Public Hearing on 2011 Fishing Rules Proposals June 16, 2010

Freshwater anglers can learn more about and will be able to comment on the 2011 New Hampshire fishing rule proposals. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m., at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, New Hampshire. This is an important event and, if possible, you should try to attend.

Fish and Game’s proposed changes to the fishing rules for 2011 include:

1. Adopt definitions for artificial bait, bait, cast of artificial flies, tandem flies, and trolling. Amend the definition of fly-fishing.
2. Amend a rule on the species of live fish that you are prohibited from having in his or her possession.
3. Establish different daily creel limits in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams for black bass (also called smallmouth and largemouth bass) taken through the ice and before and after the catch and release period of May 15 to June 15.
4. Require a single hook with a single hook point when fishing with bait.
5. Allow only one artificial bait, one fly, one tandem fly or one bait to be used per rod when trolling.
6. Change fishing rules for Clement Pond/Joe Silvia Lake (Hopkinton), Grassy Pond (Rindge), Warren Lake (Alstead), and Gregg Lake (Antrim) so that from ice-in to ice-out, no person can take black bass from 15 to 20 inches long. The daily limit for black bass is 3 fish, of which only one can be larger than 20 inches. Change the rules for Clarksville Pond (Clarksville), Fish Pond (Columbia), Bean Pond (Ossipee), Little Pond (Sandwich) and Hildreth Reservoir (Warren) from trout regulations to general fishing regulations.
7. Open the Pemigewasset River, from the Route 104 Bridge downstream to the Ayers Island Dam to ice-fishing.
8. Restrict the number of weigh-ins at bass tournaments to one per calendar day.
9. Amend a rule on aquaculture licensees who are stocking trout, to better define the meaning “private manmade farm ponds”. These would now be called, “non-public bodies of water that are closed systems”.
10. Make several minor changes to requirements for obtaining a bait dealer’s license and record-keeping.

The complete 2011 fishing rulemaking notice, with the original and proposed rule language can be viewed on the Fish and Game website.  Go to:  www.wildnh.com/Legislative/Notices_summary.htm and click onto “2011 Fishing Rules.” Written comments must be received by June 28, 2010. 

Send your thoughts by e-mail to: Comments@wildlife.nh.gov (use subject line “Comments on 2011 Fishing Rules”). Or, write and mail to: Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. 03301. You can also fax your comments at: (603) 271-1438.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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