Penobscot Valley Fishing Report: June 19, 2007

Rivers and streams in our area continue to provide some excellent fishing.

The Penobscot is producing some great angling for smallmouth bass, in some areas a local angler reported it “seemed like there was a bass or two behind every rock.”

Water temperatures are staying below normal and that is helpful to brook trout. We had a couple reports of some good fishing in the tributaries of the Penobscot, Piscataquis, Mattawamkeag and Pleasant Rivers.

The green drake hatch is slow to get started due to the below normal temps but a few are starting to show up on some of the Baxter Park trout ponds. The hatches should be starting by the weekend.

The white perch are beginning to spawn in many of our lakes. Here are a few good perch lakes in the region that you might like to try: Pushaw, Eskutassis, Nicatous and Seboeis Lakes; Mattanawcook and Dolby Ponds.

Our landlocked salmon waters continue to produce some nice fish. East Grand Lake, Cold Stream Pond, Pleasant Lake (Island Falls) are all good bets.

Last week, during a routine fisheries survey on Chemo pond, we found yet another illegal introduction of largemouth bass.

In the past couple of years we have had both largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as northern pike showing up in our regional waters. The movement of these exotic species is destroying the future of Maine’s native fisheries. This is a serious problem. There is a $10,000 fine for a conviction of illegal stocking. To report information about an illegal introductions, please call 1-800-253-7887.

The cooler temps this spring have been a real benefit to the cold water fisheries in our region. It has also helped keep the black flies and mosquitoes at bay.