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Waiting for
ICE OUT
Trolling for Landlocked Salmon by Scott Biron
s March approaches and the days grow longer, the chatter
among many Granite State anglers centers on landlocked
salmon. An anticipated ice-out date on New Hampshire
lakes becomes the topic of debate because April 1 marks the official
start of landlocked salmon season.
16 n New Hampshire WILDLIFE JOURNAL
s March approaches and the days grow longer, the
chatter among many Granite State anglers centers on
landlocked salmon. An anticipated ice-out date on
New Hampshire lakes becomes the topic of debate because
April 1 marks the official start of landlocked salmon season.
Anglers organize the flies they tied during the winter either a fly or a lure to entice the fish to strike. Trolling
to troll or cast for these fish, boats come out of storage, also allows anglers to cover more water than casting from
and fly lines, motors, and personal flotation devices all get a fixed location on shore. While patience is part of the
double-checked in preparation for the season. Just after the chase, there are some tricks to success that may prove
ice clears, schools of smelt begin to gather near the surface helpful to experienced anglers and novices alike. Let’s
of many lakes. Smelt are a favorite food of landlocked break down a landlocked salmon fishing outing and some
salmon, and their presence brings the fish up to within of the gear, flies, and fishing tips that will make for a fun
striking distance of trolling streamer flies. Traditionally, and fruitful day on the water.
early spring is one of the
most popular times of the Setups for Success
year to fish for salmon, My preference for salmon
which spend summer’s trolling is a 6-weight fly
warmer months in deeper rod because it can handle
lake depths since they are a the stress of most any fish
coldwater species. I catch. I use a level sinking
In the Granite State, trolling fly line that is 150
fishing for landlocked feet long, which I spool
salmon often seems onto a size IV reel, allowing
shrouded in mystery. I me some room for fly-line
refer to it as the “secret backing as well as the
society of salmon,” and trolling line itself. I use 4- to
many techniques for early 8-pound test fluorocarbon
Smelt tandem salmon fly by Scott Biron
spring success are closely line to make my own leaders
guarded. In this article I am that are 10 to 20 feet long. I
going to let you in on some of these secrets. sometimes add a small barrel swivel to the leader, usually
My favorite way to chase salmon is to troll with flies placed 3 feet above the fly, which prevents the fly from
from a boat, which is often a very successful method of twisting the leader.
early-season fishing. Simply put, trolling for any fish Trolling line is weighted, which causes it to sink.
involves dragging a line behind a moving boat using Anglers can adjust how deep they troll their flies by
March / April 2022 n 17
Below is a selection of letting out more or less line. Because spring and turn to troll with the wind, you will
salmon are often just under the surface of automatically increase your pace. If your
effective salmon flies for the water, anglers won’t need to let out too boat has a speedometer, you can make
much line. I have always believed in the adjustments as needed.
trolling. These fly patterns adage that “less is more,” which also applies
are essential additions to when trolling flies for salmon. It’s all about Finding the Perfect Pattern
the basics when the salmon are near the Picking the right fly is key to salmon
any landlocked salmon top of the water. I usually let out about 20 success, and the best patterns are closely-
to 30 yards of line, and my initial strategy guarded secrets. I remember coming off
angler's arsenal. is to keep the fly in the wake of the boat’s the water once and running into an angler
prop wash. Once the line is out and in the friend who was infuriated. He explained
water displaced by the vessel, I begin to add that he had been fishing with someone
Tied by Scott Biron
some action to the fly. to whom I had given a secret trolling fly
Flies depicted are actual size
A pumping, angled motion will add pattern. I was unable to get a word in edge-
movement to the streamer fly, making it wise because he was so upset. How could
enticing to the salmon. When facing the I have given that secret pattern away? I
rear of the boat, you should point the rod’s admitted I had shared the fly, but explained
tip towards the trolling streamer (at 6:00 that I did not tell the recipient how or where
o’clock) and let the line become taut. Next, to fish it, after which he calmed down.
try drawing the rod off to the side of the Trolling flies are traditionally tied on
boat (2:00 o’clock) by bending your arm long, single hooks or as tandems, which are
at the elbow. Follow this with a short pull two smaller hooks connected by a coated
Blue Special on the line, which causes the streamer to wire that allows the tier to create a longer
accelerate through the water. After a brief fly. I have a tandem Jumbo Bronze Ghost
moment, let the rod fall back down into tied by the late Jim Warner, one of New
the original position so that the rod tip is Hampshire’s most renowned fly tiers, that
pointing straight out behind the boat again. is almost 8 inches long. The most historic
The resulting slack in the line causes the and productive pattern that I tie and troll
streamer to settle back down in the water with is Carrie Stevens’s Gray Ghost. It is a
and wobble for a few seconds until the next fantastic imitation of a smelt. While this
pull on the rod starts it darting forward pattern was developed in Maine, it fishes
Olive Empress again. well in New Hampshire’s lakes and can be
Ideally, the streamer should travel tied in many different sizes.
