March 7, 2005 Ice Fishing Report

Region A- Southwestern Maine

March has certainly roared in like a lion, but there is no doubt the longer days and warmer weather can certainly make for some fantastic days on the ice. Many anglers start to pack away the ice fishing gear about this time, granted the fishing for many coldwater gamefish may have slowed, but based on our creel surveys there are still plenty of trout and salmon available.

Besides the warmer weather, March anglers often experience smaller crowds on their favorite waters. For those anglers that prefer faster action, March is one of the best times to target panfish and other warmwater species, which start to become more and more active. Adults should keep in mind that most kids prefer the fast action warmwater species provide over a slow day of trout fishing. Warmer March weather also means a day of family ice fishing can be much less on an "arctic expedition" type experience! Following are a few warmwater lakes and ponds worth trying: Balch Pond (Newfield), Lake Arrowhead (Waterboro), Roberts & Wadley Ponds (Lyman), Raymond Pond (Raymond), Highland Lake (Bridgton), Upper/Lower Moose Pond (Bridgton), Little Sebago Lake (Windham), Lovewell Pond (Fryeburg), Lower Range Pond (Poland), Winnegance Lake (Phippsburg), Norway Lake (Norway), and North/Round Ponds (Greenwood).

Although the ice is still likely to be with us for quite some time, I am sure those anglers that like to dip smelts in the spring are starting to feel the itch. Over the years, smelt dippers have lost opportunities for this traditional spring fishing activity, and it is important for them recognize why. There are two primary reasons for the increased closures of streams to spring dipping: (1) to protect smelt populations for use as forage for other sportfish (i.e. landlocked salmon), and (2) to address increasing public relations and landowner issues. Even though bag limits are in place to restrict harvest, fishery managers are still very concerned about possible impacts from spring dipping activities. Think about it, smelt are one of the few important inland gamefish that is not well protected during its spawning cycle.

Smelt populations are particularly vulnerable to over-harvest due to their spawning behavior. The concentration of large numbers of smelt, often in very small, and shallow stream systems literally makes it "like fishing in a barrel" with limited opportunity for escapement. Dipping activities not only affect the current population, they can also result in future year class failures due to excessive harvest prior to spawning, interference and/or blockage of smelt spawning activities, and increased egg mortalities through siltation and direct physical damage due to wading anglers. MDIFW biologists would like to urge anglers to be conscientious of their actions while dipping smelts and to employ some of the following: avoid excessive dipping and scraping of the stream bottom; avoid and/or minimize walking in the lower reaches of streams where smelt spawn; and if you need to cross the stream...take an extra minute or two and cross upstream of known smelt spawning activity. Just remember you could actually be "walking on eggshells" and impacting your future dipping opportunities! The second problem relates to interactions between spring smelters and the general public. Aggregations of smelt-dippers crowding into small areas along streams are highly visible to the public and landowners. Trespass, littering, general land abuse, and disturbing noises or behaviors are often associated with dipping activities. This may lead to opportunity losses through landowner postings, or legislative/departmental closures. Consequently, this user group indirectly affects their own use opportunity as a result of adverse public opinion. Increasing population levels and more development adjacent to traditional dipping tributaries has created more confrontations and additional stream closures. This further aggravates problems at other sites by concentrating more use at areas that remain open. Here again, anglers may occasionally have to police themselves to protect their future angling opportunity. If you see an angler doing something they shouldn't, let them know you have taken notice and report it to the appropriate authority (plate numbers/registration # are often required for meaningful follow-up). Also, if you observe some property abuses like litter, ruts erosion, broken fences or other types of property damage, offer to take care of the problem before the landowner has to deal with it, which may mean future posting or closure of the stream to dipping.

A few other tidbits of information anglers may be intrested in:

* Although its too early to tell just yet, our hatchery staff has informed us that stocking efforts may be slightly delayed this spring due to ice cover on lakes/ponds and high stream flows. We'll keep you posted as the season progresses. * A public informational meeting is scheduled for April 20th, 7:30 PM at the Naples Town Hall to discuss the Classic Salmon Initiative, whcih a cooperative effort between the Sportmans Alliance of Maine and MDIFW to produce better size-quality salmon fishing on select waters throughout the State. The 2 waters being considered in the region are Kezar Lake in Lovell and Crystal Lake in Harrison. * The large lake trout 22+ pound lake trout in the Sebago Derby last week had a BV fin clip. According to our records that fish was stocked in 1979, which makes it 26 years old!

