Check the Detailed Silver Lake … Now yearling Rainbow Trout are stocked. Gorgeous in summer and winter, it’s an incredibly scenic spot situated at Carson Mountain’s base. Ice fishing produces some pickerel and a … Silver Lake State Park Trail Map Notice:Due to the popularity of … please note that ice conditions change minute by minute and while these reports are here to provide anglers with some safe options, no ice is 100% safe and … Solar-powered Christmas lights hang on “simulated hard wood” walls. Westminster, MA. If you hate ice fishing because its too cold, take a look at the dressing for ice fishing section of the forum. The light out here, amplified by the grand plaza of ice, is extreme: somewhere between white sand beach and operating room. But I don’t like fishing — I like catching fish. (Featured Banner Image by Robert John Kozlow) A trip with a New Hampshire guide reveals how much the sport has evolved, while keeping the eternal battle of angler and fish at its heart. So spending free time being humbled and outsmarted by creatures we supposedly evolved past can instill a sense of connection, modesty and reverence. The lines are empty, but we just got something amazing to take home with us. Wilmot, NH. I set the hook. As our guest, the park is exclusively yours to enjoy. It seems like an insane place to fish, another of his pranks. It’s so cool. We jig for another 20 minutes, and then turn toward the chilly gloom of our waiting car. NEXT. Stepping off the ice always feels like just having lived a whole, strange little life. Up comes a 15 inch rainbow trout. Smallmouth Bass were first stocked here in 1951 and, according to the NH fish and game Dept. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Fishing Guides in Silver Lake, NH. 'Be patient and calm - for no one can catch fish in anger.' For three months New Hampshire essentially gains more than 250 square miles — roughly a quarter the size of Rhode Island — of flat, undeveloped, public space. Or enjoying the peace. Through the hole comes a sleek, foot-long lake trout, flapping angrily in this strange resistance-less vacuum and hearing the unfamiliar vibrations of human cheering. So instead of the movie “Grumpy Old Men,” I tell people to imagine zipping across a frozen lake on a snowmobile, an ice shack so warm you may take your coat off, and a real-life video game on a sonar screen where winning leads to celebrations at whatever pokes through the hole. With the light amounts of ice, holes can be cut with a chisel. And who wouldn’t want to try that, at least once. We jig, with a baited tip-up 15 feet away. Silver Lake is located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Hollis, NH. This was a year filled with … And outside, Mr. Groves sets those rustic Rube Goldberg devices, tip-ups. So Mr. Groves, who learned the biological history of every species he goes after — when they came to the state, who stocked them — has enough information to serve as something like a moral guide as well. Good technique and local knowledge may be your ticket to catching trout. 41. The two-line limit lakes in the Valley are Conway Lake, Silver Lake, Big Dan Hole Pond and Ossipee Lake. The forests plus the nearby mountains make this a scenic locale. He takes a coat hanger fashioned into a long hook and reaches into the new hole, pulling the line through. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. I don’t suspect a monster, but the vibe among spectators is cautiously thrilled. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay updated on Silver Lake and other New Hampshire fishing spots. Lowell, MA. The real battle in catch-and-release fishing is sometimes between the desire to get the fish back in the water and the urge to keep marveling at its beauty. The lake is popular for paddling and quieter recreation, with only occasional motorboats passing by. As such, it may come as a surprise that California is home to one of the best ice-fishing lakes. We snap a photo. Tweet. Mirror Lake is also the home of numerous black flies and mosquitoes. Allenstown, NH. The devices have changed the nature of ice fishing, since anglers no longer have to wait blindly for fish to bite. Ice fishing also has a reputation for being both dangerous and boring. He hosts the podcast “Fish Nerds.”. Your guide will be knowledgeable and friendly, and use the highest-quality equipment and gear … Mr. Groves’ approach to fishing is somewhere between a Zen koan and “Catch-22.”, “I believe fishing should be fun, so it’s not about the fish, it’s about having a great time. Winslow State Park. Seat cushions and propane heater welcome us inside, as does a bearded man in unironic Carhartt: Vinnie Matturro, another Fish Nerds guide. Fishing both allows for and often demands this bespoke morality, called upon as frequently as pliers and variable even among anglers on the same trip. You'll also receive community updates, invites to try new features and promotions from our partners. He rails against New Hampshire’s biggest ice-fishing derby not offering a catch-and-release option, while happily frying up invasive species. His campaign against lead tackle and data-backed discussions about the gentlest way to hold fish lean toward an informed, hunter-hippie vibe similar to Steven Rinella’s Netflix show “MeatEater.”. Vinnie Matturro uses a drill-powered auger to make a six-inch hole in the ice. You will need to really dig deep and work hard to catch some fish.