Aroostook County Fishing Report: September 12, 2007

We routinely receive questions on the presence of muskellunge in the St. John River drainage. This week’s fishing report affords the opportunity to view the history of muskellunge in this river system.

Muskellunge were introduced into Lac Frontier, a 260 acre headwater lake of the NW Branch of the St. John River, by Quebec fishery personnel in 1970.

It was assumed that the muskellunge were sedentary and territorial, bred in the lake and did not migrate; therefore they would not endanger the St. John River system in Maine.

MDIFW authorities were not consulted prior to the stocking and only found out as the result of information passed on to the Commissioner by District Warden Dan Glidden at Daquaam.

Lac Frontier stocking schedule:
3000 @ 3-6 inches
1000 @ 5-6 inches
1000 @ 3-4 inches
1000 @ 6-8 inches
250 @ 6-8 inches
*Discontinued after 1979 due to self-sustaining population.

In 1973, District Warden Rod Sirois received report of a pike being caught in the St. John River but the fish was not observed.

In spring 1984, MDIFW biologists confirmed two muskellunge from the St. John River.
1 @ 25 inches from 7 Islands, 40 miles below Lac Frontier.
1 @ 25 inches from the NW Branch, 3.5 miles below Lac Frontier.
An additional 4-5 fish were reported but not confirmed.

In late summer 1984, MDIFW biologists captured muskellunge using a large seine in the NW Branch. Six young of the year @ 6 inches and one yearling at 14 inches are captured.

In 1985, no muskellunge were captured with the seine in the 7 Islands area of the St. John.

In 1986, biologists used a seine to capture 9 young of the year at Turner Deadwater on the Baker Branch and 1 young of the year at Baker Lake, 45 miles from Lac Frontier. Anglers begin catching musky in Baker Lake in 1987.

In June 1988, New Brunswick Dept. of Natural Resources personnel reported the first capture of a muskellunge in the Mactaquac Fishway trap just upstream from Fredericton. (400+ miles from Lac Frontier) The fish was 28 inches @ 6 lb 12 oz. From 1998-2000, 97 muskellunge were captured in the trap and in 2001, 41 were captured through mid-July. Presently they inhabit the river below Fredericton.

First reported taken by anglers fishing Glazier Lake in January 1992, confirmed by District Warden Chuck Richard. New state record in 2004: 43.9 inches @ 27 lb.

1998 to present, muskellunge are routinely caught and actively sought by anglers at Glazier Lake, the St. Francis River and St. John River.

In May 2001, fishery personnel captured 2 muskellunge in the St, John River near the mouth of the Fish River using an electrofishing boat. These fish are males that have spawned and have lengths of 26.7 and 33.5 inches.

In June 2002, the Fish River from the lower falls to the railroad trestle (3.25 miles) was sampled using the electrofishing boat — no muskellunge are taken. Also an area around Soldier Pond was sampled with no muskellunge captured.

Muskellunge have been caught in the Allagash River below Allagash Falls.

Muskellunge have been observed and unconfirmed angler catches have been reported below the lower Fish River Falls.

No muskellunge have yet to be reported in the fish trap at Tinker Falls on the Aroostook River in New Brunswick.

Planning for Maine’s Fisheries 2002-2017 involved a public working group process with public representatives. Management for exotic species should be to control further spread beyond affected waters and …seek to minimize impact…on the fisheries of the target waters.

Present Regulations in the open water season and ice fishing season are no size and bag limit. Commencing 2004, there will be an extended fall fishing season from Oct. 1-31, artificial lures only, open to the taking of muskellunge on the following waters: the main stem to the confluence of the St, Francis River, Northwest Branch, Southwest Branch, Daquaam River and Baker Branch.

Management problems associated with the presence of muskellunge in the St. John River include:

Impacts on brook trout and other coldwater species.

Natural movement of muskellunge to other tributaries of the St. John.

Illegal introductions to other waters/drainages.

Lack of information on the tendencies of movement in a river system.

Lack of information on the biology of muskellunge in Maine waters.

Public interest to manage for quality fisheries.

In 2004, MDIFW conducted a winter creel survey at Beau and Glazier Lakes. Few anglers and no muskellunge observed at Beau Lake. Angler use at Glazier Lake estimated at about 900 anglers. 21% successful at catching a muskellunge, 7% a togue and 2% a salmon. Legal togue and musky were caught at almost the same rate but numerous sublegal togue (16-17 inches) from a Maine stocking in 2001 were reported. Musky averaged 32.6 inches/10.1 lb (range 24-43 inches). Togue averaged 19.1 inches/2.3 lb. For the season, 89 musky and 35 legal togue were estimated to have been harvested.

In September 2006, the Fish River below the falls in Fort Kent and an upstream section between the falls and Soldier Pond was sampled using an electrofishing raft. No muskellunge were captured.

Jeff Albert of Madawaska caught the state record muskellunge at Glazier Lake on March 24, 2007. The fish measured 46 inches and weighed 31.02 pounds.