May 31, 2005 Fishing Report

Region A- Southwestern Maine

It seems that things are looking up weather wise. All told we had at least a full day's worth of sun last week! Reports from our seasonal census clerk, Greg Massey indicate that now is the time to be fishing for trout on lakes and ponds. Greg saw at least 60 newly stocked brook trout caught (and mostly released) at Trickey Pond in Naples and had reports of a 3-pound holdover brookie and a 16-inch splake as well. We suspect the large brook trout may have actually been a splake as both are stocked in Trickey and are easily confused. Keep in mind that lakes and ponds in most southern counties have a 2 fish bag limit on brook trout. We suggest you consult your 2005 law book before fishing your favorite waters. Middle Range Pond is producing some very nice rainbow trout in the 18 to 22 inch range and at least one brown trout over 5 pounds.

Once again, rivers and streams are swollen with rainwater and are very difficult to fish. Reports indicate that most of those intrepid souls who have attempted fishing the Little Androscoggin and the Presumpscott rivers last week have been skunked. If the weather forecasts are true, water levels should be dropping once more in the coming week and fishing for rainbows, browns, and brookies should be excellent.

While the smallmouth bass have constructed their nests, reports are mixed regarding the success of those targeting bass nests. I experienced excellent fishing for smallmouth over the weekend on Thomas Pond in Raymond by cruising the shoreline and casting tube jigs into nests. While great success can be had angling for bass during spawning season, remember, only one fish may be kept until June 21st. Reports from Trickey Pond in Naples, however, indicate that while the nests are constructed, the bass are not actively guarding them. These nests may have been temporarily abandoned due to continuing low water temperatures but will likely be revisited by bass in the near future. A little sunlight warming the water could make all the difference in increasing spawning activity and hot fishing for nesting smallmouth and largemouth shortly thereafter.

Last week marked the end of our nighttime bass electrofishing efforts on Trickey and Thomas Ponds. The goal of these evening excursions was to investigate the extent of predation on newly stocked brook trout by bass. The bass we caught were checked for stomach contents and released unharmed. The bass were in excellent condition and demonstrated some decent size quality with several specimens in the 4 to 5 pound range. Stomach contents included crayfish, bass, sunfish, rubber bass lures and worms, brook trout, and even a duck! Four to five more bass electrofishing surveys are planned in the next few weeks to investigate additional Region A bass resources.

-Brian Lewis, Fishery Biology Specialist

Region B - Central Maine

What more can one say about this spring beside it being cold and wet. Can we claim to now live in the Pacific Northeast? After all, it has seemed that for the past few weeks, we've gotten rain similar to that which falls on a Seattle suburb.

For anglers who are becoming discouraged with all of this rain, look on the positive side for what lies ahead. Soon, we will have some great fly- fishing in the upcoming months, as we always do. The large river systems like the Kennebec and the Androscoggin were just starting to fish well before this latest prolonged rain event. All of this cold rain delays the start of the insect hatches, but in return it may mean prolonged fishing through out the summer months. When the rains do subside and the flows return to normal, we can expect the consistent hatches that have made these rivers famous.

Historically, we have seen springs like this before, maybe not to this extent, but it is not uncommon for the consistency in the hatches to start the first of June. Think of it this way, our June fishing could be in July and our July fishing could be in August. The month of August is usually quite dismal for salmonid fishing in large rivers. August, for me, usually means early mornings and very late nights to catch salmonids. The cool rainy summers of both 1995 and 1997 come to mind. Both seasons started with similar characteristics, yet I had some of the best August salmonid fishing. Our Kennebec River voluntary angler data also shows that with a late start to the season, the salmonid fishing has a tendency to last that much longer. So for those anglers who just can't wait to fish the rivers and streams - hang in there and put your efforts into fishing lakes and ponds for now. The rivers will subside. On another positive note, just think about the recruitment potential for waterfowl for the upcoming waterfowl season.

-Scott Davis, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region C - Downeast

If you cant beat the rain, turnover your boat and troll! The recent heavy downpours that dump up to 6 inches of rain on some days last week has dampen the spirits of many anglers but I'm here to tell you that the fish don't care how much it rains in our lakes and ponds, their ready to bite, rain or shine.

This has been the case at number of salmon waters Downeast. Cathance Lake being one of the best examples for fast action salmon fishing. This water is one of Washington County's premier landlocked salmon waters and is hugely popular with anglers from Hancock and Washington Counties because of the its fast action and good sized fish. This lake has responded positively to a tiered stocking scheme and is commonly producing salmon between 2 ½ and 3 ½ pounds.

Other popular salmon waters that are providing lots of rod bending fun are West Grand Lake - Grand Lake Stream, Schoodic Lake - Cherryfield, Mopang Lake - T 29 MD, and Alligator Lake in T34 MD.

