Downeast Fishing Report: March 23, 2007

When the ice goes out of Downeast lakes and ponds in April, anglers will be ready and eager to fool hungry fish with their arsenal of streamer flies, hardware, and favored baits from worms to smelts. Anglers will tie on some new lures with the hope of finding a new secret bait, while others will be the tried and true lures that have proven faithful in yielding hook-ups on Maine waters.

What will the fishing be like in eastern Maine and where will the hotspots be found? Here’s a preview of what to expect in Hancock and Washington Counties.

The big news is that there are still lots of fish left over from the winter season. Here’s why. The ice fishing season effectively started after the third week of January because temperatures did not cool sufficiently to make safe ice until then on most lakes. Then the days saw more than 30 consecutive days of cooler-than-normal temperatures with lots of wind. Numerous weekend storms kept anglers home and produced slush problems on the lakes, then the snow and heavy rains of St. Patrick’s Day week-end effectively ended the season for most anglers. The reduced winter harvest will translate to better catches in April and May, so get that boat and motor registered and ready.

Brook trout
Stocking programs have been increased in many lakes and ponds, under the management plans of Regional Fisheries Biologist Rick Jordan, assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist Greg Burr, and newly hired Fisheries Biologist Joe Overlock. The goal is to stock many trout ponds at levels that will create noticeably faster fishing and attract new anglers of all ages to the sport.

Here are some brook trout hotspots, by county, and there are many more stockings, available at www.mefishwildlife.com :

Hancock County: Craig Pond in Orland, Fox Pond along Rt. 182 in T 10 SD, Lower and Upper Hadlock Ponds in Mt. Desert, Bubble Pond in Bar Harbor, Lily Pond in Deer Isle, Second Pond in Dedham, Simmons Pond in Hancock, and Witch-hole Pond in Bar Harbor. Anderson Pond in T 10 SD is a new addition to the stocking list; it is a walk-in pond in a remote and scenic setting.

Brook trout are stocked sometime in May into the following flowing waters: Union River at and below Rt. 1A in Ellsworth Falls, Orland River below the Alamoosook Lake Dam, and the outlet of Long Pond in Bucksport in the vicinity of Rt. 46 and on town of Bucksport land below the pond.

Washington County: Goulding Lake in Robbinston, Indian Lake in Whiting, Lily Lake in Trescott, Keene’s Lake in Calais, Monroe Lake in T 43 MD, West Monroe Pond in T 43 MD, Montegail Pond in T 19 MD, East and West Pike Brook Ponds in T 18 MD, Salmon Pond in T 30 MD, Shattuck Lake in Calais, Simpson Pond in Roque Bluffs, and Six-mile Lake in Marshfield.

The following ponds are stocked with brook trout and are regulated for kids only: Foxhole Pond in Deblois, the pond at the Cobscook State Park Headquarters in Edmunds (spring stocking — you may call us at 434-5925 to find out whether it is been stocked before your kids fish there.), North and South Meyers Ponds in Columbia. Brook trout are stocked in the Middle River in Marshfield and much of this river is restricted to fishing by kids only.

Landlocked Salmon
The following lakes should provide some fun action for landlocked salmon this spring:

Penobscot County: Brewer Lake

Hancock County: Phillips Lake in Dedham, Molasses Pond in Eastbrook, Donnell Pond in the Franklin-Twp 9 SD area, Eagle Lake in Bar Harbor, Green Lake in Dedham and Ellsworth, Beech Hill Pond in Otis. Also, both Tunk Lake in T 10 SD and Alligator Lake in T 28 MD produce some salmon from 3-5 lbs, but consult your regulation booklet because all salmon from 16-20 inches must be released.

Washington County: West Grand Lake in the village of Grand Lake Stream, Big Lake in T 27 ED, Cathance Lake in Cooper, Schoodic Lake in Cherryfield, and Gardner Lake in East Machias.

Splake
Penobscot County: Fitts Pond in Eddington
Hancock County: Jacob Buck Pond in Bucksport, Heart Pond in Orland, Lower Springy Pond in Otis
Washington County: Second Lake Old Stream, Hosea Pug Lake in T 26 ED, Pleasant River Lake in Beddington, Keeley Lake in Marshfield

Lake Trout
Hancock County: Branch Lake in Ellsworth, Beech Hill Pond in Otis, Toddy Pond, Jordan Pond in Mount Desert, Green Lake in Ellsworth, Hopkins Pond in Mariaville, Tunk Lake in T 10 SD
Washington County: West Grand Lake in Grand Lake Stream, West Musquash Lake in Talmadge

Bass
Hancock County: Beech Hill Pond in Otis, Green Lake in Ellsworth, Branch Lake in Ellsworth, Georges Pond in Franklin, Lower Patten Pond in Surry, Toddy Pond in Orland
Washington County: Big Lake in T 27 ED, Woodland Flowage in Baileyville, Meddybemps Lake in Meddybemps, Pocomoonshine Lake in Alexander, Crawford Lake in Crawford, West Grand Lake in Grand Lake Stream, Gardner Lake in East Machias, Schoodic Lake in Cherryfield, Pleasant Lake in Alexander, Nash’s Lake in Calais.

Best wishes to all eastern Maine anglers for the 2007 open water season! Remember to wear your life jacket, introduce someone new to fishing this year, and enjoy all the sights and memories that accompany the fishing trip. Remember, there really is more to a day spent fishing than just the fishing! Chances are that the memories of a shore lunch with boiled potatoes and onions plus a broiled steak over the campfire will far outlast how many fish you caught that day. Other special memories you may see are a cow moose with a calf wading along the lake shore, a loon with 2 chicks, an eagle perched high in a tree on your favorite point, or the smile of a youngster who has just caught his first fish!