Moosehead Lake fishing report

By Tim Obrey 
Regional Fisheries Biologist

    The fishing on Moosehead Lake continues to impress. We had some of the best weather of the winter last weekend and anglers were able to get out and catch some rays and a few fish. Traffic was heavy in the Rockwood area on the last day of the Rockwood derby. We also saw good numbers of anglers around Lily Bay and Greenville. It was good to see folks out and about after a very cold and windy January and February. 

    Some preliminary estimates show that catch rates for salmon and brook trout have been very good so far this winter. The best news is that catch rates for the once over-abundant small togue have come down to acceptable levels and the growth rates for lake trout, salmon, and even brook trout have improved. The improvement in salmon catch is quite notable and is due to the improved growth. In past years, salmon would be 4-years-old on average before reaching 18 inches in the winter, and now we are seeing some at age 3. 
    This all means bigger fish and more of them for the anglers. It seems every weekend we are seeing or hearing about big brookies between 3-6 pounds on the lake. Last weekend we saw one over 4 pounds and just missed a party that had left with another 4-plus pound trout. The weekend before we checked another brook trout that was over 5.5 pounds. We hope it continues for the next few weeks and is a forecast for the summer of 2013.
    Just a side note: While there is plenty of ice over most of the lake (2-3 feet), the usual bad spots are starting to show up. Open water can be found in narrow areas, around the mouths of rivers and streams, and around big rocks as the sun warms them during the day. Stay safe.