Peyton Knight of the National Center for Public Policy Research is warning sportsmen that the proposed Clean Water Restoration Act sponsored by Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), “would do more to threaten the cherished pastimes of hunters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts than it would to ensure the cleanliness of our nation’s water.”

I’ve written a couple times over the past few months about the CWRA (here and here) but Knight brings to the attention of American sportsmen what could await us should this act be approved.

The intent of the existing Clean Water Act was to ensure that our navigable waters remained pollution free. We have witnessed some abuses of this act through narrow interpretations by our court system. The Clean Water Restoration Act, according to Knight, goes far beyond navigable waters, leaving us to wonder just how far this regulation and court-interpreted Act would go.

In reality, the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA) does not “restore” the CWA. Instead, it greatly expands its scope and jurisdiction. The bill would bring federal oversight to activities that affect all “waters of the United States” as opposed to merely “navigable waters” as called for in the original CWA. “Waters of the United States” is broadly defined in the legislation to include “all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments.”

I spoke with Knight by phone last fall and we discussed the prospects that with enactment of CWRA and the typical efforts of environmentalists, particularly through lawsuits, hunters could be facing ridiculous restrictions on such things as constructing duck blinds, whether portable, temporary or permanent without first obtaining permits.

Knight gives prime examples in addressing foreseeable problems in the upper Midwest – some of this nation’s top waterfowl hunting grounds.

Both “prairie potholes” (depressed areas that temporarily hold rainwater and snowmelt) and “sloughs” (swampy depressions typically comprised of stagnant water or mud) are specifically named in the CWRA as “waters” that would be subject to regulation – a departure from the original Clean Water Act. As a consequence, driving posts into water and mud near a prairie pothole for construction of a duck blind could constitute discharging dredged or fill material into the “waters of the United States,” which is illegal under the CRA without a permit.11

In addition, hunters who fire shot over and near prairie potholes, lakes, rivers, ponds and wetlands could be considered polluters under the CWRA. In 1996, a U.S. District Court in New York ruled against a shooting range when it found that expended shot, even non-toxic steel shot, is considered a pollutant under the current CWA.12

But the passage of the CWRA wouldn’t just affect hunters. It could have unusual and ridiculous consequences for anglers, recreational boaters and all shooting sports. Knight says that with the wording of the CWRA, that includes virtually every place there is or has been water and leaving much of the interpretation of what would be considered a pollutant up to the courts, anything and everything that is put in the water, including the fisherman, could conceivably be prohibited.

This means trout and small-mouth bass fishermen could lose access to their favorite rivers and streams, as wading in these waters necessarily disturbs rocks and sediment, and therefore could be considered harmful to fish and other wildlife. Lead lures, sinkers or split-shot could be deemed pollutants.

Recreational boating could be restricted or banned in certain waters due to the incidental discharge of engine cooling water, bilge water, deck runoff or ballast water. In fact, environmental litigators have already struck a blow against recreational boating under the current CWA.

We already have seen the courts rule that spent lead and steel shot, as well as clay targets, from shooting ranges, for example, are deemed a pollutant. With expanded control by the government to all waters, which includes watersheds and wetlands, where will this leave shooting ranges, etc.?

EPA notes that lawsuits “have been the driving force behind most legal actions against outdoor ranges.”28 For example, in 1994, the Long Island Soundkeeper Fund, an environmental organization, successfully sued the New York Athletic Club under the CWA because the club had been operating a trap shooting range on its property. In this case, the court found that debris from clay targets and expended shot, including non-toxic steel shot, are pollutants under the CWA. According to EPA, “Based on the court’s decision… any range whose shot, bullets or target debris enter the ‘waters of the United States’ could be subject to permitting requirements as well as governmental or citizen suits.”29

More recently, Blue Eco Legal Council, an environmental organization, filed a lawsuit under the CWA against the United States Department of Justice, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines and Department of Defense, alleging that an FBI shooting range in North Chicago is endangering Lake Michigan with stray bullets.3

The majority of hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts want to keep our land and our waters clean. As a matter of fact, sportsmen have contributed over $10 billion dollars in funds used for conservation but to give the federal government, which in turn would turn interpretation over to the courts, broad and sweeping jurisdiction over “all the waters” in this country, would not only be costly but could very easily tie up the courts with ridiculous lawsuits and seriously strip hunters, fishermen, boaters, landowners and effectively every American, opportunities to enjoy the natural resources God has given us.

The Clean Water Restoration Act, at least as it is written, should not be allowed to pass. Please contact your congressmen and let them know.

Tom Remington

The Ever-Changing Lawbook

How do you best manage fish populations? That’s easy. Manage people!

This may seem to be odd logic but since the last Ice Age fish have been taking care of themselves quite nicely. Then humans came along. We fish, modify habitat, and perform a number of other activities that directly and indirectly impact fish populations. As my college fisheries professor Dr. Ringler used to say, “Fisheries management is 98 percent dealing with people and two percent dealing with fish.”

For the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Fisheries Division, the most direct method we have of managing the behavior of anglers is through the rules and regulations in our lawbooks. Like most other things, the easier a regulation is to understand the more useful it is. That is why over the last three years the Fisheries Division slowly has been making changes to the fishing lawbooks. Some of the recent changes include:

* Consolidation of bass regulations from 25 different regulation categories to five categories;
* Consolidation of lake trout regulations from 30 to 7 categories;
* Consolidation of brook trout regulations from 25 to 8 categories;
* Consolidation of landlocked salmon regulations from 16 to 8 categories;
* Combining the two extended fishing season, S-23 (Oct. 1-31) and S-24 (Oct. 1-Nov. 30) into one extended season from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. This allows for expanded fishing opportunities on more than 2,000 waters located throughout the state;
* Modifying the layout to improve readability and highlight new regulation changes.

At this moment some folks probably are throwing their hands in the air yelling, “Maine fishing law books are too complex! They should be more like a ‘fill-in-your-favorite-state’ variety – one book for any state!” Without a doubt Maine’s fishing lawbooks include a lot of special regulations and for good reason. There are more than 6,000 lakes and ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams in the state. The Fisheries Division staff spends the majority of their time in the field studying waters and analyzing data that guides our management decisions. As our understanding of fish populations within individual water bodies grows, so does the need to tailor regulations to meet specific performance goals. These goals can range from providing high catch rates to producing trophy-sized fish.

As many anglers in Maine are focused on an individual species we spend a lot of time studying sportfish species and experimenting with regulations to find that right mix that satisfies all anglers. As you can guess, we will never be able to satisfy all of the desires of Maine’s diverse angler groups on every water, but we try.

Further changes are being considered for the fishing lawbooks in the near future, such as combining the Open Water and Ice Fishing lawbooks into one annual lawbook. Maine is the only “ice fishing state” that produces separate lawbooks for each of the seasons. Additionally, we are looking to adopting a two-year lawbook instead of an annual lawbook. As budgets remain stagnant or are cut, there is a renewed focus in finding ways to save money without sacrificing services. By creating a two-year lawbook we will be able to save on printing costs, remove redundant pages and decrease the amount of staff time devoted to the entire regulation/law book process.

This year’s Open Water Fishing book will be the first to show the new changes. Don’t throw it away! It will be a two-year book, namely in effect through March 31, 2010. Any changes to regulations will be announced on IF&W’s Web site and in press releases.
A further upcoming focus will be to address species’ specific regulations on rivers and streams throughout the state. For example the types of regulations that work for brook trout inhabiting lakes and ponds often are not applicable to brook trout populations in rivers and streams due to differences in available forage, habitat, water quality, and trout movement patterns.

There will always be fishing regulations and the Fisheries Division will always be attempting to balance the management of fish populations with minimizing the complexity of the lawbook. No matter what specific regulations are inside Maine’s fishing lawbook there are a few pieces of information that you will always need to know when using it, be it 2008 or 2018. These items are:

* Where you are – county and town;
* The name of the water you are fishing;
* Date – to know whether open water or ice fishing regulations apply;
* Your fishing gear – spinning gear, fly-fishing, ice trap or jigging pole;
* Type of bait attached to your fishing gear – fly, artificial lure, live bait or dead bait;
* Fish identification.

Regardless of when and where you fish in Maine keep that lawbook handy and, most importantly, enjoy your time on the water!

– Joe Dembeck, Research Fisheries Biologist, Bangor

A Springtime Tradition: Sea-Run Brook Trout

Open water fishing is just around the corner and before we all dash out the door on April 1 with rod in hand, I would like to talk to you about an interesting topic. Almost everyone knows that brook trout live in streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes. Did you know, however, that brook trout also thrive in the coastal estuaries and in the Gulf of Maine? These fish are known as sea-run brook trout or “salters” and recently there has been an increased interest in them.

