Fishing Report

From Fisheries Resource Technician Brian Lewis

The month of October is a time where many anglers stow their fishing gear, winterize their boats and turn to thoughts of upland game and early big game hunting seasons.  For the die-hard angler, however, October is a time of lower angler competition and of varied opportunity. 

One of the most exciting opportunities in southern Maine is the Little Androscoggin River below Welchville Dam which is newly open to year-round angling under general law regulations.  One exception is a two fish limit on brook trout but otherwise general law for lakes and streams prevails allowing the use of bait, lures, and flies.  While this regulation is not new this year, the scheduled fall stocking of rainbow trout in several locations is a new bonus.  Keep an eye on the current year stocking report for your chance at some very nice rainbows! Popular locations include the Route 26 crossing below Welchville Dam, Jordan Road crossing, and the crossing at Hotel Road in Auburn.  If pond fishing is your preference, several reclaimed trout ponds are open to fall angling under "artificial lures only" and catch and release regulations.  Broken Bridge Pond in Albany, and Abbott Pond in Woodstock are two of these waters to try your luck in. 

Remember to double check regulations before fishing and remember to wear those PFDs, particularly as surface waters cool this fall.

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Jason Seiders

Smaller salmon waters: Most people know about salmon fishing spots like Lake St. George, but this region has some smaller waters that produce some quality-size salmon. October is a wonderful time to fish these places because the crowds are light and the foliage is wonderful. These spots include:

• Lake George (Canaan)
• Pleasant Pond (Turner)
• Flying Pond (Vienna)
• Alford Lake (Hope)

Central Maine Rivers: October brings about some great fishing in some of our local rivers. These are stocked fisheries that have great angler access at most road crossings. The rivers listed below get stocked with lots of brook trout and brown trout, and they can produce some great trout fishing action as the weather cools and the mosquitoes go away. Keep an eye on the stocking report on our website to see when these places get stocked and give them a try!

• Medomak River
• St. George River
• Nezinscot River
• Goose River (Brook trout only) (Swanville)

Kennebec River: October marks the end of the fishing season in the northern sections of the Kennebec. As the water cools down, the fishing for salmon and brook trout heats up. The brook trout will be in their gorgeous fall spawning colors, matching the awesome foliage that surrounds the area. It's a great time of year to fish the Forks area, the Bingham section, and the area around Solon. Angler use is relatively light in the fall as most folks start thinking about chasing deer, so you can have a lot of river all to yourself!

Please remember that we're moving into hunting season, so be safe out there and don't rule out wearing some hunter orange. Please check the regulations on the waters you fish because fishing regulations can change in the fall!

From Fisheries Resource Biologist Jacob Scoville

When gearing up for a fall fishing adventure this October, it's best not to overthink it. In the Downeast Region, there are plentiful options, but one stands out above the rest: Grand Lake Stream.

There is no better time to visit the famous Grand Lake Stream than October. The leaves will be at peak foliage, and the fishing will likely be hot. As the fall temperatures cool the surrounding waters, the iconic landlocked salmon will return to the stream. The abundance of salmon, ease of access, and many pools make GLS the perfect place for novices and experienced fly anglers.

Where to fish: The bulk of the salmon in the stream in the fall are fish that are coming out of West Grand Lake. So, salmon will filter down through the stream as the month progresses. Fishing the pools accordingly will give you the best chance of success. The Dam, Hatchery, Evening, and Cable pools should have salmon before spots like Little Falls and the Meadow. Later in the month, fish should be distributed relatively evenly throughout the stream, and the popular spots lower in the stream should be good fishing.  

Tips: Salmon fishing usually gets better as it gets later into October, so plan your trip strategically and be sure to check the flows. When the stream has a bump in flows this time of year, especially early in the month, fish will be "flushed" down or attracted to the increased flows. When it comes to flies, be sure to bring all your boxes. Although stripping and swinging streamers is a foolproof way of catching fall salmon, dry fly hatches can still occur, and you may see the fish looking up, willing to take small dry flies.

Reminders: Grand Lake Stream closes to all fishing after October 25th. Some fly anglers will go above the dam and fish West Grand from shore or docks this time of year. West Grand closes to all fishing after October 20th. Remember those dates to avoid confusion if you fish during that final week.

From Special Projects Fisheries Technician Ashley Houle

October is a great time to fit in a couple more fishing trips before the real cold temperatures start to drop in Maine, so don't pack away your rods just yet, there are plenty of fishing opportunities in the Rangeley Lakes Region. Nothing beats the beautiful spawning colors of brook trout this time of year!

Places to Fish:

If you are looking for a fun fall adventure off the beaten path, then Aziscohos Pond in Magalloway PLT would be a place to try.  The access to this 12-acre pond is off the Crazy Raven Road and requires about a 20-minute hike. This pond is stocked annually by plane and grows a beautiful brook trout, throughout October it is ALO (artificial lures only) and catch and release.

For an easy access brook trout fishery, Martin (Long) Pond in the Forks is a good option. Martin is right along Route 201 and has a great shoreline to cast from. This pond is also ALO and catch and release.

The Sandy River from the upper Route 142 bridge in Phillips to the confluence of the Kennebec is open throughout October and provides a great opportunity to catch brook trout, brown trout, and small mouth bass. This river is easy to access and stocked this fall with quality fish. This section is ALO and S-21 (daily bag limit on brook trout: 1 fish; minimum length of 14 inches).

For fly anglers, the Rangeley River and Upper Dam Pool are go to spots to find brook trout and landlocked salmon. The Rangeley River is a short section of river starting at the outlet of Rangeley Lake and it flows into Mooselookmeguntic Lake. If you are fishing the Rangeley River keep an eye out for tagged fish! These tags are yellow and next to the dorsal fin, if you happen to catch one then please report it on the website listed on the tag with the fish's unique ID number. Upper Dam Pool is a fly angler destination, this area is not only a great fishery, but rich with fascinating history. Upper Dam is located between Mooselookmeguntic and Richardson Lakes. Both areas are fly fishing only and catch and release.

Fishing Tips:

Fishing in October can be really rewarding but pose a fun challenge. Brook trout and landlock salmon are on the move prepping and starting to spawn throughout the month, with spawning on their mind it can change their feeding windows. Being adaptive with what you are using, and your fishing techniques is the key for success. When fly fishing, small size 20 midge patterns can be productive and large eye-catching streamers can elicit an aggressive strike. If you are spin fishing or trolling, try targeting tributary areas to find brook trout and salmon.

Reminders:

Practicing safe wading techniques is important this time of year as the water temps are cooling off. Always wear a wading belt and keep it tight!

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Tim Obrey

There are still plenty of places to fish in October even though the traditional fishing season has come to a close in the North Zone. Ponds and rivers that support wild/native coldwater fisheries are closed at the end of September to protect these fish during their spawning season, but waters with fisheries primarily supported by hatchery fish and our warmwater lakes and ponds remain open in the fall months. 

The Sebec River is stocked with brook trout in the spring and fall each year.  The flows can vary but the area near the dam has some great pools and runs.  The Piscataquis River is a good bet in October as well. The area near the Covered Bridge and below Browns Mill Dam are easily accessible.  There should be plenty of 12-to-14-inch brookies here as soon as the water level increases in the river and the stocking trucks begin to roll.

There are plenty of ponds to fish as well, especially in the southern part of the region. You can check the stocking report for a list, but you might try Doe Pd, Center Pd, and Snows Pd.  The YMCA Pd is also stocked in the fall so this is a great opportunity for the kids.

Please check the lawbook before heading out if you are unfamiliar with the regulations.  Most of the waters open in fall in this region have regulations that include catch and release and ALO (artificial lures only).

From Fisheries Resource Biologist Kevin Gallant

Sportsmen and women may be tempted to put away the rods and switch gears to hunting season in October, but you can continue to find some fantastic fall fishing in the Penobscot Region.  Some waters like Davis (Wapiti) Pond in T5R7 WELS are open to fishing, as well as harvest, in the fall.  Lots of waters in Baxter State Park are open to fall fishing including Billfish Pond, Celia Pond, and Frost Pond (all with catch and release restrictions, as well as terminal tackle restrictions).
 
If you are looking for cast and blast spots, Jo Mary Pond TB R10 WELS, Ireland Pond in T7 R8 WELS and Mitchell Pond in T7 R9 WELS all provide quality fall fishing in close proximity to dirt roads for upland bird hunting and plenty of trees for leaf peeping.

Reminder: As a reminder, you will want to check the lawbook as most waters have different regulations in the fall season.  It is very common for waters to have an ALO (artificial lures only) or FFO (fly fishing only) restriction in the fall.  These waters often have an S7 special law code (All trout, landlocked salmon, and togue caught must be released alive at once) to help protect spawning fish.

Fishing Tip: As air temperatures cool, so does the water.  This will lead to a turnover in larger bodies of water.  As the lake or pond surface temperatures drop, the cooled water sinks and forces warmer water to rise.  This eliminates temperature and oxygen stratification, and this will allow fish to move throughout the pond comfortably.  Fish will be throughout the water and may not be in the same locations you found them during the warm summer months.

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Frank Frost

Northern Maine is currently in an abnormally dry period considering we have had more than two years of wet conditions that has kept water levels up.  Despite this, air and water temperatures are about normal for this time of year so our sport fish are making their normal movements in preparation for spawning later this fall.  For those who are not focusing all of their attention on hunting, northern Maine still has some opportunities for angling.  We have made some gains in recent years attempting to provide more flowing water opportunities for anglers after our general season closes at the end of September.  Those are detailed below.  These extended seasons generally have catch and release and "artificial-lures-only" restrictions, however, check the rulebook because there are exceptions. 

1. Fish River, Fort Kent.  Downstream of Fish River Falls has both wild and stocked brook trout and salmon. 
2. Scopan Stream, Masardis.  Downstream of Scopan Lake dam off the Sterling Ridge Road.  This short stretch of water has stocked salmon.
3. All of the stocked ponds along Route 1, Houlton to Limestone.  As a general rule, if a water is stocked with brook trout it remains open for fall fishing.  Examples of these waters along this corridor:  Carry Lake, Littleton; Number Nine Lake, T9R3; Arnold Brook Lake, Presque Isle; Hanson Brook Lake, Presque Isle; and Trafton Lake, Limestone.  All these waters have robust stocking programs for brook trout but also support limited numbers of wild trout as well.

Fishing Tip: Adult sport fish that anglers target this time of year need to hold in pools deep enough to provide protection from predators.  Anglers should focus their time on these locations in the fall.  Not all pools are equal, however.  Anglers should search out the deeper, larger pools that provide more habitat for these adult fish. 

Reminder: We want to remind anglers that the Eagle Lake thoroughfares remain open to fishing year-round now with the same harvest rule on salmon that is in place during the summer season.  Those thoroughfares open to fall fishing are the ones that enter from St. Froid Lake and Square Lake.  Anglers are encouraged to harvest their salmon catch to assist us in reducing the population and more effectively manage the lake's tenuous smelt population.