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BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors mission as a fishing guide service as well as a New England fishing informational web site that fishes the great waters of New England. With a focus on freshwater fishing the open waters as well as the hard waters of New England's winter ice. We are in search of and the catching of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Perch, Sunfish and Crappies as well as being a top leader for fishing information with updated local fishing reports, fishing articles, fishing pictures, fishing videos, fishing tournament schedules, lake maps, outdoor recipes, fishing tips, kids fishing events and outdoor activities and state outdoor news
Vermont 2012 Season Dates
Guide to Fishing Laws and Regulations
May 7 2011 - March 15 2012
Walleye Season
All waters except Chittenden Reservoir and the Connecticut River
See the Guide to Laws for walleye fishing regulations for Chittenden Reservoir and Connecticut River
January 21 2012 - March 15 2012
Ice fishing for trout, salmon and bass opens
April 14 2012 - June 8 2012
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Catch & Release Season
Lakes and Ponds Statewide
April 14 2012 - October 31 2012
Trout & Landlocked Salmon
Lake Champlain - No closed season
May 5 2012 - March 15 2013
Walleye Season
See the Guide to Laws for walleye fishing regulations for Chittenden Reservoir and Connecticut River
June 9 2012 - November 30 2012
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Season
Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
No Closed Season
Smelt
No Closed Season
Maine 2011 Season Dates
Guide to Fishing Laws and Regulations
Brook Trout (includes splake and artic char) (A) (B)
5 fish daily 6" min lakes, ponds, rivers, brooks, streams, SEE REG
Landlocked Salmon (A)
2 fish daily 14" min lakes, ponds, rivers, brooks, streams, SEE REG (C)
Togue (lake trout) (A)
2 fish daily 18" min lakes, ponds, rivers, brooks, streams, SEE REG
Brown Trout (A)
2 fish daily 14" min lakes, ponds 6" rivers, brooks, streams, SEE REG (C)
Rainbow Trout (A)
2 fish daily 12" min lakes, ponds 6" rivers, brooks, streams, SEE REG
(A) Important...From August 16 - September 30, fishing on rivers, brooks, and streams statewide is restricted to the use of artificial lures only and the combined daily bag limit for trout, landlocked salmon, and togue (lake trout) is 1 fish.
(B) Important...On lakes and ponds in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington and York counties the daily bag limit on brook trout is 2 fish.
(C) In Washington County - except West Grand, East Grand, Spednic, Cathance, Nash, Lower Sysladobsis and East Musquash Lakes - the maximum length limit on landlocked salmon and brown trout is 25 inches.
Bass (largemouth and smallmouth)
April 1 - June 30
1 fish daily min 10", artificial lures only
July 1- September 30
3 fish daily min 10" only 1 over 14"
October 1 - March 31
1 fish daily min 10"
Pickerel
10 fish daily no min
Whitefish
3 fish daily no min
Smelts
2 quarts (see reg)
Northern Pike
no daily bag limit no min
Muskellunge
no daily bag limit no min
American Eel
50 fish daily 6" min
Shad
2 fish daily no min
Striped Bass
1 fish daily between 20-26" in total length or 40" or greater in total length
Atlantic Salmon
see reg
Species not listed
no daily bag limit no min
Massachusetts 2012 Season Dates
Guide to Fishing Laws and Regulations
Trout
Lakes, Ponds, Major Rivers
January 1 - December 31
3 Daily (SEE REG)
Housatonic River
January 1 - December 31
1 Daily 20" min (SEE REG)
All other Rivers and Brooks
April 1 - September 10
8 daily (SEE REG)
September 11 - March 31 2012
3 daily (SEE REG)
Lake Trout
Wachusett Reservoir
January 1 - December 31
3 daily (SEE REG)
Quabbin
January 1 - December 31
2 daily 18" min (SEE REG)
Salmon (landlocked)
January 1 - December 31
2 daily 15" min
Salmon (broodstock)
January 1 - December 31
2 daily 15" min (SEE REG)
American Shad
January 1 - December 31
6 daily
Chain Pickerel
January 1 - December 31
5 daily 15" min
Black Bass (large and smallmouth, singly or combined)
January 1 - December 31
5 daily 12" min
Northern Pike
January 1 - December 31
1 daily 28" min
Tiger Musky (muskellunge)
January 1 - December 31
1 daily 28" min
Walleye
January 1 - December 31
5 daily 14" min
Smelt
January 1 - February 28
May 16 - December 31
(SEE REG)
All other Freshwater Species
January 1 - December 31
New Hampshire 2012 Season Dates
Guide to Fishing Laws and Regulations
Lakes and Ponds
