The Maine Sportsman - July 2017 by The Maine Sportsman - Digital Edition

The Maine

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Saltwater Fishing Time!

Pages 54 & 59

Buying the Perfect Boat Page 21

No Money for Moose Page 17

Ron Joseph to HSUS: “Go Away!” Page 30

Scout Now for Whitetails Page 32

Sebago Lunkers Page 63

2 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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4 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 538 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund

Amish Red-Clothing Hunting Bill Required Fresh Thinking by Lawmakers “Laws are like sausages – it’s best not to see them being made.” This expression has been around since the late 1800s, and in many respects it has never been more true than today, both at the state and federal level. But every so often a bill comes along that does a lot to restore faith in the system. In this case, the legislative proposal was designated LD 426, and it carried the title, “An Act to Allow Hunters Whose Religion Prohibits Wearing Hunter Orange Clothing to Instead Wear Red.” What’s this? The hunter orange law has been around since 1973, and it’s credited with a substantial reduction in hunting accidents. In its current form, the law (12 MRS sec. 11203) requires hunters in the regular firearms season (except duck hunters) to wear two articles of hunter orange – a solid-color hat, and a jacket or vest of at least 50% hunter orange color. The bill proposed to allow substitution of red clothing in place of orange, if the hunter had “a religious opposition to the wearing of hunter orange clothing.” The benefits of the current hunter orange law are undeniable, so why would lawmakers tinker with it? Most observers, including the editorial staff here at The Maine Sportsman, gave the bill little chance of success, and assumed it would disappear just as a similar proposal had vanished two years ago. But proponents learned from their last go-round. They convinced respected legislative sponsors to sign on, including Senate President Mike Thibodeau and former Attorney General (and now State Senator) Mike Carpenter. Then they brought forward convincing witnesses at the public hearing, who presented heartfelt, persuasive testimony. Primary sponsor Rep. David McCrea of Fort Fairfield spoke first at the public hearing on the bill. He explained there are at least 55 Amish families in Maine, including in Sherman, Easton, Fort Fairfield and Whitefield. “They lead a simple life,” McCrea explained. “They do not own automobiles or phones, and their homes do not have electricity.” Most importantly, he said, their religion does not permit its members to draw attention to themselves individually, or even “to be photographed in such a manner as to be recognized.” McCrea also cited precedent for this measure in another state – Minnesota amended its laws a number of years ago to accommodate Amish hunters’ clothingcolor practices. Dick Fortier, a member of IF&W’s advisory council, testified as a private citizen who had met young Amish hunters when he taught them in a hunter safety class. “It’s their strong religious believe that the bright hunter orange cannot be worn under any circumstances, including as hunting attire,” he testified. Three members of the Amish religion then testified, confirming that they cannot wear hunter orange, because to do so would result in them being “forced to give up fellowship with our national church family.” It soon became apparent that Amish hunters have been wearing red clothing while hunting for a number of years, but that local Wardens have been reluctant to cite them for violating the law, instead encouraging them to seek legislative redress. The final witness was Tim Peabody, DIF&W Deputy Commissioner. In testimony that likely set a record for brevity, his four-sentence presentation made clear that the state supported the proposal, and that red clothing should provide adequate visibility while “providing a choice for persons who have a religious opposition to wearing hunter orange.” No one spoke in opposition to the measure. After tacking on a minor amendment to ensure that substitute clothing must be “bright” red, the committee sent the matter on to the House and Senate, where it passed and went to the Governor, who signed it into law on May 26. So this legislation was the exception to the “sausage-making” analogy, and instead provided an educational glimpse into the power of persuasion and organization by a small group of Maine hunters. A tip of The Maine Sportsman cap (hunter orange) to those involved in this effort. And be careful out there! www.MaineSportsman.com

MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER:Mike Moreau mike@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER:Chris Brawn chris@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Advertising and business information: Phone: 207-622-4242 Fax: 207-622-4255 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS Almanac by Will Lund ....................................................... 12 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves ........................ 36 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia ..................... 32 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello .............................. 14 Bowhunting by Chris “Bubba” Johnson ......................... 19 Capitol Report by George Smith .................................... 17 Editorial ................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie ......................... 56 Greater Penobscot Bay by Jim Lemieux ........................ 53 Jackman by William Sheldon .......................................... 47 Jottings by Jon Lund ........................................................... 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon ............................ 39 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding .......... 20 Letters to the Editor ............................................................. 6 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour ...................................... 24 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose .................................. 35 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour .................................. 58 Mid-Kennebec Valley by Shawn Simpson ..................... 62 Moosehead by Tom Seymour ......................................... 44 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson ................................. 69 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie ............................... 28 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith .......................... 23 Rangeley Region by William Clunie ................................ 66 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers ................................ 49 Saltwater by Barry Gibson ................................................ 59 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth ........................ 63 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews ..................... 51 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard ................................ 42 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund ......................................... 46 Smilin’ Sportsman - Kids Edition by Will Lund .................. 50 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie ....................... 34 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery .................... 10 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 71 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller ..................... 64 Trading Post (Classifieds) .................................................. 73 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour .......................................... 22 Washington County by Steve Vose ................................ 54 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie................. 68 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi ........... 50 Young Maine Sportswoman by Alyssa Sansoucy .......... 52

SPECIAL SECTIONS ATVing in Maine by JP Falzone ........................................ 25 Bear Hunting in Maine by Ron Joseph .......................... 30 Boating in Maine by Benny Holloway ............................. 21 Guest Column by Douglas Watts .................................... 72

On the Cover: Bluefish will soon invade Maine’s coastline. Barry Gibson photo

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www.MaineSportsman.com

6 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

To The Editor Wants “Out of StatersOnly” Hunting Day To the Editor: I just read your June editorial proposing a “Women’s-Only Hunting Day,” and I’ve got this to say – I love it, and it is a great idea, but what about an “Out of Staters-Only” Hunting Day? You have an “in-staters” day on the opening Saturday of deer season, and local hunters shoot nice deer on my property. Many times when I get there I see gut piles, and the whitetails are a bit leery after that. I would never post my land, but come on! At least open up the 1st day to us out-ofstaters. I’ve been going to Maine since I was 12 years old; I’m now 62. My son goes with me, and we feel honored to travel north and borrow your beautiful state to make wonderful memories for us. So women and youngsters should have their days, but don’t forget about us flatlanders! After all, that’s the name of our hunting camp: “Camp Flatlander.” John Shugrue - Seymour, CT —

Salmon are Tenacious Migrators To the Editor: I am writing for two reasons. The first is to comment on the “Kid Denied Salmon Prize” story in the June “Almanac.” It would not surprise me if that salmon that youngster caught in Schoodic Lake had made it all the way up the Penobscot River, the Piscataquis River and Schoodic Stream, and then into the lake in Milo. The tenacity of these fish is amazing. Salmon fry/parr typically spend two years in fresh water near where they were born, and then migrate downstream. Then they spend about two years migrating a couple of thousand miles to the vicinity of Greenland, then back to their home river (by sense of smell) and upstream to their home stream to spawn. About two in 7,000 need to be successful to maintain a stable population. Those that successfully spawn have a one-in-seven chance of returning to the ocean and having a chance to spawn again. Repeat spawners produce about 5 times more many eggs than one-timers. Odds of successful spawning increase significantly every time a dam is removed or fish passage improved. I volunteer with the Atlantic Salmon Federation Fish Friends Program. I work with several schools and the Maine Lakes Resource Center raising Atlantic salmon eggs in tanks in the schools and releasing them as www.MaineSportsman.com

fry in Atlantic salmon streams. This spring we released 300 salmon fry into Bond Brook, Augusta. Our group included 20 fourth-graders from Readfield, 30 high school students from Messalonskee, and several Colby college students. The second reason I am writing is to agree with Tom Seymour on the effectiveness of “trout magnets.” When I was waiting to release salmon fry at Bond Brook last year, I took a few casts into the brook and landed a 5-inch salmon parr, probably one of the fry we had released there the year before. I have also used Magnets to catch landlocked alewives, suckers and at least 12 other species of fish found in Maine. Peter Kallin - Belgrade Region, Maine

this May. It was nice to punch those tags, but the bigger reward came via a total reinvigoration of my overall enthusiasm for turkey hunting. Tag punched or not, the prior lack of challenge was instantly replaced with the kind heart-pumping excitement I had not experienced since I was a kid! In my case, I jumped right into hunting without a blind. It’s certainly not easy, but it’s far from impossible. This mode of pursuit also includes an “extreme hunting” element, which adds further excitement and vitality to the endeavor. All told, I’m enjoying it so much that I doubt I’ll ever hunt turkeys with a firearm again. Thanks for casting attention on bow hunting for turkeys. It is an exceptionally challenging and rewarding sport, and I would encourage anyone —particularly those for whom turkey hunting has lost its spark— to give it a whirl. Thierry “Terry” Bombeke Associate Publisher & Director of Wingshooting, Shooting Sportsman —

Nice Dog? Yes. Hunting Dog? Not So Much

Peter Kallin is a salmon expert, but has also had good luck with Trout Magnets, as shown by his catches of a pike, a salmon parr and a landlocked alewife. Kallin photos

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Bowhunting for Turkeys a Rewarding Sport To the Editor: Just wanted to give The Sportsman a thumbs-up regarding your “Almanac” piece about hunting turkeys with a bow (“Bowhunting for Turkeys – A Quiet Alternative”; June 2017). After having become utterly bored with gun hunting, I took a leap to “bow or bust” turkey hunting in the spring of 2016. I shot a nice tom that season, and repeated the feat

Terry Bombeke enjoyed bowhunting success in 2016 (a longbeard shot at 8 yards shown left) and again in 2017 (a tom shot at 10 yards shown right).

To the Editor: I enjoy The Maine Sportsman’s seasonal hunting dog coverage. I’ve had two Labrador Retrievers over the years. The first, Lobo, was an excellent field dog and retriever. The second, Alexander, was a wonderful family dog with a big heart and a wonderful personality. But as far as being a good gun dog – well, not so much. Somehow, Alexander’s love of chasing and retrieving tennis balls for my wife never translated into flushing and retrieving actual birds for me. He did like fetching and retrieving the training dummies, but essentially they were nothing more than oblong tennis balls. I couldn’t understand it. I used the same book (Training Your Retriever, by James L. Free), but despite my best efforts, Alexander showed little enthusiasm for the hunt. One of the first signs that this big mama’s boy of a dog might not be a natural retriever came in the field after I shot a pheasant. He romped up to the dead bird, looked at it, and then walked back towards me without it. My commands to him to retrieve the bird were met with a “Who, me?” look. I picked up the bloody bird and put it in his mouth. He spit it out and glared at me as if to say, “You don’t actually expect to carry that dirty thing in my mouth, do you?” OK, so I’m a fair guy – I didn’t want to jump to any hasty conclusions based on one data point. So after some more training with dummy birds, we headed back out to the field a few weeks later. Alexander was doing a good job of prowling not too far ahead of me to flush any birds until we came to a drainage ditch filled with water. (Did I mention that this particular (Continued on next page)

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 7 (Continued from page 6)

Labrador did not like water?) The ditch was only about four or five feet wide, but I could not convince him to jump over it ahead of me. So I decided to jump over it first and then call him to jump across to join me. I backed up several feet, took a running start, and then a flying leap. When I was about halfway across, something heavy crashed into the back of my knees. It was Alexander. Both of us ended up in the middle of the ditch in about three feet of cold water. My Navy experience helped me to stitch together the exact right string of expletives appropriate to the situation. That was Alexander’s last day in the field. He spent the rest of his days as my wife’s beloved and spoiled companion. It was a mutual love affair. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I want to come back as one of her pets. Jerry Giordano - Arizona —

