Managing fisheries as numerous and diverse as those found in Maine is difficult at best. Add to that the resource limitations of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the fact that Maine is one of the poorest states in the country and it becomes that much tougher.

Although there is increased public pressure to create more "Quality" fishing opportunities in Maine, there are varying levels of regional support for regulations which are designed to create such. As a result, management policies across the state vary from progressive, to negligent, to downright reckless!

Waters such as the many remote FFO ponds, Moosehead and Rangeley Lakes, the Roach and Rapid Rivers, the East Outlet and the West Branch of the Penobscot have recovered and prospered under sound management policies with more and bigger fish caught each season.

Conversely, waters such as the Dead and Kennebec Rivers, Chesuncook and Eagle Lake, and Austin Stream have either declined or failed to reach their undeniable (and historically proven) "Trophy" potential due to inadequate or ineffective management policies.

In the case of the Kennebec, although the fishing has improved dramatically in certain sections over the past 10 years to a point where it is one of the most popular rivers in the state, this is due to Mother Nature and "voluntary" conservation as opposed to a sound management policy (much of the river is still under "General Law").

I strongly encourage each and every one of you to get involved wherever possible to help see that the Kennebec River and other high-potential fisheries receive the support and recognition required to ensure that future generations of anglers from both Maine and "away" will enjoy fishing that is as good and ideally better than what we have today.