I have provided 2016 stocking summaries for most of the major streams and rivers in the White Mountains Region.

Included is the total number of fish stocked along with adult fish (2-year-old), non-native fish (rainbows and browns), unplanned/unscheduled fish (“surplus”) and fish stocked within the White Mountain National Forest. I have not

included planned/scheduled fingerling or 1-year-old (spring and fall yearling) brook trout as they represent the most

commonly stocked type of fish at this time.

The major streams and rivers in the White Mountains Region that are actively being stocked as of 2016, include but are not limited to:

• Ammonoosuc River • Ammonoosuc River, Upper• Ammonoosuc River, Wild• Beebe River• Cold River • Ellis River• Gale River• Israel River• Mad River• Moose River• Peabody River• Pemigewasset River• Pemigewasset River, East Branch• Saco River• Saco River, East Branch• Swift River• Wild River• Wildcat River• Zealand River

Ammonoosuc River: 81,234 BKT, RBT and BNT, including:• 36,273 “Surplus” fingerling RBT stocked on 1/28 in Carroll (Survival Potential?)• 14,563 “Surplus” fingerling BNT stocked on 6/16 in Bath• 251 “Surplus” “2+YR” BKT (average 1.87 – 1.88 lb.)• 2,509 “Surplus” “1+YR” BKT, BNT and RBT • 8,851 BKT and RBT stocked in White Mountain National Forest

Ammonoosuc River, Upper: 16,507 BKT and BNT, including:• 883 “Surplus” “1+YR” BKT• 7,121 “Surplus” “FING” BKT

Ammonoosuc River, Wild: 1,731 BKT, including:• 30 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.00 lb.)

Beebe River: 3,550 BKT, including:• 50 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.00 lb.)

Cold River: 580 BKT

Ellis River: 4,015 BKT, including:• 275 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.11 lb.)

Gale River: 2,950 BKT, including:• 50 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.42 lb.)

Israel River: 71,247 BKT and RBT including:• 47,793 “Surplus” fingerling RBT stocked on 1/28/2016 in Jefferson (Survival?)• 16,660 “Surplus” fingerling RBT stocked on 2/28/2016 in Jefferson (Survival?)• 94 “Surplus” “2+YR” BKT (average 1.89 lb.)• 1,200 “Surplus” “1+YR” BKT

Mad River: 4,155 BKT and RBT, including:• 170 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.00 lb.)

Moose River: 2,000 BKT

Peabody River: 6,350 BKT, BNT and RBT

Pemigewasset River: 15,183 BKT, BNT and RBT, including:• 565 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.38 – 1.39 lb.)• 240 “Surplus” “1+YR” BKT

Pemigewasset River, East Branch: 685 BKT, including:• 25 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.00 lb.)

Saco River: 10,805 EBT and BNT, including:• 465 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.00 lb.)

• 1,283 “Surplus” “1+YR” BKT and BNT (excluding apparent duplicate record)

Saco River, East Branch: 1,540 BKT

Swift River: 6,590 BKT, BNT and RBT, including:• 300 “2+YR” BKT (average 1.11 lb.)

• 990 “Surplus” “1+YR” BKT

• 5,360 BKT stocked in White Mountain National Forest

Wild River: 3,700 BKT and RBT

Wildcat River: 1,554 BKT• Note: Effective 2017, stocking has been suspended above Jackson Falls and reduced

below the falls.

Zealand River: 1,900 BKT

<<<< Insert Stocking Map >>>>

Conclusions:

• Most large streams and nearly all rivers in the White Mountains Region,

with very few exceptions, are actively being stocked.

• The most notable exception is the Androscoggin River in the northern

extreme of the region which while subject to some level of in-migration

by stocked fish from secondary sources such as Moose Brook, Moose

River, Peabody River and Wild River, is not being directly stocked.

• Another exception appears to be the Rocky Branch Saco River in Bartlett

which while subject to some level of in-migration by stocked fish from

secondary sources such as Saco River, Ellis River and East Branch Saco

River, was not directly stocked in 2016.

