The Maine Sportsman - August 2017

The Maine

August 2017 • $4.99

Trophy Trout

Pages 31, 60

Grow Food Plots for Whitetails Page 66

Get Your Bear This Year Pages 25, 68, 70

Too-Wide UTEs? Page 21

Equip Your ATV for Hunting Page 39

2 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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4 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 539 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund

Our View: Support for Referendum Questions Should Come from Each of the “Two Maines” This session, the Maine Legislature considered and debated LD 31, titled “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require that Signatures on a Direct Initiative of Legislation Come from Each Congressional District.”

Pending a final vote by the full Legislature, voters will likely be asked this fall whether future referendum questions should be required to receive support from both of Maine’s congressional districts.

Currently, a referendum question – for example, a proposal to ban bear baiting and hunting with hounds – can get on a ballot if 10% of the people who voted in the last Governor’s race, sign petitions. However under the law today, all 10% Although it’s dwarfed sizeof the signatures can be obtained from York and wise by the northern district, the dense population of DisCumberland County – proponents don’t have to trict 1 in southern Maine (in generate a single signature from Aroostook Coun- purple) makes it the current ty, or Piscataquis, or Somerset or Penobscot. go-to area for petition-gathIf this constitutional change is voted in, fu- ering. That would change if ture petitioners would have to obtain 10% of the voters approve a constituvotes from each of Maine’s two congressional dis- tional amendment this fall.

Source: NationalMap.gov tricts.

One could argue that requiring petitioners to go to northern Maine to get signatures, would only accentuate the concept of “Two Maines.” Well, we’ve got news for you – there already ARE two Maines, and this proposal does nothing to change that – in fact, it might help.

In southern Maine, 50% of residents live in urban settings; that number is only 27% in northern Maine. Average wage is $44,000 in the southern district; it’s $20,000 less in the northern part of the state.

Yet District 2 contains 80% of all Maine’s land – 27,000 square miles of it.

It’s the largest congressional district west of the Mississippi. Shouldn’t the fine residents of this vast area be consulted before a referendum question qualifies for the ballot?

As Don Kleiner of the Maine Professional Guides Association testified when he appeared in support of this bill, recent years have seen several examples of referendum questions dealing with natural resources and wild game.

Questions about forestry and about bear hunting “carry a common theme,” he said, “where one small interest group seeks to limit an activity that they see as unacceptable, and with little regard to Maine’s economy, heritage or future.”

Dave Trahan of SAM was more blunt, telling lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee that “wealthy groups from out of state are hijacking the petition signature collection process,” paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to “slick signature collection companies.” Trahan also pointed out that of the 24 states that permit citizen referendum questions through petitions, fully half of those states require that signatures come from different geographic areas within the state – not just from the dense population centers.

We agree with proponents of this measure, and we hope it becomes law in the fall. If passage of a referendum question would affect all of Maine, then petitioners getting signatures should have to travel to different areas of the state and convince voters that it’s a good idea to place the issue on the ballot. www.MaineSportsman.com

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MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER:Mike Moreau mike@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER:Chris Brawn chris@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices.

All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Advertising and business information: Phone: 207-622-4242 Fax: 207-622-4255 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS Almanac by Will Lund ....................................................... 11 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves ........................ 28 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia ..................... 66 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello .............................. 15 Bowhunting by Chris “Bubba” Johnson ......................... 58 Capitol Report by George Smith .................................... 17 Editorial ................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie ......................... 55 Greater Penobscot Bay by Jim Lemieux ........................ 44 Jackman by William Sheldon .......................................... 41 Jottings by Jon Lund ........................................................... 7 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon ............................ 32 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding .......... 52 Letters to the Editor ............................................................. 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour ...................................... 24 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose .................................. 36 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour .................................. 47 Mid-Kennebec Valley by Shawn Simpson ..................... 53 Moosehead by Tom Seymour ......................................... 37 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson ................................. 69 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie ............................... 39 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith .......................... 18 Rangeley Region by William Clunie ................................ 60 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers ................................ 27 Saltwater by Barry Gibson ................................................ 48 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth ........................ 57 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews ..................... 35 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard ................................ 62 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund ......................................... 20 Smilin’ Sportsman - Kids Edition by Will Lund .................. 71 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery ...................... 9 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 70 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller ..................... 50 Trading Post (Classifieds) .................................................. 72 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour .......................................... 31 Washington County by Steve Vose ................................ 45 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie................. 64 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi ........... 54 Young Maine Sportswoman by Alyssa Sansoucy .......... 68

SPECIAL SECTIONS ATVing in Maine by Shane Brown ................................... 21 Bear Hunting in Maine by Steve Vose ........................... 25 Moose Hunting in Maine by Steve Vose......................... 19

On the Cover: This nice brook trout was caught on a damsel nymph fished near a Pierce Pond “rock pile.”

According to photographer John Ewing, the fishing can often be slow at Pierce Pond, but the fish can be really, really big.

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To The Editor Scientific Concerns About Amish Hunter Red

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To the Editor: I read the editorial in the July issue of the Maine Sportsman, “Amish Red-Clothing Hunting Bill Required Fresh Thinking by Lawmakers.” I especially liked the old saying that was used as an introductory analogy, “Laws are like sausages – it’s best not to see them being made.” This one had me laughing, since I hadn’t heard it before.

But once the humor passed and the subject became clear, I quickly realized the working of yet another piece of old wisdom, referred to as “The law of unanticipated consequences.”

Let me explain.

I am a human factors engineer, which means I study the biomechanics of how human beings function. And the goal of a human factors engineer is to improve the design of things we use and the environments in which we live and work. In other words, we make things easier for us, through good engineering design.

We apply our knowledge to things like the shape and pull-force of a trigger on a gun, the size of steering wheels on cars, the placement of aircraft controls, and the color schemes used in computer displays – these are all examples of human factors engineering efforts.

Which brings me to my point – Human vision has been studied extensively since the 1800s. And it has long been known that use of the color red in signage, such as to signal danger, is a very poor choice.

Unfortunately, the choice is historical, and it evolved long before there was good knowledge of the workings of human vision, including knowledge of the rods and cones in our retinas with their separate and distinct sensitivities to the various wavelengths of visible light.

In school we were taught the acronym “ROYGBIV,” so we could remember the sequence of colors in our visual spectrum: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

My concern, therefore, with the new law allowing Amish hunters to wear red instead of hunter orange, is that red wavelengths of light are at the very end of our normal human visual spectrum. And when light illumination falls off in the evening as the sun is setting, or even during the day when storms are moving in, the overall sensitivity of our vision shifts towards blue, and red colors at the other end of the spectrum, fade away to black. This is known as the Purkinje effect, which was discovered by Evangelista Purkin-

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So the new law has me wondering if Amish hunters, wearing red clothing in fading light, will be as visible and as equally easy to distinguish as others wearing the tried-and-proven hunter orange. Given the biomechanics of human vision, I suspect not.

Bob Guinter Morristown, NJ —

In Memory of our Dear Friend, Matt Curry To the Editor: Matt Curry died June 9 at the age of 83.

He was a very dear friend of ours. He was an avid outdoorsman, writer, hunter, and author of many outdoor books. In his memory, I would like to share with your readers information from a tribute to Matt that was written by Frank Chamberlin IV. Frank said the following of Matt: • He was powerful figure, and friend of the great outdoors; • His “painter’s canvas” consisted of shells, moose antlers and mushrooms – all grown naturally, and provided by God; • Matt’s stories written for magazines or books, or even his letters to friends, were simple and pure, coming from peaceful wisdom and his heart; • All the walking sticks and roosters that Matt whittled are held by others as pre(Continued on next page)

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6 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 5)

We rafted down a stretch of the Kennebec from the Augusta Dog Park (in the area of Bond Brook) to just past Ft. Western, collecting trash and debris as we went.

The 16 student participants were from the Augusta Boys & Girls Club for Teens.

About 150 pounds of garbage were collected (see photo), including lots of scrap metal objects and three large bags of trash.

We hope to continue to do a cleanup event each year, eventually expanding to include a section of the Penobscot River.

April Glidden, volunteer coordinator Three Rivers Whitewater —

Matt Curry (left) and Frank Chamberlin IV

cious valuables. His walking sticks sometimes told a whole story of his or someone else’s hunt or visit, and those sticks will endure through weather and time; • Many family members, friends, strangers and even the occasional drifter, were welcome at Matt’s hand-stitched Tent Camp in the Great North Woods. Men and women from all over the country passed through his tent flaps, and were fed home-cooked meals of bear, deer, grouse and rabbit; • Matt would always provide the latest updates on his bear bait action, and the tone in his voice would tell the whole story. He would report when the rivers were frozen and when it was time for smelting, or when the tinker mackerel were thick as fleas; • We celebrate our friendship as we all wait for the hunter’s horn to sound, calling us all to our last season. Hopefully our lives in the outdoors will honor Matt’s.

Dlayne Carite Windsor, NY —

Kennebec Clean-Up To the Editor: I wanted to report to you on the successful clean-up of a portion of the Kennebec River in Augusta.

On Sunday, June 25, Three Rivers Whitewater organized a cleanup of a section of the Kennebec River with members of the Augusta Boys & Girls Club.

The young folks who volunteered to clean up a section of the Kennebec River in Augusta are shown here celebrating their accomplishment and displaying a portion of the garbage retrieved from the river and its banks.

The haul included 150 pounds of trash, scrap metal and debris. April Glidden photo www.MaineSportsman.com

A Beautiful Rainbow, Caught on a Fly Rod and Released To the Editor: I thought your readers might enjoy seeing the size of some of the rainbow trout that are swimming in the waters of the Upper Kennebec River.

I caught this beauty in early May of this year, on my 6-weight fly rod using sinking line.

She took a black cone head woolly bugger.

I estimate her size at between 8 and 9 pounds, and she was over 27 inches long.

She was full of eggs, and I released her so she could complete the spawning process.

Josh Beane Bingham —

Land for Maine’s Future Program To the Editor: Please pass on to your readers an invitation to explore the more than 150 destinations that have been conserved with support from the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program over the past three decades.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, LMF has secured public access to more than 600,000 acres in the state, offering opportunities in all sixteen Maine counties for outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and ATV-riding.

To help Maine families and friends plan their next outdoor adventure, an “LMF Passport” is now available, featuring 35 destinations to get them started. As a bonus, passport holders who explore at least three LMF destinations this summer and upload a pho-

to of their passport will be awarded a handy “LMF Works for ME” flashlight carabiner.

In addition, people who visit LMF destinations this summer are encouraged to share their experiences on a new “LMF Works for ME” photo gallery. Instagram users can post their images to the gallery by using #LMFWorksforME, and anyone who takes a photo at an LMF destination and uploads it directly onto the gallery at www.landformainesfuture.org will have the opportunity in an October drawing to win camping gear donated

by L.L. Bean, an overnight stay at a sporting camp in the Maine Woods donated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and other prizes.

For more information on LMF and the new Passport, see the new website, www. landformainesfuture.org.

Thomas Abello The Nature Conservancy in Maine Brunswick —

Kids Get Schooled on Summer Schoolies To the Editor: Twelve years is a long time to be fishing the same stretch of coastal beach, but it provides a perspective of developing striper activity. We rent for two weeks at Popham – one week in June, and one in July. June is for mackerel bait, and July for bait fishing.

In the early years, just two or three legal bass were tops on bait. Mackerel were always around.

This summer was way off the chart from day one. Our mackerel catch was difficult since the schoolies hammered the mackerel rigs. In two morning casts, I caught five small stripers.

Before July 1, we had released 20 of the 14- to 24-inch fish.

The beauty of that kind of fishing is its value to children. Late in the day on an outgoing tide, children from 8 to 12 years old could hook up and learn about the sport. Casting, adjusting drag, setting the hook, then releasing and re-baiting made that week in July the best.

Of course, we adults sought the 28” or better striper, but the excitement and pride in a child’s eyes can’t be beat. They enjoyed the improved fishing that didn’t even exist when I was that age.

Our time at Popham is about sharing with family and old friends, making new acquaintances, watching incredible sunrises.

Fishing is a bonus, and at long last, a big one.

Last year I wrote to Commissioner Keliher about the new slot and poor fishing from shore. He told me to get a boat. This year my e-mail message to him reflected high optimism. He said he wanted to join us, but was busy in state bureaucracy.

I told him to get a boat.

Mike Wing West Gardiner, Maine

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Is Catching and Eating Snapping Turtles a Good Idea?

This publication does not censor or heavily edit the work of its columnists, and we do not plan to change that policy. However, Steve Vose’s June 2017 “Washington County” report about catching, cooking and eating a snapping turtle resulted in some spirited debate and discussions among senior editorial staff, for a couple of reasons.

First, and foremost, the snapping turtle is in trouble. Its numbers have declined, and the species is protected from commercial harvesting.

Second, the meat is probably not particularly wholesome. Snapping turtles are at the top of the food chain, and they eat fish.

These reptiles can live fifty years or more, perhaps to the age of a hundred. (To determine the age, count the rings at the edge of its shell, like a tree) This long lifespan gives the snapper a long time to accumulate toxic substances, like mercury, that are present in fish.

I can attest to the fact that snappers do eat fish, as I have caught one while casting a Rapala

The snapper’s predatory habits and its aggressive response to a human approach (it will often hiss and try to bite) give folks an excuse to kill them. Killing snapping turtles may or may not have been a good idea years ago, but I don’t believe it’s a good idea today, given their apparent decline in numbers.

Snapping turtles have been on Earth for 90 million years.

Their numbers are decreasing, likely due to shoreline development. Although they may not be an appealing critter, they are an important component of our freshwater ecosystem. for bass. It was a challenge to release it. Others in my family who cast floating lures have had similar experiences with snapping turtles.

An acquaintance once watched a snapping turtle in an artificial pool extend its neck quickly

and clip a small pickerel in two.

The snapping turtle is one species whose body does not fit completely within its shell, and it can extend its head a surprising length in a lightning-quick move. A bite from its powerful jaws

can inflict serious injury.

In addition to fish and vegetation, snappers will eat baby waterfowl.

In fact, according to one account, a snapper even caught a Great Blue Heron and dragged it out to deeper water in order to drown it.

Turtle migrations Scientists tend to dismissive of anecdotal evidence, but given the lack of base-line data, personal observations may be informative.

I spent many summers as a youth at our island camp on Lake Cobbossee. As regular as clockwork, whenever we had a summer rainstorm, and when the weather cleared and the lake surface became calm, we saw turtles swimming along the shoreline – some smaller painted terrapins and some larger snapping turtles.

Why the turtles did this, I do not know. Perhaps they liked the cooler rainwater on the lake surface.

We have not observed the post-rainstorm tur(Continued on next page)

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Jottings (Continued from page 7)

tle migrations in recent years.

I see two factors contributing toward the decline in numbers of turtles. The first is loss of access to egg-laying habitat.

Turtles lay their eggs in cavities dug in welldrained earth, sand or gravel. As residential development alters our natural shorelines, such terrain becomes scarcer and

more difficult for them to access.

Egg-Laying Once, as I drove down a gravel camp road, a painted terrapin scrambled of the road and into the water. I got out and examined the spot where the turtle had been. A three-inch deep bottle-shaped hole had been dug in the hardpacked gravel entirely by the action of the turtle’s

hind foot. Unable to find a suitable undisturbed natural location to lay its eggs, the turtle resorted to the gravel road, which proved to be anything but peaceful.

Our camp on Hodgdon’s Island features a gradual sandy slope that appeals to turtles looking for a place to lay their eggs. We often see signs of their digging, especially early in the summer.

But some predators, most likely raccoons, regularly dig up the eggs, and we find the leathery egg-

shells scattered about.

We have sometimes tried to protect the eggs temporarily with screening, but predators – probably guided by a keen sense of smell – usually dig them up.

Another cause of turtle mortality is the hand of man. The turtle’s habit of searching along roadway shoulders probably leads to some accidental turtle deaths. Our human dislike of reptiles may lead some drivers to run over a turtle intentionally.

Turtles sometimes swim out in open water, and high-speed outboard boat operation may cause some mortality.

Safe Rescue Have you ever seen a snapping turtle crossing the road and wanted to provide assistance, but did not know how without risking getting bitten? There is a system you can use to make that happen.

First, pull off the road to a safe location, and turn on your blinkers, watching carefully for other traffic.

Then find a small finger-sized stick or branch.

Break or cut off any smaller branches.

Present the stick to the snapper in a way that encourages the critter to bite the stick and hang on. When it bites, quickly but steadily tow the reptile to safety. If the turtle lets go, repeat the process.

Snapping turtles have been on Earth for some 90 million years.

Although they may not be an appealing critter, they are an important component of our freshwater ecosystems. Their numbers have declined, probably primarily due to civilization encroaching on their habitat. We should give them a hand when we can.

¶

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—————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 9

Guide Talk The author, who for many years guided fishing clients – including VIPs – along the Potomac River, reminisces about the rewards and frustrations of guiding; the importance of quality gear; and what basic skills anglers should practice before spending money on a guide.

I stopped guiding after my first bouts with two types of cancer, which were discovered at the same time over 20 years ago. I sold my beautiful 20-foot blue Ranger bass boat to a friend (who still has it, I believe), and concentrated more on writing and photography, and letting other folks take me fishing for a change.

Unlike in Maine, where guides are tested and registered by the state, in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, we didn’t need any kind of permit or training to guide except on tidal waters.

To take out paying customers on the 109mile stretch of the Tidal Potomac River – or on any other tidal waters in the country, for that matter – I had to get a US Coast Guard Captain’s license as an Operator of an Un-

inspected Vessel (OUPV).

The permit is more commonly known as a “Six Pack License,” and it allows the boat operator to take out up to six paying sports for time on the water. Taking courses is vital, and the exam is very tough – few pass it on the first time. I was lucky.

Bass Fishing through History In some ways, I miss taking one or two light tackle/fly anglers on the tidal Potomac River to chase largemouth bass, stripers, and various sunfishes in the waters of the District of Columbia, and the stretches between Maryland and Virginia.

There is something cool about casting to fish in the shadow of our national monuments, in view of hallowed Arlington National Cemetery, and in the grass beds out from George Washington’s

Registered Maine Guide Bonnie Holding is flanked by Lefty Kreh and King Montgomery on the Sebasticook River in 2009.

Holding now is director of information and education at Maine’s DIF&W.

Mount Vernon.

And I had the pleasure of guiding Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a very classy person and good angler. I also guided a half dozen or so members of the US Congress, who could become real people for at least part of a day, and I was one of a threeboat entourage that took President George H. W. Bush out on a cold, windy March day when we all should have been home either running the world or tying flies.

It was fun and rewarding to find fish for people and watch them have a grand time catching them for a photo or two – my boat was strictly a catch-and-release vessel, except for catfish.

But it could be equally as frustrating when I knew the fish were there for the taking, but the cli-

Registered Maine Guide and The Maine Sportsman columnist William Clunie guided the author in 2007 on the Androscoggin River near Dixfield. When guides get together on the water, they often talk shop.

ent couldn’t get the lure or fly to the fish.

Fly fishing in particular requires a modicum of skill in almost all fishing circumstances. Some-

times the longer and harder they tried – Lefty Kreh calls the phenomenon “Casting so hard (and wrong) that they come (Continued on next page)

What do some Maine fishing guides do in the winter? They guide sports in Patagonia in Chile. Here, three Maine guides carry a raft down to the Manuelas River in the Patagonia region of Chile in 2007 .

From left: Bob Duport, Michael Jones, and Aldro French. www.MaineSportsman.com

10 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 9)

out of their shorts” – the more frustrated these clients became.

Sure, I’d work with them if they wished (I always asked if they wanted help), particularly on distance and accuracy.

But here they were paying big bucks for a disheartening experience, at least as far as the catching was concerned.

Most folks had a good day on the water even if they didn’t catch any (or not too many) fish, but guides usually judge a day by the number of fish in the boat. So do clients, regardless of what they may tell you, or how big the tip was.

The BIG Frustration The most prevalent problem for sports was casting.

I remember learning to play golf as a teenager. Before I set foot on a course, I learned how to hit all the clubs at a driving range, and how to putt on a practice green. When I finally stepped cleated-foot on a golf course (we actually wore metal spikes on our golf shoes then), my first 18-hole score was 99.

Many folks play for years, decades, or even lifetimes and don’t achieve scores under a

Maine Guide Bob Duport puts New York’s Charlie Wallshein onto a good Chilean brown trout in 2007.

100. And as I practiced and played more, my game made it to the high 70s and low 80s.

I suggest the same tack applies to fly fishing: if you can’t cast, you can’t fish well. It’s that simple.

Take lessons, and practice/practice/practice before you wet a line.

Learn how to cast at least 40 to 50 feet, and be able to put the fly in a three foot circle at that distance or beyond before you drop $300 to $500 plus for a day of guided fishing. Yes, most trout anglers don’t need to make long casts with or without double hauls, but on larger waters and in the salt, it is essential.

Those scenarios, as does trouting, call for accuracy as well.

On several trips, I located bass staged along the edges of a lily pad field as the tide pulled water out of the plants.

The bass along the edges ambushed retreating

Fishing from a flat on a river in Chile in 2007, Maine Guide Bob Duport holds a brown trout caught in the deeper water along the channel bordered by the reeds behind him. Maine guide Aldro French looks on. www.MaineSportsman.com

baitfish that had to move into the deeper water.

A medium-size Clouser deep minnow would be just the ticket.

I positioned the boat about 40 or so feet from the lily pad line and told the clients to cast as close to the pads as they could.

After 10 or more false casts each before releasing the line, neither was anywhere near the target area.

I offered some casting improvement suggestions, and moved the boat 10-feet closer using the bow-mounted electric motor. Still their casts didn’t reach the fish.

By the time we moved in close enough for the Clousers to find the fish, they spooked and were gone. We motored into a quiet cove, had a few casting lessons, and caught a mess of sunfishes on lighter fly rods I had in the boat.

The Right Stuff Some clients showed

Sport Charlie Wallshein from New York beams as Maine Guide Bob Duport holds a Chilean brown trout in 2007.

The fish quickly was released.

up at the boat ramp with fly rods better suited for use as tomato plant stakes: a $29.99 rod, reel, line and leader combo guarantees you’ll get what you pay for.

Some insisted on using these pool cues or wet noodles for fishing, but most switched to one of my G. Loomis GL3 rods/ Ross Gunnison Reels before the day was over. (I was on the G. Loomis and Ross Pro Staffs then.)

Now this was before some of the very fine relatively inexpensive fly rods we have today came on the market—such as Temple Fork Outfitters, Echo, and a host of others. Back then I told folks to get the best fly rod they could afford, and defined “afford” as meaning they wouldn’t get too upset if the rod broke and they could get another without breaking the bank or ending their marriage in divorce. Good equipment in any sport usually is a

Bob Duport, a Maine Guide from the Carrabasset Valley, watches as Rapid River Maine guide Aldro French casts in Chile in 2007. Maine’s winter is Chile’s summer.

prerequisite to better performance. Notice I said “good” gear – it doesn’t have to be the “best.”

Some of the many Maine guides I’ve fished with over the years have been top-notch – tops as guides and as people.

They’ve been knowledgeable, considerate, willing to help, and put on a great shore lunch! I just enjoy their company on and off the water.

I had a fine time guiding because of the people who joined me on the boat. With only one or two exceptions, these folks were wonderful, and truly appreciated a day out on the Nation’s River.

After a few years guiding, almost 90 percent of my business was repeat customers; a few booked one or more trips a month. Others brought their child or children.

Some brought wives, husbands, girl- or boyfriends.

A lot of variety.

I tried to teach as well as guide, and gave commentary on the history of the river and our nation as we fished, and pointed out the osprey, herons, bald eagles, and redwing blackbirds.

Whether you can cast well or not, we all can appreciate a day fishing, thinking about things other than ourselves, and renewing our relationships with each other, with nature, and with ourselves.

¶

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 11

Compiled and Edited by Will Lund “Snapshots in Time”

By Bill Pierce, Executive Director Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum Oquossoc, Maine The following is an excerpt written by Joshua Gross Rich. Rich was one of the first to regularly guide sports in the Rangeley region and moved his family to the old Richardson Farm on Mollychunkamunk (Upper Richardson) in the late 1840s. In this article from the Bethel paper published sometime in the late 1880s, Rich reminisces about a novice angler named Joseph. It seems that despite his inexperience and poor fish playing ability, Joseph somehow still managed to land a big brook trout in the pool below Middle Dam shortly after the first version, a log crib structure, was built around 1850.

Middle Dam under construction, circa 1882.

The current version of Middle Dam, which has been slated to be replaced, was completed in 1883 and raised the water level of “Richardson Lakes” by approximately 11 feet.

Anyone who has ever witnessed the excitement and travails of a novice angler when they first tie into a good fish, will enjoy Rich’s account as follows:

A day’s catch at Angler’s Retreat.

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Upta Camp, Part 8 -Eight Lessons Learned We learned a lot of things in just a few days at our remote camp in Monson earlier this summer: 1) It’s not a bad thing to be unable to reliably access cell coverage or the internet for a period of time. In fact, it’s a good thing.

2) The first task after arrival at most Maine camps is mowing the “lawn.” The word is in quotes because at many camps in Maine, the lawn consists of patches of grass, weeds and fir seedlings, separated by thick roots that grow larger and protrude more every year, and boulders that rise out of the soil over time, either because the winter frost lifts them, or because the surrounding turf compacts.

For these reasons, camp lawn mowers must have high ground clearance. They must also be tough, since they are expected to act as bush-hogs, lopping off small hardwoods saplings and evergreen seedlings that crowd into the sunny open areas each season.

3) A lawn mower engine is simultaneously both simple and complex. The simplicity is that all serviceable parts are readily accessible, even for most do-it-yourselfers. The complexity is in its bulletproof design that lets it operate under rough conditions and at all angles.

If your mower is not starting or running smoothly, and if the remoteness of your camp makes lugging it to the repair shop difficult, then write down the make and model information, and purchase the following items at your local supply store: 1) air filter; 2) spark plug; and 3) diaphragm-and-gasket kit. Cost for everything is usually less than $15.

Replacing the air filter and plug is simple (you’d be surprised how many problems can be resolved by changing the plug and scraping any corrosion out of the inside of the metal cap that fits over the end of the plug).

The combination diaphragm and gasket are a bit more difficult, but not impossible.

Take careful note of positioning of all parts as you disassemble them, and do your repairs over a tarp or otherwise cover the lawn so you don’t lose any bolts or the tiny spring.

The diaphragm and gasket are located between the carburetor and fuel tank. When the fuel flow slows down, the diaphragm flexes against a needle valve that allows more fuel to flow into the chamber. Completing the job is satisfying, and having a mower start on the first pull from cold is a rare and wondrous event.

4) Learn how to sharpen the chain teeth on your chain saw (and how to file down the (Continued on next page)

FALL SPORTING

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12 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 11)

spacer teeth to match the height of the cutting teeth). It’s not that difficult, and sharp chain teeth go through tree trunks like a hot knife through butter.

If your bar tends to pull one way or the other rather than cutting straight through a log, or if you have to exert more than light pressure as you cut, that means you need to sharpen your chain.

5) Keeping rainwater out of your camp is the most important maintenance goal (and challenge) toward ensuring the structure’s longevity. The older your camp (and the more individual rooms that were added on over the years), the more complex the job.

If you have your camp jacked up and leveled, with new posts underneath, be prepared to inspect all door and window openings, shimming and re-trimming openings where needed. Frequently, a newly-leveled camp will be far straighter than the camp’s doors and windows, since those items slowly sagged over the decades to match the frame opening contours of the previously-sagged walls.

6) The Great Bailer Debate raged on during our visit. I always thought there was but one way to make a boat bailer out of a plastic jug – the time-honored “scoop” design (see illustration #1).

#1 “Scoop” It’s all I ever knew. But then the upstarts appeared with what they labeled their “improved” model (see illustration #2).

#2 “Underhung” Illustrations: David Brooks/Boys’ Life

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I tried out the alternate construction, and realized it has certain advantages – the capacity is greater, and the design also allows the handle to be used as it was originally intended to be used (lifting), as opposed to the scoop, which requires strong-arming the bilgewater, leveraging it out using a rigid wrist.

