Maine Chevrolet Derby 2009 Features Two Ice Fishing Tournaments

The Maine Chevrolet Derby 2009 features two ice fishing tournaments this winter. The Sebago Lake Derby is set for February 21 and 22 and the State Wide Derby is scheduled for March 7 and 8.

The tournaments are open to adults and youngsters and subject to all ice fishing regulations as set by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Competitors may fish for togue, pickerel, pike and muskie. Says Maine IF&W fisheries biologist, John Boland, “ The Sebago Lake Rotary has always coordinated with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to ensure their events are consistent with our fishery objectives. The derbies have been a wonderful success-encouraging families to take advantage of ice fishing and most importantly, raising money for charity.” Read more

Maine’s Atlantic Salmon Proposal Could Be Costly In Many Ways

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), combined with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC) and Department of Interior (DOI), is proposing to create a new Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon that, if allowed, will entail nearly two-thirds of the state of Maine, when combined with the existing DPS.

In November of 2000, the feds created a DPS for Atlantic salmon that involved basically eight rivers of eastern Maine and much of its watershed. Read more

Hunters, Anglers Advised of Changes, IF&W Initiatives

AUGUSTA – Hunting and fall fishing seasons are underway in Maine, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants hunters and anglers to be aware of rules and agency initiatives in order to have a safe season.

Hunters and anglers are reminded to read and carry with them their appropriate law books. The law books are available at any licensing agent and at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. For more information, call 287-6000. Read more

Tyler Gammon Nets Largest Fish In Upper Andro Two-Fly Contest

Mike Jones of Farmington, Maine wins Drift Boat Championship

The weather was superb and the excitement was high for the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance Two-Fly Contest and Drift Boat Championship. As the photo shows, the morning began on the foggy side but soon cleared out for a great time.

Wende Gray, spokesperson and organizer of the event, said, “Everyone had a super, duper time and I think we’ll double the number of entrants next year.” Read more

L.L. Bean Honors Former Maine IF&W’s Bill Pierce

AUGUSTA – Former Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife marketing specialist Bill Pierce recently was named a recipient of the prestigious L.L. Bean 2008 Outdoor Heroes award.

Mr. Pierce, who worked at the Department from 1999 until April 2008, was nominated by Fisheries Division Director John Boland. He now works at the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

The L.L. Bean Outdoor Heroes Program was developed to thank individuals who have dedicated their time to preserving the outdoors and encouraging the use of recreational outdoor space.

Winners are awarded a $5,000 grant towards their organization to support continued preservation, conservation and educational efforts. IF&W will apply the grant to its youth fishing and education programs. Read more

Illegal Koi Fish Spotted In Pickerel Pond

AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists have retrieved a non-native koi/carp from Pickerel Pond in Limerick and have received reports that there may be at least one other in this particular body of water.

Koi, which is the Japanese term for carp, is an invasive species that can survive and reproduce in Maine’s waters and cause devastating harm to the state’s native fish species, aquatic plant life, and the quality of water.

Based on public reports, it is believed the koi was introduced into Pickerel Pond earlier this summer, but it is not known how it got there. IF&W was alerted to the koi by Limerick Town Selectman Dean Lepage and resident Ilene Dashner, and these reports prompted a quick response from fisheries biologists who hope their efforts will reduce the risk of the koi taking over the pond. Read more

Skinny Moose Media Will Sponsor Boat For Maine Two-Fly Championships

The Maine Two-Fly Contest and Drift Boat Championships will be held this weekend, September 20 and 21 and Skinny Moose Media will sponsor a boat featuring to local Maine media people. The drift boat, supplied by Sun Valley Sports in Bethel, Maine, will have its oarsman, Nate Wight, a local guide. Fishing will be Steve Minich, sports anchor for the local ABC affiliate News Channel 8. The second angler will be Kevyn Fowler, a videographer from News Channel 8.

We are proud to be able to sponsor a boat for this event. I believe there is still time to enter a team if you haven’t already. I also encourage everyone to take in the event as well. Following the Two-Fly will be the Drift Boat competition which will be easily visible from several locations near town. Awards and a ceremony will also be held in conjunction with the local Harvest Fest. Read more

Mapleton Youth Catches Record-Setting Arctic Charr

MAPLETON – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife confirms that an 11-year-old young man from Mapleton has caught a record-setting Arctic Charr, breaking a 35-year-old record.

Carter McLaughlin, 11, of Mapleton, caught the charr on Aug. 20 at Pushineer Pond in T15 R9. According to IF&W Assistant Fisheries Biologist Frank Frost, who measured the fish, the record-setter was 25.4 inches in total length and weighed 5.24 pounds.

The previous record weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces and was 22-3/8-inches long. It was caught by Merton Wyman of Belgrade on Basin Pond on May 5, 1973. Read more

Maine Fishing Report For September 9, 2008

Region A – Southwestern Maine

To Region A biologists, the last month of summer means it is time to complete the stream surveys scheduled in our annual work plan. Some of these surveys are associated with the statewide brook trout monitoring program. These surveys are completed in each of MDIF&W’s seven regions and involve sampling brook trout and taking habitat measurements in two “close to pristine” streams. The objective is to use these streams as an overall measure of the health of wild brook trout populations statewide.

Our sampling at Worthley Brook in Poland indicated a very healthy population, averaging about one brook trout for every two feet of stream. Our second brook trout monitoring stream, Branch Brook in Sanford, seemed to have a slightly reduced population from past years but can still boast a high quality brook trout fishery with plenty of young trout in the system. Read more

Upper Andro Fall Two Fly Contest And Drift Boat Competition

Dear Fishermen and Fisherwomen;

Rescheduled for September

Due to the unseasonable rainfall and high water levels on the Upper Androscoggin River this past June, The Two Fly Contest and Drift Boat Championship have been rescheduled for the weekend of September 20 and 21. The contests will be held in conjunction with Bethel’s Harvest Fest.

Contestants may use only two flies during the event, which starts at 6:00 am on Saturday. Teams may launch from public launch sites from the New Hampshire border at Shelburne to Rumford Center. The contest concludes at 2:00 pm. Read more

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