Fishing Report October 12 2008

I am going to have to start this report out by saying that half way to the lake I realized that I had forgotten my camera at home and any angler knows what happens when you leave your camera at home.

With that said, this morning was one of those beautiful fall New England mornings with air temps at 45 degrees, no wind at all and clear sky’s for as far as you could see. There were a couple of trailers in the lot already and this time of year is great as the lake is void of boat traffic and as each week passes, it gets to be less all the time. The lake is still high for this time of year and never got over to the dam area to see if they are letting the water out yet. This is one practice that I don’t like here as they lower all of the lakes 1-2 feet for anticipation of snows and then we don’t get the snow and come spring the lakes are low. Anyway, the water temps are still hanging around 57 degrees which is still fairly warm for this time of year and with the warmer fall weather we may be out here through November as well. Started fishing on a deep hump that usually holds some bigger fish in the fall as there are plenty of smaller fish, sunfish, crappies and white perch that hang around here as well. Was using a technique that is used here in New England quite a bit in the fall and that is vertical jigging a Silver Buddy. A Silver Buddy is a blade bait that vibrates as you are jigging it and works great for fishing deep structure vertically and by using my Vexilar I am able to watch what is going on down there. I was jigging up a lot of action down there and could see that there were fish checking out the Silver Buddy but none of them would hit it and I assumed that they were probably white perch. Next time out I will bring along my underwater camera and see if I can get a look at what is going on down there. I tried this area for about 45 minutes moving around the area with no takers so I then headed off to the next spot.

There is a flat that I fish frequently that is at the mouth of a creek arm and the water depth is from 4-8 feet of water. In the fall time I am always looking for green weeds and there were plenty here and the weeds that are here are of the grass looking type in clumps spread around the area. The bass use these clumps as ambush points waiting for a quick meal to come along. The bait and technique that was only used was the Carolina Rig with a BearPaw Freedom Fry for the bait choice. Casting this rig into the weed clumps and working it slowly back through the grass all the way to the boat is very critical to get the most bites that you can. Was only a few casts in this area and the first fish pickup was happening with a hook set and battle on hand, the first 2 pound largemouth was in the boat. To me if I get a bite fairly early when getting to a spot, this tells me that these fish are using the area and should be more there. Was nice not having any wind which allows the boat to just sit in the spot and not move which lets you to work the area much better. Kept working through this area and caught a couple more of the same size fish as earlier and these fish definitely are in the feeding mood as when they pick the bait up, they definitely didn’t drop it at all. Things were slowing down as there was a light breeze picking up and decided to try a few more spots to see if the fish were hanging in other areas of grass. After trying those areas with no results, I had 45 minutes left before I needed to head out and went back to the flat in the creek arm. Was only a few casts once again and a fish hit and swung another 2 pound largemouth into the boat and sure felt good to be catching fish once again. Made a few more casts and a bigger fish grabbed the bait and fought it to the boat and as I was reaching to grab the fish I could see that the line was lassoed around its mouth and as I untangled the line the hook wasn’t even in it’s mouth and he swam away. This fish looked to be a 3 pound largemouth and all of these fish were very healthy looking fish. After a little more time there the clock said it was time to go home and loaded up and ended my day of fishing. This day goes to show what I have been talking about the last couple of weeks in that fall fishing can be feast or famine and today was a feast. Would have been nice to have my camera along as there were plenty of things that I wanted to show from the fall leaf colors, what types of things I was fishing and the water with the weeds to give you an idea of what these fish are relating to. But there will be plenty more times out there and hopefully the fish will be feeding like they were today. For the three hours that I was out on the lake, I had boated 5 nice largemouth bass and probably was one of the most productive days that I have had on this lake. If you have put your boat away for the winter, you don’t know what you are missing as these fish are feeding and as each week goes by they will be feeding more every day.

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Fishing Report October 9 2008

Another beautiful day here in New England and why not spend a little time seeing what the fish are doing once again. Decided to head back to the same lake as the previous day and noticed that the wind was a bit stronger today with temps around 73 with a nice fall day. I have four places along this lake that I usually target and go to the furthest one first and then work my way back towards the truck. Was fishing once again with T.H.E. Jig in the blue/chartreuse color pattern and once arriving at the first location, with the wind blowing in there wasn’t any action happening there.

Rest or the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

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Fishing Report October 8 2008

I have been very fortunate to have lakes close by to my place of employment and this allows me to get away during my lunch time to clear my head and be able to think things out. Today was another beautiful day here in New England with temps around 70 and the sun shining as well as little to no wind to contend with. Decided to got to my favorite panfish lake and see if their activity has picked up at all. One nice thing about going here is that you have to walk around a good portion of the lake down a trail to get to where I like to fish. The scenery is getting better every day as the leaves are changing to their falls colors, especially if the sun is out and shining on them and it is getting to be quite a scene to see. So far I haven’t been able to find any schools of panfish in this lake and today wasn’t any different. I was able to catch fish but you would catch one here and catch one there and just not able to get more than one out of a spot. I was fishing T.H.E. Jig in the blue/chartreuse color pattern under a stick bobber. Of the fish that were caught I am definitely seeing the size going up as the sunfish that were caught were good palm sized fish and very colorful for this time of year as well. Haven’t seen to much crappie activity along the shoreline yet and may have to get the kayak out and search deeper water to find them. But, I have been having a good time catching these bigger sunfish and always look forward to going back again soon. After catching a few fish and clearing my head, this makes it a little easier getting through the rest of the day at work and the stress that goes along with that.

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Fall Fishing

Fall fishing can be some of the best fishing as well as some very tough fishing with the ever changing water temps and fall turnover occurring. The name of the game for a successful fall fishing trip is to cover as much water as possible. Try and locate green vegetation as this is some of the only things that are still putting fresh oxygen into the waters. Green vegetation is a fish magnet and the fish in the lakes are searching out these areas of green vegetation. By covering vast amounts of water, this will allow you to present your bait to more fish in that particular lake. Once an area is found to hold fish, then you can slow down and work that area more meticulously and hopefully catch a number of fish. These areas may have schools of fish in them since fall time the fish are doing more schooling together now as opposed to other times of the year. Get out there and enjoy the fall weather and cover water as much as you can.

