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Atlantic salmon became landlocked salmon when their migration routes were cut off by the glaciers in the last ice age. They were stranded in a few lakes where they could no longer leave.Rainbow smelts were found in certain lakes in Maine but are generaly sea run, but not always. Now they have spread throughout the state and while they are great feed for certain game fish, they also eat whitefish eggs and therefore, the whitefish are declining thoroughout the state.
Sebago is an example of a lake where landlocks occur naturally, and where there was a whitefish population. Were smelt in the lake naturally? I haven't been there for many years, did I read somewhere that the forage in Sebago right now is alewives?So if the smelt are removed from a lake with salmon, togue, brookies and whitefish, what becomes the forage? The whitefish? I know some would prefer that most lakes have only brookies and whitefish, but just curious what the consequences of removing the smelt is.
smelts have been in Sebago from day one , they were landlocked like Salmon. fishermen were allowed to dip smelts with net in spring , but spring smelt season was canceled because they were declining like Salmon and White fish they have blamed poor fish growth on all other reasons ,they have some control over. not the real true reason PH drop Acid fallout ,more septic systems near water shed, Land fills with in a 1/2 mile of lake, more timber cutting in watershed. The state will not lime water shed because it costs money, Lakes and forests should be handled like the farmers handle their gardens.
Smelts were in the lake for a long time. However lake trout and pike were not. Since I am not wearing a tin hat today, my guess would be the vast overpopulation of lake trout in Sebago upset the balance that naturally occured with salmon, smelt aand whitefish. Add to that the new inclusion of pike and reintroduction of alewives and the catch and release religion that has gripped many and made it very difficult to remove fish when needed and you end up with a bad situation for whitefish. Whitefish live a long time and grow slowly but don't make lots of baby whitefish, so it doesn't take a lot to upset the apple cart.
smelting in spring was stopped before lake trout were stocked . Moosehead and Chesuncook lost there White fish and Togue have been in those lakes since day one, PH is the big reason .Admit it !!! bring water quality back and all fish will survive together.