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Fishermen Find Early Season Success

April 11, 2010 - AUGUSTA -- Fishermen across southern, central and eastern Maine are out on the water and catching fish. Even bass fishermen are bypassing the trout and salmon fishing that normally kicks off the spring season and going right for their favorite game fish.


And as ice continues to go out everywhere around western Maine and southern Aroostook County, it doesn't seem to be a question of where to go -- just go.


REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE


Sebago Lake continues to have excellent fishing for this time of year, despite there being lots of fishermen out, said biologist Francis Brautigam with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.


Ossipee Lake in Waterboro also has had reports of salmon, rainbow trout and brook trout being caught, Brautigam said.


Other reports of fish caught are coming from Crystal Lake in Gray, Collyer Brook in Gray and Stevens Brook in New Gloucester.


And stocking trucks started to roll a week and a half ago. To find a real-time stocking report, go to www.maine.gov/ifw.


REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE


Stocking in central Maine has begun three weeks early as well, and will continue as warm temperatures arrive.


Fishermen having success in central Maine are modifying how they normally fish, said IFW biologist Robert Van-Riper.


"One guy said he saw caddis larvae on the Kennebec, put a larva on his fly rod and did pretty good," Van-Riper said.


REGION C: DOWN EAST


Trout fishermen were having great luck two weeks ago Down East along with bass fishermen who were casting before their season traditionally gets going.


"They were right out there catching bass, and they had fairly good success," said IFW biologist Rick Jordan.


Good news for everyone in Washington and Hancock counties: Smelt runs should start any day.


REGION D: WESTERN MAINE


Ice went out on Porter Lake, Clearwater Pond and Embden Lake in western Maine. And IFW biologist Dave Boucher expects to see everything open up by this weekend.


"Wilson Lake also is ready to go, so things should move quickly now," Boucher said. "Smelts just started to run in a couple of ponds a week and a half earlier than usual."


REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION


the time this report hits newsstands, Moosehead Lake may well have set a record for ice out, IFW biologist Tim Obrey said.


The earliest ice out on record is April 14, a mark set in 1945. Obrey said May 11 is the average.


"Moosehead is really black. I wouldn't be surprised if we break the record this year," Obrey said.


Sebec Lake should give anglers good salmon and togue fishing. And Obrey said First Roach Pond is another good early option, with lake trout and cusk.


REGION F: EASTERN MAINE


Open-water season is in "full force" in eastern Maine, according to IFW biologist Nels Kramer, who reported a 19-inch togue out of Schoodic Lake a week ago.


Other nice-sized fish have been caught in Cold Stream Pond, Kramer said.


The streams are a little high but dropping, and the smelts are starting to run.


REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE


Ice out is occurring in the Houlton area, but anglers should be aware of which boat launches are open in Aroostook County.


At Johns Bridge on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the boat launch does not open until May 1. Fishermen should launch at Churchill Dam, said IFW biologist David Basley.


Meanwhile the fishing is good at Echo Lake in Presque Isle and Mud Pond in Linneus, Basley said. The Aroostook River is still quite high, but the Meduxnekeag is dropping.


by Deirdre Fleming, April 11, 2010, Portland Press Herald

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