Now that I’m beginning to settle in to my routine back home in Florida, I’ve been working to get set up to relaunch the video broadcasts of “Open Air with Tom Remington”. As a matter of fact, today I attempted to do a trial run. This would allow me to get my settings where I want them and the necessary equipment in place and ready to go.

Ah, the best laid plans. After several minutes of fussing with this and messing with that, I thought I was set up well enough to do a live broadcast and record it. Then, instead of writing this blog, I would do a video presentation to let you know what was going on.

With a partially assembled new backdrop to the “studio”, I began streaming live audio and video and recording it. About five minutes into the broadcast, the video froze but it appeared the audio was still fine. I wasn’t sure if the recording was good and the live stream was bad or both, so I just kept on for about another 10 minutes.

Upon further review, the video ceased recording when it froze and shortly thereafter I lost contact with the server for the video streaming. Needless to say, that effort was squashed.

I tried several things and thought confident it wasn’t me and so I sent a help ticket to UStream.tv. I got a response back in a fairly timely manner saying they were having issues.(I wonder if it is because they are live-streaming the Democratic National Convention?)

I still can’t get to the site but wanted to give readers a heads-up that once I get these issues debugged, the show must go on. I hope to have at least a weekly show, if not more.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Tom Remington

This latest video was filmed and edited by Carter Davidson and Gray Ghost Productions. The Upper Androscoggin River, as listed and promoted by the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance, runs from the Maine and New Hampshire state border near Shelburne, New Hampshire down to around Rumford, Maine. It flows through my hometown of Bethel, Maine.

I grew up on this river, noted for being one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the United States. The efforts of many have returned the river to a point that it has become one of Maine’s destination fisheries. As a matter of fact a new state record rainbow trout was taken by Steve Day from this section of the river shown in the video.

I hope you enjoy it.

Tom Remington

This Fishing Report is written by biologists at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is produced bi-weekly during summer months. For more information about fishing in Maine, visit IF&W’s Web site at www.mefishwildlife.com.

Region A – Southern Maine

There’s a lot going on with brown trout in southern Maine!

From 2001-2005, rainbow trout performance was compared to that of brown trout. Rainbow trout performed similar to browns in most regards; however, as anticipated, there was a big difference in catch rates and angler returns. In general, anglers caught two rainbow trout to each brown trout on rivers, and five rainbows to every brown trout on lakes. Its common knowledge that brown trout are more difficult to catch than most other trout species, and some believe there may have been a general decline in brown trout performance over the past few decades. Brown trout fisheries are popular in southern and central Maine, and it is important for the fisheries staff to document any potential fishery changes and address deficiencies for the benefit of our anglers.

In 2006, the regional fisheries staff in southern Maine began systematically sampling all of our brown trout waters to assess survival and size quality as part of an ongoing effort to identify waters where brown trout are or are not meeting size performance standards identified in the statewide brown trout plan. The brown trout management plan states that lake fisheries should produce brown trout that average 15 inches or longer in length, as well as, a handful of quality sized fish 18-20 inches in length or larger.

A total of 12 brown trout waters were sampled in 2006 and 2007, all of the waters exceeded the average size quality objective of 15 inches, and most produced one or more browns equal to or larger than 18 inches in length. In fact, it is not uncommon for us to observe browns weighing in the 3-6 pound class. This summer we sampled an additional five brown trout waters including: Mousam Lake (Acton), Kennebunk Pond (Lyman), Stearns Pond (Sweden), Highland Lake (Windham), and Little Sebago Lake (Windham). We have not had the opportunity to analyze this season’s data, but most of these waters appear to be meeting our brown trout size quality objectives with one exception, Highland Lake. Anglers have reported poor fishing for browns on this water over the past few years, and our sampling efforts only yielded two brown trout. Our water quality analysis indicates Highland Lake has poor mid-late summer water quality (suitable temperature and dissolved oxygen) that severely limits its potential for trout management. While we only observed a single 4+ pound brown trout on Mousam Lake, water quality for salmonids was excellent and we also caught a few quality sized salmon and good numbers of lake trout. Interestingly, most of the lake trout were of wild origin? All of the data will be more thoroughly analyzed this winter, and the regional staff will discuss the need for future management changes as needed.

In general, our brown trout sampling has shown a lack of fish in the younger age classes, suggesting a potential survival issue that may occur shortly after stocking. In 2007, we initiated a split fall stocking on several regional waters to determine if time of stocking (October versus December) may be impacting survival. Each stocking received a different identifying fin clip to enable a future determination of when the fish were stocked. Study waters include Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester), Crystal Lake (Gray), and Middle/Upper Range Ponds (Poland). A high percentage of fall stocked browns attempt to spawn shortly after stocking in October, which may contribute to their poor survival (i.e. post spawning mortality, vulnerability to predation while spawning in small streams). The idea is to stock them after the urge to spawn has occurred, which may increase survival during their first year at large. Preliminary results from 2008, suggest we may be onto something? We’ll keep you posted.

In addition, the Department is currently working on trying one or more new strains of brown trout to replace our current strain, which has been documented as having poor genetic variability. The ultimate goal is to bring in a new strain that will perform better than our existing strain and produce better angling opportunities for brown trout.

In the meantime, our avid brown trout anglers continue to report fantastic fishing for browns on most waters, fish in the 3 to 6 pound class are not uncommon, and a few fish over 8 pounds are reported each year. Late summer fishing can be great if you target the correct band of water with down riggers or lead core line, typically around 20-30 feet in depth. Lures, flies, and sewed bait all seem to work, finding that band of cold, oxygenated water is really the key to success!

– James Pellerin, Assistant Regional Fishery Biologist, Gray

Region B – Central Maine

The “dog days” of August find Region B biologists completing stream surveys as part of our scheduled tasks. With thousands of miles of streams and brooks in the mid-coast, the task is large, but important. Ultimately, we hope to survey at least a portion of every stream in the region. The ‘payback’ is that we will have information regarding, fish populations and habitat conditions for all of the moving water resources in the area. The survey work is done in August and early September. We do the work at this time of year since water levels are usually low, making it easier to observe bottom conditions. It is also much easier to “navigate” since low flow volumes translate into lower current speed. In addition, at lower water levels fish tend to congregate in the pool areas.

Given the size of the task, fisheries biologists survey streams at three different levels of intensity. Level I surveys are “snapshots.” These are most commonly completed at road crossing sites. Crossings are usually fairly easy to access, easy to relocate, will show evidence of fishing pressure if there is any angling going on, and allow us to evaluate the crossing structure.

Level II surveys are “reach” based, meaning that we evaluate a section or several sections of a particular stream. In these surveys, we measure cross sections of the stream at intervals, record features such as the presence of pools, substrate types, tree cover, bank stability, woody debris and location of tributaries among a myriad of other information.

Level III surveys are “microcosm” surveys, meaning that we evaluate a small bit of habitat. This type of survey is usually undertaken in habitats of interest, such as salmonid spawning gravels or conversely, in an area of degraded habitat that might be a candidate for rehabilitation.

– Robert Van-Riper, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Sidney

Region C — Downeast

Fisheries biologists of the Downeast Regional Headquarters located in Jonesboro are responsible for fishery management in most of Hancock and Washington Counties, plus a small amount of Penobscot County. This region is 80 percent as large as the state of Connecticut. The Downeast Fisheries Region contains more than 400 lakes and ponds greater than 10 acres. More than 310 of these lakes have been intensively surveyed to include depth maps, water quality, fish species composition determination, determination of the amount of spawning and nursery habitat for the priority sportfish species, and desirability of stocking one or more species of trout or salmon.

More than one-third of the region’s surveyed lakes are stocked on an annual or regular basis. The numbers to be stocked are determined by the regional fisheries staff of Rick Jordan, Greg Burr and Joe Overlock. In stocked lakes, biologists must regularly obtain information on the growth of stocked fish in relation to their age to assess whether additional management changes are warranted to improve growth. This information is obtained by a variety of methods such as sport fishery surveys of anglers, electrofishing, or check netting. In addition, biologists investigate the desirability of providing state-owned boat launches for anglers, and we prepare lists of angler access priorities. Periodically, fishing regulations must be changed to create improved fisheries. Finally, we hold either public hearings or public informational meetings to describe our fisheries programs and to solicit angler input.

