Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Winter 2001 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

12-1-2001

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 2001 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 2001" (2001). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 136. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/136

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Maine State Documents. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine by an authorized administrator of Maine State Documents. For more information, please contact statedocs@maine.gov.

Fish and Wildlife

Winter 2001

GET READY FOR A GREAT SEASON AT THE LL.BEAN STORE In Freeport, you'll find sporting experts who know the outdoors and the gear and apparel you need to make your trip a success. We've been outfitting the serious sportsman for over 80 years with innovative products that are backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit us this season and you'll be ready when opening day arrives. This year, you just might get the one that got away. OUTDOOR DISCOVERY SCHOOLS Call for a free catalog filled with classes for the whole family in Shooting, Fly Fishing, Outdoor Skills, Paddling, and Winter Sports.

L.L.Bean Store start here GO ANYWHERE™ Main Street, Freeport, Maine 1-800-34 1434 1 ext.1 780 1 •

www. ll bean.com

Governor Angus S. King, Jr. Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Lee E. Perry, Commissioner Frederick 8 . Hurley, Jr., Deputy Commissioner Kenneth H. Elowe, Director, Bureau of Resource Management Richard Record , Director, Bureau of Administrative Services Tim Peabody, Colonel , Bureau of Warden Service Andrea Erskine Assistant to the Commissioner Advisory Council Richard A. Neal, Acton , Chairman Harold Brown, Bangor, Vice Chairman Ellen N. Peters, New Gloucester Millard A. Wardwell , Penobscot F. Dale Speed, Princeton Russell E. Dyer, Bowdoinham Matt Libby, Ashland Don Palmer, Rangeley Ken Bailey, Camden Don Kleiner, Editor (ISSN 0360-005X) MAINE Fish and Wildlife is published quarterly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State St. , Station 41, Augusta , Maine 04333, under appropriation 010-09A-0529. Subscription rate is $9.95 per year. Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit 1s given to the author and to the Department.. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work . ÂŠ Maine Department of Inland Fishe ries and Wildlife , 2000.

Features Headquarters Art

Editorial

Comm. Lee Perry

Maine's fi shery biologi t are making excell ent progress.

How to Ice Fish

Greg Burr

A primer to help yo u collect more fi sh in winter.

Outdoor Partners

Ken Bailey

Trave lling booth puts wardens in contact with the public.

Fry~ Mountain

Discover one of Maine's most di verse WMA's.

Kidbits

Lisa Kane

Department staffers keep bu sy all winter long.

High-Tech Gear

Lisa Price

New sonar equipment unlocks secrets fo r fi shery biologists.

Stocking Policy

The guide lines used fo r stocking a ll fi sh species in Maine.

Trapping Trends

Tom Seymour

CHANGE OF ADDR ESS: Send both old and new addresses to P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth , Maine 04096. POSTMASTER : Please send add ress changes to MAINE Fish and Wildlife , P.O. Box 1457, Yarmouth, Maine 04096. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Call 1-800-276-0883 Out of state call 207-846-9501

Thi s traditi onal acti vity is undergo ing constant change.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of Interior. Accord ingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race, color, national ong1n , age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against should wnte to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington , D.C. 20240 Design and Prepress by Harry Vanderweide

Sea Run Brown Trout

Kelly and the Bear

Kelly Marie Lougee

A yo ung g irl 's exc iting hunting ad venture with her grampy.

John Boland

ew stoc king program brings winter angling acti o n.

About the Cover: Brown Trout th rough the ice by Maine photographer and writer Bob Humphrey. Winter 200 1

Warden's Work Vaughn Heffren is an avid outdoorsman and an artist. During the summer, you may run into him fishing one of the lakes and ponds in central Maine. While his winters are now spent in Florida, he never misses a chance to return in the summer. There was a time when Heffren never left the state and was quite involved with the outdoors in Maine. Heffren worked as an artist at the Waterville Sentinel and many times, worked with legendary Maine outdoor columnist Gene Letourneau. While at the Sentinel, he heard many stories that came in concerning the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Warden Service. The idea for this painting, which Heffren is pictured beside, came during one of the many deer seasons he observed. As in any deer season, there were a number of missing hunters whose friends and relatives turned to the Maine Warden Service to find them. It was the number of searches that spurred Heffren to do this painting. The scene depicts a game warden looking at a clue deposited on the ground. Perhaps it's a wrapper or a shell casing, or even a footprint. The other warden looks ahead in the early morning light, hoping to catch a glimpse of the missing hunter. The painting resides in the headquarters of the Maine Warden Service at 284 State Street in Augusta, and is a constant reminder of one of the most important responsibilities of a Maine Game Warden. (Photo by Mark Latti)

4 MAINE Fish and Wildli fe

Winter 200 I

Editorial By Lee E. Perry, Commissioner Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Fishery Biologists Making Great Progress Cradled in gravel, cleansed by the constant flow of pure water, hundreds of thousands of fish eggs deposited and fertilized by mature fish last fall have started to grow. As days lengthen into spring, young fish will emerge and complete the natural process of renewing life to Maine's remote, wilderness streams and ponds. In some waters these fish will join relatives who have survived for years and grown well under existing environmental conditions.

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Surrounded by metal and plastic, under the constant attention of trained professionals, hundreds of thousands of fish eggs gathered from captive and wild fish last fall have started to grow. As days lengthen into spring, young fish will emerge and flourish under the continuing care of hatchery employees. In some waters, these young fish will join older, larger fish supplementing stocks that have been unable to flourish under existing environmental conditions. In other waters these hatchery raised stocks are the only source of fish when natural conditions do not allow wild fish to complete their reproductive cycle. While the situations described above seem separate and distinct, categorizing each of Maine's thousands of lakes, ponds and streams representing millions of acres of water is neither simple nor clear cut. Maine water bodies are highly varied. Natural and human induced differences in water' temperature, chemistry, and structure affect the quality of each water body as fisheries habitat. Our fisheries staff is assigned the task of sorting it all out. Working with limited resources, a small staff of dedicated professional fisheries biologists and fish culturists have made significant contributions toward protecting Maine's fisheries and providing angling opportunities. Their Fi heries Research and Management Report 2000 presents their recent work. Here are a few highlights: Inventories and biological surveys are providing new and updated information on fish habitat and population conditions. Habitat restoration is underway in some areas. Smelt have been tran ferred to many waters in response to studies that reveal lack of forage is preventing fish populations from reaching their full potential. New technology is being employed to monitor and predict trends of this important forage fish. Restrictive fishing regulations are being evaluated. Angler harvest and hooking mortality are the most important factors influencing the abundance of ome wild trout populations. In other situations, restrictive regulations have resulted in stunted growth requiring more liberal regulations. Elsewhere, exceptional trout, salmon and bass fishing is being reported. New strains of brook trout are being developed to replace older hatchery strains, which due to inbreeding have exhibited low hatching success and a short life after stocking. When native species cannot survive, others such as splake are reared and introduced. A new rainbow trout program is being planned. To ensure that you can get on the water, new public access sites have been purchased and developed. While we are proud of our accomplishments, we are continually improving our efforts. We recently started a proce s to assess our fisheries program and set new goals for the future. Through surveys, public meetings and regional and statewide working groups, we will be listening to others to determine how we can further improve our management programs. MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Winter 200 I

Looking for Winter Family Fun? By Gregory Burr Fishery Biologist Specialist Photos by Mark Latti

- - - ce fishing can be fun for the whole family. Whether you like eating hot dogs cooked over an open fire, drinking hot chocolate, sliding on a nearby hill, snowmobiling, riding an ATV, ice skating, playing touch football in the snow, or taking a snooze in the warm afternoon sun, all the acti v Âˇties surrounding ice fishing make it eas to enjoy wi ter days 1 ...._ ... outdoors.

