Archive for January, 2007
Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
One of the purposes of our fishing reports is to inform the public of potential changes in sport fishery management.
You might be interested in learning that legislation has been introduced regarding the management of wild brook trout waters, many of which are in the northern part of the state.
LD 285 is an act to designate additional wild trout waters for recognition and protection. It would adopt by rule a list of secondary brook trout waters composed of lakes and ponds that contain brook trout and that have not been stocked with brook trout in at least 20 years. The bill includes language that would allow the Commissioner to adopt rules that add and remove waters from the list of secondary brook trout waters. The bill goes on to state that the Commissioner may not stock or issue a permit to stock fish in a lake or pond listed as secondary brook trout waters as defined in this bill. Lastly, the bill states that a person may not use live fish bait or possess live fish bait on a lake or pond listed as secondary brook trout water under this section.
LD 285, “An Act To Designate Additional Wild Trout Waters for Recognition and Protection” is sponsored by Representative Koffman of Bar Harbor. Co-sponsors include: Representative Bryant of Windham, Representative Duchesne of Windham, Representative Eberle of South Portland, Representative Jackson of Allagash, Senator Mitchell of Kennebec, Representative Saviello of Wilton and Representative Watson of Bath.
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Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Ice is finally beginning to set across the region. The stretch of cold weather and little significant snow has increased ice to acceptable depths at Cold Stream Pond, East Grand Lake and Schoodic Lake. Where measured, most anglers are reporting 6 to 10 inches of black ice, although some of the lakes that set earlier have reports of some water seeping up to the surface, creating some slush. The slush will freeze in very quickly now that we’re seeing temperatures well below zero.
Anglers are reporting some excellent action for salmon at West Lake, East Musquash lake, Pleasant Lake and Millinocket Lake. Togue anglers are just getting started at Schoodic Lake, Pemadumcook Lake, and Matagamon Lake. Splake anglers have been reporting good fishing at Seboeis Lake, Endless Lake, Cedar Lake and Lower Togue Pond. Anglers after brook trout are still reporting some action at Cold Stream Pond, Upper Pond, and Little Round Pond for kids under 16.
Now that anglers are moving ice houses out and around their favorite lake, please remember to be considerate of others. When word gets around that the fish are hungry in a particular part of the lake, don’t set up right next to another ice house unless you’re invited. Give your fellow anglers the enough space so that they don’t feel crowded. That also applies to setting up close to shore. Most folks like to enjoy their shore frontage and may like to set up and fish themselves without a shack or group of anglers right smack in front. Either pick a spot somewhere along shore where there aren’t any occupied camps if you’re smelt fishing, or set off shore a ways for other gamefish.
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Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
It is time for Moosehead Lake Region anglers to gear up for the season opener this week at Lobster Lake and Allagash Lake. Many anglers this winter are still pretty upset that they were unable to get out on the ice to wet a line on the season opener in their favorite fishing holes, since many of the lakes and ponds in the Moosehead Lake Region were still ice free on January 1st. The recent cold weather that swept through the region this past week should make it certain that anglers will not be disappointed for the second time this winter. Moosehead Lake anglers will have another chance to get out and hopefully enjoy some nice weather on opening day.
On February 1st, both Lobster Lake and Allagash Lake open to ice fishing for the month of February only. At Lobster Lake and Allagash Lake the use or possession of live bait is prohibited, you are restricted to two lines per person, and they are open to the taking of cusk in the nighttime with five lines.
Lobster Lake regulations allow a 1 fish daily limit on salmon, trout, and togue in the aggregate. The minimum length limit on salmon is 20 inches. The minimum length limit on togue is 23 inches. Brook trout fall under the general law length limit of 6 inches.
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Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Ice conditions in western Maine improved dramatically with last week’s subzero temperatures. We measured up to a foot of good ice on several lakes and there were few problems with slush. Winter anglers are therefore finally getting in the groove and it looked liked opening day on some waters. Porter Lake and Wilson Pond were both very busy, and even some of the larger, deeper lakes that froze very late finally saw some activity. Embden Pond and Wyman Lake, for instance, now have enough ice to allow folks to venture out a bit further, and those enjoying last weekend’s gorgeous weather realized it was worth the wait. Several togue in the 3 to 4 range were iced at Embden, and Wyman gave up several nice splake, as well as a few brookies and salmon. Ethan Tracy, our creel survey clerk, also checked several togue from Hancock Pond, one tipping the scales at just over 4 pounds.
February is usually a great month for togue fishing, and we’ve got several great spots to try your luck. Togue lakes in western Maine open to ice fishing include Porter Lake in New Vineyard, Clearwater Pond in Industry, Wilson Pond in Wilton, Embden and Hancock Ponds in Embden, Spring Lake in T3 R4, and Spencer Lake in Hobbstown.
While the ice is in far better shape than just a couple of weeks ago, caution and common sense are still needed, especially on the larger lakes.
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
After a delay of nearly 4 weeks, winter finally arrived in Maine with long-awaited icy blasts laying down sheets of ice on eastern Maine’s lakes and ponds like a natural Zamboni resurfacing an ice rink. Winter anglers, families, and kids were out in force punching holes through 4-12” of ice with everything from chisels and hand augers to chain saws and power ice auger.
Many anglers were surprised and thrilled to land brook trout in the 15-18” range adding to the action from 7-10” trout at ponds like Indian Lake in Whiting (10-12” of ice), Keene’s Lake in Calais, Montegail Pond in Centerville, and Goulding Lake in Robbinston. Hancock County anglers experienced similar catches at Lower Hadlock Pond in Northeast Harbor, Bubble Pond in Bar Harbor, Jacob Buck Pond in Bucksport, and Craig Pond in Orland. Winter creel survey clerk Joe Overlock reported seeing numerous kids having the time of their lives catching some big brook trout. Some of these fisheries are drawing in anglers from miles away to join in the action.
Biologist Greg Burr checked anglers on 3 lakes. At Long Pond in Mount Desert, anglers caught several landlocked salmon while fishing on 4-10” of ice. Most of the salmon had been released to catch again on another day! At Pleasant River Lake in Beddington, anglers fished on 8-10” of ice and caught splake from 12-16” long, along with a few large salmon (>20”) stocked after the fall “egg take” at the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery. And at Hopkins Pond in Mariaville, there was a lot of fishing effort directed at last fall’s stocking of 6,000 7-9” brook trout, while other anglers targeted lake trout in the 20-24” range.
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Tags: Downeast Fishing Report • Categories: General
