Archive for January, 2007
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
In the past few weeks, we have had many questions about where is there safe ice? We have been telling these diehard ice anglers to check out the smaller bodies of water that are open to winter angling. But most important of all, do not to take any chances, and make sure you check the ice first.
In the Penobscot Region, the lakes and ponds that had safe ice earlier in the month have lost as much as 3 ” during the warm rainy weather of a week ago. Late last week, the ice started to increase again and we got back most of the ice we had lost. However the 5 to 9 inches of snow that came on Monday has made things more treacherous than even before. Anyone going on the ice for any reason needs to be very cautious. The predictions for mid week are calling for bone chilling temps, and its going to take several days of this weather to make safe ice.
As of Tuesday morning, we had reports that the main parts of East Grand, Schoodic and Cold Stream Pond were still open. Last week all of our big lakes were still open. So if you look out and see snow covered ice, remember, there is not much ice under the snow.
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Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
There is not much news to report this week for ice fishing activity in the Moosehead Lake Region. Most of the smaller waters and bays on the big lake, which usually “button up” in November or early December, just froze over last week. Be patient, ice conditions should begin to improve with colder weather approaching this week. We did receive a fresh coat of snow on Monday, which will greatly improve the sledding in the region. The fresh snow covering the ice may seem very inviting but don’t let it fool you. It’s just not safe yet to venture far from shore.
Here is a brief report on a very interesting project we have been working in the Moosehead Lake Region:
From 1994 to 2001, we conducted a study on a small native brook trout pond in which we removed large quantities of competing species such as suckers and minnows. Each fall we would trapnet the pond for approximately two weeks. The brook trout were measured, weighed, and a small temporary fin clip was applied. These fish were then released alive back into the pond. We were able to estimate the total number of brook trout in the pond based on the number of recaptures taken each fall. At the same time, all other species were counted, weighed, and removed from the pond.
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Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Ice conditions are improving. With the recent cold weather ice thickness on the smaller ponds is likely over eight inches with as much as a foot in places. The larger ponds still are going to need a little time to thicken up. With another burst of arctic air things will probably be safe on those waters also. Clearwater Pond in Industry and Embden Pond in Embden will be the last waters to be completely safe in this area. Both ponds still had open water last weekend. Anglers still need to use good judgment and be careful around inlets, outlets, and the very deepest areas of the lakes and ponds.
Overall, the winter fishing season seems to be off to a slow start. Fish seem to be biting good on one day and then poorly for the next three or four. Anglers should stick with it, as many of the fish harvested this winter have been of a nice size quality. In our creel surveys this winter we have seen some good fish, including 18 inch salmon from Wyman Lake in Moscow, 12 inch brook trout from Chain of Ponds in Chain of Ponds Twp., and many 14 to 16 inch splake from Lufkin Pond in Phillips.
Anglers with children should be aware of something new in the winter lawbook this year. Two previously closed waters have been opened to icefishing to anglers under 16 years of age. Tibbetts Pond in Concord Twp. and Toothaker Pond in Phillips have been stocked with 50 large brook trout each. With a little help from an adult, a group of kids could have a wonderful time fishing without competition from older, more experienced anglers. Both waters have a no live fish as bait restrictions and a two fish limit. Tibbetts Pond also has a two-line restriction.
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
By the time safe ice forms in eastern Maine, winter anglers will have lost most of the month of January to open water or dangerously thin ice. Who would have thought that the New England Patriots would be playing their third NFL playoff game of 2007 before marginally safe ice conditions arrived on even the small ponds?
And what are some of the impacts of the record warm winter weather on Maine’s fish populations? One of the foremost impacts may be that the trout and landlocked salmon that spawned in our rivers and streams last fall will experience warmer temperatures, accelerating egg development and yielding much earlier hatching and fry emergence than ever, potentially allowing 2007 to provide a longer growing season for young-of-the-year salmonids, creating a larger than average juvenile, a growth advantage, and a survival advantage that could result in more fish for the future.
Another impact of the winter’s warm temperatures is an expected benefit to eastern Maine’s river and stream populations of adult brook trout. These populations have flourished and grown dramatically during the past three seasons of beneficial spring through fall water flows and temperatures. Temperatures of flowing water during December and January have risen to the upper 30 and lower 40 F temperature range several times, rather than hovering just above freezing. Brook trout have undoubtedly experienced additional growth that would not normally have occurred, potentially yielding slightly larger fish this spring.
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Tags: Downeast Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Ice conditions in Central Maine continue to be very hazardous after another week of above average temperatures. There are a few waters with just enough ice for die-hard anglers to ‘crawl’ out a short distance from shore to set traps. These hardy souls have had limited success. With the forecast for cold temperatures and snow, people will need to be very cautious, the snow may cover the ice but many waters will remain unsafe due to thin ice.
With little ice fishing to report, I thought this would be a good opportunity to update readers on the progress with Parker Pond.
As many of you may recall, Parker Pond developed a salmon growth problem in the early 1990′s, this slow growth was attributed to a dwindling smelt population. To bolster the smelt population we transplanted smelt eggs into the lake nearly annually until early 2000′s. Stocking was also suspended in 1999 and 2000 to ease the pressure on the smelt population. When stocking resumed in 2001, the number of salmon stocked (400) was half the normal rate and this rate has continued through 2006.
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Tags: Central Maine Fishing Report • Categories: General
