Desperate fishermen seek lake ice-out info

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Back in January, as we tinkered with ice fishing traps while waiting impatiently for our lakes and ponds to freeze, a late April thaw of those same lakes and ponds seemed far-fetched.

Now, as we eye yet another approaching Nor’easter, we’re left looking at those same lakes and ponds and wondering if spring will ever show up.

On Wednesday, as the sun shone brightly and temperatures skyrocketed into the mid 40s, I took a little tour of some of the area’s most popular lakes, and saw exactly what I expected.

Ice at Phillips Lake.

Ice at Green Lake.

Ice everywhere.

And no navigable open water to be found.

Down at Green Lake in Dedham, desperate anglers could, if they chose, wet a line.

And I suppose they could have actually tossed a canoe into the few hundred square feet of open water near the bridge at Jenkins Beach.

But anecdotal reports from those parts indicate that we might not be trolling that salmon and togue hotspot any time soon.

“I drove by yesterday and a guy was just taking his ice shack off the lake,” a co-worker told me Wednesday.

The fact that the tardy shack-mover missed the state-mandated deadline for shanty removal by more than a week is immaterial, I figure. This isn’t: If there’s still enough ice to walk or ride on, it’s going to take more than a couple of 40-degree days to open it up in good shape.

And the weather forecast? Snow tonight. Maybe some more snow this weekend.

Ah, springtime in Maine.

Eventually, of course, the ice will melt. We’ll dust off the trolling rods and outboard motors and head out to battle the typically blustery May conditions on our favorite ponds.

We’ll undoubtedly complain about the wind, too.

In the meantime, we can tinker with our tackle (or dig around in the garage to find all the essentials, if your filing system is like mine).

And we can keep each other apprised of the situation.

Your local lake or pond may be iced in now, but soon, all that ice will vanish.

OK. Maybe not soon. Let’s try “eventually.”

And when it does, your stir-crazy fellow anglers would love to hear about it.

As winter finally releases us from its icy grasp, and your local fishing hole loses its winter coat, I hope you’ll consider letting me know.

I’ll pass some of that information along to our readers, so they can get a better idea of the regional picture, and where fishing might be possible … even if the fish decide not to cooperate.

Wildlife park opening delayed

Visitors to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray will have to wait another week to check out the assorted critters, as park officials announced this week that its planned April 15 opening has been scrapped.

With snow still on the ground and more of the white stuff forecast for this week, officials decided to push the opening back nearly a week, to April 20.

The Maine Wildlife Park features more than 25 species of wildlife found in the state, including moose, deer, black bears, coyotes and owls. Visitors can also walk along nature trails and look at flower gardens.

Special events begin in May, and will run each Saturday through Labor Day. For more information, check the park’s Internet Web site at www.mainewildlifepark.com.

Paddle Smart set for Friday

If you spend any amount of time on the water, you may want to take a couple of hours Friday to learn more about paddling safety at a Bangor seminar.

Back for its seventh year, Paddle Smart offers paddle sport education and information through a variety of workshops.

Paddle Smart takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Bangor Y. Exhibitor tables open at 5, a welcome and overview presentation takes place at 5:30, and workshops begin at 6:15.

Among the presentations: Jeff Strout will talk about making the transition from lake paddling to sea kayaking; The Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society will talk about paddling in moving water; Marilyn Tourtellote will discuss paddling the Allagash Wilderness Waterway; and Kyle Duckworth will demonstrate canoe rescue techniques.

Interactive displays in the gymnasium also will provide plenty of information to beginner and veteran paddlers alike.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

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