Alert: Stay up to date on Maine's COVID-19 Response, Home → Fish & Wildlife → Fisheries → Species Information → Smallmouth Bass, Other Names: Smallie, Smallmouth Black Bass, Black Bass, Brown Bass, Green Bass. But, as stated earlier, those smallmouth will really feel between that 55-63 degree mark. The tables are accompanied by a few brief paragraphs on bass fishing. The very finest Maine Smallmouth bass fishing in the entire Northeast. The rivers are rich in insect hatches as well as minnows, hellgrammites, crayfish and other aquatic smallmouth foods. As a result, the Department does not actively manage bass populations in northern Maine, and we allow unlimited harvest with no size restrictions. Interesting Facts: One trait that makes bass so successful is that they protect their nests from predators. Have a nice bass fishing day! Our Equipment includes: 19 foot fully rigged Aluminum boat from Lund. Most anglers practice catch and release, so many of our bass populations are quite robust in terms of numbers of fish. Smallmouth bass often have a win-win relationship with other fish species in any body of water. This helps by reducing competition, increasing growth for the remaining fish, and protecting large fish that grow very slowly. Physical Address: Bass are quite prolific, which can be challenging when you want to grow larger fish. Maine Smallmouth Bass Fishing, the best in the Northeast. The coloration often includes a pattern of vertical bars along the sides of the fish. The upper jaw of smallmouth bass does not extend beyond the back of the eye. In most waters, the Department encourages the legal harvest of smaller bass. September-November is a fantastic time to catch quality bass on Maine’s Lakes, Rivers, and Ponds. After eggs are deposited in the nest, the male bass can spend weeks guarding the eggs and juvenile bass to ensure they are able to venture off on their own. Maine Bass Fishing | Catching Pre Spawn Smallmouth. Book your trip today! Springtime in Maine is a really magical time of year for the outdoorsman. Management: Although bass have been in Maine for a long time, they are not a native fish. Non-fishing spouses and companions also have a great time … In the southern half of Maine, bass are managed as a valued sport fishery. Management: Although bass have been in Maine for a long time, they are not a native fish. In Central Maine, you can have great action on the … 1 talking about this. With the abundance of rocky shoals and boulder-lined shores, West Grand is a classic Maine smallmouth bass fishing lake. Alert: Stay up to date on Maine's COVID-19 Response, Home → Fish & Wildlife → Fisheries → Species Information → Smallmouth Bass, Other Names: Smallie, Smallmouth Black Bass, Black Bass, Brown Bass, Green Bass. All of the state's largest rivers and streams contain populations of smallmouths, but the perennial leaders include … While many have experienced fighting these fish on lakes and ponds, adding a 5-6 knot current makes it a very fun and exciting experience on a fly rod! Maine Bass Fishing | Catching Pre Spawn Smallmouth - YouTube. Fly Fish or Spin Cast. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass come out of their winter haunts to move shallow as the water warms. The state record smallmouth bass is 8 pounds. Where can you fish and think 25 is slow? The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes.It is the type species of its genus. Identification: Smallmouth bass can range in color from green to bronze. TTY: Maine Relay 711 The coloration often includes a pattern of vertical bars along the sides of the fish. Diet: Bass eat a variety of food items. Come to where the fish are biting and the catch is on. Share. Maine has some of the best bass fishing in the country! Shopping. Watch later. In the spring and summer months, smallmouth bass are found in shallow rocky areas or off rocky drop offs in 5 to 15 feet of water, while their largemouth cousins prefer more vegetative shallow areas or weedy drop offs. Smallmouth bass and brook trout fishing is spectacular at Eagle Lodge on Folsom Pond in Lincoln, Maine. Fishing tips: Bass prefer areas with lots of cover such as woody debris, weed beds, and rocks. 41 State House Station Moosehead Lakes Region Moosehead Lake, located among scenic mountain ranges, is the largest lake east of the Mississippi contained within one state. Following the listing is an article on bass management in Maine. Our Bass, both Smallmouth and Largemouth, are now transitioning into their fall patterns. Roland D. Martin Commissioner In Maine, only a few exceed 4 pounds, and bass heavier than 5 pounds are rare. In many rivers and lakes there are concerns over fish species that may compete with or eat smallmouth bass. Areas of emphasis should be main-lake structure-oriented: points, ledges, and humps adjacent to the deepest water. This All-Inclusive Fishing Adventure on local lakes and ponds are for the novice to beginner fishermen. When fishing for bass, you can use spinners, crankbaits, stickbaits, jigs, minnows, and worms. 