The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife periodically prepares fishing reports in order to better inform the public about conditions and opportunities on the state’s inland waters. Here’s the most recent report:
Sebago Lakes region
In southern Maine, there is no shortage of late season fishing opportunities. It used to be if you wanted to fish late in the season, you would fish the tidewater areas of the Mousam and the Ogunquit rivers, but now anglers have a variety of choices.
“We have made a concerted effort to identify and target fall fishing waters,” said DIF&W fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam. “For over three years, we have been stocking the Upper Mousam below the outlet of Mousam Lake, the Lower Royal below the dams in Yarmouth, and expanded opportunities on the Presumpscot for the entire year, not just the upper area. And all these rivers have very good access.”
Many of these waters receive stocked trout not in only in the spring, but a fall stocking as well. Waters that see a higher number of anglers are stocked periodically through the fall right into December.
“With the Mousam, Royal and Presumpscot, we pretty much have covered the region,” said Brautigam.
Biologists have been busy working with dam owners on the Presumpscot to improve access and fishing. Through the dam relicensing procedure, there are now minimum river flows and improved parking and access.
“At Mallison and Dundee, there are now footbridges that get you to the bypass channel which you couldn’t get to before,” said Brautigam.
If you want to fish area lakes and ponds, you may want to wait until early October. The department is now stocking larger fish in the fall, which seem to survive better in lakes with bass and pickerel.
Anglers who like to fish for landlocked salmon ought to look for areas with current. On Thompson Lake, the set of culverts near the heath is always a popular option. Shore anglers may want to try Crystal Lake for rainbows off the town beach.
Whenever fishing, anglers are reminded to check their law book for regulations. Come Oct. 1, many of these stocked waters are restricted to artificial lures only, and all trout and salmon must be released at once.
Central, midcoast area
Anglers who want to spend a productive day fishing ought to try a canoe trip down the Sebasticook River.
“The Sebasticook has been superb. Anglers are catching multiple bass in excess of 20 inches,” said DIF&W fisheries biologist Jason Seiders, who added the Burnham section has been excellent. “Surface lures work well, as well as anything that imitates a juvenile alewife.”
Further north on the Kennebec River, catches continue to be outstanding. Anglers are having a lot of success in the Bingham section, particularly bouncing nymphs off the bottom throughout the day.
A little lower on the Kennebec, there are still browns to be caught in the Shawmut area, and the stocking truck will be delivering more brown trout to the Shawmut reach soon, once water temperatures cool.
Rangeley Lakes
There are plenty of fall fishing opportunities in the Rangeley region, particularly if you enjoy fishing in rivers. The Kennebago, Magalloway and the Rapid are all very well known for their fall trout and salmon fishing.
“The cold mornings are cooling down the rivers, and fish are starting to move around, thinking about spawning,” said DIF&W fisheries biologist Dave Howatt. “It’s a great time to be on these rivers.”
And if you don’t feel like wading, don’t forget about the lakes and ponds.
“Lake fishing often gets overlooked this time of year, but lakes and ponds can be very good. Fish are starting to stage in front of the rivers, and you can find quite a few in the deeper pockets close to the rivers,” said Howatt, who added this time of year, you are likely to only see a few boats instead of the dozens you might encounter early in the year.
While many waters will shut down on Oct. 1, there still are waters open to fishing such as Beal, Little Jim and Quimby Ponds, all of which have good access. Remember to check your law book before venturing out, as many regulations change after Oct. 1.