Spring weather in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine is anything but consistent. A cold winter will see ice on local ponds and lakes staying around in to April.

However, in warmer years, ice can be gone as early as the beginning of March. However, ice usually is not gone until the middle to late March.

In higher elevations, snow can even be found as late as the end of May in Mount Washington and the other higher mountains. While it may not seem like this has any effect on the lower elevations, it does.

Even in the hottest summer months, daytime lows can reach as low as 34°F/1°C degrees as the cold air from the mountains comes down and floods the lower elevations.

Cold Weather Gear

Even in the summer, it is very important to pack the appropriate cold weather gear. Clothing must be breathable as the nights get very cold. Without the right foot gear anglers risk injuries where the closest medical assistance is over a days walk away and cell coverage does not reach in to all areas.

Before heading out to fish in the New England states, check local cell coverage and consider the rental of a satellite phone in areas with poor coverage.

Locating Blueback Trout

While the weather in spring is anything but consistent, the same cannot be said for the lake water column. The temperature in the spring is pretty much the same from the bottom of the lake to the surface.

The coldest part of the lake occurs in the first two feet of the surface. As such, focus on locating schools of bait fish and trolling in those areas. Blueback Trout are not easy to locate in summer let alone when they are on the move throughout the water column in the spring.

As Blueback Trout are rather rare, check with locale lodges and bait shops on the migration patterns of bait fish and focus on these areas.

Blueback Trout Food Preference

The feeding habits of Blueback Trout and Sunapee Trout are not very different from other charr. They feed on the most popular bait fish found in the lake, preferring to go after schooling bait fish rather than individual fish. They will also eat terrestrial and aquatic insects, worms and leeches when they are in shallow water.

In spring, blueback trout and sunapee trout find themselves in shallow water more than in winter and summer. This is because spring is a very active time for insects as they are found mating in and around the water.

Also, most freshwater fish species are found mating during this time, which brings them into the shallows. Only toward the end of spring do Blueback Trout head into deeper water.

They are especially fond of smelt and other young predatory fish that can be found in the lake. But as Blueback Trout are relatively rare, your chances of catching other predatory fish with these baits is very high. Patience is key when seeking out Blueback Trout.

Catch and Release

Please consider catch and release techniques due to the limited population and distribution of the Blueback Trout. Avoid barbed hooks and hold the fish in the water, letting the water flow past its gills. This will help increase the chances of their surviveal when they are let go.