I think most of the late season or all year stream fishing, is for fly fishereman only (not positive on that however) and perhaps all catch and release, which is fine. Allthough we do use fly's, we don't use an Orvis fly rod and reel and fancy outfit, so I guess we don't fit the profile.

I'll probably catch hell for this, but I do know a few guys that fly fish on occaision and they are regular fisherman. But most fly fisherman from my point of view hold themselves a few notches above the rest of us. My wife's boss is a fly fisherman, his father and family go fishing once a year somewhere, for trout and he considers himself a Trout fisherman, get my point..They are the chosen few.

Where I differ from this idea is I don't think it should be "wide" open until April 1st. I do get your point, especially as we don't depend on Salmon, etc.
spawning and being bred naturaly, but the balance is good now, it would have a big impact on your normal season fishing.

What I would like to see is fishing season not ending on a Saturday or a weekday if it's 9/30, perhaps the 1st Sunday in October would be good, maybe it would be October 1st or maybe the 6th or 7th. Ending it on a weekday or a Saturday makes the season end earlier for allot of folks. Not many would drive 3 to 5 hours for a Saturday only fishing weekend ?

I know a few guys from this board that drove up for a last day of the season, only to find out it was Sunday, October 1st, realizing it was a day after the season closed.

Just my 2 cents.

John S.

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Replying to:

i agree totally you can stream fish some places all year whats the difference?

jeff

The begining of this thread is starting out like the silly ice fishing argument. Its called protecting the fishery. Salmon spawn after the open water season closes and closing the season protects them during the spawn / post spawn period when they are highly vulnerable. If you opened the season year round, (and while you're at it allow ice fishing too...), there would be no decent fish within a few years. No species, let alone the fragile salmon, can sustain year round pressure. If you want the excellent fishery to continue, leave well enough alone. Winni is one of the best LLS fisheries there is, F&G must be doing something right.

whats wrong with catch and release ? still fishing and i have more fly rods than anything else but I dont think fly fishing is any better just something I enjoy .

I cant name them off the top of my head but, there are bodies of water in NH that are open year round for rainbows. One of them being the merrimack river. If you got to the F&G web site you can look at the list of open year round trout fisheries. This should keep anyone happy until april 1st.
On a side note I just read that they changed the regs in Nubanusit lake they put some landlocks in there so be careful if you catch a "trout" through the ice.

The fish are trying to spawn in the fall, both salmon and lakers. (whether the spawning is successful or not is besides the point) The fish, especially the large ones, are concentrated into only a couple small areas of the lake. It is too easy to exploit them at this time. It wouldn't be fair to target them when they are the most vulnerable.

Yes i realize that catch and release would be excercised but i don't care how careful you are there is no need to be stressing ot a 5lb female salmon when she is full of spawn and weak. Nor would it be fair to hit the banks and play with the 6-20lb spawning lake trout when they are just trying to spawn.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/year_round_trout_ponds.htm

this is a good size list
hope this helps!

Well said Adrien !

Glen

If you really want to keep fishing this time of year for LL and Lake trout you can still go to Champlain.
But isn't the seasonal thing what it is all about??? Without a beginning and an end what would an opener be all about?
We all live in New England because we love the four seasons....

Good point Bob but I guess some people want it all regardless of the long term effect.
Cal

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Replying to:

If you really want to keep fishing this time of year for LL and Lake trout you can still go to Champlain.
But isn't the seasonal thing what it is all about??? Without a beginning and an end what would an opener be all about?
We all live in New England because we love the four seasons....

...and I want a pony...and a new car...and a third home...

We need to balance what we want with what nature can sustain. Good fisherman need to consider being good conservationists too.

Merry Christmas everyone...now about that pony...

Eric

This is the best I could do on short notice
Santa

Gus, thats hilarious!

-Eric

I can understand the salmon and not catch them but I think their is an overpopulated lake trout fishery on winni and don't see why we couldn't have a slot limit caught alot of lakers this season 2.5 to 3.5 lbs one right after anotherand also have catch and releaseup to ice in . just my 2 cents . "reel in it " also without having any ice and not being able to fish for the lakers during the winter when alot of lakers are keep their numbers are getting bigger year after year.

Not sure if it was discussed on this question, I just spoke with a guy that said he could fish for Lakers next week from shore or from a boat. I told him I thought it had to be through the ice ????? He insisted that he's seen people Laker fishing from boats on Winnisquam in January before.

Not that I would ever take my boat up now, but just a question for those that might ??

Johh S.