There is a $6,000 reward for information on how largemouth bass were introduced into West Musquash Lake in Washington County.
Working with the Maine Warden Service, Maine Operation Game Thief and the Grand Lake Stream Guides Association are offering $5,000 and $1,000 rewards, respectively, to anyone who has information on the illegal stocking.
West Musquash Lake is the only body of water in the Down East region that has wild brook trout, lake trout and a landlocked salmon fishery and is not stocked by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The lake is also one of the last bodies of water in Maine that has a population of round whitefish.
Largemouth bass are likely to outcompete these naturally-occurring populations for crucial resources.
According to the Facebook post by the Maine DIFW, biologists were able to determine that Orie Lake, which feeds into West Musquash Lake, does not have any largemouth bass. There are also natural barriers that prevent bass from traveling upstream into West Musquash.
This led biologists to believe that the largemouth bass had been purposefully and illegally introduced into West Musquash. Fish of varying ages were confirmed to be in the lake.
“West Musquash is a deep, clear, cold-water lake that is truly special to the region and area,” said MDIFW Regional Fisheries Biologist Jacob Scoville. “The lake supports a wild brook trout, wild lake trout and wild landlocked salmon fishery, and also is one of the last waters in the state with a population of round whitefish.”
“This is the only water in the region that has all these fisheries without an active stocking program. Sadly, this introduction will no doubt change the lake forever.”
The fisheries team is working to remove as many of the largemouth bass as possible, with the aid of specialized equipment that uses electrodes attached to a boat to track and attract fish.
West Musquash Lake encompasses more than 1,600-acres, and has just four small camps along its shores, located near the east end of the lake. It takes a 4 to 5-mile drive on dirt roads to arrive at the main boat access point.
Anyone with information about the illegal introduction of the bass are asked to contact the Maine Warden Service
You can report any information on the illegal introduction of bass to the Maine Warden Service, which can be reached 24 hours a day by contacting your local dispatch center, or by leaving a tip with Maine Operation Game Thief at 1-800-253-7887 or visiting www.maineogt.org.