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Fishing Slows, but Projects Hook Grants

September 01, 2009 - Good news around the fisheries offices this week outweighs the bad news, including some slow fishing.

Grants for the upkeep of a dam devoted to the management of fish and wildlife and projects aimed at educating fishermen nationwide about Maine's wild brook trout are among the big projects on tap. But there's more.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

The good news in this region is that work on the Crooked River drainage shows most of the streams support good populations of wild brook trout, said biologist Francis Brautigam.

But this spring, one of southern Maine's rainbow trout ponds became harder to get to, and biologists are trying to get the word out. Jaybird Pond in Porter has lost its traditional boat access site. The site, which is on private property, has been posted.

"People are still finding out about it," Brautigam said.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

Biologists here are busy surveying wild brook trout streams, and biologist Robert Van-Riper says there are a lot of them.

"When sportsmen ask us where to fish, I tell them (to) find a brook," Van-Riper said. "When they ask me which one, I say, 'Just pick one.'"

Van-Riper does not tell them where to go. "Next thing, there would be a worm container and not one brook trout," he said.

REGION C: DOWN EAST

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is in full swing in the Down East region, where some of the state's premier bass waters have lured fishermen for 20 years. Here, the bass fishing will be good for another month until the waters cool, said biologist Greg Burr.

Waters to try include many of the same listed in the past: Brewer Lake in Orrington, Toddy Pond in Orland and Graham Lake in Ellsworth, as well as West Grand Lake in Grand Lake Stream and Pocomoonshine Lake in Princeton.

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

Through a number of grants, the state is working on a Web site to show where wild brook trout waters are, as well as all the amenities around them. That means anyone who wants to fish for wild brook trout in Maine will have access to all the information they need in one place.

The Web site should go live this winter, said biologist Forrest Bonney, who has coordinated the project. To help perfect this resource, the University of Maine is working with Bonney on a survey of thousands of fishermen nationwide.

"We're asking what people think about wild brook trout – how they like to fish for them, whether they want a remote experience and where they'd like to stay," Bonney said.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

Fishing around Moosehead Lake has slowed, but those who know how to fish the big lake are doing well. There are a few reports out there of good-sized brookies.

"We also heard that the salmon are looking quite fat this summer," said biologist Tim Obrey.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

Good news came in last week to the Emden office when the Quimby Family Foundation donated $20,000 to the Matagamon dam project on the East Branch of the Penobscot River.

The Matagamon Lake Association, along with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources, has been managing the dam, which was purchased in 2001.

Regional biologist Nels Kramer said the dam was purchased from a land-holding company for $1, but the price was insignificant considering the cost of upkeep involved. The dam is 218 feet wide and 30 feet tall.

However, through the Quimby grant as well as a $13,000 Outdoor Heritage Fund grant, the partners in this project will be able to keep the dam working to protect fish and wildlife and serve recreational paddlers.

"The project is unique in its size and scope. It needs work on the gates and the concrete needs refacing on the dam," Kramer said.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Drews Lake just west of Houlton has proven a good destination for those looking to fish for brown trout.

Biologist David Basley said it is the only water in northern Maine managed for brown trout. But the lake has a convenient boat access site not far from Interstate 95.

"They have been caught up to 10 pounds in there in the past, and more commonly in the 2- to 4-pound range," Basley said.

DEIRDRE FLEMING Portland Press Herald, 8/30/09


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