Prime brook fishing has arrived and Glenn Sinclair has engaged in some early battles. This 30-year-old Aroostook County native has been on the front lines of this sport since he’s had strength enough to activate a spincasting reel. He’s been parting alders and hurdling acres of blowdowns along brooks searching out deep pools and undercut banks where the current has created ideal homes for brookies.

He’s well aware of the trophies some of these pockets hold. After all, his creel has carted out its share of brook trout and on one occasion been stretched to the max with a brookie almost weighing two pounds. However, on Saturday, this creel received an order it couldn’t service.

While fishing McLean Brook in Sinclair, Glenn latched onto a fish that far exceeded any brook trout he had battled. From the opening bell, it displayed the heart of a champion, taking line at will and using all the space the brook had available.

Glenn was at the mercy of its power, hoping his 6-pound test line could stand the excitement as this fish put on a 10-minute show “that seemed like eternity,” said Glenn. “It would come to shore, then take off again, come to shore, then take off again.”

During these heart-stopping moments, his brother Allan was off searching for a net, and Glenn said he was simply holding on as his patience grew wavered waiting for his brother’s return. However, when Allan came down the bank with a net in hand, Glenn started breathing somewhat normally again. Allan brought the conflict to a closure with a pass of the net, landing a landlocked salmon weighing 7 pounds and measuring 24 inches.

It’s not uncommon to catch a salmon in this brook, said Glenn. They occasionally follow the smelts that come to spawn in the brook from Long Lake. What is unusual is catching a 7-pounder. In the past I’ve heard of a 16- or 17-inch salmon taken, but nothing of this stature.

Glenn said he did have another fierce battle with a brookie, but it shook free and he just wanted to put his other trout in the cooler.

Big lakers at Sebago

Sebago Lake has wasted no time putting together some hefty figures in the lake trout category. On May 6, it released a 15-plus-pound laker, according to Greg Cutting, employee at Jordan’s Store in East Sebago.

Then on May 8, another heavyweight laker appeared, this one caught by Gene Miller of Stetson. It tipped the scales at 111/2 pounds and measured 31 inches, said Miller, who battled the fish for more than 10 minutes.

Miller said he paid his dues and caught the fish in the final hours of a four-day fishing trip to Sebago Lake. The trip also produced a few scrappy landlocked salmon and about eight smaller togue.

Sebago Lake salmon fishermen have been experiencing fast action at the mouth of the Songo since ice-out, according to regional fisheries biologist John Boland. The salmon are feasting on the smelts congregated in this area, creating prime fishing for anglers, said Boland. The majority of the landlocked salmon are weighing 2-4 pounds and measuring up to 20 inches.

Fast landlocked action

West Grand Lake is open for business, and fishermen are hooking into sassy landlocked salmon 17-22 inches, said Kurt Cressey, owner of The Pine Tree Store in Grand Lake Stream. Much of the success is credited to Joe’s Smelt, Barnes Special Streamer Fly, and an orange-and-gold Flash King when fished in 15-20 feet of water, said Cressey. However, the lake is expected to turn over within a week, lending anglers a higher yield in the coming days.

The Dam Pool at the head of Grand Lake Stream continues to be productive, as fishermen experience a consistent action from landlocked salmon. This spot has been a powerhouse since opening day, said Cressey. The water level has been the only concern for the stream anglers as it borders close on the minimum flow, said Cressey.

Just a gentle reminder, don’t forget the bug spray. Black flies have been spotted sneaking around the corner of town, warned Cressey.

Good news at Lake St. George

Lake St. George in Liberty is producing some welcome news for brook trout and salmon fishermen, said Gary Scavette of Northport. Streamers trolled between 3-4 mph seems to be a working recipe, if fished within a few feet of the surface, said Scavette.

Outdoor Calendar

On May 16 at 7 p.m. there will be a public hearing at the Craig Pond National Fish Hatchery at Alamoosook lake. The topic will be public access to Craig Pond in Orland, and the opportunity for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to resume stocking the pond.

On May 17 at 7:30 p.m. a public meeting will be held at the Bucksmill Rod and Gun Club in Bucksport to discuss Branch Lake access and fish stocking.

Both meetings will be held in collaboration with the DIFW and The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The public is urged to attend.

Question of the week

True or false? The belly of a female brook trout is usually a creamy white while a male tends to be bright orange.

Answer to last week’s question: When were rainbow trout first introduced into Maine waters? 1880.

Terry Farren’s Outdoor Report is published each Friday. He can be reached at 990-8067 or by e-mail at outdoorreport@bangordailynews.net