The ice is where the action

6 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Winte r 200 1

Of course, ice fishing is even more enjoyable if you actually catch some fish. The following information should help make your next ice fishing expedition exciting sport. Anglers who have increased their success over the years tie at least a 6foot piece of 6-10 lb test monofilament leader to the end of their heavy ice fishing line. They also use very little weight, normally using a small split-shot sinker about a foot above a size 6 or 8 hook. (Remember to trade in your lead shot for steel.) Using light transparent line, with a tiny weight and smaller hook, will help your bait look as natural as possible. When jigging, use a heavier, thicker lure, which will give you a better hook set and isn't as apt to get tangled in your line. The most popular colors for jigging lures are copper, gold, and silver, but chartreuse (lime green) and flourescent orange can also be productive. Keep in mind that the most successful ice fishermen arc not passive, but keep their baits active and fresh. They move their tipups to different locations throughout the day. These same fishermen also jig as much and in as many locations as time permits. To help prevent the fish of a lifetime from escaping, they change their monofilament line and sharpen hooks regularly. Let's look at some of the techniques used for catching five popular species of Maine fish.

bait 1-3 feet off the bottom, remembering to adjust for weed depth. Because pickerel have sharp teeth and can easily cut your monofilament line, it's wise to check your leader frequently, and cut back and retie your hook when the line is frayed. Although pickerel are tasty, many anglers shy away from eating them because their many bones. One way to alleviate this problem is to parboil pickerel and grind them into patties, making them a taste treat! White Perch Fishing for white perch is another family favorite, because the action for this schooling fish can be fast. White perch usually school and feed close to bottom and tend to congregate in certain deeper areas of a pond referred to by anglers as "perch holes". Fish in the deeper water using I to 2.5- inch shiners, and set your bait I to 2 feet off of the bottom. Be sure to bring plenty of bait, because if the fish are biting, you will need it. Jigging can also be productive using small lures.

There are no length limits on perch in most waters, but it's common for anglers to only keep fish over 10 inches. White perch are properly regarded as a delicacy by many Maine anglers. Their white, flaky fillets, baked or fried, in an egg batter with breadcrumbs is sure to leave you with a smile and will satisfy even the most finicky eaters. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouths are not easily caught through the ice. From the time water temperature dips down below 50 in the Fall until water temperatures rise above 50 degrees in the Spring, smallmouth remain relatively dormant. Biologi ts call this time the starvation period. when smallmouths live primary off fat reserves and are usually inactive. However, in some lakes and ponds in February and March, larger smallmouths will start to feed and anglers can have good fi hing. Recent studies in other states sug-

Jigging is a productive way to fish tHrnugh the ice and is more active than using tipups.

Ptd..erel To get youngsters hooked on fishing, it is important that they catch fish. Because pickerel are easy to catch, they are one of the best species to start kids out on. When targeting pickerel, choose a shallow, weedy area, as pickerel tend to hide and hover along these weed beds waiting for unsuspecting fish . Fish in 5 to 15 feet of water with medium to large shiners, and set your MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Winter2001 7

gest that smallmouth bass tend to congregate in over-wintering areas in icecovered lakes. This seems to be true in Maine, where anglers and biologists report certain waters provide good fishing. These spots are usually small is size, in water depths 10 to 25 feet and occasionally up to 40 feet. The fish that start to feed early are usually mature bass that will be ready to spawn in the corning months. When fishing for smallmouths, choose a place where the bottom is rocky or ledgy. Drop-offs along rocky shelves are best. Try to fish in 8-20 feet of water and set your bait a foot off bottom. Remember that in some areas aquatic vegetation extends off the bottom, so it may be necessary to set your bait as much as 3 feet off the bottom. Shiners 3 to 5 inches long seem to be the most attractive to winter bass. Landlocked Salmon Because landlocked salmon spend a lot of time feeding on smelt just below the ice, where smelts tend to be located eating plankton that are attracted by the light, set your bait 2-4 feet under the ice in depths of 8-30 feet. Many anglers believe that smelt are the best bait, even though they are more expen ive than shiners. When using smelt, u e 6-8 pound test monofilament line with a size 6 or 8 hook with little or no weight. Some anglers put a small split shot on their line to help prevent the smelt from coming up into the hole, but remember that smelts are fragile and die quickly if they have to drag a heavy inker. Jigging is also an excellent way to catch salmon. Jig from 4-10 feet below the ice using gold, copper, silver, chartreuse, or florescent orange lures. If, after jigging for 15 to 20 minute , you have no luck, move to another hole. Brook Trout When fi hing for brook trout it is

8 MAI

E Fi hand Wildli1e

Pickerel are a good target species for family ice fishing outings because they are easy to catch and offer plenty of action.

best to fish the shallow water, 2-10 ft deep, in and around rocks and dropoffs. Brook trout feed on minnows and smelts, and pick insects from the rocks, and will sometimes frequent off the mouths of brooks. Set small hiners, smelts, dace, or mummichog 1-2 feet off bottom for these beauties. Using worms in as little as 2 feet of water can also be productive. Lake Trout The lake trout, or "togue" a they are referred to in Maine, i Âˇ our large t freshwater salmonid. Togue are generally a deep water fish, and most angler fish for them in 25 to 60 feet water, setting 4-8 inch shiners, melts, or uckers 6 inche to a foot off bottom . Some anglers prefer to fish these bait dead, rather than alive. They may u e the whole fi h, or cut it up into chunk. , and lower it onto the bottom, leaving lack in their line.

Other angler report catching good sized Iakers in very shallow water around rocks and on shallow shelves using the ame bait tactics. Some of the most successful togue angler jig using gold, copper, silver, chartreu e, or florescent orange lures tipped with pieces of cut shiner or sucker. If you want to increase your success try this method. You will be well rewarded! Releasing Fish Knowing how to release fish properly at any time of year is crucial, but thi is especially so in the winter, when a fish kept out of the water for more than a few seconds can freeze and may not recover. When you know that you are not going to keep a fish, don't take it out of the water. Keep the fish in the hole, and clip the leader off a Winter 2001

close to the mouth as possible. The hook will di ssolve or dislodge and the chances of th at fis h surviving are a

Bringing along the family pet can add to the fun of a day of ice fishing.

lot greater. If you mu st handle the fi sh to get a measurement, keep it in water until you are ready. Then carefull y lift the fish out of the water using your bare hands (do not lift the fis h from the water with fi shin g line), hold the fish carefu ll y and don ' t sq ueeze tightly, take your measurement quickly, but acc urately, and release the fis h back into the water. It is important to not let the fis h flop on the ice or try to retrieve your hook. Remember the fish yo u carefully release today maybe your child 's trophy of to morrow. Additional Tips Here are a few more tips to make your ice fi shing trips more enj oyable and productive. To locate exactly where you want to fis h, you can purchase a book of lake maps at your local tackle shop or contact the Department's A ugusta offi ce to obtain individ ual lake survey maps. These maps have short write- ups about the fi shing as well as information on the species present and water depths. Yo u can also obtain a statewide stocking list fro m

the Department for a small fee. Before goi ng out, be sure to check yo ur law book for current regulations, and check with local anglers, wardens, or biologists about current ice co nditions.