Brook trout in Maine’s coastal streams have a unique behavioral strategy known as anadromy. Anadromous brook trout are those that leave their freshwater juvenile habitats and enter salt water conditions for a portion of their life, then return to freshwater at some point to spawn. Not all brook trout in coastal streams enter the salt water. There are some trout that live, grow and spawn in freshwater. It is unknown why some individuals prefer to stay in freshwater and some choose to head to sea. Preliminary research has shown little evidence that genetic differences contribute to these behavioral differences. Salter trout do not have the same coloration as their freshwater brethren. Salters adopt a silver to steel blue sheen with a white belly. The red dots with blue halos fade away to leave just yellowish spots. Once the trout return to freshwater, the beautiful coloration of typical freshwater brook trout returns within a couple of weeks.

Sea-run trout move downstream into the ocean anywhere from April through June and return to freshwater sometime from May to early August. It is likely that sea going individuals continuously move in and out of the estuaries to forage or to seek better temperature conditions. There is a lot yet to learn about why some coastal brookies head to sea and some do not!

Historically sea-run brook trout ranged from New York’s Long Island to Labrador, Canada. Today their range is reduced from its original size, but populations in the U.S. persist in Massachusetts and Maine, and perhaps Rhode Island. Sea-run trout have never been intensively surveyed in Maine and their current distribution, population status and potential threats in Maine are uncertain.
In response to this lack of information, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife started an effort to gather needed data on these unique populations. Our approach involves enlisting the assistance of volunteer anglers to collect data over a wide area of the state and report their angling effort, success, and fishing location to IF&W fisheries biologists. The volunteer angler surveys began in 2006 and will continue through 2008. At the end of the 2008 fishing season the data will be analyzed and used to help determine the future needs of IF&W and sea-run brook trout.

The data collected by anglers to date has been excellent, however IF&W is interested in increasing public participation in 2008. If you would like to participate in the volunteer angler surveys please contact IF&W Fisheries Research Section: Merry Gallagher at (207) 941-4381 or merry.gallagher@maine.gov

A collaborative research effort is under way on Mount Desert Island where a single population of sea-run brook trout in Stanley Brook is being closely studied and monitored. The partners in this effort include IF&W, the National Park Service, the University of Maine, and the Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory in Turner Falls, MA. Stanley Brook, which is located in Acadia National Park, is approximately 1.2 miles long and drains directly into the Gulf of Maine. This brook contains sea-run and year-round resident brook trout. Biologists are looking at the movement of brook trout in and out of Stanley Brook. Brook trout are caught and tagged with electronic transmitters. A data-logging receiver has been installed a short distance upstream of the estuary. This receiver is capable of determining which individuals are passing and whether they are going up into the stream or down to the ocean. Very interesting to say the least!

A similar project is getting under way in Cove Brook in Winterport. This stream drains into the lower Penobscot River approximately 11.5 miles above the Waldo-Hancock Bridge. This stream is unlike Stanley Brook in that it has different fish species, different land uses, and drains into the Penobscot River instead of the Gulf of Maine. A University of Maine graduate student will be leading this project.

IF&W fisheries biologists began an expanded stream survey effort last year. This effort focuses on brook trout in streams that have never been surveyed. After surveying hundreds of stream sites we have a better idea of brook trout status in several areas of the state. We are a long way, however, from seeing the complete picture. Many sites were in coastal streams and allowed us to identify new sea-run trout streams and update existing data concerning trout in coastal habitats. I have sampled several of these fish and they are a sight to see. One indication that you have found a salter stream is when you spook a 12-inch trout out from its hiding place as you step across a small coastal brook.

There are sea-run trout streams and rivers scattered up and down the Maine coast. With a little leg work, you may find a small stream with a small pool and a big trout. And remember: take a youngster fishing with you and let the kid have the first cast at a truly great fish.

– By Zachary Glidden, Fisheries Technician, Fisheries Research Section, Bangor

The freshwater mussels of Maine

In Maine we have thousands of lakes and ponds, as well as tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams. These serve as essential habitat elements for all of Maine’s wildlife, but there’s a class of animals that live under these waters that usually escapes notice. Freshwater mussels in Maine are often the dominant animals in terms of biomass (total weight of all animals in an area) in waters throughout the state. Their shy, inconspicuous lifestyle keeps them from commanding much attention, but they have a highly unusual lifestyle when it comes to reproducing.

For the vast majority of their long lives, freshwater mussels simply sit partially buried and filtering water to feed on algae. When they reproduce, however, almost all freshwater mussels require a period of parasitism on fish “hosts.” As parasites go, mussel larvae (called “glochidia”) are fairly innocuous to the fish. The mussels are simply hitching a ride on their host by clamping on to either gills or fins and dropping off after a certain period of transformation. This habit allows them to colonize widely separated areas, as well as traveling upstream.

To further complicate matters, generally each mussel species (there are 10 in Maine) requires specific fish species to successfully transform into juveniles. To attract a desirable species, female mussels of some species have evolved a “mantle lure.” This is an outgrowth of the soft part of the body that resembles some food item of the targeted fish. When a fish attacks the “minnow” or other lure, the female releases a cloud of glochidia into its mouth to parasitize the gills. One species of mussel in Maine is known to use a lure resembling a minnow, but species in other states have lures that look like crayfish or leeches. Other mussels package the glochidia in a structure that looks like food and release it into the water. These often appear to be worms or insect larvae, and once attacked by a fish they disintegrate, allowing the glochidia to latch onto the gills.

Given their unusual way of overcoming mobility difficulties and the fact that mussels are a long lived and extremely important organism in aquatic habitats, I recommend learning more about these interesting organisms. The Freshwater Mussels of Maine is a book that was released by IF&W several years ago, and it does an excellent job teaching identification and life histories of Maine species. Another resource on the Web is the Unio Gallery on Missouri State University’s Web site, http://unionid.missouristate.edu/. There are some amazing pictures of mantle lures on this site.

– By Philip Wick, Fishery Biology Specialist, Fisheries Research Section, Bangor

Posted by Tom Remington

It was back in September of 2006 when I first brought up the subject of what certain chemicals being found in our water were doing to our fish. It had been discovered that certain chemicals entering our waters through sewage treatment plants containing the remains of drugs and excretions from humans was causing male fish to grow female organs.

If you click on this link you’ll find 12 stories I did about this discovery and what little was being done about it, including informing the public and doing more testing to discover how widespread this problem was. The question I always raised was if these chemicals are doing this to our fish, what is it doing to us?

Finally, it seems that something is finally being done about this if nothing more than bring the subject before the people so that questions can be raised and debate can ensue. Is this a serious threat to human? If not, is it a serious problem for our fish and other aquatic wildlife? What are we going to do about it.

Tom Remington

Region A—Southwestern Maine

The ice fishing forecast for southern Maine is excellent! Early ice, beefed up catchable trout stocking programs, and new stocking and management programs should offer even better winter angling in southern Maine than previous years.

Winter-like temperatures have prevailed through the month of December and except for the largest-area lakes, most smaller- to medium-size ponds are supporting some ice. Persistent snow storms, however, likely have reduced some early opportunities for thick black-ice formation before the traditional start to the ice fishing season on Jan. 1. But unless prevailing freezing temperatures in recent weeks change dramatically before Jan. 1st, we are likely to have more “opening day” ice than the recent past few years. Early ice conditions already have allowed anglers to experience some good trout fishing on smaller, shallower ponds, including waters which are open under the county-wide “Class A” designation. Under this county designation, anglers now may catch and keep gamefish, including trout, from the time of ice formation. Some stocked waters where trout can taken from the time of ice formation include: Otter Pond No. 2 and No. 4 (Standish); Knight Pond (South Berwick); Symmes Pond (Newfield); and Adams-Rock Haven Pond (Newfield).

Anglers should be aware of additional statewide regulation changes this season. Among the changes: the minimum length on bass has been lowered from 12 to 10 inches, and fishing is no longer restricted to daytime hours, thus anglers are allowed under general law to fish all hours of the day and night.

Significant stocking this fall including adult retired hatchery brood, and 12- to 14-inch fall yearling brook trout will provide a greater number of fish – and bigger fish — in many of our stocked waters. Most waters that received fall yearling brook trout prior to 2006 were stocked at higher levels in 2006-2007 due to increased production. In fact, our fall yearling brook trout stocking program has more than tripled since 2000. Additional increases in this popular fall stocking program are planned for the future, made possible by the renovation of the Emden State Hatchery using funds provided by a bond referendum several years ago.

