For Immediate Release
March 25, 2003

2003 Open Water Preview

Region A- Southwestern Maine

Unlike last year, most lakes and ponds in southern Maine are still likely to be ice covered on opening day and some of the smaller ponds in the northern part of the region may even have ice for several more weeks. This weekend, all of the ponds I was on still had well over 2 feet of ice! The latest historical report we have of ice out for Sebago was May 8th in 1888; however, over the last couple decades the ice typically goes out by the second or third week of April after colder winters. Don't despair, spring is in the air and conditions can and often do change quickly with the longer days of March and warm spring rains. As an angler myself, I certainly hope so because it seems like the majority of us have spring fever and can't wait for open water.

So, where does one fish come opening day with all the lakes and ponds covered in ice? Lake and pond fishing opportunities might be pretty limited in early April, but some of our larger lakes typically have some areas along the shorelines that are free of ice by April 1st. The shores of Auburn Lake (Auburn) are often popular and anglers are commonly rewarded with some nice lakers, salmon, and even brookies. This is the time year that anglers typically catch a handful of those whopping Auburn lake brook trout in the 2 to 5 pond class. Sebago Lake (Raymond) also has some traditional early spring fishing spots including Panther Run, the Songo Locks, and the mouth of the larger rivers, particularly the Crooked and Muddy Rivers. Causeways often have open water and the currents created at these sites often attract fish in the early spring (i.e. the causeway at Thompson Lake by the Heath and Long Lake. Remember you can only fish areas that are naturally free of ice and you cannot be standing on the ice and fishing the open water areas.

When the ice finally does go out, anglers can expect to catch some quality sized salmon at Thompson Lake (Oxford), Peabody Pond (Sebago), Trickey Pond (Naples), and Auburn Lake (Auburn). All of these waters are expected to produce to some nice salmon in the 2 to 4 pond class and possibly even a few larger sized trophies. Some other good salmon waters worth spending some time on include Moose Pond (Bridgton) and Pleasant Lake (Casco). Spring is also a great time to target lakers, because they are often found in much shallower water chasing smelt and whatever else they can find to eat, which means you don't the need the heavily weighted lines and deepwater fishing gear required for the summer season. Some good bets for togue: Sebago Lake, Auburn Lake, Kezar Lake (Lovell), Great East Lake (Acton), and Thompson Lake.

Rainbows and browns are expected to provide some good early season fishing on Crystal Lake (Gray), Upper Range Pond (Poland), and Middle Range Pond (Poland). Many of the rainbows I saw during this winter were holdovers in the 17-19" class and weighed 2 to 3 pounds and these ponds are well known for producing a handful of trophy browns each season. For example, last year one local fisherman landed a beautiful 8.5 lb brown on Middle Range. Wow! These fisheries also continue to produce good opportunities later in the season when many of the other coldwater lake fisheries have slowed up.

What about stream fishing? Our spring stream stocking is expected to begin a little later this year due to the anticipated higher flows associated with snow melt and spring rains. Currently, our brook trout stocking is scheduled to begin around April 10th and our brown trout stockings are also likely to be delayed.

Generally brooks, streams, and small ponds in southern York County are stocked first and stocking then progresses northward as conditions improve. In the event our stream stockings are delayed, your best shot at early season brook trout is to focus your effort of wild trout. Believe it or not our sampling indicates that about 50% of the streams in York and Cumberland County still support wild brook trout populations. Also, wild brook trout are more likely to be distributed throughout larger stream systems in the spring that become too warm for brookies later in the season. Following are a handful of streams in the region were you may want to try your luck for native brookies: York County - Josias River (York), Upper Great Works River (Sanford), Upper Ogunquit River (Ogunquit), Branch Brook (Wells), Swan Pond Brook (Biddeford), Upper Nonesuch (Saco), South River (Parsonfield) Cumberland County - Upper Little River (Buxton/Gorham), Quaker Brook (Baldwin), Royal River Tributaries (New Gloucester), Upper Piscataqua River (Cumberland/Falmouth) Androscoggin County - Worthely Brook (Poland) Oxford County - Upper Crooked River(Albany-Waterford), Upper Nezinscot R (Sumner/Buckfield), Spears Stream (Peru), Pleasant River (Mason), Concord River (Milton), and Tenmile River (Porter)

Our sea-run brown trout waters are typically very productive in early spring including the month of March! Give the Mousam River in Kennebunk, the Ogunquit River in Ogunquit, and/or the Salmon Falls River in South Berwick a try and you may be pleasantly surprised. Most of the fish are in the 13-16 inch range, but occasionally a real bruiser is landed.