Admittedly, when the water is nearly gone from the boat, the scoop has the advantage of being able to slide along the inside of the hull more easily. However, for the heavy initial bailing in a semi-swamped boat after a heavy rainstorm, the “underhung” water-lifting design gets the job done more quickly and efficiently.

Hey, you learn something every day!

7) When it comes to camp ownership, there are two types of boundaries, and both can be equally vexing. The first are legal boundaries, and in Maine (and likely everywhere), disputes over property lines often last from one generation to the next. It’s worth sitting down with neighbors, working out a deal and recording the written results in the Registry of Deeds – or splitting the cost of a surveyor after agreeing in advance to abide by the professional’s decision – rather than having your kids and grandkids fighting with the neighbor’s kids and grandkids.

The second set of boundaries involve common courtesies, including not bringing your pontoon boat up to within 10 feet of another’s camp shoreline and bouncing lures off their dock. Yes, it’s a free country and a public lake, but Geez, there are thousands of acres of water, and we really don’t want you so close we can read your iPhone as you text the office while zipping closely around our dock and tied-up boat using your foot-pedal controlled electric trolling motor.

8) And speaking of electric motors, we got to give ours a full test-run over the 4th of July, traversing the distance between the landing and the remote camp six times. What did we learn? First, it does the job – it’s quiet, and easy to handle. Second, especially if you’ve got a load of supplies and a headwind, you will need to be patient – it’s not a fast ride, compared to a small gas-powered outboard motor.

In fact, the experience makes you appreciate just how much of a kick a 3-hp gas motor gets out of a gallon of gas.

But there’s great value in heading slowly up the lake using the near-silent electric motor, in a way that does not send the loons diving in fear or shooing the bald eagles and ospreys out of their nests.

The camp teaches important lessons – in fact, as an immersive classroom, it’s unparalleled.

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Trophish App – A Great Idea!

The e-mail came from China, from “Meitong Chen” of the “Shenzhen Angle Technology Company Co. Ltd.,” asking us (Continued on next page)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 13 (Continued from page 12)

whether we wanted to be part of a new product launch.

Suspicious, we researched the situation, and found to our surprise that not only are the company and the product legitimate, but their invention also ties in to a growing trend toward CPR, which in fishing parlance is short for “catch, photograph and release.”

The product, called “Trophish,” consists of a software application that loads onto your smartphone.

If you catch a fish, and want to release the fish but still want to know how long it is, you lay the fish on a flat surface, and place beside the fish a reference object that is recognized by your phone’s camera.

When you view the fish through your camera’s viewfinder, a digital ruler appears beside the fish, showing the length of the fish. Any photographs you take of the fish also show the ruler along the side of the frame.

I need to keep working with the provided prototype, since, for example, mine is still measuring fish in metric units (centimeters) rather than good old American inches and feet, but that familiarity will come later.

For now, it appears this company has identified and met a need.

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Good News for the State of Maine and its Trapping Community Submitted by Dave Miller A lawsuit against the state has been dismissed, meaning the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be able to continue managing its wildlife resources using sound science.

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled and ordered on June 26, 2017 that the appeal filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Wildlife Alliance of Maine, Animal Welfare Institute, and Friends of Animals requested be voluntarily dismissed, pursuant to the Fed R. App. P. 42(b).

The appeal had been filed after the wildlife rights groups lost an earlier lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to revoke the Incidental Take Permit that had previously been issued by the USFWS to the State of Maine to allow trapping in Maine.

Their lawsuit was intended to stop trapping in Maine because of the presence of the Canadian Lynx on the Endangered Species list as “threatened” in the lower forty eight states.

The State of Maine, Maine Trappers Association, U.S. Sportsmen’s AllianceFoundation and The National Trappers Association intervened on behalf of the USFWS.

TMS Writers in the News, Part 1 Tom Seymour, we’ve learned from readers, is doing some work with a coastal Maine television station. The subject matter is foraging, and Tom has already completed one segment. He plans to do additional segments, since the station has reportedly received positive feedback.

Maine Sportsman readers can view Tom’s first segment online at vimeo. com/220309823.

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TMS Writers in the News, Part 2 Earlier this summer, our “Kate’s Wild Kitchen” chef Kate Krukowski Gooding appeared on WCHS, Channel 6 with host Bill Green on “Bill Green’s Maine.”

In celebration of the start of black fly season, Kate whipped up her famous “Warm Black Fly Vinaigrette,” a salad dressing she says goes good on mixed greens, red onion, goat cheese and roasted pecans and pasta salad.

The name comes from the appearance of the dressing, in which poppy seeds look a little like black flies. “If you can’t beat the black flies,” Kate announced, “then why now join them?”

Kate’s Warm Black Fly Vinaigrette 1 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup honey 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon style mustard 1 tablespoon dried black flies (substitute: poppy seeds) 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon sea salt ¼ teaspoon herbed pepper Whisk all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat until combined. Pour immediately onto salad.

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Arctic Charr Population Restored to Big Reed Pond Submitted by Mark Latti, DIF&W Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has restored the charr population in Big Reed Pond in northern Piscataquis county, a fact recently confirmed by fisheries biologists who documented wild, naturally-reproducing Arctic charr in the pond.

Arctic charr are found in only 14 waters in Maine. They thrive in deep, cold lakes that lie at high elevation and hold few other competing species.

An illegal introduction of rainbow (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 13)

Stocking in Big Reed began in June 2011 and continued through June 2013. This summer, IF&W biologists confirmed that charr had spawned successfully in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

A large number of individuals, groups and funding sources worked with IF&W on the project, including The Nature Conservancy (which has conserved the land around the pond), The Bradford Camps, Mountain Springs Trout Farm, the University of Maine, Presque Isle High School’s Aquaculture Facility, the Maine Army Aviation Support facility in Bangor, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Sportfish Restoration Fund.

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Eric Orff Loves Pogies Maine DIF&W Fisheries Biologist Frank Frost holds an Arctic charr from Big Reed Lake. Frost directed the Arctic charr restoration project.

Photo: DIF&W

smelts at Big Reed Pond threatened the charr, causing a drastic reduction in their population. The pond had to be “reclaimed” with rotenone in 2010.

Once the smelts were gone, the pond was stocked with fingerling charr, the offspring of 14 adult charr that had been netted in Big Reed in 2007 and bred at Mountain Springs Trout Farm, in Frenchville.

Eric Orff, the National Wildlife Federation’s New Hampshire outreach consultant, wrote the other day to notify us of an upcoming meeting he says is important to those of us who fish for stripers.

From August 1st through August 3rd, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will be meeting to consider, among other things, how best to manage menhaden (known along the Maine coast as “pogies”) to ensure there are plenty of the baitfish left in the sea to feed stripers and bluefish.

Having seen the Russian processing ships net millions and millions of pogies in Casco Bay in the late 1970s, and then noticing a

substantial drop-off in their population for three decades thereafter (returning in numbers only recently), we have some idea about the dangers of overfishing.

According to Orff: 1) Pogies are incredibly important baitfish for striped bass, bluefish and other predators targeted by recreational anglers.

2) Multiple studies have shown that, when available, menhaden are the preferred diet of striped bass.

3) Historically, they accounted for 66 percent of Chesapeake Bay striper’s diet when menhaden were abundant in the 1950s 4) Whales, osprey, eagles and many other species prey upon energy-rich menhaden (pogies).

5) A catch quota was first put in place in 2012, but certain states benefit out of proportion to the natural need. For example, Virginia currently gets 85% of the catch quota primarily for one company – Omega Protein – engaged in reduction fishing. That leaves the rest of the Atlantic states to fight over the remaining catch, putting bait fishermen in a tough place.

6) New Jersey gets 11%, and Maryland 1.3% - the rest of the states have less than 1% each.

Orff says recreational anglers can help by expressing their views to their ASMFC commissioners. Readers can look theirs up at (www.asmfc.org/about-us/commissioners (Continued on next page)

FLY FISHING WITH AMC Visit AMC’s Little Lyford Lodge & Cabins, or Medawisla Lodge & Cabins, for a weekend fly fishing workshop!

• Packages include lodging, home cooked meals, day and evening programs, and instruction by Registered Maine Guides.

• Located on 100 miles of conserved land, wild brook trout and landlocked salmon are plentiful in the backcountry ponds and rivers.

• All workshops include indoor lessons on flies, rods, and knots.

Outdoors.org/MEflyfishing Call: 207-358-5187 www.MaineSportsman.com

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

For more information, contact Eric at eorff@aol.com. A final vote on the management plan is scheduled for November 14.

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Man Attempts to Fill Boat’s Gas Tank, but Fills Rod Holder Tube Instead Explosion Ensues In June, 2017 a man in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina pulled up at a dock in order to fuel up his boat.

However, instead of pumping fuel into the gas tank, the boater apparently poured 28 gallons of gasoline into the bilge, because he filled up the rod holder thinking it was the fill-pipe for his fuel tank.

When the bilge pumps began pumping out the fuel-filled bilge, the boat owner reportedly attempted to disconnect a wire on the electric bilge pump. A spark resulted, and the ensuing explosion sent three individuals to the hospital.

A marina employee in the Greater Portland, Maine area told The Maine Sportsman he had actually witnessed an identical situation unfold in Maine harbor many years ago. In that case, the boat – its bilge full of gasoline – was simply towed out to sea until the wave action and the bilge pump made the boat safely approachable. Those witnessing that event knew that, while pollution from fuel is a serious problem, it’s nowhere near as serious as an explosion of gasoline resulting from an electrical spark.

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Runner Outsprints Bears According to the Associated Press and the Lewiston Sun Journal, a Kenyan professional runner training in Auburn, Maine was out on a training run in the woods in early July, when he encountered two bears, which charged at him.

Turning quickly, Moninda Marube sprinted for the porch of a vacant house, making it inside just ahead of the bruins.

Currently a student at UMaine Farmington, Marube finished third in the 2012 Maine Marathon, and won the 2013 half-marathon.

—

Bird of the Month Vermillion Flycatcher

by Erika Zambello It’s not often that surprises in the

Vermillion Flycatcher

birding world make their way to national news desks, but that’s just what happened when an exotic Vermillion Flycatcher was caught on camera on Maine’s Hog Island.

Hog Island – owned by Audubon – is located in Bremen, northeast of Portland. Audubon and explore.org host an Osprey nest camera on the island, but this year the camera also recorded a very bright-colored visitor: the Vermillion Flycatcher, the first official record in Maine.

Normally, these flycatchers live in the Southwestern United States, with a range that extends into South America. Males have spectacular red plumage with contrasting dark brown wings and backs. Females, by contrast, are a dull grayish-brown on top and pale below.

They are small birds, weighing half an ounce and stretching only 5.5 inches.

The birds spend their lives in relatively dry habitats, including scrub, woods at the edges of rivers, and deserts.

Vermillion Flycatchers eat insects, and spend most of their time perched on branches waiting for one to fly by. Perhaps because insects are so important to their diet, male Vermillion Flycatchers try to woo perspective mates by finding a butterfly and gifting it to their female of choice.

Throughout the world, Partners in Flight estimates there are around 20 million breeding Vermillion Flycatchers, with about 10% spending part of the year in the United States. Though their numbers are stable, habitat destruction and land development puts certain populations at risk.

Our Maine Vermillion Flycatcher was seen thousands of miles from its usual home-range, deciding to rest in the perfect location for interested bird-enthusiasts to ooh and aah over its beautiful colors. In an article by Audubon, Meghan Bartels wrote: “And that might be what’s most amazing about this clip: that such a rare and tiny little bird chose to alight on a branch that just happened to be featured on a live web cam. One tree over, and chances are good no one would have ever known the bird flew through.”

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www.MaineSportsman.com

16 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

— August 2017 Hunting & Fishing Information — Hunting Seasons and Rules Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail and Pheasant season runs October 1 – December 31.

Deer Firearms season runs October 30 through November 25.

Maine Residents Only Day is Saturday October 28.

Youth Deer Day is October 21.

Muzzleloader season for deer starts November 27. In southern WMDs the season ends December 9; while in WMDs 12, 13, 15 – 18; 20 – 26 and 29, the season extends another week, through December 9 Crow season starts August 1 in all WMDs, and runs through September 22.

Youth Bear Day is August 26.

Hunting Bear with Bait (general season) starts August 28 through November 25 (bait can be placed starting July 29).

Expanded Archery for Deer begins September 9 (designated areas) and runs through September 23.

Hunting Bear with Dogs runs September 11 through October 27.

Moose season in WMDs 1 – 6, 11 and 19 begins September 25.

Deer Archery season starts September 28 and runs through October 27.

Fall Wild Turkey in most WMDs runs October 1 through November 7.

Squirrel, Raccoon and Hare season

starts October 1.

Fox season starts October 16.

Night Hunting for Coyote – Night hunting started December 16, and runs through August 31, 2017. To avoid violating Maine’s prohibition on Sunday hunting, night hunting for coyotes must cease at midnight each Saturday, and can resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

Others: There is no closed season for coyotes (daytime hunting), red squirrels, porcupines and woodchucks.

Hunting is prohibited at all times for cottontail rabbits, lynx, spruce grouse and ravens.

HOURS: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, except for migratory game birds (1/2 hour before sunrise, to sunset) and raccoons (night hunting allowed in season).

See “Night Hunting for Coyotes” section above for applicable coyote rules.

Ammunition: Non-toxic shot only for migratory game birds.

—

Fishing Seasons and Rules Minimum size for brook trout, splake and Arctic Char: 6 inches; for landlocked salmon: 14 inches (with a maximum size for salmon and brown trout of 25 inches in much of Washington and Hancock Counties); for togue: 18 inches; for brown trout: 14 inches

in lakes; 6 inches in streams and rivers; for rainbow trout: 12 inches in lakes; 6 inches in streams and rivers.

Brook Trout: Daily bag limit 2 trout on lakes and ponds in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington and York Counties.

Other daily bag limits and minimum lengths (if any): Bass (2 fish; 10 inch minimum; only one longer than 14 inches); Whitefish (3 fish); Smelts (2 quarts); Pickerel (10 fish); Northern Pike and Muskies (no size or bag limit); Eel (25 fish); Shad (2 fish); Striped bass (one fish; minimum 28 inches); Alewives (25 fish).

Go to www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/general-law-information, find the lake, pond, river or stream you want to fish, and interpret the codes that apply.

Look up the “S” (special rules) Codes.

Learn the open-water season, the ice fishing season (if any), whether you are limited to artificial lures, or catch-and-release, and whether there’s a slot limit. ***** Atlantic Salmon can’t be targeted, and if caught they must be released immediately.

Current saltwater fishing regulations are found at www.Maine.gov/dmr/recreational-fishing/regs-tips/index.html.

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August 2017 Sunrise/Sunset

August 2017 Tidal Chart

Portland, ME

Portland, ME

DATE 1 Tue 2 Wed 3 Thu 4 Fri 5 Sat 6 Sun 7 Mon 8 Tue 9 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed

RISE 5:29 5:30 5:31 5:33 5:34 5:35 5:36 5:37 5:38 5:39 5:40 5:41 5:43 5:44 5:45 5:46

SET 8:04 8:03 8:02 8:00 7:59 7:58 7:56 7:55 7:54 7:52 7:51 7:49 7:48 7:46 7:45 7:43

www.MaineSportsman.com

DATE 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tue 30 Wed 31 Thu

RISE 5:47 5:48 5:49 5:50 5:52 5:53 5:54 5:55 5:56 5:57 5:58 5:59 6:01 6:02 6:03

SET 7:42 7:40 7:38 7:37 7:35 7:33 7:32 7:30 7:28 7:27 7:25 7:23 7:22 7:20 7:18

DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

HIGH AM PM 7:06 7:28 8:04 8:20 8:59 9:10 9:49 9:56 10:34 10:39 11:15 11:18 11:52 11:56 12:29 12:34 1:05 1:12 1:42 1:52 2:21 2:36 3:04 3:23 3:51 4:15 4:42 5:12 5:39 6:15 6:40

LOW AM PM 12:57 1:08 1:55 2:02 2:49 2:53 3:39 3:41 4:23 4:24 5:04 5:05 5:41 5:43 6:16 6:21 6:52 7:00 7:28 7:40 8:07 8:24 8:49 9:12 9:34 10:04 10:24 11:01 11:20 12:03 12:20

DATE 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

HIGH AM PM 7:22 7:45 8:29 8:49 9:33 9:50 10:31 10:47 11:24 11:40 12:14 12:31 1:02 1:19 1:48 2:07 2:33 2:54 3:19 3:43 4:05 4:33 4:54 5:27 5:46 6:24 6:41 7:22 7:37

LOW AM PM 1:09 1:24 2:15 2:29 3:18 3:31 4:16 4:29 5:10 5:24 6:00 6:15 6:48 7:05 7:34 7:53 8:19 8:42 9:04 9:31 9:50 10:22 10:38 11:15 11:29 12:12 12:23 1:11 1:20

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 17

DIF&W Promises More Protection for Native Brook Trout In response to two bills I proposed to expand protection of our native brook trout, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has responded with a pledge to do just that.

One of my bills would have extended protection of brook trout in our Heritage Waters to the tributaries of those waters, and the other would have sped up and improved the process of adding waters to that protected list.

Both bills were opposed

by DIF&W, but the members of the Legislature’s IF&W Committee were very supportive, and the bills generated lots of favorable comments at the public hearings.

In response to that high level of interest and support, DIF&W met with some of the bills’ supporters and pledged to step up their processes and protection of our native brook trout. The agency submitted that pledge in writing to the IF&W Committee, and the Committee accepted that pledge. But they also held over one of the bills to give them an opportunity to act if the department fails to achieve their promises.

I am very happy with this result and look forward to seeing DIF&W step up its protection of our native brookies. One important part of their pledge is the promise to work with a group of anglers on all of these issues. While I have been informed of the people who will serve on the committee, I am not able to announce those names at this time. I can tell you there are some real-

ly good and strong brook trout advocates on the committee, and their promise to work with DIF&W on these issues is good news.

Here’s the department’s “Letter of Commitment� submitted to the IFW Committee on May 9 by Francis Brautigam, Director of DIF&W’s Fisheries Division: DIF&W Memo The Department remains committed to identifying waters worthy of nomination to the State Heritage Fish Water List, as well as establishing special regulatory and procedural protections to conserve this important statewide fishery resource.

This letter seeks to clarify planned actions to be undertaken by the Department to address concerns identified in LD 1018 and LD 1236, in the absence of legislative action on either bill.

1) Continue current ongoing efforts to develop and advance a list of new proposed Heritage Fish Waters through the 2017 APA rulemaking process for inclusion in the 2018 fishing law book.

2) Establish a Heritage Brook Trout and Charr Working Group that will, at a minimum, assist in the development of criteria to nominate new Heritage Fish Waters for rulemaking, with an anticipated completion date of February, 2018.

3) Tributaries to Heritage Fish Waters will be examined by the Department with input from the Heritage Brook Trout and Charr Working Group to provide the same protections currently afforded

Heritage Fish lakes and ponds. Identified changes would be advanced through the 2018 APA rulemaking process for inclusion in the 2019 fishing law book. The Department will report back to the Fish and Wildlife Legislative Committee on progress towards meeting this goal in February, 2018.

4) Develop/Revise Department policies consistent with the aforementioned action items.

Amish Hunters Despite a sharply divided vote by the Legislature’s IF&W Committee, the state’s Amish hunters won the right to wear red instead of orange while deer hunting in Maine.

LD 426 was sponsored by Representative McCrea of Fort Fairfield, who was joined at the hearing by several young

Amish men who testified that their religion forbids them from wearing orange because it is “too flashy.�

The amended bill, which won the support of 7 IF&W Committee members while being opposed by 5 members, provides that a person with a religious opposition to wearing hunter orange may substitute articles of bright red clothing for the required articles of hunter orange clothing. The term “bright� was added to the original bill.

When the bill emerged from the IF&W Committee, I was uncertain of its fate, given the divided committee vote and not knowing if the Governor would sign it. But the Department of Inland Fisheries’ support for the bill must have helped it through the House and Senate, and certainly led

to the Governor’s signature.

An extended committee work session on the bill demonstrated real division on the issue.

Senator Dave Woodsome expressed the principal problem when he said, “My concern is safety.�

And he backed that up with a story. In1992, the year before hunter orange was required, he was hunting with a high school friend when a shot hit the stone wall right beside his head. Another hunter, standing in the road, had seen movement and shot at him. “I stopped hunting for several years,� said Woodsome, who was really shook up by the incident.

Senator Michael Carpenter noted, “They’re asking for the opportunity to be less safe,� and noted the Amish, who live (Continued on next page)

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www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Capitol Report (Continued from page 17)

in his district “are very respectful of others.” He also noted that the aversion to orange applies to a “small segment within a small segment of Amish.”

Some Amish are able to wear orange.

Representative Roger Reed said, “This is one of the toughest bills I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” reporting that he is very respectful of religions.

The committee’s House Chair, Bob Duchesne, focused on the problem that the bill did not define “red.” DIF&W was directed to come up with a definition focused on nanometers and scale.

But all they could come up with was the word “bright.” I’ve no idea how they’re going to determine if the red clothing is bright enough.

George to Establish “Sunday Hunting Church”?

The enacted bill does not specifically mention Amish, but would apply to all hunters whose reli-

gion prohibits them from wearing orange. There was some discussion about how a game warden was going to be sure the hunter wearing red was doing that because of religion, but no solution to that issue was added to the bill.

In fact, DIF&W Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody emphasized that game wardens would not be asking hunters about their religion. Tim said if a warden did issue a summons for not wearing orange, the hunter would have to prove in court that his religion prohibited him from doing so.

There was some joking at the bill’s work session that I might step up to proclaim myself a member of the Sunday Hunting Church, where my religion required me to hunt on Sunday. I’m betting that would not get such a sympathetic hearing!

Wild Game Dinners In response to Sena-

Quotable

by George Smith Survival of calves is much improved this year, and the adult mortality is very low.

Lee Kantar, DIF&W moose biologist. Patrick Whittle’s Associated Press story, Kennebec Journal, May 17, 2017.

tor Tom Saviello’s determined effort to straighten out confusion over the legality of wild game dinners, the Maine Warden Service has issued a written memo stating that “it is legal to host a wild game dinner” if four conditions are followed.

Senator Saviello sponsored a bill this session, at my request, to make wild game dinners legal.

DIF&W opposed the bill, but some IF&W Committee members kept the issue alive, and Senator Saviello even got it as far as a committee of conference, essentially a meeting between House and Senate members to work on language that both bodies could support.

The conference committee created an amendment to the bill that led to the memo issued this week by the Warden Service. Clearly, DIF&W preferred to clarify this issue without putting it in statute. And that is fine by me. Here is the Warden Service Memo, issued on June 5 by Major Chris Cloutier, and provided to all game wardens:

To: All Wardens From: Major Chris Cloutier Each year the Department is approached by various groups seeking to host “Wild Game Dinners” where, bear, deer, moose and wild turkey are served as part of the event. Per Maine law, Title 12 Section 11217, “Buying and Selling Wild Animals and Wild Birds”, the sale of bear, deer, moose, and wild turkey meat is specifically prohibited. To provide a consistent message and clarity, the Department has determined that it is legal to host a “Wild Game Dinner” if the following conditions are adhered to: All bear, deer, moose, and wild turkey served at the event must have been lawfully killed and registered, and must have been labeled and packaged per current state law.

If there is a fee to attend the event, this fee is only for admission to the event; it is not for purchasing deer, bear, moose or wild turkey meat.

All deer, bear, moose or wild turkey meat of-

— The Department is opposed to the introduction of a mandatory antler point restriction (APR), because it may: 1) significantly www.MaineSportsman.com

Conclusion Unity College got into a bit of trouble this spring at its annual wild game dinner by auctioning off packages of wild game meat. This will not be allowed in the future.

But the sponsors of all those wild game dinners around the state may now continue those wonderful events, with assurance that they are legal.

Thank you, Senator Saviello!

¶

decrease hunting opportunity; 2) result in high-grading of our buck population; 3) do little in terms of actually providing a positive impact to population demographics or abundance of Maine’s white-tailed deer; 4) could direct hunting pressure to portions of the state where there are not APRs; and 5) could pose challenges for enforcement. We estimate that the annual buck harvest would decline by about 50% if this bill is passed.

Judy Camuso, DIF&W Wildlife Division Director, testifying against a bill to restrict antler points. April 13, 2017.

I want to get the pike out of Sebago Lake.

They are reproducing like you wouldn’t believe.

Rep. Lester Ordway, sponsor of legislation to allow spearfishing for pike in Sebago Lake.

The bill failed. Maine Legislature; April 2017.

—

—

Over the course of a typical year, the DNR will stock roughly 26 million fish weighing nearly 350 tons, including eight species of trout and salmon and three coolwater strains of walleye and muskellunge.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources newsletter, April 17, 2017. In comparison, the 8 hatcheries of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife grew and stocked 1,211,141 fish (386,164 pounds of fish) in 2015.

There is something enormously inspiring and powerful about the idea of bringing life back to a river and a stream and a lake….

Honestly, (alewives) are just inspiring. The drive, the persistence, the will to live is amazing, and that’s inspiring for a lot of us that work on this.

Landis Hudson of Maine Rivers, about alewife restoration on China Lake. Madeline St. Amour story, Kennebec Journal, May 30, 2017.

— In the breadbasket of the deer herd – central Maine working to the south – we really are at or slightly above our objective for the deer herd.

Ryan Robicheau, DIF&W deer biologist, explaining the nearly 50% increase in anydeer permits this year. Deirdre Fleming story, Portland Press Herald, June 2, 2017.

fered at the event must be immediately cooked and consumed on the premises.

The person or entity who donated the deer, bear, moose or wild turkey meat does not have a financial interest in the event.

If the group hosting the wild game dinner deviates from the above listed conditions, then they would potentially be in violation of State law, and enforcement action should be taken as appropriate. As always, if you have questions please contact your supervisor.

—

— Evidence indicates it would actually increase the number of pike.

Francis Brautigam, DIF&W Fisheries Division Director, testifying against the spearfishing bill.

¶

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 19

An Introduction to Moose Hunting

by Steve Vose

How do you locate suitable moose habitat, and what do you look for when scouting likely areas? From calling in a bull, to the proper use of scents, the author provides a primer for moose hunt permit holders and their sub-permittees.

Even though they are truly monstrous-size animals, with some bulls nudging up over the 1,200 pound mark, moose can still be very difficult to locate.

To find a moose, you first need to identify appropriate habitat. This can be done by studying the Gazetteer or using Google Earth to virtually scout areas with limited human access, focusing on swamps and areas bordering small lily pad ponds.

Once prime spots are located, hunters next need to thoroughly scout the area and attempt to locate sign. Moose sign is typically found by identifying fresh tracks, scat and signs of feeding activity (such as broken saplings).

Tracks, Scat and Evidence of Feeding Moose Tracks. The main part of a moose track is about 6-1/2’ long.

Cows and young bulls have slightly smaller, pointier tracks than adult bulls.

Track strides measure 30” to 40” long. Because cow moose give birth, they have a wider pelvic girdle than males.

Therefore the rear leg spread (the distance between the rear tracks) of cows will be wider than that of males. The tracks left behind by the female will show the rear foot as

being set to the outside of the front foot, whereas the male footprint will be set in line with or slightly to the inside. In other words, when looking at the right hand side moose tracks, a cow moose’s rear print will be on top of, and to the right of, the front track.

Moose Scat. Due to seasonal variety in a diet, moose scat comes in a number of different “flavors,” in accordance with what they’ve been eating.

Scat varies widely, depending, for example, on whether the moose has been dining on pond lilies or on the tips of fir bow.

Moose Browse and Feeding Sign. Moose are continuous grazers – like

giant cattle, they slowly munch along through their environment, except rather than grass in a field, they snack on willow, alder and fir bows.

Moose will strip bark off willow and alders trunks to get to the nutrient rich cambium layer.

These disturbances can look like giant deer rubbing areas, with dozens of trees affected.

Moose will also create rubs on trees much like a deer to work the velvet off their antlers. Fir bows will be clipped cleanly off as if snipped by a pair of hedge clippers. Sap oozing from these cuts can help scouters determine if an area has seen recent activity.

