Fishing Regulation Proposals 2021 Theme Based Approach 7/31/2020 Page 1 of 163 Theme Approach to Fishing Regulation Proposals • Goal: Improve the ability of the public and the Advisory Council to more efficiently understand the purpose and intent of a large volume of water-specific regulation proposals. 7/31/2020 Page 2 of 163 Outline of the Packet Theme Categories • Special Need (pages 4-13) • Lake Trout (Togue) Growth (pages 14-18) • Landlocked Salmon Growth (pages 19-20) • State Heritage Fish Waters (pages 21-24) • Angling Opportunity (pages 25-30) • New Special Regulation Listing (pages 31-32) • Simplify to General Law (pages 33-47) • Trout to Brook Trout (pages 48-92) • Errors, Conflicts, and Confusions (pages 93-163) 7/31/2020 Page 3 of 163 Special Need Management initiatives, typically in response to dramatic events, an emerging situation requiring adaptive rule changes, or more complex and comprehensive initiatives to increase consistency and simplification within or between watersheds. Examples include rule changes in response to a fish kill, a reclamation to restore a fishery, and protecting at-risk high-quality fisheries, etc. 7/31/2020 Page 4 of 163 2021 Rule Making Proposals REGION WATCODE ID WATER NAME TOWN(S) COUNTY OR COUNTIES PROPOSAL SOURCE A 3748_BLNK AUBURN LAKE Auburn Androscoggin MDIFW REGULATION THEME Special Need REGULATION CHANGE DESCRIPTION Remove temporary > 20 inch togue restriction and restore to previous regulation (S-26). PURPOSE The current regulation prohibiting harvest of togue greater than 20 inches was temporarily imposed after a togue fish kill caused by algal blooms and poor water quality in 2012. The intent of the current regulation was to retain larger individuals in the population that were applying biological control to the perch population. Indications are that a robust perch population, impacts smelt abundance, and therefore forage availability and health of salmonid species. The togue, landlocked salmon, and smelt have demonstrated signs of recovery. Consistent with the original intent, this proposal would reestablish the previous regulations now that water quality and the dynamic interactions between species have recovered. CURRENT REGULATIONS PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS PROPOSED REGULATIONS AUBURN LAKE, Auburn (South Zone). General fishing laws AUBURN LAKE, Auburn (South Zone). General fishing laws AUBURN LAKE, Auburn (South Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: CI. S-1, S-3, S-10. Daily bag limit on togue: 3 apply, except: CI. S-1, S-3, S-10, S-26. Daily bag limit on apply, except: CI. S-1, S-3, S-10, S-26. From October 1 - fish; minimum length limit 14 inches; all togue greater togue: 3 fish; minimum length limit 14 inches; all togue November 30: ALO, S-7. than 20 inches must be released alive at once. From greater than 20 inches must be released alive at once. October 1 - November 30: ALO, S-7. From October 1 - November 30: ALO, S-7. The Auburn Water District has closed to all water-related activities (including boating and fishing) that portion The Auburn Water District has closed to all water-related The Auburn Water District has closed to all water-related south of a line extending from a marker placed on a point activities (including boating and fishing) that portion activities (including boating and fishing) that portion of land on the east shore of the lake approximately 75 south of a line extending from a marker placed on a point south of a line extending from a marker placed on a point feet south of the Route 4 boat launch and extending west of land on the east shore of the lake approximately 75 of land on the east shore of the lake approximately 75 to a marker on a point of land known as Point of Pines on feet south of the Route 4 boat launch and extending west feet south of the Route 4 boat launch and extending west the west shore of the lake. That portion north of the to a marker on a point of land known as Point of Pines on to a marker on a point of land known as Point of Pines on above described line is also closed to all water-related the west shore of the lake. That portion north of the the west shore of the lake. That portion north of the activities except that small recreational boats and fishing above described line is also closed to all water-related above described line is also closed to all water-related are allowed. No motor vehicles on ice (ATVs and activities except that small recreational boats and fishing activities except that small recreational boats and fishing snowmobiles allowed). are allowed. No motor vehicles on ice (ATVs and are allowed. No motor vehicles on ice (ATVs and snowmobiles allowed). snowmobiles allowed). 