Fishing is still hot, despite summer-like temps in many places, but it’s not all good news in fishing circles.

An invasive introduction into an eastern Maine lake and a massive trash clean-up in central Maine had some state biologists slightly down last week.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

The good news out of southern Maine is a large holdover of rainbow and brown trout in the Androscoggin River below the dam in Auburn.

“Most years we get an occasional holdover, but it seems this year there is a larger holdover of fish,” said biologist Francis Brautigam with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Also, bass in the region are starting to move in toward shore and are actively feeding, Brautigam said.

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And on the Pleasant River, where there is a no-kill regulation between Route 302 and River Road, fishermen have been catching brown trout in good numbers.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

Trash at boat launches in the midcoast has gotten fairly out of control, said IFW biologist Robert Van-Riper.

At about a half-dozen boat launches two weeks ago Van-Riper picked up dirty baby diapers, among other unsanitary items.

“I brought away eight to nine big trash bags. It’s disgusting. You wouldn’t throw that stuff in your front yard,” Van-Riper said.

REGION C: DOWN EAST

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Brook trout fishing is still hot on streams everywhere around Hancock and Washington counties.

Also male bass are just starting to nest, making the fish easier to target.

“In most of the waters south of Route 9, fish are darting nests because they are very aggressive,” IFW biologist Greg Burr said. “Once the male fish dig the nest, and after the female court and spawn, the male will guard the nest for 10 days until the black fry hatch and disperse.”

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

Biologists in the Rangeley region are beginning their surveys of fishermen on the Rapid River, the Magalloway River and Upper Dam pool, as well as Richardson and Mooselookmeguntic lakes.

That will be the focus the next few weeks as biologists try to get up-to-date information on catch rates and harvest. Information from that work will be forthcoming here.

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REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

With the help of the Natural Resources Education Center at Moosehead, the state biologists around Maine’s biggest lake worked last week to remove competing species from selected brook trout ponds using trapnets.

“This improves the growth, survival and recruitment of brook trout and creates a better fishery,” said head biologist Tim Obrey.

The ponds being cleaned of non-native fish are Crocker Pond near Jackman and Burnham Pond near Greenville.

“This is the third and final year on Crocker Pond where we have seen a dramatic decline in sucker abundance,” Obrey said.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

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There are reports of largemouth bass in Endless Lake just south of Millinocket, which may lead to emergency regulations there, said IFW biologist Nels Kramer.

However, there is great salmon fishing now at East Grand Lake, Kramer said. Other places to try are Schoodic Lake in Brownville for togue, and Matagamonn Lake in Township 6, Range 8, he said.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Come Memorial Day weekend, the brook and stream fishing in Aroostook County will be fast.

IFW biologist David Basley recommends trying River de Chute in Easton just east of Presque Isle, Falls Brook in the Allagash region, the Machias River, and Whitney Brook in Bridgewater.

 

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

dfleming@pressherald.com

 

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