The Maine Sportsman - January 2018 by The Maine Sportsman - Digital Edition

Sportsman The Maine

January 2018 • $4.99

ICEforFISHING Lunkers

Fowler’s 50-Day Fire – Part 2 Page 62

Pages 23, 52

Early Winter Snowmobile Events Page 19

Challenges of Dog Sled Racing Page 47

Choosing a Portable Generator Page 34

2 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 3

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Editorial

4 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Hunters for the Hungry – A State Program that Works!

Because we are quick to criticize government-sponsored efforts when we think their operations can be improved, it’s only right to draw attention to an effort which is – by all accounts – an unqualified success, and that is the “Hunters for the Hungry” program. Final results are still being compiled, but according to Jason Hall, the program’s director, about 10,000 pounds of meat will have been donated to the program from the 2017 bear, moose and deer seasons. It’s a plan that’s elegant in its simplicity and effectiveness – hunters bring game to select butchers with instructions to make a gift of some or all the meat. The butchers’ costs of cutting and packaging the meat are subsidized by the state or by the receiving charities. Then the food makes its way to food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, providing literally thousands and thousands of nutritious meals to those in need. The program is part of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, while organization and distribution are overseen by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s “Emergency Food Assistance Program,” since those folks are good at getting meals to where they’re needed most. “Many non-profits are struggling to get enough protein to the people in need,” Jason Hall told The Maine Sportsman. “Currently, we reach For more information, to donate, 250 shelters, food pantries and meal or to get connected to a Hunters sites, and contribute to assisting for the Hungry participating meat roughly 45,000 people per month.” processor, call (207) 287-7513, or And because quality protein in visit the program’s Facebook page, Maine Hunters For The Hungry. any form is needed, the program does not limit its opportunities. “We were fortunate to work with Wayside Food Programs in Portland this year on a shark and tuna tournament,” reported Hall, “and we were able to secure two sharks, a tuna, and 300-plus pounds of groundfish.” This fall, a hunter in Sabattus harvested a buck, but the local processor was swamped. Hall worked with the hunter, who agreed to drive to Gray, to the next-closest processor in the program. Since the hunter had expressed a desire to assist veterans or homeless people, Hall worked to get the packaged meat to a homeless veterans shelter in Lewiston – truly the definition of a win-win. The program works closely with the Warden Service – which sometimes confiscates fresh kills from poachers – and also with the court system, since occasionally a judge will order a poacher’s fine to be turned over to the program. Many businesses also support the program. The management at Walmart’s Distribution Center in Lewiston encourages its employees, many of whom are avid hunters, to contribute hours and funds to support the effort. Hall said they do their best to keep meat in the area from which it came – an approach which helps with efficiencies, since it means the charity can be directed to pick up the packaged meat directly from the processor, avoiding the need to have state employees travel the length and breadth of Maine to pick up and deliver the food. A tip of the Maine Sportsman hunter-orange cap, and two thumbs up, for the organizers and participants in the Hunters for the Hungry program.

www.MaineSportsman.com

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 544 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund 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: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 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......................... 27 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia...................... 30 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello............................... 14 Bowhunting by Chris “Bubba” Johnson.......................... 38 Capitol Report by George Smith..................................... 16 Central by Steve Vose....................................................... 52 Danger in the Outdoors by David Van Wie.................... 47 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux................................... 53 Editorial.................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello........................... 50 Jackman by William Sheldon........................................... 45 Jottings by Jon Lund............................................................ 7 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon............................. 36 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding........... 49 Letters to the Editor.............................................................. 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour....................................... 26 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose................................... 37 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour................................... 58 Moosehead by Tom Seymour.......................................... 41 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.................................. 71 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie................................ 39 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith........................... 35 Rangeley Region by William Clunie................................. 66 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers................................. 73 Saltwater by Barry Gibson................................................. 55 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth......................... 63 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews...................... 56 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard................................. 59 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.................. 73 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery....................... 9 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 67 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller...................... 61 Trading Post (Classifieds)................................................... 74 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour........................................... 43 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.................. 68 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi............ 64 Young Maine Sportswoman by Alyssa Sansoucy........... 65

SPECIAL SECTIONS & FEATURES

Choosing a Portable Generator by Steve Vose............. 34 Ice Fishing in Maine by Steve Vose.................................. 23 Snowmobiling in Maine by Cathy Genthner.................. 19

GUEST COLUMNS

Fowler’s “50-Day Fire” - Part 2 by Zachary Fowler.......... 62 — On the Cover — The Maine Sportsman’s “Central Maine” columnist Steve Vose pulled this 34-inch northern pike through the ice of the Androscoggin River. “Andro is fun,” reports Vose, “because there is no trap limit, although I was using only 5 traps that day. The beast in the photo was caught using an old Heritage trap, with a six-inch golden shiner on the dangerous end.”

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 5

Letters To The Editor

That’s My Story and I’m Sticking To It To the Editor: WARNING! The dry cleaners these days are shrinking wool hunting pants. Last season my 38-inch waist pants fit just fine, but when I put them on this fall, they were too tight. So what could I do but move up to 40? I mean, I don’t really need a size 40; it’s just that lately I’ve taken to tucking in my wool shirts, so more room is required. Ernie Benway – Jackman, ME/Derry, NH —

Cheshire Cat To the Editor: While hunting in Northern Maine during the third week of the deer season, I was heading back to the truck for lunch on a bright sunny day when I spotted movement about 50 yards ahead.

At first, I thought it was a snowshoe hare, but as I got closer, the animal got up and arched its back. I knew it was a cat. I slowly approached, taking pictures every few yards, because I knew it would run off a soon as it detected me. To my surprise, it laid back down, just lying there in the sun. The big cat let me approach to a point where I did not want to get any closer. This was probably a once-in-a-lifetime sighting in the wild – a lynx! Dave Pugh – Oakland, ME

those folks who are not disabled but who are learning to use new knees, hips and other joints. While professionals in the field of biomechanics are working on ways to make paddling available to people with disabilities, the focus to date has not been on the challenges facing our growing senior population who have more and more trouble getting in and out of their boats – especially kayaks, where there is nothing to grab onto or push up from. Randy Randall – Saco, ME

—

More “Favorite Firearms”

Moose Decoys are Effective

To the Editor: I’m still considering Col. Jim Allard’s recent “Favorite Firearms” column [September, 2017 “Shooter’s Bench”]. OK, so here are my favorites: Shotgun: Darne 12 ga side by side, load for quail/grouse is 2/34 dram equivalent 1 oz # 7.5 shot. For pheasant, same load but #6 shot. Rifle: Marlin 336 (circa early 50s) in 35 Remington. Load is 200 gr cast round nose bullet w/gas check loaded with 27 gr Re7, velocity about 1800 fps. Rifle also has a Lyman #2 tang sight. For varmints (squirrel, rabbits, etc.), nothing can beat my Savage/Stevens Model 24 22 lr/410 3-in O/U. Wayne Dengler – Danbury CT

To the Editor: Steve Vose’s recent article in The Maine Sportsman regarding decoys was on the money (see “Game Cameras, Decoys Improve Chances for Trophy Moose Success,” Washington County column, September 2017). We started using the Montana Cow Moose Decoy on our 2001 hunt, and still use it today.

—

Those with Replacement Joints Struggle to Get Into Kayaks To the Editor: I have enjoyed reading of Jim Andrews’ struggles with arthritis and his pending hip replacement, as it relates to getting in and out of canoes and kayaks. I hope you will encourage him to cover, in a future column, how research into the concept of “adaptive paddling” can be applied to

It’s shown in the corner of the camp picture attached. Ben Brown – West Ossipee, NH (Continued on next page)

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6 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Finally -- Accolades for the “Smilin’ Sportsman”

Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 5)

Not a Fan of Bump-Stock Buy-Backs To the Editor: On nearly a monthly basis, one of your columnists will ask readers to be united against unfriendly political forces. Sportsmen and women are a minority, as pointed out by George Smith’s December column. We are warned we will destroy ourselves from within over matters such as bear baiting & trapping, crossbow use and hunting with suppressors, amongst numerous other issues that are used to divide and conquer us. With this in mind, I was dismayed to read Mr. Andrews’ call for government buybacks of items he feels “convert simple hunting rifles into weapons of mass murder” [see “Self-Propelled Sportsman,” December 2017 issue]. This slippery slope leads nowhere good, and The Maine Sportsman’s promotion of such ideas will only divide and weaken us. When is your deer rifle no longer a deer rifle? You could be one referendum away from finding out. Jesse Fisk – Glastonbury, CT —

Friday, March 30th Saturday, March 31st Sunday, April 1st 2018 Augusta Civic Center

To the Editor: I’ve been receiving The Maine Sportsman for many years and truly enjoy the magazine. Please update my subscription address to my new “retired” location. Now that I am retired I intend to pursue the trout in the many ponds in Maine, and with your magazine to guide me, the fish will be on notice that we will soon meet. But they need not worry, as they will be immediately released back to their homes. Thanks again for all the interesting articles, and especially the words of wisdom in the monthly “Smilin’ Sportsman” column. Steve Morrissette – Gorham, NH Editor’s note: Our team of seasoned joke writers wants you to know they appreciate your shout-out for the “Smilin’ Sportsman,” Steve. —

Axe Me Another Question To the Editor: I read with interest Anne Holmbom’s letter to the editor about her old axe and adze. I, too, have an ancient axe. It belonged to my grandpa and he got it from his grandpa, who got it from his grandpa. The axe is still in great shape, although it has had three new handles and two new heads.

Tom Seymour – Waldo, Maine Editor’s response: Dear Mr. Seymour: That joke is older than your great-great-grandpa’s axe. —

Kudos to Two Maine Sportsman Writers To the Editor: I especially enjoyed two columns in recent issues of The Maine Sportsman. The first was David Miller’s trapping column in the December issue in which he described tick-borne diseases. He made me realize something I’d never thought about before – that ticks aren’t born “full size.” Miller described a tick’s three phases of development, which explains why, over the past two years, I have encountered ticks so tiny that neither the Tick Off nor the Tick Wrench works on them. And Jim Andrews had a great article on the Bigelow Preserve in the October issue. I love the Bigelow Preserve! I’ve hunted it three times, and would have a six-point buck to show for it if I wasn’t such a bonehead. In my opinion it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth! And to think it was almost developed into a ski area -- I’m very glad you Mainers turned it into a preserve instead. Bart Schairer – Hammonton, NJ

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 7

Classic Topwater Bass Lures As a young teenager, I was a keen reader of Field and Stream, and looked forward to receiving it each month. I read each copy, cover to cover. Postcards were available at the bargain price of a penny each, and I discovered how easy it was to get on the mailing lists of many fishing tackle and firearms manufacturers. In many cases, I just cut out the address from an advertisement and pasted it to the card, with my name and address on the reverse side. Helin’s Flatfish and Fred Arbogast’s Jitterbug found their way into my tackle box. Their print advertisements showed long stringers of huge bass. In those days on Lake Cobbossee, smallmouth bass went for the Jitterbug in a spectacular way. Those bronzebacks would smash the floating frog-finish plug into the air, and if they missed the hook, might hit again! Jitterbug Lost and Found One summer, I attended Boy Scout camp on Panther Pond in Raymond. Of course, I packed my bait casting rod, and fished with it whenever possible. One night, as the time to fish ended, I tossed out the Jitterbug and rowed back toward the dock in the dark, trolling this deadly plug in the calm water. A fish, probably a smallmouth bass, struck and put up a vigorous fight. Suddenly, the fish was not on, nor was the Jitterbug. I had appar-

When casting bass plugs, I follow the advice the late Lew Colomy gave me: “Cast it out there and let it sit on the surface, while you count to ten.” Many times, a bass will hit the lure before it’s even moved.

From left to right: Jitterbug, Dying Flutter and Rapala. Photo by Joan Sturmthal

ently tied a faulty knot. My Jitterbug was gone. I waited, and waited, scanning the lake with my flashlight, hoping, hoping. After a bit, the plug

surfaced, none the worse for wear. Apparently the fish had shaken it loose. I scooped it up before another fish might take a fancy to it. I was one happy camper.

I caught a lot of smallmouth bass on that plug, perhaps because it was a new design and the bass hadn’t seen a lot of them.

Early Plug Construction That early Jitterbug was made of wood, and the frog finish became so unrecognizable that I sanded it down and repainted it with green, white and black boat paint. Of course, that ended its value as a collector’s item. But I didn’t plan to sell it, and didn’t even fish with it much anymore, lest I lose it again, this time for good, to some monster bass, or pike. It hangs on the wall in a place of honor in the den. This early model had a yellow plastic mouthpiece. Some of the early Jitterbugs were fitted with metal mouthpieces, but the plastic might have been lighter, and seemed to have a better action.

Technique This plug works best (Continued on next page)

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8 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings (Continued from page 7)

on a calm surface, often late in the evening. Over the years I have had a lot of success with it. I try to remember to follow the advice of my one-time fishing partner, the late Lew Colomy: “Cast it out there and let it sit on the surface, while you count to ten.” (But don’t let your line go slack, or you won’t be able to set the hook.) The ten seconds of

waiting lets the bass discover something has invaded its territory – something that may be good to eat. It may swim over to inspect the invader. Many times, a bass will hit it before it has even moved. Next, don’t jerk it around. Just start reeling it in slowly, so the lure goes “plop-plop-plop.” Then after a few turns

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of the reel handle, stop. Often a bass that was following it bumps into it, and just has to bite it. Repeat this process right up to the boat, if you have the patience. Some bass will go for it just as you try to lift the lure out of the water. The Jitterbug is most effective on calm water, either early or late in the day. It doesn’t do well in weeds, unless you can cast super-accurately and send it into open weedfree pockets. A small strand of grass will limit its noisy action. Dying Flutter: a Second Noisy Topwater Plug Another top-water plug favorite is the Dying Flutter, made by Heddon. This streamlined item has a propeller at each end, and sometimes will work better than the Jitterbug if the water surface is not smooth. Again, I like to let the plug rest for ten seconds before starting the retrieve. And the first move should be a short jerk, just enough to let the propellers churn a bit. After that, try to make short jerks, so that

the propellers growl a bit. And give the bait a few rests on the way in. Sometimes it improves this noisemaker to bend the propeller blades a bit more, using a pair of pliers carefully to make the angle uniform. If fine-filament water plants are present, they tend to tangle in the blades, and it is worthwhile to check the propellers frequently to make sure they spin freely. Some of the later Dying Flutters were made in China, and had quality control problems. They could waterlog and sink. Avoid them, if you can. I believe Heddon has discontinued the Dying Flutter, which is a shame. Some of these plugs can be found on the second-hand market, eBay and elsewhere. There are also some lookalikes on the market. I can’t vouch for them. The original design is good, and well worth copying. A Quiet Topwater Lure Another productive topwater lure – one that doesn’t make any noise – is the floating Rapala,

which comes in several different lengths. My preference is the 13-cm size, in silver finish. Being made of balsa wood, it is a light lure and doesn’t cast well for long distances or in a wind. I prefer to leave it motionless on the surface after it lands, and to twitch it a bit before starting the retrieve. As it is reeled in, the Rapala travels six inches to a foot under the surface, and it will rise quickly to the surface when the retrieve is stopped. Sometimes this pause can be an effective technique, as a bass may strike when it is stopped. This Rapala carries three sharp treble hooks, and being slim, usually hooks a larger percentage of strikes than bigger, fatter plugs do. If you plan to catch-and-release, it may be advisable to bend down the barbs on the treble hook. If a bass gets the Rapala into the mouth and throat, barbed hooks can be difficult to dislodge. A pair of large medical locking forceps is a useful tool for unhooking this or any bass lure.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 9

Bermuda – the Best of All Worlds We’re reclined on our waterside balcony at the Pompano Beach Club shortly after daybreak, and the fine, clean light of the early morning plays across the water just below us, creating different hues of green and blue that stretch beyond to the distant horizon. White tern-like pelagic sea birds with long, expressive tails perform an effortless and mesmerizing ballet, first a solo, then a duo, then a Pas de trois, chirping engagingly all the while. They are delightful birds. These Bermuda longtails come home to court, roost, and raise young along the rocky cliffs before heading back out to sea for another seven or so months. The dance of the longtails is one of the most beautiful and peaceful natural events we’ve ever seen, so much so the bird has become our aerial totem since our honeymoon here years ago, and a strong symbol of everything we love about Bermuda. And the next day I went out to the Challenger and Argus Banks to hunt tuna, wahoo and other denizens of the

Mark Twain once wrote: “You go to heaven if you want; I’ll stay in Bermuda.” With tuna, mahi mahi, bonefish and wahoo fishing all year round, and with skilled guides, stable boats and all the creature comforts one could wish for, King Montgomery believes Bermuda is heaven.

The Pompano Beach Club on the west shore of Bermuda has a small private beach with a bar. The flat beyond the beach holds bonefish and other shallow water fish. All photos by King Montgomery

deep. Two days later saw me in a skiff being poled along the saltwater flats searching for bonefish and other stalkers of the shallows. When it comes to vacations with family (or others), sometimes we can have our cake and eat it too. That is, we can do all the nice vacation things with those who don’t do outdoor stuff, except maybe sit in the emerald surf in a beach chair while reading a book and

Paradise One Mate Delvin Bean holds a chunky wahoo trolled up from the Challenger Bank, while skipper Captain Allan Bean looks on.

sipping a beverage with a tiny umbrella protruding, and also go fishing or hunting (or both) during the holiday, either with or without the other(s) along. That’s where the island archipelago of Bermuda, named after its 1503 discoverer Juan de Bermudez, comes in. Island in the Stream “Bermuda – isn’t that an island in the Caribbean?” I hear that a lot when I tell folks I’m going

The dance of the longtails is one of the most beautiful and peaceful natural events we’ve ever seen, so much so the bird has become our aerial totem since our honeymoon here years ago.

to, or just returned from, this wonderful place. No, Bermuda is not in the Caribbean—it is a small archipelago about 600 miles east of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean, warmed by the heated flow of the Gulf Stream. The main islands are connected to each other by bridges, and are known collectively as “Bermuda.” It is a lush, hilly, semitropical paradise,

less than a two-hour nonstop via US Airways from Boston’s Logan Airport and other airports along the East Coast. We last flew JetBlue, and it was great. Bermuda has it all for most people on the planet: golf, ecotourism, boating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, scuba and snorkeling, spectator sports (cricket, polo, rugby, soccer, and sailing), and other watersports galore. Throw in historical sites, walking trails, botanical gardens, aquariums, great shopping, fine dining, great beaches and resorts, and you have a rich and diverse vacation paradise that appeals to all members of the family. And it’s populated by nice, intelligent people. Bermuda stands out as the best place I’ve visited for a family vacation where there is something for everyone, including unique half-or full-day fishing opportunities for angler(s) who wish to partake. It’s very easy for one or two folks to take off for a morning and go fishing, while others head into Hamilton, St. George, or the Royal (Continued on next page)

Bermuda bonefish aren’t as plentiful as found elsewhere, but they are larger. This is the northernmost limit of the bonefish’s range. www.MaineSportsman.com

10 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 9)

Naval Dockyard for some shopping, or go to one of the many very fine pink sand beaches that grace the shore. Bermuda offers three types of saltwater angling: deep sea or offshore fishing; reef angling; and near-shore flats fishing. The latter includes the many small and large bays and sand flats that are home to the charming, beautiful, and elusive bonefish. This is the northernmost limit of the bonefish’s range. Dozens of licensed and inspected charter boats cater to offshore and reef fishing enthusiasts. They take their parties to locations where several species of marlin and other sailfishes abound, as well as yellowfin and black fin tunas. Smaller craft take anglers to the reefs where one can cast flies on sinking lines to entice a myriad of colorful fishes, including various grunts, snappers, jacks, porgies, triggerfish, pompano and barracuda. This is like fishing in an aquarium, and it’s one of the best places to secure a fish or two for the evening meal. There is only one well-qualified, shallow water fly angling guide with a flats skiff on the island that I could find: Captain Ian Linnell of the Jump dem Bones guide service. Ian says bonefishing in Bermuda isn’t the

same as elsewhere where the fly needs to be on the bottom, at least initially in the presentation. Here the fish often like swimming offerings rather than bottom-bouncing. And in addition to bonefish, any numbers of hogfish, jacks, snappers, pompanos and others are available, and all can flat pull your string. Captain Bobby Lambe moors his boat Last Chance at Robinson Marina on the west side of Bermuda at a point not only close to good fishing reefs, but not far from the well-known fishing banks as well (more on them later). He takes sports out to nearby reefs, according to the wishes of the customer, heavily-influenced, of course, by time of year and what is biting where. Captain Lambe, like most of the water people on Bermuda, grew up on a boat and has spent his life on or near the water learning its ways—and observing the behavior of the fish that populate the Gulf Stream-warmed seawater. Bobby likes to take out at least five or six anglers so all have a chance to score on fish from his 35-foot seaworthy boat; and he welcomes experts to beginners, as well as families, on board. There’s not a finer charter boat to fish the banks than the gorgeous 54-foot motorized catamaran Paradise One or a better crew than skipper

Paradise One Mate Delvin Bean with a nice yellowfin tuna that he later made into a tasty sashimi. The other fillet filled King’s plate back at the Pompano Beach Club. www.MaineSportsman.com

There’s not a finer charter boat to fish the banks than the gorgeous 54-foot Paradise One, or a better crew than skipper Allan Bean and his brother Delvin.

Allan Bean and his brother Delvin, who does everything except drive the boat (and he can do that too). The weather my last time out was lowery, with high winds and unfriendly seas, and it forced us to troll the Challenger Bank instead of chumming up wahoo, tuna, mahi mahi and other fishes like I’d wanted to (just remember: man plans, and the gods laugh). Stand-up conventional fishing for big wahoo and black and yellow fin tuna or fighting them from the chair is a lot of fun, but it’s also a ball to chum up big fish and cast to them with lighter tackle or stout fly gear. Several IGFA fly rod records for several species for both men and women anglers have come this way. Allan and Delvin can put you on to two species of marlin, two species of tuna, and humongous wahoo in comfortable style aboard their beautiful boat. This is the place for a fishing family, a corporate board, someone schmoozing clients, or for some avid anglers who want a great day on the deep blue waters of Bermuda. A Bermuda Gem Pompano Beach Club is a wonderful base of operations for your visit to Bermuda. It is also self-sustaining enough to stay there your entire vis-

Captain Ian Linnell, a native Bermudian, guides the shallow saltwater flats for bonefish and hogfish. He is excellent at what he does, and good company on a boat.

it. It is the ideal venue for romantic get-a-ways, for historic sightseeing and super shopping, or for a fishing adventure you’ll not soon forget. The Robinson Marina is a five minute drive, and both the Last Chance and the Paradise One are docked there. Dramatically perched on limestone cliffs overlooking the southwest coast, Pompano, owned and operated by the American Lamb family since its beginning in1956, has 75 comfortable rooms, and all the amenities found in a larger world-class resort. The private pink beach beckons, the championship golf course next door calls, and any place with three dining areas and two bars gets my attention every time. And they will cook your fish catch for dinner which I highly recommend. My fresh tuna and wahoo were outstanding. Oh, and did I mention the weather? There is no rainy season; periodic showers are brief; and rainbows over the water are quite the sight, appearing for us several mornings of our last stay. Temperatures seldom top 85 degrees F, and rarely drop below 70 degrees—folks still wear Bermuda shorts at Christmas and New Years, although water and air temperatures in winter will be cooler than

in the Caribbean. And it’s all available with a short non-stop flight from airports along the east coast and inland. Mark Twain wrote the following after spending time in Bermuda in the late 19thCentury: “You go to heaven if you want; I’ll stay in Bermuda.” I couldn’t have said it better, but as far as I’m concerned Bermuda is heaven. And you can fish here year round. Bermuda Info • Bermuda Tourism: http://www.gotobermuda.com/. Superb website with everything you need to know about “Bermy.” Find accommodations to fit all pocketbooks. • Pompano Beach Club, 1-800-343-4155, www. pompanobeachclub.com. • Inshore flats guide— Jump dem Bones: Captain Ian Linnell, 441747-6911, www.bermudabonefishing.com. A true professional, and a nice guy, too. • Reefs guide: Captain Bobby Lambe, 441-7349244. True gentleman who knows the water. • Offshore charters— Captain Allan Bean & Mate Delvin Bean, Paradise One, 441-734-9309, www.paradiseone-fishingcharters.com. These guys are good and the boat spectacular.

Almanac

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 11

Compiled and Edited by Will Lund

“Snapshots in Time” – Excerpts from the Annals of Maine’s Sporting Past Submitted by Bill Pierce, Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum, Oquossoc, Maine

Here is an interesting article from the Rangeley Lakes newspaper of Thursday, January 14, 1897. At the time, guides had yet to be licensed in the state, and this article captures some of the debate by the early true woodsmen who earned a modest but happy living in this capacity some 120 years ago:

Jock Darling – who is still looking ill, though he says he is better – had no ideas to advance on the subject. Jock says there is game enough for everybody in Maine. Therefore, the present laws are good enough. From these talks it appears that the guides as a rule believe that any change in the system will work lasting injury to the good men, and produce no results of a beneficial nature. Most of the hunters who come to Maine have their favorite guides. They will take these and none else. These hunters also recommend guides to the new visitors, so that a license will do a guide no good. Visitors want guides—not licenses!

Question of Licensing Guides Guides, camp owners and hotel men from Rangeley, Dead River and the West Branch of the Penobscot came on to attend the meeting of the association, and held an informal meeting in the State Library about noon. The question of licensing guides was talked over, easily at first, but emphatically later on. As a rule, these men oppose the plan. They believe that a glib-tongue novice in the woods who has attended a few cooking school lectures will stand a better chance of passing a successful examination than the best of the old guides, who have read but few books, except the book of Nature. J. D. Huntoon of Rangeley said that if a liberal license fee – a fee of from $25 to $50 – were exacted from the guides and the money thus obtained were devoted to stocking the lakes and streams with fish, he believed it would work well. H. M. Pierce of Eustis believed such a plan would be beneficial. A. B. Haynes of Norcross, who has a camp on Jo Mary Lake, was opposed to the idea. The talkers would get through with honors, and the silent men would have no show.

World-Class Hunting & Fishing Adventures

Guide Billy Soule (right) and a sport at their winter campsite with a couple of nice bucks. Soule was a small but a “tough and scrappy” guide who had a set of camps on Pleasant Island on Cupsuptic Lake. He later moved on to the Moosehead Lake Region in search of less depleted game.

—

Update to Last Month’s “Dry Rivers Strand Trout” by Lou Zambello

This is an update to my “Dry Rivers Strand Trout” piece in the December, 2017 Providing Worldwide Sporting Adventures and Maine’s Premier Guide Training Program for 32 Years!

