Fall outings like this also serve as valuable ice fishing reconnaissance. 2. Boats sail from harbors throughout coastal Maine and can steer you to some of the best saltwater fishing in Maine. com. The Kennebec River is a 170-mile long river entirely within the state of Maine. Maine Brook Trout : Fall Fishing is on! Autumn is still prime season for canoeing and kayaking, as well as hunting, fly fishing, and hiking in Maine's state parks, from Baxter State Park in Aroostook … If you’re looking to fish for native brook trout in total seclusion, fish … Change lures or flies often. But Maine in the fall is the place to be. Over the past two weeks we have been covering some serious miles fishing Maine’s best Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon waters. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. So for now fishing opportunities remain the same as before except water temps are slowly falling and fish are beginning to perk up a bit. There are over 37,000 miles of rivers to choose from, and over 2,500 lakes. ” Learn More Kristin K Charters SportFishing South Portland. First the water temperature has gone from a high of 72 degrees in late August to the low 60’s in ten days, plus it’s currently raining 59 degree water. Many use the same lures during fall that they would use during spring. Maine's beaches may be too chilly for surfing, but that doesn't mean there isn't still plenty to see.In early fall, there's still whale-watching to be had, and the lighthouses of Maine are always standing tall, no matter what time of year you visit. Sebago — Region A: Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro ( Rainbows). Cumberland, Oxford, York SACO RIVER Fryeburg to Saco SACO RIVER, Fryeburg to Saco (South Zone). As fall sets in, flounder fishing heats up all along the coast. Everyone over 16 will need a fishing license, and the agency's website is a handy place to look over fishing regulations—some rivers and streams have strict rules to protect spawning trout, though fishing in most places continues through September and sometimes even October and November. Foliage reports can be found at www.mainefoliage.com. As the fish begin mating, they become aggressive—so the bite turns on here even as doldrums persist elsewhere in New England and points south. Further south and west, Sugarloaf Mountain is located just a few miles east of the storied Rangeley region. That means the target species—big, hook-jawed brook trout and landlocked salmon—begin spawning sooner, too. Fall rafting in Maine is a truly unique experience. Fall Fishing Opportunities. But two reasons in particular stand out. Two-, three-, four- and even seven- day trips are possible. The Souhegan is a Southern New Hampshire fly fishing gem. reading, and support local, rural journalism, please subscribe. Tie On Light Line. Subscriber Services. Best Places to Fly Fish in Maine. Any hike in the region is likely to be eye-popping gorgeous this time of year; so is the golfing and mountain biking that have made both mountains favorite off-season destinations. Access by the Arnold Trail in Madison ( Big Browns). The migratory itch of the striped bass coincides with falling temperatures, fall colors and the outpouring of young-of-the-year herring from Maine's rivers—a perfect storm that all but guarantees explosive fishing in a picture-perfect setting. You’ve gotta have nerves of steel to fish the New England beaches in the fall. These three rivers are all are an easy day trip from the condos, camps and chalets around Big Squaw. Coincidentally, a timeshare, condo, bed and breakfast or inn near any of these mountains in September also puts you within striking distance of much of Maine's best trout water. Introductions of invasive fish cause irreversible changes to entire aquatic ecosystems. Fall fish are partial to brightly colored lures or flies. Find it on a map and run your finger along the blue line that runs from Merrymeeting Bay to the sea. Two tributaries, the East and West Branches of the Kennebec, form the main river, both of which flow into Indian Pond. Check their websites for chairlift hours of operation—and start your trip with a birds-eye view of some of the country's most beautiful foliage (and trout water.) December 14, 2019. Several guides and outfitters can put you on fish here—or help set you up for a float trip (canoe, kayak or driftboat) to take advantage of the beautiful meandering Androscoggin, its well-known fall foliage and abundant fish. Large brown trout and rainbows to 18 inches or more are possible here, and smallmouth bass grow as big here as they do in better known—but more heavily fished rivers elsewhere. The fall fishing frenzy here focuses around three rivers: The East Outlet of the Kennebec, the West Branch of the Penobscot, and the Roach River. The specific dates of this migration shift with fluctuations in water temperature, but it’s safe to say that striped bass leave Maine and New Hampshire between late September and early October. or at www.sportingjournal.com. RS2. For the majority of fish in Maine, September means three things: migrate, spawn, and eat. As Roberts notes, waypoint productive spots then transfer this information to … Pay close attention to the weather. Leaf Peeping Nirvana. You can view the biologists’ entire, detailed statewide fall fishing recommendations by going online: www.sportingjournal. Brook trout prefer red or orange. If you're not getting hits, move on until you find the birds—which will often lead you to the fish. Fall fishing is now on everyone’s mind. Streamer … Maine's wild brook trout ponds are open to fishing April through September, but practically speaking, the season starts at ice-out in early May. Aug 23, 2019 • #Best Fall Flies in Maine #Best Maine Flies #Copper John #Fall Fishing in Maine #Flies #Fly Fishing in Maine #Fly Tying #Landlocked Salmon #Maine Native Brook Trout #Mickey Finn #Montreal Whore #New England Fall Fishing #October Caddis #RS2 #Top Flies for Fall Fly Fishing in Maine #Top Flies for Maine trout and salmon feast and spawn ahead of the impending ice and snow Maine, with its vast, expansive watersheds and diverse topography, always  