May 3 –
Now that the ice has made an early retreat and the river are a bit too high and cold to fish give one of our many wild brook trout pond a try.
In the Moosehead Lake region we have an inventory of wild brook trout ponds that, for the most part go overlooked. An effort was made years ago to put regulations in place and revive our ailing wild brook trout populations in all our wild brook trout ponds. It has been a wonderful success story but never made the pages of fishing publications. Pick up a fly fishing magazine and it’s all about moving water.
A flat calm trout pond may not appear as exciting as the next pool in the river but there isn’t a more peaceful spot on earth. And you will likely have it all to yourself, everyone else is on the river. The only equipment you need other than your fishing gear is a canoe, kayak, or float tube and you’re good to go.
A ponds fishing cycle starts a few days after ice goes out. The high sun begins to warm the water a bit and aquatic insects become more active. Dragon fly nymphs are busy preying on mayfly and caddis nymphs in the shallows. A sinking line and a good dragon fly imitation fished at the drop-off along the sunny shoreline will usually produce the first brookies of the season. By the end of May-beginning of June mayflies begin their cycle. They start hatching in early afternoon and continue hatching until about 5, leaving plenty of time for happy hour. The action can be fast and furious, spotting, stalking, and casting to cruising fish eating everything in their path. Tie an emerger on as a dropper behind your mayfly and you may catch two at a time.
During your time on a back country trout pond don’t be surprised if a moose or two is sharing your cove as they feed on the aquatic plant life also beginning to grow. Pick a pond that produces lots of trout and has liberal laws and you may take a few for breakfast or choose a pond where strict regulations allow fish to grow to photo size and try for a BIG one.
The peace and quite can become infectious.
Have a look at our Remote Pond Info where you’ll find 40 ponds within an hour of Greenville. Grab your Maine Atlas, do a little research and this season devote a little of your precious fishing time chasing wild brook trout on one of our many backcountry ponds. You won’t be disappointed.
You’ll find a nice collection dragon fly nymphs and early mayfly selection at our on-line catalog.