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“Almanac.” In late October of 2017, Maine experienced back-to-back powerful rainstorms. Although the extreme wind received most of the publicity because half of Maine lost power during the second storm, the combined rainfall from the two events created once-in-50year flooding of rivers and streams in some parts of Maine. It is unknown what the impact was on the salmonid spawning success rate, because trout and salmon, struggling to construct redds in low water, had to choose locations closer to the central flow and middle of the rivers. These areas would have been exposed to the worst of the water’s power during the flood. On certain rivers, flows went from record lows to record highs in a short period of time. The difference between the low water flows in late October and during the height of the flooding during the last day in October is truly remarkable. According to the USGS river gauge information on-line, the Ellis River in South Andover went from a flow rate of 20 cubic feet per second (CFS) on October 23rd, to 7,000 CFS on October 31st. The Swift River in Roxbury rose from a water depth at the gauge of one foot to eleven feet in one week’s time. Scientists who have studied the impacts that climate change will have on the forests and waters of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada predict that New England weather will continue to become more extreme and erratic, leading to more frequent droughts interspersed with major flooding events. If this turns out to be true, it is not good news for our native brook trout populations. —

New ATV Trail in the Works? For ATVers, hope springs eternal as there is word that a new trail may be in the works that would stretch from the Millinocket area to Mattawamkeag, running on the east side of I-95. Presently, the trails only run from the Brownville area to Millinocket, and except for those heading north and west, Millinocket is a dead end. This proposed new trail would open up (Continued on next page)

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12 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Almanac (Continued from page 11)

the east side of I-95 to ATVers who are heading south from Millinocket. Once ATVers are able to ride from Millinocket to Mattwamkeag, the new trail would provide access to the entire eastern portion of Maine, allowing access to trails in Penobscot, Washington and Hancock Counties and other areas to ATVing, making thousands of miles of trail that weren’t previously accessible from Millinocket. Businesses, outfitters, lodges and clubs are excited about the proposed trail, because it would bring more ATVers to the area and help the local economy. Confirmation of this new trail is expected sometime in the spring, or sooner. —

For Farmers, the Stink Bug Really Stinks AUGUSTA – Entomologists at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) are seeking public assistance locating the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). The bug is a major agricultural pest in other states, and has caused severe economic damage to a number of crops in the mid-Atlantic states. Now the state wants to know how many there are in Maine. To help determine how widespread the stink bug (so called because it can emit an

Brown marmorated stink bug. Source: Creative Commons

offensive odor from its body as a self-defense mechanism) is in Maine, and the risk posed to Maine agricultural crops, the Department is asking residents to report sightings of this pest through an online report form: www. surveymonkey.com/r/ME2017BMSB. A photo is required to verify the identity of the bug (there are other bugs that look like it), or bugs can be captured and frozen, with an email report sent to bugwatchme.agr@ maine.gov Originally from Asia, the brown marmorated stink bug was accidentally introduced into the mid-Atlantic region of the United States in the late 1990s. It has since spread to 44 states. They can invade homes looking for shelter from cold weather (reports from other states include anecdotes of tens of thousands

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of bugs being found hiding in a single home). But they do not pose a health threat to people, pets of the structures themselves. More significantly, they can destroy a wide range of crops, including corn (they bore into the center of the cob, so the damage is not seen until the corn is shucked) and apples (the bugs can damage leaves and the fruit itself). Readers of The Maine Sportsman have reported sizeable populations of stink bugs in the Augusta/Hallowell/Gardiner area. In neighboring New Hampshire, where the bug has been an acknowledged nuisance pest for 3-4 years, control efforts have been recommended on an orchard crop this year for the first time. For more information about the brown marmorated stink bug, and what you can do to control it, go to: www.stopbmsb.org —

Storm Damage to Maine Woods a Real Eye-Opener by Will Lund

Traversing Maine’s deep woods was more challenging this past upland and whitetail season than in years past, because many trails and paths were blocked by downed trees resulting from the late-October wind storms. Fir trees were hit the hardest, since while hardwoods had lost their leaves and therefore were not as greatly subject to pressures of the high winds, firs retained most of their needles and cones, giving the wind a great deal of leverage. The trunks of hundreds of trees were simply snapped in the middle, in the manner that someone breaks a toothpick in half.

While inspection of some of the tree trunks revealed weaknesses or small areas of rot, the majority were healthy trees that were simply overpowered by the storm. Other trees were uprooted rather than broken, and looking over the blowdowns was a good reminder than the forest floor is very shallow – often consisting of only a thin covering of pine, spruce and fir needles, leaves and forest debris layered over gravel, ledge or other impervious surfaces. (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 13 (Continued from page 12)

It’s an important reminder of the fragility of the forest soil, especially as it relates to the harvesting of wood, and the lasting damage that can occur, especially when trees are cut and dragged out of wetland areas. Visible in the Maine woods are numerous scenes in which deeply-impressed skidder tracks remain clearly visible, while in the center of the tracks are trees growing that are now 20 years old. This means skidder tracks from 20 years ago are now permanent features of the forest landscape. —

For the County MusicLoving Fly Fisherman Who Has Everything – A Johnny Cash Limited Edition Fly Reel? In Mid-November, Abel Automatics of Montrose Colorado announced the release of its Johnny Cash Limited Edition Fly Reel. Developed in partnership with the singer’s estate, the reel features graphics paying tribute to Cash, including his favorite Martin® D-35 guitar silhouette and a black/satin

black sunburst design. Production is limited to 250 reels. —

Maine Sportsman Writers in the News – Tom Seymour One of our more prolific writers, Tom Seymour, also writes an opinion column for The Republican Journal, and in 2017 Tom took second place in competition among opinion writers. His conservative-leaning political column won the award from the Maine Press Association (MPA). Tom previously wrote an outdoor column for the same magazine, which won two awards – a first place from MPA, and a third place in a larger competition sponsored by the New England Press Association. Tom also writes books – lots of books – from his residence in Waldo. His book credits include: • Hiking Maine • Foraging New England • Birding Maine • Nuts and Berries of New England, and • Foraging Mushrooms, Maine

These books were published by Globe Pequot Press, of Guilford, Connecticut. Tom Also wrote “Fishing Maine” for Lyons Press; “Tom Seymour’s Maine, A Maine Anthology” for iUniverse Press; “Wild Plants of Maine,” “Hidden World Reveals, Musings of a Maine Naturalist” and “Tom Seymour’s Forager’s Notebook,” all for Just Write Books, Topsham, Maine. Finally, Tom Wrote “Maine Wildlife, UpClose and Personal Encounters of a Maine Naturalist,” for us here at The Maine Sportsman, back when we were still headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine. When not playing Highland bagpipes, Uilleann pipes and pipe-and-tabor, Tom teaches foraging for edible and medicinal plants. He’s taught foraging for edible plants at Eagle Institute, Gouldsboro, Maine. Tom became a registered Maine guide in 1988, and carries tickets for both fishing and hunting. —

Could Freedom of Access Law be Used to Force Disclosure of Secret Fishing Location? Fish and game officials in Canada and the USA are watching – with great interest – a court battle unfolding in Canada. The controversy began when an Ontario angler, Mike Borger, went to one of Canada’s parks (Algonquin Park) with his son, camped along the shore of an unknown lake in their tents, went out onto the lake and caught HUGE brook trout, and posted a video of their fishing success on YouTube. The video attracted a lot of attention. Borger, however, refused to reveal the name (Continued on next page)

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14 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Almanac (Continued from page 13)

Mike Borger and one of the huge trout caught in a yet-undisclosed location.

of the lake that held the lunkers. So a citizen, also unnamed, filed a “Freedom of Access Act” (FOAA) request with the province, demanding to know the location. These laws, which have been enacted at the state (including Maine) and federal levels here in the United States, are intended to ensure the government operates transparently. The legal basis of the FOAA request was apparently that the lake, or at least the campsite, was government-owned, and therefore the location should be made public. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry denied the request, and the citizen advocate appealed the denial to the court system. “I knew the response [to the video] would be huge, simply because of the species of fish,” Borger said. “When it comes to brook trout, especially trophy-sized brook trout ... they’re rare.” “These freedom of information laws, to the best of my knowledge, were never intended to be used for this purpose, to find out personal information,” Borger said. “This would set a very large precedent where other people could be affected nationwide.” Nationwide, and perhaps internationally, Mr. Borger! —

Bird of the Month Cedar Waxwing by Erika Zambello

Think back to this past summer in Maine. You’re enjoying the brief period of warm weather before fall and winter descend once more. Overhead, a flock of birds alight to the top of a pine tree, flitting from limb to limb. Even though the birds are backlit by a noontime sun, you know exactly what species you’ve found based merely on their distinctive silhouettes: Cedar Waxwings. Colorful birds, Cedar Waxwings sport rust-hued heads and backs, gray wings and www.MaineSportsman.com

tails, with yellow tail-tips and red dots on their wings. Their tall crest is the dead giveaway, as are the flashes of their gold-bordered tails caught in the lenses of binoculars when they fly to a new perch. In the summer they chase insects together, but they are also well known for flocking in berry-rich areas. According to the Cornell of Ornithology’s “All About Birds” site, they love “woodlands of all kinds” plus “farms, orchards, and suburban gardens where there are fruiting trees and shrubs.” Cedar Waxwings are prolific fruit eaters, and it can get them in trouble. When berries are too ripe, they start to ferment and actually begin to produce alcohol. Waxwings that eat too much of these overripe berries can literally become drunk. At the very least, they pass out until the intoxication passes, but occasionally they die from the overconsumption of alcohol-rich berries. Overall, the North American Breeding Bird Survey shows a stable Cedar Waxwing population between 1966 and 2015. With over 52 million birds estimated by Partners in Flight, 70% of which spend time in the United States, it’s relatively easy to spy a flock or two each and every year. Some increases have been reported, probably as a result of the fruiting trees popular in landscaping, as well as the general conversion of agricultural fields back to forests. —

Book Review: “Trouble Maker”

by Clinton (“Bill”) Townsend Reviewed by George Smith

Bill Townsend’s Memoirs are Amazing The title of Clinton Townsend’s memoir is both ironic and wrong. The book is titled Trouble Maker, but Bill was not that. He was one of our state’s greatest conservationists, and an inspiration to many, including me. But I get the title. Bill was certainly an environmental agitator, pushing us forward on important issues and projects. The first part of the book is about his personal life, while Part Two takes us through his many years of practicing law. I learned a lot about Bill in these two sections, and they were very interesting. It is in Part 3, titled “Environmental Advocacy,” where the Clinton Townsend that I knew emerges. Bill was a leader in many major environmental projects and for many groups, including the Natural Resources Council of Maine. That section could stand alone as its own book. From the protection of Bigelow Mountain to the creation of the Land Use Regulation Commission, and from his advocacy for the Allagash River to his participation in the

Land for Maine’s Future program, we all owe Bill so much for all that he did. He was given many awards for his wonderful work. In the “Environmental Advocacy” section you will also be impressed by his effort to remove dams where they were preventing fish passage, but most of all I appreciated his work on my favorite river, the Kennebec. Bill started his environmental advocacy back in 1960, “a time when Maine was very different than it is today.” And he gives us a history of that time took me right back to it. But I have to say his final two sections, one on fishing and one on water-fowling, were my favorites. Bill hunted and fished all over the world, and he takes you with him to all of those places in a style of writing that really puts you right there with him. Bill especially loved Atlantic salmon, and traveled near and far to catch them. One of the most amazing stories was in the spring of 2008 when he had serious and multiple medical problems, mostly related to heart disease. His family doctor told him he should not go to the St. Paul’s River that July. But then he met a new doctor who happened to be a fly fishing addict and who located in Maine specifically to fish the Kennebec. And she told Bill it would be okay to go if he gave himself plenty of time to rest. So of course, he went, but he forgot to take one of his medicines and got terribly ill. He was very lucky that there were three doctors in his fishing group, and they all agreed that he had to be evacuated immediately, which he was. That wasn’t his only health challenge, but nothing seemed to hold Bill back from getting out there to fish and hunt. I especially enjoyed his stories of fishing in South America. The final section on waterfowling features his awesome hunting buddies – his dogs. Good stories all. At the end of the book Bill tells us, “Names are all real. All of the dogs and many of the people have died. Some of the people have moved away or otherwise departed from my view. Others are alive and well. As for any crimes related herein, the statute of limitations has long since run.” Even at the end of the book, Bill maintained his wonderful sense of humor. Bill has now passed away, but will always be remembered. I am so pleased that he wrote this book, which will inspire future generations. Today we need Bill Townsends more than we ever have. Editor’s note: “Trouble Maker” is self-published, and anyone wishing a copy may call Bill’s widow, Louise Townsend, at 207-4742557, to request a copy, without charge. If getting such a sizeable book for free bothers anyone, surely Bill would have appreciated learning that a gift in his honor had been made to Natural Resources Council of Maine, or Maine Rivers, both of which he supported with his efforts and resources.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 15

— January 2018 Hunting & Fishing Information — – HUNTING SEASONS AND RULES – Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail and Pheasant seasons ended December 31, 2017. Crow Spring Season in WMDs 7 – 29 starts January 20, 2018 and runs through March 31, 2018; while in WMDs 1 – 6, the season runs February 3, 2018 through April 14, 2018. (No daily bag limit on crows.) Gray Squirrel season ended December 31, 2017, but remains open for hunters using falcons, until February 28, 2018. Snowshoe Hare season, which began October 2, 2017, runs through March 31, 2018 (except in Vinalhaven Island, where it closes February 28, 2018). Bobcat season, which started December 1, 2017, runs through February 21, 2018. Fox season, which began October 15, 2017, runs through February 28, 2018. Raccoon, Skunk and Opossum seasons ended December 31, 2017. Coyote Night Hunting Season, which began September 16, 2017, runs through August 31, 2018. Coyote (day hunting), Woodchuck, Porcupine and Red Squirrel: No closed seasons. Spruce Grouse, Lynx and Cottontail Rabbit: Hunting for these species is prohibited year-round. Canada Geese: Regular Season North Zone: Ended December 21 South Zone (second season): Ended December 26 Coastal Zone (second season): Ends January 4, 2018 (Daily limit: 3; Possession limit: 9) For more waterfowl information and a Zone map, see: www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/laws Falconry season began December 22 in the North Zone, and starts on January 28 in

the South Zone and the Coastal Zone Spring Wild Turkey: Youth Day is April 28, 2018, then split seasons based on year of birth April 30 – May 26, 2018; All hunters May 28 – June 2, 2018. Two bearded turkey limit in WMDs 7 and 9 – 29; 1 turkey limit in WMDs 1 – 6, and 8. HUNTING 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). Ammunition: Non-toxic shot only for migratory waterfowl. ————————————————————

– FISHING SEASONS AND RULES – Season – Rivers, Streams and Brooks From October 1 through March 31, rivers, streams and brooks are closed to all fishing. Season – Lakes and Ponds North Region – From October 1 through March 31, lakes and ponds are closed to open-water fishing and ice fishing, unless ice fishing is permitted under a Special law (“S” code). South Region – Open to ice fishing and open-water fishing all year; general law. Size Requirements Minimum size for brook trout, splake and arctic char: 6 inches; for landlocked salmon: 14 inches (with a maximum size for salmon of 25 inches in much of Washington and Hancock Counties); for togue: 18 inches; for brown trout: 14 inches in lakes; 6 inches (with maximum of 25 inches) in streams and rivers; for rainbow trout: 12 inches in lakes; 6 inches in streams and rivers. Bag Limits Brook Trout: Daily bag limit 2 trout on lakes and ponds in South Region (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kenne-

bec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington and York Counties); otherwise, 5-fish limit. Five-fish limit in rivers and streams statewide. Other Fish 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; no minimum size); 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. Use of Lead Tackle 1) Lead Sinkers: The sale or use of lead sinkers not exceeding the designated length (2.5 inches) and weight (1 ounce) requirements, is prohibited. The definition of a lead sinker does not include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or painted jig heads (see bare lead jig discussion below). 2) Bare Lead Jigs: As of September 2017, the sale or use of bare lead jigs not exceeding minimum length (2.5 inches) and weight (1 ounce) requirements is prohibited.

January 2018 Sunrise/Sunset

January 2018 Tidal Chart

Portland, ME

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

RISE 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:11 7:11 7:11 7:10 7:10 7:09 7:09 7:08

SET 4:17 4:18 4:18 4:19 4:20 4:21 4:23 4:24 4:25 4:26 4:27 4:28 4:29 4:30 4:32 4:33

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

RISE 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:06 7:05 7:04 7:03 7:02 7:01 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:58 6:57 6:55

SET 4:34 4:35 4:37 4:38 4:39 4:41 4:42 4:43 4:45 4:46 4:47 4:49 4:50 4:51 4:53

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

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

HIGH AM PM 9:44 10:26 10:38 11:20 11:32 12:14 12:26 1:08 1:21 2:03 2:18 3:00 3:17 3:57 4:19 4:56 5:22 5:55 6:26 6:52 7:26 7:45 8:22 8:34 9:11 9:19 9:55 9:59 10:35 10:37 11:12

LOW AM PM 3:28 4:12 4:22 5:05 5:16 5:58 6:11 6:51 7:06 7:45 8:03 8:40 9:03 9:36 10:06 10:34 11:10 11:33 12:14 12:31 1:15 1:27 2:10 2:18 3:00 3:04 3:44 3:46 4:24 4:25 5:00

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

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

HIGH AM PM 11:12 11:46 11:47 12:20 12:22 12:54 12:59 1:30 1:38 2:09 2:20 2:51 3:08 3:38 4:01 4:30 5:00 5:28 6:05 6:29 7:12 7:32 8:16 8:33 9:16 9:31 10:13 10:26 11:06

LOW AM PM 5:01 5:35 5:36 6:08 6:11 6:41 6:48 7:16 7:27 7:54 8:10 8:35 8:57 9:21 9:50 10:12 10:49 11:08 11:53 12:09 12:58 1:12 2:02 2:14 3:02 3:13 3:58 4:10 4:51

www.MaineSportsman.com

16 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Very Few Hunting and Fishing Bills Up for Legislative Consideration The 2018 legislative session should be an easy one for members of the Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. Only three of that committee’s bills were carried over from the 2017 session. And two of those are my proposals. LD 768 would establish a comprehensive fishing and hunting license, for those such as me who dislike constantly having to purchase special permits for everything from turkey hunting to muzzleloading for deer. LD 1236 would add protections to our Heritage Water’s native trout. It was carried over to give DIF&W a chance to fulfill their promise to take steps before the next legislative session. A third bill got lots of debate last year, but in the end was left hanging and carried over for more

consideration this year. It was LD 630, “An Act To Prohibit Third Parties from Facilitating Transfers of Moose Permits for Consideration” (i.e., money). Two other bills of interest to sportsmen will be taken up by other legislative committees. One is LD 11, a Constitutional amendment to protect hunting and fishing. The other is a Constitutional amendment to require groups collecting signatures for citizen ballot initiatives to collect half their signatures in Maine’s First Congressional District and half in the Second Congressional District. Any new legislative bills this year can be considered only with the approval of the legislative leadership, and they allow very few new bills, so it could be a very easy

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session for members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. Other committees have many more bills carried over. Fisheries Group Making Progress “I’m quite comfortable. I think we’re making good progress.” Those were the words of Steve Brooke, a member of DIF&W’s new fisheries working group, organized in response to legislation I submitted to expand protection of our native brook trout. Fisheries Division Director Francis Brautigam has embraced this challenge, and is working hard to get his entire staff on board to achieve our objectives, which include adding more trout waters to the state’s Heritage List and protecting tributaries of the lakes and ponds on that list. At one point, Francis actually said he was looking for more accountability in the regions. That was a very important statement. Steve and Gary Corson are very active and engaged members of the working group, and Francis said at the one of the group’s meetings that he hopes that group will continue working with DIF&W in the years ahead – a great idea! Francis did raise trust issues, saying some staff members don’t trust “some of the people involved in the Heritage waters bills.” I am sure I am at the top of that list, because some fisheries biologists really resent the fact I’ve taken these issues to the Legislature a number of times, including during my tenure at

the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. Much of the discussion at one meeting focused on the complexities of protecting tributaries, and they even discussed protecting entire watersheds. That was very interesting. Francis said he’d sent maps to each region and expected to know if any problems would occur in the effort to protect tributaries. Tim Obrey, DIF&W fisheries biologist in the Moosehead Lake region and a member of this working group, said the tributaries in his region are “not fished,” and asked, “so why protect them with new rules?” Francis predicted that there wouldn’t be many problems, and he was certain that some form of protection of the tributaries would be proposed. The group also discussed a proposal from Gary Corson to add waters to the Heritage list. My thought on that is that we should protect all possible native trout waters, until they have been surveyed and studied. They could then be removed if the research justifies that decision. I also have a problem with the department’s “assessment criteria” for adding a water to the Heritage list. The criteria include “fishing quality.” But this is not about anglers – it is about brook trout. One interesting side note was a comment by Francis that turnout at their public hearings has been poor, and those hearings take up a lot of staff time. Seems to me,

with today’s technology, the agency could come up with much better – and easier – ways for the public to weigh in on the agency’s proposed rules and other issues, than their dependence on poorly-attended public hearings. Deer Baiting It wouldn’t surprise me if the IFW Committee asks for permission to reconsider legislative action on a deer baiting bill. Last year the Legislature enacted a new law that takes away your hunting privilege for a year if you are caught using bait to lure in deer. But what was very surprising is that the Legislature amended that bill, which originally called for a two-year suspension of hunting privileges for a second baiting offense, and required a lifetime loss of hunting privileges for that second offense. Turns out the bill was amended at Governor Paul LePage’s insistence. The Governor said he’d veto the bill unless they amended it to require that lifetime suspension. I do not know if he consulted with DIF&W on that. But I can tell you that lots of deer hunters were shocked and dismayed by the new law and its severe penalties. Now, the penalty for baiting a deer is much more severe than if you killed the deer illegally. There was also a lot of confusion about the definition of deer bait. Here’s the new law: §11452. Baiting deer. 1. Prohibitions. A person may not, during (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

an open hunting season on deer: A. Place salt or any other bait or food in a place to entice deer to that place; or B. Hunt from an observation stand or blind overlooking salt, grain, fruit, nuts or other foods known to be attractive to deer. This prohibition does not apply to hunting from an observation stand or blind overlooking: (1) Standing crops; (2) Foods that are left as a result of normal agricultural operations or as a result of a natural occurrence; or (3) Bear bait that is placed at a bear hunting stand or blind in accordance with section 11301, subsection 1. The Legislature also significantly expanded the period when people cannot feed deer. Here’s that new law: §10659. Feeding or baiting of deer. 1. Prohibition. A person may not place salt or any other bait or food in a place to entice deer to that place from June 1st to the start of an open hunting season on deer and, if all open hunting seasons on deer are closed before December 15th for that year, from the close of the last open hunting season on deer to December 15th. 2. Penalty. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime. Governor’s Attack on Land Trusts Brings Good Result Governor Paul LePage’s attack on land trusts, including his complaint that they do not pay property taxes, turned out to be very helpful. In response to the Governor’s attack, the land trust community has stepped up to provide lots of information that demonstrates all they contribute to Mainers and our economy. For example, taxes are being paid by land trusts on 94.5% of the

conservation lands. In response to the Governor’s complaints, the Legislature enacted a bill asking land trusts for information and directing the Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (ACF) Committee to gather information and report back to the Legislature in February. On October 12, the ACF Committee conducted its first session, receiving lots of substantive information from the conservation community, including The Nature Conservancy and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, as well as others, including the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and Maine Tourism Association. Ironically, the Governor refused to send anyone to participate in the meeting and the collection of information. Tom Abello of The Nature Conservancy and Jeff Romano of Maine Coast Heritage Trust presented the committee with detailed information collected by the Maine Land Trust Network in a survey of land trusts. And even I was surprised by how much these trusts are providing to us and our economy. For example, they provide 1,260 miles of hiking and walking trails, 270 miles of mountain biking trails, 570 miles of snowmobile trails and 345 miles of ATV trails. They provide us with 203 boat launch sites – 62 on the coast and 141 in freshwater – along with 210 beaches and swimming areas. Those of us who hunt have to appreciate that land trusts provide more than 2.34 million acres for us to hunt on – that’s more than 90% of all the acres conserved by land trusts. My Talk Toward the end of the committee’s meeting, members of the public were invited to speak. So of course I had to get up and say a few things. I told the committee

that my wife Linda and I, in our weekly travel columns, often include information about trails and conservation lands owned by local land trusts. The previous week we had been in Lubec and hiked two spectacular oceanside trails provided by the Maine Coast Heritage trust. I noted that access to one of those trailheads was across a beautiful piece of privately-owned land, a good example of how land trusts work with private landowners. We also have a camp in the north woods on Sourdnahunk Lake. The Nature Conservancy purchased an easement on the undeveloped lands surrounding the lake. And that actually increased the value of our camp. I think people may

be unaware that conservation lands actually increase the value of privately owned lands nearby. I told the committee that they were sitting 20 minutes from the spectacular 6,000 acres of the Kennebec Highlands, where I hunt and fish a lot. The Highlands are state lands, but they are managed by a local conservation group. I also reminded the committee that we have no legal access to moving water in Maine – our brooks streams and rivers – so we depend on access provided by private landowners, land trusts and state agencies. I said the Governor was mistaken in his criticism of land trusts, and that I hoped the informa-

tion gathered by the committee will find its way into our newspapers and TV news shows so that everyone can appreciate what these land trusts and conservation lands do to enhance our lives and our economy. I finished by reminding them that there are no taxes paid on stateowned lands, and we often have to pay to access those lands even though we own them. I suggested that committee might want to recommend that state lands be transferred to land trusts so we can access them for free and perhaps collect taxes on them. That got a good laugh from committee members and the audience.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 19

Mark Your Calendars for a Full Season of Sledding Fun Part 1: January Events by Cathy Genthner

Older sleds, like this impressive line-up of rear-engine Polaris Sno-Travelers, will participate in Millinocket events this winter. The town is hosting a variety of activities, such as the Snowball Run for Cancer January 20, which featured 15 vintage sleds and 100 riders last year; and Winterfest, held in February, which will include an antique snowmobile parade.