Also, don't forget this region's fabulous splake waters. This time of year splake are feeding on surface much like brook trout and salmon. These fierce fighters and leapers will give anglers many hook-ups and memories that everyone should experience. Remember splake aren't picky eaters. They will feed on anything they can get down their throat and are not above gorging on any and all insect hatches that are happening at the time. They will also feed extensively on fish and are not opposed to ravaging a school of small yellow perch, white perch, smelt, sticklebacks, shiners and other minnows. So, these fish can be caught on dry flies, streamers, crank baits, worms and hardware. Here are the splake waters I recommend in this region: Jacob-Buck Pond - Bucksport, Fitts Pond - Clifton, Hearts Pond - Orland, Mopang Lake - T29 MD, Lower Springy Pond - Otis, Third and Second Old Stream Lakes - T37 MD, Hosea Pug Lake - T26 ED, Peaked Mtn. Pond - Centerville.

Of special note, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is proposing innovative brook trout simplification regulations aimed at consolidating brook trout size and bag limits so that future fishing law books will be less cumbersome. These proposals with pare down the current brook trout regulations into 8 categories and place all of Maine's important brook trout waters into fewer easy to understand regulations. Here are the categories being proposed:

General Law Fishing Opportunities

1. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; 6 - inches minimum length limit. 2. Daily limit on trout: 5 fish; 6 - inches minimum length limit.

Quality Fishing Opportunities

3. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 - inches; only 1 may exceed 12 - inches. 4. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 12 - inches; only 1 may exceed 14 - inches. 5. Daily limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length limit: 14 - inches.

Trophy Fishing Opportunities

6. Daily limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum limit: 18 - inches. 7. Catch and release (all trout caught must be released alive at once)

Experimental

8. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; all fish over 12 inches must be released alive at once.

Please review these proposed regulation categories keeping in mind that they are aimed at simplifying the fishing law book while still providing the appropriate protection and allotment for this important game species, while also producing the best experience and resource for you the customer.

Another special note, on May 18th, Bob Williams, our public access coordinator and one of the most hardworking and dedicated Inland Fisheries & Wildlife employees this Department has ever seen, passed away. He was a very special person and one that will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him. His driven and tireless work ethic stemming from his passion to provide public access to Maine lands and waters for future generations was truly amazing. For those of you who are wondering how he effected your lives in this region, look no further than the following public access and parking parcels: Jacob-Buck Pond, Hearts Pond, Cathance Lake, Pennamaquan Lake, Bog Lake, Tunk Lake, Indian Lake, Moosehorn Stream, Grand Lake Stream, Patrick Lake, Graham Lake and Pocomoonshine Lake. From all of us who treasure access to Maine's lands and waters, Thank you Bob!

-Greg Burr, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region D - Western Mountains

As long time angler of Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Rangeley, Dick Green of Topsham, claims the best fishing comes after Memorial Day. This is in fact true on many of the waters in the Rangeley area. Over the years we have conducted surveys on Mooselookmeguntic Lake that clearly show the trout are biting best during the first two weeks in June. Brook trout will commonly range from ten to fourteen inches in length, but many trout will reach over sixteen inches. Although the salmon fishing doesn't reach its peak until later in the summer, nice fish in the three to four pound range are taken in early June.

Quimby Pond in Rangeley is another water that has its brook trout fishing action peak during the month of June. This pond is famous for it's caddis fly hatches that occur at the end of the day. The average trout will run about thirteen inches, but anglers can expect about 15% of the catch to be sixteen inches or longer.

Bass fishing is also starting to pick up with the warmer water temperatures. For smallmouths anglers should try Ellis Pond in Roxbury, Clearwater Pond in Industry, Mount Blue Pond in Avon, or the Androscoggin River in the Canton area. If largemouths are what you're looking for try Crowell Pond in New Sharon, Norcross Pond in Chesterville, or Wesserunsett Lake in Madison. These waters should all provide good action for respectable sized bass.

As everyone from New England knows the weather has not been particularly great lately. These conditions have slowed fishing at lakes and ponds. Rivers and streams have been running high also hampering fishing success. The sun will come out eventually and anglers should start having better luck then.

-Dave Howatt, Fishery Biology Specialist

Region E - Moosehead Region

The Holiday weekend weather was less than ideal. Scattered showers helped keep away the black flies as well as insect activity usually observed during this time of year. Water temperatures in ponds in the Greenville area are still in the low 50's. As temperatures begin to rise the insect life should increase. If the meteorologists are correct in there predictions of 80 degree temperatures at weeks end, we should see a flying ant hatch.

The fishing on Moosehead Lake this spring is quite good and local anglers are pleased with the quality of the fish they are landing. The only complaints we are receiving from anglers is that there are too many smelts in the stomachs of lake trout and salmon. Salmon are also coming good to streamers on the East Outlet of the Kennebec and the Roach River.

