Each week, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife issues fishing updates on its Web site. Brian Campbell and Paul Johnson, fishery biology specialists for DIF&W, have compiled the following reports on the Penobscot Valley and Moosehead Lake regions.

Penobscot Valley

Black flies are out and biting, but so are the trout. We are starting to get reports of some good brook trout fishing.

Crystal, Loon, Trout and the Oxhead ponds in are starting to pick up. In the Lincoln area Little Round Pond is getting lots of fishing activity and starting to produce some good trout. We have an angler reporting good trout fishing and fiddle heading on the East Branch Penobscot in the Grindstone area. Silver lake in Lee is still producing a few of the brook trout brood fish that were stocked last fall. These are nice 17- to 24-inch fish.

After being closed since the 1960s, Tomah Lake was opened this year. Special regulations apply.

Salmon fishing is still good throughout the region with some good catches reported from Duck Lake, and Sysladdobsis. Other salmon lakes that should be picking up soon are Pleasant Lake in Island Falls, Pemadumcook Lake, Upper Jo-Mary Lake and Seboeis.

Schoodic Lake in Lake View, East Grand Lake in Weston and Cold Stream pond in Enfield are all starting to produce some good catches of lake trout.

We have not had many reports on our four splake waters. Seboeis, Lower Togue Pond in, Cedar Lake and Endless Lake. The splake angler may want to check them out. Especially Seboeis and Lower Togue Ponds.

With a few more warm days the bass fishing will pick up. The temperature in the Penobscot River was in the high 40’s last week. As the temperature approaches the 60’s, the bass will become more active providing some exciting fishing.

For those interested in some good pickerel fishing, might we suggest Passamagamet Lake or Saponac Pond in Grand Falls, Nicatous Lake, Madagascal in Burlington or South Branch Lake in Seboeis.”

– Brian Campbell

Moosehead Lake

During the past week continued cold weather (days in the 40’s, nights in the 30’s) with cold rain and some snow thrown in for good measure have kept both water temperatures and fishing success down in most locations throughout the region.

As of May 20, few lake surface temperatures exceed 50 degrees, and many streams are running temperatures in the 40’s. Warmer weather is predicted and that is welcome news to anglers preparing for Memorial Day weekend. With stream flows receding to fishable levels, conditions should improve for fishing on all of the waters in the Moosehead Region.

To date, at Moosehead Lake some of the best fishing continues to be reported by those fishing from shore. Lake trout have been most common in the early season catch, followed by salmon, with few trout reported so far.

To the north, reports from the Allagash Waterway indicate that the best fishing has yet to begin. We have heard little news from the region’s trout ponds, but some warmer weather is necessary to encourage the insect hatches that will sweeten the prospects at these waters. Anglers we have contacted on several of the region’s streams say even the old faithful garden hackle has attracted little attention from trout.

But all has not been doom and gloom. Although smallmouth bass are not this region’s forte, they do generate a lot of interest and enthusiasm from a small but growing segment of our “customers”.

Bass fishing can be very fast and very exciting when the water temperatures exceed 55 degrees and the adults spawn and males defend their nests along the shore. Prior to spawning, however, large adults often congregate in deeper water near traditional spawning sites. Fishing for them requires patience and skill, but if anglers can locate these spots, they can boat some of the biggest and best smallmouths of the season.

This past weekend a duo of nonresident anglers made their annual trek to the Moosehead Region. They were joined by a couple of locals. Holding true to a tradition not unique to trout and salmon anglers, they would not share with us the location of this year’s trip. They did share some evidence of their success, which included no fish less than 13 inches in length. They released all of the bass they caught.

– Paul Johnson

Wardens urge boating safety

With Memorial Day weekend and the busiest part of the fishing and boating season just ahead, the Maine Warden Service is urging boaters to “Wear your life jacket, boat smart from the start.”

Prolonged immersion in cold water can kill, and wearing a life jacket can greatly increase your survival chances if you are in the water unexpectedly, the warden service advises. Boaters and fisherman should always be aware of the dangers of cold water, but particularly during the early part of the season when the water is colder.

Proper preparation is important when boating on cold water and the warden service issued the following survival tips:

. Always wear your life jacket when on the water. It is extremely difficult to put on a life jacket in the water.

. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

. Dress properly for the cold. Several layers of light clothing offer better protection than a single heavy layer. Next to a diver’s wet suit, wool or polypropylene offers the best protection.

. If you do find yourself in cold water, try not to panic. Think survival. Keep movement to a minimum and if you do have to tread water, do it slowly. This will reduce heat loss and aid retention of the air trapped inside your clothing, which can provide buoyancy and insulation.

. Know the dangers of cold water and prepare yourself accordingly.