Snowmobilers – and those who love them – are gearing up for a great season with a number of events, activities and festivals throughout the winter months. Maine has over 14,500 miles of groomed trails, and nearly 300 clubs. In addition, many towns “lay out the red carpet” for snowmobilers, who contribute millions of dollars to the local economy, helping gas stations, restaurants, hotels, stores and snowmobile dealerships. Many of the events are also designed to be

enjoyed by those who don’t hit the trails themselves but who have an appreciation for Maine’s winter beauty. “Maine is widely-known as the finest snowmobile destination in the northeast, based solely on the riding, so all of these events are just icing on the cake,” said Bob Meyers, the executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association. “These events and festivals add to the experience on the trail and give people yet another reason to come here. It is not uncommon for us to

see many people at these events who don’t even snowmobile.” Some events are held once a year, while others are regular occurrences. For example, the Pine Tree Snowmobile Club in Milford holds a public breakfast every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Club House located on Call Road January through March. Those who snowmobile should consider joining a club, for the comradery and for the good of the sport. Dues help clubs put on events throughout the year, as well as

contributing toward the costs of trail grooming and maintenance. However, the most important components of the clubs are the members themselves, since they are the ones working on the trails – doing maintenance, construction and sign work in the warm months, and grooming once the snow falls. The following are some events being hosted during the month of January: Snodeo (January 18-20, Rangeley), opens with Casino night and

a chili cookoff. Other events include fireworks, radar runs, an auction, a parade, exhibits, live entertainment and lots of great food. This annual event attracts thousands of people from across New England and Canada. “Snodeo provides a boost to the local economy because of the many visitors who come to Rangeley for the event, patronize local restaurants, shops, inns and service providers,” said Karen Ogulnick, executive director of the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Snowmobiling (Continued from page 19)

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Commerce. “People also attend the events hosted by a number of non-profit organizations, which also contributes to the economy.” “Rangeley offers the best trail system in Maine,” she continued. “There are 150 miles of trails, groomed daily by the number one snowmobile club in Maine – the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club. Visitors not only enjoy snowmobiling but outstanding cross-country skiing on 55 km of superbly-groomed trails. There is also fattire biking, snowshoeing, skating, curling and much more. Rangeley was named one of the top ‘Ten Winter Towns’ by Yankee magazine, and those who visit the region in winter quickly discover why.” For more information about Snodeo, visit: www. RangeleySnowmobile. com or Facebook. Snowball Run for Cancer (January 20, Millinocket). This event runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning at the Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse, featuring a group ride for the older sleds and a ride to Wildwoods in Brownville for the newer models. This is the fourth year the Northern Timber Cruisers are hosting this ride. Last year, $3,500 was raised for the American Cancer Society. Steve Campbell is one of the organizers of the event. “I lost my father to cancer, and my brother is terminal with blood cancer,” he explained. “Last year, we had 15 vintage sleds and over 100 people who took part in the ride.” For more information contact Steve Campbell at Snowtvlr@gmail/com, or visit www.MooseheadRiders.org.

Moonlight Club Ride (January 20, 5 p.m., Casco). Riders will gather at the Crooked River Snowmobile Clubhouse to begin this beautiful nighttime ride. The club maintains over 50 miles of trails, many with views of local bodies of water, including Parker Pond, Pleasant Lake, Sebago Lake, Thompson Pond and Thomas Lake. For more information visit Crooked River’s site at CrookedRiverSC. phixiated.com, or visit the club’s Facebook site. B-52 Recognition Day (January 20, Greenville). B-52 Recognition Day will get under way at noontime at the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Clubhouse, located at 22 Scammon Ridge Road in Greenville. The day begins with a spaghetti luncheon at the clubhouse, with a ride to the crash site leaving from the clubhouse at 1:45 p.m. The ride takes snowmobiles to the site where a B-52 crashed into Elephant Mountain on January 24, 1963, during the “Cold War”. The plane was out of Westover Air Base in Massachusetts and was practicing flying extremely low maneuvers – less than 500 feet above the granite cliffs and trees tops – to simulate flying over the Soviet Union while avoiding the newest Soviet radar for surveillance missions. The B-52 encountered turbulence and crashed, killing seven airmen. Its pilot and navigator ejected before the crash and were the subject of an intensive, successful rescue mission in deep snow that required the use snowmobiles to access the crash site. Most of the remains (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 21 (Continued from page 20)

of the B-52 are still found at the site, along with a monument. Each year, snowmobilers – along with game wardens, members of the Air National Guard, American Legion Post of Greenville and other military and civilian personnel – host a memorial ceremony. For more information, visit www.mooseheadriders.org. Snow Drag Racing (January 28, Caribou). The Caribou Snowmobile Club hosts this race every year at their lodge along Route One (the Van Buren Road). Food and beverages are available during the race. The admission cost for the races is $5, while children under the age of 10 are admitted free. There is no charge for parking. The Caribou Club grooms 170 miles of trails. The snowmobile trail admission entrance is located on ITS 90/83. For more information, visit the club’s “Caribou Racing” page on Facebook. Annual Bonfire (January 28, 6 p.m., Westbrook). This event is hosted by the Westbrook Trail Blazes Snowmobile Club. The bonfire will take

place at the Sunset Ridge Golf Course on River Road in Westbrook.

“In past years we’ve scheduled it to coincide with the dogsled races we

have every year at Sunset Ridge,” said Dan McCarthy, president of the

Westbrook Trail Blazes Snowmobile Club. “I am (Continued on next page)

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22 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Snowmobiling (Continued from page 21)

not sure yet if that will happen this year.” “We usually have a great turnout when the weather cooperates,” McCarthy continued. “As you know, that’s our biggest challenge – Mother Nature has not always been good to us.” On two occasions in the past, weather conditions have caused cancelation of the event. We’ve already started gathering wooden pallets for our big event,” he explained. “We usually have Starlight Café bring a food truck in to help cater the event.” For more information visit:www.Westbrook -

TrailBlazes.com, or visit their Facebook page. Next issue: February’s calendar, with the Poker Rally and BBQ in Norway, the Eustis/Stratton Annual Polar Blast, the annual Blessing of the Sleds in Mexico, Millinocket’s Winterfest, the Vintage Snowmobile Races in Turner, the Annual “Ride-in” in Orrington and more. Details on these and other snowmobile events can be found at the Maine Snowmobile Association website, www.me.snow/ calendar.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 23

Togue Tactics for Ice Anglers by Steve Vose In the time before anglers in Maine vigorously pursued monstrous pike and muskie, the noble togue was our state’s only true leviathan of the deep. Togue can exceed 20 pounds, and pulling a massive togue up through the ice has long been the dream of many an angler. Every few years, a lucky fisherman is seen, pictured in the pages of The Maine Sportsman magazine, grinning from ear to ear as he or she proudly displays their hefty catch. For the rest of us togue fishermen, hauling in a true trophy is a lifetime pursuit that can border on obsession. Favorite Spots Many Maine waters harbor titanic-sized togue, including Beech

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Beech Hill Pond in Ellsworth produced Maine’s current state record togue, a 31 pound, 8 ounce monster. So while a typical “good” togue in Maine runs between 2 and 4 pounds, there’s always a chance an angler will hook a larger fish – much larger. Hill Pond in Ellsworth (DeLorme Atlas, Map 24, C-1). Beech Hill Pond produced Maine’s current state record togue, a 31 pound, 8 ounce monster caught by Hollis Grindle in 1958. Other favorite waters among togue fishermen include Maine’s largest lake, Moosehead Lake, which offers excellent boat launches located in Greenville (Map 41, D-2) and Rockwood (Map 41, A-1), and our state’s second-largest lake, Sebago Lake (Map 5, D-1 and C-1). In Washington Coun-

ty, East Grand Lake (Map 45, A-4) and West Grand Lake (Map 35, B-3, B-4) both are extremely popular destinations, rich with fine fishing opportunities for trophy-sized fish. While a typical “good” togue in Maine waters runs between 2 and 4 pounds, there’s always a chance that an angler will hook into a larger fish – much larger. How to Find ’Em! To maximize the chance of finding one of these impressive wall-hangers, it helps to

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understand a little bit about togue, their patterns of behavior and the habitat in which they live. Togue are cold-water game fish that require deep, cold lakes holding plenty of dissolved oxygen. As winter turns to spring and then summer, water temperatures gradually warm. To escape the warming waters, togue sink deeper and deeper, to inhabit waters that are less affected by the warmth of the sun. In winter, however, togue can be found feeding near the surface, and

Flashers Helpful, but No Substitute for Experience Last season, I made the leap and purchased a flasher (basically a portable sonar unit) rigged with a downward-pointing transducer that automatically levels itself in the ice fishing hole. With this tool, two people working together can quickly and effectively cover a lot of ice in search of fish. One person drills holes in a grid pattern, while the other person (Continued on next page)

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ice anglers can catch them by using smelts just under the ice. Primary feeding times occur during early morning and late evening, so fishing efforts should be concentrated during these prime times.

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24 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Ice Fishing

peat. The “Binsky” blade bait, sold by the Fish Sense Lure Company, is a fantastic lure to use with this type of vertical jigging. Another jigging technique made popular by pro ice fisherman is pounding the jig. Pounding is basically jiggling the rod tip up and down just an inch or two very quickly. The ¾-ounce lipless crank bait “Golden Shiner” by lure company LiveTarget works well for pounding, as the small BBs inside the lure make it rattle and vibrate, attracting fish from long distances. Big togue are care-

(Continued from page 23)

checks each hole with the flasher. Once fish and or structure are located, anglers simply set tip-ups at the depth fish are being marked, or they jig at the appropriate depth. The other great thing about having a flasher is it helps tremendously in pin-pointing drop offs, rock piles, sand bars and other underwater structure. Google “Maine lake survey maps” and create print-offs of your favorite Maine hard-water locations. A word of caution about flashers – read all the instructions, watch

the online videos, talk to other fishermen who use them and get out on the ice and practice, practice and practice with it. In my opinion, using a flasher effectively is truly an art form, and it will likely take most outdoorsmen a couple of seasons of continued angling to master the device. Jigging Highly Effective Jigging attracts fish, but unless togue are very active, they won’t typically take a bait or lure until it stops moving. So a very effective method is to raise and drop the tip, wait 5-10 seconds, and re-

(Continued on next page)

After a prolonged battle, this sizeable togue is brought to the edge of the ice-fishing hole. Photo courtesy of Erik Holbrook.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 25 (Continued from page 24)

ful in the winter season to not over-expend their energy reserves, chasing hard-to-acquire meals. Because of this, tip-ups rigged with large dead baits like sea run smelts and large suckers set about a foot and a half off bottom present easy food sources that will often tempt big togue into a strike. When fishing with live bait, I prefer to anchor it solidly in place, using a 1/2 ounce sinker. Big togue are notoriously lazy and don’t like to exert themselves in pursuit of a meal. When jigging in close proximity to tip-ups, anglers create a tempting banquet for these leviathans.

again or go through the challenge of keeping bait alive during a long day of ice fishing in harsh conditions. Some fishermen have addressed this perceived chore by taking a bag of Gulp bait out onto the ice. Gulp softbaits are impregnated with fish-attracting scents, and are offered in shapes like minnow and shiner that are formulated to match the size and scent of the Maine forage base. The manufacturer of this product claims they are

effective because they permeate the water with scent even more powerful than live bait. This means that either by coating lures with Gulp marinade or by attaching a Gulp softbait to the jig line, anglers can mimic the sight and smell of a baitfish. Right-Size Hook, and Setting the Hook Whatever you are fishing – live, dead or artificial baits – always use hooks that are correctly sized to the bait being used and fish being tar-

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Maine Wildlife: Black-Capped Chickadee

by Tom Seymour

If someone were to hold a contest to determine what bird species was the most personable, black-capped chickadees would surely take first place. Those fortunate enough to have had a chickadee land on their upturned palm in order to take a few black oil sunflower seeds will never forget the experience. For me, the encounter was all the more remarkable because it happened on a bitterly cold day and I sensed the heat from the trusting little bird’s body. Chickadees are a staple favorite of those who maintain backyard bird feeders. In winter, groups of chickadees descend upon seed feeders en masse, hopping, flitting and chattering as they grab a seed and immediately fly to a protected cover to eat their treat. In some cases the protective cover, whether a bush or shrub or even a tree with lots of intertwining branches, sits quite far from the feeder. Even so, the little birds make the journey, reluctant to eat their seeds on site, as it were. This points out the value of planting some sort of cover shrub near the feeder in order to offer chickadees more protection. I believe that if we feed wild birds we ought to go the extra distance and do what we can to keep them safe. Divebombing Hawk While most avian and some mammalian predators seem fond of chickadees, their real nemesis comes in the form of a small, fairly streamlined and attractively marked hawk, the sharp-shinned hawk – Accipiter striatus. These lightning-fast hawks have an unusual method of preying upon congregated chickadees. The hawk sits on the peak of the roof nearest the chickadee feeding station, and when it feels that the right moment has arrived, it swoops down, following the contour of the roof, perhaps to help hide its presence or maybe even to enhance its speed. But of the end result there can be no doubt. When the hawk’s plan comes together, a chickadee gets dashed to rags www.MaineSportsman.com

The Maine Legislature adopted the black-capped chickadee as the state bird in 1927. The lawmakers’ choice was a sound one, since chickadees truly symbolize the Maine outdoors. amid a great puff of feathers – food for the hungry hawk. But the hawk doesn’t always win. Sometimes the chickadees see the approaching divebomber. When that happens, they fly in all different directions. At that point, the hawk must choose a single bird to follow. This reminds me of the first time I went quail hunting. Remembering the words of Robert Ruark in his classic book, The Old Man and the Boy, gave me awareness and guidance to swing on one single bird rather than shooting at the mass of birds in front of me. And it worked – I shot my first quail by following Ruark’s suggestion. Chickadees, though, are masters of maneuvering, and can describe a corkscrew path through the thickest woods. And here’s where the chickadee has a chance to dodge the feathered bullet. Chickadees are more agile in thick cover than sharp-shinned hawks, and often the chickadee wins. Two Species Here in Maine we have two chickadee species. These are black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapilla, and boreal chickadee, Parus hudsonicus. Black-capped chickadees are the familiar birds of backyard feeders and they occur statewide. But boreal chickadees, brownish birds rather than the black-and-white blackcapped chickadees, are birds of the northern conifer forest. In Midcoast Maine where I live, boreal chickadees are scarce. Yet, reports do come in from time to time. I think I saw one once, but it was a long time ago and memory has gotten fuzzy. A friend once told me of him and his father seeing a boreal chickadee. The father brought the son’s attention to a brownish-looking chickadee and said that something wasn’t right about the bird. The son later figured out that they had spied a boreal

chickadee. To my mind, boreal chickadees reign as counterparts to gray jays, also called gobies by old-time Maine woodsmen. Neither bird exhibits much fear of man, and in fact the gobie makes much of its living by begging food from campers and loggers. A trip “up north” where both boreal chickadees and gobies are sighted ranks as a pretty big deal. Heart-Rending Picture this – You wake up and look out the window and see that the thermometer shows a temperature of well below zero. And then you see a group of chickadees. The little birds have their feathers ruffled in order to trap body heat, and this makes them look considerably larger than their actual size. But you wonder how the birds can survive such intense cold. Their plight on subzero, windy winter days elicits our sympathy, a truly heart-rending sight. The best way to help chickadees cope with extreme temperatures is to keep feeding them, without interruption. Their heat comes entirely from calories, and as long as they have an adequate supply of seeds, either through natural sources or the largesse of humans, the chickadees will survive. One caveat involved in feeding chickadees is that they come to depend upon this artificial source of food. Left to their own devices, chickadees can and do survive, the same as they have for countless millennia. But once hooked on seeds from a feeder, it becomes difficult to wean them from it. So above all, try to keep that feeder going, and if you do wish to discontinue, do so after winter has left and the landscape begins to acquire shades of pastel green. Maine Bird Black-capped chickadees, with their winning personalities and widespread distribution, have found favor among humans as few other birds have. As further proof of our love for chickadees, the Maine Legislature adopted the black-capped chickadee as the state bird in 1927. Their choice was a sound one, since chickadees typify the outdoors in Maine. Even people from other states are quick to recognize the connection between chickadees and the tall pines, blue skies and green water of Maine. Chickadees symbolize everything Maine. And that’s a good thing.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 27

Multi-Species Lakes Keep Flags Flying I want to see flags fly, reels spin and fish flop on the ice. If I’m going to suit up and face the bitter elements, there had better be some fun and some action! Without a tipup popping fairly regularly, you might as well stay home and watch paint dry or a snooker match on TV. My impression from a few decades of observation and participation with ice fishermen is that they fall into three basic categories: First, there are trophy anglers – they select and set up their gear and carefully choose their frozen playgrounds with an eye to catching a bragging-size fish. For Aroostook waterways, that would be a three-pound brookie, five-pound salmon, 10-pound togue or 15-pound muskie. The second group consists of guys who chop ice and drill holes just to get out of the house, pass another winter day and get a little closer to spring. If they catch fish that’s great; if not, that’s OK too – it’s been a fun outing. I’m a tried and true member of the third squad of hard-water anglers – I want to see flags fly, reels spin and fish flop on the ice. It’s a long winter in the Crown of Maine; I get bored and cranky, and outdoor castand-blast options are limited, so if I’m going to suit up and face the bitter elements, there had better be some fun and some action! Unless you are methodically working a line for smelt or jigging a lure, ice fishing tends to be fairly sedentary once the holes are drilled. Without a tip up popping fairly regularly, you might as

well stay home and watch paint dry or a snooker match on TV. Sociable Scopan Scopan Lake harbors a fairly wide variety of finned quarry that offer action all throughout the winter season, but the fish tend to be particularly sociable bait-bingers during January. Open to ice fishing as soon as a safe thickness of ice forms, often the early smelt jigging is prime and the larger gamefish seem hungrier as the New Year gets underway. Along with a healthy population of tasty chrome-sided smelt, finned fighters include brook trout, salmon and splake, a good number of these stocked brook trout/lake trout hybrids measure 18 – 20 inches

and some longer. Also making for some hand-line or light jig rod action is a healthy population of yellow perch. Some anglers prefer a bit of activity, rather than passive tip-up observation. For smelt jigging bait, nothing draws strikes from these cannibalistic silver slivers like a fresh hunk of smelt meat! Filet your first fish, then cut the strip of meat into junks, each with the skin attached. The piece of skin offers some flash as you jig, and also keeps the bait from being stolen easily from the hook – a good piece of bait should last at least 3 or 4 catches. If you didn’t remember to keep one whole smelt in the freezer from the last outing, start the day using a piece of hot

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dog, suet, bacon, Vienna sausage or my favorite, a hunk of shrimp. For perch, and even the larger gamefish, a small jigging rod with a DB smelt, Phoebe, leadfish or Swedish Pimple generally works. It keeps sports busy between flags and it’s always a sur-

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28 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Aroostook County (Continued from page 28)

Josh Boucher of Presque Isle visits Scopan Lake regularly throughout the winter. it’s only a 20 minute drive from P.I., and the water body holds some trophy fish. This 3-pound, 20” splake makes any outing worthwhile.

the Sterling Ridge Road, then Squa Pan Road lead to the boat launch and parking. These byways are plowed all winter and used regularly, as this lake is a popular destination, but thanks to the size, crowding is never a problem. Delorme’s Atlas, Map 64, E-4 and Map 58, A-3 & 4 offer a great overview of main and secondary roads as well as the lake with all its nooks and crannies. Smelt enthusiasts will want to set up their portable shanty about 50 to 75 yards out from the

Andrew Patterson of Presque Isle shows off a bragging-size brookie taken during a January outing to nearby Scopan Lake, near Mapleton, Patterson caught trout, smelt, splake and perch during the half-day outing.

Seven Islands Road boat ramp – it’s a hot spot. Birch Point and Cold Spring Brook inlet usually offer splake and trout action on tip-ups. Drill a few holes about 25 yards off shore at Sylvester Point and also directly across from the lake finger opposite Big Cove. Scopan offers plenty of space to avoid other ice drillers. A snowmobile surely is an asset for more remote regions, but lots of fish are caught within easy walking distance of a lakeshore road. Some

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species always seem willing to play tug of war on this family-friendly frozen playground. Bountiful Browns Another winter wonderland of ice fishing options with not only a wide variety of quarry but the chance of catching a rare brown trout in Aroostook would be Meduxnekeag Lake near New Limerick. Just a short jaunt from Houlton and the junction of I95, Route 1 and Route 2, Drews Lake, as it is known locally, offers brookies, salmon, white and yellow perch, pickerel and a hearty bunch of big browns. Route 2A, then the Drews Lake Road past Nickerson Lake and the local golf course will eventually lead to the well-plowed boat ramp

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and parking area. Check Map 53, A-1 for an overview – also to enjoy some “A-1” fishing (pun intended)! Drews is actually comprised of three distinct areas, with different depths, bottom structure and species niches. Many winters, local anglers actually plow a path right from the large parking area to halfway across the lake. It’s an easy walk to set up a few tip-ups. If anglers want to explore the far reaches of Drews, a snowmobile, tote sled for fishing gear or portable fish hut are smart options. The first segment of Drews, often referred to as the “small lake” has always been my favorite. I like to set up about 50 yards from the outlet,

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and have caught not only every species there but some very respectable brookies, browns, and bragging-size pickerel. Often there are sweet, tasty white perch larger than your hand that may be fought and caught on a nimble jig rod. The “big lake” or main body of water, generally holds a half-dozen or more permanent winter fishing shanties. There’s a notable point between the two lake segments as well as a couple of easyto-spot coves near North Shore Road worth a visit – excellent retreat options for blustery days. Finally, a shallower, rock- and island-packed region known as “The Fishing Grounds” offers another distant point of drilling exploration. There’s truly no “best spot” on the frozen gem – the fish are everywhere, and I’ve caught the elusive, fierce fighting browns in as shallow as 10 feet of water. The 10- to 25-foot depths have proven more consistently productive than the deep holes, in my experience. Both of these lakes I’ve mentioned are simple to reach all winter, easy to fish even without a snowmobile, and offer multiple varieties of fish that yield as close to guaranteed action as (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 29 (Continued from page 28)

you’re going to get. These are also perfect winter destinations for novice ice fisherman and youngsters on a half-day, close to home outing. If you’d rather catch more fish and size isn’t an issue, there are several Aroostook lakes that fill the bill. Get out early and often this month, and have a Happy New Year.

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Oregon Elk Hunt — Third Time’s a Charm Last month I wrote about the beginning of my archery elk hunt in Oregon. I left off with me spooking an entire herd off the hill I was hunting. Though my hunting partner Kevin did manage to get close that morning, neither of us got close enough for a quality shot. This was a dream hunt for both of us. We wanted nothing more than to have a close encounter with a mature bull. To tell the truth, even a shot at a younger rag-horn would be satisfying. We hunted hard for the next four days. Each morning we’d attempt to cut the herd off as they exited large alfalfa and timothy fields. A couple of afternoons were spent climbing the hills and searching neighboring public land. Did I mention hunters should be in excellent shape before elk hunting? I spent about 10 weeks jogging in order to prepare for the hills of Oregon. My fitness level was good enough for the afternoon hikes, but I highly recommend leg strengthening exercises on top of jogging to best prepare.

As daylight faded, I left my position. I didn’t want to spook the herd of elk in the dark. Had I stayed, they would’ve walked right by me – 10 minutes after legal light.

Joe and his elk-hunting partner Kevin Sultair with Joe’s last-morning cow. Though it wasn’t the bowkilled bull he’d dreamed of, it was Joe’s first elk and he was very thankful after two previously unsuccessful hunts in Idaho and Montana. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife helps farmers by issuing a specific number of cow-only, crop damage tags in an effort to keep the numbers of elk and the damage to a minimum.

We never got close during the afternoons, but we saw some spectacular scenery and enjoyed hiking the different terrain and timber. I dis-

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hunts out of state is checking out new flora and fauna. Maine has gorgeous scenery, cool trees and geological formations, but I enjoy seeing new things every day. Whether it’s the sage brush, the cool rock outcroppings or the giant mountains in the distance, my eyes were always searching, my mind always fascinated by new sights. Hunting in faraway places brings me tremendous joy. Tough to Play the Wind When it Won’t Cooperate The biggest challenge on this hunt was the changing wind. When we

were on the flat ground near the alfalfa and timothy fields, the wind was steady. As soon as we got into or around hills, the wind constantly changed. I’ve heard many people say you can fool an elk’s eyes but you’ll never fool its nose. That statement is spot-on. Every time the elk got our wind, they made a hasty retreat. Often, the entire herd would bolt if just one animal spooked. Getting Closer I nearly had a chance at a small bull on an evening hunt. I sat the edge of a beautiful timothy field. The night before, one of the farm hands, Ike, had seen a small number of elk enter that field before dark. I settled into my spot about two hours before dark, and within minutes a small spike whitetail buck walked into the field. About a half hour later, a nice 2-year-old eight-point whitetail came into the field. Even when I’m hunting elk, the deer seem to find me. I spent my evening glassing the distant hills. About one hour before dark, I spotted a small herd making its way towards the field. They were over 1,000 yards away, and I knew they weren’t going to make it to me before dark. If there was ever a time I wanted another 10 minutes of daylight, this was it. As daylight faded, I left my position. I didn’t want to spook the herd in the dark. Had I stayed, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 31 (Continued from page 30)

they would’ve walked right by me 10 minutes after legal light. Cow Tags Available On our last morning of the bowhunt, the herd didn’t stick around long. In fact, they exited the alfalfa field in record time and in an entirely new direction than they’d taken all week. We were done early. The good news in all of this is that Kevin and I had the option to purchase cow tags from the fish and game office. You see, these large herds of elk were doing lots of damage to the farmers’ fields. For $15, we were able to exchange our archery tags and turn them in for crop-damage cow tags. Even better news, we could use rifles. We were very confident in our ability to down our elk. Unfortunately, the fish and game office was not open on Sunday. Kevin and I had to go and purchase the tags in person on Monday morning, thus missing the first morning of a two-day meat hunt. I agreed to give Kevin the first opportunity that evening. Some younger animals showed up in the alfalfa field long before dark. I videoed for Kevin’s YouTube channel (OutKast Elk Hunt), and Kevin put on a stalk. He cut the distance to just under 200 yards and found a good rest. He made a perfect shot and had his first elk, a young of the year bull. We had our elk meat!

Clean Miss by Joe After congratulating Kevin, we were surprised when seven cows and calves showed up. With daylight fading, I would have my chance. Unfortunately I blew it. At 274 years, I shot high, right over the top of a big cow. Don’t ask me how, but I did. We took care of Kevin’s elk and prepared for the next morning. I don’t know if it was karma or God smiling

down on me, but the next morning there were 200+ elk in the field. Unfortunately the wind was wrong, and the herd was moving quickly for the hills. I had to unload the gun and run around a large hill the elk had moved behind. Success When I got to the other side of the hill, there were no elk in sight. I thought I missed my chance.

Just then I looked up and saw the first cow, coming around the hill. I loaded the gun and waited for one of the big cows to separate from the herd. I took my shot. I had my first elk, and a nice set of ivories.

Though we didn’t score on bulls with our bows, we did help the farmer and we both took home some great meat. I’ll certainly be back to hunt this Oregon ranch!