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Find suitable habitat and fresh sign, and you’ve likely located a moose’s home territory.

Have You Discovered the Moose’s Home Territory?

Once suitable and recent sign is found, it is preferable to make plans to hunt the area when the season opens, rather than assuming you need to move to other areas in pursuit of the moose.

That’s because moose tend to maintain a “home territory” of around one or two square miles. This

does change a bit during the fall when bulls tend to wander, traveling up to four miles from their “home” area, in search of a suitable mate. Still, compared to the travel patterns of other large game animals, this limited region allows the hunter to stake out prime travel areas in preparation for an encounter.

A large number of (Continued on next page)

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20 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Moose Hunting Special (Continued from page 19)

hunters are satisfied to simply drive the logging roads, scanning clearcuts in the early morning and evening, hoping to spot an acceptable moose to harvest. However, I find it more exciting to draw moose into effective range by calling and using moose scents.

Calling Moose While hiking, ATVing or paddling, hunters should incorporate calling sequences, followed by focused and careful listening for replies. Cow calling, bull grunting, shaking branches and the old trick of pouring water out of a large container (like a rubber boot) to simulate a moose urinating are all effective means of locating and/ or drawing a moose into shooting range.

Electronic calls in this situation are excellent, as many of the quality devices produce a sufficient

Smilin’

level of volume. With practice, a metal coffee can and a cotton or leather shoestring are as effective as these electronic devices, and cost mere pennies to construct.

Many guides are able to vocalize moose calls using their mouths or with the assistance of a birch bark cone to increase the volume, like the oldtime college cheerleaders’ megaphones.

Making Sense of Moose Scents Most hunters do not realize that moose, like deer, can be lured by sexual as well as curiosity scents. Moose are inquisitive creatures and will frequently investigate the smells of other moose or strange smells that are not perceived as dangerous.

Hunters can use this trait to their advantage, by using scents to pull the animals out of the deep

woods and into shooting range.

During the height of the rut, the “Moose Bomb Cow in Heat,” by Buck Expert, is a moose killer. The small aerosol can contains 5 ounces of pure Cow Moose in Heat Urine that can be dispersed in short bursts or locked down to fog out the entire contents.

I prefer to tie clean socks on tree branches and soak them down the evening before a hunt.

This gives the scent a chance to disperse all evening, leaving the area completely saturated with cow-in-heat smell by morning. Just be sure to get up early, early, early the next day so that other hunters don’t steal your spot!

As a hunter, harvesting a moose is the pinnacle of an outdoorsman’s hunting career. To be fortunate enough to be chosen to pursue and potentially harvest the largest game animal in North America is truly a unique

Being resourceful and flexible is the key to a successful moose hunt. When guiding his Dad to his first moose, the author overcame several challenges, especially when the animal expired in an area that required the two men to carry out the entire animal, one piece at a time.

experience.

I like nothing better than to help facilitate a sportsman successfully harvesting a moose.

Their excitement in the

endeavor is always infectious, and I am therefore able to share and participate in their sense of accomplishment.

¶

Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com

A young boy showed up at the sporting camp and explained that his ATV had overturned back on the trail.

The manager offered to help, but said, “First, why don’t you come on in and get some lunch.

Forget your troubles for now – we’ll go get the ATV after you get something to eat.”

“That’s mighty nice of you,” said the boy, “but I don’t think my dad would want me to.”

However, the manager insisted, so the boy went in for a big lunch.

Afterward the meal, the boy said, “Well, I do feel better now, but I bet my father will still be upset.”

“I’ll explain everything to him,” said the manager. “By the way, where is he?”

“His foot is stuck under the ATV,” replied the boy.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Two cheapskates went into the Greenville bar, ordered a light beer, and started eating sandwiches they’d brought from home.

“You can’t eat your own sandwiches here!” yelled the bartender.

The two guys shrugged, exchanged sandwiches, and continued eating.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The neighbor, a gentleman farmer from the city, pounded angrily on the Mainer’s ramshackle door. A young boy answered.

“Where’s your father?” the neighbor demanded.

“He’s in town,” replied the boy. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes – his mongrel mutt hound hunting dog, Bowser, got my prize-winning poodle Fi-fi pregnant, and I want to know what your father is going to do about it!”

“Well,” replied the boy, “I know he charges $600 for the bull, and $60 for the hog, but I don’t know what he’ll charge for old Bowser.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Greenville waitress was keeping an eye on a couple enjoying a romantic meal, when she noticed the man sliding lower and lower in his seat, until he slid right out of sight.

“Ma’am,” she said, rushing over to the woman, “I think your husband just slid under the table!’

“No,” replied the woman. “My husband just walked in the front door of the restaurant.” www.MaineSportsman.com

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 21

ATVs and Side-By-Sides — The Great 60-Inch Width Controversy

by Shane Brown A couple of press releases and some social media posts from the State of Maine have caused ATV widths to become a common topic at my work and all over social media.

To get all the facts and to respond to enforcement questions, I spoke to as many people as possible. I believe I understand both sides of the issue, and will do my best to explain those different positions.

The controversy began when the State of Maine issued a press release on May 19, 2017 stating that the ATV trail system is only open up to 60” machines, and that there was going to be enforcement of that standard this year.

Specifically, the release stated that “[o]ver the next few weeks, signs will be posted on certain ATV trails reminding ATV riders of the size limit. The Maine Warden Service and The Maine Forest Service will also be enforcing the maximum width limit on state trails where these signs are posted.

Although it was not specifically mentioned in the press release, word soon spread that anyone driving an ATV wider than 60 inches could be charged with trespass-

encourage you to still go out and explore. You will find there are not a lot of areas you can’t access, and the restrictive signs appear in only a few areas.

“The sign that launched a thousand blog comments” -- This is the sign posted on certain sections of the state’s ATV trail network, reminding riders that the agreements between the state and landowners allowing ATV access on private lands, limit the ATVs to 60 inches in width. Reaction to the news of this sign and the related planned enforcement, was swift, and often unkind.

ing.

The state has always maintained the trail system up to 60” wide, and all agreements with landowners who allow ATV access on their land reference a limit of 60” in width.

However, most folks did not read the press release itself, but rather heard about it second-hand.

Therefore, they thought enforcement was going to be statewide, rather than just in certain posted areas.

Only in Certain Areas I spoke with Brian Bronson, who runs the ATV program for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W). He explained that only a small percentage of trails are going to be enforced to the 60-inch wide standard.

There are only two landowners in the state who have decided to enforce this issue and who want to keep the width restricted to 60”. In reality, one cannot really blame those landowners for drawing attention to the

60-inch limit, since that’s what they had originally agreed to. It just did not become an issue until certain ATVs (mostly the newer side-by-sides) began exceeding that width.

I understand the frustration of folks who have machines greater than this width, and I also understand that a lot of those machines that are causing concerns are utility-based rather than being sport machines. However, this is the hand we are dealt.

If you have a machine wider than 60 inches, I

Actually the State’s Idea Brian Bronson at the state summarized this new policy of enforcement by explaining that it’s not a question of landowners requesting a new policy; rather, the 60-inch standard was a policy that the state itself pushed for back in 2006. Bronson said that state got everyone to agree to the 60-inch width limit so the state could manage just one policy and not have to have every area mapped for different widths.

He went on to explain that this is not an ATV versus SXS (side-by-side) issue; rather, it’s a case of a certain few individuals (with trucks and Jeeps) ignoring ATV signs, accessing ATV trails, and driving into places where they should not be, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.

If the folks in truck and Jeeps had abided by the signs and stayed off the trails, this issue would likely have never arisen.

Bronson also dis(Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

ATVing Special (Continued from page 21)

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on narrow barriers and bridge openings, and then they may send the state the bill to fix those machines.

It’s simply astounding to me that anyone would try to squeeze a wide machine through a “regular-size� opening, damage their machine and not consider the damage to be their own fault.

Request for Clarifying Map The next issue is that a lot of people wish there was a map sent out or available online that would go into detail and show what areas are 60�plus friendly, and what areas are not. This would solve a ton of questions, phone calls, and frustration, but from talking to Bronson at the state, his agency’s position is that the trail system has always been maintained up to 60� everywhere, and the enforcement is the only new part.

Again, I understand both sides of this argu-

ment and I understand where he is coming from, but believe that because of the new enforcement plan, creating such a map would avoid a lot of issues and complaints. As things stand, ATV riders have no way of knowing whether some landowners are OK with the wider machines.

I also received some information from Rick Laflamme, who is now the Landowner Relations specialist for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. He has a lot of the same opinions as Bronson does, but you can bet everywhere he goes in Maine he is fielding questions about this topic, and I am sure he is hard at work with Bronson to try to see what options they have available.

Warden Service Blindsided by Enforcement Responsibility?

The next issue is the way the ATV program (Continued on next page)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 23 (Continued from page 22)

the problem individuals.

chose to announce enforcement of the standard, and whether they consulted with the Warden Service before sending out the enforcement-related press release. A lot of people believe that charging those who are over 60� width with trespassing (if that’s really the plan) is wrong and is not the best way to handle it. These critics claim the ATV program has painted its own new sign and created their own new law with no input from the public.

This isn’t exactly how a democracy works, these critics claim.

I understand why people are upset at this development, and I am sympathetic with Bronson’s and LaFlamme’s concern that they were going to lose two large landowners from the voluntary trail access program if they didn’t come up with a solution. In short, they took the steps they felt they needed to, to keep these trails open for most people.

I also got a chance to talk to some different people at the Warden Service. They confirmed that there was not a lot of involvement from them as the enforcement plan was decided upon.

Some of them have hard feelings about the issue, since they feel their hand was forced and now they are required to come across as the “bad guys� with primary responsibility for enforcement and education.

From my discussions with folks at the Warden Service, I believe they have no intention of standing along the trail with tape measures, checking every machine as it goes by. Instead, it will become a tool in their enforcement arsenal, so that if folks are acting irresponsibly and intentionally damaging trails, that “excessive width� violation could be used to enhance charges against

Slings and Arrows on Social Media Not the Best Approach This issue and discussion will continue, and from being on social media I know there are some sites that are not handling this issue appropriately.

Certain bloggers have even gone as far as to mention the landowners by name that are having the signs installed, and the sites are very critical of those landowners. This is the wrong approach, in my opinion. Instead, we need to all work together to get through this issue and move forward.

DIF&W knows that the ATV and SXS industries in the State of Maine are very strong.

Riders and their equipment bring millions of dollars into the state every year.

The state and the local clubs have worked together to build a very impressive trail system in Maine, and ATVing is currently better than it has ever been.

They will work through this issue, but the decision-makers need to hear your opinion.

Reach out to Brian Bronson or even talk to your local elected Representative so they know how important the ATV industry is here. Open lines of constructive communication with large landowners, and learn from them the concerns that caused this issue to be raised. We have come too far to let this issue drive a wedge between the parties. Private landowners who give permission for ATVers to access their lands are the backbone of the statewide trail system, and they deserve a dialog rather than simply being the target of folks who may not fully understand the history and the complexity of this issue.

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24 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife: Northern Pike

by Tom Seymour

My first fishing trip to Canada back in the early 1960s served to introduce me to Esox lucius, or northern pike.

I was used to catching pickerel but was unprepared for the size and fighting ability of pike. These things were sporty as all get out, and were – so it seemed – always ready to bite.

The popularity of this species has led to pike being illegally introduced into many Maine lakes. And even when pike are released in one particular water, that doesn’t mean they will remain there. No, pike are colonizers, and if there is a way to travel from one point to another, they will find it.

Pike are here in Maine, and efforts to eradicate them have proven largely ineffective. Even with no size limit and no daily bag limit, pike manage to spread like wildfire. And, as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) reports, “Once an introduced fish species becomes established in a waterbody, the fish community is forever changed.”

Pike effect change by preying upon existing fish species such as smelt, shiners, white perch, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, trout and salmon. By doing so, pike throw off the balance between game fish and forage species, causing both classes of fish to decline.

Varying Attitudes Some Mainers have nothing but disdain for pike, while others have embraced these large, savage battlers. Here’s an example of the former. Pike have entered the St. George River watershed, and year-by-year they’ve managed to populate new upstream waters. One of these is a pond only a halfhour’s drive from my house.

Learning of this, I asked fishing buddy Alan Gallant if he would like to go try for pike.

His reaction was typical: “Absolutely not,” he said. “They don’t belong here.” So that settled that.

Another friend, Peter Kalin, invited me to go pike fishing with him near his home in Maine’s Belgrade Lakes Region. The day I visited was a poor day for fishing, and while I had no bites, my friend had one take, which resulted in the pike shaking the hook. This man routinely fishes for pike, www.MaineSportsman.com

and not only enjoys catching them – he likes eating them as well.

And somewhere in between these two viewpoints lies the position of the average Mainer. Most people neither despise nor love pike, but accept the fact that the fish are here. Consequently lots of people are becoming adept at catching them.

I suppose that reflects my own opinion.

I love catching fish, especially big fish. And though I oppose illegal stocking with all my heart, I’ve nothing against going out and catching a potential double-digit weight fish.

However, my success rate on Maine pike stands at zero. Thus my last pike was the last one I caught in Canada nearly 60 years ago. But that could change any time now, what with pike becoming so widespread.

Pike Surprise Retired Fisheries biologist William Woodward once made a remarkable prediction. He told me that some day while white perch fishing in a local pond I would hook something so huge that I would not know what had bitten. The pond, at the extreme headwaters of the St. George River watershed, would logically be the last to experience a pike invasion from downstream sources.

Woodward knew my habit of fishing this place for white perch, and now with news of pikes’ presence in the next downstream water, his prediction may well come true.

A low dam separates the pond from the river, and in times of spring high water, I have ridden over the dam in a motorboat.

So there really is nothing to bar pike from completing their upstream migration to the fullest extent possible.

Like many waters where pike have shown up, this local pond is managed for brook trout. It was also a fine producer of brown trout, but DIF&W discontinued the brown trout program, citing lack of angling results. That came as a shock to me, since I always had excellent luck on brown trout there.

But now, with the imminent arrival of pike, any trout stocked in the future will have to deal with a huge and efficient predator.

How many times has this scenario already occurred, and in how many waters?

Even if the criminal element ceases to illegally introduce pike to new waters, the fish themselves will probably continue to spread. And that means that, at least in central and eastern sections of Maine, pike will become permanent residents. To that end, those who want a chance to catch a big, scrappy fish will have every opportunity to do so.

Come Prepared It makes sense for anglers hitting any waters where pike already exist or potentially exist, to carry an extra fishing outfit designed to take pike. While light

tackle thrills me, it has no place in pike fishing. Sturdy leaders and rods with considerable backbone are needed for this new species. And considering pike’s razorlike teeth, a wire leader should become standard equipment.

As with pike’s cousin, pickerel, live baitfish work well. Choose the biggest shiner possible, hook it just behind the dorsal fin and fish it from a large bobber.

Let the bait wander near weedbeds, places where pike hide.

Artificial lures can and do take pike.

While my friend from the Belgrades uses fly gear, those using spinning or baitcasting tackle should stick to large spoons and large spinners.

I’ve also learned that like pickerel, pike come alive in early spring, and are especially active right after ice-out. As a lifelong pickerel fan, I’ve always made it a point to head out this time of year in search of large pickerel. Now, the same tactics that take pickerel should serve us well on pike.

Interestingly, ice fishing has become the chosen method for many for pike fishing.

Personally, catching a large fish such as a pike in open water seems much more exciting than hauling one up through the ice. But for many folks, including those who don’t have easy access to a boat in warmer weather, ice fishing presents an opportunity – albeit seasonal – to go anywhere on a lake or pond and fish in the best possible locations.

And how about a pike’s table qualities?

It’s hard to remember how those long-ago Canadian pike tasted but fortunately, someone gave me a pike several years ago and it was delicious. And to my taste, it didn’t resemble pickerel at all.

Northern pike are here to stay. I predict that in the near future, they will become a hugely popular game fish.

[Editor’s note: I enjoyed home-made appetizers of pickled Northern pike in Minnesota last year. The pickling solution of white wine, sugar, white vinegar, canning salt, pickling spice and white onions succeeds in dissolving the thin Y-bones in the pike chunks within a week.]

¶

Peter Kalin caught this pike in the Belgrade Lakes Region, on a fly rod.

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 25

The Skills and Ethics of Hunting Bear Over Bait

by Steve Vose

Most bait sites, the author convincingly argues, are not the tools of lazy hunters; rather, they are the tools of lawabiding, highly ethical sportsmen who know that in order to properly identify and harvest adult bears humanely, they need time to study and examine the animal before deciding whether to shoot. Here are ten suggestions for success at the bait site.

I have hunted Maine bear for seven years, and during that time I’ve invested over 50 days in pursuit of black bears over bait. During those many evenings spent staring through the dense woodlands at a small pile of oats and molasses, I’ve been fortunate enough to see ten black bears.

The first bear I saw, I estimated to weigh 125 pounds.

It’s notoriously difficult to accurately estimate a bear’s weight.

However, because I was hunting over bait, I was able to study the bear for

almost 15 minutes before ultimately deciding it was a small bear and not in the size class I was looking to harvest.

Bait sites using 55-gallon drums make size identification easier, because they provide a point of reference. For me, a personal goal is a bear standing almost as tall as a 55-gallon drum standing on its end, or almost twice as long as a 55-gallon drum lying on the ground. This is a BIG bear, and the one I have been patiently waiting to encounter for the past several years.

The second, third and fourth bears I saw consisted of a large sow with two cubs. While the sow was well over 200 pounds, it was easy for me to identify that it was a female was with cubs, given my clear sight-line from a high perch in a tree near the pile of bait.

Had I been still-hunting, and needing to make a quick identification and shot, I wonder if I would have been able to determine the sow had cubs before shooting?

Big Bear; Low Light The last bear I saw was well over 300 pounds.

The author with a 177.2-pound black bear. Vose has guided bear hunters for three years. He states that proper equipment, strict self-discipline and application of a high ethical standards are critical to success at the bait site. Steve shot this bear in Canada’s 2017 spring season, with the assistance of Tim Daley of Riverside Guide Service, out of St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

As the monstrous bruin ambled out of the woods, I raised my rifle, but upon looking through the scope I noted that the available light did not allow me to

place the crosshairs precisely on the bear’s vitals in order to ensure a humane shot and quick death.

I let that bear pass as (Continued on next page)

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Bear Hunting Special (Continued from page 25)

Bear Hunting Suggestions Based on my last several years of bear-hunting experiences, I have compiled the following suggestions.

It’s my hope that these concepts will help other hunters achieve success in the woods during this fall’s bear season.

1) Practice at Short Range: Bear hunters need to be patient and wait for a good shot option to present itself. Bait sites typically offer hunters shot opportunities at 20 yards or less. Being this close to game is an unusual hunting situation for most hunters, so

HUNT IS ON

shot to the neck simultaneously disrupts the animal’s throat, jugular and spine, causing immediate death.

4) Select Proper Optics: Low-light situations often exist at bait sites, so use quality optics or open sights. Test your sighting choice in your close range practice sessions in light conditions similar to those you expect to encounter at your bait site when the season begins.

5) Practice Scent Management: While people have reportedly shot bear while smoking cigarettes and otherwise employing little care for scent control, my method of scent management is significantly more aggressive. My body and clothes are washed in no-scent soap. When they are not being worn, boots, backpack and primary clothing layers are (Continued on next page)

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well as all the others.

As hunters, we possess a code of ethics that we use to judge and control our actions. This code of ethics operates on an even stricter limit than what is technically permitted by law, and it’s driven by our love of the Maine wilderness and the animals that inhabit it.

Most bait sites are not the tool of lazy hunters; rather, they are the tool of law-abiding, highly ethical hunters who know that in order to properly identify and harvest adult bears humanely, hunters need time to study and examine the animal they plan to shoot. In Maine’s dense woodlands, this level of study and examination

you should hold practice sessions at this yardage with your chosen firearm.

2) Select a Powerful Firearm: A firearm should be chosen that offers sufficient knockdown power. Maine guides favor the .30-’06 Springfield, .270 Winchester, .45-70, .444 Marlin, .500 Smith and Wesson and other, similar selections.

3) Make Proper Shot Placement: No matter your caliber choice, remember that shot placement is even more important than caliber selection. While the “forward shoulder shot” is gold standard of hunting, more and more guides are now telling clients to shoot bear directly in the neck. This shot practically guarantees that a hunter will either miss the bear entirely or hit the mark. A proper

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packed in garbage bags filled with pine or cedar branches. Don’t use acorn or earth-cover scent if you are sitting in a pine tree. Be consistent in the measures you adopt, and do not take shortcuts.

6) Keep Still: Limit your movements while on stand. Pack to be comfortable by being properly prepared. Bringing water, cough drops, food, pee bottle and other necessities designed to make your long sit enjoyable.

Have bug netting and a comfortable seat. There is nothing worse than trying to remain motionless while mosquitoes drill into your face and a wooden plank bites into your posterior. Camouflaged clothing matched to your surrounding will mask any small movements that you make.

7) Don’t Get Lost: Bring your GPS as well as your map and compass, and know how to navigate using both methods. Ask your guide where you will be hunting, and find out what’s in the immediate area for roads, streams and other landmarks. Prepare for an emergencies, and understand how you will call for assistance should it be necessary.

8) Be Ready for Any Weather: Maine’s weather in September can be

fickle. During my four days of hunting last year, temperatures ranged from 40 degrees to 70 degrees, and I encountered heavy rain and wind.

To combat the worst of Mother Nature, wear layered clothing matched to the anticipated weather conditions. Bring a winter hat regardless of the predicted weather, as it takes up almost no space in your pack but is invaluable if you begin to get cold. A wide-brimmed baseball hat is also helpful in either keeping the sun’s glare or keeping rain off your face and out of your eyes.

9) Listen to the Experts: All guides want you to be successful, so listen carefully and be receptive to their ideas.

If they want you to sit on a stand for four days so the bear learns not to fear your scent, or if they want to station you in different stands during various wind and weather conditions, then don’t second-guess their advice.

10) Stay Put: Don’t leave the stand until the time designated by your guide. If possible, wait for the pick-up vehicle to arrive and scare away any bears in the area, so that you don’t accomplish this task while leaving. It’s best not to educate the bear that someone was at the stand site.

on a hunt I tried my absolute best, then I will leave satisfied even if not successful. A poor shot in the dark may look like a great option when your thoughts wander to going

home bearless, but a true sportsman rises above that impulse decision.

Be patient, bear hunters – your time will come.

¶

Success is More than a Bear on the Pole Sportsmen who view every time out in the woods as an educational opportunity greatly increase their chances of having a positive outdoor experience, regardless of the final outcome.

The ability to maintain a positive attitude despite adversity and level of success is tied to an understanding that things worth achieving never come without a serious investment of time and energy.

Through persistence, consistency and patience, your hunting successes will greatly improve, as will your overall outdoor experience. If I know that

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Find Fast Aroostook Trout Action in Cold, Spring-Fed Brooks and Creeks Hot weather got you (and the brookies) down? Head for the “liquid air conditioning” of cold, shaded tributaries, and according to the author, you’ll discover bragging-size trout tucked away in pools no bigger than a hot tub.

August can be a tough month for Aroostook fly fishermen – dog days’ weather raises water temperature and lowers levels on regional rivers and streams.

The most reliable fly action is found at dawn and dusk, and on overcast, rainy days, but even then it can be a tough gig teasing lethargic trout to take. My solution is to go where brookies are plentiful and active all day, any day, regardless of weather.

Wonderful Whitney Creeks and brooks are the Crown of Maine’s smaller, colder and usually more remote waterways that eventually merge into larger rivers and streams. Just like you and I seek air-conditioned comfort on sweltering days, trout often take summer vacations from

their tepid home waters to head for cooler springfed tributaries. Locate the right brook, and it’s not only possible, but likely, that you’ll catch 12- to 14-inch speckled and vermiculated beauties from pools not much larger than a hot tub.

Whitney Brook originates from swamp and wetlands in the forest between Harvey’s Siding and Bridgewater, and it’s also fed by several small creeks that finally form the main waterway.

From the village center of Bridgewater, Whitney wanders and winds through forest and farm fields until it joins Prestile Stream just above the Canadian border.

There are several easy access locations near bridges and where the stream parallels local secondary roads, but doz-

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ens of top-rate trout pools are reachable only via unmarked farm fields. Most of these secluded runs receive minimal attention and yield great action.

Flies and Tactics Along many stretches, an overhead canopy of trees keeps direct sunlight off the water. A good number of pools are 3- to 5-feet deep, holding dozens of fish.

Casting a fly rod proves tricky, due to brook-shrouding brush and trees, so I recommend a 6 ½- to 7-foot, 4-weight as optimal for the close quarters. Sometimes a roll cast or even a slingshot will be needed to accurately drop the fly onto narrow pools that may only be 10 feet wide.

Wet flies work: a Trout Fin, Silver Doctor, March Brown and Royal Coachman are sure bets,

Steve Hitchcock of Mars Hill poses with one of several fat, feisty brookies teased from cool water spring holes on remote, woods-shrouded Aroostook ponds. Graves photo

as brighter colors have always fired up Whitney trout for me.

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runs and riffles can be challenging. I often have just as much fun and fight retrieving my dry flies wet Among proven favorite are a Gray Slim Jim, Mosquito, Royal Coachman, Hare’s Ear, Light Cahill, and Henryville Special. Once the dry fly alights, I use short strips with a rod tip twitch to pull the fly along – it dips just under the surface, making a small wake with each forward motion. Trout – including bragging-size brookies measuring a foot or more – engulf the seemingly-injured insect, often from surprisingly small pools.

Try 10, 12, or 14 size patterns for wet flies, as well as drys to be fished wet.

Boundary Line Road and Corner Road extend (Continued on next page)

—

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 29

Tom Tardiff of Robinson prepares to toss a Henryville Special over a school of brookies laying near a cool spring inlet on Three Brooks stream. Fish from the Prestile Stream move into cooler brooks this month. Graves photo (Continued from page 28)

along each side of Whitney Brook, but visiting anglers will need to use field roads and tractor tracks to get near the waterway and often hike for five minutes or so.

Seldom will you encounter another fisherman, but there will be plenty of fish. Peruse Delorme’s Atlas, Map 59, B-4 for general directions

to this top-rate warm weather trout creek.

Fall Brook Options Far up north in the deep woods beyond Allagash, secluded along the old logging and tote roads, are a trio of Fall Brook waterways, two ponds and a brook. These promising trout waters remain productive for fly fishing regardless of sultry, humid conditions,

Small steamer flies like this Magog Smelt prove really dependable when slowly retrieved through riffles and slow runs on Aroostook brooks like Whitney, Falls Brook and Ambrose Bear stream. Graves photo

and the fish are as plentiful and aggressive as the black flies and mosquitoes!

While fly casters and worm fishermen will all enjoy success, casting wet flies and small streamers seems to entice larger trout, especially toward evening.

Falls Pond and Little Falls Pond each offer carry-in launch sites as

well as maintained campsites for visitors seeking to spend a weekend or perhaps just prepare a tasty shore lunch. Stable canoes or 12- to 14foot aluminum V-hulls, light enough for two men to carry along approach trails, offer far better access than casting from shore.

Rather than trolling, boat buddies and I have

enjoyed the most consistent results taking turns casting while the other paddles along the shoreline. For small streamers, try a Black and White Bucktail, Magog Smelt or a Little Brook Trout. Also try a Hendrickson, Cahill or Henryville, fished dry or wet.

Falls Brook stream also offers an option for (Continued on next page)

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“The County�

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Dry flies fished wet and turkey-winged floating grasshoppers are deadly on Aroostook’s small creeks that flow cold through farmland and forest this month, regardless of air temperature or time of day.

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B Road off Route 1 just outside of Houlton offers easy access to many stretches of fine fly fishing pools. It will be necessary to use field roads and even tractor and ATV trails to reach the secluded runs. The farther from town and the more difficult the approach route, the less pressure the fish endure, and usually the better the results. Cast a Blue Dun, Brown Slim Jim, or a green-bodied, turkey-wing grasshopper for surface action; toss out a Parmachene Belle, Ginger Quill or a Royal Coachman if you prefer wet flies.

Worm-dunkers would be wise to add a small silver or pearl spinner to terminal tackle, while a small, bright Mepps with orange beads really stirs up the brookies.

