Maine Outdoor Journal

Like everyone else, fisheries biologists in all seven regions of Maine are talking about the wet weather, but most are finding hope in it.

The fact is, the cold rain is creating conditions that are great for fish production and, in some places, even for fish catching.

REGION A: SOUTHERN MAINE

Despite it being the dog days of summer, anglers are out catching fish in southern Maine – consistently.

The togue fishing on Sebago has been good, said regional fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam.

Not only that, togue have been caught closer to the surface – warmer weather usually keeps them away. Because the lake is much colder this summer due to all the rain, this hasn't happened.

Salmon fishing in the big lake has been slow, but where there are schools of smelt, it has been productive.

Meanwhile, at Square Pond in Shapleigh, biologists are finding that the brown trout continue to be above average, with fish up to 6 pounds.

REGION B: CENTRAL MAINE

The cool weather has made for difficult fishing in central Maine, said biologist Robert Van-Riper.

Van-Riper said the high water and cool water temperatures mean fish are not hiding from the heat in the usual places, and are more on the move. This makes them more difficult to target in the usual summer holes, he said.

"It's been very quiet, really spotty," Van-Riper said. "It's really been an issue, this 40 days and 40 nights of rain."

REGION C: DOWN EAST

Perhaps nowhere else is there as much optimism about the rain as at the Down East region office.

Biologist Rick Jordan said anglers are catching salmon on the surface in late July like never before, at West Grand Lake, Cathance Lake and Craig Pond in Orland.

Normally, salmon are down 20 to 45 feet in the water, but the rain has helped keep ponds and lakes here cooler, so salmon are foraging in the shallows.

"And in our streams and rivers, they are still catching brook trout," Jordan said. "That's unusual."

REGION D: WESTERN MAINE

The famous trout rivers of western Maine are running high due to the rain and water released at dams. But the flows are not too high to prohibit dogged anglers from wading into the water, said regional biologist Forrest Bonney.

However, Bonney is worried that with the rain that has fallen during the past three years, there has been an overproduction of salmon in Moose-lookmeguntic Lake.

As a result, he is encouraging conservation-minded fishermen to help thin the populations by keeping a few fish.

REGION E: MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

The fishing has been fast for this time of year in the state's biggest lake, said regional biologist Tim Obrey.

Other areas are busy with fishermen as well, such as the Moose River and East Outlet.

"They are still catching trout and salmon. I don't think it's fast fishing, but I think it's steady," Obrey said.

REGION F: EASTERN MAINE

The Penobscot River is running at May levels, said regional biologist Nels Kramer. That pretty well tells the tale of eastern Maine fishing right now: strange and challenging.

"Some of the guides mentioned it's spotty. They are working for their clients this summer," Kramer said. "The bass don't seem to be in places they expect them to be."

In addition, the rain has made for cloudy rivers, so even if fishermen know where the fish are hiding out, they can't see them.

However, fishing is holding up well in area lakes such as Schoodic Lake and Matagamon Lake.

The best news out of the eastern Maine fisheries office is the survey of shallow ponds that have never been studied. In these, Kramer is finding wild brook trout populations.

"The fact these populations continue to exist is pretty impressive. In most cases, these waters have never been stocked. They are really something to cherish," Kramer said.

REGION G: NORTHERN MAINE

Fishing has slowed in northern Maine, biologist David Basley said. But experienced fishermen are catching fish throughout Aroostook County despite high water levels, he said.

As one who subscribes to the belief that hot fishing spots should not be given out, Basley is mum in this regard.

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

dfleming@pressherald.com