The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Freshwater Surveys Take Stock of Fish Population

July 18, 2010 - AUGUSTA -- This month is all about fishing surveys, except in Region B, where state fisheries biologist Robert Van-Riper is surveying lakes associations, getting a read on the pulse of the Belgrade lakes region fishing community.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

Brown trout waters will be inspected by regional biologists and three waters of note will be studied.

Wilson Lake in Acton, Hall Pond in Paris and Canton Lake in Canton will be surveyed, said biologist Francis Brautigam of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

There also will be sampling done on Indian Pond in Greenwood and Shagg Pond in Woodstock, where the hybrid splake (cross between brook trout and lake trout) will be studied.

There is a new strain of stocked splake used in these waters and biologists are trying to determine if it's a success, Brautigam said.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

Camp owners are settled in around the Belgrade lakes region and Van-Riper said it's time to gather their feedback, which is not always good.

Van-Riper said one of the most common comments this time of year is how the fishing is terrible. He said, it's hard to argue with that.

"Well, it is relatively slow. And the reason for that is because trout are a coldwater species and it is very limited now where you can find them (with the water temperatures warm). This is not when the trout fishing is the best," Van-Riper said.

He said fishermen intent on fishing success should target smallmouth or pickerel.

REGION C: DOWN EAST

The brook trout fishing in the region has not slowed despite the heat, if you know where to fish, said IFW biologist Greg Bur.

"You can have terrific luck on small trout ponds where there is stratification into three layers. If you want to fly fish with a sinking line and a small streamer or nymph, just wade out, cast the line out and wait for the line to go down to (colder temperatures)," Bur said. "A lot of times the trout are 8 to 12 feet down. If you can get a lure down, you can be catching trout one after another."

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

Biologists in the region are going to be inspecting small, high-elevation brook trout ponds and larger lakes with brook trout and landlocked salmon during the next few weeks.

They'll also survey stocked waters, wild fisheries, bass lakes and streams. Stay tuned for the findings later this summer.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

A fish weir is about to go in on Roach River, reported fisheries biologist Tim Obrey.

A temporary structure was used last fall on the Socatean Stream and it will be moved to the lower reaches of the Roach River as the study of wild brook trout on Moosehead Lake continues.

The weir should catch all fish moving upstream into the Roach River beginning in August through November.

"Biologists will be surgically implanting radio transmitters in a number of mature brook trout to monitor survival and movement over the next year," Obrey noted.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

Surveys in eastern Maine are once again showing some nice small ponds with wild brook trout populations, reports IFW biologist Nels Kramer.

"Some places some would go to catch brook trout have vibrant populations. A pond last summer we had to look to find brook trout in 3 feet of water. You look at a place like that, where the water temps seem warm. But in August we set a trap and came up with a dozen brook trout 4 to 10 inches. It's really astounding," Kramer said. "Obviously, there are springs that come in there."

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

It's a good time to troll deep for togue in The County, with the hot days and slight wind now.

IFW biologist David Basley recommends throwing the outboard down very slowly and letting large spoons spin slowly ahead of sewed bait or artificial lures.

Popular togue waters include Nickerson Lake in Houlton, Haymock Lake, Second Musquacook Lake and Umsaskis Lake in the Allagash drainage. Trout fishermen visiting the Deboullie chain of lakes should pack a trolling rod to fish for togue in Togue Pond.

by Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald, July 18, 2010

Lakes:
Regions: Belgrade


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