Waters in Indian Territory

As a result of the Maine Indian Claim Settlement Act of 1980, the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over fishing on any pond of greater than 10 acres with 50% or more of shoreline within Indian (Passamaquoddy or Penobscot) territory and any section of a river, brook or stream both sides of which are in Indian territory or one side of which is in Indian territory for a continuous length of 1/2 mile or more. The Commission has adopted rules which affect the following waters within Indian Territory. Waters subject to special provisions are so indicated. General Law regulations for fishing Indian Territory waters are as follows:

Open Water fishing season:

April 1 – September 30.

Ice fishing season:

January 1 – March 31.

Species length and bag limits:

If there are no special length and/or bag limits listed within the Indian Territory Waters, then refer to General Law length and bag limits .

Special rules that differ from General Law provisions are listed for individual waters. Check the list of waters under Passamaquoddy or Penobscot Territory regulations to determine if the water you wish to fish has special regulations. Please note that Open Water and Ice Fishing regulations are listed separately.

The Tribes also regulate sustenance fishing by tribal members on inland waters within their reservations.

The Tribes may also require access permits, or have other permit requirements pertaining to Indian Territory lands. Contact the appropriate tribal headquarters for information on specific permit requirements.

ICE FISHING

Passamaquoddy Territory – Lakes And Ponds

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Lowelltown. Big Indian Pond, Clear Pond, Elaine Pond, Little Indian Pond, Trout Pond, and Twin Island Pond: Closed to ice fishing.

HANCOCK COUNTY

T3 ND. Side Pistol Lake: Closed to ice fishing. Lower Pistol Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

T4 ND. Kilman (Selmore) Pond, Middle Pistol Lake, and Upper Pistol Lake: Closed to ice fishing. Middle Chain Lake and Upper Chain Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

PENOBSCOT COUNTY

T5 R1 NBPP. Mill Privilege Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except

landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

SOMERSET COUNTY

Holeb Twp. (Big) Fish Pond, Little Fish Pond, and Grassy Pond: Closed to ice fishing.

Prentiss Twp. Cape Horn Pond, Duncan Pond, Hall Pond, and Lower Welman Pond: Closed to ice fishing. Duncan Pond and an unnamed inlet stream from Hall Pond: Closed to smelting in every even-numbered year. The daily bag limit on smelts is 1 quart.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

T5 ND BPP. Lower Chain Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except

landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish. Sysladobsis Lake (Lower): Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

T19 MD BPP. Grassy Pond: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

Penobscot Indian Territory – Lakes and Ponds

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Alder Stream Twp. Round Mountain Pond: Closed to ice fishing. Snow Mountain Pond and Blanchard Pond are regulated by the Penobscot Nation and are closed to ice fishing.

PENOBSCOT COUNTY

T2 & 3 R9 NWP. East Branch Lake: Open to ice fishing from January 1 – March 31, Daily bag limit on bass: 1 fish; minimum length limit on bass is 10 inches. All bass between 16 and 20 inches must be released alive at once. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish. Big Mattamiscontis Lake and Little Mattamiscontis Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 – March 31. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

T6 R8 WELS. Mountain Catcher Pond: Closed to ice fishing. First Lake Mattagamon: Open to ice fishing from January 1 – March 31. S-17, S-26.

RIVERS, BROOKS, AND STREAMS

All rivers, brooks and streams in Indian Territory are closed to ice fishing, including those:

• in the townships listed above in Passamaquoddy Territory and Penobscot Territory;
• located in Passamaquoddy Territory in Penobscot County (T3R9 NWP and TAR7 WELS) and in Somerset County (Alder Brook, Pittston Academy, Soldiertown, and Hammond Townships); and
• located in Penobscot Territory in Penobscot County (Argyle and T3R1 NBPP) and in Piscataquis County (Williamsburg).

OPEN WATER FISHING

Passamaquoddy Territory

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Lowelltown Twp. Clear, Elaine, Big Indian, Little Indian, Trout, and Twin Island Ponds: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches.

Rivers, brooks and streams: General Law provisions apply.

HANCOCK COUNTY

T3 ND. Lower and Side Pistol Lakes: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

T4 ND. Kilman (Selmore) Pond: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish. Middle & Upper Chain Lakes, Middle & Upper Pistol Lakes: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

Sections of rivers, brooks and streams in Indian Territory in T3 and T4ND: General Law provisions apply.

PENOBSCOT COUNTY

T5R1 NBPP. Mill Privilege Lake: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

Sections of all rivers, brooks and streams in Indian Territory in T5 R1 NBPP, T3R9 NWP, and TAR7 WELS: General Law provisions apply.