A New Publication on Freshwater Mussels The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is pleased to announce the publication of "The Freshwater Mussels Of Maine" by Ethan J. Nedeau, Mark A. Mccollough , and Beth I. Swartz. This 118 page softcover book is a comprehensive guide to the freshwater mussels written in nonTHE FREsHWATER MussELs OF MAINE technical language , and includes chapters on Systematics And Diversity, Biology And Ecology, Importance To Aquatic Ecosystems And Humans, A Conservation Crisis , Conservation And Management, The Distribution Of Ulurn / . .'vcd,Âˇau. ~lark ,\ . ~!cCollough . Maine's Mussels, and Finding And Documenting Freshwater Mussels. Species antl Bn1t 1. Swartz Accounts describing the life history and identification of all New England (outside Vermont's Champlain Basin) and Canadian Maritimes species, as well as the exotic zebra and quagga mussels, are also included . Identification guides are aided by hand drawings, photographs and all the tips and tricks Maine biologists have learned in the field to tell these species apart. Range maps and distribution tables for Maine are presented for each species and summarize the results of Maine's 7-year statewide freshwater mussel survey. The book is heavily illustrated with drawings , diagrams, and color photographs, and contains both a glossary of terms and a bibliography. Copies may be obtained from : :Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife , Attn : Information Center, 41 State House Station , Augusta, Maine 04333-0041 , Phone : 207-287-8000 . MA IN

Fish and Wil dlife

Winter200 1

Keeping Wardens in Touch With Sportsmen

Outdoor Partners Program By KEN BAILEY Photos by Mark Latti In just over two months, an idea that originated during last year's often-heated legislative debates over the dutie and responsibilities of the Maine Warden Service has become a successful program. The idea that quickly became a reality is the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's all-new Outdoor Partners Program. Over the past few years, the service has come under scrutiny from some in the outdoor community. One of the concerns raised by the public and the Department itself was a widening gap between district game wardens and the outdoor users they came in contact with on a day-to-day basis. An early discussion between Commi sioner Lee Perry and Warden Colonel Tim Peabody during a lull at a legislative hearing centered on finding a way for wardens to interact more effectively with hunters and anglers other than by stopping them as they came out of the wood or off the water. It was clear there was a neer for a program that would enhance an outdoor user's experience by providing useful information and assistance prior to starting an activity in the Maine outdoors. In March, Peabody asked Bill Pierce, the Department's public relations representative, to come up with a program to bring wardens and the public together in a casual, non-confrontational way. By late May, Pierce and others had the Outdoor Partners Program up and running in an all-new travel trailer designed

MAI E Fish and Wildlife

to be easily moved to locations throughout the state. The Department wanted the trailer to be in places where outdoor users were gathered. It is decorated with the Department logo and other attractive artwork and includes animal mounts and a wide variety of outdoor information. "Many of the ideas used in setting up the Outdoor Partners Program came from the fixed booths and exhibits we've developed over the years for sportsmen's shows and other events," said Pierce. "In this program, along with providing printed information, we wanted to highlight the stars of the show: the Maine Game Wardens." Perry, Peabody and Pierce wanted to capitalize on the warden service's tradition of more than I 00 years of distinguished service and at the same time provide a valuable service to the state's outdoor enthusiasts. "Let's face it," said Pierce. "People want to talk with game wardens. They are the informed source of one-on-one information concerning the Maine outdoors." The program places the wardens and their expertise in an informal setting. The plan wa to locate the Outdoor Partners Program trailer along major travel routes during busy holidays and make it avai Iable for sportsmen 's shows, outdoor events and visits to sporting-retail loca-

tions. Once the trailer was ready to roll , the Department needed a warden to kick off the program. Fortunately for everyone involved, they found the perfect candidate right away. District Game Warden Mike Morrison became involved at the beginning, and according to all who have worked on the project, much of the credit for its success belongs to Morrison. "Mike took the bull by the horns," said Pierce. "It's been a pleasure working with him." The acceptance of the program has already outpaced expectations. At first the Department planned on having the trailer at 40 locations the first year. But, before the year ends, it will have traveled to nearly 80. The first day the trailer was set up, in Abbot Village on Memorial Day weekend, nearly 90 motorists stopped to visit, ask questions and pick up material. Since then, the center ha logged hundred\ of miles, answered thousands of questions and brought the general pub Iic in contact with wardens as well as fish and wildlife biologists. Morrison, a 23-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, is excited about the program and its impact on the outdoor public. Winter 2001

"Thi s is a tremendou s program," he said . "I onl y wi sh it had started 15 years ago." Morri so n enj oys the informal contact with hunters and anglers and feels the program's impac t on children is also important. "I'm pl eased to see the program reac hing kid ," he said . "We're emphas izing the entire scope of a warde n's duties, not just the fac t we issue summonses." Morri son says that ex pl aining the varied duti es of wa rdens, such as search and rescue, outdoor education, anima l damage control , landowner assistance and more, he lps the publi c understand the complex ity of serving in today's service . "The Outdoor Partners Program g ives people an opportunity to see game wardens in a different li ght," said Perry. "S topping at the trailer is opti onal. Alo ng with general in fo rmation, it's an opportunity to be acti ve and to he lp anglers and hunters stay in compli ance with fi sh and wildl ife laws." When the tra il er arri ves at a locati on, game wardens are on hand to answer q ue tio ns about fi sh and wildlife rul es and regul ati ons, offer in sight and tips to those headed to the area fo r o utdoor acti viti e

Visitors to the Outdoor Partners trailer can get both printed material and information directly from game wardens. such as fi shing and hiking and pro mote the safe use of the state's natu ral resources . "We want to g ive sportsmen and wo men the info rmati on they need before heading out on the water or onto a hiki ng tra il ," said Peabody. "If we can give o utdoor enthu siasts in sightful info rmation

One feature of the new Outdoor Partners trailer is a full-color map that shows the location and number of moose-vehicle collisions around the state. This is a growing problem for wildife managers. MA I E Fish and Wild life

before they start boating, hunting, fi shin g or snowmobiling, it becomes a more enj oyable and safer experience fo r everyone invo lved." T he program has been so successful that plans are under way to expand its scope for the coming year. Morrison said that along with roadside locations, sportsmen's shows and outdoor events, it is hoped the Outdoor Partners Program w ill be abl e to make the ro unds of many of the state's agri cultu ral fairs. "We already work closely with far mers, " Morri son said , noting that farmers often call on wardens and bi olog ists to assist in anim al-contro l situations and that many far mers keep their land open to hunter , snowmob il ers and other outdoor users. Ju t how ma ny people will come in contact wi th game wardens and other Department personnel th rough thi s new prog ram is anyo ne's guess . But if the fi rst year is any indicatio n, thousands of people have already come away with a new understandi ng of the Maine Warden Service a well a val uable in fo rmation on the state's outdoors. (Reprinted with permis ion from Courier Publi cations.) Winter 200 l

Frye Mountain (Gene Letourneau) Wildlife Management Area Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located in the Towns of Montville, Knox, and Morrill in Waldo County. At 5,240 acres, it is one of the largest stateowned upland wildlife management areas in Maine. The area contains a diverse mixture of forest cover types and improved fields that provide good habitat for numerous wildlife species, including ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, turkey, woodcock, white-tailed deer, various upland furbearers, and a variety of nongame species.

Hab Âˇtat Frye Mountain WMA is dominated by forest stands of varying stand sizes, age classes and densities. Of the forested land, 979 acres are dominated by softwood, 1.228 by hardwoods, and 1,040 acres are mixed forest. The Department reclaimed approximately 110 acres of mowed fields from old farm sites. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the U.S. Government obtained title to the land under the authority of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. The State of Maine entered into a license agreement with the U.S. Government in 1939, and the State Parks Department was given responsibility for administering the land. Initially the "Frye Mountain" parcel was considered part of the Lake St. George State Park, yet was never developed as a park site. In 1951, the Parks Department entered into a license agreement with the then Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. In 1985 , the Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Area was dedicated to the late outdoor writer Gene Letourneau.

Rec eaÂˇ Frye Mountain WMA is popular with upland bird, small game and deer hunters during the annual open season~. In addi tion, the area is visited by trappers, hikers, apple and berry pickers, cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, horseback rider~, and natural resource observers and enthusiasts. The Department maintains a network of

12 MAI E Fi sh and Wildli fe

Winter 200 1

roughly 12 miles of gravel road, which provides reasonably good access to a major portion of the area. A 25-meter firing range, developed by the National Guard is used routinely by the Department's Warden Service and Hunter Safety Programs. Snowmobile trails are groomed and maintained by the Department of Conservation to provide a quality and controlled use of the area, while avoiding adverse impacts to wildlife.

Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Management Wildlife habitat management efforts over the last 20 years have been primarily directed towards the reclamation and maintenance of an interspersion of improved fields, cover strips, reverting field sites, and diversified forested lands . Approximately 161 small fields, totalling some 110 acres are annually maintained by mowing. Cover strips containing exotic wildlife food species such as apple and autumn olive have been developed in many of the larger fields, and the Department has pruned and released several thousand wild apple trees to increase the production of this important fall wildlife food. The field units serve as good examples of vegetation diversity while maximizing edge. Because forest stands are the predominant land use type occurring on the Frye Mountain WMA, proper forest management is key to maintaining or enhancing the number and diversity of wildlife species. The Department uses commercial timber harvesting operations to diversify forested portions of the area. Among these are ruffed grouse habitat improvement sites harvested with block or strip clear-cuts on a ten year rotation. The Department also manages the area to increase or maintain white-tailed deer numbers through implementation of uneven-age elected silvicultural practices in forest stands. Tolerant hardwoods are managed to encourage browse and mast production, while intolerant hardwoods arc cut in small blocks to encourage regeneration or intolerant species and white birch. Meanwhile, softwood stands are managed to encourage conifer regeneration in order to provide adequate winter shelter. Vegetation diversity provided by

MAINE Fish and Wildlire

Pierce Hill

I I I

1 inch equals 0.71 miles 0.5

••c::=::::a••======::JMlles Note: Map produced by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Base data provided by the Maine Office of GIS. December 20, 2000

field and ruffed grouse habitat management units is also important for maintaining white-tailed deer abundance. Other species will benefit as well. Some of the management practices for deer will also be advantageous to moose and bear. Bear will especially benefit from the management of tolerant hardwoods for mast production. Management of alder runs, field units and grouse habitat demonstration areas will provide uitable woodcock habitat for

Legend

Mountain Summits

CLASS

-···- streams

Interstate

.=.· \\

Wetlands

Primary Road

Ponds

Secondary Road

D D

Frye Mountain WMA Townships

Improved Road

---- Unimproved Road ----- Trail

local and migrating birds. Extensive hardwood stands combined with the small field openings should benefit a number of raptor species.

Directions Take Route 3 east from Augusta to Montville. From Clark's Corner, take Route 220 north . After crossing Bartlett Stream, take a right at Poland's Corner onto Walker Ridge Road. Winter 200 I

MAI E Fish and Wildlife

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Winter 2001

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MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Winter 2001

'They Drive By Night' By Lisa Price I'm revealing my age, but "They Drive by Night" is an old Humphrey Bogart movie about truckers fighting lack of sleep and lack of good headlights to stay on course. Personnel from Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife who are operating new hydroacoustics equipment have those things in common with the old-time truckers. Most of the work must be done during normal sleeping time, and the course can't be seen well. The new equipment is one of the best tools available for measuring the populations of smelts, the most important food source for landlocked salmon. Ultimately, in the years to come, the data gathered by the high-tech sonar equipment may change the way salmon are stocked and managed. Measuring smelt populations is best done on summer nights when the fish break out of schools on the bottom of the lake or pond and swim as individuals through the water.

High-tech sonar equipment is aiding Fisheries Biologists to manage better.

Biologist specialist Greg Burr holds the Biofin while biologist Rick Jordan works the winch. (Mark Latti photo) h!J

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An echogram from night sampling, displayed on the computer monitor, shows the lake bottom, water depth, and colored markings from each fish, based on size. Certain aquatic insects and plankton also can be detected. {Image courtesy of Rick Jordan)

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Fisheries biologist Rick Jordan, who's headquartered in the Machias office, is responsible for the Department's smelt species plan, which he wrote more than 20 years ago. Jordan, who started out as a pre-med student at Wheaton College in Illinois, switched to biology at the University of Maine at Orono. Fisheries courses he took there determined his career path, and he's been with the Department since 1973. "Each of the fisheries biologists is responsible for one species," he explained. "One of the parts of the plan i identifying problems in management, and one is, smelt are a cyclical fish they will be abundant and then crash." "But, we had no way to measure them , only indirectly by getting samples of sa lmon , and if they were long and heavy we figured there was good Winter 2001

forage," he continued. "By the time you get skinny, short salmon, the problem with smelt is advanced." In the early 1980s, he learned that hydro-acoustic equipment was available, but with a $100,000 plus price tag. Advances in technology began to bring the price down, and three years ago he wrote a grant proposal for the equipment, which is manufactured by Biosonics of Seattle, Washington, and cost about $30,000. The technology originated from the west coast where commercial fisheries create a big need for accurate, high quality equipment, especially in counting salmon runs, Jordan explained. The money came from Maine's Outdoor Heritage Fund. A main component of the equipment is the transducer, which is seven inches high and about IO inches in diameter. It is mounted on a four-foot- long sled with runners cal led the biofin. The transducer and biofin are rigged on a davit arm, which is like a crane with pulleys to raise and lower the tran ducer. It's towed at about three feet deep over the side of the boat, a 22-foot former lobster boat. "I believe the Warden Service was using the boat to check coastal duck hunters," Jordan said. "But I think the big white boat was a little too obvious, and it became avai Iab le." Jordan and a summer assistant, Dan Bowker, did the work attaching the equipment to the boat. Bowker, who had just

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graduated from Unity College, Because the transducer used in hydroacoustic samhelped "more pling is large and mounted in a heavy steel towing than he knows unit, it is suspended from a davit arm and towed over because of his the side of the boat. (Mark Latti photo) positive attitude," Jordan said. The davit arm for the transducer was challenging to rig, but Bowker was steadfastly confident that it could be done, Jordan said. The transducer is hooked up to a laptop computer, which functions somewhat like a fishfinder. The transducer generates sound at 200 kilohertz, which Jordan described as "a pulse, a fraction of a second." "The sound is reflected off what it Interestingly, the speed of sound in water hits and comes back to the transducer. is from 1400 to 1500 meters per second. If there are no fi h, it just comes off the There is a data analysis program for the bottom and back," Jordan ex plained. information the transducer records during "Each fish i measured by an echo that the trip . actually comes from its swim bladder." "Each echo is measured in fractions of decibels, which tells size and depth, latitude and longitude," he continued. "It's all in color according to the size of the fish, and it all feeds back into the laptop." For example, red colors indicate the bigge t fish - no one has een a red one yet. The next biggest size, some blue and green, were spotted on West Grand Lake. Smelts show in a violet color. The Department has used the equipment on Maranacook, Sebago, Thompson, Tunk, Cathance, Rangeley, Schoodic and East Grand lakes so far. Bogart never had a GPS. But, technology can intimidate before it helps. Winter 2001

"It's really challenging, kind of like instrument flying in a simulation booth," said fisheries biology specialist Greg Burr, who has logged about 90 hours in the boat after dark. "You're in a dark booth with just gauge, bobbing in a lake in the dark." Jordan agreed the work was challenging, but emphasized that everyone who's tried it has found it fun and rewarding too. "The challenge is to be out there at night, going about 25 miles, around islands and boulder shoals," Jordan said. "We use a GPS and maps to draw transect lines and write locations of waypoint numbers." The work must be done at night. In the summer, smelts are schooled up close to the bottom. Such a school would give off a huge echo through the transducer, and it would be impossible for the echo to discriminate how many fish were in the chool. At night, smelts break out of their school to feed individually on plankton. "It was so interesting on West Grand

Rick Jordan navigates by GPS and compass to follow sampling transects, whi le watching depth on the computer monitor. Most sampling is done at night, and navigation is done totally by instruments.( Mark Latti photo) Lake. Just about nothing showing during the day," Jordan recalled. "Then, by 9: 15 p.m. they were coming off the bottom and by 9:45 they were scattered all through the upper 30 to 40 feet." "It's interesting to see the pattern of how they move. They move like that because plankton and insects do the same thing," Jordan said. "It' a whole different world out there." It wasn't always smooth sailing. Jordan remembers calling the manufacturer in Seattle on a cell phone from the middle of Cathance Lake in an exploratory mission. But. io1 an hour things were work-

The large, highly sensitive transducer is mounted on the underside of a steel biotin tor towing.