Aside from its numerous lakes, the Downeast Region is laced with more than 3,800 miles of brooks, rivers, and streams. Most of these flowing waters support naturally sustaining populations of brook trout. In the past two summers, our staff, along with the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture sampling team, have electrofished more than 300 brooks, rivers, and streams to greatly increase our knowledge of fish species, water quality and summer temperatures. At most sites where the stream crossed a road, culvert assessments were conducted. This new information will permit a higher level of protection for brook trout in many eastern Maine streams.

Fishing is both a highly popular sport and a highly important economic benefit to Maine. The fisheries staff of the Downeast Regional Office will work diligently to sustain a variety of fishing opportunities for Maine anglers.

– Rick Jordan, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Jonesboro

Region D – Western Mountains

A quick count of the field forms indicates that we’ve sampled nearly 20 waters this summer, some of which hadn’t been resurveyed for 20 years or more. The truth is we’ve gotten behind on our regular lake sampling schedule the last few years while we’ve concentrated our efforts on dealing with illegally introduced fish species, primarily smallmouth bass. For the present, we’ve done what we can to mitigate the impact of these introductions, though the fact remains that once invasive species are introduced and become established, there’s little we can do to totally eradicate them.

On a more positive note, the waters that are free of invasive species are thriving, thanks in part to lots of water. Dave Howatt and our summer student Liz Studdert have made raingear their fashion statement this summer, and have braved the rain to bring in the data we need to manage our waters. For stocked waters, we want to know if those fish are surviving and thriving; for waters with wild populations, we want to be sure that they’re not being overharvested or, for that matter, under harvested, which can lead to stockpiling and stunting.

We’ve had mixed success with our stream work this summer. Ethan Tracy and Troy Thompson have had good luck sampling brooks as part of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, primarily by working on smaller ones where high flows are not an insurmountable problem. In fact, they frequently report finding brook trout where we never knew they existed; very encouraging indeed. My stream restoration monitoring is suffering though, because flows at South Bog Stream, the Sandy River, and the Cupsuptic are too high for wading, which we need to do to take measurements. Hopefully we will be able to make our observations in September.

– Forrest Bonney, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Strong

Region E – Moosehead Lake:

As the fall of the year approaches, we are beginning to receive inquiries about the river flows in the region, with emphasis on the Roach River. The reason we receive these inquiries about the flow at the dam at First Roach Pond is because the dam is owned and managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The fall is a busy time of year for fisheries biologists as we spend a considerable amount of time away from the office collecting data in the field, so it may be a few days before we are able to return your calls and/or emails. Since these river flows can influence your decision on your next fishing destination, here are some other ways you can obtain this information in a quick and easy manner. The flow at First Roach can be found on The Fly Fishing in Maine website, under Stream Flow Data and the link is http://www.flyfishinginmaine.com/streamflow/. FPL Energy and Kennebec Water Power Co. have a flow hotline for flow levels on the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers at 1-800-557-3569. If you are headed to the West Branch of the Penobscot River call the Brookfield Power river flow hotline at 1-888-323-4341. So if you are planning to fish moving water in the Moosehead Lake Region it is a good idea to check with these resources to obtain the most up to-date data on river flows before you head north.

Anglers are interested in these river flows regulated by dams because increased flows provide attraction to brook trout and landlocked salmon, drawing them into the river during the fall fishing season. These dams are an important asset to fishery managers and anglers. The dams generate reliable and consistent flows that allow managers to maximize fish production and fishing opportunities. These opportunities would not exist in all years under natural conditions.

On many of these popular fall fisheries we have survey boxes at various access sites. We would encourage anglers to take the time to fill out a survey card. Providing information about your fishing experience is the most valuable contribution you can make to the Fishery Division! The information you provide by filling out one of these survey cards helps biologists get a grasp on the relative success of a fishery. Management and regulations are greatly influenced by the results of this valuable cooperative effort between the Department and the people fishing the many waters of the State of Maine.

So next time you use an access site that has a survey box take the time to fill out a survey card and help Maine’s fishery managers. You can also provide information about your fishing in Maine by signing up to be a voluntary fishing record bookkeeper. If you fish in the Moosehead Lake Region, please contact Stephen Seeback at Stephen.Seeback@maine.gov or at P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Maine 04441 or by phone at 695-3756. Anglers fishing other parts of the state should contact the regional office that manages the water you most frequently fish. Also, anglers with access to the internet can record their fishing efforts at http://www.triptracks.com.

– Stephen Seeback, Fisheries Biology Specialist, Greenville

Region F – Penobscot

Staff from the Enfield office, with assistance from fisheries biologists from the IFW Ashland office, recently conducted a three day work trip in the northern part of Baxter State Park. The objective of the work trip was to conduct lake and pond surveys on some of our more remote trout waters in and around the Park. Waters surveyed included Hudson, Messer, Wapiti (Davis), Upper and Lower South Branch Ponds, and 2nd Lake Matagamon, all of which have been surveyed in the past but were due for a periodic follow-up.

The highlight of the trip was the first time surveys of Pogy and Weed Ponds. Pogy and Weed are among some of the most remote ponds in the Park, requiring a hike of over seven miles just to get the shore of Pogy. Weed Pond, located to the east of Pogy, requires another half-mile jaunt “off-trail” through some of the thickest forested wetlands in the State. Luckily, we were able to coordinate our work with pilots from the Maine Forest Service, who were in the Park identifying helicopter landing areas for potential future medical evacuations. The Forest Service picked up our two survey crews at Trout Brook Farm, and 10 minutes later dropped them and their gear (about 50 pounds per person) off in close proximity to both ponds, a trip that if hiked would have taken 2 hours each way! Crews spent several hours at each pond mapping pond depths, spawning and nursery habitat, and forest types around the shoreline. Water quality data was collected including a temperature and dissolved oxygen profile from the surface to bottom, as well as pH, conductivity and alkalinity.

The maximum depth of Weed Pond was 10 feet deep and temperature ranged from 70°F at the surface to 65°F near bottom. Trout up to 12 inches long were sampled, however we suspect that Weed likely produces trout of at least several pounds. Pogy Pond was 14 feet deep, with a temperature of 72°F at the surface and 70°F near bottom. Again, brook trout up to 12 inches were sampled, however similar to Weed we suspect larger trout inhabit the pond. In addition to brook trout, both ponds were found to have white suckers, and surprisingly an American eel was observed at Pogy Pond! This eel traveled 100 plus miles up the Penobscot River, 20 miles up the cold waters of Wassataquoik Stream, and 3 miles up Pogy Brook to spend its’ juvenile and early adult life in Baxter State Park, and in the next few years will heading back out to the ocean to spawn.

In recent weeks we have received only a few fishing reports from around the region. Unlike most summers, instead of the heat keeping folks from fishing, this year it appears the constant unsettled weather along with high gas prices may be keeping folks at home. We did receive reports of nice catches of salmon from lakes in the Nicatous area, with one salmon weighing over six pounds! Also, togue at Schoodic Lake are being cooperative, albeit a bit smaller this year than in recent years. We continue to keep close tabs on the fishery at Schoodic as it continues to be a priority fishery for the Region.

– Richard Dill, Regional Fishery Biologist, Enfield

Region G – Aroostook County

Pond and small-lake fishing for brook trout in northern Maine has been very good the past month and continues to be good as we approach September. Normally, trout are quite inactive this time of year when stressful conditions prevail. With the above normal rainfall, however, trout are actively feeding throughout the day and are growing well. In small, shallow ponds trout seek out spring holes, areas with groundwater influence, at this time of year. With the wet, cool conditions trout are leaving these areas more often to feed, resulting in much better angling.

Rivers, brooks, and stream regulations have changed as of Aug. 16: artificial lures only with a daily bag limit for landlocked salmon, trout, and togue (lake trout) is one fish. During the recent increase in precipitation, flowing waters have been abnormally high and not easily fished. However, as water flows and temperatures drop, angling should be excellent during late summer/early fall. Northern Maine has thousands of miles of flowing water available for angling; some waters are close to population centers and many others are in remote areas. There is no better watershed to exemplify these opportunities than the Fish River. From Fort Kent upstream to Long Lake and Fish Lake, including all of the Fish River Lakes and the interconnecting thoroughfares, trout and salmon fishing is second to none in Maine. No matter where one fishes in northern Maine there should be excellent opportunities in the next several weeks.

– Frank O. Frost, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, Ashland

Posted by Tom Remington

Down under in New Zealand, officials are seriously considering a ban on felt-soled waders in fresh water in order to help stop the spread of didymo. VOXY covers the story.