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NH Clam Flat Status

Clam Flat Status ~ Call 1-800-43-CLAMS

Updated October 3, 2008. For more information and updates, call the Clam Flat Hotline at 1-800-43-CLAMS. The next scheduled update for this web page is October 10, 2008. This webpage is not updated on weekends. Call the Clam Flat Hotline at 1-800-43-CLAMS for updates.

Click here for the latest status chart:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/clam_flat_status.htm

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Fishing Report October 5 2008

Fall is definitely in the air here in New England as I had started my day on the lake in 41 degree air temps. Luckily there wasn’t any wind and the lake was like glass with steam rising off of the waters surface. Water temps are hovering right around 56 degrees in this particular lake as the color of the water is fairly murky with about 2 feet of visibility and the is allowing it to retain some heat from the rays of the sun. This time of year I really enjoy fishing as the waters are void of boats as once Labor Day weekend passes many folks put their boats away for the winter. There was one other boat fishing this particular day and they didn’t hang around to long.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8BZZt0nXFE

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Cod, Poor Man's Lobster

Ingredients:
2 lbs cod fish filletsWater, to cover
1 tsp salt
1 bay leaf
1 small onion, peeled and sliced
2-3 slices lemons
1/2 cup vermouth
4-6 tablespoons butter, melted
fresh parsley, chopped fine for garnish

Directions:Place fish in a wok
Cover with water and add the next 5 ingredients
Bring to a boil at 225 degrees
Reduce heat to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until fish is opaque
Carefully remove fish from wok with slotted spatula
Serve hot with melted butter and chopped parsley
Submitted by: SueVM

Tree Stand Safety Tips for Hunters

More and more hunters are taking a stand, but this has nothing to do with the upcoming election.

The bowhunting boom of the 1970s introduced a new tool to hunters -- portable, commercially-made tree stands -- and both bow and firearm hunters were quick to discover their advantages. You can see over the brush, and when the wind is right, your scent will drift above deer that are close by. However, using them safely and responsibly demands preparation and precaution. With archery season open and firearms season just around the corner, here are some tips to get the most out of your tree stand hunting experience:

* Choose a live, straight tree. After you locate an area where there is plenty of deer activity, then choose a healthy tree within easy shooting range.

* Choose smart stands. Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA).

Rest of the story:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1382

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Fishing Report October 2 2008

The fall winds have started blowing and the leaves are beginning to change with the nights cooling with winter coming soon. It has been a while since wetting a line and was getting to be too much that I went to a local lake during lunch to catch a fish once again. Decided to try for some panfish and went to the lake that I ice fish frequently. With all of the rains lately the water level was considerably higher for this time of year. The wind was blowing onto the side that I was fishing so casting was a little troublesome and you had to wait for that in-between wind gusts to cast where you wanted. Wasn’t long and my quest was answered as the sunfish were still occupying the shallow shoreline areas. I was fishing T.H.E. Jig in the blue/chartreuse color pattern underneath a stick bobber. Casting this setup around and near overhanging branches and wood that is in the water as areas that didn’t have any type of cover, there weren’t any fish there. The bite wasn’t fast or furious by any means but consistent for the work I had done to try and catch them. Also was able to catch a couple of smaller bass on T.H.E. Jig that were chasing small minnows around the surface of the lake in a calmer cove. Definitely going to keep fishing and hopefully get the boat out this weekend and won’t be long and will also get the kayak out and start searching for deeper crappies up to the hard water season.

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Children's First Fish

Rhode Island

Children's "First Fish" Certificate

Award Program

YOU'VE CAUGHT YOUR FIRST FISH CONGRATULATIONS!!

Receive a special "First Fish" award certificate from the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, signed by the Chief, and a free gift. Simply print out this APPLICATION, fill it out completely, and return to:

RI Division of Fish and Wildlife,Aquatic Resource Education Program,277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892

Contact person: Christine Dudley (401) 789-0281 or christine.dudley@dem.ri.gov

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/records.htm#children

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Fall Plastics

When the fall season comes along, it is always a guess as to what we are going to throw out there into the water to catch a fish. Fall can be a tough time to fish as well as there are fall days that no matter what you throw for a bait, fish just chow on whatever you are throwing them.

If you happen to hit a day that the fish are on fire and eating everything in sight, just throw what they want and catch as many fish as you can. But traditionally for fall time baits they consist of crankbaits and spinnerbaits and if you don’t feel liking casting and cranking all day, there is another alternative that may get overlooked and you will have in the boat at all times, the plastic bait.

Lets take a look at a few plastics that have worked well over the last handful of seasons and we are going to look at what BearPaw Hand Poured Baits has for these selections. We are going to take a look at five of their baits and give an idea of what can be done with these baits in your fall fishing.

Read the article here:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Articles.html

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Connecticut Trout Parks

Trout Park? What's a Trout Park?Is it some kind of strange fish carnival? No, actually a Trout Park is a pond or stream that will be stocked weekly with trout from the state’s fish hatcheries.

11 water bodies in Connecticut have been designated as Trout Parks. Trout Parks are located in easily accessible areas to enhance trout fishing opportunities for young anglers and novice anglers as well as for those with mobility challenges. The frequent stockings, generally between Opening Day and Memorial Day, will greatly increase an angler’s chances of catching a fish, making it a more attractive "fishing hole", particularly to children and families.

Although the Trout Parks will have more fish in them, their daily creel limit (the number of trout an angler can keep) has been reduced from five to two fish per day in order to spread the catch among a greater number of anglers.

So round up the family, get over to one of the Trout Parks and start fishing!

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=322724&depNav_GID=1630

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Rain brings food

Are we water logged yet here in New England? After the last three days of solid rain, New England is once again saturated and water levels coming up very quickly again. The downside to all of this rain is that it is keeping folks in the house and off of the waters. The upside to this is it is creating a feeding smorgasbord for the fish in our favorite lake. What this means is that if you fish a lake that has a stream or runoff coming into the lake, that is where you should concentrate your efforts for locating fish after rains like we have had. What happens is the extra flowing water coming in is bringing along with it extra food morsels from the ground being washed. worms, bugs and small creatures of sorts fall victim to the flowing waters, but as these waters dump into the lake, fish know this and are sitting and waiting for dinner. If you are able to get on the lake in the next few days, definitely search out areas that have some of this water flowing into the lake as you maybe surprised in what you find there.

