Key Species: landlocked salmon, brown trout, white perch, pickerel
Best Way to Fish: boat, canoe
Best Time to Fish: May through September
MAG: 26, A-1
Description: This easily accessible yet semi-remote 826-acre lake contains both coldwater and warmwater species. Small aluminum boats or canoes are perfect for fishing this small lake. Not much opportunity exists to fish from shore, and the boat ramp is not designed for large, heavy boats. There is a private campground in Alexander, and motels are available in Machias.
Fishing index: Local anglers hit Bog Lake for landlocked salmon early in the season, just after ice-out, which is usually in late April or early May. The lake receives annual stockings of salmon and is an unsung but steady producer. In May and June, troll around the shore of the single, large island at the north end of the lake, using tandem streamers. Gray ghost and Jerry’s smelt are highly effective, as are orange and gold Flash Kings. Use a fly rod with sinking line and 20 feet of 6-pound test leader.
An initial stocking of brown trout took place at Bog Lake in 1995. Since the lake has a substantial smelt population, the brown trout should prosper and provide good fishing. Anglers trolling for landlocked salmon should pick up a few browns along with salmon during the 1997 season. Try dry-fly fishing for browns on still evenings in May and June. Use red quills, Adams, and small dun variants. Look for trout rising and get as close as you can without scaring them. You will need a 12-foot tapered leader with a 2-pound test tippet for wary flatwater browns. Look for brown trout around the mouth of Long Lake Cove, halfway up the eastern side of the lake.
Look for pickerel in Long Lake Cove and at the southern end of Bog Lake. For large pickerel, try drifting with live minnows in late April and May. You may want to use a short wire leader. Stick to shallow water. Night crawlers, fished slowly on bottom, will also take pickerel in early spring. September is another good month for pickerel. Cool water spurs these toothy predators to eat as much as possible before the lake is locked in with ice.
White perch fishing is excellent from mid-June through September. Try drifting north-south through the middle of the lake. Use worms, night crawlers, or small minnows, fished on the bottom while you drift. Small lead-head curlytail or sparkle-tail plasticbodied jigs are good perch catchers, too.
Directions: From Machias, head north on Maine Route 192. Look for the boat ramp on the right side of the road in the town of Northfield, about 9 miles out of Machias.
For more information: Call the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife in Machias.
