The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Cooler Autumn Weather Means Anglers Need to Make Adjustments

September 08, 2009 - Wild brook trout found everywhere from Ogunquit to Oxbow in Aroostook County continue to be studied around the state. Meanwhile, fishermen need to transition with the colder weather, as trout and salmon move with the cooling water.

Anyone got a float tube?

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

Biologists in southern Maine are finally wrapping up years of electrofishing work to determine what fish species exist where. About 3,000 samples have been taken on more than 1,500 streams in 105 towns.

That data are used when developers want to build near a stream, or towns are looking for habitat information, said biologist Jim Pellerin.

"One of the most surprising things is how many wild brook trout are in York and Cumberland counties," Pellerin said. "Those numbers get even higher when you go into southern Oxford County."

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

As one of several employees taking an early retirement buyout package, biologist Bill Woodard finished a career with the state fisheries division believing that his division was mostly on the right track. Woodard retired Monday after 40 years.

"I've seen a lot of change for sure," Woodard said. "I think one of the biggest things was coordinating the assurance of fish passage."

That's a biologist's way of saying the state's work putting in and overseeing culvert construction has made huge strides.

Culverts can stop a fish species' production in its tracks. But culverts done correctly can allow a fish species to flourish. The state has done better in this regard in recent years, Woodard said. It also has a long way to go, he said.

"It's difficult to try to get construction outfits and other state agencies to make sure they do things right for the benefit of fishery resources," Woodard said. "It's something that takes time, and in several places in this region it's still not resolved. The culvert is put in wrong or the town put it in wrong, especially in this region because there are so many roads."

REGION C: DOWN EAST

The cold weather means as waters cool, fishermen need to get out in the middle of ponds, biologists said. The only way to do that is to grab, borrow or rent a motorboat or canoe.

Regional biologists say many fishermen on vacation ask where to shore fish now, and mostl responded that you can't.

Fishermen need to drop a sinking line down 25 to 30 feet, at a minimum, to where the fish are. It makes it a good time to fish, because the fish are congregating at those levels — you just need to drop the lure to find them.

If you don't have a canoe or motorboat, a float tube works well.

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

The colder weather pattern is going to shake things up fishing-wise in western Maine.

Trout and salmon will begin staging at the mouth of streams, said biologist Forrest Bonney. Fishermen already are taking advantage of that at the mouth of Bemis and South Bog streams.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

The work on the Socatean Stream, where mature brook trout will be fitted with radio transmitters, is under way, and biologists expect to find out just where these fish hang out.

The same study was done on Chamberlain Lake in 2005, and biologists learned in that study where the fish spend the winter and how many die during spawning.

"It was eye-opening to us. An estimated 50 percent of males died during that fall spawning," said biologist Tim Obrey.

Depending on what the study shows, biologists may close new areas to ice fishing if they find new places where brook trout spend the winter.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

The survival of brook trout in northern Maine's pristine, untouched waters never ceases to amaze biologist Nels Kramer.

While surveying remote ponds two weeks ago, Kramer discovered a pond with about 2 feet of water that held "some of the prettiest brookies you've ever seen."

The key: "There were no other species of fish in that shallow pond," Kramer said. "There were enough springs and a lack of competition, so the brook trout were able to thrive."

This is why biologists don't want to see live bait used on such waters.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

The blueback Arctic charr project in northern Maine is moving ahead with hope, said biologist and project director Frank Frost.

Collecting the native brook trout and Arctic charr in Big Reed Pond has been going on for three years. Frost is hopeful this fall, during the spawning season, the charr collected will spawn and produce offspring. Those native, wild charr that spawn in a hatchery will be put back into Big Reed Pond, which is surrounded by acres of protected land. The pond is one of 12 Arctic charr waters in Maine with native, wild charr.

This fall, Frost plans to catch more wild charr to bring to the hatchery to bolster this effort.

DEIRDRE FLEMING / FRESHWATER FISHING, Portland Press Herald, 9/6/09


Lakes:
Regions:


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News