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32 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

— The Maine Sportsman’s Featured Maine Sporting Camps —

Spencer Pond Camps

Established in 1901 by Mose Duty, a trapper and guide for the William Tell Hunting Club, the Spencer Pond Camps are operated May-November and staffed 24/7 by husband and wife, Dana Black and Christine Howe, who are both registered Maine Guides. They provide a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere in a remote, quiet and extremely scenic location. The camps are located on the north shore of Spencer Pond, just north of Spencer Bay on Moosehead Lake. To the east, rising majestically out of the pond, is Little Spencer Mountain. Behind the camps are logging roads to Little Spencer Pond, Lobster Mountain, Eagle Mountain, Big and Little Kineo, Moosehead Lake, Big Duck and Little Duck, Golden Road, and Tom Young and Kidney Ponds. The remoteness of the area provides almost private fishing and hunting, with proximity to thousands of acres of forestland and Moosehead Lake. The pond has perch, bass, bullhead and brook trout. The Roach River and Moosehead Lake are minutes away, offering trout, salmon, bass and togue fishing. Numerous brooks and beaver flowages provide plenty of opportunities, as does the West Branch of the Penobscot River. For hunters, game abounds in the area’s ridges, mountains and swamps, with lit-

tle pres sure from competing hunt ers. Bear, moose, deer, grouse, and spring turkey hunters are welcome. Photographers en joy frequent sightings of moose, bear, loons and eagles. For hikers, more than five miles of trails extend from the camp yard. Both of the Spencer Mountains, White Cap, and Kineo provide a challenge for the more avid hiker. Six fully furnished cabins do not have elec tricity and are non-mod ernized; however, they are completely comfortable and functional. Cabin rentals include a fully furnished

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housekeeping cabin, canoe, kayaks, sailboat, row boat, mountain bikes, all linens, seasoned dry firewood for your woodstove, “camp” wood for the fire pits, dishwashing soap, matches and toilet paper. Homemade quilts are on each bed, and every cabin has rocking chairs, games, a library, woodstoves, screened porches, and a charcoal grill. Life here comes at a slower, simpler pace. There is no Wi-Fi ser vice, and the owners pride themselves on an electronic-free camp yard. Cell phone coverage is sporadic at best. Plumbing is “out back,” and relaxation is everywhere. In the spring, fisherman, hikers, and bird watchers abound. In the summer, guests swim along the shore during the day, and toast marshmallows at night. Seaplanes take guests up for rides. Depending on schedules, guests can also be treated to lobster fresh from the boat, as Dana is also a commercial fisherman. (Frozen scallops can also be ordered in advance.) Autumn brings couples, those who enjoy the foliage and hiking in cooler weather, along with the loyal hunting clientele. Reservations and more information can be found at www.spencerpond.com; 207-7451599; spc@spencerpond.com

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 33

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34 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

— Special Feature — by Steve Vose

Choosing a Portable Generator If there is one thing the wind storm of October 29th, 2017 taught me, it’s the importance of having a generator to run critical appliances during an extended power outage. If a friend had not allowed me to borrow his generator, the seven days we were without power would have caused all of the food in my freezer to spoil. Determined never to be caught in such an uncomfortable situation again, I recently sought to purchase a generator of my own. Purchasing a generator was not a task I took lightly, and my final selection was made after conducting considerable research on several of the most popular generators on the market. Big, or Small? The first thing anyone will notice when selecting a generator is that there are vast numbers of makes and models available. Finding the perfect fit is accomplished by determining a balance among the factors of price, weight, wattage, decibel (db) rating and fuel type. Generators come in two main categories – stationary and portable. Stationary generators are large, powerful, expensive devices designed to run entire households, businesses or hospitals. Portable generators are relatively light, easier on the wallet, and of course transportable. In this article I will be discussing portable generators. Determining Power Needs There’s no question that a generator is a necessary appliance during a power outage, but in addition to that, generators are also valuable for providing power while www.MaineSportsman.com

The Yamaha, Generac, Honda and Champion are all quality machines, and although I selected one, you may make a different choice, for very good reasons. Perhaps you have experience with a certain brand of engine, or you have an established relationship with a local dealer or repair shop.

The author’s choice was the Honda EU2000, which enjoys a good reputation for reliability. It can be paired with a second Honda EU2000, to provide additional power when needed.

tailgating, at “off-grid” cabins, when RV camping, or when running and charging tools at construction sites. I needed a generator that would provide emergency power at my home, but also to provide electrical power for a small “off-grid” cabin. Generally, higher-wattage generators cost more, are heavier, and consume more fuel. For these reasons, it’s important when selecting a generator to first determine how much power (wattage) is needed. To answer this question, figure out what electronic devices you plan to simultaneously run, as well as the wattage of the largest appliance requiring power. Most electrical devices require

more power to start than they do to run, so be sure to look at an appliance’s start-up wattage as well as its running wattage. For my situation, I needed only enough power to run a couple of lights (180w); charge my cell phone (25w); run a refrigerator (700w), coffee maker (1000w) and microwave (1000w); and to operate and recharge a selection of power tools during construction projects – a circular saw (1400w) and table saw (2000w). Since it would never be necessary to run all of these appliances and tools simultaneously, I calculated that a 2,000watt generator would likely provide me with all of the power needed. Charts listing the

power requirements of hundreds of different appliances are available on the internet, so when determining exact power needs, conduct a Google search using the term “wattage calculator.” Fuel Choices Generators run on a variety of different fuels, including natural gas, propane, diesel, regular gasoline or mixed gasoline. From my research, I determined that the two most viable options for general household use are propane and regular gasoline. Deciding on one or both of these fuels (I say “both” because some generators can run on either propane or gasoline) is really up to individual preference. Dual-fuel generators cost more; single fuel

generators cost less. Also, how often will the generator be in operation – once a year, or practically all the time? Gasoline has a shorter shelf life than propane, so if you’re planning to pull out a generator once or twice a year for emergency power, you may want to look into a propane model. Because between the house and the camp I may be running a generator practically all of the time and for a variety of different purposes, regular gasoline seemed the best option for me, given gasoline’s widespread availability and ease of use. Finding a Balance Having evaluated my anticipated power needs, I began looking at the next two critical factors – weight, and decibel rating. Since my generator was going to be transported between home and camp, it was important to select a model I could easily load and unload from my truck. Also, because the generator was going to be used at my cabin, I really wanted a model that was quiet, in order to help maintain the relative serenity of the location. Making a Final Selection After compiling all of the information, I studied written and online reviews, looking for a generator that would fit all of my anticipated needs. After considering several different brands, I finally narrowed the selection down to four of the mostly highly-rated and top consumer-recommended models. On this list were: • Yamaha EF2000isv2, $989, 51.5 db, 44.1 lbs. • Generac GP2200, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 35 (Continued from page 35)

The Yamaha EF 2000isv2 is the most expensive of the four “finalists,” but it is also the lightest and quietest.

$599, 60 db, 46.6 lbs. • Honda EU2000, $899, 59 db, 51 lbs., and • Champion 2800, $899, 58 db, 95 lbs. Given how close all of the generators were in features and the similarities in costs, I first decided to remove the Champion from contention because of weight (double the average weight of the other three). Next, I opted not to get the Yamaha, because it was the most expensive (less than $100 more – a close call), and lastly I passed over the Generac model because although it received good consumer reviews, those reviews were not as high as those

The Generac GP2200 is less expensive than other portable generators, but it’s slightly louder than the competition.

for the Honda. Therefore, my final selection was the Honda EU2000, a machine possessing a balance of the key features and power I need. Your Choice May Be Different Let me add two important footnotes. First, these are all quality machines, and you may make a different choice, for very good reasons. Perhaps you are familiar and comfortable with a certain brand of engine, because they power your outboard motor or lawn mower. Perhaps you have an established relationship with a local dealer. Or perhaps your favorite

repair shop works well with one brand or another. Those are all important and legitimate factors. Secondly, it’s clear that a great deal of a generator’s cost goes into making it light and quiet. If you are not concerned about a generator’s weight and decibel rating, you can save a considerable amount of money. For example, the Champion 3650 is a loud 68 db, and it’s heavy at 98 lbs, but it provides more than 3,500 watts at a bargain price of $319. Cautions and Dangers Generators should NEVER be operated in-

The Champion 2800 is comparatively heavy, but is quiet and provides 40% more power than other small generators.

side an enclosed area, as they emit carbon monoxide that can kill people and pets in minutes. In fact, you shouldn’t even run a generator in close proximity to an open door or window, since dangerous fumes can still enter interior spaces. Generator can provide electricity using either extension cords to provide power to a home’s appliances, or by hard-wiring directly into a home’s fuse or circuit box. Most homeowners use extension cords with socalled portable “emergency” generators (2,000w and below), while larger generators (greater than

2,000w) are more likely to be hard-wired, as this is a safer and more convenient way to configure the bigger machines. A licensed electrician should oversee the installation of a large, hardwired generator, and the homeowner should possess a thorough understanding of how to operate the generator, including how to disconnect the home from the outside power grid to avoid “activating” downed electrical lines, thereby posing danger to repair crews and others following a natural disaster.

Sportsman

permits in 2017. Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald, October 29, 2018 —

by George Smith

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockland Police Department, and the Maine Warden Service assisted in the investigation.

Angus King III, in a Deirdre Fleming story about hunters who are also birders. Maine Sunday Telegram, November 5, 2017. —

Salmon fishing used to contribute millions of dollars to Maine’s economy. Salmon were once so plentiful in the Penobscot that, legend has it, you could walk across the river on the backs of the fish.

Kennebec Journal story of mother and daughter in Lincoln County who were arrested on drug trafficking charges. October 28, 2017 —

One of the things I’ve learned, some of the best conservationists are hunters. We really see things happening – woodlands being destroyed, the degradation of the planet, the loss of habitat. And we do what we can to prevent it.

Quotable

Dan Tandy of Mount Desert Island, urging Congress to leave the Endangered Species Act alone. Kennebec Journal, October 22, 2017. — We’d heard from the public and they want to see a lid on deer [numbers] because of ticks. The ticks are crazy, even [compared to] 10 years ago. Lee Kantar, DIFW wildlife biologist, explaining the huge increase in any-deer

No self-respecting town would bring this upon itself. There’s very few towns in the country, especially in the northeast, that would even tolerate this sort of madness. Dave Evankow, Gorham, New Hampshire resident, complaining about the large number of ATVs that are cruising – loudly – through town. New Hampshire Public Radio. — When I started hunting at 32, I became more aware of the outdoors. It completely

opens your eyes. You watch nature with greater intensity and a greater level of discovery.

Harold Brewer of Kennebunk. Same Deirdre Fleming story. — I’m quite comfortable. I think we’re making good progress. Steve Brooke, a member of DIF&W’s new fisheries working group, organized in response to legislation to expand protection of Maine’s native brook trout. www.MaineSportsman.com

36 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Katahdin Country Trail Runners Kicking Up Snow Now! Every year, sled jockeys from across the country make the pilgrimage to the Katahdin Region to snowmobile the area’s unparalleled trail system and kick up snow in Maine’s premier winter playground. It’s no small advantage that Maine’s crown jewel – Mount Katahdin – plays at least a bit part in most scenery photos. And that picture is completed when you add in lots of snow and a collage of dedicated volunteers putting in untold hours of labor aimed at creating one of the best trail systems on the east coast. It takes a tremendous amount of cooperation from private and public landowners to make it all work. Most trail runners motor right through the 87,500-acre Katahdin Woods and Waters Na-

Before you can take off on a snow machine rented from New England Outdoor Center, you must watch a 19-minute instructional video covering everything from safe driving to changing a spark plug or belt. And, guys – if you need to change a belt on the trail, ask your wife or girlfriend, because chances are that unlike you, she actually paid attention to the video! tional Monument without even realizing it. Fortunately, Lucas St. Clair, president of Elliotsville Plantation, wrote the snowmobile trails into the deeds before transferring the land to the federal government. Many other landowners, both large and small, have allowed trails to run through their land with little fanfare. Establishing and maintaining this rapidly changing landscape often falls to the local snowmobile clubs. It’s these unsung heroes who have put together

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this deep-woods infrastructure that attracts serious sledders from all across the country – kudos to these hard-working souls. The Katahdin Region also has a network of lodges that cater to the snowmobiler’s way of life. Staying at one of these lodges offers multiple advantages. Aside from the roaring fire, piping hot chocolate or adult beverage that caps off a day kicking up snow, it’s damn nice to have a hot shower, and a warm bed to lay in, after a day of hammering the trails. And, what’s even better than that? Sometime during the night those trails magically revert back to interstate high-

way-smooth. The morning agenda just requires inhaling some cholesterol-enriched bacon and eggs, chugging down some hi-test coffee and firing up that snow machine for another day of playing in the snow. Trip Planning Folks looking to plan a trip to this winter wonderland do well to visit the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce website at www.katahdinmaine. com. The website features an updated Katahdin-area trail map. With over 350 miles of groomed trails, plan on multiple forays to fully explore the winter highway. I’ve found that several trips, each short in

duration, work better for me than long, marathon runs. With the scenery available at no extra charge, I drive slowly, stopping often and focusing on enjoying the journey, letting the destination take care of itself. With a little bit of advanced planning, riders can select a series of lodges in and around the Katahdin trail system and complete a lodge-to-lodge ride. This allows riders to constantly explore “new”to-them trails without having to backtrack at the end of the day. Bring Snowshoes Given my uncontrolled habit of multi-tasking, I must point out that the trail system offers access to the heart of the region, and packing a set of snowshoes for a short off-trail excursion adds a nice bonus for winter wanderers. Roaming through unspoiled wilderness on virgin snow has a relaxing feel to it. Yup, just one step at a time, investigating the various stories that fresh snow tells. It’s an excellent time to follow animal tracks and get a peek into wildlife habits in the dead of winter. Because the snowmobile trails quickly access the heart of the wilderness, these side excursions on snowshoes don’t need to last long or go on for miles to view the pristine working forest. A series of 15-minute forays keeps me fresh and focused. Modern snowmobiles can propel riders into remote areas relatively quickly. Safe riders carry (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 37 (Continued from page 36)

some basic survival gear in case something goes awry. It’s easy to put together a dry bag with a first aid kit, some waterproof matches and some fire-starter. For those who carry electronics, it’s a good place to store extra batteries. Because I’m passionate about food, I bring a one-burner backpacking stove with a pan that can boil water and cook a package of soup and a hot chocolate. Be Prepared Temperatures can go well below zero, especially after dark, so having a space blanket and a means to cut wood go a long way towards surviving a night on the trail. I’ve found a folding bucksaw much more effective for cutting firewood than an axe. In the event of a breakdown, it’s best not to wander away from the trail. In all reality, soon-

er or later, someone will come motoring along and offer assistance. And, of course, that itinerary note back at the lodge will trigger an accurate search at the appointed hour. Rent a Machine Outdoor types looking to expand their horizons a bit and dabble into the world of motorized snow travel but don’t have a machine of their own can rent one from New England Outdoor Center (NEOC; www.neoc.com). Before they let anyone slap the throttle on a rented machine, the establishment requires riders to watch an instructional video that covers everything from changing a belt or spark plug to safely driving the snow machine. It’s an education for newbies and a refresher course for old pros. And, guys listen up – if you need to change a belt on the trail, ask the

wife or girlfriend, because chances are that unlike you, she actually paid attention to the video. Before taking off, a live person will make sure everybody understands the basics. To save time, NEOC has their 19-minute safety video online so customers can watch it before they arrive. This saves a little time and gets riders kicking up snow a little quicker. NEOC also rents helmets, snow suits, goggles and footwear for those who need to bulk up for the cold weather. Bear in mind that a 20-mile an hour cruising speed contributes to the wind chill factor. Don’t rule out a guided trip. In fact, for those new to the sport, this rates as an excellent decision. I’ve used snowmobile guides in the past. Just communicate to them the trip goals, and they can custom-tailor a route to fit any require-

Trail runners from across the country, and in some cases from around the world, travel to the Katahdin Region to experience a first-class trail system surrounded by unmatched scenery. It helps that Maine’s tallest mountain, Katahdin, casts a shadow over much of the region. Bill Sheldon photo

ment. Most any lodge can recommend a good snowmobile guide. It’s nice not to have to worry about

the logistics, and just enjoy the ride, as trail running hits full stride this month.

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Black-capped Chickadee by Steve Vose

The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), known more commonly as simply “chickadee,” can be found in a wide range of habitats, from mixed woodlands and field edges to marshes and residential neighborhoods. Chickadee populations are distributed throughout the United States and as far north as Alaska and the Yukon. Though capable of over thirteen distinct and complex sounds, its most common vocalization, “chick-a-dee-dee-dee,” is the origin of the bird’s name. Although the call seems simple, scientists have determined that through these five notes, chickadees can communicate all sorts of information to the other members of the flock, including potential threats, food sources, location and group movements. Chickadees are notoriously tolerant of humans, and can easily be encouraged to take food from a person’s hand. This curiosity, along with their endearing over-sized

heads and diminutive bodies, make the chickadee a favorite at birdfeeders. The chickadee’s wide popularity is apparent, as it serves as the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts, and as the pro-

Questions 1. What is the distribution of chickadee populations? 2. In what habitats can chickadees typically be found? 3. What information is a chickadee able to communicate through its seemingly-simple vocalizations?

vincial bird of New Brunswick, Canada. Caterpillars, small insects, seeds and berries comprise the diet of the chickadee, with black oil sunflower seeds a winter favorite to be gathered and consumed from winter bird feeders. Chickadees commonly hide food items, saving them to be eaten at a later time when other sources of nutrition are not readily available. The chickadee mating season starts in April and ends in June. The male chickadee contributes to raising the young, providing food to the female and to the young throughout the entire brooding cycle. Clutch sizes vary from between 6 and 8 eggs, deposited in nests usually constructed in the protected hole of a tree. Young develop rapidly and typically leave the nest 10 – 15 days after hatching. The maximum recorded lifespan of a chickadee is twelve years, but in the wild, due to high rates of predation, the birds rarely survive more than a few years.

4. What US states have selected the chickadee as the state bird? 5. What comprises a majority of the chickadees’ diet? 6. When is chickadee mating season? 7. How many eggs do chickadees typically lay in a single clutch? 8. What is the maximum age of a chickadee? Answers on Page 44 www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

An Ode to the Maine Deer Hunter Most months, this column focuses on archery and bowhunting in Maine, but this issue’s article does not. It’s about the greatness of Maine deer hunters, regardless of whether harvesting with bow and arrow, or firearm. I’ve thought this for some time, but 2017’s season solidified what I already knew to be true. In most of the country, whitetails are not hunted – they are harvested. In Texas, they drive tote roads in the mornings with grain trucks, spreading food into shooting lanes so a stand hunter with coffee far away can shoot deer exiting the brush to feed. To me, that’s not hunting. In Kansas, they bait deer. Folks sit in stands and wait while several browse the food at once. The most difficult decision for these “hunters” is choosing which deer to take. That isn’t hunting, it’s harvesting. In parts of Virginia, the bag limit on deer during the season is seven a day. You don’t need to hunt them, you just shoot them. In northwest Missouri, my cousin has a private 400-acre ranch where he spends his summers growing different food plots, as do most others in the area. When the season arrives, he decides which of his 35 stands to sit in and wait. According to him, on a bad day he sees 10 to 15 deer. He has a house full of giants on the wall, but he doesn’t know how to hunt. He harvests. I’ve been to each of these places and met www.MaineSportsman.com

In Missouri, my cousin has a 400-acre private ranch with food plots and 35 tree stands. Even on a “bad” day, he sees 10 to 15 deer. Despite having walls full of heavy-antlered trophies, he’s not a hunter; he’s a harvester.

Mainer Norman Theriault harvested a monster after being given the “OK” to hunt his way in Missouri.

these folks, and all profess to being good “hunters.” Over the years I’ve also met some rich folks who have trophy rooms of giant whitetails, among other large game. One time, a fellow showed me a video of a cape buffalo “hunt” in Tanzania. I watched as he walked to within 30 yards of the animal in regular clothing while it stood and looked at him bewildered. He took it with a .416 Magnum and he was proud. That’s not hunting. Hunting Deer in Maine I’d like to see any of these folks come here and get a deer without the help of a local. In the

last few years, the success rate for Maine deer hunters has been around 11%, which includes doe harvests. That is likely one of the lowest success rates in the country, but I can’t imagine the rate for these folks if they came to Maine would even approach 1%. The Missourian cousin I discuss above spent two weeks here and hunted with me. He wanted to still-hunt, so I put him in a good area. He saw nothing, got lost several times—one time on snow—and I had to go fetch him twice. With a bad attitude, he articulated he wouldn’t be back because deer hunting in Maine “sucks.”

Another fellow wrote in an article in WideOpenSpaces.com that Maine was “one of the worst states in America for deer hunting.” Maybe that’s because that writer and my cousin just aren’t good hunters, despite having taken multiple trophies. Not all out-of-staters have this attitude, however. Steve Beckwith, founder of MaineHuntersTV.com, when soliciting national hunting shows to come to Maine to film, was told by several that Mainers “are a different breed of hunter.” These shows knew they couldn’t just come to Maine for a week, hunt, be successful, and get something on

video. They understood the intricacies of hunting here. I recently met a couple from Georgia who moved to Maine for a better lifestyle. He was an avid hunter, and I offered to take him in November. He smiled and said he would be going back to Georgia for a fall hunt, as he was respectfully aware of the challenges of hunting Maine deer. I met another hunter from Tennessee who has lived in Maine for nine years. He said he loves hunting deer in Maine, but has never gotten one. Instead, he travels home each Thanksgiving to see family, and shoots his limit of four. Both admired the Maine hunter. Both understood that a Mainer’s intellect of deer hunting is immense and wasn’t ascertained on a TV show or read in a book. It was passed down through generations of time in the woods. I realize there are stand hunters in Maine, and for good reason, but unlike most states where stands are the only way to hunt, Mainers take to the woods on foot and absorb nature, giving us unique knowledge of animals in general, but particularly the whitetail. Moving through the woods offers an awareness most hunters elsewhere don’t recognize. Mainers Hunting Elsewhere With the risk of sounding arrogant, I’ve hunted deer and other animals outside Maine and have been just as successful – (Continued on page 40)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 39

A New Year’s Snowmobiling Resolution Finally, the first snow of winter has filled in the holes on the trails enough to provide a smooth ride, and Maine snowmobilers grab their sleds and hit the trails … except that something seems to be wrong with the sled. How many of us wait until good snow on the trails to make sure the sled will be in good running condition for the winter? Don’t worry – I’m not any better at this than any of you readers. I’m just as guilty of putting off maintenance chores. I’m really bad. I treat my vehicles like some folks treat their

Dump your snowmobile emergency pack out on the floor, checking all items. Contents should include a tow rope, a flashlight and extra batteries, hand warmers, a hatchet, a lighter, power bars, and a heavy-duty ratchet strap you can use as a winch. lawn mowers – they keep cutting the grass until the engine quits, the mower chassis rusts through or the blade falls off, and then they leave it out on the curb for their town’s large-item trash pick-up day. I treat my outdoor mode of transportation much the same – riding it until it fails. Let me take this first month of the year to make

a New Year’s resolution of sorts. I will promise, starting this year, to take better care of my outdoor vehicles. So with this in mind, let me start with my snowmobile. Fuel System The fuel system, one of the most important maintenance issues for a snowmobiler, is one of the things I actually take care of on a routine basis.

Every time I fill the machine, I add a little fuel stabilizer that helps neutralize the ethanol additive they put in gasoline nowadays. Ethanol reportedly causes fuel separation, clogging plugs and ruining fuel lines in snowmobiles and other small engines. Reportedly, if ethanol sits in the fuel line, it can corrode the line enough to cause damage. Keep-

ing a little additive in the fuel system takes care of this problem, so I feed the machine some at every fill up. I also use a product most of us have become familiar with, “Sta-bil,” another fuel additive that keeps fuel from causing damage during summer storage of the snowmobile. It stops gasoline from gumming up the fuel system while the snowmobile sets idle during summer storage. I just add a little to the tank the last few times I fill the snowmobile up at the end of the (Continued on next page)

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40 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 39)

season. I want to make sure to get enough of the additive throughout the fuel system – an easier method for me than draining all the fuel out of the machine. Recharge that Sled If a rider doesn’t happen to be a procrastinator like me, they took all of the storage precautions necessary at the end of the snowmobile season this past April. If this is the case, as the snowmobiling season begins this year, let’s look at what we need to do to undo all of the storage procedures from last season. First off, drain the chain case of all oil, remove the cover, and clean the entire chain case thoroughly. Inspect the chain and sprocket for metal chips or powder, structural defects, and make adjustments if nec-

essary. Replace the cover and refill with chain case oil according to the specifications in your owner’s manual. Be sure to remove duct tape from the end of the exhaust pipe if it was covered last spring. Also inspect the air intake for rodent nests, and remove any nesting material or moth balls place there for summer storage protection. Check the track for cracks or wear marks in the rubber and adjust tension if necessary. Look at the spark plugs, clean them up and see if they need replacing. Take a look and make sure the battery has a good charge, or if the machine doesn’t have electric start, be sure the rope and recoil work properly for a winter of easy starting. I always make sure to have an extra rope

Bowhunting (Continued from page 38)

if not more successful – than some locals. I’ve heard other Mainers confess the same while hunting “abroad.” To me it’s not a result of having an abundance of animals where we hunt; rather, we, as Mainers, are inherently better hunters because of how we hunt. Case in point: My friend Norman Theriault and daughter Sadie from Jackman drove to my Missourian cousin’s ranch for

stored on the sled as well as an extra belt for emergencies way back in the woods. Final Note Now is also the time to recheck that emergency pack that conscientious riders always carry when out on the trail. Open it up and pile everything on the floor – replace batteries and other items that got drained or used up last year. Make sure the bag is filled with the essential items for safe travel. I always carry a tow rope, extra flashlight and extra batteries, water purifying straw, space blanket, hand warmers, hatchet, small saw, knife, fire-starting kit and lighter, and some power bars. I also carry a 2-inch wide, heavy-duty ratchet strap just in case I need to get my sled out of a tight spot. Last year I dumped my machine in a water hole and would never have pulled it out by myself. A friend had

Thanks to proper maintenance, including use of fuel additives to combat the effects of ethanol, the author’s Tundra Ski-Doo snowmobile is ready for a new season of coyote-hunting. William Clunie photo

a big ratchet strap and cranked my sled out of the hole enough to get back on the trail (thanks Danny!). The ratchet strap worked just like a comealong, pulling the sled a little with each crank on the strap handle. I also have a smaller pack strapped to my handlebars that I can store things I need to get to quickly if necessary. I

a week-long hunt this past deer season. My cousin boasted about monsters and that he’d put them in the right stands for a good hunt. Four days into the hunt, Norman contacted me and said they hadn’t seen much and he didn’t think my cousin “understood deer.” It was my cousin’s way or the highway on his property, but I convinced him to let Norman do what he wanted for one day. That was Tuesday afternoon, and by mid-Wednesday morning, Norman had a monster with cousin in disbelief.

load it up with drinking water, lunch, binoculars, extra ammo, riding mittens and a face mask for real cold riding. I’m getting my sled ready for coyote hunting this winter. Planning ahead and preparing that sled for the New Year and another season of coyote hunting is just part of the fun.