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Time to Collect

As we are getting into the fall mode here in New England, many activities start coming around between apple picking, hay rides, Halloween and of course searching for those colored leaves. The New England landscape is changing each day and one thing Kids really like to do is search for colorful leaves as they are falling. Taking Kids for walks is a great family time get together and also getting out and getting some fresh air. This gets them away from those video games, and TV screens and to venture out and search for those miraculous leaves for their ever changing colors and different shapes. Winter will be here soon so why not enjoy one of the best seasons of the year, fall.

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Vermont's Critter Curriculum Website

We would like to encourage you all to explore the library of content we have for you.

Kids, we have lots of information to help you research Vermont's animals for your research projects, we have fact sheets, photos, illustrations, and some interesting ideas to help you finish your project. We even have cool printable materials, including a special animal tracks guide for you; just print it and head on out to see what you can identify. Check up on us often, as we are constantly trying to get you more stuff.

Teachers, Get your students thinking about the environment, peek at several of the lesson plan ideas that we have posted, created by participants in the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Teachers Course at Buck Lake. Make sure you check back in periodically as we update our site as new ideas arrive.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/vtcritters/index.cfm

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LifeJacket’s a Must

Now that we have entered into the fall season and here in New England we have been experiencing some very cool weather, this is cooling our favorite lakes and ponds very quickly. When going out onto your favorite waters, make sure that you are wearing your lifejacket at this time of year, the lifejacket will definitely aid in saving your life. The waters temps are dropping fast and with that hypothermia sets in as well and once this happens, it makes it very difficult for you to be able to get to shore if you happen to fall in. In Massachusetts from September 15 until middle of May, you are required by law to wear your lifejacket at all times in small craft like a canoe or kayak. Fall can be one of the best seasons to be on the water but by taking some caution while you are out there, you will be able to enjoy another trip again next time.

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12th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo for Families, Sturbridge

September 28--12th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo for Families, Sturbridge

Families, friends, Scouts and other youth groups should mark their calendar and join the fun at the 12th annual Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (Big MOE) from 9AM - 4:30 PM held at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds, off New Boston Road, in Sturbridge. The Big MOE, sponsored by Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society (FAWNS), is a free, family oriented event celebrating Outdoor Skills, Nature, Art & Animals. This all day family event is free thanks to co-sponsors including MassWildlife, Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, The Weatherby Foundation. A number of sportsmens clubs, locally based outdoor related businesses, and other conservation groups sponsor a variety of skills stations, craft tables and other exhibits relating to wildlife and the outdoors. The "Big MOE" is the perfect opportunity to introduce young and old to outdoor skills and activities.

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Prime Fall Time Fishing

Many anglers enjoy fishing throughout the summer months and one can’t blame them as the weather is so much more tolerable as opposed to either the spring or fall. But to those that put their boats and equipment away after the Labor Day weekend holiday; these anglers are the ones that are missing the best part of the year for catching quality fish.

As the temperatures are getting cooler with everyday that passes, this will take the temperature of the lake down with it as well. Taking the waters from around 80 degrees down into the low 60’s, this is like a trigger that is being pulled as the fish know that it is time to put the feed bag on and start putting some weight on them before the long winter ahead.

Many fish go into somewhat of a dormant stage in the northern part of the country throughout the winter months. So for them to be able to handle those long northern winters they need to put on more weight so that they will be able to draw from that as each day of the cold season passes. So to put on this extra weight that they will need, these fish are eating and chasing everything in sight.

Continue with the article:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/uploads/Prime_Fall_Time_Fishing.pdf

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Brake for Moose: It Could Save Your Life

New Hampshire is famous for its moose, but having these massive mammals in abundance can also lead to dangerous and costly moose-vehicle collisions. Each year, there are roughly 250 moose-related accidents in the Granite State, many resulting in injuries or death to drivers and passengers. N.H. Fish and Game wildlife officials and law enforcement officers urge drivers to use caution when on the roads, especially at dusk and dawn, for your safety and that of the moose. Here is some important information to keep in mind when driving in New Hampshire:

New Hampshire's moose herd is approximately 6,000 strong.

The average moose weighs 1,000 lbs.

Moose are hard to see at night. They are 6 feet tall at the shoulder and your headlights will often only reveal their legs, which are the same color as the pavement. Their height also means that if you hit one, the bulk of a moose will fall on your windshield and roof.

Don't count on seeing "eye shine." Moose eyes do reflect light, but your headlights won't reach that high.

From April to November, moose are very active and the highest numbers of moose-vehicle collisions occur. In spring, yearlings have just been separated from their mothers and are apt to show up anywhere at anytime. In fall, moose are on the move because it's their mating season.

Moose are attracted to salt licks caused by winter road management, so it is not surprising to see them on or very near the road.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/brake_for_moose.htm

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Vermont's Seventh Annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day Is Oct. 4

If you enjoy wildlife then make plans to attend the seventh annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day in Addison, Vermont on Saturday, October 4.

Activities at Dead Creek Wildlife Day are especially for people who enjoy hunting, fishing, birdwatching, or learning about Vermont's diverse wildlife. The event will be held at Vermont Fish & Wildlifes Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Route 17 west of Route 22A.

Early risers can begin the day with bird banding demonstrations at 7:00 a.m. Two large tents at the Dead Creek WMA headquarters will open at 9:30 a.m. and feature wildlife-related exhibits and kids craft activities such as decoy carving, face painting and building bluebird boxes.

The day's main activities run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and include nature walks, illustrated talks, live wildlife presentations, hunting dog demonstrations, fishing and hunting tips, and much more. All events are free, and a free shuttle bus will provide regular access to nearby field events throughout the day.

The festival is hosted by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, VermontDepartment of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc., Otter Creek Audubon Society, Addison County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and Addison County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information and a schedule of events, call Vermont Fish & Wildlife at (802) 241-3700 or visit the web site: www.vtfishandwildlife.com and click on the Dead Creek Wildlife Day icon.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1375

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/images/deadcreek/poster_08_for_web.pdf

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Fall Fishing

Fall is one of those seasons that seems to get forgotten in the fishing community. Many sportsmen are dual outdoor activities and when fall comes around, they concentrate their efforts more in the woods than on the water. But for those that stick with the water aspect of the fall time, these anglers are the ones that are going to reap the rewards. Fall fishing is probably one of the best times to catch that trophy of a lifetime and there maybe a number of them caught at that. The fish are feeding heavily to get ready for the long winter ahead and at the same time become very aggressive as well. Fast moving baits are a charm at this time of year as they allow you to cover vast amounts of water in a short period of time. Once you locate an area that has a school of fish using that area, then you can slow down a little and fish it more precisely if that is the case. Fishing in the fall I find is the best as more times than not you will have the whole lake to yourself and what other time of the open water season do you get that.