Tom Remington

The Fishing Report is written by biologists at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. For more information, call 287-8000.

Region A – Southern Maine

Most of our previous fishing reports focus on fishing and what area anglers are catching. However, this week I’d like to talk about the management of two Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife-owned boat launch sites.

This past week regional staff spent about six days addressing management issues on Little Sebago Lake (Windham) and Cold Rain Pond (Naples). What I learned from these “projects” is just how many good and helpful members of the public are out there working to keep our public waters and access sites clean. I would like to recognize just a few of these people and highlight some recent accomplishments.

The public launch at Little Sebago in Windham was built over 15 years ago and remains one of our most heavily used regional water access sites. The size of this waterfront property limits parking and at times the demand for access exceeds available parking. Fifteen years of tree growth had encroached upon the facility, interfering with access and parking. This growth was removed over a tow-day period to restore full use and function to the launch facility and address the need for improved visibility of the property to discourage unwelcome deviant activities.

Anyone who regularly launches at the Little Sebago Lake launch facility has likely met very personable Jim and Jacky Fitzgerald, who greet boaters and request that their boats be inspected for invasive aquatic plants. Jim and Jacky, however, are more than milfoil inspectors; they have become stewards of the facility, voluntarily maintaining a trash receptacle and actively collecting trash to help keep the site clean at no cost to the state or the public. They also try to help with traffic flow during heavy use times and do what they can to maximize available parking capacity in the lot by making sure all space is well used.

Jim also recently volunteered his time to repaint the parking area lines on the asphalt which had faded, in an effort to ensure limited parking space is being well used. When I asked Jim where he got the paint striper and paint and who paid for it, I was informed that Ed Steward (Windham), a regular user of the launch, paid to rent the striper and paint.

At Cold Rain Pond in Naples, a very large ice fishing shack was abandoned (no name or address of its owner), creating quite an eyesore on this picturesque undeveloped pond. While we don’t ordinarily go around collecting abandoned ice shacks, our only neighbors on the pond (MDIF&W owns about two-thirds of the shoreline), the Buck Family, were concerned with the eyesore created by the structure.

In a cooperative effort, members of the Buck Family somehow managed to tow the barely floating ice shack using a canoe and lots of brawn to the IF&W launch site (hand carry site), where we were able to dismantle it and haul it to the dump.

Without the assistance and concern from the Buck Family, this unsightly structure left by some inconsiderate sportsmen would still be marring the views on this pretty undeveloped pond. Signs were also posted prohibiting camping and fires, as these activities are not supported and are inconsistent with the management of this property for water access.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the many caring folks like the Buck Family (Naples), Jim and Jacky Fitzgerald (Windham), and Ed Steward (Windham), who are out there (you may be one of them), trying to make a positive difference by getting involved. Thank you!

Anyone proposing to volunteer time on a maintenance project at one of our MDIF&W water access sites in Region A should contact one of the regional fisheries biologists in Gray (657-2345) to obtain permission prior to undertaking any work, unless of course you’re assisting with trash removal, which is always a welcome activity.

– Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Gray

Region B – Central Maine

Mid-summer finds the Region B staff completing a variety of field evaluations on the area’s lakes, ponds and streams. There is also the ever-present office management and on going data analysis and reporting too. In short, we’re always busy.

While fishing for brook trout and other salmonids has slowed somewhat due to rising water temperatures and lower than normal flows, fishing for bass has picked up considerably. Reports coming in from around the region indicate that anglers are having success in both large and small still waters and in our larger rivers, most notably the Kennebec and Sebasticook.

Concerning bass, we are in the midst of tournament season. Along with Region A to the south, the mid-coast area is witness to the largest number of tournaments held in the state. Within the region, there are both “Club” contests put on by a particular club or association, and “Open” tournaments, where entry is open to non-club members.

Bass tournament anglers take their competition very seriously. Many have significant investments in both vehicles and equipment. And, many have countless hours of experience chasing their quarry. The best time to visit a tournament is either at the start or at the end. The start is exciting in that everyone leaves from a specific location, either as a timed or a race-like start.

A better time for a novice angler wanting to learn more about bass fishing is to visit a tournament, especially an open tournament with a weigh-in. At the weigh–in, each fish caught is measured and, of course weighed and compared to the others caught. Prizes are awarded in a variety of ways: largest fish, most fish, total pounds of fish, etc. Also at the weigh-in, a novice will find the opportunity to speak with tournament anglers. Many, if not all, are more than happy to discuss techniques. They probably won’t let on where they fished, after all it is a contest, but most will talk at length about their sport.

In closing, I want to bid a “farewell” to a friend and consummate angler. Last week, Maine’s outdoor community lost Gail Hulsey in a tragic accident. Gail’s enthusiasm about anything to do with the outdoors was infectious. Not only was she an avid learner, but once she learned something, she would willingly pass her knowledge along to anyone who asked. She was very understated about her fishing, and never bragged about how big or how many fish she caught and almost always released. It really didn’t matter to her, as long as she could fish. And fish she did.

Robert Van-Riper, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Sidney

Region C — Downeast

The hot and humid weather that comes with a Maine summer is upon us now. During the last few weeks we have been sampling brooks and streams in the area around the Stud Mill Road, north of Route 9. The sun was bright, the air was muggy, the alders were thick, and the deer flies were abundant but we gained valuable information about many little streams and the areas where they cross the Stud Mill Road.

After about a week of electrofishing our observations led us to make some conclusions about streams in the area. The things we were seeing are quite common throughout most of the region. First and foremost, we observed where we found brook trout and where we didn’t. The number one factor in determining where trout were found was water temperature. As long as the water temperature was less than about 70 degrees we found trout. (We did not electrofish any stream with a temperature greater than 73 degrees since if salmonids are in the stream they will be greatly stressed already and the stress caused by electrofishing could kill the fish.) Even in streams that didn’t look like the “classic” brook trout stream, as long as the water temperature was acceptable, we found trout.

One example is a small brook that is only about 4-5 feet wide and about a foot deep. This brook meanders through some tall grasses and alders, the flow is quite slow and almost appears stagnant. We recorded a water temperature of about 70 degrees, which indicated that this brook has spring influence contributing cold water from underground. The bottom of the brook was very soft and had at least one foot of soft organic sediment (muck!) on bottom. We electrofished a section of 150 feet and were pleasantly surprised with the result. In that section we netted 127 brook trout, ten times more than I would have guessed! The brook was not very well shaded, except for a few alder trees here and there, but it did have undercut banks that provided good shade and cover for brook trout. Only four of the 127 fish were over six inches, the majority of the fish were ones that hatched out this spring and at this time of year are between an inch and a half and three inches in length. This brook truly is a small wild trout hatchery.

Another observation we made is that a very high percentage of the brooks we sampled showed signs of road washouts at some time in the past. In most cases gravel and rocks from the road had filled in portions of the streams downstream of the road. Sometimes this sediment could be seen 75-100 feet downstream of the road. The washouts were likely caused by undersized culverts that could not pass high flows adequately or by beaver activity.

When water levels reach their summer lows, the affects of these washouts can cause isolated pools with water flow traveling underground through the rocks. This causes a barrier to fish movement and, if the flow is slow enough, the pools can become stagnant, devoid of dissolved oxygen, and can warm up rapidly. Unfortunately, many of those fish will not survive through the summer.

Lots of people drive over brooks just like the ones we sampled last week and would never think that they could hold so many wild brook trout. They truly are an amazing little fish and an important part of this state.

Joe Overlock, Fisheries Biologist Specialist, Jonesboro

Region D – Western Mountains

Stream flows in the Rangeley region are finally beginning to look normal. Late-afternoon thunderstorms seemed like a daily occurrence through much of June, and this kept flows in our major rivers unusually high. On the positive side, the high flows were generally coupled with cooler than average temperatures, so the fishing held up well in places like the Rapid River, the Magalloway River, and the Androscoggin River. As flows and temperatures return to normal, salmonid fishes will seek thermal relief provided by cool tributaries, spring seeps, and in the case of larger lakes, the deeper water.

This is the time of year our work schedules really heat up. Over the six weeks or so, we’ll be conducting a variety of fishery surveys throughout the region to assess our management programs. These surveys will be conducted on small trout ponds with both wild and hatchery stocks, larger lakes for salmon, togue, and brookies, small streams for trout and salmon, and larger streams for brown trout, rainbow trout, and bass.