A complete overview of Captain Bear stream may be viewed at Map 59, E-2 and 3, as well as Map 53, A-3.

There’s lots of brook, plenty of trout and minimal pressure.

Âś

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 31

When Casting from Shore, Try “Heavy Metal” Sometimes heavy metal is the only answer.

And no, I’m not talking about rock music. This version of heavy metal refers to solid metal lures that cast like bullets, sink quickly and have lively, fish-enticing action.

Two lures in this category, Kastmaster and Al’s Goldfish, belong in every angler’s tackle box.

And while these lures work well when trolled, they really shine for those places where a boat or canoe is out of the question.

Both of these venerable lures have what it takes to reach out great distances to otherwise-inaccessible trout. Maine anglers have used these lures for long-range casting for many years. In fact, I have witnessed what might fairly be called a cult following.

Sometimes the obvious remains hidden, and for heavy metal lures, the same holds true. Not everyone realizes the great value of these lure for casting from shore.

Hopefully, that will soon change.

Evening Browns Let me give an example of how these lures perform. Anglers would typically gather neat the boat launch of a local lake every evening at dusk. That was when brown trout migrated in toward shore. The bottom topography was nothing of much interest, except it was sandy and formed long, gentle underwater slope. And that was what drew the fish.

Perhaps the sand bottom held the day’s heat and trout found that to their liking. Or maybe some sort of baitfish congregated here in the

evening. But come fish no matter – near him, the fish were an offer that there, and was hard to local anglers refuse. Forknew just tunately I how to catch had several them.

Al’s Goldfish As if on in my tackcue, every le box. Soon, person staked brown trout out a place Tom’s version of “heavy metal” -- Kastmaster, top, and were striking to stand and Al’s Goldfish, bottom. Seymour photo my lure with cast. And evequally wild other, lighter and more ery single person had a abandon. wind-affected lures canKastmaster on the end Heavy Metal Gear not follow. of their line. The method Certain types of gear The retrieve for an was simple, just cast out help to wring the most Al’s Goldfish needn’t be as far as possible (which effectiveness out of heavy as fast-paced as with a with heavy metal lures metal lures. First – and Kastmaster, although translates to a great disthis is of great imporsometimes speeding up tance), let the lure sink tance – one reason these the lure halfway during for a few seconds and lures work so well when the retrieve can initiate then quickly reel it in. casting from shore is that the strike instinct in any One evening I got in they are capable of being trout that was following on the action and found cast great distances. But but was reluctant to bite. that a slow retrieve was a heavy, stiff line negates In addition to being ineffective. But when I much of that benefit. an excellent brown trout reeled in much faster, Consequently, I usulure, Goldfish drive brook brown trout not only bit ally use no heavier than trout wild. During times but would sometimes fol4-pound test line. Howwhen brookies refuse low the lure to within feet ever, with modern techother offerings, they will of shore before striking. nology, some 6-pound often still take an Al’s This was very exciting, lines have become quite Goldfish. not only from a personthin. And it’s the diamSometimes the simal viewpoint but also in eter, not the pound test, ple things in life are the watching others nailing that counts. If we could best and that goes for one brown trout after anget 20-pound test line in both Al’s Goldfish and other. the same diameter as a Kastmasters. Both are The lesson was not 2-pound test, everyone simply-made metal lures forgotten, and it has come would use it. But that – designs that have not to the rescue many times hasn’t happened yet, so changed since their insince. For me, winning the thinnest diameter ception so many years trout tactics are like monlines remain the lightest. ago. ey in a savings account However, a modern Once, while casting – they are there when 4-pound test line has to brown trout in a large needed. great tensile strength, pool on a small river, I noAl’s Goldfish and in waters where ticed a man on the other Al’s Goldfish in the there are no snags for fish side of the road catching original gold color takes to wrap the line around, and releasing good-sized trout when nothing else anglers can whip huge brown trout. Standing will. The wriggling actrout with 4-pound test. and watching him, the tion, plus that flashy gold So a thin line is needed in reason behind his succolor, attracts all trout. order to take advantage cess became clear to me.

I like Goldfish for of heavy metal lures. This He was casting an Al’s casting on both lakes and combination allows us to Goldfish and reeling it in rivers. The streamlined reach trout that hang erratically, at a moderate shape and fairly heavy way out there, too far for rate of speed. weight allow Al’s Goldconventional lures.

The guy was good-nafish to reach out where Also, when using a tured, and invited me to

thin-diameter line, it makes sense to match the rod and reel to the line. I prefer ultralight spinning rods and reels, but will admit that light outfits (as opposed to medium-weight outfits) perform okay. The ultralight gear just allows us to extract the most enjoyment from the fight.

Fluttering Action The method of retrieve mentioned for both Kastmasters and Al’s Goldfish will serve us well 99 percent of the time. But once in a while we’ll need to try something a little bit different.

And that means using the lure’s fluttering action to our advantage.

Simply put, just cast out as usual, but instead of letting the lure sink only a few feet before reeling in, instead allow the lure to fall to bottom. This utilizes the lure’s built-in fluttering action. Of the two, Kastmasters perform best for the flutter-drop retrieve.

Al’s Goldfish works too, but sinks faster and with a bit less flutter than a Kastmaster.

So cast out, close the bail and keep a tight line as the lure flutters its way to bottom. Any cessation in the downward movement indicates a take, so strike hard. If the lure reaches bottom without being hit by a trout, reel in as usual, and repeat the process.

Al’s Goldfish and Kastmasters, in various sizes, belong in every tackle box. Both lures can make the difference between a successful outing and a fishless day.

¶

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32 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

“Are We There Yet?” “Are we there yet?”

These are words that every parent heading to Northern Maine with young children in the back seat has undoubtedly heard all too often.

That reminds me of a scene from my youth.

In the early 1970s, my mother, a relentless photographer, recorded home movies from the front seat of our 1968 Chevrolet of the Sheldon family crossing the Piscataquis Bridge. The blackand-white footage depicts the same scene motorists would see today, as not much seems to have changed. Even the sign on the bridge looks untouched.

No kid likes long car rides, but when the destination is one of Maine’s natural wonders – from the summit of Mt. Katahdin to the rafting whitewater (and feisty smallmouth bass) of the Penobscot River -- the wait is definitely worthwhile.

I can’t say I remember the conversation as we rolled across that bridge and caught a whiff of “Maine – The Way Life Should Be,” but an inquisitive “Are we there yet?” could have easily rolled from my eightyear-old lips as I peered out from the back seat.

Each year, thousands of vehicles stream north to sample the Katahdin Country’s majestic natural resources and escape life in the fast lane.

Mount Katahdin For example, hikers eye the jewel crown of Maine – Mount Katahdin. This mile-high peak has attracted self-propelled types for decades.

A few years back, I too made the long journey to the highest point in Maine.

The first night, we stayed in a lean-to at the Chimney Pond Campground. Since it had been only 18 months since my open-heart surgery, it made sense for me to take

my sweet time heading to the top. Camping on the mountain has its rewards too.

Two members in my group wanted to reach the summit by way of the legendary Knife Edge Trail. Fortunately for me, high winds and a Park Ranger’s warnings kept us off that narrow trail, and we opted instead for the less-tricky Saddle Trail. So bright and early in the morning, we rolled upward.

One thing that stood

out, to me anyway, was the pyramid shaped pile of stones at the summit. Apparently Mount Katahdin, without help from this man-made stone heap, comes up just a painful few feet short of reaching the “mile” plateau. Kudos to the folks whose attention to detail pushed the majestic mountain over the top.

For those not looking to test a surgically rebuilt heart, Baxter State Park has multiple trails that do not require battling the steep elevations that are needed to summit Maine’s tallest peak.

The 3.2-mile trail into Katahdin Lake serves (Continued on next page)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 33 (Continued from page 32)

as a stellar example of a hike offering backwoods aroma without the harsh climb associated with trails that head straight up the big mountain.

Likewise, the 7.2-mile walk to Russell Pond and the 5.2-mile route into Frost Pond also feature moderate elevation changes.

River Rafting Hiking isn’t the only activity that causes children of all ages to ask hopefully, “Are we there yet?” The Penobscot River offers up a healthy dose of whitewater that attracts adrenalin junkies from all four corners of the earth.

With names like “Exterminator Hole,” “Staircase Rapid” and “Vulture Rock” to navigate through and around, one can expect non-stop action. The flow from Ripogenus Gorge to Debsconeag runs hard for about 17 miles, and with a few exceptions along the way measures a respectable Class II to Class V with normal flows.

The region boasts multiple rafting outfitters that have run this route thousands of times. In fact, all of the rafting specialists I talked to offered multiple options, ranging from running the tricky upper portion of the river twice in one day, to half(Continued on next page)

Bill Sheldon (left) and Steve Carter reached the mile-high summit of Mount Katahdin on a windy summer day. Sheldon photo

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34 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 33)

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Lower Penobscot The lower sections of the Penobscot, from Mattawamkeag to Old Town, offer a slower flow and some really impressive smallmouth bass fishing.

This works well for canoe trippers looking for a flowing river without battling the extremities of the upper river.

A quick review of most any current river map reveals plenty of state-sponsored boat ramps that are located at reasonable intervals, making trip planning and setting up a shuttle relatively easy.

From the Mattaseunk Dam to the Winn Boat Ramp rates as the most

This small pile of stones at the summit gives Mount Katahdin just enough height to be called a mile-high mountain. Sheldon photo

turbulent stretch of water. From Winn on south, the river has plenty of current typical of wide, flat water, but progressively less whitewater to deal with.

The river has multiple islands and shorelines that make great

spots to stop and have a shore lunch. Canoes and kayaks seem like a perfect fit here. With that said, the Penobscot still has its share of structure worth keeping an eye out for.

With cold water species laying low during the summer heat, fishermen will definitely target the hard-fighting bronzebacks that call this river home. The spin-cast crowd uses a strategy of throwing hardware, including various size Mepps spinners or the recently revitalized Al’s Goldfish, to get these brash smallies attached to the business end of the line.

Twitching small poppers slowly along the banks or around submerged structure serves as an effective strategy.

Shady shorelines always deserve a presentation or two.

When it comes to fly fishing for smallies, my go-to favorite, the all black Woolly Bugger, comes out of my fly box automatically.

Should that fail, an olive-colored one comes out next.

Before any trip wraps up, it’s always fun to try getting an opportunistic bronzeback to smash a popper sitting pretty on the water. I just let it sit and give it an occasional twitch.

Whether by land or water, the Katahdin Region has plenty of action waiting for everyone.

“Are we there yet?”

¶

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 35

Teenagers on Katahdin Too often, it seems, teenagers consider a hike with a parent as “enforced family time,” so the author felt fortunate to be invited on this father/daughter trip to Katahdin’s summit, up the infamous (“Too steep to continue; way too steep to turn around”) Cathedral Trail.

Back before their social and school sports schedules consumed their young lives, my two kids were my frequent hiking companions. When they were barely toddlers, we braved the Great Head trail and other family-friendly hikes in Acadia National Park. Later, my wife and I hiked frequently with them on Tumbledown Mountain in Weld and nearby Mount Blue.

We also did a bunch of family hikes in Baxter State Park, including Doubletop Mountain and Sentinel Mountain. The kids got impressive views of Katahdin from these lesser peaks – and I remember telling them that the big mountain was on our list. But despite one overnight trip to Chimney Pond in their early years, we never made it to Maine’s highest peak as a family.

Cruel Irony It’s a cruel irony that just as our offspring reach the level of physical maturity needed for strenuous outdoor adventure, they become hopelessly entangled in their own separate and over-scheduled lives.

It’s quite rare to see nuclear family groups that include teenagers on the trails of Maine’s tallest mountain. Groups of teenagers hiking together is a common enough occurrence – often in packs of a half-dozen or more.

Couples without kids in tow are also a frequent sight. And groups of parent-age adults sometimes flock to the summit in company with each other.

But a teen accompanied by one or two parents is a rarity.

June Surprise So imagine my surprise when my daughter, Grace, suggested a

June hike to Katahdin’s peak as a celebration of her upcoming high school graduation. We had each summited Katahdin several times, but we had never done it together. I almost ran to the computer to make lean-to reservations at Roaring Brook and Chimney Pond campgrounds.

We plotted a threeday escape just before the graduation ceremony. Arriving at dusk on a weekday, we found Roaring Brook Campground at full capacity – for both black flies and hikers. A campfire kept the former at bay.

The weather window was perfect for summiting the next day; beyond that, however, the forecast was dicey. That schedule would require an early morning 3.3 mile hike to Chimney Pond with full packs, and then a quick, afternoon summit attempt with a

The author and his daughter Grace on Katahdin’s summit.

return to Chimney Pond before dark.

Teens Want to Hike The plan called for a tough day, but I was thrilled. My only regret was that we had not done this sooner.

Like many hiking parents, I was tempted to blame the digital world

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But this excuse doesn’t ring true on Katahdin.

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Self-Propelled (Continued from page 35)

age of that increase.

The Friends of Baxter State Park, the Chewonki Foundation, the Appalachian Mountain Club and Outward Bound all

offer wildly-popular teen hiking trips that include summiting Katahdin.

Likewise most of the long-established Maine summer camps bring

hundreds of teens to Baxter each summer.

The inevitable conclusion for parent hikers with teenagers is that “Yes” my kid wants to hike Katahdin, but “No,” she or he doesn’t necessarily want to do it with me.

Hiking with a group of other teenagers is an event – it’s an experience they can share together. With parents, it’s enforced family time.

Long Trail Day I thought about that on our morning climb to Chimney Pond – and I realized how lucky I felt to have been invited on this father/daughter trip.

Other trails were closed due to rockslides and lingering snow fields. So, after stashing some gear at the lean-to, we took the infamous Cathedral Trail from Chimney Pond to the summit.

Cathedral’s motto should be: “Too steep to keep climbing – and too steep to turn around and go down.”

We reached the peak in perfect weather, with a

Grace on the Chimney Pond Trail -- note snow in the background, which kept several trails closed in June.

3,500-foot elevation gain behind us for the day.

And after the mandatory summit photos, we started on a long circuitous route back down to our lean-to.

I asked Grace about her earlier summit experiences with groups of friends. And I told long boring stories about my own teenage days on the mountain – once again with groups of friends; not my parents.

By the time we got back to Chimney Pond we had put in about 9 miles of hiking over some of the toughest terrain

in Maine. My body was creaking with every step.

Grace, on the other hand, could have easily made the 3-mile descent to our vehicle at Roaring Brook.

As I stretched out on my back on the board floor of the lean-to, my spine snapped and cracked like a dry stick. Grace giggled, and skipped off to the pond to get water.

Lying there in pain, it occurred to me that I might have discovered the real reason teens and parent don’t hike Katahdin together.

¶

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: NORTHERN PIKE by Steve Vose The Northern pike (Esox lucius) is a freshwater species native to the Northern Hemisphere. The elongated and pointed head of the Northern pike bears a resemblance to the pole-like weapon known as the pike, and therefore led to the fish’s common name of “pike.” Various other unofficial names exist for the fish, including green snake, northern and gator.

Ambush predators, pike use their olive-green shading to blend seamlessly into shallow vegetated areas where they quietly wait to attack unsuspecting prey species.

Once an animal swims into striking distance, pike move with great speed and voracity, using their razor-sharp teeth to capture and decimate any small creature unfortunate enough to cross their path.

Scientists studying pike have examined their stomach contents and found all man-

ner of creatures inside, including ducks, muskrats, mice, baby loons, amphibians, invertebrates and all variety of fish.

Northern pike were initially introduced into Maine in the 1970s, as the result of an illegal placement into the Belgrade Chain of Lakes. Subsequent migrations within the Belgrade Lakes drainage and additional illegal introductions have expanded their distribution to many lakes and ponds throughout the central and southern parts of the state.

In late March or early April, mature pike (2 years old or older) move into the shallows and slow-moving water in preparation for spawning. Females deposit their adhesive eggs in aquatic vegetation, at which time males widely distribute milt over the course of several days.

Once successfully fertilized, the eggs typically hatch in about two weeks.

Questions 1. What is the native range of the Northern pike?

2. How did the “pike” get its name?

3. Scientists studying pike have found what types of creatures in their stomachs?

4. When were pike introduced to Maine waters? www.MaineSportsman.com

If able to successfully avoid predators, small pike fry grow rapidly, reaching 15 inches in length after only one year.

The life expectancy of pike may exceed 15 years, with females generally living longer and achieving greater size than males.

Northern pike are among the largest freshwater fish in Maine, with the largest specimens able to top the scales at more than 31 pounds.

¶

5. When do pike reach sexual maturity?

6. When do pike spawn?

7. How many inches long can a pike grow at the conclusion of its first year?

8. How long does a pike live?

Answers on Page 44

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 37

Smallmouth Bass in Brassua Lake Evidence of Yet Another Illegal, Harmful Invasion There’s trouble by the boatload in Brassua Lake. Moosehead area guide Eric Holbrook found and photographed a number of dead smallmouth bass at the boat ramp on Brassua Lake.

These spiny-rayed invaders, the product of an illegal introduction, have now, as witnessed by Eric’s discovery, gained a solid foothold in this pristine and productive coldwater fishery. The fish in the photograph were left by anglers who, while fishing for salmon and trout, caught bass and – in an effort to slow their spread – killed and discarded them.

But given the size of the bass here, it seems

While it’s certainly fun to have a wide variety of Moosehead Region fish from which to choose – including tasty perch and scrappy smallmouth bass – illegal introductions of these “spiny-rayed” species portend trouble in waters managed for trout and salmon. plain that smallmouth bass in Brassua have long since reached a size and age where they can reproduce, and they almost certainly have reproduced.

This situation provides yet another example of selfish people delving into a field – fisheries management – where they have no business intruding. The mindset seems to be if the fish you want to catch don’t exist in a certain body

of water, then instead of going where the fish are already established, just do some moonlight stocking and “presto,” soon the fish of choice will establish itself.

One of the many things wrong with this notion is that by putting spiny-rayed fish in a water once inhabited by only coldwater species, the coldwater species must compete for forage. And the newly-arrived invaders usually win out, if

only on account of their sheer numbers.

Another problem with this and all illegal introductions of spiny-rayed fish species is that unlike coldwater game fish, the spiny-rays are highly prolific, and once established are near-impossible to eradicate.

The only defense we have against these unwanted invaders is to kill every one we catch.

And even that won’t be enough to eradicate a

spiny-ray population, but it may at least buy legitimate fisheries managers some time to more fully address the problem.

Illegal stocking has become a scourge, not only to the world-class salmonid fishery in the Moosehead region, but throughout Maine. Perhaps through education we can deter would-be illegal stockers. And in doing so we might include an appeal to common decency.

If we make it plain what a rude, callous injustice illegal stocking has become, we may be able to reach the better angels of those who would so cavalierly disrupt (Continued on next page)

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Moosehead (Continued from page 37)

valuable fisheries that have remained intact for thousands of years.

Summer Fun Moosehead Lake, and indeed all the big lakes in the region, are dedicated coldwater fisheries. But all the same, some spinyrayed fish do exist in some of the other waters in the region and these have existed for some time. For instance, Prong Pond contains smallmouth bass and white perch.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks the pond with brook trout

every year, so Prong Pond represents a sort of catchall fishery for those out to enjoy some simple angling pleasure.

Large boats and huge motors don’t fit in to Prong Pond, because at only 427 acres it is small and it is also fairly shallow and quite rocky. But small boats and canoes work just fine here.

It’s the white perch that attract me, and for pure angling enjoyment and also good eating, they are hard to beat.

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earthworms, and it’s time to hit the water for perch.

Try fishing here some still summer afternoon and get ready for fast action.

And while Prong Pond contains smallmouth bass, as mentioned above, it isn’t noted as a producer of large fish. For that, those set on taking 4-pound and over smallmouths should head over to Indian Pond. This, too, was once a prime salmon water, but smallmouth bass have hurt salmon and brook trout fishing, and today more people visit here intent on catching smallmouth bass than those targeting trout and salmon.

But for a mess of white perch and perhaps some carryover brook trout from last spring’s stocking, head to Prong Pond. Find Prong Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 41, C-3. And look for Indian Pond on Map 40, C-5.

Moosehead Rocks No, I’m not talking

Invasive smallmouth bass, cast up on the shore of Brassua Lake by disappointed fishermen who understand the harm the fish will cause to this trout and salmon water. The fact that these smallies are fully-grown indicates the lake already holds a breeding population.

about boulders. Moosehead rocks because even in August, boaters can experience high-quality angling for trout, salmon and togue. By now fish have taken up residence in the thermocline, that often-thin layer of cool, well-oxygenated water where they find comfort even in summer’s heat.

And the good news now is that a cold, wet spring and a less-thanbalmy start to early summer mean that the thermocline shouldn’t be as deep as during years of higher water tempera-

tures. Personally, this kind of fishing appeals to me, because trolling in the thermocline holds a sort of mysterious charm.

The chance of taking a huge trout, salmon or togue is always present, and then a fish trips the downrigger and the rod springs up. The heart rate increases because of anticipation – anticipation that on the other end of the line might be a trophy of a lifetime.

And even if the biggest fish in the lake don’t bite, fish in the 2- to (Continued on page 40)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 39

Six Accessories That Will Turn Your ATV into a Hunting Machine Over the years I have been directly involved with the task of big game retrieval – finding a downed game animal and pulling it out of the woods with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to the truck and then transporting it to the butcher for processing.

In some cases, the dragging was easy, while at other times the retrieval required special skills to extract the big animals from tight spots in thick, jungle-like forests. In those instances, helicopter would have worked better – but that’s another story.

In some of the tougher situations, certain accessories really came in handy. To better understand the challenges of big-game retrieval, let me describe an actual scenario.

I was guiding a moose hunter (although this situation is equally applicable to bear hunting or big deer hunting) in Northern Maine, and he shot an 850-pound bull about fifty yards off a logging road. The woods had been cut over and had a

good five years of new growth on top of the slash and stumps left behind from the logging operation. And as many of you know, in Maine the woods are also full of huge granite boulders as big as an ATV. Before I began my field dressing operation, I asked the hunter and his companion to take my orange flagging tape and mark the clearest path out of the woods to the logging road. As I worked on the animal, the hunters did me a great favor and clearly marked the best possible route out of the thick woods.

The Haul We secured the head and rack of the bull to the rear of the machine and started in the direction of the logging road. When the machine got bogged down in a deep stump hole, I had one hunter take the winch cable and wrap it around the base of a tree in front of my stuck machine.

With the winch motor engaged, I slowly added throttle and was able to easily pull my machine and the moose out of the

stump hole. In another twenty yards, the process had to be repeated, and before we got to the road I’m sure there were at least fifty winching maneuvers required to eventually get me and the moose-laden ATV out of the deep woods.

I never would have made it without the help of the winch and a few other specialty ATV accessories. In the old days hunters probably did it with horses or mules; today, big game retrieval can be done with an ATV. Today’s ATVs come sufficiently equipped for most trail-riding adventures. Using ATVs for hunting need not involve elaborate changes to the original machine, but the right accessories can turn

a trail-riding ATV into a full-fledged, backwoods hunting machine.

One thing hunters should avoid in this process is the urge to add too many elaborate add-ons to a perfectly fine ATV. Selecting a few accessories for an ATV used for hunting doesn’t have to include “pimping it out.”

Also, additions to the hunting ATV won’t limit the machine in any way – hunting ATVs that get outfitted for the woods can be used just like any other four-wheeler.

The trick is to figure out the items a hunter will definitely find useful, and what items aren’t really needed. After using an ATV as a registered Maine guide on numerous hunting exploits, I

have determined there are a few ATV accessories that I won’t go into the woods without.

Hunting Accessories 1) Winch. A good winch has to rank as my number one accessory on a hunting ATV – to the point of being included as a standard feature on most new machines.

When needed, the winch can be the most useful accessory in the hunting woods – pulling out a stuck machine, helping to drag big game out of the woods, or any number of heavy chores around camp.

2) Heavy leather gloves. When purchasing a winch, be sure to complete the deal by dedicating a pair of heavy, (Continued on next page)

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Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 39)

leather gloves for working with the steel winch cable – frayed winch cables are notorious for cutting hands.

3) Tire repair kit. A flat tire on an ATV in a remote hunting situation could spell disaster, so I always carry a tire repair kit. Don’t just get the can of aerosol goop that is supposed to fix a flat tire. Sometimes a flat tire requires a rubber plug,

glue, and re-inflation.

Get a complete kit with the plug tool and a small compressor that runs off the battery.

4) Seat back/storage box. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I like a seat that has a back on it. One of those wraparound seat backs, with a bunch of build-in storage boxes would do the trick.

I carry a lot of gear on the front and rear racks,

Moosehead (Continued from page 38)

3-pound class certainly put up a good fight.

Some people use shiners or frozen smelt, but my pal Bob Lawrence of Lawrence’s Lakeside Camps in Rockwood sticks with artificial lures, and when fishing with Bob, I’ve always come home completely satisfied regarding quality and number of fish taken during a day’s angling.

As for what lures to use, I’ve said this many times, but it bears repeating. Sure, it’s okay to stick to the old tried-and-true lures, but to increase the odds of having a

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but like to keep the small stuff in the storage compartments.

5) Hard-shell gun case. Don’t just throw the rifle or shotgun over a shoulder when riding an ATV. I’m sure many accidents are caused by a barrel catching on a branch and pulling a rider off the machine. Several companies make hard shell gun cases that mount directly to the machine. They look real secure and offer easy access.

6) Clear trail map case. The last accessory that I feel I need to carry isn’t really a necessity; it’s more of a luxury.

I like carrying maps, but digging through a pack to locate a map at every stop becomes a hassle – I really like a clear map case mounted over the gas tank.

I insert the map into the clear case and can read it when ever I want – no stopping to haul it out of a pack full of loose gear. When it’s right up

banner day out on the big lake, stop in at one of the local retail outlets and ask what fish are currently taking. These shops make it a point to stock up on the hottest fish-takers going, and most of the people who work in these outlets are anglers themselves.

That means their advice is sound, and it only makes sense to follow it.

Trolling Tackle Last month in my Trout Fishing column I highlighted the new, ultra-thin, extra-strong lead-core line now available. But next month’s column I will be able to report on the use of lead-core line for trolling. If it

front on the gas tank, I’m more willing to stop and take a look at where I am located, too. With the map in such a handy position, I don’t get lost as often (well, not really lost, just “temporarily off the designated path”).

Other hunters may find additional accessories that suit their style of hunting and riding better, but for me, I find that the above items really make a difference when hunting with an ATV.

¶

works as advertised – as I suspect it does – a flexible downrigger rod or even a medium-weight baitcast rod will allow for the use of lead-core line while giving the angler the added enjoyment of taking lively Moosehead Lake salmonids on light tackle.

Of course downriggers work fine as well.

So head out on Moosehead and enjoy the pleasure of trolling on this unspoiled gem in the heart of Maine’s big woods. And good luck.

I truly hope everyone who reads this has an exceptional time fishing in the Moosehead Region this summer.

¶

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 41

300 Miles of Scenic Trails Make Jackman an ATVer’s Desination With endless trails and a great local club, Jackman has earned a reputation as a hub for serious ATV riders.

What better place for the author to introduce his then-10 year old daughter to the fun –if somewhat dusty – sport of group trail riding?

When my daughter Hannah reached the age of 10, I decided it was high time to introduce her to the world of ATV riding. I would invite her on a group ride from Newport to Dover-Foxcroft – she would start her apprenticeship as first passenger on my old Honda Four-Trax.

Group rides, especially those with organized ATV clubs, provide a safe, enjoyable setting for introducing newcomers to this growing sport. Everyone generally agrees that with numbers comes an increase in safety.

Most rides of this nature put a machine out front “scouting” the trail for hazards or road crossings while putting another ATV at the rear of the group. The last machine plays “mop-up” for riders whose machines experience mechanical problems.

These simple safety precautions keep the group moving toward their stated destination in an orderly fashion. If one person needs to stop for any reason, the whole entourage stops and waits until the issue is resolved.

Most of the time, someone in the group carries a few tools that can address and remedy minor mechanical issues.

Hannah posed proudly on the old red Honda before the ride. I thought she might ask to take the controls but I guess she

counted herself a lucky passenger when it came time to kick off the ride.