HERE’S Why Marina Fuel is Expensive! To the Editor: I’d like to clear up a mystery. In his “Saltwater” column in the February, 2017 issue of The Maine Sportsman, Barry Gibson wrote that it’s a mystery to him why marine gas bought at the dock costs 50 cents more per gallon then up town. We own a small marina with a fuel dock, and I think I can explain. First, there’s a price to be paid for the convenience of being able to pull alongside a dock and fuel up your boat. More than that, however, our fuel dock is environmentally safe and approved by the state. This is no small thing, considering gasoline is a hazardous material, and providing fuel on the waterfront in a safe and reliable manor is not simple or cheap. The costs for the infrastructure to deliver the fuel safely and the insurance needed for such a business is significant. We are a Valvtect franchise marine fuel dealer, which means our bulk fuel is treated with formulas that counter the effects of E10 in today’s 89-octane gasoline. Not only does this protect our customers’ engines, but also it means they don’t have to treat the fuel themselves. In our case, our fuel dock is a staffed by an attendant. Legally we must disable the latches on the nozzles of the gas hoses to prevent overflows, so we provide an attendant to pump and monitor the fuel. If your boat is prone to spilling gas out the overflow, he’ll use the necessary absorbent pads and collars to prevent gas spills. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. Our staff is trained in how to both prevent and respond to any gas spills on the water. On our gas dock, you’ll see fire suppression equipment and an emergency response box filled with absorbent booms we can deploy around a boat to contain a spill. Up in our office building you will find another spill response kit mandated by the DEP, and inside the office you’ll also find our emergency response plans, mandated by OSHA,

written and certified by an engineer. We are required to pass two inspections – one from our supplier, and one from the state – to ensure all the necessary safety valves and alarms are in good working order. They test our bulk storage tank before delivering any fuel, and ensure all safeguards are in place before we’re allowed to turn on the pump. The marine environment is rugged and very hard on equipment. This necessitates frequent maintenance and replacement of parts. We are required by law to make hazardous material reports to the state and the town. Every year at the beginning of the season, we complete the Tier II report that goes to the DEP, EPA, FEMA and the local fire department. Delivering fuel to boats on the water is an expensive and highly regulated enterprise. If all you’re paying is 50 cents above the gas station price, I think, you’re getting a bargain. Randy Randall, Owner Marston’s Marina - Saco, Maine —

A Proud Dad To the Editor: I wanted to share a photo of my son, Asa Hatch, age 8, with the readers of The Maine Sportsman. Asa had a great first turkey season. On youth day, he tagged his first tom while hunting with his dad – 19 lbs, 2 oz, with 9.5” beard. A couple of weeks later while hunting with his dad and younger brother Tanner, he did even better, with a 20 lbs, 6 oz tom with a 9.5” beard. Asa has been shooting for over three years. He used a Mossberg 500 youth edition in 20 ga.

The Shin Pond area provided a healthy, all-natural meal for Ms. Carey.

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Angela’s First Fish – And It’s a Good’un! To the Editor: Here is Angela Gould, from Berwick, with her first fish ever – a 4.4-pound salmon pulled from Sebago Lake. We were trolling with streamer flies. I had told her if she wore her good luck charm necklace – which was made of small plastic fish – the fish would bite at noon. Luckily for her (and for me), it worked.

Angela is clearly delighted with her first fish!

David Marshall Registered Maine Guide - Old Orchard Beach —

Another Tom Seymour Fan

Because his second tom of the season weighed more than 20 pounds, 8 year old Asa Hatch may qualify for membership in The Maine Sportsman’s exclusive “Turkey Hunters Club.”

One proud dad, Perry Hatch - Richmond —

Living off the Land (and the Pond) To the Editor: Please share with your readers the results of a recent angling and foraging expedition. I went fishing this spring up around Shin Pond, caught some beautiful trout, and then went picking fiddleheads. It made for a great Maine meal!! Gwen Carey - Bangor, ME

To the Editor: I just finished reading Tom’s June “Midcoast” column highlighting Swan, Megunticook, Alford, and Quantabacook Lakes and the St. George River system. Awesome information! I often fish Quantabacook and the St. George, and have done well on trout on Bartlett Brook that connects the two. The exposed beaver dams will soon make it hard to canoe up Bartlett. The dam he mentioned is out of water, now that levels have dropped after the spring melt and rains. I like fishing the pool right below the dam. I sure would hate to see Northern Pike invade these waters. I live in Appleton, and my canoes spend a lot of time in the two waters I mentioned, as well as Stevens Pond. I am going out to try to find some of the lures Tom referenced. The Wood Special and the L’il Jake sound like really good bets. Roy Chaston - Appleton, ME

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Carry-In Boats Provide Access to Great Angling My son Mike and I were motoring across Nesowadnahunk Lake in a sixteen-foot Grumman Sport canoe. The strong headwind created a chop, but the two-horse Yamaha two-cycle engine was pushing our craft steadily toward the shelter of the distant shore. Suddenly, the craft seemed to be handling sluggishly. I looked around to see six inches of bilge water sloshing around in the stern, and more water coming in through a drain hole in the transom. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d accidentally kicked loose the expand-

A small aluminum boat is nearly maintenance-free. When paired with a 30-pound thrust electric motor and a heavy but powerful AGM battery, the result is productive fishing machine for Maineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carry-in ponds. ing rubber plug that normally filled the drain hole. Fortunately, the plug was tethered by a short length of braided Nylon cord. I picked up the plug, shoved it back in the drain hole and flipped the cam, expanding the plug to make a tight fit. I had previously drilled a hole in the single layer of aluminum in the transom to allow water to be drained out of the boat. The ease with

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which the plug had become dislodged made me re-think my plan. Fixing the Drain Hole Some online research revealed that a marine supply outfit by the name of Moeller listed a one-inch drain tube that could be installed in the transom of an aluminum boat. Moeller didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sell direct to the customer, so armed with the Moeller part number, I got on the phone to Hamilton Marine. They ordered the part, which arrived promptly in the mail. Moeller also sells an expanding tool to achieve a tight fit, but I found that careful work with

a ball pein hammer produced a secure fit for the new drain tube. The Grumman Sport Canoe has served me for many years as a carry-in watercraft to reach waters that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer a regular boat launch. Unfortunately â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or fortunately, depending on your point of view â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a lot of ponds in our state donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a car-and-trailer accessible boat launch. So, a large number of productive waters donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see much angling pressure. The photo shows the results of an afternoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s angling in a small Western Maine pond we reached with the Sport

Canoe, aided by a two wheeled canoe carrier. Grumman discontinued the popular Sport Canoe, reportedly because it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet the Coastguard safety requirement that the craft float level when swamped, with an outboard motor attached. The successor model is safer, but not as handy. Twelve-footer A small canoe or Sport Canoe is not the answer for every angler to the carry-in access challenge. Another solution is a twelve-foot lightweight aluminum boat. I acquired a second-hand twelve-foot Sears aluminum boat years ago. The owner said he sold it because â&#x20AC;&#x153;It scared me.â&#x20AC;? No wonder! He powered it with a ten (Continued on next page)

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horsepower motor! I tried out the rig briefly, and it scared the daylights out of me, too. Too fast and too unstable at high speed. I sold the ten horsepower motor right away, and kept the boat for many years. It was ideal with a small outboard motor, or even an electric motor. We used it for eider duck hunting from an offshore dry ledge, in combination with a larger boat suitable for salt water. We could set the decoys, unload the other hunters, anchor the larger boat and pull the light twelve-footer up on the ledge. It was a combination that worked well. One huge advantage of the twelve-foot tin boat is that it can be carried stern-forward in the bed of a pickup truck. It is light to carry or skid along a trail to go where the big trailer-borne boats canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go. Low Maintenance Another of the user-friendly features of a small aluminum boat is near-zero maintenance. Sometimes the wood reinforcement at the transom needs replacement, but that is all. If that replacement is made with pressure-treated lumber, it can last a long time. One downside of the twelve-foot length hull that may not be obvious to the novice boater becomes noticeable as soon as the boat is on the water in a larger lake. Because of the shorter length, it bobs around a lot in a chop, much more than a fourteen-foot boat. The constant bobbing can quickly become tiring to the occupants. Another drawback of the twelve-footer is the limited carrying capacity. It is strictly a two-person boat, unless the pas-

sengers are small, or the water body is a marsh or millpond. Overloaded, a twelve- foot boat can be hazardous on Maine lakes. Overloaded or undersized watercraft are often factors in Maine boating accidents. Fifty-pound Gorilla Electric motors are becoming increasingly popular among anglers on our smaller waters due to improvements in both motor and battery design. I recently tried briefly a fifty-pound thrust motor on the Sport Canoe. I found it was more powerful than I needed, and it was heavy. So I went back to a thirty-six-pound thrust motor Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been using. Heavy is also the one word that can be used to describe the new AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries. They canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leak acid, even if tipped over, but they carry a long-lasting punch. An AGM battery I bought from Cabelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is the size of an ordinary car battery, but weighs fifty pounds. One day, I put the Sport Canoe in the Kennebec River at the Winslow launch, and took friends on an electric â&#x20AC;&#x201C; powered tour to Augusta. We were accompanied by two youngsters in kayaks. When the kids tired of padding and exploring the shoreline, they climbed aboard for a bit and we towed the kayaks. The AGM battery lasted â&#x20AC;&#x2122;til we could see the Catholic Church spire on Sand Hill in Augusta. The silent motoring meant we could converse easily and talk about the eagles and ospreys we saw on the trip. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become a fan of electric outboards. They are suitable power for angling in the smaller carry-in waters where a lot of quiet fishing awaits the reader.

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The author caught this 2-3/4 pound rainbow rainbow trout from his Grumman Sport Canoe, hand-carried to a Western Maine pond. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bows are more tolerant than brookies to warm water, and fish this size put up an excellent fight on a fly rod. J. Lund photo

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A Woman Named Cornelia Fly Rod Crosby was an accomplished sportswoman who led by example – Maine’s first Registered Guide, a master angler and hunter, a promoter and ambassador of the state’s outdoors heritage, and an early leader in promoting wildlife conservation. An amazing lady was born in Phillips, Maine 11 years before the end of the American Civil War (1854). She died 92 years later, just after the end of the Second World War, in Lewiston (1946). In her lifetime, Cornelia Thurza Crosby made a significant mark in the outdoors heritage of the Pine Tree State and the United States of America. During a male-dominated period in our nation’s history when the perceived expectation was that women should be “barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen,” she proved that adage wrong, becoming an accomplished angler, fly fisher and hunter. As a youth, Cornelia was diagnosed with respiratory health issues and was advised to spend more time outdoors in the fresh air. Obediently, she

did just that, and completed a stunning evolution from sick little girl to a superb outdoor sportswomen who both hunted and fished, and did both very well. But that was just the beginning of her memorable sporting life. She went on to become a syndicated outdoor writer; a fly fishing and hunting advocate in Maine’s waters and forests; the holder of the first Registered Maine Guide License in 1897; a first-rate ambassador for Maine at large outdoor sporting shows and expositions in major Eastern cities; and a diligent advocate for conserving fish and game with limits and seasons. She actively promoted Maine resorts and sporting camps, and the fine hunting and fishing offered there, while em-

Fly Rod reels in the final trout of the season in Rangeley. She was known as a superb fly angler and guide. www.MaineSportsman.com

ployed by various railroad companies that brought people and freight to the Rangeleys and other areas of the state. Fishing Around 1886, a friend gave Cornelia a fiveounce bamboo fly rod and, as the expression goes, “The rest is history.” She became adept at casting, presenting the fly and catching fish, primarily in her Rangeley Lakes area homewaters. She’s reputed to have landed over 200 native Eastern brook trout in a single day in the Rangeleys. She soon would take to calling these engaging char “speckled beauties.” Cornelia viewed herself modestly: “It is the easiest thing in life to describe me,” she said. “I am a plain woman of uncertain age, standing

Fly Rod, seated in this sturdy Rangeley Boat, points to a huge landlocked salmon held by an angling companion. Note the clothing: I’m sure glad we don’t dress like this anymore. [Is that a tin of worms in front of Crosby? “Garden hackle” always is deadly on a fly rod!]

six feet in my stockings. I have earned my bread for a good many years doing the work of a bank clerk. I scribble a bit for various sporting journals, and I would rather fish any day than go to Heaven.” Later in life, she qualified the ultimate phrase by saying, “I hardly think

Fly Rod pivots in the saddle to smile for the camera. In addition to being an accomplished fly fisher, she was an avid hunter. It’s said she killed the last legally-harvested caribou in Maine.

