And it's never been better on Mooselookmeguntic, his favorite fishing spot. Peter Bourque, fisheries director at the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, says he's hearing that kind of fish story often. Bourque credits the improvement to more restrictive regulations imposed over the past decade, including two special initiatives to protect brook trout and provide trophy fishing. At a recent forum in Presque Isle attended by about 50 people, he said, there wasn't a single complaint about fishing. When I go out to public meetings, I've been really hearing good reports. . .
People talk about having good fishing and enjoying their fishing experience.
But George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, says SAM's 15,000 members aren't satisfied. Smith is lobbying hard for a bill that would create a commission to scrutinize the fisheries division. SAM will continue to press for improvements in our fisheries resources and expansion of our opportunities to fish. The survey, conducted by the University of Maine and the state fish and wildlife department, was completed by 3,460 anglers. Then they rated the fishing on each water on a scale of 1-4, excellent, good, fair or poor.