April 5, 1998
Fish prized by open-water anglers
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Smallmouth bass
First stocked here in 1869, smallmouths are no longer considered a "trash fish" in Maine. Instead both smallmouth and largemouth bass are among the most sought after fish here and the state has gained a reputation as one of the best bass fisheries in the Northeast. That reputation is based on fishing action, more than size. Cold winters slow growth, so a Maine bass may take 20 to 25 years to reach 5 pounds. In certain waters, fishing pressure has reduced the number of big bass. "I think those few waters are on the mend, but overall the bass population has never been in trouble," said J. Dennis McNeish, state fish biologist.
Brook trout
Also called "squaretails,'' brook trout are found in 1,471 waters, about 1,000 considered principal fisheries. About 400 of the state's brook trout ponds are now stocked. In the rest, including 424 waters that have never been stocked, trout reproduce naturally. This year anglers may begin seeing more and bigger brook trout, thanks to tough regulations instituted three years ago. "We've always had good populations of brook trout, but they were whittled down in last decade or so because of increased fishing pressure,'' said Forrest Bonney, state fish biologist.
Brown trout
Usually darker than salmon, brown trout were introduced here in the late 19th century, but extensive stocking didn't begin until recent years. They're now found in more than 216 lakes and ponds, including 134 principal fisheries, and 60 streams, mainly in south and central Maine. They're more adaptable to different water conditions than brook trout and grow larger. The state record brown trout weighed 23 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught in Square Pond in Acton three years ago. "They serve a very useful purpose in this part of the state ... They perform better under more intense competition than brook trout,'' said John Boland, state fish biologist.
Chain pickerel
An abundant gamefish in Maine, pickerel can be found in warm, weedy waters throughout the state. They feed on small perch, minnows, frogs, snakes, ducklings, mice and even young muskrats. Although they can grow large — the state record is a 6-pound, 13-ounce pickerel caught in Androscoggin Lake in 1992 — they rarely get the chance. Most anglers throw them back, saying they're too boney to eat. But if more were removed from state waters, the remainder could grow bigger. "They really are good to eat and there are ways to get around the bones,'' said Ron Brokaw, state fish biologist.
Lake trout
Also known as togue, Maine's largest native species prefers water temperatures in the '50s, so it can be found close to the surface in spring, but goes deep during the summer. Sebago lake is the premiere fishery, but togue are found in about 125 lakes, mostly in northern and western Maine. The state stocks far fewer than it once did Ð about 50,000 compared to more than double that number 25 years ago. But today, more stocked togue survive. Lake trout live long and grow slowly, but across the state, "they're doing just fine,'' said Paul Johnson, state fish biologist.
Landlocked salmon
Distinguished by a silvery body with black spots and a forked tail, salmon are found in 316 lakes around the state, but only about 200 are considered principal fisheries. Of those, 72 are maintained entirely or mostly by natural reproduction; the rest are stocked with hatchery fish. Some of the premier salmon lakes are Sebago, Rangley, West and East Grand, Chesuncook, the Fish River chain, and Long Pond in Belgrade.
White perch
Considered by many anglers the most tasty fish in Maine and certainly one of the most numerous. They're found in nearly all state waters larger than 100 acres and they're so prolific there is no bag limit on perch. Good fishing is available all summer, espcially when an angler lucks into a school. The only problem with perch is that in many waters there are so many that few get a chance to grow very large. "In the majority of cases, you don't want to catch and release perch,'' said Mike Smith, state fish biologist. "There are a few places where that's not the case, but overall it's a situation where there are too many fish."
Northern pike
Illegally introduced into Maine waters, probably in the last 20 years or so, the northern pike has spread throughout the Belgrade chain and now is firmly established in other waters, such as Sabattus Pond. Ice fishermen target pike and the state record has been broken several times, including last week when a Skowhegan angler caught a 31-pound, 2-ounce pike in North Pond in Smithfield. But open-water fishing is getting more popular.