January 10, 2005 Ice Fishing Report

Region A- Southwestern Maine

The first week of the ice fishing season proved to be productive for those that ventured out. Angler turn out was light on many area lakes and ponds, despite better than average opening week ice and weather conditions. The season started with a 4 to 6 inch ice base on many of the shallower, small-medium size ponds, and by the end of the week many of the waters in Oxford County gained (8 - 10 inches of ice on Worthley P and Canton L), where as those in Cumberland County maintained or even lost ice. We haven't received any reports on ice conditions on waters in York County. Ice conditions on moderate to large size waters, as well as deeper, smaller waters, is much more variable and anglers should exercise greater caution accessing these larger waters. For example, as of this past Saturday we've received reports of open water on Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester), Trickey Pond (Naples), and Middle Range Pond (Poland).

The advanced fall fingerling brook trout ponds that were highlighted in the ice fishing preview, as predicted, were very productive. These waters include Worthley Pond (Poland), Barker Pond (Lyman), Trafton Pond (Hiram), Littlefield Pond (Sanford), Otter Pond (Standish), Hobbs Pond (Norway), Halls Pond (Paris), and Little Clemmons Pond (Hiram) to name a few. Regional Biologist Francis Brautigam checked out Halls Pond opening day, where very fast action was reported for the morning and most angler parties iced some nice 9 to 15 inch brook trout. Those that were not so successful were using baits that were too large...the smaller the better for brook trout. The advanced fall fingerling brook trout stocked last fall were some of the largest and fattest trout that have been stocked to date, and anglers (as well as myself) were very pleased with the quality of these trout. Some nice Browns up to 22 inches were also landed on Halls Pond and were observed to be fat and healthy.

A number of splake enthusiasts headed for North Pond (Buckfield), where early morning catches appeared to be slightly down from last year. Splake up to 2.5 pounds were caught on this undeveloped, picturesque pond, which offers a "remote" pond fishing experience. The splake fishing was reported to be fantastic at Bryant Pond (Woodstock), where one angler I spoke with indicated "everyone was catching splake". Good catches of splake up to 23 inches long, as well as 3 to 4 pound salmon were also reported at Trickey Pond (Naples).

Jim worked the rainbow study waters (Crystal, Upper Range, and Middle Range), where anglers did quit well for rainbows up to 20 inches. The browns were much less cooperative, and only a few browns up to 15 inches were creeled.

The breeder salmon stocked in Tripp Lake (Poland) are providing some good action. One party caught and released 9 legal salmon. The fishing for brown trout has also been quite good on Tripp.

Anglers in the Canton/Peru area experienced some excellent fishing on both Canton Lake and Worthley Pond, where both waters produced good numbers of fat 20 inch long browns, weighing up to 4 pounds. In addition to browns, Worthley Pond anglers were rewarded with some nice catches of rainbows and brook trout. One angler even landed a relic 8 pound lake trout, which had been experimentally stocked back in 1986. Some fish photos from both waters will be down loaded to our website (www.mefishwildlife.com) and will be available for viewing shortly.

We will continue to add photos to our website throughout the season and would greatly appreciate fish photo's (especially digital photos) submitted by anglers fishing southern Maine (southwest of the Androscoggin River). Digital photo's can be sent to my email address: francis.brautigam@maine.gov. Traditional photos can be sent to: 358 Shaker Road, Gray, ME 04039. Thanks in advance for helping us share your positive fishing experience with others.

-Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region B - Central Maine

Now that we are in the second week of ice fishing season, a safety reminder is in order. Many of the lakes in the area, especially the larger lakes and those near the coast, have variable ice conditions. For example, Maranacook Lake had an extensive area of open water just north of Winthrop on Friday. Two days later, the area was significantly smaller, but the ice cover was still unsafe over the previously open water. I saw several snow machines come precariously close to thin ice before realizing the situation and getting themselves back to safety. While several more days of cold temperatures will most likely firm up conditions there and on other lakes, extreme caution should be exercised. Be sure to check ice thickness before walking or moving equipment into any area. Whether you've fished the same lake for years or are you are planning to fish a 'new' lake, always test ice cover for yourself by 'chopping' or boring holes.