Another time, he and Sadie drove to Colorado to hunt elk (they are not elk hunters). After two days, Sadie harvested a monster 6x6 bull, a feat any local would dream of. We may get frustrated sometimes hunting in Maine with a success rate of 11%, but I’d like to see the rest of this country’s “great hunters” come and have their hand alone in the Maine woods. We are some of the best hunters in the country, and we should be proud of what we have.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 41

Moosehead Lake Fish Get Bigger and Bigger What a summer anglers had on Moosehead Lake – Maine’s largest and arguably one of our state’s best trout, togue and salmon lakes. Specifically, Moosehead salmonids have reached a larger average size than in previous years. And as for their general condition, the fish are fat and nicely shaped – like finned butterballs. Smelt, the mainstay of salmonids wherever dispersed, have bounced back too. And with lots of smelt come lots of fat, healthy trout, salmon and togue. A trip to Moosehead today might not bring as many fish to net as in

Stuffed with plentiful smelt, many trout, salmon and togue have assumed rounded, symmetrical shapes like inflated footballs. So get up to mighty Moosehead Lake to enjoy some of Maine’s best ice fishing. years past, but it’s a good tradeoff, since today’s fish are larger and fatter. Don’t interpret this to mean that fishing is slow, but rather, compare it to 10 years ago when the lake was filled to the brim with small- to medium-sized togue. It was commonplace for two anglers fishing together to have numerous doubles during the course of the day. That can still happen, but the fish are far larger,

and that is exactly what every angler seeks. Brook Trout A major but mostly unsung (except for in these pages) success story is the remarkable rise in numbers of big brook trout. From Beaver Cove on the big lake’s east side to Rockwood on the west side, 4-pound brook trout have become fairly common. And a 4-pound wild brook trout ranks as one of Maine’s finer, most sought-after tro-

phies – comparable to a 200-pound, 10-point buck. A perfect storm of conditions conspired to create a remarkable wild brook trout fishery. With plenty of smelt as forage and unimpeded access to spawning areas, Moosehead brookies have reached the point where they constitute one of the best wild brook trout fisheries in the state. And don’t forget – Maine stands as what

many call the “last frontier” for wild brook trout. We, as a state, have incomparable fishing for our wild native trout. And Moosehead Lake ranks as the epitome of what brook trout lovers the world over dream about – the perfect place for a wall-hanger trout. As if to underscore this, while I was on a partridge hunt in October with friend and Moosehead Lake guide Bob Lawrence of Rockwood, Bob stopped his Jeep by a wooden bridge over Socatean Stream, a major spawning area for Moosehead Lake trout. (Continued on next page)

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42 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Moosehead (Continued from page 41)

We stopped and watched these brightly colored fish, and the scene was like something out of a dream. This was several miles above the lake, and Bob told me that to find spawning trout this far up the stream was very encouraging.

I could have tarried longer, but shadows finally spread over the pool and so we returned to our bird hunting. Before leaving this discussion on brook trout, let me send kudos to the Moosehead Lake Coalition. These volunteers work hand-in-hand with

the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to remove obstructions from tributaries to Moosehead Lake so as to permit unimpeded access to upstream spawning areas. Great Togue Togue, mirroring the brook trout success story, have grown larger too. Anglers around the lake saw a big uptick in togue size. To highlight what a visiting angler might expect on an average Saturday morning on Moosehead Lake, my fishing buddy Matt Gillie sent me the following letter from a fishing trip early last August: “My wife and son fished Moosehead with me for a bit Saturday. Fishing wasn’t as good as I expected, but not bad. Eight fish in four hours. A 5-pound togue, a 17inch salmon and some smaller salmon.” Matt hit the water on a busy day, with lots of

Moosehead Lake salmon -- fat and sassy. Photo courtesy of Erik Holbrook

boat traffic. This, though, is something unusual, because even on weekends, Moosehead Lake sees little recreational activity. The boats Matt saw were not fishing, either, indicative of an unusually active day for pleasure boat-

ers – the kind that occur far and few between. So with 4-5 pound togue in evidence all summer, prospects for winter fishing seem particularly encouraging. And it goes without saying that (Continued on page 44)

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For Big Trout, Scale Down That Lure This secret tiny streamer really works to catch fish. And at 9/16ths of an inch, the only problem is finding one that small. So tie your own, have a friend tie one, or just troll a sparse old wet fly with most of the hackle and feathers gone. Some years ago I wrote about the efficacy of small, if not tiny, Mooselook Wobblers. That still holds true. But now it appears that flies, too, are effective when scaled down. Without trying to sound melodramatic, a friend’s son has hit upon a trout- and salmon-killing fly, and the son has sworn me to secrecy regarding how to tie the charmed imitation. And being so sworn, I cannot show a photo of this wonderfully effective lure. But it is possible, in a general way, to comment upon why this fly takes so many big fish. At first glance, I thought that no salmonid could possibly have an interest in something so small. And that, as far as I can tell, is the secret to the fly’s fish-killing powers. The same principle that makes Mooselook Midgets so palatable to coldwater game fish is present in tiny flies. But no matter what the reason – tiny flies work. The problem is finding a streamer or bucktail this small. At only 9/16ths of an inch, the fly more closely resembles a typical wet fly used for casting for trout in brooks and streams. The only solution, then, is to tie a small streamer or bucktail yourself, or ask a fly-tying friend to make some. Or, barring that, just pick up some wet flies, the more

streamlined and sparse the better, and use them. Fish your tiny fly either behind a dodger or a set of lake trolls. If you do, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results. As for the young discoverer of the “magic” fly, perhaps some day he’ll decide to go public. But until then, just remember – smaller is often better.

Tackle, except for terminal tackle – what’s on the end of the line – isn’t terribly important. Most of us use a fly rod and sinking fly line, with a fairly long, non-tapered leader. But others use spinning rods and some even use the same trolling rods they will use later in the season for leadcore line fishing.

Fast Fishing With only three months to go before open-water season 2018, many anglers already feel the excitement. Iceout fishing for salmon – and to a lesser extent, brown trout – has much to recommend it. First, it allows us to get out and like horses that were kept inside all winter, “kick up our heels.” Besides that, the first fish of the year often comes as a result of iceout fishing. It’s cold and often wet, too, but we persevere because the fast action only lasts a month or so, after which smelt, the major prey of salmonids, cease spawning. This causes salmon and trout to disperse, often to slightly deeper water and even to other parts of the lake. But while it lasts, iceout trolling stands as a special time on anglers’ calendars. Even here, though, certain tactics and techniques bring more fish to net, and this explains why some people catch more trout and salmon than others.

Speed Counts Trolling with streamer flies stands at the pinnacle of ice-out trolling. It is the most time-honored, classic way to fish. Just thinking about it conjures images of still mornings, smoke from lakeside camp chimneys hanging low over the water and blackened remnants of last year’s campfires bobbing in the water along the shore. Streamer flies and bucktails too, imitate smelt. But just putt-putting along with a streamer fly in tow isn’t likely to bring many strikes. Why? Because the fish have every opportunity to inspect and reject a slow-moving fly. Besides that, real smelt often put on surprising bursts of speed. So a fast-trolled streamer or bucktail has many more times the chance of being taken by a trout or salmon than a slowly-trolled one. An old axiom still holds true – that is, if you are not going faster than all the other boats on the water, then you are going

This fat brown trout took a sparsely-tied streamer fly in early spring.

too slow. That’s no exaggeration, either, because most people really do go just a bit too slow. So give the throttle a boost and prepare yourself for that magical sound of a reel screaming as a supercharged salmon tears into your streamer fly.

Sparse Versus Heavy I divide my streamer flies into two categories. These are not, as anyone might expect, according to color, either. Rather, my streamers are categorized as either sparsely-tied or heavily-tied. In most cases, sparse is (Continued on next page)

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44 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Trout Fishing (Continued from page 43)

more effective. But in order to learn which type of fly works best on certain waters, we must get out and try them. When fishing alone, it is possible to set two rods, one with a sparse fly and another with a thicker, heavier fly, in rod holders. Junior Lake, a salmon lake connected to leg-

endary West Grand Lake via a thoroughfare, is one of the waters where my best luck was always had on heavily-tied tandem streamers. But mostly, Junior Lake stands as the exception to the rule. A group of friends gets together each spring for topwater trolling with streamer flies. And these guys take not only lots of

fish, but lots of big fish. Salmon and brown trout up to 5 pounds regularly fall to their fast-fished offerings. And each one of these anglers uses a very sparsely-tied streamer. And just to address the question of the importance of color – it isn’t as important as how the fly is tied, but it still warrants consideration. In fact, Dan Jones, one of the guys in the above-mentioned group swears by pink (and various shades

thereof) flies. Since Dan regularly catches lots of big fish, his advice seems well worth listening to. In fact, taking advice from veteran anglers is among the best things any of us can do. Sure, scientific-minded anglers can learn much about salmonid habits on their own, but advice from others often fills in the holes in our libraries or fishing knowledge. I write about fishing for a living and yet, am the first one to

Moosehead (Continued from page 42)

Trenton Swallow shot this 14-point, 185-pound buck in Greenwood on November 7, 2017. According to his parents Jody and Kristi Swallow, this buck should score well in MASTC.

Wyatt Cassidy, age 11, had Maine Youth Day success with this 140-pound crotch-horn. Wyatt was hunting in Pittston with his father, Jason.

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where 4- to 5-pound togue abound, lots of larger fish are present, as well. For the visiting ice angler, my best recommendation is to first, enlist the services of a Moosehead Lake guide. These people know where to go for best results. My next suggestion is to always use live smelt as bait if at all possible. Moosehead Lake salmonids are tuned into smelt in a big way, so for best results, pick up a dozen or so smelt from a local dealer. And for contact information on guides and also smelt, see the classified ads and bait directory in the pages of The Maine Sportsman. Whopper Salmon As is the case with brook trout and togue, salmon too have gone the football-shaped route. Packed with smelt on a regular basis, salmon have no choice but to expand in girth. And what pretty fish these are, too – bright-silver, with perfect symmetry. It’s easy to see why people hit Moosehead Lake with salmon in mind. Bob Lawrence told me that while he didn’t take out as many charters as in the past, last year saw his clients

ask someone what he or she caught that fish on. I also include questions about how fast were they trolling, and also how far down. Not a one of us knows everything about anything, and it behooves us to act like sponges, soaking up the accumulated knowledge of other anglers. So don’t be shy in querying successful anglers. Their tips may save the day.

taking some photo-worthy salmon on most every trip. In fact, Bob says that in general, salmon, togue and brook trout are in about as good shape as he’s ever seen, and that’s saying something for this long-time Moosehead Lake veteran. It’s only a few years ago that I wrote about hooking into a salmon that would easily have weighed six pounds while fishing on the back side of Mt. Kineo. That fish was a precursor to what has happened to salmon fishing on Moosehead since that time. Here’s another point to consider – Most lakes are popular because of their trademark fish species. Anglers may know one lake for its togue fishery, another for its salmon and another for its brook trout. But Moosehead Lake offers topnotch fishing for all three species. No need to look further afield, since it’s all right here at Moosehead Lake. If all that I’ve written here tends to get anglers excited about Moosehead Lake, then I have succeeded, because that was my intent. So gear up, check with a guide and come and enjoy some of Maine’s best ice fishing on mighty Moosehead Lake.

Wildlife Quiz Answers

(Quiz on Page 37)

1. Chickadees may be found throughout the United States and even as far north as Alaska and the Yukon. 2. Chickadees may be found in a wide range of habitats, including mixed woodlands, field edges, marshes and residential neighborhoods. 3. Through their seemingly simple vocalizations, chickadees can communicate information to the other members of the flock regarding potential threats, food sources, location and group movements. 4. The chickadee serves as the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts. 5. A majority of a chickadee’s diet is comprised of caterpillars, small insects, seeds and berries. 6. Chickadee mating season starts in April and ends in June. 7. Chickadees lay in a typical clutch between 6 and 8 eggs. 8. The maximum recorded lifespan of a chickadee is twelve years.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 45

Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing Kick Off New Year in Style Folks participate in all sorts of activities to help celebrate the New Year, and sportsmen in the Jackman Region have no shortage of options this month. Cold weather and lots of snow crack this juggernaut wide open. Many years ago, I started a simple New Year’s Day tradition of going for a lone coyote hunt. Yup, just me alone taking a walk on my cousin’s farm while the rest of the world shook off the effects of late night New Year’s Eve celebrations. The solitude and quietness of a soft wind swirling loose snow across the open field leading to the

Jackman has become a “hub” for serious snowmobile trail runners, since riders can access The Forks, Rockwood, Greenville, Eustis or Canada, depending on which direction they point their machine’s skis. wood line reminded me why I had made the predawn trip. I tucked my chin into my collar and marched headlong into the New Year listening for “yotes” howling at the moon. Hunters looking to have some fun and sharpen their hunting skills can certainly find plenty of mountain-running coyotes to pursue in the rugged terrain just south of the Canadian border. With Maine’s liberal coy-

ote hunting season in play (no closed season), pursuing these predators on the snow helps swing the chances for success in the sportsman’s favor. A fresh coat of tracking snow makes zeroing in on these tricky canines a bit easier. Trappers tell me that coyotes like to “run the roads” at night. Searching for tracks along the edges of logging roads or snowmobile trails provides real-time information on current

coyote activity. New snow makes a big difference. Two years ago, I hunted grouse and woodcock extensively along an abandoned logging road. Upon returning to that same road later on in the season to hunt snowshoe hare, I stumbled across a zillion red fox tracks. Upon further investigation those tracks led straight to a den. The amazing part was how many times I’d walked by that den just two months

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earlier. The season on foxes runs from October 15 through February 28 – good dates to remember in case a fox responds to a coyote call. On more than one occasion, my dying rabbit call has brought ol’ Red Whiskers a-calling. Fox fur approaches its prime this month – another thought worth saving. Hard Water Fishing Another great tradition practiced by many folks involves celebrating the opening of the hard water fishing season. Ice shacks, flags and hot dogs cooked over a campfire (Continued on next page)

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46 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Jackman

(Continued from page 45)

set the stage for ringing in the New Year. Of course, making sure the ice will hold this celebration of time and season requires checking to ensure that the ice has built up plenty of thickness. Many charts and graphs detail ice thickness with weight capacity. I lost a good friend through the ice. Take whatever the chart says for thickness, and double it. Big Wood Pond (De-

Lorme Atlas Map 39, B-4) in Jackman attracts plenty of angler attention, and healthy stockings throughout the year keep it as a perennial local favorite ice fishing water. Two other nearby favorites, Little Big Wood (Map 39, B-3) and Holeb Pond (Map 39, B-2), also stay open for hard water fishing. Not all waters in the Northern counties are open to ice fishing. Check the rule book and look for

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an “A” or “B” designation next to the individually listed water. A “CI” designation means closed to ice fishing. Attean Pond, for example, has a “CI” designation and is therefore closed to ice fishing. Ice anglers have the option of making hard-water fishing range from simple to complex. For me, simple works. All my gear fits in a small “Jet Sled, Jr.” modified to carry the basic minimum gear to drop some lines in the water. No, I don’t have a motorized ice auger. In fact, it was barely a decade ago that I upgraded to a hand-powered auger.

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per, half a dozen reconditioned wood traps, along with an ice skimmer and a bait bucket. I’ve recently added two homemade jigging rods. On the top of the sled I strap a folding chair, cooler with lunch and a small backpacking stove. An assortment of hand warmers, matches and extra clothes fits in a drybag. It stays packed and (Continued on page 48)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 47

Dog Sled Event Organizers Strive to Maximize Fun, Reduce Risks Dog sledding is one of those sports that evokes an almost mythical aura of adventure, danger and romance. Many of us think first of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome with mushers and their teams battling the elements for ten days or more across 1,100 miles of unforgiving Alaska wilderness. The competitors and their dogs race day and night through grizzly bear country, crossing treacherous frozen rivers, braving wind chills of 40 below zero or colder, and struggling to stay on the trail in white-out conditions. They battle hypothermia, snow blindness and frostbite, and sometimes must chase off angry, charging moose. Here in Maine, dog sled racing is much tamer, but every bit as exciting. A handful of clubs across the Pine Tree state host races ranging from four to 30 miles or more. And several outfitters offer safe and fun day trips on dog sleds for families. Racing in Maine The longest dog sled race in Maine is the CanAm Crown, now in its 26th year, that starts and finishes in Fort Kent on the first weekend of March. The feature race covers a 250-mile loop through the backcountry near the St. John and Allagash Rivers. Rugged and remote, for sure, but not quite as perilous as the Iditarod. The Can Am also includes challenging races at 100 miles and 30 miles. Greenville hosts the Wilderness Sled Dog

Maine races include marked trails, regular checkpoints, veterinarians and safety volunteers. But there’s always the chance that gear may break, dog teams may run free or collisions may occur when sled dogs and recreational snowmobilers share the same trails.

Dogs can pull sleds as fast as 30 miles an hour, so if gear breaks or the “snow hook” (used like a parking brake) does not hold, risks to the musher and dogs increase.

Race, now in its ninth year, on February 3, 2018. What started as a 100-mile course is now usually run with a 70 mile race and a 30 mile race. The event sponsors stress safety for the mushers and the dogs, and report “a perfect record when it comes to the health and well-being of every dog who has ever participated!” The Down East Sled Dog Club sponsors several other thrilling sprint events (less than eight miles), including the Musher’s Bowl (February

4) in Bridgton, the Farmington Frolic Sprint Race Championships (February 17-18) and the (tentative) Viles Arboretum Sled Dog Challenge (Feb 24-25) in Augusta. These events include three, four and six dog classes, plus “skijoring” in which one or two dogs pull a skier around the four-mile course. Sounds like fun! Dog sledding can still be wild and wooly out in the Maine woods, but our local sled dog clubs do everything they can to make dog sledding a safe sport for the participants, including the dogs. The rac-

es include marked trails, regular checkpoints, veterinarians, and volunteers on snowmobiles to keep a close eye on the dog teams and mushers throughout the race. But, as with most outdoor sports, there is always an element of risk. Stuff Happens Dog sled racing is fast. The teams can average 20 miles an hour over several miles, with a top speed of 30 mph. At this speed, rollovers are an inevitable part of the action. Several years ago, Dennis Cyr, president

of the Can Am Crown race, was on a tandem sled, teaching a college student how to drive a 10-dog team. As the sled made a fast turn, his student fell off, he fell off, and the snow hook came loose. (A snow hook looks like a big double fish hook or claw; it is used to anchor the sled so the dogs won’t run off.) The good news was the dogs didn’t run off on their own. The bad news for Dennis was that the snow hook caught his boot as he fell, dragging him down the trail until the sled (on its side) plowed up enough snow to stop the dogs. Dennis was little worse for wear, as he righted the sled and continued their run knowing that he was lucky the hook didn’t impale his leg, which would have been much more serious. Runaway Team Dogs sometimes do run off. One Tuesday afternoon, Dennis was cruising along on a lake with a ten-dog team when he saw a dog booty (used to protect the dogs’ feet) in the trail. He stopped, set the snow hook in the ice, and hopped off the sled to pick up the booty. The dogs still wanted to run, however, and managed to yank the snow hook free before Dennis could hop back on the sled. And off they went, out of sight. After trudging several miles to the road, Dennis called his wife and hopped on a snowmobile to go looking for the dogs. They found the team an hour or so later, several miles away, curled up and (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Danger in the Outdoors (Continued from page 47)

sleeping in a tangled pod of fur and traces (leather harnesses and straps). Everyone was okay, yet Dennis learned a hard lesson about when to use two snow hooks and to double-check the sets, even for a quick stop. Stuff Breaks As with any outdoor sport, equipment can break, often at the worst time. Alex Theriault is one of the best sprint racers in New England, including a top-four finish at the 2011 World Championships in Laconia, NH. He thought it was time to try a longer race, so he entered the 30-mile race at the Can-Am Crown last year. About a mile or two into the race, a stanchion broke on the upright part of Alex’s sled, which limited his steering and balance. Then, at mile 15, he hit a stump and went flying over the sled, landing in the snow next to his startled dogs. The crash broke the right runner where it curves up from the snow. For the remaining 15 miles of the race, Alex could barely keep the sled running on the flat and downhill sections by tipping the sled back,

despite the broken stanchion. But he had to carry it up the hills when the runner dug into the snow. It was an exhausting grind to the finish. Still, Alex plans to be back in 2018 with a big roll of duct tape and more repair tools on his sled. Share the Trail As with other non-motorized sports, there can be challenges or conflicts when sled dog teams share the same space as motorized vehicles. Dogs can be unpredictable, so snowmobilers must use caution around sled teams. The dogs don’t always stay to the right on shared trails, as the leaders often cut the corners when they can. And mushers can’t always get their teams to respond quickly to commands. It is best for snowmobiles to pull over and stop as the teams go by. Sadly, there have been some tragic incidents involving dog teams and snowmobiles, usually involving excessive speed or operator inexperience. In one race, a snowmobile slammed into a dog team head-on, killing two dogs. In the 2016 Can-Am race, a young snowmobiler hit a dog sled and seriously injured the musher.

Jackman (Continued from page 46)

ready for spur of the moment outings. Of course, I do jealously notice the anglers with fold-out ice shacks, power augers, electronic flashers and fish finders. Not to mention some pretty expensive (and warm looking) outerwear. Yup, I’ll grudgingly admit I’m jealous, but I still enjoy muddling along with my old equipment. Snowmobiling Now The snowmobiling season hits full stride this month. In fact, my impromptu count in downtown Jackman last year tallied more snowmobiles than passenger vehicles. It’s snow country up here. Due to its location just south of the Canadian border, the hamlet of Jackman has www.MaineSportsman.com

Whenever racing dogs and snowmobiles share trails, awareness by riders and mushers is critical. Like sports cars on an oval track, sled dog teams may “cut the corners,” which can result in collisions with unsuspecting snowmobilers coming in the opposite direction.

Race organizers are working with local snowmobile clubs to raise awareness about race events by placing signs on shared trails. Wardens patrol those parts of the course that must

follow snowmobile trails. Hopefully, future incidents can be prevented with improved cooperation and communication. Great Tradition Dog sledding is an exciting sport with great

become a “hub” of sorts for serious snowmobile trail runners. From Jackman, sled jockeys can access The Forks, Rockwood, Greenville, Eustis and Canada depending on which direction they point their skis. For trail information contact the Jackman Region Chamber of Commerce (www. jackmanmaine.org) or the Border Riders Sportsman’s Club (www.borderridersclub. com). Many of the local businesses can point folks from away in the right direction. Bishops Store, located on Main Street also serves as a starting destination, providing snowmobilers with many of the products and services that make for a successful time on the trail system. The remote trail system that weaves through these mountainous woods requires the utmost respect. Although dedicated volunteers have made sure the trails are well

tradition. The dogs love to run, and whether you are racing, riding, or just watching, it is a healthy and fun way to enjoy Maine’s beautiful backcountry.

marked, riders should use those trails prudently. Most accidents occur due to speed. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. When driving at night, don’t overdrive the headlights. Sharing the trail with a 1,000-pound moose at night means paying attention and making sure a sled will stop within the range of the headlights. Also, bring some emergency gear. A breakdown out here, especially at night, can get cold and ugly. Some extra food, water and the means to start a fire could turn into a life saver. It’s a good idea to leave an itinerary with someone, or at least under your motor vehicle’s windshield wiper. And, most importantly, don’t travel alone – share the Jackman Region snowmobiling experience with a friend.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 49

Scorpion Venison Sausage Stew “Layers, layers, and more layers” is not just about bundling up for winter. It is also about layers in your food – herbs, spices, colors and textures you can taste and feel. Here I will introduce you to the second hottest pepper in the world. In 2012 the New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute identified the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Pepper as the hottest chili in the world. It has heat of 1.2 million Scoville heat units (SHUs), second only to the Carolina Reaper, with 1.57 million

SHUs. The scorpion has a tender fruit-like flavor, which makes it a sweet-hot dangerous combination. The pepper can be grown from seeds in most parts of the world, even in Maine as I did this summer. AND you can taste and buy these pepper flakes, and seeds, at The Maine Sportsman’s booth at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, Saturday March 31st (as long as supplies last).

Scorpion pepper plant grown by the author this past summer.

Making Scorpion Venison Sausage Stew Smidgen, Pinch and a dash – in this picture you will see three small spoons on top of the toasted bread. They are actually measurement spoons I use when adding new ingredi-

ents. Lucinda and I tested the dash (largest of three spoons), and it equals 1/8 teaspoon. This gives you an idea of the others.

I usually make my own sausage that includes the Scorpion Peppers. This will make the soup hotter and I am a masochist for heat.

• 2 pounds Venison Sausage meat (recipe below) • ½ pound Hot Turkey Sausage • ¼ cup “Tasteful Things” Sweet Butter Cream Olive Oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 sweet yellow peppers, chopped • 2 tablespoons garlic, fresh chopped • 6 cups chicken stock • 3 cups Picante Sauce (mild) • 2 15-ounce Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon Trinidad Scorpion Moruga Pepper* (or favorite pepper) • 4 cups Kale (or baby spinach), slightly chopped Brown sausage. Remove and set aside. Heat Sweet Butter Cream Olive Oil, add onions and peppers and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add sausage meat back in with stock, Picante Sauce, beans, salt, Trinidad Scorpion Moruga Pepper, kale and bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, covered. Chefs Note: Puree 1 cup of soup and add back in for a thicker stew consistency.

Healthy Scorpion Venison Sausage Meat • • • • • • •

4 lbs. Venison, ground (very cold) ¼ cup “Tasteful Things” Honey Balsamic Vinegar 2 tablespoons cold water 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 4 tablespoons Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon onion powder

• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper • 4 tablespoons Smokey Hungarian Spicy Paprika • 4 tablespoons fennel seeds, crushed • 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper • 1 teaspoon Scorpion Pepper flakes • ½ cup parsley, finely chopped

Place Venison meat in freezer for half hour before, to chill. In large mixing bowl, combine meat with rest of ingredients and mix until just incorporated, no more. Run meat through grinder once. (I use a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer equipped with the meat grinder attachment, with set speed of 4).

www.MaineSportsman.com

50 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

The Fly Pattern that is a Secret Weapon for Trout and Salmon Please use caution. Before reading this column, move someplace where no one can read it over your shoulder. Why? Because I am about to reveal a fly pattern that may be the most effective fly-fishing weapon in my arsenal of flies. The fewer people who know about this pattern the better. I urge you to keep this information to yourself. Let me give you one example of how great this fly is. Last September, the fly-fishing was tough. Extreme drought, and water too warm for fish to move. Anglers looked like African game animals herded together around vanishing water holes in the Serengeti as they gathered at the few waters that were fishing decently. During the last week of the season, despite fishing hard, I caught nothing but a few dinks. I arose the last day of the season at “zero-dark-thirty” and hurried to my favorite Rangeley pool to hook one last landlocked salmon for the year. Although I had the water to myself, cast after cast of dry flies, streamers and nymphs

This trout and salmon fly is so good, it will improve your marriage – and Lou tells you how and why.

