View Full Version : Fishing thru-hike????Help
holyminnow
08-02-2010, 19:38
Our 3 sons are going in the Spring and would like to fish. Any tips on license req. or places would be greatly appreciated.
Wautauga Reservoir, James River, Potomac River(don't under estimate the quality of fishing in this river), Shendoah River, Fontana Lake, Delaware River around the Gap, Kennebec River, several reservoirs in ME - off the top of my head.
Problem with fishing on the AT(I think that's where you are headed) is that the places to fish are spaced rather far apart meaning unless you want to haul your fishing gear all the time you would have to mail it ahead on the trail to where you plan on fishing, which I think is the best idea.
SGT Rock
08-02-2010, 19:46
I can't imagine trying to fish much on a thru-hike. Not a lot of god water for it while hiking, trying to make the miles, and crossing so many states which means a lot of permits.
Tuckahoe
08-02-2010, 21:33
Never through hiked. But as a kid back in the 80s, we would carry fishing gear on our Boy Scout hikes. Atleast in Virginia we did pretty good camping along rivers or stocked streams.
I would also bet that it would be pretty simple to assemble an effective fishing kit that was also lightweight. Though I think that the cost of licensing might be an issue.
Virginia -- http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/. Looks like the non-resident fee is $36 and there is a $4 National Forrest fee. There are reciprocal agreements for certain waters with North Carolina and Maryland
Georgia -- http://pub.jfgriffin.com/doc/jfgriffin/10gafw/2010012001/. $45 fee for non-resident and $20 trout license. Reciprocal agreements with FL, AL, SC, and NC for certain waters.
North Carolina -- http://www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing/index.htm. Non-resident short term license is $10 for 10 days. There is also a trout license.
Tennessee -- http://www.tennessee.gov/twra/fish/fishmain.html. Non resident 3 day no trout license is $16.50 and three day ALL fish is $33.50.
West Virginia -- I really wouldnt worry about west Virginia. The trail is so short there and such fishing could be done in the Maryland side.
Maryland -- http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/regindex.asp. 3 day Non-resident non-tidal license fees are equal to the fee charged a MD resident for a similar license by non-residents home state.
Pennsylvania -- http://www.fish.state.pa.us/regs_fish.htm. 3 day tourist $26.70
New Jersey -- http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/njregs.htm. Non-Resident License $34 and trout stamp $20. 7 day vacation license $19.50 and 2 day $9.
New York -- http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html. Non-resident 7 day $35 and 1 day non-resident $15
Connecticut -- http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2696&Q=322740.
Mass -- http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/recreation_home.htm. Non-resident $37.50 and non-resident 3 day $23.50.
Vermont -- http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/lawsdigest.cfm. Non-resident $41.
New Hampshire -- http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm. 1 day non-resident $15; 3 day non-resident $28; 7 day non-resident $35.
Maine -- http://www.maine.gov/ifw/. 1 day non-resident $11; 3 day non-resident $23; 7 day non-resident $43.
Hope this helps in some small way.
If you really want to fish then stop into town and rent a car for the day. Have your fishing gear mailed to you at the post office. Pick up some fresh bait, temporary fishing license and a few cold beers. Take a zero, rest up, have some fun and catch some fish. when your finished mail your fishing gear up the trail to the next fishing spot.
Panzer
ps.. bring plenty of money
Migrating Bird
08-03-2010, 06:19
I fished this year from Katahdin south to Andover, Me. I had a blast, carried a St Croix spinning rod as far as Monson and switched to a St Croix 5 wgt.fly rod. I fished every day. At Little Swift River Pond Campsite, there is a canoe to use. At Horn Pond, thanks to Otis the caretaker, I caught well over a dozen trout. It is tough to hike and fish, the disiplines are not complementary, I felt guilty some of the time, wanting to make miles and could not pass up good looking water. My fly rod stuck up above my pack and would catch on low branches which is a pain but worth it. I still managed to avg over 10 mpd. I took a zero in Andover and fished the day on the Ellis River then mailed my rod home as I did not want to carry it in the Whites. When I got to the Saco River, Crawford Notch, NH the fish were rising and I wished I had my rod.
