Before you head for the frozen-water fishing grounds, pour yourself another cup of coffee and hook onto this short-cast version of the 1993 Moosehead Lake Fishing Summary. The report summarizes the results of fishing surveys conducted on the lake and its major tributaries by fisheries biologists Paul Johnson, Tim Obrey, and Scott Roy, the report’s author. You’ll see that they left no slack line regarding problems of togue abundance and increasing ice-fishing pressure.

Annual Use: In 1993, the estimated total angler-days on Moosehead was 43,532, comparable to levels observed in the 1970s. In 1992, the lake’s total use amounted to 53,926 angler-days. An angler-day represents one person’s fishing for one day, regardless of the amount of time spent.

The biologists allow that the increasing interest in ice fishing has made a significant difference in the lake’s use patterns. During the 1970s, ice fishing comprised only 10-15 percent of the annual use. But in 1993, winter fishing accounted for about 38 percent of the total action. According to the report, ice-fishing activity exceeded that of open-water fishing in the 1990s. Earlier use estimates taken from the 1960s through the 1980s showed more angler use during summer.

Togue: The recent declines in Moosehead’s salmon fishery is associated with the abundance of small young togue. Liberalized ice-fishing regulations regarding togue resulted in the taking of an additional 4,400 14- to 18-inch fish in 1993. That, however, fell short of the goal of removing 7,000 togue to bring the species’ population to a suitable level. Therefore, beginning in 1994 the two-togue rule will be extended into the open-water season.

Although a more aggressive approach would reduce the number of small togue quickly, the biologists realized there was a great demand for togue in the Moosehead fishery. Accordingly, the report stated: “To ruthlessly attack the young togue for the immediate short-term benefits to salmon would seriously affect the togue fishery in the long term.”

Salmon: Despite the decline of fishing pressure in 1993, the total catch of landlocked salmon was about 21,800. In 1992, anglers snagged 13,200 landlockeds. The increase represents the availability of 2-year-old salmon provided by the stocking of 25,000 fish in 1992. The results of fall trapnetting show improvement in the survival of 2- and 3-year-old salmon, but also indicate a significant drop in growth rate.

In regard to ice fishing and the 18-inch length limit on salmon, the Moosehead report states: “The regulation is intended to maintain the long-standing tradition of having a high-quality spring fishery. We believe strongly that traditional fisheries should be maintained whenever possible. In this case, maintaining the quality spring fishery requires the sacrifice of the relatively new winter fishery.”

You may recall that after the 1993 ice fishing season, the biologists proposed to increase the open-water length limit on salmon from 14 inches to 16 inches. But after studying the aforementioned trapnetting results, they decided that increasing the length limit at this time would cause further stress on the lake’s smelt population. Instead of producing larger salmon, an increased length limit actually would slow the fishes’ growth rates. Therefore, the proposal was withdrawn for the time being.

Brook Trout: Since 1990, the annual catch has increased in spite of decreasing fishing pressure. In 1993, the total catch of 5,360 brook trout included 3,532 “keepers” and 1,828 “shorts.” Catch surveys show the average size of the fish has varied slightly since the legal length limit was increased from 6 to 12 inches in 1986. The 12-inch limit allows the “squaretails” to spawn at least once, thereby helping to maintain and improve population levels.

Other Species: Annual cusk harvests have varied in recent years, ranging from 11,116 pounds in 1986 to 4,361 last year. The decline, no doubt, reflects the recent decrease in fishing pressure. Records show fewer than 1,000 yellow perch were caught in 1993. The possible decrease in that population may be attributed to periods when togue prey on small perch.

White perch, however, have been caught in Spencer Bay, Lily Bay, Beaver Cove, and Moose River – all of which have suitable spawning habitats for the illegally introduced species. From that, biologists assume perch are spawning throughout most of the lake.

As for rivers, the East Outlet, Kennebec River, provided a season-long fishery with the best angling success reported from June through August. Plans to stock spring-yearling salmon in the East Outlet may improve late-season fishing if the matured fish return to the river in two to three years.

At Moose River, the best fishing for legal-size salmon and brook trout occurred during June and September. Brook trout represented 25 percent of the total number of fish caught in the river last year.

Survey results from Roach River consistently show a September fishery of extremely high quality. For the past 10 years, angler success rates have averaged 35 percent for brook trout and 52 percent for salmon. Without question, the catch-and-release ethic played an important role in sustaining those success rates. In fact, the fishery has become so popular that a catch-and-release regulation is being considered for Roach River.

There you have it, Sport. If you’d like to play a part in rejuvenating and maintaining Moosehead Lake’s traditional fisheries, take Paul Johnson’s advice: “Come on up and help thin out some of these togue – summer or winter, we don’t care.”

Copies of the Moosehead Lake Summary can be obtained at the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Greenville office.