Operational Plan for the Restoration of Diadromous Fishes to the ...

5. Pike spawning and nursery habitat is typically contiguous and requires emergent
wetland so dispersing populations would be associated with wetland complexes
and with those wetland complexes that are closest to an existing population.
There are sections of the Penobscot River that have little emergent wetland,
which would likely slow dispersal of pike upstream; and
6. Pike prefer lentic or non-flowing water so rivers with even moderate flow are a
less preferred habitat. This habitat preference would favor a low natural
dispersal rate through mainstem river corridors.
These aspects of pike biology lead us to conclude that human-caused introductions are
a greater threat than natural dispersal within the Penobscot River watershed.
Comment: Stocked brown trout would have a greater impact on native species than
northern pike.
Response: Brown trout, an exotic species native to Europe, is currently stocked by
MDIFW for recreational fishing in Nicatous Lake located above a set of falls impassable
to all species of fish but Atlantic salmon. IFW and DMR are working on an MOU to be
revisited every five years to continue this effort. Nicatous Lake is a 5,165 acre lake
located T40 MD in Hancock County. It is managed for both warm water (chain pickerel,
smallmouth bass, and white perch) and cold water (brown trout and landlocked salmon)
species of game fish.
Brown trout were stocked in Nicatous Lake historically from 1938 to 1942, and
more recently from 1998 to the present. The lake was managed as a principal fishery
for stocked landlocked salmon from 1971 to 1997, but due to poor growth and holdover,
a management decision was made to switch to brown trout, a hardier coldwater species
of fish and a less discriminate forager than salmon. Currently 4,000 fall yearling age
brown trout (18 month old) and 1,500 spring yearling age landlocked salmon (12 month
old) are stocked annually. The next sport fish survey (winter creel census) is scheduled
for winter 2010 or 2011.
MIFW will continue to stock brown trout at Nicatous Lake for the next 5 years
(2014). During this time period at least one winter sport fish survey will be conducted
and volunteer angler book data will be synthesized to determine the importance of the
Nicatous Lake brown trout fishery to the angling public. In addition, regional staff will
conduct one or more summer lake habitat (basic water quality) and fish sample surveys
(gill netting or trap netting) to determine if management goals (age and growth) are
being met. At the end of the five year period a final report will be developed and the
interagency MOU for the brown trout stocking program at Nicatous Lake revisited.
Comment: The tasks designed to assess the risks associated with non-native species
should include an additional provision to obtain more information about the ecological
effects of pike where they occur in other Maine waters, especially in lotic habitats.
Response: We agree that the risks associated with introduced species need further
research in Maine and have revised the plan to include this topic in the adaptive
management planning effort.
Comment: How will the migration of alewives affect pike?
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