Ice Is Out ! May 3, 2011

Finally, that sheet of white stuff left our world last night. Yesterday I heard my first loon on the lake, so that makes it official: fishing is here for the next five and a half months. We’ll have boats in the water for this weekend to pursue all of those holdover trout. Lures and streamers are usually the best thing to use, especially those that are bright in color. Mickey Finns and Yellow Hornbergs are probably the best flies to use early in the season like this, but don’t forget about woolybuggers too.

The river’s still raging right now, with more rain expected tonight and tomorrow, so the lakes are the option right now for those wishing to wet a line. Lake Francis and Back Lake are two of those options.

Give us a call at 1-800-835-6343 if you’re looking to come up and visit us. See you soon!

Back Lake - 4/29/11

Yes, we still have some ice on Back Lake, but after the long cold winter that we had, we were kind of expecting this. It won’t be long now though, as the lake underwent a major metamorphosis this week. The deluge of rain that we received, along with our warm temperatures weakened the ice greatly. The ice went out on April 10 in 2010, but we’re probably looking at ice out in a week, tops, so plan on a May 6 or 7 opening for the 2011 season. The NH Fish & Game stocking truck was also spotted in town this week, so they’re also getting ready for the new season too. We’ll have boats in the water ready to chase those holdover browns, rainbows and brookies, and there is nothing quite like catching a holdover trout, one of the true “survivors”.

The river has been a different story. The valley from West Stewartstown, NH south has been under many feet of water the last few days, so our nice weekend ahead should help those conditions. Still, it will take a while to calm things down, so keep checking on the river flows before you make your trip north (or south!). The annual salmon run between the lakes will be starting soon, so we’ll keep an eye out for that as well. Streamers, nymphs, BWOs and in a couple of weeks, Hendricksons, will be the flies that get their attention – stop in at our fly shop if you’re missing an ingredient in your arsenal.

As always, we’re glad that spring is finally showing it’s face again and that it’s almost fishing season!

Yes, that’s OMR having fun out on the trails, and as you can see he’s not thinking about fishing in Pittsburg anyway. Montana is calling his name.

When will the ice go out on Back Lake? I’m guessing May 2nd, unless we get a serious warm up.  So, the only thing to do now is get ready for the season. Clean your fly lines or better yet buy a new one, take out your fly boxes to sort and arrange your flies, fix those leaky waders, buy your fishing license right here online, and make plans for your Pittsburg fishing trip of course.  We started receiving our spring fly orders, and they are sure pretty. I know the fish will like them.

New arrivals for spring

Winter is also a good time to tie flies and make plans for the next fishing trip. I wonder where OMR will take me this year? Montana maybe???

Carroll County State Representative Gene Chandler, member of the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee has brought to my attention that he will be presenting House Bill 35, requesting F&G to obtain the rights to the dams so that they can go in and make the necessary repairs.

This is the first step in the process in having the Boundary Pond Dam repaired.

 What we need to do NOW.

Rep. Chandler is requesting that concerned people attend the meeting in Concord, January 18^th, Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM at the Legislative Offices, Room 305. If you cannot attend, please write a letter showing the economic impact these ponds have on you as an angler, fishing guide or business owner, and particularly the impact on the North Country.

You can FAX your letters to Rep. Chandler at FAX 271-8566

Today we had one more day of mild temperatures in the forecast, and after hearing about Tom’s fish yesterday, we just had to do it. This was a treat for OMR, our friend Larry and I to fish the river this early in the season. This rainbow was also caught on a gray Soft Hackle Streamer, just like Tom’s. Our temperatures are going to drop tonight and become more seasonable so we’ll have to wait for another warm up to do this again. I just hope it doesn’t happen too soon for the business’s  sake. This is snowmobile season after all. We need lots of snow and cold to keep things running smoothly around here for the next three months.

Happy New Year everyone! We wish you “tight lines” in 2011.

no shorthairs aided in the landing of this fish

It just had to be done. An unseasonably warm winter day, especially when that day just happens to be the opener of trout season on the Connecticut River, summons some of us to try our luck and get the fishing season off on the right note. Couple that with the fact that it was January 1, positively had me salivating at getting on the board first for the new year.

It didn’t take too long – about twenty minutes or so in, I had my first fish on of the year, as it hungrily gulped down my grey soft hackle streamer. The river flow is high right now, and it seems as though some of the local smelt population are straying a little too close to the dam on Lake Francis. They get sucked in to the dam, and before you know it, the local fish are enjoying a smorgasbord of smelt floating (dead or stunned) down the river.

A simple upstream cast, dead drifted to mimic the real thing, got this bad boy to bite. By checking out the heft of this rainbow, this fish had apparently refused to make any sort of a New Year’s resolution regarding “eating less and exercising more” for 2011. He was a fatty, pure and simple, and still prowls the depths today. It was a great way to start off the year, and would not have been possible without the aid of friend and fellow angler Larry Mansfield. Thanks again Larry for the expert net and camera work!

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year …”

Jon and guide Ben Hardy with one of many Missouri River rainbows.

Missouri River doubles

We had two fantastic days with Ben. Supposedly the MO wasn’t fishing well but we proved that wrong, and at times with doubles on. On our second day, I really did well, and I actually heard Ben tell OMR, ” She’s kicking your ass, man”. Ya baby!! If you haven’t experienced Montana yet, I suggest you head out to Craig, MT for some of the best trout fishing of your life, as well as some pretty incredible scenery.

Today was the first time in many years I did not fish on the last day of the season. It was cold, windy, which I know never stopped me in the past but I just couldn’t do it today. Age I guess.

We had a couple of old guests up here for the close of the season, and being regulars on the Connecticut River, they did very well.

Bobby Broadhurst with a beautiful salmon

Visiting with Billy and Bob this week was better than great. Reminiscing.  Talking about old friends still here, and some gone, talking flies, reliving those great nights on Back Lake or those incredible days on the Trophy. Those were the days. OMG, I sound like Edith Bunker! I think Billy and Bob had another one of those days this week. Another one to remember.