Here is a interesting article by Bob Mallard about nonnative fish taking over our trout and salmon waters. I have mixed feeling on this topic beause I guide for some of these species ,musky, smallmouth bass and pike but I also guide for wild brook trout and salmon. Ive seen this issue for the last 20 years, I am not sure its any worse than it was when I started fly fishing.

I have not always got a long with the author but I do think its awesome how he keeps our wild trout and salmon waters in the fore front of our minds.

Here is his latest article on the Bangor Daily website. Take a look and form your own opinion.

While most Maine conservation non-profits are focused on habitat, the number one threat to our wild native fish is nonnative fish introductions, not habitat degradation. To be fair, while dams are the primary cause of the decline in endangered Atlantic salmon and other anadromous fish, nonnative fish introductions have compromised more inland native fish populations than anything else. Unlike dams, most of which were constructed generations ago, many nonnative fish introductions are relatively recent events, and it is still happening.

Highly invasive smallmouth bass can now be found throughout the Kennebec River system from Brassua Dam on the lower Moose River and Grand Falls on the Dead River, all the way down to the ocean, including Moosehead Lake, Indian Pond, Wyman Lake and tributaries such as Spencer, Enchanted and Austin streams, as well as West Outlet, Sandy and Carrabassett rivers, all of which are home to wild native brook trout. This has negatively impacted Atlantic salmon, and other species as well.

Kevin McKay