Some of the stocking increases this year will occur in our “catchable brook trout” study waters, which are part of a statewide research project to assess angler returns of stocked fall yearling brook trout. During this 3-year study anglers will note an elevated level of stocking fall yearling brook trout in the following study waters: Bear Pond (Waterford); Keoka Lake (Waterford); Keewaydin Lake (Stoneham); Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester); and Crystal Lake (Gray). Biologists and clerks will be conducting winter angler surveys on these waters, and anglers are requested to note any missing fins on trout that are kept or released, as this information will be asked during the survey. Also, approximately 475 brood brook trout (2½ pounds-plus), 190 brood landlocked salmon (2-3pounds), and 225 brood brown trout (3 pounds) were retired from Maine’s hatchery system and stocked in southern Maine. These large fish always are well received by anglers. For a complete list of waters stocked check out the Department’s web site (www.mefishwildlife.com).

A number of winter brook trout fisheries occur where habitat is not suitable to sustain a year round trout fishery, but where fall and winter temperatures support stocking of legal size fish to create winter-spring fisheries. Examples of successful winter-spring brook trout fisheries include: Worthley Pond (Poland); Barker Pond (Lyman); Otter Pond No. 2 (Standish); Littlefield Pond (Sanford); Hobbs Pond (Norway); Knights Pond (South Berwick); Cold Rain (Naples); Halls Pond (Paris); and Silver Lake (Phippsburg); and Sprague Pond (Phippsburg). These waters are fished hard the first few weeks of the season, but often boast high catch rates. Some of these waters continue to offer good fishing throughout the entire winter season.

A new stocking program that was started last winter for kids only is under way. Round Pond (Lyman) is open to youth only during the winter. This small pond is owned by York County Fish and Game, who have partnered with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create the only exclusively youth winter fishing opportunity in southern Maine. Beefed up MDIF&W fall stocking is intended to provide some exciting action and help promote youth fishing. The pond was fished lightly last winter and as expected good fishing was had by those few who participated. We would encourage youth anglers to experience this unique fishery in southern Maine.

The top picks for great lake trout action remain consistent over the last few years, including Great East Lake (Acton), Sebago Lake (Naples) and Thompson Lake (Otisfield). All three waters will offer good catches of 16- to 22-inch togue, with Sebago being the most consistent producer of trophies each year. The lake trout found in Sebago are even fatter than last year, with reported increases in average size quality. In fact, togue exceeding 23 inches were commonly reported by anglers in 2007. The largest catches of lake trout are usually taken by jigging, and this technique is particularly effective on Sebago and Thompson lakes.

The best winter prospects for large salmon (over 4 pounds) are Trickey Pond (Naples), Bryant Pond (Woodstock) and South Pond (Greenwood), but the fishing for salmon is generally very slow on these waters. Most other regional waters open to winter salmon fishing offer higher catch rates, including some of the less fished waters like Long Lake (Naples/Harrison), Panther Pond (Raymond), and Kezar Lake (Lovell), although the fishing on these waters appears to have increased in recent years.

Increased availability of brood salmon have allowed for the creation of some relatively new salmon fishing opportunities in waters marginally suited for salmon. Most of the retired salmon brood was stocked in Little Ossipee Lake (Waterboro), Thomas Pond (Casco), Tripp Lake (Poland), Mousam Lake (Acton), Presumpscot River (Windham), Pennesseewassee Lake (Norway), and Highland Lake (Windham). We are also in the second year of a new salmon program using larger fall yearling stocked salmon on Keoka Lake (Waterford). This stocking program will largely benefit winter anglers, but some carry-over to the open water fishery is anticipated.

Splake enthusiasts will find fast action, but heavy fishing pressure on Bryant Pond (Woodstock) and Trickey Pond (Naples). In addition, a new splake stocking program was initiated on Bear Pond (Waterford), where larger 14-inche splake were stocked for the first time last fall to create faster fishing for ice anglers. This stocking program has produced successful fisheries at Big Wood Pond and Squa Pan Lake, both located in northern Maine.

Brown trout anglers have no shortage of waters to fish. With the exception of the more popular fisheries, like Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester), Middle/Upper Range Ponds (Poland), Worthley Pond (Peru), Hancock Pond (Denmark), and Square Pond (Shapleigh), many of the approximately 35 regional brown trout waters will receive little fishing pressure even though these waters offer quality fish. Sampling undertaken the past several years continues to indicate the presence of a high percentage of fish between 3 and 6 pounds, although densities are generally low. So get away from the crowds and check out some of the those ponds you don’t hear about. But be patient. Brown trout are not known for fast fishing yet they are some of the largest fish caught in the region each year.

The 225 brood brown trout retired this past fall were stocked in four rivers open to year-round fishing. Those are the Mousam River, Ogunquit River, Royal River and Presumpscot River, as well as Mousam and Little Ossipee lakes.

A small rainbow trout stocking program is providing some relatively new fishing opportunities in southern Maine. In addition to continued stocking of rainbows in most waters that have been experimentally stocked over the last 5 to 6 years, new stockings this past fall will provide rainbow trout winter action on Stanley Pond (Porter), Norway Lake (Norway), and Forrest Lake (Canton) this winter. Little Ossipee Lake (Waterboro) also will be stocked, but not until spring.

For those that still like to open water fish throughout the winter, there are several year-round river fishing opportunities in the region that have been enhanced under beefed up fall stocking programs. These waters include the entire Presumpscot River, the Saco River (particularly below Skelton Dam and Hiram Dam), and the lower Royal River (below Elm Street). Additional open water trout fishing opportunities continue to increase in popularity on some tidewater rivers, including the Mousam River (Kennebunk), Ogunquit River (Wells), and Salmon Falls River (South Berwick). We are requesting anglers to provide fishing information on these three stocked tidewater rivers. To help get this collection effort done, we have posted angler survey boxes at streamside angler access locations, have recruited some anglers to keep personal fishing logbooks, and have provided area tackle shops with personal fishing logbooks. This information will be used to support improved management of the three tidal rivers and possibly future program expansions.

– Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Gray

Region B – Central Maine

In a few short days, the day that is perceived to be the traditional opening of the ice-fishing season will arrive on Jan.1. In reality, anglers have had the opportunity to fish through the ice in numerous lakes and ponds throughout the region for a while now. These waters are identified in the regulations booklet as “A” waters, while those that open on January 1 are “B” waters. “A” waters are open to fishing for all fish from the time ice forms until March 31. Be advised that some waters have special regulations or limited seasons. Others may be closed to ice fishing. For example, Echo Lake in Fayette is open for ice fishing during January and February only and is restricted to two lines (5 are allowed at night for cusk only) and a one fish limit for salmon and togue. Be sure to check your regulations booklet before you head out, wherever you plan to fish.

Again this year, our hatchery staff has done a stellar job in stocking out over 55,000 fish for winter angling opportunities. Below are some examples of where those fish found homes: Big Indian Pond (Saint Albans) 500 brook trout; Wassokeag Lake (Dexter) 500 brook trout; Cobbossee Lake (Manchester) 1,000 brook trout; Alford Lake (Hope) 250 brown trout; Quantabacook Lake (Searsmont) 500 brown trout; Hosmer Pond (Camden) 100 brown trout; Sheepscot Pond (Palermo) 500 brook trout; Maranacook Lake (Winthrop), 500 brook trout; Lake George (Canaan) 400 rainbow trout; Unity Pond (Unity) 1,200 brown trout; Damariscotta Lake (Jefferson) 60 brook trout (brood); Messalonskee Lake (Oakland) 500 brook trout; East Pond (Smithfield) 250 brook trout; Nequasset Lake (Woolwich) 400 rainbow trout; Three Mile Pond (China) 600 brown trout; Washington Pond (Washington) 600 brown trout; Great Moose Lake (Hartland) 40 brook trout (brood); Megunticook Lake (Lincolnville) 1,000 rainbow trout; Garland Pond (Garland) 10 brook trout (brood).

Please note that the above list is just a small sampling of what is out there for winter fishing opportunities. Also note that I’ve included some ponds on the list that were stocked with retired brood brook trout. These fish are in the 3-pound range and they are always hungry. Almost 1,200 fish of this size were stocked in 44 different waters this fall in addition to our scheduled stocking.

With the recent cold weather, some ice formed quickly, especially on the smaller ponds. But the frequent snows we’ve had recently have insulated the existing ice cover and slowed down freezing. Many lakes and ponds have a deceptive mantle of snow covering what may be unsafe ice thicknesses. Always check for adequate ice conditions before venturing on any body of water. There is some terrific information on judging ice conditions on Page 46 of your regulation booklet. Use it, but use your own good common sense to guide you too.

The long and the short of it is that there are lots of fish waiting to be caught! It promises to be exciting winter fishing around the Mid-coast Region.

– Robert Van-Riper, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Sidney

Region C — Downeast

Finally, Maine experiences a real winter, complete with early-season ice and plenty of snow! Winter anglers who lamented the warm January temperatures and lack of early ice in recent years are excited and ready to pursue their favorite sportfish. So test out your ice auger, register your snowmobiles and ATVs, change your leaders, and prepare to enjoy winter in Maine.
Many of the lakes discussed above have special fishing regulations. Be sure to consult your ice fishing law book for applicable regulations on the lake you plan to fish.

