Interesting story from Maine....

[TUnamas]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/massive-seba ... 00874.html

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Sad to read some people are acting so irresponsible.

[tamiron]

I wonder if fish reseller stores were allowed to sell properly handled lake trout to the public and the (trash fish - perch ), if that might be an alternative to encouraging waste when so many people are going hungry.

As this played out it was disgusting

[C-Hawk]

This was a result of an overabundance of Lakers. No limit on fish 26 and under. While it is a terrible waste of food, it may not be that bad for salmon. Sebago is the original wild salmon lake and it would be a shame to see the destruction of that fishery.
Are we headed in the same direction? At least Maine biologists admit there is a problem.

[dry net]

Maine has been trying to reduce the population of laketrout in that lake for years. I'm not sure how else they could do it? In NH some towns are having rock bass tournaments to rid their lakes of unwanted fish. The only difference is those towns are throwing the cull into the trash. While I agree the optics aren't the best the result is what fish and game wanted.

[Detritus]

Maine has a couple of weird fish and game rules. One for example, is, you are required to kill every Northern Pike you catch. They say they are an invasive species to the state.

From what I've read, you probably won't get into trouble for releasing one, but, they'd rather you killed them all. I myself have never caught a northern in Maine. If I did catch one, pike for dinner.

I also heard there is no hunting on Sunday's? Haven't looked that one up at all, don't know if it's true.

[C-Hawk]

Maine has a couple of weird fish and game rules. One for example, is, you are required to kill every Northern Pike you catch. They say they are an invasive species to the state.

From what I've read, you probably won't get into trouble for releasing one, but, they'd rather you killed them all. I myself have never caught a northern in Maine. If I did catch one, pike for dinner.

I also heard there is no hunting on Sunday's? Haven't looked that one up at all, don't know if it's true.

I don't know about pike in the rest of the state, but the Belgrade Lakes were managed for trophy Pike, I believe. When I first fished Moosehead in the late 70's, you were required to kill any bass caught. It didn't work. By 2000 or so I was catching 6 lb small mouth with some regularity. Fun stuff on a flyrod trolling for salmon, but dissapointing not being a salmon. Now they have bass tournaments.
And yes no Sunday hunting, reason being, they want landowners to have one day a week to use their land without worrying about hunters. Same here in Mass, though I think more if a blue law thing here.

[tamiron]

This was a result of an overabundance of Lakers. No limit on fish 26 and under. While it is a terrible waste of food, it may not be that bad for salmon. Sebago is the original wild salmon lake and it would be a shame to see the destruction of that fishery.
Are we headed in the same direction? At least Maine biologists admit there is a problem.

Has this limit been tried or suggested for Champlain?

[raz]

This was a result of an overabundance of Lakers. No limit on fish 26 and under. While it is a terrible waste of food, it may not be that bad for salmon. Sebago is the original wild salmon lake and it would be a shame to see the destruction of that fishery.
Are we headed in the same direction? At least Maine biologists admit there is a problem.

Has this limit been tried or suggested for Champlain?

I'm doubtful

[JDK]

Maine has a couple of weird fish and game rules. One for example, is, you are required to kill every Northern Pike you catch. They say they are an invasive species to the state.

From what I've read, you probably won't get into trouble for releasing one, but, they'd rather you killed them all. I myself have never caught a northern in Maine. If I did catch one, pike for dinner.

I also heard there is no hunting on Sunday's? Haven't looked that one up at all, don't know if it's true.

Part of the bold part about killing pike (or muskie) is incorrect. In Maine, any fish that is going to be kept has to be killed immediately. You can release pike if you so desire. Pike are considered an invasive species.

There is no management of pike (or muskie) in Maine.

[the_doctor]

Pretty sick.

Maine has been trying to reduce the population of laketrout in that lake for years. I'm not sure how else they could do it? In NH some towns are having rock bass tournaments to rid their lakes of unwanted fish. The only difference is those towns are throwing the cull into the trash. While I agree the optics aren't the best the result is what fish and game wanted.

True they are trying to reduce the laker population, but if you read the full article:

Adding to the dismay that many felt: Derby officials were ready and willing to cut up and process any excess lake trout that were turned in, and planned to donate the meat to food pantries so the fish would be utilized.

Sickening.

[dry net]

Thanks, I did read the whole article and do not condone the wasting of anything. Seems to many people today are eager to condemn one another. Is it better to chemically reclaim a lake? Tight lines and all the best, Matt

[drachma]

I moved to Southern Maine late Summer 2017 and do troll Sebago. Sadly the story is true and many in ME think Lake Trout need better control to allow the salmon more of a chance of growing larger. In a case like this it unfortunately gives many fishermen a bad name.

The lakers and salmon on Sebago are much smaller compared to the ones for many years I caught in Champlain. I do miss Champlain and try to get over to you guys when I can. Average size salmon in Sebago are what on Champlain we use to call "cookie cutter" size. Lakers are slim and smaller too. A 5# salmon in Sebago is huge. That's the same for a laker too. I'm not sure what the ME Dept of Wildlife can do about this but it'd be great to see the Sebago Salmon (same species that Champlain got it's salmon from) have a chance to grow into what VT loves.

BTW-Salmon trollers in ME still historically "go to" is trolling dead smelt like when I was a kid. I still prefer "Crazy Ivan". You rule Pat and Todd. Send some "testers" over this way for Sebago.

Michael

[EagleCrag]

In Yellowstone Lake (in the Natn'l Park) Lake Trout are an invasive species and were well on their way to wiping out native Cutthroats before biologists intervened. I believe the biologists put radio transmitters in Lake Trout which enabled them to identify what locations they were using for spawning. They then put out gill nets to remove them and this has been fairly successful in keeping the numbers at bay with the Cutthroats staging a comeback.
I don't fish Lake Champlain much, but from what I've read here and elsewhere about the increase in Lake Trout numbers and the decline of Salmon, I think the Lakers are eating a great deal of Salmon.

I also don't understand the unlimited creel limit on Lakers 26" and under. I'm guessing those are supposed to be the prime breeders? Larger Lake Trout will eat some pretty big salmon and they live for 50 years or more.

[Reelax]

I moved to Southern Maine late Summer 2017 and do troll Sebago. Sadly the story is true and many in ME think Lake Trout need better control to allow the salmon more of a chance of growing larger. In a case like this it unfortunately gives many fishermen a bad name.

The lakers and salmon on Sebago are much smaller compared to the ones for many years I caught in Champlain. I do miss Champlain and try to get over to you guys when I can. Average size salmon in Sebago are what on Champlain we use to call "cookie cutter" size. Lakers are slim and smaller too. A 5# salmon in Sebago is huge. That's the same for a laker too. I'm not sure what the ME Dept of Wildlife can do about this but it'd be great to see the Sebago Salmon (same species that Champlain got it's salmon from) have a chance to grow into what VT loves.

BTW-Salmon trollers in ME still historically "go to" is trolling dead smelt like when I was a kid. I still prefer "Crazy Ivan". You rule Pat and Todd. Send some "testers" over this way for Sebago.

Michael

Great to hear the Maine perspective from a resident Mike. Hope all is well up there....

Miss ya on Lake Champlain...