Fishing is definitely slowing down in most of the state as we head into July, but not for kids fishing Down East or the patient brown trout fishermen in central or southern Maine.
REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE
Reports of brown trout caught in the Mousam River have been consistently good, said biologist Francis Brautigam of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
“Browns are nice, fat and sassy,” said Brautigam.
Other good reports in the region have come from Norway Lake in Norway, where rainbow trout up to 19 inches have been caught.
REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE
Fishermen in central Maine seem to be catching big bass right now, said IFW biologist Robert Van-Riper.
The fishing is not fast, but the fish are in the 5- to 6-pound range on waters like Cobbosseecontee and Annabessacook lakes in Winthrop, Van-Riper said.
REGION C: DOWN EAST
Right now is a good time to take kids fishing for pickerel and bass in Hancock and Washington counties, said IFW biologist Joe Overlock in the Down East office.
“In the shallows and the weed beds in the lakes and ponds, it’s some pretty good action fishing the top water,” Overlock said. “Using a floating popper lure, it makes a good splash and attracts fish.”
Places to try are Gardner Lake in Marion Township, Scammond Pond in Eastbrook and Silver Lake in Bucksport, Overlock said.
REGION D: WESTERN MAINE
The department has been petitioned to allow ice fishing on the following western Maine lakes and ponds from Jan. 1 to March 31: West Richardson Pond in Adamstown Township; Gull Pond in Rangeley; Round Pond in Rangeley; Loon Lake in Rangeley and Saddleback Lake in Dallas Plantation.
The deadline for comments is July 12, and they can be sent to Andrea Erskine, No. 41 State House Station, Augusta, 04333-0041.
REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION
Biologists around Moose-head Lake are busy assessing the put-grow-and-take brook trout fisheries looking for trout populations that show two and three age classes and fat fish. The jury is still out, but they may adjust stocking numbers to create better fisheries, said IFW biologist Jeff Bagley.
REGION F: EASTERN MAINE
Biologists in eastern Maine last week wanted to note the passing of fisherman James “Bob” Foster, famous for his state-record brook trout catch that stood for three decades.
Foster’s catch was a wild fish weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught at Big Black Pond in 1979. The Howland man’s record held until this year, when it was topped by Patrick Coan of Waterboro, who landed a 9.02-pound hatchery-reared fish at Mousam Lake.
REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE
Fishing is ideal in The County for the holiday weekend with flows up but not too high in rivers, brooks and streams, said IFW biologist Frank Frost.
Also the fly hatches should be coming on this weekend, if the dry weather holds.
Frost recommends trying the Fish River in northern Aroostook County, especially the outlet of Eagle Lake between the lake and Fort Kent.
Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:
dfleming@pressherald.com
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