Changes to ice fishing season

    AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council has adopted changes to ice fishing season dates on certain bodies of water in Aroostook County, including a section on the St. John River.
    “This should please our anglers,” said Roland “Danny” Martin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “We’ve provided additional fishing opportunities for salmon and smelts, and in the process, changed some season dates to make our lawbook more consistent and easy to understand.”
    The St. John River will be open to ice fishing from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2009 from the International Bridge in Van Buren downstream to the Maine/New Brunswick border at the easternmost border of the town of Hamlin. General border regulations will apply. See Page 41 of the Ice Fishing Lawbook.
    The following areas will be open to ice fishing for all fish from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2009: Cross Lake: T17 R5; Eagle Lake: Wallagrass, Eagle Lake, T16 R 5, T16 R 6; Long Lake: St. Agatha, T17 R3, T17 R4, Madawaska;  and Square Lake: T15 R5, T16 R5.
    Also, Madawaska Lake (T16 R4, Westmanland), including so-called Little Madawaska Lake, shall remain open to ice fishing from Feb. 15 to March 31, 2009.
    Special regulations do apply to these lakes. Anglers are asked to consult their Ice Fishing Lawbook.