Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

June 16, 2012

Freshwater Fishing Report

By Deirdre Fleming dfleming@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

It's difficult to like the nonstop rain, flood conditions and wet basements. But across the state, the high water can end with some fast fishing as the trout come out of hiding and anglers have better access to them.

So while humming sump pumps mean rivers and streams are rising, they also mean that when the water settles, the fishing can get good.

And that's music to our ears.

SOUTHERN MAINE

Things slowed down in southern Maine, normally one of the state's fastest fishing regions, last week after the deluge.

"I will say after this extensive period of rain with the 8 to 9 inches that we got, we really have not received positive reports on angling," said regional state biologist Francis Brautigam. "Even on lakes and ponds, I noticed this past weekend over on Thompson Pond, the water was markedly colored in a lake typically very clear."

The murky water makes it tough to see, and the considerable amount of debris easily gets tangled in lines and on tackle, making fishing tough. The good news, Brautigam said, is the water levels will subside after the rain ends and the good fishing will resume.

CENTRAL MAINE

This hotbed of bass fishing has had good reports despite variable water levels.

"We're kind of getting mixed reports that in a lot of places the bass spawning is done, and in some other places, they are still on the nests," said regional biologist Jason Seiders with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The bass fishing is always hot during spawning because the fish aggressively defend their nests, which makes casting fun for fishermen.

Seiders recommends McCurdy Pond in Bremen and Quantabacook Lake in Searsmont.

DOWN EAST

The rain has not affected Grand Lake Stream, and while biologists in the region sound like a broken record with regard to the famous fishery, we like it.

The salmon fishing there has been fantastic, said IFW biologist Greg Burr.

Stream temperatures in the low 60s mean the fish are feeding heavily on both nymphs and dry flies. Fishermen also are having luck catching brook trout in the streams and small rivers, with water temperatures cool enough to keep the fish active.

Hook into the trout and salmon here while you can, because in two weeks it will be more on the smallies.

WESTERN MAINE

And little streams and brooks are where IFW head fisheries biologist Bobby Van Riper is sending anglers in the Rangeley Lakes region.

And if you're used to seeing Van Riper's name higher up in this report, that's because he got moved to his home waters near Farmington.

We expect great insight into Maine's famed region of wild fisheries from him now.

"I went out on a stream by my brook yesterday morning and it was fantastic. I caught seven to eight brookies, little ones. I'm the worst fly caster in the world, but the little brookies suit me perfectly," Van Riper said.

Here, like everywhere else, Van Riper said, as the water levels drop after the pounding rain, the fishing will pick up in the big rivers.

Stocked fisheries will fish better, because those fish stocked a month ago have moved into the bigger pools, but as the water level drops they'll move around again, Van Riper said.

MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

Fishing already was back on track last week after spring flooding conditions in the Moosehead Lake region, reported IFW biologist Tim Obrey.

There was great fishing on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, where caddis hatches were picking up. And the trout ponds in the Jackman area were treated to some evening mayfly hatches, Obrey said.

(Continued on page 2)

Tweet