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FISHING REPORT: Sebago Lake Anglers Find Hot Spots

May 07, 2008 - REGION A -- SEBAGO LAKE
The regional fisheries staff has been out on Sebago Lake training our new seasonal census clerk, Bill Yeo. Bill will be interviewing anglers on the lake two days per week from now until the end of September, and the data will be used to evaluate the current status and future management of the salmon and lake trout fisheries.

Our expectation is that Sebago will produce some great fishing this year. Anglers can expect salmon in the 2- to 3-pound range and lakers in 2- to 5-pound class. However, we anticipate some trophy salmon in the 6- to 8-pound range, as well as some lakers over 8 to 10 pounds.

Early angler reports and our recent census efforts support our predictions for the season. On April 24 and April 26, the fishing was quite good. We interviewed anglers on 75 boats who reported catching 50 legal salmon as well as 44 lakers. This equates to approximately 1.3 legal salmonids per boat. In addition, anglers have reported catching or losing some salmon over 6 pounds, and one boat had reportedly landed a 12-pound togue.

The best salmon fishing is near the state park; however, Jordan Bay is producing some great lake trout fishing with a few boats catching more than 10 lakers per trip. It gets better. The best fishing is yet to come once the smelt run gets under way.

We have received quite a few questions regarding the gating situation for the state park boat ramp. The boat launch at Sebago Lake State Park is open for the season. Beginning today, the park's entrance booth will be staffed, and the gates will then open at 9 a.m. Anglers can purchase an early-morning fishing pass that -- when accompanied with a season pass -- will accommodate those who want boat access before 9 a.m. That pass, and the combination to the gate that accompanies it, are readily available at Sebago Lake State Park.

Although Sebago is getting a lot of attention from anglers this season, many other waters offer great salmon and lake trout fishing, including Thompson Lake (Oxford), Auburn Lake (Auburn), Peabody Pond (Sebago) and Kezar lake (Lovell). Because of changes in smelt abundance, Thompson Lake salmon are expected to be in better condition than last year, whereas anglers may notice decline in salmon and togue size quality at Auburn Lake.

This time of year, the biologists and the hatcheries get inundated with phone calls about what has been stocked and when particular waters will be stocked. Typically, we refer these callers to our Web site to view last year's report. Although the report is a year old, the waters, species, numbers and timing of stockings is typically very similar from year to year. The biggest change will be timing, which typically may vary a week or two because of high spring flows, late spring thaw and other unforeseen factors.

For example, stocking got off to a late start this season because of the delayed snow and ice melt, but the hatchery trucks are rolling, and our three local hatcheries are quickly making up for lost time. In addition, although stocking site information is not provided in these reports, it should be noted that rivers are typically stocked at most major road crossings within the town listed.

The good news is that department staffers are working toward a "real-time" stocking report for our catchable trout programs. Waters managed under a catchable trout program are typically stocked with legal-sized fish on waters that provide more marginal habitats (such as summer water quality limitations, competition and/or predation issues). Under catchable trout stocking programs, we want to promote angler use and catch of recently stocked fish.

Other types of stocking programs designed to "grow out" stocked hatchery fish and produce better quality fisheries will not be included in the real-time stocking report. We'll keep you posted as to when this program goes live. In the meantime, we will likely report recent stocking events in this weekly report. For a list of waters stocked with spring yearling brook trout (9-11 inches) during the week of May 28, please see our Web site at www.maine.gov/ifw.

Lastly, we wanted to point out to anglers that the Otter Ponds in Standish were stocked on Thursday, and fisheries staff will be conducting a short-term census on these waters as part of a larger statewide project to evaluate our catchable trout programs.

– James Pellerin, assistant fishery biologist, Gray

REGION B -- SHAWMUT TAILRACE FISHERY REPORT

At one time the tailwater below Shawmut Dam on the Kennebec River was one of the most popular brown trout fisheries in the state. It was not that long ago when one could count 20 or more anglers during any summer evening downstream of the Shawmut Dam.

The tailrace area is easily accessible for wading anglers from both the Benton and Shawmut sides of the river. Two boat launches provide access to this portion of the river. One is in downtown Fairfield in front of the Community Center. The other boat access site is an unimproved launch in Shawmut just below the dam.

The popularity of the fishery grew out of an initial planting of brown trout in 1983. The intent of that stocking was to initiate and maintain a fishery for larger, older-aged brown trout, thus allowing the brown trout angler an opportunity to do battle with a big fish. In the years that followed, the river met those objectives. The browns flourished and some grew to several pounds.

At any one time there might be three- to five-year classes of fish living in the reach. Word spread throughout the angling community, and Shawmut gained its reputation as a quality fishery.