SOMERSET COUNTY

Hammond Twp. Section of South Branch Penobscot River in Indian Territory: April 1 – August 15: daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 6 inches (only 1 may exceed 12 inches). From August 16 – September 30: S-6; daily bag limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length: 6 inches.

Holeb Twp. (Big) Fish Pond and thoroughfare/tributary upstream to Little Fish Pond and Grassy Pond: S-5; daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 14 inches. (Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife rules prohibit use of motors greater than 10 horsepower). Little Fish & Grassy Ponds: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches.

Prentiss Twp. Cape Horn Pond: S-5; Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish;

minimum length limit: 10 inches. Mary Petuche Pond: Subject to Tribal regulation and will be posted. Duncan Pond: S-6; Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches. Duncan Pond and unnamed inlet stream from Hall Pond will be closed to smelting in 2002 and every even year thereafter. The daily bag limit on smelts is 1 quart. Hall Pond: S-5; Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches. Lower Welman Pond: S-6; daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches. South Branch, Penobscot River: April 1 – August 15: daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 6 inches (only 1 may exceed 12 inches). From August 16 – September 30: S-6; daily bag limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length: 6 inches.

Sections of all other rivers, brooks and streams in Indian Territory in the above Somerset County Townships, as well as in Alder Brook, Pittston Academy, Soldiertown, and Hammond Townships: General Law provisions apply.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

T5 NDBPP. Lower Chain & Sysladobsis (Lower) Lakes: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

T19 MDBPP. Grassy Pond: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish.

Sections of brooks and streams in Indian Territory in T5 NDBPP and T19

MDBPP. General Law provisions apply.

Penobscot Indian Territory

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Alder Stream Twp. Round Mountain Pond: Opens May 1. S-5; Daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches. Alder Stream: From confluence of Alder & Little Alder Streams downstream to Penobscot Territory boundary lines: April 1 – August 15: Anglers age 15 and under may use single-pointed artificial lures; S-5 for anglers age 16 and older. August 16 – September 30: S-5. Rest of Alder & Little Alder Streams & tributaries in Indian Territory: S-5. North Branch Dead River: S-5.

PENOBSCOT COUNTY

Argyle Township – Sections of Birch, East Branch Birch, and Hemlock Streams in Indian Territory: General Law provisions apply.

T3R1 NBPP – Section of East Branch Passadumkeag River in Indian Territory: General Law provisions apply.

T2 and T3R9 NWP. East Branch Lake: Daily bag limit on bass: 1 fish. All bass between 16 and 20 inches must be released alive at once. Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish. Mattamiscontis & Little Mattamiscontis Lakes: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 5 fish. Sections of East Branch Seboeis, Mattamiscontis, and Sam Ayers Streams and Johnny Ayers, Mountain and Squirrel Brooks in Indian Territory: General Law provisions apply.

T6R8 WELS. First Lake Matagamon: S-17, S-26. Mountain Catcher Pond: Daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish, minimum length limit on brook trout: 10 inches. Section of Mountain Catcher Stream in Indian Territory: General Law provisions apply.

PISCATAQUIS COUNTY

Williamsburg Twp. Sections of Merrill, Roaring, Stinking, and Whetstone Brooks and West Branch Pleasant River in Indian Territory: General Law provisions apply.

WATERS REGULATED BY TRIBES

Any pond of 10 acres or less is regulated by the Tribe in whose territory the pond is located. Contact appropriate Tribal Headquarters for further regulations on such waters. The Tribes also regulate sustenance fishing by tribal members on inland waters within their reservations. Contact the appropriate tribal headquarters for information pertaining to reservation waters.

The Penobscot Indian Reservation includes certain islands and surrounding waters in the Penobscot River above the Milford Dam.

The following regulations apply to waters regulated by the Penobscot Nation in Alder StreamTownship in Franklin County – Blanchard and Snow Mountain Ponds: S-5; no motors allowed.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe may require a permit for access to its waters within its reservation at Indian Township in Washington County including Big Lake, Grand Falls Flowage, Lewey Lake, Long Lake, Georgie Brook, Berry Brook and Tomah Stream.

Anyone wishing to fish in Indian Territory should contact one of the following:

Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission (207) 622-4815

PO Box 87

Hallowell, ME 04347

(207-622-4815)

Penobscot Nation: (207) 817-7331

Department of Natural Resources

12 Wabanaki Way

Indian Island, ME 04468

Passamaquoddy Warden Service:

Indian Township: (207) 796-2677 or (800) 894-2677)

PO Box 446

Princeton, ME 04668

Pleasant Point: (207-853-2551)

PO Box 343

Perry, ME 04667