Time for Social distancing and wild/native brook trout

It has been too long since I have updated the fishing reports page. In honesty I have been wrapped up with the birth of our second child Ellis Johnathan Hill, born April 17th, 2020. Of course the Covid19 pandemic has also been on our minds and we have been diligent about staying isolated over the past 7 weeks. Fortunately, part of that isolation and focus on family has given me time to take my daughter, Vivian, fly fishing for wild brook trout. This has given me a chance to share what I love with my daughter while also allowing me to find some new (to me) native trout waters that I am excited to share with clients this spring!

Over the past ten years I have been exploring NH’s lower elevation spring fed wild brook trout streams and ponds. Most of these aren’t on the state’s stocking list and are off the radar of most anglers. While I have waters that I’ve been returning to for years I also find new waters every season. Last year I found a few new streams that have some of the highest densities and biggest average sized wild brook trout I have seen in NH. 

While I have also spent a good deal of time exploring our bigger rivers, for trophy sized “big river trout”, I never get tired of trying to find the elusive small stream trophies. A foot-long wild brook trout is an amazing creature to behold.

These trout have been special to me since I first started fishing. As a kid I caught them on a spin rod and I can remember their dark silloutes dart from under rocks to grab my rooster tail spinners . The sense of exploration I felt as a child has now been heightend as I explore new waters with my own child. I relish in her shreaks of excitement as we catch trout and I savor the serine calm she has,, only when on the water.

Wild/ Native brook trout are highly atuned to water temperature, water quality, food, and safety. This makes them highly migratory. Each spring I check and re-check spots new and old to see where and when the brookies are present and feeding. This year I’ve found some reliable spots that have already turned on, as well as some new spots that are fishing well. Some spots that were not fishing in late May 2019 are already providing red hot fishing this spring. It looks like things will only get better from here on out!

If you’d like to experience the thrill of being a kid again, or just get away from people, but also from the house and television, now is a great time to book a wild brook trout trip. Please see our home page for our current Covid 19 protocols and give us a shout. We can’t wait to spend time with you on the water again!

Tight lines,

Nate, and Viv