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AUGUSTA, Maine - This winter, Long Pond in Belgrade will be open to ice anglers. The Department and its Advisory Council recently decided to open Long Pond on an experimental basis to ice fishing after receiving a petition from the Maine Ice Anglers Association and conducting a public comment period and a hearing. Long Pond in Belgrade, Rome and Mt. Vernon will open January 1 for ice fishing for all fish except salmon, trout and bass. There is no size or bag limit on pike on Long Pond. All salmon, trout and bass must be released immediately without removing them from the water. This regulation expires on March 31, 2006. The department will evaluate the effects of the regulation on the pike population to determine if this is a valid tool for controlling pike predation on salmonids. |