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ing perfectly. Several things, in addition to great tech support from the manufacturer. have contributed to the successful use of the equipment. One, Jordan has held training sessions for at least IO other fhheries biologists. They practice using the tra~-

sect lines in the daytime to develop confidence and skill. Jordan also realized that users would need a written set of instructions, which he developed. The text is IO pages and includes information on every detail that could arise, from the launch of the heavy boat to the set up of the transducer. "I used a little tape recorder, which I took everywhere and when thoughts came about instruction I spoke into the recorder," he said. "I wanted everyone to be able to use the equipment on their own after training, without me looking over their shoulders." The only disadvantage to the equipment is that it doesn't differentiate between smelts and other small fish. This can be overcome by comparing data Lo a small fish sample. Smelts usually account for about 80 percent of the small fish, Jordan explained. "l hope that the angling public i patient and realiLes that it will take time to get a string of data from various lakes. and show trends," he said. "Smelts are the most important food to landlocked salmon in Maine and we need to do everything we can to manage their populations. This new equipment is the best tool we have."

Winter 2001

Guidelines to Fish Stocking in Maine A statement of policies followed by the Fisheries Division in stocking Maine waters - revising and updating earlier articles from Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine

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Compiled by the Fisheries Research & Management Section Photos by Mark Latti Management strategies summarized in our Department's Long Range Plan (1991) specify that "management of wild populations is given first priority where fisheries can be maintained through natural reproduction." Maine waters stocked are those not capable of sustaining wild populations that provide desirab le fisheries. These waters must be stocked to provide a fishery. Except for some initial introductions, we do not stock to create wild populations that will spawn and maintain themselves naturally. The science of fish culture has come a long way in Maine since 1864 when David Pottle hatched out a few eggs and raised some trout in a spring brook on his Head Tide farm. Today, modern fish hatcheries and rearing stations produce more and better fish more efficiently than Mr. Pott le ever dreamed pos ible. A hatcheries have changed through the year , o too have fish stocking procedures and policies. The stocking of hatchery fish in "the good old days" was done in a hit-or-miss manner, with little thought given to the fish. If it looked like trout water, trout were stocked there, as were salmon and other hatchery fish of MAINE Fish and Wildlife

Raising high quality salmonids is the base upon wh ich Maine's fish stocking guidel ines rest. the day. Stocking policies have developed and changed as fishery biologists and fish culturists have gained more knowledge of their complex fields. The following is a statement and description of procedures currently followed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for stocking lancllocked salmon, brook trout, lake trout, brown trout, splake, rainbow trout, and warmwater species. Although these written guidelines are brief, it should be recognized that they result from thousands of days of research on the survival, behavior, and ecology of both wild and hatchery-reared fish, in Maine and elsewhere. These procedures cannot be considered final or ultimate; changes will undoubtedly be made as more and better information is acquired through continuing research. Public access must be provided to all waters being stocked. Minimum access acceptable for stocking purposes is the right or privilege to reach a body of water without trespass. All fish stockings in Maine fall into one of the following categories: Introductory stocking is done to

establish a species not originally present, wh ich will then be able to maintain itself by natural reproduction. Stocking is discontinued when the species has become established. Maintenance stocking is a program of routine, continuous stocking intended to supplement or substitute for natural reproduction. Hatchery fish are released, survive, and grow to an acceptable size, and then they are caught by anglers. Maintenance stocking is done where there is suitable habitat, limited natural reproduction. and sufficient potential fishing pressure to ensure that the fish will be harvested. Expenmen,al stockmg i used in special situations. It is sometimes difficult to predict the success of a proposed tocking program where complex biological interactions exist. In such cases, the Department may undertake stocking on an experimental or tentative basis. Fish stocked on an experimental basis may be marked by fin clipping or tagging to allow analysis of the program, which may then be changed to a routine maintenance stocking, or it may be di continued , depending upon the results. Winter 200 I 21

Legal-size trout stocking involves the release of legal-size tro ut in waters where they are expected to be caught within a short time. This type of stocking provides a short-term art ificial fishe ry with no lasting benefits, it has no bio logical bas is, and it receives the lowest p ri ority of any stocking done by the Department. Stock.ing pm ate water-; The Department of Inland Fisheri es and Wildlife does not provide fis h for stocking private waters. Fish may be purchased within Maine for stocking private waters from any of severa l commercial hatcheries. Anyone plann ing to import fish into Maine shou ld firs t contact the Department for importation requ irements. The approval of the Commissioner of Inland Fisheri es and Wildlife is requi red before any fis h can be stocked in any Maine waters. Current g ui de lines for stocking of various fish spec ies are as fo ll ows: L NDLOCKEDSALMON Where stod ea Salmon are stocked in waters capable of growi ng salmon but where spaw ning is e ither li mited or absent. T hey may be stocked in waters havi ng other co ldwater fish spec ies; the most common assoc iations are sa lmo n/brook tro ut and sal mon/lake trout. ln any case, ab unda nt quantities of sme lts must be present to provide forage and sustai n sa lmon growth . S1Ze and age \, hen stocked Studies have shown that spring yearling (SY) salmon (age l+) give the best return to the ang ler. These fish range from 7 to l O inches whe n stockeq. Stocking rates The number stocked is dete rmined by the abi lity of the water to grow salmon. In lakes, the stock ing rate is expressed as the number of sa lmon per surface acre stocked and does not exceed 1.5 spring yearlings per acre. Most waters receive between 0.4 and 0. 7 pring yearling per acre.

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BROOK TROUT STOCKING STANDARDS No. stocked per surface area 0-20 ft. deep Fall fingerlings Spring yearlings 200 or less 25-150 5-25 Over 200 10-50 1-5 Rivers and Streams: Most Maine rivers and streams that have habitat capable of supporting brook trout have adequate natural reproduction . For the documented exceptions where natural reproduction is inadequate to support a fishery, and where adult habitat is suitable, the following stocking rates are recommended: Acreage

Age Group Fry Fall fingerlings Spring yearlings

Number per 100 sq . yd. 25 3-5 1-3

Acres

150-250 50-150

Non-biological stocking: Reclaimed ponds, the first year after reclamation, are stocked with legal-size spring yearling brook trout at the above rates; these fish are immediately available for harvest. Hatchery production of brook trout over and above the requirements of the biological programs is available as legal-size fish for stocking to provide immediate fishing. The numbers of legal-size stocked in a body of water are based on the total number available, the number of waters requiring stocking, fishing pressure, and other factors determined by fishery managers. 1 Minimum summer water quality standards for streams stocked with brook trout on other than a put-and-take basis are as follows: Water quality variable Temperature Dissolved oxygen Aver. Thalweg depth*

72Â° or less in stream or refugia At least 7 ppm (parts/million) Stream width up to 15 ft: 8 in . Stream width over 15 ft: 12 in .