We’ll also complete our assessments of bass populations in Wesserunsett and Wilson Lakes. Sprinkled in among all that work, we’ll monitor several stream restoration projects, complete a few initial surveys of remote ponds, and assist other Regions with their survey work.

Aldro French, a fixture on the Rapid River for nearly 50 years, hosted several disabled military veterans for several days of fishing and relaxation. Aldro and several Trout Unlimited volunteers have made this event a great success in recent years, and I expect this year’s affair was the same.

David Boucher, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Strong

Region E – Moosehead Lake

The summer is certainly passing by at a rapid rate and the fisheries crew here in Greenville has been taking advantage of the nice weather we’ve been experiencing. One of the many tasks we’ve been working on is collecting a lake-wide sample of lake trout from Moosehead Lake.

Many readers may remember that this past winter new regulations went into effect on Moosehead Lake allowing anglers to keep two lake trout over 18 inches with a no size or bag limit on lake trout under 18 inches.

As usual during the winter season our staff put forth a substantial effort to collect creel census data from the Moosehead. A variety of data is collected from the coldwater species we encounter during the winter. We collect lengths, weights, and stomachs from all salmonids, as well as scales from brook trout and salmon for aging.

In order to accurately age a lake trout, however, we have to obtain otoliths from the fish. Otoliths, which are sometimes called ear bones, are located in the head of the fish. The process to extract these from a fish is not a simple task, especially when temperatures are hovering around or below freezing. Otoliths, lay down a layer of calcium carbonate each year. The layers appear much as the rings on a tree. The otoliths are examined under a viewing scope and the rings counted to determine the age of a lake trout.

This summer we will obtain a sample of lake trout from Moosehead to further evaluate this population. We have divided the lake into 3 areas. Generally, these areas can be described as the upper, middle, and lower portions of the lake. The “upper” section ranges from the top of Farm Island north to Seboomook, the “middle” portion of the lake from Farm Island south to the top of Deer and Sugar Islands, and the “lower” from Deer and Sugar Islands south to Greenville. Our goal is to collect a minimum of 30 lake trout from each of these 3 areas to obtain length, weight, condition, sex, maturity, stomach content and otoliths for aging.

This past week we spent 3 days netting Moosehead Lake and were successful in collecting 30 lake trout from the lower and middle areas. A total of 65 lake trout were collected. Sixteen (25 percent) of the lake trout were greater than 18 inches, 33 (50 percent) were between 14 and 18 inches, and 16 (25 percent) were less than 14 inches. The average condition factor or the overall fatness of the fish, for each size category is still fairly low. The condition factor of the two smaller-size groups [under 18 inches] were very similar to what we observed last winter. Condition factors on fish over 18 inches show some slight improvement compared to those observed last winter but are still below our management objectives.

We are finding a variety of food items in the stomachs of the lake trout, such as insects, smelts, suckers, and a few other minnow species. A couple of the bigger lake trout in the sample contained some interesting food items. One, a 24-inch, 4¼ pounds lake trout had a 14-inch lake trout in its stomach, and a second 26-inch lake trout weighing 6 pounds had a 13-inch white sucker in its stomach.

One notable fish we collected and were able to successfully release was a lake trout that measured approximately 32 inches long and weighed between 10 and 12 lbs.

Lake trout sampling will be completed by the end of the month and aging of the fish will be conducted over the course of this winter. At that point we will have a better understanding of the age structure and condition of the lake trout in Moosehead Lake.

Jeff Bagley, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, Greenville

Region F — Penobscot

As the summer progresses we are getting more and more inquires from parents and grandparents looking for angling opportunities for young anglers. There are a number of obvious places throughout the region to go, including those waters open to “Special Opportunities for Kids” listed on page 6 in the Open Water Fishing Regulations Book.

Pickerel Pond, in T32, has as recently as last week given up brook trout from 10 to 18 inches in length. Other regional hot spots for kids include Rock Crusher Pond in Island Falls, Cold Stream between the hatchery and the lake in Enfield, Jerry Pond in Millinocket and Harris Pond in Milo. As always, the Penobscot River remains one of the premier locations to take kids for an enjoyable evening of bass fishing.

Regional staff will be heading to Baxter State Park this week to do some stream and pond surveys in the southern portion of the Park. Center Pond, Abol Pond, Lower Togue Pond and Draper Pond will al be checked for any changes in species composition and water quality. We will be conducting brook trout population assessments on all waters. Windy Pitch Pond will be surveyed for the first time, collecting physical, chemical and biological information. Based upon what we find, we will be exploring additional management opportunities at Windy Pitch.

We will also be performing a stream habitat survey and an electrofishing survey on Sourdnahunk Stream from the outlet of Sourdnahunk Lake to Sourdnahunk Field Campground. Surveyors will be measuring stream widths, depths, substrate composition, cover, etc. to evaluate brook trout habitat in the project area.

Nels Kramer, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, Enfield

Region G – Aroostook County

Summer weather has warmed the surface water of northern Maine waterways so that trout and salmon have retreated to deeper, cooler water. A recent check of a small pond in southern Aroostook County showed trout to be active during evening hours in 15-20 feet of water. Larger trout were observed eating small minnows and occasionally smelt and various aquatic insects. From our survey it was clear that evening and early morning would be productive times to use small fish imitations to have success in stocked trout ponds.

Frequent rain storms in the County are maintaining excellent flows in rivers and brooks, and springs, those important refuge areas for trout, are running well for this time of year. Trout seek out these cooler inlets when temperatures in the main stem increases much beyond 65 degrees F. The week of July 21 is forecast to be wet and much cooler than recent weather; this could bode well for trout and salmon activity late in July.

By many accounts trout fishing is very good so far this summer and with light traffic in the North Maine Woods (NMW), anglers can have a solitary experience on their favorite trout brook.

Our northern most region of the State has nearly 7,000 miles of flowing water, most of which support wild brook trout during the summer. Anglers searching for good waterways this time of year can refer to the Maine Gazetteer; look for spots on streams that are higher in the drainage, where the blue lines are lighter in color, but far enough downstream to still have a few inlets that have a cooling influence.

For example, on map page 63, Greenlaw Stream in the area of Ten Mile Brook to Greenlaw Crossing would be a good bet for lots of wild brook trout up to about eight inches in size. This location is just beyond the NMW’s Six Mile Checkpoint so anglers don’t have to travel far to find good trout fishing.

– Frank O. Frost, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, Ashland

Posted by Tom Remington

Tom Remington

Region A – Southern Maine

Lake fishing for trout and salmon has held up relatively well in southern Maine due largely to the cooler (and rainy) weather pattern. Sebago is still producing decent catches of salmon and lake trout, particularly the later.

Anglers also have also reported some good fishing for browns and rainbows in the 2- to 4-pound range from several regional waters. Good bets for rainbows and browns include Crystal Lake (Gray), the Range Ponds (Poland), Kennebunk Pond (Lyman), Worthley Pond (Peru), and Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway).

As the summer progresses and the surface becomes too warm for salmonids, lake
anglers will need to change their gear and tactics to target deeper, cooler water. For salmon, browns, and rainbows anglers should be targeting water depths in the 15- to 40-foot range, depending on the individual water and/or species. Lake trout will typically be even deeper during the summer, anywhere from 40 to 100 feet. Lakers will reside even deeper, but targeting them at depths over 100 feet is more difficult.

Fishing for warmwater species like bass, perch, and pickerel has been good and will hold up all season. An angler recently reported a great day of bass fishing were he and his partner landed over 30 largies. Pickerel and yellow perch are relatively easy to target this time of year by fishing shallow, weedy areas. They’ll take almost any lure, but weedless versions can help keep down on the frustration level.

White perch fishing is best in open water areas in the morning and evening hours where they can often be located by their continual surfacing. A variety of lures will work, but it’s hard to beat the old worm and bobber! Deep fried, batter white perch fillets are excellent eating. White perch are prevalent throughout southern Maine, a few good bets for some medium to large sized white perch include: Little Sebago Lake (Gray), Woods Pond (Bridgton), Lower Range Pond (Poland), Crescent Lake (Raymond), and Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway).

Surface water temperatures on rivers and streams in southern Maine have gradually been climbing, and as a result anglers have reported slower fishing for trout. There is still some good fishing to be had as the season progresses, but anglers will need to target smaller, cooler streams. These little gems support wild brook trout in the 4- to 10-inch range, with a 10 inch or larger being a trophy. “Trophy size” is relative to the species and size of the water being fished. For those stream anglers that don’t want to beat the bushes and prefer larger quarry, try hitting the larger rivers where smaller, cooler streams enter and provide a thermal refuge for these larger trout.