Finally, a new regulation adopted for this ice fishing season permits night-time ice fishing under the following regulation: “Except as otherwise provided by rule, all waters open to ice fishing are open to ice fishing 24 hours a day. All lines must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them.”

If you intend to fish in Hancock or Washington County, here are some good spots to fish:

Brook trout
 Keene’s Lake (Calais). In addition to annual fall stockings of 6- to 8-inch trout and 150 fall yearling trout averaging 11 inches, Keene’s was stocked with 40 16-inch retired brood stock trout averaging 1.7 pounds.

 Goulding Lake (Robbinston). Expect good action on 6- to 11-inch trout with some larger individuals.

 Indian Lake (Whiting). In addition to annual fall stockings of 6- to 11-inch trout, Indian Lake was stocked with 35 16-inch retired brood stock trout.

 Keeley Lake (Northfield). This small pond is a good place to escape from the wind as much of it is narrow with high banks. Catch rates can be good for both brook trout and splake. Brook trout stocked this fall ranged from 6 to 11 inches. Keeley is located about a mile from the closest paved road.

 Montegail Pond (T 19 MD). This pond is popular with anglers from Cherryfield to East Machias for its good catch rate on 6- to 11-inch trout plus an occasional larger fish.

 Rainbow Pond (T 10 SD). Located a mile west of Tunk Lake, this remote trout pond is difficult to reach. Because of its location, it is only lightly fished, yielding some nice trout.

 Anderson Pond (T 10 SD). Anderson Pond is a new stocking of 6- to 8-inch fall fingerling trout. It was stocked in 2006 and 2007. This remote pond requires some determination to access, but could provide some surprises. We would appreciate angler reports (207-434-5925) from those who fish it this winter to help us evaluate the success of this introductory stocking.

 Blunts Pond (Lamoine). Blunts Pond is a new stocking of 12- to 14-inch fall yearling brook trout. Anglers should try this easily accessible small pond.

 Jacob Buck Pond (Bucksport). Anglers who catch one of the 50 retired brood stock brook trout averaging over 2 pounds will be pleasantly surprised.

 Lower Hadlock Pond (Mount Desert). In addition to annual fall stockings of 6- to 11-inch trout, Lower Hadlock was stocked with 25 retired brood stock trout that averaged 16 inches.

 Echo Lake (Mount Desert). Echo Lake is expected to provide good action for trout. Fishing is restricted to two lines and 2 trout. Trout must be 12 inches or larger, and no more than one can exceed 14 inches.

 Round Pond (Mount Desert). In addition to its regular stocking of legal-sized fall yearling brook trout averaging 11 inches, Round Pond was stocked with 25 retired brood stock brook trout averaging 2-plus pounds.

 Craig Pond (Orland). In addition to annual fall stockings of 6- to 11-inch trout, Craig Pond was stocked with 50 retired brood stock trout that averaged 16-plus inches. An additional 30 retired brood stock salmon will provide additional action.

Landlocked salmon
 Cathance Lake (Cooper and Plantation No. 14). Cathance is a perennial favorite among salmon anglers for larger fish with a chance to catch a wild trout.

 Nash’s Lake (Calais). In addition to its regular salmon fishery, 30 retired broodstock salmon from the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery were stocked here late in the fall.

 Gardner Lake (East Machias). Salmon growth and catch rates have improved.

 Schoodic Lake (Cherryfield). Located in the blueberry barrens, this lake is lightly fished in the winter so could yield some surprise catches.

 Big Lake (T 27 ED). Big Lake is a popular winter salmon lake, especially in the early season. Each fall, many spawned-out salmon from Grand Lake Stream drop down into Big Lake for the winter, often providing fast action. Consult your lawbook for a description of a section near the mouth of Grand Lake Stream that is closed to fishing.

 Tunk Lake (T 10 SD). Knowledgeable anglers know that Tunk has a 16- to 20-inch protected slot limit where no salmon may be harvested, so there is a chance for a real beauty when fish over 20 inches are caught. Catch rate is slow, but the lake also has a fast catch rate on togue.

 Green Lake (Dedham and Ellsworth). Green Lake is always popular with anglers who want to fish for salmon with an additional option of a chunky togue.

 Long Pond (Mount Desert Island). Fall trap netting indicated that salmon growth has rebounded in response to two stockings of smelt eggs by biologists. Anglers should be pleased with the improvement in growth.

 Eagle Lake (Bar Harbor). We expect a steady fishery for average-sized salmon this winter at Eagle Lake.

 Craig Pond (Orland). Thirty retired broodstock salmon from the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery were stocked here late in the fall and will provide action for larger salmon.

 Brewer Lake (Orrington). Salmon growth has improved following transfer of smelt eggs in recent years. Some larger salmon will be caught here this winter from a late fall stocking of 30 retired broodstock salmon from the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery.

 West Grand, Grand Lake Stream Plantation. West Grand has a delayed opening of Feb. 1. We expect good action for salmon this winter due to increased stockings during each of the past three years. With additional fisheries for togue, lake whitefish and cusk, anglers will enjoy the variety of species they may catch.

Lake trout (togue)
 Beech Hill Pond (Otis). Anglers have a chance at fairly fast action when they fish for togue at Beech Hill.

 Green Lake (Dedham and Ellsworth). Green Lake is one of eastern Maine’s most popular fisheries for fat, chunky togue of above-average size. Anglers should note that the minimum length on togue at Green Lake has been changed to 23 inches to create a higher quality fishery in this lake that has demonstrated the potential to grow fat, large togue.

 Toddy Pond (Orland). Anglers have a chance at fairly fast action.

 Tunk Lake (T 10- SD). Tunk has a very abundant population of stunted togue, and anglers are strongly encouraged to harvest their limit.

 West Grand (Grand Lake Stream Plantation). Biologists weighed, measured and examined numerous togue at West Grand during the past year. Fish condition (fatness) has declined, so anglers are encouraged to harvest togue here in an attempt to reduce the population and improve fish condition.

Brown trout
 Round Pond (Charlotte). Brown trout grow very well here by feeding heavily on abundant juvenile yellow perch.

 Pennamaquan Lake (Charlotte). Located just downstream of Round Pond, brown trout grow very well here also by feeding heavily on abundant juvenile yellow perch.

 Jones Pond (Gouldsboro). This pond is popular with coastal anglers for its variety of fish species.

 Flanders Pond (Sullivan). This pond also is popular with coastal anglers for its variety of fish species.

 Lower Hadlock Pond (Mount Desert). Biologists expect an improvement in this brown trout fishery based on a return to stocking fall yearling brown trout instead of spring yearlings, which had not produced acceptable catches.

 Spring River Lake (T 10 SD). Spring River Lake is one of eastern Maine’s best producers of larger brown trout.

 Walker Pond (Brooksville). Walker Pond has yielded the largest brown trout (greater than 11 pounds) in the Hancock-Washington County region. Stocking has been suspended for two years due to loss of public access, but for anglers who can find a way to access the lake, there still are some large fish. Both the Department and the townspeople are working to provide future public access so stocking can resume at this important lake.

 Upper Lead Mountain Pond (T 28 MD). Brown trout have performed better here than salmon, which were previously stocked, because brown trout feed on a wider variety of forage than was used by salmon.

Splake
 Jacob Buck Pond (Bucksport). Located close to the population center of Bucksport, this easily accessible pond has been a consistent producer of attractive 12- to 18-inch splake, along with a variety of other species in the catch.

 Fitts Pond (Clifton). This small pond produces some very attractive splake during most winters.

 Lower Springy Pond (Otis). Splake feed heavily on smelts and juvenile white perch here, producing some above-average sized splake. In addition, 35 retired brook trout broodstock averaging 16-plus inches were stocked late in the fall.

 Mopang Lake (T 29 MD). This highly picturesque lake is one of our best large splake producers, along with yielding some average-sized salmon.

 Pleasant River Lake (Beddington). Located just south of Mopang Lake, Pleasant River Lake has been a consistent producer of attractive splake, along with occasional salmon. Thirty retired broodstock salmon from the Grand Lake Stream Hatchery were stocked here late in the fall.

 Second Lake Old Stream (T 37 MD). Located far from paved roads, Second Lake is one of our best producers of splake.

 Keeley Lake (Marshfield). Keeley has not produced large splake, but its action is consistent for a small lake.

