Moosehead Region Fishing Report: January 24, 2008

The unseasonable weather the Moosehead Lake Region received this past week kept many anglers at bay last weekend. The warm weather and rain reduced the snow pack significantly and had many anglers questioning the ice conditions on local lakes and ponds. Ice depths, however, held their own during the warm spell. We still are seeing good ice depths of 14-16 inches on many of the smaller ponds and the shallow areas of Moosehead Lake. We still urge anglers to use caution since ice condition can change daily. Individuals should also avoid traveling over the deep basins on Moosehead Lake, since many of these areas of the lake have just recently frozen over. The 5-6 inches of snow ice we had last weekend soaked up most of last week’s rain and snow melt, and little if no slush was encountered in our travels this past weekend.

In our travels on Moosehead Lake and Lower Wilson Pond this past weekend we saw very little fishing pressure. The few fish we saw where predominately lake trout and a couple of nice brook trout where observed from Lower Wilson and Prong Pond. The majority of lake trout on Moosehead Lake and Lower Wilson Pond are 14–17 inches. We are encouraging angler to harvest these14– to 17-inch lake trout in hopes to reduce the abundant number of individuals in this size range on both of these bodies of water. By reducing the number of smaller lake trout we will increase the health of the lake trout populations in both of these bodies of water.

Last week we received a few phone calls in regards to access to some of the local ponds in the Moosehead Lake Region. The ponds in question were Mountain View (Fitzgerald Pond) Pond and Prong Pond. Local anglers have been plowing the access at Mountain View Pond for the past few winters. I stopped at the pond this past weekend on my way back from checking anglers in Rockwood and found that someone has once again plowed the access road to within a short distance from the boat launch. Prong Pond can be accessed from the Lily Bay Road in Beaver Cove. The access road to the boat launch is not plowed, but last week people where driving down to the boat launch. As the winter progresses and we receive more snow the access may become a little more difficult and anglers are going to have to access the pond by snow sled or a short walk down the access road.

Sebec Lake opens Jan.15 and remains open until March 15. Anglers have a few options to access the lake. Anglers can put on at Greeley’s Landing, Peaks-Kenny State Park, and Packard’s Landing. Anglers accessing the lake from the Packard’s Landing should use the parking area located across the road from the campground. There is a trail from the parking area to the lake. Anglers using this area to access the lake are urged to stay on the marked trail and comply with the landowner’s wishes of having snowmobile and ATV traffic use this access trail instead of the old route that has been used in the past.

We are within two weeks of the Moosehead Lake Togue Ice Fishing Derby. The event will be held Jan. 26-27. Got your ticket yet? To enter the derby anglers can purchase individual and family tickets at several locations in Greenville and Rockwood. A grand door prize will be given, daily drawings and cash prizes will be awarded for the three largest togue. For more information on the derby log onto www.mooseheadlake.org or contact the Greenville Chamber of Commerce at (207) 695-2702.