Pittsburg Anglers Association News & Events
OUR METHODOLOGY:
Many anglers have asked the where and why of how the P.A.A. stocks trout in the Trophy Stretch. Good questions that need answering so that donors know how their donations are being used.
The P.A.A. was originally formed to stock the Trophy Stretch due to subpar stocking practices of the N.H. Fish & Game Department in the most important piece of recreational angling water in northern New Hampshire. We had observed less fish being stocked, and that those fish that were being stocked were primarily placed in areas of the highest angling traffic (i.e. below First Lake Dam and at the Carr Ridge logging bridge). In other words, spreading the fish out to the less popular areas, where there's still a good amount of angling pressure, had become an afterthought for the Department.
We want to rectify this by supplementing what the state stocks with our own fish (the number of which has grown over the years due to the contributions of our donors) one to two times a year, and make sure that we spread out our fish so that all anglers that visit our area can have a quality fishing experience. While we will always place some of our fish in the more popular areas on stocking days, the majority of our trout will be stocked in the less popular, harder to get to, areas that have been all but forgotten by the state stocking trucks. We hope you understand.
Many anglers have asked the where and why of how the P.A.A. stocks trout in the Trophy Stretch. Good questions that need answering so that donors know how their donations are being used.
The P.A.A. was originally formed to stock the Trophy Stretch due to subpar stocking practices of the N.H. Fish & Game Department in the most important piece of recreational angling water in northern New Hampshire. We had observed less fish being stocked, and that those fish that were being stocked were primarily placed in areas of the highest angling traffic (i.e. below First Lake Dam and at the Carr Ridge logging bridge). In other words, spreading the fish out to the less popular areas, where there's still a good amount of angling pressure, had become an afterthought for the Department.
We want to rectify this by supplementing what the state stocks with our own fish (the number of which has grown over the years due to the contributions of our donors) one to two times a year, and make sure that we spread out our fish so that all anglers that visit our area can have a quality fishing experience. While we will always place some of our fish in the more popular areas on stocking days, the majority of our trout will be stocked in the less popular, harder to get to, areas that have been all but forgotten by the state stocking trucks. We hope you understand.
FISHERIES RULES PROPOSAL UPDATE:
In case you haven’t heard, the N.H. Fish & Game Department has decided to pull its inland fisheries rules proposal for 2025. After many comments submitted from dedicated fly anglers, and an outpouring of participants at the two public informational meetings, the Department decided it was best to halt the process now and decide on what to do next.
Just as quickly as the proposal was made light to the public, it was just as quickly shut down. Of course, that’s great news for the fly anglers, guides, and businesses that cater to them in New Hampshire. For our local Connecticut River watershed, it means that we’ll still have our Fly Fishing Only waters to fish for another year, as well as the two areas with catch and release regulations in town. But, you can count on this being an issue again, probably in the near future, too.
As individuals and organizations, we have to stay vigilant in the process and engaged with Fish & Game to hopefully have a voice in the rules proposal going forward. In the end, we are partners in the resource and should have a seat at the table for such far reaching decisions on our fisheries and communities.
In case you haven’t heard, the N.H. Fish & Game Department has decided to pull its inland fisheries rules proposal for 2025. After many comments submitted from dedicated fly anglers, and an outpouring of participants at the two public informational meetings, the Department decided it was best to halt the process now and decide on what to do next.
Just as quickly as the proposal was made light to the public, it was just as quickly shut down. Of course, that’s great news for the fly anglers, guides, and businesses that cater to them in New Hampshire. For our local Connecticut River watershed, it means that we’ll still have our Fly Fishing Only waters to fish for another year, as well as the two areas with catch and release regulations in town. But, you can count on this being an issue again, probably in the near future, too.
As individuals and organizations, we have to stay vigilant in the process and engaged with Fish & Game to hopefully have a voice in the rules proposal going forward. In the end, we are partners in the resource and should have a seat at the table for such far reaching decisions on our fisheries and communities.
Donations to the P.A.A. can be made at the following:
Lopstick Outfitters
Points North Outfitters
Tall Timber Lodge
Board Of Directors
President: Bill Bernhardt
Vice-President: Nick Proulx
Treasurer / Webmaster: Tom Caron
Director: Pete DePontbriand
Director: Chuck Degray
Director: Dave Stevens
Images courtesy of Mickey Cunliffe