-Jim Pellerin, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region B - Central Maine

The last time I wrote a fishery report, I left readers with an inquiry that generated some responses that I really did not expect. Since there was some interest, I will repeat the question and give readers what appears to be the best answer. "If you are ice fishing in zero-degree weather, and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?" Converting zero degrees Fahrenheit to centigrade provides the answer of minus 17.77 and if that is doubled the answer is minus 35.55 centigrade, converted back to Fahrenheit provides the answer of minus 32 Fahrenheit. Of course, if the centigrade scale is being used, then zero degrees centigrade is 32 above on the Fahrenheit scale. Twice as cold with that figure provides you with minus 32 Fahrenheit which converts to minus 35.55 centigrade, a confirmation of the first calculation.

I spent the early morning hours on a very cold Presidents Day trying to harvest some white perch at Long Pond in the Belgrades, where I have been regularly creel surveying anglers since the 2004 winter season. We have interviewed anglers with some impressive white perch catches, particularly in Great and North Ponds. A few anglers are placing a small number of traps to catch some white perch in Long Pond. Most anglers are targeting pike at Long, since all salmonids and bass are not legal fare, and should not even be removed from the water. I had a flag very early in the process of setting them and lo and behold the fish at the terminal end was a recently stocked salmon caught in 25 feet of water. Since I was after white perch and the cold made for some tough hand action, I was dismayed because I had to cut my leader and retie a hook. Later action produced a white perch and one other small salmon, all caught in water depth of 25 feet.

What were the salmon that normally are caught just below the ice surface doing at 25 feet? We can probably surmise they were chasing what all the predator fish are presently doing in the lower Belgrades. They were looking for their primary forage, landlocked alewives! Landlocked alewives were illegally planted in the Great Pond around 1990 and have certainly made a difference in predatory fish behavior where the alewives now reside. Once again anglers are given a tough lessen by the illegal action of some ill-advised person(s) creating a situation that totally changes fishing opportunity.

I monitored the annual Lions statewide pike derby on February 20 and observed some impressive pike. The largest was just over 23 pounds and was caught at North Pond. The biggest pike that came from Long Pond was a pike we had tagged for population monitoring in the spring of 2004. That fish was 7.5 pounds and had grown very little since last spring.

With spring not too far off, we in the region will again be preparing to trap net pike on the spawning run. We will place nets in the shallow ice-free areas of Long Pond to help in the analysis of the effects of the ice fishing harvest of pike at Long Pond. The experimental ice fishing seasons running through to 2006 may be having an effect on reducing the predation of pike on the salmonids, specifically on the once famous landlocked salmon fishery that has been decimated by the pike population.

Bill Woodward, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region C - Downeast

As winter forges ahead and we enter into the last month of the ice fishing season our best weather is yet to come. Even so, most of the anglers that we find fishing this month are die-hards, in search of the glory that goes with catching a lunker that eluded the maze hooks and baits of earlier anglers. These hard-core fishermen who have extensively fished all season long are working down their lists of waters that consistently produce large game fish. If you are one of these hardy souls here are waters that you may want to consider for your last hurrah of the season.

Togue

West Musquash Lake - Talmadge. This lake produces some handsome togue over ten pounds. Recently, Gary Albee of Marshfield caught a beautiful 14 pounder.

West Grand Lake - Grand Lake Stream. This large lake produces more than its share of large lakers. Recently, three over 10 pounds have been caught. And these are just what we've heard of.

Green Lake - Ellsworth. Green is a common producer of trophy togue. This lake has the fastest growth of any of our lake trout waters as fish here can reach 20 inches after only three years in the lake.

Toddy Pond - Orland. Toddy Pond is the sleeper. In the last two net surveys biologists found some large togue upwards of ten pounds. This lake is lightly fished and is waiting for a hard-core togue fishermen to use his or her skill here.

Salmon

Branch Lake - Ellsworth. This lake still has a handful of salmon from the last stocking in history that will ever occur at this water. These last remaining fish are up to 5 and 6 pounds and would be a prize for any die-hard angler. Don't miss your last chance to fish for salmon at this lake. It's the end of an era for Maine people.

Jordan Pond - Seal Harbor. Reports are coming in of 4 pound plus salmon here. This is a crystal clear lake in the middle of spectacular Acadia National Park scenery, fish close to shore with smelts.

Alligator Lake - T 34 MD. A common producer of salmon between 3 and 5 pounds, this lake's regulation promotes fish over 20 inches. There is a no kill slot between 16 and 20 inches that works very well in extending the good fishing for large salmon into March.

Echo Lake - Southwest Harbor. This small lake has an abundant landlocked alewife population that salmon gorge on. This lake commonly produces salmon between 4 and 5 pounds.

Nashes Lake - Calais. This water has been producing salmon over 4 pounds and is a little known and lightly fished water.

Brook Trout

Little Long Pond - T 10 SD. A slow fishery but one that produces brookies between 2 and 3 pounds.

Alligator Lake - T 34 MD. A historic producer of wall hangers over 5 pounds, this lake gives up trout occasionally over 2 and 3 pounds.