7/31/2020 Page 5 of 163 2021 Rule Making Proposals REGION WATCODE ID WATER NAME TOWN(S) COUNTY OR COUNTIES PROPOSAL SOURCE E 093EO_BLNK KENNEBEC RIVER, EAST OUTLET Big Moose Twp, Sapling Twp Piscataquis, Somerset MDIFW REGULATION THEME Special Need REGULATION CHANGE DESCRIPTION Adding protection for brook trout and liberalizing togue minimum length, consistent with proposal for Moosehead Lake. Add "brook" before trout. PURPOSE The purpose of this proposal is to create consistency between this water and the brook trout slot limit and togue minimum length limit proposals on Moosehead Lake. Please refer to the Moosehead Lake proposal for more information. CURRENT REGULATIONS PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS PROPOSED REGULATIONS KENNEBEC RIVER, EAST OUTLET, Big Moose Twp, Sapling KENNEBEC RIVER, EAST OUTLET, Big Moose Twp, Sapling KENNEBEC RIVER, EAST OUTLET, Big Moose Twp, Sapling Twp (North Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: Twp (North Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: Twp (North Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: From Moosehead Lake downstream to the red markers at From Moosehead Lake downstream to the red markers at From Moosehead Lake downstream to the red markers at Indian Pond: S-1, From April 1 - September 30: FFO. Total Indian Pond: S-1, From April 1 - September 30: FFO. Total Indian Pond: S-1, From April 1 - September 30: FFO. Total daily bag limit on trout, landlocked salmon, and togue: 1 daily bag limit on brook trout, landlocked salmon, and daily bag limit on brook trout, landlocked salmon, and fish. Minimum length limit on trout, landlocked salmon, togue: 1 fish. Minimum length limit on brook trout and, togue: 1 fish. Minimum length limit on brook trout and and togue: 14 inches. General law maximum length limit landlocked salmon, and togue: 14 inches. All brook trout landlocked salmon: 14 inches. All brook trout between 18 on landlocked salmon does not apply. From October 1 - between 18 and 22 inches must be released alive at once. and 22 inches must be released alive at once. No 31: FFO, S-7. No minimum length limit on togue. General law maximum minimum length limit on togue. General law maximum length limit on landlocked salmon does not apply. From length limit on landlocked salmon does not apply. From – From the dam at Moosehead Lake to yellow markers at October 1 - 31: FFO, S-7. October 1 - 31: FFO, S-7. tail of Beach Pool: Open to open water fishing from November 1 - March 31: FFO, S-7. – From the dam at Moosehead Lake to yellow markers at – From the dam at Moosehead Lake to yellow markers at tail of Beach Pool: Open to open water fishing from tail of Beach Pool: Open to open water fishing from East Outlet Dam: The fishway and the area within 50 feet November 1 - March 31: FFO, S-7. November 1 - March 31: FFO, S-7. of any part of the fishway is closed to fishing at all times (Title 12, subsection 12457). East Outlet Dam: The fishway and the area within 50 feet East Outlet Dam: The fishway and the area within 50 feet of any part of the fishway is closed to fishing at all times of any part of the fishway is closed to fishing at all times (Title 12, subsection 12457). (Title 12, subsection 12457). 7/31/2020 Page 6 of 163 2021 Rule Making Proposals REGION WATCODE ID WATER NAME TOWN(S) COUNTY OR COUNTIES PROPOSAL SOURCE E 093133_BLNK MOOSE RIVER Holeb Twp to Rockwood Strip T1 Somerset MDIFW R1 NBKP REGULATION THEME Special Need REGULATION CHANGE DESCRIPTION Adding protection for brook trout and liberalizing togue minimum length, consistent with proposal for Moosehead Lake. PURPOSE The purpose of this proposal is to create consistency between this water and the brook trout slot limit and togue minimum length limit proposals on Moosehead Lake. Please refer to the Moosehead Lake proposal for more information. CURRENT REGULATIONS PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS PROPOSED REGULATIONS MOOSE RIVER, Holeb Twp to Rockwood Strip T1 R1 NBKP MOOSE RIVER, Holeb Twp to Rockwood Strip T1 R1 NBKP MOOSE RIVER, Holeb Twp to Rockwood Strip T1 R1 NBKP (North Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: (North Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: (North Zone). General fishing laws apply, except: – From confluence of Holeb Stream (Holeb Twp) to – From confluence of Holeb Stream (Holeb Twp) to – From confluence of Holeb Stream (Holeb Twp) to Brassua Lake: S-1, S-11, S-19. Brassua Lake: S-1, S-11, S-19. Brassua Lake: S-1, S-11, S-19. – From Brassua Lake Dam to the red markers located just – From Brassua Lake Dam to the red markers located just – From Brassua Lake Dam to the red markers located just upstream of Moose River Campground (formerly Woody’s upstream of Moose River Campground (formerly Woody’s upstream of Moose River Campground (formerly Woody’s Campground), approx. 1 mile upstream of Rockwood Campground), approx. 1 mile upstream of Rockwood Campground), approx.