Good luck and enjoy the variety of fishing opportunities that the State of Maine offers. By the way, did I mention the mackerel are running in the Saco and
Biddeford area?

– Jim Pellerin, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, Gray

Region B – Central Maine

In the past month we’ve received disturbing news of anglers catching and releasing walleye in Long Pond. Walleye are a non-native fish species to Maine but are a very popular sport fish primarily in the Midwest and Canada.

The Belgrade Lakes did have an introduced population of walleye back in the 1940s but this population was thought to have been eliminated possibly through over harvesting. People discovered that large concentration of walleye were very susceptible to harvest during their annual spring spawning run. The eyes of walleye illuminate green at night when light is reflected. People took advantage of this fact by illuminating the fish with a flashlight and then spearing them in the shallows. This practice probably played a significant role in the demise of walleyes in the Belgrade Lakes.

During our 1996 routine fall trapnetting operation in Long Pond we captured a single walleye, this was the first walleye observed in Long Pond since the 1940s. The following 10 years we captured a total of 31 walleyes. These fish were all from the same cohort (all were spawned the same year). The first one caught was age 3, and it was 17.8 inches long and weighed 2.2 pounds. We followed this cohort through age 12 in 2005, and it was 23 inches long and weighed 4.8 pounds. Since these fish were all from the same age class we believe they were illegally stocked. Until this summer we thought no natural reproduction from this illegal stocked fish had occurred but now it appears there may have been some limited reproduction.

The fish caught this summer are approximately 16 inches in length which indicates that there’s either been another illegal stocking or the fish have reproduced naturally in the lake. We will be trapnetting Long Pond this fall and if we should catch any walleye we’ll try to determine the origin of these fish. In the meantime if anyone should catch a walleye please save the fish and contact the Sidney Regional Fisheries Office.

– Jim Lucas, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, Sidney

Region C — Downeast

We invite the angling public to attend one of two informational meetings to discuss and comment on a set of proposed regulation changes for Hancock and Washington counties that will create increased conformity of general law fishing regulations among 10 of Maine’s counties.

Meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 29 at the Bucks Mills Rod and Gun Club in Bucksport and at 6:30 p.m. on July 30 at the Calais Rod and Gun Club in Charlotte.

The proposed changes are largely the result of ongoing efforts to consolidate ice fishing and open water regulations into a single two-year law book. Our aim is to increase angling opportunities where possible, further simplify the law book, save time and financial resources, and to continue protecting the resource. Most of the proposed changes will affect southern, central, and eastern Maine angling opportunities.

The following general fishing laws are being proposed for lakes and ponds in Hancock and Washington Counties, although special restrictions may apply for specific waters:
 Lakes and ponds are open to open water fishing year round. (Note: Two lines per angler, general law.)

 Lakes and ponds are open to ice fishing from Dec. 1 through March 31. (Note: We provided this liberal time frame in order to account for years when ice forms early on waters. A time period was decided rather stating “presence of ice or safe ice” given the “fuzzy” nature of such terms.)

 Lakes and ponds will be Catch and Release for all salmonids from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. (Note: General law for all other species would apply during this time period. Special regulations, more liberal or conservative, can be provided on specific waters as appropriate.)

 For lakes and ponds the General Law bag and length limits for salmonids apply from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30. (Note: Special regulations, more liberal or conservative, can be provided on specific waters as appropriate.)

 Under the proposed general law fishing regulations, both ice anglers and open water anglers could fish lakes and ponds in December, but could not harvest salmonids, unless provided by special regulation. From Jan. 1 through March 31, both groups of anglers could fish lakes and ponds and harvest salmonids under respective bag and length limits.

 Unless otherwise provided by rule, the number of lines an angler may fish at any one time will be limited to two lines while open water fishing and five lines while ice fishing. At no time can an angler fish more than five lines. (Note: This modification in wording for the number of lines that can be fished by an angler at any one time is being made to address the potential for anglers to simultaneously ice fish and open water fish in lakes and ponds in the eight southern counties and two eastern counties. They are Cumberland, York, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Hancock, and Washington.)

The current statewide aggregate bag limit for salmonids of five fish will be removed. (Note - IFW management decisions regarding bag limits, length limits, open seasons, etc. for salmonids are already focused at the species level and the removal of this regulation would not impact current management strategies.)

The term salmonids includes the following Maine fish species– Arctic charr, brook trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, splake, and togue (lake trout).

– Rick Jordan, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Jonesboro

Region D – Western Maine

A study to evaluate the effect of adding large woody debris (more commonly known as trees) to headwaters of the Sunday River has grown to a major brook trout research effort thanks to the involvement of Stephen Coghlan, PhD., of the University of Maine. The original study, funded through the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, involved restoring wood to two tributaries of the Upper Sunday River in extreme western Maine and monitoring the results, which are expected to moderate flows and improve brook trout habitat by creating pools and adding organic matter (notably by trapping leaves) to increase the abundance of macroinbertebrates (aquatic insects), a major food source for brookies.

Enter Coghlan and his crew, including graduate student Paul Damkot. They are not only helping to monitor the existing project, but have expanded it to determine the role of brook trout as macroinvertebrate predators. They are in the process of sampling streams both with and without brook trout, and have plans to introduce brook trout into fishless reaches to monitor resultant changes to the macroinvertebrate population.

To return to the original project, Maine streams (as well as many streams nationally) are thought to be devoid of naturally occuring wood, which was removed to facilitate log/pulpwood drives and hasn’t really reoccurred naturally since log driving days because of cutting near the shores of streams. We found several log-driving dams on the Sunday, even high in the headwater streams, supporting this notion.

Jay Milot, who works in the White Mountain National Forest, has had good results from adding trees to a number of streams, and did the work on the Sunday River. We have a similar project on the headwaters of Bemis Stream, a tributary to Mooselookmeguntic Lake, which is also being monitored.

– Forrest Bonney, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Strong

Region E – Moosehead Lake

There certainly were some explosive fireworks this weekend in the Greenville area and not just from the annual Fourth of July celebration. The hex hatch has started in earnest in the region and now is the time to enjoy some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.

I am a firm believer that if you want to catch big brook trout while fly fishing then you must fish below the surface with a sinking fly line. I’ve pawed through enough gut piles to know that big trout feed primarily on small fish, leeches, and crayfish. But this week is one of the few times when the big boys will be coaxed from the depths to feed on the surface for the those massive mayflies sometimes referred to as Green Drakes.

On many ponds the hatch begins around sunset and continues well after dark. I have seen some hatches that dribble off and on all day when the conditions are good, including a flat calm pond surface and warm air temperatures. Friday night was the best night in the area. The light west wind subsided and both the bugs and fish were ready. We have had a southerly wind since Saturday afternoon which has persisted through the prime evening hours. I suspect the next calm night will be very good hex fishing.

The East Outlet continues to provide some of the best fishing in the region even though the flows have been high recently. Salmon and brook trout are stacked in the river and those anglers that know where to fish during high water have been rewarded with great catches. The salmon are looking very good in the river, obviously taking advantage of the abundant supply of caddis and stoneflies in the river. Water temperatures remain cooler than normal and the fish are very feisty when hooked. Don’t drive by the East Outlet without taking a cast.

Don’t despair if you’re not into fly fishing. This is also a good time to dunk a bait or troll. The Greenville Junction Wharf is always a favorite spot for anglers who don’t have a boat. Most folks lob a worm or shiner off the end of the pier in hopes of catching a salmon or togue. The fishing is best in spring but it has some ups and downs throughout the summer. Right now the fishing is pretty good. We are hearing multiple reports of good salmon catches and a few lake trout as well.

This is also a good time to troll for lake trout and brook trout. As the surface temperatures approach 70 degrees, these coldwater fish slip down to the thermocline. If you know where to look, you can find these fish. I prefer a flat fish for both lakers and brookies this time of year. Size, speed, and depth are very important to be effective with a flat fish. Most people troll too fast with these lures which are meant to just crawl along.

– Tim Obrey, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Greenville

Region F — Penobscot

The summer field season has been in full swing for several weeks now for the fishery biologists in Region F. Staff has been busy conducting lake and pond surveys around the Penobscot Region to assess the condition of warm and coldwater fish populations as well as the condition of their habitat. Staff may visit 30-50 waters in a summer, along with keeping up with normal office paper work and other responsibilities of the job.

