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Maine Sport Fishing: Good and Getting Better!

Trip Tracks - Fishing Log Book (off-site)

Volunteer Angling Survey of Anadromous Brook Trout in Maine

Thank you for choosing Maine as your place to fish. With over 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, and more than 6,000 lakes and ponds in the state, I am sure that you will find a spot that will create many lasting memories.

Maine is rapidly becoming known as the destination for anglers, with unparalleled fishing for species such as bass and trout.

Recently, Maine was recognized as the destination for brook trout in the Eastern United States by the Eastern Brook Trout Venture, a consortium of government agencies and conservation groups. In fact, Maine was singled out as the stronghold for brook trout in the United States. Maine has nearly 600 wild or native brook trout waters, and another 700 waterways that are stocked annually.

Anglers will benefit greatly from our renovated hatcheries. Thanks to a voter approved $7 million bond in 2002, we renovated and reopened our Embden Hatchery, the culmination of an 18-month, $3.2 million complete overhaul of the facility.

At full capacity, this hatchery can raise 100,000 pounds of any combination of brook trout, landlocked salmon, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, and splake. Last year, the department stocked just over 300,000 pounds of fish. Embden will significantly increase the number of fish the department stocks throughout the state. The old Embden Hatchery raised approximately 25,000 pounds of fish a year. Anglers will soon start seeing more fish and bigger fish stocked throughout the state.

We are also working to simplify fishing regulations so you can spend more time fishing instead of deciphering the law book. This past year, we have simplified regulations for our trout species by reducing the number of regulations concerning trout from nearly 40 to just eight (8) simplified regulations. Over the course of this next year, we are working to simplify regulations for lake trout and bass.

Of course, we tailor laws to many individual waters, not only to preserve a resource, but also to enhance it. Some waters we manage for trophy size fish, while on another waters, we may want to increase the number of fish an angler may catch in a day. The department works with anglers in hopes of improving fishing throughout the state. Over the past ten years, many anglers have told us that the fishing in Maine has improved. We want to make sure that we continue in that direction, but we do need your help.

While on the water, or perhaps at an access site, you may encounter a biologist or notice a survey box. Please take some time to give us feedback on the water you are fishing. Contact this department if you are interested in keeping a season long summary of your fishing trips. You can also go online and submit your data at www.triptracks.com (off-site). This input helps guide the management of many of Maine’s favorite fishing waters, so I hope you take the time to let us know what you have caught and how many hours you have spent enjoying Maine while fishing.

Enjoy your license. Maine is a wonderful state in which to spend time outdoors. I wish you many safe and enjoyable fishing trips this year. Thank you.

Roland D. Martin, Commissioner