Conference wahoo::fishing

    BTW, if you also have been considering the Allagash, feel free to 
    consider joining us.  
    
    I haven't lined up any definite people yet.  I've mentinoned the 
    possibility of a trip in passing, and have a couple of people 
    interested.
    
    Again, I haven't come close to setting a date yet, or even time of year
    for that matter.  It'll probably be a 7-10 day trip.
    
    For some more info on the Allagash in general, check out note 610.*
    in BTOQA::HIKING and MRKTNG::RIVERRAT 25.*
    
    -donmac
    
    

    
    
    
                  Don,
    
                    Do the 7 day trip but take 10 daze to do it.Some
                  of the lakes EWE have to go through are long 7 - 10
                  miles and they can get extra windy (reads row a mile
                  get blown back 2 miles) and if ewe get caught in rain 
                  EWE can take a day to dryout and fish.If EWE take 
                  7 in 7 or 10 to do 10 and EWE get the nasty weather
                  EWE will be paddling your a$$ off and be miserable.
    
    
     
                                               The Keg

    Over the last twenty years Ive been down it three times though not
    in the last twelve so I'm sure the river has changed.  I heard 
    the vast numbers of brook trout are today more difficult to find, 
    especially in the River.  Some thoughts:  
    
    	The water is stained and not very clear.  Be careful to drink
    	from small creeks, springs or bring your own. Also, be aware of
    	cardiarsis(sp) which is a bacteria from Beavers. Irredescent
    	Rapalas bright pink and silver worked well on brookies at creek
    	mouths and around bridges and the usual structure.  On the first
    	trip saw 2 to 4 lb. brookies caught.  Caught all the 6 to 14" you would
    	care to eat.  Caught a surprise laker about #5 at take out bridge
    	below Lake Chamberlain on a night crawler. Many large chubs inhabit
    	the river that will go 3 to 5 lbs. Below Allagash Falls caught nice
    	Salmon on trolled floating Rapala.  Heard about whitefish being
    	caught in the Lakes but did not connect.
    
    	Much game to be seen. Moose, deer and black bear seen every trip.
    	Many wardens will look at you, your license, your catch.  Each trip
    	had at least 2 Wardens stopping us.
    
    	If its hot expect many bugs and bring a headnet, Deet etc.  Rapids
    	depending on rains were challenging.  Fast in high water. bottom 
    	bumping in low. Have seen some, a few, canoes wrecked so it pays to
    	scout ahead.  Portages tend to be short and you can choose to be
    	transported by truck at Chase Carry below Chamberlain.  We always
    	ran the rapids, while stopping to fish the pools. Most runs require
    	only moderate ability given normal runnoff. Of greater danger is
    	high winds on lakes which are compounded by less freeboard given
    	the addded gear in the canoes.  Being swamped by high waves should 
    	be a concern.
    
    	Weather is very variable.  It can snow in June and you can snorkle
    	down the river in July in the 90's. The scenery is unparalled for
    	New England and it is quiet unless you meet up with a troop of
    	Boy Scouts or a rowdy group.  Best choose your campsites early in
    	afternoon, firewood is provided.                 
                                                    
    	All in all, each trip was adventurous and soothing as a wilderness
    	trip can be. Since then, I've done a 12 day trip in Bowron Lakes, 
    	British Columbia and 10 days Down the Misstassini in Northern
    	Quebec. 

    Fishing regulations for Allagash Wilderness Waterway from 1990 - 91
    R&Rs.  Applies to both sections in Piscataquis and Aroostook Counties.
    
    1. On any and all of the following waters and their tributaries,
    upstream to the Allagash Waterway blazed line:Telos Lake, T6R11, etc.;
    Round Pond, T6R11; Chamberlain Lake, T6R11, etc.; Allagash Stream,
    T8R13 & 14; Little Round Pond, T8R13; Eagle Lake (including Round
    Pond), T9R13, etc.; Churchill Lake (including Heron Lake), T9R12, etc.,
    Umsaskis Lake, T11R13; Long Lake and outlet to Long Lake Dam (including
    Harvey Pond), T11R13, T12R13: (A) S-8. (B) S-20; (C) S-21; (D) from
    Aug. 16 to Sept. 30, tributaries open with a daily limit on
    salmon,trout and tougue: 1 fish in the aggregate, artificial lures
    only:
    
    2. All sections of the Allagash River from Chruchill Dam downstream to
    the red markers at the confluence of Chisholm Brook: S-6, S - 8, S -
    20, S - 21.  From August 16 to Sept. 30 daily limit on salmon, trout
    and tougue: 1 fish in the aggregate, artificial lures only.
    
