Penobscot Valley Fishing Report: September 20, 2007

Although another general law open water fishing season is drawing to a close, there still is time to enjoy the remainder of a productive season and get ready for some fall action on selected waters. With surface waters cooling down, salmon, trout, and togue are coming to the surface and providing some good top-water action. Anglers have reported good action for salmon on East Grand Lake, Pleasant Pond and Cold Stream Pond. Both salmon and splake have been very active in Seboeis Lake. Baxter State Park waters are very productive for brook trout during this part of the season.

Don’t put the fish poles away yet. There are two categories of waters open during the extended fall season. First are waters with a special S-23 designation. These waters are open to fishing from October 1 – October 31 using artificial lures only and all fish caught must be released alive at once. This regulation generally applies to coldwater lakes that are stocked with salmon or trout and allows an angler to fish for these species through October. Some good Penobscot Regional waters are West Lake, Pleasant Lake, Deering Lake, Millinocket Lake, Millinocket Stream (in T1 R8 andT3 IP, from Millinocket Lake Dam downstream to the town line) and the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes.

The other category is S-24, in which the waters are open from October 1 – November 30. In these waters all trout, salmon togue and bass must be released alive but an angler may keep perch and pickerel. These are generally warmwater lakes and ponds that have good perch and pickerel populations that are productive through the fall season. Some Region F waters in this category are Seboeis Lake, South Branch Pond, Saponac Pond and the Penobscot River from Medway to the Veazie Dam.

Please consult the 2007 Open Water Fishing Law Book for complete regulations on all Maine waters, or direct your browser to http://www.maine.gov/ifw/laws_rules/fishing/index.htm