fishing report sept 8

From the owners of Maine Hunting Today, comes a Legend, a truth, an inspiration, and an experience like no other. Read "The Legend of Grey Ghost and Other Tales from the Maine Woods."

N.H. WEEKLY FISHING REPORT -- September 8, 2005 This week, Andy's gone poutin'! Buy your fishing license and salmon permit online, any time -- at http://www.nhfishandgame.com. Fish stocking is complete for the season. Stocking information from April-July is available at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm. Know someone who might like to sign up for the Fishing Report? Send them to http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/join_mail_list.htm. Fish New Hampshire and relax... We have what you're looking for. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> HORNPOUT, CATFISH, BULLHEADS By Andrew Schafermeyer, Fisheries Biologist, Region 1/Lancaster Long before I became a biologist, I was a fisherman. This development was a classic example of boyhood evolution, as clear and honest as learning to walk, read or drive. It all began with a bobber and a can full of grasshoppers and, many years later, has led to passing everything I know to my own son. There have been many stops along this often-winding road. I've been to manmade ponds filled with bluegill, backcountry trout streams with a pack-rod, and even... well, maybe I'd better not tell my son everything... About the time I entered high school, my social life began to demand as much time as my recreation. This was not really a conflict with sporting events like baseball, but fishing was somehow different. One night, I convinced a few buddies to go fishing with me and our adolescence took a turn that would provide some of my fondest and clearest memories of fishing New Hampshire. Almost every Friday night after everyone got out of work, we'd grab our lanterns, fishing poles, and plenty of bait and meet for an evening of horn poutin'. We called them horned pout, catfish, and bullheads and, at the time, their true identity wasn't important. I now know that they are brown bullheads (Ictalurus nebulosus) and can be a sportfish as exciting as any bass or trout. Many anglers search them out at night, with a lakeside fire providing both illumination and ambiance. The approach may not seem scientific or specialized, but there are definitely a few tricks to successful bullhead fishing. What about tackle? Try a medium to medium-heavy action rod with six to ten pound test line on any type of reel. Specialty "Catfish Combos" exist, but these are typically for targeting fish greater than 8 pounds (brown bullheads rarely reach 2 pounds in New Hampshire). Terminal tackle can be covered with only a few non-lead sinkers and long-shanked or circle hooks. Extra hooks are a good idea -- you'll go through a lot. Some tools that make horned pouting easier are a pair of long nosed pliers and a sharp, stout knife. An entire book could be written about preferred bait for bullheads and catfish. In truth, bullheads are omnivorous and notorious scavengers, meaning they'll eat almost anything living or dead. I usually go with a delicate combination of stinky and sturdy. As a boy, I remember having bloodbaits and stink-bait dough balls offending enough to the nose that tackle boxes were never allowed in the house. After completing a cost-benefit analysis, I highly recommend beef liver. It has a smell that seems to permeate the water, is strong enough to stay on a hook, and a few bucks will get you enough to last through a long night. Hornpout presentation involves placing your bait in the path of a bottom-feeding scavenger and can be accomplished many ways. A dead set with nothing more than a hook and piece of split-shot can work. Sometimes a bobber or float can keep bait suspended enough to entice a strike. Once hooked, these fish can treat you to an exciting battle. They rarely jump but pull, tug, and race toward deeper water. After their careful removal from your line, hornpout can be released easily. They are some of our hardiest fish, and can actually survive out of water for several hours. If your goal is a fish dinner, these fish can provide some of the tastiest table fare of all freshwater fish. I prefer them fried in Italian bread crumbs with Tabasco sauce and black pepper. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> FEDERAL AID IN SPORT FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION A User-Pay, User-Benefit Program Researching and managing fisheries and teaching people about aquatic ecosystems are funded by your license dollars and by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program. Your purchases of fishing equipment and motorboat fuels make a difference to New Hampshire's fisheries. To learn more, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/SFWR_program/sfwr_program.htm. -- Copyright 2005 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. Comments or questions concerning this list should be directed to lpoinier@wildlife.state.nh.us.