Moosehead and Penobscot region fishing reports

Last week’s rain really gave the rivers and streams a boost in flow said IFW Fisheries Biologist Tim Obrey.

“While it makes it tough to fish the bigger rivers, the smaller flowing waters should offer some terrific fishing for the next several days,” said Obrey. “These early summer rain events will often bring some fresh adult salmon and brook trout up into the streams and rivers creating some great fishing as flows recede.”

Rivers that you may want to try include the Roach and the Moose River above Brassua Lake. “Trout and salmon just stream into them,” after a rain says Obrey.

If you’re looking for some trout ponds in the Greenville area to try, take a look at Salmon, Secret or Rum Pond. They’re relatively easy to get to, offer good access and have plenty of trout in the 12- to 14-range. Bug activity on these smaller trout ponds is very good with both caddises and mayflies.

On the Eastern border, there are very good reports from East Grand Lake.

“Reports from East Grand Lake, one of the more important salmon lakes in the region, indicate a good to excellent spring trolling season,” said IFW fisheries biologist Nels Kramer. “A number of anglers and guides have boated some very nice landlocked salmon in the two- to three-pound range. Togue fishing is also been impressive with numerous reports of lakers in the eight- to 10-pound range.

As you head north, reports from Millinocket Lake in T1R8/T1R9 WELS are encouraging, with some handsome salmon coming to net. Across the dike from Millinocket Lake, anglers at Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes are also presently reporting some good salmon and togue as well.

It seems you can never go wrong heading into Baxter State Park, and lakes and ponds in and around Baxter are warming up with anglers experiencing some excellent trout fishing so far. Large brook trout in the two- pound range have started to show at Grand Lake Matagamon, and a number of very fat salmon are also being reported.

Spawning bass are the ticket on lakes throughout the region, with anglers reporting action at South Branch Lake, Sysladobsis Lake, Caribou, Egg and Long Ponds, Mattanawcook Lake, Nicatous Lake, Saponac Lake and many others too numerous to mention. Smallmouth bass fishing has been as good as ever on the Penobscot River from Old Town to Medway, with fast action for smallies from one to three pounds being common.