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Types of Fish in Bear Pond
NORTHERN PIKE ALERT
In the past few years there have been numerous reports that Northern Pike are being caught in the Pond, particularly Little Bear. These fish are not native to the Pond and are very agressive and fast growing. They are a major threat to other species such as Bass, and are also a threat to other wildlife such as baby ducks and loons. If you catch one don’t throw it back.
Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offers a reward of $2,000 for information leading to the apprehension of persons responsible for the illegal introduction of fish.
Other local lakes are also threatened by Northern Pike as reported in the Portland Press Herald in the attached article.
Native Species of Fish
Big & Little Bear provide good fishing for warm water game fish such as bass and pickerel. Since the Pond is relatively shallow and warm, there are no cold water species such as trout and salmon.
 Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass are more common than largemouth bass. They prefer large, deep lakes or streams with clear water and gravel or rocky bottoms. Smallmouth bass are generally smaller than largemouth, but their capacity for resisting capture and their acrobatics when hooked more than make up for any deficiency in size. They rarely exceed 5 pounds, and any fish over 3 pounds is very good. These fish feed on many types of aquatic life and readily take both natural and artificial baits. They are highly esteemed food and sport fish.
 Largemouth Bass Largemouth Bass prefer the shallow, weedy portions of lakes and rivers. Weedy areas provide both protection and food supplies in the form of forage fish. Usually any fish over 3 pounds is considered a good catch; those over 5 pounds are trophies. Largemouth eat fish, crayfish, frogs, snakes and some small mammals and young birds, if given the opportunity. These fish readily take natural and artificial baits, and are good fighters when hooked making them a most important sport fish.
To build a better bass fishery, anglers are asked not to take bass off spawning beds, thereby giving fry a better chance of survival.
Pickerel are a member of the pike family. The fish is green with the sides prominently marked by yellow-green areas broken by dark, interconnecting lines resembling the links of a chain. The jaws are elongated containing large, sharp teeth; the large dorsal fin is located way back towards the caudal fin, which is forked. Most of the pickerel caught in Maine are age 3-5, at which time they range in length from 14-19 inches. The pickerel has earned a well-deserved reputation as predacious and habitually feeds on other fish. Favorite foods of the pickerel are yellow perch, white perch, and minnows.
 White Perch White perch are ranked among the first ten as a freshwater game fish and as a food fish they are one of the most palatable. Size can vary greatly according to the type of habitat and the density of the perch population. A 6-year old perch can be anywhere from 6 to 12 inches long. The average 8 to 10 inch perch weighs about 0.45 pounds and is about 4 years old. Lakes, ponds or flowages that have large areas of shallow, fairly warm water produce the fastest growing perch.
 Yellow Perch Yellow perch are very adaptable and occur in all parts of Maine. They travel in schools and are commonly found near vegetation in clear, open waters. Perch feed most actively during the day and often rest motionless at night. Adults usually occupy deeper waters than juveniles do. Spawning takes place in the spring
P umpkinseed Sunfish & Bluegills Thes fish occur liberally in shallow, warm, freshwater ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. It prefers areas sheltered by stands of submerged aquatic vegetation and substrates rich in organic debris. Also known as 'punkinseed', pond perch, sun bass and common sunfish, these fish usually grow to a length of 5 or 6 inches, and rarely a 10-incher can be seen, which would qualify as a trophy fish in this species.
Bullhead (Horn Pout) Compared to a catfish, bul lheads are stockier, darker in color, have a more rounded, slightly notched tail, and are not as large. The black bullhead has 17-20 rays in the anal fin, the brown bullhead has 20-24 rays in the anal fin, while the yellow bullhead usually has 24-27 rays in the anal fin. There are also variations in color as the names suggest but not as noticeable as might be expected. Most of us are satisfied to know them just as bullheads and do not worry about if they are black, brown, or yellow. |
