MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => Maine => Topic started by: taxid on May 17, 2019, 01:10 PM
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Just curious what your opinions are on the best lakes in Maine for holdover browns -- specifically in our near Kennebec County? Many of your lakes have smelt populations so it stands to reason if browns are planted it should allow holdover of larger fish. I can access stocking reports and surveys but as we all know that doesn't always mean anything.
If I get no responses or few I won't hold it against ya! ;) I promise I'm not interested in the salmon! ;D
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Just curious what your opinions are on the best lakes in Maine for holdover browns -- specifically in our near Kennebec County? Many of your lakes have smelt populations so it stands to reason if browns are planted it should allow holdover of larger fish. I can access stocking reports and surveys but as we all know that doesn't always mean anything.
If I get no responses or few I won't hold it against ya! ;) I promise I'm not interested in the salmon! ;D
For the most part, any lake or pond that gets stocked with browns will hold them over. The minimum size to keep Browns out of still water is 14” and they usually stock them at 8-10”. But as to which ones have good sizes, no idea, sorry.
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Just curious what your opinions are on the best lakes in Maine for holdover browns -- specifically in our near Kennebec County? Many of your lakes have smelt populations so it stands to reason if browns are planted it should allow holdover of larger fish. I can access stocking reports and surveys but as we all know that doesn't always mean anything.
If I get no responses or few I won't hold it against ya! ;) I promise I'm not interested in the salmon! ;D
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Great pond, Long pond, chance for 15-18 pound brown, I caught 5 pound brown out of minnihonk 30 years, Torsey has browns also.
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I think we have a lot of sea run Browns more than most people realize ,I have seen some around 10lbs caught in the spring, the last 2 weeks are when they are after herring and smelts. Hope the elva netting does not get any more aggressive .
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I think we have a lot of sea run Browns more than most people realize ,I have seen some around 10lbs caught in the spring, the last 2 weeks are when they are after herring and smelts. Hope the elva netting does not get any more aggressive .
According to a professor I spoke to, a particular river got ~6 returning Atlantic salmon during the spawning run, but there were over 100 sea run browns! We were talking about how the state won’t let hobbyists keep any non- approved fish, while stocking an aggressive invasive species on top of fish they are claiming to protect.
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Thank you gentlemen! I shot an email to your inland fisheries division to see what they say. I'll post it here.
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According to a professor I spoke to, a particular river got ~6 returning Atlantic salmon during the spawning run, but there were over 100 sea run browns! We were talking about how the state won’t let hobbyists keep any non- approved fish, while stocking an aggressive invasive species on top of fish they are claiming to protect.
Atlantic salmon have much bigger problems than competition from sea-run browns lol.
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Atlantic salmon have much bigger problems than competition from sea-run browns lol.
That’s for sure :'(
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That’s for sure :'(
Penobscot's runs are still somewhat encouraging at least. everywhere else, not so much, but I still don't think they should just give up yet
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Cobbossee and maranacook
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Cobbossee and maranacook
Thanks!
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Got this response from Maine Inland fisheries. I'm guessing he's a biologist?
Mr. Baird,
As luck would have it, you’re near one of our best waters for large brown trout. Flying Pond supports a fishery for large brown trout, although catch rates are slow. Rainbow smelt are the primary forage in Flying Pond, and they are abundant! Additionally, we stock Flying Pond with landlocked salmon that grow to large and trophy size, and they are usually a little more willing to bite.
I wouldn’t completely rule out Minnehonk for brown trout either. Minnehonk gets occasional brown trout and landlocked salmon that drop down from Flying Pond, and they grow to very large size. Minnehonk also produces some very large bass – 5 pounds and greater.
I hope I’ve helped you out, but feel free to contact me if you’d like more information. Good luck!
Jason Seiders
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Got this response from Maine Inland fisheries. I'm guessing he's a biologist?
Mr. Baird,
As luck would have it, you’re near one of our best waters for large brown trout. Flying Pond supports a fishery for large brown trout, although catch rates are slow. Rainbow smelt are the primary forage in Flying Pond, and they are abundant! Additionally, we stock Flying Pond with landlocked salmon that grow to large and trophy size, and they are usually a little more willing to bite.
I wouldn’t completely rule out Minnehonk for brown trout either. Minnehonk gets occasional brown trout and landlocked salmon that drop down from Flying Pond, and they grow to very large size. Minnehonk also produces some very large bass – 5 pounds and greater.
I hope I’ve helped you out, but feel free to contact me if you’d like more information. Good luck!
Jason Seiders
Yeah let’s just say I’ve caught a few salmon outta Minnehonk lol 😆
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Yeah let’s just say I’ve caught a few salmon outta Minnehonk lol 😆
Care to elaborate? Don't buy it or you have?
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Care to elaborate? Don't buy it or you have?
I have caught them thru the ice
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I have caught them thru the ice
O.K. Just wan't sure if you were laughing at the comments or what. I do know from personal experience working for my DNR and being an angler, the DNR can do all the biological surveys they want, but it doesn't mean they have the whole picture. Case in point a biologist told me about a burrow pit they were sure needed rotenoned and started all over. They were quite embarrassed with the public watching when an incredible amount of large bass and other fish starting popping up.
And creel surveys can yield very different results than field surveys due to various reasons, such as fish avoiding gill nets in ultra clear water, and electroshockers not reaching down far enough.
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They though the fish were stunted so they reclaimed it?!? Wow, our state barely does that to control invasive species, let alone to improve fishing. Wouldn’t it have been better/cheaper to change regulations for that lake or to gill net it? Ive read of our state occasionally netting out suckers (during the spawn run) that have overpopulated natural trout ponds.
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They though the fish were stunted so they reclaimed it?!? Wow, our state barely does that to control invasive species, let alone to improve fishing. Wouldn’t it have been better/cheaper to change regulations for that lake or to gill net it? Ive read of our state occasionally netting out suckers (during the spawn run) that have overpopulated natural trout ponds.
It's been so long ago I don't know the specifics. That was the summer of 1978 after I graduated from college. I doubt it was stunting though. Just for some reason they must have felt it was better to start over.
I noticed out your way rotenone is used very sparingly, and in fact in some states it's illegal even for the fish and game departments to use it. I think one state is Massachusetts. Unfound fear in my opinion as it breaks down fairly fast and really isn't toxic to humans or other animals.
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It's been so long ago I don't know the specifics. That was the summer of 1978 after I graduated from college. I doubt it was stunting though. Just for some reason they must have felt it was better to start over.
I noticed out your way rotenone is uses very sparingly, and in fact in some states it's illegal even for the fish and game departments to use it. I think one state is Massachusetts. Unfound fear in my opinion as it breaks down fairly fast and really isn't toxic to humans or other animals.
Better to keep chemicals out of the environment whenever possible. Law of unintended consequences. See ddt usage. Bird populations are only just recovering 40 years later.
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Sabathday in New Glouster
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Better to keep chemicals out of the environment whenever possible. Law of unintended consequences. See ddt usage. Bird populations are only just recovering 40 years later.
Ticks and lyme disease are recovering also .. 😂
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Ticks and lyme disease are recovering also .. 😂
Wow that's for sure! I have never seen so many ticks then on my visits to the northeast.
As discussed previously here, when I was a kid in Mass (father was stationed there in the military ) I had never heard of a tick or even seen one. This was from 1968 to 1971. We were constantly in the woods either hunting or exploring. I know some don't believe me but it's true.
Also rarely saw a deer which are very common in that area now. And no turkeys!
That said the lack of DDT now doesn't explain it all but it must have been a factor.
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Better to keep chemicals out of the environment whenever possible. Law of unintended consequences. See ddt usage. Bird populations are only just recovering 40 years later.
But not all chemicals are that dangerous and break down rapidly if used as directed. Rotenone is a product made from plant roots. Where it's from the natives have used it routinely for a long time to harvest fish. Lots of hysteria on some chemicals without good scientific evidence.
Some chemicals are more beneficial in the whole picture vs. negative.
Just like the hysteria about vaccinations. Much more beneficial than going without!
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Got this response from Maine Inland fisheries. I'm guessing he's a biologist?
Mr. Baird,
As luck would have it, you’re near one of our best waters for large brown trout. Flying Pond supports a fishery for large brown trout, although catch rates are slow. Rainbow smelt are the primary forage in Flying Pond, and they are abundant! Additionally, we stock Flying Pond with landlocked salmon that grow to large and trophy size, and they are usually a little more willing to bite.
I wouldn’t completely rule out Minnehonk for brown trout either. Minnehonk gets occasional brown trout and landlocked salmon that drop down from Flying Pond, and they grow to very large size. Minnehonk also produces some very large bass – 5 pounds and greater.
I hope I’ve helped you out, but feel free to contact me if you’d like more information. Good luck!
Jason Seiders
Yes, Jason Seiders is the Regional Fisheries Biologist in the Sidney HQ