During a pond survey, we collect water quality information including a temperature and dissolved oxygen profile from the surface to the bottom of the lake (deepest point), as well as testing the pH, alkalinity, conductivity at the surface and bottom of the lake. A Secchi disk reading helps determine the clarity of the lake or pond, and biologists record the level of turbidity seen in the water at the same time. While this water quality “snap shot” can vary greatly depending on the weather conditions in the days prior to the survey, it gives us a general understanding of the basic physical and chemical properties of the lake. Since most of the lakes and ponds in Region F have been surveyed at least once (often more than once), biologists have prior readings to compare current results to. If anything were drastically out of the ordinary then further, more precise sampling would follow.

Fish samples, typically collected with traps or nets, can help fishery biologists determine if management strategies (stocking rates and regulations) are effective at producing desired growth rates of principal sport fish populations; mainly brook trout, salmon and lake trout. Usually we need a 15 to 30 fish sample across several age classes to determine the current condition of a population. Equipment such as traps and nets help us to quickly obtain a sample and are set from one hour to one day depending on the water body. Based on the results from our surveys we can then make recommendations for future management changes (if needed) to help maintain or enhance the sport fisheries in the region.

Recent fishing reports indicate, as expected, that cold water fish species have moved down with the cool water, generally to depths greater than 25 feet. Salmon have been biting off and on at Cold Stream Pond, and a good number of the spring yearling brook trout stocked this spring as a well as fall yearling brook trout stocked in 2007 have been providing for some steady action.

We’re still receiving reports of better than expected togue fishing at East Grand Lake, and Matagamon Lake has been hot as well. The green drake hatch has finally started in the Baxter State Park waters, so evening dry fly fishing should be fantastic!

The bass fishing in the Penobscot should be good all summer, but can be slow during the mid-day heat… anglers will do better on over cast days or during the morning or evening hours. Trolling or drift fishing for white perch in the evenings should be very productive, and if there happens to be a hatch coming off, fly fishing over a school of perch can be very entertaining.
Good luck, and be safe on the water.

– Richard Dill, Regional Fisheries Biologist, West Enfield

Region G – Aroostook County

The recent hot weather from the weekend is quickly dropping flows in the rivers, brooks and streams. As this water drops, fishing for trout should be excellent until the water becomes to warm and the fish search out spring holes to get them through the warm summer months. Larger rivers such as the Aroostook and Allagash, where trout have been spread out due to cool water temperatures, should now see trout actively feeding in the riffles. We would note, however, that flows in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway have been running high due to the abundant rainfall in that area of the state.

Whitney Brook, Three Brooks, River des Chutes and the North Branch of the Presque Isle Stream are a few of the good trout brooks in eastern Aroostook County that could be visited for a productive day of trout fishing. Behind North Maine Woods gates, the many tributaries to the St. John River remain cold and full of trout for those looking for some pan size trout to go with breakfast. As the days warm up, black flies should be less of a nuisance but the deer flies will become more of a plague. Troublesome as they can sometimes be, they are, however, much better than the hurricanes, firs, tornados and poisonous snakes that must be endured by our southern and western states!

– David J. Basley, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Ashland

Posted by Tom Remington

This flag proudly flies in a field overlooking a rural Maine farmhouse! Hope you Independence Day if a great one!

Tom Remington

Opening my mailbox in the morning sometimes is like Christmas. Thanks, Richard!

Tom Remington

Hat tip to The Adventurist.

A friend of mine used to do a lot of work as a graphic artist and much of his work appeared on T-Shirts sold in Maine and then abroad as their popularity grew. Several of his designs became very popular and I believe it was him that used the “Maine State Bird” on a T-Shirt. The one I do remember vividly is “Black Flies Don’t Bite They Suck”.

Evidently there are bad things that come with the good when it comes to cleaning up our rivers and streams - black flies. It appears these 2,000-plus species of blood sucking insects are finicky when it comes to where the female fly decides to drop her eggs that have been nourished with your blood.

Many people believe these bugs thrive in standing, stagnant and even murky, dirty water. That actually closely describes where mosquitoes breed but black flies prefer pristine, fast-moving water.

Many of Maine’s rivers used to be very dirty, polluted from paper mills and municipal runoff which included raw sewerage. Over the past 30 years, we have made great strides in cleaning up our waters and as a result we now are seeing more abundant black flies and the pesky creatures are showing up in places many of us never saw them before.

I grew up on one of America’s ten dirtiest rivers, the Androscoggin. Not so now. The area where I now spend my summers, the Upper Androscoggin, is a decent place to go fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout, as well as bass. The state record rainbow was caught on this river near here.

Of course as we watched the river clear up, stop stinking and become a bit more user friendly, we also witnessed more and more fish, birds and other wildlife. According to an article yesterday in the Boston Globe, much of the return of the fish and wildlife is also due to the return of the black fly.

Unlike mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant pools, black flies like clear running water. The adult female typically mates with males in midair before seeking a blood meal to nourish eggs. The female then deposits the eggs in flowing water, where they hatch into larvae. But the running water must be nearly pristine: Black flies are incredibly sensitive to pollution.

This helps explain what happens when hardcore fishermen venture deep into prime wild brook trout territory only to emerge a quart or two low on blood and demand a very large and raw beef steak. Brook trout and black flies seem to make a good combination as far as survivability goes. Both like clear and cold water, so when you find prime trout fishing you also are apt to find prime blood sucking by black flies. This helps ensure the survivability of the brook trout as whimpy casters dare not venture into these areas.

According to the same article in the Globe, Maine has no intentions of doing anything to slow down or stop the growth of the black fly. They are still enjoying the successes of cleaning up their waters and aren’t much interested in dumping things back into them in order to kill black flies. Pennsylvania, it’s reported, spends $6 million annually to rid the state of the pesky suckers.

I guess then it would be prudent to inform readers that the next time you are swatting and batting at nasty biting black flies, itching and scratching until your skin falls off, think about how clean your water must be and the great job we have done getting to a point where we all must suffer from the results.

Yippee!

Tom Remington

This week, a report from the North Country, where Fish and Game biologists and partners are hard at work trying to learn more about the movements of brook trout and smallmouth bass…and dodging raindrops to get in some late-spring fishing, too.

Stocking report: http://wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fish_stock_current.htm.

Purchase your fishing license online at http://www.FishNH.com, or from any Fish and Game license agent. Why not bring a new fishing buddy on your next trip! Don’t forget — kids under 16 fish free in N.H.

Kids Fishing Photo Contest: Here’s extra incentive to take your camera along when you fish with the youngsters this summer! Fish and Game is co-sponsoring a kids fishing photo contest with NH-based Kidz Rule USA magazine. A great snapshot of your under-age-13 child or grandchild with his or her catch could win the grand prize: a guided NH fishing trip, to be filmed for Fish and Game’s MyOutdoors on MyTV! To enter, follow the instructions at http://www.kidzruleusa.com.

For past fishing reports and all your NH fishing info, visit Fish and Game’s fishing page at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing.htm.

If you know someone who might like to sign up for the Fishing Report, send them to http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/join_mail_list.htm.

Fish New Hampshire and relax… We have what you’re looking for.

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A Day with Dianne:
MONITORING THE MOVEMENTS OF EASTERN BROOK TROUT AND SMALLMOUTH BASS

By Shari Rosenberg, seasonal staff, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and Dianne Timmins, coldwater project leader, Region 1/Lancaster

We’ve had nothing but rain in the North Country. Temperatures are increasing along with the rain and mugginess. Stocking is right on schedule, with remote ponds getting stocked this week. So break out your hiking gear and float tubes and hit the ponds. The hatches have been broken up slightly by the rain, but are squeezing in heavy when it stops. Also, there is nothing like fishing Cedar Pond in Milan and Martin Meadow after the rain. The surface is like glass and you can see the rises from across the pond.

Don’t neglect the rivers, either. (The water levels have been fluctuating, so be careful.) If you hit it right, the salmon, rainbows and browns have been hitting all up and down the Androscoggin. Try a flying ant pattern or a small midge. The black flies, mosquitoes, and deer flies have been the worst we’ve seen, but you never seem to notice when you have a 23″ brown or rainbow trout on!

Although most of our readers probably go fishing as a way to relax, Dianne Timmins, Region I Fisheries Biologist for New Hampshire Fish and Game, goes fishing for an entirely different reason. Dianne is in her fourth year of an ongoing study to learn about the migration patterns and habitat overlap of eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Her latest addition to this study includes monitoring habitat overlap by smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Magalloway and Diamond Rivers. To Dianne and her hard-working team of scientists, every trout or bass caught is a clue to how these fish behave and interact. After completing the study, they hope to understand brook trout behavior, habitat needs, and interspecies relationships in order to protect brook trout populations into the future.

According to Dianne, brook trout are in decline in their native range, which stretches from Maine to Georgia. The Diamond River is one of the few natural, large rivers that hosts wild brook trout. Unfortunately, smallmouth bass were illegally introduced into Lake Umbagog in the late 1980s, and have since spread throughout the region. The populations are monitored by placing radio transmitters in caught fish (”tagging” them) and then releasing them back into the river so they can be tracked over an extended period of time. By studying trout behavior in a natural river, she has learned how they behave without human interference (dams) in the waterway. This information can be used in designing better restoration projects within “closed systems” (where movement is restricted by structure, such as a dam) to create a better environment for fish to flourish.

So far, the study has made the surprising discovery that between breeding, feeding, and wintering, some of the brook trout migrated over fifty miles in this natural system! In 2005, the weather was hot and dry, and most of the tagged fish left the main rivers for cooler waters prior to spawning. The average distance traveled by the fish during this time was 3.98 miles. In 2006, the weather pattern was wet and cool with severe flooding. This group of tagged fish moved more in the summer (2.77 miles) than in autumn (0.99 miles). These same fish moved the most during the winter dispersal phase (3.33 miles). We used leftover tags in 2007 and were able to track the fish into October before the batteries in the tags died.

Unlike in 2005, the weather conditions for fish in 2007 were ideal: there was not a tremendous amount of rain, and air temperatures were relatively cool throughout the summer. The average seasonal migration distances calculated for the tagged fish in 2007 demonstrates this. The fish traveled much shorter distances than in previous years, and they stayed in the Diamond River system throughout spawning. The average distance in autumn was 0.44 miles, and we were able to observe and document spawning in the Diamond River system for the first time. The previous year’s data was inconclusive in that respect. Nonetheless, the study was able to determine that there is still a viable population of trout in the Dead Diamond River. These findings are currently being used to show the need for connectivity for migrating trout in dam-controlled waterways.

So, when you see one of those flyers encouraging anglers to return tagged fish to the river, you can understand why it’s so important that everyone helps out in the effort to better understand our natural environment. Although Dianne and her team are making tremendous progress in better understanding the fish populations in the area, ultimately, she relies on everyone who spends time on the water to help her make a difference. For more information, call Dianne Timmins at 603-788-3164.

Posted by Tom Remington

Region A – Southwestern Maine

Another reminder to the angling public: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Fisheries Division is planning two informational meetings on proposed regulation changes intended to consolidate the Ice Fishing and Open Water Fishing law books. The first meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, June 23 at the Gray Regional Office, 358 Shaker Road in Gray, and the second will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 at the Sidney Regional Office, 270 Lyons Road, in Sidney. Additional information regarding the specific proposals is available on the Departments web site www.mefishwildlife.com under the “News and Events” link.

Fishing on the region’s largest lake – Sebago Lake — continues to be productive for both salmon and togue, and angler use remains fairly high. Adult salmon are making a strong showing in the catch, but a higher proportion of sublegal salmon are being caught. Some outstanding catches of lake trout also are being reported to our census clerk, Bill Yeo. One boat recently caught 20 togue, and boats with 10 togue or more are not uncommon.

Fishing for salmon on Sebago has been very good the last few years. Some experienced anglers report that the lake has recently produced some of the best salmon fishing, particularly in terms of overall size quality, in the last 40-60 years. In response to these significant improvements in the fishery, we have fielded some interesting theories about why the lake is now producing so many large salmon. In an effort to dispel these rumors I will briefly explain some of the management philosophy that has contributed to the development of this quality salmon fishery.

First and foremost, an abundance of smelt is critical to optimizing salmon growth and survival to large size. Only where salmon growth is optimized can salmon of large size quality be produced in any numbers. As a Classic Salmon water, the management focus on Sebago is on improving salmon size quality, sometimes at the expense of higher salmon catch rates associated with higher salmon densities.

In the past, the stocking of large numbers of hatchery salmon on top of existing wild production created competition between wild and stocked salmon for smelt and prevented optimal salmon growth. Additionally an abundance of wild lake trout heavily influences smelt abundance. Annually assessing wild salmon production in the Crooked River and significantly scaled back stocking of hatchery salmon has maintained lake salmon densities lower than in the past thus favoring salmon growth and survival as well as better fishing for larger salmon. We have also encouraged the harvest of lake trout through a variety of techniques, including liberalized regulations.

Anglers interested in a more through discussion of stocking rates and other issues related to the management of salmon in Sebago are encouraged to read the Sebago Lake Salmon Management Plan, which is available on the Department’s web site.

– Francis Brautigam, Regional Fishery Biologist, Gray

Region B – Central Maine

Bass clubs began their derby season June 1, but for the Region B fishery staff the season always begins with the annual Father’s Day derby held on Androscoggin Lake. We’ve been collecting bass data during these derbies for over 20 years. These derbies provide an excellent opportunity for us to collect both angler information and bass data in a very short period of time. We need only be present for a couple of hours at the weigh-in to gather data on upwards of 100 anglers and collect biological data on 100 bass. We first began attending these derbies because of our concerns, and public concerns, that these large derbies would adversely effect the bass population. Although there are annual fluctuations, the bass fisheries remain fairly stable in the five waters we’ve routinely studied over the years.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the bass clubs for their cooperation during our surveys.

An informational meeting regarding fishing regulation changes for 2010 will be held at the Sidney Regional Office on Wednesday June 25 at 7 p.m.. The office is located at 270 Lyons Road just west of the 120 exit of the interstate. Details of these changes were reported last week in this column and with other various press releases. The proposed changes are intended to provide anglers with increased fishing opportunities and to simplify the regulation booklet while protecting fisheries resources.

– James Lucas, Fisheries Biologist, Sidney

Region C – Downeast

For the second summer in a row, the fisheries staff in the Jonesboro office has been putting forth a massive effort to survey as many brooks and streams as possible in our region. With many of these streams, we have no documented information about habitat, fish species present, or if any barriers to fish passage exist (perched culverts, dams, etc.) We are also interested in documenting which streams have brook trout populations. Last year our regional staff and our Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture crew surveyed over 215 streams in Washington and Hancock counties.

The most valuable tool utilized by fisheries biologists when conducting stream surveys is electrofishing. In simple terms the electrofishing unit sends direct current (DC) electricity through the water, momentarily stunning any fish within range (a few feet around the electrode). The pulse rate at which this current travels can be set, and this pulsing causes any fish to rapidly swim toward the unit where they can be netted. The fish recover quickly, and after all necessary biological information is collected, they are released alive back into the water.

For work in small streams the biologists employ a backpack unit electrofishing unit. The operator wears the unit on a pack frame on his/her back and is joined by a netter who is responsible for scooping up all of the fish that enter the electrical field. If we were to simply stand on the bank and look into the water, we would never see the majority of fish present. If we were to set nets or minnow traps it would take a number of days to obtain fish and we would miss many fish. Electrofishing provides a highly productive method to sample a section of a couple hundred feet, through various habitat types, in a short amount of time. We can generally sample each stream site in two hours, including collecting length and weight data from any fish we catch, performing culvert assessments, and conducting water quality analysis.

People may question why we need to invest time and energy into surveying small, overgrown, essentially “un-fishable” streams. Well, in most cases these streams are literally tiny natural brook trout hatcheries. They are important because they contain spawning habitat, riffle areas for juveniles, and cold-water refuge areas. Many of these streams are tributaries furnishing trout to larger rivers or streams, or even dump directly into the ocean and may be sites where sea-run brook trout contribute to the resident population in the stream.

Along with the regional staff, a two-person crew, consisting of Amy Preble and Josh Kuester, has been surveying multiple streams every day. Their number one priority is to survey and assess as many brooks and streams as possible. This work is made possible thanks to a large-scale effort, headed in Maine by Merry Gallagher of our Bangor office, to document the occurrence of brook trout known as the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Project. By summer’s end we hope to have new survey information for at least 150 brooks, rivers, and streams in the region. Based on past sampling, we expect to see that wild brook trout occur in a very high percentage of these streams, verifying Maine as the last stronghold for brook trout on the east coast.

