A Dam Dilemma.
- Well howdy do winter, it seems you have settled in for the long haul! Still, while frigid winds and heavy snow have made their presence known in Maine, there is big news on the Atlantic Salmon front. The Penobscot River Restoration Project made huge strides forward recently with the purchase of three key dams across along the Penobscot river, taking vital steps toward opening up over 1,000 miles of waters that have been out of reach to native species for a “coon’s age.” In Mainer speak, thats a “wicked long time bub!”
Click to Read the Full Article!
At a whopping $24 million, the Veazie, Great Works, and Howland dams were recently purchased from PPL Corp after nearly 11 years of planning and preparation. Two of the dams will be destroyed, while the third will see the installation of a state-of-the-art fish ladder. Collectively, the project will allow native species like atlantic salmon, striped bass, and american shad to migrate further up the river toward their native spawning runs.
While this is all well and good, it does raise some important questions that beg answers. What of the native brook trout and landlocked salmon that already inhabit these pristine waters? The destruction of these dams will also introduce a new devastating predator, the northern Pike. It is no secret that native brook trout are more rare now than ever before, so is sacrificing one rarity to potentially save another really worth it? I’m torn. Sadly, there is no right way to answer this question. It simply comes down to what we want more. Surely Atlantic Salmon is the heavy favorite in this fight for territory, but simply forgetting about brook trout could have us shaking our heads years down the road.
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I’m interested in what the readers have to say, so sound off! While I am in no way discounting the Penobscot River Restoration Project and it’s many benefits, I wonder if anyone in Maine truly realizes just how lucky we are to have such a healthy population of brook trout, at least compared to other states across the country. Look for update on this story as it continues to unfold.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
Coastal Conservation Association Banquet
This just in from Mac…
Click to Visit!
Coastal Conservation Association of Maine Annual Fundraiser & Banquet
October 25, 2010
A fun-filled evening with thousands of dollars in auction and raffle items, the Harraseeket Inn’s award-winning food, good drink and camaraderie and the chance to support CCA-Maine and its marine conservation endeavors
FREEPORT, Maine—The Coastal Conservation Association of Maine (CCA-Maine) will hold its Annual Banquet and Fundraiser on Monday, October 25th at 5:30pm at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Maine. The pre-event ticket price is only $55 and includes a CCA annual membership, a subscription to TIDE Magazine, and the great food provided by the Harraseeket Inn’s award-winning chefs. The at-the-door banquet ticket will be $65. For those who are currently CCA-Maine members, the new membership will automatically renew when the current one expires.
“Coming to this banquet and supporting CCA-Maine will enable us to continue to work on critically important issues such as the ongoing decline of striped bass and the bait fish they depend on, pollution, poor or non-existent fish passage around dams, dwindling public access and much more,” said Duncan Barnes, Chairman of CCA-Maine’s Communications Committee. “With these issues impacting our coastline, now more than ever it’s important for folks to support organizations like CCA that are working diligently to keep our marine environment and access to it as clean, healthy and robust as possible.”
WGME Channel 13’s Doug Rafferty, host of Doug’s Discovery and Maine Outdoors, will emcee the banquet. Representatives from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, including Commissioner George LaPointe are scheduled to give a brief presentation. Other features include thousands of dollars in auction and raffle items that include a wide variety of outdoor gear and apparel, as well as trips, artwork and much more.
For more information on membership and to register for the banquet, please visit www.cca-maine.org.
Home Invasion: Yogi and BooBoo Edition
- Maine State bear biologist Randy Cross and his crew took to the woods recently to locate and count the number of black bear cubs entering the population. Aside from all the useful population data, the crew also walked away with some incredible rare shots of one of Maine’s most elusive species.
Now I don’t know about all the Up’North faithful, but you could NEVER in a million years persuade me to crawl head first into a bear’s den. Something tells me that all precautions aside, that probably won’t make any list of safe activities to pass the time.
Cindy Bear: It’s the time for whispering sweet nothings in one’s ear.
Yogi Bear: Now that I can oblige.
Cindy Bear: Oh, Yogi.
Yogi Bear: Nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing. Nooothing. And because you’re such a good kid, here’s another nothing, for nothing.
See you at Jellystone!
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/
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Metalhead
- Raise your hand if you can’t get enough of movies featuring Fly Fishing for Steelhead!
Click Me!
Well, the AEG fellas that brought us the Trout Bum Diaries series are at it again for one last hoorah. The journey now takes them into the remote Northwestern wilderness in search of fly fishing’s holy grail, the wild Steelhead. Dwindling populations make films such as this one extremely important to the protection of these beautiful fish, as they help raise awareness and get more people involved in conservation efforts.
Click to Purchase!
Catching a fully grown female Steelhead on the Fly has been a dream of mine since I first laid my eyes on Raising the Ghost last year. Metalhead only seems to heighten my excitement and fuel my ambition. Judging from the previous AEG projects, Metalhead promises to be a knockout film, worthy of your hard-earned dollars and cents.
Check out the trailer at Fly Fishing Film Tour blog, and be sure to buy the film when it drops on February 16th.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
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Gray Ghost Wading Boots
-Continuing with more exciting new products from LLBean, tonight we take a look at the 100% fresh out of the oven Gray Ghost wading boots. While fly fishermen get more environmentally conscious, companies have answered the call of Trout Unlimited, producing new products that minimize the unwanted transfer of aquatic nuisances. Nowhere is this transformation more important than with wading boots.
Like many companies, LLBean has taken a step in the right direction and completely eliminated felt from all of their wading boots in 2010. As if eliminating felt wasn’t enough, they’ve designed a new boot from the ground up full of environmentally friendly features geared towards keeping your favorite fishing holes clean and healthy for years to come. With improved traction, fewer seams, and a streamlined design, the Gray Ghost wading boot is a light, technical wading boot at an affordable price.
Gray Ghost wading boots
Major thumbs up to the wonderful people at LLBean for helping the rest of us kick aquatic hitchhikers to the curb! For more information, and to order your very own pair of Gray Ghost wading boots, visit LLBean.com.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
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Inland Tracks
Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is impressing me lately with it’s lunge into the realm of social media. With reaches into Twitter, Facebook, and now WordPress, staying informed with IF&W is as easy as making up a Tiger Woods joke.
Travis Barrett is a Public Relations Representative with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and an avid outdoorsman (not to mention award winning writer). His blog Inland Tracks is full of great regional info and other ramblings from his work around the state. For the latest and greatest MIF&W happenings, Travis has your back.
Click HERE or one of the other 5 hyperlinks on this page to check out Inland Tracks <—one more today,
Tight Lines (If your lucky enough to be fishing)
-Ben
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Gone Hunting For ???
- It’s Thanksgiving break, the Turkey has been served, and I am now couch ridden and full of pumpkin pie and stuffing. Yes Zack Brown, “Life is good today.”
This morning I took another walk on my uncles land to see if I could track down any sign of deer that might be moving through the area. The tree farm is truly a perfect setting for whitetails, and with a little management and planting it would be a spectacular area for a stand, if there were deer in northern Maine.
The truth of the matter is, my hunting trips for deer this season have been nothing more than glorified nature walks. The deer population in northern Maine has simply not recovered from the dismal winters of recent years, and unless we do something drastic I do not foresee things improving any time soon. A closed season for an extended period of time is in our near future, and I believe it is totally necessary. This is a sad reality for northern Maine, where only 50 years previous bagging that trophy buck was all but guaranteed. Hopefully the right decisions will be made and we can reverse this disturbing trend to build the populations back up again. Only time will tell.
Tomorrow I hit the woods with some buddies in search of the peace and quiet that undoubtedly escapes us in the real world. While rifles will be present, simply socializing and having a good time is the priority of this trip. A home cooked meal at hunting camp, some card games, and of course, some frothy beverages should make this a memorable time. I’ll share some pictures when I roll back into town later on this weekend.
For now, I leave you with a handful of photographs from my walk today. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Photography by Benjamin Roux-2009
See you in the woods!
-Ben
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Rivers of a Lost Coast
I’m a little late on this, but better late than never!
Rivers of a Lost Coast-Click here to purchase!!!
Rivers of a Lost Coast is a different kind of movie, stretching far beyond typical “fish porn” into the realm of soul searching and pure fishing obsession. Just in time for Christmas, this film is sure to be a hit for any die-hard fishermen on your list. It has never been about simply catching fish, and no film out to date emphasizes this point better than River’s of a Lost Coast. Available for purchase now at RiversofaLostCoast.com!
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 6 months…..
Tight Lines,
-Ben
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Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine: Fall 2009
Howdy Folks’
The Fall 2009 issue of “Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine” is now live and available online for your viewing enjoyment. Included in the latest issue is the story of “The Final Charge,” Maine’s new taxidermy display of locked moose, which represents one of only 2 such displays in the northern hemisphere. Also included is a great article on hunter safety, as well as information about Maine’s wild brook trout.
Click to read!
On a side note, the 2009 Moose Hunt Recap is nearing completion, and it should be available for your reading pleasure as early as tomorrow morning. I know I’ve been dragging this out for a while now, but thus far I am extremely satisfied with the how it is shaping up. I am truly excited to hear your thoughts on the finished product. Stay tuned!
Now, back to your regularly scheduled Saturday night programming.
-Ben
Pirates of the Flats
- ESPN2 in Partnership with the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, has finally broken the mold of traditional fishing shows, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. In a world where fly fishing seems to be making a major comeback in the media, Pirates of the Flats is a dream come true.
Featuring the likes of Tom Brokaw, Lefty Kreh, and a few other famous faces, Pirates of the Flats follows the legendary cast along on a fly fishing expedition with the goal of not only catching bonefish, but also trying to answer questions about what can be done to protect the precious marine habitats that they flourish in.
Take a peak at the trailer below and spill your excitement out in the comments below…
For a more complete overview of the series, head on over the The Fly Fishing Forum!
Tight Lines,
-Ben
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Brook Trout Ghosts
- It is no secret that Maine is far and large one of the best places in the country to catch huge native Brook Trout. Unfortunately, do in large part to negligent forestry practices, extinction of forage species, and ridiculous amounts of overfishing, huge by today’s standards is somewhat of a joke compared to the fish caught in Maine’s past.
Fly Rod Crosby
One of the best places to catch a Trophy Brook Trout today still remains the Rangeley Lakes Region. During the late 1800s and early 1900s Rangeley was by and far considered the Brook Trout capital of the world, and wealthy business men made the long trip north in pursuit of the Trophy Fish. Brookies over 5 pounds were caught regularly, but it was the fish approaching 6, 7, and even 8 pounds that drew such large crowds to the area and made it famous. As the fishing in Rangeley gained a wealth of national attention, high bag limits (50 lbs per person) began to take their toll on the Trout populations in the areas lakes. Bragging rights assured that no trout, large or small was returned to the water. This, combined with the disappearance of blue-back trout, which was the principal forage of the large brook trout, led to a rapid decline in the numbers of trophy trout being taken from the Rangeley lakes. By 1910 large brookies over 5 pounds were much less numerous, and Sportsmen began to rethink the number of fish they were harvesting that were never actually eaten at all.
Famous 11lb 2oz Brook Trout mount, caught in the late 1890's
The Rangeley story is one that is echoed not only in other areas of Maine, but also throughout the country. When sport fishing saw a rapid increase in popularity, fisheries took a serious hit from anglers in search of bragging rights. Similar situations can be cited on the West Coast with the now declining (but slowly improving, depending on who you ask) Steelhead populations. Today great strides are being made to preserve the native populations of Brook Trout in Maine, including strict bag and length limits, and much shorter seasons than those seen even 10 years previous.
In addition, The Department of Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has also made available a short list of tips for anglers regarding Catching and Releasing fish. While this was unheard of during the “Good Ol’ Days,” today this practice is much more popular as anglers educate themselves on the importance of preserving our existing fisheries for generations to come.
Here is what the folks at MIFW have to say about releasing your next trophy…
Tips for Catching and Releasing Fish
By carefully following these simple instructions, you can release your fish unharmed.
1. Time is of the essence. Play and release the fish as quickly and carefully as possible. An exhausted fish may be too weak to recover.
2. IMPORTANT: Keep the fish in the water as much as you can. A fish out of water is suffocating, and may injure itself on rocks, etc. Try to keep the fish out of water no more than 15 seconds.
3. Be gentle. Wet your hands before handling any live fish. Keep your fingers away from the gills. Don’t squeeze the fish. Small fish may be held gently around the middle; let them swim away once they’ve recovered. Larger fish may be held securely by the tail and bottom jaw. If a net is used, make sure it is fine-meshed to avoid injuries to the gills or eyes.
4. Remove the hook with small pliers or a similar type tool. If the hook is deeply embedded or in a sensitive area such as the gills or stomach, cut the leader close to the snout. Make an effort to use regular steel (bronzed) hooks to promote early disintegration. Do not use stainless or gold-plated hooks.
5. To revive a fish once it is back in the water, hold it in a swimming position in the water and move it gently back and forth until it is able to swim away.
6. Lake trout (togue) often have expanded air bladders after being pulled up rapidly from deep water. If the belly appears expanded, release the fish from the hook first, then gently press your thumb along the stomach near the paired belly fins and move it forward a few times to remove air from the bladder. Finally, proceed to revive and free the fish.
One good way to aid you in releasing your fish quickly is to use barbless hooks in the first place – or bend the barbs over – or simply file them off!
“If you enjoyed catching your fish, so will the next angler!”
So next time your on the water, think twice before simply killing your catch. The occasional fish for dinner is perfectly acceptable, releasing them to catch another day is often much more rewarding.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
**Historical information and content taken from “A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine” by Kevin Tracewski” His book is available HERE. Historical photographs used in this post were taken from the Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum website, which you can view HERE. :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
Recycled Waders
- Have a spare set of leaky waders kicking around? Why not donate them to a good cause, and make them your next wallet?
Recycled Waders is a unique program that accepts “retired” waders and re-purposes them into useful items for everyday fishermen. Products fashioned from the waders include various packs and sacks, wallets, and even a beer koozie. Place your order for any of the products online, or send in your own waders and select the products you would like created from the material. It’s the best of both worlds, a personal gift AND your helping the environment.
For more information on donating your waders, or purchasing some sweet recycled wader merchandise, click HERE.
See you on the river (In my leaky, soon to be a wallet waders.)
-Ben
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Atlantic Salmon Update
- Since the announcement was made early last week, surprisingly little has come up in the news regarding the recent addition of Maine’s Atlantic Salmon to the Endangered Species List. I’ve yet to decided if this is a good or bad thing, but I do know that it’s not something that will quietly fade into the night.
Recently a single article did appear in the Bangor Daily News regarding the Industrial surroundings of the three involved Rivers. While it is unclear as to exactly how Maine’s industrial past and present will affect the recovery of Salmon, there are some interesting opinions on the subject.
Click the active photo above to read the entire B.D.N article, or click HERE.
Happy Castings,
-Ben
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Protecting Atlantic Salmon?
The Federal Government recently announced plans to add Atlantic salmon populations in the Penobscot, Kennebec, and Androscoggin rivers to the endangered species list, and Maine officials and citizens alike are making it clear that they are extremely unhappy with this decision.
Hatcheries like this one help stabilize Maine's Atlantic Salmon populations, but are they helping or harming efforts?
The Penobscot River is the only fishery in the United States with a sizable Atlantic Salmon run, and I use the term sizable very loosely. While Maine has an excellent track record in conservation and preservation of threatened species, this latest move by the Feds has all but ignored the efforts of the State government and local Salmon clubs. Shortened catch and release seasons play a vital role in educating the public and maintaining interest in the struggling Salmon populations. With these seasons no longer possible, it is feared that the Salmon clubs that play such a vital role in protecting the fish will soon perish much like the wild Salmon populations have. One can only hope that the clubs will continue to function even in the absence any sport fishing season.
To read more about the Atlantic Salmon controversy in Maine, check out recent articles in the Bangor Daily News and the Portland Press Herald.
I’ll do my best to keep the updates rolling in as they become available, and will continue to track this controversial issue as much as humanly possible. The Atlantic Salmon run is something that Mainers should be concerned about whether they fish or not. Maine’s early history is deeply rooted around the Penobscot River and the tribes that inhabited the area long ago that depended on Atlantic Salmon as part of their daily lives.
Click HERE to read Wednesday’s Bangor Daily article about the survival of Maine’s Salmon clubs to get a better idea of just how important these clubs are to preserving the species. It’s clear even in the articles comments section that Mainers are extremely passionate about their views on either side of the issue. Feel free to join the conversation!
Tight Lines (Just not for Atlantic Salmon)
-Ben
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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Soft Plastics
- The Department of Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recently did a study on the harmful affects soft plastics are having on the state’s fisheries, and the results are anything but pretty. One key finding confirmed that not only are soft plastics a menace to the environment, but fish are voluntarily eating them in addition to their natural food sources. A few things can lead to the introduction of soft plastic lures to our favorite waters, including break offs, or accidentally dropping them overboard. Some irresponsible fishermen even dispose of their unwanted lures in their favorite rivers, ponds, or lakes. What most anglers don’t know is that when these soft plastics become part of the natural surroundings of a fish, they also become part of their food supply and remain intact and potentially harmful for any species of fish that happens to swim by. Below is the press release from M.I.F.W., read up Mainers, the health of our fisheries depends largely on your actions!
Study: Soft plastic lures harming Maine’s trout, salmon
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) is strongly encouraging anglers to protect Maine’s fish by changing from soft plastic lures to biodegradable ones.
Maine fisheries biologists are reporting increasing numbers of angled trout and salmon with indigestible soft plastic lures in their stomachs, according to John Boland, IF&W Fisheries Division Director. A discarded soft plastic lure consumed innocently by a brook trout from the bottom of a freshwater shoal likely remains in that fish’s stomach for the rest of its life and may cause health issues such as ulcers and weight loss.
Soft plastic lures are most commonly used by bass anglers, often in waters shared with trout and salmon. IF&W is cooperating in studies on the effects of soft plastic lure ingestion by trout and salmon, including one recent experiment at Unity College, which was conducted by IF&W Pathologist Dr. Russ Danner, Unity College Professor Jim Chacko, PhD., and IF&W Fisheries Biologist Francis Brautigam, and in another study currently underway at Southern Maine Community College.
The study conducted at Unity College found that 65 percent of brook trout voluntarily consumed soft plastic lures if they simply were dropped into water.
“We found that fish retained the lures in their stomachs for 13 weeks without regurgitating them,” according to Dr. Danner. “They also began to act anorexic and lost weight within 90 days of eating a soft plastic lure.”
Without regard to the chemical toxicity of ingested soft plastics, the fact that these lures are occupying space in a trout’s stomach limits the amount of space available for natural food. There is a lot of veterinary medical evidence that foreign bodies in the digestive tract cause ulcers, weight loss, and anorexia.
“We strongly encourage anglers to voluntarily purchase biodegradable and food-based lures rather than soft plastic ones,” Dr. Danner said. “Also, we are asking anglers not to discard plastic lures into any waters, and also to attempt to retrieve any soft plastic lures that have become unhooked”.
For millennia, trout and salmon have foraged the waters of Maine for nutritious natural forage such as small fishes, insects and other invertebrates. In the last 20 years, food mimics made of soft plastic has begun to compete with these nutritious natural forage items. The effects of soft plastic lure pollution on freshwater ecosystems are not well understood yet, but it is unlikely that eating soft plastic lures will be found to be a good thing.
“The wide assortment of soft plastic fishing lures is staggering,” Dr. Danner said. “Soft plastic lures come in every color, a myriad of sizes, and resembling every swimming, crawling, and flying creature a fish could imagine eating. Large fish searching the waters of Maine are bound to come upon brightly colored soft plastic lures lost or discarded by anglers and consume these imitators of natural food items.”
There are estimates that as much as 20 million pounds of soft plastic are being lost in freshwater lakes and streams annually in the U.S. The average life expectancy for these soft plastic lures is more than 200 years.
“We need all anglers to do their part to protect Maine’s valuable fisheries from this serious threat,” Dr. Danner said. “Natural lure alternatives are available at many retailers and online, and should become the choice of people who love to fish Maine’s waters”.
If you wish to learn more about the experiment conducted at Unity College a report on the project was published in the Northern American Journal of Fisheries Management. It is available HERE.
Below are some pictures of what Soft plastics look like after being ingested by a fish and remaining inside their stomach for an extended period of time. Fair warning, they are a little disturbing.
Soft Plastics+Trout=Bad News
Something this large taking the place of natural food in the stomach of this fish greatly reduces the weight of the fish, and it's overall health.
Our good friends at L.L.Bean are doing their part to help keep soft plastics out of Maine’s waters. Up’North buddy Mac Mckeever, L.L.Bean’s senior PR Rep. dropped me a line recently, and this is what he had to say on the subject, and L.L.Bean’s direction regarding soft plastics in the future.
With a little awareness and some responsibility we can all do our part to insure Maine’s fisheries are as health as possible, and remain so for years to come. Please do the right thing and retire those pesky soft plastic fishing lures, and advise your friends and fishing buddies to do the same.
Tight lines and Happy Castings,
-Ben
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Brown Trout Blues
-I’m out of my element, and the southern Maine Brown Trout further magnified this sad truth tonight.
My first trip out on the Presumpscot River was without a doubt the most frustrating fly fishing experience of my life. For over 5 hours I made a mess of my fly box trying to “match the hatch” and had no success. An afternoon of fishing turned into fishing until dark, and robbed me of my dinner, and pride.
Brown Trout well over 20 inches were rolling left and right, teasing me mercilessly as I scrambled to tie on disappointment after disappointment. What appeared to be Blue Winged Olives were hatching in great numbers, and I took several samples off the top of the water with a small net to match them as best I could. None of my flies were exact, although some were very close. Still, hour after hour, the fish scrambled at my feet, rolled endlessly, and made all kinds of noise to remind me just how useless my knowledge of northern Maine Brook Trout is against these big browns.It’s clear that I need a restocking on dry flies, and that I should probably learn an affective technique for nymphing as well.
I spoke with a few people that were kind enough to give me some advice, but none of it did much good. I have a hunch that my tippet, and then lack of tippet played a large role is my hardships. Everyone I talked to was fishing noticably smaller tippets (2lb test vs. 5lb) which tells me that I need to get daring and save the larger stuff for the fast moving rivers of northern Maine. Tomorrow I’ll fish lighter tippets to see if it gives me the presentation im looking for, and the ever elusive first Brown Trout of my life. Tonight I’m heartbroken after my failed attempt, if the same goes tomorrow, I’ll be down right angry.
On a lighter note, the Presumpscot is beautiful and the water is abnormally clear. The river bottom is littered with boulders and smaller stones that make wading difficult if your in a hurry and don’t utilize a wading staff.. L.L.Bean has sponsored a conservation effort to help eliminate “rock snot” and as far as I could tell, they have done a great job so far. The trail systems around the Presumpscot are vast and incredibly impressive, and I will no doubt make many full days out of traveling them to discover different pools. Due to the high population, fishing pressure is extremely heavy, but luckily so is stocking. My afternoon was spent dodging fellow anglers and trying to avoid eye contact with the less friendly folk.
Tonight I study some hatch charts and organize my vest in anticipation for a more successful afternoon on the water. There is a slight chance I leave work and decide to make the 5 hour drive home for the long weekend, but as of now it’s too early to tell. Either way, I’m expecting a few nice fish this coming weekend, sos stay tuned! If anyone has any tips or tricks, or just general advice on increasing success while fishing Brown Trout, by all means make my day!
Happy Castings,
-Ben
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Why Maine?
The Spring 2009 edition of Maine Fish and Wildlife magazine is now available for your viewing pleasure. Inside these pages Mainers will find the latest info regarding deer populations, the Moose Lottery, and conservation efforts of many Maine Fisheries. After reading through the entire issue, I give it the Up’North Stamp of Approval. What I enjoyed the most was a video included called “Maine, A World Class Fishery.” In the video are registered Maine guides and other influential faces from the fishing scene including Matt Libby of Libby Camps, Mac McKeever of L.L.Bean, and fly fishing’s godfather Lefty Kreh. The video cues in on exactly what makes the Maine fishing experience so special, and also profiles what Maine Wardens and Biologists are doing to help conserve our precious Wild Brook Trout populations and other fisheries throughout the state. The Magazine is available online, view it HERE.
Check the Video out HERE!
I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Happy Castings,
-Ben
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Maine Salmon Season Canceled!
- The month long catch and release season for Atlantic Salmon on the Penobscot River has officially been called off. Originally slated to start on Friday, this season would have only been the second in the last decade. While the Penobscot still remains the only river in the United States with a sizable Salmon run, numbers are still incredibly bad, with over 90% of the spawning fish coming from federal fish hatcheries. Read the full article from The Bangor Daily News.
Penobscot River, Milford Dam
Maybe I’m alone here, but the fact that over 90% of the migrating Atlantic Salmon come from hatcheries troubles me much more than the cancellation of any season. Hatchery fish compete with the native Salmon, and if practices aren’t changed quickly eventually these native fish will disappear. While most won’t see that as an extinction, that’s exactly what it is. The Penobscot river Salmon fishery should be managed through conservation efforts involving the removal of dams and the regulation of fishing (yeah I said it), not bombarded and covered up with hatchery fish. To learn more about the current condition of the river’s fisheries, and what you can do to help restore the Penobscot River, please visit the Penobscot River Restoration Trust website.
Happy Castings (Just not for Atlantic Salmon)
-Ben
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Happy Earth Day
-On Behalf of the Earth, I’d like to wish all the Up’North faithful a happy Earth Day. On this day, April 22nd, it is important that we all take time to do our part to make this Earth a better place. As Fly Fisherman, we have an extra responsibility to protect the local lands and waters that we count on to support our addiction.
Clueless about where to start when it comes to bettering the Planet? Why not start by becoming a member of Trout Unlimited? Trout Unlimited is working constantly with various organizations to conserve, protect, and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds. For as little as 35 dollars, you too can do your part as a Fisherman on Earthday.
Visit Trout Unlimited to learn about conservation efforts in your area, and more about becoming a member.
Happy Castings,
-Ben
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Conservation Efforts ahead for Grand Lake Stream
-The Bangor Daily News reported this past Thursday that one of Maine’s premier fishing destinations is earmarked for conservation. The article outlines the plans of a conservation group that intends to purchase nearly 22,00 acres of land near Grand Lake Stream. The purchase would protect much of the essential lands surrounding the Stream from future development and allow for sustainable forestry in the region. Grand Lake Stream has long been considered one of New England’s best areas to catch trophy Landlocked Salmon, and the impact of an effort of this magnitude can only make it better.
Rapids on Grand Lake Stream, Maine
Read the complete article in the Bangor Daily News HERE.
Multiple Visits to Grand Lake Stream are on the TOP of the list for me during this Fly Fishing Season. I’m currently waiting on some extra money before I can get too adventurous. The New Pentax Optio W60 is my next essential purchase (For the good of the site is what I keep telling myself), so when I do get out that way you’ll see some great pictures of my adventures. I’m a sucker for fall fishing, so I’d imagine October will probably be my favorite time to Fish Grand Lake Stream, especially when all of my local spots are still active with Hungry Salmon but no longer allow me to legally fish.
Until then, Happy Castings
-Ben
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James Prosek Special Edition Abel Reels
-Abel reels have been getting a bad rap lately, and many might say it’s well deserved. I am not one of those people. While their reels have been know to get extremely pricey, they are also known for a creative touch and great quality. These traits are expressed quiet beautifully in Abel’s latest project, a special edition Super Series reel designed by wildlife artist James Prosek. The Rainbow trout pattern reel will benefit the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, a New York-based conservation organization. Only 100 of these reels will be made, and each will come with a limited edition rainbow trout prints (pictured below) signed by the artist.
James Posek: Rainbow Trout Super Series Abel Reel
Learn More at www.abelreels.com
Happy castings,
-Ben
Coming later tonight!
- Finally, The L.L.Bean Fishing Expo Report!
- LARGE fly recipe page Up’Date
- “Less is More” V.2. -The Death of a page!
Allagash Wilderness Waterway Annual Report: 2008
Provided By: Maine Department of Conservation
-The Maine Department of Conservation recently released it’s Allagash Wilderness Waterway Annual Report for 2008. It seems the recreational use of the A.W.W. has increased in 2008 for the first time in eight years. I believe this could be a sign directly related to the tough economic times in Maine, and throughout the country. While families can’t afford their lavish vacations with resort hotels, they are instead opting to stay in one of nature’s finest five star hotels, the Allagash. I guess it takes desperate times like these to wake people up and make them realize how important something as simple as floating down a river can be.
Not buying into my economic theory? Download the full report in PDF (It’s fairly short) HERE! Let’s hear some opinions!
Happy Castings,
-Ben
Trout Unlimited: Brook Trout Status and Threats Report-Maine
-Trout Unlimited completed a lengthy research project that determined the state of eastern Brook Trout populations during 2005. While these numbers may have changed somewhat since the research was done, my personal experience tells me that most of the charts and information gathered still holds true for Northern Maine today. While older folks might remember much larger brook trout in greater numbers, the fact of the matter is that many remote parts of Maine still provide anglers with the chance of catching the trophy Brookies of yesteryear.
Still, while Maine remains the last great stronghold of Brook Trout in the Eastern United States (And as I believe, the Entire Country) there is still much to be said about the declining brook trout numbers, especially in the southern regions of the state. As always, Illegal introduction of non-native species seems to be the leading cause for the decline of brook trout in recent decades. Bass and Muskellunge are the primary concern here in Maine, and their populations have skyrocketed in the past ten years. Unsafe forestry practices have also led to the decline in Brook Trout, as these native lands are carved up for lumber. Now obviously I’m not advocating that forestry is bad, my college tuition depends on it. What I am advocating is the need for greater sustainable forestry practices throughout the state of Maine. I know this can be difficult in such tough economic times, but even the slightest push towards safer forestry practices in recent years has led to a vast improvement in water conditions in the crown of Maine. Brook trout need the coldest, cleanest water to survive, and in a world so heavily influence by human activity, our actions greatly influence this.
Read the complete TROUT UNLIMITED report in PDF format HERE!
Eastern Brook Trout Population Chart-Property of Trout Unlimited
Happy Castings,
-Ben
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
As First Reported by our good friends at Buster Wants To Fish.
-The Omnibus Public Lands Act passed in the House of Representatives today with a vote of 285-140. President Obama has already confirmed he will sign it into law possibly as early as next week. This goes a long way towards protecting over 2 million acres of land and over 1,000 miles of rivers across the country. A HUGE thanks to all who signed petitions and sent letters to their representatives urging that they support this great cause. Just goes to show you that a little elbow grease and some dedication goes a long ways. Way to go guys!
Read more about this Historic Act and it’s intended Impact HERE.
Happy Castings
-Ben
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