Archive for July, 2009
Posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
By all accounts the fishing in this area has been meeting all expectations this spring. From the first ice out at Long Lake, anglers have been successful catching 3-5 pound salmon with regularity. The smelt ran very well in the tributaries which should insure an adequate forage supply to maintain size quality. Togue fishing at Eagle Lake has picked up where the winter fishing left off. Anglers can continue to harvest a daily bag limit of 6 togue having a minimum length of 14 inches; only 1 may exceed 23 inches. Brook trout have been cooperative at Fish Lake, Square Lake and Cross Lake.
In the backcountry, Big Eagle has been exceptional for togue 3-5 pounds with 7-8 pound fish not uncommon. Please remember than the general law bag limit of 2 togue remains in effect in 2009. Twelve to 17 inch brookies have been the norm in Big Eagle and Churchill Lakes. Anglers continue to be encouraged to visit First, Second and Third Musquacook Lakes to harvest togue. Although indications are that smelt abundance has improved since implementing liberal bag and length limits in 2008, the 6 togue daily bag limit and 14 inch minimum length limit, only 1 may exceed 23 inches is slated to remain on the books for the foreseeable future. We continue to encourage anglers fishing these waters to please harvest the togue.
The flow in our rivers has been “bumped up” by the recent rains and the weather continues to be cool. Anglers were reporting excellent trout fishing in brooks and rivers over Memorial Day weekend. Water conditions remain similar to extend this fishing into the coming weekend. The Aroostook River, any spot from its headwaters to the New Brunswick border, should be on the list of waters to fish if visiting the area. Other notable tributaries to the Aroostook include the Big Machias and Little Madawaska River for trout fishing. The upper and lower reaches of the Aroostook are under special regulation while the middle section is under general law. Please check the lawbook to identify those sections under special regulation.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Aroostook County Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
As Yogi Berra would say, it was déjà vu all over again!
About 10 years ago, while trout fishing on a pond in the North Country, I had the opportunity to witness a spectacle that I had hoped at the time I would never, ever see again.
While paddling back to the landing at the end of a successful days fishing, a loon appeared next to the canoe with what appeared to be a fat 15-inch trout in its beak. The trout was still very much alive at the first surfacing. Down went the loon with trout in tow, but quickly they were both back on the surface to continue the fight. Back down they’d go, and so on. After about 2 or 3 minutes, the trout had succumbed and the loon summarily threw back his head and swallowed the trout whole! Never would have thought a loon could have handled a trout any bigger than that.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Penobscot Valley Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
Last year, IF&W teamed up with the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) in Greenville to create a college internship/summer work program to benefit fisheries in the area. One of the first projects includes a competition removal study on several local trout ponds. The project continued this spring at Crocker Pond in Dennistown and Center Pond in Soldiertown. The goal of this project is to remove species that compete with brook trout for food and habitat. Based on work conducted by this region on Little Moxie Pond in Shirley, the removal of these species can greatly improve growth rates and survival rates for young wild trout.
In 2008, we removed over 2,000 pounds (5,350 individuals) of white suckers from Crocker Pond. Based on our population estimates derived from the catch rates, we removed around 47-100 percent of the total sucker biomass. Of course, we didn’t get them all but the actual figure was probably close to 85 percent. That was a pretty good start.
In 2009, we again hired 2 Unity College students to return to Crocker Pond and continue the project. We tended four nets from May 7 to May 22. In this time, we removed approximately 1,200 lbs of suckers. The amount of effort was nearly identical to the previous year.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Moosehead Region Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
Providing public access to Maine’s lakes and ponds is one of the Department’s highest priorities. Securing access is a difficult and time consuming task, however, so when we succeed it’s always worth mentioning.
Here in western Maine, we’ve just completed the development of one site and have several others in various stages of development. A new carry-on launch was recently opened on Middle Sandy River Pond in Sandy River Plantation. Middle Sandy River Pond supports an excellent brook trout fishery and connects to Upper and Lower Sandy River Ponds, which also provide trout fishing. So in essence, boat access is guaranteed for three trout ponds for the price of one! This hand-carry launch is located about 8 miles south of Rangeley along Route 4.
Access to the Sandy River also will improve when newly acquired sites in Farmington Falls and New Sharon are developed. This 5.5-mile section will be an outstanding paddle through some fabulous farm country with good fisheries for smallmouth bass and brown trout. The upper site will be located just east of the village of Farmington Falls and extend downstream to New Sharon in the vicinity of Muddy Brook.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Western Mountains Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
Posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Maine Sportsman
Grand Lake Stream represents one of Maine’s most scenic and productive landlocked salmon streams. Averaging 98 feet wide, it flows from West Grand Lake’s outlet dam for 2.75 miles before entering Big Lake. Its crystal-clear waters bounce and aerate over several long boulder rapids, interspersed with pools, glides, and pockets that hold the silver leapers that have thrilled many an angler over the years.
Although many anglers have favorite larger pools to fish, adventuresome wading anglers can reach many smaller pockets that are interspersed behind boulders throughout the stream. Salmon holding in these pockets must decide very quickly whether to strike since food and flies are moving quickly out of their field of view in the swift current.
Prime time fishing starts in mid-May with the Hendrickson hatch and lasts through the brown caddis hatches until the stream temperature warms to near 70 F, usually by the end of June. Nymphs, dry flies, and streamers are effective enticements to salmon.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Downeast Fishing Report • Categories: Fishing Reports