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Illegal Koi Spotted in Pickerel Pond, Maine

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists have retrieved a non-native koi/carp from Pickerel Pond in Limerick and have received reports that there may be at least one other in this particular body of water.

This illegal koi was retrieved from Pickerel Pond in Limerick by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologists. The illegal introduction of species to Maine's waters has the potential to cause devastating harm to native fish, aquatic plants and water quality.

Koi, which is the Japanese term for carp, is an invasive species that can survive and reproduce in Maine’s waters and cause devastating harm to the state’s native fish species, aquatic plant life, and the quality of water.

Based on public reports, it is believed the koi was introduced into Pickerel Pond earlier this summer, but it is not known how it got there. IF&W was alerted to the koi by Limerick Town Selectman Dean Lepage and resident Ilene Dashner, and these reports prompted a quick response from fisheries biologists who hope their efforts will reduce the risk of the koi taking over the pond.

Rest of the story:
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/news_events/pressreleases/index.htm

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Lake Champlain Northern Pike Regulation Survey

Northern pike are one of the most popular sport fish sought by Vermont resident anglers in the open water and ice fishing seasons.The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department would like to hear your opinion on the current status of northern pike regulations on Lake Champlain.If you have an interest in Lake Champlain’s northern pike regulations, we would appreciate your input. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.A final summary of survey results will be posted on the department’s website in early 2009.Thank you for your time and interest in Vermont’s fisheries resources.

Click here for the form to fill out in this survey:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/pikesurvey.cfm

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Fall Time for Kids Fishing

Fall is one of those prime times that make a fun day to have the kids out on the water chasing a few fish. The pleasure boaters have left to put their boats away for the year and this leaves our favorite waters void of much activity. Fall is also the time of year that kids may catch a trophy of their lifetime as the fish are on a feeding binge getting ready for the long winter ahead. Picking a nice sunny day makes for an enjoyable time to be out on the water with the kids and also is much more comfortable for them as well. You may have to search a little to find the active fish but once they are found there usually is good numbers of them as the fish are in the schooling mode this time of year. Why not take the kids out on the water and enjoy a pleasant day basking in the sun, talking while enjoying each others company and catching some good fish.

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Submit Vermont Deer Pictures

Contribute Your Trail Cam & Other Photos:

People have been sending in photographs of whitetail bucks that they have been taking with trail cameras, etc. We have set up an on-line photo gallery where we are posting photographs that we have had sent to us of bucks from around Vermont. If you have any photographs of 2008 bucks that you would like to share, send them by email to fwinformation@state.vt.us. We are not asking that you give away any of your secret "hot-spots", however, it would be helpful and appreciated if you would identify the Town in which the photo was taken and the Date that the picture was taken.

We greatly appreciate your help and support. We hope that this will be fun for all.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/deer_photos.cfm

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Fishing, wind and rain

September 14 2008

The fall weather has taken over and here in New England and we have also been feeling some of the effects of the hurricanes that are crossing this country. The rains have been falling and winds have been blowing, but at least the temps are very mild. Today’s weather was on/off rain, with strong westerly winds and the water temps are hovering right around 68-69 degrees. Went back to the lake that I had previously fished a few days ago and what a change compared to then. The bite was very tough and I concentrated again in the thickest weeds that I could find. Was switching between fishing a Carolina rigged BearPaws Freedom Fry and also a Texas rigged BearPaws B-Bug. Fished these baits as slow as I could through the weeds and the bites were far and few between. The bites that I did get were solid but missed every one of them and figured that they were picking up the tails of the baits and that was not allowing a good hook set. Tried a number of weed flats and only had a couple of areas that had any type of activity at all. It has been a long time since I have fished in the rain and it reminded me of the days of tournament fishing when you had to be out there no matter the weather. Today there is a lot of wind and blue skies and warm temps comes along with that but starting tomorrow another major cold front coming through once again and this must mean that fall is here. Definitely going to have to start throwing a crankbait or spinnerbait now and cover as much water as I possibly can. Fishing is only going to get better and as the hunting seasons start, the lakes are going to be void of boats and the lakes will be back to those diehard anglers that utilize the best season of the year.

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Mapleton Maine Youth Catches Record-Setting Artic Charr

Mapleton – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife confirms that an 11-year-old young man from Mapleton has caught a record-setting Arctic Charr, breaking a 35-year-old record.

Carter McLaughlin, 11, of Mapleton, caught the charr on Aug. 20 at Pushineer Pond in T15 R9. According to IF&W Assistant Fisheries Biologist Frank Frost, who measured the fish, the record-setter was 25.4 inches in total length and weighed 5.24 pounds.

The previous record weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces and was 22-3/8-inches long. It was caught by Merton Wyman of Belgrade on Basin Pond on May 5, 1973.

What makes this fish a “truly incredible catch” is its overall size and weight as well as the fact that it was caught in one of Maine’s 12 native charr waters, according to Peter Bourque, a supervisor in IF&W’s Fisheries Division. The previous record (1973) was taken from a then-newly introduced population of Arctic Charr, which also are known by the name “blueback trout.” New introductions tend to seek out new niches where they will often grow beyond normal sizes, Bourque said.

According to IF&W records, the fish that was caught in 1973 was one of 27 adult “bluebacks” stocked in Basin Pond in 1969. The 27 adult fish originally came from Wadleigh Pond in Piscataquis County and were part of a fishery research project to perpetuate the blueback trout in waters other than those in which they occurred naturally.

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Fishing, years gone by

Many of us anglers these days can look back from the days we were kids and smile from all of the memories that we have. Those days may not be able to be relived, but these days are the days that we will never forget as we grow older. From the many days of fishing with our school buddies to those many excursions with dad and gramps to the water.

There were many trips that our buddies would show up on their bikes with the fishing rod strapped to the bikes frame and the tackle box in their hand. Of course the closest lake was around five miles away but at those times we really didn’t care how far it was as we were going fishing.

After peddling for what seemed like an eternity, we could see the lake in the distance and knew that there were going to be fish caught when we got to our secret spot. This was our best place to fish and you always hoped that nobody beat you there. This place consisted of a culvert that went under the highway and the sunfish that lived in there were very nice sized fish.