Throughout the region, ice anglers appear to be out in force. Shacks of all shapes and sizes are being settled into their winter homes where ice conditions are suitable. On my travels around the region, I've seen angling activity on almost every open lake I've passed. On Sunday, a beautiful sunny winter day brought out lots of fishing parties. I noted over 30 on the lake I was doing creel survey work on.

Speaking of winter creel surveys, the biologists here routinely evaluate a number of waters in the region. Some are done according to a set schedule where we interview anglers once during the week and once during the weekend. Other waters are 'spot checked'. This year, winter anglers will see biologists regularly on East and North Ponds, Long Pond, Maranacook Lake, Lake George, Swan Lake and Megunticook Lake.

One of the lakes we spot checked recently was Puffer's Pond (Echo Lake) in Dexter. Difficulties with access to the pond caused the Department to cease stocking there recently. However, last summer, through the efforts of local anglers and the graciousness of owner of the approach area, access was reopened. The Department responded by stocking the pond with a respectable number of fingerling and fall yearling brook trout. While there, we heard some glowing reports of some nice fish being taken. While this is a success story, we all need to remember that on many of our lakes, access is often privately owned. It is the good will of the landowner that allows us to take advantage of these waters. We all need to respect that good will and respond by treating access sites with care, such as picking up any trash, keeping noise to a minimum, parking in areas such as not to block other users and showing courtesy to the landowner and other users.

- Bobby Van Riper, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region C - Downeast

Five to six inches of ice represents the best ice conditions in eastern Maine, according to local fisheries biologists and game wardens. Early season winter anglers are advised to be cautious, stay close to shore, and cut test holes before venturing away from shore. A recent snowstorm dumped 3-5" of insulating snow on the ice, slowing ice formation.

Early reports indicate that where safe ice occurs, anglers caught fish. Landlocked salmon tripped the flags at Gardner Lake in East Machias, Nash's Lake in Calais, Mopang Lake in T 29 MD, Green Lake in Ellsworth, and Molasses Pond in Eastbrook. Splake produced action for fish from 13-20", sometimes fast and furious, at waters like Keeley Lake in Marshfield, Pleasant River Lake in Beddington, Mopang Lake in T 29 MD, Jacob Buck Pond in Bucksport, and Heart Pond in Orland. Other spots to try are Lower Springy Pond in Otis, Fitts Pond in Eddington, and Toddy Pond in Orland. Splake, a hybrid between brook trout and lake trout have been a highly successful fish that grow rapidly and bite well, features that anglers desire. Brook trout, a perennial favorite, excited the anglers at Keene's Lake in Calais and Indian Lake in Whiting, where some retired broodstock larger than 16" had been stocked. There is no prettier site than looking at the multicolored speckles of brook trout against a background of ice and snow. Other popular trout ponds are Vining Lake in Cooper, Keeley Lake in Marshfield, Billings Pond in Blue Hill, Echo Lake and Lower Hadlock Pond in Mt. Desert.

-Rick Jordan, Assistant Regional Fishery Biologist

Region D - Western Mountains

The first two weekends of the 2005 ice fishing season have come and gone already, and so far it's been one characterized by light fishing pressure and spotty action, at least on waters that we've been assessing. Ice conditions are generally good - most lakes have from 8 to 14 inches of good, solid ice. However, some deeper lakes like Embden and Clearwater have been slow to button up completely. Some spots on these lakes had as little as 3 inches of ice on January 10, so care is still warranted when traveling to favorite fishing grounds. Ice covered roads were a problem for folks trying to reach some backcountry lakes during much of the season's first week. Conditions have since improved, and we saw more activity at places like Spencer Lake by the second weekend. When traveling these road systems, keep in mind that log trucks are still active and have the right-of-way! A CB radio is a useful device to keep track of truck activity. Also, active logging roads are usually off limits to snowmobile traffic. Please respect this and find alternative routes to your fishing destination.