41 State House Station During the pre-spawning feeding frenzies, effective bass lures include surface lures, spinnerbaits, and soft- or hard-style jerkbaits. In southern and western Maine, the Androscoggin offers fine fishing and great access. This helps by reducing competition, increasing growth for the remaining fish, and protecting large fish that grow very slowly. Email us, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Opportunities for People with Disabilities, Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment, Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians, Rare, Threatened, & Endangered Invertebrates. The smallmouth fishing on the lower Androscoggin River provides great action and the possibility of fish in the 3-5 lb. Belgrade Bassin' is a licensed and insured guide service that specializes in fishing for Large & Smallmouth Bass with over 20 years of Maine bass fishing experience. 207.944.1691 More fish means more competition for food and habitat. The smallmouth bass is generally brown (seldom yellow) with … Maine is one of the largest U.S. states but has a population of only 1.3 millon people, with just one area code. Fax: (207) 287-8094 or (207) 287-6395 For anglers from throughout the northeastern United States, Maine’s Penobscot has long been a legendary river. The state record smallmouth bass is 8 pounds. Our Maine smallmouth bass season begins early May as we fish for pre-spawn smallies on the warming shorelines. In recent years, bass have been illegally introduced into some northern Maine waters, which has threatened several native fish species. This disdain by Mainers for smallmouths has resulted in many fine smallmouth rivers being ignored. what?! A trophy bass (20 inches or so) in Maine could be around 20 years old! The upper jaw of smallmouth bass does not extend beyond the back of the eye. We literally have hundreds of lakes and ponds with thriving populations of smallmouth bass, and many of them see hardly any fishing pressure. Trout, Salmon Bass, Pike. Identification: Smallmouth bass can range in color from green to bronze. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: I had a slow day the other day and we only landed 25 fish! Maine river smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass populations in Maine sustain themselves by natural reproduction, and stocking is unnecessary, except occasionally in rare situations. ONLY 25 fish! Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Phone: (207) 287-8000 In most waters, the Department encourages the legal harvest of smaller bass. Copy link. Maine Smallmouth bass fishing! Lake Erie gobies have created an explosion in the size of the smallmouth bass…maybe this would happen in Maine … Trout and Landlocked Salmon are active and can be taken shallow in the cold water of early spring. https://stepoutside.org/article/5-best-fishing-spots-in-maine Smallmouth Bass Fishing. South Branch Lake, being a warm water fishery, is ideally suited for smallmouth bass. This dam is located at the Ticonic Falls in downtown Waterville, just upstream of the confluence with the Sebasticook River (see The Maine Atlas … range. Wait! Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: Bass were first brought to Maine in the late 1800s, when they were seen as not only an important sportfish, but also as a food fish. In the southern half of Maine, bass are managed as a valued sport fishery. Bass grow slowly in Maine, but they can live for many years. Eagle Lodge and Camps is set in the midst of a world class fishery with upwards of 50 different bodies of water all within an hour's drive of the lodge. In Maine, only a few exceed 4 pounds, and bass heavier than 5 pounds are rare. Maine has a long legacy of excellent fly fishing for species such as Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon. Info. Trips – Smallmouth Bass. They feed heavily in the fall in preparation for the long Maine winter ahead. The Androscoggin River has excellent smallmouth bass fishing! If not this year, lets talk about 2020! Bass are quite prolific, which can be challenging when you want to grow larger fish. More fish means more competition for food and habitat. Adult bass consume a variety of fish, crayfish, frogs, newts, dragonflies, and virtually anything else they can fit in their mouths! Juvenile bass eat smaller food items like insects. When fishing for bass, you can use spinners, crankbaits, stickbaits, jigs, minnows, and worms. Records show that bass were first stocked in Maine in 1869. The state record smallmouth bass is 8 pounds. The pre-spawn is followed by the explosive top water smallmouth fishing during the spawn by May 20. Identification: Smallmouth bass can range in color from green to bronze. Bass grow slowly in Maine, but they can live for many years. Identification: Bass are members of the sunfish family. The state record smallmouth bass is 8 pounds. Smallmouth bass floats are my most popular guided trip because these fish are generally fairly easy to catch, and lend themselves well to both spin-fishermen, fly-fishermen, and to families with children. Discover the secrets of the surrounding lakes and ponds of the North Maine Woods which are home to large and hefty smallmouth bass. As a result, the Department does not actively manage bass populations in northern Maine, and we allow unlimited harvest with no size restrictions. you fishing on one of Maine’s pristine lakes or rivers. 