NAPLES — Spring fishing started three to four weeks earlier this year as a result of an early spring, and while it slowed last week due to a cold front, state biologists expect it to pick up again this week.
The first week of April, state fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam reported some of the fastest fishing in the state around Sebago Lake as the spring season kicked off early. Last week at least some anglers still enjoyed that, despite colder conditions.
“We got into a window of togue Wednesday. We caught 12 and the smallest was 4 pounds. It was pretty awesome,” said Brandon LeBlanc of Dixfield on Thursday, as he promptly displayed photos from his catch.
Fred Roberts of Westbrook and Dillon Belanger of Lewiston head out for a fishing outing Thursday with friends on a pontoon boat on Auburn Lake in Auburn.
At the end of March last year Sebago Lake was full of ice fishermen. This year LeBlanc put his boat in the lake – open year-round to open-water fishing when it’s possible – on March 21.
Last week he still was driving three hours round-trip to fish Sebago because he said that’s where the best fishing could be had. His cousin and uncle came up from Connecticut to learn how to troll for togue on Sebago despite a wet, windy start to the week.
While rain early last week had left other fishermen cold and empty-handed, state biologists say the fast fishing enjoyed by many at the start of April will return.
“Cold fronts could have slowed the fishing,” Brautigam said. “In general, I believe more stable weather patterns produce more consistent fishing. I believe the good fishing started three to four weeks earlier in general. Some pending smelt runs will influence angler success, particularly on lakes like Sebago, where the smelt run and best fishing has yet to occur.”
Rebecca Cavanaugh, 23, of Gray does a balancing act upon a not-so-slippery rock while casting into Crystal Lake last Thursday, while several other anglers take more secure positions in a canoe.
Last weekend, dozens of boat trailers filled the Sebago Lake State Park parking lot. By Thursday, there were only about a dozen. But other anglers like LeBlanc came from far afield.
John Reed trailered in from Woolwich and Bob McInnes drove from Arundel on Thursday.
Spring fishing season is in full swing despite the fact fishermen are still in winter coats.
“The water temperature is too cold. It has to be 50 for the fish to feed,” Reed said. “My depth finder reads 36 now. It’s not ideal. But if you’re going to catch fish, you’ve got to go.”
Brautigam said at the Songo Locks on the Crooked River, which drains into Sebago, the smelts have yet to run and when that happens the fishing will improve again – and bring a flurry of fishermen as it always does.
Two handicapped-accessible platforms installed last fall by the Mollyocket Trout Unlimited Chapter now offer easy access at the locks for fishermen with disabilities.
Appropriately enough, Jim Rogers’ cast resembles a big question mark as he fishes the Crooked River near Songo Locks in Naples on Thursday. Throughout central and southern Maine, there have been moments of fast fishing this month, with the action then slowing as the temperatures drop during a most unpredictable spring.
Jim Rogers of Portland tried there last week. He’s found good salmon fishing at the locks in the spring, but usually not until May.
“I’ve seen it here in other years when fishermen are lined up and everyone has a fish,” Rogers said. “I heard the fishing was good so I came up early to give it a shot.”
Elsewhere in central and southern Maine there have been moments of fast fishing this month.
State fisheries biologist Jason Seiders in central Maine reported fast early season salmon fishing at Lake St. George in Liberty, where canceled derbies this winter left an overabundance of stocked fish.
And in Auburn at Auburn Lake, a fast start also was slowed last week by colder weather, but anglers expect it to pick up again.
A self-employed entomologist whose travels enable him to fish all over the state – quite the fringe benefit – Clay Kirby of Orono gets ready to cast from his kayak on Crystal Lake, which is stocked annually with brook trout and land-locked salmon.
“Last week the fish were not biting. But two and a half weeks ago they were,” said Nate Belanger of Lewiston, who was out fishing with his brother and dad.
“Right now, Sebago is better. We should be over there today.”
“Two weeks ago we caught three big bass here. But there are white caps out there now,” added Fred Roberts of Westbrook, who fished with the Belanger family.
Back at Sebago it was the same story Thursday, although this weekend’s warmer temperatures brought hope.
“It shut right off the last day. But two weeks ago it was good,” said Bill Skillings of Harrison as he pulled his boat out of the lake.
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