My wife’s end-of-season landlocked salmon. Lou Zambello photo

produced nothing – not even a chub. Big Salmon Just before I was about to leave, I found my last remaining killer fly, tied it on, waded thigh deep, and swung it (wet-fly style) through the middle of the meager current. The next thing I

Gene Bahr

knew, the largest salmon I have ever hooked was looking me right in the eye, as he jumped three feet in the air. I eventually landed the fish that I estimate weighed five pounds. My wife spent the morning fishing upstream, and later that day when we met on the river, she summarized her day in a frustrated

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tone by declaring, “Nothing. Zero. Bupkis.” I told her about my salmon, and like a good husband, handed over the fly responsible for my success. Two casts later – no lie – she hooked up with the largest landlocked she had ever caught. What a way to end the season (and improve a marriage).

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Secret Revealed Well, I have kept you in suspense long enough. The magic pattern that saved the day on September 30th and has been an amazingly effective pattern for years is … wait for it … the Prince nymph. Disappointed? Most of you know the Prince nymph well, and fish it regularly. But I am guessing that you don’t use it often enough, or with all the varied techniques that are possible. You may also not be aware of the numerous new versions available. If you are unfamiliar with the Prince nymph - maybe you are new to fly fishing – this is your lucky day. The Prince nymph includes a split tail, peacock body wrapped in wire, and two white goose-biot wings. This contrast of color and flash attracts attention and gives the impression of life even though it doesn’t imitate any one aquatic food in particular. Today, several Prince nymph variations give the angler many fishing options. An unweighted Prince nymph fished near the surface can imitate an emerging caddis. A tungsten bead-head version sinks right to the bottom, targeting fish looking for dislodged stone fly nymphs. Salmonids take a size 20 to 24 Prince as a midge or emerging small mayfly. Prince Variations Another Prince nymph variation replaces the goose-biot wings with newer materials such as (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 51

The author’s five-pound salmon being released. Lou Zambello photo (Continued from page 50)

holographic tinsel. Find this pattern (and fly-tying instructions) online under the name, “The fly formerly known as Prince.” A Purple Rain pattern (yes, named after Prince’s signature album) also exists, but it isn’t related to the Prince nymph. I am just guessing that most of the Maine Sportsman readers are not big Prince fans, so I will now move on from all the Prince references. But see if you can find the Jimi Hendrix reference below. Other Prince nymph variations include a Prince Hare’s Ear nymph, constructed like a traditional Hare’s Ear but with a little flashback and white goose-biot wings. A Purple-Haze Prince Nymph is purple

with pink highlights to show up better in off-colored water. A black version offers the same advantages. Different Techniques Most folks fish Prince nymphs as part of a twofly rig under a strike indicator such as a Thingamabobber. But let me urge you to try other techniques. High-stick nymphing with no indicator allows you to manipulate the depth of the fly. Tumble it down between rocks or try it both high and low in the water column. At the end of the drift, raise it up like an emerging insect, and then dangle it in the current. Most fish take Prince nymphs rather aggressively, so you don’t need an indicator to feel a strike. An unweighted Prince

The Prince nymph is available wherever fine flies are sold, including L.L.Bean and Cabela’s. Photo credit: Orvis

nymph acts as an excellent wet fly and can be fished in the traditional way – casting at a downstream quartering angle, letting it drift downstream, and then letting it swing and rise at the end of the drift. Most of the strikes occur during the rise and swing. My wife and my end-of-year salmon were caught by using this technique. Try retrieving a size 10 (or larger) Prince nymph as a streamer.

Moderate to rapid strips are best. Don’t be surprised if it gets hammered, even in heavily-pressured pools. My clients and I have had success with Prince nymphs in so many waters, I can’t possibly list them all. A Prince nymph is my go-to pattern in the following Maine rivers – Rangeley, Kennebago, Magalloway, Upper Presumpscot, Crooked, Roach, St. George, and the West Branch of the

Penobscot. I recently returned from Cutthroat fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, and the Cuts loved the Prince nymph too. You don’t really need to keep the Prince nymph a secret. Almost everybody is familiar with it. You just need to fish the Prince (and all of its variations) more often and in different ways. Success will follow.

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52 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Pike Fishing Primer Ask most northern pike enthusiasts about ice fishing and you will hear a lot of stories about catching them early and late in the hard-water season. This is because both during early ice (December) and in the spring (late February), pike can be found in fairly shallow water, clustered around weed beds and the mouths of tributaries in search of food. By January, however, pike have moved out of the shallows and into deeper waters in their relentless pursuit of food. This migration makes the job of finding pike a much more difficult endeavor.

Lakes in central Maine that consistently produce trophysize pike include Great Pond, Messalonskee Lake, Long Pond, North Pond and Annabessacook Lake. To turn the odds in your favor, anglers need to first target lakes containing pike. Location, Location, Location In central Maine, finding a lake containing pike is becoming an increasingly easier and easier task. While this is an unfortunate development for many angling traditionalists, it’s exciting news to those of us who simply like to catch monstrous-sized fish. When in pursuit of pike, it is important to

note that not all central Maine lakes are created equal. Some lakes simply produce larger pike than others. Lakes in central Maine that consistently produce trophy-size pike include Great Pond (DeLorme’s Atlas Map 20, E-4), Messalonskee Lake (Map 21, E-1), Long Pond (Map 20, E-4), North Pond (Map 20, D-4) and Annabessacook Lake (Map 12, C-3). No matter what time of year, pike are still ambush feeders. Even though pike may have departed from their seasonal shallow water territories, they will still congregate around some type structure where they can lay and wait for unsuspecting prey. Structure in deep water includes rock piles or steep dropoffs. Study lake maps to find shelves, corners or dips that interrupt these drop offs, as they provide places for pike to hide as they wait for bait fish to swim along these breaklines.

Spot and Stalk After selecting a promising location, start drilling holes – a lot of holes. Those who lament this tedious chore would be well served to invest in an ION electric ice auger. Light enough to be lifted with a single finger, this amazing device really simplifies the chore of pounding holes through the ice. I like to compare pike fishing to deer hunting. There are stand hunters and there are spot-andstalk deer hunters. By drilling only a few holes, anglers are waiting and wishing that a pike will swim by their jig or bait. Instead of using this passive technique, I recommend actively stalking the pike by drilling 15 to 20 holes in varying depths along a section of promising structure. J i g each hole for a maximum of 20-30 minutes to actively locate fish. Using modern electronics, like a flasher, can help find fish faster, but anglers can still

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have great luck by simply being proactive in their drilling and jigging. Lures, Bait and Jigging Pike will eat almost anything and as such. Because of that fact, they have caught by anglers using almost every type of fishing lure imaginable. With that said, however, there are certain lures that tend to work better than others when in pursuit of big, wall hanger pike. Vertical Spoons, such as the Swedish Pimple and Acme Kastmaster, are favorites, and their performance can be improved by adding a piece of cut bait on one of the hooks – a killer combination. Drop the lure to the bottom, lift, drop and lift 5-6 more times then hold it still. Pike often hit the lure when it stops moving. Often I let the lure sit for a couple seconds, then proceed to give it a slight twitch before jigging again. Often that little twitch is all it takes to elicit a brutal strike. Tip-ups While jigging catches a lot of pike, anglers should not limit themselves to only one line in the water. When done in unison, jigging and using tip-ups combine to create a lethal combination of techniques that put pike on the ice. As pike are generally curious creatures, aggressively jigging lures and thereby creating a disturbance around a tip-up will often dramatically increase the number of catches in a day. (Continued on page 54)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 53

Outstanding Winter Hunting and Fishing Prospects Surround Pen-Bay Ice angler Jim Conary of East Orland reported having good luck at Craig Pond last winter, where he caught fatbellied 13- and 14-inch brook trout. Hunting and ice-fishing opportunities abound in the Greater Penobscot Bay Region. By referring to DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 15, hunters and fisherman find ample habitat in either category. My biggest dilemma is, should I go sea duck or rabbit hunting near Penobscot Bay, or do I start the year ice fishing for salmon, togue, brown trout, white perch, or fresh-water bass? Too many options; too little time! However, I usually choose to begin ice fishing in January. I often have fast action at Craig Pond in East Orland (Map 23, E-2). During a recent winter’s trip there, I carefully chose what I thought to be a productive fishing location. Using emerald shiners for bait, I set the flags on my traps. Within minutes, one of my Heritage ice-traps began to reel off yards of line. I set the hook and tried to begin the retriev-

al. The icy line slid through my chilled hands before I was able to grip it tightly and start the fish in my direction. Cautiously, I pull the darting fish toward the hole. After several attempts, I managed to get the brook trout’s head through the ice. I snipped the leader and freed the fish. Technical Help Often, I decide to lower my telescopic fish finder, a Fishin’ Buddy model manufactured by Bottom Line, to scout out other promising possibilities. The screen on my fish finder usually reveals whether or not I am situated over fish. This day several fish images appeared near the surface, approximately 40 feet to the right of my ice hole. I figured the two images on the screen were probably brook trout. I put on a 3-inch shiner, and lowered it about 3 feet below the ice. In the next hour I

lowered my fish-finder into three more holes and baited each of the ice traps. Another hour slipped away, when finally, a flag popped up. My reel spun steadily as the tension on the line increased. I carefully pulled the trap up through the ice and grabbed the fleeing line, setting the hook. The rigid tension on the line made me realized that I had hooked a sizeable fish. I cautiously clipped my leader and freed the 18-inch salmon. Craig is a heavily stocked pond. It should be a hotspot for winter anglers, with last stocking of 100 13- inch brook trout, and is usually stocked with another 1,100 7-inch brookies. This pond has had an aggressive stocking program for decades, so anglers can expect to catch more than a few hold-over salmonids. One hard-water angler, Jim Conary of East Orland, mentioned that he had had good luck

Another successful year -- columnist Jim Lemieux and his 197-pound, 8-point buck shot November 17, 2017.

catching brookies there last winter. The fat-bellied, brightly-speckled brookies he reported catching were between 13 and 14 inches in length. Access to Craig Pond is at the landing near the west end of the pond where there is ample parking for vehicles and snowmobile trailers. To drive to the landing, take a right off the Craig Brook Fish Hatchery Road. More Opportunities Another top-notch

winter fishery is Brewer Lake (Map 23, C-3). Good catches of salmon are often reported during the first two weeks of the ice-fishing season. Some of the most productive salmon habitats lie along the west shore of this water. Hefty landlocks on this lake range from 1-½ pounds to 2 pounds. Access to Brewer is not a problem, as there are plowed camp roads (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Downeast Region (Continued from page 53)

located within easy walking distance to the pond. Very Good Hunting for Varying Hare Another outdoor activity sure to please sports-minded people is rabbit hunting. Beagles are often heard in full chorus on those days in January when the temperatures are above

freezing. Rabbit hunters in the Surry region are finding more bunnies in the woods than in previous years. Several rabbit covers in this area that provide top-notch gunning lie along the dirt side roads branching off Route 176 in Surry, Map 23, E-4. Eric Peddle of Bucksport and his beagle usu-

Central Maine (Continued from page 52)

Tip-ups are an extremely effective means of presenting big bait to big pike. A sturdy tip-up with a large spool capable of holding 300 feet of line and having a tension adjustment, helps to keep large bait from continually triggering the flag. Generally, the bigger the pike being targeted, the bigger the bait that should be used. A live sucker or golden shiner in the 6” to 8” inch range will be an irresistible meal to an 18-20 pound pike. Just make sure to anchor the baitfish solidly in place, using a 1/2 ounce non-lead sinker, so it cannot escape. Big pike are notoriously lazy and don’t like to expend a lot of energy in pursuit of a meal. This past ice fishing season, I used dead bait and had a higher catch rate than with live bait. Often with pike fishing, it pays dividends to mix it up now and then. Speaking of mixing it up, Google and buy the “Quick Strike Rig for Pike” and watch your rate of successful hook-ups soar. Rath-

ally pick up a few bunnies in this area each outing. Locations featuring streams and an abundance of cedar vegetation holds more than a few bunnies. This region features alder cover and a southern exposure that can provide for some exciting rabbit hunts this month. This area has been logged in recent years, creating prime vantage points for hunters to get some good shots at ever-circling bunnies.

Salt Water Birds Die-hard sea-duck hunters can continue their season by placing decoys on the coastal waters of Penobscot Bay. One popular location for picking up a few sea ducks is found in Penobscot Bay. Porcupina Island (Map 23, E-2) is located on the eastern channel of the Penobscot River. At low tide, this island is difficult to get onto in order to set up a

er than using a single large hook and having to wait until the pike runs, stops and swallows the bait, a quick-strike set-up uses two smaller treble hooks, one through the lips or nose of the baitfish and the other through the tail area, so wherever the pike grabs the bait, you’ll be able to set the hooks quickly and you’ll likely have a fish on. I have checked with my contact at the Maine Warden Service and I’ve been assured that these devices are legal for fishing purposes so long as “both of the device’s hooks penetrate a single bait, so as to catch a single fish.” When drilling holes and rigging tip-ups, I like to drill my holes parallel to promising structure and set baits at two feet off the bottom. If after a couple hours, I don’t elicit a strike, I will move the tip-ups to alternate pre-drilled holes in other promising locations. FLAG! When a pike grabs the bait, line typically flies off the spool at such a rate of speed that a roster tail of water flies off the back of the spool. Unless I’m using the quick strike

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set-up described above, I usually allow the fish to run until it stops. This is when a pike typically swallow the bait. As soon as the line again begins to spool out, immediately set the hook. In deep water this technique is usually very effective in making sure the pike is well hooked. In shallow waters or in waters with a lot of underwater structure, it is better to simply set the line as fast as possible. Once they feel the hook, pike will try everything they can to break off, and will quickly become entangled in rocks, branches, submerged trees and any other structure so they can break the line and escape. Note to readers: After covering the Washington County region for many years, I am now residing in the Greater Augusta area. I’m looking forward to chronicling outdoor adventures in this Central Maine column. Contact me at rabidoutdoorsman@gmail. com to let me know the locations, stories and people that should be covered in this region.

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shore blind; however, the extra effort is often worth the trouble. Especially at high tide, ducks fly close enough to the island to present good wing-shooting opportunities. Access can be gained at the Verona Island Public Boat Landing Facility. Porcupina Island is to the right and about a mile from the boat landing.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 55

Stripers, Diesel Outboards and Groundfish in the News Several news items of interest to Maine’s saltwater anglers have come across my desk in recent months, so I’m going to share them while they’re still fresh. First off, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has posted their 2017 youngof-the-year (YOY) index for striped bass, and it appears that the fish are reproducing in strong numbers. The measurement is made using an “index” that counts the average number of young-of-theyear bass (those less than one year old) captured in 132 netting samples. This year’s annual survey index is 13.2, above the 64-year average of 11.7. Many of the striped bass that migrate up along the Maine coast each season spawn in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in the spring. The survey is conducted annually to track the reproductive success of stripers, and helps predict future abundance. “Strong reproduction in three of the past seven years is an encouraging sign for the coastal population and future fishing opportunities,” says Dave Blazer, a director of the DNR. During this year’s survey, biologists collected over 33,000 fish of 62 species, including 1,741 juvenile striped bass. The most productive area was the Upper Bay, the striper’s largest spawning area. Striper YOY surveys are also conducted in Virginia, and I will report on those as soon as info is

Strong striper reproduction in three of the past seven years is an encouraging sign for future fishing opportunities.

Maryland’s Young-of-the-Year Index for striped bass was 13.2, above the long-term average of 11.7. Good striper reproduction in Chesapeake Bay for three of the past seven years is a good sign for Maine’s striper anglers. Graph courtesy Maryland DNR

available. Real Diesel Outboards Are Here! Although diesel outboard motors have been around for many years, most have been heavy, clunky, low-horsepower models designed for workboats. But all that may be about to change. Noted marine diesel engine producer Yanmar has introduced the Dtorque 111 Turbo Diesel, manufactured by a German company called Neander Shark. It’s a two-cylinder, 50-hp outboard, and it’s billed as the smallest turbocharged common-rail diesel outboard on the market. It features a set of counter-rotating crankshafts that essentially “cancel each other out” and reduce the vibration

and noise that has historically plagued diesel engines. The sleek-looking, silver outboard weighs in at 385 pounds, no lightweight for 50 hp (a 50-hp gas Yamaha gas engine weighs around 250 lbs.), but it appears it would be quite manageable for many small-boat, single-engine applications such as center consoles in the 18- to 22-foot class. At full throttle the Dtorque is said to burn about half the fuel, and deliver more torque, than a 70-hp, four-stroke gas outboard. No word as to price as of this writing, but you can check the Dtorque 111 out at www.neander-motors.com.

have increased the overall quota of Gulf of Maine cod that can be caught in 2018, and for the recreational sector that will mean a bump-up from 157 metric tons (mt) in 2017 to 220 mt for the coming season. It’s not much, but we’ll take it. As Maine’s saltwater anglers well know, there

was no retention of cod at all for 2017. The entire recreational quota was calculated to be reached just through the dead discards (15%) of cod caught and released while fishermen targeted other species such as pollock and haddock. Whether the additional 63 mt of cod quota will be enough so that anglers might be able to keep one cod per trip in 2018 remains to be seen. The numbers are still being crunched as of this writing, and I’ll report back when information is available. The Gulf of Maine haddock stock, on the other hand, is going through the roof. The recreational quota for 2018 has been increased nearly 200% over the 2017 quota, from 1,160 mt to 3,358 mt. That’s a huge amount of haddock, and it’s doubtful that recreational fishermen in New England could ever catch that many fish in a single year. However, that does not mean that the bag limit (it was 12 fish per person in 2017) will go (Continued on page 57)

Groundfish Ups and Downs Fishery managers www.MaineSportsman.com

56 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Paddling Past the Boneyard We were gearing up for a remote canoe hunt in November and discussing our usual tactic of paddling from camp to different spots on the river where we would start that day’s deer hunt. This routinely involves icy, pre-dawn paddles of a mile or more, often upstream, and then a full day of hiking the ridges in search of big bucks. One of my hunting partners, Wayne Sturdivant, was joking about how many more years we could expect to keep doing this type of hunt. I mentioned that I was scheduled for hip replacement surgery in January. “Don’t worry, I can do the paddling this year,” he laughed. “It’s not the paddling that worries me,” I replied, “but you might need to hold my hand when I get in and out of the canoe.” Cruel Passage of Time Progressive physical limitations, like osteoarthritis affecting the knees, hips, shoulders and back, can strike all kinds of aging outdoors folks. And they can be a game-changer for many types of activities. These badges of honor, earned through a live well-lived, are particularly cruel to the canoeists and other self-propelled boaters. During Maine’s 2015 moose hunt, my uncle drew a bull tag for Zone 2 in Aroostook County. He anticipated a road hunt until I offered the option of canoe hunt on the Fish River above and below Portage Lake. www.MaineSportsman.com

Face it – we’re getting older; our bodies, creakier. Whatever we can do to make our canoes more comfortable – such as 1) tipping the seats slightly forward; 2) adding padding for sitting or kneeling; or even 3) installing a footrest, turning to face the stern and rowing the canoe with oars – will ensure that we can keep canoeing for many years to come.

Seated paddling.

Uncle is a life-long fur trapper, hunter, woodsman, forester and all-around outdoorsman. He’s still doing logging as a one-man operation in his late sixties. But after considering the canoe option, my tough-as-nails uncle had to decline the offer. His arthritic back just couldn’t be relied upon for all-day canoe sitting. Messing About in Small Boats Paddling small boats requires balance – those constant, tiny micro-adjustments and weight shifts that we unconsciously make in a canoe. Small self-propelled crafts also require the flexibility to get in and out without upsetting. And once in the boat, you’ve got to have the ability to

remain in a fixed position, in close quarters, for extended periods of time. No wonder older folks start to avoid small boats as the years advance. I’ve written here before about the treachery of failing body parts and ways to overcome those challenges on self-propelled adventures. Small boats present very unique problems when flexibility, balance and mobility begin to decline. Minor Adjustments Fortunately, even minor adjustments can make a huge difference in how long we’re able to enjoy our favorite pastimes. Bill Mason, the famous Canadian wilderness canoeist, wrote that “kneeling is without question the most stable position for paddling

a canoe.” And hundreds of thousands of paddlers from summer-camp kids to serious expedition travelers have followed that sage advice. Mason also wrote: “The reason you seldom see canoeists in the kneeling position is because it hurts.” I can attest that it hurts even more as you get further away in years from that childhood summer camp experience. Mason and his disciples routinely spent days at a time in solo wooden canoes on their knees with their legs bent beneath them – sometimes with their butts braced against the canoe seat, other times with their butts resting directly on their heels – as they leaned the boat over to shorten the waterline

and make the canoe more maneuverable. It’s a tremendous way to paddle – even a 16- or 17-foot canoe can be pirouetted and precisely maneuvered by a solo paddler. The low center of gravity adds incredible stability, and by leaning the canoe toward the paddle side, and lowering the gunwale toward the waterline, the stroke can be efficiently made very close to the body. But it DOES hurt, and although Mason was able to continue these aerobatics well into his dotage, we, in comparison, are mere mortals. Canoe Rowing Discoveries In 2012, I explored options for rowing my canoe on long trips and found myself in need of a rowing seat. The idea was for a very low fixed seat with a foot brace that could be placed in the bottom of the canoe while rowing. I copied an antique wooden design, once produced by Old Town Canoe Company, and cobbled together a prototype. The seat worked great for rowing. And rowing itself turned out to be a really stable and balanced method for a solo occupant to move a canoe over flatwater. Balance is a factor in a canoe because, by definition, canoes feature a very narrow width. But with the oars attached, the effective beam of the canoe becomes something like ten feet. (Note to self – this kind of stability could keep me on the water in a solo canoe for many years to come.) (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 57

Age-adjusted seat instalation. (Continued from page 56)

But an even bigger surprise came one day at the end of a row when I shipped the oars into the canoe to paddle back to the dock. Instead of moving to the canoe seat, I just grabbed a paddle and stayed in the rowing seat to do so. The effect was amazing. Not only was the center of gravity almost as

Paddling seat for non-kneelers.

low as when I knelt, but I could shift the seat towards the gunwale and lean the boat over while I paddled. The seat provided all the benefits of kneeling without all the pain – and I never looked back. That seat has become an invaluable part of my solo paddling gear. Tandem Tricks For older tandem paddlers in a loaded ca-

noe, seat adjustments can make all the difference. Pitching the level of the canoe seat forward during installation makes an outsized difference in comfort. Simply attach the seat with the front edge hung an inch or so lower below the gunwale than the back of the seat. The hard-front edge of the canoe seat can be a misery for older folks on long trips.

Another solution: padded seats with backrests can be attached to the canoe’s wooden seats for all-day comfort. L.L Bean, Old Town and other retailers carry these after-market add-on seats. This works best in a well-loaded tripping canoe, which is a very stable platform for seated paddlers. I

Hands On got through

annual November canoe hunt without any hand-holding this year. But Wayne’s question about how long we can keep doing this stuff is a fair one. If we can keep tweaking our boats as our bodies age, there’s no good reason to give up on our favorite mode of travel any time soon.

the

Saltwater

(Continued from page 55)

away. The haddock bag limit is tied to the by-catch of cod – the lower the bag limit, the less likelihood people will stay out longer and catch and release more cod as they continue to fish on the haddock. It gets complicated. The New England Fishery Management Council’s Recreational Advisory Panel (on which I serve) will meet this month to go over the final numbers and make recommendations for the 2018 regulations. Stay tuned. Halibut, however, may require further restriction. Generally regarded as a “trophy” fish for anglers targeting cod and haddock, halibut are commercially caught as well, with most taken in the spring state-waters fishery right here off the Maine coast. The problem is that most of the overall Gulf of Maine halibut quota is caught in this state commercial fishery. Maine is working to tighten its state-waters catch, but federal fishery managers are looking at reducing the overall catch as well, and a no-possession regulation is one of the options. This would be a real shame for the recreational and party/charter fishery. Few legal-size (41”) halibut are caught by sport

Neander Shark’s new 50 hp diesel outboard motor may be a game-changer for powering center consoles and other small fishing boats. It’s heavier than a comparable 50-hp four-stroke gas outboard, but delivers significantly more torque and reportedly burns half the fuel. Photo courtesy Neander Shark

fishermen, but this oversized flounder remains the “dream” catch for New England’s offshore bottom bouncers – the fish of a lifetime – and it would be a real travesty to have to toss a 50- or 100-pounder back. I’ll be tracking this issue closely. I’ve

only caught one legal-size halibut in my charter fishing career, and I’d sure like the opportunity to put another one in the fish box.

www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

More Yount People Getting Into Ice Fishing Each Year We all know that fishing has many side benefits, including getting out in the fresh air, matching wits against an unseen quarry and sharing the experience with friends and family. And now, more than ever, young people have taken an increased measure of interest in fishing, particularly ice fishing. But why ice fishing? Well, open-water fishing, especially on lakes and ponds, requires a boat of some kind and not all young folks own – or even have access to – a boat. Ice fishing requires nothing but a set of warm footwear and some basic gear in order to have a productive day out on the frozen water. And while open-water fishing usually involves only one or two people at a time on the water, ice fishing has the distinction of being a community-type sport. Socializing, sharing venison sausage and hot beverages around a campfire while watching for flags, stands as a real big draw, and young people respond in droves. Panfish Popular While coldwater game fish rank as the biggest attraction statewide, and rightly so, Midcoast anglers have begun pursuing warmwater species in a big way. Bass, pickerel, perch and crappies have as many, and possibly more, adherents than do the various salmonids, at least in Midcoast Maine. But this is easily understandable, given the often fast action on spiny rays. It is possible to spend a day on the ice trout or salmon fishing www.MaineSportsman.com

Youngsters enjoy ice fishing for pickerel and panfish on a sunny winter’s day.

