"This certainly is different than last year," said Peter Bourque, Director of Fisheries for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "With the mild winter we have had, there are open water spots to fish throughout the entire state."

Many lakes in southern and even central Maine are either partially or completely ice free. The lower than average snowfall also means that rivers and streams are at low springtime flow levels, making for easier fishing. Still, with the recent bout of winter, some areas are still icebound, particularly the further north you go.

As with any boating activity, the Maine Warden Service is urging boaters to wear their lifejackets. Prolonged immersion in cold water can kill, and wearing a life jacket can greatly increase your survival chances if you are in the water unexpectedly.

The beginning of the open water season also means that the department stocking trucks will be busy. The Dry Mills Hatchery and the Casco Hatchery Fish Hatchery start an ambitious stocking program in mid-April and by the time ice starts to cover lakes in the fall, over 1.2 million fish will have been stocked in waterways across the state.

Below are some recommendations of where to fish on opening day from Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Fisheries Biologists.

Southern Maine
Low ice fishing pressure due to poor ice means spring fishing on these waters to be better than average. Waters such as Thompson Lake in Oxford, Moose Pond in Bridgton, Mousam Lake in Acton and Panther Pond in Raymond were lightly fished this winter and should provide fast action this spring. Additionally, many of these waters will be ice free before April 1, nearly 1 month earlier than last year.

With water levels in streams and brooks low, we will start stocking April 2, a couple weeks earlier than normal. Expect brooks, streams and small ponds in southern York County to be stocked the first week.

Ponds like Crystal Lake in Gray and Upper and Lower Range Ponds in Poland should provide good action for rainbows as well as browns next week.

If you are looking for sea-run browns, try the Mousam River in Kennebunk, Ogunquit River in Ogunquit and the Salmon Falls River in South Berwick.

Central Maine
Brook trout are a favorite target of spring anglers and are stocked every spring in the following waters: Pleasant Pond (Turner), Egypt Pond, Echo Lake, Flying Pond, Jamies Pond, Long Pond, Maranacook Lake, Minnehonk Lake, Upper and Lower Narrows Pond, Parker Pond, Sand Pond, Alford Lake, Biscay Pond, Ross Pond, Puffers Pond, Wassookeag Lake, St. George Lake, and Swan Lake. If you are looking for landlocks, annually we stock landlocks in St. George Lake, Swan Lake, and Wassookeag Lake.

There are regular stockings of lake trout occurring in Maranacook Lake, Damariscotta Lake, Lower Narrows Pond, and Echo Lake. Additional togue fishing opportunities can be found on self-sustaining, reproducing populations in Swan Lake, Wassookeag Lake, and Sheepscot Lake.

If you are looking for a brown trout trip, include Great Pond, China Lake, or Androscoggin Lake. In our region there are excellent perch fisheries in numerous waters, but a listing of good prospects would include China Lake, Long Pond (around Castle Island), Salmon Lake (primarily by boat), and Unity Pond.

Downeast
In Hancock County, the following Mount Desert Island trout/salmon waters are ice-free: Upper Hadlock Pond, Echo Lake, Eagle Lake, Long Pond, and Little Long Pond. Walker Pond in Brooksville usually provides some decent ice-out action for 2 1/2- 3 lb brown trout. Troll a lure/streamer slowly along the shoreline. Lily Pond in Deer Isle has both brown trout and brook trout, and offers the chance to fish from shore. Toddy Pond will be fishable, offering anglers the chance for a wild togue, stocked splake, or stocked salmon.

Grand Lake Stream will draw a sizeable crowd of inveterate fly fishermen chaffing at the bit to cast a streamer. The Dam Pool is the spot to try your luck. If you succeed in outsmarting a salmon, expect them to be quite thin, as most have over-wintered in this pool after spawning in late October-early November.

Western Mountains
Last fall we stocked about 50 large brook trout in Haley Pond, Rangeley; 55 in Varnum Pond, Wilton; 55 in Clearwater Lake, Industry; 90 in Ellis Pond, Byron; 55 in Porter Lake Strong; and 55 in Wilson Pond, Wilton. Although some of these fish were undoubtedly caught during the winter (except in Varnum, which is closed to ice fishing), there are likely some left for open water anglers. We also stocked large lake trout in Porter, Wilson, and Wyman Lake, Moscow. Finally, we have scheduled the following brook trout stockings for this spring: 60 each (at 3.5 lb.per fish) in Pleasant Pond, Caratunk; Webb Lake, Weld; and Ellis Pond, Byron; and 500 (at 1/2 lb. each) for the Carrabassett River, Carrabassett Valley and Kingfield.

Moosehead Area:
The region's most famous April fishery is the West Branch of the Penobscot River below Ripogenus Dam. Low water may make boat access to the Nesowadnehunk Deadwater a bit more difficult, but anglers fishing along the shore will have better opportunities to fish the pools. The landlocked salmon fishery in the West Branch is among the best in Maine, and this is a great place to begin fishing in a new season.

Piscataquis River has been at fishable levels throughout March. There is less snow than normal upstream in the drainage, so without significant rains the Piscataquis could remain fishable through the entire month of April. Brook trout are stocked in several locations from Guilford down to East Dover.

Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club and the Town of Dover-Foxcroft enlarged and deepened an existing man-made pond located on Dunham Brook in Dover-Foxcroft. This enhanced the pond for trout and trout fishing. The pond is an integral part of Kiwanis Park, an urban recreation area for the residents of the Dover-Foxcroft. It provides a safe location for children to fish West Outlet will open to fishing on April 1st and has been stocked several times each season with 8 to 12 inch brook trout. This year will be no exception, and to mark the occasion of the April 1 opening 300 speckled beauties will be waiting for fishermen, as the West Outlet will have been stocked for the first time during the last week in March

Locally, Shirley Pond, Sawyer Pond, Prong Pond, Shadow Pond, Long Pond just downriver from the West Outlet, and of course Gravel Pit Pond near Greenville Junction. Gravel Pit Pond is one of our favorite locations. It is a great place for the kids to go after school, and a great place for parents to take their children in the evening.

Penobscot Valley Region
The most important Region F spring fishery, the West Branch Penobscot River salmon fishery between Rip Dam and Abol Bridge, will be severely affected by low water flows. Normally there is at least 2000 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water flow from Rip Dam but due to extremely low water there is only 800 cfs flowing at this time and that may drop without significant rainfall or runoff from the mountain areas. Salmon and togue lakes thatare accessible when the ice goes out should provide some exceptional fishing.

Aroostook County
Usual early fishing spots in this region include the small trout ponds in eastern Aroostook County, in particular many that were stocked with fall fingerlings last year such as Daigle Pond, Echo Lake, Hanson Brook Lake, Arnold Brook Lake, Timoney Lake and Carry Lake. Soldier Pond in Wallagrass is usually open for fishing on April 1 as are stretches of the Meduxnekeag River, Prestile Stream and various other small in eastern Aroostook County brooks that should be easier to access this year because of the lack of snow.