Region A-

Southwestern Maine

This is prime time for those of you that crave the thrill of catching a landlocked salmon. We have received excellent reports from area salmon lakes, and several continue to produce trophy-size salmon. Bill Day landed a salmon over six pounds on Trickey Pond, and we’ve heard of several 4-and-5 pounders caught on Peabody Pond. Assistant Regional Biologist Jim Pellerin and I trolled Thompson Lake for a few hours on Sunday and picked up several salmon, as well as a couple sluggish smallmouths. Although we didn’t hook into any of the 3-and-4 pound salmon that others were fortunate to land, our catch was comprised of healthy 2-year old silver torpedoes in the 16-to-17 inch range.

Anglers fishing Sebago Lake at the mouth of the Songo River last week were rewarded with lots of lake trout, as well as a few salmon. Every year at about this time the smelts concentrate at the mouth of the river to spawn and the togue and salmon follow their inshore migration and go on a feeding binge, providing fast fishing action.

As Sebago’s togue fishery continues to decline in size quality due to a lack of abundant smelt, more and more anglers are requesting further liberalization of the current fishing regulations. Specifically, anglers are requesting that we increase the number of lines during the ice fishing season from two to five. The current two-line limit was formally established to reduce the incidence of anglers targeting large landlocked salmon and the associated handling mortality and illegal harvest. We have been advocating for the need to increase angler use and togue harvest as a critical step in rebuilding the smelt population and restoring the salmon fishery. Increasing winter line limits to five will support our goal to increase angler use and harvest more togue. We don’t believe this regulation will impact the current salmon fishery and will plan to monitor for this potential concern. Furthermore, we expect this proposed regulation will invite additional anglers who would not otherwise fish two-line waters. We support the five line winter limit, but would like to hear from other anglers in support or opposition to this proposed regulation. Biologist Jim

Pellerin and I can be reached at 657-2345.

-Francis Brautigam, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist
Region B –

Central Maine

This past spring, which was lengthened by the cool weather, has made for interesting observations by anglers and biologists alike. The smelt runs were much later than recent years, but those taking part in the dipping at the few waters opened were pleasantly rewarded. As for the bigger game fish, the cold surface-water temperatures at the beginning of the season had many anglers leaving discouraged, because the fish were just not active. Anglers had to use coldwater techniques to entice the fish that were in the area.

Some reports are coming in from anglers who have caught some older-aged salmon at Long Pond in the Belgrades, where one angler caught a 3-year-old salmon weighing roughly 3 pounds. Brook trout are showing up at Parker Pond and Echo Lake from past years’ stocking, and they are 13-15 inches in length. This past week, hatcheries were busy planting the early season put and take brookies that are providing some fast fishing. Go to Echo, Minnehonk, Flying, Jimmie, Long, Maranacook, Narrows, Swan, and Wassookeag to have some action with the kids. All those waters will yield some 8-10 inch brook trout.

Bass fishing will be heating up soon, and the fish that will be available are the bigger spawners as they frequent the shallows. Check the law book as size and bag limits are different as the season progresses.

Most of the region has bass, so try your luck at your

favorite water and you should not be disappointed.

-William L. Woodward, Assistant Regional Biologist
Region D –

Western Mountains

This is the week when the last of the ice should disappear from the Rangeley lakes. The ice went out of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and the Richardsons last week and should be out of Rangeley by midweek. The smelt runs are pretty much complete except in the high elevation lakes such as Aziscohos. Warden Reggie Hammond reports that anglers are already catching fish along the shores of Rangeley that are clear of ice, such as Hunter Cover, a favorite early fishing spot. Brook trout are showing up as well as salmon, indicating that the trout that we’ve been stocking the last few years are doing well and contributing to the fishery.

Water levels in rivers and streams are unusually low for this time of year. Although the rains of last Thursday and Friday gave rivers a “bump” in flow, they are falling back again. The low flows make for good early fishing water levels, but we’re hoping for more rain so that we don’t get into a low flow situation that extends into the summer. Given the drought conditions of the past two summers, our trout populations could use a reprieve.

We have been holding public informational meetings to inform the public about proposed regualation changes on the Kennebec River. Over the last couple of months, we have held meetings in Bingham, Madison, and Skowhegan. These regulations, if enacted, would provide additional regulatory protection to the tailwaters below dams while leaving the impounded areas as they are. The Kennebec River is productive and already grows some nice brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout, but we feel that with the proper regulations it could become a real trophy fishery. We will be holding one final informational meeting at the Williams Middle School in Oakland at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21. Public hearings, at which anglers will be invited to present their opinions on this subject for formal consideration by the Advisory Council, will be held later in the summer.

-Forrest Bonney, Regional Fisheries Biologist