April 2006 Almanac
This Month: Springtime…and the Fishin’ Ain’t Easy…Yet!
This writer happens to love April 1 and has fished every opening day throughout his life, even when it used to be April 15…not April 1.
Opening day is seldom a lonely endeavor, either. Wind-driven snow can fly parallel to the ground, rain can fall in sheets or the temperature can plummet to zero, but on April Fool’s Day, Maine anglers crowd name fishing holes.
Open water is at a premium on opening day, but by month’s end, black flies swarm and alder leaves are the size of a mouse’s ear — sure signs that the bite is on.
In the bottom half of the state, ice-out mania erupts as soon as ponds and lakes clear of ice, and salmonid fishing gets as good as it gets all year.
Brook fishing near month’s end in Southern and Central Maine takes off for brook trout.
Smelters hit tributaries to lakes and ponds, and crowds are common.
Coastal smelters after sea-run smelts have equally as large crowds.
Shallow coves produce brown trout in April in the bottom third of Maine.
Crow hunters across Maine once had April to chase crows, but these days in WMD 7-30, the first half of the split crow season closes Mar. 31. In WMD 1-6, the extreme northern part of the state, it closes April 15.
Woodchuck hunters stalk those distant, brown dots this month before grass hides them.
Some folks chase coyotes now, particularly in Northern Maine where snow remains stubbornly.
Folks scout turkeys hard now.
Speaking of snow, snowmobiling season continues in northern hamlets to at least mid-month unless unseasonably warm temps prevail.
White-water canoeing booms in April until rivers and large streams subside.
Hiking and biking start for die-hards now, and for a while, woodland hikers have no pesky insects…just mud and high water.
Landscape photographers have grays, browns, blacks and textures for mood scenes.
Wildlife photographers have returning, migratory birds, baby critters and stark landscapes free of foliage.
Gardeners try getting peas in at mid-month so they can have fresh peas for the traditional July 4th meal of salmon and peas.
Next Month: Maine’s About to Put On Her Pretty Green Dress
Even in Southern Maine, May starts off a little drab, but mint green is beginning to cover the landscape. By late May, this state turns as green as the Emerald Isle. Fields ripple in the wind and far hills fight off the normal blue haze as they hold a strong green.
In the bottom half of the state, rivers and big streams have heavy, predictable hatches, and fly rodders take advantage.
In the north country, ice-out mania begins in full force and fishing gets as good as it gets in that area.
Brooks in the south country continue producing fast brook-trout fishing, and in Northern Maine, before the month closes, those brooks will be hotter than a proverbial pistol.
Lake trout are near the surface now.
Ditto for northern pike, which are feeding in shallow coves or near the surface.
As May slides toward June, black-bass fishing picks up considerably, beginning in dark-bottomed coves where water warms first.
Pickerel and panfish also pick up now.
Striped bass begin showing up along the York County coast and on May 10, school stripers swim up to downtown Augusta.
Car camping, canoe tripping and backpacking pick up now as warm days get folks afield.
White-water canoeing continues big time in Northern Maine as ice-out keeps rivers and large streams swollen.