Sewing on bait. Is it slowly becoming a lost art, to be replaced with sliding hooks accompanied by a handful of compatible techniques, or will this age-old skill remain a force in the fishing world for years to come?

I’ve drifted away from sewing on bait when salmon fishing, mainly due to the extra attention it requires, especially when fishing alone. Trying to maneuver a boat and thread a needle with monofilament can wreck havoc with the nervous system.

I’ve seen no evidence of fewer fish caught from the shortcut, but keep in mind I’m only speaking from my own experiences accompanied by conversations with a handful of others.

Some of the salmon fishermen I’ve been talking to have been trolling with sliding hooks so long they barely remember the entire procedure for sewing on bait. Me, too. So I felt it necessary to share a proven formula I was taught some 15 years back.

Let’s begin:

. Tie the end of your fishing line (monofilament) to the sewing needle. Push the needle down through the head of the bait, and out the bottom of his jaw.

. Then make a complete circle around the head, and again press the needle down through the head.

. Next, direct the needle through the mouth and body and out the anus, then cut the line from needle. Attach a treble hook and pull the line back through the fish’s mouth until the hook seats.

. Next, tighten the first loop you created. The amount of tension you apply on the first loop determines the action of the bait, as it creates a bend in the fish. Some anglers prefer a slight bend. It allows the bait to make a complete circle over a number of feet while trolling. Others elect the bait to travel a straight course.

. Finally, tighten up the last loop, which is meant to close the mouth. Then put it to the test. If the bait spins, chances are you’ve created too much of a bend for the fish.

Kennebec River red hot

The Kennebec River has been red hot recently, especially in the pool below the Shawmut Dam in Fairfield, said Linda Holt, owner of Fly Fishing Only in Fairfield.

The main contender has been the brown trout, with much of the credit going to the Blue Wing Olive backed up with a light or dark Hendrickson, said Holt.

These hatches are coming off between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and anglers are latching onto browns averaging 15-18 inches in length, according to Holt. Last Monday there was a 23-inch brown trout caught in the Shawmut, added Holt.

Last week’s rain was a welcome sight, added Holt, because it brought the water to a desirable level, leaving the pool below the Shawmut Dam at a wading level, with surface water temperature of 58 degrees.

Other good news is the presence in the Kennebec River of alewives, which arrived in force in the Winslow area of the river and means striped bass are soon to follow, said Holt.

West Branch action

Action on the West Branch of the Penobscot River is heating up, according to Peter Pray, owner of the Big Eddy Campground, which is 20 miles northwest of Millinocket. The morning and evening are prime times, added Pray, especially if you’re carrying a Quill or a Dark Hendrickson. Working them on the surface or just below seems to be the ticket for these feisty landlocked salmon, said Pray. The water flow is presently 2,200 cubic feet per second with a surface water temperature of 52 degrees.

Penobscot region warming up

Fishing is starting to perk up in the Penobscot region, according to Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regional fisheries biologist Mike Smith. Matagamon Lake in T6-R9 WELS is producing a lot of brook trout and togue. Cold Stream Pond in Enfield has begun to release lake trout averaging 2-4 pounds, said Smith.

Schoodic Lake in Brownville is releasing a fair amount of lake trout as well, however they’re tipping the scales between 2 and 6 pounds. Schoodic is also giving up a fair number of brook trout and anglers are catching them fishing from shore. They’re ranging between 10 and 16 inches, Smith added.

Smith’s report on Pleasant Pond in Island Falls is superb. On a good day salmon fishermen are pretty much kept occupied tenting their lines. There’s already been a few salmon caught weighing more than five pounds, said Smith.

Bass fishing soon will be in full swing also as some of the superior smallmouth lakes have already warmed up into the low 60s, according to Smith. This has contributed to bass being pushed to their nests, he added.

Nicatous, Pushaw, Mattanawcook, and Caribou lakes should be ready for action any day, said Smith. He added that as of last Tuesday the Penobscot River was witness to high water levels and a few more days of sunny weather could bring the fishing to the front, said Smith.

Question of the week

Where was the Cecil’s Smelt fishing lure developed?

Answer to last week’s question: On average, wild turkeys live to be how old? 10 years.

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