Downeast Fishing Report: June 19, 2007
Maintaining access to public waters in the Downeast region is a top priority for fisheries biologists. This region has over 500 lakes & ponds and 3,800 miles of rivers, streams and brooks, where biologists and wardens have the responsibility of finding suitable lands to be purchased for public access to inland waters. Currently over 85 percent of state waters in Hancock and Washington Counties have public access across privately owned lands. These gracious landowners who have allowed public access for decades to Great Ponds (Great Ponds are lakes and ponds over 10 acres in size) in our area, have done so because they understood the importance to their communities, both for recreational opportunities and to the local economy. The social benefits from public access to inland waters is immeasurable as it keeps people connected to the natural environment and provides badly needed opportunities for citizens to enjoy the outdoors. Statistics have shown that children who fish and recreate on the water have a greater tendency not to become involved with drugs or alcohol.
The economic benefit to the Downeast region from fishing and other water based recreation is in the millions, as just fishing in inland waters generates upwards of 300 million annually state wide. These wholesome family activities are what help bind communities together and are what make Maine what it is, the place to be.
Sadly, these public access points that cross private lands are disappearing as the parcels change hands and the access blocked off. When this occurs, the lakes and ponds become privatized or semi-privatized, leaving little opportunities for Maine people to access the water that they own. In many cases once these access points are closed off the water can no longer be stocked, as all citizens need to have the same advantage to the fish resources of that water. This is a fairness issue that arises when there are many private access points that are associated with camps and residences remain and only family and friends can access but not the general public. The Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife policy states that fair and equitable public access has to be in place in order for the department to stock. This means that access between private landowners and the public must be the same, so that both have the same advantage to the stocked fishery resources. This can be accomplished through local towns, the federal government, state agencies or a lake landowner providing access for the public with agreements and/or development of access sites.
So as one can see, the importance of access to public waters can not be overstated because of the tremendous benefits to the people in our communities and to the people who like to visit our special state. This is why the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the Department of Conservation will continue to seek parcels abutting lakes, ponds, rivers and streams for access for the people of the state of Maine.
On another note, anglers continue to have good catches of wild eastern brook trout on many of brooks and streams across Downeast. Many of these waters will likely warm up in early July, making fishing tough, unless anglers are fishing spring brooks that stay cool all summer, so the time is now to still experience some of the best spring brook trout fishing.
Bass fishing for smallmouths is still very good as bass have moved off nesting areas, but still are residing near inshore rocky areas and shallow drop offs. Some male bass continue to guard nests in the deep cold northern regional waters such as West Grand Lake and Pocumcus Lake as these waters did not warm up until late, which pushed nesting bass to start later in June with guarding lasting sometimes into early July.
We hope you all enjoying fishing in Downeast Maine! Be safe!
