Archive for March, 2007
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Last week’s presentation of Commissioner’s Prints to the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, Sun Valley Sports, and Sunday River highlights the comeback of the river in terms of its water quality and fishery. A look at the DeLorme Atlas shows a good number of public access points along the river, many of which weren’t there two decades ago. Much of the upper river is well suited for kayaks and canoes, and there are boat launch sites at several of the deep water areas. For those who enjoy wetting a line, we’ll be stocking 1,000 brook trout, 13,000 brown trout, and 3,300 rainbow trout from Bethel to to Rumford this coming spring. Below Rumford there’s a nice fishery for brown trout and smallmouth bass. Those who haven’t been on the upper Andy might be surprised at the isolation and beauty of this once-polluted river.
The other big river success story, of course, is the Kennebec, which is also a popular destination for anglers, canoeists, and kayakers. We manage the middle section – from the Kennebec Gorge to Skowhegan – from our office in Strong. Water quality, temperature and fish species change dramatically from the Gorge to Skowhegan; one look at the fishing lawbook entry for the Kennebec will tell you that. The upper section provides a coldwater fishery for native brook trout and wild landlocked salmon and brown trout. The middle section has a coldwater fishery primarily for stocked fish, and the lower section has fisheies for stocked brown trout and bass. Accordingly, we’ll be stocking 2,000 brook trout from Solon to Madison this spring, along with 8,000 brown trout in the same reach. The aforementioned regulations, which vary from reach to reach, were designed to impose relatively restrictive regulations on the tailwater sections inhabited by coldwater fish. The quiet water sections behind dams retain more liberal regulations, intended to permit the harvest of the warmwater fish that inhabit these areas.
There are a number of guiding services providing float trips on both rivers; contact the local chamber of commerce for details.
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
As we begin the downhill side of the ice fishing season and interest begins to wane, let’s diverge from the usual where to go and what to fish for column and take a look at the Downeast region’s lake trout populations.
Probably many area anglers do not know that most all of the region’s lake trout populations are not native to many of their favorite lakes. That’s right, initial stockings that occurred between the late 1800′s and the 1960′s started almost all of the local populations. Lake trout in waters such as Tunk Lake, Branch Lake, Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Toddy Pond, Beech Hill Pond, Hopkins Pond, Green Lake and West Grand Lake, were all started by state stocking programs.
Since their introductions they have gone through somewhat similar transformations and as we look back it is easy to understand why.
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Tags: Downeast Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Heavy snow loads on the Region’s lakes and ponds have created slushy conditions in many locations. I’ve had of a number of reports that snow machines and ATVs are getting bogged down, especially in the northern part of the region where snow depths are approaching 3 feet. Be prepared out there.
Another topic of incoming reports is that of an increasing number of anglers catching northern pike. Some of the reports involve catching some pretty large fish. Others are not quite as positive. Like hearing about another new body of water where a pike, or several of them have been caught. It seems like every year, we hear of another new lake or pond that has had pike introduced.
One of the most written about topics in outdoor\sports articles over the past few years has been the introduction of invasive species. In the case of fishing and the aquatic environment, we’ve been hearing a lot about invasive plants such as Eurasian milfoil. Really, no matter what the species is, or where it is moved to, it will have some sort of effect on native species.
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Tags: Central Maine Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Finally Sebago’s largest basin (the “Big Bay”) iced over early last week just in time for spring thaw. I haven’t spoken to anyone yet that has ventured out on what is expected to be very thin ice covering the Big Bay. Warming temperatures last week limited additional ice formation and the heavy wet snow on Friday has not improved the ice conditions. However, the unusually cold temperature forecast for this week may firm up the ice and slush to allow some fishing on what many consider to be the best area of the lake for catching large togue.
Last week I fished Jordan Bay with Greg Cutting and his friend Mike. I must admit that Greg had the lure and the technique that allowed him to land 7 togue before I caught my first one. All the togue were fat and healthy and the largest was maybe 5 pounds. The togue appeared to be very spotty, and not biting very aggressively that day. Very subtle “bouncing” of the jig on the bottom was required to initiate a strike and the jig color of the day was white. Greg had a handheld depth finder with a fish detecting beeper that would sound when a fish swam beneath his hole. At times the beeper was sounding steadily, suggesting a togue would swim by the jig numerous times before taking a “bite”. We spoke with another group of jig fishermen who were fishing nearby and they also indicated very spotty fishing for togue in association with schools of smelt. When you find the schools of smelt the togue are not far behind.
We did hear about a 15 – 20 pound togue that was apparently caught and released on Sebago within the last couple weeks.
Many anglers on Sebago have commented that the winter togue fishing is slower than a few years ago. Dramatic increases in smelt abundance has likely concentrated the togue more, which means anglers need to be more mobile in their fishing habits to find them. We also remain hopeful that the togue population has declined in recent years under the more liberalized harvest regulations (6 togue daily bag, 14 inch minimum; only 1 over 23) established to reduce the population.
The addition of heavy snow last Friday made for some slushy conditions on area lakes and despite the nice weekend weather angler use was light on waters surveyed. Littlefield Pond (Sanford) and Keoka Lake (Waterford) continue to produce brook trout for those anglers who target them. Keoka Lake (Waterford) and Wilson Lake (Acton) also offered some good action for white perch up to 11 inches long.
Although use on Round Pond (Lyman) has been light, this youth-only fishing pond offers some great action for brook trout and parents are encouraged to bring their kids to this unique fishery, but remember only kids under age 16 may fish on Round Pond in the winter, and a two line, two trout limit is in effect.
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Tags: Southwestern Maine Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 1st, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
This Month: Prime-time for Snowmobiling, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Fishing
Even in Southern Maine, March begins like more of winter and ends with the first definitive hints of spring — snow receding to the backside of ridges, ice turning mushy black and that smell in the air.
Snows settle now, and three sports take advantage of such ideal conditions.
Snowmobilers in the northern half of the state have plenty of snow that has settled and offers ideal sledding.
Cross-country skiers also take advantage and glide across the white stuff.
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Tags: March 2007 Issue • Categories: Almanac
