BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 26, 2021
The Rapid River is special. Along with the upper Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park and Snake River near Jackson, Wyoming, the Rapid River is also one of the finest wild native trout rivers in the nation. Unfortunately, wild native trout fisheries in large rivers sadly are rare today, most having succumbed to invasive fish introductions, including state-sponsored, non-native trout. Unfortunately, the Rapid River is now infected with highly invasive non-native smallmouth bass. They entered the river in the 1990s as the result of an illegal introduction. They compete with native species for food and habitat, and also prey on brook trout. It is highly unlikely that the non-native bass in the Rapid River can ever be totally eradicated. But they can, and should be, controlled and reduced to the lowest number possible in order to help maintain the wild native brook trout fishery. ~ Bob Mallard