‘Tis the Season - Trout, Trout and More Trout

The weather has been perfect lately and now we can begin to enjoy some excellent trout fishing, provided the flood waters haven’t washed the holdovers down the rivers and out to sea. Designated “trout ponds” will open on Saturday, April 24th. But, other waters are open for trout now. According to Steve Perry, Division Chief for the Department of Inland Fisheries, trout stocking is already underway. Steve said that the numbers of stocked trout will be about the same as last year: 700,00 brook trout; 300,000 rainbow trout and 100,000 brown trout. Stocking will take place statewide over the course of several times. 

As I write this, our rivers are still high and rushing wildly so stocking them may be delayed slightly until they become a tad calmer and water temperatures recede. At present, they are too dangerous for wading. Pond and lake waters that are not labeled as “trout ponds” will be good areas to fish first for trout. Lake Massabesic, in Manchester and Auburn, will offer trout anglers fun along with some big trout. Although there is plenty of room for shore anglers, I’d prefer using a boat. The big advantage is being able to troll and cover a far greater area of water.

In addition to Lake Massabesic, there are other good waters not labeled as “trout ponds”. Try Deering Reservoir (Deering), Franklin Pierce Lake (Hillsborough), Gould Pond (Hillsborough), Beaver Lake (Derry), Canobie Lake (Windham), Big Island Pond (Derry), Pleasant Lake (Deerfield) and Tower Hill Pond (Auburn/Candia). Many of these waters are stocked with all three species, brook, brown and rainbow trout. 

Unfortunately, a check of Fish and Game’s website shows that they no longer stock Goffstown’s Glen Lake. There are trout in the lake that were stocked into the upper areas of the Piscataquog River and traveled down stream into the lake. Years ago, Fish and Game used to stock Glen lake and we had some really great trout fishing there for brown, rainbow and brook trout. Trout are still in Glen Lake and anglers do catch a few here and there. 

With that said, get out and enjoy some good fishing. As I mentioned earlier, “trout ponds” open

on the 4th Saturday in April (April 24). I look forward to that date and consider it as the real start of fun trout fishing. There are a lot of good trout waters to explore. Tight lines!

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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