To evaluate mortality of landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) caught on flies and worms in a typical river nursery area, a study was carried out at the East Outlet of Moosehead Lake, Maine, in June 1975-1977. Of 177 fish caught in the 3 yr, 22% died after hooking. All of the 74 control fish caught in a fishway trap survived. Mortality of worm-hooked fish (35%) was significantly greater than that of fish hooked on flies (4%). Higher mortality of worm-hooked fish was attributed largely to anatomical site of hooking. Nearly 37% of worm-caught fish were hooked in the esophagus, but most fly-caught fish were hooked either in the jaws or mouth. Mortality of fish that bled after hooking (86%) was significantly greater than that of nonbleeding fish (15%). No significant differences were found between hooking mortality of fish of ages II and III nor between legal size (≳356 mm) and sublegal fish. We concluded that closure of heavily fished landlocked Atlantic salmon nursery areas to worm fishing may be justified in areas where juvenile fish production is important to the lake or river fisheries involved.