FALMOUTH — Volunteers are being sought to head into the wilds of Maine to find and fish for previously-undocumented populations of wild brook trout in remote ponds.

Maine Audubon is partnering on the project with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Trout Unlimited.

Anglers can choose one or more of 187 ponds in western Maine to find and fish, Christian Neal MilNeil, Maine Audubon communications manager, said Wednesday afternoon in a news release.

“There are no records of past stocking in any of these ponds, so any brook trout found in them are native, wild fish,” Jeff Reardon, of Trout Unlimited, said.

“Our goal is to collect information to help inform future management.”

“Maine brook trout are a special resource, and we need to know where they are before we can protect and manage them appropriately,” Reardon said.

MilNeil said the project’s focus on remote ponds offers anglers a chance to explore new places while advancing trout conservation efforts.

“None of these ponds have been surveyed by Maine fisheries biologists,” said Joe Dembeck, fisheries management supervisor for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

“It would take thousands of hours over many years for MDIFW personnel to survey all of the waters on the list.”

Maine Audubon and its partners will provide maps, photos, data sheets, and instructions for how to survey each pond.

“Volunteers should be enthusiastic about fishing for brook trout, be comfortable in remote settings, and have a sense of adventure,” MilNeil said.

Surveys can be done any time before Sept. 30, but preferably in June and July.

“Ponds where volunteers catch brook trout, or collect other information that suggests brook trout are present, will become priority waters for formal survey efforts by MDIFW staff in future years,” Dembeck said.

Maine contains 97 percent of all the wild or native brook trout ponds remaining in the entire country, MilNeil said.

Maine has also been designated as the last true stronghold for wild brook trout in the Eastern United States.

Brook trout are symbolic of healthy ponds that provide habitat for other wildlife as well, including large aquatic insects, smaller fish and fish-eating birds like kingfishers and osprey.

Emily Bastian, an avid brook trout angler and outdoorswoman, will be coordinating the surveys and assisting volunteers as needed.

To reach her, call Maine Audubon at 781-6180 ext 207, or write [email protected] for more information or to volunteer.

Additional information is also available on the Trout Unlimited website at tumaine.org/brooktrout.htm.

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