Conclusions (Continued):

• Almost all waters receive fish in the 1/4 to 1/2 lb. range, meaning that

“catchable” size fish make up the bulk of what is being stocked.

• Most waters receive at least some level of fish in the 1 to 2 lb. range.

According to F&G, these fish cost roughly $6 per lb. to raise without

factoring in “hatchery capital improvements, stocking truck costs, or

officers time to stock the trout.”

• Many waters receive unplanned stockings involving “surplus” fish. These

are not part of any pre-defined management plan.

• Many waters are being stocked with nonnative browns and/or rainbows

as well as native brook trout.

Conclusions (Continued):

• Stocking over wild fish is common and includes waters such as Airport

Pond (an impoundment on Carroll Brook, a formally designated “Wild

Trout” stream), Cherry Mill Brook, Crawford Brook, East Branch Saco

River, Gale River, Hamm Branch, Hancock Brook, Moose Brook, Moose

River, South Branch Israel River, Wild River and Wildcat River.

• The situation regarding lakes and ponds is similar to streams and rivers

with basically all but two formally designated “Wild Trout” waters

located in the White Mountains National Forest in Crawford Notch, both

of which are remote and hard to access, being actively stocked.

New Hampshire has the best-defined and most effective formal “Wild Trout” management program in New England. The inclusion criteria are clear and

science-based, and the protections provided represent best-in-class practices. Unfortunately, it has been applied inconsistently and infrequently, affecting only sixteen waters statewide of which only three

are located in the White Mountains Region.

The streams, rivers, lakes and ponds in the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire that have a formal “Wild Trout” designation and respective management are as follows:

• Carroll Brook (Carroll/Whitefield)• Shoal Pond (WMNF, Lincoln)• Ethan Pond (WMNF, Bethlehem)

<<<< Insert “Wild Trout” Map >>>>

(color code streams and ponds)

Conclusions:

• There is a lack of formal “Wild Trout” management in the White

Mountains Region. In fact, there is actually more formal wild trout

management south of the region near the Massachusetts border and

north of the region near Errol, than there is in the region itself.

• As noted above, stocking over wild fish is common and includes waters

such as Airport Pond (an impoundment on Carroll Brook, a formally

designated “Wild Trout” stream), Cherry Mill Brook, Crawford Brook,

East Branch Saco River, Gale River, Hamm Branch, Hancock Brook,

Moose Brook, Moose River, South Branch Israel River, Wild River and

Wildcat River.

New Hampshire manages some waters under what could be referred to as “Quality” regulations. The intention is to try to create better “size quality” by

imposing tackle restrictions, bag limit restrictions and/or length limit restrictions. Note that the “General Law” (or default) associated with brook, brown and rainbow trout

is 5-fish or 5-pounds (whichever comes first) and no length limit in streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.

The major streams, rivers, ponds and lakes in the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire (other than the aforementioned “Wild Trout” waters) that have some level of quality fishing regulations are:

• Androscoggin River (Single barbless hook ALO, C&R )• Ellis River (FFO, 2-fish, no length limit) • Saco River (FFO, 2-fish, no length limit)• Profile Lake (FFO, 2-fish, all fish 6-12” must be released, only one may exceed 16”)• Saco Lake (FFO, 5-fish or 5-pounds, no length limit) • Upper Hall Pond (FFO, 2-fish, all fish 6-12” must be released, only one may exceed 16”)

FFO = Fly Fishing Only, ALO = Artificial Flies Only, C&R = Catch and Release

Conclusions:

• There is a general lack of quality fishing regulations in the White

Mountains Region. Much of what there is would be considered marginal

due to a high bag limit and/or low/now length limit.

• Other than the Androscoggin in the northern extreme of the region and

the three formal “Wild Trout” waters, there are no other C&R waters in

the White Mountains Region.

<<<< Insert “Quality Management” Map >>>>

(color code for tackle, bag, length restrictions)