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BY MAINE DIF&W 07/05/2008

By Maine DiF&W

Central Maine

Of all Maine’s sport fish, the smallmouth bass rank high in anglers’ minds as the hard-fighting, cooperative, abundant fish species that represents the way fishing should be. While different groups of anglers are always shopping and buying those “new” lures that might catch more fish, there is a big difference between the amount of fishing tackle taken in the boat by landlocked salmon anglers when compared to bass anglers.
For instance, when I fish for landlocked salmon, everything I use fits in one large tackle box. But when I fish for bass, I always take at least four tackle boxes, and one of them is huge! After all, there are topwater lures, crankbaits, stickbaits, and several styles of spinners. Multiply each of those by the various color patterns we possess for each lure type (natural, fire tiger, chartreuse, blaze orange) and you can quickly see why one tackle box must be almost as large as a cooler! The other tackle boxes house jig heads, hooks, and a wide variety of soft plastic lures.
Because of the high importance of smallmouth bass to Maine’s anglers, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologists in eastern Maine have intensively studied populations in approximately 35 waters over the last 22 years, beginning with the high priority fisheries. Sampling methods have included SCUBA, electrofishing, trapnetting and angling. We have collected information on lengths, weights, fishing effort and ages of bass, permitting us to learn about the quality of bass populations from these 35 waters from more than 8,000 individual bass. There’s no guesswork involved in this kind of information.
Our staff biologists are finishing this spring’s sampling at Holbrook Pond and Graham Lake this week with the DIF&W’s electrofishing boat.
Because bass anglers are always interested in the quality of bass fishing in their region, the purpose of this fishing report is to share a summary of the quality of numerous bass fisheries, based on our findings. Studies in Maine have shown that catch and release angling for bass occurs in 97 percent of Maine’s open water fishing trips. This important angler ethic is a primary reason for the excellence of Maine’s bass fishing.
We have compiled a summary of information about the catch rate for smallmouth bass at each water, measured during the spawning season, and the percentage of bass larger than 12 inches and 14 inches. By looking at the catch rate along with the sizes of bass, anglers will gain a perspective of the fishing quality in these waters. Because several lakes have been sampled multiple times, the information represents averages over the years. To view the chart, visit www.maine.gov/ifw and click on fishing.
Some of Maine’s best bass fishing occurs from late June through the end of August. Try top-water fishing on calm hot summer mornings when the dragonflies are flitting over the lily pads. Troll Rapalas and Rebels around offshore boulder shoals on windy days. And fish from twilight into total darkness with surface lures when the only sensations you experience are the glug-glug-glug of your Jitterbug as you reel it three feet, then wait to hear the explosive splash of a large bass grabbing it from the lake surface in the dark.
— Rick Jordan, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Western Maine

Summer fishing conditions are upon us. Warming water temperatures in lakes and ponds are forcing coldwater fish species to seek thermal refuge. It’s easy for fish to find these conditions in most large lakes by just going deeper. That’s also what anglers have to do to target trout and salmon. Trolling slow using a downrigger or lead-core fishing line is what it takes to get down into the 40- to 60-foot water where the fish are suspended.
If fishing for brook trout or salmon, the Rangeley area is hard to beat. All the larger lakes contain trout and salmon and have good public access. Togue anglers can go to Clearwater Pond in Industry, Embden Pond in Embden, Jim Pond in Jim Pond Township, or Spring Lake in T3 R4 BKP WKR to find some good action.
Togue anglers looking for a quieter atmosphere might try carrying a small boat or canoe into Lincoln Pond in Parkertown Township or West Carry Pond in Carrying Place Town Township. All these ponds are deep and contain large lake trout and a few good brookies, too. A sewed-on sucker or a streamer fly and dodger are a couple of good techniques to try using.
Last week, the sampling of Androscoggin River smallmouth bass was completed in the 14-mile reach between Rumford and the head of the Riley impoundment in Canton. We fell four bass shy of the hundred fish goal, but are considering that good due to the high water conditions during the sampling period. The bass ranged from 7- to 18-inches long with over a third of the fish being greater than 15 inches. Also caught were a few brown trout and rainbow trout, as well as many large chubs.
This week we will begin sampling Wesserunsett Lake in Madison and Wilson Pond in Wilton. For these waters we will be using an electrofishing boat. This boat is very effective at collecting fish, but also very noisy, as the power source is an on-board generator. People around these waters should expect to hear this activity, especially since much of this work is done at night.
Although largemouth bass are not common in northwestern Maine, there are a few ponds that have good populations. Norcross, Sand, and Crowell Ponds in Chesterville and Wesserunsett Lake are all excellent places to cast a popper into a weed bed or work a rubber worm along a drop-off. Anglers can catch bass up to five pounds, although the average size fish will be much smaller. Pickerel, perch, and sunfish can also be caught at the same time.

— David Howatt, Fisheries Biologist Specialist, Strong

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