-Jim Pellerin, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region B - Central Maine In Region B, the open water season for lakes and ponds will be delayed until Old Sol does his work on the ice crystals of our surface waters. The best bet to wet a line in the region will be the flowing water sites that traditionally attract anglers who have to get out, despite the possibility of freezing in waders surrounded by ice-cold water.

For a chance to catch salmon, brown trout, and possibly a brook trout, popular places to go are Belgrade Lakes Village and the Wings Mills Dam in the Belgrade Chain of Lakes. There may also be some sluggish pike and bass in the area. The outlet dam on Cobbossee Lake and other dam sites on Cobbossee Stream also attract many anglers. Cobbossee Stream is primarily a brown trout water, but an angler could be surprised and land a variety of species. The Kennebec River - if the flows are not too high - will attract many anglers to sections including Waterville, Winslow and Fairfield. All the dam sites should have open water providing fishing for brown trout, salmon and rainbows. Closer to the coast, the Sheepscot, St. George and Medomak Rivers have sites that will be yielding the elusive brownie. All of these rivers are capable of giving up a decent 20-inch fish if you can find the hidey hole where they over-wintered.

The only lakes and ponds that may provide some surface water action will be closer toward the coast. Biscay Pond is a popular site that usually has an area of open water near the outlet of Pemaquid Pond. It is accessible from the bridge near the pond. The shoreline of Chickawaukie Pond in Rockland is sometimes free of ice and may provide anglers the ability to fish from shore.

Remember, fishing while positioned on the ice is prohibited after March 31st. This rule, which was passed several years ago, prevents anglers from 'cleaning out' trout ponds by fishing through melt-holes.

Use caution this spring as the water will be quite chilly until the ice is gone and weather warms up.

-Bill Woodward, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region C - Downeast Old man winter certainly gave us a double barrel full of snow and ice this season leaving the usual bright eyed and optimistic open water angler feeling like the ground hog that saw his shadow and rolled over to sleep through six more weeks of winter. In fact, for many lakes and ponds in Hancock and Washington Counties, winter is a long way from being over. Coastal waters have 29 to 30 inches of ice and the interior ponds have as much as 36. So put another log on the fire in the den, sport, while you continue to sharpen your hooks, organize your tackle box, and wrap your peacock herl. Just remember while you're pining away for warmer weather and salmon chop - don't get too grumpy at your wife when she wants to take back over the room for sewing and making new spring curtains. But for those fly fishermen who lose that battle and are told to go take a walk in a cold stream to cool off, be happy to oblige, load up the wagon, truck, or SUV and head for Grand Lake Stream.

Grand Lake Stream is the outlet of West Grand Lake and is home to one of the original strains of native landlocked salmon. The Grand Lake strain is an outlet spawner and after migrating into the stream and spawning in October and November, many salmon over-winter in the stream. These post spawning salmon are called "kelts" and are usually thin and sluggish as they hunker down for the long winter in the stream. As many fly fishermen in these parts know, it's because of this that Grand Lake Stream has some of the best opening day action for landlocked salmon. Even though the water is cold and the fish are lethargic they can't pass up smelt and nymph imitations. When fishing Grand Lake Stream in April anglers should know that most of the fish are gathered in the dam pool just below West Grand Lake. This is the deepest pool in the stream and its depth and foam provide cover from avian predators as well as flow buffers from current increases that occur with late winter and early spring runoffs. When fishing for these, salmon anglers will find that going deep using a sinking fly line is best. A weight forward sinking tip or "wet belly" as it is sometimes called, also works well. It also helps if you make your flies with a small wrap of lead to give them more weight so they sink faster and get to the fish quicker. Remember, the Grand Lake Stream dam pool is a popular spot so get there early on opening day.

