Adam Bergeron caught this salmon on Sebago Lake using a hot pink Harry Lure. Credit: Glen Gisel
Outdoors The BDN outdoors section brings readers into the woods, waters and wild places of Maine. It features stories on hunting, fishing, wildlife, conservation and recreation, told by people who live these experiences. This section emphasizes hands-on knowledge, field reports, issues, trends and the traditions that define life outside in Maine. Read more Outdoors stories here.
The weeks after ice-out are prime time for trout and salmon fishing in Maine.
While many anglers rely on live smelts, tandem streamer flies or classic lures like DB Smelts and Mooselook Wobblers, several Maine companies are producing lures that catch plenty of fish of their own.
I reached out to four Maine lure makers and asked them to send me their best catches from the last month, along with the lure that caught them.
Here’s what they sent.
Pine State Sports Supply
Owned by Justin Blouin and based in Lisbon, Pine State Sports Supply was founded in 2023. The company offers several styles of spoons and plugs designed to imitate smelt, dace, shiners, alewives and other baitfish. All trolling spoons are made by hand.
Randy Gagne caught this personal-best lake trout on Richardson Lake while trolling a Bottom Feeder spoon on leadcore. Credit: Courtesy of Randy Gagne
Evan Rouillard caught these salmon on Moosehead Lake using a Glitter Bomb spoon. Credit: Justin Rouillard
Justin Blouin caught these Sebago Lake salmon on a Pearl Smelt. Credit: Courtesy of Justin Blouin
Dan Sullivan caught this lake trout in southern Maine on a UV Wonderbread. Credit: Courtesy of Dan Sullivan
A glitter bomb spoon made by Pine State Sports Supply. Credit: Courtesy of Pine State Sports Supply
A pearl smelt made by Pine State Sports Supply. Credit: Courtesy of Pine State Sports Supply
The Harry Lure
The Harry Lure is owned by Adam Bergeron. Founded by Harry Ellison, the lure was developed on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee. Bergeron moved the company to Kennebunk and began stamping lures there in March 2024. Unlike traditional concave spoons, the flat lure is designed to swing side to side and flash light as it moves through the water.
Adam Bergeron caught this salmon on Sebago Lake using a hot pink Harry Lure. Credit: Glen Gisel
Michael Deloia caught this 24-inch salmon in the Sebago region on a nickel-plated Harry Lure. Credit: Glen Gisel
Glen Gisel caught this landlocked salmon on Sebago Lake using a hot pink Harry Lure. Credit: Adam Bergeron
Doug Brennan displays a salmon caught on a Harry Lure. Credit: Michael Deloia
Chris Tabb caught this 4-pound salmon in York County on an unreleased Harry Lure pattern. Credit: Adam Bergeron
A Sebago Lake salmon caught on a hot pink Harry Lure. Credit: Doug Brennan
Northeast Troller
Founded by Christian Carlson in 2016, Northeast Troller produces custom trolling and casting spoons from its shop in Thorndike. Carlson, who is also a taxidermist, began making spoons as a passion project and thank-you gift for his clients. The spoons are CAD-designed, painted and assembled in Thorndike, and tested on the water before production.
This landlocked salmon was caught on Sebago Lake by Burnt Meadow Guide Service using a Northeast Troller Twin Spin. Credit: Burnt Meadow Guide Service
Guide Glen Gisel caught this lake trout on Sebago Lake using a Northeast Troller Creamsicle Spoon. Credit: Glen Gisel
Lea Pinaud caught this brook trout on Moosehead Lake using a Northeast Troller Hammered Copper and Black Spoon. Credit: Courtesy of Lea Pinaud
James caught this brook trout on Moosehead Lake using a Northeast Troller Trout Hammer Spoon in Copper Black. Credit: Courtesy of Northeast Troller
Josh Rogers caught this brown trout using a Northeast Troller Slimline Dodger and bait. Credit: Courtesy of Josh Rogers
Dream Catcher Lures
Dream Catcher Lures are made by Jesse Dicker in Lincoln. Established in 2020, the company produces a variety of lures for salmon, lake trout and other species.
Its lineup includes a smelt series, casting and trolling spoons, dodgers, jerkbaits, bass poppers, jigs and worm-bait rigs.
Bob Dicker caught this salmon at the Chesuncook Lake Salmon Derby on Memorial Day weekend. Credit: Courtesy of Bob Dicker
Jesse Dicker caught this salmon on a 2 3/8-inch SmeltAnater trolling spoon. Credit: Courtesy of Jesse Dicker
Jeremy Hewey of Jackson Guide Service caught this salmon on a Dream Catcher Lures SmeltAnater Troller. Credit: Courtesy of Jackson Guide Service
Jake Rackliff of Cast and Call Guide Service caught this salmon on a UV Dodger. Credit: Cast and Call Guide Service
Earlier this spring, Registered Maine Guides Jake Rackliff and Adam Bergeron landed a 10-pound rainbow trout on a Dream Catcher Lures Solid Pink UV.
Susan Bard is the Bangor Daily News outdoors editor. She has worked in wildlife biology for agencies across the country on various research and management projects, and is also a registered Maine Guide...
More by Susan Bard