and not see a flag, but when fishing for warmwater species, that rarely happens. Midcoast Maine has its share of coldwater fisheries, but the majority of smaller lakes and ponds hold mostly warmwater species. And these are where the lion’s share of people head each weekend. Older anglers, too, find panfish appealing. I love trout fishing like nothing else on earth, but would rather take one trout in open water than a dozen through the ice. Besides that, just like the youngsters, I particularly enjoy fast action when ice fishing. In fact, I often drive past trout lakes on my way to panfish waters. Fish Fry The popularity of catch-and-release sometimes backfires with coldwater game fish. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife (DIF&W) frequently stocks salmonids

in Midcoast waters where carryover potential is absent or very limited. So in these situations, catch-and-release doesn’t really accomplish much. These fish are meant to be caught, taken home and enjoyed. When this philosophy bleeds over to warmwater species, something unexpected happens. Instead of fish becoming larger over the years, they diminish in size. Killing and keeping panfish has the effect of stimulating growth and overall, making for better fishing. Besides that, except for very small ponds, it is near-impossible to take too many panfish. White perch and black crappies both respond to angler pressure by growing larger. With panfish, catchand-release fans may take a day’s catch home and enjoy a grand fishfry with no guilt. Besides that, sharing a meal of fresh-caught fish with family and friends just

adds another dimension to the pleasure of ice fishing for warmwater species. Panfish Tips Fishing for panfish entails a different approach from that used for trout and salmon. First, it pays to have ice-fishing traps set lightly, since fish often drop the bait if the feel much resistance. Next, when perch and crappies bite, it is often possible to take numbers of fish from one hole. These are schooling species, and as long as the school remains nearby, fish will bite. Additionally, the action of a hooked fish excites others in the school, so it pays to get another bait down to waiting fish as soon as possible. When setting out the five traps – the number allowed under general law – keeping all the traps set can become a problem when a school comes through. I have begun the day with all five traps out, and as ac-

tion became hotter, pared the number down to two, since that was all I could easily manage. Interestingly – and this holds true for trout as well – some holes perform vastly better than others, despite being only a scant few feet away. Something on the bottom attracts and holds fish, and when you have determined that you have located a red-hot hole, it pays to keep track of it for future use. In the old days we used to take switches and stick them in the hole at day’s end to make locating the hole easy. Today, the GPS-equipped angler can probably pinpoint the spot precisely without resorting to cutting switches. Jig Rods Only decades ago, ice-fishermen had to make their own jigging rods. This we did by taking the tip of a discarded spinning or fly rod, drilling a hole in a section of broom handle and inserting the rod tip, filling the cavity with glue first so as to keep the tip in place. Today, that has all changed. Tackle outlets abound in high-tech jig rods, graphite models that while light, have strength enough to land the largest fish – no problem. Also, lines have become thinner and stronger. I highly recommend Berkley Super Strength Trilene Micro Ice line. This extra-strong line has the thinnest diameter possible for its poundtest. And better yet, this line has little, if any, discernable stretch, some(Continued on page 60)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 59

Nosler’s Family of Cartridges Signals Real Change Bend, Oregon ammunition and rifle maker Nosler, Inc. has appeared in “The Shooter’s Bench” many times over the years. Noted for their Model 78 bolt-action rifles, top-quality ammunition and revolutionary bullet designs such as the now-famous “Ballistic Tip” and “Accubond,” Nosler spent much of this decade perfecting a series of proprietary cartridges. They began in 2014 by launching the 6.5mm, 26 Nosler. The following year, Nosler brought to the market the 7mm, 28 Nosler. In 2016 the company released the 30 Nosler to compete headto-head with established cartridges such as the .300 Winchester Magnum. Nosler’s engineers and marketing staffs doubled down in 2017 at the bottom and top of the

size spectrum with the 22 Nosler and the 33 Nosler. As with the three predecessors, the 22 and 33 Nosler each seek to stake a claim on a specific niche in the ballistics marketplace. The plan calls for Nosler to gain market share by offering ballistic products that outperform better-known competitors. This notion that a few degrees of technical advantage will equal popularity and sales down the road seems a logical assumption, but is – as of yet – unproven. Fans in Maine Mainers hold Nosler products in high regard. Nosler bullets and other components are absolute favorites with reloaders across the state. The 22 Nosler appeals to shooters of both the venerable .270 Win-

chester and the newer .280 Remington. For those wanting something more out of the centurion .30-’06 Springfield, the 30 Nosler offers a powerful alternative. With the two 2017 offerings, the 22 Nosler will certainly attract attention from a growing portion of the Maine shooting public. The 33 Nosler, probably less so. Small Powerhouse In the July 2017 issue of American Rifleman, Field Editor Aaron Carter wrote, “Nosler’s latest – and smallest – cartridge redefines the capability of a .22-cal. center-fire in the AR-15 platform.” Variations of the AR-15 platform from a host of makers, including Maine’s own Windham Weaponry, now outsell just about every

other type of firearm. The majority of these military-styled weapons come chambered for the 5.56mm NATO cartridge or its civilian equivalent .223 Remington. Widely available and inexpensive as center-fire cartridges go, the 5.56mm/.223 is a bold target for Nosler to go after in today’s world of firearms sales. Several modern cartridges, such as the 6.5mm Grendel, 6.5mm Creedmore, 6.8mm SPC, .300 AAC Blackout and .30 Remington AR vie as alternatives to the ubiquitous 5.56/.223 cartridge, but none has made a dent in the dominance situation. The 2017 Nosler catalog claims with ballistics approaching those of

the .22-250 Remington, the 22 Nosler “has 25% more case capacity, making it roughly 300 fps faster” than the 5.56mm NATO or .223 Remington rounds. That additional velocity equates to approximately 30 percent more energy downrange. Good Coyote Round? An energy increase as significant as 30 percent should command the immediate attention of shooters – especially coyote hunters, or those who live in states where .22 caliber is legal for taking deer. Maine’s coyote hunters use an increasing number of AR-15 platforms every year, and the salespeople at Nosler know how to pitch this new concept. (Continued on next page)

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60 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 59)

A switchover to 22 Nosler from .223 Remington need not involve buying a new rifle. Although Nosler offers its own “Varmageddon” AR rifle, similar existing rifles can be converted just by swapping out the barrel and magazine. Another option is that a gunsmith can inexpensively reshape an existing chamber to fit the 22 Nosler cartridge. Either solution seems viable. Big Brother The 33 Nosler weighs in as the 22 Nosler’s biggest big brother. Built on the same British .404 Jeffery case as the 26, 28 and 30 Nosler cartridges, the 33 Nosler offers a powerful large-game cartridge. Designed to compete with the .338 Winchester Magnum and, by extension, the .325 Winchester short Magnum,

8mm Remington Magnum and .340 Weatherby Magnum, the 33 Nosler overpowers any game in Maine except moose and the largest black bear. Nosler’s marketing materials state, “The 33 Nosler is capable of propelling a 225gr Accubond at 3025 fps and the brand new 265gr Accubond Long Range at 2775 fps. That’s 275 fps faster than the 338 Lapua at the muzzle while burning 18% less powder.” Suitable for big moose, elk, caribou and even brown bear, the 33 Nosler makes a fine choice for Maine hunters who travel outside the state in pursuit of big game. In open country, the 33 Nosler with a 325-grain Accubond bullet retains 2,218 feet per second of velocity at 500 yards, and 2,457 foot

Midcoast

(Continued from page 58)

thing important when jigging through the ice. I use this line in 3-pound test for open-water fishing in brooks and rivers, and it works admirably with small lures, casting a country mile. It is very sensitive and it enables me to detect the lightest strike. And the same stuff in 6-pound test makes a

pounds of energy. At 1,000 yards, the 33 Nosler still travels at 1,553 feet per second and delivers 1,204 foot pounds of energy. That same 225-grain bullet drops at 500 yards 35.7 inches, compared to 36.4 for the .338 Lapua and 44.2 inches for the .338 Winchester. At 1,000 yards the Nosler drops 254.8 inches to Winchester’s 317.4. Whether at the large diameter end of the spectrum or at the smaller, as the Nosler Corporation says, “They are all from the same family” and “Each Nosler cartridge offers its own set of advantages and applications.” While we may not see very many 33 Noslers in these parts, I predict the 22 Nosler will have a significant impact on both long-range target shooting and local varmint hunting with AR-15 type rifles.

Nosler’s latest addition to their line of proprietary cartridges is sure to interest fans of the AR-15 platform and varmint hunters.

Bold Innovations The firearms industry sees a lot of development these days, especially with regard to the large numbers of AR-15 type weapons. Nosler certainly falls among the leaders of those developments. The creation of five new cartridges and the rifles to employ them in just four years seems a significant accomplishment by any measure. Bolder still is the attempt to challenge such established cartridges as the .300 Winchester Magnum, .223 Remington and .338 Winchester Magnum. What Nosler

great all-round line for jigging through the ice. Part of the beauty of jigging for perch and crappie is that all you need do upon landing a fish is to unhook it and drop the lure right back down the hole to where other fish await. Also, it’s a lot more fun to catch a fish of any kind on a jig rod than it is to pull it in by hand as when using ice-fishing traps.

innovations did for the modernization of bullet design over the past almost 70 years, they now repeat with cartridges and, to a certain extent, with rifles, too. Of the entire line-up, the 22 Nosler is the one to watch. If availability and price-point can come close to where the .223 Remington stands, then that veteran is in for a wrestling match for the top of the sales charts. Time favors the .223, but the Nosler’s influence is already spreading after just a year on the market. This is one to watch.

Panfish Waters Megunticook Lake in Lincolnville and Camden holds lots of 10- to 12-inch white perch and in winter they mostly stay in the deep water on the Route 105 side of the lake. Here, I seldom set out traps because there really isn’t any need to, since perch bite so well on ice jigs. Look for Megunticook Lake on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 14, 3-D.

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Stuart Drury of Peru, Maine bagged this 210-pound buck in the Western Maine Mountains on November 3, 2017.

Gene Doughty shot this 213-pound trophy on a mountain in Southern Maine on November 14, 2017. “A green measurement on the rack puts it at 188 3/8 -- truly the buck of a lifetime,” wrote Doughty. “I’m so glad I decided to take the day off from work.”

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 61

Fur Sales Now is the time to sell those furs taken during the general trapping season, which ended December 31st. A trapper has several options: local fur buyers, state trapper association fur auctions, fur-buying companies, or shipping them directly to the international fur auction houses. Local Buyers The number of local fur-buyers has shrunk in recent years, due to the depressed international market resulting in the low prices currently paid for our furs. Some furs are actually worth less today than they were 50 years ago. The fur market has always had its ups and downs, which has influenced trapper efforts over the years. Selling your furs locally gives you some fast cash in hand, which is what some trappers want. Many trappers sell their furs locally just before Christmas, so they can buy presents for their family members. One has to remember that the local fur buyer also has to make a profit to stay in business. In recent times, I have sold some furs locally, but now I mostly ship direct to the big auction houses. Trapper Association Auctions State trapper association auctions usually bring in a lot of trappers and their furs. There are usually several wellknown Maine fur buyers on hand to make offers on the furs. Trappers set out their furs, and the different

At one time, many Sears & Roebuck Stores purchased fur. Years ago, in the 1950s when I was growing up, I took some fur into the Sears store in Portland and sold them.

If members of the public want to see what the pelts of Maine furbearers look like, and how they are prepared and handled for the international market, fur auctions, like this Maine Trappers Association event, are a great place to do it. Photo by Sally McAllister

buyers who are there will go through the furs by species and grade them accordingly. Then the buyers will make their offer to the trapper. The trapper can either accept or decline the offers. If a member of the public wants to see what the furs of Maine furbearers look like, and how they are handled for the international market, this is the place to do it. In Maine, the dates, times, and places of trapper association auctions are listed on the Maine Trappers Associations (MTA) website (www. MTA.Homestead.com). The Central Maine and York County Chapters of the MTA host two of the larger auctions, while other auctions occur across the state in various locations. If you would like to attend an auction, it is best that you contact the hosting chapter (through their website) and let them know you’d like to

attend and that you are not a trapper. If you attend one of these auctions, you may be surprised to see that not all trappers are alike. The trapping community includes men, women, and members of the younger generations. Trappers come from all lifestyles – from farmers and doctors to teenagers and retirees. Company Buyers Some fur-buying companies have predetermined travel routes that they take to pick up trappers’ fur. These companies advertise in trapping magazines and publications, and each year they list their specific pick-up dates, locations and times. Other companies request that you ship the furs directly to them. Historically, these buyers included companies such as F.C. Taylor Fur Company, Petska Fur, Zander Fur and many others. At one time, many

Sears & Roebuck Stores purchased fur. Years ago, in the 1950s when I was growing up, I took some fur into the Sears store in Portland and sold them. Most of the time back then, I sold locally or I shipped my furs to F.C. Taylor Fur Company. I was always happy with the money I received from them. The last time I made a shipment to them was in the 1970s when I was trapping in South Carolina. I still have several of their old shipping tags in my collection of trapping memorabilia. International Fur Auction Houses Some trappers choose to ship their furs directly to the big international fur auction houses, hoping to get the most money for their furs. The local fur buyers generally ship theirs in a like manner. This means shipping to Fur Harvesters or to the North American Fur Auction (NAFA),

whose roots are traced back to 1670, to the historic Hudson’s Bay Company. There are receiving locations in Maine where the trapper must take their furs for shipment to their auction house of choice. The companies specify certain dates that the furs must be received at the shipping point. This allows the trucks to be loaded with the furs and meet their scheduled runs to the specific auction house. Prior to shipment, the trapper’s furs are recorded and inspected to ensure they are properly tagged prior to shipping. Once that has been done, the trapper gets a receipt for the furs being shipped. Laws vary in what species must be tagged or not tagged. However, several species, such as bobcat, otter, and bear, are federally-required to have a special “CITES” (an abbreviation for “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species”) tag affixed to them. Across North America, the shipment of fur takes place on specific dates. This allows time for the auction houses to grade and sort the furs into lots for bidding. These lots will consist of various trappers’ furs that “grade the same” and will be presented for bidding. Today, with modern technology, all furs are tracked by bar codes that trace them back to the individual trapper. The auctions are held (Continued on page 64) www.MaineSportsman.com

62 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

— Guest Column — by Zachary Fowler

Fowler’s “50-Day Fire” – Part 2 Our story so far: Zachary Fowler is in Patagonia in 2016, competing against nine other contestants in the History Channel’s reality television show “Alone,” attempting to survive the approaching Andes winter by maintaining a warm fire in his hand-constructed hut. After his initial failure to light the damp tinder, Fowler “went berserker” and wore a “sizeable divot” in his ferro rod, but succeeded in lighting his first fire. Enjoying his pot of warm fish-head soup, he reflected on the struggle to light that first fire. He knew he had to figure out a way to keep the embers glowing all night long, so he could get his fire flaming each morning. He remembered reading about maintaining a fire, in a small paperback book, back in Appleton, Maine before the start of his adventure: As I lay there at night in my shelter thinking about how to best keep a fire going, I remembered an old book I had picked up at a garage sale. I recalled it so vividly that I could practically see in my hands the yellowed paper and paperback cover of the booklet, which was about 3/8ths of an inch thick, and which featured an illustration of a wood stove on the front cover. It was a book about firewood, fireplaces and how to best run different styles of wood stoves and open fire places. A page in the book sprang to mind. It showed an open fireplace with three round logs piled against the back of the fireplace atop a pile of hot coals, www.MaineSportsman.com

In my hand-built shelter in Patagonia, I found that by piling three round logs against the back of the fireplace atop a pile of hot coals, then burying everything with ashes, I could “bank” the fire all night long, and “wake it up” every morning. then buried with ashes. The caption spoke of “banking” your fire so it would burn at a slow rate, leaving you with a pile of hot coals onto which you could throw a fresh log in the morning. Over the next few weeks I practiced this method, achieving success about half the time. Sometimes I nailed it – in the morning I would use my shovel to stir the ashes and find a good number of glowing coals. Then I’d use my chop stick to pile them all up, toss some kindling on top, and it would be up and running again.

Moving to the “Upper Shelter” A month into my time in Patagonia, I moved to my new upper shelter and brought a bit of fire with me up to what would be my home for the next two months. I hadn’t had time to construct a fireplace, so I placed the fire in a pit inside the new shelter, and I intentionally let the fire go out that first night. The next day, I finished digging a fire pit and lined it with sand. Then I made a stonelined fireplace worthy of my new little home. That second fire I had

Fowler remembered a drawing like this from an old paperback book on fireplaces, and it inspired him to learn to maintain a fire overnight. Illustration by Zachary Fowler

in my new home was the last time I had to light a fire with the ferro rod for the next 50 days. The new fireplace made banking the fire all that more effective, and I proceeded to put my fire to sleep and wake it up three to four times a day for the next 50 days. I slept for 12 (and sometimes 16) hours, but every time I woke all I had to do was move the top layer of ashes away and place a big log on top, and I had a big fire going in minute with little or no effort. While it was banked, it worked just like a wood-

Fowler kept track of each day’s significant events by carving icons on his wooden “wizard staff.” He used the 3-part flame symbol -- shown on this “rubbing” -- to mark each day he kept his fire alive. Fowler used the staff to keep track of the fact that he maintained his fire for 50 straight days.

stove dampened down for the night. It still put off copious amounts of heat. It was enough heat that I would wake and feel completely comfortable in my longjohns, and did not have to rush from my warm sleeping bag to put on all my kit. Keeping Track I kept track of each day’s events by carving on my wooden “wizard staff,” and I marked off every day that I didn’t have to use my fire starter. Each day I carved six symbols into the staff to tell my story. One of those symbols was the fire or the spark symbol. I had tinder and kindling set off to the side of the fire, although I didn’t have to use it but once or twice over those 50 days. For the most part I started up the coals, placed a few fresh logs on them, and a minute later the fire would spring to life. On Day 51, I woke and stirred the ashes and found only the tiniest of coals upon first inspection. I felt the ashes. There was still a good deal of warmth, and before I stirred up another coal and risked losing it I prepared a pile of dead coals to receive it. Coals Like Campanions You see, fire likes buddies. About a quarter of the time when I would wake the fire back up, the coals were too spread out and not all that many were still glowing, so I used my chopsticks to pile them all up and then put the log on. Coals burn hottest when they are surrounded by their buddies. So on Day 51 I prepared a pile (Continued on page 64)

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 63

New Year Heralds New Opportunities Afield On January 2, 2017 there was enough ice to get on one of my favorite fishing locales, the Range Pond Chain in Poland (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, A-3). There was a good cover of snow, but a solid 8 inches of ice underneath – enough to make me feel secure. I trudged out on Upper Range Pond and joined area angler Adam Farrington and his 7-year-old son, Connor. Adam’s shack was already out on the pond and it promised some relief from the cold. I began the arduous task of drilling my five holes and setting the traps. I had a system this year. I set three traps with medium shiners, one with a gob of worms and one with trout bait. I was leaving nothing to chance. After I set my last trap, I noticed a flag on the trap closest to shore. This was the worm trap, and I had visions of a fat brookie.

Kneeling beside the medium-depth trap that had been baited with a shiner, seven-year-old Connor played the big fish like a pro. The fish ran back and forth, but Connor gained more line than he lost. Finally, the taut leader appeared above the edge of the ice. I ran to the hole and saw the line out to the side, a good sign. I let it wait until anticipation got the better of me. Pulling the line in slowly, I was dismayed that I couldn’t feel a fish. When I got the hook in, he worms were still there, although a bit worse for the wear. I freshened them up with a new worm from my warm shirt pocket (yes, it was in a plastic baggie). I no sooner turned around when Adam let loose with that ageold ice-fishing shout, “Flag!” We ran toward my medium-depth trap, one baited with a shiner. Connor was on Adam’s heels and got there as quickly as we did. I told Connor to do the honors. Even at age seven he knew to let the

fish run a bit. After a longer period than I could wait, Connor began to pull the line in, and his reaction showed he had a fish on. Aside from a little guidance about keeping the line away from the sharp edge of the hole, Connor was a pro. He played the fish back and forth a bit, but he gained more line than he lost. I was keeping my fingers crossed that he would land this fish, whatever it was. Finally the leader appeared above the edge of the ice, and Connor smiled as he hoisted in a nice brown trout! The Range Pond chain

in Poland (Upper, Middle and Lower) is one of the more popular ice-fishing destinations in this neck of the woods for several reasons. First Range Pond is a short drive from most anywhere in the Lewiston-Auburn Region. Second Range Pond has easy access points to anglers walking, sledding or riding fourwheelers. Third Range Pond produces numerous trout and the occasional whopper. Brown trout have been liberally stocked since the early 1980s, so lunkers do get caught each year, through the ice or during open-water

season. Connor’s fish was a recently-stocked trout, but holdovers are in here. More than 2,000 trout – brookies, browns and rainbows – were stocked in the Range Pond Chain in October and November of 2017. Enough holdover fish scour the shallows during the winter months, as well. Trout Hotspots Crystal Lake in Gray (Map 5, B-3) is another popular earlyJanuary destination. This shallow lake freezes early and also receives a healthy fall stocking of trout. This past fall, 213 rainbow trout and 285 brookies were stocked in anticipation of iceangling season. Anglers can park in the boat launch area, and there is ample room for (Continued on page 65)

MAKE SAFETY A PRIORITY! THIS WINTER, STAY SAFE WHEN SNOWMOBILING. ICE AND WATER CONDITIONS NEAR HYDROELEECTRIC FACILITIES CAN CHANGE QUICKLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE.

DANGER THIN ICE

Please respect authorized trails, signs and warning signals and pay attention to your surroundings. Be cautious of guy wires and poles that may not be as noticeable during the winter season. Connor Farrington, shown here with his father Adam, is all smiles as he proudly displays his Upper Range Pond brown trout. Photo by Tom Roth

brookfieldrenewable.com/publicsafety

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64 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Duck Hunting Success Our intrepid young hunter and a friend head out before sunrise, and learn the value of a “jerk rig” to give some movement to their decoys. In the fall, it’s hard to find a balance between time spent duck hunting versus deer hunting. I like duck hunting better. I find it’s a little more fun, but that’s just me. Deer fills the freezer faster and provides a lot of meat for the year. Either one is better than school, of course. My last duck hunt didn’t go so well (see “The Struggle of Early-Season Duck Hunting,” December issue), but that wasn’t the case this time. Jerk String This time I was prepared. I had a better call and a jerk string, which is an anchor attached to

a bungee cord attached to a long string with decoys attached to the string. You just tug on the string, and this will make the type of natural-looking ripples ducks make on a calm day on the lakes and ponds. It also adds movement to your decoys. We packed up early and got to the lake an hour before shooting time. We threw out the decoys – 12 mallards, 4 geese and a jerk rig. About five minutes after shooting time, we started seeing mallards flying over. It’s always exciting, but they kept flying, and this was not good. I was thinking this

Trapping Silent Places (Continued from page 61)

several times a year. Furs maybe held over at auction if the auction house is not satisfied with the bids received. They will present the furs at a later auction hoping to get the best price for the furs. I have had some specific furs carried over to the following year, so if one wants a check fast, this is not the way to get it. This has occurred mainly with a few select coyotes and fisher.

Fowler’s Fire (Continued from page 62)

of buddies for the hot coal I hoped to find upon further inspection. However, despite my best efforts, I failed to find another coal. I counted up the days on the staff and found that the fire count was 50. Spell Broken I re-lit the fire with my ferro rod, but the spell was broken and it went out again a few www.MaineSportsman.com

might not go well like last time. Now THAT’S a Little Better! I was about to get discouraged, but then two black ducks came in and around the corner and cupped their wings and dropped their feet. I didn’t even have time to blow the call that I’d been practicing for so long. This ducks simply liked that spot and they wanted to be there. As they were hovering over the decoys, I almost forgot to shoot, but then I remembered why I was there. I had my dad’s old reliable Remington 870.

Luke’s ducks. Giampetruzzi photo

We jumped up and I shot at one and it folded. The other one started flying away, but my buddy Andrew also shot. I shot it twice and it dove on us but fortunately it popped back up and we were able to go get it. Two black ducks might not seem like

much, but I’m happy as long as I don’t have to go home empty handed. From now on I will always remember to bring the jerk rig. It works great when you need some motion in your decoys, and it’s a lot cheaper than a spinning wing decoy.

Another Idea There is another outlet for a trapper’s fur; namely, if trappers wish to sell tanned furs themselves, or to have them made into a garment. If you have never seen a large bedspread made out of sheared beaver with a red fox trim, then you’ve not witnessed a truly beautiful product. Many styles of clothing and furnishings can be assembled using Maine furs – from hats and gloves to full-length dress coats.. Many companies advertise in trapping and trade publications, offering to commer-

cially tan fur, and many manufacture products using a trapper’s furs. These include companies such as USA Foxx Furs, Ausable Fur Products, Gorlic’s Trading Inc, and Great Northern Fur. Think about a beautiful beaver jacket for the woman in your life. If you do not trap, many trappers will sell you their furs to make such a garment. The companies will tell you how many furs it will take to manufacture a specific item, and they will provide shipping instructions.

days later. However, it was easily re-lit, and that was the last time I ever touched that ferro rod. I don’t know what ever happened to that ferro rod. I keep it in the bag with my radio equipment which was re-purposed each season for the contestants, so maybe the people that went out on Season 4 found it in the bottom of their radio bag, or maybe somebody from production found it – but nobody ever said. I made a video about this experience on my YouTube channel, “Fowler’s Makery and

Mischief,” called “How to Keep a Fire Going for 50 Days the Way I Did in Patagonia on Alone.” So thanks for reading – hope to see you next time. I also hope to see you all at the Augusta Civic Center during the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, Easter Weekend 2018. I’ll be presenting some good stories and providing some great survival information, and also visiting the Maine Sportsman booth. Fowler out.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 65

The Young Maine Sportswoman with Alyssa Sansoucy Maple Sugaring Home Away from Home Maple sugaring is an exciting activity that takes place in the State of Maine every year. Many people either participate in maple sugaring or buy the products resulting from it. Maple sugaring begins mid-February to mid-March, depending on weather conditions. Once the sap does start flowing, it is important to get the taps in the trees because there is only about 4-6 weeks of “good” sugaring. It is a very short season, and usually ends sometime in April. Maple syrup and sugaring has been going on for hundreds of years. Sap that flows out of the tree is 98% water, so it takes about 40 gallons of sap just to make one gallon of maple syrup. Tapping Used to be Simpler In the early days (and still today, for some home operations), sap was collected and boiled over an open fire to produce syrup or crystallized sugar. This was then used as a sweetener, being added to tea or other foods and

In modern maple sugaring, long plastic tubes connect the individual taps. The sap flows through the tubes – either by gravity or using electric pumps – leading to the sugar house.

Modern maple sugaring differs greatly from the old days when folks used only a metal tap and a bucket.

drinks. In this simpler time, people drilled holes and left containers under the tree, coming back in a couple of days to replace the container. They could not produce as much as today’s modern operations, because they didn’t run lines from tree to tree and didn’t have a very big “sugar house” to boil down large quantities of

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 63)

trucks and trailers. Access is easy right at the beach area. The Otter Ponds in Standish (Map 5, D-1) are another top spot for January action, as their shallow waters freeze early. Both Otter Pond #2 and #4 were heavily stocked with brook trout last spring, and I expect a winter stocking, too. Stocked trout range in size from 10- to 16-inches. Bring plenty of small to medium shiners! Sabbathday Lake (Map 5, B-3) in New Gloucester is another early destination that was stocked heavily this past fall. The idyllic Sabbathday received 350 12-inch

sap. Today, tapping consists of a system of plastic taps placed in maple trees. Long plastic tubes connect the taps and combine the sap, and the sap flows through the tubes (either by gravity or using electric pumps) leading to the sugar house. At the sugar house, the sap is boiled and turned into maple syrup.

Once the sap turns to syrup, you can continue boiling it to produce a crystallized sugar that can be used to make other products, such as whoopie pies, fudge, ice cream, and even cotton candy! Maple sugaring has really advanced compared to what it used to be, and now wide varieties of products are made from it.

brown trout in October, as well as 400 13inch brookies. Not a bad way to start out the winter season! Big Fish Anglers after big fish typically have to wait for better ice to target togue on Sebago Lake, but big pike are big news in the L-A Area. Two spots hold lunker pike for anglers in this region, Sabattus Pond in Sabattus (Map 12, E-1) and the mighty Androscoggin River in Auburn and Turner. Sabattus Pond freezes fast and is heavily fished by pike enthusiasts. Whoppers in the 15-pound range aren’t uncommon, and many other decent fish are caught each year. An illegal stocking made this sleepy bass and white perch into pike Mecca around here.

