Signs of Change: Maine Fall Fishing is almost here!
Ah…The Dog Days of August… While the extended forecast shows high day time temperatures the nights are beginning to cool off… The days are growing shorter as the earth tilts, and it won’t be long until my favorite season to fly fish in Maine is here. I have already seen some early signs of Fall color along the backroads:
While last season brought torrential rains keeping anglers off many bodies of water here in Maine… this year the extended periods of high temperatures have made trout fishing a tough game. What’s a trout hound to do? I traveled with my wife to her homeland in Finland to try to escape the heat of late July early August…only to arrive to record breaking high temps and smoke from Russian wildfires filling the air across Southern Finland. I gave trout fishing a try… Then realized that cold beverages and Sauna with faraway family was a better use of time…
Back home in Maine for over a week now, and the River temps remain around the dreaded 70 degree mark on my favorite trout and salmon waters… I have fished over six counties catching Rainbow Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and Smallmouth Bass. If you are still chasing trout and salmon right now… play them quickly, keep them in the water, and fish barbless hooks.
Other fishing opportunities? While trout purists may cringe at the thought, Fly Fishing for Bass in Maine is where it is at right now. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass remain active during these high water temperatures and provide a lot of fun, and action for the fly fisherman until cooler (trout friendly) water temps arrive. I had a some great days recently including showing a boat-full of young fishing addicts the joy of catching Smallmouth Bass on the fly rod in Southern Maine. If you have forgotten what fishing is really about, check out these photos! It’s all about having fun on the water!
Summer is growing short, and Fall never lasts long enough.
Give us a call and get on the water!
207-749-1593
West Branch of the Penobscot River: Maine Salmon Fishing Report
Spent a few days fly fishing the West Branch of the Penobscot River this week, skies were blue, black flies were hungry, and I was happy to fish in the wind. Water temps were right around the magic 50 degree mark varying a bit from one location to the next.
Katahdin in Spring
On Tuesday I was in good company with Blake and Chad both from the big state of Texas. We had a beautiful day to float, and shared alot of laughs as the fishing was a little slow. We fished a good variety of flies, but nymph fishing with pheasant tails and caddis larvae seemed to be the game for getting some smaller fish to the net. By mid afternoon we began to see a few scattered Hendrickson duns sailing up river in the wind, but they were early to the party as a true “hatch” never materialized, nor did we see any rising fish.
Blake fighting his first Salmon
Blake with a 21 inch Salmon!
We had a good float and Chad had to put the rod down in the afternoon, because his fishing license expired. Blake and I decided to give one more spot a few casts, before calling it a day. Glad we did. In true Texas fashion, Blake ended Big!
Maine Spring Fly Fishing: Variety is the Spice of Life
This spring has brought a amazing variety of Fly Fishing opportunities here in Maine. I have had the pleasure of fishing with a good variety of anglers and friends over the course of the last three weeks. We have seen some epic smelt runs, big March Brown hatches, too many Moose to count, and an unforgetable encounter with an overly aggressive loon trying to grab a brook trout away from a friend as he was landing it!
This is just the beginning, the next few weeks fishing should really kick in to gear. If you haven’t planned a Maine Fly Fishing Trip yet, you should!
Give us a call: 207-749-1593
Maine Smelt Run
Maine Lake Trout
Fat Maine Smallmouth Bass
Nice Brookie Megan!
Megan and Derek with a slippery Brook Trout
Spring Landlocked Salmon
Maine Pike on the fly
Beautiful Brook Trout
See you next time!
Fly Fishing Report: Maine Salmon Fishing
Took some time to check out some Salmon Fishing waters in Southern Maine. If I can find the Smelt the Salmon are not far away… Fished three or four spots and saw very little signs of life or bait. Made a few casts and did hook and land one small Lake Trout that put up a good fight. Things will only get better from here!
Maine Lake Trout (Togue) caught fly fishing