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Weekly Fishing Roundup 6/4/07 WESTERN MOUNTAINS

June 04, 2007 - WESTERN MOUNTAINS

This week biologists are sampling Androscoggin River smallmouth bass from Rumford to Jay. This study was last done in 1996 when 111 bass where sampled. They averaged 12.8 inches in length and 1 pound, 3 ounces in weight. The largest bass sampled was twelve years old, 19 inches long, and weighed 3 pounds, 3 ounces. This year’s data will be compared to past studies to evaluate this relatively new and popular fishery.

Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Rangeley has been a fishing hot spot lately. As of Memorial Day, our creel clerk Liz Studdert had interviewed 155 anglers, logging 656 hours of fishing time. In that time they reported catching 94 legal brook trout, 141 legal salmon, and a few sublegals of both species. The brook trout kept averaged 13.8 inches. The average salmon kept was 16.1 inches long, the largest was 20 inches long and weighed just over 2 pounds. To encourage fish growth in Mooselookmeguntic Lake salmon regulations are liberal, with 12-inch minimum length (only one over 18 inches) and a 3 fish bag limit. We are hopeful that anglers will take home more salmon.

Downstream and west of Mooselookmeguntic Lake, the Richardson Lakes have also provided good fishing. Anglers report an average of 3.7 legal fish per boat. The voluntary box card survey at Aziscohos Lake shows that 30 anglers caught 10 legal brook trout and 20 legal salmon. The largest fish reported in the card survey were a 20-inch, 3½-pound salmon and a 16½-inch brook trout.

Anglers interested in warmwater fish should be having good luck. Bass are spawning and will instinctively defend their nesting area from everything, including fishing lures. White perch are also active this time of year. They gather in schools near the water’s surface and are usually easy to locate on a calm evening. A few places to look for them are Crowell Pond in Chesterville, Wesserunsett Lake in Madison, and Moxie Lake in The Forks Plt. White perch are best filleted and fried with bread crumbs or used in chowder.

-Dave Howatt, Fisheries Biologist Specialist


Lakes:
Regions: Rangeley


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