Above-average temperatures, along with recent storms, are creating conditions that are weakening ice throughout the state. Rivers and streams still are high, causing substantial amounts of water to flow into lakes, opening up inlets and outlets and creating dangerous conditions. Also, power companies recently have performed routine draw-downs of water that changed ice conditions, especially along shorelines.

The state’s larger lakes have substantial swatches of open water, and in southern Maine many of the smaller lakes and ponds are opening up.

Because of insufficient ice in parts of the state, promoters of the 10th Maine Chevrolet Derby, a statewide ice fishing derby, decided Tuesday night to cancel the event, which was scheduled for March 6-7.

According to derby promoter Tom Noonan, only six of the 25 fish weigh stations reported having two feet of ice or more. For more information, visit www.icefishingderby.com.

The Maine Warden Service is advising that people to be cautious. Do not drive heavy vehicles, such as cars or trucks, onto lakes or ponds. Any snowfall, such as that forecasted for tonight in parts of Maine, may blanket any open water. Persons unfamiliar with a lake or pond are advised not to go on them, particularly at night.

Some parts of the state, primarily ponds in northern Maine, have ice. But Game Wardens are advising that its thickness should be checked before venturing onto its surface.

The Maine Warden Service offers these tips for ice safety:

· Never guess the thickness of the ice – Check it! Check the ice in several different places using an auger or some other means to make a test hole and determine the thickness. Make several, beginning at the shore, and continuing as you go out.

· Check the ice with a partner, so if something does happen, someone is there to help you. If you are doing it alone, wear a lifejacket.

· If ice at the shoreline is cracked or squishy, stay off! Watch out for thin, clear or honeycombed ice. Dark snow and dark ice are other signs of weak spots.

· Avoid areas with currents, around bridges and pressure ridges. Wind and currents can break ice.

· Parents should alert children of unsafe ice in their area, and make sure that they stay off the ice.

If you break through the ice, remember:

· Don’t panic.

· Don’t try to climb out immediately – you will probably break the ice again. Reach for solid ice.

· Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Once on the ice, roll, DON’T WALK, to safety.

· To help someone who has fallen through the ice, lie down flat and reach with a branch, plank or rope or form a human chain. Don’t stand. After securing the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.

Our regional fisheries biologists preview the upcoming season in their annual Ice Fishing Preview. This is an informative guide to what fish have been stocked and where, and biologists’ picks of great ice fishing hot spots!

To view the preview on our website, visit http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/reports/weekly_biologist/index.htm

For a printable pdf version, select this link: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/reports/pdfs/2010icefishpreview.pdf

Happy Fishing!

Bethel, Me…..Tyler Cote of Monmouth was the first place winner in the Third Annual Upper Andro Two Fly Contest held Saturday, September 19th on the Upper Androscoggin River between New Hampshire and Rumford, Maine. Tyler tied for first place in the biggest fish category with Brad Jerome of Newry. Both anglers caught a 14” rainbow trout. There was a tie for second place between Kevin McKay of Brewer, Maine and Charlie Lowe of Twin Mountain, NH, with 13 ½” rainbows. Chad Hughes of Camden, Scott Overbey of Brunswick and Mitch Cummings of Bethel each caught a 13” rainbow for third place honors.

The largest catch was also won by Cote with 12 fish, ten rainbows, a brown and brook trout. Second place went to Overbey with a catch of 9 rainbows and third place to Lowe with 4 rainbows, a brook and brown trout.

The Rocky Freda Turtle Water Team Trophy was presented to the Patagonia/Wild River Angler team who caught 21 fish.

Thirteen teams entered the competition. Each team made up of two anglers and a drift boat oarsman, fished with the use of only two flies from 6 am to 2 pm. All fish were caught, recorded and released. Along with the trophies, merchandise prizes from Orvis, L.L. Bean, Kittery Trading Post and Patagonia were presented to the winners. Three anglers who were unable to catch any fish received a new set of flies from Selene Dumaine of Merrymeeting Fly Shop in Brunswick.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance. The non-profit group, based in Bethel, Maine, is dedicated to conserving, protecting, restoring and promoting the natural resources relating to the Upper Androscoggin River, its tributaries, watershed and environs.

