Archive for March, 2008
Posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Region F biologists interviewed very few anglers this past weekend, not surprising considering Mother Nature’s most recent gift of 8-16 inches of snow in central Maine, depending on where you live. Those that did venture out caught a few trout, salmon and togue from the lakes we’ve been reporting on all season: Schoodic, Seboeis, Scraggly and Matagamon. We did get a report of an 8-pound togue caught at Cold Stream Pond last week. In the past, Cold Stream Pond has had the reputation for good fishing during the first week or two of the season, followed by long stretches (weeks at a time) of extremely slow fishing. So far this year Cold Stream has been one of our most consistent lakes, producing good action for salmon, togue and brook trout.
The Eastern Maine Snow Riders held its annual ice fishing derby at Molunkus Lake in Macwahoc this past weekend. The biggest fish entered in the derby was a pickerel tipping the scales at about 2 pounds. Prizes also were awarded for individual species including white perch and brook trout. We reported earlier this winter that Molunkus Lake was stocked last fall with 1,000 fall yearling brook trout. After a slow start in January, anglers are reporting that the hatchery trout have been biting quite well recently. The largest trout entered in last weekends derby weighed just shy of 1-pound.
Many winter derbies are held across the State of Maine each year for both cold and warm water species of fish. Often times the participants in these derbies include entire families that want a distraction from being cooped up inside during the long winter months. There is no doubt that most everyone enjoys eating a nice salmon, trout or togue every now and then, and nothing beats a feed of deep fried white perch fillets or a perch “chow-dah.” However we often hear folks asking what they should do with their pickerel after the derby is over. Pickerel are quite tasty, but they are notoriously boney and because they generally do not get much larger than 20 inches long from most Maine lakes, the dissection of Y-bones from fillets can be quite labor intensive. Here’s a technique for preparing pickerel fillets that is quick, easy, and virtually takes care of all the bones.
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Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Two months are down, and we have one to go in this unusual ice fishing season in which we have seen above average snowfall. The weather this past weekend undoubtedly put a damper on fishing pressure in the Moosehead Lake Region. Although the snow continues to pile-up, ice conditions remain safe, but caution in traveling is still advised. The snow is a welcome sign for snowmobile trails, but on our lakes and ponds slush will soon be a problem for travel in some areas as temperatures warm and the weight of the snow continues to accumulate.
Over the past two months the Moosehead Regional Fisheries staff has been encouraging anglers to keep any and all lake trout under 18-inches. We feel that we have done a good job educating anglers about the over abundance of smaller lake trout in Moosehead Lake. Catch rates on lake trout 14 – 18 inches are still high and show no sign of slowing down as we enter the last month of the season.
If you have been fishing Moosehead Lake this year and have kept your share of lake trout, you must have them coming out your ears. Wondering what to do with all those lake trout? Lake trout broiled over an open fire, smoked lake trout, and skinless lake trout fillets, either baked or pan fried, are a good bet. However, if an endless supply of lake trout is in your grasp, cooking for one meal will undoubtedly result in leftovers. Cooked lake trout leftovers are the main ingredient for a fish cake recipe that will make your mouth water for another limit of Moosehead Lake lake trout. The following is a favorite recipe of our good friend and confidante, Paul Johnson, Regional Fisheries Biologist Emeritus:
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Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Western Maine received 12 to 16 inches of new snow from last week’s double-whammy of storms. Access to many of the region’s lakes became tougher as a result of the bad weather. Several parking areas are simply not being plowed any longer and travel on the ice is through deep snow. No major slush yet, but that’s expected to change with the warming temperatures and rain that are forecasted for this week. Angler activity was very low last weekend on all the lakes we checked.
While the 2008 ice fishing is showing signs of winding down, there’s still plenty of time to get out and enjoy the stronger sun and longer days of March. Bass fishing usually picks up now, especially around south-facing shoals and shorelines, or near open water. Temperatures warm more quickly in these areas and larger bass seem to seek these areas to prepare themselves for the impending spawning season (that means they want to eat a lot!). Good bets for March bassing in this region include Clearwater Lake, Hancock Pond, Wesserunsett Lake, Webb Lake, Roxbury (Ellis) Pond, Norcross Pond, Crowell Pond, and Parker Pond (Jay). In case the bass aren’t interested, most of these waters also provide decent action for white perch and pickerel.
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
March has arrived with her winds and sunny afternoons that trigger the snowmelt leading to Maine’s eventual “mud season”. Many anglers love March fishing, with the sun on their faces and a chance to fish for a few hours in just a sweatshirt, quite a change from the icy blasts of January’s winds. Now the days are noticeably longer and twilight lasts until 6 p.m. Just four weekends remain in which to squeeze those memorable last trips for togue, trout, salmon, perch, and bass before the ice auger and snowmobile are put away for the off season!
Here are some of the questions every March angler should ask themselves while planning the next fishing trip:
* Can I make it up the lake through the snow with a 4-wheeler or do I need to take a snowmobile?
* Or the opposite, if I take my snowmobile, is there enough snow to lubricate the sliders?
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Tags: Downeast Fishing Report • Categories: General
Posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 by Maine Sportsman
Having observed many anglers over the years using different angling techniques to catch fish through the ice, I sometimes wonder what they will think of next in their pursuit of landing a trophy. Each geographic area of the United States has its own contribution to the variety of tackle used to ice fish. In the state of Maine, I have seen several unique ice fishing implements. Here are some examples.
On Sheepscot Lake and nearby waters, I have observed what resembles a school of wooden fish scattered on the surface of the ice. The wooden fish are used to indicate to the angler whether a fish is on or not. The familiar balanced tip-up works on a similar principle, with this trap there is a fish on your line when the tail of the wooden fish is up. Furthermore, on this trap, the reel is above the water.
Most anglers in Maine use the standard tip-up to fish through a hole that has been drilled through the ice. Tip-ups are devices that trip a flag which springs up and indicates when a fish is on the baited hook. The reel holding the line is under the surface of the water. Popular devices are named Thompson, Moosehead, Polar, Eskimo, Jack’s Traps or any other name that are of similar design.
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Tags: Central Maine Fishing Report • Categories: General
