Hi, Jim. I’m the opposite of VTsalmon, having only fished for landlocks in Maine (though several place VTS mentioned are on my list). Like VTS says, whether the salmon are in the stream depends on water flow, temperatures, whether the smelt are running, etc. I’ve done OK fishing for salmon in June in GLS. I absolutely agree that landlocked fishing (and especially catching) is hugely addictive. Nearly every one I’ve ever caught has jumped immediately and often. There’s nothing like having a 20” salmon jump 6 or 7 times as you giggle like a school girl!
I'd recommend Grand Lake Stream if you’re going to fish in Maine. It's a quaint little "town" (really only one store and a fish hatchery in the center of camps). The paved road literally ends at GLS, and the gravel roads begin. Grand Lake stream itself runs about two or three miles between West Grand Lake and Big Lake. It has runs, shallow pools, deep pools, riffles and glides. It can offer great dry fly fishing, or it can be all sub-surface on nymphs, streamers or eggs. The stream is crystal clear (gin clear, as they say) and beautiful. If you have any wading limitations at all, GLS is much more gentle and less intimidating than the Penobscot or the East Outlet. The stream has been fly fishing only since 1903, and the locals make sure anybody "from away" abides by the rules and keeps it clean. I've never run into anybody of less than upstanding character while fishing or in "town".
Landlocked salmon either drop down into the stream from West Grand Lake or migrate up from Big Lake in the spring and again in the fall. Fishing might be a little bit easier in the spring, but many say the larger salmon are caught in the fall (I agree). There are numerous lodges you can stay at within the area, as GLS has the highest concentration of registered guides in the state of Maine. My wife and I always stay at Canal Side Cabins. Rates are $45 per person/night, but you supply all of your own food and do the cooking. The cabins are "rustic", but have all of the modern conveniences... just don't expect Hilton-like rooms. John and Mary are the owners and are very welcoming and want you to enjoy your stay. John is a Master Guide, but I've never hired a guide in GLS. A decent fly fisher should be fine fishing the stream and catching the landlocks. I'm from outside of Philadelphia in southeast PA, so pretty much any stream in Maine is like heaven compared to most streams in my immediate area. West Grand Lake is a landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass and lake trout (togue) lake. My wife and I have done really well on Big Lake for smallmouth out of our kayaks.
BTW, there are some brookies in GLS as well, but I catch more salmon than trout there. Grand Lake Stream stays open until October 20th, when many other streams in Maine are already closed. I don't hunt, but I have seen and spoken with moose, bear, and grouse (partridge in Maine) hunters in the Pine Tree Shop and at the lodge. My wife likes to "moose" (drive slowly on the gravel roads outside of town looking for moose) while I fish. She and I have seen lots of moose around GLS. We've also seen a good amount of grouse (partridge) on the gravel roads. It's just a beautiful area to experience at least once.