The key to fishing here was to aim the cast to go into the culvert, but you had to cast as far as you could possibly cast. With the hook baited and the bobber set to the magic depth, you would eye up your target and get the angle just right and launch that cast as deep into that culvert as possible. As soon as the bobber hits the water, down it goes and the battle is on to get that trophy bluegill out of their deep dark homes.

The two of you would look at each other and start laughing hysterically at the size of these fish and how we were catching them. We weren’t in any type of backwater type of lake with the tranquility of the breeze blowing or the birds chirping. We were fishing next to a major road with cars zooming by us not more than ten feet behind the guard rail. As the afternoon would wear on you know that you had to be home for dinner and would strap everything back onto our bikes and off we would go back home after a very fun filled day.

Then the weekend would come and it was time to go visit grandma and grandpa for a couple of days. They really enjoyed having fresh fish for a meal and grandpa had a great spot that would give us plenty of opportunities at catching a few meals. Run out to the garden with a bucket in hand and a digging fork to dig up a bunch of worms for the days fishing trip. After digging up a few dozen worms, load the rest of the gear in the truck and head for this honey hole.

This was one of those areas that you hoped that someone doesn’t beat you there as it is another shoreline fishing spot. This area was a channel that came off of the main lake and wasn’t to deep but also had some weed growth in it as well. Staking out our spot we would get all setup and get ready for a fun filled day of catching fish.

Gramps would help you get your fishing rod and bait setup and would tell you to cast over to that spot over there. The bobber would hit the water and as soon as it would standup, down it would go. There was cast after cast that would play out the exact same way over and over again. The bucket was filling up very quickly between gramps, dad and me as the fish were biting like they were having their last meal.

Then there is that time when the bobber goes down and when you set the hook it doesn’t feel like a sunfish that is on the line. The fish is fighting and your mind is wondering as to what you have on the hook. Now gramps, dad and everyone else that is fishing there is watching you. Gramps is telling you how to fight this fish as we don’t want to lose it whatever it is.

As it comes to shore the bobber is getting closer but no one has seen the fish yet. A few feet away you are pulling the line in and there it is, the biggest dogfish that you have ever seen. What a great fight this fish gave you and there was no way that you were going to touch this fish as it was the ugliest thing that you have ever seen.

As the afternoon wore on, catching all of these fish seemed to get a little boring after a while and I would start searching for other creatures that were living there. This is when I came across a little painted turtle and asked Dad if I could keep this little guy. Went and got another bucket and filled it with water and now I had a new little friend. We had our fair share of fish and looking at our catch, we knew that it was going to be a long night of filleting fish and many meals were going to be frozen and also a fish fry was in store.

There are many memories that have been made over the years and many more that are still to be made. But these memories that are from my childhood seem to be the best by far since at those times things were so simple and there wasn’t much for complexity at those times as well.

Those early days of spending time with gramps are missed very much these days. Being the first grandchild of four, there was a much stronger bond between him and I and being we had such similar interests, we got along so well together and spent many days fishing and walking in the woods. These days of memories are never to be lost but they are very missed from time to time when grandpa comes to mind and I can relive those many trips together through all of my memories.

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Fishing September 10 2008

Finally back on the water and really didn’t know what to expect for a bite as the previous day a major front had passed through and dropped the temps by 20 degrees. Weather was bluebird skies with a good breeze from the NW and temps were in the mid 60’s with water temps down to around 67 degrees. I wasn’t sure if the fall pattern had started yet but with the cold front that had gone through, decided to fish deep in the weeds. The area I concentrated on is the mouth of a creek arm and has a big flat in the front of it that ranges from 5 to 8 feet of water. There is milfoil and grass mixed all around this flat and has always seemed to hold fish from previous outings here. Started out on the front of the arm in 8 feet of water and surprisingly started getting a few bites right away. But, they were grabbing at the tail of the bait because I could feel them pick it up and when I went to set the hook, they either ripped the bait in half or I just missed the hook-set all together. I was fishing a Carolina rig with a BearPaws Freedom Fry in the largemouth bass color. The fish were definitely active and I was amazed as I figured that it was going to be a tough bite for the day. Finally was able to start catching a couple of bass but they were only 12-13 inches long. Then the wind shifted from the NW to the NE and that definitely made a difference in the fish biting more frequently. Every few casts I was either catching a bass or getting and missing a bite but they definitely had turned on. Then a solid hit picked up my bait and as I reeled in the slack and went to set the hook, all I heard was a pop. I stood there looking dumbfounded as I didn’t know what just happened and I looked at my rod because I thought that I had broken it. Rod looked fine but the line broke right at the reel and that created that sound. I stood there dazed and then looked in the water to see if I could see my line as there was going to be quite a few yards dragging behind this fish. I used the rod and stuck that into the water trying to see if I could snag the tail end of the broken line but unfortunately was unable to find that line anymore. Kept working the area and picking up a couple more of the same 13 inch bass and then the wind shifted back to the NW and that seemed to shut the bite down all together. Moved around to another couple of areas that weren’t productive at all and decided to call it a day. This probably was one of my most productive days on this lake and I had figured before I even got there that it was going to be a tough bite. Goes to show you that no matter how much time you spend on the water, nature always throws a loop into your thinking. The technique that was the most productive was working the Carolina rig through the thickest weeds in the area. Cast out and work the bait slowly through the weeds back to the boat and all the way back to the boat as there were bites right next to the boat as well. Fall is definitely in the air and once these fish start moving on their feeding binge, then it will be time to break out the crankbait and start covering water.

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Fall is in the Air

This morning I woke to a very crisp and bright morning as we can tell that fall is right around the corner. Major front came through yesterday and has dropped the temps by 20 degrees and going to be a cool day in store for us. While making coffee this morning, I was looking out the back window and there was a flock of turkey's of at least 20 plus birds. I seem to always get mesmerized watching wildlife utilizing my backyard and never seem to get enough. The plan today is to hit the water in search of fish but not quite sure if the fall patterns are starting to form yet or not. I know that going out there this is going to be a tough day for fishing with that major front blowing through and bluebird skies today. But that will not stop us from at least trying and seeing if we can put a fish in the boat or not. Hope everyone enjoys their day today and hopefully I will have something to report tomorrow as any day that I can get on the water, will always be a good day.