The Greenville staff has finished their spring trapnetting work and have analyzed the data from two wild trout waters. The staff is now gearing up to begin sampling stocked fall fingerling brook trout. We are planning to evaluate 8 - 10 stocked brook trout fisheries this spring. The information we collect from these sampling events help the regional staff to determine the effectiveness of current regulations.

The Fisheries Division has presented the Advisory Council with our 2005 fishing rule proposals. Many of the proposals being presented this year are in an effort to consolidate our brook trout regulations. The proposals at this time seem to be very well received, but this is only step 1 of a 3 step process. Most of the 275 proposed changes deal with brook trout fisheries in lakes and ponds. This proposal would result in the consolidation of some 41 separate "brook trout" regulations into 8 regulations categories. The 8 proposed categories are as follows.

BROOK TROUT, PROPOSED REGULATION CATEGORIES;

General law Fishing Opportunities 1. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish 2. Daily limit on trout: 5 fish Quality Fishing Opportunities 3. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10-inches; only 1may exceed 12-inches 4. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 12-inches; only 1 may exceed 14-inches 5. Daily limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length limit: 14-inches Trophy Fishing Opportunities 6. Daily limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length limit: 18-inches 7. Catch and release (all trout caught must be released alive at once)

Experimental 8. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish; all fish over 12 inches must be released alive at once.

If adopted, these changes would appear in the 2006 regulation booklets. These proposed changes are just the first phase of an ongoing project that will ultimately touch on the regulations governing the taking of all major gamefish in all types of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

If you have any concerns with these proposals, feel free to forward your comments to Jeff Bagley (Jeff.Bagley@maine.gov <mailto:Jeff.Bagley@maine.gov>) and Stephen Seeback (Stephen.Seeback@maine.gov <mailto:Stephen.Seeback@maine.gov>), or call the Greenville office at 695-3756.

-Stephen Seeback, Fishery Biology Specialist

Region F, Penobscot Region

Fishing activity was up over the holiday weekend but, according to warden reports, not as high as in the past over the Memorial Day weekend. Wet, cold weather suppressed outdoor activities. It rained on 23 of the 31 days in May and the month ended with over 5 inches of rainfall in the Bangor area. Use extreme caution when fishing especially in flowing water. Water levels are ususually high and cold and the current is very strong in flowing waters. The Penobscot River in Enfield peaked at about 55,000 cfs over the weekend when flows are normally around 15,000 cfs. Current flow on the West Branch of the Penobscot below Rip Dam is around 5000 cfs.

Last year at this time bass and salmon fishing was nearing its seasonal peak activity but this year cooler water temperatures have delayed the peak activity.

Salmon fishing has been getting better with good catches reported in upper Hancock County lakes, Cold Stream Pond, and East Grand Lake. A warden working in the Debsconeag Falls area reported many salmon being caught in the 14" to 19" range and looking good.

Anglers are reporting very good lake trout action on Cold Stream Pond, Schoodic Lake and East Grand Lake. Lake trout size and condition has improved greatly on Cold Stream Pond since the implementation of regulations to control the population size on that lake. A few anglers have reported good success catching brook trout in some parts of Cold Stream Pond.

Brook trout fishing has generally been the highlight of the region. Trout fishing in smaller, stocked ponds has been good over most of the region and, until the recent heavy rainfall, was very good in northern waters in both ponds and streams with especially good reports from the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Trout fishing is expected to peak across the region this week except for Baxter State Park where it will continue to be good through the month of June.Wardens working on Sourdnahunk Lake and other Park waters have reported good, steady fishing success and that the trout are good sized fish.

Bass activity has been suppressed by cool water temperatures and high water levels. Early bass action can be found on lakes in the Nicatous area, on lakes in the Lincoln area, and South Branch Pond. There has not been much activity on the Penobscot River or on more northern lakes although this should change soon as the water warms up. Spawning activity should have begun by now and although there have been some reports of spawning activity in some lakes it is very spotty. White perch have also been affected by water conditions and spawning activity has been delayed.

-Mike Smith, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region G - Aroostook County

The rain continued to fall throughout the holiday weekend in Aroostook County, putting a damper on outdoor activities. Due to the ample rains in May, anglers found river and stream flows at nearly twice the average for this time of year. This high water made for a nice canoe ride and trout fishing was reported to be good. The forecast for the upcoming week is for fair weather. This will allow flows to drop and water temperatures to rise which will make for some of the best stream fishing of the season.

Reports from lake and pond fishermen are that the water is still a bit cold and high. One angler that I spoken with this morning said lake trout were biting well for him but were spread out and not in the areas of the lake where he expected to find them at this time of year. Lake and pond fishing should remain like spring fishing well into June this year. Prospects for the next week sure look good!

-Derrick Cote, Fishery Biology Specialist

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