Archive for July, 2007
Posted on Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Aside from the many anglers reporting that bass fishing is good just about anywhere they inhabit, some anglers are indicating that coldwater fishing is providing some action for those that are working at it. Anglers are reporting some good size brown trout, brook trout, and splake in water that has some depth and where the oxygen and temperature is at a livable conditions for those fish. In waters where we have stocked those species, the best conditions are at 25 feet or deeper. Some of the waters to try are Alford, Maranacook, Great Moose, Pemaquid, Biscay, Damariscotta, Great, Messalonskee, Nequasset, Pleasant, Echo, Togus, Megunticook, and Lake George. Many other waters are stocked with brownies and brookies but water quality makes locating them difficult, and anglers who are familiar with those marginal waters may have a secret cool spot that provides them with a rewarding catch.
River, stream, or brook fishing for bass is paying off for those who pursue them. The best reports are coming from those who fish the slower meanders in the Sebasticook, Nezinscot, Androscoggin and the Kennebec Rivers, and anglers are catching both species of bass with regularity.
Other warm water species such as perch, pickerel, and hornpout are available in many waters in this region and anglers should give them a try in the shallower portion of the waters they regularly fish. Grubs and spinner baits work the best.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Central Maine Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
In recent past reports we’ve mentioned several large fish that were caught this summer in Southern Maine, including two 20-pound class togue; one from Kezar Lake (Lovell) and the other from Colcord Pond (Porter). Click on ‘Photos from the field’ above.
Summer fishing on Sebago continues to provide good action, particularly for lake trout. For example, I fished the lake two weeks ago, when I was accompanied by 6 year-old Steven Crawford of Montville. Steven brought some good luck with him as we experienced steady action all morning long. Steven landed 8 togue, the largest of which was 6 pounds; I landed one short salmon. That day the togue were suspended in 30 to 70 feet over water that was 200 feet deep. DB smelt and small stick baits worked equally well on that day. Not surprisingly, the togue were holding in association with abundant schools of suspended smelt that were commonly observed in most areas fished in the Big Bay. Area Warden Jason Luce also reports consistent fishing for togue on Sebago, with anglers commonly reporting catches of 2 to 4 togue per trip. The salmon fishing has finally quieted down some, with the summer fishing offering a greater showing of young salmon. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from spring and summer anglers regarding the great fishing on Sebago, and we’re encouraged by these positive long awaited changes in the lake fishery.
We are working with several fish and game organizations to develop a long term fisheries management for Sebago. The following organizations will be providing plan input: Sebago Lake Anglers Association, Sam’s Classic Salmon Director Larry Fiori, Windham / Gorham Fish and Game, Pine Tree Fish and Game, and the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited. We hope to have a draft plan posted for public comment on the Department’s web site by sometime this fall.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Southwestern Maine Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
The restoration of Nadeau Lake, Fort Fairfield, took a step forward this week as Davis and Northrup Contracting broke ground near the outlet of what was formerly a Great Pond. In 1971 this Aroostook County lake was drained so that a mining company could extract marl, a natural substance that would later be used as a liming agent for the region’s agriculture industry. During the next 30 years severe environmental disturbance occurred at the former lake and its outlet to Limestone Stream. A small lake that had a large wetland complex surrounding it, reportedly had large brook trout and no other species of fish. As the outlet was deepened by as much as 12 feet, brown bullhead, white sucker and several minnow species gained access to the few, small remnant ponds. Later, smallmouth bass invaded the Limestone Stream drainage after being illegally stocked at Durepo Lake in Limestone.
The work currently in progress involves a water control structure that will restore the historic water level of the lake and block upstream movement of all fishes. This management step will allow a reclamation of the pools that currently exist at the site that will remove all fish species. The final step in the restoration process will involve the reestablishment of brook trout using fish from a nearby wild source.
During the past seven years several State agencies, conservation groups, and private corporations have participated in the restoration of Nadeau Lake. Significant habitat improvements for brook trout have been accomplished during this time. Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, The Trout and Salmon Foundation (Chicago, IL), and McGillan Inc. of Fort Fairfield are a few who have provided volunteer and monetary support to achieve these improvements. In the end, the angling public will have permanent, guaranteed access to a good sport fishery for wild brook trout.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
It’s that time of the year, and anglers fishing the back-country ponds are reporting some dramatic green drake hatches. It is truly something to behold when at just about dark, the sky becomes filled with large, dancing mayflies, and although trout may go on a feeding frenzy, it doesn’t mean they are easy to catch. Sometimes there are so many targets on the water, a fly cast by an angler can be lost in the crowd! In and around the Baxter Park area, some impressive brook trout have been reported the last few weeks during “the hatch”, some up to 5 pounds!
One of the strongest advocates for wild brook trout resources in the Katahdin Region has passed away. Wilmont “Wiggie” Robinson died in his garden at his camp on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, in the presence of Katahdin. Over the years it was always a pleasure to be in his company, as the fellow new more about how to catch brook trout than anyone I know! Whenever we had work on one of the ponds in the Katahdin Region, we would always stop in on the way out and visit. Most always Wiggie would treat us to some of his delicious trout chowder, wild mushrooms and his famous stories from around Katahdin Country. Fond memories of a true gentleman. We will all miss him.
After nearly 35 years of dedicated service to the anglers of Maine, Mike Smith has hung up his waders. Mike retired on June 30, 2007 as the Regional Fisheries Manager for the Penobscot Region. In addition to directing day to day fisheries management activities in Region F, Mike initiated a number of fisheries projects over the years, including a 10 year study on landlocked salmon at West Lake in T3 ND, and 20 years of work on white perch populations in Maine. Mike’s most ambitious project was his leadership of the smallmouth bass recovery at Spednic Lake. Anglers throughout the Penobscot Region should give Mike a big thank you for his devoted service spanning three decades.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 by Maine Sportsman
Last week we said goodbye to a great sportsman and friend, Wiggie Robinson. He was the quintessential traditional Maine sportsman and gentleman. I’ve known Wiggie for many years having met him early in my career in the Moosehead Lake Region. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to work several sportsman shows with Wiggie over the past few years. We worked at a fly-fishing show in Danbury, CT a few years ago and Wiggie was the highlight of the show. I don’t believe he had ever been there before, but by the end of the second day, it seemed everyone at the show was looking for Wiggie. His friendly, gregarious nature was infectious and he was a great ambassador for the State of Maine.
I had many conversations with Wiggie regarding fishing. He had a vast knowledge of many of the waters in my region. I was amazed by some of his stories. Wiggie once told me about a remote pond in my region he fished in his younger days. I had the chance to visit that pond a few weeks ago and as I hiked the new trail, I was thinking of Wiggie’s recount of his route. He would hike into one pond where he had a canoe stashed then paddle across two ponds, carry his canoe though the woods to a larger lake then paddle up the lake and finally portage his canoe uphill to the trout pond. He would then reverse the trip at the end of the day. By my estimation, it was about 6 miles each way and the terrain is very rugged. The next day, he did the same trip. The fishing was good and Wiggie loved to fish. A few years ago, I visited the Ragged Stream smelt run while staying at Chesuncook Lake in the spring. The stream was open to smelt dipping at the time and I wanted to check it out. It was pitch dark but I could see the lake was down and it was difficult to get down to the stream due to the fragmented ice on the banks. There were a number of people standing around waiting to dip smelts. In the distance I could see a small fellow gliding up and down the glare ice banks like an otter, obviously catching smelts and putting them into a bucket. I asked the warden, “Who’s that kid?” It was no kid. It was 80 year-old Wiggie Robinson. They say it’s not the years in your life but the life in your years. Wiggie lived it right.
He was very interested in fisheries management and had a great understanding of all the issues. I remember one letter I received from Wiggie regarding slot limits several years ago. Wiggie did not like the new trout slot limits and was particularly bothered by the regulation that only allowed two 12 inch fish with only 1 fish over 14 inches on a few splake waters that were open during the winter. Wiggie wrote that most of the fish were over 14 inches and therefore anglers could only keep 1 fish. I responded to Wiggie giving him some background on the genesis of the regulation and the effort to standardize regulations statewide. In closing, I told Wiggie that I wished all my letters were complaining that the fish were too big. We always had a good laugh over that together during our future discussions. Wiggie was the type of gentleman that you could disagree with over an issue but still be best of friends. I always appreciated that quality.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