I would give up my hopes of Heaven for a trout or salmon. But I did love to fish.” It was during this time that Cornelia received the moniker “Fly Rod,” and the nickname stuck for about the next 50 years. She often was (Continued on next page)

Fly Rod sits in front of a trapper’s cabin that served as Maine’s “booth” at the prestigious New York Sportsman’s Exposition. Two other Registered Maine Guides pose for the camera. Thanks to her superb promotion of the Maine outdoors, Crosby was issued the first Maine guide’s license in 1897.

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s r o

s y e t s

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referred to, particularly in newspapers, as “Miss Fly Rod.” Fly Rod used her new name in her outdoor columns for the Phillips Phonograph, a regional paper, and later in the Maine Woods. Her columns became very popular with the folks in the greater Rangeley region, and all over the State of Maine. They also had a following in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and other states with residents who were apt to travel to Rangeley for outdoor sporting activities. Crosby often took sports on fishing trips. She was employed by the railroads companies that transported visitors to Maine. Her job consisted of marketing and promoting angling, hunting, hiking, canoeing, camping and other outdoor activities. Conservation Leader Fly Rod had great respect for the male guides who taught her how to fly fish, hunt, and live in the wild, and she became active in fishing- and hunting-related conservation issues. She vigorously supported the Maine Inland Fisheries and Game Commission. She joined the Maine Sportsman’s Fish and Game Association, and was the only female member in what had previously been an all-male group. She was an early and vocal proponent of better, more restrictive fish and game laws, advocated for more money for the commission for fish stocking and law enforcement, and believed guides should be properly trained and licensed by the state. She attended meetings of the groups, served on committees, and lobbied the Legislature on game and fish issues, often to good effect. She eventually became appalled at the

number of salmon and trout being harvested by sports – these were the days when most anglers kept every fish they caught – and argued for the unheard practice of catch-and-release to ensure the stocks would survive in good numbers to eventually breed and provide good sport for others for years to come. She also argued for having closed seasons on fishing and hunting. Selling Maine Fly Rod’s outdoor columns and articles were widely read and did a lot to promote the wonderful outdoor adventurers available in the Pine Tree State, but her reputation was cemented by her excellent work, both as an organizer and celebrity, at various Sportsman’s Expositions in Madison Square Garden, and similar shows in Boston and Philadelphia. Maine was significantly represented at the huge shows, thanks primarily to the Maine railroads that sponsored Crosby and others. The Maine exhibit was a large one, and featured a log cabin bedecked with taxidermy mounts of moose, caribou, deer, black bear and various trophy fishes. Maine guides in full hunting and fishing regalia posed around the cabin, often accompanied by Maine Penobscot Indians in native dress, whose presence added greatly to the scene. The Mainers handed out circulars, and answered questions about the state. Maine newspapers such as the Phillip’s Phonograph and the original Maine Sportsman provided copies for distribution to show visitors. By all accounts, Maine’s exhibit was the most popular and most-visited attraction at the shows, and more was written about Fly Rod than any other show personality. For example, here’s a quote from

A passage in the Maine Woods magazine from Fly Rod. She often wrote of visiting “sports” from away that frequented the Rangeley area camps and lodges. The “political clouds” refer to those tensions building at the beginning of World War I in 1914; the USA entered that war in 1917.

a news item at that time, cited in the very fine book Fly Rod Crosby: The Woman Who Marketed Maine (2000), by Julia A. Hunter and Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr.: “Crosby’s mission in life is to din into the ears of the heedless world the mighty fact that there is on the surface of the earth but one place to live, and that place is Maine.” Later Years In 1899, Fly Rod injured her knee, apparently slipping on an errant piece of coal in a train station, and from then on her mobility was significantly impaired. She continued life as best she could, and was able to fish with help from others. She also continued writing her columns and managed to get around reasonably well with crutches, but her health continued to decline. At age 80, she went fishing at the Bald Mountain Camps in Oquossoc – camps are still doing business today. In 1918, at the height of the First World War, the Maine Woods printed its final edition, bringing an end to distribution of Fly Rod’s regular columns. Fly Rod Crosby’s life accomplishments are very impressive. She, probably more than any other single person, was responsible for putting Maine’s special and varied outdoors activities into the minds and hearts of visitors and other tourists who provide a huge amount of income for

the Pine Tree State that continues growing to this day. A woman of her stature in our history should be enshrined in the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame. For further information on Fly Rod Crosby: • Fly Rod Crosby: The Woman Who Marketed Maine (2000), by Julia A. Hunter and Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. This great book on her life includes historical photos by superb Maine photographer Edwin R. Starbird. • The Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum, Oquos-

soc. A nice display on Fly Rod and some of her gear. Every Mainer should visit here to witness special parts of Maine’s history. 207-491-4771; rangeleyoutdoormuseum.org. • The Maine State Museum, Augusta. Repository for information and photos from Fly Rod’s time. 207-287-2301; mainestatemuseum.org. • Phillips Historical Society, Phillips. Large selection of Fly Rod information and memorabilia including copies of the Phillips Phonograph and Maine Woods. 207-6393111; www.srrl-rr.org

Oquossoc’s Outdoor Sporting Museum Heritage Museum has an informative display on Cornelia Thurza “Fly Rod” Crosby, a most amazing lady, particularly for her time. (www.rangeleyoutdoormuseum.org) Montgomery photo www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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cific steps homeowners can take to reduce the chances that you will be visited by a black bear in your back yard, on your porch or in your open garage. It’s all about making your home less attractive to bears:

Compiled and Edited by Will Lund This Month “Snapshots in Time”; Excerpts from the Maine’s Sporting Past Submitted by Bill Pierce, Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum, Oquossoc This month’s account describes 11 pound 2 oz. brook trout that was caught from the steamer dock at Bemis by Romey Spaulding, a one-armed fisherman who was playing hooky while on the job. The incident took place sometime in the very early 1900s. The trophy was mounted by Nash of Maine, and Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby reported the catch in an article in the Phillips (Maine) Phonograph: “E. J. Spaulding, who for several years has been in Captain Barker’s employ, having charge of the store, was most unfortunate years ago and lost his right arm …. All the fishing tackle [evidently the rental equipment] about the place was in use, except one old rod and reel with some forty feet of cotton line that no one thought of using. Business was dull and Mr. Spaulding, having a few minutes of leisure, took this old rod, and putting some nice fat angle worms on the hook, went out onto the wharf, a few feet from the store, and dropped the hook into the water. Quickly there was a splash and a fight, for Mr. Trout had yielded to the temptation of a good supper. Off came the reel, but the one armed fisherman finally held the rod between his knees, grasped the line in his left hand and pulled, holding it with his teeth, taking a new hold as fast as a foot or two of the line was brought in, as the fish came up onto the wharf, flopping and

jumping.” Readers: Can you imagine “stopping” a run by an 11-pound Squaretail, and then landing it with only 40 feet of cotton line and one arm? Just try that with your next 4-pounder, why don’t you? You got to love a good fish story! Tight lines, everyone!

• Take down bird feeders, rake up and dispose of bird seed on the ground, and store remaining bird seed indoors. • Keep garbage cans inside until the morning of trash pickup. • Keep your barbecue grill clean by burning off any food residue, disposing of wrappers and cleaning the grilling area after use. If possible, store grills inside when not in use. • Store pet and livestock food inside, and clean up any uneaten food. • Keep small livestock behind a fence or in a secure building, especially at night. •

Keep dumpster lids closed and locked.

•

Keep outbuilding and garage doors closed. —

Texting While Boating is Dangerous

Shown in these two vintage photos are the steamer dock from which the one-armed angler caught the 11-pound trout as the dock appeared in the early 1900s, and the steamer tied up at the dock. Rangeley Historic Society photos

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Keeping Black Bears at Bay The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recently sent out a reminder of spe-

It’s tempting to consider piloting a boat as being less dangerous than driving a car, and boat operators who know not to text while behind the wheel of their cars, may consider that activity to be OK when boating. However, a recent alert from Boat US Foundation addressed that misperception, especially when the operator’s boat is in a congested area or is traveling at high speed. “If you’re texting from the helm, you’re likely not helming the boat,” is the tagline summarizing the association’s message. The group made the point that, unlike on a road: 1) Other boats can approach from all directions 2) Boats come in all shapes and sizes; and 3) Boats move at vastly different speeds. Whether in a vehicle or a boat, texting reportedly distracts operators for a full five seconds, and that period of time is sufficient to get an operator equally in trouble on the pavement or along our lakes and coastal waters. (Continued on next page)

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

Leen’s Lodge Sold by King Montgomery Charles Driza recently announced the sale of the well-known and respected Leen’s Lodge in Grand Lake Stream to the Weeks family of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Driza family has owned Leen’s for the past 17-years. Scott and Kris Weeks and their daughter Abby and son Kyle are outdoors folks, and look forward to continuing the fine Leen’s Lodge traditions that date back over six decades. The family has vacationed in places like Leen’s and other sporting camps, and long has dreamed of owning and running such a property. Charles Driza will stay on for the 2017 season to show the new owners the ins and outs of running a Maine camp. In addition, he will continue to ply his superb culinary skills in the kitchen for breakfasts and dinners. This writer can attest to the absolute deliciousness of his meals. He also is a first-class ruffed grouse and American woodcock guide, thanks in good part to his wonderful pointers. (Leen’s Lodge, www. leenslodge.com, 207-796-2929.)

but NOAA is pleased to announce that barndoor skates have been ‘rebuilt.’ Go barnyard skates!” The report reveals that the taking of barnyard skates has been prohibited since 2003, but that populations have rebounded such that a permitted harvest may occur in the future. Northwest Atlantic Cod, however, remain categorized both as “overfishing” and “overfished,” meaning that in NOAA’s opinion, the species has two strikes against it: 1) the current catch rate is not sustainable; and 2) the present population size is also too low to allow the stock to reach its maximum sustainable yield. —

Invasive Species Information Available on Maine State Website After reviewing David Van Wie’s excellent “Sporting Environment” column in this issue regarding invasive species in Maine, readers may be interested in learning more about the subject and what the state is doing about the problem. If so, you’re in luck! The new “Invasive Species Portal” on the state’s website, www.Maine.gov, gives citizens easy access to work being done by state agencies. The portal can help you find resources about northern pike, green crabs, hydrilla, spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer and Japanese barberry. Access the site by typing “invasive species portal” in the search feature at the eee.Maine.gov website. —

Leen’s Lodge sits on a promontory that juts into scenic West Grand Lake , and log cabins of varying sizes straddle the water just inside the wood line. King Montgomery photo

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NOAA Reports Good News – If You are a Barndoor Skate The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently issued a report on the condition of various fish stocks. The report celebrated the “rebuilding” of two fish populations: albacore in the North Atlantic, and barnyard skates in Southern New England. Any news in this area is good news. However, a coastal charter captain we interviewed received the information with a measure of typical Downeast Yankee skepticism: “NOAA always puts a great deal of positive spin to these annual reports,” he told us. “The northwest Atlantic cod stock continues at an historic low level,