Chain pickerel
Great Pond (Great Pond Township); Eddington Pond (Eddington); Spectacle Pond (Osborn); Seal Cove Pond (Tremont); Upper Patten Pond (Orland); Fields Pond (Orrington); Lower and Middle Lead Mountain ponds (T 28 MD); Rocky Pond (T 22 MD); Scammon Pond (Eastbrook); Beddington Lake (Beddington); Patrick Lake (Marion); Rocky Lake (Whiting); and Hadley Lake (East Machias).

White perch
Bog Lake (Northfield); First, Second and Third Chain lakes (T 26 ED); Boyden Lake (Perry); Second Gardner Lake (Marion); Georges Pond (Franklin); Clifford Lake (T 26 ED); Jones Pond (Gouldsboro); Graham Lake (Waltham); Brewer Lake (Orrington); Alamoosook Lake (Orland); and Pierce Pond (Penobscot).
– Rick Jordan, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Downeast Region

Region D – Western Mountains

The big news in western Maine this year is that thanks to expansion of the Embden hatchery we’ve stocked lots of fish for ice fisherman to catch. Also, we have a new lake open to ice fishing.

First the stockings — these are all fall yearling fish, which means that they’re nearly 2 years old when stocked this fall and generally are in the 12- to 14-inch range. The stocking locations are: Clearwater Lake (Industry0 1,500 brook trout; Embden Lake (Embden) 1,000 brook trout; Haley Pond (Dallas Plantation) 450 brook trout; Hancock Pond (Embden) 800 brook trout and 200 salmon; Lufkin Pond (Avon) 200 splake; Oaks Pond (Skowhegan) 300 splake; Smith Pond (Brighton Plantation) 400 brook trout and 400 brown trout; Webb Lake (Weld) 3,300 brook trout and 1,300 brown trout; Wentworth Pond (Solon) 450 splake; Wesserunsett Lake (Madison) 2,200 brook trout and 2,200 brown trout; Wilson Pond (Wilton) 1,100 brook trout; and Wyman Lake (Moscow) 2,500 splake.

In addition to these fall yearling fish, we’ve stocked even bigger brook trout (retired brook fish) in a number of waters: 50 in Porter Lake, 50 in Clearwater, 75 in Wilson, 30 in Crowell Pond, New Sharon, and 30 in Norcross Pond, Chesterville.

Pleasant Pond in Caratunk is open to ice fishing for the first time this year per Group B with a liberal limit on lake trout. The daily bag limit on togue is five fish and minimum length limit on togue is 14 inches. Other regulations in effect are S-4 (use or possession of live fish as bait is prohibited) and S-19 (daily limit on trout: 2 fish). Because it has been closed to ice fishing until this year, anglers aren’t familiar with the lake. It is deep and will take a while to safely freeze over. So if you fish there be very careful. Also, be aware that the town has implemented a parking ban on town roads near Pleasant Pond.

Please note the following error in the new ice fishing law book: Weeks Pond (also known as Smith Pond) in Brighton Plantation in Somerset County was inadvertently omitted but it is open to ice fishing per Group B, as it has been for many years. And, as noted above, we’ve stocked a total of 400 fish there this fall for the ice fishing season.

Look for biologists Dave Boucher, Dave Howatt, and Ethan Tracy who will be checking anglers on the following waters this winter: Clearwater Lake, Porter Lake, Oaks Pond, Wentworth, and Pleasant Pond.

— Forrest Bonney, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Strong

Region E — Moosehead Lake Region

Well Ole Man Winter arrived on time this year for a change. Exactly one year ago, you could walk across the grass lawn and throw a canoe into Moosehead Lake, but today we are back on schedule for a normal winter. The Greenville cove froze the last week of November and the lake is slowly making ice. As always, anglers should take care when venturing out this winter especially over the deeper areas of the lake, which are the last to freeze. We also have been blessed with a couple early snowstorms, so the snowmobiling should be excellent in the Moosehead Lake Region in the new year. You can get weekly updates on the status of the riding at http://www.mooseheadriders.org.

Smaller ponds in the region like Brann’s Mill Pond, Harlow Pond, Fitzgerald Pond and Prong Pond are now open for business for those anglers interested in catching a few early fish. All of these ponds were stocked in October with 12- to 14-inch brook trout, and early reports indicate anglers are getting out on the ice in December.

Kids should give Drummond Pond in Abbot a try this winter. This is the first winter the pond is open and this little gravel pit pond is exclusively for kids under age 16. We stocked the pond in October with brook trout so the fishing should be good. We would like to thank the “elves” that are keeping the parking lot plowed this winter. We appreciate the effort to keep everyone safely off Route 15.

We do have a couple big changes for this winter in the Moosehead Lake Region that anglers should be aware of. First, we have significantly liberalized the bag limits on lake trout on Moosehead Lake. For the past 15 years or so, we have seen the number of small lake trout increase dramatically in the lake. As a result, we have seen a decline in the forage base, primarily smelts, as the number of predators increased. There have been peaks and valleys in growth but we have not been able to maintain our goals for growth for either togue or salmon. Recent data indicate another wave of small lake trout entering the fishery. In an effort to be proactive, we have implemented a no-size or bag limit on lake trout less than 18 inches starting this winter. We also have increased the bag limit on lake trout over 18 inches from one fish to two fish. We encourage anglers to remove as many of the smaller lake trout as possible. We simply cannot feed them and the quicker we remove them, the quicker the recovery will be. We hope these new, very liberal regulations will be a short-term endeavor.

The Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its first Moosehead Lake Togue Ice Fishing Derby with Ricky Craven this winter, which it hopes will become an annual event. The weekend fishing derby is scheduled for Jan. 26-27. This derby will help us reach our management goal of removing lake trout from the lake and raise money for some local and national charities. There will be cash prizes for the 3 biggest lake trout. Contestants also will get a ticket for each small fish they bring in, for entry in a drawing for other prizes. You can check out the Chamber’s webpage to learn more at: http://www.mooseheadlake.org. So come out and enjoy the wilderness setting of Moosehead Lake, assist us in managing the lake, and help raise a few dollars for some of Ricky’s favorite charities.

For those anglers who just can’t seem to put away the fly rod, then you may want to give the East Outlet a try this winter. The section from the dam down to the Beach Pool will be open for catch and release fishing starting on Jan.1. This is a great stretch of river for salmon and brook trout fishing. Be careful getting into the water this time of year. You can expect shell-ice and deep snow along the river.

– Tim Obrey, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Greenville

Region F — Penobscot Region

With several weeks of cold weather and snow already behind us, the upcoming ice fishing season should get off to a good start. Here are just some of the opportunities for ice fishing enthusiasts:

Kids Only Ponds:
Kids 15 and younger have several opportunities to be the star of the show, with some assistance from mom and dad when needed, of course. Pickerel Pond located at the Maine Youth Fish and Game Club beside the Stud Mill Road near Milford, Little Round Pond in Lincoln, Jerry Pond in Millinocket, Rock Crusher Pond in Island Falls and Harris Pond in Milo are all kids only ponds that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks several times throughout the year with brook trout. In fact, all of these ponds recently received supplemental stockings of fall yearling brook trout ranging from 10 to 14 inches long, as well as retired brood stock ranging from 14 to 18 inches long this past fall.

Coldwater Sport Fish:
 Schoodic Lake (Brownville, Milo and Lakeview Plantation): Schoodic Lake continues its remarkable recovery from the poor fishing of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and is once again a premier destination point for anglers in search of quality lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon. A new regulation for this season will allow anglers to keep two togue as part of their daily limit, but only one can be over 23 inches in length. The intent of the new regulation is to protect some of the larger togue in the lake while still allowing angers to take two togue home with them if they would like. The Department’s effort to restore the smelt forage base in the lake over the past decade continues to benefit salmon and our trapnetting results from last fall indicate that Schoodic is prime to give up some nice fish this winter (and potentially a trophy or two). Salmon trapnetted last fall averaged over 3 pounds in weight, and the largest was over 7 pounds!

 Cold Stream Pond (Enfield, Lincoln and Lowell): Growth of landlocked salmon at Cold Stream Pond remains very good, as they have responded well to the liberalized bag limit of lake trout (Daily limit: 5 lake trout, 14 inches) and reduced stocking rate of salmon, which has helped reduce the forage pressure on smelt in the lake. While catch rates of salmon may be a bit slow, anglers often find this an acceptable trade-off considering the potential size quality of the fish. Those looking to mix-it-up a bit should put a few lines on bottom in deeper water for togue. Togue in Cold Stream Pond typically range in size from 2 to 4 pounds, however the lake is known to occasionally give up a lunker of 15 pounds or greater. Anglers should set their lines with live bait a foot off bottom in water depths of 20 feet or more. An alternative and often preferred way to fish for togue is to lay a dead bait right on the bottom. It also helps to smash the bait up a bit before threading it on the hook, which will help disperse the scent.

