Brook Fishing

Listen, it sounds late in year to be fishing brook trout in streams, but it is like spring fishing still. Water is high, bugs are out and fish are fat. We are kayaking, with otters, streams that should be high and dry this time of year. And yes we are getting fish. One thing is for sure, trout have been dispersed well this year. The fry are growing and the water is pushing them back into beaver ponds or out of ponds, down brooks to new holes and expanding their range. Bad news, good news. Salmon stocking in alligator is off - fish are not reaching the size they thought for food in lake. Hopkins brook trout remain a mystery in the summer, but this fall rumor has it 14 inch will be stocked.

The Beach

7/15/09 the sun is out somewhat and it is expected to be nice, so off to Lamoine Beach with kids in tow. Wow, no sun, windy and the ocean is so cold we can't even wade in it to swim or fish. There are about forty people, no one in water. So we decide to visit the dock at Lamoine State Park. I didn't take a lot of money with me, as I didn't have it, we packed a lunch and drink before leaving home. Did you know to drive in the state park and just visit or walk on the dock costs $3 per person - even for 10 minutes. So with canoe on, I mentioned we were launching the boat and paid $5. We drove to dock, watched people fishing for mackeral. No fish and decided it was cold, raw and rough. We left - less than 10 minutes - cost $5 dollars, no refunds.

On Alligator

7/12/09 well we are back on Alligator for another day of fishing, cloudy, fairly calm and once again more loons. All fish are holding near the bottom in deep water. Zach has the trap set for crayfish - a wonderful meal if you can get a few. Stopped by to see if the Butters were at camp or if Mr Peters was on the island at Bamfords. But no one home. We caught yellow perch, a salmon 16, a trout 15 and a 7 inch rainbow smelt (huge smelt). In fact it is the largest fresh water smelt I have seen. Bait trap produced some healthy shinners and crayfish. The crayfish returned home with us, a pleasent evening meal of trout and crayfish. We just got off the water before it started pounding rain and lighting - enough to blow out fence charger and direct hit to direct tv. Otherwise had a great trip on Gator - no other boats or perople seen.

Smallest Togue

7/10/09 on Hopkins today, fish are hanging in 50-60 feet of water and once again the loons are giving chase to the boat. See we troll at 2 mph so the birds flock to us. The downrigger flips and we have fish on...oh what a great fish, a 6 1/2 inch togue, the smallest togue I have ever seen. It flips again, this time a sunfish. Then later one togue about 19 inches which was returned. A few folks with party boats and kayakers enjoying the lake but no fisherman.

Docks Flooded

7/9/09 the water is still high at Parks and no perch can be found.

Mariville Falls

The water is still boiling like a spring run off, so the boys decided to try fishing the Union from Tannery Loop Falls to the bridge on 181 where it meets Graham Lake. The water is as high as winter melt, but warmer. Fishing was fair with a few trout taken above Route 9 and at a feeder brook. Then things got fun, at Mariville Falls, a place the crew usually takes out as the water is only inches deep and the drop is about nine feet over a small grade, the high water had flooded out most of the falls. Now these little Otters are great for fishing small beaver ponds and streams, they are not intended for fast boiling water. But the crew shot the rapids, yes with life jackets and a person on shore with rope. What a great ride, that allowed for lots of playing, that is until it started to rain and thunder.