I checked on a few Southern Maine waters over the weekend. The Maine fishing was predictably slow because of the high water. Sokokis pond in Limerick, York County, Maine, was 8” to 12” Higher then usual for this time of year. The same was true for Sabatus Pond, in Sabatus, Androscoggin County, Maine.

The first Maine pond I fished was Sokokis on Saturday morning. We launched around 8:00 AM and fished it till 11:00 AM. The southern Maine water was heavily tainted but not murky. Visibility was at three to four feet depending on the area. Water temps had slipped 5 degrees in the last two weeks coming down to 54.5*F. The Maine Largemouth Bass where submissive, and even with varied presentations, we ended up being skunked. Being skunked at Sokokis pond, is akin to being court marshaled; it shouldn’t happen if you’re doing everything right. I think the afternoon would have provided better results with such low water temps.

We salvaged the trip with a stop at the DoughBoy, which is just north of the ramp on a side street. Best doughnuts I have had in a while. Plump, crisp and soft. I can’t ask for a better way to brighten up a poor fishing trip than with freshly made doughnuts. In fact, Don Janelle and I decided to run some into Portland for my father in-law; he is a true fan of the crispy critters.

Sunday morning called for a trip to Sabatus Pond. We packed up and left town by 6:30 AM, arriving at the Sabatus Ramp around 7:30AM. With high hopes for Pike or Largemouth, we were very optimistic. We checked the southern shore for weed growth, which was minimal, and made our way to the northern inlet. With water temperatures of 58.5*F, the water was warmer than Sokokis.

I’ve got high____hopes; I’ve got high____hopes; I’ve got pie in the sky apple pie_____hopes! I caught one northern on a gold double spinner with a flashaboo dressed hook. The spinner had a #4 red Daiichi treble dressed with a small amount of flashaboo. I did get several hits but was only able to hook up once. I was using a stiff pole that worked well on this water last year. Even the pike were still a little sluggish. I don’t think the water clarity helped either; it was poor. We didn’t target the 10’ areas but stayed more in the five to eight foot range. The whole pond looks like it could be starting its annual algae bloom. Sabatus is a very fertile pond with abundant food sources. It usually blooms later than this.

We stopped fishing around twelve-noon after spooking countless bass. Looks like the bass are ready to jump on their beds. I imagine that if the weather stays good, this will happen in the next seven days. And when the fishing is poor, ther is nothing like some comfort food to cheer you up! There goes my diet! We headed to The Lost Gull in Oxford for their $12.50 dinner of whole belly fried clams. The crumb batter was light and fluffy not dry and crispy like so many other spots. But it was still a crumb batter. And with the slow fishing, we might as well troll for eateries while driving around! This spot was actually recommended by Don Janelle, my fishing partner for the day, and truly held up to it’s reputation for great seafood. If you’re up at the speedway, check it out!

Having been skunked on Saturday at Sokokis, I snuck back on Monday night. The water temperature was up by four degrees reading 58.5*F. It’s amazing what a few half nice days will do for a pond. I targeted the near end of the pond this time and started fishing with a black and chartreuse spinner bait, working my way up to a Banjo Minnow with no luck. I pulled out my electric blue Canyon Plastics tube and worked it with a bottom bumping action. Finally…..two bass and a pickerel. They were small but it is better than being skunked.

The breeze was stiff and cold. The bass came out of eight feet of water. The pickerel come out of four feet. After two hours of fishing I called it quits because I was freezing. I guess this diet I’m on is taking away my much needed fatty tissue insulation. I guess another LL Bean fleece is in order!

I hear the weather is on the up swing; and if you’re fishing for bass, so is the fishing!

I have to tip my hat to Nick Mill's and his postings that surround the art of the FlyFishers. If you're looking for good sound information from a person that is clearly not a novice, check out Nick's Postings.

I got the privilege of having breakfast with my good friend and guide Shaun Swain last week. My back was hurting……two hours of non-stop Maine Salmon catching must of put a strain on it. Shaun noticed I had to sit to relieve some of the pressure. And, after catching four fish in two hours, it was pretty easy to talk me into a ¼ day of guiding and a good old fashion breakfast at the B & K Diner.

As we sat waiting for grub, Shaun and I spoke about Maine Landlocked Salmon and their eyes; we spoke of the way the rods and cones work in them. When humans walk into a room, our cones adjust more quickly to the surrounding light than a Maine Landlocked Salmon. A Maine Salmon’s eyes may take several hours for the adjustment to take place. Shaun and I debated whether fish activity was related to their ability to see better or worse. We never did decide conclusively.

Fisheries are so complex. It takes an enormous amount of research, money and thought, to effectively manage a lake. I believe the introduction of Maine Laker Trout to so many waters has had an affect on the salmon populations. We’ll never know to what extent because the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife doesn’t have the appropriate funds to tackle the issue. In the Belgrade area, Pike and Lakers have decimated the Maine Landlocked Salmon population. Through competition for bait fish and direct predator relationships, the Maine Landlocked Salmon fishery has suffered greatly.

While in Alaska, I had the privilege of meeting with fisheries biologist to review the management techniques used for Kenai River salmon populations. It was there I realized that it takes an enormous amount of research and funding to conduct fisheries management properly. And even with all the resources available to my Alaskan friends, they still constantly questioned findings and searched for additional ways to fund more research.

Fisheries management is a constant battle of protecting habitat and fish populations while finding ways to sway public opinion with hard facts that involve extensive research. Even when the correct research is done, getting the laws past is another problem.

I remember Alaskan Fisheries Biologist, Mary King, explaining to me the importance of undercut banks for healthy fisheries in Alaska. The undercut banks are an important part of the fish habitat. Salmon Parr hide from their predators in these areas. The calving of the banks also provides soil for streams grasses to grow providing additional shelter for the salmon parr.

For land owners, this became a contentious issue. In allowing the banks to calve, they were losing valuable real estate. Which begs the question of who is right, the biologist or the land owners? If the entire habitat is destroyed, will there be as much value to the real estate? If the banks are left alone, is it right to burden only some of the property owners? The question was never answered to me by Ms. King. I believe she never answered it because she was in a quandary; she fully understood both sides of the issue. But, implementing the management standards was another issue

That’s why as much as I would like to complain about Maine’s fisheries management, I try not to. I understand that there is not enough research money available in the State of Maine to make the hard decisions that are needed. The man power is lacking and the dollars are short. And even if we did understand our fisheries perfectly, would we be able to implement and enforce the standards?

Only the future holds the answers to our questions. I fear the answers are not what we will want to hear.