Maine’s incomparable wild brook trout fishery is the crown jewel of our recreational fishing opportunities. No other state in the lower 48 can match our numbers of remote trout ponds with self-sustaining populations of native brookies.

With this enviable distinction comes a corresponding responsibility. We must protect this precious resource against over-fishing, habitat degradation and the insidious new sport fishery enemy: bucket stocking of invasive fish species.

When it comes to fly fishing opportunities for wild brook trout the conventional wisdom has always held that more is better. Arguing that catch and release fly fishing for brookies is a benign practice that does no harm to the fishery, the state’s regulatory trend has been to allow more and more late fall fishing for trout.

In light of a newly released wild trout study directed by Greenville fisheries biologist Tim Obrey, perhaps it is time to take a closer look at our fall fishing regulations. What follows are some relevant and revealing findings spelled out in Obrey’s report:

“It is clear from studies we have conducted here in Maine that wild brook trout are in a very fragile state during the spawning season. Depending on the tributary, 50-60% of the males never recover. It is a very stressful event that begins in late August or early September and continues through the fall into early winter. During this time the fish feed very little but are very aggressive toward each other. They are concentrated into small areas and very susceptible to predators and infections from scars and wounds.

From time to time, we get inquires about allowing year round fishing or expanding the fall season for our wild coldwater gamefish. Studies like these point out the inherent dangers with expanding the angling season for wild salmonids in the fall months. Hooking and releasing wild brook trout in the fall could increase the already very high rate of mortality on these frail fish. Other studies show that hooking brook trout during the spawning season can reduce egg survival to less than 10%. There is also the potential that wading anglers crush the redds or nests where brook trout have recently deposited eggs. Maine is the last State on the East Coast with a large number of intact wild brook trout populations. Maine is the only eastern State with self-sustaining wild brook trout in lakes over 5,000 acres. I think most conservationists would agree that we need to protect our wild brook trout. There seems to be good reason to give them a little break for a few months during this very important and stressful time of year.”

Food for thought.

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The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal and has written his first book, A Maine Deer Hunter’s Logbook. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].