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Freshwater Fishing Report

April 18, 2011 - Augusta -There is little actual casting going on as the freshwater fishing report resumes this week -- but plenty of big fish stories.

Take for instance the monster walleyes taken out of Great and Long ponds in the Belgrades, and the huge numbers of northern pike getting hauled out of Pushaw Lake in Penobscot County.

But at least fishermen are no longer being locked out of Sebago Lake State Park.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

In recent weeks, fishermen were locked out of Sebago Lake State Park in Naples, preventing them from getting to some of the only early spring fishing around. But officials at the Department of Conservation decided to keep the gate open at all hours until the park is staffed starting May 21.

Fishermen are currently expected to pay a maximum $5 entry fee to the iron ranger, the canister at the gate. After May 21, fishermen will have access only between 9 a.m. and sunset unless they purchase a season pass for $70 ($30 for seniors 65 and over), with an additional $10 fee that provides the combination for the lock on the gate for access anytime.

Meanwhile, fishing is slow to start, with ice still on many waters throughout southern Maine.

Togue and salmon reports at Lake Auburn are good, with lots of fat fish, said regional biologist Francis Brautigam.

Few smelt runs have begun in southern Maine, but it won’t be long.

“And the early season fishing that can accompany smelt runs can be great,” said Brautigam with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

Nets for walleye have been put out in the region and biologists are hauling in more of these invasive species than they'd like.

In Long and Great ponds, 14 have been caught, said regional biologist Jim Lucas.

The first walleye was caught in Long Pond back in 1997, Lucas said. But despite the biologists' efforts, these fish keep showing up.

Biologists don't know if there is a breeding population or if fishermen are dumping the fish. They do know enough to fear that these monstrous fish might go the way of the northern pike that have spread to 42 waters across Maine, Lucas said.

"Long Pond used to be one of the best salmon fisheries, and the salmon fishery is gone," he said.

REGION C: DOWN EAST

Small trout ponds are the ones to focus on Down East, said biologist Greg Bur.

On Mount Desert Island, try Echo and Eagle lakes as well as Jordan Pond.

"Leave the larger lakes alone, and let them warm up. Salmon get more active then and it's better fishing in a few weeks," Bur suggested.

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

Fishing in this region will soon open up, said biologist Dave Boucher.

Pretty soon anglers will be found on the Kennebec River in Bingham; the Big Eddy on the Dead River below Flagstaff Lake; and also on the Rapid River, Boucher predicted.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

Spring is a long way off in the north country.

Biologist Tim Obrey in Greenville recommends the West Branch of the Penobscot, especially in the large dead waters sections.

Anglers also should try the East and West outlets if the flows are down and the Piscataquis River in Dover-Foxcroft.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

There is little fishing in this region, but reduced ice fishing pressure this winter might make for a great spring season, said regional biologist Nels Kramer.

Biologists, however, are keeping busy with netting northern pike in Pushaw Lake.

So far this spring, the count is up to 70 pike that have been pulled from the lake, Kramer said. A grant from the Atlantic Salmon Federation has paid for manpower to pull the pike from the lake, which must be done when the ice is receding.

Last year the same effort yielded just 38 pike, he said.

There are no documented spawning populations in the Penobscot, but Kramer said it's only a matter of time.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Rivers and brooks in Aroostook County have low flows for this time of year, said biologist David Basley.

The temperatures are cold, but for those who can't wait, these water bodies are fishable, Basley said.

Try the Aroostook and the Meduxnekeag rivers.

Deidre Fleming, Maine Sunday Telegram, April 2011


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