While most of the state’s other ice anglers are typically allowed to spend the first two weeks of January hitting their favorite lakes and ponds, a group in northern Maine sits on shore, making plans for their own special opening day.

On Long Lake, which sits in Madawaska and St. Agatha, that day doesn’t arrive until Jan. 15.

At least not for landlocked salmon anglers.

And the wait, most will tell you, is always worth it.

On Tuesday, many fishermen took to the ice on the famed Aroostook County salmon hotspot to try their luck.

Opening day … and the day after … were productive, a pair of anglers said.

Scott Picard of Madawaska spent Tuesday fishing with friend Rich Rossignol, and said Rossignol pulled a 61/4-pound landlocked salmon up through the ice.

On Wednesday, he fished with Lionel Daigle of Madawaska, and the duo enjoyed a busy morning of fishing.

“We did well. We ran out of bait,” Picard reported on Wednesday afternoon. “We’re at [Daigle’s] camp right now, waiting for darkness so we can catch some smelts for bait tomorrow.”

On most lakes, Daigle and Picard’s bucket of bait would have lasted all day … and then some.

But on Tuesday, the duo went through three dozen smelts from 7 a.m. until noon, then called it a day.

There is one small problem, however.

“Smelt fishing isn’t poor, but it’s fair to poor,” Daigle said. “The hole in the cabin is full of smelt, but they’re not biting.”

On Long Lake, nighttime smelt fishing is a popular activity, and many anglers stretch their fishing hours by fishing for bait at night, and landlocked salmon during the day.

The salmon on Long Lake are known for their girth, and the chubby fish are often called “Long Lake footballs.”

Daigle said fishing conditions on the lake are nearly perfect, with about a foot of ice in most places.

“There’s no slush. The ice is pretty solid right now,” Daigle said. “It’s pretty safe right now on Long Lake.”

Daigle retired after a career at Fraser Papers in Madawaska, and built a camp on Birch Point that he, family and friends use often. Picard still works at Fraser, but fishes the lake often during the winter and spring months.

His job doesn’t usually stop Picard from joining other avid anglers on Long Lake’s opening day, but this year he made a deal that resulted in more fishing time … with a price.

“I had to make a sacrifice and I switched days off [with a co-worker],” Picard said. “I gave him the 15th off, and he gave me the rest of the week.”

Picard said the deal made perfect sense, in that it allowed him more time to fish, day and night. Forget everyday chores. For the immediate future, Picard will be living at Long Lake.

“I’m fishing five days straight,” he said. “You know me.”

And Daigle will be right there, fishing with him.

Salmon fishing on Long Lake doesn’t get much better than it’ll be for the first few days of ice-fishing season, after all.

And on Long Lake, the prospect of good fishing is reason for celebration.

“I’m making chicken stew and ployes on Sunday,” Daigle said. There’ll probably be 15 people here at the camp. A big party.”

Penobscot salmon up for debate

Since Maine’s rivers were closed to Atlantic salmon fishing in 1999, many anglers have eagerly awaited a day when they could once again cast a fly for the king of game fish.

In 2006, the Penobscot River reopened for an experimental monthlong fall season, which was replaced with an annual fall fishery in 2007.

And now, the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission will talk about taking another big step: Opening the river to a monthlong season that would last from May 1 through May 31.

The spring season has been coveted by many salmon anglers, in that there are more fish in the river early in the year and it gives fishermen a better chance of hooking and releasing a fish.

The ASC will hold a public hearing on the matter at Holden Elementary School on Jan. 24 beginning at 6 p.m.

Here are some specifics of the proposal on the table:

. All license holders must report all fishing activity on forms supplied by the ASC.

. The total allowable caught (and released) fish is 50. When 50 fish are caught, the season is over. Daily reporting of fish caught is mandatory.

If you’re interested in the issue, you ought to consider attending the hearing and letting the ASC commissioners know what you think.

If you simply can’t attend, but want your feelings known, you can send comments to Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, attn.: L. Churchill, Department of Marine Resources, PO Box 8, West Boothbay Harbor, 04575-0008.

The deadline for comments is Feb. 4.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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