By Bob Humphrey

Last year was a bit of a renaissance for ice-fishing in New England. Previously, numbers of ice-anglers had been declining steadily. Even hardwater bastions like Maine had seen participation drop by as much as 25 percent.

However, last year saw a return to the glory days. The ice came early and it stayed long. And, while many non-sportsmen bemoaned the long, cold winter, ice-fishermen and those in the home-heating oil business reveled in it.

Veteran ice cutters who had stuck with it through the lean times suddenly found their favorite waters crowded again with newcomers.

With the quality and quantity of ice-fishing opportunities available across New England these days, the potential exists for this year to be even better. Fisheries managers throughout the six-state region are doing an outstanding job of managing the resource for maximum public benefit. What follows is a state-by-state rundown of how things are shaping up for hardwater anglers this winter.

Most of the attention is on trout and salmon. Thus, that is where the most noticeable improvements have occurred. Warmwater species meanwhile, seem to have taken care of themselves, as they often do.

Ironically, though fishing quality continues to improve, the number of ice-fishermen has been dwindling, which means more action for those who continue to brave the cold.

Photo by Ron Sinfelt

Maine's hatchery system includes seven hatcheries and two rearing stations. Without them, there wouldn't be viable trout fisheries in many of the more populated areas of the state, particularly southern Maine. Fortunately, state voters recently passed a $7 million bond issue for hatchery improvements. Some of that money will be used for improving water treatment and updating hatcheries by replacing troughs or raceway tanks that can raise more fish in less space.

"At Dry Mills, we raise 4,000 yearling fish each year," said Don Veader, hatchery manager. "With the improvements, we are looking at increasing that number to around 60,000 fish in this region."

Meanwhile, other improvements are already underway.

"The salmon population in southern Maine has really improved. We have as many waters producing high-quality land-locked salmon as we ever had. We've continued to fine-tune those waters by collecting census data, trap netting, monitoring the age and growth of those populations and fine-tuning regulations. I would rate the fishery as vastly improved over the past five or 10 years," said John Boland, director of operations for fisheries.

A prime example is Sebago Lake, southern Maine's largest freshwater body.

While salmon populations have fluctuated in recent years, the general trend is up. Meanwhile, increasingly liberalized togue regulations have created more and more recreational opportunities for one of Maine's best trophy fisheries. The culmination occurs each winter with the Windham Rotary's annual Sebago Lake Trout Derby, a two-day event that last year produced over 1,000 togue, including several fish over 10 pounds.

Two other coldwater fisheries efforts that are gaining popularity among ice-anglers are rainbow trout and splake. The rainbows are part of an experimental stocking of 12 waters, mostly in southern and central Maine, and both fishermen and biologists are pleased with the results so far.

Splake, meanwhile, are stocked primarily in waters that otherwise could not or would not support viable populations of coldwater species. These sterile hybrids cost less to rear, grow faster in the wild and provide great sport and table fare.

Fewer Maine anglers target warmwater species, such as bass and pickerel, but those who do are seeing improvements all over the state. Other underutilized species like white perch have a small but dedicated following. Meanwhile, northern pike, relative newcomers to most of the few waters they currently inhabit, are rapidly becoming one of Maine's most sought-after species among ice-anglers, much to the chagrin of fisheries managers and salmon enthusiasts.

For more information, contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St., Augusta, ME 04333; call (207) 287-2871; or visit the MDIFW's Web site at www.mefishwildlife.com.

"Most of the refocusing," said biologist Steve Perry, "resulted from a statewide angler survey conducted in 1996. More than 90 percent of respondents supported stocking efforts and more than 70 percent also supported managing selected waters for quality or wild trout."

The state agency has addressed both preferences by continuing to stock catchable-sized trout in some waters and establishing quality management in others. ("Quality management" means providing an opportunity to catch larger-than-average fish.) This is typically accomplished by increasing minimum length limits and reducing bag limits.

One example is the large lake rainbow trout stocking program, which actually began in 1991 on waters of 1,000 acres or more. More recently, the department instituted a 15-inch minimum length limit for trout on these waters. A third strategy is so-called put-grow-and-take management, which involves aerial stocking of fingerling trout in remote ponds. Fish are then allowed to grow to catchable size in the wild.

