March President’s Message

Magical March

March in NH is oftimes nothing to get excited about if the weather is the only yardstick. However, there is something magical about March that starts the "sap rising" in most fishermen.

March is after all, the month in which spring rolls in, albeit here in NH we often don’t realize that until mid-April. Nonetheless, when March ends the salmon season begins and the stone bridge in Alton will be shoulder to shoulder anglers again.

Most anglers usually start to fiddle with their fishing gear again sometime during the month of March. Fly boxes, having been slowly filled over the long winter, are re-inspected and placed in wading jackets and vests. Reels are fondled, oiled, and drags checked. New leaders are prepared, and fresh tippet spools placed in the appropriate pocket or on the favorite lanyard. Fly rods, entombed in their cases for months, are removed and inspected. Now was it the right or left foot of my waders that leaked last fall?

For us at Great Bay Trout Unlimited, March is the fund raising season. Yes, we unabashedly take advantage of the hormonal changes occurring in anglers as illustrated above! This year, our fly auction will be held on March 29th; a little later than other years in the hope for better weather. It is just hope, mind you. Weeksie's is the host again this year, and that hot pizza will still be warming your innards that time of year. The funds we raise at the fly auction will hopefully be enough to allow us to get some more aquariums and chillers for our Trout-in-the-Classroom school participants, and feed those of you who help clean up our local rivers, not to mention help support the summer youth camp and Casting for Recovery. If you haven't donated an item or service for us to auction or raffle, it is not too late. Do it now so you don’t feel guilty on the river this spring!

Yes, looks like we might all make it through another NH winter!

Tight Lines,
Mitch Kalter, President GBTU