Awesome fish. That salmon looks like a whale compared to the rainbow.
Thanks, yes the salmon was bigger than the rainbow easily.I wish i could have measured him but with the wind, the boat all over the place and the fight he put i did not want to take the chance of him not making it. He was good enough to stay still for the pic so i owed him a quick return to the water ..haha
Probably stupid question as I've been out of of the region for decades: How long has Winni been planted with rainbows? Is it a new thing or been going on for a long time? I ask because years ago when I lived in Mass (1970's) it seems all I ever heard about was the salmon. Just curious. Thanks!Btw that's a really nice rainbow and salmon 61gun. You are blessed to fish that lake and to have a wife that enjoys coming along!
Thanks Taxid for the kind words, yes she is finally coming around and going fishing with me. Took 20 something years but better late than never (and she sure knows how to stock the boat with good eats!!!.. haha)They have been putting them in there at least since 2001 that I have been fishing there. I think they put in something like 20,000 of them a year. I have notice that we are catching more rainbows these last few years and they also seem to be larger than in the past. Was talking to a neighbor who has been fishing winni for years and he says that the biologist told him they were moving in the direction of making winni a trophy lake fisheryand that is why the salmon fishing has been slow. Take it for what its worth, until I hear them come out and say it themselves it goes in one ear and out the other.
Was talking to a neighbor who has been fishing winni for years and he says that the biologist told him they were moving in the direction of making winni a trophy lake fishery and that is why the salmon fishing has been slow. Take it for what its worth, until I hear them come out and say it themselves it goes in one ear and out the other.
"2015 ANNUAL REPORT" WINNIPESAUKEE LAKE GILFORD LLS 1+YR 35,122GILFORD RT 1+YR 5,835WOLFEBORO RT 1+YR 2,320"This is a pretty average stocking for Winni.The numbers stocked each year are supposed to be based on fall forage data.35,000 LLS stocked! The following year's mortality is a number that I would love to know?The # per pound at stocking and where and when they're stocked are huge factors in their livability. I would not set much store on that rumor either.There are a few other NH lakes that were set aside for trophy LLS lakes.
I'm not so sure of the trophy fishery rumor, but I do know of a 26" 5.8lb salmon that was caught in Winni this year. That's the largest salmon I have seen caught in Winni since the 80's!I have also noticed that while fishing has been slow since May, what is being caught is of nice size and health. 5 year olds are not that uncommon.Personally for me, I had my best April yet in both quantity and quality on the big lake. Mid may through end of June however was not so good! It was like a light switch was turned off. Catching 2 or 3 would be considered a good morning. With the thermo-cline beginning to setup, I think things will start to pickup by the weekend...at least I hope so!Tight lines!Dan
