Archive for March, 2007
Posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
In Region B, the open water season for lakes and ponds will be delayed until Old Sol does his work on the ice crystals of our surface waters. The best bet to wet a line in the region will be the flowing water sites that traditionally attract anglers who have to get out, despite the possibility of freezing in waders surrounded by ice-cold water.
For a chance to catch salmon, brown trout, and possibly a brook trout, popular places to go are Belgrade Lakes Village and the Wings Mills Dam in the Belgrade Chain of Lakes. There may also be some sluggish pike and bass in the area. The outlet dam on Cobbossee Lake and other dam sites on Cobbossee Stream also attract many anglers. Cobbossee Stream is primarily a brown trout water, but an angler could be surprised and land a variety of species. The Kennebec River – if the flows are not too high – will attract many anglers to sections including Waterville, Winslow and Fairfield. All the dam sites should have open water providing fishing for brown trout, salmon and rainbows. Closer to the coast, the Sheepscot, St. George and Medomak Rivers have sites that will be yielding the elusive brownie. All of these rivers are capable of giving up a decent 20-inch fish if you can find the hidey hole where they over-wintered.
The only lakes and ponds that may provide some surface water action will be closer toward the coast. Biscay Pond is a popular site that usually has an area of open water near the outlet of Pemaquid Pond. It is accessible from the bridge near the pond. The shoreline of Chickawaukie Pond in Rockland is sometimes free of ice and may provide anglers the ability to fish from shore.
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Tags: Central Maine Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Last year around this time mild winter weather conditions had created lots of open water on our most southern lakes and ponds, and many ponds in York and Cumberland counties were ice free (or nearly so). In addition, early season flows in 2006 were unusually low, offering unusually good fishing conditions for early season stream fishing…But not this year. A strong nor’easter just passed at the time of this report, offering yet another reminder that winter is not over.
While the 2007 hard water fishing season got off to an unusually late start due to delayed ice formation, unusually cold late season weather suggests ice-out will not arrive early this spring. The “Big Bay” on Sebago Lake even set up with ice, just in time for spring thaw…As mother nature transitions from winter to spring, we remain hopeful that a limited snow pack and no significant precipitation forecast in the near future will maintain the seasonal flow conditions in area streams and rivers for early season anglers. These conditions, if they persist, will provide good stream fishing conditions for the start of the open water season.
Streams and rivers usually offer the earliest open water fishing prospects, and that appears to be the situation this year. Unlike last year, this year boat fishermen will likely have few opportunities on April first. Although, typically early lake fishing opportunities are limited to shore fishing, where shore anglers target the melting edge water around lakes or at lake inlets and outlets.
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Tags: Southwestern Maine Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Biologists spent the weekend checking anglers on Big Eagle, Churchill, Spider, Big Pleasant, Clear and Ross Lakes. Ice thickness on these Region G waters has gone from only 3 inches to 6 inches early in the season to 20 inches to 24 inches as of this past weekend. Add to the ice thickness at least 12 inches of snow and slush and auger extensions are becoming a necessity. Five of the parties of fishermen that I checked over the weekend had had at least one of their group mired in slush. Due to the large snow storm on Friday slush has developed in many places on all lakes. This storm has improved snowmobile trails between the lakes which had been a bit rough due to the early winter lack of snow. Although some lakes were lightly fished as was expected due to the long predicted storm, those fishing were successful in catching fish. With warmer weather and longer days ahead we should see an increase in the number of anglers making the journey to these western Region G waters.
Ice thickness on lakes in the Fish River Chain is about 24 inch thick. Reports of slush are as widespread in the northern part of the region as they are in the above mention waters. Caution should be used when traveling on these waters. Although Long Lake anglers are reporting slower fishing, which is expected, Square Lake anglers continue to report superb fishing.
Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Fishing pressure was way down this weekend across the region. The snow storm on Friday seemed to keep people home digging out from under the 8 to 14 inches that fell over the region. This weekend we did creel surveys on East Grand Lake and Cold Stream Ponds. Saturday only 21 parties observed totaling 52 anglers. On Sunday only 16 parties totaling 34 anglers were checked on East Grand lake. These numbers are very low compared to what we would normally see. Only 4 lake trout, 1 salmon and 1 brook trout were observed on Cold Stream. Creel checks Sunday turned up only 7 salmon on East Grand Lake.
Anglers reports last week showed success remained quite spotty across the region with very good fishing reported from Schoodic, East Musquash, Lower Sysladobsis and Pemadumcook. Schoodic is producing 3 to 6 lb. lake trout, great smelt fishing and for the lucky angler salmon in the 3 to 6 lb. East Musquash has been producing some 2 to 4 lb. lake trout salmon up to 3 lbs. Lower Sysladobsis is producing some nice catches of 2 to 3 lb. salmon. Pemadumcook anglers have been having doing well angling for lake trout, salmon, brook trout and white fish.
The snow fall on Friday also has produced wide spread slush conditions on lakes across the region. Make sure to use caution when traveling on the snow covered ice.
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Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Despite the State’s recent snow storm and high winds late last week, the regional fisheries staff surprisingly found traveling on Moosehead Lake to be fairly good this past weekend. However, anglers and snowmobilers alike should pay close attention when traveling along the immediate shoreline. The longer days and warmer temperatures have started to produce some very soggy areas. Our staff encountered a few areas of slush while conducting creel census work this past weekend. Traveling on the south end of Moosehead Lake, I identified a few areas that have started to get very soft. Some of the red flag areas are in Deep Cove on the west side of the lake and Doughnut and Galusha Coves in the Lily Bay area. Also, areas immediately around ice shacks contained some slush. This likely from water coming up through fishing holes as a result of the added weight by this most recent snowstorm.
In my travels this weekend I also noted many ice shacks on Moosehead are now surrounded by a couple feet of drifted snow with water and slush near or already onto the runners of some of the shacks. Anglers who have an ice shack on a body of water and haven’t been to it for a while, may want to do so to make sure it is high and dry, reducing the possibility of it flooding and freezing in.
Fishing on the big lake is still producing some fast action for many anglers. Most of the fish being caught consist of smaller togue in the 14 to 18 inch category. Our Unity College help have been reporting some decent salmon on the ice in the Rockwood area. I also encountered several parties on the lake this weekend that were targeting cusk. Although a bit odd looking these fish are very tasty. Most folks I talked to were hoping to get enough to have an annual fish fry or a big cusk chowder.
Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