Tuckahoe, thanks for posting that fishing license info with all the fees, which many who are hiking and also want to fish/hunt/live hunter gather lifestyles as they hike fail to be aware of if wanting to be legal about it.
earlyriser26
08-03-2010, 14:08
The first time I hiked the smokies I came across a large set of fishing equipment at derrick Knob shelter, along with a coleman stove and lantern. I guess they didn't ask the good places to fish question.
canoehead
08-03-2010, 16:31
Check out this trail..
http://www.cnyhiking.com/Northville-PlacidTrail.htm
Ive hiked, fished and canoed many miles but its time to get it done
I know it's not the AT. but I will be doing this trail in Sept and plan to bring my backpacking fishing gear. This trail is made for a fishing thru..
topshelf
10-11-2010, 20:23
If I fished on a thru I'd never make it to the other end.
AUhiker90
10-12-2010, 18:22
I wish I had my rod sent to ME but thats about it.
benben4u
10-17-2010, 13:24
Our 3 sons are going in the Spring and would like to fish. Any tips on license req. or places would be greatly appreciated.
bring a small hook with about 10 feet of light test fishing line to use on the end of a hiking pole. find worms, grubs, etc. almost no weight and fishing line can be used for repairs.
If you want to fish and hike check out the Foothills Trail in SC.
wrongway_08
10-18-2010, 10:04
I attatched about 15 feet of high end fishing string to the bottom of my hiking pole. Wrapped in duct tape for protection from bushes and what not.
Just find a spot as you walk, toss in the line and fish. Easy, works well and you only add 2 ounce to your weight. No one knows you have it. Just dont forget a spare hook ... :)
Meant to but never got around to night fishing. Plenty of spots to fish for Trout Bass and the usual Sunfish and such.
I intended to fish when I walked Maine in '07. Bought the out of state permit (for... ahem, $50) in Andover and carried a lightweight spinning rig. The few times I fished, mostly on beautiful lakes, were all lost causes. Waiting for strikes while getting eaten by mosquitos. A few strikes, but no fish. Bye Bye $50.
Personally I would not want to get caught without a fishing license. Fees are steep, and it would give a bad name to AT hikers, as shirklaws.
I don't think I'll ever try fishing on the AT again. There's better things to do with your time, like hiking.
Pennsylvania -- http://www.fish.state.pa.us/regs_fish.htm. 3 day tourist $26.70
See also my recent post elsewhere (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1060452&postcount=7) entitled Sans license for information about Fish for Free Days and another option not far from the A.T. where I guarantee you will catch fish.
ec.hiker
12-03-2010, 00:17
One problem with fishing on the trail is there are many different regulations per state. IE In the rockies you can only fish with a fly I don't know sbout anywhere else I
middle to middle
12-06-2010, 13:06
totally agree with RockDock.
Black Wolf
12-18-2010, 01:31
In Fla you can use a Cane pole or hand line without a License... I just got mine here ... might be worth looking into if the other states have similar Regs...
holyminnow
12-19-2010, 16:40
thanks for all the info you really covered a lot, my sons are set to roll early Mar and at least one son ben age 14 will have a small telescoping rod/reel and he's reasearching the various age/license requirements hoping he is considered a kid more then young man. he'll be be 15 jun 14th, Tom ,middle son, turns 18 may27, and Nick turns 20 late in the hike Sep 25 , sorry about my grammar today don't much feel like punctuating......
Black Wolf
12-19-2010, 16:50
be sure to check out hand lines in your research...in my " bug-out " bag I have a small kit that I keep 5 small eye hooks in with line and fishing hooks... find a suitable green branch ..screw in the eye hooks every 12-18''...and you have a fishing pole..I plan to fish on my thru and have been toying with the idea of cutting off a the top of an old rod and using it without a reel...kinda' flyrod style..
there's more then one way to skin a cat...or catch a fish
PS..I worked with a Gentleman from Mexico...he use a beer can as a reel..dug worms..and did quite well using this method...