A long-standing battle between the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and state fishery biologists over the length of the angling season in northern Maine may come to a head this legislative session with a call for an investigation of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s fisheries division.

The original issue may seem small – a call for fishing for an additional month on lakes and ponds in eight northern counties – but the stakes are high for SAM, a group that takes pride in its ability to shape public policy in the state’s outdoors.

George Smith, SAM’s executive director, expresses frustration with the state biologists who have thrown up a wall of opposition blocking the group’s plan to extend the fishing season on more than 1,000 lakes and ponds in northern Maine through the month of October.

As leader and head lobbyist for SAM’s 15,000 members, Smith clearly enjoys his job. But the issue of fall fishing has frustrated him. It has been slowed by the one group that can provide what he wants – what he has wanted for five years.

At the same time it fights to extend the fishing season, SAM plans to have introduced in the Legislature a bill calling for a “professional assessment” of the effectiveness of DIF&W’s fisheries division and its crew of biologists.

“They think it’s a witch hunt,” said Smith over a lunch that ended with a piece of chocolate cheesecake at a favorite Hallowell eatery.

At his rustic office on Moosehead Lake in Greenville, meanwhile, DIF&W biologist Paul Johnson also is fuming. The idea of an outside “professional assessment” of his work doesn’t bother him, he said, but he’s worried about SAM’s involvement.

“Part of it is them having an ax to grind,” he said.

His worry also may have to do with the nature of some of the rhetoric that’s been flying around.

After Johnson was quoted in a newspaper article last year saying SAM’s proposal to extend the fishing season would happen “over my dead body,” Smith posted a notice on his organization’s Web site suggesting “it may be time to plan Johnson’s funeral.”

Other DIF&W fishery biologists also feel they have reason not to trust the SAM proposal, which promises to determine “the adequacy and effectiveness” of the fisheries division including its biological decisions and public accountability.

“My suspicion is that there is a contingent on the sportsman’s alliance who are upset with our policies,” said Peter Bourque, director of the DIF&W fisheries division. “And the fact, I guess, that I allow my folks the autonomy to manage their regions as they see appropriate.”

DIF&W Commissioner Lee Perry said an assessment would be worthwhile – but at a price.

“Inquiries show that it would cost $50-75,000 for the study,” he said. “That may be well worth the money. But our budget is tight. Is it worth setting up another committee?”

This legislation, even if passed, would not resolve the matter of fall fishing, an issue that has developed into a swirling eddy of debate.

North and south

In the eight counties in southernmost Maine, fishing on virtually all lakes and ponds is allowed from April 1 to Nov. 30. A catch-and-release rule applies to bass, salmon, togue and trout after Oct. 1.

In the eight counties in northern and easternmost Maine, however, the season ends on all but 388 of the 1,506 surveyed lakes and ponds on Sept. 30.

On the pretext that northern Maine fishermen should have the same rights as those in southern Maine, SAM’s proposal would extend the season to Oct. 31, with only artificial lures and fly fishing and catch-and-release rules allowed for bass, salmon, togue and trout.

State biologists like Johnson oppose the change, arguing there is a significant difference between northern and southern Maine waters. Unlike southern Maine where stocking often is necessary to maintain a supply of fish, many northern Maine lakes and ponds are a stronghold for wild fish – self-sustaining populations of landlocked salmon, lake trout and brook trout. These fish spawn in those waters in the fall.

To allow an extended season on all lakes and ponds, even with the limits SAM proposes, would put additional pressure on wild fisheries during spawning, the biologists say. To open the wild fisheries at this time, Johnson said, is to risk their demise.

Spawning fish would serve as a magnet, attracting fishermen from all over. Game wardens, already busy enforcing hunting and trapping regulations, would have little time to deal with fishing infractions, say the biologists.

SAM’s response to this line of argument is that fishermen will police themselves, and anyway there won’t be hordes of anglers out in the fall.

The issue of fall fishing was played out before the Legislature two years ago. Then the department bit but wasn’t hooked, opening just 22 additional lakes and ponds to bring the total to 388.

Now SAM is casting again.