Echo Lake - Southwest Harbor. Trout also feed heavily on the landlocked alewives and anglers this winter caught brookies up to 18 inches.

Splake

Burntland Lake - T 35 MD. This water is artificial lures only and one line. Jigging here is very productive and anglers catch fish over 20 inches commonly. This is a very lightly fish water.

Third Old Stream Lake - T 37 MD. Hidden in the middle of timber company land this water is little known as it is not stocked with splake but many fish migrate in on high waters in fall from Second Old Stream Lake. Anglers here catch splake over three pounds.

Mopang Lake - T 29 MD. This lake is a real splake success story as anglers here are reporting decent catches of 3 to 6 pound fish.

Brown Trout

Walker Pond - Brooksville. Our best brown trout water in the region, this water commonly gives up fish over 20 inches.

Upper Lead Mountain Pond - T 28 MD. Anglers here are enjoying catching brownies over 3 pounds.

Pennamaquan Lake - Charlotte. Recently introduced brown trout have turned this usually mundane water into the lair for trophy fish. Anglers here tell us they are catching fish between 3 and 6 pounds.

Smallmouth Bass

Toddy Pond - Orland. A common producer of large smallies this water is best fished for bass in the southern basin.

Lower Patten Pond - Surry. Giving up some huge smallmouths over 4 pounds. This water is a good bet.

--Greg Burr, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region D - Western Mountains

Conditions on the ice are still very good to start off the month of March. Much of the snow left by last week's snowstorm has blown off or settled, so traveling to your favorite fishing areas is relatively good. March is a month where anglers start thinking about spring and leave the icefishing gear home. Those that do go out are finding smaller crowds and good fishing.

The Wyman Lake fishing derby was held this past weekend in Moscow. Somewhere between 150 and 200 anglers participated in the fourth year of this annual event. Many splake were caught with the largest being a little over a pound and a half. A higher number of salmon than usual were being brought in and weighed with the largest being just under two pounds. The largest togue taken was about three and a half pounds and was likely to be the big money fish for the derby. Other noteworthy fish caught were a 29½ inch, 7 pound 10 ounce cusk; and a 13 3/4 inch, 1 pound 9 ounce white perch.

Fishing at other regional waters was also good this weekend. Anglers that made the trip into Spencer Lake in Hobbstown Twp. were rewarded with good action for both salmon and lake trout. Reports from Embden Pond in Embden were of few anglers, but togue taken up to 4 pounds. A group fishing Hancock Pond, also in Embden, located a concentration of smallmouth bass and caught many in the 2-3 pound size class as well as a few small salmon and togue.

Warmwater fish species, such as bass, pickerel, and perch, get more active as the month goes on. Anglers looking for an enjoyable day of fishing with good action might consider some of the small ponds in the Chesterville area. Spring is not far away now, so get out and enjoy the winter while you can.

-Dave Howatt, Fishery Biology Specialist

Region E - Moosehead Region

Our March 3rd public meeting in Jackman to discuss fishing in the area gave fisherman the opportunity to voice their concerns and expectations of the fishery resources in the area. For those of you who attended, the Moosehead Region's fishery staff thanks you for your contribution. One of the biggest concerns expressed was if the rumors of an illegal introduction of smallmouth bass into Misery Pond were true.

This past fall, Moosehead Region's fisheries staff received a report from Game Wardens that in September two anglers had reported catching smallmouth bass in Misery Pond. Misery Pond, a 36-acre body of water supporting a wild brook trout population, is located at the headwaters of Misery Stream, one of Brassua Lake's tributaries. These were the first reports of bass caught in the Moose River drainage. One of the bass reported weighed approximately 3-4 pounds. The other one was smaller.

In response to the reports, Moosehead Region's fisheries staff and Research personnel spent the first week of October at Misery Pond trying to document the presence of bass, and to eradicate them if possible. The effort included trapnets set for the week, electrofishing along the shore, gillnetting, and minnow trap sets. No bass were caught or observed during the campaign. However, from this work we cannot conclude that bass are not present in Misery Pond. By the time we received these reports and could react, water temperature had dropped to 50oF. Any bass present would likely have ceased activity for the winter at that temperature and moved into deeper water. Moosehead Region's fisheries staff will return in the spring when water temperatures reach 50oF to continue our investigation to determine if an illegal introduction has occurred. We will kill every bass we catch.

If smallmouth bass are present, and have not migrated downstream or reproduced, given the size of Misery Pond there a is reasonable chance to eliminate them. However, if smallmouth bass have moved and established downstream, much of the 700 square miles of Moose River drainage area above Brassua Dam is vulnerable. The one saving grace is that a three foot beaver dam on the outlet may have prevented their movement downstream out of Misery Pond.