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Vermont Youth "Fish Tale" Photo Contest 2008

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding youths and their families to pack their cameras and storytelling skills along with their fishing poles, tackle boxes, and bait this summer.

The Department is conducting a Youth 'Fish Tale' Photostory Contest during the 2008 fishing season. The Fish & Wildlife Department is looking for photos and accompanying "Fish Tales" describing the fishing adventures of young anglers enjoying our great fishing opportunities. The contest is open to youth anglers, 17 and under, fishing in Vermont's lakes, ponds, rivers, and brooks.

For more information on this and also entering click here:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_tales.cfm


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Weather on the Change

Now that Hurricane Hanna has made her exit Sunday morning, the winds have definitely picked up from her exiting. The skies are sunny and very enjoyable weather the next couple of days. But this week is going to be a roller coaster as changes are happening and it will seem as if they are changing every other day. The next day or so will be fairly stable but then a major change with storms passing through that will drop the temperatures dramatically. This definitely is going to be a factor if you are going to be out searching for fish. We are going to be heading out right after the coming cold front and should be some of the toughest fishing conditions of this early fall season. I know that I always look forward to a challenge and will be trying many different things as well. Will be concentrating heavily in deep weeds as if the fishes activity level is none existent, this is where they should be. Fall is approaching very fast and that means one thing, the dinner bell has been rung and the fish are on the hunt. Now is the start to any of the best times of the year to catch fish and there will be some big ones caught as well.

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Approaching Hurricane Hanna

With hurricane Hanna approaching the New England area, we wonder what the fish and wildlife are going to be doing out there. This morning while lying in bed with the windows open, the rain was falling and the birds and insects were very prominent with their voices in the early morning. Now I as sit here typing, the patio doors are open and there is a deathly silence out there and no activity at all. It is very overcast and light winds but no rain falling yet as it gets darker by the minute. The wildlife knows that there is something coming and it always amazes me of the signs that they tell with the ever changing weather. Today maybe a tough day for fishing as well but I won't know that. Being aware of your surroundings is very important part of life as the wildlife is in the outdoors at all times and they know what they need to do to get through to tomorrow. Why not listen to what they are telling you and plan your outdoor adventures from that. We are waiting for the presence of hurricane Hanna to grace us with her presence and hopefully she will exit during the night and leave us with a nice day tomorrow and allow us to venture out onto a body of water.

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August 31 2008

The Labor Day holiday weekend found us camping at our favorite place in New Hampshire. Unfortunately when we do go camping the boat has to stay home as I am unable to tow both a camper and a boat. So I decided to bring along the kayak and also my underwater camera and I wanted to take a look around some of my favorite spots and see what was down there. By taking this opportunity to try this, with no fishing going on, forced me to do something that I have wanted to do in quite some time. Went out to the first spot which is a point that has rocks on the end of it and there was definitely baitfish activity there but didn’t see any bass cruising around. The water clarity on this lake was allowing me to get to around 25 feet deep before it would get to murky to make anything out. Moved over to a ridge that is lined with rocks but after scouring the bottom for a while there no activity was found. Then moved to my best spot and right away this area was teaming with life with baitfish all over the place as well as bass but these bass were 6 inch or less. Moved to a deep underwater point and didn’t see any fish activity but did see some trees as well and stumps that lined the bottom in this area. Moved once again to a spot that I frequent quite a bit and once again I had seen plenty of baitfish as well and a nice smallmouth and largemouth bass swimming in the area. Started noticing a pattern forming as to fish location and the only areas that I had seen any activity whatsoever there had to be weeds around because any rock or barren bottom areas were void of life. Figured that I better start heading back in so I decided to stop at the mouth of the arm that we were camping on. As soon as I lowered the camera down, life was everywhere and so were the bass. As I floated this area a school of nice smallmouth bass swam by and I was rotating the camera to see them again as I wanted to see how many there were in this school. As the camera was rotating, I caught the tail end of the school but following them were three very nice largemouth bass and this had made my whole experience with my camera so worth its weight in gold. I haven’t used my camera much at all as I will start using it in the boat, but my wanting to fish always takes over and the camera gets put away. But by going out on this day and not bringing a fishing rod along, forced me to do something that I had wanted to do for a long time and I feel now that anytime that I go camping, there is a new pastime to explore on the waters that we camp. I felt I had an understanding of what was going on down below the waters surface, but until you actually see it with your eyes, this opens up a whole new world and also educates you in the relationship of what these fish do in our lakes and ponds. I know that I am looking forward to many more trips out with my camera as well taking it along on the ice this winter. Now I just need to start recording what I am seeing and this will allow me to put videos and stories together to educate other anglers as to what fish are doing with the habitat that they live in as many fishers don’t get to see this and it really is something to watch.

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Come to the 12th Massachusetts Outdoor Expo for Families

Families, friends, Scouts (Boys and Girls) and other youth groups should mark their calendars for September 28, 2008 and join the fun at the 12th annual Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (Big MOE) held at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds in Sturbridge from 9AM - 4:30 PM. The Big MOE, sponsored by the Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society (FAWNS), is a free, family-oriented event celebrating outdoor skills, nature, art and wildlife. This all-day family event is free, thanks to co-sponsors MassWildlife, Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, The Weatherby Foundation and the Worcester County League of Sportsmen's Clubs. Sportsmen's clubs, locally based outdoor related businesses, and other conservation groups sponsor a variety of skills stations, craft tables and other exhibits relating to wildlife and the outdoors.The Big MOE is the perfect opportunity to introduce young and old to outdoor skills and activities.

New activities and information tables for 2008 include: Building Your Own Duck Call, Wood Carving & Burning, Tree Stand Safety, Traps & Trapping, Make a Simple Goose Decoy, Whitetails Unlimited and Jr. Shooting Clay Teams of Massachusetts Scholastic Clays.

As in the past, impressive live birds of prey, native snakes and turtles and a beekeeper's hive will be on display. There are opportunities to scale a rock climbing wall, paddle a kayak or canoe. Try your hand at tomahawk throwing, fishing, building a bird house, or testing marksmanship skills on the airgun, rifle, shotgun or archery target ranges under safe and expert supervision. At the Nature Crafts Tent, paint your face, create an animal bracelet, make a rainstick or a headband. Observe taxidermy and Jr. Olympic air gun demonstrations and visit a New England pioneer encampment. Offerings from MassWildlife include: modern wildlife management, forestry skills and fishing. There is something at the Big MOE for the whole family. Admission to all activities and parking are free.