Black Bass (small and largemouth)
Ice-out - May 14 and June 16 to June 30
2 fish daily no length limit
May 15 - June 15
Catch and Release Only Artificial lures and Flies only
July 1 - Ice-In
5 fish daily no length limit
Ice-In - Ice-Out
2 fish daily only 1 fish over 16" (SEE REG)
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and their hybrids
Open Water (ice out-ice in)
5 fish or 5 pounds daily whichever is reached first no length limit (SEE REG)
Through Ice
2 fish daily no length limit
Lake Trout
January 1 - September 30
2 fish daily min length 18" daily bag limit for lake trout and salmon is 2 fish (2 lake trout, 2 salmon, or 1 of each) (SEE REG)
Landlocked Salmon
April 1 - September 30
2 fish daily minimum length 15" daily bag limit for lake trout and salmon is 2 fish (2 lake trout, 2 salmon, or 1 of each) (SEE REG)
Pickerel
no closed season 10 fish daily no length or weight limits (SEE REG)
Northern Pike
no closed season 1 fish daily minimum length 28 inches (SEE REG)
Walleye
no closed season 2 fish daily minimum length 18 inches
White/Yellow perch, Black Crappie, Sunfish, Horned Pout
no closed season 25 fish each species daily no more than 50 combined no length limit
Rock Bass
no closed season no daily limit no length limit
Carp
no closed season 10 fish daily limit no length or weight limit (SEE REG)
Cusk
no closed season no daily limit no length or weight limit (SEE REG)
American Shad
no closed season 2 fish daily limit no length or weight limit
Shad (whitefish)
no closed season 2 fish daily limit no length or weight limit
Smelt
for smelt angling rules and waterbodies open to the taking of this species by dip net (SEE REG)
Suckers
no closed season for angling, ice fishing or traps
no daily limits length of weight limits (SEE REG)
March 1 - May 31
no daily limits length or weight limits (SEE REG)
Rivers and Streams
Black Bass (small and largemouth)
January 1 - May 14 and June 16 - June 30
2 fish daily limit
May 15 - June 15
Catch and Release Only Artificial lures and Flies only
July 1 - October 15
5 fish daily no length limit
January 1 -March 31
2 fish daily only 1 fish over 16" (SEE REG)
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and their hybrids
January 1 - October 15
5 fish or 5 pounds daily whichever is reached first no length limit (SEE REG)
Lake Trout
January 1 - September 30
2 fish daily min length 18" daily bag limit for lake trout and salmon is 2 fish (2 lake trout, 2 salmon, or 1 of each) (SEE REG)
Landlocked Salmon
April 1 - September 30
2 fish daily minimum length 15" daily bag limit for lake trout and salmon is 2 fish (2 lake trout, 2 salmon, or 1 of each) (SEE REG)
Pickerel
January 1 - October 15
10 fish daily no length or weight limits (SEE REG)
Northern Pike
January 1 - October 15
1 fish daily minimum length 28 inches (SEE REG)
Walleye
January 1 - October 15
2 fish daily minimum length 18 inches
White/Yellow perch, Black Crappie, Sunfish, Horned Pout
Janaury 1 - October 15
25 fish each species daily no more than 50 combined no length limit
Rock Bass
January 1 - October 15
no daily limit no length limit
Carp
January 1 - October 15
no daily limit no length or weight limit (SEE REG)
Cusk
January 1- October 15
no daily limit no length or weight limit (SEE REG)
American Shad
January 1 - October 15
2 fish daily limit no length or weight limit
Shad (whitefish)
Janaury 1 - October 15
2 fish daily limit no length or weight limit
Smelt
for smelt angling rules and waterbodies open to the taking of this species by dip net (SEE REG)
Suckers
January 1 - October 15
no daily limits length of weight limits (SEE REG)
March 1 - May 31
no daily limits length or weight limits (SEE REG)
Connecticut 2012 Season Dates
Guide to Fishing Laws and Regulations
Inland District Statewide
Alewife/Blueback Herring
Angling lakes/ponds open year round no min length 25 daily creel (SEE REG)
Scoop Net lakes/ponds April 1 - June 15 no min length 25 daily creel (SEE REG)
American Eel
Angling/Ice Fishing/Bobbing/Bow and Arrow/Speraring all areas open year round 6" min length 50 daily creel (SEE REG)
American Shad
Angling Lakes/ponds/rivers/streams 3rd Saturday in April - June 30 no min length 6 daily creel
Angling Lower Rivers/Tidal Waters April 1 - June 30 no min length 6 daily creel
Atlantic Salmon
(SEE REG)
Large/Smallmouth Bass
Angling/Ice Fishing Lakes/Ponds open year round 12" min length 6 daily creel in aggregate (SEE REG)
Angling/Ice Fishing Rivers/Streams open year round no min length 6 daily creel in aggregate (SEE REG)
