Fishing Report March 29 2015 New Hampshire

Target Species: Bass and Perch

Location: Southern New Hampshire

Depth: 8’ to 20’

Air Temp: 28-42 degrees

Wind: Calm turned to blustery

Ice Conditions: 20 inches of solid ice and shorelines opening a little

We are losing shorelines here fairly quickly on most of the northern Massachusetts lakes and with rains and warmer weather, we may be done with Massachusetts fishing. With that happening, we start chasing ice towards the north and making trips into New Hampshire following that.

Today we made a trip to a Southern New Hampshire lake that we started fishing last season and has come to be one of our favorites on the ice. With all of the snow we had this winter, we were never able to drive on the lake but made many treks to our fishing location.

The shoreline at the access location was opening a little but that is because there is a creek coming into the lake right at the point. The ice is still at 20 inches thick with most shorelines locked up and only a little snow on the surface. Luckily we have been fortunate that the slush never became an issue and this will allow us to prolong our season some.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

Vermont remind us It’s Time to Remove Bird Feeders

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department recommends taking down bird feeders from April 1 through November 30 to avoid attracting black bears that will be coming out of their winter dens to seek an early spring meal.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Connecticut DEEP Reminds Anglers that Opening Day is Saturday, April 11th

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding anglers that recent changes to sport fishing regulations included moving the date of Opening Day of trout season forward by one week, from the third to the second Saturday in April. This means Opening Day for the 2015 season is April 11. “We are excited about the additional fishing opportunities provided to anglers with this change to an earlier Opening Day,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. “This change provides an additional week of fishing opportunities for both resident and non-resident anglers targeting trout or fishing for other species such as largemouth and smallmouth bass found in trout waters.”

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/CT_News.html

KIDS OutDoors page updated at BWS OutDoors

We have updated our KIDS Outdoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the upcoming outdoor education classes offered across New England for Mar 30 – April 8

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Kids_OutDoors.html

Fishing Report March 22 2015 Massachusetts

Target Species: Crappies and Bass

Location: Northern Massachusetts

Depth: 8' to 19’

Air Temp: 26-32 degrees

Wind: Strong

Ice Conditions: 13 inches of ice with a 3 inch slush pocket

The weather change from yesterday was very dramatic as today the temps are in the upper 20’s and there are high winds blowing as well. We only had a few hours so stayed close to home and fished a small pond that has a good population of crappies and sunfish with bonus bass thrown in.

So far the ice and shorelines are holding up but our access point has a little open water and you had to watch where you step to stay on the ice. The little snow we had yesterday was froze on the ice surface and made for walking a lot easier. Ice conditions have 10-11 inches of surface is and then a 2-3 inch slush pocket and then a couple of inches of good ice underneath.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

KIDS OutDoors page updated at BWS OutDoors

We have updated our KIDS Outdoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the upcoming outdoor education classes offered across New England for Mar 25 – April 1

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Kids_OutDoors.html

Fishing Report March 21 2015 Connecticut

My fellow HSM Outdoors and Clam Outdoors Staff partner Michael Jasensky and I had been planning on a fishing trip on his home waters in Connecticut. March 21 was the day that we would meet and fish his lake for crappies and also try for the large pike that are there.

Mike, his son and his friend were on the ice at daybreak and had targeted a small shallower cove, dead-sticking big minnows fishing for pike. When I arrived the snow had started to fall once again and at times visibility across the lake was almost non-existent.

Mike and I started fishing off the end of a point and it didn’t take us long to find the bluegill. They were of a variety of sizes with more small fish than better fish. The abundance of gills in this location helped to keep us busy while working for the bigger bites.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

Twelve Deer Killed by Winter Feeding In South Hampton NH

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department today reported that twelve deer were discovered dead in South Hampton, N.H., on March 20, 2015, most likely the victims of well-intentioned, but tragically fatal, supplemental feeding by local residents.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Spring Outdoor Adventure Talks at N.H. Fish and Game

Get inspired for outdoor adventures this spring at a series of evening talks offered by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. No pre-registration is required. Unless otherwise specified, the talks start at 7 p.m. at Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. Admission is free (except film festival). Come learn something new about wildlife and outdoor recreation!

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Free Turkey Hunting Workshop offered in New Hampshire

A free workshop covering the basics of hunting wild turkeys is being offered by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department on Saturday, April 18, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center at 387 Perch Pond Road in Holderness, N.H. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. To sign up for the workshop, or for more information, call 603-536-3954.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

DEM files regulations for Rhode Island recreational striped bass fishery for 2015

The Department of Environmental Management today filed new regulations governing the Rhode Island recreational striped bass fishery for 2015. They establish a bag limit of one striped bass per person per day, at a 28-inch minimum size. The season will be open year-round.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/RI_News.html

Fishing Report March 15 2015 Massachusetts

Conditions: Cloudy and rain/snow skies, air temperatures mid 30's, moderate winds, bait of the day tip-ups with medium shiners

We only had a few hours to fish today and wanted to stay local as the weather was not favorable as there was light rain going to the lake that after on the lake, turned over to snow. The snow cover on the ice is totally gone with the previous week’s warm weather and that makes for foot travel so much easier once again.

