Author Topic: Penobscott river (Read 1731 times)

Togue slayer · « **on:** Feb 12, 2018, 06:05 PM »

The law book is a disaster when looking at the river. So what are the laws to follow if I wanted to fish the river between Brewer and Bangor? Can I Icefish it legally?

woodchip · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 12, 2018, 08:30 PM »

Don't they have smelt shacks in that area?

Togue slayer · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 12, 2018, 08:45 PM »

I cross 3-95 every day on my way to work and I've never seen a sole on the river. Google the river and one guy in 09 had almost the swat team out after him

16 inches of ice.. let him fish though

moosehunter · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 13, 2018, 07:13 AM »

they have and probably still do send ice breakers up to the oil tanks in bangor so the ice never is safe.and there are 10 to 15 ft tides everyday

Nameless · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 13, 2018, 10:46 AM »

Yes for sure they still do send ice breakers up through to Bangor.

Togue slayer · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 13, 2018, 12:43 PM »

Talked to a man in green today at lunch at Bob kozy Korner (sells shiners FYI) and he said it's a marine resource question. Said the waters moving fast and to check the ice and tides.. yes the ice breaker goes up every year still.

MadSledder · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 13, 2018, 06:47 PM »

Hey Touge, I have fished down there a fair bit, probably more so than anyone else has in recent times. I plied my trade right around the time the swat team was sent out after that guy, but sadly that was not me.

It is open and legal to fish in the winter: 1. The mainstem Penobscot is open to fish year round (ice and openwater) in freshwater. 2. Below the head of tide (roughly where the Veazie Dam was in Eddington/Veazie) it falls under marine regulations, which means it is generally open to fishing year round (lots of exceptions in the Penobscot but only in summer to protect salmon).

Here is what I learned in my trips:
-With the tides, there are limited safe access points.
-With the fast flowing river upstream, lots of slush/ice chuncks would pile up underneath the main sheet of ice. I brought a metal rod and at times could feel shush 4', 6', even 8' deep. Other places was just a normal sheet like any ol' lake.
-All I caught were small tomcod. I've heard rumors that they used to smelt fish behind the hospital but I never made it out up there.

If you wanna take a whack at it, let me know. There are smelt out there somewhere, and I wanna catch em.

Togue slayer · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 13, 2018, 08:18 PM »

Same info the warden gave me at the store but yeah I could see how the ice under layer would hinder.. some day I would love to give it a go with ya! As long as i can find safe access like you said.

woodchip · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 07:11 AM »

Remember when you fall in on a river there is no chance of coming back, No fun going down under the ice with a strong current. GOOD BYE!!!!!!

Togue slayer · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 07:17 AM »

That's my only worry. Or the ice breaking up and ending up in Frankfort on an ice chunk..

woodchip · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 10:54 AM »

that's a good way to go down river. its when you go down river under the ice that's bad!!!!!

Togue slayer · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 11:12 AM »

No doubt! I went through swan lake in February a few years ago. On a river there is no second chances. But the info I've received here and there. There usually is 16-20" between Brewer and Bangor. *"USUALLY"

JNoutdoors · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 12:05 PM »

I have always thought about checking out. I drive by it almost every day and think, man there has to be smelts there. The question is finding a good spot with the big tides.

moosehunter · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 12:37 PM »

wait till April and dip. not as good as it used to be but there are a few running.

Togue slayer · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 14, 2018, 04:04 PM »

Where are some places to dip smelt on the river in the spring? Not looking for a secret spot or anything

moosehunter · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 15, 2018, 06:47 AM »

the ledges in s brewer

Togue slayer · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 15, 2018, 07:19 AM »

Sounds safer. Ever dip cove Brook in Winterport?

moosehunter · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 15, 2018, 07:50 AM »

no but there was a family over there that would set gill nets out into the river and catch a lot of smelts , way back when

Togue slayer · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 15, 2018, 10:03 AM »

I grew up at the far end of cove Brook and fish it every year to the river. Wonder how the smelting is.. hmm

saltyshores · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 15, 2018, 12:33 PM »

Back in the 1970's we dipnetted in the spring off the Bangor side of the river by the old railroad yard. We extended the net's handle with another 8' wooden heavy dowel that was attached by overlapping both handles and tightening them with 2-3 good-sized hose clamps. It was hard to swing the net but we caught lots of smelts.

Togue slayer · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 15, 2018, 02:25 PM »

Never dipped them or targeted smelt. This past weekend got me hooked. Jigging brookies a couldn't keep the smelt off my small pimple. Too bad it's an s-1 lake... Caught dozens and dozens and bycatch!

grub662 · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 16, 2018, 11:40 AM »

The ice will be by the time the smelts run. Use a boat and locate them with a fish finder. I have taken a boat smelting more than once.

MadSledder · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 19, 2018, 07:57 PM »

If we float an ice chunk down to Frankfort, I don't think that would be suck a bad thing.... Maybe I need to find out when the ice breaker is coming... catch a 'berg and do some ice-trolling

I have also tried dipping in the spring in the Bangor area a few times, I haven't seen not-a-one that far up river, but of course I might be timing it wrong. There are still some pretty good runs a little further south in the river.

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Author Topic: Penobscott river (Read 1731 times)