For Immediate Release
February 28, 2005
February 28, 2005 Ice Fishing Report

Region A- Southwestern Maine

The Windham Rotary hosted yet another very popular and successful 
winter
festival on Sebago Lake.  Most years the weather has been very
uncooperative, but at least Saturday brought bright sun, little wind, 
and
very comfortable winter fishing conditions, not often seen on this 
large
lake.  

Strong winds and blowing snow on Sunday made for very different 
conditions,
but perhaps more typical of this 2 day fishing event.  Although the 
number
of derby registrants was up this year, the togue catch was dramatically 
down
from past years.  An accurate count was not available at the time this
report was prepared, but the total harvest of lake trout is expected to 
be
about 1/2 that from last year.  

A relatively large year class of smelt, and a growing adult smelt 
population
has increased available lake trout forage in the lake, providing more
competition for angler presentations.  Some contend the full moon was
another factor contributing to a lower catch.  Although anglers would 
have
liked to land more togue, everyone I spoke with was in good spirits and 
the
news of a declining catch reflects positively on the Department's 
efforts to
rebuild smelt forage stocks, and reduce the togue population in the 
lake.
These measures are important components in rebuilding the salmon 
fishery and
enhancing the size-quality of the lake trout fishery. 

All available information indicates smelt stocks are up, togue catch is
down, and condition of both salmon and togue is improving.  It's also 
worthy
to note that the winning catch continues to get larger each year.  This
year's top 3 winning togue weighed 22.34 lbs (Steve Emerson, Addison 
ME),
21.60 lbs (Roger Reed, S. Portland), and 16.61 lbs (Peter Conley, 
Albion
ME).  

Many anglers didn't fish the Sebago Derby on Sunday due to the strong 
winds,
but instead headed for the smaller, more sheltered area ponds.  Jim met
several derby participants on Middle and Upper Range Ponds, where 
steady
action for bass was reported.  Good catches of bass in the 2 1/2 to 4 
pound
size range were commonly reported.  A few anglers were even fishing for
smelt in Middle Range, although reported catches of were light.  

The month of March is typically not heavily fished, yet offers some 
great
fishing, particularly for bass.  March also brings with it some of the 
best
winter fishing weather.  In fact, I can recall fishing in just a shirt 
on
several sunny outings in March, with no one else around, and bass 
biting all
day long.  The smaller, shallower area ponds in southern Maine offer 
some
very productive fishing for bass this time of the year. Don't miss this
exciting month to fish for bass.     
         
-Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region B - Central Maine
 
I can't remember a winter when the bass fishing has been as good as 
this
winter's.  Not only are anglers reporting large numbers of bass caught, 
but
the size quality is also very impressive.  This winter I've measured 9
largemouth bass over 5 pounds, with the largest nearly 8 pounds, a true
trophy for any angler.  The smallmouth bass fishing has also been very 
good
with 8 fish over 3 pounds measured.  Inevitably, when I come across an
angler with a large bass, the question of "how old is that fish" is 
asked.
Then they are always surprised to learn how old those fish really are. 

Each year, we collect age and growth data on bass, and our bass 
database now
contains age information on over 4000 largemouth bass and nearly 6000
smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass generally are 1 year younger then
smallmouth bass at a given length. The following table can be used to
estimate the age of any bass you catch.

	Largemouth 	Smallmouth 	
Length	Age	Age	
12 inches	4	5	
14 inches	5	6	
16 inches	7	8	
18 inches	11	12	
20 inches	15	16	

Anglers fishing in Waldo County are reminded that two of the more 
popular
waters, Swan Lake and St George Lake are closed to ice fishing February 
28.

 
-Jim Lucas, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region C - Downeast 

Many eastern Maine anglers love March fishing for either togue or white
perch. While some prefer the stationary approach and set up 5 lines 
with
live bait in hopes that hungry fish will keep the red flags flying, 
others
prefer the "run and gun" approach of traveling around the lake on a
snowmobile or ATV, cutting a jig hole, staying 15 minutes, then moving 
on
until the fish are located. Often, this approach can be modified to 
look for
ice fishing holes drilled in the past 2-3 days and open the skim 
coating of
ice with either a chisel or a small hatchet or axe. Don't neglect 
jigging a
Swedish pimple or a leadfish with a piece of cut bait when you ice fish 
- it
often produces the best action of the day.