 East Grand Lake (Danforth, Forest City, Orient and Weston): The landlocked salmon fishing at East Grand in recent years has been on the downside due to poor smelt survival and potential negative impacts of illegally introduced landlocked alewife into the system. In response, the Department has been decreasing the number of salmon it stocks in recent years to allow the smelt population a chance to rebound. Recent assessments of salmon growth at East Grand suggest that the strategy is beginning to work and salmon are improving in size. The trade off will be lower catch rates of salmon for a few years until smelt populations recover and salmon stocking is increased. On the other hand, the lake trout fishery at East Grand has recently become very popular both for the size of fish being caught and for the number of fish being reported by anglers.

Some of the other landlocked salmon waters in the region known to provide good action for quality sized salmon include:
 The Jo-Mary’s (Upper, Middle, and Lower), Millinocket Lake and the Pemadumcook Chain of lakes, all just north and west of the town of Millinocket;

 Pleasant Lake (Island Falls) and Deering Lake (Weston) both have the reputation of producing some of the fattest salmon in the Penobscot Region;

 East Musquash Lake, Pleasant Lake (Kossuth), Junior Lake, and Lower and Upper Sysladobsis (Dobsie) lakes can all be accessed off Route 6 running east from Lincoln to Topsfield;

 Finally West, Duck, Spring and Nicatous lakes east of the town of Burlington are known for fast action, especially early on in the season.

Anglers should keep these waters in mind later in the season as well when fishing pressure tends to decline.

Some of the other lake trout waters worth a try include: Millinocket, Ambajesus, Pemadumcook, Lower Jo-Mary, and First and Third Debsconeag lakes.

Matagamon Lake near the north entrance to Baxter State Park has a new regulation in place for this season, allowing anglers to keep a total of three togue daily from 14 to 18 inches in length, one of which may be over 18 inches. We encourage anglers to keep these smaller togue when they catch them, as we are trying to thin some of the stockpiled smaller fish from the lake and hope to see an improvement in growth of togue in the future. Matagamon also has self-sustaining populations of landlocked salmon and brook trout, so anglers will want to stagger their traps both along the shoreline and in the deeper waters to take advantage of the multiple opportunities.

Other Opportunities:
There currently are four waters stocked with splake, a hybrid species created by crossing lake trout and brook trout. Splake generally are stocked in lakes and ponds with water quality capable of supporting a cold water fishery, but for various reasons the traditional principal coldwater species (landlocked salmon, brook trout, and lake trout) managed by the Department have performed poorly. Splake resemble either lake trout or brook trout in appearance, or something in between, so all splake stocked in Region F waters are fin clipped prior to stocking to reduce confusion with other species that may inhabit these lakes (mainly brook trout). Splake waters include Lower Togue Pond, Cedar Lake, West Seboeis Lake and Endless Lake.

Nicatous Lake is the only lake in the region currently stocked with brown trout. There have been mixed reviews over the years concerning the success of this fishery due to the low catch rates, but our assessments have shown that Nicatous has the ability to produce some nice fish. Recently, salmon have been stocked in the lake in addition to brown trout, so anglers heading to Nicatous should carefully inspect their catch to ensure correct species identification (see page 40 of the 2008 Ice Fishing Regulation book for a guide to identification of brown trout versus landlocked salmon).

Finally, the region has a tremendous amount of opportunity for those in pursuit of warm water game fish (pickerel, perch, bass). Often these species are considered second fiddle to coldwater species, but in my opinion there’s nothing better than a fry of fresh perch, or even pickerel, when prepared correctly. Just a few of the warm water lakes in the region include: Chemo, Pushaw, Mattamiscontis, South Branch, Saponac, Dolby Flowage, Number 3 Pond, Baskahegan Lake, and most of the lakes in the town of Lincoln including Mattanawcook, Crooked, Folsom, Center, Caribou, Egg, and Cambolasse.

New Opportunity:
Molunkus Lake in the Aroostook County towns of Molunkus and Macwahoc was stocked this fall with nearly 1,000 fall yearling brook trout ranging is size from 10 to 14 inches. Biologists have attempted to establish a coldwater fishery in the lake for years, stocking both landlocked salmon and brown trout, but with little success. Fall yearling brook trout have done fairly well at other lakes around the region in recent years, and may provide an acceptable fishery at Molunkus as well. We will monitor the lake during this winter to assess catch rates and determine the success of our efforts. The lake also supports healthy populations of warm water game fish including white perch, pickerel and small-mouth bass.

– Richard Dill, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Bangor

Region G – Aroostook County

The region has been covered in a deep blanket of snow which has been great for snowmobiling, but it has added an insulating layer to ice forming on the lakes. Fortunately, we have been experiencing cold air temperatures that over time will add to ice thickness for the Jan. 1 start of the 2008 ice fishing season. We have heard reports of slush forming on some of the larger lakes from the weight of the snow. Anglers venturing onto a lake for the first time will want to consider unhooking tote sleds to check travel conditions and make a path to their destination for easier going with their load of gear.

New regulations have been implemented for this upcoming season, and the new ice fishing law book should be required reading prior to any fishing trip this winter.

Except as provided by rule, all waters are now open to ice fishing 24 hours a day. All lines must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them. The exception being that all lines set at night for cusk must be visited at least once every hour by the person who set them. On page 10 of the law book are three new entries that define ice fishing, an ice fishing device and an ice fishing trap. The definition of illegal fishing, also on page 10, notes that the restriction to fish other than by the use of a single pointed hook and line does not apply to smelt fishing. Also eliminated was the regulation that allowed night fishing using 3 hooks per line, hooks not to be less than 4 inches apart.

Anglers in southern Aroostook now will be able to fish for smelts at night at Drew’s and Nickerson lakes. Drew’s Lake also has received a stocking of fall yearling splake that should make for great fishing at the start of the season. The togue regulation at Nickerson Lake has been changed to allow the taking of 3 togue with a minimum length limit of 14 inches; only 1 may exceed 18 inches.

In central Aroostook, Squa Pan Lake continues to be a popular destination for the splake and smelt fishery. Fall yearling brook trout have been stocked in Arnold Brook Lake. This has been a disappointing fishery the past few years but this easily accessible lake might be a good destination early in the year.

Smelt anglers that routinely fish Long, Cross, Square and Eagle Lakes for smelts from Jan. 1-14 should be aware that this fishery still is limited to night fishing from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. There is no limit on the number of hooks per line. From Jan. 15-March 15, fishing is allowed for all fish 24 hours a day.

At Eagle Lake in the Fish River Chain, the daily bag limit on togue now is 6 fish with a minimum length limit of 14 inches; only 1 may exceed 23 inches. The daily bag limit on salmon is 3 fish with a 12-inch minimum length limit. There has been no change in the brook trout regulation. Anglers fishing Eagle Lake may legally possess 6 togue, 3 salmon and 2 trout in one day.

First, Second and Third Musquacook Lakes also have had the daily bag limit on togue increase to 6 fish with a minimum length limit of 14 inches; only 1 may exceed 23 inches. An angler fishing one of these lakes may legally possess in one day: 6 togue and 2 trout.

At Portage, St. Froid and Square lakes, 3 salmon may be harvested per day with a minimum length limit of 12 inches. A reminder that the minimum length limit on whitefish is 16 inches and the daily bag limit is 3 fish.

Anglers fishing Big Eagle and Churchill Lakes need to be aware that the daily bag limit on togue has increased to 2 fish. These lakes remain closed to the taking of whitefish.

Regulations have been liberalized on these waters to reduce predation on the smelt population and/or to improve growth rates on coldwater gamefish.

Fishery staff from the Ashland headquarters will be surveying anglers on Long Lake, St. Froid Lake, Portage Lake and Carr Pond in the Fish River Chain; Millinocket and Millimagassett lakes; Madawaska Lake; and early in the season, Drew’s and Nickerson lakes. As always, angler cooperation with IF&W biologists is greatly appreciated.

–David J. Basley, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Ashland

“Catchable Trout”

Most of the brook trout fishing opportunity for winter anglers in central and southern Maine occurs in lakes and ponds that are stocked in the fall with 10- to 14-inch trout by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlifes’s Hatchery Division. This fall stocking is part of the Department’s Catchable Trout Stocking Program.

Approximately 20,000 of these legal-sized brook trout are stocked each fall in these regions alone. The intent of these stockings is to provide trout fishing opportunity in waters that do not sustain year round brook trout fisheries for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of suitable cold-water habitat in summer, competing fish species, or no brook trout spawning habitat. The trout that do survive the winter provide fishing opportunity right after ice out but these trout very seldom live through the summer to be around the following winter. Due to their close proximity to population centers, waters in this part of the state experience moderate to high angler use during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. MDIF&W’s catchable trout stocking program provides anglers with the opportunity to catch legal size brook trout in addition to other coldwater fish species (brown trout, landlocked salmon, and rainbow trout). Additionally the region provides diverse fishing opportunities for warm-water fish species.

