Archive for January, 2007
Posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Region A is known as the Sebago Lakes Region, named after what may be its most unique and important water. Sebago Lake and its major tributaries support one of only four native landlocked Atlantic salmon populations in the state of Maine and provide world-renowned fishing for genetically unique trophy landlocks. The three fishery biologists in Region A recognize the importance of Sebago Lake and devote a large portion of their time to the management and protection of its fisheries.
Recently each year seems to bring a new threat to the management of Sebago’s fisheries. Beyond the well-publicized illegal introduction of Northern Pike into Sebago, the newest threat is the proposed rebuild of Scribner’s Mill Dam on the Crooked River in Harrison/Otisfield. In this day and age, when the detrimental effect of dams on migratory species of fish are well known, it is disheartening to be dealing with the proposed installation of a dam on Sebago Lake’s most important salmon spawning tributary.
Historically, the available spawning habitat for landlocked salmon was greatly diminished (as much as 88%) by the construction of Bolster’s Mill and Scribner’s Mill dams. During the early 1970s efforts by the Department resulted in the partial restoration of fish passage to the upper reaches of the Crooked River. Further management efforts were required to recolonize salmon in the habitats above the old dams.
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Tags: Southwestern Maine Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Monday, January 15th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Warm weather and rain continue to plague the most ardent of ice fishermen. The week long warm weather of last week was followed by a day of rain on Saturday and Sunday was another day above freezing with only the wind chill making it seem colder. We are scheduled to get 4-8 inches of snow Monday that will only contribute to already dangerous conditions as thin ice gets blanketed with a coating of insulating white stuff. Snowmobilers will greet the new fallen snow enthusiatically but should use extreme caution and be very hesitant at crossing any body of water that is covered with snow. We have not had the zero or subzero weather characteristic of January.
Biologists planning to census Big Eagle Lake, Ross Lake and others in the Allagash drainage canceled fieldwork this past weekend in lieu of the warm weather and poor ice conditions. Anglers planning to visit these lakes for the upcoming weekend should check with regional IF&W offices for the latest update of ice conditions. Long, Cross, Square and Eagle Lakes in the Fish River Chain are due to open on January 15 but these large lakes with vast areas of deep water have remained open and any ice present a short distance from shore will be thin and hazardous for travel. Smelt shacks only a few feet from shore on Eagle Lake were removed last week as the ice depressed under the weight of the shacks causing flooding. We have had nothing but warm weather since that time.
Small water bodies have thicker ice but after the rain and runoff from this weekend, they will be dangerous around inlets and outlet. Anglers have been fishing the shoreline of lakes in the Houlton area and at Squa Pan but cautiously and not venturing far from shore.
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Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Monday, January 15th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
By now most all ice anglers are wondering if they will ever get to drill any holes this winter! We have been fielding calls from ice anglers inquiring about ice (or lack of it) throughout the region. The short answer is NO. As of Sunday, the 7th of January, there is no ice to speak of, anywhere in the Penobscot Region! That’s not to say that someone couldn’t find just enough ice to chip a few holes to set a line, but these opportunities are very scarce. Conditions change so fast that ice on a particular pond may support foot traffic today, but may not support any weight tomorrow. I would suggest that patience and common sense would be the prudent course. Golf anyone?
While you’re waiting for winter, why not try one of the water bodies that are open all year to open water fishing? In the Penobscot Region, Millinocket Stream would be the ticket. The year-round fishing section is located just to the north of the Town of Millinocket in T1R8 WELS, from the Millinocket Lake Dam downstream to the Millinocket Town Line. The Enfield Hatchery stocked 230 large (14 to 16 inches) fall yearling brook trout back on November 27th, 2006. The stream is open to year round fishing per general law provisions, EXCEPT that S-19 (2 trout) is in effect.
Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Monday, January 15th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Thin ice is not an issue that should be taken lightly by anglers fishing in the Moosehead Lake Region. We are seeing unsafe ice conditions across the entire region and anglers should not be venturing out on any body of water without first checking the status of ice depth. At best anglers can expect some fishing close to the shoreline and will be limited to coves and shallower areas on our larger lakes and ponds. Individuals traveling on regional waters should avoid traveling over deep basins and remember that lake conditions can change daily.
Since there is still a lot of open water in the region we are getting some calls from anglers inquiring if open water fishing is allowed. Open water fishing is not allowed. If you are unable to get out on the ice and cut or chisel a hole, then you are out of luck. The only open water opportunity in the Moosehead Lake Region is the Piscataquis River from the dam in Guilford downstream to the Atkinson-Sebec Bridge, which is open to open water fishing from January 1 — December 31. Fishing is restricted to artificial lures only and the daily bag limit on trout is two fish with a minimum length limit of 6 inches.
Regional staff began its annual winter creel census sampling this past weekend. Tim Obrey and I went to Chamberlain Lake. We found traveling condition limited to Round Pond, Telos Lake, and area of Chamberlain Lake off the trailhead to the Chamberlain Lake parking lot. The handful of anglers we interviewed were experiencing some nice catches of brook trout along the shoreline and anglers should expect lake trout and lake white fish catches to pick up as soon as ice conditions improve.
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Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Monday, January 15th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The frustrating wait continues, as ice conditions in western Maine haven’t improved much since late December. There is fishable ice on a few small, shallow ponds, but for the most part winter anglers aren’t doing much except hoping for cold weather to arrive. Lufkin Pond in Phillips, Wentworth Pond in Solon, and Roxbury Pond in Roxbury all have a few inches of safe ice – Lufkin and Wentworth are providing some fast action for splake and bass, while Roxbury anglers have picked up a few big trout from earlier stockings. Conditions on the region’s larger lakes range from completely open to a few inches of good ice in shallow isolated coves. Be sure to check the ice before venturing onto these areas on foot, and please remember that motorized travel on any lake in western Maine is downright foolhardy.
For those with an itch to fish, a few river reaches are open to year-round open water fishing. In Region D, these include the Kennebec River from the Abenaki Dam in Madison (the lowermost of the two dams in Madison and Anson) to Weston Dam in Skowhegan. Regulations during the winter period are the same as those applied during the open water season. And new this year, the entire Androscoggin River is open year-round from the New Hampshire border to tidewater. Regulations remain the same during the winter months, except that trout and salmon must be released alive from October 1 to March 31. Also, there’s a new catch and release section extending from the New Hampshire border downstream to the bridge crossing at Gilead. Fishing in this reach is restricted to single hook artificial lures. If you’re hardy enough to participate in these winter fisheries, remember that water temperatures are only in the 30′s. Use care launching boats at icy landings, and watch for slippery rocks and ice floes – a dunking this time of year can be uncomfortable at best, and at worst it can cost you your life.
Winter anglers have petitioned the Department to open Pleasant Pond in Caratunk to ice fishing. A public hearing will be held on January 11 at 6:30 PM in the Quimby Elementary School in Bingham. If you can’t attend the hearing, please consider expressing your views in writing by January 26. These should be sent to Andrea Erskine at 284 State Street, State House Station 41, Augusta, ME 04333-0041.
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: General
