond in Deblois, North and South Meyers Pond in Columbia, Indian Lake in Whiting, Montegail Pond in Columbia Falls, Lily Pond in Trescott, Bubble Pond in Bar Harbor, Lily Pond in Deer Isle, Salmon Pond in T30 MD, Keenes Lake in Calais, Craig Pond in Orland, Six-Mile Lake in Marshfield, Upper Hadlock Pond in Northeast Harbor.

If you are an avid salmon fishing fanatic or you want to give it a whirl for the first time. New Hampshire will provide you with a great opportunity to do so.

This May, brood stock Atlantic salmon anglers in New Hampshire will be able to get out and enjoy some of the most exciting fishing they’ll have all year. New Hampshire Fish and Game plans to release more than 500 tagged brood stock salmon this spring, including 100 fish averaging 10.8 pounds (some nearly 20 pounds!), and 400 weighing about 6.5 pounds each, into the lower Pemigewasset and Merrimack and rivers.

“These are some of the largest brood stock salmon that we’ve ever stocked,” said Jon Greenwood, coordinator of the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program for Fish and Game. “So watch out — they’re going to put up a fight!”

The best fishing for brood stock salmon is during May, when the water temperature remains cool. Depending on the weather, by some point in June the water gets too warm (70 degrees F) for the fish, and they tend to migrate downstream out of the stocking area. “We’ve been waiting for the flood waters to recede before we release the brood stock salmon,” said Greenwood. “More normal conditions of water flow allow greater opportunities for angler success. Our best estimate of when that will happen is the week of May 7.”

New Hampshire has the only managed Atlantic salmon river fishery in New England. Only salmon marked by Fish and Game with a T-bar anchor at the base of the dorsal fin may be kept, and the bag limit remains 1 per day and 5 total for the season.

You can find out more information on New Hampshire’s Fish & Game website.

If you are a trout fanatic and fly fishing is your game, then you will have the opportunity in these ponds from April 28th through October 15th. The amount of fishing places in New Hampshire is amazing, there are 975 lakes and ponds and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams stocked by Fish and Game. I recently received information from the NH Fish & Wildlife Department that those hoping to land a trout in New Hampshire this year may find informative.

Fishing in New Hampshire’s designated trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds opens this year on April 28 (the fourth Saturday in April), offering anglers the chance to experience exciting fishing in some of the Granite State’s most scenic surroundings. These ponds are managed specifically for trout, and fishing is allowed from opening day through October 15.

“Thanks to late season snowstorms and colder than normal temperatures, ponds north of the Lakes Region may still have some ice-cover to greet anglers on opening day,” said Fish and Game Fisheries Biologist Don Miller. “That’s okay, because fishing around ice-edges is usually very productive, as trout seem to be energized when the ice sheet finally recedes. Fish and Game staff are actively stocking many waters now, generally from south to north. Several ponds received late fall stockings of surplus brood fish, many in excess of two pounds!

“These trout ponds are often the best waters in a given area for a variety of reasons,” Miller said. “Excellent habitat, low species competition and the fact that these ponds are closed to ice-fishing allow these waters to be managed for the trout fishing enthusiast.”

While trout ponds are found throughout New Hampshire, many of the most popular are found in the White Mountains, Monadnock and North Country regions. Ponds managed for trout may be stocked with a variety of different-aged fish. Fish and Game stocks more than 50 remote trout ponds with fingerling brook trout via helicopter each spring, offering anglers a wilderness experience. Chapin Pond in Newport, Cole Pond in Enfield and Coon Brook Bog in Pittsburg, all fly-fishing-only waters, are just a sampling of these delightful ponds, where fingerling brook trout often grow to 8-10 inches by their second fall in the pond, and it’s not unusual to pull in brookies 15 inches or more. Trophy fish in these areas are brook trout that live to three or more years old.