There were a few anglers on the ice when we arrived but they didn’t stay long and we had the lake to ourselves. We were on the same lake from the previous weekend as the late ice fishing there tends to pick up much better than early ice is.

We made our way to the location that we fished last and started placing our dead stick fishing rods and some tip-ups closer to shore as the better fish seem to be following the shoreline closer. We weren’t finished setting the lines up yet and the first flag went off as my son raced over there.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

Vermont offering Turkey Hunting 101 on April 12

Never tried turkey hunting before but want to learn how? Here’s your chance to get started at a First-Time Turkey Hunting Seminar being held Sunday, April 12, in Berlin.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

KIDS OutDoors page updated at BWS OutDoors

We have updated our KIDS Outdoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the upcoming outdoor education classes offered across New England for Mar 16 – Mar 25

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Kids_OutDoors.html

Fishing Report March 8 2015 massachusetts

Conditions: Cloudy Snowy skies, air temperatures low to mid 30's, light winds, bait of the day was shiners on traps

My son has wanted to bring a friend along for a long time and today it worked out as to where we were going to fish and how we were going to fish. Between my son and his friend, they wanted to set all traps out and chase flags for a few hours.

The lake that we fished is a local city water supply lake and the only real pressure that it receives is during the winter months. This particular lake, is fairly shallow throughout the majority of the lake. Average depth's are in the 6-8 foot range and it has a lot of weed growth so the traps are only set around 6 feet deep.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

Winners of 2014 New Hampshire Trophy Fish Program Announced

NH Fish and Game Department’s Fisheries Biologist and Trophy Fish Program Coordinator Don Miller has announced the winners of the 2014 Trophy Fish Program. Four new state records were set in 2014. Mike Radziszewski of Campbell Hall, New York, set a record with his 3-pound, 3.68-ounce winter flounder. A new record black sea bass was caught in Portsmouth by former Fish and Game Commissioner, G. Ritchie White of Rye. Jooson Kim of North Hampton caught a new record common white sucker from Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Deer, Moose Hearings to be Streamed Online

Hunters, landowners and anyone else interested in Vermont’s deer and moose who are unable to attend the hearings in person may watch the March 23 hearing on Vermont PBS’s live web stream, available at vermontpbs.org/outdoorjournal.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Fishing Report March 7 2015 Massachusetts

Conditions: Sunny skies, air temperatures low to mid 20's, light winds, bait of the day Clam Outdoors Half Ant tipped with spikes and Duckbill Drop with a Maki Plastics Mino

Only had a few hours to get out this morning and wanted to fish a lake that we usually can find the pods of crappies, nothing really huge but nice numbers. Upon getting to the lake I had it to myself and that allows me to target where ever I want to go.

My plan was to fish one of the deeper holes and see if I can tap into the better schools of crappies that have been known to swim in this lake. Using the Navionics lake maps, this allows me to pinpoint and get right into the area without even drilling a hole for searching.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

New Hampshire Big Game Processing Workshop

Learn how you can process your own big game animal from field to freezer at a free workshop being offered at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H., on Saturday, April 4, 2015. The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To sign up, call the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center at 603-536-3954.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Three Public Hearings Set for Proposed Vermont Moose Hunt

Three public hearings will be held on March 23, 24 and 26 on Vermont’s proposed 2015 moose hunting permits and moose hunting regulations.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Fishing Report March 1 2015 New Hampshire

Conditions: Cloudy skies, air temperatures mid 20's, light winds, bait of the day Clam Outdoors Half Ant tipped with spikes and dead sticking a shiner

We are having to make at least one trip day a weekend further north so that we can find the best ice conditions that are available currently. So we stayed within an hour’s drive and that allows us to have more time on the ice chasing fish.

The last time that we were here we fished an underwater hump and even though we were able to catch perch and a smallmouth, it didn’t prove to what this lake has to offer. So we headed to an area that we frequent a lot on the ice as well as the open water and it comes down to comfort in a location that we fish.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Ice_Fish_Blog_14_15.html

KIDS OutDoors page updated at BWS OutDoors

We have updated our KIDS Outdoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the upcoming outdoor education classes offered across New England for Mar 9 – Mar 18

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Kids_OutDoors.html

Bass Pro Shops Sponsors Fishing Seminar for High School Students

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) are pleased to announce that Bass Pro Shops (Hooksett, NH) will be hosting a “Spring High School Bass Fishing Seminar” on March 25, 2015.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/NH_News.html

Hunter Education Instructor Training Course Taking Place April 11

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is offering a New Instructor Training Course for people interested in volunteering to teach Hunter Education, Trapper Education or Bowhunter Education courses in Vermont.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

Ice Shanties Must Be Removed Before Ice Weakens

Vermont state law requires that ice fishing shanties must be removed from the ice before the ice becomes unsafe or ice loses its ability to support the shanty out of the water, or before the last Sunday in March (the 29th this year), whichever comes first.

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/VT_News.html

KIDS OutDoors page updated at BWS OutDoors

We have updated our KIDS Outdoors page at BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors for the upcoming outdoor education classes offered across New England for Mar 4 – Mar 11

http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/Kids_OutDoors.html