Downeast Fishing Report: July 27, 2009
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.
Grand Lake Stream’s salmon population is transient, with most fish arriving either in the spring after ice-out or in the fall. By July and August the greatest portion of these salmon have moved into either West Grand Lake or Big Lake in search of cool water and better forage in the form of rainbow smelts. West Grand’s salmon are currently growing well on an abundant population of smelts, producing fat silvery fish.
Fishing the stream is restricted to fly fishing only with a daily bag limit of one salmon that is longer than 14”. By late September another movement of pre-spawn salmon in the peak of condition enters the stream. The extended fall season ends on October 20, and all October fishing is catch and release. Anglers are reminded that the area within 150′ of the West Grand Dam is closed to all fishing.
The village of Grand Lake Stream has a long fishing history in Maine, with its guides, sporting camps, store, and 20′ Grand Laker square-stern canoes that have been used on the lakes for decades. Memories of the scenery and fish from a trip to Grand Lake Stream will last for a lifetime, tugging at you to return.