Because I ride slowly, we took a position at the end of the motorcade of about 16 machines.

As a rule, I’m not destination-driven, and I enjoy “putting” along while taking in the scenery.

Maine’s a beautiful state, and I certainly plan to smell the roses along the way.

making Jackman a “goto” ATV riding destination need only to look as far as the Border Rider’s Sportsman Club (www. borderridersclub.com).

The Border Riders Club has a serious online presence and a website worthy of visiting before shifting gears and accessing the trail system. They also have a clubhouse located just north of downtown Jackman on Route 201.

Wilderness travelers looking for a place to park their ATV hauling trailer can park at the clubhouse. This makes a perfect spot to unload and connect immediately to the waiting ATV trail.

Go-To ATV Destination The Jackman Region has earned a reputation as a “go-to-destination” for serious ATV riders.

That’s not a surprise, considering there are more than 300 miles of official trails weaving throughout the rolling mountainous terrain that attract nearby riders as well as those “from away.”

At the core of all quality trail systems lies a strong ATV club. Working with volunteer members and limited budgets these unsung heroes make trail riding in the North Country a first class exercise.

Trail runners who want to connect with the local club responsible for

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Hannah Sheldon got hooked on off-road travel at a very young age. The Jackman Region has plenty of trails for training young riders. Bill Sheldon photo

the air cleaner.

Also, while on the subject of renting some fun, why not try out a side-by-side ATV? These rigs remind me a bit of a scaled-down Jeep.

Their size makes them ideal for the Jackman Region trail system.

The roof system offers a

tad more weather protection, and I think it’s easier to communicate to a passenger sitting along side the driver as opposed to one seated directly behind the driver as in a conventional ATV. Renting a side-by-side allows traditional ATV (Continued on next page)

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42 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jackman Region (Continued from page 41)

riders to get some seat time in these increasingly popular units.

Guided Tour Many of the local

businesses in town can provide maps and trail running tips for ATV riders. It makes sense to acquire a little local knowledge whenever possible.

And, of course, the World Wide Web offers a plethora of information.

Those wanting to get a detailed look at the region’s nationally-recognized trail system should consider employing the services of a Registered

Maine Guide. It’s hard to beat a personalized tour.

Registered Maine Guides have multiple areas of training. Look for a guide who has passed the recreation portion of the guide test.

Many of the local

guides have passed all the different areas of testing – elevating them to the status of “Master�

Maine Guide. Hiring one of these professionals, many of whom advertise on the pages of the Maine (Continued on next page)

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—

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 43 (Continued from page 42)

Sportsman, ensures a safe and enjoyable outing, and eliminates the stress of planning for the logistics of a backwoods tour.

Ridge runners coming from away can complete or renew their ATV registration online or find a designated agent.

The fine folks at Bishops Store can help get that ATV registered and a lot more. Part of visiting the area involves experiencing the local vendors, and

Bishops has just about anything needed to prepare for that ATV trip into the mountains.

Anyone looking to cross the border into Canada should place a call to the US Customs & Border Protection agency (www.cbp.gov) for upto-date rules. The last I knew, it took a passport, ATV registration and a valid insurance policy to cross that secured line.

A Wide, Dusty Smile As Hannah and I cruised along that trail,

we soon learned that the 15 or so ATVs in front of us kicked up some serious dust. Undaunted, we donned goggles and put bandit-like handkerchiefs over our noses. The dust was tough, but we backed off from the group a bit and stuck it out.

As we rolled into Dover-Foxcroft, a swell of fresh air blew some of the heavy dust off our helmets. When Hannah peeled her goggles and handkerchief mask off, her bright blue eyes and ear-wide grin told the sto-

ry. We purchased a new ATV for her a few years later.

Finally, consider joining a local ATV club.

Membership in club keeps riders informed about trail current trail conditions, upcoming events and other real-time issues concerning the ATV world.

So visit the Jackman Region for a healthy mix of summer, mountaintop cruising, and just the right dose of trail dust!

Âś

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44 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Exciting Summer Angling in the Bucksport-Orland Region The evening sun was beginning to sink behind Mt. Waldo and the bay was mirror-calm as my 17-foot aluminum boat slid into the salty water.

I shoved off and started up the east channel of Penobscot Bay. Minutes after rigging up my eel imitation and putting my lines out, I had my first striper hit.

The Penn reel spun, releasing yard after yard of 20-pound test monofilament line.

I turned the outboard off and reset the drag on my salt-water reel. The fish took several dives before it came close enough for me to see that on the other end of my line was a feisty 20-inch striper.

I carefully unhooked the fish and released it back into the bay. I caught and released two more 18- to 22-inch stripers while trolling near Fort Knox before returning to the Verona Island boat landing.

PenBay Fishing Saltwater gets exciting during the month of August in the Greater Penobscot Bay Region. Anglers all along this coastal area battle schools of mackerel and an increasing number of striped bass.

Whether you’re trolling from a boat along Verona Island or Fort Knox, or casting from Bucksport’s 60-foot pier, 20inch Penobscot Bay stripers are waiting to take your bait and send your line racing off the reel’s spool.

The author reveals where and how to catch striped bass in the Penobscot Bay region.

The tidal waters of Penobscot Bay contain fertile habitat for striped bass. Bass anglers fishing from Orrington to Belfast often boat schoolies in the 20- to 26- range.

There are enough stripers caught most outings to excite more than a few salt-water anglers.

Several top-notch striper haunts exist off Sandy Point in the waters along Gondola Cove (DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 23, E-2), while other productive striper spots lie upstream near the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory.

One of the best bets

to hook into one of these ocean bass on Penobscot Bay lies within a mile of the Verona Island boat landing. The shoreline from Fort Knox upriver is a good place to troll a live eel to entice a few battling bass.

Shore Fishing Shoreline angling is difficult; however, the Bucksport waterfront has a 60-foot fishing pier where anglers pull in dozens of stripers each tide during the summer. The pier is located in front of the Veteran’s Memorial in Bucksport. I’ve witnessed several summer-

time anglers hauling in stripers in the 18-to 20inch range.

According to avid striper angler and Verona Island resident Scott Gomm, outstanding striper fishing can be found slightly upstream from the former Verso Paper Mill, locally known as the Coal Pocket. Scott mentioned that he had heard creditable stories of anglers experiencing nonstop striper action there on numerous occasions last July. This area of the river contains several deep holes where striped bass hole up, waiting for the tide to change.

— Maine Wildlife Quiz Answers — 1. The native range of the Northern Pike includes the entire Northern hemisphere.

2. The elongated and pointed head of the Northern Pike bears a resemblance to the pole-like weapon known as the pike, which led to the fish’s common name of “Pike.”

3. Scientists studying pike have examined their stomach contents and found ducks, muskrats, mice, baby loons, amphibians, invertebrates and all variety of fish.

www.MaineSportsman.com

Mackerel Mania Mackerel-seekers from Belfast Harbor to Castine will be casting lines from area bridges, docks or ledges, or trolling the bay for these hard-hitting fish.

Belfast Harbor anglers often cast their lines from the foot-bridge, while other successful mackerel fishers prefer to launch a boat in Belfast and troll the bay.

Most Penobscot Bay anglers troll for mackerel by using trolling rods or fly rods. Bucktail flies, streamers and small jigs catch most of the mackerel for August anglers.

Shoreline fishers at Dice’s Head in Castine often catch large numbers of fish using spinning gear to cast Christmas tree jigs, while other anglers are successful by using a # 6 hook baited with clams, mussels or marine worms.

My Toddy The slight southwest breeze created small ripples on the surface of First Toddy Pond. Even at 6 a.m., the setting moon’s image was clearly visible against the deepblue sky.

The fragrant early-morning smells of sev(Continued on page 46)

(Quiz on Page 36)

4. Northern Pike were initially introduced into Maine in the 1970s, as the result of an illegal introduction into the Belgrade Chain of Lakes.

5. Pike reach sexual maturity at around two years of age.

6. Pike typically spawn in late March or early April.

7. If able to successfully avoid predators, small pike fry growth rapidly, reaching 15 inches in length after only one year.

8. The life expectancy of pike may exceed 15 years, with females generally living longer than males.

—

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 45

Coyote Hunting While hunters can shoot coyotes in Maine all year round, a special night hunting permit allows hunters to shoot coyotes at night until Aug. 31st. While use of spotlights is certainly extremely beneficial, hunting under the illumination of a full moon offers an even higher degree of visibility, providing more accurate species identification and faster target acquisition in a larger kill zone. The full moon on August 7th will afford the last really good opportunity to pursue these critters at night until the coyote night hunting season re-opens in mid December.

Those new to predator hunting will find August the perfect time to get out and test their skills, as young coyotes will be out and about in the early evenings. These less-experienced animals are typically much eas-

A bright moon provides even better illumination for night hunting coyotes than a spotlight. The full moon on August 7th will afford the last really good opportunity for several months to pursue coyotes at night, since the night season closes August 31 and does not re-open in mid December. ier to deceive, and they will often overlook calling mistakes that would typically run off more wary mature coyotes.

If you want to try hunting coyotes, this is the month to do it!

Stud Mill Road Region The Stud Mill Road is a dirt highway through the vast Maine wilderness, providing access to thousands of miles of prime coyote-hunting opportunities.

One of my personal favorite spots is located in and around Cranberry Lake (DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 35, E-2 and E-3).

Hunting in groups of 3 or 4 people, a common technique involves using a vehicle to drop off

individuals at set intervals and have them try calling. A couple miles between each caller is sufficient spacing and allows each person plenty of breathing room.

Once the driver parks the vehicle and hunters are in place, each person calls for about an hour; then the driver heads back to collect the other hunters.

This sequence can be repeated over and over, allowing a group to cover a lot of miles calling. Just remember to take turns being the last man out of the truck, as Stud Mill coyotes sometimes ignore vehicles that simply drive by, but a stopping vehicle makes them extremely cagey. Therefore, the

last man out of the truck usually shoots the fewest number of coyotes.

Please remember that for the uninitiated, the Stud Mill road and all of the connecting side roads are a huge, complex maze. When dropping off hunters, be sure to have a plan in place for pick-up that involves colored marking ribbons at drop-off positions, a

set meeting time to be by the roadside, and GPS waypoints. Being lost in the Maine woods anytime of year isn’t an enjoyable option, and a simple plan makes this scenario completely preventable.

Good Night Bass Fishing The warm waters of summer mark the return of the bass’s feisty attitude. Early mornings, late evenings and even the dead of night all top my list as favorite hours to fish. These times typically see less boat traffic, and paddlers are less abused by high (Continued on next page)

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46 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— (Continued from page 45)

winds that tend to blow throughout the day. Add to these benefits the likelihood of viewing beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and it isn’t hard to understand why the best time to be on the water usually starts or ends in the dark.

Long after boat traffic has departed, big bass emerge from their shadowy underwater lairs to feed. Dark-colored lures like Jitterbugs and other surface disturbers are the preferred plugs, and are guaranteed to elicit brutal strikes from hungry aquatic predators hiding in the shadows.

Crawford Lake (Map 36, D-2) is a great spot to begin the night angling obsession, and the water offers excellent after-dark bass fishing action.

Hiking Chick Hill At 1,160 feet above sea level, Chick Hill (Map 24, A-1) provides a fantastic place to take the family for a short hike.

For the minimal effort expended, Chick Hill boasts impressive views that are sure to be enjoyed by everyone.

To get there, start at the intersection of Route 180 and Route 9 in Clif-

The author’s sons Wildman and Manimal with a fine-looking coyote shot last fall. A .22 rifle (like the Remington 592 pictured) delivering a well-placed round through both lungs makes for an effective weapon. Other hunters may decide to use more powerful rifles, as that “perfect” shot opportunity rarely presents itself. Larger calibers like .223, .243 and even .30-caliber firearms deliver efficient payloads when hunting these 35-50 pound animals, and even shots not exactly on target will be fatal. While accurate shooting is always best, hitting fast-moving prey in thick cover is a challenge for even an experienced hunter. Steve Vose photo

ton, drive east on Route 9 for 3.3 miles, then turn left onto Chick Hill Road.

Drive 0.3 and veer right at the fork, then drive another 0.3 mile to where

Greater Penobscot (Continued from page 44)

eral softwood trees filled the air, making me realize how lucky I have been for the past 25 years to be a part of this lake’s early-morning serenity.

I eased my aluminum boat away from my dock for a morning of togue fishing. A 3-minute ride brought me to the center of the pond. Turning off the 25-horse Mercury outboard, I lowered my 10-pound anchor into the 102-foot, deep-water trench.

I pricked the #6-Eagle Claw fish hook just below the dorsal fin of a 3-inch emerald shiner and released the line from my Penn reel to within 5 feet of the bottom. I repeated this process with my Sal-trout reel. Then, I sat back waiting for a strike.

No sooner had I finished setting up my second rod, when my Fenwick rod began to quiver, the drag kicked in, and the line started racing off the spool. Once the reel stopped releasing line, I carefully I set the www.MaineSportsman.com

Chick Road ends at a rough, gravel parking area.

The hike to the summit from the parking lot is less than a mile and a

half, and is comprised of moderate terrain. The summit is the prefect sport to enjoy a picnic lunch, boasting expansive views of Little Chick

hook, and immediately felt the unmistakable tension of a hefty togue.

Summer Lakers The fish went for bottom several times before it surfaced close enough to the water’s surface for me to understand that I had hooked a nice fish.

After several more runs, I slid the 18inch lake trout into my waiting net. Carefully, I released the 3-pound laker back into the water.

I caught and released several more togue that August morning, and realized I had found a togue-filled honey hole.

Toddy Pond (Map 23, E-4), a prime salmon, brown trout and togue water, is made up of three waters separated by a set of narrows. Each pond offers distinctively different fresh-water habitat.

Diverse Ponds First Toddy, the deepest of the three ponds, has a maximum depth of 122 feet and contains most of the game fish caught by anglers. Brown trout, salmon and togue

Hill, Schoodic and Tunk Mountains.

¶

are commonly part of a day’s catch by summer fishermen.

The southeast shoreline, locally known as Whiskey Springs, is a good spot to troll for brown trout and lake trout this month.

The best salmonid fishing, the deepest water and my cottage just happen to be on this piece of water.

Second and Third Toddy have traditionally been known as warm-water fisheries; however, recent stockings of brown trout may convince game fish-seekers to spend more time fishing here.

Second Toddy has a maximum depth of 22 feet and is approximately two miles in length. Several ledge outcroppings on the east shoreline create deep water pockets that offer good habitat for trout during the hot summer months.

This area also offers good white perch and smallmouth bass angling during the summer. These two connected ponds often feature several bass tournaments each summer.

¶

—

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 47

Dog Days Hot Time for Mackerel, Squid Modern squid jigs have holographic images imprinted on their sides, making them look very much like a baitfish. Just don’t swing them in the air next to someone else until they’re done emptying their ink sacs, and avoid serious bites by staying away from their sharp beaks.

By August, harbors fill with mackerel. Easily caught, these “panfish of the sea” fight well on light tackle and taste great on the grill.

And for the last several years, squid have accompanied mackerel, and this year looks like a continuation of the same trend. Both species feed in the same area, and it is possible to catch a mackerel on one cast and a squid on the next cast.

In my case, two rods sit at the ready, one equipped with a Diamond jig for mackerel, the other loaded with a state-of-the-art squid jig.

Switching from one rod to another as conditions dictate usually results in me returning home with both mackerel and squid in my cooler.

Mackerel Tactics Mackerel bite best on a running tide. During periods of slack tide, schools of mackerel swarm around piers and wharves, but are generally reluctant to bite. The best way to entice mackerel at this time is to use some kind of bait. My best luck has come when using a small bit of shrimp, either fresh or frozen, on a size 6 hook.

The secret is to use a light enough line so as to be able to cast the tiny bait without the addition of sinkers and swivels.

The idea here is to allow the bait to float around

in a lifelike manner. This takes fish when nothing else will.

But when the tide turns, mackerel put on the feedbag and actively slash at anything in their path. Interestingly, one of the oldest mackerel lures still ranks as a top-shelf lure today. Diamond jigs – four-sided, metal jigs with a single hook on the bottom – have an action that mackerel find irresistible.

To use a Diamond jig effectively, cast out, allow the jig to sink at least 8 or 10 feet and bring it back in by rapidly raising the rod and then lowering the rod tip to allow the jig to free-fall. This drives mackerel wild.

Some people use multi-hook mackerel rigs – “Christmas trees,” they’re called. But hooking five or six mackerel on one of these devices is akin to hooking an old, waterlogged boot. Since the mackerel all fight against each other, the sensation realized on the rod is just one of a heavy weight, not much fun at all.

So if you want to catch lots of mackerel in a short time, by all means go with a Christmas tree.

But for pure fun, use a single Diamond jig and a light rod, reel and line.

Mackerel taken on such an outfit fight as well as any fish that swims.

Squidding Methods Squid jigs use a colorful body with a series of upturned spikes on the bottom. The spikes have no barbs, so upon landing the squid it’s easy just to upend the jig. The squid will then fall off the spikes and into your pail or cooler.

Traditional squid jigs used a solid-color body.

These were mostly finished in red, orange and white. They were heavy and sunk rapidly, necessitating a rather rapid retrieve.

Today’s squid jigs are lightweight and semi-buoyant, which allows them to sink ever-so-slowly. Also, the jig remains on a horizontal as it sinks, reminiscent of a dying fish. These modern jigs have holographic images imprinted on their sides, and this makes them look very much like a baitfish.

When landing a squid, as opposed to when landing a finfish, make sure to hold the squid out of – and over – the water for a few moments. This gives the creature time to spray out all its defensive fluid, a black, ink-like substance. Failure to do this can have unpleasant consequences.

Here’s an example.

Last year, a woman standing next to me on the float at Lincolnville Beach, raised a squid out of the water and allowed it to swing near me, at

The squid on the end of this lady’s line gave Tom a face full of “ink.” Seymour photo

which point it sprayed my face and shirt. I took it good-naturedly, but all the same was not too pleased with the situation.

To use today’s squid jigs, just cast out, close the bail and allow the jig to slowly sink. If nothing intercepts it on its downward journey, reel in about five feet of line and allow the lure to sink again. When a squid takes the jig, it will feel like the jig has gained weight.

There is no smashing strike as with a mackerel, but rather, just that heavy feeling. When this happens, reel in steadily, giving no slack. A squid can quickly disengage its tentacles from a jig if given slack line.

One final note on squid – They bite. A squid has a pointed beak, capa-

ble of inflicting a nasty wound on the errant finger that ventures near.

This happened to my pal Dan Jones last year, and the wound was quite deep.

We all took a lesson from Dan’s misfortune.

Keep fingers away from a squid’s mouth.

See Lincolnville Beach on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 14, C-4.

Freshwater Action While some anglers flock to the sea in August, others choose to pursue panfish on inland waters.

Black crappies have become almost ubiquitous in MidCoast Maine, and they remain active all summer. The best times, though, are early morning and later in the evening.

My all-time favorite (Continued on page 51) www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Striper Regs Unchanged; Cod and Haddock Rules Delayed In April in this column I reported that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the multistate group that manages striped bass on the East Coast, was considering liberalizing striper regulations. A group of fishermen from the Chesapeake Bay area had petitioned ASMFC to do so, stating that the 2016 stock assessment showed that stripers were no longer being overfished.

The ASMFC did indeed look into it, and created Draft Amendment V to the existing Striper Management Plan, which contains an option to increase both the recreational and commercial

Regarding updated cod and haddock rules, the author says it’s “disgraceful” that 250 employees in the National Marine Fisheries Service couldn’t produce two simple, non-controversial rules in time for the start of the season. harvest of stripers by approximately 10% compared to 2015. This would likely result in liberalization of measures such as size and bag limits.

However, ASMFC decided not to put the proposed amendment out for public comment at this time, but instead to wait until the results of a scheduled 2018 stock assessment are made available before making any changes.

Some of the concerns included an increase in harvest estimates for

2016 without any regulation changes at all, and that fish from the 2011 year class (the largest since 2004) will become increasingly available to fishermen in the coming years, possibly resulting in an increased harvest.

So, it appears that we’ll probably be keeping the striper regulations pretty much where they are until at least 2019.

For more information on the subject, visit www. asmfc.org and scroll down through the “Breaking News” items on the home

page until you find the article on Striper Amendment V. No Cod, Haddock Regs Out Yet! Amazingly, as of midJune, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) had not yet implemented the 2017 recreational measures for cod and haddock.

The fishing year (for management purposes) starts every May 1st, and normally NMFS has the new rules on the street by the end of April. But not this year – they did not

even send the proposed regs out for public comment until May 24th!

At this point it looks like the new rules will be implemented in early July, a full two months after the start of the fishing year. In the meantime, the 2016 recreational regulations remain in effect.

In my opinion, this is disgraceful. NMFS has 250 people working in its Northeast office in Gloucester – and they can’t get a couple of simple, non-controversial rule changes made by May 1st?

Basically, the changes are a total recreational prohibition on the possession of cod for 2017, a (Continued on next page)

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Want to Join Our Directory?

Call Nancy Carpenter at 207-357-2702 or Mike Moreau at 207-212-7670

—

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 49 (Continued from page 48)

decrease in the haddock daily bag limit from 15 fish to 12, and some relatively minor changes in the haddock seasonal closures.

But it actually gets worse. NMFS also inserted a proposed measure of their own into the mix at the last minute, which would shut down recreational haddock fishing completely for the entire month of September. This was not an option that the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), its Recreational Advisory Panel (known

as the RAP, on which I serve) or the public had seriously considered earlier this year when new regulations were discussed. The NEFMC and the RAP had chosen a closed season from Sept.

17th through October 30th, which we were led to believe by NMFS staffers would be OK and not put us over our recreational haddock quota.

However, NMFS brass decided that closing the entire month of September would be better, since it was more restrictive and would further reduce the recreational catch, so they simply add-

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A proposed increase in the striped bass quota for the East Coast has been put on hold until a new stock assessment can be conducted in 2018. In the meantime, Maineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striper regulations will likely remain as they are.

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ed it in as an alternative â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and never even bothered to tell anyone they were going to do so.

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50 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Events and Exhibits Help Trappers Prepare for the Season It is time to start getting ready for the upcoming trapping season. Several important annual events take place around the state that are of interest to trappers and other outdoorsmen.

There have been several events already this year at which trappers purchased needed supplies, saw demonstrations given by the best trappers in their field on different methods to trap specific species of animals, and got the most current news on trapping issues. This news addressed changes to trapping regulations, legislative news that affects trapping, and updates on furbearer studies by various universities and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W).

This year has already seen two Maine Trappers Association (MTA) membership meetings and several fur auctions, as well as a “joint annual meeting” of the MTA and the Maine Hounds-

There is no better way to get ready for the trapping season than swapping stories and hints at a Maine Trappers Association event, or attending a fur auction. And to learn about the rich traditions of trapping, check out the MTA Trapping Museum (and reproduction trappers line cabin), located at the Windsor Fair Grounds. men Association with the IF&W biologist and other staff members. This meeting was used to discuss issues with the biologist related to furbearers of common interest to the two associations.

Another event was a “Spring Fling” gathering of trappers (including a fur auction) sponsored by one of the MTA Chapters, followed by the annual Spring MTA Membership Meeting.

The MTA was also represented at the Annual Cabela’s Sportsmen Day at their Scarborough, Maine store. At this event, the MTA displayed the various types of traps currently used in Maine to harvest furbearers, and the furs of the different furbearers. Many individuals who have little or no knowledge of the

many mammals found in Maine attended this event. In fact, many of these folks have limited or no knowledge of trapping, nor its role in modern wildlife management.

They found our display very informative and the kids loved handling the furs while asking a million questions about the animals.

One of the MTA Chapters held is Annual Predator Day. At this event, trapping demonstrations are given on coyote, fox, and bobcat trapping methods. In addition, this year we had the First Trappers Convention, which was held at the Clinton, Maine Fairgrounds. An individual trapper who wants to promote trapping and wildlife management sponsored this event.

August and September Events This month on August 17th, 18th and19th, trappers from across the northeast will be attending the 41st Annual New England Trappers Weekend at Neil Olson’s in East Bethel, ME. Then, on the 15th and 16th of September, the Maine Trappers Association will hold its Annual Rendezvous at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The annual Fall MTA Membership Meeting will be held the morning of the 16th at the rendezvous.

At this meeting, MTA Officer elections are held and annual awards are given out. Trappers looking to purchase materials and supplies should know that these two events attract a great number of vendors.

If I have forgotten any other events, I hope readers and organizers will forgive me.

New Business The number of trapping equipment suppliers in Maine has decreased over years. However,

one new one has recently opened for business, and it’s located right here in Lexington Township near my home.

The owner is Steve Rankin, who is also the owner of SP Rankin Basswood Stretchers (fur stretchers).

MTA Trapping Museum located in Windsor The MTA has a trapping museum at the Windsor Fairgrounds.

The museum is open to the public during both the Windsor Fair and during the MTA Rendezvous (see photos on next page).

The museum houses a collection of antique and newer types of traps, furs of Maine Furbearers and a lot of documentation on the history of trapping here in the State of Maine. There are mounts of several furbearers including beaver, bobcat and fisher. There are activity books and track cards free to the younger generations.

The track cards show the tracks of all the furbearers and game animals found in Maine along with information on what the average size of each track should be that is to be found. The cards are printed on a durable material and will last a long time.

(Continued on next page)

S. Basswood P. RANKIN Fur Stretchers Trapping Supplies • Raw Fur Buyer Full Line of Trapping Supplies 100% Basswood Fur Stretchers Made to Auction House Specs Avoid the ridiculous cost of shipping...stop in to pick up what you need!

Stephen P. Rankin • (207) 628-4503 38 Moes Durrell Road, New Portland, ME Open Saturday & Sunday 7AM–7PM or By Appointment

www.MaineSportsman.com

—

f

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 51

The Maine Trappers Museum at the Windsor Fair Grounds. Dave Miller photo (Continued from page 50)

Many folks take the cards while in the outdoors and let their kids see what tracks they can find and identify by comparing the track to the card. That makes for good clean fun for the whole family while spending time in the great out of doors that we have here in Maine.

MTA members staff the museum while it is open and will answer questions about trapping and the various wildlife

to be found in the Maine woods.

Surprisingly, some individuals who spend a large amount of time in our fields, woods, and upon the waters of Maine have never seen some of our more common mammals.

Also located alongside the MTA Museum is the reproduction of a Trappers Line Cabin. These cabins were once common in the Maine woods and were located a day’s travel on the trap line. These gave the trapper a warm

Midcoast Report (Continued from page 47)

place for crappies, Unity Pond, sees lots of angling pressure on its resident bass population. But that doesn’t appear to harm the crappies one bit.

My secret for success on crappies at Unity Pond is to drive around the lake and look for white buoys marking reefs and shoals. In the early morning, schools of crappies haunt such places. By midmorning, the schools depart for areas unknown, and are difficult to locate.

Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 49)

vation Association-Maine and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute are once again collaborating on Snap-a-Striper, a citizen research data project in which striper anglers, guides and captains in Maine photograph and release live striped bass and legally harvested fish – with a special data card in each photo – and then email the photos to stripers@gmri.org.

The interior of the Maine Trappers Museum building. Dave Miller photo

and safe place to spend the night or to ride out a bad winter storm. They were stocked with basic food items, trapping supplies, and some items that might be needed in an emergency. These types of cabin were in use up into the 1960s.

Modern transportation devices such as snowmobiles and pickup trucks, along with the extensive system of snowmobile trails and logging roads in our forest today, have made these cabins

obsolete. Today a trapper can cover an area in one day that took a trapper on foot a week or more to cover.

Times have changed a lot in the last 50 or so years. Today it is illegal to cut a living tree in the woods unless you own the land or have the landowner’s permission. In the past, the large outfits such as Great Northern allowed the use of a few trees for the trapper cabins because they also provided a place for others

(including their own workers) in an emergency.

They also leased land for as little as a dollar or two for the construction of a camp for deer hunting and fishing. They thought having a few individuals in the woods gave them a heads-up in case of a forest fire or to provide help if someone got hurt.

As I have said, many things have changed over the years.