has great fishing to offer, though fall water levels mean some shopping around for the angling hot spots. The nearby foothills are also well-known for their apple picking in September. Tungsten Missile. Cooling water temperatures ahead of winter turn on the fish and the action is often fast and furious. There's no better place, or time, to combine a relaxing beach vacation with fishing. Sunday River and Sugarloaf both offer stunning fall colors and all the creature comforts that are the hallmark of ski country lodging and dining. Fall Foliage at Moosehead Lake. Keep an eye on water levels. Accommodations. In the fall flounder make their way out of the back bays towards the inlet, which concentrates the fish and provides great opportunity for anglers. My blog readers know that fishing can be turned into a non-stop four-season activity in Maine, with ice fishing in the winter, trolling or fly fishing for salmonids in the spring, bass fishing on lakes and rivers in the summer, and trolling for salmonids in the fall. Even the  fabled West Branch of the Penobscot River below Rip Dam has excessively low water levels for a tailwater fishery. In Maine, the fish will typically start to enter the rivers and streams from the lake after the first good rain event in early to mid-September which will bring the river flows up from the low water conditions of the summer. This stretch offers some of the finest fishing for striped bass, particularly in the fall, when juvenile herring school en masse and begin making their way downriver to the sea. Fall Foliage at Moosehead Lake. A coldwater fish, salmon prefer water temperatures below 65 degrees and rely on smelt to thrive. Lake St. George ( trout and salmon). Mayflies such as Black Quills come first. September is the last month for most open water fishing in Maine however, every year more and more areas are opening up to extended fishing water with regulation. Maine Fishing Spots. Fishing tip: North Maine Woods has an abundance of flowing water to fish late season. It is now September and here in Maine most places will be closed to fishing at the end of the month. Once there, simply click on fishing. Further south, the coast from Old Orchard Beach south to Kennebunkport, Kittery and York begins to empty out this time of year, leaving behind just fish and fishermen to prowl the beaches. Big Squaw Mountain overlooks Maine's largest and arguably, fishiest lake: Moosehead. #1 of 17 Outdoor Activities in Greenville. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. These are the best late fall bass fishing lures because by late fall, when you’re experiencing near freezing temperatures at night, bass have likely retreated to the shallowest area of the water. There are plenty of good reasons to fish Aroostook County in September: Stunning scenery, lack of crowds, unparalleled variety of lakes, ponds and rivers, large native brook trout and landlocked salmon in their most vivid spawning colors. Down in Mississippi, the In-Fish crew is catching some monster crappie. In many cases, this will be a nearby creek or river that pours into the water. It is now September and here in Maine most places will be closed to fishing at the end of the month. The foliage is beautiful everywhere in Maine, but the mountain flanks along the state's western border make it all the more dramatic. There is no prettier fish, and no prettier—or more storied—place to catch them. A smaller ski area of note is Big Squaw in the Maine Highlands Region, which is east of the Lakes & Mountains Region. Phone: 207-944-1691 Email: admin@maineflyfish.com Master Maine Guide Fly or Spin Fishing Catch and Release Book Your Trip Now! Fall Fishing in Maine. September 19, 2016 Small ponds are at their best. They will readily take bait, lures, and flies, and have been known to strike lures almost as large as themselves. Crisp nights, and bluebird days have arrived. All Rights Reserved. With cool nights and days in the mid 70s it will bring fish into Maine rivers to spawn but what really triggers them to move is rain or water released from a dam. By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff Over the past two weeks we have been covering some serious miles fishing Maine’s best Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon waters. Maine's Office of Tourism website offers great tips and directions for visiting the lighthouses. My only suggestion here is that fall pike likes bigger prey – so go up in size to catch bigger pike. With the abundance of rocky shoals and boulder-lined shores, West Grand is a classic Maine smallmouth bass fishing lake. But western Maine is also ski country—and for anyone who enjoys fishing plus all the off-season bargains and activities ski mountains provide in the shoulder seasons, September here is as close to heaven as it gets. Physical Address: 284 State Street Augusta, ME 04333-0041. The fish are still in the best part of their growing season and water temperatures in the top layers of the lakes are cooling which allow trout more access to a variety of prey in the water column. Plus, Fish are generally inactive during the warmest summer months but the fall run brings higher numbers of fish that are more active. The song is called Rolling Up My Window. The "Fishy" Lighthouse Tour Maine's most popular venues Portland's Old Port restaurants and breweries, Casco Bay's lobster shacks, sailboat charters and cruises and regional lighthouses  are much less crowded in September than during the peak summer season. Souhegan River. 6. While smallmouth bass can be fished most anywhere on the lake, the best habitat and the most productive fishing in the state of Maine can be found on the northeast end of the lake and the three adjoining lakes, Pocumcus, Junior, and Scraggly Lakes. Everything has come together nicely for wonderful fall fishing conditions. While smallmouth bass can be fished most anywhere on the lake, the best habitat and the most productive fishing in the state of Maine can be found on the … Look for rocky points and deep basins that are teeming with smaller baitfish. If you're in trout country and the conditions are right, have faith, the fish will be there.