Good locations for togue this March are Tunk Lake, West Grand Lake, 
Green
Lake, Branch Lake, Jordan Pond, and Beech Hill Pond. You also may catch 
a
salmon at any of these lakes.

Good locations for white perch fishing are the Chain Lakes (Twp 26 ED), 
Bog
Lake (Northfield), Pocomoonshine Lake (Alexander), Meddybemps Lake
(Meddybemps), Georges Pond (Franklin), Graham Lake (Mariaville), and 
Webb
Pond (Eastbrook).

Take the kids, cook some hotdogs, and enjoy the last few weeks of 
winter
fishing because mud season, gardening, and lawn mowing will demand your 
time
before you know it!
Anglers in the western Hancock County area have experienced some good
fishing recently for brook trout at Billings (First) Pond in Blue Hill 
and
for brown trout at Walker's Pond in Brooksville. 

Remember that March and early April are the months for spring 
sportsmen's
shows and boat shows where you can inspect the latest in outdoor 
equipment
and attend some seminars.  Watch your local newspapers for details on 
times
and places. It's a great way to spend a few hours on the weekend.

--Rick Jordan, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist


Region D - Western Mountains

Decent weather during much of school vacation week provided extra 
incentive
for parents and kids to get out in the fresh air - just what the doctor
ordered! Much cooler temperatures and sharp winds arrived by the 
weekend and
kept fishing activity to a dull roar. Sunday was particularly brutal 
with
gale force winds causing whiteout conditions and building snowdrifts, 
making
travel by snowmobile a bit cumbersome and uncomfortable. The few 
diehards we
contacted on Spencer Lake, Wesserunsett Lake, Embden Lake, and Hancock 
Pond
were having only spotty success, but most were enjoying themselves 
anyway. 

The Upper Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a fishing 
derby
on March 5 and 6 on Wyman Lake. Weigh-in times are at 4 PM on Saturday 
and 2
PM on Sunday at the Moscow boat landing. For more information contact
Chester Hibbard at 672-3312, or Erin Marden at 672-3991.

Last week, the Rapid River Coalition and Fisheries Division staff 
selected a
contractor to conduct a flow study on the Rapid River. Working closely 
with
the Department and FPL Hydro, the owners of Middle Dam, the contractor 
will
determine if "targeted flow velocities" can be used to reduce 
smallmouth
bass production in the Rapid. Water flow manipulations would probably
coincide with bass nesting and/or bass fry emergence. A late-winter
discharge may also be considered because young bass, which have 
survived the
winter solely on stored energy reserves, may be in such poor condition 
at
that time that the extra flow could cause them to succumb. This project 
is
one of several that we're contemplating for the Rapid. We'll keep you 
posted
as things progress.  

-Dave Boucher, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist


Region E - Moosehead Region 

Another Monday, another day of elevated media anxiety over an impending
snowstorm.  Seems that this year we have already had "the snow storm of 
the
century", and "the mother of all snowstorms".  I guess that leaves us 
to
expect that this one will be "the mother-in-law of all snow storms".  I 
hope
everyone has their "storm pack" put away for disaster that surely 
awaits us.
As for the fishery personnel in Greenville, it's winter, it's cold, the 
wind
blows, it snows - so what!?!  Keep your shovel handy, and deal with it!
 
February 28 marks the last day of the 2005 ice fishing season at three 
of
the Moosehead Region's premiere fisheries: Big Houston Pond, Lobster 
Lake,
and Allagash Lake.  Of the three, perhaps Allagash holds the most 
mystique.
Allagash Mountain stands sentinel over this 4,260-acre gem of a lake.
Spruce, fir, pines and cedars guard its rock bound shoreline.  Eagles 
and
ravens patrol the sky overhead.  A thick armor of ice, covered with a 
royal
mantle of snow, guards the bountiful trout and togue resources that are 
the
treasures of Allagash.

As if on a crusade, throughout February parties venture into the 
backcountry
of Maine's North Woods to reach this, the Holy Grail of brook trout and 
lake
trout fishing.  Travel by vehicle ends 3 miles back from the shore of 
the
lake, where snowmobiles take over as the principal means of 
transportation
to the lake.  At the shore the use of all motorized equipment ends, and
anglers must walk out onto the lake and cut their holes with chisels or 
hand
augers.  Some anglers "crown" their day by staying into the evening to 
fish
for cusk.  Some anglers camp out overnight.  In return for enduring
conditions that were the norm in the north woods in "the good old 
days",
most anglers are still rewarded with fishing like it used to be "back 
then",
because at Allagash back then is also now. 

