Illegal Bass Stocking Threatens Native Trout in Maine Lake: $6000 Reward Offered

Transplanted largemouth bass threaten West Musquash Lake, one of Maine’s last untouched native trout and salmon fisheries

Illegal Bass Introduced to West Musquash Lake, Maine -$6000 Reward Offered

Table of Contents

1. Largemouth Bass Discovered in West Musquash Lake
2. Why This Cold-Water Fishery Matters
3. Historic Lake Survey Foreshadowed This Invasive Threat
4. Public Reward Offered: How to Report a Fish Crime in Maine

Maine officials are offering a $6,000 reward after illegal largemouth bass were introduced to West Musquash Lake, threatening native trout and salmon. | MDIFW

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW), the illegal introduction of largemouth bass to West Musquash Lake in southern Maine threatens a pristine wild brook trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon fishery. Warm water predatory species like largemouth bass are likely to outcompete and/or feed on the native species, quickly changing the delicate balance of the cold-water ecosystem. Therefore, the MDIFW has offered a $6000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible.

There seems to be a growing trend of local and federal environmental agencies recruiting concerned citizens' help through cash rewards, like these examples:

Black Carp Bounty Program: Fishermen in 27 States Can Fight Invasives and Earn $1000 per Month

Angler Earns Record $164,000 in 5 Month 2024 Pikeminnow Fishing Season

Largemouth Bass Discovered in West Musquash Lake

MDIFW biologists have used electrofishing equipment to verify the presence of illegally introduced largemouth bass in West Musquash Lake. | MDIFW

The presence of largemouth bass has been confirmed through recent electrofishing surveys. It is suspected that the bass were illegally and intentionally introduced to the lake, since nearby Orie Lake, which feeds into West Musquash, does not contain largemouth bass and that natural barriers between the two bodies of water would prevent any migration.

Why This Cold-Water Fishery Matters

1600-acre West Musquash Lake is situated in a fairly remote part of Washington County in Maine and remains mostly undeveloped and wild. | Google Earth

In a release, MDIFW Regional Fisheries Biologist Jacob Scoville said,”West Musquash is a deep, clear, cold-water lake that is truly special to the region and area. The lake supports a wild brook trout, wild lake trout, and wild landlocked salmon fishery and is one of the last waters in the state with a population of round whitefish. This introduction will no doubt change the lake forever.”

Scenic, clear, West Musquash Lake is just over 1600-acres, with a maximum depth of just over 100-feet. It is situated in a fairly remote part of Washington County in Maine and remains mostly undeveloped and wild.

Historic Lake Survey Foreshadowed This Invasive Threat

20th century survey data was already warning of the devastating effects the introduction of warm water species could have on this lake. | MDIFW

A lake survey document on the MDIFW website which appears to have originated in 1952 and was last updated in 1995, describes the lake with its “lightly developed shoreline, superb water quality, and naturally reproducing salmonid populations constitutes a high value natural resource.”

Even back in 1995 the document warned, “Anglers should exercise great care in ensuring that no additional fish species are accidentally introduced into this pristine environment. The yellow perch have certainly contributed to the demise of the brook trout fishery. Any additional warm-water species would have similar strongly negative impacts on the highly prized salmonoid fisheries.”

Public Reward Offered: How to Report a Fish Crime in Maine

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Maine Warden Service or Operation Game Thief at 1-800-ALERT-US or by submitting a tip at www.maineogt.org.