Training Available to Prevent Spills at Fuel Docks A letter to the editor in this issue describes the importance of preventing and remediating fuel spills that can occur at marina fuel docks. Fortunately, a basic level of training is available, either for new employees or for those who desire refresher information. Supported by a grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the BoatUS Foundation produced a free online offering titled “Spill Prevention and Response for Marina Staff.” Topics include: • how to know when a boat fuel tank is full • a look at different types of oil and fuel products at marinas and how they are handled safely • how to prevent and to prepare for spill events; • the best steps to take if one happens (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Almanac (Continued from page 13)

• •

the impacts on the environment; and the laws that impact refueling facilities. The course is available at www.BoatUS.org/spill-prevention, and a short video that explains the course is found at youtu. be/5dGYyDKkc. —

Great “How-To” Fishing Videos for Kids by George Smith Do you have a child or grandchild who loves to fish, or who wants to start fishing? Well, thanks to the Maine Professional Guides Association (MPGA), there are now some great videos for those kids to watch. The MPGA produced these videos with

the help of a grant to the Maine Guides Education Fund supported by LL Bean. They feature Emily MacCabe, wildlife educator at Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. You can view these instructional videos on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ user/MPGAssociation —

Oregon Requires “Descending Devices” when Bottomfishing – So What’s a Descending Device? Rockfish are orange-colored fish found 100 feet down along Oregon’s coast. If an angler has reached the legal limit or if keeping rockfish is otherwise prohibited, but if the angler wants to keep fishing for other spe-

cies, the angler must now be in possession of a “descending device.” The problem is that bringing a fish to the surface from great depths may cause its swim bladder – which allows it to adjust and maintain buoyancy in the water – to over-expand. The result is that the fish, when released back into the water at the surface, will float and be unable to return to its natural depth. The devices – also called “recompression” or “release” devices – can be purchased commercially (think a pressure-activated clamp that opens at a certain depth), or can be home-made, using a large barbless hook that can be pulled free from the surface. More information is available from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website (www.dfw.state.or.us). —

Bird of the Month Mourning Dove by Erika Zambello When I was a kid, I used to take the bright yellow bus to school in Pownal, Maine. Every morning I waited at the end of the driveway, the early hour guaranteeing a chorus of birdsong around me. I did not become interested in birding until I was in my twenties, but to this day one particular avian call stands out to me from my elementary school days: the doleful coos of a Mourning Dove. In fact, for a long time I was convinced this species was actually called a “Morning” Dove, because I only heard them on my way to school! This species is found in all continental United States, into Canada, and throughout

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 15 (Continued from page 5)

Central America and the Caribbean. Mourning Dove plumage is a buffy tan shade, with black spots on their wings. Why are they so common? Because they can survive in almost every habitat, from suburban yards to open fields to coastal scrub to agricultural fields and more. In fact, they even survive in deserts by drinking brackish water without becoming dehydrated. The only place you won’t be able to find this dove species is in the deep woods. They feed primarily on seeds, and eat a lot of them – the Cornell Lab Ornithology estimates that they eat 12-20% of their body weight every day. Mourning Doves remain popular game birds. Each year, 20 million doves are harvested by hunters, out of an overall global breeding population of 120 million. Individual doves can also live decades – the oldest known Mourning Dove was at least 30 years old when he was killed by a hunter in 1998. Population-wise, the North American Breeding Bird Survey has estimated a 15% decline in Mourning Dove numbers from 1966 to 2015. —

Book Review Birdwatching in Maine, by Derek Lovitch Reviewed by George Smith Derek Lovitch has published a great new Maine birding guide. Birdwatching in Maine is a must-have for all who love our birds. The book is comprehensive, covering all the state’s best bird watching places. I can tell you that he includes all the places where Linda and I enjoy birding. Well, he doesn’t tell you about our yard, but he’s got all the rest of our favorites! Derek and his wife Jeannette moved to Portland in 2003, and it didn’t take long for them to establish their Freeport Wild Bird Supply and a very busy guiding service. “Maine offers a tremendous wealth of birding opportunities for all levels and interest and experience,” he writes in the preface. That’s an important point, because you don’t have to be an obsessive nearly-professional birder to find value in this book. “No small part of the reason Jeannette and I stayed in Maine is the reason you are reading this book,” he notes.” Yup. We are a birding paradise. Consider this, as Derek notes on the inside pages: “Nearly 450 species have been recorded in the 33,215 square miles, over six thousand lakes and large ponds, over three thousand coastal islands, and thirty-five hundred miles of coastline of the state of Maine.” Well, you probably aren’t going to bird in all those places, so this book will help you narrow down your choices, which are organized by county. I focused first on our favorite places, starting with Lubec, one of the best places

to see migrating shore birds in our state. And Derek nails it. On page 380 is a section on Lubec and the Lubec Bar and Flats. We rent a house near the sand bar every August, to enjoy the area and the birds. Derek even mentions our two favorite restaurants, Frank’s Dockside, and the Water Street Tavern. You can sit on their decks and see lots of birds while enjoying a beverage and great food. We enjoy birding at our camp on Nesowadnehunk Lake on the west side of Baxter Park, and Derek also covers that area well. He doesn’t mention our camp driveway (thank goodness!), but he tells you where you can see all of those great boreal forest birds, mentioning the Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Spruce Grouse, Gray Jay, and Boreal Chickadee. We see all of those, right in our camp driveway! The book includes detailed directions and maps, as well as some beautiful photos. He also gives you charts showing which months you can see each species in Maine. And he credits and thanks all the folks who contributed information for the book – an impressive list of authorities, including some our friends: Ron Joseph, Don Mairs, and Greg and Pat Drummond of Claybrook Mountain

Lodge (where we’ll be enjoying a birding weekend soon, guided by Ron and Greg). And for sure, I’m looking forward to Pat’s great meals!

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16 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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July 2017 Hunting & Fishing Information Hunting Seasons and Rules Night Hunting for Coyote: Night hunting started December 16 and runs through August 31, 2017. To avoid violating Maine’s prohibition on Sunday hunting, night hunting for coyotes must cease at midnight each Saturday, and can resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. Others: There is no closed season for coyotes (daytime hunting), red squirrels, porcupines and woodchucks. Hunting is prohibited at all times for cottontail rabbits, lynx, spruce grouse and ravens. HOURS: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, except for migratory game birds (1/2 hour before sunrise, to sunset) and raccoons (night hunting allowed in season). See “Night Hunting for Coyotes” section above for applicable coyote rules. Ammunition: Non-toxic shot only for migratory game birds. ——————————

Looking Ahead Through September Crow season starts August 1 in all WMDs; Youth Bear Day is August 26; Hunting Bear with bait (general season) starts August 28; Expanded Archery for deer begins September 9 (designated areas); Hunting bear with dogs starts September 11; Moose in WMDs 1 – 6, 11 and 19 begins September 25; Deer Archery season starts September 28. ——————————

Fishing Seasons and Rules Minimum size for brook trout, splake and arctic char: 6 inches; for landlocked salmon: 14 inches (with a

maximum size for salmon and brown trout of 25 inches in much of Washington and Hancock Counties); for togue: 18 inches; for brown trout: 14 inches in lakes; 6 inches in streams and rivers; for rainbow trout: 12 inches in lakes; 6 inches in streams and rivers. Brook Trout: Daily bag limit 2 trout on lakes and ponds in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington and York Counties. Other daily bag limits and minimum lengths (if any): Bass (2 fish; 10 inch minimum; only one longer than 14 inches); Whitefish (3 fish); Smelts (2 quarts); Pickerel (10 fish); Northern Pike and Muskies (no size or bag limit); Eel (25 fish); Shad (2 fish); Striped bass (one fish; minimum 28 inches); Alewives (25 fish). Go to www.eregulations.com/maine/ fishing/general-law-information/ , find the lake, pond, river or stream you want to fish, and interpret the codes that apply. Look up the “S” (special rules) Codes. Learn the open-water season, the ice fishing season (if any), whether you are limited to artificial lures, or catch-and-release, and whether there’s a slot limit. ***** Atlantic Salmon can’t be targeted, and if caught they must be released immediately. Current saltwater fishing regulations are found at www.Maine.gov/ dmr/recreational-fishing/regs-tips/index.html.

Our “Young Maine Sportswoman” columnist, Alyssa Sansoucy, wasted no time filling her tags this wild turkey season. On April 29, Youth Spring Wild Turkey Day, she bagged one tom that weighed 21 pounds, 4 ounces, and a second bird that tipped the scales at 19 pounds, 5 ounces. Tim Sansoucy photo

July 2017 Sunrise/Sunset

July 2017 Tidal Chart

Portland, ME

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

RISE 5:02 5:02 5:03 5:04 5:04 5:05 5:06 5:06 5:07 5:08 5:09 5:10 5:10 5:11 5:12 5:13

SET 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:25 8:25 8:24 8:24 8:23 8:22 8:22 8:21 8:20

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

RISE 5:14 5:15 5:16 5:17 5:18 5:19 5:20 5:21 5:22 5:23 5:24 5:25 5:26 5:27 5:28

SET 8:20 8:19 8:18 8:17 8:16 8:15 8:14 8:13 8:12 8:11 8:10 8:09 8:08 8:07 8:05

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

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

HIGH AM PM 5:46 6:23 6:46 7:18 7:45 8:11 8:42 9:00 9:34 9:46 10:22 10:29 11:05 11:08 11:45 11:46 12:23 12:22 12:59 12:59 1:35 1:36 2:12 2:16 2:51 2:58 3:33 3:44 4:19 4:35 5:09

LOW AM PM 12:01 12:37 12:56 1:37 1:50 2:33 2:42 3:25 3:30 4:12 4:14 4:55 4:55 5:34 5:33 6:11 6:10 6:46 6:47 7:21 7:25 7:57 8:05 8:35 8:48 9:16 9:34 10:01 10:26 10:49 11:21

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

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

HIGH AM PM 5:31 6:03 6:31 7:00 7:36 8:00 8:40 9:01 9:43 10:00 10:43 10:57 11:39 11:52 12:33 12:46 1:25 1:38 2:16 2:30 3:07 3:23 3:57 4:16 4:49 5:11 5:41 6:08 6:34

LOW AM PM 11:42 12:22 12:40 1:25 1:40 2:29 2:41 3:30 3:41 4:29 4:39 5:24 5:35 6:17 6:30 7:09 7:23 7:59 8:16 8:49 9:10 9:39 10:05 10:30 11:01 11:21 11:59 12:14

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DIFW Rejects More Money for Moose Management Moose permits have been cut in half and nothing is being done to save moose that are being killed in big numbers by ticks, but the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says it needs no more money for moose research and management. That was the gist of their testimony in opposition to LD 1065, a bill sponsored at my request by Representative Peter Lyford, to dedicate all the money raised from the moose lottery and permits to research and management of moose. While the lottery brings in as much a $3 million a year, and the sale of permits $1.5 million, the department has spent only $1.2 million on moose research in the past six years. And of course, nothing is being spent or done to save our moose from being killed by ticks. The draft of the new 15-year moose management plan includes this goal: “Generate a stable stream of funds dedicated for moose research as it relates to the management and health of Maine’s moose.” In the agency’s “expected outcomes” draft for the plan, one goal is to “implement management actions to stabilize or decrease winter tick effects on moose mortality.” The agency’s testimony on LD 1065 certainly didn’t indicate that they needed more money to achieve these goals. Judy Camuso, the exceptional Director of the Wildlife Division, delivered the testimony and

George explains why he thought he had several very good ideas for improvements to fish and wildlife laws. However, a majority of legislative committee members disagreed. answered many questions from IFW Committee members. “Although at first glance, this seems like it might be a good idea and we appreciate the bill sponsor’s effort to provide additional funding for moose research and management, this bill would have tremendous negative unintended consequences for the entire agency.” She went on to inform the committee how the money from the moose lottery and permits is currently used. Only $300,000 a year is spent on moose research and management, although Ms. Camuso noted that this amount does not include “all our staff time, or the overhead associated with general operations.” The agency also receives some federal money for moose research. “Directing all the money from moose permits and applications would have negative impacts on a variety of species, and would limit our ability to determine what is an appropriate funding level for moose or any species,” testified Ms. Camuso. “As part of the North American Model of Conservation, the income from the sale of hunting and trapping licenses are used to conserve a wide range of species, not just the game species the permit or license for which it was purchased. Money from moose permit sales is used to benefit a wide range of species, includ-

ing the recovery of our national bird, the Bald Eagle, as well as whitetailed deer, black bear, New England Cottontail and a whole host of other game and non-game species.” Last session I proposed a bill to direct onethird of DIF&W’s money raised from the moose lottery and hunting permits to moose research and management. The department opposed and killed my bill. I expected more support from the agency this time. The agency recognizes the importance of moose to our state, both for viewing and hunting opportunities, and is struggling to measure and figure out what to do about the large number of moose that are dying of winter ticks. More than 60 percent of moose

calves are being killed by ticks, and about one third of cows. In my opinion, after looking at the list of things in the new moose management plan that need to be done, and the plan’s recognition that they need more money to achieve these goals, I proposed this bill to give them a chance to get that money soon. The IFW Committee rejected the bill at DIF&W’s request, and now it will be two years before the plan is finalized and the agency can ask for the money it needs to achieve the plan. Most troubling to me, they already have the money they need, raised from those of us who want to hunt moose, but they are spending that money on lots of other things, including nongame species.

I proposed in LD 1065 that we use all the money raised from the moose lottery and hunting permits for moose research and management, in order to provoke DIF&W to tell the committee how much money they really need. And then the committee could have used this bill to give the agency that amount of money. Sadly, that isn’t going to happen in the face of the agency’s strong opposition to the bill. Although Ms. Camuso couldn’t give the committee a population estimate for moose, she did say, “We still have a lot of moose.” Most challenging,” she continued, “are moose densities and climate change.” She also noted that “fewer moose will reduce the impact of ticks.” That’s certainly true. But it’s also reducing our opportunities to hunt moose, and is doing great harm to our hunting in(Continued on next page)

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Capitol Report (Continued from page 17)

dustry. It appears that the agency is going to be satisfied with a significantly reduced moose population. In my testimony, I talked about the need to come up with a way to kill the ticks and save moose, and Ms. Camuso discussed some possible ways that could be done. But there is no plan to do that – nor is there any money in the budget to do it. Bills Killed As usual, most of the nearly 2,000 bills introduced this legislative session were killed, including lots of fish and wildlife bills. Here are some of the more interesting bills that got nowhere. All the Sunday hunting bills failed. One of the more interesting would have allowed each town’s residents to decide if they wanted to allow hunting on Sundays. Another

would have allowed Sunday hunting for birds in Aroostook County and the unorganized territories. LD 41 would have allowed kids to ride on ATVs without wearing a helmet if they were wearing a seatbelt. LD 844 would have made excessive boat noise a public nuisance, and would have allowed the public to bring a nuisance action against the boater. LD 728 would have reorganized DIF&W’s Fisheries Division to match the Wildlife Division and bring more accountability to the regions. LD 695 would have doubled the number of moose permits available for auction from the current 10 to 20. LD 632 would have provided 25 moose permits to members of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. LD 359 would have required

non-motorized watercraft to purchase and display a one-time invasive aquatic plant and nuisance species sticker to generate money for the DEP’s program to combat invasive plants. LD 342 would have required you to wear a life jacket in a canoe. Two bills that would have created antler size restrictions for bucks were defeated, although they did generate a lot of testimony and discussion. LD 190 would have allowed spearfishing for Northern Pike in Sebago Lake. LD 60 would have allowed hunters 70 years of age and older to shoot antlerless deer in designated WMDs. LD 1038 would have allowed junior hunters to take antlerless deer in any WMD on Youth Day. LD 278 would have removed the prohibition on training hunting dogs on bear in portions of Washington and Hancock Counties where that is now prohibited, due to concerns of wild blue-

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berry growers. LD 1020 would have required DIF&W’s Commissioner to open coastal and island communities to deer hunting. LD 1041 would have expanded the no-shooting zone along roadways from 20 to 100 feet during deer season. While my bill to create a Hatchery Commission to look at all the issues and opportunities in our state’s hatchery system was killed, there is growing interest at some Maine nonprofit groups to tackle this, hopefully with the participation of DIF&W. Wild Game Dinners Are Legal “Wild game dinners have been occurring for many, many years as a tool to raise funds for various charities and organizations, and have not been interpreted by the Maine Warden Service as a violation of law.” Those words, offered in testimony on LD 587 by Warden Lt. Dan Scott, effectively killed my bill, sponsored at my request by Senator Tom Saviello, to allow fees to be charged for wild game dinners. Wild game dinners are hosted by lots of groups including churches, clubs, nonprofits, and even Unity College, which hosts a fabulous wild game dinner annually. Here’s what the law says: “Prohibition against buying and selling bear, deer, moose or wild tur-

key…. A person may not buy, sell, or offer for sale or barter a bear, deer, moose, or wild turkey.” It’s always been assumed by many, including me, that wild game dinners are illegal but allowed by DIF&W. The law is very clear that you cannot sell wild game meat. At a committee work session on the bill, DIF&W Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody emphasized that it is not illegal to charge people to eat wild game dinners. And Tim surprised me when he said this is okay, not just for nonprofits and charitable organizations, but also when put on by for-profit businesses and organizations. In fact, Tim reported that the department served wild game meat at Harvest on the Harbor, an annual event in Portland sponsored by a for-profit organization. The bill got an 8-to-2 “ought-not-to-pass” vote from the Legislature’s IF&W Committee. Representative Steve Wood, one of the two who supported the bill, expressed one of my concerns – that a future Governor or Commissioner could change this policy, and interpret the law to mean wild game dinners are illegal. I can only hope that doesn’t happen. But I’m done battling DIF&W on this one.

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 19

Moose Hunting for Lottery Losers I’m one of the many who put in for a moose permit each year never to draw a tag. I’m not even sure how many years it’s been now that I’ve been skunked. My father, my brother and my wife all enter – still nothing. If you could sell bonus points, I’d be a rich man! My grandfather—a man I hold close to my heart—was a great hunter from whom I learned immensely as a child. He put in for decades, to no avail. In April a few years back, in his last days as cancer took his life, he told me to get his name in before the deadline. He knew he wouldn’t be alive when the season came, but still wanted his name in the lottery. W e entered him electronically one afternoon and he died a week later. He never got selected. Most Mainers believe if they don’t hit the oncein-a-lifetime chance in the Maine lottery, the only other possibility is to pay an exorbitant amount of money to enter lotteries elsewhere, the closest being New Brunswick, Canada. But expenses from these hunts can be astronomical if folks do win. I’ve seen prices upwards of $10,000, which doesn’t include travel to or from the hunting grounds. What that means for a guy like me is that I annually enter Maine’s lottery as a resident, and hope for the best. Secret Moose Haven: The Moose are Loose But notwithstanding the above bad luck, I know something very few Mainers do. Even though I’ve never won a Maine tag, I’ve hunted and harvested moose on several

occasions because I know a secret: I know about a place where anyone can purchase a moose tag and hunt—with no lottery and without having to drive halfway across North America! Over-the-counter bull tags are available in Quebec for non-residents for less than $400, depending on exchange rates. Last year it cost me $365. Thus, usually every other year (between bear hunts), I grab my bow, a tent, grill and some other provisions, hop in my old GMC and trek north to the expansive Gaspésie region of Quebec. It’s not a hunt for the faint of heart, but certainly doable for those with a little preparation and time. As an example, there are some non-financial hoops folks have to jump through for this hunt, including registering a firearm with Canadian Customs if needed (bows don’t need registration). It’s also necessary to register your firearm with U.S. Customs in order to bring it back. In addition, the act of bringing home a truckload of meat is subject to several regulations administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as well as by the FDA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Interestingly, it’s easier to get back through U.S. Customs if the harvested animal isn’t butchered into meat. Hunter-harvested cervid carcasses such as moose may be allowed entry when the importer is the hunter and presents to Customs evidence – such as a hunting licenses – to demonstrate that the

product is hunter-harvested wild game. Regardless, I strongly suggest folks do their homework before marching north. The last thing one would want is to harvest an animal only to have it impounded at the border. D’Autres Obstacles Gaspésie is an 8-hour drive north through New Brunswick then to Quebec. It’s wilderness territory where many folks have lived and worked for generations, versus the better-known areas of Quebec around Quebec City and Montreal. In the cities, English is widely spoken. In moose country, however, broken English is the best you’ll come across. Another barrier folks need to overcome is finding a place to stay. Although much of the huntable land is private and posted, there are large tracts of “government” land where anyone can hunt. But from my experience—and I’m not sure why—the province of Quebec in this area doesn’t advertise or market these hunting possibilities to outsiders. As a result, there aren’t the traditional hunting lodges or tourist towns where hotels and motels are common, like in Maine. Here in Maine, if a tag is drawn, there’s a plethora of guides and other resources from which to choose. Up there, you’re on your own. Cell phones don’t work well, and huntable land may be miles from civilization. It’s not necessary to be hardcore about the hunt, but you need to be aware that sparse comfort levels are the norm rather than the exception.

This photo shows the results of a successful archery moose hunt at Oxbow Lodge, near Ashland. During the rut, seasoned guides can call bull moose into bow range for archery hunters. For those who do not win Maine tag and are willing to forego some comforts, the author suggests heading north to Quebec.

Bow v. Gun: The Seasons Quebec offers two seasons, each a week long. The bow-only season— which includes allowable crossbows—is first, and the timing coincides with the rut (late September; early October). The gun season is a few weeks later in October, and is by far more popular. Purchasable tags are available for each, but a hunter cannot purchase both in the same year, so a choice must be made. I must admit, if I had never moose hunted and finally got drawn in Maine after umpteen years trying, I may choose a gun for the Maine hunt. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us Mainers, and I’d hate to miss a good opportunity to harvest a moose only once in my life. For that reason, I might choose a gun. But the flip side of the coin is this: Now that I’ve hunted moose with both bow and gun, there’s not much that compares to being up close and personal with a mature bull in the woods and getting within bow range. It’s an

adrenalin rush that even the biggest whitetails in Maine haven’t given me at 10 yards. I still get buck fever, but big bull fever is something to behold and experience. So even for the lucky Mainers who did draw a tag this year and are in preparation mode for their hunts should consider hunting their assigned Maine zone with a bow, particularly if hunting the rut. Seasoned guides like those at Oxbow Outfitters (OutdoorLodge. com) and others can call in big bulls within bow range. And I can attest to this: Hunting is about a lot of things, but particularly it’s about good times and good stories. If you want an unforgettable story to tell about the power of an animal, get within a few yards of a bull moose with only a bow and arrow in hand. Good luck to all those permit holders who won in Maine. I have to wait another year, so I’ll be headed north with my tent and bow to the great expanse of Gaspésie.

www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Chocolate Moose Burgers with Chipotle Ketchup hrooms and chipotle ketchup. I can keep This was the first time I’ve made moose mushrooms ng how great it was but until you try burger using chocolate stout, and it won’t be telling the last. I am not usually a beer imbiber, but it…. The stout goes great with the burger Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout is – it just complements it with the chipotle hup. just like liquid dessert. ketchup. I had opened the chocolate stout for the I really love layering flavors. With brownies, and decided to try it in the burgers the chocolate stout and the chipotle hup doing a dance with each – it was an unexpected treat! It smelled great ketchup grilling and tasted even better in the burger. otherr in your month, it’ll ke this 4th of July a It brought another level of distinct flavor. make ial memory!! special Then I topped it with caramelized onions, ————————————————————————————— ——————— Ingredients: • 1 pound moose meat, ground • 2 tablespoons shallots, chopped fine • 1 egg white umbs) • 3 tablespoons plain bread crumbs (I like fresh crumbs) • 2 tablespoons Samuel Smith’s Chocolate Stout • 1 tablespoon Adobo Sauce* • ½ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon pepper Combine all ingredients and form burgers. Grill according to preference. Preheat grill to high heat. Coat cast iron or holed grill pan with oil. (Moose is very lean and it’s best to cook on grill pan). ————————————————————————————————

Making the Chipotle Ketchup chup

This is NOT for the faint at heart. an buy Adobo Sauce and If you like heat but not the real spicy heat, you can mix with ketchup to your acquired heat level. It doesn’t have the depth of flavor, but will do in a pinch. • • • • •

1 tablespoon olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce 1 small chili in Adobo Sauce* 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• • •

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon salt Heat oil in saucepan on medium. Add

garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes. *You can find Chiles in Adobo Sauce in Mexican grocery section.

