Maine Fishing Regualtions

[Troutline]

Hello,

New memeber with a few questions;

I will try to be brief

In my reading and understanding the Maine Dept Fish & Wildlife web site states....

The Androscoggin is closed. I understood this to be an All Year river?

That Salmon fishing is suspended untill further notice. Did not specify if this applied to both land locked or sea run. In either case, is of interest.

Is fishing on the Ellis river north of the Androscoggin (Rumford) of any quality in comparison, as I have read here, to Conway NH.

Is the an area near Andover Me that one would suggest I focus my first ventures in the state for fly fishing trout. I guess for the time of year it is now, I am out of luck if the Andro is closed.

Is it common belief there that only large flies and streamers take big fish. This concept surprises me, as I have been a macro midge fisherman during the winter months, for a number of years.

Is the Conway Sun Valley shop, the nearest fly shop to The Rumford ME area.

Is catch and release only practiced during the early spring months in ME. What of the spawning Browns?

Ok I am getting off track here. Excuse my list of concerns.

I feel I been spoiled living in the center of the NY Croton Watershed for twelve years. A 1/4 mile from a full stocked fly shop and other shops not more than 15 miles away.

For unbelievable reasons I lost 4 years of investment in new big water and winter fly gear that was placed in storage. Next week I stongly anticipate my moving to the Rumford ME area. Making the move with the limted gear that I use on the local streams here. A 7.5' 4Wt. was more than adequate for this area, for many seasons. Many times I used a 7' 3Wt.

I understand that the rivers up there are not similar in size to the local streams (rivers) here in Bedford NY. I have read a number of post here regarding size, which I feel many are overly concerned about, when it comes to rods Though comparing fishing Brookies in a stream to Browns in open rivers, is a considerable difference. Personaly I feel the stream being fished, the enviroment, the size of flies or nymphs, required casting distance, the need to reduce drag, the determined leader length and the amount of repeated casting to be done, is more a determination of rod selection.

The type of trout being sought whether native or stockie may not determine the quality of the fight. A native in a small freestone stream may not run, like a stockie in an open river. Reels may be no more than line holders with no drag at all, or for long runs a quality drag with zero inertia. Again this belongs in another thread. Sorry The build up was can I expect my fishing opportunities to be very limted with this setup, even nymphing through winter.

Just real cramped for time (can you tell) and not enough to make all the post I'de like, before my move. Any replies on any of my questions above are greatly appreciated. I have been spending way to much time on line looking for answeres, when I should be focused on the move. The move was not inticipated.

I requested a hold for a book on Fly Fishing in ME from another library branch, but they have been closed sense Tuesday here.

Sorry no time for spell check, I do not own one

Hmmm for some reason the page post spell check reports the page can not be found. So much for wysi**** whatever composer. I did get an email they were changing server locations

 

[JeffK]

Lived nearby in NH for a few years,but only fished Oxford Co. a little.

First a few comments about rods. IMHO the rod is selected to throw the fly, not to bring the fish in. 7 1/2' 4wt is a fine stream rod most places regardless of species. In the ponds up there most people use a 9 ft 6 wt or 7 wt to throw streamers and big nymphs. Need the weight to cast a streamer a good ways even if the wind is up - not the bring the fish in.

Area up there is a lot less populated, so there will be less fly shops. May need to get tackle at regular sporting goods stores or even general stores. The web will be your friend.

I'm not sure there is much winter fly fishing around Rumford. It is like the ADKs in climate where the waters freeze in the winter and spring follows the infamous mud/blackfly season. Fly fishing probably wouldn't get started until May. In the NJ/NY region we are blessed with 12 month a year fishing, but in ME ice out is a big deal since that frequently sets the season, not the fish and game department. It is also a big deal since the shack nasties get powerful and you may find yourself dying to go fishing.

Lots of little brookie streams and light tackle will be useful. These streams probably peak in late May/early June. Problem is with short growing season and infertile water most don't get very big.

Ponds are popular. That is where you need a heavier rod to throw a distance. Maybe even need to get a sinking line. My experience with ME ponds is that they are highly variable. Need to network or explore a lot to find the sweet ones. Some are shallow and warm, even in ME. Some are acid or infertile. But there are also some gems in the mix. In general the bigger fish are in the ponds eating other fish so streamers are the game. Big streamers are not always the game since some ponds don't have much of a bait fish population. The streamers aren't always big either. Match the size of the prevailing bait for the time of year (many bait fish aren't long lived, so age classes can matter).

There are a number of big lakes in the area. The fly game at a lot of them is to find when the fish cruise the mouths of the creeks for warm (streams often warm in spring before lake) or cold water (by June trout may be looking for cold water) depending on the season, spawning smelt, or even for staging for there own spawning. This is also a game where distance matters, so a heavier, fast rod comes in handy.

