The County 2018 | Aroostook County Tourism | Page 22

THE COUNTY | 2018
FINALLY PERFECTING YOUR FLY CAST . Pheasants flushed from sleep , shattering the golden silence of the dawn . Age-old secrets passed from generation to generation .
FISHING IN THE COUNTY
Aroostook County offers countless ponds and lakes and miles of free-flowing water that contain a variety of trophy species , including wild or native brook trout , smallmouth bass , and salmon .
Warm-water anglers will find smallmouth bass plentiful in East Grand Lake , Mattawamkeag Lake , Pleasant Pond and several other lakes in southern and central Aroostook . Further north , cold-water anglers will find pristine salmon and trout fishing . The St . John River and tributaries offer the only wild muskie fishery in the East . Deboullie Pond is great for rare land-locked Arctic char .
A top spot for landlocked salmon is Long Lake . Part of the Fish River Chain of Lakes , it ’ s famous for traditional coldwater species . The Fish River Lakes region is also an ideal ice-fishing destination . Snow and ice come early and stay late , and numerous snowmobile trails afford excellent opportunities to access the lakes for fishing trips .
HUNTING IN THE COUNTY
Hunters head to Aroostook for massive moose , ten-point bucks , elusive black bear , an abundance of waterfowl , and wild turkey . The hunt is a deeply ingrained cultural experience going back generations , thanks to the abundant wildlife found among millions of acres of forest and thousands of acres of agricultural land .
The biggest prize is the moose , weighing as much as 1,000 pounds and often sporting racks exceeding 60 inches . Hunted in deep woods and on the border between forest and farm , hunters have had recent success rates exceeding 90 percent , attesting to the animal ’ s strong presence in Aroostook . Moose are hunted each fall in a split season ; licenses are awarded by lottery each spring .
YOU ’ LL NEED A LICENSE FOR THAT .
Whether fishing or hunting in Maine you must possess the proper license . It is important to be informed on our laws , guidelines , and the varying seasons .
Blaze orange clothing is required when hunting during the firearms hunting season on deer , the muzzle-loading season on deer , or within an open moose hunting district during moose hunting season .
Visit eRegulations . com / maine / hunting for Maine hunting information or Maine . gov for up-to-date season information and to purchase a license .
© Paul Cyr Photography
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