Illegal bass introduction in Maine leads to reward offering

Talmadge, Maine — An illegal fish introduction threatens a pristine wild Downeast brook trout and landlocked salmon fishery, and the Grand Lake Stream Guides Association and Operation Game Thief are offering a $6,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally introducing largemouth bass into West Musquash Lake.

Anyone with any information regarding this wildlife crime is encouraged to contact the Maine Warden Service or Operation Game Thief at 1-800-ALERT-US.

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In late July, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologists confirmed the presence of largemouth bass in West Musquash.

The team of biologists from across the state caught and visually confirmed multiple largemouth bass of varying ages in the lake. Biologists also confirmed there were no largemouth bass in Orie Lake, which feeds into West Musquash, and natural barriers prevent upstream passage of bass into West Musquash, indicating the bass were moved illegally into West Musquash.

West Musquash Lake encompasses over 1,600 acres.

— Maine Warden Service