Southwestern Maine Fishing Report: July 24, 2007

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.

Jim and Brian are in the midst of surveying the habitat in Steven’s Brook (Bridgton), as part of a multi-year project to remove a concrete dam lower on the brook. Dam removal would restore access to spawning and nursery habitat for salmon and brown trout in Long Lake.