For a listing of stocked waters and the anticipated number of fish to be stocked, click on the appropriate county of interest below. Maine fly fishing, we specialize in the fly fishing for wild native brook trout and landlocked salmon. Seasons and regulations are strict on the rapid river to preserve the fishery. Flowing southward, it forms the border between new hampshire and vermont before passing through massachusetts, connecticut and into the atlantic ocean. Quabbin reservoir and its tributary streams within the quabbin reservation are closed to all fishing except during the open season as set by dcr. Rangeley lake maine fishing report best reel fishing september 15, 2015 at 10. A state biologist is foreseeing healthy fish populations while fishermen gear up for april 1, which has historically. Jan 12, 2015 for dryfly fishing i use 12foot, 5x leaders for size 12 flies and smaller, and 9foot, 4x for larger flies.
Check the state of maine open water fishing regulations for exact dates during july and august, trout and salmon are found deep in the cooler waters of lakes and ponds on mount desert island. Maine fishing adventures has been working with higher elevations, an amazing film crew from vermont, to make a film about musky fishing in maine. Maines ponddwelling wild brook trout can reach 20 inches in length, and those are the ones everybody is after, but most are between 8 and 12 inches. Maine s ponddwelling wild brook trout can reach 20 inches in length, and those are the ones everybody is after, but most are between 8 and 12 inches. Use or possession of live fish as bait is prohibited.
These regulations keep fish populations healthy and provide a variety of fishing opportunities to anglers in the commonwealth. Check the state of maine open water fishing regulations for exact dates. For dryfly fishing i use 12foot, 5x leaders for size 12 flies and smaller, and 9foot, 4x for larger flies. Anglers come from all over the country to sit in their huts and await a tug on their line. The sebago lake region, located in southernmost maine, offers a diversity of angling opportunities for both warmwater and coldwater fisheries.
Even though april 1 is the legal opening day in maine it may be a few weeks before the really good fishing begins. Ice fishing maine 2020 opening day brook trout and salmon. Trout fishing hot spots maines selfsustaining trout lakes and ponds that are home to americas largest population of wild, native trout living in natural stillwater environments. Statewide angling regulations species open season minimum length daily limit troutbrook, brown and rainbow and hybrids of these species. Introductions of invasive fish cause irreversible changes to entire aquatic ecosystems. The wind may blow and the temperatures can be cold but the fishing is hot, up to 35 fish landed a day in the spring of 2006. Before i picked him up i went to a bridge near his house, baited my hook and dropped my worm cover hook in into the creek. Fly fishing a maine river for wild brook trout and landlocked salmon during the early morning in may 2012. Just after ice out, salmon, brook trout and lake trout fishing can provide good action on fly rods and mediumlight action spinning rods. Fishing report maine department of inland fisheries and. Midseptember found the crew fly fishing on the rapid river, one of maines legendary wild brook trout fisheries. We filmed three different fishermen along their journey to catch a fish of 10,000 cast. In fact, maine has 97% of the wild brook trout waters east of the mississippi river. Many of our beloved trout and landlocked salmon waters have closed as of september 30th.
High, discolored water, swift, often torrential flows, cold water temperatures, floating debris andor occasional chunks of ice in some streams, freezing drizzle and teethchattering air temperatures are typical of the conditions early season trout fishermen must endure when they visit their favorite trout stream. Before you drop a line in a pond or river, make sure you know the rules. For additional information, please consult the current new hampshire freshwater fishing digest. And maine has hundreds of remote streams and ponds with healthy populations of brook trout where this image can be realized. Dozens of deep clear cold water lakes can be found in this region of the state.
Statewide angling regulations new york fishing regulations. Stocking times depend on snow, ice, flood levels, and water chemistry conditions. The best trophy brook trout fly fishing time is the end of may through june, and all of september. Massachusetts trout stocked waters list some are stocked in spring, some are stocked in both spring and fall.
Brook trout are relatively inactive when early season water temperatures are in the 30s and low 40s f. However, obtaining information about this place proved to be exceptionally difficult and what we did glean from our research was limited. Spring trout stocking begins in march and runs through early june. Seasons fishing new hampshire fish and game department. Casting a fly to rising trout as loons call and the sun drops behind the treetops is a postcard image of fishing. Fishing season runs from april 1november 30 in maine. Guided fishing trips in eastern maine fishing for trout. Bradford camps maine fishing, lake resort, trout fly. In addition to a fishing license, trout anglers 16 and older must posses a troutsalmon permit or combination troutsalmonlake erie permit to fish for trout. The use of all other legal forms of bait including worms and dead baitfishsmelts, artificial lures, and artificial flies is permitted.
