Ice Fishing and Winter Watershed Ecology

Day 1

We began our first day at the Squam Lakes Science Center, where we met our fishing guides and started the week with a little classroom time before stepping out onto the ice. Ice fishing rewards patience, but it also rewards preparation, and the morning focused on understanding the winter watershed ecology that shapes life beneath the frozen surface. Even in the coldest months, the lake is far from dormant. Oxygen levels, underwater structure, and the movement of smaller baitfish all influence where larger fish choose to spend their time. Learning how the ecosystem functions beneath the ice gave us a much better sense of where fish might be active—and where it might make sense to drill the first holes of the trip. Armed with a little knowledge and plenty of optimism, we headed out in the afternoon to Little Squam Lake. Once the augers started turning and the tip-ups were set, it didn’t take long to realize the day had real potential. Yellow perch came steadily through the ice, keeping the jigging rods busy and providing plenty of action throughout the afternoon. Mixed in with the perch were a few impressive lake trout, the kind of fish that quickly draw a crowd when a flag goes up and someone starts running across the ice. For a first day, it was hard to ask for much more. Between the steady perch bite and the excitement of landing a few solid lakers, it turned into a strong start to the trip and a satisfying first day on the ice—exactly the kind of beginning that leaves everyone eager to see what the rest of the week might bring.

Day 2

Day 2 took us to Hawkins Pond, where the conditions felt almost strange for midwinter. Under a bright winter sun, the ice had a softness to it—still solid and safe, but unusually warm underfoot for a day on the hardwater. It was the kind of weather that makes you forget, briefly, just how cold the season can be. The fish, however, didn’t seem particularly inspired by the sunshine. A few crappie came up on jigging rods, providing some welcome action and a reminder that there were fish moving below us. A couple of largemouth bass also found their way to our tip-ups over the course of the morning. Still, the overall bite was slow, and much of the day was spent watching quiet holes and patiently waiting for flags that never quite popped. But one of the advantages of a slower day on the ice is that it leaves room for a little flexibility. With the fishing taking its time, we packed up in the afternoon and headed back to the Squam Lakes Science Center. The visit offered a completely different kind of wildlife experience. Instead of staring down through a hole in the ice, we had the chance to get close looks at some of the region’s most impressive animals—mountain lions pacing quietly through their habitat, bobcats moving with that unmistakable feline confidence, raptors watching everything from their high perches, and the always-entertaining river otters making the most of the winter day. It turned out to be a pretty good trade. Days like this are part of any fishing trip. Not every outing fills the cooler, but even the slower ones tend to bring something worthwhile along the way—whether it’s a few unexpected fish, a chance to explore something nearby, or simply a good story to carry into the next day. Tomorrow we’ll step off the ice for a day of rest and preparation before the next push. After that, it’s back out early—this time on Newfound Lake, where we’ll be searching for lake trout and hoping the next set of flags has a little more urgency behind it.

Day 3

After several days out on the ice, today offered something just as important to a successful fishing trip: a chance to rest, recover, and prepare for the final stretch of the week. Ice fishing may look simple from the outside—drill a hole, drop a line, wait—but anyone who’s done it knows there’s a lot more that goes into a good day on the lake. Gear matters. Preparation matters. And sometimes the smartest fishing decision you can make is to spend a day getting ready for the next one. With that in mind, the highlight of the day was a trip to Bass Pro Shops in Hooksett. The stop gave everyone a chance to see what’s out there in the world of fishing gear—lures, tackle, tip-ups, and the countless other pieces of equipment that can make the difference between a quiet day on the ice and one worth writing about. Just as importantly, it was an opportunity to pick up a few last-minute necessities. The forecast suggests temperatures will drop noticeably on Thursday and Friday, so warm socks, better mittens, and other cold-weather essentials quickly moved to the top of the shopping list. When you’re planning a pre-dawn start on the ice, comfort and warmth are not luxuries—they’re part of the strategy. To round out the day, the group made a stop at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester for their famous chicken tenders. While that may not sound like a traditional ice-fishing activity, it did provide the perfect setting for one of the most authentic parts of fishing culture: sitting around a table and enthusiastically lying about the size and number of fish we’ve caught. As it turns out, the fish tend to get bigger with every retelling. All joking aside, it was a good day to recharge. A little rest, a little preparation, and a chance to warm up indoors should put everyone in a good position for the next challenge: tomorrow’s pre-dawn start back on Newfound Lake, where we’ll once again be chasing lake trout and hoping the preparation pays off.

Day 4

It was a cold day out on Newfound Lake, the kind of cold that reminds you very quickly why ice fishing is considered both a sport and a test of character. Still, our ice fishing group showed up ready to give it a go. Bundled up, augers in hand, we headed out onto the ice with optimism, a bit of stubbornness, and the vague promise of fresh fish for lunch. The fishing, as it turned out, was slow. The wind cut across the lake and rattled the flags, keeping us on our toes with more than a few false alarms. Every snap of fabric had us hustling across the ice, hoping for a strike, only to discover another wind-driven fake-out. It was the kind of day where perseverance matters more than technique. But perseverance eventually paid off. By the afternoon we had landed two impressive lake trout—beautiful fish and a welcome reward for the effort. Unfortunately, two trout weren’t quite enough to feed the whole crew. As much as we might have liked a lakeside fish fry, we had to fall back on a time-honored backup plan: grilled hotdogs. And honestly, hotdogs taste pretty good when you’re standing on a frozen lake with the wind in your face. Between the false flags, the cold, and the long quiet stretches between bites, it wasn’t exactly a banner day for fishing. But it was still a good day on the ice. The kind of day that reminds you why people keep coming back—because sometimes it’s less about the fish and more about being out there, sharing the experience, and seeing what the lake decides to give you.

Day 5