– Joe Overlock, Fisheries Biologist Specialist, Jonesboro

Region D – Western Mountains

The Androscoggin River was, until fairly recently, so polluted that it was a place to avoid, rather than a destination for recreation. With dramatic improvements in water quality and public access, the river has rapidly transformed into a major recreational attraction, and anglers, kayakers, canoers, duck and goose hunters, bird watchers, and fiddleheaders are utilizing the river more than ever before.

The Androscoggin from the New Hampshire border to Livermore Falls — the reach that we in Region D manage — offers a tremendous variety of high-quality fishing opportunities. The upper-most reaches are managed primarily for wild rainbow trout and stocked brown trout. We supplement the rainbow fishery with hatchery stocks, and hatchery brook trout are occasionally added for early-season anglers.

Late-season anglers can now take advantage of a new fall yearling stocking program. These browns, brookies, and salmon are in the 12- to 15-inch range when stocked in October, and we have evidence that some overwinter successfully and provide some great spring action. Smallmouth bass are also present in this part of the river, and their size quality is generally good.

Below Rumford, the primary fishery is for smallmouth bass. Bass in this river, which includes the impoundments formed by dams in Jay and Livermore Falls, are abundant and grow to trophy size. We also stock brown trout and rainbow trout below Rumford. As the summer progresses, seek these fish out near the mouths of tributaries (including the Swift River) and small spring seeps.

With the renewed public interest and use of the Androscoggin, we’ve developed a variety of new monitoring projects to help us manage these important new fisheries. Beginning in 1995, we’ve sampled smallmouth bass from all sections of the river above Jay; that work continues this spring in the river below Rumford. We’ve also worked to collect rainbows and browns above Bethel to determine growth rates and relative contributions of hatchery stocks, and we’ve successfully identified rainbow trout spawning and nursery habitats. Finally, we monitor the fishery annually through an extensive network of voluntary anglers and streamside card surveys.

We’ve recently increased the stocking rates of both rainbows and browns in the Gilead/Bethel area. Because our management objectives for the upper Androscoggin are focused on maintaining high size quality, we need to be assured that the increased stocking rates, combined with the highly restrictive regulations imposed in 2003, are not compromising fish quality. To that end, we’ll spend lots of effort this week updating our growth information by electrofishing the river from the New Hampshire to Rumford Point.

– David Boucher, Fisheries Biologist, Strong

Region E – Moosehead Lake

Each spring the Greenville staff tries to attend some of the local kids fishing events that are put on in the surrounding communities. For the second consecutive year, members of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis, and volunteers for the second year held a Youth Fishing Day on May 30 at Kiwanis Park Pond in Dover-Foxcroft.
Approximately 60 fourth grade students from the Morton Avenue Elementary School attended the one-day event. The class was broken into 4 groups of approximately 15 students. Wardens Dan Carroll and Jeremy Kemp provided a short demonstration on boating safety and the proper use of life jackets by getting several of the students involved. Students then had the opportunity to fish for about an hour.

The fish cooperated and most students were successful in catching a trout or two, and a few even practiced some catch and release. Before the fishing started, the kids were asked if there was anyone that had never fished before. There were a few students that had never fished before and this was their first time out. I’m happy to say that many of these kids caught their first fish. Several volunteers were on hand to assist in baiting hooks, untangling lines, cleaning fish, and provide valuable support to these young anglers. The weather was great, the kids went away with some valuable life jacket safety information, and they caught and handled some nice brook trout as well. All provided the makings for a successful event. A special thank-you goes out to Jim Ellis and his crew for once again providing a great outing for the kids in the Dover-Foxcroft area.

I also was involved in another kids’ event a day earlier. I have had the opportunity to be the Den Leader for my son’s Cub Scout Den for the past two years. Earlier this spring I contacted Gene Arsenault and Kevin Sousa at the Ela Fish Rearing Station in Embden and asked them if they would mind giving a tour of their facility to a group of young Scouts. As I expected, they were more than agreeable. On May 29, a caravan of four vehicles left Abbott at 9 a.m. and we made our way to Embden. Our group arrived at the facility around 10 a.m. and was welcomed by Kevin Sousa. Shortly thereafter our tour was underway. The scouts and parents alike were very interested in this facility. The boys were amazed at the numbers of fish that were in the tanks.

A couple of years ago many of the boys had the opportunity to assist us in stocking Drummond Pond in Abbott. This helped the Scouts understand where the fish come from and how they grow before being stocked into some of their favorite ponds and streams.

I would like to thank Gene and Kevin for allowing the Wolf Den of Pack 61 to come and tour the Embden facility. Kevin did a great job at answering questions posed by the scouts in a way that they were able to understand. This can often be a challenge. The scouts and their parents really enjoyed this experience.

– Jeff Bagley, Fisheries Biologist, Greenville

Region F – Penobscot Valley

The Penobscot River is starting to produce some bass fishing in spite of the up and down water levels. Anglers are reporting some decent fishing in all the usual places along the river from Old Town to Medway. Angling action on the river should pick up as the water levels continue to drop and temperatures start to climb. Smallmouth bass spawning activities have been interrupted more than once this year but should start to stabilize soon in the river.
Largemouth bass have been rumored to be in Mattanawcook Lake in Lincoln for a couple of years. On Friday we were able to document that fact. And so it goes — another illegal introduction in the Penobscot Drainage. Largemouth bass could not have come up from the river as there is no fishway on the outlet dam at Mattanawcook. Someone must have brought them purposely to the lake to stock. Not until anglers are willing to come forward to report these illegal stockings will this ever stop.

The illegal introduction of any fish into any Maine water is a Class E crime, punishable by fines up to $10,000. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is offering a minimum reward of $2,000 for information leading to the apprehension of persons responsible for the illegal introduction of fish. Call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-253-7887.

I would like to make all anglers aware of a change in the general law bass regulations in effect for the first time this year. In the past anglers were required to use artificial lures only when fishing for bass until June 20, with a one bass bag limit and a 12-inch length limit. Now, anglers must use artificial lures until June 30 with a one bass bag and a 10-inch length limit. Specials still apply on certain waters as before. Please check your 2008 Open Water Fishing Regulations Booklet, or online at:
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/laws_rules/fishing/openwaterlaws.htm
Lakes and ponds in and around the Baxter State Park area are starting to produce some decent fishing for both brook trout and landlocked salmon. All of the usual spots in the park are seeing increased traffic as the trails dry out and washouts are repaired. Anglers are reporting good trout fishing at Celia Pond, Kidney Pond, Daicey Pond, Round Pond, Rocky Pond, Draper Pond, The Fowlers, Billfish Pond, Frost Pond, High Pond and Long Pond. Salmon anglers are hooking up at Matagamon Lake and Scraggly Lake to the north, while to the south Millinocket Lake and Pemadumcook Lake are producing some excellent catches of salmon and togue. Matagamon has also been providing some fast action for both brook trout and togue in addition to the fine salmon fishing.

– Nels Kramer, Fisheries Biologist, West Enfield

Region G – Aroostook County

IF&W’s Fisheries Division’s Lakes Research group that works out of our Bangor office recently brought its new electrofishing raft to Aroostook County to sample small ponds and rivers. This new tool worked very efficiently and will be a great tool for sampling fish populations in the future. Thanks to Joe Dembeck and Jason Seiders for building the new craft and coming north to train Region G staff on its use.

We focused our efforts on a few waters where smallmouth bass have been reported or where we suspect they have invaded new waters. Smallmouth bass are not native to waters in Aroostook County, but with a large population having been established in the St. John River, bass now have access to a few drainages where they did not historically exist. The Meduxnekeag River drainage is one watershed where we have documented the spread of bass in recent years and are concerned with the invasion of muskellunge as well. Bass were being reported from a stretch of river in the town of Littleton during the 1980s; these reports became more frequent in the late 1990s and Nickerson Lake, New Limerick and Linneus, was documented to have bass in 2002.

We were able to sample the River in Littleton last week and sampled several bass but no muskellunge. The river temperature had warmed to the point that trout are now seeking out cooler tributaries. We were able to sample a number of brook trout very quickly with the raft. The Meduxnekeag River supports a good fishery for wild brook and brown trout and we will continue to monitor this fishery and the impact of non-native sport fish that become established there.

– Frank Frost, Fisheries Biologist, Ashland