The high demand for smelts during the ice fishing season often leads to a lower supply at many bait dealers in northern maine. There are some great areas that are still open to trout fishing after a majority of the waters have closed. The brook trout is commonly called squaretail in maine. April 1st first marked the official beginning of the open water fishing season. The freshwater fishing season in maine is generally april through september. The guide to wisconsin trout fishing regulations, 20202021 pdf contains the regulations for all wisconsin trout seasons, including the inland waters catch and release and the extended lake superior tributaries seasons early trout season. Worldclass fly fishing at amcs maine wilderness lodges. Janet mills directed the maine department of inland fisheries and. High, discolored water, swift, often torrential flows, cold water temperatures, floating debris andor occasional chunks of ice in some streams, freezing drizzle and teethchattering air temperatures are typical of the conditions earlyseason trout fishermen must endure when they visit their favorite trout stream. April means iceout landlocked salmon and lake trout togue fishing on the world famous west grand lake in grand lake stream maine and east grand lake in forest city. This area includes moose river, big wood pond, attean pond, and holeb pond. The season dates listed above are for some of vermonts general fishing seasons. May 14, 2012 fly fishing a maine river for wild brook trout and landlocked salmon during the early morning in may 2012. Maines selfsustaining trout lakes and ponds that are home to americas largest population of wild, native trout living in natural stillwater environments.
In maine youre guaranteed to find fly fishing opportunities all yearround. I wont talk too much about this one, because its a local secret. The newbie stage maine fishing adventures has been working with higher elevations, an amazing film crew from vermont, to make a film about musky fishing in maine. Apr 06, 2020 april 1st first marked the official beginning of the open water fishing season. Arkansas arkansas hunting arkansas waterfowl hunting.
My season begins in april trolling for salmon and trout on local lakes, or chasing smelt runs and fishing the. In fact, the ice fishing season in northern maine has been extended until april 21. The following statewide angling regulations apply to all waters for which special regulations have not been established. The region provides excellent yearround fishing for landlocked salmon, brook trout, splake, lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, and chain pickerel. Fishing for brook trout in maine maine guides online. Often caught on a fly, brook trout size varies greatly based on the body of water an angler is fishing.
New hampshires fishing season for the androscoggin starts january 1st and extends to october 15th. Open to open water fishing using artificial lures or flies only. Escape to the heart of maines 100mile wilderness, where wild brook trout and landlocked salmon are plentiful in the backcountry ponds and rivers at amcs maine wilderness lodges near moosehead lake. Our west branch bear hunts are based at a lodge that is located at the confluence of the north and south branches of the penobscot river. Maine is larger than all the other new england states combined, and we literally have thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and hundreds of lakes and ponds, to explore. Special regulations for specific waters follow in the regulations by county. This document is only a synopsis of new hampshires fishing seasons and does not contain all the pertinent laws or administrative rules. Early spring trout fishing in the northeast is no walk in the park. Still, larger waters like the kennebec river near augusta provide good fishing for rainbows and brown trout whenever there is enough open water to allow wading and casting. Maines thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and hundreds of freshwater lakes, are still thriving today. With an opening day of february 15, the fishing here will be good well into march. Fly fishing on maine trout ponds starts after iceout, which occurs from early april to midmay, depending on the location and elevation. These listings reflect the anticipated distribution of yearling and older trout for the spring fishing season. Despite tangled lines and bad camera work we managed to catch some brookies and salmon.
The sebago lake region, located in southernmost maine, offers a diversity of angling. From giant brook trout, to salmon, to stripers maine has some of the best fly fishing in the country. Here are some tips for lateseason fishing success outdoors. General law length and bag limits apply, except daily bag limit one landlocked salmon and one brook trout. The wind may blow and the temperatures can be cold but the fishing is hot, up to 35 fish landed a. Premium monthly fly fishing subscription box online fly shop spring fly fishing best 17 trout flies for march april and may spring fly fishing.
Governor lamont is telling connecticut residents to stay safe, stay home. In addition to a fishing license, trout anglers 16 and older must posses a trout salmon permit or combination trout salmonlake erie permit to fish for trout. My season begins in april trolling for salmon and trout on local lakes. Best 17 trout flies for march april and may spring fly fishing. Unauthorized introductions of invasive, exotic fish species are particularly destructive to maines native fish species, especially brook trout populations. Janet mills directed the maine department of inland fisheries and wildlife to open all inland waters and waive the requirement that an angler must have a recreational fishing. If youre looking to fish for native brook trout in total seclusion, fish the allagash river in northern maine. Mar 25, 2019 exited for opening day i was up early and headed down to a friends house to get him so we could go fishing. Improved launch, fee charrged during the open water season. Find great freshwater fishing spots recommended by regional fisheries biologists by maine region map or download the maine fishing guide below. Youll be fishing wild, natural brook trout far from any significant populations. The early inland trout season on selected waters pdf runs from 5 a. My season begins in april trolling for salmon and trout on local lakes, or chasing smelt runs and fishing the sucker spawn, in rivers and streams.