¶

For crappies, any of the popular crappie jigs will work. My favorites this year are Cabela’s Action Tail Series. These come in a variety of color patterns. The Red Jig/Lemon Meringue pattern has proven itself a real crappie killer.

Just cast out, let the jig sink, and slowly twitch it back by bouncing it along the bottom. Crappies, like squid, don’t really smash the jig but rather, are all of a sudden they’re there. Once hooked, though, crappies, especially those over 10 inches, put up a credible account of themselves on light tackle.

Note that in summer, the public boat

landing at Unity Pond swarms with swimmers. Despite a ban on swimming around boat launch sites, adults and children flock to these places. The only way to circumvent potential conflicts is to launch early and haul out by mid-morning, before swimmers arrive.

Evening fishing is another option, since by late evening swimmers have largely departed, leaving the ramp open to its intended use – a place for boaters to launch their boats.

Find Unity Pond on Map 22, D-1 and Map 21, D-5.

The card lists the angler’s name, date, and general fishing location, and it also serves as a ruler that GMRI scientists use to measure the fish. Cards are downloaded at www.cca-maine.org and must be filled in before the photo is taken.

To encourage participation, CCA-Maine is donating $100 gift cards from LL Bean, Cabela’s, and Kittery Trading Post every month through September. Prize categories include one for the most fish photos submitted, the largest fish of the month, and a Junior Angler Award for kids age 12 and

under.

A summary of the Snap-a-Striper program can be found by visiting www.ccamaine.org. GMRI folks also want to study the ear bones of legally harvested stripers caught anywhere in Maine, but particularly in the Kennebec River area. Fish heads should be frozen in plastic bags until GMRI can arrange for pick-up or delivery. For more information on Snap-a-Striper, contact Duncan Barnes at bardunc@gmail.com.

¶

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

52 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Lobster Dip Appetizer, and Strawberry Dessert This month we are featuring two of Maine’s most-enjoyed foods – fresh strawberries and lobster. (NOT, however, in the same dish!)

I love the tiny little wild strawberries that

we have on our property, but so do the bears.

A little cub ran in front of a friend of mine this spring, so momma must have been close.

Now I know where all our wild strawberries and blueberries go!

We have many Maine-grown strawberries that you pick, and they are so sweet.

Speaking of which, soft-shell lobsters are also sweeeeeeet.

Baked Maine Lobster Dip Maine lobster is one of the sweetest crustaceans you can eat. Can you imagine in the old days it was used as bait, or fed to jail prisoners? Weren’t they lucky!

—————————————————————— Ingredients: • 8 ounces goat cheese • 1 cup Maine lobster meat, cooked and chopped into bite-size pieces • 1 tablespoon red onion, finely chopped • 2 teaspoons fresh horseradish • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • ½ teaspoon Chris’s Hot Sauce • ¼ cup pecans, roasted and chopped ——————————————————-Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray oven-proof 2-quart dish with cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients together. Place into dish and refrigerate for several hours to meld the flavors. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly. Remove and serve with sliced thin baguette or stone wheat crackers.

¶

Strawberry Basil Galette Galette: • 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour • ½ teaspoon salt • 1 cup butter, chilled • 2/3 cup ice water • 2 tablespoons milk • 1 tablespoon Demerra sugar Combine flour and salt in large bowl. Cut butter with knives or pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs. Dust sugar over top.

Add water and milk a couple of tablespoons at a time until combined. Divide in half, wrap in plastic and press in a disk form. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Remove wrap from dough, let stand a few minutes to become pliable. Roll into 9-10 inch round. Invert dough on parchment paper.

Filling: • 3 teaspoons cornstarch www.MaineSportsman.com

• • • • •

2 tablespoons Demerra sugar 1 pound strawberries, pitted and sliced 2 tablespoons strawberry preserves 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon basil leaves, chiffonade*

*Stack and roll the leaves tightly, then cut crossways across the roll to make fine shreds of the herb Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine cornstarch and 1-½ tablespoons sugar; sprinkle over dough leaving a 2-inch border around edge. Arrange strawberry slices in a circle pattern, leaving a two-inch border to fold over. Fold edges over strawberries, pinching lightly to close any cracks.

Combine preserves and honey in small bowl, and microwave for 20 seconds. Brush mixture over strawberries and dough edges. Sprinkle dough with remaining sugar.

Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with basil. Cool 10 minutes, slice into 8 wedges and serve.

¶

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August Bass Fishing on Wilson Pond Worth the Trip Wilson Pond in Winthrop, Wayne and Monmouth (Delorme Atlas, Map 12, C-2) doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rank among the most storied fisheries in the Mid-Kennebec Valley Region (MKVR), but it does offer good bass fishing this month, making it worth the trip.

Wilson covers 582 acres, and features a maximum depth of 42 feet.

The deepest parts of the pond remain cold enough in the critical summer months to support salmonids. As a result, Wilson receives annual stockings of both brown trout and brook trout, typically 200 brownies and 300 brookies in the fall and another 250 to 500 brookies in the spring, although 2016 saw the spring planting skipped.

Anglers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take a lot of trout in August, but those cooler temperatures that support the trout nevertheless are important to August anglers, as they mean a healthy smallmouth bass population. Wilson also contains sizable numbers of largemouth bass, and anglers take plenty of both species this month.

The smallmouths tend

to hang near drop-offs in 20- to 30-foot depths, while their bucket-mouth cousins favor shallower haunts, typically in the 5-foot to 15-foot range.

Exceptions exist, however, such as with some very big largemouths that enjoy a meal of trout and that venture into the deepest waters to get it. The spring-stocked brookies usually measure about 10 inches or so when stocked â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a size quite manageable for a 5to 7-pound largemouth to devour.

Anglers mostly take 10- to 16-inch bass of both species, but 4-pound smallmouths and 7-pound largemouths do swim in Wilson and fall for angler offerings on occasion.

A trailerable boat launch that lies on the Wilson Pond Road at the southern end of the pond gives most anglers ac-

cess, although canoeists and kayakers also reach the pond via short thoroughfares from Berry and Dexter Ponds to the north.

Parker Pond Parker Pond in Mount Vernon (Map 12, A-2) has a lot to offer August outdoor enthusiasts.

For hikers, the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) controls a 142-acre parcel that includes 5,000 feet of frontage on the pondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shore and a couple of hiking trails. The pond itself is extremely scenic, making it a great destination for canoeists and kayakers. And to top it all off, the fishing on Parker can be pretty good, too!

Access to the KLT parcel lies via two means.

Most folks drive to the site, following the Sandy River Road to the west of the pond and then taking the Fellows Cove Road

Wilson Pondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold water supports healthy populations of brook trout, brown trout and smallmouth bass. Map: Maine DIF&W

to a small parking lot at its end. The parking area only accommodates a few vehicles, though, so oth-

er folks opt to access the parcel via Parker Pond itself, paddling or motoring in from the boat launch (Continued on next page)

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54 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Mercury Lurking in Maine’s Fish Mercury is a “heavy metal” that is found naturally in Maine’s environment. There’s all kinds of mercury in the lakes and rivers, such as elemental mercury (the stuff in thermometers), inorganic mercury (the material whose vapors made felt hat makers in the 19th century “mad”), and organic mercury. These can change back and forth in the environment, and in high-enough doses, they are all toxic.

Organic mercury (especially methyl mercury) is by far the most dangerous.

Most of the mercury found in the environment is in the elemental or inorganic form. When this gets into the lakes it can be transformed into the more toxic form (methyl mercury) by bacteria living in bottom, and it can then find its way into fish

fillets.

While it’s possible for fish to absorb mercury directly through the water as it passes over their gills, they ingest the most mercury by eating other animals that have already been contaminated by mercury.

Mercury tends to get concentrated at the top of the food chain, meaning large carnivorous species (like pickerel and pike) contain higher levels than their smaller, more omnivorous relatives.

In addition, since it takes a long time for fish to remove mercury accumulated in their muscles, it builds up over their lifetime. Therefore, older fish have much greater mercury levels in their muscle than young fish.

Methyl mercury is a neurotoxin that has serious negative effects on the development of cells

Mid-Kennebec (Continued from page 53)

located along the Tower Road at the north end of the pond.

Once onto the KLT parcel, hikers will find two trails, including the 1.5-mile Headland Loop Trail and the 1.0-mile Hardwood Loop Trail. As a bonus this month, hikers should find plenty of blueberries along the hiking trails. For more detailed directions and descriptions of the trails, as well as to learn more about the Kennebec Land Trust’s extensive holdings throughout the MKVR, see its website at www.tklt.org.

As for folks utilizing Parker Pond itself, this picturesque water covers 1,610 acres and reaches depths of 76 feet. While the shoreline does have a fair amount of development, much of it is not easily visible from the pond, adding to the scenic aesthetics of Parker. Many small islands dot its surface – great spots to beach a canoe or kayak to stretch one’s legs and explore a little bit.

Fishing Action Anglers will find lots of salmon, brook trout and smallmouth bass occupying the www.MaineSportsman.com

The State of Maine’s warning about eating fresh-water fish is very direct, and very sobering. Source: Maine Bureau of Health

in the central nervous system. It is important for young people to not eat a lot of fish that contains high amounts of mercury.

Here’s a list of Maine fish, ranked by the amount of mercury in their systems. The list

starts with the fish carrying the least amount of mercury, and goes to those with the most: • Black crappie (least mercury), • Yellow perch • Brown trout • Brook trout • Landlocked salmon

depths of Parker. August is not the best month to fish for salmon and brookies, as both species feed less this month (a fact documented even in hatchery settings), but anglers working the depths do manage to take a few fish.

To help improve the smelt population and therefore growth rates among salmon and brookies, Parker has seen a reduction in stocking of both species. The pond routinely has received 500 salmon annually for many years, but state officials skipped stocking silversides in 2014 and 2016, to help growth rates. The pond received 1,800 to 1,900 brookies annually through 2014, dropping to 1,150 in 2015 and just 550 in 2016.

Look for brookies and salmon near bottom where the thermocline meets the bottom. Depending on summer temperatures, the thermocline will lie in 50 to 70 feet of water this month. Salmon prefer water temperatures around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, while brookies like it just slightly colder.

“Finicky” or “not hungry” are NOT terms that smallmouth bass anglers have to worry about this month, though, and Parker

• Lake trout • Cusk • Largemouth bass • Smallmouth bass • White perch • Chain pickerel (most mercury, since it’s highest on the food chain).

¶

certainly has a large population of bronzebacks. The pond’s rocky bottom and cooler temperatures make for ideal smallmouth habitat, and more importantly, Parker is loaded with crayfish, the favorite food of smallmouth bass.

Parker has a sizeable number of small bass in the 8- to 12-inch range, but 3- and 4-pound specimens swim here in decent numbers as well, so anglers can remain hopeful of contacting a real rod-bender on any cast. One tip: Parker has super clear water, so bass anglers do better fishing the lightest lines possible. An angler using 4-pound test tipped with a fluorocarbon leader usually will contact more fish that someone using a more typical line for bass like 10- or 12-pound test. Of course, a line as light as 4-pound test creates hooking challenges with the tough-mouthed bass, but to use the angler’s version of the famous Alfred Lord Tennyson line: “Tis better to have played and lost than never to have played at all.”

Well, you get the point.

¶

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 55

Flycasting Techniques and Tactics for Catching Bass When casting a heavy popper bug, fly fishermen may have to abandon the traditional “ten o’clock-to-two o’clock” method. The author suggest following Lefty Kreh’s advice, pretending your elbow is on a shelf, and holding the rod as close to vertical as possible, rocking back and forth to gain power and leverage. the globe, this specific cast failed. In short, the octogenarian angler let his loop widen enough to lower the flight of the big popper he had tied on to his tippet.

I heard the whistling of the popper right before it hit the back of my head.

Fortunately the hook didn’t catch into my skin, but the heavy plastic popper cracked me hard on the noggin with enough force to make me see a few stars.

This scenario is one reason I always wear a good pair of sunglasses when fly fishing – even with the best casting anglers, an accident can happen. This time it only

Virginia angler Ron Apter, a retired doctor who lives for fly fishing, usually has no problem accurately throwing big, heavy flies used for catching smallmouth bass.

Over the years he has become adept at adjusting his casting style a little, to effectively guide the huge and heavy imitations to likely-looking aquatic smallmouth hideouts.

On one trip years ago, Apter began flinging a big popper while seated in the front seat of my 13-foot Aire Raft fishing craft. Even though he had cast big flies with great success at famous fishing locations all over

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produced a sore spot on my skull. It could have been worse if the hook had hit me in the eye.

Perhaps I should also consider wearing a hard hat?

Anglers must adjust their casting technique with a few tricks to enable them to put big and heavy flies into the right spots on rivers and lakes inhabited by hungry bass.

Salmonid anglers who have learned to effectively throw big streamers are one step ahead when it comes to figuring out how to adjust to fishing for smallmouth bass with a fly rod.

It’s Great

Landing smallmouth bass on fly-fishing gear requires anglers to adjust their techniques.

Casting Technique Anglers who fish with a fly rod understand that to effectively lay out a fly line, they must maintain a tight loop while casting.

This “tight-loop mantra” becomes even more important when tossing the heavy, wind-affected flies used for catching smallmouth bass.

A heavier fly, with an increased wind resistance

caused by a larger surface area, really can cause a loop to open up and hinder an effective cast. The traditional “ten o’clockto-two o’clock” casting method works for little trout flies and short casts with heavy bass bugs, but anglers who want to cast at longer distances accurately need to make a few changes.

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56 â&#x20AC;˘ August 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ The Maine Sportsman â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Freshwater Flyfishing (Continued from page 55)

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve followed Lefty Krehâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s casting technique for years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got his excellent videos and actually had him show me in person when he came up to fish here in Maine. His videos clearly show his special casting technique much better than I can explain here. His method works perfectly to deliver heavy, wind-resistant flies accurately at both short and long distance.

In short, when attempting to cast as Kreh prefers, we have to forgo the older â&#x20AC;&#x153;ten oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clockto-two oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clockâ&#x20AC;? method.

Kreh suggests that anglers pretend their elbow is on a shelf at armpit levelâ&#x20AC;Śfrom there the rod

is held as vertical as possible during the forward and backward movement, while the elbow slides on this imaginary shelf. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to rock back and forth on your feet, using your body as well as your shoulder to accomplish the cast.

Picking the line up off the water and laying it back on the surface remain the same as learned with previous techniques.

The old casting methods promote a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pivot pointâ&#x20AC;? at the elbow, while Krehâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s method really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pivot point.â&#x20AC;? The rod may slightly deviate from a complete vertical position, but all of the for-

ward and backward part of the cast should be on one plane rather than an arc. Watch his videos and his technique becomes clear â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Leftyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dry humor alone is well worth the cost of the video.

Fishing Techniques Once anglers learn how to cast heavy bugs accurately at all distances, the next step is to determine what it takes to get the fish on the hook.

Going back to something Lefty Kreh told me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of excellent tournament casters take home trophies with their spectacular fly rod casting skills, but a huge percentage of them couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch a fish.â&#x20AC;?

Anglers need to know how to find the places in a river or lake where fish

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hide out â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I covered some of this in last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s column. Once an angler starts to get a handle on finding where the smallmouth hang out, the next step is to learn a few tricks to entice a strike once the bug hits the water.

When one of these heavy surface bugs gets tossed on the water by a fly-casting angler, one of two things should take place to get that big bass to slam the offering. I usually let the bug sit there for a count of ten, then pop it once, and let it sit again for a bit. When fishing on a river, be sure to cast toward the shore at a forty-five degree angle downstream to avoid a drag from the floating line.

After the bug gets popped (a quick jerk on the line with the off hand) a second time, I pick the whole thing up and lay it down in another location immediately without any false casting. On rivers I just aim downstream by 15 yard, casting toward the shoreline at 45 degrees. On lakes or ponds I pick up and cast to any other likely looking area and repeat the 10-second wait.

When pulling the surface bugs off the water to initiate the next cast, remember to take up all the slack, lift the rod up to about a ten-oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock position, feel the pull on the line from the surface tension of the line and bug, let that tension load the rod and follow through with the backcast. Watch the backcast and let the leader fully extend be-

hind you before shooting it to the forward position and laying it down. If an angler knows how to double-haul, the whole process works much better.

When done correctly, the bug makes a little pop and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disturb the water too much at all.

Fine Tuning Tips When throwing heavier bugs, anglers will notice a strange phenomenon, similar to what they may have experienced when chucking weighted nymphing rigs for trout or salmon. It can be very difficult to get the timing of the cast down at first.

With a little practice, however, it will all come together.

After sufficient practice (youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know when), anglers should attempt casting sidearm to get under overhanging branches. Hang a hoola-hoop from a tree and practice casting through the hoop. If the angler keeps a tight enough loop, it can be done. Once accomplished, an angler who has learned to cast heavy bugs under various conditions will start to cast into the most tangled messes of shoreline foliage without any fear.

The ultimate goal of fishing without the fear of tangling a hook in the brush allows an angler to further their confidence.

With this new-found confidence, anglers will be easily catching more smallmouth bass, and hooking into those smarter trophy-size bass that require the utmost of skill with a fly rod.

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Crow Hunting, Sebago Angling Keep Tom Busy Crow hunting at dawn, I made a few hoots into my owl call, and all hell broke loose! Crows started bombarding me, swooping down to attack the hated owl.

I was bored on a sweltering August evening and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to fish in the heat the following day. I was thumbing through my phone, and a photo of the previous springâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crow hunt caught my attention.

Immediately I went to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) website, and confirmed crow season had opened on the first of the month. I set the phone down and quickly packed my shotgun, a few decoys and a box of shells.

I was going crow hunting!

Hunting Crows at Dawn Well before sunrise the next morning, I drove down Riverside Drive in Auburn (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, A-5). It was cool, and a dew helped keep the early morning temperature down.

I pulled off alongside a cornfield and trudged out to the treeline, setting crow decoys in the low-hanging branches of maple trees. I hunkered down by a tall oak tree and waited.

As the sun came up on the river behind me, I could see crows crossing the river toward me, but it was still too dark â&#x20AC;&#x201C; legal, but still too dark to shoot.

I waited until I could see clearly, and made a few hoots into my owl call.

All hell broke loose!

Crows started bombarding me and swooping

down to see this hated owl. I tried getting a bead on a crow but the flapping wings of another pulled my aim off. This went on several times until I settled on a single crow and dumped him. I was giddy, having not been that excited since duck season the previous fall.

The rush was over as fast as it started, as I had apparently alerted all crows in the county, and no more came close.

Late summer crow hunting was my new favorite sport.

Across the entire state of Maine, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;secondâ&#x20AC;? crow season opens up on August 1 and runs September 22. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way to hone your skills before bird season. Crows are plentiful, and they decoy easily, as I found out. Constantly moving locations just at sunup is the best strategy, as once the shooting begins the birds get wary.

Aside from the occasional foray crow hunting, I spend as much time on the water as I can in the summer. Staying cool, enjoying the clean water of Sebago Lake (Map 5, C-1) and fishing occupy my idle summer moments.

While Sebagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salmon and togue go deeper in the summer, there is plenty of action to be had on the big lake.

Sebago Angling Most early summer weekend mornings, I am on the big lake dragging leadcore or steel line and

an assortment of hardware in an effort to latch onto a lunker togue or maybe a salmon. Nothing beats enjoying your coffee on the water as the sun rises on the eastern shoreline of Jordan Bay. Trolling the bay puts me in 40 to 80 feet of water at most times and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary to adjust the lines to avoid bumping bottom.

Members of the summer angling fraternity (and sorority) become familiar with each other as we ply the same waters, and we know each othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boats on sight. We all have our favorites lures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; As any regular reader of my column will attest, I swear by the Mooselook wobbler. This lure has put more fish in my boat when trolled on Sebago,

Crows are plentiful, and they decoy easily. Crow season runs August 1 through September 22.

whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s early spring or late summer. My goto pattern is fluorescent orange, or a combo of orange and gold. Both seem to work equally well.

Some swear by the Flatfish. I snagged bottom by the Songo River outlet this spring and came up with a thick mass of line

and a brand new Flatfish in a funky bright green and blue tiger pattern.

Give me shout if you are missing your lure.

A Flatfish trolled slowly occasionally bumping bottom is deadly medicine on Sebago lakers.

Frog patterns seem to (Continued on page 59)

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58 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

She Ain’t as Good as She Once Was, But...

Do you believe you need to purchase all brand-new archery equipment in order to bowhunt? If so, I think you are wrong. I hear lots of excuses why folks don’t bowhunt, but old equipment should not be one of them.

A few years back in October, I headed north to scout deer for the upcoming gun season. And whenever I scout deer in October, I still-hunt with my bow at the same time, because 1) it’s bowhunting season; and 2) as they say in hunting, you just never know what you’ll see.

Whenever I go on longer bowhunting trips, I always bring a second

Does your old bow still have what it takes? My “back-up to the back-up,” a 25 year old compound, still did the job when called upon. And there are inexpensive changes bowhunters can make to their old bows to achieve more consistent – and effective – results. bow as backup. On this particular occasion, however, I had sold one bow and was waiting on new strings for a couple of others. So my old backup bow became my actual hunting bow. For my backup’s backup, my only option at the time was a 25-year old High Country, which was ancient compared to today’s technology. Into the truck she went.

As luck would have it, I dropped my hunting bow on the pavement

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upon arrival, denting the lower cam. Not wanting to take any chances drawing it back without first changing cams, into the wilderness I went with my old girl, reminiscent of my early bowhunting days.

Not long in, I heard a snort-wheeze in front of me, and I responded with a small grunt. A large 9-point buck with a 6-inch drop tine off its right beam slowly walked out of a thicket within

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range.

My 25-year old girl did the trick. I hadn’t hunted with that bow in well over a decade, but as old as she was, she was still capable of taking down a Maine giant. It reminded me of the Toby Keith line: “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once…as I ever was.”

The moral of the story is this: folks don’t need new bows unless something is broken. Have a pro-shop verify strings and cams are OK, but otherwise they will shoot properly for years. If you have an old bow that hasn’t been dusted off in a long time, don’t use that as an excuse not to bowhunt.

Below are improvements you can make to your older bow, to enable the bow (and you) to shoot more accurately.

Draw Weight Reducing draw weight of a bow shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of weakness. I smile when I see shooters reach for the clouds just to draw back their bows. The reality for most folks is that if they haven’t shot in years, drawing back a bow may seem difficult.

But whatever advantages archers think exist with heavier draw weights quickly becomes a liability to consistent accuracy.

Faster bows are not more accurate.

Additionally, for

hunters, any exaggerated movement when trying to draw a bow while hunting will increase the odds that whatever is standing downrange will immediately bolt.

Bottom line? Having a professional adjust poundage down to a comfortable drawing weight will allow the shooter to work on consistent form, ultimately leading to improved accuracy.

Add a Loop Most of the older bows I’ve seen do not have a nocking loop, or “D-loop,” as it’s sometimes called.

Nowadays, except for traditional archery, it’s almost customary to have one.

Although loops are very simple and inexpensive, they can help improve accuracy, because having one means the shooter’s release is not attached directly to the strings.

And because they are flexible, the loops help compensate for any sideways torque during the shot, since that force is absorbed by the loop and not the bowstring.

Also, nocking loops prevent what is known as “string walking,” which happens when an arrow slides up or down the string during the shot and results in inconsistent arrow flight.

Lastly, loops protect strings and center serving from wear and tear that result from having the release attached directly to the strings.

Upgrade to a Round Guarded Sight If folks want to be a better shot, it’s a must to (Continued on page 59)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 59 (Continued from page 58)

increase consistency from one shot to the next. Everything about shot #1 should be the same as shot #20.

One of the easier ways to accomplish this is to increase the number of anchor points to the shot procedure, which round pin guards coupled with round peep sights do.

They became popular 10 to 15 years ago, for good reason. Only sights with round guards are sold nowadays, so if your bow sports one of the old sights, then do yourself a favor, and upgrade.

With the added element of aligning a round pin housing with a round peep sight, the shooter gets an added anchor point. Having both can accomplish two things with the proper setup.

First, it allows for a larger peep sight, permitting more light to pass through the aperture, aiding in low-light conditions. Second, aligning the round pin guard on the sight with the round opening of the peep sight ensures a consistent anchor point from shot to shot, regardless of which pin the shooter is using.

There are several quality, inexpensive round pin guards on the market, and any pro-shop can quickly install them to the proper specifications of the bow.

The writer with a drop-tine buck he took with his “back-up to a back-up” bow, a 25-year old High Country compound model. Outdated technology was overcome by good fortune and careful shot placement.

Switch to a Drop-Away Rest I discussed drop-away rests in the June issue.

Specifically, I recommended that you get one if you don’t already have one. Besides keeping the arrow in place during draw back, they allow the fletchings to move past the arrow shelf without contact, which accom-

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 57)

work best for me.

Bass angling is a very popular sport on the big lake, and tournament anglers are often seen in our cove working their rods at a frantic pace. It’s no wonder, since Sebago has some nice bass, both large-and smallmouth.

Rocky shorelines, sandy stretches and plenty of docks serving as structure and shade draw bass into the coves, with anglers in close pursuit. Strikes can be elicited by casting a rubber worm, tube jig or spinner bait toward the shoreline and retrieving it back.

plishes a couple of things.

First, because there is no contact, the arrows theoretically will fly truer and more consistently.

Second, lack of contact or friction makes the arrows fly faster.

The downside to dropaways is they must be installed by a professional, due to the number of variables involved. Bows

have different poundages, speeds and cam designs, and it’s essential that the drop-away doesn’t drop too early or too late.

But compared to traditional prong rests, they are a massive improvement in technology.

So dust off the old bow and don’t fret about technology passing you by. Being active regard-

For my family, the old worm-and-bobber set-up has brought countless bass – some big ones, even – when we fish off the dock.

My dad would while away his summer evenings enjoying a cigar as the air cooled, sitting on the end of the dock in his lawn chair watching his bobber and thinking about who knows what. As I write this column and reminisce, I can smell the quality tobacco aroma.

Fish Fry If you want to enjoy a fish fry at Sebago Lake, there are plenty of great local restaurants, but for the do-it-yourselfer, Sebago crappies are just the fare. Motor up into Turtle Cove, as far up the northern side of Raymond Cape you can go, and you will find

less of equipment is priority number one. And increasing accuracy is only a matter of practice and a few simple additions that can make a world of difference.

Once in the woods, you never know what may cross your path.

¶

sheltered Turtle Cove to the north. Use your fish finder, and when you see a mess of fish, gently drop anchor and start fishing. Small minnows, nightcrawlers or tiny jigs work well to tempt the abundant, but schooling-oriented, black crappie. These fish grow to slab-size and a few of them make a great meal fried up in batter or just flour.

Summer will not last forever, so be sure to get out and enjoy it. We will be pulling on wool sweaters before too long. Whether it’s a morning crow shoot, a day on the water trolling or casting, or just relaxing on the dock, August outdoor sports are slow and peaceful, just like a Maine summer.

¶

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60 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Author Practices CPR (Catch, Photograph and Release) on Trophy Brookie After hooking into several smaller brook trout that morning, I watched as a really big brook trout went airborne trying to grab a huge, dark mayfly. I immediately switched flies, tying on something that looked close to the same size and color as the fly the big brookie had tried to eat.

I had been fishing with several other dry fly imitations that seemed to be working on the smaller trout, but I really wanted that big trout in my net.

One problem persisted…a strong wind blew directly down the small stream, making a gentle presentation upstream quite difficult.

I let my line hang downstream until I noticed that the wind died down a little, then cast upstream in an attempt to get my fly above the feeding trout. The current, swirling at a rapid rate, forced me to quickly mend the line in an attempt to keep the fly from dragging.

As I waited for the wind to die down, I had my line dragging downstream when the big brook trout slammed the submerged mayfly imitation I had tied on my three-pound tippet. My five-weight, Bean “L.L.” rod bent farther than it had all morning as I tried to gently direct the big fish out of the fast current and into the slack water near the bank.

The big fish came in close to my net five times and then stripped line back out again, trying to www.MaineSportsman.com

Big trout run in the Upper and Lower Magalloway, but you don’t have to keep all you catch. To ensure survival of a fish you plan to release, 1) use a rubber-webbed landing net; 2) keep the fish in the water as much as possible; and 3) handle the fish as little as possible.

