Moosehead Region Fishing Report: September 4, 2008
A typical summer field season in the Moosehead Lake Region includes many different tasks. This summer we have surveyed a number of ponds that have never been inventoried by this Department. We generally find a few new nice trout ponds, while most newly surveyed ponds offer little or no potential for the development of a coldwater fishery. This summer was no different.
What was different this summer was the amount of time we spent investigating introductions of exotic species. Early in the summer we had a reliable report of smallmouth bass in Big Wood Pond in Jackman. Regional staff, along with assistance from Research staff and volunteers, spent several days electrofishing, trapnetting, and angling on this lake that sits in the middle of the Moose River drainage. In addition to the initial angler report of a 17-inch smallmouth, we captured one other smaller bass. It is unclear whether these fish will become established. The drainage is very large and it is possible that a small illegal introduction could disperse and never see each other again. But, like nearly all cases of illegal introductions, there is very little we can do to eliminate the threat.
If bass do become established they will be able to move downstream to Brassua Lake, which has a very good wild brook trout population, all the way to Holeb Pond.
We have also spent three days investigating an area north of Ebeemee Lake as part of an evaluation for the Penobscot River Restoration Project. Northern pike are established in Pushaw Lake and have access to the lower Piscataquis River. A fish by-pass is in the plans for the Howland Dam which will provide passage for all fish species, including pike. There is some concern that a large wet area north of Ebeemee Lake may provide a watercourse connection to Jo-Mary Lake and the West Branch of the Penobscot River drainage. The area was certainly wet in August, but more field work will be needed during spring run-off to determine for certain if the two systems are connected.
Late last week we had a report of a largemouth bass in Hebron Lake in Monson. We were able to inspect the fish and verify it was indeed a largemouth, and a young one at that. Based on the small length of this fish, it is likely the result of natural reproduction in Hebron Lake. This lake sits high in the Sebec Lake drainage. We have not completed our assessment of this introduction, but largemouth bass could easily move downstream to Monson Pond and Sebec Lake.
Bass will also drop downstream into Wilson Stream which is the major spawning tributary for wild landlocked salmon in Sebec Lake. We estimate that 90-95 percent of the salmon production for one of Maine’s original salmon lakes occurs in this stream and its tributaries. There are large deadwaters on the lower end of the stream that will provide adequate bass habitat. Young, wild landlocked salmon must travel through these deadwaters to reach Sebec Lake.