To monitor the status of the Allagash fishery this winter, Moosehead 
Region
fisheries personnel included it in their rounds during the month of
February.  On 3 out of the 4 weekends anglers were counted, fish were
weighed and measured, and catch information was obtained from all 
parties
interviewed.  The results of this year's survey will be compared with 
those
from previous seasons, and management of the lake will be adjusted as
necessary to insure that the kingdom that is Allagash remains in fact 
all
that is perceived to be.

At Moosehead Lake, the closure to the taking of salmon during the first 
half
of the ice fishing season, and the 18-inch length limit for the last 
half of
the season, are designed to help distribute the salmon catch between 
winter
and summer fisheries.  With the present lake trout abundance in 
Moosehead it
is not possible to stock the number of salmon required to support two
seasons of good salmon fishing.  So the present management strategy is 
to
allocate the big lake's resources to provide the greatest benefits to 
as
many of its users as possible.  Lake trout provide the opportunity for 
good
fishing all winter long, but for most anglers, they are not easy to 
catch
through much of the open water season.  Salmon on the other hand, are 
easily
caught both winter and summer.  However, a large harvest of salmon 
during
the winter would not leave many for the summer.  Without a salmon 
fishery in
the summer there would not be much of an open water season fishery on
Moosehead, not to mention its tributaries and outlet, where salmon 
support
popular fisheries from May through September.  

Salmon have been legal fare for 2 weeks now, and unfortunately some 
anglers
have little respect for the present attempts to provide good fishing 
for
Moosehead anglers, both winter and summer.  In patrolling North Bay 
last
Thursday, Wardens Joel Wilkinson and Jared Herrick checked 9 parties.  
Four
of the parties they checked had a total of 5 salmon in their 
possession.
Four of the 5 salmon were less than 18 inches!  The largest of the 
"short"
salmon was 17 1/4 inches; the others all less than 17 inches.  Such 
blatant
disregard for fishing regulations leaves us wondering what is happening 
out
there when no one is watching.  One thing is for sure, fishery 
management
objectives cannot be attained without the cooperation of fishermen.  
Life is
full of things with which we disagree, but in the interest of the 
common
good we ask all Moosehead anglers to act as if Joel and Jared were 
watching.
And they will be!!   

On Thursday, March 3rd we will hold the first of two public meetings to
discuss fishing and fishery management in the Moosehead Region.  The 
meeting
will be held at the Four Seasons Restaurant, located on the right side 
of
Route 201, just after you cross the railroad tracks as you enter 
downtown
Jackman.  It will begin at 7 PM.  Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques and
Advisory Council member Ray Poulin will join us and update everyone on
happenings in Augusta that concern sportsmen and IF&W.  Fishery 
biologists
will then discuss and answer questions about their management programs,
including stocking waters in the Jackman area.  They will also look for
public comments and suggestions on some ideas for possible future 
fishing
regulation changes.

On Tuesday, March 8th, the venue will change, but not the program or 
the
players.  Beginning at 7 PM we will meet in Dover-Foxcroft at the
Piscataquis Valley Snowmobile Clubhouse, which is located on the left 
off
the Greeley's Landing Road (Route 153) just to the north of town.  
Sebec
Lake and the Piscataquis River always generate some interest, and we 
are
sure that there will be other questions about stocking and fishery
management programs in the waters of southern Piscataquis County.

These meetings provide an opportunity for IF&W to listen to what 
fishermen
have to say about their experiences, their concerns, and their 
expectations.
This is an opportunity to get together, discuss the fishing with the 
people
responsible for managing the area's fisheries, and to offer opinions on 
the
past, present, and future directions of fishery management in the 
Moosehead
Lake Region.  Please come join us!!

Now, where is my emergency storm pack? 

-Paul Johnson, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Region F, Penobscot Region

    Ice fishing in region F started out this winter with fast action 
and
lots of excitement for the angler. In the past few weeks, things have 
slowed
down to a crawl. Maybe the fish are suffering from mid-winter blues.  
If
this is true, fishing should get better as spring draws near.

   The Island Falls Winterfest Fishing Derby was held at Mattawamkeag 
and
Pleasant Lakes on February 26.  With the number of large salmon being
reported from both lakes this year, I would think that there should be 
more
than a couple of 5 pounders registered. 

