New Hampshire Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 3! With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with some tips to help you enjoy it to the fullest with your family!
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1. Grab a Guide from the Town Office- Even though no fishing license is required on Free Fishing Day, you will need to abide by all other fishing regulations. Unless you are an expert fisherman, one great resource would be the fishing guide provided by the New Hampshire Fish and Game. The booklet will provide you with pictures to help you identify fish, a list of bodies of water to fish in, and laws specifying size limits and quantity allowed for each fish you may catch. The regulation book is also available online at http://www.eregulations.com/newhampshire/fishing/freshwater/. When all else fails, you can do as we did our first year and take a picture of the fish you caught to ask friends on social media about it.
2. Buy or Find Bait- Don't forget your bait! Depending on what you are planning to catch and what lures you have, you will probably want to get some bait. My brother sometimes likes to search the ground at night to find his own nightcrawlers to fish with. There are websites and videos packed with tips to help you successfully find a bunch. If you don't have time for that or can't find any, there are some local places that offer worms and other bait for sale.
3. Get the Inside Scoop from an Expert- The guidebook from the NH Fish and Game provides a list of bodies of water and the kind of fish you may catch there. It does not list things your family may find important such as what is the most scenic, which have picnic tables, where can you catch the most fish, and where there is a boat ramp. To get that information, I suggest asking friends. Last year, I asked for help on Facebook from a friend that I know fishes regularly with his girls. He suggested a place in Pittsfield that has benches and a nice view. We found it to be a pretty spot even on a cloudy day. With a sudden cliff but a rail for protection, it was possible to cast right into deeper water from the shore. We always enjoy exploring new places anyway.
4. Go Early- Oftentimes, you can catch the most fish early in the morning or closer to dusk. With little ones, I find it is quite hard to get out very early... Who am I kidding! Even by myself, it is quite hard to get out very early! Early mornings are not my favorite time of day... If you can manage it and have a desire to catch quite a few fish, I do suggest trying early morning, though. Our first year doing free fishing day, we fished the Merrimack River in Boscawen. Friends that had come earlier caught some sunfish, but we had no such luck. I guess 9:00am may have been a little late.
5. Bring Friends- I almost always have the mindset of "the more the merrier". This is a great opportunity to do something out of the ordinary for a play date. With friends, children can grow in their social skills and build quality relationships that can help get them through difficult times as they mature. With summer and the end of the school year soon approaching, planning fun things with their friends are even more important especially if you live in a more rural location. Plus, friends can attest to the huge fish that got away.
6. Be Careful- It goes without saying that water can be dangerous especially for young children. There are also other hazards that come with fishing. Two years ago, it was my husband that got injured. I caught some Horned Pout near Sewell Falls Dam, but he took the hooks out for me. Unfortunately, he found out the hard way that the front of the Horned Pout's dorsal fin can stab you like a thin knife. In that case, gloves can come in handy. Also to protect and train children, I learned it is best to go over expectations before arriving at the destination. For example, even though you may allow your child to play anywhere in your yard within earshot, you may want to change that boundary since it's an unfamiliar or more dangerous area. Be sure to also show your concern for their safety along with clear consequences of choosing to disobey. With clear expectations and consequences laid out ahead of time, there will be less chance of frustration, struggle, and injury.
7. Plan for the Weather- Our weather lately has been beautiful. The last time I checked, the forecast for Free Fishing Day is a hot with a chance of rain. You may want to keep an eye on the forecast, though, since it can do weird things. Seven years ago, we got a little sunburned on Free Fishing Day, but 6 years ago, it was chilly and we all needed sweatshirts! Whichever the case is this year, be prepared. It would be awful to have to leave early due to not being equipped for the weather. One strange tip from my husband is if you do get sunburned, drink a crazy amount of water and it will go away quickly. He is very fair-skinned, so it has been revolutionary for him!
8. Have a Plan for the Fish- I only mention this, because I remember our first year of Free Fishing Day. My husband and I don't really like to eat fish, but enjoy fishing. We went fishing with a few friends and figured someone would want them. It turned out the only people that ate fish were too busy that weekend to clean them and cook them. It would have been a better idea to talk it over more thoroughly and then choose to just catch and release. Maybe you even have neighbors or family that would be interested in the fish you catch. You might as well ask. Another option is if you have never cleaned and cooked fish, they may be willing to help teach you and join in the reward with a nice dinner. What a great opportunity to build community!
9. Bring Supplies- When I am doing something out of the ordinary, I always do best when I make a list of things I need to bring. For example, when it comes to attending a party, I write down games, food, etc. that I need to bring. For Free Fishing Day, you will not want to forget important things like fishing poles, hooks, a bucket to hold the fish you catch, possibly a net, bait, snacks, and water. If you have friends meeting you, they may have some of the supplies taken care of. So it's a good idea to talk with them and make sure you have everything you need between all of you. Make sure you plan early enough so you're not wasting part of the morning running to the store for something important.
10. Check for ticks- I heard that ticks are worse this year than ever and many carry Lyme disease. I am positive that I have seen far more ticks this year than mosquitoes. That is scary! I have even found 2 on the seat of my car this year! There are differing opinions as to how soon you can get Lyme disease from a tick, so I would recommend checking your family for ticks as soon as possible after being outside and definitely within 24 hours. There is no need to be so afraid that you spend all summer inside, but be aware of the danger so you can by equipped to protect your family.
Happy Fishing!
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