New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff
A day of unexpected memories.
Wednesday 01/04/2006
This morning my first peek out my bedroom window showed a nice sunny day on the horizon, which warmed me a bit. It was needed, for when I glanced at the thermometer, it read 6 degrees! Since I had a late evening planned at the Nashua Fish and Game Association annual meeting, I coaxed my son Adam into a quick morning trip of fishing on the Merrimack River. A trip to make up for the one we tried Monday morning, only to be thwarted by my little gas outboard that quit 100 yards up river from the boat ramp. In years past he and I had frequently fished the Merrimack River in a boat much of the winter. He hasn't been able to go in a couple years, so I really wanted to get a trip in.
The temperature was closing in on 10 degrees by the time the boat and gear was loaded. Even this mornings trip was almost a disaster. I switched to an electric motor and put a battery on the charger overnight. We launched the boat, turned the motor on and...nothing. The battery was dead as it had not taken a charge. We overcame this situation by taking the battery out of my truck. We were pretty bound on getting a fishing trip in! Giant sheets of ice challenged us as we pushed up river holding tight to the rivers edge and out of their way. Sea smoke rose from the cold water into the frigid air.
The morning was awesome. By the time I had my rod rigged with bait to cast out, and turned to cast, I noticed Adam holding the first bass of the morning. It was a nice largemouth. Fishing was a bit slow compared to some trips, but we steadily pulled in and released bass for nearly 3 hours. At one point a beautiful adult bald eagle flew almost directly over us, launching a flock of 64 mallards into the air over us as well. One other boat fished the bass hotspot much of the morning as well, and they too were catching and releasing a variety of fish, including small and largemouth bass, blue gills and enormous suckers. By trips end we had each landed 4 or 5 bass. I caught all smallmouths and Adam mostly largemouths.
I headed down to Nashua mid afternoon to conduct part of my mid winter waterfowl survey before attending the annual meeting of the Nashua Fish and Game Association. Nashua boasts quite a waterfowl population year round. Mallards by the hundreds usually over winter within the city limits and resident geese fill the office and condo ponds much of the summer.
Bob Valade from the Nashua Club had invited me at one of the Trappers Association meetings we frequently attend. I was honored to be invited. And what an honor it was! Unexpectedly Bob, who was MC'ing the annual banquet, announced an award for me! It knocked my socks right off. It is truly an honor to be recognized by such a prestigious club as Nashua. I bet Bob Dufresne and Alan Lutz, who I have come to know and appreciate as a fellow directors on the NH Wildlife Federation BOD, also had a hand in this award. Thank you gentlemen and Nashua Fish and Game members.