Dessert: Chocolate Stout Brownies I had my friends Lucinda and Richard test this recipe out for me. I received a call later that night from them. Laughing, they told me they couldn’t wait, as it smelled so good and they were eating with a spoon! I actually like the center very fudgy, so I pull it out of the oven without the toothpick test. My family hovers over this dish. • • • • • • • •

½ cup Organic Samuel Smith’s Chocolate Stout 10 ounces 75% - 99% dark chocolate 1 cup butter 1 ½ cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1 cup flour

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Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line 9” x 9” baking pan with aluminum foil that hangs over edges. Spray with cooking spray. Bring stout to boil and reduce to simmer and cook until reduced to ¼ cup: about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a double boiler with 1 inch of water, melt chocolate and butter over high heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Pour melted chocolate into medium bowl and cool slightly. Add sugar, vanilla, salt and stout and mix well with wooden spoon. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined before adding next egg. Fold flour into mixture and pour into baking pan. Bake one hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan for 3 hours for best cutting (or get a few spoons out!).

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 21

Deciding on the Perfect Power Boat Part 2

by Benny Holloway

The goal, says the author, is determining each buyer’s wants and needs. Sometimes a compromise works well – like the “fish-and-ski,” with a tube-towing post between the back seats when it’s hot and the fish aren’t biting! Editor’s note: Last month, the author covered deep-Vs, center consoles, hard-top cabin boats and bow-riders. His guide to small boat selection continues below. Keel Adds Stability In open water, especially on salt water, some folks find that a lightweight center console or bow rider does not offer the steadiness they require. For increased stability, these folks look for a boat with a keel. These boats are slower but far more stable than round-bottom boats. When speed is not your primary goal, look to the displacement hull, lobster boat or traditional-style picnic boat. Most of those will be running an inboard engine, which lowers the center of gravity, further increasing stability. One drawback is that a full keel along the bottom of the hull results in a deeper draft, and less clearance in shallow water. If your goal is to fish the beaches or flats, stick with an outboard engine that can be tilted or raised, allowing use of the boat in shallow water

and beaching the boat. Pontoon Boats Pontoon boats are growing in popularity. Most pontoon boats are not designed to cover the rough water that mariners can encounter on salt water, so they are recommended solely for fresh-water use Pontoon boaters may encounter rough water on our state’s larger lakes. A two-foot chop on Sebago or Moosehead Lake may have you taking water over the bow, and scaring (if not scarring) your passengers. If rough water or salt water is in your ’tooning plans, consider the tri-hulled pontoon boat. They are larger and heavier, and are better able to handle swells or breaking waves. Pontoon boats are also platforms for endless comfort features and accessories. Some of the larger boats now come with a wide range of options, including convertible bathrooms with showers, and even a top deck with a water slide! Fish-and-Ski One of my next boat purchases will likely be a

fish-and-ski. Ranging in length from 16 to 22 feet, these are hybrid bass boats. Best suited for outboard power, they feature a walk-through windshield. The passage leads to a forward casting platform and a bow-mounted trolling motor. These boats are capable of tournament fishing like the pros, with builtin live wells, hidden rod storage, and top speeds over 50 miles an hour. It’s easy to convince the youngsters to support the idea of purchasing this boat, even if they don’t fish, by pointing to the ski pylon attached between the rear seats. Just explain that there will be plenty of time for tubing and water skiing when the bite is off, but the summer swelter is on. Doesn’t 100-degree weather make everybody want a wake-boarding boat? It won’t get any cooler than surfing, water skiing, or getting pulled on anything behind a boat. Some boats feature onboard ballast tanks; filling them causes the boat to create an endless wave, allowing riders to surf at 10 miles an hour until their legs are tired.

A middle pontoon on the so-called “tri-toon” boats provides steadiness and maneuverability. Although pontoon boats are designed primarily for fresh water use, the third hull adds stability and weight, allowing careful use in protected, nearshore saltwater bays. Photo courtesy Rob Brown

Or throttle up the 8cylinder inboard engine, and see how long your friends can hold on to the flying inner-tube! The Old Stand-by – Aluminum Hull Aluminum boats are an inexpensive way to get on the water, and are very lightweight. They don’t require big expensive outboard power, or a big tow vehicle. The lack of weight does mean they are easily tossed around in rough water. Windy conditions will also hinder launching and hauling out. Buy some load guides for your trailer, to prevent lightweight boats from drifting while you are lining up to access the trailer beds or rollers. Towing Considerations If you plan to trailer your boat each weekend,

an 18- or 19-foot hull is a good range to consider. 25 feet is the maximum practical length, and that size boat requires a heavy-duty trailer and heavy-duty vehicle for hauling. Make sure to check your vehicle’s tow rating in the owner’s manual. Most half-ton pickups are capable of pulling a boat up to 20 or 21 feet. If looking to pull a 22-25 foot overnighter, a three quarter-ton truck will be required to pull it safely and reliably. The truck’s weight will add highway stability, while the low-end power will pull the boat up a steep, seaweed-covered boat ramp at mid tide. One of our customers trailers his 20-foot 212 Parker all over the state –Rangeley, Moosehead, Big Sebago, or also along the Maine coastline. 20 feet is just big enough for (Continued on page 23) www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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New, Thin Lead-Core Line Gets Lures Deep Without Downriggers Tom is excited about a new product – a lead-core line that’s only one-third the diameter of traditional leadcore. As a result, anglers can use lighter gear for a better fishing experience. Trout and salmon in lakes and ponds head for deeper water in July. In many cases, lead-core line or downriggers are the only ways to reach down to the fish. But many anglers eschew lead-core fishing because of the weighty tackle needed to handle heavy, thick lead-core line. This, in part, resulted in a greater use of downriggers, a method that allows for the use of light tackle while still plumbing the depths. Today, only a few anglers regularly use lead-core line. That, however, appears about to change. Let me pose a question – if lead-core line came in a thinner version, suitable for use with fairly light rods and reels, would readers consider using it? After all, when using lead-core, the angler can hold on to the rod, thus being ready to strike the moment a fish hits. Well, a company called Tuf-Line now of-

fers a product called “MicroLead,” a lead-core line that is, according to the manufacturer, 30 percent stronger and 3 times thinner than conventional lead-core lines. Their ad sold me, so I ordered one of these new-fangled lines. My expectations were more than met. Essentially, this new line has opened the door to more enjoyment on the water without being bogged down by heavy gear. New Tackle Then my purchase arrived, I opened the package and examined the spool of thin lead-core line. It is covered with a tightly-woven material that has a smooth, slippery feel. The line was so thin and light, especially when compared to my old lead-core line, that I was prompted to go out and purchase new trolling gear better suited to light-tackle fishing. Reel with Built-In

Counter My rod, sold as a downrigger rod, is light and has a fairly soft action. The reel, a Cabela’s Depth Master III, looks like a standard baitcast reel, but with the happy addition of a line counter. Old-time lead-core users will probably recall times when letting out line after landing a fish, they forgot how many colors they had out. With the line-counter option, we now have two markers to go by, with the line-count number being the most accurate way to let out exactly the same amount of line. And doing that puts us right where we want to be – back in the fish-catching zone. A buddy quizzed me on this new thin leadcore line. He doubted that such a thin line could possibly sink as far as standard, heavier lines. I pointed out that with all lead-core line, the lead is the same diameter no matter the pound test. That means that

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Hudson, NH • 603-759-2264 • PaulsBaitRigsAndTackle.com www.MaineSportsman.com

The author’s lightweight trolling outfit and new, thin, TufLine MicroLead lead-core line.

18-pound test has exactly the same diameter lead core as a 40-pound test line. In other words, in the case of lead-core, the line’s strength is derived from the wrapping, not the lead. In fact, I had long ago gone to the lightest pound-test lead core available, the reason being that the heavier, thicker line has more water resistance and in fact, does not sink as readily as a thinner line. But now, this new line gives us the same strength, but is far lighter and thinner. After setting up my new outfit and winding on the new line, it was time for a comparison test. The new rod, reel and line was somewhat lighter than the old reel filled with standard leadcore. Mind you, I’m saying this was just the reel and old line, not the rod too. This summer will see me doing far more leadcore line fishing than ever before. And hopefully, this article will spur readers’ interest in light-tackle, lead-line

fishing. This new technology can rescue a traditional fishing method from near-extinction. To my mind, that’s a good thing. Suitable Outfits It isn’t really necessary to buy a new rod and reel in order to get into lead-core line fishing. All we need is the new, thinner and lighter line and any outfit that can handle it. For instance, many fly reels are capable of holding 100 yards of the new line, plus some Dacron backing to boot. Then, an 8- or 9-foot fly rod can round out the outfit. The whole thing won’t weigh much more than if the rod were filled with a sinking fly line. The only difference is that the new lead-core line will sink faster and deeper. Spinning outfits are not well-suited for use with lead line, but standard-size baitcasting rods and reels can handle it very well. Imagine catching a 3-pound salmon on a medium-weight baitcasting outfit. Or how (Continued on next page)

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about a 6-pound togue? So any angler with a solid collection of rods and reels – and that includes most everyone I know – need only purchase a spool of the new line in order to get into modern, light-tackle, lead-core line fishing. Preserving Trout This time of year, trout in brooks and streams head for the deep holes. There, no matter how high the air temperature, fish find comfort in cold, well-oxygenated

water. And savvy anglers can take advantage of the situation. I don’t suggest that anyone practice catchand-release now because even though the springfed pools offer trout a degree of comfort, they are still at risk of dying from being first hooked, then played and released. The stress is just too much for them. So for those who want a few trout from the pan, July is an excellent month. However, before going afield in search of some native trout for the

Boating Special (Continued from page 21)

the ocean, yet small enough for lake use. The goal is to determine which boat will suit each customer’s wants and needs. Dockside or Mooring While the focus on these columns has been trailerable boats, here are some considerations for those lucky enough to have access to a dock or mooring: 1) Make sure to have a full cover. Not only

