What's first this year?

[fessiewig]

Just wondering . . . . . what's the first body of water (not asking for secret spots) you intend to fish this year? For me, I'm thinking it's right after ice out in Alton Bay for LL's and Rainbows.

[Ken B]

For me it'll probably be somewhere close like the Lamprey. I usually do a trip in May up north and hit the Conn and Profile on my way back. A few year ago I had 2 inches of ice and snow on the truck on May 15th! I am vowing to explore the Pemi this year too!

Ken

[fessiewig]

We gotta get together Ken. You gotta drive right through Littleton heading north and I fish Profile all the time.

[Ken B]

Absolutely! Here's one of my bigger, ok biggest profile fish!


ok...try to post the photo but it didn't work????

[Jeff Reardon]

I want to fish the Diamond on the Dartmouth Grant this year. Will be my first serious trout trip in NH in a long time.

[Ken B]

Jeff,

If you're looking for company on that trip let me know. That's been on my go explore list for a while now.

Ken

[fessiewig]

Jeff,

I'm not familar with either "The Dartmouth Grant" or the "Diamond". Can you get me started on where they are?

[PW]

How do you get into Diamond, by foot? I thought there was a gate on the road and you needed permision from Dartmouth?

[Boneylegs]

From what I remember (and we're talking the chemically induced haze daze here :twisted: ) , the Dead and Swift Diamond rivers were gated access and quite a hike in, which is why I never did end up fishing either of them. But that didn't keep me from dreaming of it! I'd heard nothing but good about those rivers. I wouldn't mind doing a group hike in sometime in the late spring....anyone else interested????

Boneylegs

[PW]

YUP!!!!

[Ken B]

I'd be up for that too. What about biking in?

[Boneylegs]

From the NHF&W Fishing Reports column:


A Diamond in the Rough
The Dead Diamond River at Second College Grant. Photo by Scott Decker

I recently spent a day in the Dead Diamond River system working on stream-gauging station calibration. The Diamond system offers some interesting fishing opportunities in a scenic part of the state. Primarily located in the unincorporated township of Second College, which is owned and managed by Dartmouth College, the watershed includes the mainstem Dead Diamond, and numerous branches including the Swift Diamond, Little Dead Diamond, and the East, Middle, and West Branches of the Dead Diamond. The stream habitat, degraded by years of indiscriminate logging, is slowly recovering thanks to new management philosophy guided by Dartmouth Woodlands Manager Kevin Evans, who is taking more of a "watershed concept" approach to forestry on the "The Grant."

Waters of The Grant are not stocked and are managed primarily for wild brook trout. Other than Dartmouth students, faculty, and alumni, vehicle access by the general public is not allowed on The Grant, however it is open to hiking and mountain biking. Click here for more information on The Grant.

Well, that above mentioned link was a dead end, so we can all head over to this one:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/secondcollegegrant/

In any event, it looks like quite a hike/ride in (10-12 miles to Hellgate Gorge) and no camping allowed to "outsiders". I'd still be up for it, tho....


Boneylegs

[sbeausol]

I am thinking of hitting the Newfound River which opened 1-1-05... haven't yet, but maybe on of those warm winter days.....

That is some interesting info on the Dead Diamond. I bet it doesn't get a ton of pressure... I'd be up for an adventure....

[fessiewig]

What we need is a Dartmouth College student with a pickup truck. We could all pile in the back and ride. :D

[sbeausol]

Something tells me that there might not be a lot of them...

with pickup trucks that is

[Boneylegs]

Hear! Hear!

Maybe one of them new fangled mercedes SUV's :lol: Maybe we can break the Guiness book of records for most fly fishermen in a mercedes at once?!

Boneylegs

[Ken B]

Interesting link. I bet we can figure something out and get in there this spring.

Ken

[PW]

One of my co-workers kids is an alum. I'll ask him tomorrow if theres a way we could get permision some how.

[Salmosebago]

Nice job on the new site! I'm pretty sure my first go around will be at the Presumpscot (too close to home to ignore). Kenny - I'm up for just about anything once ski season is over! You guys mind if I tag along on one of these excursions? I take up less room than Ken and I can ride a bike faster (he does tend to out fish me though). However, I usually bring better beer.

Craig

[calvinkidder]

i will be fishing the st geroge up here in maine frist this year hope to get down to fish the mermack and anther stream that runs through gofftown i can't rember the name of it but i use to fish it about ten years ago when i lived in manchester also hope to fish some of the other streams in nh tight lines :D :D :D

[bmik]

Mid May around Mother's Day has always been very good to me up in Errol on the Androscoggin. The Connecticut up in Pittsburg is also on my list. I had a great May up there last year.
I try to spend a lot of time in May and June above the notches.

[Gerry]

I like to start south and work my way north as the season progresses. The DHZ areas on the Souhegan and Piscataquog might have some holdovers (wishful thinking) and receive early stocking. Then the PEmi in Bristol for broodstocok salmon. (hopefully the state get's them stocked before the 4th of July this year.)
It won't be long now!