Leave a Legacy Fish 50 Trophy Waters in 50 States in 50 Days www.fish5050.com

Our Mission: On June 13th, 2009 my son Taylor (age 17) and I will embark on a nationwide quest, a quest to Fish 50 Trophy Waters in 50 States in 50 Days. Our journey will span 15,000 miles by land, 6,000 miles by air (Alaska and Hawaii), cover 500 miles by water, with no shortcuts. www.fish5050.com
Our Cause: Our hope is that our adventure, our quest, will inspire fathers and sons across the nation to realize their dreams for adventure and connect once again. To find and live out that adventure in their lives they so desperately desire and need. To realize that no matter where you live there is a pond, river, lake, or ocean – teeming with fish – waiting to be explored – to build a lasting memory – to rekindle that long lost relationship – to Leave a Legacy.

Ever since I was a small boy I’ve dreamed of adventure; desiring to seek after something that seemed bigger than life. If you’re like me, adventures such as climbing Mount Everest or running the Boston Marathon seem a bit beyond reality. I’m just an average father; what could my adventure be?

What’s so special about a father and son adventure? My son Taylor has been my fishing buddy since he was a small boy. We’ve experienced some incredible fishing trips together. Realizing that with college on the horizon we see one last chance at a truly epic adventure together – to seize the moment. Where the fish story of all fish stories, between a father and son, can be lived out and told.

When I was a child, I longed to ride along with my dad no matter where he was going, and I jumped at every chance to go fishing with him. In fact, from my earliest memories, fishing has always been my passion. For many of us, fishing was the one true bond we had with our fathers, where we finally felt connected, where our father’s legacy lives on. The romance of those days is a distant memory for most people. Fathers are caught up in the rat race of life with long commutes, constant emails, and never ending work weeks while our children sit at home trying to fill the voids by immersing themselves in their world of Xbox, iPOD, and Cable TV. With all of society’s advancements many fathers and sons have lost their common bond
- they’ve lost their desire for adventure.

The Media: The project will have significant U.S. media attention through local, state, and national magazines, newspapers, web, television, radio, and upon completion of our journey a book.

Jeff & Taylor Turner
7332 Fox Call Lane
Warrenton, Virginia 20186
540-351-0250
jeff.turner@fish5050.com

For the complete details and information about this adventure, follow this pdf link.

Posted by Tom Remington

In this edition you can get information about the new process to apply for a chance at a moose permit, great stuff about monitoring efforts of Maine’s hibernating black bears, tons of news, information and reports, including the latest ice fishing reports from all the regions around the state.

Tom Remington

Chris Bubier of Wilton caught a 3.13-pound (or 3 pounds, 2 ounces), 17-1/4-long white perch on Jan. 24 at Parker Pond in Jay. The pond also is known as Mirror Lake or Little Parker Pond.

Mr. Bubier had the white perch weighed on certified scales at Rick’s Market in Wilton. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Fisheries Biologist Dave Boucher confirmed the record-setting weight.

The previous record was set by Jeff Paquette of Freedom, who caught a 3.02-pound white perch (or 3 pounds, 1/3 ounce) at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, at Ellis Pond in Brooks. Mr. Paquette’s fish was weighed on certified scales at 8:30 a.m. by Paul Flynn, the owner of Freedom General Store, and was witnessed by three people.

According to Biologist Boucher, it’s unusual for two record-setting fish to be caught in such a short period of time.

“When Chris caught the fish, he didn’t think much about it,” Boucher said. “But when he read about the record he said that he thought his fish would beat it and decided to call me and check. It did.”

