Stream flows in the Rangeley region are finally beginning to look normal. Late-afternoon thunderstorms seemed like a daily occurrence through much of June, and this kept flows in our major rivers unusually high. On the positive side, the high flows were generally coupled with cooler than average temperatures, so the fishing held up well in places like the Rapid River, the Magalloway River, and the Androscoggin River. As flows and temperatures return to normal, salmonid fishes will seek thermal relief provided by cool tributaries, spring seeps, and in the case of larger lakes, the deeper water.
This is the time of year our work schedules really heat up. Over the six weeks or so, we'll be conducting a variety of fishery surveys throughout the region to assess our management programs. These surveys will be conducted on small trout ponds with both wild and hatchery stocks, larger lakes for salmon, togue, and brookies, small streams for trout and salmon, and larger streams for brown trout, rainbow trout, and bass.
We’ll also complete our assessments of bass populations in Wesserunsett and Wilson Lakes. Sprinkled in among all that work, we'll monitor several stream restoration projects, complete a few initial surveys of remote ponds, and assist other Regions with their survey work.
Aldro French, a fixture on the Rapid River for nearly 50 years, hosted several disabled military veterans for several days of fishing and relaxation. Aldro and several Trout Unlimited volunteers have made this event a great success in recent years, and I expect this year’s affair was the same.