Clough Pond in Loudon, Dublin Lake in Dublin, Saltmarsh Pond in Gilford and Lucas Pond in Northwood are a few good early season hotspots for trout anglers. Ponds further north, like Long Pond in Benton, Echo Lake in Franconia and the Hall Ponds in Sandwich generally “heat up” a week to ten days later because of higher elevation and harsher climate conditions.

“Trout are prized by anglers because they are challenging and elusive, and catching them is one of the traditional rites of spring,” Miller said. “Whether your passion is a multi-colored brook trout, a leaping rainbow or the determined fight of a brown, there’s a New Hampshire trout pond for you.”

For a list of trout ponds and fly-fishing-only ponds in New Hampshire, as well as a description of special rules that apply to certain ponds, consult the 2007 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest, available online at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm or from any Fish and Game license agent.

For the latest conditions on New Hampshire’s trout ponds, consult the staff in Fish and Game’s regional offices (Region 1, Lancaster: 603-788-3164; Region 2, New Hampton: 603-744-5470; Region 3, Durham: 603-868-1095; and Region 4, Keene: 603-352-9669). Staff are always ready to assist anglers.

This Spring/Summer I am going to introduce my two year old to fishing. There are several short trips around home that I have planned out. Some great places that will offer some action to get him hooked on fishing. Every trip out with my son will be the best fishing trip I have ever had. All those great fishing trips that landed me some trophy fish will not compare to the first time my son reels in his first brookie, bass, or perch.

I will also be bringing him to Bethel, Maine. On June 2nd they will be having their annual free family fishing festival. A friend of mine had gone last year with his kids and I was able to see some great pictures of the families enjoying themselves. This year I want to experience this first hand.

If you are interested in this great family day, go check out all the information at Upper Andro Anglers Alliance blog.

I received this email from the New Hampshire Department of Fish & Wildlife. If you live in this area it would be a great opportunity to get out and meet your wildlife enforcement officers and the department. As well as other outdoor enthusiasts willing to help a great cause.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is looking for volunteers to help stock millions of inch-long salmon fry into the Merrimack River basin; several rivers and streams in the Upper Connecticut River watershed in northern New Hampshire; and the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire’s Connecticut River watershed.

The stocking plays a vital role in restoring runs of salmon to New Hampshire’s waterways. Fry released in these river systems and their tributaries stay in the rivers for about two years before migrating to the ocean. When the salmon are about four years old, they will try to return to these rivers to spawn.

If you can lend a hand with the Merrimack watershed effort, call Vikki Leonard, N.H. Fish and Game Inland Fisheries Division, at (603) 271-2501 or email fish@wildlife.nh.gov. Please leave your name, address, telephone number and which days you might be available. Volunteers will release the first wave of fry in the Merrimack River watershed on April 17, 19 and 24. Another batch of fry will be released in the Merrimack watershed next month, on May 1, 4, 7, 8, 15, 17 and 22. Approximately ten volunteers are needed for each day of stocking.

More than half a million salmon fry will be stocked in northern New Hampshire. If you can volunteer to help with efforts to stock fry in the Upper Connecticut River watershed, contact Andrew Schafermeyer, N.H. Fish and Game Fisheries Biologist, at (603) 788-3164 or email aschafermeyer@nhfgd.org for meeting times and places. There will be opportunities for five days of volunteer stocking (including one Saturday) in the Upper Connecticut River watershed during the first two weeks of May. The upper part of the Ammonoosuc River from Bretton Woods down to Littleton will be stocked with salmon fry on Thursday, May 3 (meet at Foster’s Crossroads Store in Twin Mountain at 10:00 a.m.). The second day of stocking will be Saturday, May 5 (meeting at the Wal-Mart parking lot in Littleton at 9:30 a.m. and proceed downriver).

