Maine fishing is heating up with warming waters and bug hatches

By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News Staff

Things are going to be heating up, both literally and figuratively, during the month of May.

As the state’s waters begin to warm and the insects start hatching in large numbers, anglers have the opportunity this month to take advantage of some of the best fishing days of the entire year.

Unfortunately, it also is the time of year when cold water temperatures pose a life-threatening risk to anglers, paddlers and recreational boaters. If you’re out on the water, wear a lifejacket — and take a friend along to share the experience.

And always let a family member or friend know where you’re going and when you plan to return.

If you want to find some spots that have been recently boosted with hatchery fish, you can check out the most recent Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocking reports here.

Here are some of the DIF&W regional fishing reports for May:

Penobscot Region

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Kevin Dunham

Where to fish: Many larger lakes and ponds of the Penobscot Region were ice free by the end of April, giving a full month of May fishing opportunities for open-water anglers, which isn’t a guarantee in any given year. Whether you are an avid early season brook and stream angler or a fan of trolling cold, newly ice-free lakes and ponds, the Penobscot region offers many great destinations for springtime brook trout fishing.

Most brooks, streams and rivers in our region offer the opportunity to catch a brook trout. Some suggestions for river, brook and stream fishing during the month of May include these waters which are stocked with brook trout each spring: the Mattawamkeag River in Haynesville; East Branch of the Mattawamkeag River in Oakfield and Forkstown Twp.; Stillwater River in Old Town and Orono; and the Sebec River in Milo.

Lake fishing more your style? May is a great time to check out Nicatous Lake (T40 MD) for splake, particularly before the water temperature warms; Spring Lake in T3 ND for brook trout and landlocked salmon; or Upper Jo-Mary Lake (TA R10 WELS) for brook trout as well as landlocked salmon. 

Moosehead Region

From Fisheries Resource Biologist Jeff Bagley

Most waters in the northern portion of the Moosehead Lake Region still have some ice cover (as of April 21) but don’t worry, open water is slowly creeping its way north. Most rivers and streams are running a bit high but with the snowpack either gone or dwindling, flows are receding to levels that will provide some better fishing flows. You can expect to see our Hatchery Staff busy stocking the many put and take waters we have throughout the Region. Some waters to try your luck on in the coming weeks include: 

Chesuncook, Caribou and Ripogenus lakes, in T3 R12, where wild landlocked salmon are the predominant species and are abundant along with wild brook trout and white perch; Piscataquis River in Guilford and Dover-Foxcroft, stocked brook trout; Kennebec River, West Outlet, in Taunton and Raynham Academy Grant, stocked brook trout and landlocked salmon; Secret Pond in Greenville wild brook trout>

Fishing tip: Early ice out fishing on some of our trout waters can produce some fun and memorable fishing. Trolling streamers (Mickey Finn or Gray Ghost) and lures (Weeping Willow or Super Duper) are always good bets for enticing brook trout and salmon. As water temperatures start to warm during May, insect activity will also start to pick up.