I asked 4 Maine lure makers for their best catches. Here’s what caught them.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor

The weeks after ice-out are prime time for trout and salmon fishing in Maine.

While many anglers rely on live smelts, tandem streamer flies or classic lures like DB Smelts and Mooselook Wobblers, several Maine companies are producing lures that catch plenty of fish of their own. 

I reached out to four Maine lure makers and asked them to send me their best catches from the last month, along with the lure that caught them. 

Here’s what they sent.

Pine State Sports Supply 

Owned by Justin Blouin and based in Lisbon, Pine State Sports Supply was founded in 2023. The company offers several styles of spoons and plugs designed to imitate smelt, dace, shiners, alewives and other baitfish. All trolling spoons are made by hand. 

Randy Gagne caught his personal-best lake trout on Richardson Lake while trolling a Bottom Feeder spoon on leadcore. The fish measured 31.5 inches and weighed nearly 11 pounds.

Ten-year-old Evan Rouillard caught these salmon on Moosehead Lake using a Glitter Bomb spoon.

Blouin caught these salmon while trolling a Pearl Smelt spoon.

Dan Sullivan landed this lake trout in southern Maine on a UV Wonderbread spoon.

The Harry Lure 

The Harry Lure is owned by Adam Bergeron. Founded by Harry Ellison, the lure was developed on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee. Bergeron moved the company to Kennebunk and began stamping lures there in March 2024. Unlike traditional concave spoons, the flat lure is designed to swing side to side and flash light as it moves through the water. 

Adam Bergeron caught this salmon on Sebago Lake using a hot pink Harry Lure.

Michael Deloia caught this 24-inch salmon in the Sebago region on a nickel-plated Harry Lure.

Glen Gisel caught this landlocked salmon in Cumberland County on a Harry Lure.

Chris Tabb caught this 4-pound salmon in York County on an unreleased Harry Lure pattern.

Northeast Troller 

Founded by Christian Carlson in 2016, Northeast Troller produces custom trolling and casting spoons from its shop in Thorndike. Carlson, who is also a taxidermist, began making spoons as a passion project and thank-you gift for his clients. The spoons are CAD-designed, painted and assembled in Thorndike, and tested on the water before production. 

This landlocked salmon was caught on Sebago Lake by Burnt Meadow Guide Service using a Northeast Troller Twin Spin.

Guide Glen Gisel caught this lake trout on Sebago Lake using a Northeast Troller Creamsicle Spoon.

Carlson’s lures caught some impressive brook trout and a brown trout this spring as well.

Lea Pinaud caught this brook trout on Moosehead Lake using a Northeast Troller Hammered Copper and Black Spoon.

This brook trout was caught on Moosehead Lake using a Northeast Troller Trout Hammer Spoon in Copper Black.

Josh Rodgers caught this brown trout using a Northeast Troller Slimline Dodger and bait.

Dream Catcher Lures 

Dream Catcher Lures are made by Jesse Dicker in Lincoln. Established in 2020, the company produces a variety of lures for salmon, lake trout and other species.

Its lineup includes a smelt series, trout casting and trolling spoons, dodgers, jerkbaits, bass poppers, jigs and worm-bait rigs.

Dicker’s father, Bob, caught this salmon at the Chesuncook Lake Salmon Derby on Memorial Day weekend. The fish won first place and was caught on a 2 3/8-inch Copper Black Troller.

Dicker caught this salmon on a 2 3/8-inch SmeltAnater trolling spoon.

Jeremy Hewey of Jackson Guide Service caught this salmon on a Dream Catcher Lures SmeltAnater Troller.

Jake Rackliff of Cast and Call Guide Service caught this salmon on a UV Dodger.

Earlier this spring, Registered Maine Guides Jake Rackliff and Adam Bergeron landed a 10-pound rainbow trout on a Dream Catcher Lures Solid Pink UV.