  Again this past week and weekend regional staff checked Cold Stream,
Schoodic and Lower Togue.  A few fish were observed on all 3 lakes. 
This
past weekend Cold Stream had 14 parties, they caught 3 lake trout, with 
the
largest being 21";  and 2 landlocked salmon, the largest being 20". On
Schoodic, we observed 25 parties catching 6 lake trout, with the 
largest
being 21".  Lower Togue had 3 parties, catching 5 splake, with the 
largest
observed 14"  long.  

  As you complain about the cold and snow of this week, remember, 
spring is
just around the corner and so are the black flies
   
-Brian Campbell, Fisheries Biologist Specialist



Region G - Aroostook County

 The end of February school vacation puts winter "over the hump", as we 
head
toward the last half of the ice fishing season.  Unfortunately, good 
fishing
doesn't always match up with good weather, as the nice, warm, sunny 
days of
late February and March do not seem to provide the fast fishing of 
January.
One lucky angler from Enfield proved to be the exception this weekend.
Local angler Rick and his wife were visiting their son Saturday, who 
was
staying at a camp on Eagle Lake for a few days of fishing.  Being the
considerate son, he went out and drilled two holes for his parents to 
jig.
After 10 minutes of jigging, Rick found himself in a tugging match with
another denizen of the deep from Eagle Lake.  Once landed, the fish was
observed to be a 35+ inch togue weighing 17 pounds 10 ounces.  It was 
also
missing the right venrtal and dorsal fins indicating that it was 
stocked in
1971.  This is the second 35-year-old togue from this 1971 stocking 
that has
been caught from Eagle Lake in the Fish River Chain of Lakes in the 
past few
weeks.  As Mel Allen, the long time host of This Week in Baseball would 
say:
"How about that!"

Switching gears to the upcoming open water season, we are proposing to
embark on a stocking program of spring yearling brook trout from our 
wild
strain of hatchery fish at Chase Lake, T9 R10 WELS, Piscataquis County.
Sampling efforts in recent years indicate a low trout population in the
presence of heavy competition from white suckers and yellow perch.  
Although
this lake has not been stocked with hatchery trout in the past, Echo 
Lake
located upstream, has been stocked with brook trout in the past and is
presently being managed for splake.  A popular North Maine Woods 
campsite is
located on the shoreline and has an unimproved boat launch site.  We 
are
proposing this trout stocking program in an attempt to improve the 
trout
fishing in this lake.  The success of this stocking program will be
evaluated through biological sampling and reports received from the 
district
game warden and voluntary anglers.  

A lake whitefish stocking program is also being proposed at 1st and 3rd
Musquacook Lakes.  We recently initiated a lake whitefish stocking 
program
in 2nd Musquacook - these lakes are in close proximity and are 
considered to
have low populations of lake whitefish.  All three of these Musquacook 
Lakes
are now closed to the taking of whitefish in an attempt to restore the 
wild
population.  The stocking program is an attempt to bolster the numbers 
of
whitefish to enhance the possibility of increased natural reproduction.
Public comments on these stocking proposals can be emailed to
david.basley@maine.gov or via USPS to P.O. Box 447, Ashland, Maine 
04732.

-Dave Basley, Regional Fisheries Biologist


From the Maine Warden Service...The Colonel's Outdoor Tip

For those ice anglers who ice fish on lakes and ponds where there is a 
good
snow cover and do not have an ice shack, it is a good idea to bring 
along a
couple of items to make your trip more enjoyable:

- a snow shovel is very useful when ice fishing for clearing places to 
set
your tip ups, clearing out an area to set your equipment, food and bait 
and
tackle and making a snow free place to stand/sit while you wait for 
"flags."

- a second very useful item for ice fishing when there is snow cover or
slush on the lakes is a tarp. A tarp placed on the snow or slushy ice 
not
only provides a dry place to sit but also prevents the loss of cooking
utensils, fishing equipment and other belongings in the deep snow. Its 
great
to have a nice dry tarp laid out on the snow to keep mittens, bait 
scoops
and your thermos bottle on. Don't forget to anchor down each corner 
with
ice, snow or some equipment to make sure it doesn't blow away.

As the sun gets stronger, ice fishing, especially on the warmer days, 
can be
a very fun activity. So don't forget to buy a license and pick up an 
ice
fishing law book and go ice fishing!


-Colonel Tom Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service