Lots of rain this month caused many rivers and streams to be blown out.  We went back to ponds and lake fishing in the Stealthcraft raft and the Grand Laker.  With the end of July comes the switch to bass and pike fishing so as not to stress out and kill the trout and salmon.  Early mornings and later afternoons are producing the best topwater action.  Subsurface action is pretty deep with ned rigs and drop shot rigs producing well.  

​Spring is here and so are the stocking trucks in Southern Maine.  Waters are high due to recent rains but the fish are there.  Streamers were the ticket on my latest trip, tied on a sink tip line.  Went with a white rabbit zonker fly as a searching pattern and connected with this nice holdover Brown Trout.   Also picked up some smallmouth bass in the same spot.

Southern Maine rivers and streams were low this week.  Very low when compared to average Aprils.  Stocking trucks are rolling and the fish are getting more active.  Streamers and nymphs remain productive.  Noticed regular BWO hatches when the sun shines and a few rising trout on the warmer days.  

With temperatures producing safer ice in Southern Maine, I was able to get out on the hard water.  I hit some local stocked ponds and the trout were willing to hit my jig set up.  A great way to wet a line and beat cabin fever. With school vacation week only four weeks away book now.

What a day on the Androscoggin River in the Stealthcraft raft!  Getting the fish to stop being lazy took a few adjustments, here's a few that helped us.  First we were getting lots of short strikes on our poppers in the morning.  We switched over to a Gurgler fly with a few rubber legs.  This made for lots of hook up and great action until lunch.  After lunch the gurgler quit working so we found more current in the river and started dead drifting crayfish patterns with some split shot.  Another adjustment to note on the crayfish.  When the split shot slid down to the fly, the bite would stop.  Moving the split shot about 6 inches from the fly produced the fish.  Figuring it out is half of the fun.  Spin fishing wise ned rigs and wacky rigs down deep are still producing consistently, but even this is a finesse presentation for these hot lazy fish.  See you on the water!

Enjoyed some great fishing and shore lunches on Big Lake in Grand Lake Stream, Maine.  Smallmouth action was in the deeper water for the most part.  Fish have moved off shore to cooler water.  Of course, early morning and pre dusk hours produced some topwater action on poppers.  But, the plastic worms rigged wacky style were the ticket.  

Had a great float trip in the Stealthcraft with two experienced fly fishers.  Overcast skies, low winds and explosive topwater action all day long.  Casting the poppers a foot from shore was the key.  Sometimes hits came from just letting it sit still, other times aggressive popping action was the key.    

Things are heating up on the water.  Stocking trucks are completing more and more deliveries, but the waters remain LOW.  We could be in trouble earlier in the season than ever if we don't get some rain.  Nymphs are the best bet for trout with poppers working well for morning and evening bass.  Pre spawn activity is happening for small mouth bass in Southern / Coastal Maine.  Get out there and enjoy, tight lines!  

Great to get out on some local small streams and brooks.  Water was not too high for this time of year so wading was not a problem.  Streamers and nymphs are the best options for fly fishers, with deeper running spinners the best bet for spin gear.  Some stocking took place in southern Maine already which helps the catch rate. Here's the link to Maine's current stocking report. www.maine.gov/ifw/docs/current_stocking_report.pdf