A.__The open season for all fish in waters or portions of waters naturally free of ice in lakes and ponds is from April 1st to September 30th.

B.__The open season for all fish in the rivers above tidewater in waters free of ice is from April 1st to September 15th.

C.__The open season for all fish in brooks and streams in waters free of ice is from April 1st to August 15th.

D.__The open-water fishing season on boundary waters between Maine and New Brunswick is from April 15th to September 30th.

2.__Exceptions.__Notwithstanding the open seasons established under subsection 1:

A.__A person may take smelts at any time by the use of a dipnet in the usual and ordinary way in inland waters or portions of inland waters that are naturally free of ice, and where the taking of smelts is not prohibited by rules of the commissioner;

B.__There is a continued closed season on the dipping of smelts from Morrill Pond and its tributaries in Somerset County;

C.__Whenever the last day of open-water fishing season falls on a Saturday, the season is extended one day to include the following Sunday; and

D.__The commissioner by rule may extend the open-water fishing season as long as such an extension does not pose a threat to the fishery.__Rules adopted under this paragraph may include provisions that establish catch-and-release-only restrictions on landlocked salmon, trout, togue and bass.

§12457.__Restricted areas

1.__Closed waters.__Except as the commissioner may by rule provide, the following waters are closed to fishing:

A.__The area within 150 feet of any dam in which a fishway is located, except: