September 19, 2005 Fishing Report

Region A- Southwestern Maine

For Region A biologists, the last month of summer means it is time to complete the stream surveys scheduled in our annual work plan. Some of these surveys are associated with the statewide brook trout monitoring program. These surveys are completed in each of MDIF&Ws seven regions and involve sampling brook trout and taking habitat measurements in two close to pristine streams. The objective is to use these streams as an over all measure of the health of wild brook trout populations statewide.

In Region A several other stream surveys are completed annually on the Crooked River and on Mile Brook to keep an eye on the spawning success of wild Sebago Lake landlocked salmon. In the past these surveys have alerted us when beaver dams have caused a hindrance to spawning in the Crooked River drainage. Surveys done after beaver dam removal have also shown the positive effects of removal on the spawning success of salmon.

The last type of stream surveys done by Region A staff are those completed with the objective of cataloging the species present and overall water quality of each stream within the boundaries of each town in the region. This inventory allows us to identify important habitats and the presence of rare species. With this information, we are able to plan and prioritize future MDOT stream crossings and allows us to comment on MDEP construction applications with confidence. With so many streams in the region, we strive to survey the streams of three towns per year.

This year, the towns of Porter, Hiram, and Brownfield will be surveyed. The towns of Porter, Brownfield, and half of Hiram have already been completed and we were happy to find that almost all of the streams in those towns had populations of wild brook trout. Unfortunately, many of the streams in Hiram had hanging culverts. Hanging culverts are those that have an artificial drop on the down-stream side of the pipe. While these waterfalls seem pleasant, they often completely block fish passage from down-stream to up-stream. Hanging culverts fragment aquatic habitat, prevent the normal movements of fish, aquatic insects and amphibians, and reduces access to summer refugia. The danger here is that the upper portions of streams tend to dry up in times of drought and can effectively wipe out a population of brook trout above a hanging culvert. If the population is isolated from its down-stream neighbors by a hanging culvert, the natural processes of migration that would ordinarily replenish such a population are blocked. The result can be a barren stretch of headwaters that could have provided fishing opportunity or could have supported a fishery down-stream. Fortunately, the potential effects of hanging culverts have not been found in Hiram to date.

On a different note, we are entertaining some management changes at Forrest Pond in Canton. Spot checks last winter and a lack of positive angler reports indicate stocked brook trout are not producing acceptable fishing opportunity. The lack of positive angler reports may be due to very low fishing pressure, predation on brook trout by largemouth and smallmouth bass, and/or competition from other species. Stocking at Forrest Pond has been canceled for this year. In the future we are considering other management options for the pond including a larger brook trout or rainbow trout. -Brian Lewis, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region B - Central Maine

Every year, fisheries biologists from around the state gather information from road crossings from every stream in a few selected towns. The information such as species present and abundance, culverts shape and size, along with some habitat information and water quality are gathered and recorded. This information is used for future brook trout management within watersheds.

By now most readers are well informed of the effects exotic fish species can have on our native fish populations. To give you an example of how these exotic fish species can effect even the smallest of brooks and streams. Lets look at a situation in the town of Mt. Vernon

In August, I was working on some of these small tributaries to Long Pond in the town of Mt Vernon. The tributaries exhibited habitat types such as pocket water, riffles, runs and small plunge pools along with cool water temperatures, a key factor for brook trout survival. One may conclude that brook trout would inhabit some of these small tributaries to Long Pond, and electrofishing confirmed that indeed wild brook trout still do inhabit some of these tributaries. The problem is that we only caught larger, older-aged brook trout. Streams characteristically support other fish species besides trout. Black nose dace, creek chubs and white suckers are just three species that one would expect to encounter in streams of this nature. I did eventually find some of these other fish species, but, they where located in stranded pools of water far away from the flows of the main channel. I should also mention that I never did capture any young of the year brook trout in the main stem of the brook or the stranded pools. What I caught surprised me, especially in regard to their abundance and placement within the habitat. Thirty- seven young northern pike where caught, in what I would have called undesirable habitat for pike. These young pike where sitting in the fastest riffles and runs above some of the plunge pools almost as if they where acting as young trout.

Now, think about this on a larger scale, such as over the area of this region. What kind of chance do you think young brook trout or other young salmonids have in a place where exotic species have invaded a formerly undisturbed wild salmonid fishery? In time, as the larger older Salmonids die off, there will be less recruitment of young fish to take the adults place. Consequently, there will be fewer adult salmonids for anglers to catch.

To end on a positive note, once these younger wild salmonids are large enough to no longer be threatened by these introduced exotics, some good fishing may be the end result. Good luck catching them.

-Scott Davis, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region C - Downeast

The fall fishing season is here and keeping with the colors of the season, anglers should look to the trees for "bright" ideas for the shades of the lures and flies that are best used in autumn. Salmon and trout often aggressively attack bright orange, yellows and greens (chartreuse) in the fall as water temperatures cool down into these fishes optimum feeding ranges.

More specifically, florescent orange and chartreuse #5 and #7 Rapalas trolled and casted for brook trout work terrific in small ponds and even on larger trout lakes where there are lots of rocky edge habitat. The brook trout flies I highly recommend for the season are the yellow and florescent green Hornbergs as well as a bright silver and white Marabou Muddler Minnow with white marabou overwing. The Hornbergs imitate juvenile minnows and sunfishes that trout love to gorge on this time of year when shallow water temperatures neutralize to cooler temps, allowing trout to once again pillage and harass these shallow littoral zone species.

Recommended highly productive Downeast fall trout ponds and lakes are as follows:

Simmons Pond - Hancock (artificial lures only), Billings Pond - Blue Hill, Upper Hadlock Pond - Northeast Harbor (ALO), Echo Lake - Southwest Harbor, Ducktail Pond - Amherst, Shattuck Lake - Calais, West Pike Brook Pond - T 18 MD, Tilden Pond - T 10 SD, Goulding Pond - Robbinston, Pork Barrel Pond - T 6 R1 (ALO), and Keenes Lake in Calais.

For landlocked salmon "electric" colored flies and lures are also the ticket for fall success. I highly recommend the bright orange Montreal, Barnes Special, Black Ghost, Marabou Muddler Minnow and Little Rainbow Trout streamer flies. For salmon hardware I recommend the orange and silver Flash King, the mylar purple or rainbow Yozori Pin-Minnows, orange or rainbow DB Smelt, orange Thunder Stick Jr. and red & white Weeping Willow.

Productive fall salmon lakes are follows: Cathance Lake - Cooper (open until the end of October), West Grand Lake (open until October 15) - Grand Lake Stream (open until October 20th), Alligator Lake - T 34 MD (open until the end of September), Long Pond - Mount Desert (open until the end of October) and Green Lake - Ellsworth (open until the end of September).

To cast the above magic salmon flies for the next month, the place to be is the famed Grand Lake Stream. This fly-fishing only 2.6-mile stretch of stream connects the salmon lakes of West Grand and Big Lakes. Last week I had the pleasure of talking to Kurt Cressey of the town's Pine Tree Store, otherwise known as the fishing headquarters for those parts, and told me that "bright" salmon are now dropping into the stream from West Grand and traveling up from Big, starting their usual fall migrations. Grand Lake Stream is open until October 20th and the best fishing is the last two weeks of season. The closer you fish to the 20th the more fish have migrated into the stream. And here's another tip, the earlier you fish in the day the better fishing you'll have. Casting over rested salmon will make your day more productive. The flows in Grand Lake Stream are a little high at 580 CFS for wading and casting, but great for bringing in new recruits. The best is yet to come!

Good luck and be safe!

-Greg Burr, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region D - Western Mountains

Rainy days and cool nights in mid-September cause fish to move into streams prior to spawning, and the wet weather we had last week was perfect for getting the fish moving. For the same reason, salmon and trout are also found in lakes off the mouths of inlets at this time of year. The availability of fish, combined with crisp autumn days and fall foliage colors (and the lack of bugs!), make this the favorite time of year for many fly fishermen.

Fall days also signal a change in our fieldwork schedule as we'll soon begin our trapnetting season. Before we do so, I'd like to tip my hat in thanks to the people who've helped us conduct our summer fieldwork. As I mentioned previously, members of the Rangeley Region Guides' and Sportsmen's Association and the Somerset Chapter of Trout Unlimited helped us on stream surveys and with stream restoration monitoring. These folks contributed 21 work days this summer, and their assistance is greatly appreciated.

The Embden Rearing Station has been completely rebuilt and greatly expanded over the last year and a half, and fish will be moved into the new facility for the first time next month. During construction, employees worked at other hatcheries or, I'm pleased to say, helped us do fisheries field work. As they return to their jobs as fish culturists, we at the Strong office thank Gene Arsenault, Steve Raye, and Keith Carpenter for the assistance they provided gill netting, electrofishing, and with other field work. We'll miss their help and company next summer.

