I spent some time fishing the waters I grew up on last week, in the lower Penobscot valley. I fished Mud Pond, Pushaw Stream, and the mainstem of the Penobscot. The Penobby was pretty similar to years past, plenty of smallmouth to be found, really a hoot on a fly rod when you get into them.
Pushaw Stream and Mud Pond were different. I caught a fat Pike in Pushaw stream and a fat Largemouth in Mud Pond and didn't catch a pickerel in either one! We also likely lost another pike in Pushaw stream and another largemouth in mud pond. The pike is now turtle/eagle chow, thought about keeping and eating it, but didn't really start with a plan to deal with pike. The bass I released, not sure what I was supposed to do with it, probably shoulda been prepared to keep that one, too. It just hadn't occurred to me that I would encounter a largemouth and I honestly hadn't caught more than 1 or 2 in the last 15 years. But that's what it was. Not many fish can take a moving 5 inch streamer off clean on 0x without bending the rod... My 11 year old daughter said to me, "A fish just jumped back near where my fly is." "Did you feel it," I responded. "No." A few minutes later, when she reeled up, there was nothing there.
In any case, it got me thinking about what has changed in what's really a pretty short period of time. Now there are pike, largemouth, and a boatload of alewives that were all pretty near non-existent 20 years ago. Before, I was angry/frustrated about pike introduction. Now I guess I'm just resigned. I just need a crappie for the Maine invasive trifecta.
Sounds like it was great outing with your daughter and lots of memories made. Invasive pike and bass have been the end of some really great trout and salmon fishing in Maine waters and crappie are spreading like wildfire. I wanted to point out, though, that alewives are native to Maine and their rising numbers are due to fish passage and dam removal. Here is a clip of alewives stuck below the first dam on Cobbossee Stream this spring. Thanks!
Hey Justin, I feel your pain...I've caught a few LM Bass in the mainstem, but I find it odd that I have yet to catch a pike there...but there is a bit more upside as well - the stripers and shad are coming back strong & the Atlantic Salmon had a pretty good year as well - give me a jingle when you return home again & maybe I can show you some new spots down here on the south end of the island - Tight Lines & Stay Well!