Moosehead Region Fishing Report: June 14, 2007
Water temperatures are still cool in the area. Bass are just starting to build nests in waters on the southern fringes of the region and the first caddis hatches were observed last week on trout ponds in the area. Anglers are reporting some good salmon and lake trout fishing in the Rockwood area on Moosehead Lake. Flows in the East Outlet bumped up to nearly 5,000 cfs last week, which washed out most of the fishing. The good news is the flow is back down to around 2,400 cfs early this week and those high flows typically bring more fish into the river. The river fishing should be very good over the next few weeks as the insect activity increases.
Last week we finished up the scheduled stocking for the Moosehead Lake Region with some additional brook trout for the East and West Outlets and Fitzgerald Pond. We have had reports of great fishing on most of the stocked trout ponds in the Region this spring.
We have scheduled a public informational meeting in Rockwood on the 14th at 6:30 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an exchange of information between the Fisheries staff and the anglers. We anticipate questions regarding some of the proposed regulation changes and we will be prepared to discuss them. A formal regulation hearing has been scheduled for July 10th at the Greenville High School at 6:30 pm.
This spring we have used our weekly fishing reports to keep you informed of our proposed regulation changes. We will wrap it up this week with a proposal for Wilson Pond in Greenville and a few minor changes on several other waters.
Wilson Pond has an abundant lake trout population. The problems at Wilson Pond are very similar to those next door at Moosehead Lake. There are so many lake trout that the fish are below average, in terms of growth and fatness. In fact, according to our data from summer anglers, catch rates for lake trout less than 18 inches are on par with catch rates on Moosehead Lake. This pond is one of several in this region where lake trout have become very abundant. In 1998, we adopted a 3 fish/14”; 1 over 18” limit in an effort to reduce the population. This effort is hampered by the fact that the lake is only open in the summer. Essentially, we cannot get enough wild lake trout out of the system with the current regulations. We do not feel that summer fishing pressure/harvest is sufficient to improve the situation. Therefore, we would like to advance a proposal to the public that would open the lake to ice fishing for all species except salmon. The final regulation proposal for the winter would be Open under Group B, S-4, S-17, All salmon must be released alive at once. Daily bag limit on lake trout 3 fish; only 1 may be greater than 18″; all 3 may be between 14-18″.
The following is a list of the remaining proposals and a brief explanation:
Allagash Lake: We recommend changing the summer length limit on whitefish to 16 inches. This was overlooked when the length limit change was adopted in the winter. This will standardize the regulations.
Big Indian Pond: Increase bag limit on lake trout from 1 fish to 2 fish. There appears to be an increase in the wild lake trout population and the fish look lean recently.
Brann’s Mill Pond: We have consolidated the number of statewide special regulations on our bass waters this year. Therefore, we needed to make a few changes in this Region. Currently, all bass over 18 inches must be released alive at once. This regulation will no longer be available. Therefore, based on available regulation options and data from Brann’s Mill Pond, we are proposing to adopt a daily bag limit of 1 bass and all bass between 16 and 20 inches must be released alive at once.
Harlow/Manhancock Ponds: This pond currently has the same regulation as Brann’s Mill Pond. Therefore, for the same reasons outlined above, we are proposing catch and release on all bass on this trophy bass water in the Moosehead Lake Region.
Drummond Pond: This is a new gravel pit pond in Abbot. The pond has been stocked and we hope to promote family fishing at this location. Therefore, we have proposed a 2 trout limit to distribute the catch of newly stocked brook trout in the open water season. We are also proposing to open the pond to winter fishing for kids under the age of 16. There will be a 2-trap limit and a 2-trout limit.
Hussey Pond: This pond was surveyed for the first time last summer. It was found to have a principal fishery for native brook trout. In accordance with our policy, we have proposed ALO for Hussey Pond and S-17 based on the trout data we collected during the survey.
Jackson Pond (T3 R11): This pond is currently open under FFO with a 5 fish limit. Current data show that this roadside pond has heavy angler use and the quality of the fishery is slipping. Therefore, we have proposed adding S-17.
Long Pond (Elliotsville and West Bowdoin College Grant): We have consolidated the number of statewide special regulations on our salmon waters this year. Therefore, we needed to make a few changes in this Region. The regulation at Long Pond is currently 2 salmon with a 12-inch minimum length limit. This option is no longer available; therefore, we are proposing to adopt general law regulations for salmon at Long Pond.
Nahmakanta Lake: We are proposing to eliminate the aggregate bag limit on gamefish. The only change will affect salmon. We are proposing to adopt general law limits.
Upper Paradise Pond: We are proposing to manage this stocked trout pond with trophy regulations. It is currently S-5 and S-16. We recommend S-5 with a minimum length limit on trout of 18 inches.
Round Pond (Appleton Twp): This pond was surveyed for the first time last summer. It was found to have a native brook trout population. In accordance with our policy, we have proposed S-4.