IF&W and the Maine Sportsman newspaper, which is edited by avid outdoorsman and TV personality Harry Vanderweide, jointly announce new records and the publication maintains the record book.
The Maine Sportsman sponsors “The One That Didn’t Get Away Club,” which it boasts as “an association of fresh water anglers who have landed a big one in Maine.” Anglers who have caught what they believe may be the biggest of any fish species during a calendar year may fill out an application and be entered into a contest. There is a $5 application fee and winners receive a patch.

For contest rules and an application form, visit www.mainesportsman.com, scroll down and click on “applications.”

Posted by Tom Remington

Craig Coulombe and Willfred Gagne, both of Farmington, were pulling the shack on a trailer from Embden Pond to Webb Lake.

Coulombe, who was driving his 1999 Dodge 1500, was traveling on the north end of Webb Lake to the Dummers Beach area, where he dropped off the shack.

When leaving, the men became disoriented by the snowstorm and told Game Warden Kris MacCabe that they believed they were driving northbound when in fact they were heading south.

Warden MacCabe said the men drove the entire length of the lake before going into thin ice and open water at the narrow part of the lake by Webb River.

Wardens MacCabe and Josh Smith responded to the ice anglers’ call for help. Neither fisherman was hurt.

Today, a tow-truck operator was attempting to get the truck and trailer out of the lake. Breaking ice was delaying the process.

Tom Remington

IF&W and the Maine Sportsman newspaper, which is edited by avid outdoorsman and TV personality Harry Vanderweide, jointly announce new records and the publication maintains the record book.

Jeff Paquette of Freedom caught the white perch at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, at Ellis Pond in Brooks. The fish was weighed on certified scales at 8:30 a.m. by Paul Flynn, the owner of Freedom General Store, and was witnessed by three other people.

IF&W Fisheries Biologists Bill Woodward and Scott Davis, based at IF&W’s Sidney office, inspected the fish and confirmed the record.

The previous record was set on Feb. 9, 2002 by Michael Frechette of Sanford, who caught a 2.84-pound white perch on Square Pond.

This is the second record-setting fish caught in 2008. Carter McLaughlin, 11, of Mapleton caught a 5.24-pound, 25.4-inch Arctic Charr on Aug. 20 at Pushineer Pond in T15 R9.

The Maine Sportsman sponsors “The One That Didn’t Get Away Club,” which it boasts as “an association of fresh water anglers who have landed a big one in Maine.” Anglers who have caught what they believe may be the biggest of any fish species during a calendar year may fill out an application and be entered into a contest. There is a $5 application fee and winners receive a patch.

For contest rules and an application form, visit www.mainesportsman.com, scroll down and click on “applications.”

Tom Remington

Valentine’s weekend is the time to do it as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife promotes Family Fishing Days.

On Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15, people can fish for free on Maine’s waterways. This free fishing event is open to any person except those whose license has been revoked or suspended. All fishing regulations apply.

For a complete list of fishing regulations, including limits and sizes, visit www.mefishwildlife.com and click on “fishing.”

Fishing, whether on open water or on ice, is one of the most popular activities in Maine, drawing thousands upon thousands of residents and out-of-state visitors to the state’s nearly 6,000 lakes and ponds and almost 32,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Approximately 286,000 people annually purchase fishing licenses in Maine, and the sport has a $300 million impact on the state’s economy.

This weekend is the first of two free fishing weekends offered this year. The second is May 30 and 31, the weekend after Memorial Day.

“Family Fishing Days provide the perfect opportunity for adults to introduce children to fishing,” said Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “It’s a wonderful chance to make memories and be encouraged by the young ones to buy a fishing license and spend more time on Maine’s waterways throughout the year.”

Want to continue the fishing experience throughout the year? Fishing licenses are available for purchase on IF&W’s Web site, www.mefishwildlife.com, at any of the more than 285 MOSES licensing agents statewide, or at town offices and other locations.

They also are available at our main office at 284 State St., Augusta.