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BY DAVE HOWATT 05/17/2008

Fishery biospecialist

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife began conducting a creel survey at Rangeley Lake last week. The survey will continue into July, when the fishing activity begins to slow down.

In the first couple of days, we interviewed 30 anglers that had logged 145 hours of fishing time. They reported catching 11 legal brook trout and 32 legal salmon. The salmon kept are averaging nearly 18 inches, with the largest being 21 inches and over three pounds. The brook trout kept are running about 13 1/2 inches. The average length of the salmon in this year's survey is smaller than the average lengths observed in past surveys, while the brook trout lengths are similar to those measured in earlier surveys.

Aziscohos Lake also will be surveyed this summer, but this study is not yet underway. However, Fern Bosse of Magalloway Plantation has placed creel survey boxes at launch sites around the lake. If you are coming off the lake after fishing, please report your catch by filling out a card at one of the survey boxes.

The data collected will supplement the clerk survey and be very useful for the future management of Aziscohos Lake.

With the summer heat returning, the waters are warming and aquatic insect life is beginning to emerge. Anglers should target small brook trout ponds in the evening to take advantage of eagerly feeding fish.

A few waters to try are Saddleback Lake in Dallas Plantation, Little Jim Pond in Jim Pond Township, and Big and Little Dimmick ponds in Caratunk.

Bass fishing also is starting to pick up as water temperatures warm. Smallmouth anglers should try Wilson Pond in Wilton, Webb Lake in Weld, Wyman Lake in Moscow or the Kennebec River in the Norridgewock area. When the conditions are right, any of these waters will provide action for respectable-sized bass.

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