Where to fish early Salmon

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Just learned this info about Lake Waukewan from a fishing article in yesterday's Union Leader from the back pages of the sports section. Will go dig it out of the trash basket.....hmmm.....where is that...let's see here...ok...March 28, page C4, Union Leader; Guide Lines by Dick Pinney.

"What a start: Open water everywhere

Salmon opener: While opening day for designated trout waters is still four weeks away, there are plenty of places to wet a line right now."


........

"The Laconia area has plenty to offer besides big Winnipesaukee. At Winni you have the April 1 opener, but at Waukewan in Meredith and Winona in New Hampton, you have a year-round fishery and some big rainbows and brookies."
........

And, that is the total of my info....that's what the newspaper says..... fll

But you cannot take salmon prior to April 1st regardless of the water body being fished.

Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout & their Hybrids

Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15
Wild Trout Streams: January 1 - Labor Day
Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15
Wild Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - Labor Day
Lake Trout &/or Salmon Waters: January 1 - September 30
All Other Waters: No closed season

Lake Trout

All Waters: January 1 - September 30

Landlocked Salmon

4th Saturday in April - September 30 (Pleasant Lake, New London)
All Other Waters: April 1 - September 30

[JoeG]

Waukeewan has no salmon and you may fish it year-round

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by JoeG

Waukeewan has no salmon and you may fish it year-round

Thanks, I was not aware that there were no Salmon in that lake, I do not fish for them.

Just trying to keep FLL from getting in trouble with F&G.

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Lake Waukewan, which is a very big lake in Meredith, is open for trout & salmon now before the April 1 Winnipesaukee opening, and has an excellent boat launch ramp and parking.

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by jmen24

But you cannot take salmon prior to April 1st regardless of the water body being fished.

Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout & their Hybrids

Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15
Wild Trout Streams: January 1 - Labor Day
Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15
Wild Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - Labor Day
Lake Trout &/or Salmon Waters: January 1 - September 30
All Other Waters: No closed season

Lake Trout

All Waters: January 1 - September 30

Landlocked Salmon

4th Saturday in April - September 30 (Pleasant Lake, New London)
All Other Waters: April 1 - September 30

You can't take Salmon before April 1st, but if you inadvertently hook one while fishing for trout you just release him. The Merrymeeting river opens January first for trout, for example, but sometimes a few salmon sneak in there - especially in March if the ice goes out early.

Caught and released this little one on wet fly March 18, 2010. Naturally I was fishing trout, but he was not to be denied:





And I got this hen about a hundred yards upriver, the last day of October (this dude held it for me so I could snap the pic):

[Jonas Pilot]

You seem to be stretching the rules.

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

You seem to be stretching the rules.

The fall run goes to the last day of October, so that wasn't an issue. As for March, the Merrymeeting river is open for trout as of January 1. (noted above) I'm not going to not fish it on a fine sunny Saturday in March just because there are salmon mixed in there too. If I get one I release it. Would you not fish Alton bay through the ice because occasionally a salmon hits your smelt?

[Jonas Pilot]

10 characters. No.

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

10 characters. No.

There ya go. I was only there that day in March to wet a line because the river was open and it had been a long winter - I was shocked when something actually hit my fly. I really thought it was a trout. I've been fishing Alton for thirty years and I have NEVER seen salmon in the Merrymeeting before April 1st. Certainly not two weeks after February!

I was there for Opening day - it was amazing. I caught and released 14 Salmon (the river was flooded) and came away with a vicious sunburn.

[Jonas Pilot]

You should learn to tell the difference between a male and female salmon.

[Jonas Pilot]

You seem to be stretching the rules.

[Jonas Pilot]

You seem to not care that you are stretching the rules.

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

You should learn to tell the difference between a male and female salmon.

That's a hen. I caught a male a few minutes later and the hook on his bill was much, much more pronounced.

[Jonas Pilot]

You seem to not care that you are stretching the rules.

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

You seem to not care that you are stretching the rules.

I am legal and I catch fish. I would love to see a few you have caught in the last - say - six months or so.

EDIT: Some fish from April 1st, 2010:

[Jonas Pilot]

You seem to not care that you are stretching the rules.

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

You seem to not care that you are stretching the rules.

I am not stretching the rules. I fish open water legally within season. Do you fish at all? This is the fishing forum, isn't it?

[The Hairy Beast]

Originally Posted by Jonas Pilot

10 characters. No.

By my count that's 16 characters, BTW...