Bowdoinham’s Ice and Smelt Fishing Festival is a winter tradition, drawing tourists eager to fish and explore the town. However, the past two events lacked its key attraction: actual smelt fishing.

But even this bone-chilling place is feeling the effects of climate change. The ice fishing season for pond smelt opened on Feb. 6, the latest date since 1998 when such statistics were first recorded.

Oregon authorities seized around 2,500 pounds worth of illegally harvested smelt during a special, short season on the Sandy ...