By Mike Roche

If you have recently walked or hiked in the outdoors or driven on a country road, you have been overwhelmed by the colors we sometimes refer to as “earth tones.” These are colors inspired by nature “often containing browns and the colors of soil and earth.”

The outdoor landscape is dominated by these tones after the fall foliage fades and then appear again when the snow melts. So many animals and birds feature these tones, as they allow those creatures to blend into their surroundings and it would seem to be part of natural selection and help with survival in the natural world. Soon (hopefully!) those colors will become the background as green, provided by vegetation, will dominate our view of the outdoors, particularly in open areas like fields and meadows.

My ramblings on this topic are the result of my recent drive to northern New Hampshire. A three-hour trip in the Silverado to Jackson, New Hampshire – which is part of the North Conway region – took place along a lot of rural roadways and the brown theme was constant until just south of Jackson in the Ossippee area, when snow began appearing as part of the landscape.

It seemed like that area was at least a couple of weeks behind us, just as the Amherst/Hadley area to the south seems to be a week or so ahead of the North Quabbin. The lakes and ponds up north were still covered by a layer of ice, but it was moving away from the shoreline.

My travels were to attend the New England Outdoor Writers Association annual meeting, which this year included a destination for writers to experience. The greater North Conway is known for great skiing and both downhill and cross-country skiing were actively promoted. There are also places to fish, but New Hampshire trout fishing seasons can be complicated, in the opinion of this writer.

Understand that there is a clear bias, because during my tenure as a member of the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, proposals to open freshwater fishing seasons year-round and make major changes in the trout stocking program were brought forward by fisheries staff. They were debated at open meetings, presented in public hearings and both approved.

Opening of fishing year-round eliminated “opening day,” when anglers would often be “elbow to elbow” at popular stocked waters and stocking needed to be done on a tight schedule to get trout into all waters before the third Saturday in April. This was sometimes a challenge, as adverse weather conditions that included late ice out and high waters made stocking hard. Some expressed a sentimental desire to keep the tradition, but few regret being able to enjoy trout fishing statewide as soon as weather permits.

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The other issue of the average size of trout stocked was also quite enlightening. Trout rearing is really aquaculture and is done in concert with the best science. The bottom line was that the hatcheries could produce a fixed poundage of fish each rearing season. Water temperature and quality were a major factor and infrastructure investments were made to optimize the productivity of the MassWildlife hatcheries.

With that accomplished, hatchery staff approached the board with a proposal to reduce the number of trout stocked. They proposed that rearing fewer pounds of trout would result in the average fish stocked being larger. The bottom line was deciding if a lot of 9-inch trout was better than fewer 12-to-16-inch trout. Combined in the equation was reducing bag limits from the 12 fish brook and stream total allowed.

The resulting regulations after the discussion was a three-fish limit on lakes, ponds and major rivers. All other rivers and brooks had seasonal limits with eight allowed from April 1 to Sept. 10 and three trout from Sept. 11 to March 31. This was combined with fewer, larger trout being raised. The resulting quality of the trout fishing experience in Massachusetts is arguably some of the best in the northeast.

The thought of doing some fly fishing for trout during my trip to Jackson had entered my mind, but the New Hampshire regulations are a bit more complicated. In New Hampshire, brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout season in rivers and streams runs from Jan. 1 to Oct. 15. Wild trout streams are open from Jan. 1 to Labor Day. Trout ponds open the fourth Saturday in April and closes Oct. 15. Wild trout ponds allow fishing from the fourth Saturday in April to Labor Day.

Lake trout and/or salmon waters can be fished from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, but fish can be taken by ice fishing only between Jan. 1 and March 31. All other waters have no closed season. Lake trout on all waters are open from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, but fish can be taken by ice fishing only Jan. 1 – March 31. Landlocked salmon season runs from April 1 to Sept. 30, with the exception of Pleasant Lake in New London, where landlocked salmon fishing is from the fourth Saturday in April through Sept. 30.

That was a bit complicated for me for a quick trip north, so maybe later, when there is time to figure it all out. The Massachusetts model seems a lot easier to understand. All three northern New England states have much more complex regulations for trout fishing, which is understandable when you consider how treasured the wild trout fishery is in those states. We all just have to take the time to understand all regulations, whenever and wherever we fish or hunt.

This writer will be heading west to Kansas in the near future and understands the hunting regulations there. Last year, Kansas instituted a lottery for a reduced number of spring turkey permits and my name was not drawn. Fortunately, Pat had connections with a Missouri landowner and that hunt was a success in many ways.

My luck was better this year. Kansas allows turkey hunting all day, unlike states like Massachusetts, which allow hunting only in the morning. Really looking forward to the trip and a chance to visit with my sister! My recent setback with my arm and shoulder are better but not 100% but we will persevere!

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.