through the water just a few feet below Flies such as the Winnipesaukee Smelt,
the surface. The streaking, erratic move- Canopache, and Red Gray Ghost are all
ments of the fly will attract the attention excellent patterns to try when targeting
of a landlocked salmon on the hunt for salmon. Deep, clear glacial lakes such as
a meal. Many salmon strikes happen as Sunapee and Newfound sometimes troll
the streamer slows and flutters, with the best with patterns including the Newfound
pulling action of the next rod pump helping Special, Purple Smelt, and the Olive
to set the hook. Anglers need to be ready, Empress. Some of these patterns have a
Red Ranger
because strikes come fast—if you’re not greenish hue and closely imitate the color
ready, you might lose out on a nice fish. of smelt schooling up near sandy outlets
Boat speed is an important consider- during the early season.
ation. Speeds of 0.8 to 1.5 miles per hour Nature, like salmon, can be fickle. On
often work best. However, faster speeds days when most of the proven trolling
can also attract the attention of a hungry flies are not working, I switch to a fly that
salmon. Use trial and error to experiment incorporates the color blue. Ripogenus
with the boat’s trajectory until you are Smelt, Super Blue, or a pattern I have
successfully catching fish. Wind condi- created myself with cobalt tones often helps
Gray Ghost tions will affect the boat’s speed as well; if to salvage a slow day. One April on Lake
you are trolling into the wind at 1.5 mph Sunapee, a friend and I were having no luck,
18 n New Hampshire WILDLIFE JOURNAL
Take the
Landlocked Salmon
Anglers’ Pledge
Trolling for By pledging to be dedicated stewards,
landlocked salmon anglers can make a critical
landlocked salmon difference in sustaining this valuable fishery.
is a rite of spring in Dedicated stewards:
l Demonstrate a commitment to conserving New Hampshire’s landlocked salmon resources.
Acquire and demonstrate skill in using best practices that minimize impacts to this fishery.
the Granite State
l
l Take the time to observe this valuable resource and reflect on its condition.
l Hold themselves accountable and act in an informed, responsible manner.
and a challenge that l Pursue opportunities to educate others about landlocked salmon resource issues.
l Recognize that resource issues generate differing points of view; while they may not agree
anglers of all skill with someone else’s perspective, they respect their right to express it.
Take the pledge to be a dedicated steward and ensure the rich heritage
levels should try. of New Hampshire’s landlocked salmon resources continue for future
generations. Visit fishnh.com/fishing/salmon-pledge.html.
so we switched to a selection of flies that opportunistic and instinctively know that wall that displayed all of the fly patterns.
had shades of blue incorporated into them. right after ice out it is time to feast. He examined the Gray Ghosts, choosing the
Almost immediately we got busy with fish, There are, however, no hard-and-fast one he thought was the best looking. After
and for over two hours we trolled a 400-yard rules on what patterns to fish. Water his purchase, the angler took the fly out
stretch about 10 to 20 yards from shore in 8 temperature, wind, sun, and clouds all play of its package, placed it on the floor, and
feet of water. In the end, we had caught and into how the salmon will respond. One stepped on it. “Now that’s a perfect Gray
released over 20 landlocked salmon. common rule holds true in most conditions: Ghost,” he proclaimed. He then left the
The right fly is crucial, but never bright days bright flies, dark days dark flies. dock and began trolling when his rod bent
forget the importance of what the pattern A slight chop on the surface of the water, and it was, “Fish on!” The fly looked beaten
is emulating—smelt. The healthier the sometimes called a “salmon chop,” is often up and injured, and landlocked salmon
population of smelt in a lake, the healthier an indicator that a successful salmon day is often wound their prey only to come back
the salmon will be. Do at hand. I have landed salmon on days when around for their meal.
not be surprised to there were 2-foot rolling waves while my Trolling for landlocked salmon is a rite
land a salmon only to trolling companion had to keep both hands of spring in the Granite State and a chal-
find its mouth full of on the steering wheel! lenge that anglers of all skill levels should
smelt. Landlocked try. With an understanding of the basics it
salmon are A Customized Approach to Success is easy to get started, but whether you are a
I once heard the legendary Jim novice or an expert, as every angler
Warner tell a story about an angler knows, in the end it is up to the fish.
who came into his fly shop on Lake
Winnipesaukee. The
customer walked up Scott Biron is an active and passionate fly tying and
to the board on the Let’s Go Fishing instructor for the New Hampshire
Fish and Game Department, and is a popular draw
for people interested in fly tying instruction at
When the salmon are fickle and regional outdoor shows. Biron has an academic’s
the fishing is slow, trolling a fly mastery of historical New Hampshire’s fly tiers and
with cobalt tones, like a Blue Special, their lost patterns, is a member of the Catskill Fly
can mean the difference between Tiers Guild, an ambassador for the American Fly
going home empty handed or landing Fishing Museum, and a frequent contributor to the
R
© JOHN VIA
a 5-pound beauty. New Hampshire Wildlife Journal.
March / April 2022 n 19
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