02-01-2007, 12:06 PM
[font "Times New Roman"]The typical ice fishing season in Maine begins in earnest on New Year’s Day when the height of both angler use and fish catch are usually observed. Typically, angling for trout and salmon through the ice slows down by the end of January as the density of available fish declines and folks devote less of their time to fishing as the action slows. This is not a typical year! Because of delayed ice formation in southern Maine the fish density should still be very high for this time of year and we are hoping the end result will be an extension of good fishing for salmonids through February.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]The first day of high angler use in southern Maine was a bright and sunny Sunday, January 28th. I visited Thomas Pond in Raymond, Keoka Lake in Waterford, and Hobbs Pond in Norway, and while the use on some of these ponds wouldn’t rival that of a typical January first, I did observe a good deal of angler activity. On Keoka Lake and Hobbs Pond I also observed better trout fishing than I would have expected for this time of year. Almost every party had trout on these ponds and some had great fish stories of broken leaders and big fish seen cruising past the hole. During one interview I had to tell one lucky guy on Hobbs about a flag that had popped up behind his back, a quick run and jerk on his part and he had a fat 13.5-inch brookie to complete his limit! Thomas Pond has yet to give up any salmon brood and has produced only a few brookies so I am hoping to see a couple great fishing days in the near future. Fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam visited Sand Pond in Baldwin, and the Clemmons Ponds in Hiram this past Saturday only to find few anglers and few brook trout.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]One thing Francis and I found in common was observing thicker ice than we had anticipated. Even some of the smaller bays of Sebago Lake have buttoned up, for a while at least. The Big Bay of Sebago is still open and blustery winds threaten to break up what ice has formed. While the cold weather is slowly thickening the ice, folks are still over estimating the safety of southern Maine’s hard water and some are breaking through with larger machinery than augers. Test the ice wherever you go and if safety is in doubt, don’t chance it. Best of luck![/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]-Brian Lewis, Fisheries Biologist Specialist[/font]
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