[nightrider]

The salmon and trout, especially this time of year, are in shallow water (less than 5' deep), near the shores. That is where the food is (insect hatches, freshwater snails, etc.). Therefore, trolling shallow in 6' of water and close to shore is typical practice. Now, also typically, these mooring balls are more often than not in 10' or more of water and exeeding 150 distant from shore, so it's not just a matter of not fishing close to shore to avoid them. A fishman can still get hung up 150' from shore on these things. And lastly, and most importantly, mooring ball owners have no right to dictate to anyone where they have the right to fish in the public waters of New Hampshire as long as they are not breaking any laws. Last time I checked, fishing close to shore and shallow broke no laws on Winni, whereas leaving a winter mooring ball just under the surface does create a navigation hazard and therefore, is illegal.