Quotable

table, it is important to consider that fish, especially trout, can go bad in a very short time out of water in warm weather. That’s why it is so very important to always keep an ice-filled cooler in the vehicle. That way, trout can go from stream to table with their freshness intact. Also, creels have much to do with how well trout will keep between being caught and being placed on ice in a cooler. I don’t recommend using the canvas creels with a rubber-like lining,

since they can cause fish to heat up immediately. When that happens, rib bones begin to pull away from the flesh, and the trout develop a marked “fishy” odor. So no matter how inviting these creels may seem, I recommend another option; namely, a canvas creel with no lining, the kind that keep fish cool by first being dunked in water and then wicking moisture away, cooling everything inside in the process. An even better alternative – and, as a tradi-

will it help keep the rain out, but it will also protect the hull from the sun’s blistering UV rays. 2) Choose a boat with a self-bailing deck; deck scuppers will allow the boat to drain rain water from the deck, keeping the bilge from filling up. 3) A bilge pump that runs too much will leave your battery drained, and you’ll be unable to start your engine. Install a designated battery for the pump, and check your boat frequently when it’s kept in the water. Mechanical things do fail; a clogged

than 10 years old and couldn’t be given out to people. Bill Nemitz column, Portland Press Herald, March 31, 2017. —

by George Smith Wildlife biologists say it may take up to four years for Maine’s wild brook trout population to fully recover from the significant toll it suffered during last year’s drought. Deirdre Fleming article, Portland Press Herald, April 3, 2017 — It is clear that Lyme incidence on islands is exceptionally high, averaging 555 cases per 100,000 population for the period from 2010 to 2014, the report noted. That compares with Maine’s statewide rate of 87 cases per 100,000 population, and New England’s rate of 90 per 100,000. The Working Waterfront newsletter, March 29, 2017. High deer populations are a big concern on the state’s islands, as well as throughout southern Maine. — So I gave it all to a bear hunter. And he gave me a $50 donation, and I said, “Thank you. Now I’ll go buy some real food.” Dixie Shaw, who runs two Aroostook County food banks, who picked up a truckload of canned food before noting it was more

Maine contains over 97% of the remaining (native) brook trout lakes and ponds in the country and the most remaining intact watersheds of anywhere in the eastern United States. Consequently, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to protect these unique fish. Andrew Beahm, Executive Director of Maine Audubon, testifying in favor of legislation to extend protection for brook trout in Heritage waters to the tributaries to those waters. March 30, 2017. — I’m getting concerned about [the perception of] threats from landowners. It’s a false assumption that every landowner opposes Sunday hunting. David Trahan, SAM’s [Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine’s] executive director, advocating for Sunday hunting. Maine Legislature, April 11, 2017. All of the Sunday hunting bills, as usual, failed at the Legislature. — He was just adamant that he was not going to get rid of the dogs. Joseph Massey, Waterville Police Chief, on a dog owner who was fined $66,000 for keeping 16 dogs at his home. Amy Calder sto-

tionalist, my own personal choice – is the old-time standard wicker creel. These allow for maximum air circulation, an important factor when carrying fresh trout. Place the trout on a bed of wet ferns on the bottom of such a creel, and the fish will keep just fine for the trip from the stream to vehicle’s ice-chest. So good luck with the new lead-core line, and when you’re brook fishing, don’t forget the cooler and ice.

bilge pump screen; for example, can result in your boat’s hull filling with water. Looking Ahead In a future issue of The Maine Sportsman issue, I will cover the do’s and don’ts of buying a used boat, outlining some of the mistakes that I have made buying and selling boats in the last ten years. ’Til then, get on the water! Benny Holloway works with Coastal Boatworks, Inc. in Newcastle.

ry, Kennebec Journal, April 15, 2017. — As part of the North American Model of Conservation, the income from the sale of hunting and trapping licenses are used to conserve a wide range of species, not just the game species for which the permit or license was purchased. Money from moose permit sales is used to benefit a wide range of species, including the recovery of our National Bird, the Bald Eagle, as well as white-tailed deer, black bear, New England Cottontail, and a whole host of other game and non-game species. Judy Camuso, DIF&W Wildlife Division Director, testifying against a bill to direct more of the money raised from the moose lottery and permits to moose management and research. April 13, 2017. — Given all the issues associated with feeding and baiting deer (increased disease transmission, increased vehicle collisions, poor feed quality, etc.), the Department supports extending the prohibition on feeding deer. Judy Camuso, DIF&W Wildlife Division Director, testifying on April 13, 2017 in support of a bill to expand the ban on deer feeding to apply during the dates August 15 to December 15.

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24 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Maine Wildlife: Beaver

by Tom Seymour

Last fall I visited a family cemetery where some dear friends are buried. But the cemetery was surrounded by water. Beavers had flooded the area, making the little hill that housed the cemetery into an island. It required some judicious leapfrogging to reach the cemetery dry-shod. Beavers were always a problem in that area. My late friend’s woodlot was frequently inundated, and it was a job to keep ahead of the beavers. Most years, the only way to get wood out was to wait until the heat of summer, when dry conditions made the place passable. But beavers sometimes do useful work, too. A new beaver pond is a thing of beauty, at least to an angler. Trout adapt to their new, larger surroundings quickly, and grow fat and sassy in record time compared to their stream-run brethren. It has always amazed me at just how large these beaver-pond trout can become, especially in streams that typically held smaller trout. Of course fishing these places doesn’t always come easily. It requires some daring to walk out on a beaver dam, stepping gently around snags that if disturbed, might result in the dam breaching. Besides beaver ponds that are familiar to me, people over the years have regaled me with tales of monster trout lurking in far-flung, mostly-inaccessible beaver ponds. Somehow I have never been able to locate these much-heralded trout havens. This could easily lead to skepticism. But as teens of an earlier generation used to say, “Thousands may doubt, but I believe you.” Beaver Control In the past, the town I live in has paid professional trappers to come and trap beavers out of areas where their dams have caused road flooding. Beaver control represents a line item you won’t see in a bigcity budget. But out in the country, beavers make their presence known, often in a most unsatisfactory way. The thing about beaver control is that sure, it’s easy to control them. The trouble is, the beavers don’t always stay controlled. Remove one family and another moves in, necessitating the need to call upon the trapper once again. Sometimes water levels behind a problem beaver dam can be kept down through installation of perforated pipes inserted through www.MaineSportsman.com

Beavers are outstanding dam-building engineers, according to the author, but they don’t have any idea which direction the tree they’re cutting is going to fall. the dam at various points. The beavers can work as hard as they want, but are unable to stop the leaks. However, once satisfied that no measure of diligence will reverse the leakage, beavers will simply up and move to another area, where they will build another dam and so the cycle continues. Beaver control, in most situations, is a never-ending battle. Neither side really wins. We drain dams and remove beavers and the beavers rebuild their dams. Where beaver populations are physically removed, other beavers fill the spots. Nature abhors a vacuum, and even a figurative vacuum apparently plays into the narrative. Beavers Protest Beavers often react negatively to human intrusion. Their main strategy is to swim on top of the water and slap their tails down, hard. I would imagine that someone who has never heard the report of a flat beaver tail hitting the water with the force of a pile driver would probably, upon hearing it, imagine all sorts of dire prospects. And once a beaver spots a human it will continue slapping its tail as long as the human remains in the vicinity. I have tried to outlast beavers in this respect, and the beavers have always prevailed. Sometimes it takes a beaver or beavers a while to recognize a human and to respond in their peculiar manner. Imagine casting to rising trout on the flat, calm surface of a beaver pond. The quiet, except for the slurping of trout as they inhale Mayflies, is the only sound. And then “bang!” It really is quite shocking, even to the initiated. And, of course, once beavers get to slamming the water with their tails, trout instantly head to bottom, not to feed again until long after the human leaves and the beavers return to their normal business. Last fall I walked into a remote beaver pond with Maine Sportsman editor Will Lund. We were surveying the pond for trout, meaning we had fishing tackle and were going fishing to see if we could catch anything. Unfortunately the pond was far too shallow to hold trout. But it held a beaver, which as we might have expected, kept up his tail-slapping until we left. Duck hunters, too, have often been foiled in their efforts by tail-slapping beavers. This often happens just as a group of ducks is about to

land within shotgun range. Beavers are not high on waterfowl hunter’s list of favorite critters. Intelligence Hyped Some people consider beavers highly intelligent because of their ability to fell trees. But instead of being smart, beavers are simply creatures of habit and instinct. To prove this, check out an area where beavers are, or have been, working. Notice the stump. It is evenly chiseled on all sides. Now compare this to a tree dropped by a human. We humans can (usually) drop a tree in a fairly precise manner by first sighting the tree for an inclination to lean in one direction and then making the preliminary back-cut that will induce the tree to fall in the intended direction. Beavers, on the other hand, have absolutely no idea where a tree will fall. Any time a beaver-felled tree lands in a propitious, for the beavers, situation, it is purely coincidental. This is why beavers often get killed by trees that they, or another beaver, felled. However, beavers do rate as highly-skilled engineers. This trait, though, doesn’t necessarily signal any degree of intelligence either, but rather is the result of instinct, coupled with a long-term family history of dam building. But be that as it may, beavers can and do accomplish wonderful works of building. They are keyed in to placing each stick in just the right place. A perfectly-functioning beaver dam is truly a marvelous piece of work. But skilled or not, even beavers are no match for nature. A flash flood can wipe out a beaver dam in a matter of minutes. Hydro power, the power of water, stands as one of nature’s most powerful forces, superior to the best efforts of both beavers and humans. Personally, I don’t much mind whatever beavers do. They are in their own, perfectly structured environment, and I am in mine. So go for it, ol’ beavers.

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 25

Maine’s ATV Safety Course — Part 2 by JP Falzone Editor’s note: In our June issue, the author introduced readers to the 6-hour ATV Safety Course that must be completed by all young riders between 10 and 15 years old. This month, he completes the account, focusing on emergency and survival equipment, and the do’s and don’ts of operating a machine. Many unexpected incidents can occur when traveling off-road and in remote areas, especially when on long-distance trips that can span multiple days or even a week. Examples include rider or passenger injuries, mechanical failure of the machine, getting the ATV stuck, or a sudden and dramatic change in the weather conditions. At the course I took this April, the ATV Safety instructors taught us that the best approach is to be ultra- prepared to deal with a wide range of unexpected emergencies. Planning for the Worst For any sort of extended trip, riders should pack extra food and water; a cell phone, GPS and compass; matches or a lighter to build a fire; extra clothing; and basic tools. A first aid kit should become part of your permanent equipment pack, regardless of whether you

are taking a long ride or a short one. One of our instructors, Ed Coleman, told of an experience that made clear the importance of carefully checking the contents of your first aid kit. “I sustained a cut midway through a long trip that started bleeding and needed to be dressed,” he recalled. “There was some anti-bacterial ointment in my kit that had been in there for whoknows-how-long. It had a funny color. I used it anyway, since it was all we had, and the cut ended up getting infected. The ointment had expired years earlier, and did more harm than good.” “Always take stock of what you have in your kit,” Ed concluded, “and note the expiration dates on an items – especially on medications you would need in a crisis situation.” Do’s and Don’ts -ATV Operation Guide The wardens at Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) have seen a great deal of skilled ATV riding in the course of their duties, and they have also witnessed behavior that can not only be harmful to riders and passengers, but also negatively impact relations between riders and landowners. Their advice can be summarized with a list

Written materials provided to the class included a book of Maine ATV laws, a survival guide and information on developing and maintaining landowner relations. Falzone photo

of do’s and don’ts for safe and ethical ATV riding: DO’S: • Always obtain landowner permission before

operating your ATV. • Once you obtain permission, respect private property, and operate your ATV so as not to

cause damage to property. • Become a member of a local ATV club. If there (Continued on next page)

Visit Your Local Yamaha ATV Dealer for Current Promotions! JACKMAN Jackman Powersports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com

SKOWHEGAN Whittemore & Sons 257 Waterville Road 207-474-2591 whittemoreandsons.com

LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 centralmainepowersports.com

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Professional drivers on closed course. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and product warning labels before operation. Model shown ZLWK RSWLRQDO DFFHVVRULHV 9HKLFOH VSHFL¿FDWLRQV VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH

www.MaineSportsman.com

26 â&#x20AC;˘ July 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ The Maine Sportsman

ATV Special (Continued from page 25)

is not a club in your area, help to establish one. â&#x20AC;˘ Take an ATV education course, and then become a certified instructor so you can help pass the education along to others. â&#x20AC;˘ Become involved and

help in the creation and maintenance of trails. â&#x20AC;˘ Stay on designated trails at all times. Straying from the trail can jeopardize landowner permission for other riders. â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid operating an

ATV when muddy conditions lead to property damage and erosion. DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;TS: â&#x20AC;˘ Do not operate an ATV on a maintained snowmobile trail any time of the year, except when landowner permission has been granted or it is also a designated ATV trail.