-Forrest Bonney, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region E - Moosehead Region

Autumn arrives on September 22nd and with it a lessening of the amount of solar radiation reaching the atmosphere over the northern hemisphere. We will begin to see a substantial decrease in daylight which should begin to slowly lower water temperatures in pond and rivers across the region. This decrease in water temps and fall rains should increase the activity of brook trout and salmon on their annual migration to spawning areas.

Reports from the Moose River, Roach River, and the East Outlet of the Kennebec are very encouraging. Anglers are reporting catching some nice salmon up to 18- 20 inches as well as brook trout 16 -18 inches. Fish are being taken on a variety of streamer and nymph patterns.

Last week regional staff took some vacation off and spent three days fishing the West Branch of the Penobscot River, above Chesuncook Lake. The fishing was slow due to the warm weather conditions we experienced during the middle of last week. We caught numerous salmon 14- 16 inches. The fishing on the West Branch should begin to improve over the last two weeks of the season as water temperatures begin to decrease.

Due to heavy rains on Saturday, September 17th, IFW staff decided to postpone its annual Family Fishing Day at the Gravel Pit Pond in Greenville. The Greenville Fisheries staff would like to reschedule this event. We feel it is a good chance to get youngsters involved in outdoor activities. We are planning to reschedule this event during the month of October. No date has been decide on as of yet but look to future fishing report for a weekend in October.

-Stephen Seeback, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region F, Penobscot Region

Although another general law open water fishing season is drawing to a close, there still is time to enjoy the remainder of a productive season and get ready for some fall action on selected waters.

With surface waters cooling down, salmon, trout, and togue are coming to the surface and providing some good top-water action. Anglers have reported good action for salmon on East Grand, Pleasant Pond and Cold Stream Pond. Both salmon and splake have been very active in Seboeis Lake. Baxter State Park waters are very productive for brook trout during this part of the season.

Once October 1 arrives don't put the fish poles away. There are two categories of waters open during the fall season. First are waters with a special S-23 designation. These waters are open to fishing from October 1 - October 31 using artificial lures only and all fish caught must be released alive at once. This regulation generally applies to coldwater lakes that are stocked with salmon or trout and allows an angler to fish for these species through October although all fish must be released. Some good Region F waters are West Lake, Pleasant Lake, Deering Lake, Millinocket Lake, Millincoket Stream (in T1 R8 andT3 IP, from Millinocket Lake Dam downstream to the town line) and the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes.

The other category is S-24, in which the waters are open from October 1 - November 30. In these waters all trout, salmon togue and bass must be released alive but an angler may keep perch and pickerel. These are generally warmwater lakes and ponds that have good perch and pickerel populations that are productive through the fall season. Some Region F waters in this category are Seboeis Lake, South Branch Pond, and Saponac Pond.

Fish marking at the Enfield hatchery has been completed and fall stocking is about to begin. This year about 17,000 fall fingerling brook trout, 3,000 fall yearling brook trout and 2,000 fall yearling landlocked salmon will be stocked in Region F. Fall trapnetting to sample fish populations is also about to begin. Trapnetting for coldwater species works better during the fall and allows more detailed information on the fish population to be collected. Some of the waters scheduled for trapnetting this fall are East Grand Lake, Schoodic Lake, East Musquash Lake and Upper Sysladobsis Lake for salmon; Seboeis Lake for salmon and splake, and Nicatous Lake for brown trout.

-Mike Smith, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region G - Aroostook County

Seasonably cool, wet weather has arrived in northern Maine. Water flows in rivers, brooks, and streams are higher and temperatures have cooled: conditions are excellent for fall fishing in Aroostook County. This is a great time to take advantage of the many fishing opportunities we have in northern Maine. Typically, outdoor enthusiasts are thinking about the upcoming hunting seasons so expect crowds to be small to nonexistent at your favorite fishing spot.

Lakes and ponds also should be excellent fishing during these last two weeks of September. Surface temperatures have cooled and the rainy, windy weather have helped to make trout and salmon more active. Recently, my kids had a great day of fishing at a local trout pond (see attached pictures). We found trout to be very active during midday, sunny conditions when you expect fishing to be slow. We caught 17 trout in all that day and had a great lunch the next day, a highlight the kids enjoy as much as catching the fish.

This fall we will be instituting a new stocking program in Region G utilizing fall yearling brook trout - larger trout stocked in the fall to provide fall fishing, ice fishing, and some ice out fishing opportunity. Lakes and ponds scheduled to receive these fish are: Arnold Brook Lake, Presque Isle; Drews Lake, New Limerick; Nickerson Lake, New Limerick; and Spaulding Lake, Oakfield. With the exception of Nickerson Lake all are open under the S-23 regulation in October.

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-Frank Frost, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

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