Archive for January, 2007
Posted on Friday, January 26th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The ice fishing season in western Maine is a good two weeks behind schedule in terms of ice formation. Anglers are finally getting onto the ice in numbers, “rimming it” as Dave Howatt says, meaning that they’re fishing around the edges of the lakes where the ice is thickest. This method of fishing is productive for most species, but togue, which live in the deeper water, are less vulnerable this year. Ice thickness approaches a foot in the protected coves but thins to two inches or less over the deepest water. Anglers now also need to watch out for slush, and there are still some open spots on the deep lakes, as evidenced by rising mist on cold mornings. Our new kid-fishing waters that open to ice fishing – Toothaker Pond and Tibbetts Pond – are attracting young anglers who are pulling some nice big stocked brook trout though the ice.
Although we have more lakes open to ice fishing than we can check in a single year, we have fewer than most other regions of the state because the Rangeleys are closed to ice fishing. Accordingly, both Dave Boucher and Dave Howatt have traveled north for a weekend each to help check anglers on Big Eagle Lake. They enjoy the change in scenery and provide much-appreciated help to the biologists in northern Maine. Dave Boucher, who returned from Big Eagle on January 21, reports good fishing for trout but the usual problems with thin ice and slush.
There will be a milestone of sorts at Rangeley Lake in 2007 in that it will be the first time since 1962 that the lake will not be stocked. The suspension of stocking is a temporary measure, imposed because salmon growth rates have been declining somewhat for several years despite reductions in the stocking rate. We stocked 3,000 salmon as recently as 2001 but have gradually decreased the number to 1,500 in 2006. Yet, numbers of smelt continue to decline. The reason, it seems, is the increasing contribution of wild fish being hatched out in the lake’s tributaries. Because of the one salmon limit and the high voluntary release rate of mature fish, spawning has increased and the composition of the salmon population is slowly changing from hatchery to wild fish. We’ve also been stocking a relatively small number of brook trout – we’ll suspend this stocking for a year also given that large brookies also eat smelt and because we’re beginning to see some wild brook trout in the fishery. The goal, of course, is to temporarily reduce the number of hungry mouths so that the smelt population can rebound to its former abundance.
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Friday, January 26th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Winter has finally arrived and with it the long sought after ice coverings on the Downeast area’s lakes and ponds. Biologists this past weekend found many eager anglers making their first trips of the season. Biologists reported that most regional water that are 1,000 acres and below are fully covered with 3 to 6 inches of ice. Some of the larger coastal lakes in the region are still treacherous with large areas of open water and thin ice conditions. Waters such as Tunk Lake, Donnell Pond, Gardner Lake, Green Lake, Branch Lake, Long Pond and Jordan Pond all have portions of unsafe ice or large areas of open water, so caution is advised if attempts are made to fish these popular waters.
As many anglers know, the first few weeks after the safe ice has formed is the best time to fish with many ready takers of all species giving fishermen fast action. Washington and Hancock counties hot spot where anglers will want to concentrate as follows:
Washington County:
Keenes Lake — Calais — Brook Trout
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Tags: Downeast Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Friday, January 26th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The unusual weather has every one wondering if this years ice-fishing season will last very long. If the truth be told, it will probably last as long as we want it to, because if you recall in a normal winter, anglers are fired up to get out on January 1, but come the end of February, the urge is not so intense and outdoor pursuits are geared to warmer weather sports. Open water fishing is starting to be the hot topic. So when ice is safe, anglers will venture forth and get their fill and catch the fish they are after and eventually when they have had enough, other interests are tugging at them.
When I was a youngster, my dad, my three brothers and I would get up before the crack of dawn and head off to a favorite fishing pond and punch some holes in the ice. We would have a good mess of pan fish before too long. By late morning boredom would set in and after lunch we would be thinking about heading home. I remember one time on a popular water when other anglers showed up after we had several fish on the ice. They would set up around us thinking they would have similar success, only to be disappointed and because of poor luck announce “I’ve had enough of this kind of fishing!” and pull up and go home. So a fishing trip or season is all you make it out to be —-and when we have safe ice, try your favorite water and be patient and persevere.
I had to write this column in advance of a trip I was assigned to go on with the Fish and Wildlife Department, so I’ve had little recent contact with anglers on my surveys. A few anglers are venturing out on the available ice, so reports are few and fish hard to come by, as the “best” spot is not iced over. The smaller waters seem to be the best destinations, with a few coves and protected areas on the bigger waters with safe ice. Always test the ice you walk on with a cutting tool, before venturing out too far. Safety equipment such as ice picks and rope are good items to bring with you in case someone does break through the ice. Many advances have been made that help in making our winter sports safe, so go to your favorite shop and check out the devices that will make your trip more enjoyable. —Be safe out there!