1O 20 pH 5.5-8.5 Flow Value At least 40% of average annual daily flow *Average of maximum depths of a series of cross sections of a stream channel. % instream cover % pools

Rivers and streams stocked with fall fingerling brook trout must have habitat to ensure their survival over winter. p () ILirl orma l procedure is to stock near shore, but in water where newly stocked almon may be subject to predation they are boated and scattered off- shore. J

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Annual tocking is mo t common, but some sma ll waters are stocked only every second or third year, for economy and to maintain acceptable salmon growth rate .

almon tudies may be undertaken Winter 2001

involving stocking rates, sizes, or methods that differ from those outlined in this policy. Studies are set up on a timetable and their results are evaluated at the end of specified period of time. BROOK TROUT Maine's fishery managers give preference to wild brook trout populations where they exist, and efforts are made to preserve them through regulatory protection. In waters where natural reproduction is lacking or inadequate, brook trout fisheries are provided by stocking hatchery-reared fish. Because of the possible loss of genetic integrity, hatchery-reared brook trout and/or lake trout that are derived from non-indigenous stocks are not introduced in waters where wild populations of these species are reproducing successfully. Biological Stocking Brook trout are stocked in waters capable of supporting trout but which have insufficient natural reproduction to provide good fishing. Waters with the highest priority are stocked with small fish (primarily fall fingerlings) which have the potential to grow to attractive size, thereby substituting hatchery-reared fish for that part of a trout's life cycle which is ordinarily carried out through natural reproduction. Size when stocked Fry, approximately I to 4 inches long, are stocked in late spring or early summer where growing conditions are favorable. Fry are the most economical size to stock where competition is negligible and high survival is therefore likely. Success from fry stocking usually decreases as competition increases. Fry stocking preserves the esthetics of trout fishing by closely approximating natural conditions. Fall fingerlings , approximately 5 to 7 inches long, are stocked in waters where conditions for fry survival and growth are reduced by competition or other factors. Fall fingerlings usually grow to a size of about 8 to 9 inches by the following spring. This age group accounts for the majority of brook trout stocked in Maine waters. Spring yearlings, averag ing 7 to 11 MAINE Fish and Wildlife

inches in size, are stocked in waters with marginal wat.er quality and/or competition from other species, which results in poor survival o smaller stocked brook trout. Smaller spring yearlings may be stocked in streams; larger ones are stocked in lakes. Stocking rates Lakes and Ponds. Stocking rates are based on the ability of a body of water to produce good trout growth. Because most food organisms are produced in shallow water, lakes and ponds having a high proportion of shallow water are usually the most productive and are stocked at higher rates than deep lakes and ponds. Rates are presented as ranges due to the variability in the contribution of natural reproduction, com~etition from other species, and fishing pressure. Fry stocking rates are based on the number , of acres of lake bottom falling within the Oto ~ t Large brood stock trout that are no longer able to 20 -100 contours. Recommended fry stock- produce eggs are released in selected water through. t t out the state in the fall. mg ra es are 150 o 250 ate fishing. The numbers of legal-size per acre. stocked in a body of water are based on Fall fingerling and spring yearling the total number available, the number of stocking rates are based on the number waters requiring stocking, fishing presof acres of lake bottom falling within the sure, and other factors determined by contours Oto 20 feet as well as the sizefishery managers. group of the lake or pond. Non-b1ological stocking Reclaimed ponds, the first year after reclamation , are stocked with legal-size spring yearling brook trout at the above rates; these fish are immediately available for harvest. Hatchery production of brook trout over and above the requirements of the biological programs is available as legalsize fish for stocking to provide immedi-

LAKETROUT \\, lien_ stocked Lake trout are stocked in deep, Coldwater lake and ponds, where summer temperatures in the deepest water are less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and where dissolved oxygen concentrations in the deepest water exceed 5 parts per million. Adequate populations of suitable Winter 2001

forage fish species must be present to assure growth of the stocked fish. Lake trout are stocked to provide fi shing in waters where natural reproduction is not successful , or where natural reproduction does not maintain populations large enough to support satisfactory fisheries. They may also be introduced to waters with suitabl e habitat to create new

fi sheri es. As lake trout usually spawn in shallow water on rocky shoal s or shorelines, an abundance of this type of habi tat in a body of water will improve the prospects of establishing a population that can be sustained through natural reproduction . Size when stocked Lake trout are stocked as spring yearlings, at an average size of 6 to 8 inches. Stocking rates The amount of habitat available during the summer and the productivity of the water are important factors to consider in stocking lake trout. Water at depths less than 40 feet is usually too warm to support lake trout during the summer. Water deeper than I 00 feet is generally not very productive, even though lake trout live there. Therefore, the area less than 40 feet deep and greater than l 00 feet deep are discounted from the total area of a body of water considered for lake trout stocking. Other factors affect the growth and survival of lake trout stocked in any body of water, including the size of the fish at stocking, the type and abundance of forage available, the presence of other Coldwater gamefish (especially salmon), and the presence of potential predators. These will influence the stocking rate on a water-by-water basis. Follow- up surveys of the fish populations and sport fisheries in each water stocked wi.th Jake trout will determine the success of the stocking program, and may lead to refinements in the recommended stocking rate. Up to 5 spring yearlings may be stocked per surface acre of water with depths between 40 and 100 feet. Stocking frequency Waters are usually stocked on an

24 MAI E Fish and Wildlife

annual basis. Follow-up surveys may justify less frequent stocking on individual waters. Stoc king procedure Prior to stocking, most lake trout are marked with a fin clip to aid in future identification. Stocking occurs as soon as possib le after iceout, while the surface water is still cold. In lakes and ponds where predation may threaten survival immediately after stocking, lake trout are boated away from the shore and scatterplanted over deep water. Experimental stocking Lake trout studies may be undertaken involving stocking rates or methods that differ from those outThe Department uses lots of high-tech methods and lined in this policy; studies are set up on gear to raise fish , but the the basic five-gallon bucket a timetable, and remains the most popular tool for actually getting the their results are fish into the water. evaluated at the end Brooks and Streams: Brown trout of a specified time period. are stocked in conjunction with brook trout in many brooks and streams BROW TROU1 throughout southern Maine. Again, these waters usually support a variety of comWhen: ~tocked peting species such as minnows and Lakes and Ponds: The ability of suckers, and also exhibit warmer sumbrown trout to compete successfully with mertime water temperatures than classic warm water fishes and to inhabit lakes trout treams. Browns provide most of with less-than-ideal water quality has the fishing opportunities in the sum mer enabled the Department to provide qua! iand early fall after the brook trout fishing ty fishing in many water considered has lowed. Brown trout are generally marginal for other salmonids. A typical not managed in drainages with significant brown trout water has populations of populations of wild brook trout or in the bass, perch, pickerel, minnow and uckmajor Atlantic sa lmon drainages. As a ers; in addition, summertime water qualiresult, most of the brown trout stocki ng ty is not suitable for brook trout. Winter 2001

occurs in southern and central Maine. Si,e when stocked Lakes and Ponds are generally stocked with fall yearling browns, which are about 12 inches long. Brooks and streams are typically stocked with spring yearling browns, which average about 9 inches long.

umented in Maine. Therefore, as with other hatchery coldwater gamefish, the "put-grow-take" fisheries are maintained through stocking. In waters where competition is light, fall fingerling splake (about 6 inches) are stocked. There are just a few of these waters statewide and most are stocked by plane. Spring yearlings (about 8 inches long) are stocked in

the majority of waters managed for toc king ratc~ and frequc ncy Fi shery biologists consider many factors prior to stocking any water with brown trout. Water quality, or more importantly, the amount of summertime habitat is very important in determining stocking rates. Waters with high angler use are stocked with more fish than those with low use. Public access opportunities and fishing regulations (i.e. ice fishing) are important factors that influence angler use. Biologists also attempt to evaluate other biological characteristics such as the abundance of competing species (including other salmonids), the presence of predators, and the type and abundance of forage . Generally, browns arc stocked annually in lakes and ponds at a rate of about I fall yearling per acre, and streams arc stocked with spring yearlings at varying rates depending on previously mentioned factors. Biologists monitor the results of these stockings to determine if any changes are necessary. Stockmg procedure Fall yearling brown trout are typically stocked along the shoreline of lakes and ponds. Streams are generally scatterplanted at all the road crossings or access points . SPLAK!