Trout season pennsylvania fish and boat commission. Amid virus outbreak, state opens fishing season early to. Brook trout are relatively inactive when earlyseason water temperatures are in the 30s and low 40s f. All nonessential workers are directed to work from home, and social and recreational gatherings of more than five are prohibited. In general youre going to enjoy the best fly fishing from april 1 all the way through to september 30. Sep 24, 2010 early spring trout fishing in the northeast is no walk in the park. The quabbin reservoir fishing season generally opens on the third saturday of april and runs through the third saturday in october, but these dates may be adjusted due to weather and other factors. Anglers should consult the summary of pa fishing laws and regulations for more details. Of course, just like with most locations in the united states some points of the year are better than others. I prefer fluorocarbon leaders and tippet for subsurface fishing.
Fishing for wild maine brook trout foggy mountains west. Amid virus outbreak, state opens fishing season early to encourage. Guiding season tends to be very busy during peak fishing season, so book as early as possible. The openwater fishing season on boundary waters between maine and new. Ice fishing maine 2020 opening day brook trout and salmon ep. Use this guide to find fishing seasons, limits, and other fishing regulations. Wild brook trout of northern maine are the largest of their kind. But in the past ten years, the maine inland fisheries department has put lots of effort into. Madawaska lake, which was highlighted in last months fishing report, is an easily accessible lake in northern maine and has seen great trout fishing this season.
Brook trout can be distinguished from other members of the trout family by the dark, wavy, wormlike line on their back and the white leading edges of their fins, including the tail. It was superseded in 1997 by a stocked fish in southern maine, and many county natives still consider our wild fish to be the record. Like most rivers in the state anglers bag limits for brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and their hybrids, are five fish or five pounds, whichever is reached first, no length limit. Fishing regulations for acadia national park maine. Still, larger waters like the kennebec river near augusta provide good fishing for rainbows and brown trout whenever there is. Farmed fish are all too common these days, so maines abundance of wild trout is something truly special. This area is historically known for its spring salmon and trout fishing. With thousands of miles of streams across the state, there are ample trout fishing opportunities in new york state. Maines deepest lake is home to a variety of fish, but most notably landlocked salmon and lake trout.
Sebago lake can be fished yearround, but it is one of the bestknown lakes in north america during the ice fishing season. Just after ice out, salmon, brook trout and lake trout fishing can provide good action on. Here are our top five favorite trout fishing spots in maines kennebec valley. It was superseded in 1997 by a stocked fish in southern maine, and many county. Androscoggin river fishing guide everything you need to know. Alaska alaska drivers manual alaska motorcycle manual alaska commercial drivers alaska hunting. Stocking maintains most lake and pond fisheries for salmon and trout. Exited for opening day i was up early and headed down to a friends house to get him so we could go fishing. Statewide general fishing laws general fishing laws for inland waters. Guided trout fishing maine guided salmon fishing maine. Introductions of invasive fish cause irreversible changes to entire aquatic. In search of giant, wild brook trout in maine author orvis staff posted on june 28, 2017 february 27, 2018 categories fly fishing tags 5050 on the water, flyfishing for brook trout, flyfishing for brown trout, flyfishing videos, maine fly fishing, women in fly fishing. During july and august, trout and salmon are found deep in the cooler waters of lakes and ponds on mount desert island. Masswildlife is responsible for managing freshwater fish and sets fishing seasons and regulations.
Maines coast has native brook trout in small, dark streams and brown trout in larger rivers, as well as small ponds and many lakes, so well have a variety of locations for our fishing trip. Ice fishing on b season waters in northern maine was permanently changed in 2019. Moose river valley known as the switzerland of maine, this is a great weekend for a canoefishing trip if youre looking to get away from it all. The best months for trout fishing are may and june, late september, october, and november. Streamriver fishing for brook trout and landlocked. The words hex hatch and green drakes have been buzzing around recently because the water temperatures and photoperiod. Jan 10, 2020 despite tangled lines and bad camera work we managed to catch some brookies and salmon. Its mid october and a lot of trout fisherman are now getting ready for winters frosty grip and begin organizing their fly tying area. Opportunities for dry and wet fly fishing are about equal, depending on the season. Oct 03, 2016 midseptember found the crew fly fishing on the rapid river, one of maines legendary wild brook trout fisheries. The traditional start of fishing season is upon us. See license requirements and fees terminal gear north zone. Perhaps the best trout fishing in central new england is the connecticut river. Fly fishing maines rapid river eastbound and trout.
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