In a December proposal before the DIF&W’s Advisory Council, which has rule-making authority, SAM asked for an extension of the fall season on all lakes and ponds in the eight northern counties. The 10-member council instructed DIF&W to report back Wednesday with a list of waters it proposes opening.

Caught in the middle of the battle is Commissioner Perry, who values his biologists’ experience but says he recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for the outdoors community.

“Some of the people are passionate about it. The ideas are not bad and good. They are different ideas. We have to translate them into the way we do business,” Perry said. “The tension gets the debate out there. It could be characterized as a war as opposed to a debate. But both sides are well meaning. That our professionals have different opinions is not bad.”

Steppingstone

Should the DIF&W present a recommendation to extend the fishing season on most northern ponds and lakes, Smith said SAM would not pursue the issue in the Legislature.

No one involved in the matter thinks that will happen, however.

“From what I heard,” said Bourque, “I suspect we can spend time and effort and put together a list of additional waters, and my sense is that nobody that’s presenting this will be happy until all are open.”

Smith said he is confident SAM would win. In fact, he said SAM’s proposal is just a steppingstone.

“What we want is year-round fishing like they have in other states,” he said. “It would eliminate half the rule book. We scaled back, came up with a more modest bill for fishing in October. I do think we can get that this year.”

Definitive scientific research on the issue is hard to find.

Smith says the data gathered by SAM Fishing Initiative Committee member Gary Corson points to “30 years” of research in Colorado that shows catch-and-release does not affect fish mortality. Corson, owner of a guiding service in the Franklin County town of New Sharon, told the DIF&W Advisory Council in December that this research shows there is no reason to deny anglers throughout Maine late-season fishing.

Johnson said Colorado’s ecology is different from Maine’s and one state’s success does not necessarily translate to another.

DIF&W biologists, however, admit there is little hard research to back their position on fish mortality. Still, they say the conservative approach is best.

“In Maine it’s more of an intuitive feeling,” said biologist Forrest Bonney, who works out of the Rangeley area. “Historically, we don’t fish on a population that is considered to be at a vulnerable state. Let the fish spawn without being disturbed. Regulations have been in effect for decades.”

Smith predicted there would be so little fishing in the colder months, what’s the worry?

It’s the few who participate who will savor it, he says.

“People go on the moose hunt with others. They could go along and fish,” Smith said. “Outfitters in other states have trips called ‘Cast and Blast.’ ”

However, the biologists argue that the wild fisheries unique to northern Maine will be difficult to save if threatened. And there lies the rub.

“With all we’ve been through the last five, six years, in particular to protect wild populations,” Bourque said, “I don’t think we should push the envelope and subject the fish to handling.”

Another approach

DIF&W biologists say providing more stocked waters in northern Maine is the answer to finding late-fall fishing opportunities there.

By nature, stocked fish are not wild populations, nor is their habitat suitable for natural reproduction, so there is nothing to lose in fishing those waters clean, Johnson said.

“The reason we stock some waters is that something is missing from the spawning requirement,” Johnson said. “If natural reproduction is no longer a concern, and enforcement is not that high, if the people steal and the fish are lost, we have not lost the wild fisheries. And you can replace them when the hatchery truck comes by.”

As head state biologist in York and Cumberland counties, John Boland said he watches over few wild fisheries and those few are protected in the fall.

He said there are few wild fisheries in southern Maine because of the water quality, predators and competition among species.

“In warm waters, wild brook trout will not do as well,” Johnson said. “They are sensitive to the habitat and other fish being around. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, it’s wild brook trout that have the most potential for harm in small [northern] ponds.”

Bourque said he will present the DIF&W Advisory Council with a “fair number of recommended waters,” but by no means all.

He said his biologists chose waters that were stocked and those that had access to allow for enforcement. He is comfortable with their choices.

“In the seven regions, most of the regional biologists have been working 20-30 years,” Bourque said.

“I think that should mean something.”

But the battle most likely will continue. Smith said even if DIF&W opens all its stocked waters, that will not suffice.

Deirdre Fleming covers outdoor sports and recreation for the NEWS. She can be reached at 990-8250 or at dfleming@bangordailynews.net.