50-100 fish days are common while fishing top water lures or popping bugs for Maine’s hard-fighting smallmouth bass. Maine has some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the US. Although historically, the Penobscot is probably best known as the river that once supported the country’s largest run of Atlantic salmon. The Downeast region is probably the best-known area for traveling anglers to journey in pursuit of smallmouth bass. Anything over 16 inches was a dandy in my eyes and a new personal smallmouth bass record. Email us, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Opportunities for People with Disabilities, Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment, Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians, Rare, Threatened, & Endangered Invertebrates. Today, smallmouth bass are undoubtedly the river’s number one sportfishing resource. Smallmouth bass will orient to structure adjacent to drop-offs. Accommodations. Me and double J. Fax: (207) 287-8094 or (207) 287-6395 Take a look below to see our featured smallmouth bass fishing destinations in Maine. Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tackle. TTY: Maine Relay 711 The coloration often includes a pattern of vertical bars along the sides of the fish. 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. In recent years, bass have been illegally introduced into some northern Maine waters, which has threatened several native fish species. In the spring and summer months, smallmouth bass are found in shallow rocky areas or off rocky drop offs in 5 to 15 feet of water, while their largemouth cousins prefer more vegetative shallow areas or weedy drop offs. 284 State Street The notch between the spiny and the soft-rayed section of the dorsal fin is not deep. A trophy bass (20 inches or so) in Maine could be around 20 years old! MID-COAST Maine - Bass Fishing. 284 State Street Bass were first brought to Maine in the late 1800s, when they were seen as not only an important sportfish, but also as a food fish. Tap to unmute. Although, keep in mind that those smallmouth will be in a bit of a funk when the water first begins to drop from its summer temps (78-83 degrees until about 60-63 degrees. and they will eat almost anything that replicated the forage they're eating. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Phone: (207) 287-8000 Before the Civil War, there were no bass in Maine. The head wasters in the Rangeley lakes region provide excellent Brook trout and Landlocked Salmon fishing! Adult Size: Most bass waters grow some adults to weights of 2-3 pounds. Guided trips available. tage of the excellent bass fishing Maine has to offer. In Maine, only a few exceed 4 pounds, and bass heavier than 5 pounds are rare. For today’s smallmouth bass fishing trip, I target the most downstream of the many hydropower dams on the Kennebec River based on the pattern I developed in previous years on the Androscoggin River (click here, here, and here for examples). This is where good mapping software, preferably with depth shading, comes into play because abrupt changes are the places to start looking for winter bronzes. Check out the Durham and Brunswick portions, as well as the Rumford, Dixfield, and Canton sections. Identification: Smallmouth bass can range in color from green to bronze. Physical Address: Beginner or Advanced Angler Bass were originally introduced into a select number of waters, but they are now found throughout southern, central, and eastern Maine. Maine's smallmouth bass fishing is the stuff of legends, with 3- to 5-pound fish being the norm, especially in May, June and early July. Adult bass consume a variety of fish, crayfish, frogs, newts, dragonflies, and virtually anything else they can fit in their mouths! I have fished Maine lakes for over 35 years and have been tournament fishing for over 20 years. After eggs are deposited in the nest, the male bass can spend weeks guarding the eggs and juvenile bass to ensure they are able to venture off on their own. Most anglers practice catch and release, so many of our bass populations are quite robust in terms of numbers of fish. Whether you’re a beginner, amateur, tournament fisherman or Pro I would love to show you some of the best bass fishing here in Maine.