ME doesn't have much brown and rainbow fishing because ME has been focusing on brooks, togue (aka lakers), and landlocked salmon for a while (their experience with introduced species has generally been poor). However, there are pockets where browns and rainbows are established.

Good luck in your move to ME.

 

[Troutline]

First Thank you so much for your reply.

Next I totaly agree with you on rod size selection and use. Trying to squeeze in my analogy of rod selection may not have been clear and not the time to make a stab at the topic. I was attempting to suggest, as you pointed out, that the fishing conditions and rig selection dictate the rod choice, not the fish. I edited slightly (seperated paragraph) to maybe make my point more clearly. I have landed my share of bruisers on 7' 3wt. 8x tippet, #28 fly.

I see my knoweldge of the fishery there is limited from a fisherman's point. My thinking was big rivers, big open water Brown fishing.

Your insight will help for me to set a better direction in my persuit of additional information.

No wonder much of what I hear is focused on good trout ponds, big gear and streamer fishing.

I guess for now the nearest tail water fishing will be the Rangely Lakes Dams. Thats a haul.

I see your comments about salmon. I am due at this moment to call back the Sun Valley Sports shop for clarification of what a read on MEF&W site, regarding season and the Androscoggin River. I took the tip from other post here to call a local shop. I once tried by email but received no feedback. At times the phone is best way.

Shame while I had the gear, I kept putting off making the trip to Pulaski NY. Always felt I was not prepared. Yet when I started trout fishing years ago, I only had a waist high pair of neoprenes, for two seasons. When getting back to the car, felt like I was dumping more than half the river in sweat out of my waders. Goes to show use it while you have it. Or go with what you have, when you can lol

I have more to learn and see that may only happen when I get up there.
Thanks for your general clarfication and knoweldge of the trout fishery up there.

 

[JeffK]

The one brown fishery on a big river in ME I fished at was the Saco R around Steep Falls. The Saco was generally sluggish and tended more towards smallie water in the area, but for a few miles around Steep Falls there were falls, rapids, and deep runs that held decent sized browns. I remember them as hard to catch. Further up by the NH border and the White Mtns the Saco is heavily stocked trout water, but not terribly fertile. However, night fisherman got a few real trophy browns - although getting many details from them was tough. I was active with the AMC for canoeing in my time in New England and canoed streams all over NH and ME. However, I spent more time canoeing than fishing - although I always had a rod with me.

The Magolloway is in the area. I know it was good fishing above Azicohos Lake for landlocks, but aren't familiar with the lower sections.

Sections of the Kennebec and Dead R had decent fishing along with some other bigger rivers. Most of the bigger rivers are tightly controlled by the paper companies and fishing depends on their schedule. For example, the Dead and upper Kennebec were controlled to power the mills in Skowhegan and fishing was best when the plants weren't running since the water levels weren't too high.

 

[Troutline]

Re: Maine Fishing Regulations

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes I have read a little on the Saco river which and thought it was a good distance East of my move to ME. I was not able to locate it on a map. Now that you mentioned Step falls I relaize the headwaters are about 15 miles NW of Sabago. This took me back to a childhood memory. One of the two times I was up there to visit from NY, at the town of Gray, we went over to Sabago Lake. I was so amazed at the clarity of the water while smimming and looking down at the fish, I went way behind my young abilty to return. It was my first experince of close to drowning. For years afterwards I swam with my head out of the water. As far as fish then, I was also amazed at what I saw on the bottom.

I did P/U the Book I refered to "The Fiherman's Guide to Maine".
I was disapointed that the copywright was dated 1951, but when I opened to the first Chapter I found a wealth of information. It was along the lines of your first reply. Englightening that Brooks and ponds or lakes are a big part of fly fishing in ME., along with the mention of a number of rivers. The Magolloway was one. The Parmachenne is a 20 mile NW drive from the Rangeley on a secret road in the 50's.

Ironic that 60 percent of the book is wrttien on Laws and regulation for evey body of water at the time. Listing the game wardens of the erra. It shows a non -resident license fee at 7.50 and 2.25 for a resident.
Resident license can be atained from only the town clerk of ressidency
and if required to pay a poll tax, with proof of tax paid to that town or the previous tax paid to another town. Not to much differnet than the list of requirements they offerd me over the phone when I called the MIF&W.

As far as the fishing in unity with the river flows, I did find a number to call online for the inticapated was releases. I soon relaized that the USGS may not be the best source for river flow, on dam controled rivers.

