New Hampshire Winter Free Fishing Day 2019

Saturday, January 19, 2019 is this year's New Hampshire winter free fishing day. The one day event allows anglers to fish without a license and try ice fishing in New Hampshire.

This annual winter event takes place on the third Saturday in January each year.

Note that all other regulations must be followed. Learn more about fishing rules by reading the NH Freshwater Fishing or Saltwater Fishing digests at www.fishnh.com/fishing/publications.html.

Persons participating in a fishing tournament must still hold a license, even on free fishing day.

Another New Hampshire free fishing day is held annually on the first Saturday in June.

Find more information about fishing in New Hampshire at www.fishnh.com.

source: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

New Hampshire Atlantic Salmon

In New Hampshire, anglers fish for landlocked Atlantic salmon in a variety of lakes, ponds, and rivers. New Hampshire Fish and Game manages 15 lakes for landlocked salmon: Big Dan Hole Pond, First and Second Connecticut Lakes, Conway Lake, Lake Francis, Merrymeeting Lake, Newfound Lake, Ossipee Lake, Big and Little Squam Lakes, Sunapee Lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Nubanusit Lake, and Pleasant Lake.

Atlantic salmon are also found in several New Hampshire rivers. A popular fishing area is found along the Winnipesaukee River, which flows through the Weirs channel into Paugus Bay, and through the Lakeport Dam/Lake Opechee area.

The stretch of the Winnipesaukee River through Laconia to Dixon Point at Lake Winnisquam is also popular for salmon and trout fishing.

Another possibility is Silver Lake's Lochmere Dam.

The Newfound River in Bristol contains fly-fishing-only water that can often produce drop-down salmon as well as rainbow trout.

Shore fishing is popular along the Merrymeeting River (fly-fishing-only), and the mouth of the Merrymeeting River, downstream of the famous stone arch bridge.

Other sites include the Long Island Bridge in Moultonborough, Governors Island Bridge in Gilford, Smith River inlet at Wolfeboro Bay, and Meredith and Center Harbor town docks.

According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, anglers are advised to take extra care when releasing salmon, in order to minimize hook wounding.

For more information, visit www.fishnh.com

source: New Hampshire Fish and Game