2 hearings to address salmon fishing

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Last fall, for the first time since Maine’s salmon rivers were closed to fishing in 1999, anglers were able to cast flies on the Penobscot during an experimental season.

In less than two weeks, anglers will be able to sound off on a pair of issues surrounding salmon fishing as the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission addresses the Penobscot’s immediate and long-range future.

On June 13 two separate meetings will be held at Holden Elementary School for two separate purposes.

First on the agenda, beginning at 6 p.m., is a public hearing on a proposal to establish a yearly one-month fishing season for Atlantic salmon.

After that hearing is completed, the ASC will seek public comment on a potential spring fishing season, also on the Penobscot.

Pat Keliher, the executive director of the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, said last fall’s experimental season was a success.

One fish was caught during that monthlong session, and about 250 anglers bought licenses.

“While there wasn’t a great amount of participation, as with all fall fishing in the state, it was a success,” Keliher said. “Any time we can re-engage anglers with the fish, it’s a positive situation.”

A year ago, as plans for that one-time fall fishing season moved forward, most of the negative comments about the proposal weren’t anti-fishing but anti-fall fishing.

Many longtime salmon anglers held out hope that a traditional spring season would be opened instead.

Keliher hopes any interested parties choose to stay for the scoping session that will follow the public hearing to share their views on the issue again.

“We want to hear their comments, pro, con, or indifferent,” Keliher said.

Keliher said the ASC staff realizes there’s strong sentiment among some anglers to open a spring season, and the scoping session will give the ASC the chance to examine many options.

“All salmon anglers are going to want to fish in the spring, if we can find a way to allow it,” he said.

The ASC also wants to make sure that any decision it makes doesn’t unduly impact the fishery.

“We’ve already done one risk assessment on a spring fishery based on specific dates and they’ve shown that there would definitely be an impact on the resource,” Keliher said.

On June 13, he said the ASC wants to allow a free forum for all possible solutions.

“[We want to ask] ‘What are your thoughts? How can we change this? Would people be conceptually in favor of limiting participation through a permit system … through allowing fishing at certain times of day?'” Keliher said, pointing out that many different options are available.

And the more options presented to the ASC, the better, Keliher said.

“The more people who attend and talk, the easier it is for us to make a decision,” he said.

Speaking of salmon …

If you’re one of those anglers who thinks “salmon” every time you drive across a bridge over the Penobscot this time of year, chances are good that you keep up to date on the number of adult Atlantic salmon that return each year.

Thanks to Gayland Hachey, the task is a simple one.

Hachey, the proprietor of Hachey’s Fly Shop in Veazie, regularly updates a running tally of salmon returns on the front page of his business Web site.

Not only can you find out how many adult salmon have returned to the fish trap at the Veazie Dam thus far (32, as of May 29) you can also find out how many fish passed through the trap by the same date in 2006, 2005 or 2004.

For the record, those totals are 61, 17 and 73 fish, respectively.

You can find Hachey’s site at www.mainelyreelseats.com.

And while you’re there, take time to check out the beautiful wood reel seats that Hachey crafts and peruse the many fishing-related links.

Finally, the water drops

Thanks to Dan Legere, the personable and knowledgeable proprietor of the Maine Guide Fly Shop in Greenville, we’ve been able to keep a pretty good eye on water conditions in the Moosehead Lake region.

Legere fires off regular e-mail fishing reports, and as the spring has progressed, I’ve made a point of passing those along to you.

For much of the spring, those reports have been frustrating. First, there was ice. Lots of ice.

And then, those who love to wade in flowing water had to wait as the Moosehead region streams ran at extremely high levels.

One result: The few places with moderate flows, like Grand Lake Stream, were pretty crowded during April and May.

Now, Legere says, there’s good news from his neck of the woods. Here’s some of what he had to say:

“Dropping water levels and warming temperatures have combined to perk things up [with] the North Country fishing conditions,” Legere wrote.

“The East Outlet and the Moose [River] are officially full of fish and fishing very well. Although the Moose is still running a bit high, folks are using canoes and small boats and anchoring around the area of Gilbert’s Pool.

“The smelt runs are over, but the salmon and brookies are still very willing to chase streamers on sink-tip lines. Cast 45 degrees across the current, mend once and let the streamer swing downstream. The strike usually comes at the end of the swing. Start with a short line, then add a couple more feet to the next cast and so on, covering all the water. After you’ve worked all the water you can reach and done nothing, either change flies or change spots. Find one fish and you’ll probably find more not far away.

“This has been working well, but the Main Event has arrived. Drifting a dry fly to feeding fish is what we live for, and the blue wing olives started on the East Outlet two days ago,” Legere wrote. “The first fish of the season on dries is a magical moment. I had a customer land a 19-inch salmon on a No. 18 dry a couple of days ago. Good stuff, leaves you grinning from ear to ear. So polish off those dry fly leaders and stock up on 4x and 5x tippet because you are going to need plenty coming up.

“The blue wing olives are just the beginning for what is to come. When the Hendrickson show starts, any day now, fish will be making pigs of themselves and life will be grand again.

“Remember one thing when fishing the mayfly hatches: A good drift is better than a good cast. If the No. 14 Hendrickson isn’t on a drag-free drift, the fish [won’t] even have a look.”

One more thing: Legere advises you to also pack up some No. 12 black stonefly nymphs.

Over the past few years, I’ve learned one important thing about fishing in the Greenville area. If Dan Legere tells you to fish it … fish it.

Good luck!

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