I have to make a retraction. As after speaking with Sun Valley Sports for a moment, I ended the coversation before it started, explaining I would get back after checking my source of information that the Androscogging was closed. I was not able to do so, as I was not able to locate and document the source of the information on the MF&W web site. I know I found it in the fishing license types (classification area) as I did the note that Atlantic Salmon fishing was suspened. After 4 hours of searching, I could not find anthing about the river closing. I have seen other post here on the same thread, but no specifics mentioned. Sun Valley stated he is conducting river runs and to his knoweldge the river is open.

I wil be very near the Swift river but I do not find much about it's fishing abilty. I am focusing on the Andorscogging for now with plans to find my way up route 4 to the Rangely lakes, Middle dam, nest season. The book I am reading offered some good insight to the accessabilty to the area for fishing.

The book mentions a good amount on reaching the thermocline level inthe lakes. I gue sthat may be why weighted streamer or jigs may be a major play up there, in the deep western lakes. That along with smelts being a major food source in the fall. I been so stuck on re-reading the first chapter a few times over, have not made much progress into the meat a potatoes, of brook and river fishing the area.

Part of the Book is broken into sections of the state, Rangley being section 9. I do not know yet if this is an official designation, but will be the area I will start my fishing ventures. A relative just recently sold his camp grounds on the Moosehead and Long pond lakes, a disappoinment. Due to your mention I now checked and see that the branch of the kennbec runs out of the Moosehead adn joins with the Dead to form the main body of the Kennebeck. Inlets to Mossehead are restricted for spawning, except Moose river and Roach river. says the chance of hook up will be first a salmon and third a trout. I guess you were canoeing out of Greenville. That will be about a 140 mile drive to Moosehead.

Anyone say how to get the HTML spell check to run. It once prompted me to download a program or file now says can not find file.

 

[Troutline]

As far as night fishing for Browns I tried it many times without success. unless there was a major spinner fall that ended an hour into dark. Never had luck on dries or nymphs fishing two or three hours into dark. Maybe those are the streamer hours. I gave them up when I found my way to macro fishing. After spending much of my time using them on freestone brooks without any hatches, I was reluctant to tie one on again

 

[ChrisR]

Have know worries you are moving to an area that is flush with trout waters both large and small. I lived in Bethel Maine for 15 years. From rumford you can hit everything...Trouphy trout waters as close as thirty mins west to an hour north...watch out for moose until you figure out there habits. I never fished when I lived there ... will probably be moving back in a couple of years and I will being ripp'in lipz.... Really take the time to explore as there are so many small streams that are full of brookies. You need to familiarize youself with Rts 26,16,17, and 5. I sent you a PM loaded with insider secret handshake stuff. Tight lines.imp3:

 

[flyfishingfanatic]

Hey
you'll have some of the most beautiful fly fishing that NEW ENGLAND has to offer within 40 minutes in each direction when you get to Rumford.

Andover?

There are three rivers, all closed after SEPT 31 that will reward you with fish
RAPID
Mgallaway
kennebago

Ellis has some nive trout in the section south of the chandler mansion (if you're already living there...the big yellow place they filmed a few movies at.

across the state towards 95 you'll find your fill of 30 or more sweet tributaries also.

PM me and I'll give you some specific directions that'll will give access that is usually denied

 

[flyfishingfanatic]

hey sorry...I only saw your intial post...after submitting I saw a few more that replied and your search for lunker browns

change the b word to brookies

change the size to 3-6.5 lbs continuously if you know where to fish a few of the strong rivers

"middle dam" is where you'll find 1000 other newbies to the rapid....like one replyer said...there are paper company controled access points and logging roads that are the sweetest access to the private fish laden locations. How do you get there from here?
First of the greatest tool the ME GOV has is the Maine ATlas...it shows ever logging road ...heck, it shows more logging roads than hardtops out in the rangeley region...it's about 1.5 feet by 2.3 feet but your first reference to get you away from the folks coming up for the 'major locations' with guides or jsut for the weekend.

 

[AKSkim]

Re: Maine Fishing Regulations

the branch of the kennbec runs out of the Moosehead adn joins with the Dead to form the main body of the Kennebeck. Inlets to Mossehead are restricted for spawning, except Moose river and Roach river.

Nuff said...

 

[Troutline]

Hello,

Yes I been to the Chandler place off of Route 120 a few times, while visting the roxberry pond. I happned to go over on Sunday during the storm and wiped out into a snow bank on the return trip losing my mud flap getting out.

Roxberry is giving up some nice pickerel though the ice. I am walking distance fromt the Ellis off 5N.

Do you think it would be productive at all to fish it this time of year. I read that it does have some deeper pools than the Swift and has some hold overs?
Thanks for the feed back.

 

[Troutline]

Re: Maine Fishing Regulations

Hey Thanks....just took me a week of reading "The Fisherman's Guide to Maine" to figure out some information on the location of the Dead and Roach river watershed area. Think I am going to venture up to Errol first for some scouting on the Rapid and Magalloway