Wesserunsett Lake in Madison has been providing excellent action for 11 to 13-inch white perch (see photo). Several brown trout, including a few of the "retired" brood fish, have been taken as well. Embden Lake and Hancock Pond have been slow to start, but Gene Arsenault and Steve Raye from the Embden Rearing Station report a few good catches of salmon, togue and smallmouth bass. Spencer Lake in Hobbstown always provides great action for salmon and togue and this year is no exception. No large fish recorded yet, but salmon from 15 to 17 inches and togue from 18 to 22 inches have been caught by the few anglers who have ventured to this remote water.

<<Dennis Bess caught these beauties from Wesserunsett Lake on January 8.jpg>>

-Dave Boucher, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region E - Moosehead Region

What a difference a week can make. Last weekend many anglers reported that most of the lakes and ponds in the Moosehead Region were covered with several inches of water or slush. That quickly changed however, with temperatures dipping into the single digits in most places overnight the water had drained considerably and frozen. One of the most crucial pieces of fishing gear on Sunday would have been a good pair of ice creepers as the ice in most places was like a bottle.

With continued cold temperatures and 3-4 inches of snowfall during the week made traveling on the ice was much better this weekend. Ice conditions on Moosehead Lake vary from area to area. In the southern part of the lake near Greenville, Greenville Jct., Beaver Cove, and Lily Bay ice depths ranged 12 to 16 inches. In the Rockwood Area around Mt. Kineo ice conditions vary greatly! We talked to anglers that measured as little as 2 inches to as much as 12 inches, so be cautious when venturing out.

We went to Big Wood Pond in Jackman this past weekend and surveyed several parties. Most of which were very successful in catching the fall yearling splake we stocked back in November. Other fish we observed on the ice included brook trout, and salmon. We even had a report of a lake trout being caught last weekend. This is one of 75 broodstock lake trout we stocked in November.

In the Greenville area we had reports that the fishing on Mt. View Pond has been very good. I talked with one party fishing Moosehead Lake on Sunday and they reported that the parking lot at Mt. View was so full they had a hard time finding a place to park. Reports from anglers fishing Prong Pond have also been very encouraging. Anglers have been successful in finding a few of our broodstock brook trout. One happy angler had his picture show up on the front page of one of the local newspapers holding a 22 inch, 6.4 pound brook trout.

This past weekend was a delightful one for people venturing out onto the ice to do some fishing. We encountered several parties fishing in the southern end of Moosehead Lake in Lily Bay and the Greenville area. Anglers reported that the lake trout fishing was quite good and a few brook trout were reported being caught. Many of the lake trout being caught were in the 14 to 18 inch category, and several larger lake trout were also observed on the ice. Although Brook trout fishing has been slow the past few years, we recorded 6 brook trout on the ice this past weekend. One trout was a 19 ½ inch, 2 ¾ pound trout caught on Sunday. Anglers, who like to target lake trout, can take advantage of the current regulations, and harvest this abundant resource. We encourage folks who want a productive day of fishing for lake trout to come to Moosehead.

In the southern part of the Moosehead Region we had reports that the splake fishing at Piper Pond was very good opening weekend and that fishing on Kingbury Pond was good for splake with a few salmon showing up as well. <<Winter Pics 2005 002.jpg>>

-Jeff Bagley, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region F, Penobscot Region

The Region F fisheries staff will be conducting creel census on Cold Stream Pond (Enfield), Lower Togue Pond (T02R09) and Schoodic (Lakeview Plt) during the 2005 ice fishing season. Cold Stream and Lower Togue were visited on opening day; while our census on Schoodic Lake awaits better ice conditions.

Anglers on Cold Stream were pleasantly surprised opening weekend by the abundance of brook trout caught. Since access was very limited in the lower basin due to the lack of ice, the upper basin of the lake saw the bulk of the fishing pressure. The majority of fish caught by anglers on Cold Stream were recently stocked fall yearling brook trout.