The Big MOE is also in need of enthusiastic, outdoor oriented volunteers willing to assist at several skills stations or to host a skill station. Clubs and other conservation organizations wishing to host a skill station or assist others at an existing station are welcome. For more information visit the FAWNS website or contact Gary Zima, 508/389-6314.

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Grandparents and Kids Fishing Day

September 7--Grandparents and Kids Family Fishing Day, Granby--MassWildilfe and the Granby Senior center are encouraging grandparents to bring their grandchildren to this family fishing day at Dufresne Pond from 9:00 – 1:00pm. Learn some of the basics of fishing from MassWildlife's Angler Education Program volunteers. No equipment is needed, but if you have your own, bring it along! Pre-registration is required. Contact Pat Sicard at 413-467-3239.

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August 27 2008

The dog days of summer are definitely here and now with the cooling nights this should finally get us moving towards better fishing within the next couple of weeks. The leaves are starting to change and a few are falling, the kids are getting ready to go back to school, so the fish should be getting ready to put the feed bag on once again. Fishing has been tough for many these days and it sure isn’t from the lack of trying. Pressure on these fish should start dropping off and also the activity level on our lakes after this weekend will disappear fairly quickly. It has been a very busy summer this year and not a lot of fishing on our part. This year has been the first in a long time that there was more time spent doing other activities other than being on the water. But once we get past this Labor Day weekend, that will change and fishing will be every weekend until ice up and then the hard water season starts. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend and be safe out there but also enjoy this last weekend of this years summer.

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Weather Stability

Finally the weather in New England has become stable with bluebird skies, bright sunshine and light winds. These conditions have not been around here in quite sometime and are a welcome to our wet and cool climate of late. With the weather being stable this should benefit the fish’s activity as well as the anglers catch ratio should be going up. We are into the late summer time and heading to early fall patterns so looking for fish in deep water should be a part of the days game plan. There will be fish still shallow especially early and late in the day and should not be over looked, but the deep water structure is still gong to be holding fish. Water temps are still warm but losing their temperature quickly as the evenings are cooling down and this will start getting the fish into their fall feeding frenzy.

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Kids fishing, keeping it simple

Many of us parents enjoy the outdoors and what a better way to do that is by taking your kids out into the outdoors with you. Fishing is a great family pastime and anyone can go fishing and catch fish as well. When you are out there fishing with your kids, one thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep things fairly simple for them when out fishing. By this we are talking about not going deep water bass fishing, or throwing crankbaits all day, but keeping it simple with a jig and bobber. The jig and bobber is a great combination that has caught numerous fish for every generation that fishes these waters. Plus, the jig and bobber is not one fish species specific as it will catch just about any species that is swimming in that particular lake. Fishing around some weeds or docks will always produce and keep their interest much longer as generally the panfish hang around these areas. Also, if they have their own rod/reel combination, this will also boost their enthusiasm to want to go fishing. By keeping everything simple for fishing, this will make those outings to the lake much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

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Persistence

With the dog days of summer upon us in full force and the ever changing weather conditions with loads of rain, fishing can be very trying for those that are out on the water. Don’t let this time of year and these conditions affect how and where you are fishing. It comes down to the angler that can be very persistent in their search for fish and these are the anglers that are going to make the best of the current situations. By not giving up and changing between baits, you will stumble onto something that starts producing for you and makes for a very enjoyable day. Keep the persistence going and you will see what we mean.

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Fishing August 10 2008

After a long time away from the water, finally found some time to get the boat to the lake and look for a few fish. Weather conditions were calm with a heavy fog that lingered for a couple of hours throughout the morning. The fog burned off and then the hot sun was beating down and without any wind made for a tough bite along with all of the storms and rain that we have been having. Went to a small pond and started fishing on a deep water ridge. Dragged Carolina rigs and jigs over and around but there weren’t any bites to be had. Decided to go to the shorelines and fish with a weightless BearPaws Hippie Stick and that finally produced some bites. The fish were very small in size but at least something was biting my bait and this produced 3 largemouth bass. The sun came out of the fog strong and any shoreline bite seemed to end and then I headed back to the deep water ridge but there weren’t any bites there and decided to call it a day.

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Fishing, what it means: part 6

Part 6

Also now that my son is getting a little older he has been accompanying me on quite a few adventures as of late. This past winter he had really gotten himself excited and went on many ice fishing trips with me and for a six year old, he showed this old man how to catch some very nice fish. Just watching his excitement while he is watching the electronics and catching a fish is priceless in my book. He always looks forward to our fishing and if we haven’t been out for a while he starts bugging that we need to go once again.

These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and I treasure all of these and hope that they continue to be made for many years to come. It is funny how we come full circle in life and from what my father and grandfather had taught me out there on the water, I am teaching my kids the exact same things. Sure we now have much bigger boats, all of the fancy electronics, more baits than we will ever use and more fishing rods/reels that we know what to do with, but we seem to always come back to the basics in whatever we do.

Fishing these days has been much more enjoyable to me and means so much more to me these days as well. I really look forward to each trip that is made to the water and at the end of the day, fish or not, I know that I had a great day out there. Fishing is not work anymore but a favorite past time that I can spend many hours out there again. But if I only have an hour to fish, so be it, I was still able to do something at that moment that means so much to me. Fishing, what it means to me is time to reflect on life, get away from all of the hustle and bustle, and spend some quality time with family, my kids and friends new and old. Once again, there aren’t enough days that I get to fish again and this is telling me that my passion to fish is back stronger than ever…

Get out and enjoy the outdoors and what Mother Nature has given to us…

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Fishing, what it means: part 5

Part 5


Since I have that behind me now, my fishing is all about having fun and enjoying spending time out there on the water. I enjoy these days hooking my boat up to the truck and picking a lake to go fish at, and I don’t care, I do a little, if I catch a fish or not. My days on the water now are to get away from the rat race of being an adult, a husband and a father and using that time to clear my head and get myself back to reality.

I look forward to the days that I am able to get out and fish with some of my old friends and relive some of the old days that we had together. I also look forward to the days that I am able to take my dad out fishing, like he use to take me, as he doesn’t fish much anymore and we don’t get to fish together that often either. These are memories that you keep with you all your life and I try and keep them going forward as each year passes.