The author’s personal best wild, native brook trout -- a 20-incher. Artist Gene Bahr will reproduce the fish in a carved mount based on the photo and measurements, while the fish itself was returned immediately to the water. William Clunie photo

get away from me. I must have looked funny, an extremely-bent fly rod in one hand and a net in the other – all the time wobbling around in the rocky shallows of the stream attempting to scoop up the big fish that barely fit the small net. I felt a little embarrassed as a small group of anglers watched my struggle – some things should be experienced solo, like wrestling with a big brook trout.

CPR – Catch, Photograph and Release I finally got the fish in the net, quickly tak-

ing a measurement and beginning the process of resuscitating the massive brook trout. At twenty inches, this wild and native brook trout reigns as my personal best brookie.

It took me a good five to ten minutes to finish reviving the tired trout, but I felt good as the big fish shook my hand vibrantly as it departed to the depths of the stream.

“Catch-photo-release” (“CPR”), a process of documenting and reviving a fish that has been brought to the net, involves several key elements that assure a tired fish gets back

into the water unharmed.

In short, anglers don’t need to kill every fish they catch. Also, anglers who understand this easy CPR process make sure that the fish they release don’t receive unintentional damage during this revival process.

Let me briefly explain a few tips that help anglers release fish unharmed. First, try and get the fish to the net as soon as possible, and then try and keep the netted fish in the water during the whole CPR process.

If the angler wants a photo of the fish out of the

net, have the lucky fisher wet his or her hands before handling the trophy.

Smaller fish that won’t get photographed needn’t be handled at all – just grab the hook with a pair of hemostats and twist the hook out of the lip before release.

Rubber net material allows for a quicker release, for several reasons. My hooks don’t get caught in the rubber like they do in other material. Also, the rubber net doesn’t harm the delicate skin of trout and salmon.

And I can use the net to grab a fish without touching it with my hands for a photo.

The Magalloway River System The Magalloway River fills Parmachenee Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 28, B-1 and C-1) with cool water from the surrounding mountains, and then flows into Aziscohos Lake (Map 28, C-1 and D-1). The Little Magalloway also feeds into Aziscohos Lake, and locals refer to both of these sources as the Upper Magalloway River. Most folks refer to any part of the river below the outlet dam on Aziscohos Lake as the Lower Magalloway River.

The Magalloway River draws anglers from all parts of the country, and for good reason. The mountain-chilled tributaries fill the river with cool and nutritious water – a perfect habitat for growing large salmon and trout.

(Continued on next page)

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Curious anglers seeking new fishing holes can search these smaller tributaries and find actively-feeding fish, even in the warmer months of the year. Cool mountain springs feed the little brooks and creeks with icy water, and the abundant trees provide enough shade to keep things from heating up. Anglers can access these waters by driving the many logging

roads that lace the area, stopping at the bridges and wading from there.

The fish also have the option to feed in the big lakes. Both Parmachenee and Aziscohos Lakes carry a substantial supply of baitfish to keep the hungry salmonid fat and happy.

Aziscohos Lake can be accessed from the launch at Black Brook Cove at the south end of the lake. Parmachenee Lake, located behind locked

gates, requires landowner permission to drive beyond the gates.

The dam at Aziscohos Lake releases water from the bottom of the lake, filling the lower section of the Magalloway River with cool water even during the heat of August. When it gets too hot to fish elsewhere, savvy anglers give the Lower Magalloway River a try.

Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pulse I have always been

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Some scientists believe that flowing water also discharges negative ions in the air. If this theory holds true, then it explains why a lot of the

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What Makes a Certain Firearm Your All-Time Favorite?

When it comes to guns, shooters of all stripes play favorites.

Whether it involves ballistics, handling characteristics or aesthetics, most shooters favor one certain firearm above all others.

Often the choice rests on a mix of sentiment and nostalgia. Feelings about a gun that was inherited from Granddad or received as a gift under the Christmas tree run deep and strong. Perhaps it stems from memories stirred up recalling that

The author polls eight local hunters, and analyzes the factors that go into making a certain rifle or shotgun their favorite. Then he makes his own selection, and invites readers to continue the dialog. first rifle or shotgun purchased with some wellearned wages.

Olympic champions and two-day-a-year deer hunters carry the same emotions about their favorite firearms. So do casual plinkers and the dedicated collectors that frequent Julia’s auction house in Fairfield, Maine.

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Congressman David Crockett carried “Ol’ Betsy,” his long favored hunting rifle, off to Texas and into history. Teddy Roosevelt owned a battery of pistols, rifles and shotguns, but called the Winchester Model 1895 in .405 Winchester his “Big Medicine.”

Renowned waterfowler Nash Buckingham treasured a 12-gauge A.H. Fox shotgun a friend named “Bo Whoop” for the sound it made when fired.

Gun writer Jack O’Connor built a career and gave his favorite Winchester Model 70 bolt action in .270 Winchester almost mythic status.

Fellow writer and noted

curmudgeon Elmer Keith did likewise with the .44 caliber pistol.

Playing Favorites Most of us will never have our names associated with public acclaim for our favorite firearm. But many of us feel just as passionate as O’Connor, Keith Buckingham about a particular gun or category of firearm.

For intensely personal reasons, we seem to settle on something that both appeals and stirs an almost visceral reaction.

As with choosing a mate, the process seems to blend the biological and the psychological.

The choice most often combines sentimentali-

ty with the practicality of shooting successes.

Remembrance of days spent still-hunting deer or shooting competitions won may mean as much as where the gun originated.

I admit, my own notions of a favorite firearm have shifted many times forwards and backwards since I started researching and writing about guns. Long-held ideas faded as I became exposed to more and different guns over the years. I still treasure my grandfather’s .32-20 rolling block rifle with its tang-mounted peep sight, but I don’t hunt with it.

Likewise, I feel good about owning Great-uncle George’s Springfield 20-gauge with its external hammer, but I would rather chase partridge with a Ruger Red La(Continued on next page)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 63 (Continued from page 62)

bel or Winchester Model 12.

Perhaps I should pay more attention to the wisdom of my friend and mentor Jim Cox, who owns a lot of guns. He told me, “If I could only own one gun, it would be a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-’06 and with a 3x9 Leupold scope.” Not a bad choice, if I could own only one rifle.

Unscientific Investigation Thinking about what makes a favorite firearm led to an unscientific and hastily-orchestrated poll of some shooters. The answers come back as varied as the personalities, and responses spanned the spectrum of shooting sports.

Mike DuBois, the guy who taught me that hard-working teenage boys can save their money to own a collection of firearms, recently stated that his all-time favorite firearm is the Kentucky Long Rifle. Conversely, Maine Sportsman writer William Clunie says he now favors “composite stocks and scopes and ARs.” This, in addition to declaring, “I am a Remington man through and through.”

Our publisher, Jon Lund, states, “In shotguns, my favorite is the Fox Model B. My favorite deer cartridge has been the .30-.30.” But he also declares, “My favorite rifle is a .22 rimfire bolt action.”

Texas duck and turkey hunter Colonel Steve Johnson embraces leading-edge technology, ranking the Benelli Super Black Eagle II as his favorite; while Kentucky hunter Mike Martin says of the Savage-Fox Model B in 20 gauge, “I have probably put 10 times more rounds through it than any other firearm I have ever used. It is my favorite, because it is effortless to use.”

Maine Sportsman

Treasured firearms like this Winchester Model 64 -- the author’s personal favorite -- can enhance the field experience.

Allard photo

large-game expert Joe Saltalamachia says, “I love my .280 Remington.

It fits me perfectly – not too heavy; not too light … kind of just right, and I am ultra-confident in it.”

On the other hand, Maine Sportsman editor Will Lund named the more traditional Winchester Model 64 lever action carbine (with deluxe checkering, chambered for .32 Special ammo) as his favorite hunting firearm.

Polling Continues At this point, I would also say that my favorite rifle is the Model 64 Winchester. “Old school” for sure, but in .30-30 or .32 Winchester Special it remains a perfect Maine game rifle for everything except moose or exceptionally large bears. More elegant than the ubiquitous Model 94 Winchester in the same calibers, the Model 64 looks and feels like a lighter version of the sought-after Model 71.

Twelve years ago, in the very first installment of “The Shooter’s Bench,” I wrote with great joy about my all-time favorite rifle – the Winchester

Model 71. Humans are fickle creatures. Since then favorites have risen and fallen. The Savage Model 99 came on strong and then faded against the Ruger #1, .256 Newton, 6.5 Mannlicher and the Remington Model 700BDL that I never owned; not to mention all the “favorite” shotguns.

Reader input would add to the quality of this discussion. What is your favorite firearm? What makes it the favored one?

Is it the old veteran piece passed down through three or four generations of the family? Or is it the brand, spanking new bit of camouflage painted steel and plastic purchased last week?

The truest value in any firearm lies in the stories woven into its history. And every gun that ever came out of its box owns at least one story.

Stories, photos and opinions are welcome at “The Shooter’s Bench,” so send them in and help keep this dialog going.

The 2017 bear season kicks off this month, followed soon after by small game, birds, moose and

then deer. Here is hoping every hunter carries a treasured and favorite firearm into the woods this season. A gun with special significance for its

owner adds much to the overall experience in the field.

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Androscoggin River and Surrounding Lakes Provide Fast Smallmouth Action I stepped into the river that morning knowing that I would come off the water around noon after catching plenty of fish. That steamy August morning dripped with humidity and the understanding that huge smallmouth bass would be attacking my flies with a raging hunger.

The cool water felt good on my bare legs – I like to wet-wade when the summer temperatures rise to uncomfortable levels.

I tossed a huge white popper right onto the sandy beach on a little island just out from the shoreline, and then stripped the line quickly to make it look like a frog jumping into the still water created by the sandy island.

As soon as the imitation hit the water, a smallmouth bass jetted to the surface, ripped at the popper, and proceeded to do a summersault that rocketed him at least three feet above the surface. When the big bronzeback re-entered the river, he headed directly to the bottom of the river, tugging on the six-poundtest tippet with what felt like ten pounds of pressure.

After a rod-shaking fight, I got the muscular fish into the net and quickly put a tape measure on him as I revived him. At almost 20 inches, this awesome smallie would go close to four pounds. The gleaming, greenish-bronze footballof-a-fish slipped back into the river, ripping his tough mouth from the grip I had on him with my forefinger and thumb and getting in a last shot www.MaineSportsman.com

If the weather gets too warm, try “wet-wading” in the Androscoggin River wearing a swim suit and good footgear but no waders. From a boat, Worthley Pond and Umbagog Lake also offer up big, hard-fighting smallies.

Neil Townsend of Arundel hauls in a huge smallmouth bass from the Androscoggin River during an event sponsored by the non-profit organization, “Back In The Maine Stream” (backinthemainestream.org). William Clunie photo

by flipping a little water in my face with his tail.

River smallies have such a scrappy and aggressive attitude. I don’t think I could ever get bored fishing for smallmouth bass – the way they slam at the bugs I offer them and the way they fight once I hook them, just keeps me coming back year after year.

Smallmouth Water The Androscoggin River has smallmouth bass thriving in all sections of the river that

runs from the New Hampshire border all the way to where it pours into the Atlantic Ocean.

Check the DeLorme Atlas and notice the numerous, strategically-placed public launches all along the length of the big river.

The river holds quite a few smallmouth bass, but so do many of the streams and ponds that surround the huge river.

Take a look at Worthley Pond (Map 11, A-3) and find the public boat launch on the south east

shore.

Anglers do well fishing for smallies all along the shoreline, casting up to and around residential docks and other natural structure at the edge of the big body of water.

Surface flies like poppers, and divers work great but if the bronzebacks don’t want to hit the topwater imitations, any smelt-imitating streamer would do just fine – the pond is full of huge schools of smelt.

The 375-acre pond runs close to 50 feet

deep near the middle of the lake and some areas around the north of the pond. The big pond also holds huge brown trout, rainbow trout, and the occasional largemouth bass.

Most anglers hit the shoreline to the north of the pond where there seems to be more structure, both below and above the surface. Fishing here puts anglers on a beautiful body of water that relaxes the most stressed-out fisher.

Surrounding mountains provide a breath-taking background that soothes anglers with enough visual images to last a lifetime.

Unbelievable Umbagog Umbagog Lake (Map 17, B-5), situated on the border between New Hampshire and Maine, also provides plenty of smallmouth bass action for anglers during the warmest times in August.

Like the pond mentioned above, this gorgeous body of water also has a surrounding horizon of mountains that create a scenic display to fill angler’s memory banks full.

Smallmouth fishers catch their prey in the myriad shallow coves of this big lake, around the multitude of large rocks near the vast shoreline.

These structures warm Umbagog’s cold waters sufficiently to temperatures that induce bass into a feeding frenzy.

Early morning anglers can also find trout and salmon near the incoming water sources for the lake – the cold Rap(Continued on next page)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 65 (Continued from page 64)

id River and the chilling Magalloway River. The deepest part of the lake near the north shore also holds cold loving salmonid.

Access this great lake from Route 26, at the public launch on the western shore in New Hampshire, and take a huge variety of angling gear to accommodate several kinds of fishing techniques and fish species.

One of the best ways to access this lake starts

near Errol, New Hampshire. Follow Route 16 east from Errol and drop a boat at one of the many launch sites on the Androscoggin River. The river hardly has a current at this point and easily provides great access to the northern parts of the big lake.

Bear Baiting Bear hunters looking for productive baiting sites in the Western Maine Mountains should consider closely inspecting topographical maps of

the area. Look for pockets of dense swampland at the base of mountainous terrain, and then begin setting bait out regularly during this month, in anticipation of the season opener.

The swampy areas surrounding the ridges of Tumbledown Mountain (Map 19, B-1 and C-1) give up huge boars every year, as well as similar wetlands around Mount Blue (Map 19, C-3). The rocky terrain of these mountains provides

the bear with winter dens, and the heavy forests offer cooling shade.

Swampland at the base of these mountains keeps bears cool and hydrated, also.

Lowlands around the town of Carthage (Map 19, D-2) give thick-coated bear deep and dark cooling hideouts. The surrounding hills have been recently logged, opening up the forests to sunlit patches of berry growth.

Mast-producing trees, left to grow by these log-

ging operations, grow fuller and produce an increased crop of food for hungry bear.

Follow the logging roads that lace this region and look for any of the myriad brook crossings. Bear hunters who hike up the brooks find ideal places for setting up bait sites. Make sure to ask landowners for permission. Most landowners welcome bear hunters if asked first.

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Food Plots Produce Whitetail Results – Part 1 Twenty-five years may seem like a long time to some, but to me it feels like yesterday. Perhaps it doesn’t seem like a long time because I’m still in Maine and more importantly, I’m still at Unity College.

Why is this important? Well, it was my love of deer and deer hunting that brought me to Unity College.

When I arrived on the campus in January 1992, my interest in Whitetails was nearing its halcyon days.

Growing a food plot is really a form of farming, and the author reveals the right plants (alfalfa, clover, and whatever other tasty plants are not common in the area), as well as techniques (correct placement, soils testing and amending, and weed abatement) to grow an effective, nutritional deer attractant. member of the Whitetail Institute of North America (WTI). This organization was formed by Ray Scott (of BASS fishing lore) in 1988, and it’s the oldest company to develop products for food plots.

At one point, I really believed I’d end up working for them.

I didn’t fully understand how cutting edge this was at the time.

Rarely did anyone com-

wanted to know everything about deer – where they slept, where they drank, where they bred, when they bred, why they bred and so much more.

For a short time, I was extremely focused on what they ate, why they ate and when they ate. Obviously all these things were connected.

Food seemed to be the key to it all.

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24/7 Almost literally, I was thinking of deer 24 hours a day; 7 days a week. I

prehend the importance of age, genetics and nutrition in “growing trophy bucks”. I was often met with puzzled looks, doubtful conversation and people telling me my obsession was unhealthy.

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In the spring of 1994, I proposed a self-designed internship to my professors. It’d be conducted on my grandfather’s property in upstate New York.

I’d be planting my very first food plots on our 90acre property. The study not only included the planning, planting and growing of the food plots; in addition, it would compare the usage and selectivity by deer of three different perennials, on two separate plots of land. We’d test Imperial Whitetail Clover, Ladino Clover and Alfalfa.

Since I was an impoverished college student, I was limited to plant(Continued on next page)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 67 (Continued from page 66)

ing the two food plots in an old field and an already-cleared space on the property. For Plot #1, I chose an opening near the center of the property used by my grandfather to graze a few beef critters before I was born.

With a little TLC, Plot #1 would become one of the best spots on the property to kill deer.

Plot #2 was larger – approximately two acres – and was located on the forested edge of an old gravel pit. This plot was more exposed than Plot #1. Because this was still new to me, I had to call on some friends before I began construction.

Creating Food Plots is a Form of Farming Thankfully, I’d made friends with a few farmers during my time at Unity College. I asked them many questions about soil testing, eradicating weeds, lime, fertilizer, planting and monitoring crops before I left

Waldo County for the summer.

To say they set me up for success would be an understatement. Because of their sound advice, there’s no doubt I made far fewer mistakes than most rookie food plot engineers.

The first thing we did was spray the marked areas with weed killer.

When the weeds died, we burned the dead grass and leafy debris off the plots.

A few days later, we added fertilizer and lime in quantities recommended by the county soil and water conservation district (SWCD). Finally, we were ready to turn the soil over and prep for planting.

With the help of a neighbor, my fields were tilled, free of rocks and ready for seed in two days.

The seed was sown by hand with a “monkey grinder,”, and crudely compacted with our three-wheeler. (I had no

cultipacker.)

With a little rain and plenty of sun, the seed was growing well in just over a week.

By August, the fields were gorgeous, contained few weeds and already being used by deer, rabbits, porcupines and other wildlife.

Part of my research was to measure usage of the three types of perennials. In order to do that, I needed to make small chicken wire exclosures and place them on designated areas within the plots. Each plot had three exclosures, one on each type of perennial.

Near the end of August it was easy to see the deer were enjoying their newfound food source.

The clover and alfalfa in the exclosures was 14” tall or more. That left for the deer was nearly eaten to the dirt in some places.

The deer seemed to favor the alfalfa over the clover, and both types of clover were being eaten at basically the same rates.

Not Just for Science If anyone at the college or among my friends and family thought I worked on those food plots just for science, they were mistaken. I did not even try to hide my real motive. Everything I had done with my education and my time at Unity College to that point arose from my love of deer hunting. This was no different.

I had every intention of hunting those food plots when I was home for break. As a bonus to my friends and my family, they’d be able to hunt the plots while I was at

school. In 1994, we killed anything that made its way in front of us. Those food plots paid immediate dividends.

My friend Jim Auclair killed a nice yearling buck when it chased does out of the plot. He also passed on many does and fawns while hunting over the plot during bow season.

When I arrived home for a week of hunting on my Thanksgiving break, there were more deer on the property than we’d ever seen. I took two big does (remember – this was New York) and a (Continued on next page)

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The Young Maine Sportswoman with Alyssa Sansoucy

183 State Street Suite 101 Augusta, ME 04330

Hunting Maine’s Black Bear Home Away from Home Black bear is the first big game animal of the year that you can hunt.

There is an opportunity to hunt bear in the spring, but not many people have that chance because only a few outfitters offer this experience in Maine.

One of them is Shepard Hunting Company, owned by Ryan Shepard.

The spring hunt that he offers is coordinated with The Penobscot Indian Nation.

The fall season is the longer season, and you are allowed to bait or hunt with hounds.

You can either get a permit and bait yourself, or you can go through a guide and book a hunt.

I personally have been on both baiting and hound hunts, but prefer hound hunts because they are more exciting.

Hunting with hounds also gives you a better chance of getting a bear.

Baiting for bear takes a lot more time and patience. You have to be very committed to bait, because you have to go there at least once a week.

For guides it is espe-

Big Game (Continued from page 67)

good friend missed a shot at a really great adult buck. There was no doubt in my mind, the food plots were a big reason for our success.

Looking back on the creation of my first food plots, I know we did lots of things correctly. I also know where we made mistakes and how those mistakes can be corrected.

Lessons Learned What’d we do right? For starters, we did a soil test. The object of a food plot should always be to add as much food per acre as possible. The fastest way to grow a lackluster plot is to skip the soil test.

Getting the PH right for the plants that are chosen is a must. If the soil doesn’t have the proper PH, it may not give up the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium needed to grow luscious green plants. Instead, the plot might grow weeds better than the desired plant.

Speaking of weeds, ridding the area of weeds prior to planting was also a good thing. If we had not cleared the plot of weeds, the clover would be quickly outgrown by the weeds. By ridding the plots of weeds, the clover was able to take over quickly and grow to its potential.

I waited 10-12 days before burning the dead weeds and tilling the plot. Had I not waited, my clover would likely not have grown. www.MaineSportsman.com

Bear from Ryan Shepard’s trail camera, 2017.

cially time-consuming, since they have so many bait sites to maintain.

If you are considering booking a hunt, there are some great outfitter’s out there. Shepard Hunting Company, Loon Lodge

My bear from 2014.

and Orion Outfitters are at the top of my list, just to name a few.

An unintended benefit of my research was the variety of plants available to the deer. A clover blend, straight Ladino clover and alfalfa, definitely drew more deer to those plots.

Deer Love Variety One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen well-intentioned hunters make over and over again since my first plots is that they plant one type of food over and over. Deer love variety. Not only is the diversity important to their pallet, it’s important to offer deer things that aren’t already available to them.

Example – planting a large alfalfa plot makes no sense if the farm fields where you hunt already have alfalfa in them. Similarly, if there are lots of green fields near the property containing perennials like clover or chicory, a food plot of corn could attract deer from miles away. Matching the planting to the needs of the deer, not the hunter, is extremely important.

I really lucked out when putting my first plots in old field locations. The abandoned pasture was in a place we could get to easily and undetected. There were already many apple trees around it and the deer seemed to feel secure there. Adding alfalfa and clover just brought more deer to the spot.

As for the plot on the edge of the old gravel pit, we tucked it in on the edge of the woods and over a small knoll. That knoll hid the plot from view of cars passing on the main road.

I can’t wait to go on another hound hunt!

¶

Don’t Make Deer Change Travel Patterns Common mistakes include placing plots too close to property boundaries, in fields where others can see feeding deer, or in areas not easily accessible or favorable to hunting on the property.

Plots should be located in areas deer are already frequenting. The last thing a hunter should want to do is change the movements of deer on a property the hunters already know well. A correctly-positioned food plot will enhance hunting and increase opportunity. A poorly located plot can cause deer to change movements and even go nocturnal.

Food plots seem to be all the rage these days. I had a feeling back in the day, they’d become just as popular here as they were in the south and the Midwest.

Popular or not, food plot science and art isn’t easy. If planning, prepping and hunting them were easy, every deer hunter with a few acres of land to plow would be putting them in and killing giant bucks over them.

There’s so much information out there about food plots that I could write an article about these every month.

I won’t cover this topic in 11 additional articles, but I will write more about hunting food plots in the early season for The Maine Sportsman’s September issue.

It’s not too late to start the process. With the right plants in the ground, and a properly-located plot, shooting deer can be far easier. Stay tuned.

¶

—

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 69

Don’t Wait for October – Hunt New Hampshire in September!

The author plans his late-summer, fall and early-winter hunting itinerary -- and also asks for readers’ hints on how to maintain domestic harmony with his non-hunting spouse while still heading into the woods for 3 weeks at a time.

For many active sportsmen, the calendar year revolves in threeweek windows – there’s three weeks from snow melt to green-up to find moose sheds; three weeks to fish for the big prespawn smallmouth; three weeks of the deer rut where the bucks are active; and three weeks of deer shed hunting before the snow gets too deep and the competition has picked them all up.

Sometimes, these three-week periods overlap with each other, and sportsmen are forced to pick between them (or even worse: pick between them and one of their wife’s three-week windows of honey-do lists).

September is one of these overlapping times, especially in northern New Hampshire.

Priorities and Preparation Each active sportsman, whether admittedly or not, has a favorite of all their pastimes: a three week window they think about during all the other forty-nine weeks of the year.

Mine most-anticipated activity is tracking ridge-running big woods bucks. I know that in order to keep my sanity, I need to spend the three weeks from mid November through the first week of December entirely focused on enjoying that one feat. This means the other activities I’d be pursuing during this time

must either be moved earlier on the calendar, or postponed.

Since the northern NH winters can be brutal in a 300-square-foot not-built-for-winter cabin, I need to do a lot more moving up, rather than postponing. Thankfully, I am a teacher and have the summers off to get a fair amount of the chores out of the way – namely, cutting and splitting firewood.

The second thing to keep in mind—and probably more important – is that if you have a significant other who doesn’t participate in your escapades, she will probably come to revolt against you and your absence at some point.

I’m a newlywed. If any readers know how to prevent this syndrome, please let me know – my email address is listed above.

Here is what I am going to try this go-around: constant reminders prior to my absence, so it doesn’t come as any surprise; suggestions and plans for her to spend time with family members, particularly her sister; a nice surprise (good thing she doesn’t read my articles…) dinner at a restaurant during the middle of my absence to get her smoothly into the second half; and a booked weekend getaway in December, after the season is over, as something for her to look forward to.

Oh yeah, and a lot of chocolate!

Bear September kicks off three big-game seasons in New Hampshire: bear, deer, and turkey. The general bear season, as well as the baiting season, starts September 1.

(The hounds season for bear starts September 19, but is closed in the four most southern zones.)

Baiters should take notice that a new law has been enacted, outlawing any use of chocolate or cocoa derivatives in bear baits.

Those looking to bait bears should start their search of a bear-baiting location during the summer or sooner. Make sure to get the forms and landowner permission slips turned into Fish and Game prior to set-up.

For the best success bear baiting, find out where the other bait sites are, so you can avoid them. It is shocking how many people bait bears – folks whom you would never suspect.

Ask neighbors who live adjacent to the property where you’re baiting, or even a conservation officer. You don’t want to be too close to another hunter’s bait; it can turn territorial with him, plus it is detrimental to both of your bait sites, as the bears are constantly in transit.

Also, if the supply of food increases with two sites, the bears may be-

In between times spent planning his hunting seasons and thinking of creative excuses to offer his new wife, the author and his antler-sniffing dog search for moose sheds.

This year the man/dog team found a total of 46 antlers, including a record 17 in one day.

come more nocturnal, since they don’t have to try to beat the competition to the food as much.

I’ve heard it suggested on good authority that one should try to be at least three miles as a crow flies from the next-nearest bait site, as bear have a large roaming territory.

Those looking to bait on public lands (state, federal, and paper-company) need to plan well ahead, as many of the permit application deadlines occur in the summer.

The White Mountains region of New Hampshire, particularly around the bases of the Presidentials, offers to some great opportunities for hunting

over natural food sources – like beechnuts and acorns – though you may have to hike a bit to get to them.

Deer The fall archery deer season starts on September 15, as well as the fall archery turkey season.

Both of these creatures frequent apple orchards this time of year, and that’s where this writer focuses his time and efforts.

However, most of the deer activity in these orchards occurs after nightfall, so it’s essential to scout the area all around to see where the deer are entering and exiting the orchard.

It is a good idea to (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

70 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

—

Bear, Brookies and Browns in Southern Maine This Month Southern Maine holds black bear – just ask the folks whose birdfeeders have been torn down or their woodpiles capsized as bruins look for rodents. And while you are out scouting bear bait sites, don’t forget to bring your fly rod for trout in South River and Ossipee River.

Black bear populations continue to expand in southern Maine – there have been numerous sightings in the region.

Bears have destroyed bird feeders, and wood piles have been ripped apart by bears searching for mice. However, the abundant acorn crop, still available from last fall, has kept some bears back on the hardwood ridges.

Bear populations have expanded here, not just in remote sections, but also into more populated towns in southern and coastal areas. There’s light hunting pressure in this region, with only a few bear guides available who generally bait and run hounds in northern and eastern sections of

our region. Bear baiting is popular with a few local hunters. Baiting and hunting with hounds remain the most productive methods.

Home Ranges I think bear in southern parts of the state have smaller home ranges than their northern cousins. Because of the buffet food sources available to them here, they simply don’t need to travel as far to feed.

