moosehead lake, maine

[rhody98]

Heading there w/family for a week this summer and bringing the Seafari.

Looking for basic info on fishing the lake.....books, web sites, or replies....anything really as I have not done much freshwater fishing before.

[bigeasy1]

You'll love the area.I fished it ,oh,maybe thirty years ago,and caught lot's of lake trout and salmon.
There are several good places of info online if you do a search.
It's an absolutely beautiful area.
Try these sites,
http://www.moosehead.net/
http://www.mooseheadlake.org/
http://www.maineguide.com/moosehead/
Sebec lake,just south of Moosehead,is also nice,and might be worth a stopover,on your way up.The area is dotted with nice lakes and gorgeous scenery.

Northern,and Western Maine,are beautiful areas to spend time in.It's about as close to a true wilderness experience as you can get,without going out west or to Canada.

Moose are very abundant,so much so,that we actually got bored watching them.
If you ever get the chance,western Maine is beautiful,the Rangeley lakes region is spectacular.Several big lakes with wilderness all around.
Lot's of Moose,Deer,Bear,and great salmon,and native brook trout fishing,along with float planes,and spectacular scenery.
A beautiful backdrop for a picture of a Seacraft.

The best thing is,no crowds.I fished Rangeley for several years,and you'd have this beautiful lake all to yourself.No yahoos like on Winnipesaukee, NH.

[riprunner]

I agree with John 100%, great place to get away. I have mostly been up there during the winter snowmobiling, so I can't give you any fishing advise. I have delivered a 27 formula up there years ago and the advise I'll give you is to be careful while trailering. Because of the amount of snow they get the roads are really pitched to each side, so make sure you don't get the trailer to close to the edge or it likes to pull you down with it. This is the case with bigger boat, not sure on your 20, but keep that in mind. Also, When a deer crosses the road it is not that one you hit, it's the one following it while you are looking at the first. Lastly, moose don't necessarily move out of your way when they are on the road. I once had one looking over the hood of my buddy's F350 while we slid to a stop in the snow in Rangely. The moose then just walked away, pretty cool site, but very scary as we thought we were going to hit it.

Have a great trip.

[bigeasy1]

Rip,
were you sledding up Rangeley way?I haven't been up in a couple years,was wondering if it's changed.

Yeah,as mentioned,watch out for Moose.A local taxidermist who mounted a fish for me,said that he was on rte 17 when he came across a moose in the middle of the road,who refused to move.
So, he laid on the horn,(not a good thing to do in the fall when they're in the rut,)
That moose dropped his head,and ran full steam into the front of his truck.
Wrecked the grill and headlight,and punctured his radiator.The moose was fine,and just sauntered off into the woods.

[seafari25]

I`m in Maine this week on business. I usually come down from Quebec, cross at Jackman and come through along side Moosehead lake although I crossed at Woburn this time and was about 20 miles or so south of Moosehead. Very nice spot indeed. I highly recommend a day trip to Baxter State Park. It`s like a rocky mountain sticking out of the rolling appalachians.

In the next couple days, I`ll be working around Derby, Brownville Junction and Millinocket. I chat it up with some locals to see what the fishing is like.

[rhody98]

thanks all, I will definetly watch out for the moose.

I found a pretty good Delorme map that covers the entire lake, has bottom depth contours and navigational marks. What is the strategy for fishing a lake like this....I noticed there are some very deep holes, are there fish in there?

[bigeasy1]

99.9% of fishing on Moosehead(or most other cold water),Maine lakes,is trolling,usually with down riggers.
If you plan on fishing for salmon and trout,you'll need something to get you to the depths where the fish are.

If you don't have riggers,bring some leadcore line,and if no leadcore,then bring some weights that you can use to get your line down.
You could also anchor and still fish with bait either live or dead.The bait of choice in Maine is usually smelt,as it is a natural forage base.

Spoons like Sutton 44's, Acme flash kings,Mooselook wobblers,and Thomas speedy shiners,are very productive.
Good colors are copper/orange, flourescent red,smelt patterns,rainbow patterns.

Stick baits like #5 Rapalas,and small Thundersticks also produce very well
Some 3/8 or 1/2 ounce Luhr Jensen Krocodiles can be super as well.
The stick baits and Krocodiles can be good in the morning,just flat lined off the back of the boat.They'll get you down a bit when the fish are up higher in the early AM.Also if you have any streamer flies,bring them.They can be deadly trolled way back off the boat with just a couple of split shot weights on the line.

As for rods reels and line,if you have downrigger rods,bring them,if not bring what you have that would work well for stocked trout,or schoolie stripers back home.Line in ten or twelve pound test is fine.

Check with the bait and tackle shop,or locals,where you'll be staying,they'll be the best help.They can at the least, give you an idea of what spots have been good,and whats been working good.

Most importantly,enjoy your vacation,and take lots of pictures,and post them when you return.

[seafari25]

99.9% of fishing on Moosehead(or most other cold water),Maine lakes,is trolling,usually with down riggers.
If you plan on fishing for salmon and trout,you'll need something to get you to the depths where the fish are.

If you don't have riggers,bring some leadcore line,and if no leadcore,then bring some weights that you can use to get your line down.
You could also anchor and still fish with bait either live or dead.The bait of choice in Maine is usually smelt,as it is a natural forage base.

Spoons like Sutton 44's, Acme flash kings,Mooselook wobblers,and Thomas speedy shiners,are very productive.
Good colors are copper/orange, flourescent red,smelt patterns,rainbow patterns.

Stick baits like #5 Rapalas,and small Thundersticks also produce very well
Some 3/8 or 1/2 ounce Luhr Jensen Krocodiles can be super as well.
The stick baits and Krocodiles can be good in the morning,just flat lined off the back of the boat.They'll get you down a bit when the fish are up higher in the early AM.Also if you have any streamer flies,bring them.They can be deadly trolled way back off the boat with just a couple of split shot weights on the line.

As for rods reels and line,if you have downrigger rods,bring them,if not bring what you have that would work well for stocked trout,or schoolie stripers back home.Line in ten or twelve pound test is fine.

Check with the bait and tackle shop,or locals,where you'll be staying,they'll be the best help.They can at the least, give you an idea of what spots have been good,and whats been working good.

Most importantly,enjoy your vacation,and take lots of pictures,and post them when you return.

Ditto,

I Spoke with a few locals today and was prepared to write pretty much what John said. The guys I talked with don't have downriggers and use the lead line and weight. Smelts and shiners will do the trick.

There's been a ton of rain over the last month here but today was beauty. Hopefully the weather cooperates with you Rhody.

That will be a nice treat for the locals to see a Seafari on the lake.

Have fun,
Brandon

[rhody98]

John and Brandon, great info thanks. I just picked up some leadcore line this weekend. Will get some pics and looking forward to the trip.