[fessiewig]

Hey Gerry,

I lived in Milford for years and the Souhegan DOES have holdovers!!!!!! In April of 1986 I caught a holdover Brown just down from the bridge on the road that goes to Wilton. The fish was just over 2 lbs. Caught it on a black stonefly nymph.

[Blake P]

Great job. I am glad you guys made this work.

[RichShady603]

Piscataquog does have holdovers.. i'm catching em now.. have been all winter.

[fessiewig]

RichShady603,

I'm surprised about the hold overs in the Piscataquog. Mind sharing which stretches your finding hold overs?

[LL Salmo]

Mid-March I will be targeting the tributaries of Winnipesaukee, Ossipee and Newfound looking for prespawn Rainbows. Hopefully, this year will not be like last year where we had far fewer Rainbows in the streams over previous years. Nothing like sight fishing to these larger (16"+) fish. Once the smelt run starts then I will target the Landlocks on the feed. Hard to believe it is all is just around the corner. Once the snow melt is done and temperatures rise I head back to the Androscoggin below Berlin through Shelburne to do more exploring. Late last fall I found a number of large Rainbows in this stretch of river swinging sculpin patterns deep. This section of special regulation water is starting to show the potential this big water has. Not easy to fish without a boat, but there are sections that accessible and very fishy. Until then tight lines and warm hands.

[RichShady603]

i'ts not the prettiest water but, below the dam off Kelley st in Manchester.. I can catch trout all year except during runoff.

[fessiewig]

Interesting. Never, ever even though about fishing there. I've always driven out to New Boston. Oh well.

[sbeausol]

RichShady603 -

Your talking the damn by the West Side Arena right? Only fished there once in August without success, but it looked like it had potential. I'll have to give it another try. Have you ever fished the section just below the Glen Lake damn in Goffstown. Again looks like awesome water, but never really had much success...

[RichShady603]

i never thought about it for years .. then i moved to area now i can't stay away.. ive even seen salmon just under dam.

[Blake P]

Hey guys I have a camp on greenough pond rd wich is on the Swift Diamond river anyone wat to take a trip up there I have Tuesdays and weds off. its about 20 mile north of Errol. 15 miles in on a dirt rd. About an hr from the RR. This year I will spend more time around camp in my new Jeep.

[PW]

Thanks Blake,

I might just take you up on that this June. I plan on spending a lot of time in Rangeley this year and that's a short trip over.


Paul-

[fessiewig]

I'd love to join the two of you. That ends up being about 50 minute drive for me.

[LeeG]

Alton Bay just after the ice goes out of the bay. Have some good sucess there in the spring for Salmon.

Lee

[macman]

Although I live in Maine, my first and last trips are always to Wautchipauka (sp?) Pond in Warren. The fall trip is especially nice. Good fishing, great scenery...I love the White Mountains!

[fessiewig]

Macman,

Can you drive in or is it hike in? Looks like there is access of Rt25.

[petegas]

Hey all-
great web site, glad i came across it.
To introduce myself, im a first year Graduate Student at Dartmouth, native of MA, and the past four summers i've been guiding in montana. (and yes i drive a pick-up :D)
anyway........concerning the grant land, i was scheduled to spend a weekend in one of the college owned cabins this fall and fish the diamond, however, a guest of one of the cabins came down with Hanta Virus like symptoms, so they closed down the cabins to clean 'em (turns out he didnt have it), so my weekend there was shot. from what i hear it has some decent brookie fishing, and it is getting better since they've changed their management philosophy.
I'll ask around and find out about gaining entry past the gate and what their rules are concerning that.
BTW my first trip out will probably be the mascoma or the newfound.

[Boneylegs]

Sound like the first FFINH Conclave to me! :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Ken B]

Pete...did we fail to mention that we love first year grad students? You know there's quite of few of us that often hire grad students!

Ken B

[troutscout]

The Connecticut and its headwaters up around Pittsburg just as soon as they thaw
:D

[RichShady603]

I fish the N.H. Rivers all year. But i can't wait to get up to pittsburg. I stay at Lake Francis st pk. I walk from campsite about 5 mins awesome trout waters...

[trouthunter]

I love fishing for trout and salmon but I have been dreaming of spring stripers.... maybe I am thinking too far ahead.....

[Salmon Slayer]

I've been fishing the Newfound since it opened, and although it's slow I've seen some impessive fish. The first trip i want to take is to the Roach for the smelt run.

[Ken B]

Hey Blake,

Since you're moving to Texas, you'll probably need someone to watch over that camp of yours...I bet you'd find a few takers here!

Ken

[munoz6]

Hey TroutHunter,
Where is a good place to fish from shore for Stripers??[/quote]

[MJ]

Hey guys I have a camp on greenough pond rd wich is on the Swift Diamond river anyone wat to take a trip up there I have Tuesdays and weds off. its about 20 mile north of Errol. 15 miles in on a dirt rd. About an hr from the RR. This year I will spend more time around camp in my new Jeep.

Just kicking the qouted post to the top of the list. :wink: