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…
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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.
Maine Wild Brook Trout Initiative Questionnaire
Happy Sunday!
As many of you may or may not have noticed, for the past three days I’ve been M.I.A.
Friday morning I woke up, went to class, then made the three hour drive north to see my family and my lady. The drive went well (much better than my driving in Fort Kent, but that’s another story), and was certainly much more bearable than the six hour drive from Windham that I made this summer. While Sunday means that I’ll be making the return trip and ending my short visit home, the weekend was interesting to say the least.
First, the fishing. While I had every intention of wetting a line this weekend, mother nature had a much different set of plans. My good friend Mr. “High Winds” dropped by to ruin any chance I had at fishing, leaving me frustrated and defeated. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I came home and it wasn’t windy. I guess some things are just not meant to be!
I do have some exciting news on the fly tying front, something that all my readers will surely benefit from for years to come, if they so choose. But don’t get too excited, you’ll have to wait until tonight for that story.
For now, you all have some work to do!
Take some time to help the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife promote the conservation of wild brook trout in Maine!
Not from Maine? No problem, there is a separate survey for all of you not fortune enough to live in our beautiful state. Read the short introduction below, and when finished, please do your part to help protect the last true stronghold for wild brook trout in the eastern United States.
Dear Angler,
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is asking you to give us your opinions on Maine’s wild brook trout fishing opportunities.
MDIFW has partnered with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to produce this questionnaire about wild brook trout fishing in Maine.
The questionnaire is part of the Wild Brook Trout Initiative, a three-tiered effort to promote the conservation of wild brook trout, to improve communications with anglers and outdoors groups, and to market Maine’s unique wild brook trout resources.
Maine’s native and wild brook trout populations represent a unique, valuable and irreplaceable resource. The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture recently proclaimed Maine the last true stronghold for wild brook trout in the eastern United States, with more than twice the number of intact watersheds as the other 16 states in the eastern range combined.
Please select the questionnaire below that represents your residency status.
Thank you for your help in guiding the future management of wild brook trout resources.
Sincerely,
John Boland, MDIFW Director of Fisheries Operations
Tight Lines,
-Ben
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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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Pimp Your Lady, Northwoods Style!
- With fashion changing constantly, it can surely be difficult to keep up with the times. It seems comical at times that even though Fort Kent is a long ways from any major metropolitan area, it’s females seem to latch on to the city girl sense of fashion.
Well, a solution to this madness has finally arrived.
Straight from the artistic hands of Lynn Cyr, I would like to introduce you to northern Maine’s very own fashion statement. This stunning birch purse is fashioned completely from birch bark scraps left behind by northern Maine loggers, while the handle is actually a stick that has been knawed away by a beaver.
Lynn Cyr's Birch Purse
For more details on this wonderful work of art (that in all seriousness could double as a major weapon for self defense) and to purchase your very own Birch Purse (although they are sold out right now), click HERE.
It looks like I know what the first lady of Up’North is getting for Christmas!
Happy Castings,
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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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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