Hot weather be darned.

Fishermen are still catching fish around Maine, as far south as Sebago Lake.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

Last weekend around Sebago, there were a lot of fishermen out and having luck catching landlocked salmon, said state fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam.

Brautigam said the reports coming in are for better-than-normal fishing.

“Even in this hot sweltering weather, there have been multiple legal salmon caught. For this time of year, that’s pretty good,” said Brautigam, who’s with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

REGION C: DOWN EAST

White perch gather in schools in the deep holes of lakes and ponds during midsummer and while finding these holes can be tough, state biologist Joe Overlock said it can be done.

Overlock suggests paying close attention to your depth finder and marking the location by using landmarks on shore or a GPS.

Anglers target white perch by dropping the anchor and fishing close to the bottom using small jigs or live bait (worms or small minnows).

Overlock said what works is working the jig for 5 minutes near the bottom, then reeling up 5 feet and working the jig for another 5 minutes until finding the depth where the fish are located.

Overlock said once you find a school of white perch you will know it, as the action can be quite fast.

He suggests fishing for white perch in Second Lake in Marion Township, Boyden Lake in Perry, Graham Lake in Mariaville, Spectacle Pond in Osborn Plantation and Jones Pond in Gouldsboro.

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

Biologists around Rangeley are still busy working on fish passages through culverts with the Department of Transportation.

They’re also surveying trout ponds in waters such as Moxie Bogs and Indian Pond and East Richardson Pond, said IFW biologist Dave Boucher.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

While fishing slows in the heat in many parts of the state, in the big lake it’s just a question of technique.

IFW biologist Tim Obrey said as the coldwater game fish — brook trout, salmon and togue — move to deeper water, anglers need to have equipment to get down to the fish.

Just casting a line off the dock is unlikely to make for a successful fishing trip, Obrey pointed out.

“However, we are still getting some good reports from anglers on Moosehead and Sebec lakes. Down riggers or lead line can be used to get down deep. Anglers are reporting catching fish in the 45 to 65 foot range on the bigger lakes this week,” Obrey reported.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

Fishermen are having luck in eastern Maine — enough for IFW biologist Nels Kramer to issue the caution that care be shown in releasing fish.

“Because of the long spate of hot weather, anglers need to be reminded of how to handle a fish,” Kramer said.

Fish are stressed in the heat and so it’s critical fishermen keep them in the water, be gentle, remove the fish with small pliers, and revive them in the water before releasing them.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Water levels are down in The County, where fishing has slowed. Like elsewhere, fishermen simply have to use sinking lines to get past the warm water that stresses the fish, IFW biologist Dave Basley said.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com

 

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