SAM seeks to restore big salmon Organization develops program to boost Maine landlocked fisheries

After removing the Gray Ghost streamer from the tying vise, the angler held the fly at arm’s length. Stroking the long hackle feathers, strands of peacock herl and bucktail into a slim-and-trim profile that concealed the No. 4 tandem hooks, he thought aloud, “You don’t see long, skinny streamers like that nowadays. No siree! They’re as scarce as cedar-and-canvas canoes.”

Directly, however, the angler’s reel of exuberance ran out of backing: Trouble is, he thought, most of the landlocked salmon nowadays are so small a streamer that size would scare them. With his eyes still fixed on the fly, his thoughts drifted to times past, when trolling rods became afflicted with severe cases of “the bends” as 3- to 4-pound landlocks leaped and arced like lightning against leaden spring skies.

No question about it, the angler reflected while fastening the streamer to a felt section of his fly book, trolling streamers for landlocks was the soul and spirit of Maine’s spring fishing. It still is, actually, but we just don’t have those hefty fish now. Honest 3-pounders are few and far between. Then, prompted by angler optimism, his thoughts again became vocal: “That could change, though, if the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine’s program to restore landlocked salmon fisheries is given a chance to work.”

Developed by SAM’s Fishing Initiative Committee, the program titled, “Maine’s Classic Landlocked Salmon Program: Salmon Fishing The Way It Used To Be,” would promote and encourage improvement of the state’s landlocked salmon fisheries. In other words, restore landlocks that would render tackle box measuring tapes unnecessary, thereby rejuvenating the storied spring fishing that attracted anglers from far and wide.

Not surprisingly, the program’s objectives are prodigious: Designate trophy fishing waters, beginning with the 18 lakes and ponds proposed in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Landlocked Salmon Plan; implement regulations to enhance and protect wild salmon as well as stocked salmon; establish lake-specific stocking programs for salmon; develop research, management, and restoration programs for smelt; research all aspects affecting the dynamics of landlocked salmon, including growth, genetics, forage, habitat, spawning, and survival.

Theoretically, the program’s a keeper, the angler thought. But, realistically, the only way it’ll work is if sportsmen hook onto it and the state supports it. For the most part, DIF&W is on board. But God knows it doesn’t take much conflict to start fishermen and fisheries biologists setting their drags against each other, causing, of course, backlashes of negativity. Let’s face it, fisheries management isn’t an exact science. Likewise, because a man has fished a particular lake or pond all his life doesn’t mean he has all the answers to managing and maintaining that fishery. If the two work together, though, the results are likely to be positive.

Musing about the program’s objectives, the angler considered the history of landlocked salmon and smelt in Maine. Both species occurred naturally but were not widely distributed. Accordingly, landlocks were native to four river-basin lakes: Sebago Lake (Presumpscot River), Sebec Lake (Penobscot River), West Grand Lake (St. Croix River), and Green Lake (Union River). Hence, the majority of the landlocked salmon fisheries for which Maine became famous resulted from stockings that usually included introductions of smelt. Obviously, landlocks are adaptable with regard to stocking, the angler thought, but there’s more to establishing or restoring a fishery than flooding it with fingerlings. A lot more.

Further to the adaptive abilities of landlocks, an interesting aside is that Sebago Lake was the source of salmon eggs that produced permanent landlock fisheries in Argentina and Chile. Owing to the genetics of Sebago’s native salmon – historically the lake produced landlocks weighing 10 to 20 pounds – the equivalent size of the salmon being caught in the aforementioned countries is no fish story.

Small wonder, then, that Gary Cobb, the head guide at Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps in North New Portland, has given thought to the possibility of acquiring fertilized salmon eggs from Argentina. After being hatched and reared in state hatcheries, the juvenile landlocks would be released in selected waters. However, Cobb’s casts to raise assistance from DIF&W have been unproductive. Now that SAM’s salmon restoration program has been initiated, perhaps the organization’s Fishing Initiative Committee will investigate the feasibility of acquiring Argentine salmon eggs.

Without question, the economic benefits of restoring Maine’s landlocked salmon fisheries would be equal to the recreational rewards. SAM realizes, however, that it will take serious fishing to land the public’s attention and support for the program. Publicity, therefore, will be widespread via videos, sportsmen’s shows, clubs, organizations such as Trout Unlimited, legislators, Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council, businesses, news media, and the like. Here, it’s worth mentioning that many young anglers have never caught a 3- or 4-pound landlock. Therefore, they are content catching the 16- to 17-inch fish that barely bend a rod.

It’s also important to note that SAM’s salmon restoration program doesn’t stipulate catch-and-release fishing, nor does it disparage ice fishing. The latter was a factor that resulted in DIF&W’s Quality Fisheries Initiative getting off the hook in the 1990s. In reference to those matters, the angler recalled Dennis Smith, a member of SAM’s Fishing Initiative Committee, saying: “We’re not trying to impose catch-and-release on people and we don’t intend to exclude any segment of the angling community. For the most part, anglers, including ice fishermen, are practicing catch-and-release, and it’s working. Alligator Lake is a good example, it’s producing landlocks in the 3- to 4-pound range. Ron Brokaw, the biologist in charge of Alligator, says most of the fishermen he and his crew check there, and on other fisheries in their region, are comfortable with catch-and-release.”

No doubt about it, the angler thought, once it’s tried, releasing fish becomes infectious. The simplest way to describe it is that letting a fish go makes you feel good – even when no one is watching. That doesn’t mean, though, that every fish caught has to be released. A meal of salmon or trout served with a mess of fiddleheads is a spring ritual hereabouts. But the days of keeping everything you catch – taking fish home to give away – is counterproductive to conserving the fisheries we have left, let alone trying to restore them.

“SAM’s going to need a lot of backing on its reel just to launch this program,” the angler continued mulling and mumbling. “The factors involved are as varied and many as fly patterns and there won’t be any short-term results, that’s for sure.”

The angler allowed that he wouldn’t live long enough to fray all the streamers in his fly book, but responding to the spirit of the season – smelts were running and local landlock waters would begin shedding their winter coats within a week or so – he began tying a Nine-Three. That was a killer at Green Lake back in the 1950s, he thought, recalling feeding frenzies when salmon gorging on smelts struck a fly before it hardly got beyond the outboard. So full were the fish that, when netted, smelts often spilled from their gullets. Wistfully, then, the angler shook his head. “It sure would be nice to see that kind of spring fishing again,” he muttered, imagining hit-and-run salmon big enough to make the reel cheer when the rod did a backbend.

Fishermen in particular, sportsmen in general, environmentalists, naturalists, conservationists, anyone interested in restoring Maine’s landlocked salmon fisheries to their historical and traditional levels are urged to contact: Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, RR 12, Box 1174, Augusta, ME 04333. Phone: 622-5503. E-mail: members@samcef.org.

Tom Hennessey’s columns and artwork can be accessed on the BDN Internet page at www.bangornews.com. E-mail: thennessey@bangordailynews.net. Web site: www.tomhennessey.com.