October 1
Fishing season maybe over for most of the waters in the Moosehead Lake Region but there still are opportunities for some great late season fishing.
Fishing ends in most wild brook trout waters the last day of September for one simple reason, it’s brook trout spawning time. Around mid-October native brookies begin their exhausting spawning rituals. Fisheries officials want wild brookies to be able to go about reproduction undisturbed to insure there will be plenty of fish for another season.
In a few waters where viable wild brook trout population are not present fishing is allowed through the month of October and a couple of our rivers are open all winter.
Here is the line-up;
Mountain View Pond at the base of Squaw Mountain Ski Area
Prong Pond in Beaver Cove
Sawyer Pond in Greenville
Shadow Pond in Greenville Jct
These ponds remain open to fishing through the month of October. These are stocked ponds and you are allowed to take two trout per angler. Some special tackle restrictions do apply so please consult your law book for details.
The West Outlet of the Kennebec River will remain open all winter. The tackle restrictions are Artificial Lures Only (AOL) and two trout over 6″, all salmon caught must be released alive at once. Water flow on the West Outlet does not change and remains at 125-150 cfs year round depending on the lake level. It a great opportunity to do some late season wade fishing. There is a good dirt road (Somerset Jct) that follows the river for about 5 miles on the north side. The river meets the road in a number of spots and access is allowed all along the road. There is a fall run of salmon and brookies. There is very little pressure and fishing can be quite good.
The entire length of the East Outlet of the Kennebec River remains open through the month of October. From November 1st till April 1st only the upper portion from the Dam to the Beach Pool remains open. This extended season is strictly catch and release.
Water flow is presently at 1008 cfs which makes it extremely wadeable. Keep an eye on our water flow page for any changes that may occur. The word is it probably won’t see any major increase.
The leaves have turned and peaking, fall is definitely in the air, and the river is full of fish. What a great time to be on the water.
We still have openings for a late season drift. Talk in over with your fishing buddy and give us a call at 207-695-2266 for a great day on the water.
The shop is now closed during the week and only open the first two weekends in October. If you are in town and need some supplies during the week give us a call, if we are around we’ll be glad to open.
Have a great late season fishing trip. See you on the river.