Prior to 2001, it was not uncommon to see many large brown trout sipping on the surface of the river, as mayfly or caddis hatches emerged from the bottom of the river. The evening light triggered the feeding activity, and darkness would only intensify a feeding frenzy on the surface. Many anglers would leave the river prior to nightfall, but those who fished into the wee hours were sometimes rewarded when large brown trout took their fly.

What has happened to this well-known brown trout fishery since then? Some recent history will tell the story.

In 1992, the Kennebec Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited requested a permit from the department to stock the Shawmut tailwater with spring yearling rainbow trout. The primary reason for stocking rainbow trout was to enhance the fishery and give anglers the opportunity to catch another salmonid that would not be as difficult to catch as the brown trout. The department approved the permit and the TU chapter purchased 1,000 rainbow trout from a private hatchery and planted them below the dam in 1992. In 1995, the stocking of rainbow trout was increased to 2,000 to equal the number of brown trout being stocked.

The genetic strain of rainbow trout that were used from 1992 to 2000 didn't perform well. In short, they didn't show the potential to produce a significant recreational fishery compared to the brown trout in terms of both size and catch rate. Also, the rainbows did not show much of an ability to survive into their second year after stocking.

In 2001, the department took over the rainbow trout stocking program with a different strain of rainbows called the Eagle Lake strain. This new strain would be used in an experimental performance comparison between rainbow trout and brown trout. Results from this report were compiled in "Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout Field Comparisons" by James Pellerin, (Fisheries Final Report: Series No. 07-1). Other data has been obtained from voluntary angler booklets.

Longevity characteristics observed in voluntary angler data indicate that the Eagle Lake rainbow trout used in the study showed better long-term survival (called "hold-over") than did the private source strain. However, neither strain of rainbow held over as well as the brown trout. The rainbows did not contribute many large fish to the Shawmut fishery.

From 1993 to 2000, prior to the department stocking of rainbow trout, rainbows made up 27 percent of the total salmonid catch, compared with browns at 73 percent. In terms of larger fish, those 16 inches or greater, only 16 percent of the total rainbow trout caught exceeded 16 inches versus 41 percent of all brown trout caught.

From 2001 to the present, the brown trout fishery has significantly decreased, with smaller and fewer brown trout being caught than in previous years. During the same time period and after the department started stocking rainbow trout, rainbows made up 61 percent of the total salmonid catch, whereas brown trout made up 39 percent.

Composition of the catch also has changed significantly. In the years prior to 2001, voluntary angler data shows the bulk of the catch was made up of brown trout. To view the changes, please view this fishing report on the Web site at www.maine.gov/ifw.

Essentially, we have lost a good proportion of our larger and older salmonids at Shawmut, both rainbows and browns. The loss in size quality in the brown trout fishery has been particularly striking. This decline in the brown trout fishery has generated some concerns regarding future management strategies at Shawmut.

– Scott Davis, fisheries specialist, Sidney

REGION C -- DOWN EAST

The start of the hot spring fishing season is now! Most of the lakes in the Down East region have all gone ice-free recently, and the trout and salmon are bending rods everywhere!

Trout ponds where the hot fishing is happening are as follows: Huntley Creek, Cutler; Simpson Pond, Roque Bluffs; Simmons Pond, Hancock; Pineo Pond, Deblois; West Pike Brook Pond, T 18 ED; Montegail Pond, Centerville; Salmon Pond, T 30 MD; Vining Lake, Cooper; East Monroe Pond, T 43 MD; Monroe Lake, T 43 MD; Duck Tail Pond, Amherst; Partridge Pond, Amherst; Fox Pond, T 10 SD; Little Tunk Pond, Sullivan; Young's Pond, Otis; Lakewood Pond, Bar Harbor; Witch Hole Pond, Bar Harbor; Bubble Pond, Bar Harbor; Six-Mile Lake, Marshfield; and Long Pond, Great Pond Plt.

Good splake waters that are heating up are as follows: Peaked Mountain. Pond, Centerville; Fitts Pond, Clifton; Second Old Stream Lake, T 37 MD; Jacob-Buck Pond, Bucksport; Burntland Pond, T 35 MD; Long Lake, Marion; and Pleasant River Lake, Beddington.

Good salmon waters that I recommend are: Cathance Lake, Cooper; Long Pond, Southwest Harbor; Phillips Lake, Dedham; Brewer Lake, Orrington; Big Lake, T 27 ED; and Gardner's Lake, East Machias.

West Grand and Pocumcus Lakes should be ice free by now.

Try your luck at these waters and I think you'll be glad you did. Anglers are reporting good catches this spring with the waters heating up early with the warm day temperatures. Take advantage!

Enjoy being on the water, take a child fishing and be safe and wear your life jacket. Tight lines!

– Greg Burr, assistant fisheries biologist, Jonesboro


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago, Belgrade, Bangor, Downeast


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