NH - 6/28-7/5 (with brookie pics!)

[Big JJ]

Well, it doesn't quite match GB's Utah trip, as far as fly fishing destinations (OK, it doesn't COME CLOSE!), but here's a report from my vacation with my wife's family up in New Hampshire. For those that haven't been to NH (or, Vermont, Maine, etc.), NH is kind of like North GA on steroids. The mountains are a little bigger, the water a little bit colder, the brookie opportunities a little more plentiful. They have the same problems we have here with trout habitat. In fact, without the tailwaters like we have here, the trout fishing in some parts of the state suffer even more in the heat of summer. For those willing to do some exploring, though (and I've barely scratched the surface), there are some great trout fishing opportunities.

We (my wife's cousin, my father-in-law and I) fished the well-stocked (and well known) Pemigewasset and Newfound rivers. High water made wading a challenge on the Pemi, and once the water came down, it had warmed up over 70 degrees. I caught some warm water fish (rock bass and smallies) and one decent rainbow. The Newfound is a small, but very pretty river. It gets hit pretty hard, and is entirely a put and take fishery, so hitting it at the right time is crucial. I caught a few pretty stocker brookies, but not much else. I did see a big 2'-3' pickerel chasing one of the brookies I had on. Anyway, here are some pics:

Pemi (high water, tough wading)
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7010338.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7030359.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7030362.jpg

Newfound and some pretty stocker brookies
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P6290328.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P6290326.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P6290327.jpg

The first highlight of the week was fishing Profile Lake. This is where you used to be able to view the Old Man in the Mountain, before the rock face collapsed. Nothing quite like wading in a cool, still mountain lake and casting to rising brookies. Stockers, for sure, but pretty ones, nonetheless. We lamented the lack of canoe or float tube to be able to cast to the bigger looking ones rising in the middle, but we still had a great time, bringing in several fish each in a couple of hours.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7010351.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7010342.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7010347.jpg

Saving the best for last, we ended the week seeking out smaller, colder water. Like GB in Utah, I had to go out of state to catch my first wild brookie. I think the pictures tell the story the best:

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7040404.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7040412.jpg

And here's the pool...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7040407.jpg

where I caught my first ones of these
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7040405.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7040406.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd228/jmiller07_photos/NH%20Summer%2008/P7040409.jpg

[justin30513]

Thanks for sharing an awesome trip with us. Man, gotta love those brooks.


Very nice pictures.

[cucarachafly]

Does look a lot like Georgia- even the brookies. Nice pictures and great report. Thanks for sharing.

[Musselwhite]

Good looking fish and water. Thanks for sharing Big.

Musselwhite

[Windknot]

Beautiful! And I don't think we've had a report before from NH, so its unique, too!

[Gatorbyte]

Thanks for sharing. Reminds me a bit of when my family would go to Maine.

[fishinbub]

That is some super clear water.

[Big JJ]

Thanks, guys. I was just pleased to have some brookie pics of my own to share.

Beautiful! And I don't think we've had a report before from NH, so its unique, too!

Hey, with all the great reports and pics on this site, I'll take anything I can get to stand out a little.

That is some super clear water.

Yep, and COLD, too!!! a couple of miles downstream is a 20' deep pool with several spots to jump in from up to 15'-20' up. It was "take your breath away" cold!

[S.Trutta]

I have fished most of those spots I think, some really pretty water for sure!!! Great report and some really nice brook trout!!!

Rich