183 State Street Suite 101 Augusta, ME 04330

Maine Maple Sugar Weekend March 24 - 25 Maple sugar weekend is a huge event that occurs usually sometime in March (toward the end of the month) when most of the sap has been collected and produced into products that people come to buy. You can get many items during this weekend and for a reasonable price. Depending on what sugar shack you go to, there may be events going on for the whole family. Some of these may include demonstrations on how the maple sugar is produced, games for kids, and farm animals on display. It may still be cold during this part of the month, but most people enjoy going out on this weekend to buy maple products and have a weekend of fun. This year Maine Maple Weekend is March 24th and 25th, so locate your nearest sugar maple operation, and put the dates on your calendar now!

Interestingly, pike didn’t decimate the white perch, but instead caused the average size to go up considerably. Now it only takes handful of Sabattus Pond perch to make a chowder! The Androscoggin River, in particular between Turner and Auburn (Map 11, D-5), has some great slow-moving backwaters that freeze early. Target these spots for big pike. Pickerel and bass will tease your bait, but you will know it when a river pike runs with the bait. In addition to the two aforementioned spots, Taylor Pond in Auburn (Map 11, E-4) was illegally stocked with pike. Big bass will keep

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66 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Black Rifles Ring in Rangeley’s New Year I enjoyed all aspects of this past whitetail season, especially late November, as the rut was winding down, and mature white-tailed bucks had completed their legendary “lock-down” period and were up and moving throughout the woods. Some of the bucks I chased took me all over the beautiful countryside in the Rangeley Region, and I feel blessed to have had the time to stay on their trail. Many of my friends and family had already dropped their deer for the year and had happily moved on to pursue other adventures in the outdoors; others, without a deer in the freezer, continued the chase through Thanksgiving and into black powder season. Each season, regardless of whether or when I get a deer, I am so happy with having had the chance to roam the beautiful woods in this region. Some of the sights and scenes I’ve encountered over this deer season will be etched in my memory bank of images forever. But as deer season neared an end, I was thinking ahead to future

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adventures – like coyote hunting. My wife laughed at me and said, “You don’t even finish deer season and already you are thinking about hunting coyotes.” In my life I don’t choose a favorite, I just keep moving through each new season, enjoying the change from one outdoor adventure to the next. Coyote Challenge Each year as soon as muzzleloader season ends I begin hunting coyotes over bait and also try to lure the wily predator in by various calling methods. I also am fortunate to have a dedicated group of hunting buddies with hounds, which allows me the chance to chase coyotes all winter long. Hunting with hounds, my true passion in the woods, is a central activity during the long winter months – hunting over bait and calling just fill in the times I can’t hunt with my buddies and their awesome dogs. During this past deer season, I had an opportunity to roam far and wide. We had a little early snow in November, so I drove for miles in search of a huge buck track to follow. While I searched for deer

The author’s Remington AR (Armalite Rifle) -style rifle often gets incorrectly labeled as an “Assault Rifle.” William Clunie photo

tracks, I also kept an eye opened for coyote sign. Let me tell you – along almost every back road I traveled, I found coyote tracks. I found tracks in all locations, and noticed that there really wasn’t any particular area that had a higher concentration of coyote sign than anywhere else in the region. One exception would be that I noticed the closer I got to residential areas, the less coyote sign I found. Now this doesn’t mean that there aren’t coyotes roaming around Rangeley or any of the smaller towns in the region – just that more coyotes seem to prefer staying away from residential areas during the month of November. As soon as the snow really starts building up in the woods, let’s say knee deep, the coyotes will be following the wintering deer into their yarding areas around the towns of Wilson’s Mills, Oquossoc, and other smaller yards in the region.

Calling All Coyotes This year I’m am going to increase my calling attempts. I’ve got a new electronic game call, supposedly the best in the business, so we’ll see how this works. In the past, I haven’t had hardly any luck at all with calling. The typical use for my call has been to locate coyotes in the pre-dawn darkness, trying to help my buddies with the hounds find a place to easily start the dogs on a fresh track. I also have been trying to use a night-vision scope for the last couple of years, hunting over bait at night. Of the two scopes I used, neither seemed to help much when the sun went down. I’m now working with a company that makes a unit that connects to the existing rifle scope to give a clear image in the scope lens at night. I’ll report the results in following columns. Remington R-15 The new Remington R-15 rifle I have been using gets a HUGE thumbsup from this writer. The .223 Remington round works perfectly as both a deer and coyote killer; with the right ammunition, this caliber does it all. I’d like to end this column on a special note to all hunters out there. Certain misguided individuals unwisely attempt to connect hunting rights with gun rights, claiming that there isn’t a need for a certain type of rifle or rifle accessory because “it isn’t needed for hunting.” What they are forgetting is that the Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting.

The Supreme Court decided years ago, and in recent arguments, that the militia (all able-bodied citizens) are guaranteed the right to arm and protect themselves from enemies both foreign and domestic – nothing about hunting in that discussion at all. And I have to laugh when these same uninformed individuals begin speaking about deadly “assault rifles.” Just what makes an assault rifle so deadly? And what makes an “assault rifle” any different from any other rifle? The answers usually refer to cosmetic items like plastic stocks and flash suppressors. When speaking with folks who just don’t understand, try to gently direct them to a more complete understanding of the Second Amendment. Tell them how a regular hunting shotgun, loaded with buckshot, would be much deadlier than any scary-looking, black, plastic, AR-15 rifle. And also remind them that the AR designation stands for “Armalite Rifle” not “Assault Rifle.” Above all, I hope that we all can keep this discussion going. Talking it out often clears up the inconsistencies and bad information that is so evident, even within our own ranks. During these discussions we may find some folks unable to face concise factual information, but at least we tried to inform them and in doing so we may have directed a larger majority to a more complete understanding of the truth of this matter.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 67

USA Archery and NFAA Active in Maine Archery training for kids can be fun, with offbeat targets like balloons and even 3D zombies made of expanded foam. Parents should consider archery for their children – it teaches discipline; it offers a level playing field for all young people; and it’s a lifetime sport. USA Archery is the governing organization for the USA Olympic Archery Team. They offer a Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program designed to increase skill sets. The goal is to qualify today’s kids for future Olympic teams. As a USA Archery, Level II Instructor at Black Sheep Archery in Sanford, I have seen an increase in the number of girls and young women who have been joining the program. Lakeside Archery (North Yarmouth) and Black Sheep Archery both hold in-depth training that develops proper archery skills for young archers, introducing them to the exciting sport. Adults have their own program as well, called “Adult Achievement.” Both programs are geared toward improving archery techniques. The overall purpose is to help archers develop shooting skills that could lead to Olympic and World Archery gold. Shooters earn ribbon and pins as they improve shooting skills. Each archer must score established points to advance to the next colored pin. Pins are attached to a ribbon on their quiver. Each archer gains pins as they improve, not competing with others but against themselves.

There are JOAD tournament held locally and at the national level, and Maine JOAD clubs travel and compete. It’s not all training – both ranges also hold fun shoots for all shooters, with offbeat targets including 3-dimentional foam zombies and balloons. Parents should consider archery for their kids. It’s non-contact, teaches discipline, and offers an even playing field for all kids. Most of all, it’s a lifelong sport. Maine Archery Association National Field Archery Association and the Maine Archery Association (MAA) holds “Shooter of The Year” (SOY) tournaments each Sunday. Local archery ranges around Maine hosts these events, with most scheduled in the southern part of the state. Participating shops and ranges are Lakeside Archery in North Yarmouth, North Berwick Rod and Gun, Howell’s Archery in Gray, and West Gardiner Fish and Game. The West Gardiner club will also host the Maine State NFAA championship on March 25, 2018. They will also host the Peter Killinger Memorial tournament on March 11, 2018. SOY archery shoots are open to all ages and

equipment, from longbows to high-tech compounds. There are age classes, so kids will be competing with youngsters in their own age groups. Targets are NFAA blue and white or Vegas (yellow, red and blue), and shooting line distance is 20 yards. Participating archery ranges offer two shooting lines, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and they do fill up, so archers should call ahead to registers for their preferred line. Score cards are turned in, and records are kept on the MAA website. Interested archers can check past MAA web page for information. Winter Fishing Many streams and rivers in southern Maine provide winter open-water fishing opportunities. Basically, winter fishing is like spring fishing, except you’ve got to wear serious cold-weather gear. Many rivers have catch and release regulations, so check the law book before fishing. Fishing is best (and most comfortable) when the air temperatures are higher than the water temperature. Maine and New Hampshire Waters One cold-weather experience taught me never to assume I knew everything about what fly a

Three-dimensional targets add to kids’ enjoyment as they develop their archery skills.

trout would hit: With cold fingers, I tied on the biggest nymph in my vest – a pattern I had tied in the nineties, one so ugly I never considered using until, on a random hunch, I selected it from my beat-up L.L. Bean fly box. That nymph floated deep in the currents. Then the green fly line ripped upstream, and a slow head-shake signaled me to set the hook. The 12-inch rainbow trout didn’t fight hard due to the cold water. But considering the time of the year and conditions, it was well worth to trip to the Ossipee River in New Hampshire. Most major rivers in southern Maine offer winter fishing. The dams on the Saco are always good. The rapids at the Route 25 bridge in Standish is another spot to try. Sea-run brown trout fishing at the lower Mousam River in Kennebunk and on the Ogunquit River in Ogunquit is good all winter. Open-water fishing is an option for ice anglers who want to

try something different. Black Crappie Balch Pond in Newfield is the first pond in Maine stocked with black crappie. It remains a goto water for these tasty panfish. Balch is a 704-acre water with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Balch is typical of most ponds found along river systems in southern Maine. What was once a swamp with a brook running though was dammed for water power that turned water wheels for lumber mills. Balch is the only pond where you can catch fish all day, although they are small. Few folks know that Balch is the headwater for the Little Ossipee River. It forms Hanson and Shapleigh Pond in North Shapleigh, another good warm-water pond to explore. Then “Little O” picks up flow at a dam outlet on Shapleigh Pond, and from there to Lake Arrowhead it’s a true trout stream. It is the upper ponds that offer good (Continued on page 69) www.MaineSportsman.com

68 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Coyote Hunting Helps Keep Deer-Eating Predators in Check When state game management officials ended their effective coyote-snaring program years ago, I began heading out with a group of coyote hunters in this region. Using hounds, we take as many coyotes as we can during the winter. The spiny blackberry branches pulled at my clothes and scratched my skin as I climbed out of the brushy ditch that lined the old skidder trail. My wife, Nancy, came out of thick brush about the same time as I did. Both of us had been so intent on filling our buckets with the huge, juicy blackberries that we didn’t notice how the cool evening air had replaced the heat of the sizzling August day. By the time we reached our truck, darkness had set in. As my wife started to say something, a large pack of coyotes began to howl and scream their chilling sounds throughout the berry-filled hills that surrounded us. Nancy’s voice took on an urgent tone as she said, “Let’s get going!” I explained that coyotes hardly ever attack humans, and that she had nothing to worry about in the woods of Maine. She considered this information, but nonetheless quickly jumped into the truck. As I shut the door behind her, my thoughts turned to hunting coyotes in these same hills, when the snow covered the berry bushes completely. That winter, I hunted for coyotes in those hills for several days without success. On numerous snowmobile trips through this location later that same winter, I didn’t see a single coyote track. So why did the coyotes vawww.MaineSportsman.com

cate our berry-picking territory, and where did they go? During the heavy snows that winter, the coyote’s food sources – hare and deer – had moved to the protection of several distant coniferous swamps. The coyotes moved with their food source, where they hung around the thick evergreen yarding areas, looking for an easy meal. Coyote Control Most biologists agree – no method of coyote control will ever totally rid an area of the predatory critter. Even if methods become available to keep the coyote out of the woods completely, I don’t think too many sportsmen want complete eradication of this dog-like animal. Most, including this writer, enjoy the coyote’s wild song echoing throughout the forests. However, just want to hunt them to keep their population in check. When Maine game management officials decided to end their effective coyote-snaring program years ago, I started hunting with a group of coyote hunters in this region to take as many coyotes as we could during the winter. We hunt with hounds, and let me tell you…nothing feels as good as putting a plan together, chasing coyotes hard, and rolling a few of these predators after a hard day in the Western Maine Mountains (WMM). The thick and dark

woods around Mount Blue State Park (see DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 19, C-3) hold plenty of deer-eating coyotes. A system of snowmobile trails throughout the area offers easy walking for deer that have chosen to winter over here. The slick coyotes know this, and predator hunters who concentrate on these packed trails take home lots of prime, furry pelts. The snowmobile trails around Byron (Map 18, C-5) also offer plenty of opportunities for hunting coyotes. The heavy coniferous forests in this part of the WMM protect deer from the elements, at the same time attracting venison-hungry coyotes. Swamp Bunnies Snowshoe hare stick to similar coniferous cover, except the trees don’t need to be as mature. Patches of young hemlock and cedar give the hare cover, food, and shelter from inclement weather during harsh winters. Scattered patches of this thick growth cover the lowlands between Holman Mountain (Map 19, E-3) and the town of Carthage (Map 19, D-2), and support plenty of speedy hare. Most of this area can be accessed only by snowmobile trails. Look for hare sign along the trails, pull well off the trail, and let the hunting begin. Some of the outlying areas around the town of Weld (Map 19, C-2) also carry a hefty number of hare. Focus on the conif-

From left to right, here are a few of the coyote hunters from Western Maine Coyote Control -- Sherman Bradeen, Bill Houghton, Danny Proctor and Joe Steary. William Clunie photo

erous cover that blankets the hills and valleys outside of town. Snowmobile trails here also seem to help when accessing the thick woods, but some of the gravel roads also lead to good hunting. When hunting anywhere close to homes and businesses, always seek landowner permission for access. The thick woods around Andover (Map 18, D-3 and D-4) also offer loads of hare hunting. Look for hare sign on either side of Upton Road, Route 120, or South Arm Road. Hunters using beagles should be aware that all three of these locations also hold a heavy population of whitetails. Unless the little beagles have been trained to avoid chasing deer, steer clear of these areas, or hunt the bunnies without a dog. Hardwater Heaven Clearwater Pond (Map 20, C-1 and C-2) forms a flat sheet of ice just north of Allens Mills, like a playground for wintertime anglers. The spacious 751-acre pond holds more than just brookies and togue. Landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass,

white perch, cusk, and even white fish cruise the cold pond, which reaches depths as great as 129 feet. Most folks access the pond from the boat launch located on Route 43, next to the parking lot of the old Ugly Moose Market (closed now) in Allens Mills. Anglers should use the parking area across from the store and follow the snowmobile trail to the pond. Anglers and their ice shacks congregate around a large point on the east shore at the north end of the pond, but plenty of fish have been taken elsewhere on this big body of water. Brookies hang tight to the shore, while the salmon travel in schools in the deeper parts of the pond. Most locals stick with traditional methods – using a simple smelt on a hook. In the past, several of the fishing shacks on Clearwater have been set up for smelt fishing, and ice fishers can acquire smelt for bait from these smelt anglers. Look for their shacks at the north end of the pond, close to western shore.

�� The Maine Sportsman • January 2018 • 69

Southern Maine (Continued from page 67)

ice fishing for crappie. On some days you can’t keep them off your line. Anglers can walk on ice to each pond – jig and move on until you locate fish. Crappie swim is schools; locating them is hit-or-miss, so moving around works well. Given a choice, I prefer jigging over ice traps. Jigging allows an angler to be mobile and flexible. Lures? Some days silver works, while on others gold or copper is the way to go. But I prefer a fly, and my go-to pattern is a size-12 Gray Ghost Streamer, Why? First, consider how crappie feed – they open their mouth, sucking in food with bellows on the sides of their mouths, and expelling anything unnatural. Like, for exam-

ple, a mouth full metal. A soft fly, on the other hand, may be accepted longer, allowing anglers time to set the hook. Streamers need weight, and my method is to add a small tin split shot onto the line. This causes the fly to dance in the water as you jig, attracting the fish.

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… And Bunnies! Finally, putting on a pair of snowshoes, and following rabbit tracks – one of my favorite winter pastimes. No agenda, no pressure to kill deer or catch fish – just a walk in the woods, with the possibility of rabbit stew for dinner. As winter lingers, these outings are a sure cure for “cabin fever.” Sometimes a little outdoor therapy works wonders.

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Getting Up Close and Personal with Two Black Bears After tagging out in New Hampshire on a Friday afternoon with a beautiful 8-point buck, I told my wife I was going to buy my Vermont license and hunt over there the next couple of days. She warned, “Don’t get greedy.” I understood what she meant: I should be grateful for being blessed with a deer today and not already desiring another. I get that. I was – and am – profoundly happy with and grateful for the deer I’d just been given. I also get, though, that I was blessed with an opportunity and the ability to explore a new area and gain new experiences. That is what it is all about – the experiences, not the dead deer. I told my wife that I wasn’t being greedy about solely wanting another deer. I just wanted and needed an excuse to get out in the woods. I hope that she got that. The next day couldn’t have proven my point any better—every time you head into the woods, you see or experience something new. This is what makes it worthwhile. Areas the Size of House Lots Torn Up It was Saturday, and I picked a ridge, mostly at random from a Google Earth map, and headed across the Connecticut River. After passing several parked green license plates on the logging road, I found an area that was vacant and parked the truck. I didn’t get 100 yards from the truck when I crossed some fresh bear tracks in the

With a bear tag in his back pocket, the author walks up on two full-size bruins with their noses buried in the frozen leaves and beechnuts.

One of the two bears briefly picks his head up to bask in the sunlight between foraging for beechnuts. Emerson photo

dusting of snow. As I poked along, I kept crossing bear tracks and noticing more and more beech leaves turned up where they had been foraging. I passed several areas the size of house lots that had been all torn up. They were easy to spot from a distance because the white snow ridge had been overturned orange. Eventually, I spotted the culprits – a pair of fluffed-out, mature black bears. They were about 100 yards away when I first spotted one of them through the maze of small saplings and beech trees. I dug my small digital camera out of my wool backpack and snapped a quick, terrible

picture of the black glob, barely visible in the obscured distance. The photo’s sole purpose was for “evidence,” in case they bolted. Closer; Closer I decided I was going to creep up on them and try to get some nice photos. I closed half the distance quite quickly, as I figured that there was no point in going slowly, given how loud the walking was. There was a crust of snow on top of frozen leaves, so essentially every step sounded like an IED exploding. Luckily, though, the bears were causing their own racket stirring up the leaves, which served to mask

mine. The last fifty yards I did go slowly, as I now had only half the obstacles between us as previously. I thought I’d be spotted shortly. Amazingly, the bears’ senses were distracted by the smell of savory frozen beechnuts lurking below the orange and white surface, and my approach went undetected. I finally stopped about 20 yards from them, standing on a rock, for quiet shifts in footing. There, I watched, photographed, and videoed them for almost ten minutes. I have seen bear many times before – in the road, in fields, in

trees and in the woods. I have shot my fair share of them, as well. But there was something different about this encounter. I had a bear tag in my back pocket, and here I was just twenty yards from a good, mature boar—and not too awfully painful of a drag to the truck. And yet, I never seriously considered shooting either one. Perhaps it was that I had just shot a deer the previous day and knew that I really didn’t need any more meat. Maybe I was just taken by the serenity of the woods and couldn’t bring myself to disrupt it with the shattering boom of a high-powered rifle. I think the biggest thing, though, was that I was just so close to them and they had no idea that I was there. I was curious as to how long that situation was going to last. Among animals, bear seem to be among the most attuned to their surroundings. I was just captivated by watching them paw and toss the earth, by watching their noses twitch and quiver like a dog’s searching under the table for food scraps, by hearing their snorts and gentle wheezing and watching the clouds of vapor dissipate with every breath. Close Enough Eventually, as one of the bears was walking in my direction, I made myself visible while he was still about twelve yards away. I wasn’t afraid of him; I just didn’t want to startle him when he was five feet away and catch (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

72 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

New Hampshire (Continued from page 71)

a negative impulse reaction. He darted his head back and forth like a doe, would and then snorted and ran the other direction, climbed five feet up a tree, came down, snorted again and then took off up the hill at a screaming pace. The other one lazily followed suit, probably thinking, “What the heck,

man? I wasn’t finished eating!” I walked around for a few more hours and bumped into bear three more times (quite possibly repeats), and every now and again when I would stop, I could hear them foraging in the distance, through the thin crisp air. In my four miles of walking, I nev-

er seemed to get farther than thirty yards from foraging sign. And I even found several bear beds, which I had only ever seen once before. I never did see any deer sign that interested me, though. And that was just fine! I had had my adventure and gained my neat experience. It alone was worth the $100 Vermont license fee.

The writer with his 8-point, 165-pound New Hampshire buck, the day before his encounter with the Vermont bears.

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Smilin’

Sportsman

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

Nervous tourist: “Is it true that a big black bear will never attack me at night so long as I am carrying this lit flashlight?” Guide: “That depends.”

Nervous tourist: “Depends on what?”

Guide: “It depends how fast you are able to run when you are carrying that lit flashlight.” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• God, 4,000 years ago: “And I shall create a great drought; all the plants will dry up, and every living thing on earth will perish!” Fish: Hey, God, here’s that $1,000 I owe you” [wink, wink]. God: “Ahem … Correction – I shall cause a great flood!” •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Wife: Welcome home, Honey. I made chocolate chip cookies for you. It’s an apology because I crashed your new snowmobile this afternoon.”

Husband: “YOU DID WHAT?” Wife: “Cookies. I made cookies for you.” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Grandkid: “Dad, why do you always make Grandpa sleep on the upper bunk here at the hunting camp?” Dad: “That way, son, it’s much easier to hear the noise if he falls out of bed at night.”

The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com

Andy: “Hey, Joe – why so blue?” Joe: “I got kicked out of the Greenville Cinema last night for bringing in my own food.” Andy: “That seems a little extreme to me!” Joe: “Yup – the prices for what they’ve got there are way too high, and besides, I hadn’t had a barbeque in months!” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Receptionist: “Doctor Jones, the Invisible Man is in the outer office. He says he has an appointment.” Doctor: “Tell him I can’t see him.” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Little Red Riding Hood was walking all alone through the deep, dark woods. Suddenly she heard rustling in the thick brush. Cautiously, she moved the branches aside and found herself face to face with the Big Bad Wolf, whose head was sticking out above the bushes. “Oh, Big Bad Wolf,” she cried. “What a red face and huge red eyes you have!” “Go away right now, little girl!” the wolf growled. “I’m pooping!”

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74 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Welcome to The Maine Sportsman

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T5 R10 - Camp Phoenix offers a tranquil setting! 1 bedroom camp with water, sewer, gas appliances, porch. Watch beautiful sunsets, moose amble around, and fish native brook trout from Nesowadnehunk Lake. $59,000

Chester - Year round log home with large kitchen and living room, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, lawn, flowers and shrub areas and screened porch with view of ledge falls in Medunkeunk Stream. REDUCED TO $140,000

Lincoln - Amazingly quiet, except for Loons! This private camp has electricity, enclosed porch, long driveway, year round access, place to slide in a boat, nearly 300’ frontage on Center Pond. $84,900

Lincoln - 2 bedroom, 2 bath modified Chalet with 150’ of excellent frontage. Large garage, oil hwbb, landscaped lot, and lots of fresh renovations. Gorgeous views from everywhere and only 10 minutes to Town. Big Narrows. $260,000

Mattawamkeag - Open concept camp, partially wired for generator, year round access, electricity available, 10+/- acres of field, 40+/- acres of woodland, long interior road leading from Route 2. Reduced to $59,000

Chester - 8.16+/- acre house lot. Wooded and field areas. Long frontage on the South Chester Road and rightof-way. Close to both I-95 and Lincoln amenities. $22,900

Springfield - 10.6 acre lot sits on a hill top, great outdoor recreation area, mature trees, electricity available, year round access, 299’ frontage on Moores Road. $12,500 Lowell - 7.74 acre lot on year round accessible road, great recreational area with privacy, driveway installed, 900’+ of nice frontage along Eskutassis Stream. REDUCED to $17,750

www.MaineSportsman.com

R E A L

SNOWMOBILE RIDES, JACKMAN Half & full-day tours; helmets, snacks/lunch provided. 2 person minimum, up to 5 people. For reservations (207) 668-5061. W3Adventures,LLC ———————————

WANTED

T5 R10 - One of the historic cabins of Camp Phoenix is available. 2 bedroom cabin, pine floors and walls, propane appliances, water and sewer. Westerly views of Nesowadnehunk Lake. $89,000

Lincoln - Wonderful 1.8 acre lot with a long driveway, cleared area and a gravel pad. This lot is private yet still close to all amenities. Located on a year round road with electricity available making it a great spot for a new home. Aylward Drive. $17,900

GUIDE SERVICES

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

1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you!

“Tate” Aylward ................ 794-2460 Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM

WANTED DEER/ MOOSE ANTLERS BUYING any size deer & moose shed antlers/ racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206 QUALIFIED SALES REP WANTED Experience preferred, but will train. Commission-based, with potential of full-time position. Must possess a strong desire to assist businesses to market their products and services

Be Sure to LIKE The Maine Sportsman on Facebook!

through print and web advertising. Is data entry, making cold calls and deadlines second nature to you? Are you self-motivated, trustworthy, detail oriented, organized, with good customer-service skills? If this sounds like you please call 207-3572702 (leave message). ———————————

❤ SINGLES ❤ SEEKING SINGLES SINGLE, WHITE FEMALE, AGE 57, SEEKING SINGLE MALE, AGE 47-67

Single, white female, age 57 seeking single male, age 47-67 for friendship and/or long-term relationship. Since you are reading this magazine, I know you love the outdoors, just like I do! I live in Cumberland County and am a registered Maine Guide with a sporting camp up north. I like to hunt, fish, hike, canoe, camp, snowmobile and ATV. I value faith, honesty, a strong work ethic and education. A sense of humor is critical! If interested, please email me at MaineGuide207@gmail.com.

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 with owner financing 20% down.

FMI Call 207-343-2797 or Visit Greyledgelodge.com

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www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • January 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

FISHING SEASON CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH Stop by our Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport, open 24/7

ANGLER FLY-ROD OUTFITS A starter set designed with our own expert guides

RAPID RIVER LUMBAR PACK

Award-winning pack lets you efficiently organize all your gear

RAPID RIVER MICRO CHEST 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 RAPID RIVER VEST PACK

Loaded with innovative storage so everything you need is right at hand

Trusted gear. Legendary service. Expert advice. All at our Hunting & Fishing Store. 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.

Check our calendar for free clinics & events at

LLBEAN.COM/FREEPORT

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