Another place for anxious anglers to fish Downeast is the St. Croix River. The river opens on April 15th and is one of the best-kept secrets for landlocked salmon. The best stretch to fish is between the Kellyland power station and the head of the Woodland Flowage. Below the power station is a narrow gravely riffle with holding areas for landlocks. Lures and flies work best here with slow retrieves the key to success.

Most streams and brooks on April 1st with open flows will be raging torrents with water temperatures well down in the 30's. Brook trout in most of these waters will still be hunkered down under the banks and very lethargic. Some small springy brooks that are not as prone to heavy spring flows and that have moderating water temperatures due to warmer ground water inflow may give anglers early season success for brookies. Such brooks are often overlooked and are close to roads and in fact are driven over every day. When fishing these babbling gems try the small holding pools where the few trout that are becoming active may congregate. Be careful of the ice-laden rocks and weak ice bridges in and around these early brooks. Enjoy and good luck!

-Greg Burr, Fisheries Biologist Specialist

Region D - Western Mountains

Spring in Maine usually come in fits and starts, so it's difficult to predict when spring runoff will occur, the dates that the ice will go out, or when the fish will start biting. However, I can predict that on April 1, the date the open-water fishing season begins, the best bets for fishing will be the tailwaters below the dams on our larger rivers. These reaches often stay open even during the coldest weather, and traditionally provide the best early action.

On the Kennebec, anglers will congregate for big rainbows at the Big Eddy below Flagstaff dam and below Wyman Dam in Bingham. Tailwaters below other downstream dams are good bets for brown trout. Some anglers have already been fishing the lower Kennebec for brown trout and rainbows; the section below Skowhegan is open to open-water fishing year-round.

For the Androscoggin Drainage, a few hearty anglers fish the Rapid early in the season (this river has a catch-and-release provision for brook trout). The section of the Androscoggin from the New Hampshire border to Rumford Point has new, restrictive regulations intended to enhance an already spectacular fishery for rainbows, brown trout, and brook trout; check your law book for details. The wildcard for these river fisheries is whether flows are fishable. For that information, which will be available beginning April 1, call the Flow Phone at 1-800-557-3569. Information is provided for both the Kennebec and Androscoggin drainages.

For those who are thinking ahead to ice-out fishing, we expect a typical year with fast fishing for salmon in waters such as Rangeley Lake and Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Aziscohos Lake has also produced well in the last few years. Stream fishing for brook trout is a bit more uncertain, given the droughts of the past two summers. Trout tend to be resilient, though, and they may have done well in some areas.

-Forrest Bonney, Regional Fishery Biologist

Region E - Moosehead Region

As we head into the last full week of the 2003 ice fishing season, slush and water standing on the ice have created some very sloppy traveling conditions. Melting snow and ice on the roads to the north of Greenville make access into the north country more difficult with each passing day. The warm weather we have experienced over the past week has very quickly turned winter to spring, and conditions are not likely to improve much for the last weekend of the season. Can mud season be far behind?

Though some enthusiasts may attempt one last day of ice fishing, for most people the time has come to stow their ice fishing gear for another year and start planning for open water. Although the open water season begins on April first, here in the Moosehead Region we normally do not expect much open water before the first week in May. However, there are a few locations that will be fishable come the first of April. Here are some suggestions for people who need a "fix" of early season fishing.

The West Branch of the Penobscot River downstream from Ripogenus Dam is a traditional opening day favorite. Open water is pretty much guaranteed every year, and on opening day the Big Eddy and the Nesowadnehunk Deadwater attract many anglers in search of the river's famed landlocked salmon. This section of the West Branch is managed with special length limits and terminal gear restrictions, so a review of the 2003 open water rule book is in order before you fish there. Weather conditions can vary from very wintry to downright pleasant; the former is more likely than the latter. Snowmobile suits are often required dress on opening day. This year, due to the low volume of storage in Chesuncook Lake upstream, expect the flow in the West Branch to be less than half of what is normally run this time of year - around 800 cubic feet per second.

