NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard on Maine's State Heritage Fish Waters (Northwoods Sporting Journal)

A remote State Heritage Fish water in northern Somerset County, Maine. (Emily Bastian)

“In 2005, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) went to the Maine legislature to try to help save our remaining never-stocked brook trout lakes and ponds. At the time, per Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), there were fewer than 300 left, down from what was likely well over 1,000. This resulted in the ground-breaking State Heritage Fish (SHF) law.”

In the second installment of his new monthly conservation column in Northwoods Sporting Journal, Native Fish Talk, NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard writes about Maine’s heralded State Heritage Fish waters.

Maine’s State Heritage Fish waters represents the largest inventory of formally designated and protected wild native trout lakes and ponds in the nation. Roughly half have never been stocked, and contain genetically pure fish.

These lakes and ponds are mostly off-the-grid and undeveloped, some are trailless, and many are restricted to fly fishing only. They offer a kind of angling not found in many other places in the country, and represent recreational angling in its purest form.

“Unfortunately, critically important waters that meet the SHF inclusion criteria were left off the list due to pressure from anglers opposed to the live bait restriction. This includes Fish River Lake, as well as Telos Lake, Round Pond, Chamberlain Lake, Churchill Lake, and Eagle Lake in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.”

It’s time Maine stepped up and included all applicable waters, as well as provide a higher level of protection to these unique, and rare outside of Maine, wild native trout resources…

Click Here to Read Full Article

NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard watching for risers on a State Heritage Fish water in Maine. (Ben Brunt)