Late 2023 and early 2024 will go down in history as the year with no winter. In many parts of New England, we only experienced a few snowstorms and rain melted that snow quickly. In southern Maine, we only had snow cover for a few weeks. Temperatures stayed between the 20s and the 50s most of the time. I feel like I suddenly moved to Seattle.

I fished on January 1st from my kayak and then during the first week of March when the Presumpscot River was running at fishable levels with water temps in the low 40s. With no snowpack, the higher sun angle will heat the soil quickly and also the water. The official fishing season needs to start earlier and end later. Maine winters used to be four to five months long, and now it is closer to two to three months.

Ice fishing season started in mid-January and ended for many places by end of February if the pond or lake froze at all. Avid ice anglers had to travel to the northern half of Maine. I don’t know when to claim ice out on Dundee Pond or North Gorham Pond because neither pond ever completely froze.

My crocuses are up, other early bulbs are poking their heads through the earth, and today after the rain, my driveway was covered with worms. I have planted my early greens, radishes, and spinach. Nature is telling us that even though the calendar says early March, the landscape is saying it is mid-April. I am sure we will get at least one more snowstorm or stretch of cold weather, but onceI the thaw commences and flora and fauna emerge, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.

I suggest you finish tying the rest of the flies you need, and make sure your gear is in working order because the season is starting now!