Maine Atlantic Salmon, Finally Caught!

Maine Atlantic Salmon, part I Maine Atlantic Salmon, part II

Tailing Maine Atlantic Salmon There came a day, I guess after a certain number of casts, where luck changed. I rolled a fish, didn't yank the fly from it, and had it on. Then came more Atlantic salmon tradition: it is customary for another angler to offer to 'tail' the fish for you, grabbing it by the tail after it's become tired and docile. Being a solitary fisherman, a guy from Auburn Maine named Bill Locke, came down and offered to tail the fish. It ended up being about eight pounds, and another guy from Presque Isle Maine took a picture. This was pre-digital, but darned if I hadn't a copy of the picture in my hand within the week. So if I haven't said so 'til now, the guys on the bench are a pretty good crew.

Atlantic Salmon: 2000 Casts

Then later that afternoon I caught another Maine Atlantic salmon. That's why I guess I must have made 2000 casts. The guys said it was pushing ten pounds. I'd like to tell you the fly swung across the current at a special angle, or at a precise speed, and give you a reason why I finally caught an Atlantic salmon. But the fly did exactly what it seemed to have done so many times before, except these two times a fish came up from the river bottom and took. For me, that's what defines salmon fishing; there is no "why" but there is only persistence. You can see salmon fishing attracts a certain breed.

I wish I could tell you it was possible to stumble onto this Maine Atlantic fishing as I did. When salmon were listed as an endangered species, in 1999, all recreational fishing for them was curtailed. The salmon clubs along the Penobscot must have struggled to remain relevant and keep member interest. Eventually a fall fishing season for Maine Atlantic salmon, all catch and release, was created in 2006. It was designed to maintain a constituency for the fish; if no one cares about salmon it's possible no one would fight to preserve them. But only one fish was caught the first season and interest faded. A Spring season was tried in 2008, open only until 50 fish were caught, but that program will not be continued in 2009.

I wandered back to Eddington pool and fished down through it a few times after I caught the two fish. But soon thereafter came the listing, and the closing of the fishery. Fishing the Penobscot had been perfect, for a guy like me, a reasonably persistent fisherman with a curiosity about Atlantic salmon. I'm hopeful we get a chance to see it again. And hopefully, I'll once again catch Maine Atlantic salmon.

-Dave Kesel, April 30 2009

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