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Weekly Fishing Roundup 6/4/07 SOUTHWESTERN MAINE

June 04, 2007 - SOUTHWESTERN MAINE

Region A staff didn't get much sleep last week, and spent most of the nighttime hours conducting bass surveys on Horne Pond (Limington), Worthley Pond (Poland), and Otter Pond #2 (Standish). Bass sampling is conducted annually each spring using an electrofishing boat that was acquired with a Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund award. The purpose of the survey work is to identify waters with trophy bass management potential and also to identify waters that lack large predatory bass which may be suitable candidates for seasonal catchable trout stocking programs.

In addition to collecting detailed information on our regional bass populations, we also collect cursory information on shoreline habitat, as well as information regarding the presence and relative abundance of other shoreline fisheries present. We learn a tremendous amount about our warm water fisheries in conducting these surveys. It is noteworthy to mention that this year we captured our largest two bass ever since we began these annual surveys in 2003, and both were caught in one of the smallest ponds we've sampled to date, Otter Pond #2, which is only 12 acres. Two 9-pound largemouth were captured and released on Otter Pond #2. The shorter 9 pounder was only 22 inches long and FAT!; the longer one was 23 inches and weighed another 4 ounces more than the first . For a look at these fish, please click here… http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/regionaphotos.htm.

If weather and schedules permit, we plan to conduct bass surveys on Thompson Lake and Thomas Pond the week of June 4th.

We've also been busy preparing the necessary documentation to explore funding that would allow Cold Water Pond Dam to be rebuilt on the Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area. Before the dam breached, the pond produced good fishing for wild brook trout up to 13 inches long and is one of only four ponds in all of Southern Maine that support wild brook trout fisheries. We think it is important to anglers to reestablish this unique southern Maine fishery and will be requesting federal funding through the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

A second dam project involves the removal of dam on Steven's Brook in Bridgton. The Department acquired the large concrete dam, and since the early 1980's has been working to remove the structure to permit salmon from Long Lake to utilize available spawning and nursery habitat in Steven's Brook. In addition to dam removal, a small natural ledge falls may also need to be modified on Steven's Brook to maximize upstream passage for salmon. Obtaining funding, engineering studies, environmental studies requires a considerable investment of Department resources and as such both the Steven's Brook Dam and Cold Water Pond dam projects may take several years to complete, assuming funds can be obtained.

-Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago, Sanford


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