On Wednesday, May 9, salmon fry will be stocked in the Gale River, Israel River and the Little River (meeting at Foster’s Crossroads Store at 10:00 a.m.). On Thursday, May 10, the Wild Ammonoosuc River will be stocked (meet at the Wildwood Picnic Area on Route 112 in Easton at 9:30 a.m.). On Monday, May 14, Nash Stream will be stocked (meet at the N.H. Fish and Game regional office in Lancaster at 10:30 a.m.).

Over half a million Atlantic salmon fry are also stocked each spring in the Monadnock region in southwestern New Hampshire’s Connecticut River watershed. Additional volunteers are not generally needed for this effort, which involves seven days of stocking in late April and May. The contact for stocking in this area is Gabe Gries, Fisheries Biologist, N.H. Fish and Game, at (603) 352-9669 or ggries@nhfgd.org.

Many individuals and groups take part in the fry stocking effort, including state and federal fisheries personnel, conservation organizations such as Trout Unlimited, and other interested citizens. Volunteers carry the inch-long salmon fry to release points along rivers and streams in the watershed. They should be prepared for an all-day commitment and rigorous walking with buckets of water and fish. Waders, hip boots or old sneakers are recommended footwear for stocking. You may get wet, so bring extra socks and sweatshirts, etc. Stocking will take place rain or shine. Pack a lunch and drinking water, waders or hip boots and be prepared to spend the whole day on the river.

For more information about the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program in New Hampshire, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/Anadromous_Fish_Program.htm.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.FishNH.com.

While searching through the internet for interesting information about hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities I came across a great article on another blog, Rednalsi of Vermont. The writer and I share in the passion of passing on outdoor traditions to today’s youth. I love to come upon people that are willing to take the time to invest in our young people and teach them fishing and hunting.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s “Let’s Go Fishing” Program is pairing up with the Harris Center for Conservation Education to host “Fly-Fishing A-Z” on Saturday, April 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Harris Center in Hancock, N.H. The workshop is free of charge.

The workshop will be open to anyone 13 and older. Those under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult. This workshop will focus on newcomers to the sport of fly fishing. They will cover the basics of equipment, fly casting, stream ecology, knot tying, safety. The finale on Sunday will be going to a “hot spot” and trying your new lessons in real life fishing situations.

There will be rods that you can borrow. These are limited and when you sign up there is a spot to mark that you are in need of borrowing equipment for the training. You can sign up online at Fish & Game website or the Harris Center website.

What a great opportunity for those interested in taking up the sport of fly fishing to get out and learn from skillful people at no cost to you. Parents, Grandparents, or adults, take a kid to learn a great skill of fly fishing and spend some time with them in God’s great outdoors.

Only a few days away from open water fishing here in Maine. I know there are those who it has become a tradition to wet their line on opening day. Each of us have our “early” season spots in mind in an attempt to catch that first fish of the year.

There will be a section of Wilson stream, from the outlet bridge downstream to the Route 156 bridge that will be closed to adults. Fishing will be allowed on this section of the stream for those 16 and under. This is an effort to increase the amount of kids becoming involved in the sport of fishing. To help make this exciting and fun for the youth, the State will stock that stretch of the stream three times during April. In total there will be 750 brookies dropped in that section ranging from 8 to 10 inches.

State biologists Dave Boucher said “there’s a department wide effort to provide fishing opportunities to kids to get them interested. This is all new and we’ll need feedback from anglers about what these fish are doing,” Boucher said. “If they’re not contributing to the fishing experience or people are not using them, we’ll do it somewhere else. It’s a bit of an experiment.”

What a great opportunity for our youth to get a chance that will provide some action and fun while introducing them to fishing and all those life lessons that go along with this great activity. You can read more about this opportunity at Wilson stream as well as other spots in that area in an article put out by Sunjournal.com

What are your thoughts about “youth only” fishing spots? Should the State also take small ponds in certain areas, stock them with fish, and focus on making them youth only fishing also?

I am glad to see my State taking the initiative to think out of the box and come up with creative ideas to pass on the tradition of fishing.