In the southern part of Piscataquis County, the Piscataquis River from Guilford downstream to the Sebec-Atkinson bridge, a distance of approximately 16 miles, is actually open to open water fishing year-round. The river is not controlled by any dams upstream, so opening day fishing conditions will be determined by the amount runoff, and therefore the flow in the river at that time. As of March 24th, the flow was running at 2000 cfs, on the high side of what is considered fishable. However, if the weather cools a bit and runoff slows down during the coming week, there may be an opportunity for anglers to seek out some of the 1,500 12-inch plus brown trout stocked there last fall. On the other hand, a significant rain will end any hope of fishing the Piscataquis on opening day. Many of us remember April 1, 1987 when heavy rains enhanced spring runoff to produce a flow of more than 20,000 cfs at the Covered Bridge. As soon as the runoff slows, usually by early May, the annual stocking of 10-inch brook trout will begin in this section of the river.

Moosehead Lake's West Outlet opens to fishing on April first, and there will be open water to fish that day. A 2-fish daily limit on trout is the only special regulation that applies there. Despite very cold water temperatures, opening day anglers at the West Outlet often do quite well. Just as soon as possible in April the West Outlet will receive the first of several stockings of 10-inch brook trout scheduled there this spring. That will undoubtedly "sweeten the pot".

New for 2003 are the April first openings at the Moose River in Rockwood, the East Outlet below Moosehead Lake, and the Roach River below First Roach Pond. April fishing in the Moose River will be restricted to casting and trolling artificial flies only. In the East Outlet and the Roach River April fishing will be restricted to fly fishing only. At all three locations fishing will be limited to "catch and release" only for the entire month of April. Flows in all three rivers should remain fishable throughout most of April as the spring runoff is captured upstream to fill Brassua, Moosehead, and First Roach.

Cold water temperatures will likely prevail throughout the month, and history tells us not to expect too much action on the Moose, the East Outlet, or the Roach until at least the middle of May. Nevertheless, these waters will provide more opportunity to get out and wet a line in the Moosehead Region while we wait for the ice to clear our lakes and ponds, and flows to recede in other rivers and streams. Unless it rains hot water in April, don't expect many ice outs before May first in the Moosehead Region this year!

-Paul Johnson, Regional Fishery Biologist

Region F, Penobscot Region It will probably be mid-April before the ice goes out of the brooks and streams and late April before ice starts going out of lakes and ponds in Region F. There is still a lot of ice on most waters and a deep snow pack. If normal runoff conditions occur, there will be a lot of water. The West Branch of the Penobscot should be at least partially open on April 1 but low flows from McKay station will affect fishing opportunity in waters free of ice and deep snow will affect travel to the river. Salmon fishing has been slow the last few years and is still being affected by the status of the smelt population in Chesuncook Lake. When good fishing conditions do occur there should be a lot of good fishing opportunity. Winter fishing pressure was not high on salmon and trout waters which should result in good fishing action for those species.

- Mike Smith, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region G - Aroostook County Although it will be several weeks before waters are completely ice free in this region, there are a few waters that usually allow limited fishing on April 1. Included in this list would be the Prestile Stream below the various community dams and Soldier Pond on the Fish River. Road conditions in the North Maine Woods area are less than desirable for recreational traffic in April. Many of the flowing waters in the region are starting to open up and may be fishable pending amount of flow but water temperature will be very cold.

Squa Pan Lake should be an excellent lake to try at ice out this spring as many of the fall yearling splake stocked last fall should be available to the open water angler. These fish are going 14-18 inches in length. Lakes in the Allagash Waterway are difficult to beat for those looking for early action on brook trout and togue. The small trout ponds that are stocked annually with fall fingerling brook trout provide fast action as the ice is pulling away from shore. These would include Hanson Brook Lake, Timoney Lake, Echo Lake to name a few. Anglers should seek out waters in the Fish River Chain of Lakes for salmon.

-Dave Basley, Regional Fisheries Biologist