Tags: Central Maine Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Friday, January 26th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The long awaited winter weather finally arrived in southern Maine last week, reversing the trend of deteriorating ice conditions.Smaller ponds in York and Cumberland Counties refroze and some moderately sized waters finally set up. In fact, this past weekend was the first serious effort to survey winter anglers and ice conditions allowed on-foot surveys of over a dozen small ponds inYork, Cumberland andOxford Counties.Foot travel on the ice was a must,as the ice is unsafe forATVs and snowmobiles, particularly in the lower portion of the region.We found 2 to 5 inchesof ice on smaller ponds in York and Cumberland Counties. Since many smaller waters in southern Oxfordhad retained some ice prior to last week’s freeze, the ice conditions were more favorable,providing 4 to 8 inches of ice on many smaller waters. With the cold conditions forecasted for this week, the ice conditions should continue to show improvement in southern Maine and hopefully some of the larger, deeper lakes will finally set up.
The southern end of Sebago Lake (“the station”) is one of the first areas of Maine’s second largest laketo freeze, butthepersistent winds that have accompanied the recent cold temperatures, have preventedformation of any ice in the lower lake. Although, there was some slush ice was observed in one small area, which suggests that we may be getting close.
Our angler survey detail over the weekend focusedon those waters stocked with “catchable” fall yearling brook trout (12 – 14 inch brook trout). This past fall, we significantly increased our stockingof these larger size troutin southern Maine to enhance winter brook trout angling opportunities. Efforts to providing good fishing for brook trout in southern Maine has been a real challenge due to the extent of illegal introductions of competing warmwater fish, in particular bass. The use of larger sized fall yearling brook troutwhichare less vulnerable to predation is one strategy being usedto enhance winter fishingfor brook trout.
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Tags: Southwestern Maine Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Biologists spent the weekend checking anglers on Big Eagle, Churchill, Spider, Big Pleasant, Clear and Ross Lakes. Caution was exercised in traveling these lakes as open water persisted in the gut between Big Eagle and Little Round Pond and at John’s Bridge. Ice over deeper water had a thickness of only 3 inches that had increased to 6 inches by Sunday. Slush had developed in various places along the shoreline. The trail from Zieglar parking lot to Big Eagle was rough and wet. Other snowmobile trails between lakes were travelable but will be greatly improved with additional snow. The warm temperatures of Friday cooled Saturday to zero on Saturday night. Although it was lightly fished as was expected due to the poor ice conditions, those fishing were successful in catching fish. We would note that Chamberlain Lake is not in this region and remained free of ice much longer than those we were working. Anglers with Chamberlain Lake as a destination should check with the Greenville office for ice conditions on this lake. Do not assume that because sleds are traveling Big Eagle that travel on Chamberlain Lake is safe, also.
Ice conditions on lakes in the Fish River Chain remained variable. Two pick-ups went through the ice in Eagle Lake. Caution should be used when traveling on these waters. Biologists checking Long Lake on Monday indicated anglers were successful in catching fish. Our creel survey clerk reports ice thickness in the Houlton area improving to 6-12 inches but fishing remains slow.
To end this report, I would relate an incident that occurred this weekend that typifies all the good things about Maine people. Friday I ran into George and Dan fishing on Ross Lake. George is from Penobscot and Dan is from Albany Twp. They have been fishing together now for several years – how they became fishing chums is another story. On this particular trip to Ross Lake, their first ever, Dan’s sled trailer broke down shortly after crossing Abol Bridge on the Golden Road. They traveled back to Medway seeking to get a new trailer only to find the last one recently sold. The store owner suggested that they try Richard’s Sport Shop in Lincoln, so on they continued to Lincoln. Successful in buying a trailer at Rick’s, they went back to Abol Bridge, reloaded their gear onto the new trailer and continued on to Ross Lake. The old trailer was going to be salvaged by Rick’s Sport Shop. A short way beyond Macannamac Camps on Haymock Lake, the tongue came off the new trailer due to faulty welding. As they were surveying the situation, a party of anglers came by and, seeing that they could do nothing to fix the trailer, suggested that they travel back to Macannamac Camps and call the dealer in Lincoln. They did this and upon hearing the plight of the two fishermen and knowing they had just sold them the trailer, Rick’s Sport Shop said they would be on their way with a new trailer. At 7:30 p.m., the dealer showed up with the new trailer, offering their apologies and making things right. George and Dan reloaded their gear a second time and continued on to Ross Lake camps, arriving at 10:30 p.m. The next day when I saw them, they continued to be impressed with the service they had received from this dealer. On Sunday, the dealer flew up to Ross Lake to check on the men, making sure they had made it to camp and that the second trailer remained in good shape. That my friends is service you could only expect to get in Maine.
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Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