Splake are hybrids between two of Maine's native pecies, the brook trout and lake trout. Splake exhibit good catch, growth and survival rates in many Maine lakes where previous stocking of brook trout failed to provide acceptable fisheries. Splake are not stocked to provide or enhance river or stream fisheries , although splake may occasionally be caught in the e areas during the spring and fall. Splake do have the abili ty to reproduce, however it occurs very rarely. Natural reproduction has never been docMAINE Fish and Wildllife

splake. Competition from other spec ies such as perch, pickerel and bass is a limiting factor in these waters. A permanent fin -clip is applied to splake to assist in proper identification and aging. Stocking rates for splake are based on several factors including acreage of suitable habitat, fishing pressure, harvest rates, and special regulations. Suitable habitat for splake is critical , especially during the summer months. Successful splake stocking depends on the availability of water less than 60Â°F with dissolved oxygen levels greater than 5 ppm. Stocking rates will be lower in waters with special regulations designed to protect splake until reach ing larger sizes. Splake are also stocked at low rates in some waters managed with hatchery brook trout with the management objective of producing an occasional larger fish. Age Group Number per Acre* Fall fingerlings up to 40 Spring yearlings up to 30 *Per acre of water 60Â°F or colder with oxygen levels greater than 5 ppm. RAI BOW TROUT fÂˇxperimental 111troduct1on~ Experimental introductions of rainbow trout were conducted in several waters during the I960's and l 970's to examine the feasibility of establishing a rainbow trout program. At the time, MDIFW decided not to pursue a rainbow trout program for a variety of reasons, but the possibility of future experiments remained open . Public inquiry and success stories from other New England states prompted the Fisheries Division to revisit the possibility ofa rainbow trout program. In 1997, a committee was formed and it was decided to try a pilot project on 1020 different waters. Actual stocking of

rainbow trout should begin in the spring of 200 I and the study is expected to con tinue for at least 5 years. This proj ect will investigate whether or not rainbow trout can provide some additional benefits over existing coldwater spec ies, and it allows us to examine the feasibi lity of developing a regular stockin g program. Formal stocking guidelines for rainbow trout have not been developed by MDIFW. Stockings for the pilot project will be based upon our experience with other trout species, input from other states, and scientific Iiterature. \\

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Introductions of small mouth and largemouth bass in public waters are accomplished by transferring wild fish trapped from local populations. The introduced fish establish themselves by natural reproduction . One successful spawning is usually sufficient to establish the species. All authorized introductions are made by Department fishery biologists . Great care must be taken in selecti ng wild fi sh for transfer because of the danger of spreading diseases and parasites. Many specimens from the donor lake must be examined to determine that the fish are truly disease- and parasite-free. The bass tapeworm is one of the dangerous parasites that could be spread through careless introductions.

STOCKI G BY OTHER TIM

rISII

A D \\ LDLII L PFRSO 1'.E L Anyone who wishes to stock fish in any water, whether public or private, must submit an application for a permit to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Applications are available from all Department offices and from private fish hatcheries in Maine. Regional fish ery biologists wi II advise the Commissioner whether the desired species will be compatible with fishery management in the watershed where the pond is located. lf the species is not compatible, the permit may be denied.

A I L ilOLGHT A lot of thought and work went into formulation of thi fish stocking policy. It should be emphasized that adjustments will be made a new research findings Winter 2001

Kelly, Her Grampy and the Bear By Kelly Marie Lougee It was nearing 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 18, 1999, when Grampy and I walked into the North Maine Woods. Once I got seated in the little ditch that we were hunting out of, the wind started blowing. By 5 o'clock I was shivering. Ten minutes went by and I was ready to leave because I was so cold. Then I heard a noise behind me and slowly turned around. I heard Grampy whispering my name. I turned back to see this huge black bear that looked to be about 500pounds. I was so surprised and startled that my heart slcipped a beat. But I was careful not to move or make any noise. I have camped with my family in the North Maine Woods since I was seven years old and hunted partridge since I was 10, as my father taught me how to handle a gun and enrolled me in a hunter safety course. This particular September, my Dad and Grampy talked about taking me bear hunting with them now that I was 13. The day finally came and - as we traveled from our home in Harmony, Maine, to the campground at Caucomagomoc Lake, about four hours away - I planned the whole event out in my head. Grampy and I would go out to the site around 11 a.m. and put out the bait. This consisted of doughnuts, frosting, honey, and blueberries as bears like everything sweet - like I do! These treats would be put in an onion bag that was tied with bailing twine and hung on the fork of a tree. This is exactly what we did before returning to the campsite to have lupper (a meal between lunch and supper), and getting ready to go out on the bear hunt. I had it all set in my mind that I wouldn't have to sit in the woods for very long because I would get my bear wallcing into the site with Grampy. I wasn't afraid to go into the vast wilderness with my Grampy because he knew all the tricks of the trade for surviving in the North Maine Woods' To return to the moment I turned

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Kelly, her Grampy and the resulting bear rug. Photo by FAWNLY fotos. Studio courtesy Lumber Jack Lodges.

and saw the bear staring back at me. Grampy later told me that he was getting nervous because I didn't fire my gun immediately. The reason I didn't shoot at once was because the bear was looking right at me. I knew that if he saw me push the safety off, he would turn tail and run back into the woods. Bears are noted for their keen sense of sight, smell, hearing and taste. So, I watched him through the scope and when r could tell he wasn't watching me l pushed the Âˇafety and pulled the trigger. And ... BANG' The bear turned and ran back into the woods. Grampy and I traced the bear's footprints and the drops of blood that went in a zig-zag pattern !'or about 75 feet deeper into the woods. l was bent over examining the blood when l heard Grampy start to laugh. I stood up

and saw the bear lying among some pine trees behind a big log. We weren't sure if he was dead, so Grampy gave him a little kick. He didn't move! Thank goodness - he was dead! The next part wasn't as much fun as r had hoped. This is because I had to hold back the bear's hide while Grampy gutted it. After that we rolled the bear over and laid him over a log so the blood could drain out. I had been aiming for the bear's shoulder, but the 44-magnurn bullet I shot him with had pierced him right through the heart. Before returning to the campsite I tied my license through the hole that Grampy made in the bear's ear. We were at the campsite for about two hours as one by one the other (Colltillued on next page) Winter 2001

Sea Run Brown Trout By John Boland t's not too often that a trout angler in Maine gets an o pportunity to appl y hi s or her skill s in December or January. How about the chance to catch brown trout on dry fli es in March? We ll , thanks to an ambiti ous progra m developed by the Maine Department of Inl and Fi sheri es and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources (DMR ), ang lers in southern Maine have been experi enc ing thi s type of fis hing for a couple years and the future looks even bri ghter. (Co ntinued on next page)

Kelly, Her Grampy and the Bear (Continued from previous page) hunters returned and told us that they had not been able to shoot a bear. I was proud and excited to tell everyone that the bear I had shot at was dead, tagged, and ready to be dragged out of the woods. From the expressions on their faces you could tell that although they were proud of me, they felt humiliated that a young girl had shot a bear when they had failed to do so. A couple of the hunters who had shot at a bear wanted to go back into the woods to see if any of their shots had killed one. After they returned to the campsite saying that they couldn't find any dead bears, we decided to go get the bear [ had shot. So, we loaded the "wheel" into our pick-up truck . The "wheel," which consists of a long stretcher attached with brackets to an oversized bicycle wheel, makes taking a large dead animal out of the woods an easier task than trying to drag it. After parking the truck as close to the edge of the woods as we could, I set out with a few of the hunters - as well as my Dad , Grampy, Mom , Grammy. and two younger sisters - into the dark woods. MA INE Fish and Wi ld life

We carried flashlights and lanterns as night had fallen and a bright, full moon helped to light our way. We walked for about a half a mile before we spotted my bear. I helped the men put it on the stretcher, wheel it out of the woods. and load it into the truck. Âˇ Back at the campsite the hunters helped me hang the bear in the lean-to. Then they all stood around admiring my bear and telling tales of their hunting experiences and of the "Big Bear" they ALMOST shot. As we'd had a very busy and exciting day, we decided to wait until morning to weigh my bear. In the morning, while I was standing at the picnic table near my hanging bear - cooking our traditional Sunday morning breakfast of sausages, eggs, and toasted English muffins on the propane stove - the hunters gathered around. They had come to admire the bear before my father skinned it, and brought a special scale for weighing game. One of the hunters teased, "Not only does she hunt, she cooks, too!" The exchange of hunting stories went on and on; it seemed to me that they would never get around to weigh-

ing my bear. I wished for a microwave to warm up our breakfast that was getting colder by the minute. At last they weighed it and one of the hunters announced that it weighed 102-pounds. I thought it must be well over that. But. of course, that was what it weighed after it had been gutted. Later that day Dad skinned the bear, quartered it, washed the meat. and put it all in the cooler with plenty of ice. It was around six o'clock on Sunday evening when we packed up and headed back to Harmony. We stopped in Kokadjo, 70 miles north of where I'd shot the bear, to officially tag it. It took us about two hours more to reach our house. I remember falling asleep thinking how thankful I was to be able to spend time with my family and friends in the North Maine Woods. The bear rug hangs on our living room wall to remind me always of that very "special" day. Kelly Marie Lougee is in ninth grade at Foxcroft Academy. She was /3 when she shot her bea,: She is a Girl Scow and her goal is to become a Main e game itâ&#x20AC;˘arden. Winter 2001