During the 2006 and 2007 ice fishing seasons, fisheries biologists from MDIF&W’s Sidney office and the Bangor office’s Lake Research Group creel surveyed a number of central Maine waters that were stocked with fall yearling brook trout. Not unexpectedly, more questions emerged than were answered. On some waters anglers were catching brook trout, while on others hardly a brook trout was caught during the entire season.

Based on the 2006 and 2007 creel surveys and supporting data from other regions a multi-year study to intensively investigate angler catch and return rates on waters stocked with fall-yearling brook trout was developed. The objective of the “Catchable Trout Study” as we call it is to determine what conditions provide the best returns to anglers. A better understanding of where catchable trout perform best will help guide future stocking decisions to maximize angling success. As such our focus is on the environmental parameters of the stocked waters, stocking methods, quality of the stocked trout, and public access…It is always up to the anglers to catch the fish though!

As part of this study IF&W fisheries biologists from the Gray and Sidney offices and the Lake Research Group will be conducting creel surveys on 16 waters, ranging in size from 6 to 665 acres, during the first four weeks of the 2008 ice fishing season. These study waters are: Barker (Parker) Pond (Lyman); Bear Pond (Waterford); Biscay Pond (Bremen); Cochnewagon Pond (Monmouth); Crystal Pond (Gray); Flying Pond (Vienna); Keewaydin Lake (Stoneham); Keoka Lake (Waterford); McGrath Pond (Oakland); Nequasset Lake (Woolwich); Otter Pond No. 2 (Standish); Round Pond (Lyman); Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester); Salmon Pond or Ellis Pond (Oakland); Wilson Pond (Wayne); and Worthley Pond (Poland).

Ice fishing for brook trout requires a different approach than fishing for brown trout, landlocked salmon, or togue. Shallow water and structure are probably the most important things to think of when ice fishing for brook trout. Water less than 10 feet deep associated with aquatic vegetation, boulders or rocky points are usually excellent locations to fish for brook trout. If fishing traps use worms or small minnows, bait should be placed just under the ice. Jigging with small jigs (rubber or marabou bodies) or spoons can at times bring fast action. Remember that winter water temperatures are suitable for trout throughout a lake and that prey items favored by brook trout will be in these shallower areas. It is hard to think that the rocky point where you catch bass during the summer is the best place to fish for brook trout during the winter, but give it a try, you might be surprised by the success you have! Experiment with your techniques until you find what works.

– Joe Dembeck, Research Fisheries Biologist, Bangor

Posted by Tom Remington

On January 24, the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission is planning a meeting to hear public debate on the prospects of opening up a spring catch and release fishing season for Atlantic salmon. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Holden Elementary School.

Presently, there is a short season in the fall on a short stretch of the Penobscot River near Bangor, but some anglers would like to see a spring version of that. According to Kevin Miller of the Bangor Daily News, even the biologists involved in this project are not in complete agreement.

A mortality assessment performed by state fisheries biologists determined that the proposed May fishery would pose “extremely low” risks to the fish. But even biologists at the Bureau of Sea Run Fisheries and Habitat — the agency that oversees restoration and management of Atlantic salmon — have been split about whether the state should hold a spring season.

Evidently the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is debating whether to add the Penobscot salmon to the endangered list. Should that happen, most conclude that it would put an end to any kind of salmon fishing on the Penobscot River.

Tom Remington

Trout Unlimited has gone public in its position on global warming. They have published a report called, “Helping Trout and Salmon Survive Climate Change”. Essentially TU believes that government, which will be loaded with tax dollars many believe will be made available through Congress, must step in and take over the steps necessary to save the cold waters that support our trout and salmon.

Senate Bill 2191 calls for spending $175 billion dollars in the next 30 years to find ways of protecting our waters from warming.

Follow this link and you can find this report along with other information about TU’s position on global warming.

Tom Remington

Or do you really care? Most people probably don’t care why a dead fish floats and some probably never really considered it. Don’t all things dead in the water float? I don’t know but LiveScience provides an explanation as to why fish float and usually belly up when it dies.

Fish are slightly more dense than the water in which they swim. They are almost neutrally buoyant, meaning the forces acting against the fish to make it sink are about equal to the forces inside the fish causing it to float. It also means fish don’t have to work too hard to keep from floating or sinking.

Find out exactly what happens.

Tom Remington

It appears that scientists studying didymo “Down Under” are to blame for spreading the virus to other parts of the country. Parties on both sides are making commentary about this act saying that if scientists can’t take the proper steps to stop the spread of didymo, how can it be expected that common fishermen will. On the other side, officials are saying that this proves just how difficult it is to stop it from spreading.

Tom Remington

Before some of you think I’ve flipped my lid and jumped on the global warming bandwagon, read on. There are other dangers that are beginning to surface because our society has too eagerly accepted one man’s theory about global warming and in particular the effects of carbon dioxide.

Just yesterday I shared with readers about the Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act, a bill proposed by some members of the U.S. Senate that would have far reaching affects on all citizens but more importantly for us hunters, trappers and fishermen. This act would give the federal government far too much authority over state’s fish and game management programs, strip you and I of our property rights and further put a cramping on business, development and industry dependent on natural resources.

We can add one more thing this morning to this growing list of threats to citizens as the result of something we’ve decided to call global warming. Whether we believe in global warming as is being pushed by the doom and gloom bunch, we have to at least consider the side effects of such.

In Kansas, the Department of Health and Environment has rejected a permit application by a cooperative that is seeking to build two 700-megawatt coal-fired power plants (New York Times article). The DHE rejected that permit based solely on a Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts vs. the Environmental Protection Agency in which the court ruled that carbon dioxide was a pollutant that could be regulated. This is the first time any regulatory agency has denied a permit of this kind based solely on the premise of global warming.

Granted there are many people who applaud such a rejection because of their concerns over pollution but at least consider the precedent that is being set here. A permit is being denied strictly on the premise that a theory – I’m sorry but there is just as much scientific evidence to disprove global warming as defined as there is to support it – about the effects of carbon dioxide is causing the end of the world.

Is this the beginning of a domino effect? Are we going to destroy our own society, our economies and livelihoods over global warming? If you are a promoter of global warming at least use some sense and sensibility about what steps we are taking to combat it. Yanking the rug out from under everything in the name of global warming is as irresponsible as doing nothing at all about cleaning up our atmosphere and environment.

We should all keep a close eye on every action that is being taken in the name of global warming. This could have devastating affects on us all.

Tom Remington

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) along with co-sponsor Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have introduced their own version of the House’s bill called, Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act. According to a press release by Sen. Whitehouse, the Act will accomplish three things.

The bill would direct the federal government to develop coordinated national strategies to identify, monitor, and protect or restore wildlife populations and habitats that are likely to be harmed by global warming;

It would also create a panel to advise us on what we should do.

The bill would create Advisory Boards, with members appointed by the President of the National Academy of Sciences, and a new National Global Warming and Wildlife Science Center within the U.S. Geological Survey, to conduct research and provide scientific and technical advice on strategies to help wildlife, oceans, and coastal ecosystems adapt to global warming. A special panel would also be convened to look specifically at the impacts of climate change on endangered species (emboldening is added).

The bill would also provide funding in order to further study wildlife, oceans and habitat that are being affected by global warming. This money would also be used to implement programs to protect wildlife and habitat that are being affected by global warming.

We have certainly pressed the panic button in this society over global warming which is being proven time and again, day after day that it is just not scientifically supported. This is a hoax that is sure to bring billions of dollars into the pockets of scientific research and with this new proposed act would also distribute money to organizations to “implement programs” to counter global warming. And just where do you think that money will go?

I’ll give you one hint. The Defenders of Wildlife think this Act is a terrific idea and I’m sure other extreme environmental groups and animal rights groups will be jumping on this bandwagon.

This act is troubling in other ways as well. First of all, this appears to be another back door attempt to get federal government in control over state’s wildlife management programs. For decades the feds have, for the most part, recognized the 10th Amendment when it comes to managing wildlife programs and has butted out of allowing state sovereignty to prevail, with one exception being the Endangered Species Act.

Now all of a sudden because we have a group of emotionally charged people jumping on the global warming train ride, the state’s wildlife management programs are not good enough to deal with changes? State’s wildlife officials should be insulted as well as concerned. The feds want to take control over their wildlife and lands that provide the habitat.

The Endangered Species Act, as much as I think it is now outdated and in dire need of being revamped or axed, has sufficed lawmakers to this point in protecting threatened species. This act sounds like another way to put more power into the hands of the feds to further reduce hunting and fishing opportunities as well as outdoor pursuits all in the name of establishing habitat they claim is disappearing because of global warming.

