Archive for January, 2009
Posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
Regional Characteristics
Wildlife Region B contains 135 townships and extends from the central Maine coast north to Dexter; and from the Penobscot River westerly to the Androscoggin River valley. There are nearly 4000 sq.mi. in this region including approximately 3800 sq.mi of land area and 170 sq.mi. of open water lakes and ponds. In short, Wildlife Region B contains the lower river valleys of the Penobscot, Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers. Human population and development is centered along two major corridors: (1) Route 1 and associated coastal development from the Brunswick area north to Bangor including such towns as Wiscasset, Waldoboro, Rockland and Belfast; and (2) the I-95 corridor from Brunswick to Bangor including the urban centers of Augusta/Gardiner, Waterville/Winslow and Bangor.
The remaining portions of this region are sparcely developed containing some of the Maine’s best soils and an excellent mixture of reverting farmland, active farmland and upland mixed forests. Population densities vary across the region from greater than 170 residents per sq. mi. in Androscoggin Co. to approximately 50 residents per sq. mi. in portions of Waldo Co., eastern lower Somerset Co. and western Penboscot Co.
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Tags: Central Maine Hunting Report • Categories: Hunting Reports
Posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
Physical Characteristics
Region A is the southern most region in the state, made up of ninety towns in York, Cumberland, Oxford, Androscoggin, and Sagadahoc Counties. While the region represents approximately 10% of the state’s area it has almost 50% of the state’s population. The region can be characterized as three main areas. The coastal strip, which is that area east of the Maine Turnpike, the central area, and the western foothills, which extend up into the lower portion of Oxford County. Over the past 50 years there has been a continual increase in both the amount of development and the amount of forested land while at the same time there has been a continual decline in the amount of agriculture. In that time the amount of agricultural land, within the region, has declined from 30% to 10%. At the same time, the human population, within the region, has increased approximately 30%. The development pressure has not been constant across the region, it is strongest along the coast and diminishes as one moves west. Some concerns within the region have been the increasing amounts of posted or restricted land, increasing amounts of development and the associated loss of quality habitat, and balancing deer accidents and crop damage complaints with the hunters request for more deer.
Wildlife Management Areas
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Tags: Southwestern Maine Hunting Report • Categories: Hunting Reports
Posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
Traditionally, anglers seeking to ice fish the Musquacook Lakes area of the Allagash region used the Realty Road from Ashland. However, the Realty Road from Six-Mile Gate to 21-mile is not currently being plowed. Anglers should access the Realty Road at 21-mile across the Rocky Brook Road and South Branch Road, which lie to the north of the Realty Road. As always, extreme caution is necessary when using these roads which are maintained and plowed for forest management including the transport of wood products with large trucks.
The Fish River Lakes of Long, Cross, Square and Eagle Lakes have had for decades a shortened season from that of general law. January 15 was a traditional “opening day” on these waters for years; 2009 marks a major change in season length, 2 months to 3 months. Biologists from Ashland checked anglers on Long Lake on the new opening day recently, as well as Saturday, January 2nd. These days proved to be brutally cold with low temperatures and high winds; despite the conditions anglers were out in force. We measured more than 30 trout and salmon, the largest of which was 5 lbs 10 oz. Numerous shacks dot the shoreline of Long Lake; these shelters provide some protection from the elements as well as a means to fish for rainbow smelt, the primary forage for salmon and trout, and a highly sought after game fish as well. These shacks commonly have long cut-out “race-ways”, providing a wide view under the ice. Sit at one of these “holes” for just a short time and you’ll likely see some of the huge schools of smelt for which Long is famous. On these days we were out, patient anglers were seeing numerous salmon swim by the holes in shacks, a sign that fishing will get better as the season progresses.
Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
With nearly two weeks of the 2009 ice fishing season in the books, the reports from around the Penobscot Region are that ice is safe and the fishing has been fair to excellent. Waters stocked with fall yearling brook trout including Molunkus Lake, Upper Cold Stream Pond, Cold Stream Pond, and Upper Pond having been giving up good catches of fish on most days.
Salmon are biting at Pleasant Lake in Island Falls and East Grand Lake. However, anglers fishing in the eastern part of the region (West, Duck, Nicatous and Spring lakes) report that the salmon fishing has been a bit slow this year so far, but many believe that this is due to noise of the ice forming on lakes. Due to the recent cold snap and lack of snow the ice is building quickly and creating quite a racket out there. Hopefully once things settle down, the fish will start biting.
Both Schoodic Lake and Cold Stream Pond now have 6-10 inches of ice across the entire lake. I suspect lake trout enthusiasts will start pulling their ice shacks out to the deeper waters this week in hopes of catching a “lunker” togue. East Grand Lake continues to produce a quality lake trout fishery, and in recent years we’ve been hearing about some good sized cusk as well.
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Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
The ice fishing season is in full swing in the Moosehead Lake Region as the cold temperatures firm up the ice on the lakes and ponds in the area. While anglers must always take care while traveling on the ice, most areas up this way are safe with 12-16 inches of ice. The snowmobile trails in the Moosehead Lake — Jackman area are in great shape thanks to the cold temperatures and fresh snow.
Corey Hegarty of Sally Mountain Cabins in Jackman reports that the fishing on Big Wood Pond and Little Big Wood Pond has been terrific so far this winter. Anglers are catching nice colorful splake in the 16-17 inches range along with salmon mostly in the 14-16 inches range but with a few as big as 18 inches. It sounds like the smelts may be biting too for the anglers that know where to jig on Big Wood Pond. Corey reports that the cusk fishing on Little Big Wood Pond has been really good with one lucky angler getting a 9 lb fish. That will make enough chowda’ for the rest of the winter!
We checked a number of anglers on Moosehead Lake this weekend. The anglers in the Rockwood area were picking up a number of the smaller togue that are available for harvest. We also saw a few brook trout on the ice this weekend. January is typically the best month of the ice fishing season for catching brook trout. Folks are still just getting their ice shacks out and we anticipate the fishing activity to pick up over the next few weeks. Don’t forget that the 2nd annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby is scheduled for Jan 30-Feb 1. Be sure to pick up your tickets at Indian Hill Trading Post, Kineo Flies, Moosehead Bait and Tackle, Northwoods Outfitters, or the Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center. Derby ticket sales end at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. There will be lots of great prizes including $1,500 for the best togue.
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Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