Angling/Ice Fishing Connecticut River open year round 12" min length 6 daily creel in aggregate (SEE REG)
Carp/Lamprey/Suckers
Angling/Ice Fishing/Bobbing/Bow and Arrow/Spearing all areas open year round no min length no daily creel (SEE REG)
Chain Pickerel
Angling/Ice Fishing Lakes/Ponds open year round 15" min length 6 daily creel (SEE REG)
Angling/Ice Fishing Rivers/Streams open year round no min length no daily creel limit(SEE REG)
Hickory Shad
Angling/Ice Fishing/Scoop Net all areas open year round no min length 6 daily creel (SEE REG)
Kokanee
Angling/Ice Fishing all areas 3rd Saturday in April - Last day in February no min length 8 daily creel (SEE REG)
Northern Pike
Angling/Ice Fishing all areas open year round 26" min length 2 daily creel (SEE REG)
Panfish (except White Perch)
Angling/Ice Fishing/Bobbing all areas open year round no min length no daily creel limit(SEE REG)
Smelt
Angling/Ice Fishing Rivers/Streams Prohibited Lakes/Ponds open year round no min length 50 daily creel (SEE REG)
Striped Bass
Angling all areas open year round 28" min length 2 daily creel (SEE REG)
Sturgeon
Taking of Sturgeon Prohibited (SEE REG)
Trout (Brook/Rainbow/Brown/Lake)
Angling/Ice Fishing Lakes/Ponds/Rivers/Streams 3rd Saturday in April - Last day in Febraury no min length 5 daily creel (SEE REG)
Angling/Ice Fishing Lower Waters/Tidal Waters open year round 15" min length 2 daily creel (SEE REG)
White Perch
Angling/Ice Fishing/Bobbing Connecticut River/(including covers and tributaries) Tidal influenced Rivers/Streams open year round 7"min length 30 daily creel (SEE REG)
Angling/Ice Fishing/Bobbing Lakes/ponds and all other Rivers/Streams open year round no min length no daily creel limit (SEE REG)
Walleye
Angling/Ice Fishing all areas open year round 18"min length 2 daily creel (SEE REG)
Rhode Island 2011 Season Dates
Guide to Fishing Laws and Regulations
Trout, Salmon, Char
close annually on the last day of February at midnight and shall commence at 6:00 AM on the second Saturday in April annually. From the second Saturday in April through November 30th annually, the daily creel and possession limits for trout shall be five (5) fish; and from December 1st through the last day in February, annually, the daily creel and possession limits for trout shall be two (2) fish. All designated trout waters (see 1.14) shall be closed to all fishing from the last day of February at midnight and shall commence at 6:00 AM on the second Saturday in April annually, unless otherwise designated. Possession of trout, salmon, or charr taken from any waters of the state during the closure shall be prohibited (SEE REG)
Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel
The daily creel and possession limits for northern pike shall be two (2) fish, and the minimum size limit shall be twenty-four (24) inches (measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail). The daily creel and possession limits for chain pickerel shall be five (5) fish, and the minimum size limit for chain pickerel shall be fourteen (14) inches (measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail). No person shall possess any northern pike less than twenty-four (24) inches in total length or chain pickerel less than fourteen (14) inches in total length (SEE REG)
Large/Smallmouth Bass
The daily creel and possession limits for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) shall be five (5) fish, either singularly or in aggregate, and the minimum size limit shall be twelve (12) inches (measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail). No person shall possess any black bass less than twelve (12) inches in total length (SEE REG)
Atlantic Salmon domestic/landlocked
The creel and possession limit for domestic or landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the fresh waters of Rhode Island shall be two (2) fish per day and shall be included in the daily limit for trout, salmon, or charr. The minimum size for Atlantic salmon shall be fifteen (15) inches total length. No person shall take any Atlantic salmon from the Pawcatuck River downstream of the Potter Hill Dam (SEE REG)
American Eel
The minimum size limit for American eel (Anguilla rostrata) shall be six (6) inches (measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail) (SEE REG)
Trout/Char Wood River
The creel and possession limits for trout or charr taken in the Wood River between Route 165 and Barberville Dam at Arcadia Road, May 14 , 2011 through the last day of February, 2012 , shall be two (2) fish (SEE REG)