Along with this grabbing up of more land for habitat protection comes the loss of individual property rights, say nothing of the millions of dollars that will be lost because of restrictions put on logging, mining and other businesses that rely on these lands.

Climateatrisk.com writes of the introduction of Whitehouse’s bill and describes the powers that would be granted to the appointed, not elected but appointed panel that would be in control.

The national strategy identifies specific goals and methods to protect, acquire and restore wildlife habitat in order to build resilience to global warming, and provide habitat linkages to facilitate wildlife movements in response to global warming. The National Strategy would also protect natural communities most vulnerable to global warming, and restore and protect ecological processes that sustain wildlife populations.

Does this language sound at all familiar? The Wildlands Project is an organization whose goals are to take land away from private landowners in order to create vast areas of land closed to humans and left for the “natural” use of wildlife at the expense of human productivity and freedom. The want wildlife to have the freedom to move about unimpaired by you and I owning land.

The Wildlands Project’s work to reconnect the continent begins with “MegaLinkages”–vast pathways that tie natural places together.

Within each continental MegaLinkage we propose regional systems of core protected areas connected to one another by “wildlife linkages,” mosaics of public and private lands that provide safe passageways for wildlife to travel freely from place to place.

Private land owners within proposed conservation planning areas are not bound in any way by our recommendations, but are encouraged to participate in voluntary actions to protect landscape linkages and native species.

It is not coincidental that the use of the word “linkages” is used in describing both goals by the Wildlands Project and the Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act.

But it doesn’t stop here. Rocker Carole King, a wildlands/wilderness advocate, who I am told is friends with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, got her chance to meet with the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, to promote her agenda of creating more wilderness – described as the biggest wilderness creation act since the Alaska Land Act.

King is pushing the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.

The bill, sponsored by New York Democrat Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Connecticut Republican Christopher Shays would designate as wilderness nearly 7 million acres in Montana, 9.5 million acres in Idaho, 5 million acres in Wyoming, 750,000 acres in eastern Oregon, and 500,000 acres in eastern Washington.

Another three million acres in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks also would become wilderness, where no logging, road-building, motorized use, and new oil and gas drilling or new mining could take place.

Now that the Democrats, notorious for being environmentalists with little concern for economic welfare and property rights, are in charge, this is the kind of legislation they are trying to push through and it all goes hand in hand.

This Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act is unnecessary and will needlessly cost taxpayers billions of dollars. It will further inflate an already overinflated government that does not need more power over the states. We have brilliant scientists and biologists working all across this land protecting our wildlife and doing a commendable job. Let’s keep big government out.

This act will further tie up land deemed as critical habitat all in the name of global warming, a theory never proven scientifically to be valid. With those in charge fostering ideas that we need millions of square miles of unaccessible wilderness lands for animals is absurd and scientifically unfounded. This is Disney biology at its best.

We as hunters, fishermen and trappers witness first hand how our opportunities are shrinking on a daily basis when governments, pushed by environmental and animal rights groups, tie up land we use to hunt and fish on because of political hard balling.

To some this act may appear to be one that will work toward guaranteeing that we will continue to have game to hunt and fish. It is far from that. We have seen what an abuse of the Endangered Species Act has done for us and this Act will enhance the powers of those who administer the ESA. Is that what we want? Do we want left-wing environmentalists fear mongers further stripping us of hunting and fishing opportunities and taking land out of the hands of private citizens?

This act is not grounded in good scientific reasoning. It’s a means by which power hungry politicians can control the people using the fear of global warming to take away our land, our freedoms and our opportunities to prosper and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

I would encourage everyone to contact their senators and congressmen and tell them the Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act is nothing our country needs. If you believe your state has the ability to handle your wildlife management and that you believe the American dream is to own land and have the rights to use that land, speak up now.

Tom Remington

My good friend and colleague, George Dovel, has put together one of the most eye opening articles I have read in a long time. The article contains information that deals with anti-hunting issues, land loss, property rights, the abuse by some states to illegally use money from hunting and fishing license to fund programs outside of fish and game, the Wildlands Project, Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act and an entire host of other topics.

This article is long but is worth the read. I would highly suggest that anyone who cares at all about hunting, trapping, fishing and the outdoors, read this article. Much of the topics discussed are centered in the state of Idaho but I don’t want you to think for one second that you couldn’t just as easily insert the state you live in. All of these things happening can and are taking place right in your back yard. It’s time to open our eyes.

I am going to provide you with a couple of different ways you can obtain it. You can begin the story here and follow the link to read the rest. On that page you can copy and paste the article into a word processor program and print it out. Also at the bottom of this page is a link to a pdf version of the story for your convenience.

I want to take a moment and thank George for granting me permission to republish this article in its entirety at the Black Bear Blog and other Skinny Moose Media websites.

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News and Comment by George Dovel

About George Dovel: Following several decades of close association with state and federal wildlife mangers as a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, a qualified volunteer on assorted wildlife research projects and a member of several fish and game advisory committees, George Dovel offers a unique perspective on what has happened to wildlife resource management. With record low big game and upland bird populations existing throughout the U.S. in 1969-1973 he edited and published The Outdoorsman which is credited with helping to restore scientific game management. The new crisis in game management throughout the West resulted in resurrecting The Outdoorsman in March 2004 to provide factual information for outdoorsmen and their elected officials.

On July 3, 2007, a public meeting of an ad hoc committee formed to discuss future funding for IDFG took place at F&G Headquarters in Boise. Chaired by Senate Resource Committee Chairman Gary Schroeder, the members included House Resource Committee Chairman John A. “Bert” Stevenson, Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) Co-Chair Senator Dean Cameron and former F&G Commissioner Representative Fred Wood. < <<<<Continue to the rest of this Article>>>>>

Click here to download a pdf version of this article.

Tom Remington

Oberstar and Feingold Bait-and-Switch:
Deceptively-Named “Clean Water Restoration Act”
Would Expand, Not Restore Federal Powers

100+ Conservationists, Seniors Advocates, Farm Bureaus,
Civil Rights Leaders, Cattlemen, Taxpayer Action Groups Detail
Potential for Abuse in Letter to Hill Leaders

Washington, D.C. – A letter signed by over 100 people representing diverse interests and millions of Americans is being delivered to Congress this morning contending that the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA) would achieve the opposite of what its sponsors claim.

The bill, sponsored by James Oberstar in the House and Russell Feingold in the Senate, was introduced ostensibly to restore protections under the Clean Water Act lost due to Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006 and to clarify which waters would be subject to federal jurisdiction.

But according to the coalition, the legislation would “achieve the opposite: It would expand the scope of the Clean Water Act far beyond its original intent while increasing confusion over what is and isn’t to be protected… [and] runs counter to the principle of accountable government as it seeks to transfer legislative power from elected officials” to the courts.”

The coalition effort, spearheaded by the Washington, DC-based National Center for Public Policy Research, is signed by conservationists, family advocacy groups, civil rights leaders, sportsmen organizations, seniors advocates, think tanks and taxpayer action groups, among others.

Among the signers: John Berthoud, the late president of the National Taxpayers Union; G. Ray Arnett, former president and a long-time director of the National Wildlife Federation; Jim Handley, Executive Director of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association; Former U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop (R-WY), Chairman of Frontiers of Freedom; Niger Innis, National Spokesman for the Congress of Racial Equality, one of the nation’s oldest civil rights organizations; Adrian T. Moore, Vice President of Research of the Reason Foundation; Chris Derry, President of the Bluegrass Institute; and Linda Runbeck, President of the American Property Coalition, an organization founded by former U.S. Senator Rod Grams (R-MN) which has led a national education effort on the CWRA.

“The ‘Clean Water Restoration Act’ is classic bait-and-switch,” said David Ridenour, Vice President of The National Center for Public Policy Research. “Congressman Oberstar and Senator Feingold advertise that their initiative is designed to reassert congressional intent and add clarity to the Clean Water Act. But that’s not the product they’re actually selling. Indeed, the Clean Water Restoration Act would be an unprecedented expansion of federal power.”

The CWRA would, according to the letter, give the federal government the power to regulate all interstate and intrastate waters, including non-navigable waters. In so doing, the bill would exceed the original scope of the Clean Water Act and likely violate the Constitution. Non-navigable waters are unlikely to fall under the Constitution’s commerce clause.

“This bill would extend federal authority to literally all waters in America right down to intermittently wet drainage ditches,” said Ridenour. “But its reach wouldn’t end at water’s edge. It also regulates ‘activities affecting these waters’ providing an enormous opening for regulation of dry land, too.”

A view the letter, go to www.nationalcenter.org/Clean_Water_Restoration_Act_Letter_100907.pdf.

The National Center for Public Policy Research is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation based in Washington, D.C now in its 25th year.

Posted by Tom Remington