Anyboy got an ice update on winisquam

[baitemin]

Looking for an ice update up by 3 islands.

[surflizard]

There is ice there. Safest bet would be to check it yourself.

[baitemin]

Thanks Surf..  That was enough to get me to go for a ride this morning. Could see no open water anywhere around the north end and even down to pot island. Ventured out a ways with the chisle 2-3 "+/- and was just too sketchy for me with the snow cover.

[surflizard]

From Pot island down isn't much better, 3 people walked out off horse point. Mohawk Island village is up and running, half a dozen house out there this morning !

[Philly Fisher]

For the past several years my friends and I have spent President's weekend icefishing on Winnisquam, but decided to move our trip up one weekend sooner for the fishing derby. I'm hoping we'll have enough ice. Anybody familiar with the area around lexington and shore? How is that looking?

Also, Winnisquam is stocked for the derby, right? How does that work? Like, do they only stock one or two places on the lake limiting the location of the fish, or do they spread the stocking around?

Thanks, Bob

[surflizard]

With the heavy rain coming in tonight, it will be anyones guess, the ice will be sketchy at best till some cold air comes back in for next week ! Be careful if your gonna try it !

[Capt. Black]

For the past several years my friends and I have spent President's weekend icefishing on Winnisquam, but decided to move our trip up one weekend sooner for the fishing derby. I'm hoping we'll have enough ice. Anybody familiar with the area around lexington and shore? How is that looking?

Also, Winnisquam is stocked for the derby, right? How does that work? Like, do they only stock one or two places on the lake limiting the location of the fish, or do they spread the stocking around?

Thanks, Bob

Here is the site. They have a list of lakes that get stocked with tagged rainbows. Good luck.

http://meredithrotary.org/

Capt. Black

[AQUAASSASSIN]

The taggies will swim any and everywhere. Just because they got put in a specific spot in no way means your odds are better right there. The tag makes them no different from other bows they will swim around looking for sufficient food and habitat just the same.

[winnisquam guy]

i'd wait before venturing around 3 islands, make sure you see others out

[Philly Fisher]

Capt. Black, Aquaassassin,

I just went to the Derby website and did a little reading. I was under the impression that the Rotary stocked the lakes with tagged fish just prior to the Derby and only for the derby. That's not the case. Right? We've actually never caught a rainbow through the ice. Just a few lake trout.
Bob

[NH Trout Fisherman]

Capt. Black, Aquaassassin,

I just went to the Derby website and did a little reading. I was under the impression that the Rotary stocked the lakes with tagged fish just prior to the Derby and only for the derby. That's not the case. Right? We've actually never caught a rainbow through the ice. Just a few lake trout.
Bob

If Im not mistaken,  the tagged Rainbows get stocked month(s) prior to the Derby so that they have a chance to spread out/move.
I heard that in the early years they used to stock them a week or two prior and the fish never really go a chance to disburse, and stayed right near the stock sites. It makes sense that they'd want the fish to spread out, so that there is the possibitlity of catching a tagged rainbow anywhere throghout the lakes.

[Capt. Black]

If Im not mistaken,  the tagged Rainbows get stocked month(s) prior to the Derby so that they have a chance to spread out/move.
I heard that in the early years they used to stock them a week or two prior and the fish never really go a chance to disburse, and stayed right near the stock sites. It makes sense that they'd want the fish to spread out, so that there is the possibitlity of catching a tagged rainbow anywhere throghout the lakes.

X2

Capt. Black

[surflizard]

According to the F&G Stocking reports, the Majority of the last of the Rainbow stocking is done in July to allow the fish to acclimate themselves to the waterbodies they are stocked into, with some post spawn stocking in certain lakes and ponds shortly after !

[AQUAASSASSIN]

And don't forget just because it has a tag doesn't mean it qualifies. I caught 3 during the derby like 6 or 7 years ago and not one of them hit the 15 in. mark to qualify.Some of the fresh ones may not even be big enough.

[surflizard]

I still can't fathom that decision myself, why bother tagging fish that don't pass the minimum length required 

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Talk about multiple letdowns from the highest high to the lowest low........

[NHSlabbinCabin]

Bump. Anyone have an update on the 3 islands area ice??

[winnisquam guy]

it is ice covered, but i believe it's not safe to venture out on, not until we get some better weather for several days. currents in the area with relatively new ice make it unpredictable.i may check this wkend

[NHSlabbinCabin]

Thanks WG. I've never fished it, thinking about hiking that way to wet a line

[winnisquam guy]

Thanks WG. I've never fished it, thinking about hiking that way to wet a line

i would wait, access is difficult too. i'm up at the northend , plenty of ice there. i'll work my way down lake as conditions permit

[baitemin]

I agree..I would normally put in at ahern or sanbornton side, pot island area. It is a long way up and back with sketchy ice conditions  .

[winnisquam guy]

if you need to get on , stay in the shallows around ahern , better only to get wet than submerge