Rainbows are, by far, the most popular species in New Hampshire's winter lakes, with lake trout coming in a close second.

While good trout waters can be found throughout the state, the heart of trout country is the lakes region, and the pinnacle of the season is the Meredith Rotary Derby, which typically occurs in early February. It brings out both casual and serious anglers from around the region.

On the warmwater side, New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die" motto also seems to apply to bass management. According to fisheries biologist Don Miller, the Granite State's bass and their habitat are in great shape and don't really need much in the way of management.

"We feel bass are capable of doing well on their own when given the opportunity, and we have very high catch-and-release rates. We don't have any minimum or maximum lengths and basically manage through creel limits, seasons and methods of taking," said Miller.

Another warmwater species, and one of New Hampshire's most popular among ice-anglers, is the black crappie. Again, the best waters are in the lakes region.

To learn more about ice-fishing, anglers may sign up for a class sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Let's Go Fishing Program.

Ice-fishing classes are held most winter weekends in towns all across New Hampshire. For a Let's Go Fishing schedule and sign-up information, call (603) 271-3212. For general fishing information, contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 2 Hazen Dr., Concord, NH 03301; call (603) 271-3211, or visit the VFGD Web site at fish@ wildlife.state.nh.us.

"Vermont's lakes and ponds are home to a broad array of fish species that you won't find anywhere else," said John Hall, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department spokesman.

Warmwater and coldwater species seem to run nearly neck and neck in popularity. Vermont's largest and most popular ice-fishing destination, Lake Champlain, is a perfect example, containing a world-class warmwater fishery composed of species typical of the Great Lakes region, as well as fantastic coldwater fishing typical of northern New England.

Beneath its surface area of some 435 square miles, Champlain anglers find landlocked salmon, lake trout and steelhead rainbow trout, northern pike that range up to 25 pounds and quality bass fishing for largemouths and smallmouths.

Other portions of the state are also known for their trout and landlocked salmon fishing. Innumerable Green Mountains brooks favored by spring and summer anglers seep down into beaver ponds and eventually the larger ponds preferred by ice-anglers. Lakes like Willoughby, Caspian and Seymour, among others, are renowned for their lake trout and landlocked salmon fishing.

In light of the dramatic rise in popularity of bass fishing in recent years, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department continues to monitor bass populations throughout the state. Meanwhile, many anglers enjoy bountiful numbers of walleyes, northern pike, chain pickerel, black crappies and yellow and white perch.

To learn more about Vermont's fantastic fishing opportunities and to help plan your Vermont fishing trip, contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, 103 South Main St., Waterbury, VT 0567-0501, and ask for a Vermont Fishing Kit.

Anglers may also reach the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department by phone at (802) 241-3700, or via the department's Web Site at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

MassWildlife used to be in the bass management business until biologists discovered that the resource was largely self-sustaining. As a result, most of their effort now involves monitoring anglers and their catches.

"Over the last 10 years or so, we've done extensive surveys on all sizes of waters from small ponds to large reservoirs," said Richard Hartley, who heads MassWildlife's warmwater fisheries program. "What we've found by looking at length, weight and growth rates is that the vast majority of our bass populations are in really good shape. Even waters with high fishing pressure are doing well. Recruitment is good, we have a large number of trophy fish and growth rates are comparable to other Northeastern states."

One likely reason is that while anglers love to catch bass, few keep them.

"Through our creel surveys, we're finding the voluntary release rate is 85 to 90 percent," said Hartley.

Another of the Bay State's warmwater resources and one that may be even more popular among ice-anglers are its pike and muskie waters. MassWildlife has been stocking pike in selected waters since the 1970s, and biologists now stock waters in all five of the state's management districts. Though fish can be found in some eastern waters, the best fishing occurs in the western half of the state.

Coldwater fisheries, meanwhile, are largely dependent on hatchery production. Fortunately, the state has a very productive hatchery system.