In 1977, the Department initiated a brown trout stocking program at the Ogunquit River in Ogunquit and the Royal River in Yarmouth in an effort to create a sea run trout fishery. Thousands of 6-8 inch spring yearling brown trout were stocked into these two waters each spring. Biologists hoped that these trout would take advantage of the productive estuarine environment and exhibit exceptional growth. Early results were encouraging, but in the mid- l 980's returns of tocked browns at both waters began to decline. In 1989, the stocking program at the Royal River was discontinued . Stocking was continued at the Ogunq uit River although angling was fair at best. Although no official studies were conducted, it is felt that intensive predation by striped bass, bluefish and predatory bird , uch a cormorants, was respon ible for the poor returns of these stocked trout. In the mid 1990s, amid increasing demand by angler for additional fishing opportunities and a feel ing that the sea run trout fishery sti ll had poten tial, th is Department decided to resurrect the sea run trout program. Biologists assessed the angler access, water quality, and phy ical habitat of several water along the southern Maine coa t to determine whether one would be suitab le for a sea run trout tocking program. Several new waters were stocked on an experimenta l basi , and biologists stocked o lder, larger brown trout anticipating that predation may be a serious problem. These experimental stockings had

mixed results until 1998 when l,000 fall yearling brown trout averaging l 2- I 4 inches were stocked in the Ogunquit River and the returns were impressive. Anglers experienced fantastic fi hing until ice in (mid January) and the fishing was just as outstanding in early March when the ice broke up. Over-winter survival appeared to be excellent and, more importantly, the fish appeared in excellent health. In 1999 the Department increased the stocking al the Ogunquit and added many more fi h to a small program already in existence at the Mousam River in Wells. ln addition, the Spurwink River in Scarborough, Scarborough Marsh, Royal River in Yarmouth and York River in York were added on an experimental basis. Returns from the Mou am and the Ogunquit have been very exciting. Anglers can expect fast

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action for browns in the I 3-18 inch range and fi h up to 22 inches are commonly repo11ed. Tn fact, an I I-pound brown trout was taken recently at the Ogunquit River. Returns from the Spurwink River were fair last fall, but overwinter mortality apparently contributed to poor angling this spring. Poor acces ibility to the York River resulted in light fishing pre sure, and anglers at the Scarborough Marsh had a difficult time locating productive fishing areas. Royal River angler reported good fishing throughout the fall.

p This Department and DMR are working together to evaluate the stocking that has already occurred. Currently, DMR i~ conducting a creel census on the Mousam River and Ogunquit Rivers.

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Anglers will also note that voluntary creel boxes have been placed along the better access sites on these rivers, and should be aware that this information is very useful in formulating future stocking recommendations. We are also working closely with our Department's fish hatcheries to insure that an adequate number of large fall yearling brown trout will be available for stocking. As indicated earlier, size at stocking is quite important due to the number of predators. Also, we are experimenting with brook trout in some of these waters to see if they will produce similar results. The Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, owns vast amounts of land around the larger estuaries in southern Maine. Until recently, these lands were closed to fishing, but thanks to efforts by the Department, DMR and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), angler access i being realized at these waters. Anglers should be aware that these marshes are very fragile ecological system and shou ld make every effort to reduce impacts to the marsh grasses.

F Stocking at the Spurwink River and the York River will be discontinued due to the poor returns of stocked fish. Approximately 4,000 fish were stocked

in southern Maine waters last fall for the sea-run program, and biologists are anticipating another fantastic fishing season in the coming year. In addition to the Mousam River, the Ogunquit River and the Royal River, we have plans to begin an experimental program at the Webhannet River in Wells. Next season we will survey the Scarborough Marsh in an effort to determine its potential for a sea run trout fishery. Further up the coast, the Department has similar programs at the Medomak River in Waldoboro and the St. George River in Thomaston. Stocking larger fall yearling browns in the Kennebec River, below the dam in Waterville will undoubtedly result in some tidewater angling in the Augusta area. '.'

Anglers interested in trying their luck at catching a sea run brown trout should concentrate their efforts in the tidal portions of the stocked waters. Certainly the Mousam River, Ogunquit River, Royal River and the Webhannet River will be good bets this fall and next spring. The brown trout will disperse rapidly after stocking and angler can expect to find these fish throughout the estuaries in the fall. As ice-in approaches, the fish will tend to concentrate closer to the fresh water influence. As soon as the estuary is ice-free in March, anglers can

expect to find the heaviest concentrations of fish at the head of tide, but as waters warm, these fish will again disperse throughout the estuary. When to I"' h We've observed sea run browns caught in each and every month of the year with the exception of February, a month when the rivers are usually ice covered. The fall season is certainly the most popular and the most productive. Anglers can expect good fishing until 1ce-111. Be aware that fishing heats up again as soon as the ice clears in March. Early season anglers were handsomely rewarded last spring with exceptional trout fishing in early March. Each stocked water may have optimal times to fish, but generally the last 3 hours of the outgoing tide and the first 3 hours of the incoming tide are mo t productive. \\ 'ldl (

Anglers have been very successful using artificial flies and lures . These estuaries are alive with small baitfish and crustacean . Artificial baits imitating sand eels or shrimp are effective. Spin casters should come prepared with small jigs and lures. Leadheaded jigs (1/16-1/8 ounce), small spinners and lures work very well. Fly anglers should have an assortment of small wet flies, nymphs, dry flies and small streamers. ln the fall, small wet flies and nymphs, size 10 to 14, produce a lot of fish , and dry flies are a good bet on the warmer days. In the early spring, smaller flies , ize 14-18 seem to be more productive. Excellent hatches of caddis and stone flies are observed during the warmer days in March. lhtulJt111 When fishing tidal waters, anglers should refer to the Maine Department of Marine Resources regulation booklet. There is no closed fishing season and anglers are allowed 5 trout, 2 of which may be brown trout. All 5 may be brook trout. The minimum length for brown trout is l 4 inches and 6 inches for brook trout.

Mark Latti Photo MAI E Fish and Wildlife

Winter 200 l

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• Rates Package includes lodging , meals, house- ' keeping , use of five private pools, guide services and day canoe trips. The charge is $175 US/day/angler during April and May; $125 US/day/angler during June, July, and August; and $225 US/day/angler in September and October.

Since 1946 we have provided superb, personalized service to anglers as they enjoy exclusive use of our well equipped lodge, cottages , and five productive , private pools.The wading is easy. If you prefer fishing from a boat, Jon boats are available for the Spring and Old Town Canoes are available for the Summer and Fall.

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Our guides ~re experienced, skilled and congenial.

• Travel Arrangements We are located 70 miles northeast of Fredericton , 35 miles southwest of Miramichi City. Highway travel time from Bangor, Maine is 4-1 /2 hours. There are airports in Fredericton , Miramichi City, and Moncton .

• Reservations can be made by calling or writing: Martyn Vickers 122 Winthrop Street Augusta, ME 04330 207-623-4879 vickers@gwi.net

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Winter 2001 31

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Open Daily 9-9, undays 10-6 Ree 1 Kitte1y, ME • 207-439-2700 • 1-888-KTP-MAI E (587-6246) • www.kittetytradingposc.com