It is documented that a sow’s home range is about four to six miles, while boar ranges are around eight to ten miles.

Southern Maine bear may travel that far, but they certainly do not need to. However, bear do trav-

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el great distances in early spring, a time when food is limited, but once green forage along brooks, streams and other low areas become available, they then abandon bird feeders and other food sources that expose them to humans.

Where’s a good place to hunt bear in this region? All northern sections have bear, and that’s a good place to start scouting. Bear hunters should study DeLorme’s Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, Maps 2 and 4, looking for remote swamps with ridges nearby.

These locations generally have bear living deep in cool swamps, and gorging themselves on acorns and other mast along ridges.

In years with a low mast crop, hunters should scout around apple orchards – if bear are in the area, they surely with be raiding the orchards seeking the juicysweet apples.

Bear feeding on apples leave piles of scat that looks similar to a pile of apple sauce. Scat from bear feeding on acorns and other mast looks like pecan pie, and when they are feeding on greens their scat appears like mashed up salad or black in color. Finding and studying bear scat tells you what they are eating, thereby helping you locate good bait sites.

Hunters should obtain landowner permis-

Logging roads in Southern and Western Maine are good locations to set up bear bating sites, after you secure landowner permission.

sion before establishing a bait site; then they must gather bait and other materials needed. Day’s Bear Bait in Alfred can provide all required baiting supplies, along with instructions on how and where to set up.

Bear hunters who want to hunt with hounds should contact Two Brothers Guides, located in Alfred. They have experience hunting southern Maine bear.

If you choose hound hunting, be prepared for a physical hunting experience – bear can run for miles, especially small bear; larger bear tend to tree more quickly.

Some folks think hunting bear with hounds is unsporting; however, most often only larger boars are killed, while smaller bear and sows with cubs run free.

Bait hunters also have an opportunity to pick and choose, as well.

At this time bear have one concern: food – their whole world revolves around it. So how bear use the land and its food sources are the keys to locating bait sites.

Scout and Cast Switching now from bear hunting to trout fishing – One stream I enjoy fishing is South River. It

flows through the Plantation. This meandering stream dumps into Ossipee River in Parsonsfield. To locate the Plantation, check DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 4, D-1.

Brook trout migrate into deep-dark, shaded waters of the stream. To find them, anglers should locate brush-tangled sections where trout hang out.

Trout lurk in under-cut banks and over-hanging brush – these areas are good spots to cast a Black Ghost or Black Nosed Dace streamer fly; the latter is my first choice.

Also consider a Tan Elk Caddis fished either dry or wet – I prefer wet.

This area also has numerous large, wet swamps that maintain good bear populations.

It has hardwoods and logged cuts, choked with berries. In hot-dry seasons, South River holds water and becomes a source for the local bear.

Just think – bear and trout, all in the same day!

Ossipee Lake Ossipee Lake in Waterboro offers a variety of fish species, including brown and brook trout, landlocked salmon, and all types of warm water (Continued on next page)

T

t

t

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • August 2017 • 71 (Continued from page 70)

fish.

Recently, 440 brook trout and 200 landlocked salmon were stocked in the lake.

It also has a substantial population of cusk that can be caught on sandy underwater points running into deep water.

Cusk are nocturnal feeders, moving into shallow water to feed at dusk.

Dead bait fished on the bottom will catch cusk, as well as bullheads (horn pout).

Crappie, pickerel, perch and bass hang out in bays as well as deeper water sections of the lake near structures and underwater rock piles.

The water is a great

cold water fishery, but offers panfishing excitement as well.

Anglers can locate Ossipee Lake by studying Map 2, A-4. Parking is at a boat launch site located on Route 5.

While you are in the area, check out the Little Ossipee River. The stretch from the dam on Bridge Street in Newfield to Lake Arrowhead in Waterboro holds smallmouth bass. Slow-moving water interspersed with large boulders creates perfect environment for big smallmouth, while some back-waters with pads and weeds also harbor largemouth bass as well.

Slow water stretches and deep pools hold

New Hampshire (Continued from page 69)

have both a morning stand and an afternoon stand.

Trail cameras are invaluable to determining the timing and frequency of activity at these locations. They should be placed several weeks before the season’s beginning to get a good representation of data for analysis. In my experience, the farther away (usually uphill) from the orchard a hunter can get, while still remaining on a good trail or natural funnel, the better chance the hunter has of catching a buck in the day-

brown trout that have migrated from rapids. Once browns grow larger than the carrying capacity of swift waters that offer aquatic insects and small minnows, they move into slower, deep water where larger prey exist – frogs, shiners, and other large food sources.

You need to cast into slow-moving currents or behind exposed rocks, since browns wait in ambush in these locations.

You also need to protect yourself from Lyme disease – ticks are abundant this year.

August is a hot month, but there are generally, cool days that offer a great time to set bear bait sites and to cast for trout.

¶

The author traveled farther north to bowhunt this bear, but frequent bear sightings in Southern Maine have him considering a more local effort, focusing on apple orchards, and swampy areas with nearby acorn-rich ridges.

ning wildlife photography.

Usually around mid-September, the bull moose become fairly responsive to a call – sometimes more responsive than one is comfortable with. This writer has been chased from a cut before by a territorial bull moose (it probably didn’t help that I was holding up a shed antler and making grunting noises).

That same moose several weeks later was shot by one of my father’s guiding clients. You know what they say about karma … it’s a 200-grain Nosler Partition!

light – and the buck will be less “on edge.”

A deer’s habits will change around the third week of September, so it is important to continue scouting when you are not sitting in stand and keep a rotation of trail cameras in various locations. Don’t be afraid to move your stand or set up an additional one.

Moose I found out a short time ago that (yet again) I did not get drawn in the NH moose lottery. However, there are still some fun moose opportunities to be had in September. Late summer and early fall bring the change in foliage, allowing for some stun-

The Smilin' Sportsman

¶

Youth Edition

Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com The students’ summer assignment was to grow their own food.

On the first day back in class, Johnny tried to explain why he had not brought anything in.

“I wanted to grow my own food,” he explained, “but I couldn’t find bacon seeds anywhere.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A kid saw his dad standing on the weight scale, sucking in his stomach.

“Hey, Pops – that won’t really help, you know!”

“Oh it helps a lot,” says the father. “It’s the only way I can see the numbers!”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A deer wandered slowly into a bar and ordered a beer.

The bartender said, “Hey, Fella – why the long face?”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• “My mom is so negative,” explained one young boy to his friend. “When I went to meet her at the park, I remembered to bring my little brother’s stroller AND his diaper bag.”

“So what’s she negative about?” asked the friend.

“I don’t really understand it,” the young boy replied. “All she can talk about is how I forgot to bring my little brother!”

¶

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Call Moriah Baribeau or Kelsie Labbe (207) 607-2287 or (207) 837-9315 www.MaineSportsman.com

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â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Maine Sportsman â&#x20AC;˘ August 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ 73 (Continued from page 72)

Mid Coast. 207 208-7023 seacraftks@aol.com â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

DOGS TWO COYOTE HOUNDS 3 yr old running walkers, 1 female, 1 male, litter mates, very good dogs.

Photos available $750.00 each. Call for details 207837-8834. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

FOR RENT BENEDICTA WATERFRONT COTTAGE Full kitchen & bath, 2 Queen beds. Dish TV. Excellent bass fishing, moose, partridge, deer hunting. $650/week. Recently remodeled. 207951-6648 CAMP ON SMALL POND IN SHIRLEY $500/wk. Great hunting, fishing & ATV trails nearby. Also, local hunting club 1/4 mi. away is ac-

tively looking for five new members. 207-636-3689 EAST GRAND LAKE DANFORTH, ME 24x32 Camp- Greenland Cove, Sleeps 6-10. Deck, small dock/beach. Hunting, Fishing, Boating, ATV, $500/wk. 207-8311447 CABIN IN WMD 17 Comfortable, clean, secluded cabin for rent, with all amenities. Sleeps 4-5. Available May-Dec $450/wk. Call:207-2774565 LAKEFRONT CABIN on the Little Narrows Basin of Upper Cold

Stream Ponds in Lincoln, 4-season cabin w/cable, internet, kayaks, canoe, access to ATV & snowmobile trails. Depending on season, can be rented nightly, weekly or monthly. More info & pictures on Craigslist under Vacation Rentals/Lincoln. Call Tate 207-794-4208 PARKMAN, MEBUCKS CROSSING WMD 17 Rental Cabins. Turkey, deer, moose, upland game. All amenities included.

Great ratesnightly, weekly, monthly. $75/night for two people.

207-277-3183

FOR SALE HUNTING/FISHING LODGE FOR SALE Active commercial hunting and fishing lodge with 7 cabins, 10 acres, 50 leased bait sites. $250,000. 802-738-3877 #2862.15481

3 BEDROOM HOUSE, ROCKWOOD, ME WATERFRONT Deer backyard, Fishing frontyard, Moose backyard, Boating frontyard, Bear backyard, Airplane frontyard. Price $169,000. And rented out for $1,250/wk. Call Del 908-797-8202 (Continued on next page)

Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker

207-233-8275 caryn@citycoverealty.com www.realestateinrangeley.com â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your Real Estate Source for the Rangeley Regionâ&#x20AC;? #1133 - RANGELEY LAKE: LIVING IS EASY and HASSLE FREE at Niboban Sporting Camps on legendary Rangeley Lake! Only two front row cabins remaining. Once you arrive, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never want to leave. Get one before theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gone! $269,900-279,900

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

MONSON: Abutting Appalachian Trail 15 miles south of Moosehead Lake, start of 100 Mile Wilderness. 40 acre lots, 35 mile panoramic views of lakes and mountains. Rolling terrain with southern exposure. Gated gravel road 5 miles to village. Close to local snowmobile trail and ITS 85. Starting at $1250 per acre ^P[O V^ULY Ă&#x201E;UHUJPUN KV^U

FMI Call 207-343-2797 or Visit Greyledgelodge.com

#1161 - RANGELEY LAKE: INVESTORS TAKE NOTICE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Super Opportunity on the Big Lake! Two lakeside cottages 50â&#x20AC;&#x2122; from scenic Oquossoc Cove with good 3-Season rental potential. Recently refreshed inside and out, open views, walk to Oquossoc amenities. $246,000 #1162 - AZISCOHOS LAKE: REMOTE Fishing/Hunting Camp on owned land with 100â&#x20AC;&#x2122; sandy frontage. Off grid campy camp has gas appliances/lights, wood stove and gas LP stove for heat. Peaceful setting, level lot, open lake/sunset views. $175,000

Lodge/Home For Sale by Owners

Custom-Built Post & Beam Lodge/Home!

Beautifully built and maintained with spectacular panoramic views of the mountains DQG *UHDW 0RRVH /DNH 6HOI VXIÂżFLHQW ZLWK ZHOO VHSWLF DQG SRZHU )RXU EHGURRPV LQFOXGLQJ ORIW EDWK V DWWDFKHG FDU JDUDJH VLWXDWHG RQ DFUHV 9HU\ SULYDWH $ GHÂżQLWH PXVW VHH 0XVW VHOO GXH WR SRRU KHDOWK

For more info or more photos please call 207-324-3200 or email tkpayeur@yahoo.com www.MaineSportsman.com

74 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— (Continued from page 73)

SHAPLEIGH SEASONAL CAMP Two bedroom, fieldstone fireplace, wooded corner lot, acre plus in the Owls Nest. Ideal area for

Fishing, Hunting, Hiking $40,000.CALL 508-5407941 GUIDE SERVICE IN BROWNVILLE, MAINE $239,000. Main lodge and

— FOR SALE BY OWNER —

tĞůů DĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ͕ Ϯ ĂƚŚ ,ŽŵĞ ŝŶ ŽƵŶƚƌLJ ^ĞƫŶŐ >ŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ DĂŝŶĞ͛Ɛ ďĞƐƚ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ͕ ĮƐŚŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŶŽǁŵŽďŝůŝŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ͘ /d^ ƚƌĂŝů ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĂĚ͘ ϮϬϬ͛ ĨƌŽŶƚĂŐĞ ŽŶ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƵŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ DĂƌƌ WŽŶĚ ĨŽƌ Ăůů LJŽƵƌ ĮƐŚŝŶŐ ŶĞĞĚƐ͘ 'ĂƌĂŐĞ ĨŽƌ Ăůů LJŽƵƌ ƚŽLJƐ͘ tŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ Žŝů ŚĞĂƚ͕ ŽŶ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ŚŽƚ ǁĂƚĞƌ ŚĞĂƚĞƌ͘ ůů ĂƉƉůŝĂŶĐĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͘ >Žǁ͕ ůŽǁ ƚĂdžĞƐ͘ 'ƌĞĂƚ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŚŽŽĚ͘ ^ŝƚ ŽŶ LJŽƵƌ ƉĂƟŽ ĂŶĚ ůŝƐƚĞŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůŽŽŶƐ͕ ǁĂƚĐŚ ƚŚĞ ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞ͕ Žƌ ũƵƐƚ ĞŶũŽLJ ƚŚĞ ƉĞĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƋƵŝĞƚ͘ ^ĞĞ ĞůŽƌŵĞ ŵĂƉ ηϯϮ͕ ͬϭ ĨŽƌ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͘ $135,000

Call (207) 270-0878 for More Details or to View

ALLAGASH WILDERNESS LAND & CABINS FOR SALE 4.5 acres with 2 fully-furnished large log cabins, sleeps 14+, 750’ frontage on Spider Lake with great year-round fishing. Includes guest cottage, workshops, woodshed, outhouses, boats, motors, icehouse, generator, docks, skylights, and gardens.

$399,000 Contact Fred & Linda Boucher Email allagash.linda@yahoo.com or leave a message at 207-573-1541

one cabin. Sleeps 18 total.

Two utility buildings, one with a walk-in-cooler. 45 leased bait sites for bear.

1 1/2 townships in one area. 40 stands. 2 acres with another 20 acres for $25,000. Fully equipped

CALLING ALL SURVIVALISTS, HOMESTEADERS, BLACKSMITHS, WOOD WORKERS, LEATHER WORKERS, AND OFF-GRIDDERS! Are you currently living off-grid in the backwoods of America? Are you doing everything the “old school” way and on your own terms?

Do you live in a community with similar individuals, where you work together to keep things running? Are you tired of technology and the daily grind, and ready to drop off the map and leave it all behind - or are you already living this way and loving it?

A major cable network is seeking individuals, families, and groups who are sick of “the system” and are ready to live off the land and get back to the simple life.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, we would love to hear from you! Shoot us an email at 1202casting@gmail.com and tell us about yourself and your experience!

Electric available at roadside. $210,000.

Felicia O’Clair at Dobbs Realty, 92 Bennett Dr. Caribou, ME. 207-493-1300 or 207227-1958

and ready to go. Great operation for bear. deer, moose, small game and fishing. FMI Retiring.

207-965-8875.

FISH RIVER LAKE CAMPS IN T14-R8 Remote camps with miles of shorefront and few neighbors. Great fishing, hunting and lots of privacy! Moose, bear, deer & birds. Camps are fully furnished-bring your toothbrush and move in!

Water, showers, toilets, gas lights & generator, sleeps 8-10 easily. Possible financing.Call FMI & pics. $164,000 Ben Brown 207-745-0191

28 WATERS EDGE ROAD, JACKMAN, MAINE Beautiful Jackman, Maine waterfront on the scenic Moose River. 75 acres and 1000’ of frontage on river. Great opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts with hunting, fishing, snowmobiling & ATVing. Here is your opportunity to live “off the grid”. Private road, plowing ends a mile away.

With propane and a generator, you’ll be living in comfort year round! $69,900. Listed by Lauren Kane RE/MAX Shoreline. 603-431-1111 or cell 603-498-0630

280 ACRES WITH FRONTAGE Along Aroostook River Masardis, Maine. Mostly wooded with 2 open fields. Deer, Moose Bear and waterfowl habitat.

(Continued on next page)

Kersey Real Estate visit www.kerseyre.com to view our complete listing

“No Blarney Spoken Here”

207-585-2411 207-585-2412

506 West Side Road • Weld, ME 04285 •Mike Kersey, Broker WIL

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Beautiful place to spend all the seasons Maine has to offer this home is currently being used for three seasons but could be converted to year round living.

Well maintained cabin off the grid surrounded by Come see whats in store for you at the waters edge stonewalls and old growth trees. If you have been with dock, great swimming and magnificent sunset looking for a camp well here it is. $59,900. MLS views.This property has wonderful inclosed porches that offer easy access to the front yard,dock and #1307502 lake... Don’t miss the boat! $249,000. MLS #1293994

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Extremely well built cabin nicely tucked in the woods overlooking the Webb River. Located in the heart of the Western Mountains with easy access to hunting, ATVing, snowmobiling, hiking and all the activities around Webb River & Webb Lake. $144,900. MLS #1282498

CAMPS BY POPULAR DEMAND! NEW 12’X32’ CAMP with 8’ ceiling.

Located on 1.62 surveyed acres with direct access to ATV and snowmobile trails from your property. You might want to hurry if want to catch a peek at this one! Listed at $32,500.

NEW 14’ X 36’ CAMP with 6’ screened porch. Located on 4.18 acres with direct access to ATV and snowmobile trails from your property, plus you’re in the heart of Maine’s best recreational area! $39,500

— BUILDING LOTS WITH ATV & SNOWMOBILE ACCESS — Large 13 acre camp lot with trail accessible from the property, gravel road frontage in great recreation area for snowmobiling, ATVing, hiking and hunting. $24,500. MLS #1244750 Looking for a remote spot for your cabin or camper? Here it is! 8 acres w/ easy access, nice view right in the heart of the Western Mnts, a few miles to Mt Blue State Park & Webb Lk. $18,500. MLS #1282348 Very private 17 acres with great brook frontage and a common area on Meadow Pond located deep in the Western Mountains. $36,500. MLS #1269352 Roxbury - Don’t wait any longer! Large 12 acre + lots w/ spectacular views of mnt & valley, on private association rd. Plus a 10-acre common area for all lot owners. All lots have protective covenants to insure investment and privacy. $47,500. MLS #1304495 Excellent building lots w/ easy access to ATV & snowmobile trails. All lots surveyed and have driveways into building site. Ready for your new cabin in the woods? Then come check em’ out. $26,500. MLS #1205057 Phillips 40 acre lot with over 1900 feet of paved road frontage in the Western Mountains near Rangeley Lakes, Webb Lake and State Parks. Located on Rt 142 only 7 miles to Webb Lake. Listed at....$49,900. MLS #1204173 Very nice 95 acre wooded lot with views of the Androscoggin River Valley. A well-built gravel road will bring you up the mountain side to several plateaus and building sites. Priced right at....$139,500. MLS #1261656 Carthage/Weld 511 acres with over a mile of paved road frontage, three interior roads. The land is very well wooded with nice mountain views your only 10 minutes to Mt Blue State Park & Webb Lake.. The Webb River is just across the road. ATV and snowmobile trails can be accessed from he property along with hunting and other outdoor activities. NOW ONLY $279,000 MLS #1229364 Carthage 160 Acres with views of Tumbledown and Webb Lake absolutely gorgeous spot for a cabin or two great recreation area for snowmobiling,ATVing and hunting.You gotta see this one. $95,500 MLS #1244326.....$95,500 Phillips 40 Acres - Set up your camper next to the fire pit while you pick your building site. This 40 acre lot offers privacy, views and a wonderful babbling brook an acre or so of nice field with some small planted trees. $59,500 MLS #1309063 Fayette 179 Acres - Great property with old stonewalls, views, gravel also some fields and hidden locations for that hunting camp you’ve been looking to build...don’t miss this very private, huge 179 acre lot at a very attractive price. $71,500 MLS #1315323

www.MaineSportsman.com

WE HAVE LOTS MORE! Looking for your own private get away? Here is 92.6 Acres with driveway deep into the interior of the lot. Property is located in recreation area with lakes, rivers,state park and all the things the western mountains of Maine has to offer like great snowmobiling, ATVing, boating and the list goes on. MLS #1311224.......$69,500 556 Acres, gated raods, views, western mountains – SOLD! ...............................$295,000 26.2 Acres, Roxbury Pond, paved and private access ........................................................ $69,500

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BETHEL KING LOT This land boasts exceptional development potential or enjoy the vast land with your friends and family, excellent road infrastrucure and beautiful views of local ski areas. 1356 acres offered at $1,250,000. MLS #1149583

WOOD LOTS • WOOD LOTS • WOOD LOTS #1282270 - Byron, 99 Acres ............................................................................ $55,000 #1282273 - Byron, 116 Acres .............................................................................$74,900 #1282275 - Byron, 28 Acres............................................................................. $29,900 #1282237 - Hartford, 574 Acres ...................................................................... $299,00 #1282239 - Hartford, 91 Acres......................................................................... $63,900 #1282241 - Hartford, 156 Acres – SOLD!............................................... $117,000 #1282230 - Jay, 136 Acres ................................................................................ $88,900 #1282243 - Peru, 191 Acres...............................................................................$161,900 #1282246 - Peru, 322 Acres...........................................................................$206,500

—

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WANTED WANTED DEER/ MOOSE ANTLERS BUYING any size deer & moose shed antlers/ racks or antlered skulls.

All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206

ZONE 25 ANY-DEER PERMITS Dedicated still-hunter, bow/rifle/muzzleloader, seeks transfer of ME resident Zone 25 permit in September. Will share professionally butchered venison. 207-779-7634.

Be Sure to LIKE The Maine Sportsman on Facebook!

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WELLINGTON 1296625 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DFUHV ZLWK DGGLWLRQDO DFUHV DYDLODEOH Plenty of privacy.

Great hunting and ATV trails out the 1309601 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BROWNVILLE: 17+/- acres with GRRU &DPS EXLOW LQ $85,000 frontage on the Pleasant River. Great DOVER-FOXCROFT opportunity for a landscaper or con- 1313585 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cozy 2-3 tractor with mounds of slate from the EHGURRP FDPS quarry across the road. $39,000 screened in porch.

1289889 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PARKMAN: 5.5+/- acres with /RFDWHG DFURVV WKH 243â&#x20AC;&#x2122; of road frontage on paved main- URDG IURP WKH SXEtained road. Power at roadside. Owner OLF EHDFK DW 6HEHF /DNH $69,000 Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLQJ DYDLODEOH 1280780 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DOVER-FOXCROFT: 5+/- acres ATKINSON camp lot on seasonal dirt road. Close to 1277597 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EHGWRZQ 3HDNV .HQQ\ 6WDWH 3DUN DQG 6H- room camp with EHF /DNH $12,000 1.32+/- acres and 1161811 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BROWNVILLE: 14.72+/- acres year round access.

ORFDWHG RQ SXEOLF SDYHG URDG ZLWK 1HZHU PHWDO URRI power at roadside. ATV and snowmo- SRZHU DQG MXVW D ELOH WUDLOV MXVW RXW WKH GRRU 6KRUW GULYH WR VKRUW GULYH WR DUHD ODNHV DQG SRQGV $29,900 6FKRRGLF /DNH $17,900

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE FOR OVER 100 LAND LISTINGS

Beautiful log cabin on 1.8+/acres. Open cathedral area, spiral staircase, ZRRG Ă&#x20AC;UHSODFH 'ULOOHG ZHOO VHSWLF DQG laundry bring the comforts of home to this seasonal camp with gorgeous views of Bottle Lake. $189,000

Mattawamkeag- Camp shell ready to be Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG )XOO FRQFUHWH IRXQGDWLRQ YLQ\O sided, drilled well, septic system and lawn is already done for you. Sited on 2.9 acres with 303â&#x20AC;&#x2122; along the Mattawamkeag River. $62,000

Chester- Year round log home with large kitchen and living room, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 EDWK ODZQ Ă RZHUV DQG VKUXE DUHDV DQG screened porch with view of ledge falls in Medunkeunk Stream. $150,000

STRONG - Vertical log cabin with 1 bedroom and 1 bath.

New roof, one level. Gas heater and large workshop/ storage building. $39,900

EUSTIS - 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage close to the lake and boat launch. New septic.

1 car garage. $58,000

NEW PORTLAND 4 bedroom, 2 bath farmhouse.

High ceilings, 3 season porch on Long Falls Dam Road. $79,900 More Camps and Land Available. Call Janet Peruffo at

Lakeville- Cozy 2 bedroom log cabin with ZRRG Ă RRUV ORIWV VSDFH LQ WKH IRXQGDWLRQ decks, bathroom with laundry and big garage, boat access to several lakes, sits on 7.5+/- acres with 394â&#x20AC;&#x2122; along Junior Lake. $319,000 T3 R1- Inexpensive 1.81 acre lot, driveway, privy and tent platform onsite. Remote area, ORZ WD[HV VHDVRQDO DFFHVV ND\DN Ă&#x20AC;VK DQG swim, path to the 224â&#x20AC;&#x2122; along Bill Green Pond. $29,900

Lincoln- Wonderful, well maintained 3 bedroom home, large kitchen, dining and living rooms. Sited on 2.68+/- acres with paved driveway, nice landscaping, 2 garages and over 300â&#x20AC;&#x2122; frontage on cold water Big Narrows. $259,000

Mattawamkeag- New small camp, covered porch, heats and cools easily, generated power, situated across the Mattawamkeag River on a 1.35+/- acre lot on River Road. $31,900

R E A L

Lowell- 7.74 acre lot on year round accessible road, great recreational area with privacy, driveway installed, 900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;+ of nice frontage along Eskutassis Stream. $17,750 Mattawamkeag- 3 acre lot, driveway, close to electricity, on year round maintained URDG ZDWFK (DJOHV VRDU DQG Ă&#x20AC;VK IURP WKH 470â&#x20AC;&#x2122; frontage on Mattawamkeag River. $26,500

Lincoln- 3 bedroom cabin, open living area, bathroom with washer, updated pine interior, electricity, well, running water! Sited on dead end road with a manicured yard, private location, 100â&#x20AC;&#x2122; of beautiful frontage along Long Pond. Reduced to $98,500

E S T A T E

5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com om

1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tateâ&#x20AC;? Aylward ................ 794-2460 Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION FORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM

CSM REAL ESTATE

207-265-4000 â&#x20AC;˘ janet@csmrealestate.com 259 Main Street, Kingfield, ME â&#x20AC;˘ www.csmrealestate.com

Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kennebago Camps.

5$5( ),1' )DPRXV VSRUWing camp with main lodge, commercial kitchen and dining room overlooking docks and Kennebago Lake. Several well kept cabins, boats, motor and most furnishings included. Considered to be D UDUH FROG ZDWHU ÂżVKHU\ Home or hunting camp in T7 R16 Wels with year round, gated access. Generator with inverter and battery bank. Wired for 120 and 12 volt. Well and septic on site, IURQWDJH RQ 1XOKHGXV 6WUHDP JRRG WURXW ÂżVKLQJ $ must see! $165,000 BETTER HOMES & GARDENS MASIELLO GROUP

GLORIA A. HEWEY, REALTOR gloriahewey@masiello.com www.gloriahewey.masiello.com Cell 207-399-8553 â&#x20AC;˘ Direct Line 207-795-9671

&200(5&,$/ $662&,$7(6

www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • August 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

GEAR UP FOR SALTWATER FISHING Get what you need at our Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport, open 24/7

RAPID RIVER SLING PACK Its slim profile and smart details let you pack fast and light

BREATHABLE EMERGER WADERS With strong, stitchless Super Seam Technology and a Quick-Fit belt

Trusted gear. Legendary service.

Expert advice. All at our Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport.

NEW L.L.BEAN FISHING PLIERS WITH SHEATH Rugged and rustproof aluminum with stainless-steel jaws

L.L.BEAN FISHING TRUCKER HAT Mesh style keeps you cool, with glare-reducing dark rim

Come in and check out our extensive selection of new and used long guns firsthand—available from over two dozen manufacturers. We can also special order firearms, ammunition, optics and more. Contact our firearms experts at usedguns@llbean.com or call 207.552.7728.

NEW L.L.BEAN SURF ROD Offers the technical features you need to tackle the surf zone

L.L.BEAN SPINNING REEL, SURF 6500 SALTWATER Lightweight and ultrasmooth

www.MaineSportsman.com

Find store directions, upcoming events & more at

LLBEAN.COM/FREEPORT