Ice fishing season opens
Conditions vary throughout the state
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
On New Year's Day, ice fishermen of all ages celebrated the new year by heading out to their favorite lakes and ponds in search of trout, togue, salmon and northern pike.
Although favorable ice conditions continue to vary throughout the state, most central Maine lakes and ponds now support between 8 to 10 inches of solid ice. However, the Maine Warden Service is still warning ice fishermen and snowmobilers to use extreme caution when venturing out over any major body of water.
There are still a number of extremely hazardous open-water areas on many larger bodies of water statewide. Ice fishermen, snowmobilers and ATV operators should use extreme caution when walking out on any lake or pond, they said.
Anglers are reminded that their 2002 fishing licenses expired Dec. 31, and a current 2003 license is required to fish Jan. 1, opening day.
In central Maine, Assistant Regional Biologist Bill Woodward said Great Pond in Belgrade should produce good brown trout fishing for opening-day anglers. "Our spring angler reports say the present brown trout fishery is holding up very well," he said. "We saw a number of fish caught there last spring and fall that averaged between 8 to 10 pounds."
Woodward said Great Pond is also well-known for producing monster northern pike, with many fish averaging between 10 to 20 pounds. The fisheries biologist said anglers fishing Parker Pond in Mount Vernon have a good chance at icing a limit of brook trout, which average between 12 to 14 inches in length. Parker Pond is restricted to two tip-ups only. "There are some 2-year-old fish that should be between 16 to 18 inches," he said.
For splake, a hybrid-cross between brook trout and lake trout, Woodward recommended fishing Messalonskee Lake, between Oakland and Belgrade. The fisheries department stocked the lake last spring with 6,000 good-size splake that measure between 12 to 14 inches, he said. They also stocked Messalonskee with brown trout and there's always a chance of catching a big pike.
Woodward rates Lake St. George in Liberty as top contender for landlocked salmon, with most average fish weighing between 2 to 4 pounds. Those who fish the lake generally set tip-ups just off the public boat launch off Route 3 or a secluded cove called Marshall Shores, off the Stickney Road. Anglers are reminded that Lake St. George has a strict two tip-up per person limit.
Woodward said Sheepscot Lake in Palermo generally produces fair to good catches on splake, salmon and togue for first-of-the-season ice fishermen.
"It also has some really nice-size white perch if you know where to fish for them during the winter," he said. The biologist also recommended ice fishing Maranacook Lake in Winthrop, Cobbossee Lake in Manchester-Monmouth, Androscoggin Lake in Wayne and Annabessacook Lake between Winthrop and Monmouth.
In Sabbatus, an overabundance of northern pike in Sabbatus Pond should provide plenty of fishing action for anglers. There are some trophy-size pike there but most fish average just under 24 inches. In the greater China-Vassalboro area, China Lake, Webber Pond and Three-Mile Pond always produce good brown trout catches on opening day.
In Greenville, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist Scott Roy reported glare ice conditions cover Moosehead Lake and most surrounding lakes and ponds. Present ice conditions vary on the great lake, but most sheltered coves support just less than a foot of solid ice.
"We had several 15- to 20-below days in December, so most of our smaller lakes and ponds have 12 inches or more of ice," he said. "Still, I'd be very cautious when traveling over certain sections of Moosehead Lake, especially around islands, shoals, inlets and outlets."
Roy said Moosehead's abundant togue population should offer anglers plenty of fishing action. Catching a legal limit of five fish shouldn't be a problem, he said. All togue must be between 14 and 18 inches in length, with only one fish greater than 18 inches.
Roy reminds anglers that Moosehead Lake is closed to the taking of salmon until Feb. 15. He said present salmon population numbers are still down, because of the abundance of togue.
"Everything is eating the same thing out there," he said. "Unfortunately, most of the food, such as smelt, are being eaten by all the small togue. We still have some nice 20 -to 22-inch togue, but a greater majority of fish are just under 18 inches. We encourage people to take their limit."
In Ashland, Warden Sgt. Joel Wilkinson reported most lakes and ponds in Aroostook County support between 8-to-10 inches of solid black ice.
"We should be in good shape for opening day for ice fishing," he said. "Personally, I think it's the best ice conditions we've seen here on opening day within the last three years. Our fisheries biologist said there's 10-plus inches of ice throughout the Allagash region."
l l l Winter coyote hunting starts today, and statewide reports from a number of sportsmen claim there's certainly no shortage of coy-dogs. Some avid hunters claim gunning for weary coyotes can be as exciting as bagging a trophy buck. Would-be coyote gunners who plan to zero in on these elusive animals can do so during the special night hunting season that runs from Jan. 1 to April 30. To night hunt for coyote, hunters must first obtain a $2 permit from Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and abide by evening hunting hour regulations, which are limited to the hours between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise. Another mandatory requirement for coyote night gunning is hunters must have in their possession either an electronic hand-held or mouth-operated predator call to remain legal. Maine allows no Sunday hunting, so legal nighttime gunning ends at midnight each Saturday and resumes again at 12:01 a.m. Monday. Dwayne Rioux: 861-9287