Rain-splashed spring promises bright fishing future

Saturday, July 2, 2005

Ken Allen

Writing about fishing or weather during the previous two or three months often bores readers to death, and the reason is obvious. Folks know what happened, so they need no writer telling them what they saw firsthand.

However, a summary of last May and June's angling action and an analysis of what the rain-drenched spring meant to trout, salmon and bass will give us a definitive glimpse into the near and somewhat distant future. In my educated opinion -- backed by a fisheries biologist's similar feelings -- prospects indeed look bright for July, September and next year.

Before water temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit this month, the good times will continue rolling for salmonid anglers. In a state such as Maine, latitude and elevation have a lot to do with water temperature, and some north country ponds on high mountains may not reach 70. Of course, a brief hot spell in the high 80s and 90s surely jump water temperatures practically overnight anywhere in the state.

Savvy bass anglers catch fish in the dead heat of summer, but salmonid action should pick up again in September when water temperatures drop into the 60s. If high water holds through August, that magic 70 degree mark will come sooner than in years when low water causes temperatures to skyrocket into the low 80s.

My prognosis for a fall of fast and furious fishing begins with spring's weather pattern. Those heavy rains influence future fishing in two ways. First, more water means a better aquatic environment, certainly better than the low, warm water that dominated Maine in 2002 and 2003. This bodes well for summer survival. Second, high water slows the overall catch rate statewide, leaving a larger game fish base for fall and next year.

Some folks may disagree that this spring's high water slowed fishing action because they did exceptionally well through May and June.

An irrefutable argument puts my second thesis into perspective, though. High water gives salmonids and bass more places to hide from anglers, and also, it eliminates anglers from reaching places they may normally wade.

Through May and June, my fishing days have passed with average to good results, catching trout and salmon. However, and this is a huge "however," high water has severely limited my fishing options to far fewer places. That created many sanctuaries for fish.

For example, when I hit the Shawmut stretch of the Kennebec River, one small spot has produced consistently. The rest of the river there has looked dead until two weeks ago, and higher water limited wading areas. On a favorite trout pond, I have found trout stacked up near two tributaries, forcing me to fish those hot spots. The rest of the trout there are scattered willy-nilly.

The problem with limited fishing holes begins with a well-known truth. An angler can only pound a certain area for so long before putting fish down. In short, I have been spending a lot of time between casting blitzes, resting the water.

In most years, I would just rush off to a different honey hole instead of sitting lethargically, waiting for trout to move again.

Many anglers have experienced a similar spring to mine, but far more have told me that they have done poorly in the past two or three months because of high water.

This translates into more trout, salmon and bass swimming local waters, while growing larger all the time.

I thought I would run my philosophies by a fisheries biologist and talked to John Kenealy, of Turner, a retired biologist who now builds bamboo rods. He is also an extraordinarily wonderful fly rodder and entomologist.

"High water can help summer survival and create better fall fishing when water temperatures drop and increase fish-feeding activity," Kenealy said. "I fully expect a fantastic fall of fishing."

How much do salmonids grow between early April and mid-September?

According to Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's (DIF&W) fisheries biologists, salmonids can easily grow two inches in that five- to six-month period, insuring a larger game-fish base of bigger, finned critters. When fall temperatures drop below 70 degrees, activating trout and salmon, we should have days on the water that create lifetime memories.

Weather influencing fishing reminds me of the infamous ice storm that began January 8, 1998 and devastated Maine. That winter, ice-fishing activity dropped significantly, according to fisheries biologists gathering creel-census data.

Local sports shops also reported a significant drop in ice-fishing-related business. People were too busy cleaning up shattered trees and getting their lives back together. In May 1998, fishing was phenomenal because that storm significantly reduced a whole season of fishing pressure.

On the negative side, the droughts in 2002 and 2003 really killed my favorite trout brooks east of Augusta.

As most of you know who read this column, I spend much of April fishing for wild brookies in brooks in eastern Kennebec, Lincoln and Waldo counties. In 2004, April produced awful fishing in these brooks.

The last two wet years will improve them dramatically for April 2006.

Not to belabor the point, but in summer 2004, I was lamenting my slow brook fishing to Peter Bourque, one of the head fisheries biologists at DIF&W. Bourque went into a rather passionate monologue, saying that people do not realize how much droughts hurt fishing.

He emphasized that years with plenty of rain rejuvenate them, but catchable brookies can be scarce in small brooks following a long, hot dry spell.

This year, though, we've had the kind of weather that builds lofty dreams for the coming month and year. As I have said before here, we're living in the good old days here and now, and the fishing will only get better in the next 12 months.

Ken Allen, of Belgrade Lakes, is a writer, editor and photographer. To reach him, send e-mail to KAllyn800@aol.com