Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-10

SeDaSO Lake, April 10.
Moosehead Lake, May 6.
Rangeley Lakes, May z.
Belgrade Lakes, May Z.
Earliest dates ice left for the past 20
years:
Sebago Lake, March p, 1908.
Moosehead Lake, April 20, 1910.
Ra<geley Lake, April II, 1910.
Belgrade Lake April 10, 1910.
Latest dates ice lief; in the past 20
years:
Seoago Lake, April q. 1859.
Moosehead Lake, Nay IA, 1900 and
May IA, 1907.
Rangeley Lakes, May IS, 1914.
Belgrade Lakes, May 10, 1907.
1t is interesting to note that Sebago
Lake, situated in the southwestern part
of the State clears mitch earlier than
tine northern lakes AID to note that OF
! the three other lakes, Moosehead
| Rangeley and the Belgrade chain, the
average date of the ice leaving them
for the past 20 years has been practi-
cally the same-that is, May 6, for
Moosehead Lake, and May 7. for the
Rangeleys and the Belgrade Lakes.
Commenting on the general fishing
situation, Chairman Austin said Sat-
urday:
1--WE may look foc the fishing at Sc
hago to open very shortly now. This
is the home of the true land locked
salmon, by many fishermen considered
the finest game fish that swims. In
fact, its value as game fish is so well
recognized that the State has in the
past few years made two shipments Of
eggs of the Sebago salmon to the Tas-
H'anian Fish Commission, and cut OF
| this fish is now used upon the letter.
heads Of this far distant commission
The eggs have arrived there In excel
lent condition and there has been verv
| little loss, and it seems proven that in
few years the Sebago salmon will
! frequent many of the waters of Tas-
| mania.
THE early salmon fishing is done by
means of trolling, as at this season of
the year they do not rise freely to the
fly. Larger land-locked salmon are
| taken from Sebago lake than from anv
other known waters. For the past
several years the State has been rails
ing several hundred thousand salmon
each year at its hatchery at Raymond
feeding many Of them until they were
a year old and others until they were
TWO years old. and the wisdom of this
course has been proven by the fact
,, that the fishing at Sebago of late year
mas been improving. Two-year Old
salmon planted in a lake are much
better able to fight their own battles
and take care of themselves than the
fry and fingerlings frequently used for
such planting.
The commissioners will watch with
| interest the result oe the coming fish
ing season at Sebag and they are of
the opinion that the present season
VIII prove even a better one than last
| year. which was one of the best for
many years. OF course, however, the
weather during April and May will
nave much to do with the number of
| f'sh taken. If those months are cold
and the water warns up very gradu-
ally, the salmon do not appear to move
about and feed as they do in seasons
where the surface of the lake warns
up quickly and the weather continues
mild and warm throughout the fishing
season.
Within two or three weeks after the
opening Of Sebago, Cobbosseeconte.
and Maranacook, as we'll as the Bel
| grade chain of lakes, will be free from
ice and fishing will be gin there.
About the same time the Rangeley
Lakes and 'Mooseheao Lake will also
he clear and many fishermen from out
OF the State who are interested in this
sort of angling will be found in large
numbers upon these lakes.
THE Central lakes furnish excellent
trout fishing, only a few salmon being
| taken from them each season. some of
tie largest and finest trout in Maine are
yearly taken from the Belgrade lakes
and although salmon have been plant
ca freely in these lakes as yet the trout
seem to be much more numerous than
are the salmon. On the other hand
Kangeley, which is the home of the
largest brook trout which lave been
taken in the world furnishes Of recent
years rather more salmon than trout
| much to the regret Of many fishermen
Who prefer the latter fish to their
r"ore gamey cousin, the salmon.
| Salmon were planted in the Range
| ley lakes about 80 years ago, and while
they were not much in evidence for
eight or 10 years. they began to snow
up in quite large numbers about 20
years ago, and each season since then
their number has gradually increased
Until at the present time probably more
than twice as many salmon are taken
in those waters than trout.
cat Moosehead Lake, which by the
way is the largest fresh water lake
lying wholly within the United States,
f1sherme n may eXpec. to larG not only
trout and salmon Tut togue, which
grows to very large size in these wa
tiers. One seldom returns from Moose
head after spring fishing trip in any
way disappointed with it's results.
Hundreds of anglers arc looking
forward to the coming fishing season
at Grand Lake, in Washington county,
which has for years past been one of
the most noted lanG-locked salmon
lakes in America. Sebec Lake, in
Fiscataquis county, and the Fish River
region, in Aroostook county, are also
favorite resorts, as well as the num-
erous lakes and streams in the popular
Allagash. East and West Branch and
Ko<o