Moosehead, Penobscot region fishing reports
By Fisheries Resource Technician Elijah Creedon
With cold conditions persisting in much of the region through March, ice is very likely to remain on many of our waters in the Moosehead Lake region well into the month of April. That said whether through the ice or on open water great fishing experiences can still be found.
Tips for smelt and spring fishing: As their spawn moves closer, smelt will begin to congregate around their frequented spawning tributaries, and where there’s smelt hungry game fish follow. Fishing around the mouths of tributaries (where safe conditions occur) can be the ticket to a successful trip this time of year. Through the ice, targeting drop offs and structures near those tributaries can be quite effective. Fishing in a variety of water depths and varying bait placement through the water column can help narrow in on where those fish are foraging. As ice conditions deteriorate, fishing from shore or boat over those same locations can prove just as effective.
Tips for hitting the rivers
Early April: Depending on weather conditions, brook trout are likely to still be found in slower deeper overwintering areas. Keep an eye on water levels and stretches of warm weather that can increase their feeding activity.
Late April: As the rivers begin to warm insects become more active. Late April often marks the first of the spring’s real hatches. So, dust off the dry fly rod, and keep an eye on the weather forecast for sunny calm afternoons. Waters like the West Branch of the Penobscot River, Roach River, Moose River, east and west outlets of the Kennebeck River, the Piscataquis River and your favorite small stream should all start to fish well.
Reminders
Regulations: As we move into open water season be sure to refresh yourself on the open water fishing regulations and take advantage of the Maine Fishing Laws Online Angling Tool. A reminder to ice anglers on Moosehead Lake that brook trout and land locked salmon are closed to harvest through the month of April to help support their populations. As conditions continue to vary, don’t forget that it is illegal to fish open water while positioned on the ice.
Ice safety: If you plan on hitting the ice this April proceed with caution. Areas with current such as main lake pinch points, islands, inlets, around shorelines and pressure ridges can become dangerous. Keep in mind that as temperatures fluctuate, what is frozen now may have been open water yesterday! And remember thick ice does not always equal safe ice, as temps’ increase, ice rots and cannot support as much weight. So, travel slowly and be sure to check the ice thickness and condition as you go.
Cold water safety: Whether you plan on launching the boat, fishing from shore or wading your favorite river keep in mind that the water is cold and hypothermia is no joke. Keeping a spare change of clothes and a towel in a dry bag is a great addition to your PFD year-round. Be sure to be prepared for the unfortunate circumstance of ending up in the drink. So, tighten those wading belts and keep the life jackets on.
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By Fisheries Resource Biologist Kevin Gallant
With the winter ice fishing season coming to an end, it is time to start thinking about open water fishing. Throughout the Penobscot region we stock several ponds to take brook trout through the ice. If these ponds don’t get completely fished out, there should be opportunities for 12 inch-plus brook trout to be caught. These waters include Wiley Pond in Patten, Middle Oxhead Pond in T40 ND and Norton Pond in Brownville. We don’t expect those trout to survive the warm summer months so we would encourage you to go harvest them!
As soon as mud gates open this spring you can target Titcomb Pond in T32 ND and Hale Pond in T2 R10 WELS for brook trout. East Grand is always a good bet for early landlocked salmon fishing. If you are looking to target lake trout try Pleasant Lake in T6 R1 NBPP or Schoodic Lake in Brownville.
Fishing tip: If you find yourself struggling to “match the hatch”, dig deep into your tackle box and try some off the wall colors to see if you can trigger the bite! While the best bet is typically to match what the fish are eating, often you can get fish to take bright colored flies and lures. Keep in mind the contrast of color to the water or sky. These can all increase your chances of landing that trophy fish!
Reminders: Schoodic Lake has a new regulation that went into effect on Jan. 1. This allows unlimited harvest on lake trout (togue) less than 23 inches and one over 23 inches. We have been on the ice this winter at Schoodic, and we are seeing large numbers of harvested lake trout. This increased harvest, in addition to a smelt egg transfer later this spring will hopefully help the lake trout and salmon grow like we have seen in the past. With one of the lowest salmon stocking rates in the state, Schoodic can occasionally produce salmon upwards of 10 pounds, and regularly lake trout in the 6-10 pound range can be angled when the populations are in check and the smelts are prevalent.
If you are fishing waters in the Pushaw Lake drainage, please keep an eye out for tags hanging off the side of pike, near the dorsal fin, towards the tail on the back. Go to mefishwildlife.com/tag to report any tagged pike to help us learn more about the movement and growth of these invasive predators.