DIF&W plans hearing about northern fishing

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at Nokomis High School in Newport to discuss open-water fishing regulations.

The Commissioner’s Advisory Council has been reviewing whether to open more waters in northern Maine to fall fishing regulations, which would apply this fall.

There are 1,546 surveyed lakes and ponds in Maine’s eight northern counties, 388 of which already are open to fishing through Oct. 31. The Advisory Council is considering opening an additional 378 lakes and ponds, which are either warm waters where spawning occurs in the spring, or stocked waters, and decided to proceed with the rule-making process.

The hearing in Newport is the only one being held for the fall fishing proposal. However, DIF&W officials and Commissioner Lee Perry will be present at a forum at the Sportsmen’s Show at the University of Maine-Presque Isle at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

“I don’t expect a huge groundswell in Newport. Those who felt strongly have written,” Perry said. “The hearing in Newport is the only one that is held for specific comments [on this issue]. That’s not to say that people can’t talk about this in Presque Isle.”

The deadline for written comment is April 20. Anglers wishing to comment on an extended fall fishing season in eastern and northern Maine can write to: Andrea Erskine, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME, 04333-0041.