    3. Allagash Lake and Allagash Stream upstream from Allagash Lake to its
    confluence with the outlet from Johnson Pond: (A) daily limit on trout
    and tougue: 1 of each; (B) S - 20; (C) S - 21; (D) S - 6.
    
    4. Allagash River and all tributaries (except number 2 above): Auguest
    16 to Sept. 30: S - 6, daily limit on salmon, trout and tougue: 1 fish
    in the aggregate.
    
    5. General law provisions apply to fishing in all other waters within
    the Allagash Waterway.
    
    Watercraft restrictions. (Summary):  No restrictions on watercraft or
    motor size from South end of Telos lake to north end of Chamberlain
    Lake.  From Lock Dam north, only canoes with or without motors may be
    used: no motors over 10 HP.  On Allagash Lake and Allagash Stream to
    red posts at Chamberlain Lake, only canoes without motors may be used. 
    (For a complete copy of regulations or other information on the use of
    the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, write to Bureau of Parks and
    Recreation, Dept. of Conservation, State House Sta. #22, Augusta, ME 
    04333.)
    
    S - 6.  Artificial Lures only, including flies.
    S - 8.  Daily limit on trout and tougue: 3 fish in the aggregate, not
    to include more that 2 trout and 1 tougue.
    S - 20. Daily limit on Whitefish: 3 fish.
    S - 21. Minimum length limit on trout: 12 inches.
    
    
    That's all straight from the current rules and regs.
    
    Pete
    

    Is there no closed season???
    
    Most points read:
    
    "From August 16 to Sept. 30..."
    
    or is the season on the allagash is only 2 weeks long?  
    
    Am I missing something?
    
    Thanks for all the info, keep it coming!
    
    -donmac

    Re last.
    
    After Sept. 30 = no more fishing on the Allagash or anywhere else in
    the area as far as I can determine.  In the long rules and regs text
    you might have seen a few (A), (B), (C), etc.  These letters enclosed
    in parentheses mean that you should refer to the standard rules and
    regulations sections.  It's rather difficult to explain here in notes. 
    You should regard what I typed in as over and above the standard rules
    and regs.  Standard rules and regs always apply except for local
    exceptions and, as you saw by that prior note, the Allagash has LOTS of
    exceptions.  Best thing to do is to pick up a copy of the Rules and
    Regs and study it completely AND when you go, check with a warden to
    make sure that your understanding of those rules is the same as his.
    
    To address one concern that you seem to have about fishing while doing
    the Allagash, if you plan to be on the river or nay part of the
    waterway on or after October 1, you'd better have your fishing tackle
    all put away and stowed so that no warden could even think that you
    might pull it out to fish with.  I'm sure if you were "cught" with a
    rod and reel just laying in the canoe after Sept. 30 you'd be found
    guilty of fishing out of season even if you were not caught with the
    line actually in the water.  The wardens are tough in Maine.  Best to
    make absolutely sure.
    

    re: the wardens being tough - i know, i've heard a few horror
    stories...
    
    re: the regs, ok, the fact those are just the exceptions makes sense...
    
    from all i have gathered so far, the last couple of weeks in september
    sound like a good possible time slot: fishing is allowed, less people 
    that time of year, possibly nice foliage, fewer bugs than spring/summer... 
    
    low water could be a problem though... i'd hate to have to drag the
    canoe... i don't mind hitting a few rocks -- let me restate that -- 
    i don't mind the canoe whacking a few rocks, that's why they invented 
    royalex, but i try to avoid hitting them personally 8^)  
    
    -donmac
    

    I believe the last two weeks of September are Flyfishing Only
    throughout the state of Maine. 
    
    Chris

    Also- that far north there is an excellent chance that the Brookies
    will be spawning at that time and you may not see any at all.
    
    Chris

    I mistakenly booked a fishing trip through a Maine guide for
    the 2nd week of October one year.  The idiot never told us
    fishing season was closed.  To make a long story short,
    we had one of the best trips ever on Lake Allagash.  We never
    saw another person, and we didn't have to buy licenses.
    I'm not going to tell you how the fishing was, cuz that
    would have been illegal  :*)
    
    Gone fishin

    Donmac,
    	The Salmon fishing picks up in September as the water cools. 
    A fisherperson of your caliber should do well. ;^)  
    	Good luck. It sounds like a great trip...with or without fish.
    Regards,
    Paul

    Thanks for the info, and your vote of confidence!
    
    -donmac