While pleased that a worthy organization like Operation Reboot and the RRGSA benefitted from the recent tournament, it does not lessen my concern about the event. I started fishing Mooselookmeguntic (Mooselook) as soon as I was able to hold a fishing rod in the 1960’s, after my father before me and my grandfather before that. Since retiring five years ago, my fishing records indicate fishing Mooselook well over 100 hours annually. I mention this not to suggest I am a fisheries expert, I am not. I merely have an opinion on the Salmon Tournament based on my own experience over many years.
In the interest of space, I will focus on three areas of concern and not address the potential environmental impact of over 100 boats on the lake for two days, potential milfoil and other invasive introductions and an estimated 300 plus fisherman participating without any restroom facilities on the lake. Here are the three areas of my greatest concern.
Rationale for the Tournament: Mooselook has a lot of salmon, no question. It has been that way for decades. It is Mooselook’s good fortune to have the fertile spawning grounds of the Kennebago and Cupsuptic Rivers producing a substantial amount of salmon fry annually. No number of tournaments can offset this natural reproduction. The prolific salmon production in Mooselook is a blessing, not an ailment requiring remediation. It is part of the unique character of Mooselook and allows the lake to enjoy all native fish with no stocking of hatchery strains. See BDN article May 5, 2021, ‘Encouraging Harvest as a Fish Management Tool is Bad Science”.
Mooselook’s native fish population does not preclude anglers from catching nice fish. Each year, I catch a number of salmon in the 21-inch range, fat and healthy, probably four pounds, and occasionally a larger salmon. Not to mention, the trophy Brook Trout that are caught each year by anglers. My fishing logs indicate that close to 65 % of the salmon I have caught this year are over 16”. This is consistent with what I heard from tournament fisherman. One of the tournament winners told me they caught over 60 fish while presenting 29 salmon under 16”. During the first day of the tourney, a friend told me he was having a good day of fishing if he wasn’t entered in the tourney, as he boated four brook trout and four salmon, only one of which was <16 inches. This is good fishing by any measure. Two of the more popular lake fishing guides in the Rangeley area reside on Rangeley Lake but frequently bring their clients to Mooselook to fish. Would they bring clients to fish a flawed body of water for “fish in poor condition”? Most lakes in Maine would be envious to have the fishing Mooselook possesses.
The tournament seems to be a solution looking for a problem. Any reductions of young fish that may be prudent can most safely be attempted by the recently liberalized regs without the inherent risks of offering prize money to catch and kill fish.
Brook Trout: The tournament all but guaranteed non target species being affected, specifically the native Brook Trout. Mooselook has been designated by the state as a Heritage Water, meaning special restrictions are in effect on the lake because the Brook Trout are self-sustaining and the lake does not require stocking. As such, I was shocked the state would sanction a tournament on waters where Brook Trout are supposed to be protected and conserved.
In speaking with one of the tourney winners, he told me that they caught 15 Brook Trout, the largest 3 ½ pounds. Most of the fisherman I spoke to caught some Brook Trout. In addition to the trout legally kept, released trout will have some rate of mortality. A conservative estimate of only two brook trout per day / per boat would be more than 400 native Brook Trout being caught. That would be more native Brook Trout caught than the 293 < 16-inch salmon targeted and presented at the fish count station. Not a good trade off and contrary to the objective of the tournament.
Trouble by the Bucketful: Fortunately, the local fisherman I know looked at the tourney as a fun, social event. However, when you publicize a $5,000.00 “fish for money” tournament you are encouraging many types of fishermen from all over the state and elsewhere to participate for monetary gain. Most without the emotional investment that many of us have for Mooselook.
What do these new fishermen know about the lake? They know what they are told by the tournament supporters, and I quote, “There is currently an overabundance of landlocked salmon in Mooselookmeguntic Lake, resulting in poor salmon growth and condition”.
It only takes one person to decide they know how to “fix” Mooselook and take matters in their own hands to destroy a special fishery. One angler might think Mooselook would be better suited for Smallmouth Bass. Another, that Northern Pike would reduce the number of salmon. If you think this is an exaggeration, I would suggest you talk to anglers who use to fish for Salmon and Trout in the Belgrade chain of lakes, now over run with illegally introduced Northern Pike. Closer to home the Rapid River was illegally stocked with Smallmouth Bass. At Umbagog Lake both Smallmouths and Pike have been illegally introduced. The state estimates that over 50 bodies of water have been illegally stocked in the past seven years. It can happen here too. While this catastrophe could occur regardless of the tournament, the odds are increased when incentivizing hundreds of anglers from everywhere who are motivated by substantial prize money while believing the lake’s fishery is defective and in need of modification.
With the unachievable goal of manipulating Mooselook’s native fishery which has existed for decades and produce a few dollars for local organizations, the Salmon Tournament jeopardizes the very qualities that make Mooselookmeguntic the extraordinary resource that it is. At the very least, the tournament does not offer a benefit commensurate with its risk.
Mark Lodge
Alfred, Me and Oquossoc