AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife told its Advisory Council Wednesday there are about 600 lakes and ponds in northern Maine that could be opened an additional month for fishing.

The report pleased the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, which has been pitching such a proposal for several years. Its director, George Smith, said he would put a hold on introduction of a bill that would force the issue in the Legislature.

“We have our bill, but we can wait all the way to June for that bill to be heard. We’re excited by your interest in this. We’re not threatening anybody,” Smith said.

DIFW Commissioner Lee Perry said the 600 lakes and ponds that will be considered for an additional month of fishing in Maine’s eight northern counties could satisfy all the anglers interested in fall fishing, while saving the wild fisheries.

Fishermen can already fish through November in eight counties in southern Maine, but in the north’s eight counties the sport has been restricted because biologists fear it could hurt spawning in the wild fisheries, particularly brook trout, that are more prevalent there

There are about 1,500 surveyed lakes and ponds in Maine’s eight northern counties, and DIFW resource manager Ken Elowe said roughly 500 have wild fisheries that would suffer the greatest harm if opened during spawning in the fall. There are 388 lakes and ponds already open to fishing through Oct. 31.

Advisory Council members acknowledged the pressure they felt from SAM’s proposed legislation. In the end, they decided to take their time, providing DIFW with more time to come up with a final list of waters for another meeting.

“We can’t let George Smith come in here and threaten that he went to the Legislature,” said council member Russ Dyer of Bowdoinham.

The council, which has rule-making power, has 10 seats, one of which is vacant. Members are appointed by the governor.

After a proposal is presented, the council can enact it into rule with a majority vote. If there is a tie, Commissioner Perry casts the deciding vote.

The council Wednesday appeared split. Members spent nearly two hours discussing the issue.

Three members voiced interest in acting conservatively, while two others sided with SAM in wanting to open waters, wild or not, to increase fishing opportunity. Two members asked for more research, and two kept silent.

Two of the members said the reason for their caution was the danger they saw in destroying the wild fisheries.

“Let’s not take such a big bite out of the cake that we choke on it,” Dyer said.

Others on the council, like Matt Libby of Ashland, said the difficulty in opposing the proposal was that DIFW was not able to provide information proving that fishing in spawning waters affects fish mortality.

Because of Wednesday’s debate, the department also may work on a list extending fishing on rivers and streams.

Council member Harold “Brownie” Brown said this issue is important, given the success DIFW biologist John Boland has had in southern Maine with fall stocking programs on rivers and streams.

Boland, who was not present Wednesday, said in an interview that aerial surveys have shown the interest in late fishing in southern Maine is on rivers and streams, not lakes and ponds.

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