Fishermen flocking to cast lines at Lower Kennebec River

As you chart your course for another round of open water fishing, don’t overlook the refined waters of the Kennebec River. Divided by nine dams, this 170-mile river offers some hard-hitting action between her banks, although in years past, lower portions of these waters were frowned upon by fishermen.

Today, with aid from programs such as the Clean Water Act of 1972, this river has begun to shine.

Thirty years ago, the 25-mile stretch of river flowing from Shawmut Dam to tidal water in Augusta would never have been given much time by anglers, but today all that has changed. These waters, once considered unworthy for productive fishing, have turned the corner of success and are now viewed as a prodigious fishing ground.

In 1983 the state added brown trout into the Kennebec River below Shawmut Dam. Within three years, the fishermen were reaping the benefits of their presence, said fisheries biology specialist Scott Davis. Although this section possibly held a small audience of browns stocked from unknown sources before 1983, it wasn’t until after the ’83 stocking that these waters began to flourish with brown trout.

In 1997, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife added to the existing population of rainbow trout in this section of the river. They were first introduced in 1993 by the private sector, but today DIF&W is managing the stocking, said Davis.

In the last five or six years, the fishing reputation on this section of the river has grown considerably among fishermen, and for good reason. With a healthy number of brown trout backed up by rainbows, it lends anglers some ideal fishing opportunities.

The first 600 yards of the 31/2-mile stretch from Shawmut Dam to Fairfield is tailor-made for wading and lends plenty of elbow space to negotiate a fly rod, said Mike Holt, owner of Fly Fishing Only, located on the river’s edge in Fairfield. For the next three miles downstream, the river offers handsome drift-fishing opportunities.

Around mid-May, these waters began to perk with hungry browns, which are the No. 1 fish caught here, according to Holt. They average between 14 and 16 inches, but show up in much larger sizes. The rainbow trout is second-most active, followed by smallmouth bass, and either one lends a good fight.

In six years of operating his fly shop and guiding fishing trips on the river, Holt has viewed some pleasing catches. It wasn’t too many years back that these waters yielded a 26-inch rainbow trout that wasted no time reaching the taxidermist. It’s no wonder the Kennebec is attracting fishermen from outside Maine.

West Branch yields mixed results

On the West Branch of the Penobscot River, fishermen are seeing mixed results from the Nesowadnehunk Deadwater.

On Tuesday, Tom Laaka of Cushing and Ed Hastings of Thomaston were into their third straight day of fishing the Deadwater. As of Tuesday morning, their only success had come Monday. The entire catch consisted of small, thin, landlocked salmon.

Another group of fishermen who showed up to fish all day Monday were much more successful, catching four landlocked salmon measuring 18 inches or more.

Laaka also said the fishing was faster and the fish were slightly heavier at this time last year. Somebody in his group latched onto a 21-plus-inch landlocked that carried a good deal of weight for early April fishing.

Outdoor Calendar

. On Saturday, the Kennebec Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited presents the 21st annual banquet to benefit cold water fisheries. The events will be held at Ken’s Bowling Center on Route 201 in Skowhegan and begin at 5 p.m. For more information call Jim Thibodeau at 873-3921.

. On April 28, the Penobscot Fly Fishers will host the 2001 Fly Fishing Day at the Penobscot County Conservation Association clubhouse in Brewer. Learn about fly rod casting and fishing equipment. The free event runs from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Call Ed Bruno at 942-3988, Don Corey (843-5634) or John Lent (945-3809). The group’s Web site is: penobscotflyfishers.com

. May 18-20 at Unity College, handicapped men, women and children will have the opportunity to learn outdoor skills such as black-powder shooting, fly fishing, spincasting, skeet shooting and archery. Area guides will be on hand to help teach outdoor skills. For more information, contact Morgan at the Wheelin’ Sportsmen, 57 Jan Drive, Union Springs, AL 36088, or call 334-877-4496.

Question of the week:

What’s a sure way to tell the difference between a landlocked salmon from a brown trout?

Last week’s question: Did Rangeley Lake once produce a 19-pound, 4-ounce brown trout? Yes.

Terry Farren’s Outdoor Report is published each Friday in the NEWS Sports section. He can be reached at 990-8067 or by e-mail; outdoor report@bangordailynews.net