Kurt Cressey answered the phone on Wednesday afternoon, knowing exactly which question he’d be answering … again.

“I know. Is the ice out?” said Cressey, the streamside sage who serves as the de facto conduit for most Grand Lake Stream information.

Officially, Cressey is the owner of the Pine Tree Store. Unofficially, he’s the good-natured guy who can tell you which flies will catch fish, which sporting camps have vacancies, and (at this time of year, this is the most important part) whether West Grand Lake is still iced in.

If you’re a lake-trolling angler who cares little about fly-fishing, today’s column may be your favorite of the year: West Grand is fishable. Hook up the trailer, head Down East, and get ready for some of the best fishing you’ll see all season.

“Ice went out April 24,” Cressey said. “I predicted April 27 at 2:30 p.m., but we got some wind and it went out.”

Cressey said April 24 – Sunday – was a foggy morning, and when the fog finally lifted, locals were greeted by an ice-free lake. A quick boat ride by one resident provided the proof Cressey was looking for: The entire lake was ice-free.

That’s the good news. If you’re a fly fisherman, the information that follows won’t likely make your day.

Even before the heavy rain that was predicted for Wednesday, Grand Lake Stream itself – one of the state’s most popular fly-fishing destinations – was a raging torrent.

“The bad news is they’ve got five gates open at the dam. It’s at 1,600 cubic feet per second,” Cressey said.

According to Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife biologist Ron Brokaw, many anglers say the fishing is best when the stream’s flows are in the 350-400 cfs range.

If you were one of the many anglers who headed to Grand Lake Stream on opening day, you fished at about 350 cfs, Cressey said.

But now? The stream is, as they say, “blown out.”

“It’s so unusual that I went into Princeton and bought a $14 camera battery [so I could get pictures of the water coming out of the dam],” Cressey said.

“You ought to see the water coming through there now.”

Cressey said that anglers are still fishing the stream, but cautioned that conditions can be hazardous when that much water is being released from the dam.

“It’s dangerous at 1,600,” he said. “You’ll be able to get out onto the stream, at the [dam pool] sand bar, but if you go any farther, even if it’s only up to your knees, that’s a lot of flow.”

Cressey said that the high water will eventually pay dividends, but anglers won’t be able to take advantage of the benefits for awhile.

“By the time they start backing off [the water] later next week, that will pull some fish into the stream,” he said.

While Cressey makes his living by selling goods to the fishermen who flock to the small Washington County village, he said he’d advise fly fishermen looking to wade Grand Lake Stream to wait until waters recede.

“If you can afford to take your vacation later in May, do it. Don’t battle it out,” he said.

But if you love to troll, and you don’t mind braving the chilly April and May temperatures on the water, now may be the best time to head to Grand Lake Stream.

Some anglers eagerly await ice-out on West Grand Lake, and say the fishing immediately after ice-out is fantastic.

Cressey said that seems to be the case so far.

“I’ve talked to a couple of guys,” Cressey said. “They’ve been doing great on the lake.”

But Cressey said he’ll know more after the weekend. An unofficial group of “fact-finders” are heading to town, and they’ll surely let the local storekeeper know about all their successes.

“This weekend will be the [indicator], because we’ve got about 17 guys coming in who are diehard ice-out anglers,” Cressey said.

Angling forums helpful

As fishing season progresses, there will likely be times when your faithful fishing buddy won’t be able to join you on a trip or two.

If you’re looking to network with people who share your passion for the outdoors, the Internet can provide plenty of options.

Here in Maine there are several fishing-related Web sites that can offer tips on flies and tackle, and where you can share opinions (or just sit back and “lurk”) on popular forums. Chances are, if you’re looking for a few new fishing pals, you’ll find them with no problem.

Here are a few that fly fishermen (and fisher-women) might enjoy:

www.flyfishinginmaine.com has been around since 1995, and is one of the most informative and entertaining sites I’ve run across.

The forums are busy, and you can find everything from stream flow information to river tips on the main site.

At www.flyfishingonly.com, fly shop owner Mike Holt of Fairfield keeps everyone up to date on conditions on the Shawmut section of the Kennebec River. The anglers who frequent the forums are informed and opinionated, and Holt checks in regularly (either to referee or to offer tips).

At www.maineflyfish.com, guide Kevin McKay provides a number of informative “how-to” articles, as well as the requisite forums. The site also lets people know about McKay’s Fish Stalker Guide Service.

Visitors who frequent www.kennebecriveroutfitters.com will find some of the most entertaining debates on fishing policy, thanks to Web master (and fly shop owner) Bob Mallard.

Mallard owns (what else?) Kennebec River Outfitters in Madison, and is among the state’s most outspoken fisheries activists. There’s never a dull moment at this site.

If you’ve got a favorite I left out, drop me an e-mail. I’m always looking for more sources of fishing knowledge.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.