Unpredictable winter weather conditions always play a role in the outcome of any New England ice-fishing season. Last winter, rather mild conditions meant many of the larger lakes across the Northeast were without ice. But there were plenty of opportunities on the smaller waters.

New England's winter anglers have learned to take what's given and make the best of it. Because our lakes and ponds vary in size, some good action may be found. Every state in the Northeast offers ice-fishing opportunities for trout plus smallmouth and largemouth bass, pike, pickerel and myriad other species.

Even during the mildest winters, it's always possible to find a place to cut some holes and catch some fish.

In recent years, fish and wildlife departments across the region have been increasing winter angling opportunities, stocking more legal-sized trout in fall in anticipation of the winter season, or managing some waters for quality rather than quantity. There are honeyholes everywhere, and wintertime angling throughout New England has never been better.

MAINE
In recent years, the ice-fishing opportunities have improved considerably in New England's largest state, particularly in the central, coastal and southern regions. Native or wild fish have always been popular, but many of the fish being caught now come from hatcheries, especially in the heavily populated and pressured regions of the state.

In 2002, Maine's voters approved a $7 million bond issue specifically for hatchery improvements. Since then, five hatcheries have been equipped with highly efficient water oxygenating systems designed to increase fish-rearing capacity. The Embden hatchery facility has been reconstructed to increase not only fish production, but the size of fish being stocked.

This all means several things. For one, more trout are being reared and released -- primarily brook and browns, but also rainbows and salmon. The heaviest releases take place in spring to accommodate the popular open-water season. But with more fish going into state waters, many will undoubtedly be available for ice-fishermen.

More fish are also being released in the fall just before freeze-up, in October and November, which means they will be available to anglers during the winter season. The majority of those fish will be larger than the norm, running up to 22 inches.

One of the great attractions of ice- fishing in Maine is the state's great diversity. Along with the more traditional trout species, Maine is continuing with its stocking and management of splake in selected waters. Splake, hybrids of brook and lake trout, are less costly to rear in the hatchery, grow faster and offer great winter fishing opportunities.

Splake are currently found in more than 50 waters in 13 counties. Another 18 waters are managed as incidental fisheries for the hybrid. Most of the waters containing splake are found in Penobscot, Aroostook, Washington and Somerset counties.

Increasing numbers of hardwater anglers are seeking the so-called warmwater species, particularly pickerel and largemouth and smallmouth bass. Both species are often more aggressive in winter than trout or salmon, providing consistent action throughout much of the winter season. Maine is nationally renowned for its bass fishing, and ice-fishermen are finally taking notice.