There has been no word on how or who may have been responsible for this introduction. The epidemic of illegal fish stockings represents the largest threat to Maine's indigenous salmonid species. Illegally introducing any fish into any Maine water is a Class E crime, punishable by fines up to $10,000! Through Operation Game Thief a minimum reward of $2,000 is being offered for information leading to the apprehension of persons responsible for the illegal introduction of fish. If you have information about any illegal introduction of fish in any body of water in Maine, please call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-253-7887.

- Stephen Seeback, Fishery Biology Specialist, Moosehead Lake Region

Region F, Penobscot Region

Although ice fishing pressure remains at moderate to low levels throughout the region, the catch rates and fish size have been very good. The weather has remained cooler than normal after a warmer than normal period in early February, but there still have been many good days to be on the ice. Travel conditions are very good across the region and the cold weather has created enough ice to last well beyond the end of the winter fishing season.

The usual salmon lakes, West Lake and Seboeis Lake, are still producing very good fishing and some exceptional fish have been taken from Duck Lake, East Grand Lake and Pleasant Pond. A 4½ pound salmon from Pleasant Pond took top honors at the Island Falls Winterfest last weekend.

Some of the regional splake lakes, Seboeis Lake, where a splake over 4 pounds has been reported, and Endless Lake, have produced a lot of fish while Cedar Lake and Lower Togue Pond have been very slow. Seboeis also contains bass, pickerel and white perch and anglers have been catching good sized fish of these species as well as salmon and splake.

Lake trout action action has slowed down on Schoodic Lake where the average size is 5-6 pounds and on Cold Stream Pond where lake trout condition has been improving after the implementation of a 5 fish-14 inch regulation. Cold Stream Pond is still giving up some excellent brook trout from the fall yearling stocking with fish reportedly being 15 to 18 inches long and mostly caught in shallow water along the shoreline. Schoodic continues to have a very good hook and line fishery for smelts although it has slowed recently. Scraggly Lake and Matagamon Lake continue to produce good brook trout fishing with Matagamon also giving up some nice lake trout and salmon. The trout ponds that were stocked with fall yearling trout to produce a winter fishery have been heavily fished but a few fish remain in Silver Lake and Trout Pond in Lowell. Fishing for bass and white perch should pick up this month as springtime approaches and these species become more active. Some of the better waters for warmwater species are South Branch Lake, Mattanawcook Lake, Saponac Pond, and Wytopitlock Lake.

-Mike Smith, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region G - Aroostook County

Fishing activity was light over the weekend with several winter festivals around the County and the CanAm sled dog races in Fort Kent. High participation in snowmobiling could also be seen all over the County with hotels and motels full of trucks and trailers. Several winter storms have dumped lots of snow around northern Maine, as well, making lake travel more difficult. On March 8-9, up to 20 more inches of snow is being forecast for the region. Until recently, slush conditions have been not been a factor but with the upcoming snow slush could develop on many regional lakes.

The upcoming weekend (March 12-13) will be the last that the Fish River Lakes will be open to ice fishing for the season. Long, Square, Cross, and Eagle Lakes close on March 15. The opportunity to catch a trophy salmon, trout and togue is good on these waters; many trophy-class fish have been caught this winter. Other Fish River Lakes open until the end of March are St. Froid and Portage Lakes.

Other reports from anglers indicate the recent low fishing pressure. Drews Lake that was busy early has dropped off but anglers are looking forward to the typically good end of March fishing for white perch, pickerel, splake and brown trout. Glazier Lake in far northern Maine has been slow for togue, salmon, and muskellunge. Access to this lake has been good with well-worn snowmobile trails to Connors Cove from the Little Black checkpoint; a trail to the outlet of Glazier Lake is currently being used substantially by anglers beginning their trip in St. Francis. Anglers asking permission for parking can begin their trip from St. Francis; several trails originate in the area near John's Country Store and a relatively short snowmobile ride of about 10 miles will bring you to the shore of Glazier Lake. For anglers seeking an even more remote fishing experience, Beau Lake lies to the north on the St. Francis River and has a togue population that is lightly utilized by ice anglers.

-Frank Frost, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

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

Don't forget hunting for snowshoe hares! For those hunting enthusiasts who already can't wait until next fall, don't forget that March offers great hunting opportunities for snowshoe hares. The warms days, strong sun and good snow cover offer excellent conditions for hunting.

A number of guides offer guide services to provide you with an enjoyable snowshoe hare hunting experience. Information on licensed guides who offer hare hunting is available on-line and through publications such as the Maine Sportsman and the Northwoods Sporting Journal. In addition, snowshoe hares are excellent table fare. So don't wait until next fall -- go buy your 2005 hunting license and enjoy snowshoe hare hunting in March.

-Colonel Tom Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service

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