"We produce 450,000 to 500,000 pounds of trout on an annual basis, and 60 percent of those fish are 12 inches or better and weigh 1 pound or more," said Dr. Mark Tisa, assistant director of fisheries. An additional 5 to 10 percent are stocked at 14 inches or more.

"Massachusetts probably has one of the finest catchable trout programs anywhere in the Northeast," he added.

Another key goal of MassWildlife's coldwater fisheries management, according to Tisa is "to put fishing in touch with as many people as we can. We focus on large urban areas where we can put those fish into ponds and lakes close to back yards and homes."

For additional information, contact the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, Route 135, Westboro, MA 01582; call (508) 792-7270, or log onto the MassWildlife Web site at www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dfw.

Last year, after more than 10 years of study and experimental management, Connecticut biologists finally implemented their long-awaited bass management plan.

According to bass management supervisor Bob Jacobs, surveys of un-managed lakes were showing signs of overharvest, while experimental bass management lakes with slot limits or higher minimums showed good results.

"Changing from the statewide 12-inch minimum to a 12- to 15-inch slot or a 15-inch minimum size limit more than doubled the size of bass," said Jacobs. Under the new plan, special bass management regulations were expanded from four lakes to 29. Anglers are already seeing results on existing management lakes including Lake Chamberlain, Lake Saltonstall, the Maltby Lakes and Moodus Reservoir.

"Based on what we've seen in other lakes," said Jacobs, "We expect anglers should see measurable improvements within three years, though it will take about eight years to see the full effects."

Connecticut trout fishermen also saw some major, long-awaited changes last year when the DEP unveiled a new trout initiative. The main focus, according to biologist Tim Barry, was to create some diversity, generate some new interest in fishing and make better use of hatchery production and wild trout populations.

While most of the initiative is geared toward rivers and streams, it also included the establishment of 11 designated Trout Parks. These areas receive very high use and so will be stocked more frequently and have a reduced creel limit of two fish per day. Many of these areas include ponds that are within Connecticut's state parks.

For general fishing and license information, contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, 79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106-5127; call (860) 424-3555, or visit the DEP's Web site at www.dep.state.ct.us/.

Also available from the DEP are A Guide to Lakes and Ponds in Connecticut - DEP bulletin #10, and Connecticut's Bass Fishing, which provides information about the state's 24 best bass lakes including boat launches, availability of services, bait and tackle shops, depth maps, topographic descriptions and more.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife is working hard to maintain and enhance year-round fisheries for both coldwater and warmwater species.

The trout management program depends largely on the state's hatchery system, which was recently bolstered by a modernization of the Lafayette Hatchery. Division biologists stock some of the largest brown, rainbow and brook trout in the region, fish averaging about 12 inches. They also occasionally provide brood stock Atlantic salmon in some waters as a bonus trophy fishery.

All designated trout waters are stocked before the open-water season, and many receive supplemental fall stockings in anticipation of the coming ice-fishing season.

According to Phil Edwards, Rhode Island's bass program manager, the division continues to work on two bass management programs. The first is a largemouth bass management program that involves stocking sub-adult bass, 8 to 12 inches, into five systems: Tiogue Lake, Tucker Pond, Pascoag Reservoir, Watchaug Pond and Wilson Reservoir. The ultimate goal is to enhance angler catch rates.

The second program is a statewide stream and pond survey, which includes a black bass monitoring program. Edwards described the bass fishing forecast as bright, and mentioned that ice-fishing for bass is popular in the Ocean State.

While the majority of Rhode Island's ponds contain largemouths, several also contain smallmouths. Edwards mentioned Tiogue Lake, Watchaug Pond, Indian Lake and Stafford Pond as standouts, noting that these top-rated hotspots sometimes produce smallies in the 3- to 4-pound range.

Rhode Island once had an active pike-stocking program. Fish were collected in the wild, then stripped and milked in state hatcheries. Fingerlings were then released into a Burlingame Marsh rearing pond. In the fall, the water was drawn down and fish ranging up to 18 inches were collected and released into prime pike waters, where many still remain. The state still periodically stocks fish purchased from private hatcheries.

For more information on Rhode Island's ice-fishing opportunities, contact the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879, or call (401) 789-0281.