Dave LaCourse
September 19th, 2004, 01:20 AM
...... drift a size 22 PT look-alike tied by Bruce Hopper (Bruiser) through
Zimmerman's Run with a Peter Colin built 4/5 weight boo rod? Why, a little
brookie, of course, then a big brookie, and a bigger salmon (22 inches) and
some more salmon and brookies, enough to tire out this old man. But, it was
Thursday and the week was almost over.
Joanne, Henry, and I arrived at Lakewood for lunch on Sunday. I put on my suit
of lights and hit the Rapid at Middle Dam. Fishing was slow, probably because
they were still drawing only 390 cfs. The water was warm (68 degrees). It
should be in the low 60s, especially after all the cold rain they've had.
Still, I managed a few nice brookies and small salmon on cdc dries. It is good
to see the smaller fish, because bass have entered the river after being
illegally stocked in Umbagog 20 years ago. The biggest fear is that they will
eat the smaller brookies/salmon.
Thanks to the "deal" made by Maine's TU chapters with Florida Power and Light,
the Rapid is being run most of the fishing season at 390 cfs, turning it into a
warm water stream. The bass that were illegally stocked in Lake Umbagog 20
years ago are finally finding refuge in the warm waters of the Rapid. Minimum
flow, except during drought years, should be 600. Normal flow should be 800
cfs.
I spent most of Monday and part of Tuesday trying to find some cool water. The
"currents" were running at 68, as was Lower Dam. On Wednesday, the water flow
was upped to 600 cfs, and within a few hours the water temp went down to 66.
It was 64 this morning before breakfast. I spent Wednesday with friends at
Lower Dam. Fishing was slow, but I did manage an 18 inch brookie first thing.
A friend caught a 22 inch salmon on a streamer, but the fish would not
recover. The man and his son tried for 45 minutes to revive the fish in highly
oxygenated water. They believe it was because the temp of the water was 68
degrees. Could be. It was breakfast for four on Wednesday. With new regs in
effect, Wednesday was the last day this season to fish from Lower Dam down
stream to Long Pool.
By Thursday the river had cooled and bigger fish were entering the "currents"
and the pools below Middle Dam. Pond in the River fished well as did the
Spawning Beds. I stayed at Middle Dam because I was to meet some friends
there. Fishing was the best I've had on the river since the 2nd week in June,
with lots of salmon and brookies of all sizes. I fished Zimmerman's Run using
Peter Colin's wonderfully strong 4/5 weight boo rod. I did so well that when
the four friends arrived, we decided to continue at Middle Dam. Everyone did
well, with some very big brookies and land locks landed and safely released.
Friday was more of the same, with a couple of 22 inch land locks and a couple
of 18+ brookies. Was it coincidental that the good fishing started when the
water temp went down because more water was being drawn?
If someone doesn't kick TUs ass and bring pressure upon Florida Power, the
Rapid as I know it will disappear, and all the flies of Bruce Hopper and the
fly rods of Peter Colin will be in vain, and Zimmerman's Run may some day be a
bass pond.
Zimmerman's Run with a Peter Colin built 4/5 weight boo rod? Why, a little
brookie, of course, then a big brookie, and a bigger salmon (22 inches) and
some more salmon and brookies, enough to tire out this old man. But, it was
Thursday and the week was almost over.
Joanne, Henry, and I arrived at Lakewood for lunch on Sunday. I put on my suit
of lights and hit the Rapid at Middle Dam. Fishing was slow, probably because
they were still drawing only 390 cfs. The water was warm (68 degrees). It
should be in the low 60s, especially after all the cold rain they've had.
Still, I managed a few nice brookies and small salmon on cdc dries. It is good
to see the smaller fish, because bass have entered the river after being
illegally stocked in Umbagog 20 years ago. The biggest fear is that they will
eat the smaller brookies/salmon.
Thanks to the "deal" made by Maine's TU chapters with Florida Power and Light,
the Rapid is being run most of the fishing season at 390 cfs, turning it into a
warm water stream. The bass that were illegally stocked in Lake Umbagog 20
years ago are finally finding refuge in the warm waters of the Rapid. Minimum
flow, except during drought years, should be 600. Normal flow should be 800
cfs.
I spent most of Monday and part of Tuesday trying to find some cool water. The
"currents" were running at 68, as was Lower Dam. On Wednesday, the water flow
was upped to 600 cfs, and within a few hours the water temp went down to 66.
It was 64 this morning before breakfast. I spent Wednesday with friends at
Lower Dam. Fishing was slow, but I did manage an 18 inch brookie first thing.
A friend caught a 22 inch salmon on a streamer, but the fish would not
recover. The man and his son tried for 45 minutes to revive the fish in highly
oxygenated water. They believe it was because the temp of the water was 68
degrees. Could be. It was breakfast for four on Wednesday. With new regs in
effect, Wednesday was the last day this season to fish from Lower Dam down
stream to Long Pool.
By Thursday the river had cooled and bigger fish were entering the "currents"
and the pools below Middle Dam. Pond in the River fished well as did the
Spawning Beds. I stayed at Middle Dam because I was to meet some friends
there. Fishing was the best I've had on the river since the 2nd week in June,
with lots of salmon and brookies of all sizes. I fished Zimmerman's Run using
Peter Colin's wonderfully strong 4/5 weight boo rod. I did so well that when
the four friends arrived, we decided to continue at Middle Dam. Everyone did
well, with some very big brookies and land locks landed and safely released.
Friday was more of the same, with a couple of 22 inch land locks and a couple
of 18+ brookies. Was it coincidental that the good fishing started when the
water temp went down because more water was being drawn?
If someone doesn't kick TUs ass and bring pressure upon Florida Power, the
Rapid as I know it will disappear, and all the flies of Bruce Hopper and the
fly rods of Peter Colin will be in vain, and Zimmerman's Run may some day be a
bass pond.