Now are the days that I am truly enjoying fishing as I have my own kids to take along and show them the art of fishing. My daughter is getting into those teenage years now so we don’t get out much together anymore, but over the last years we had spent many hours in the boat, just the two of us and those are the memories that I will be carrying with me as I go forward. Hopefully the day will come once again that she wants to try her hand at fishing again and I will be there ready and willing to do that for her.

Part 6 continues

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Fishing, what it means: part 4

Part 4


So you are at that point in your life and you are working a real job at this point and the temptations of fishing bass tournaments are on your mind all the time. You take that next step and buy yourself a bass boat and start looking at some tournament trails that look inviting for you to fish. You spend hours and days pre-fishing for these tournaments and looking for that one sweet spot that is going to make you famous and put you into the winners circle.

Many lakes are fished and many miles are traveled around a few states to compete at these levels. You are making friends from the competitors you fish against and are starting to make a name for yourself. But you are not finishing in the standings where you really want to be and this starts playing mind games with you each and everyday that you are on the water. You now are second guessing all of your moves and this dream that you want to fish for a living is starting to not look so good or promising.

Anytime that we start moving towards a passion of ours that we would like to turn into a career things seem to be not what they look like. Getting up in the wee hours of the mornings to get to the lake at dawn to start another practice day, isn’t as inviting anymore and seems to be a lot like work and the fun really isn’t there anymore. Do I really want to fish for a living as this is starting to feel more like work and not play. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and I was fortunate and glad that I took my shot at tournament fishing and can say that I tried something that I wanted to.

Part 5 continues

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Fishing, what it means: part 3

Part 3

Then the day came that you got your drivers license and you thought the fish better watch out now because I am coming to get you. You hook that 14 foot boat and 5 hp motor to your parents’ car that you borrowed and head to the lake that you think is going to produce those big fish for you. You fish like there is no tomorrow because you are living through your dreams of watching those guys on TV and what they are doing to help put fish in your boat.

Your mindset is not on catching panfish like your dad and grandpa had you catching all of your youth. You want to catch some of those big bass like they do on TV and you have all of the latest baits that you figure that will do that job for you. You cast and cast like there is no tomorrow and pound every target that you can find and are catching fish here and there and a smile is forming on your face.

After some time spent out on the water fishing the way that you want to fish, ideas are flying through your mind like “hey, I bet I could do this for a living like the big boys”. I felt that I could go to any body of water and catch fish after fish and there was no stopping me now. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and you hope that these dreams come true one day and there wouldn’t be anything better than fishing for a living.

Part 4 continues

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Fishing, what it means: part 2

Part 2

Those days that were spent sitting on the shoreline casting a worm and bobber as far as you could, to try and beat your buddy with a bigger fish. You would brag to each other that your fish was bigger than theirs and seems that everyone caught huge fish by the time the end of the day came and then you had to make that ride home once again. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and you wonder where these buddies of your childhood are today.

Then the days come when your father and grandfather would take you along in the 14 foot boat with the 5 hp motor on the back for a day on the lake. Panfish were always the species that was sought and many hours were spent anchored near some shallow weeds and casting a bobber out looking for fish. Dad and Grandpa were always telling you to stop making so much noise because the fish can hear you and that is scaring them away from biting your hook.

There were thousands of hours spent with the three of us on such a variety of different bodies of waters exploring and searching for those meals of fish. If it looked like rain we were not going to be caught out there and would head off as fast as that 5 hp would move us along. These are memories that you keep with you all of your life and one day you look forward to meeting with Grandpa once again to share those quality stories of yester years with each other.

Part 3 continues tomorrow

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Fishing, what it means: part 1

Part 1

If one was to ask an angler what fishing means to them, they would probably get a different reason from each of those fishers. There are loads of reasons why we fish and when you sit down and think about it, every one of those reasons has a meaning and something behind them.

Over the years I have looked at fishing from all different angles and theory’s and they all had their time and place over my fishing career. What does this mean? I want to give you, the reader, an idea of what fishing has meant to me over the years and it does and will go from one side to the other.

Back in the early days of when you were a kid and you and a buddy jumped on your bikes and rode to the closest body of water to wet a line. There were days that many fish were caught and also days that you were lucky to see a fish, but every chance you would get you made that ride to try your hand at catching a fish.

Part 2 continues tomorrow

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New England's Fishing Opportunities

Fishing in New England has multiple opportunities for all anglers that want to sample the waters. We have the various freshwater ponds and lakes around the area as well as many river systems that dissect their ways through the land. Then there is the opportunity of wetting a line into the salt water’s of the ocean from either the surfside or out in a boat searching the many ledges and deep water haunts. Freshwater fish species are a wide choice and the most sought after are the large and smallmouth bass, pickerel, landlocked salmon and perch/panfish. Saltwater offers many as well from cod, striped bass, bluefish and the large tuna that swim these waters. With all of these fishing opportunities where is the angler to start in their quest, freshwater or saltwater. It really comes down to what the angler seeks is to where and how they are going to catch these fish. With all of these places and species of fish to catch, it will take a lifetime to fish these fish as well as all of the waters that are offered the angler in the New England area.

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"Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" Workshop

CONCORD, N.H. -- Are you a woman who would like to learn the skills you need to get started in hunting - the original outdoor challenge? Or maybe you know a woman who might be interested in becoming a hunter. The fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend workshop has selected openings available that offer a chance to learn a variety of hunting skills while participating in an exciting weekend outdoor skills workshop.

The 2008 B.O.W. fall workshop is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 5-7, 2008, at scenic Rockywold/Deephaven Camps on Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. The workshop fee of $295 covers everything - two nights lodging in a lakeside cabin, buffet-style meals, instruction and equipment use. There are no extra fees. The enthusiasm of the women at this workshop is amazing.

For more information click on this link:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2008/News_2008_Q3/BOW_Fall_Last_Chance_080108.html

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Wet Weather, Mosquitoes

New England has been experiencing a very wet and humid summer this year and that is growing numbers of mosquitoes as well. If you spend any time outdoors you are definitely going to be paid a visit from these little flying annoyances. With the diseases these little buggers carry you will need to take precautions to protect yourself from their bite. Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants is a good way to keep them off of you. But if it is very warm and this is not practical, then you will need to spray yourself with some bug spray that contains DEET in it. If you have sprayed yourself and go in for the evening, it is a good idea to shower this off once you are in the house for the evening. Many of us want to spend as much time outdoors as possible and taking some of these precautions will help you enjoy time outdoors.

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