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Summer Fishing Heats Up

July 16, 2008 -

GRAY -- Lake fishing for trout and salmon has held up relatively well in southern Maine due largely to the cooler (and rainy) weather pattern. Sebago is still producing decent catches of salmon and lake trout, particularly the later.

Anglers also have also reported some good fishing for browns and rainbows in the two to four-pound range from several regional waters. Good bets for rainbows and browns include Crystal Lake (Gray), the Range Ponds (Poland), Kennebunk Pond (Lyman), Worthley Pond (Peru), and Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway).

As the summer progresses and the surface becomes too warm for salmonids, lake anglers will need to change their gear and tactics to target deeper, cooler water. For salmon, browns, and rainbows anglers should be targeting water depths in the 15- to 40-foot range, depending on the individual water and/or species. Lake trout will typically be even deeper during the summer, anywhere from 40 to 100 feet. Lakers will reside even deeper, but targeting them at depths over 100 feet is more difficult.

Fishing for warmwater species like bass, perch, and pickerel has been good and will hold up all season. An angler recently reported a great day of bass fishing were he and his partner landed over 30 largies. Pickerel and yellow perch are relatively easy to target this time of year by fishing shallow, weedy areas. They’ll take almost any lure, but weedless versions can help keep down on the frustration level.

White perch fishing is best in open water areas in the morning and evening hours where they can often be located by their continual surfacing. A variety of lures will work, but it’s hard to beat the old worm and bobber! Deep-fried, batter white perch fillets are excellent eating. White perch are prevalent throughout southern Maine, a few good bets for some medium to large sized white perch include: Little Sebago Lake (Gray), Woods Pond (Bridgton), Lower Range Pond (Poland), Crescent Lake (Raymond), and Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway).

Surface water temperatures on rivers and streams in southern Maine have gradually been climbing, and as a result anglers have reported slower fishing for trout. There is still some good fishing to be had as the season progresses, but anglers will need to target smaller, cooler streams. These little gems support wild brook trout in the four to 10-inch range, with a 10-inch or larger being a trophy. “Trophy size” is relative to the species and size of the water being fished. For those stream anglers that don't want to beat the bushes and prefer larger quarry, try hitting the larger rivers where smaller, cooler streams enter and provide a thermal refuge for these larger trout.

Good luck and enjoy the variety of fishing opportunities Maine offers. By the way, did I mention the mackerel are running in the Saco and Biddeford area?

By Jim Pellerin
Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist
July 9, 2008


Lakes: Crystal Lake, Middle Range Pond, Pennesseewassee Lake, Worthley Pond
Regions: Sebago


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