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Bass Tournament Season To Kick Off in Central Maine

June 12, 2010 - Bass fishing seems to be the word across the state, however, the Moosehead Lake region is hot for everything else.

The caddis hatches around the big lake have resulted in good river fishing and the flat water action is peak right now, say biologists with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

IFW biologist Francis Brautigam recommends fishing the rivers for stocked brown trout. Catches of fish up to 24 inches have been reported, Brautigam said.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

The bass tournament season is kicking off in the next few weeks as the first of some 100 tournaments in the region take place.

Central Maine is bass central because of the nature of the topography, said IFW biologist Robert Van-Riper.

"We were never blessed by deep, cold, glacier lakes. Being coastal we have a lot of habitat that really is suitable for bass," Van-Riper said.

The region has 180 bass waters in 4,000 square miles and biologists are managing for better bass waters all the time, Van-Riper said.

"Some of the smaller ponds, like Lovejoy in Albion, are showing up with bass in the 5- to 6- to 7-pound range, which was a surprise to me," Van-Riper said.

To find bass tournaments, go to tinyurl.com/22vhnm3

REGION C: DOWN EAST

The best of bass fishing in Washington and Hancock counties is right now.

IFW biologist Rick Jordan said by this weekend it will be at peak or just past, but last week's rain may help keep the fishing fast.

Jordan suggests trying Big Lake in No. 21 Township and West Grand Lake in Grand Lake Stream.

Other than that, fishermen in the region are starting to target white perch, Jordan said.

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

The Mooselookmeguntic Lake fish-off is this weekend, and fishermen can still register today.

The free event aims at thinning out the landlocked salmon to help the smelt numbers, which will lead to a better salmon fishery.

Anglers can register at the lake's boat landings or at River's Edge Sports in Oquossoc. There's no cost to register.

Last week biologists in brook trout region were busy sampling for bass on the Kennebec River, where the state manages a fast-action fishery near Norridgewock and Madison, said IFW biologist Dave Boucher.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

Moosehead Lake is hot right now for trout and salmon, said IFW biologist Tim Obrey.

River fishing is in full swing, as well, on the East Outlet and Moose River, with help from excellent caddis hatches.

Rain last weekend provided a bump in the flows, which will help bring new fish into the rivers, Obrey said.

For those who prefer flat water, the trout pond fishing is pretty good, Obrey said. He recommends a trip to the Jackman area, where the trout ponds get less use.

Try Crocker, Rancourt, Daymond, Cold Stream and Lang ponds.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

Like everywhere else in Maine, the large amount of rain that fell a week ago brought the brooks up in eastern Maine, but the fishing remains good everywhere, said IFW biologist Nels Kramer.

Togue are still being caught in East Grand Lake, the fishing for brook trout in Mattagamon Lake is good, and the bass fishing still is relatively fast in the region, Kramer said.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Fish the brooks in The County if you're up north, said IFW biologist Frank Frost.

The rain also cooled off the water in the larger streams and for the next several days it will be excellent, Frost said.

by Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald, June 12, 2010

Lakes: Lovejoy Pond
Regions: Belgrade


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