The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
ANGLING IN MAINE.
Prospects, OF the Season and Good Places
for Trout and Black Bass.

Boston, May l6.-The angling season in
Maine is not yet wide open. The spring in
Maine is tardy, and in the extreme north and
northwest the waters are still fast in the grasp
of winter.
Mooschead, which was extensively stocked
with land-locked salmon five years ago, should
furnish capital fishing this season. This big
body Of water Is not yet free of ice. but there
are airholes all over its surface. and in three
days tn. steamers will probably be running.
The Vice President of tho Maine Central Raj
road. PaysOn Tucker, who is an enthusiastic
angler, is having prepared a complete list Of
all tho lakes, streams, and ponds in the State
In which fishing can be had. He is doing this
in the interest of angling. and when COM
pleted the pamphlets will be distributed free.
The latest from the Rangeley region was that
the Ice was slowly melting, the hotels and
camps are filing, and the first through train
of the season ran over the Phillips and Range
ley road tonight. The fishing In the Range
ley region must necessarily continue good. as
the lakes and streams are kept well stocked.
The fry put into the big lakes are large enough
to take care OF themselves, the smaller ones be-
Ing deposited in the streams, which are well
watched and cared for by wardens. Excel
lent fishing can be had around Pennington.
Weld, Clearwater, and Varnum ponds are clear
Of ice, and frst-rate catches of good sized trout
were made In all these last week. Weld
pond was twice stocked with land-locked snl-
mon within u period OF seven years. and the
fishing Is good enough TO satisfy the most i'm.
patient. The first fish taken after the Ice dis
appeared was an Sai- pound salmon. 0 1t was
captured by, the young son Of IA farmer, who
bait. The Ice left Sebec Lake. near Dover aud
FOxoroft, a week ago. This Is another salmon
say as little about 1t as possible. The fishing
10 excellent. In nearly all the waters, along
the line Of the rb hanger nsw a ad,o ArIo9bs r.nln r WM
take the angler to waters seldom whipped by
the lire Of 2 trout rod, Native trout from
sport, and a person could catch II boat load II
No better sport can be had than Is furnished
by the black bass, and nowhere IN the state,
or for that matter in all New England, are
they .'yra more Pii eR !. t n". oven in a sh %oI wS' miis around Irnn
Augusta, and In the lakes Maranacook, Anna
bescook. and Cobosseecontee. These lakes
Contee stream empIles them into the kennc-
bee River, Before these bodies OF water were
many years ago, Lickerel were SO plenty that
catches OF 30 and 100 In a days fishing
But the bass has got in his work to such an
extent that the pickerel are ali bur, gone, and
trout. which were seldom II ever taken before
rapidly. CoSOsseecontee is within easy
reach Of Boston. A round trip ticket Or, the
but i've miles from Gardiner or H%allowell,
where the boat stops. Good board can he had
for IS or 81 a week.
The law which permits natives OF the State
fishing through. the ice from Feb. | to
May / Is a detriment TO the sport. over 800
trout have been taken out of CobosseecOntee in
that time this year, some Of them weighing
over six pounds. They were beauties OF tho
square-tailed variety grown IN the brooks,
which are protected, aud capable Of putting u6
a grand fight. The lake Is alive With bass,
and trolling has been going on, now for two
weeks. One week ago to-day a Gardiner man,
with IA salmOn-colored fly on his leader and an
Archer spinner, with "a smelt imraled on the
needle, got u double strike. The bass that
took the fly weighed "a pounds. The other
was a two pound and a quarter fellow, and
the two put up a battle that lasted for twenty
Ave minutes, The best time for ry tshing In
this lake is the latter part OF June. The bass
are not protected and may he taken at amy sea-
son; The other lakes named in connection
with CobOsseeContee can he reached by canoe
with a few short carries, The bass, In the
Belgrade waters are not so large as The Co
bOsseecOntee bass, but they are said 10 be live
lier, which Is doubtful. There are dozens
OF other lakes and ponds which can be reached
from Augusta or Wateryille, where hrst-rate
fishing can DO had,