Editor’s note: The freshwater fishing reports are

provided weekly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Region A Southwestern Maine

Last week’s oppressive heat and humidity were more than many anglers could bear. For many, fishing took a back seat to swimming and passively sipping a favorite cool refreshment in the shade. Despite these tough fishing conditions, we did receive some good fishing reports from around the region, including some positive reports from Sebago Lake.

Jim and Greg surveyed anglers on Middle and Upper Range Ponds last Sunday and the fishing was fantastic. Brown and wild lake trout up to 5 pounds were caught, including several 17-to-19 inch rainbows. Early in the morning 2-to-3 pound smallmouths were busting schools of landlocked alewives on the surface, providing great top water action using floating stick baits.

Fred Gallant Jr. of Windham landed an increasingly rare catch on Sebago. Dragging 3 colors of lead core in 40 feet of water, Fred hooked and landed a 6.4 pound lake whitefish, one of the largest caught in recent history. This whitefish is very close to the current state record of 7 pounds, also a Sebago native landed in 1958.

Sebago anglers are reporting improved fishing for lake trout, as well as salmon. The fishing for both salmon and togue has been slower overall than last year and many anglers have taken these reports to mean that the fishing is slow.

This is not the case. While we don’t hear about as many “high hook” days of 20 or more togue, daily catches of 2 to 4 togue are common for experienced anglers, and this is considered a very good catch rate in most togue waters around the state. Last week we heard from one member of the “togue fleet” who landed 10 togue one morning. The salmon are providing slower fishing, which is not unusual for this time of the year. Most of the legal salmon are running 16-to-18 inches, with an occasional salmon up to 21 inches. Anglers are reporting that the salmon and lake trout are looking “healthy.”

Last week I met with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to discuss the possible spread of northern pike from Sebago upstream to Long Lake. DOC operates the “locks” on the Songo River, which allows boat traffic to pass between Sebago and Long Lake/Bay of Naples. The locks structure, which includes a spillway dam and deep water release gate currently provides a migratory pathway for pike to access Long Lake. As currently operated under the current lake water level management plan, the spillway dam and deep water release gate provide limited opportunity for pike to ascend either structure during much of the year, particularly during the pike spawning season (late March/early April). The summer operation of the locks provides the greatest opportunity for pike to migrate upstream. As a result, we will be investigating the viability of installing a device that would deter fish from entering the locks during the summer boating season.

Although we continue to receive many calls and e-mails from anglers that fish in Sebago Lake and nearby waters, we have not confirmed any additional catches of northern pike other than the single 5.5 pounder we collected in May. Anglers are again requested to harvest any suspected northern pike and contact our Gray Regional Office (657-2345) to speak with a fisheries biologist. Bass anglers, in particular tournament anglers, are more likely to catch northern pike than those anglers fishing for togue or salmon, and therefore, support from organized bass anglers is much appreciated.

The stream fishing on the medium to large, more popular streams and rivers has slowed considerably with the warming water temperatures. A water temperature of 78 degrees was measured on the Little Androscoggin River below the Hotel Road in Auburn. Needless to say trout don’t like these hot conditions any better than many of us and for the most part have moved out of traditional spring holding areas in search of cooler springs and tributary streams. Find these areas of coldwater refuge and you’ll find concentrations of trout and great summer fishing.

-Francis Brautigam, acting regional fisheries biologist
Region B

Central Maine

As we approach the “Dog Days,” defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “1: the period between early July and early September when hot, sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere, or; 2: a period of stagnation or inactivity;” anglers may experience the same inactivity with fish in central Maine waters.

However, they should not be discouraged since many anglers are reporting good summer catches. Many anglers have adapted to the change in fish behavior by trying different techniques. Seek out fish in their summertime haunts such as deeper water, spring holes, or extra cover.

Trout and salmon will be found in approximately 25-to-30 feet of water as long as the water temperatures and dissolved oxygen content are adequate. Maranacook Lake is still giving up some 2-to-3 pound brown trout as are Damariscotta, Cochnewagon, Cobbossee, Pemaquid, China, and Megunticook. The traditional salmon waters will also provide action resulting from previous stockings of what are now two or three year old fish. Parker, Echo, Swan, St. George, and Wassookeag have been reporting fish in the 2-to-3 pound range.

Lake trout are still available at even deeper waters such as Echo, Maranacook, Sheepscot, Swan, and Wassookeag. Brook trout may still be available at waters we stocked with spring yearlings at places like Long, Maranacook, Echo, Swan, St. George, and Wassookeag.

Last year, an angler reported catching brookies all summer from several of those waters, so do not overlook the extended availability of Maine’s’ most sought after fish. This year may really be a boon to those who seek brookies in this region because of the strain we are now using that comes from a cross between the trout from Kennabago River in Rangeley and the long standing Maine Hatchery strain. These fish have appeared to withstand the rigors of residing in Central Maine waters with better survival and growth.

Warmwater species are all in their glory this time of year. Bass have moved off shore to deeper water in the areas that provide cover and available food. Try fishing the “break,” that area where a steep drop off occurs from the shallow to the deep hole. These areas hold all sort of fish species as they forage and move to different areas of the lake or pond. Use unweighted plastic grubs or worms that will slowly sink to the bottom. Twitching the lure will entice the lunker to strike, so be ready. I could name just about any water in the region to give an angler some action. Look at the law book and the Gazetteer and pick a water close to home and you will have an excursion that can be as memorable as you can make it.

William L. Woodward, assistant regional fishery biologist
Region D

Western Mountains

The Fourth of July traditionally marks the end of the spring fishing season in lakes. With warm summer temperatures, the fish ‘go down’ and are available primarily to trollers with lead core line. Despite warm temperatures last week, those anglers took some nice fish. Our creel clerk Deena Bean checked a 31-inch, 12-pound togue at Lower Richardson and several nice fish at Mooselook, including a 4 lb., 2 oz. salmon and a 3 lb., 11 oz. brook trout.

Rivers temperatures are more variable and some are quite warm by July. Downstream of dams, however, coldwater discharges provide good fishing later into the season. And some river systems, such as the Cupsuptic River, stay cool throughout the summer. We were pleased to have Commissioner Martin, Deputy Commissioner Jacques, and Warden Col. Peabody visit our river restoration site on the Cupsuptic River north of Rangeley last week. I dipped a thermometer into the river and the water temperature was 59 degrees even after a series of days when the air temperature was in the 80s.

For some time now we have been involved in updating our statewide species plans. To help determine our priorities for future fisheries management, we enlisted the input of anglers throughout the state. With the benefit of their suggestions and recommendations, we are now in the process of planning our work priorities for the next 15-year planning period, which in turn is broken down into shorter periods. The regions are planning work for the next year. This work is being coordinated by Dennis McNeish, our Fisheries Planner.

Speaking of planning, we will soon be submitting our requests for the number of hatchery fish we will need to meet our stocking needs. We must plan well in advance because the eggs taken this fall for salmon, brook trout, lake trout, and splake will not be of stocking size until the fall of 2004 or the spring of 2005. Many waters are stocked with the same numbers of the same species from year to year, but there are always changes. It is our responsibility to assure that stocked fish are growing and performing well, and, for that reason, we spend a large portion of our work schedule sampling stocked waters.

Forrest Bonney, regional fisheries biologist

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