Article: Five Reasons to Visit New Hampshire in April
[This is my latest article written for the Londonderry Commerce & Visitors Center - posted 3/31/2013]
Hooos lookin’ at who? An owl talk at Discover Wild NH Day, held annually at NH Fish & Game HQ in Concord NH
Here are five reasons to visit the Granite State in April, including several ways to get outside and enjoy the return of spring in New Hampshire! [more... at VisitLondonderry.com]
NH Fishing Log: Early February and The Meredith Rotary Derby
2/3/13: Canobie Lake, Salem
Conditions: cloudy, on and off snowfall, light breeze, 20s
Equipment: ice fishing gear
Baits: worms
This was a little shake down trip in preparation for the Great Meredith Rotary Derby the following weekend. Canobie gets stocked with some nice rainbow trout and with ice about 7″ thick, we had a midday outing. No trout, but we found some yellow perch willing to bite, or at least steal our bait!
2/9/13: Winnipesaukee [Paugus Bay], Lakeport, Laconia
Conditions: storm conditions, heavy snowfall, high wind, teens
Equipment: ice fishing gear
Baits: shiners, smelt, worms, jigs
Day One of the Meredith Rotary ice fishing derby, fishing during Storm “Nemo”. Line management was difficult. Thank goodness we had a bobhouse to provide respite from the snow and hard wind! Very little action, but then we weren’t working our lines as much as usual.
2/10/13: Winnipesaukee [Paugus Bay], Lakeport, Laconia
Conditions: sunny, calm, upper 20s
Equipment: ice fishing gear
Baits: shiners, smelt, worms, jigs
Day Two… what a difference! It was paradise on the ice. Our crew fished hard with outstanding results. Working an area in about 50′ of water, I tried setting bait just off the bottom in hopes of bringing lake trout, which some of our party previously had luck with. I had flags right from the start, then the action mellowed a bit. A member of our party, also set up for lake trout, brought in the biggest yellow perch I’ve ever seen! Measuring at 15.5″ and weighing about 1 & 3/4 lbs, the fish wound up 2nd in its category on the Sunday leader board. That was good for a $200 prize… Several more lake trout and perch were caught by our group. Using my jigging rod, I had a spirited fight from a salmon, which I was able to safely release. Salmon cannot be taken through the ice in NH. A great day to be out and one of the best days our group has had at the Rotary Derby!
Mark Jordan bringing in a big yellow perch that won him second place on Sunday during the Rotary Derby.
NH Fishing Log: Late December on Highland Lake
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- Ice fishing on Highland Lake in Andover NH
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- A Highland Lake brook trout
12/29/12: Highland Lake, Andover
Conditions: cloudy, occasional light snowfall, calm 20s
Equipment: ice fishing gear
Baits: worms
Back to Highland Lake, for my first outing of the year on the ice. This little lake has good early season ice fishing – it can be more challenging later. The lake get stocked with some broodstock trout, and it can be a lot of fun coaxing those fish into range with a baited jigging rod. Ice was about 3″ when I visited, so I used considerable care getting around. I always test early ice every 10 feet or so with the chisel. If I can cut through in a couple of strokes… I’m outta there! I also recommend, for safety’s sake, that you don’t go alone. Ice fishing is more fun with company anyways.
Brook and rainbow trout are often shallow and are spooked easily by tipups. If I do get a grab and drop on a tipup, I’ll immediately work that spot with the jigging rod with good results. This kind of fishing is fun, because you often get to see the take. Better yet, there is the occasion that you wind up standing there with your heart pounding while a good sized fish swoops in, grabs, drops, grabs, drops and then takes off with the bait. Good stuff!
Hoping to still get an open water kayak trip in on the southern end of the state, but I’m thinking the weather has other ideas. Several nights with single-digit temps are in the forecast. The good side of that… maybe the big lakes will start to freeze over. Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam are wide open.
Art Show: Winter Scenes at Coffeeberries
Throughout December, fine artworks by a very talented group of local artists will be on display and offered for sale at Coffeeberries Gourmet Specialties and Cafe’, at the Apple Tree Mall in Londonderry NH. Titled “Winter Scenes at Coffeeberries”, the show’s theme will center on winter and the holiday season. The display will change over the course of December as more artworks are rotated in.
Featured artists will include Susan Hanna, Elaine Farmer, Sherry Burnette, Jennifer Wolf Love, Corinne Dodge and Patti Crowley. Ross Therrien will also display some excellent watercolors, done by his mother, the late Dorothy Campbell Therrien. Artworks will be framed and ready for sale, direct-from-artist.
“Cloud Scatter” by Susan E Hanna, 20″ x 16″ Oil
Meet the artists and get a chance to do a little early Christmas shopping at the informal artist reception Sunday, December 2nd from 2pm-4pm at Coffeeberries. Show is curated by Andy Mack Jr. Please contact for further information.
“Greeley Park Cross-country Skier” by D. Campbell Therrien, watercolor.