Lower Togue Pond saw light angling pressure opening day, but the few who made the trip were rewarded with some excellent splake fishing. Splake measuring 10"- 23' were observed buy our staff, with weights up to 4 lbs.

The fishing on Schoodic will remain limited until ice conditions improve. One Schoodic Lake resident reported seeing open water on the majority of the lake. With the forecast of mild weather for the upcoming week, we do envision that the ice conditions will improve soon.

We have had reports this past weekend of some excellent fishing throughout the region, including brook trout fishing on West Lake, Duck Lake, Middle Ox Head Pond, and Upper Jo Mary. We received reports of several nice landlocked salmon being caught on Pleasant Lake (Island Falls), Scraggly Lake (T7R8 WELS), Deering lake, East Grand, Seboeis Lake and East Musquash. A few lake trout are being reported from Cold Stream Pond, Schoodic Lake and Millinocket Lake. Splake fishing has been reported as good on Endless Lake, Seboeis Lake and Cedar Lake. Schoodic Lake is also producing a great hook and line fishery for smelts. This past weekend the trout continued to bite on Cold Stream Pond We observed some nice brook trout catches as well as some healthy salmon and one nice lake trout. We were able to survey the complete upper basin; however ice conditions on the lower basin are still unsafe. The few anglers we checked on the lower basin had caught no fish at the time of interview. Lower Togue Pond again produced some good splake fishing. All anglers checked had caught splake. Ice conditions were good with 10 to 12 inches reported.

Schoodic lake is still mostly open water with a few coves frozen and above dead man's rock it is frozen as well. Ice conditions continue to be very treacherous. The light covering of snow on the ice gives a false impression that the ice is safe. Use extreme caution when going on the ice.

-Brian Campbell, Fishery Biology Specialist

Region G - Aroostook County

The Department recently published a weekly fishing report describing various new proposals that are being considered to manage the smelt resource. You can find a copy of that December 21, 2004 report at: <http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/weeklyreportsold.htm>. Many of these are conservation measures directed at the commercial harvest of smelts. All of the proposals have been presented to the Commissioner's office, the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council, the smelt working group and a number of commercial smelt dealers for consideration.

Despite their relatively small size and low profile, rainbow smelt are of great importance to anglers and fisheries statewide. They are the only inland fish species to provide such a variety of uses and benefits including: recreational sport fishing opportunities, a commercial bait fishery, a favored bait for anglers targeting other sportfish, a popular food fish, and a primary forage fish for both coldwater and warm water fishes.

Our recently adopted smelt species plan identified the need for additional smelt conservation to meet the current and future demands on this valuable fishery resource. As a result, the Department explored a wide range of possible conservation opportunities. Additional input was solicited from the public (representing various smelt-user groups), and the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council. Based on these discussions, eleven conservation measures are being proposed. The measures and rationale are listed at: <http://www.state.me.us/ifw/fishing/weeklyreportsold.htm>

The Department is interested in receiving public feedback concerning the proposal. Anglers should contact the Commissioner's office, their Advisory Council member or biologists at the IF&W headquarters nearest their residence to express their comment or concern.

-Dave Basley, Regional Fishery Biologist

From the Maine Warden Service...The Colonel's Outdoor Tip

This is a great time of year to get outdoors and go ice fishing.

Are you looking for a good baitfish container for ice fishing? Often 5 gallon pails and other open top plastic buckets will leave baitfish exposed to freezing temperatures and make it difficult to keep them alive. Plastic cooler type lunch boxes make excellent baitfish containers -- they insulate the baitfish against the freezing cold, usually have a decent lid that prevents spills, and double as a food cooler during the rest of the year.

Also, don't forget -- do not release live baitfish into the water after ice fishing. In addition to being unlawful, additions of baitfish to Maine's inland waters can harm the sport fishery.

Good luck ice fishing!

-Colonel Tom Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service

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