Fishing

We are in the heart of bass country – we fish several ponds and rivers, including the famed Penobscot. Our guides will take you by boat, canoe or kayak, meals will be from a gravel bar or shore. A family trip or children are welcome there is no better fish to start with than Mr. Bass.
For more information contact us at info@maineguide.org.

Maine Bass fishing starts around the last week of May, and is at its peak from the first of June to the third week of July. During this time there are typically two spawns producing some large hard-hitting fish. Fishing continues through July and into August on the Penobscot and the ponds
we fish. While traditional fishing methods work on the river, we will be fishing in deeper waters and bars on the lake. We offer several methods, maybe try a day from the boat and the next with just you and guide in a canoe floating along the Penobscot River.

During the pre-spawn we can be boating 30-50 fish a day ranging from 1
to 5 pounds, with very nice 3 ½ pound fish.

We enjoy using lures, floaters, divers, crank baits, spinner baits, tubes, lizards, mepps and of course flies.

Description
Considered by many to be the sportiest freshwater fish. Smallmouth are known for their fighting stamina and astounding leaping ability. Like largemouth, they will take almost any kind of lure or bait, but they generally prefer smaller sizes. Favorites include crank baits, minnows, crayfish, leeches, frogs, tadpoles and hellgrammites.

The smallmouth bass is generally green with dark vertical bands rather than a horizontal band along the side. There are 13-15 soft rays in the dorsal
fin, and the upper jaw never extends beyond the eye. Micropterus is Greek meaning "small fin" [see Guadalupe bass for further explanation]. The species epithet dolomieu refers to the French mineralogist M. Dolomie

Biology
Smallmouth bass prefer large clear-water lakes (greater than 100 acres, more than 30 feet deep) and thrive in our cool rivers with clear water and gravel substrate. In small streams a fish's activity may be limited to just
one stream pool or extend into several. Spawning occurs in the spring. When water temperatures approach 60°F males move into spawning areas. Nests are usually located near shore in lakes; downstream from boulders or some other obstruction that offers protection against strong current in streams. Mature females may contain 2000-15,000 golden yellow eggs. Males may spawn with several females on a single nest. On average each nest contains about 2,500 eggs, but nests may contain as many as 10,000 eggs. Eggs hatch in about 10 days if water temperatures are in the
mid-50's (°F), but can hatch in 2-3 days if temperatures are in the mid-70's (°F). Males guard the nest from the time eggs are laid until fry begin to disperse, a period of up to a month. As in other black bass, fry begin to feed on zooplankton, switching to insect larvae and finally fish and crayfish as they grow. Smallmouth live up to 18 years in the north, seldom longer than 7 years in the south.

The world record smallmouth weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces was caught in 1955 at Dale Hallow Lake in Kentucky.

Distribution
Smallmouth bass originally ranged north into Minnesota and southern Quebec, south to the Tennessee River in Alabama and west to eastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas. Today there are few states, east or west of the Rocky Mountains, where populations have not become established. Florida and Louisiana are apparently free of smallmouth bass.

Trout and Salmon
We also offer trout and salmon fishing on some trophy waters. Be it fly fishing, trolling, bank casting we have the package for you. Many small ponds offering brook and brown trout.

Ice Fishing
Ready for a Winter Break come join us for a few days of ice fishing on a Maine Lake for Landlock Salmon and Brook Trout. Spacious heated shacks,
a game of cribbage and hot meal, while tending traps.

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Northeastern Sports – Union River Guide Service
Lorin F. LeCleire, Master Maine Guide
Zach LeCleire, Junior Guide (age 8)

171 Bobcat Road
Clifton, Maine 04428
207-843-7929
EMAIL US: info@maineguide.org