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â&#x20AC;˘ Do not operate an ATV on a private road without landowner permission. â&#x20AC;˘ Do not operate an ATV on, along or adjacent to a railroad track or within the right of way of a railroad. (Abandoned railroad right of ways that have had the tracks removed may be used if the use has been approved by the landowner.) â&#x20AC;˘ Do not operate an ATV within 200 feet of any dwelling, hospital, convalescent home or church. â&#x20AC;˘ Do not operate an ATV on any salt marsh, intertidal zone, marine sand beach, cemetery, or burial place, alpine tundra or unfrozen freshwater bog or marsh; and â&#x20AC;˘ Do not operate an ATV on any cropland or pastureland or tree plantation.

Final Exam After completing the presentation of the material, instructors Ed Coleman and Charlie Chasse conducted a full review of all the information covered. Then it was time for the written exam. The test consisted of 50 questions, including multiple choice, fill-inthe-blanks, and true-or -false selections. Both instructors did an excellent job explaining to the younger children in attendance that if they did not understand the question, or had any type of learning disability, the instructors would gladly take the youngsters out of the room to further explain the information to them, so as not to disturb others who were taking the test. It was a great way to make sure the youngsters felt (Continued on next page)

Riding an ATV can be dangerous. To ensure your safety proper protective gear should always be worn. Remember to always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Never FDUU\ SDVVHQJHUV XQOHVV WKH $79 LV VSHFLÂżFDOO\ HQJLQHHUHG WR DFFRPPRGDWH WKHP 5LGLQJ DW H[FHVVLYH VSHHGV RU HQJDJLQJ LQ VWXQW ULGLQJ LV H[WUHPHO\ GDQJHURXV %H H[WUHPHO\ FDUHIXO RQ GLIÂżFXOW RU XQNQRZQ WHUUDLQ 1HYHU ULGH ZKLOH XQGHU WKH LQĂ&#x20AC;XHQFH RI GUXJV RU DOFRKRO 0DQ\ $79ÂśV DUH UHFRPPHQGHG RQO\ IRU KLJKO\ H[SHULHQFHG ULGHUV \HDUV DQG ROGHU 3OHDVH PDNH VXUH WKDW \RX DUH ULGLQJ DQ $79 WKDW LV DJH DSSURSULDWH 5LGHUV \RXQJHU WKDQ \HDUV RI DJH VKRXOG DOZD\V EH VXSHUYLVHG E\ DQ DGXOW :H UHFRPPHQG WKDW DOO $79 ULGHUV WDNH DQ DSSURYHG $79 WUDLQLQJ FRXUVH DQG UHDG WKHLU YHKLFOH RZQHUÂśV PDQXDO WKRURXJKO\ :KHQ ULGLQJ \RXU $79 DOZD\V VWD\ RQ HVWDEOLVKHG WUDLOV LQ DSSURYHG areas. Keep your riding areas clean and respect the rights of others. Always obtain permission before riding on private lands, and obey all the laws and regulations governing your riding areas.

POLARIS PURSUITÂŽ CAMO â&#x20AC;˘ Off-Road Capability for the Entire Crew â&#x20AC;˘ Powerful 68 HP ProStarÂŽ HO engine features 13% more power

Instructor Ed Coleman displaying examples of signs seen on Maine Trail Systems. This sign informs riders of a temporary closure of a trail, including an approximate date when the trail should be reopening. Falzone photo

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RANGER CREWÂŽ XP 900-6 EPS See Your Polaris ATV Dealer for Details! GORHAM Wescott & Sons, Inc. 500 Ossipee Trail 207-839-4500 wescotts.com

LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 centralmainepowersports.com

OQUOSSOC Oquossoc Marine Inc. 87 Carry Road 207-864-5477 oquossocmarine.com

JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com

TOPSHAM Woodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Rd. 207-729-1177 teamwoodys.com

See Your Polaris ATV Dealer for Details!

Warning: Polaris off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ÂŠ2014 Polaris Industries Inc.

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28 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Choosing the Right Camper for Your Truck Readers who have been following this column understand my desire to purchase a used vehicle to replace my 2003 Chevy Avalanche. Sometime very soon, I’ll be getting a Toyota Tacoma for hunting and fishing trips throughout Maine – a four-wheeldrive vehicle that may on occasion also allow me to sleep over if I get way back in the woods and don’t feel like coming out. This means a pickup with some kind of cap, slide-in camper, pull behind camper, or tent in the bed. Before I purchase the truck, I think I’d better figure out which style of camper would work for me the best. While I have always liked a simple cap that covers the bed of the truck for shelter in the outdoors, I am open to other possibilities. While

Pull-behind campers are comfortable, but don’t do well off-road. That leaves three options for my pickup – a slidein camper; a simple cap for cover; or a tent-style camper that attaches to the truck’s bed. researching the offerings of different merchants, I have found some very interesting options – items I have never seen before. But before I get into the particular styles of camping attachments available for a pickup truck, let me first explain the other things this truck will be doing for me. The number one use of my truck will be for getting me back into the woods to hunt and fish, then bringing me safely back out to civilization. I also need a vehicle to haul a trailered boat, carry canoes and kayaks, carry a snowmobile in the bed during the winter months, and take the

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trash to the dump. I also need use of the bed as a sleeping space for camping out occasionally. Multi-Use Options If I didn’t require a truck capable of handling so many other chores like carrying my sled around during the winter, I’d probably just go with a permanent shelter of some sort that gets fixed directly to the bed. I don’t want that, though, because I need the bed open for a variety of other chores throughout the year. This leaves me with something that can be easily removed at a moment’s notice. A trailered camper would work for me, and many of the selections I see out there today really entice me. Anybody who loves the outdoors would do well to visit one of the many

camper sales businesses that advertise in The Maine Sportsman and check them out. I won’t be purchasing a pull-behind trailer for one personal reason…I go into some very wild parts of the woods, and pulling a trailer just doesn’t work there. I want something that goes with me over all the roots, and through the tight spots and mud holes that come with hunting and fishing in remote parts of the state. If you’ve driven the back woods anywhere north of Augusta, you know what I’m talking about. So with these last few alternatives out of the way, I must find a sleeping system that fits into my truck easily, provides shelter against nasty weather, and doesn’t hinder travel in the deep woods.

Choice Selections So with the pull-behind camping trailer option off the table, I find myself with three remaining choices – a slidein camper, a simple cap to cover the bed, or a tentstyle camper that goes in the bed. The slide-in camper option looks very promising, for the simple fact that I could pack all of my basic camping items in the camper and have it ready to go whenever the idea of taking off for the woods struck me. I like that kind of freedom to have the idea of going somewhere hit me, immediately head out the door, and already have most everything packed to go. With a cap over the bed or the tent in the bed, a camper would probably want to remove camping items after each trip and then refill the bed of the truck with items the next time they go out. I’ve done this for years and it can be a pain – just think of all the gear, including a sleeping bag and pad, cooking gear, cooler of food, hunting or fishing gear, extra clothing, eating utensils, toiletry items, tools, cook stoves and propane tanks. I still have a few questions about the slidein camper. Even though it would be nice to have most of your camping gear packed in it already, would it be secure, or are they easily broken in to? Also, how do they handle traveling on rough, unimproved back roads? I’ll have to check these issues out and report at a later date (hopefully before a purchase). (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

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South Shore Tent Trailers’ “roof top tents” set up quickly, get the campers off the ground, are accessed by ladder and have a separate ground-level “annex.” Photo: www.sstt.us (Continued from page 28)

Other Options My last options would be installing a solid cap or shell over the bed and creating a temporary sleeping space inside, or buying a tent that fits into the bed of the truck. (I’ve mentioned in previous columns that due to the need for physical

comfort I have given up on sleeping out in tents on the ground). Several companies make these tents that fit onto the vehicle. The two that immediately come to mind are found at www. sstt.us (South Shore Tent Trailers), and www. bestop.com (Best Top). They each make unique tenting options that at-

Bestop’s tent-over-bed style camper might work for me, if I can get it on and off the truck easily. Photo: www.bestop.com

tach to the vehicle. I’ve spoken with the owners of these two companies and will be closely checking out their products in the near future. With the tent style or solid shell or cap, I would have to consider the chore of removing it and then reinstalling it each time I want to use the bed of the truck for another pur-

pose. Kind of a pain, but then is connecting the slide-in camper any easier? This summer I’ll be investigating each of these types of camping options – the slide-in, the hard shell and the tent-style camper. Each of these camping options would easily fit in the bed of the Toyota Tacoma I have se-

lected as my next vehicle. I’ll report back here on the details of testing each of the options in my following monthly columns. Now I guess all I have to do is go shop around for the best deal on a used Toyota Tacoma pickup. Wish me luck.

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30 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Hunting and Fishing’s Code of Ethics Cannot be Legislated by Ron Joseph In 2004 and again in 2014, Maine residents voted to defeat two highly controversial referendums that would have restricted bear hunting. The most recent citizen initiative, “An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances,” was defeated by 41,000 votes. Shortly after defiantly conceding defeat, referendum proponents “Mainers For Fair Bear Hunting” predicted the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) would continue fighting to change Maine’s bear hunting regulations. Today’s rumor mill is slowly churning with news that a third bear referendum will soon surface. Like a majority of Maine citizens, I voted against both bear referendums. Although I am not a bear hunter, I voted to support bear hunters, because deciding what constitutes ethical hunting (and fishing) should remain an individual choice. If Maine’s legislators were forced to regulate ethical hunting, law-

If HSUS succeeds in banning bear hunting, what’s next? A prohibition against trapping lobsters? No more hunting with bird dogs? When a special interest group imposes its moral compass on the activities of others, says the author, it’s a “slippery slope with no end point.” makers would embark on a very slippery slope with no end point. What’s next? Fly fishers lobbying the legislature to outlaw trout fishing with worms in all Maine waters? Only Grouse on the Wing? In Jim Posewitz’s ex-

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cellent book, Beyond Fair Chase: The Ethic and Tradition of Hunting, the author defines an ethical hunter as “[a] person who knows and respects the animal hunted, follows the law, and behaves in a way that will satisfy what society expects of him or

her as a hunter.” The cornerstone of ethical hunting, Posewitz claims, is behaving in the right way. Since the book’s publication in 1994, thousands of hunters have adhered to its code of hunting ethics. Nonetheless, differing

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interpretations of behaving properly often lead to disagreements. For example, my bird hunting buddies—ones with German Shorthaired Pointers and English Setters— chastise me for shooting grouse perched on embankments and in yellow birches. “It’s unethical and unsporting,” the purists argue, “to shoot birds that haven’t been flushed.” “Nonsense,” I reply, “I’m a lousy wing shooter.” For me, hunting has never been a sport. I’m a meat hunter who takes one or two grouse, and refrains from shooting the daily bag limit of four. I follow the law and hunt ethically. Conversely, bird hunters without dogs have argued with tongue-in-cheek that it’s unfair and unethical for a hunter to rely on a dog’s nose to point at “frozen” grouse that would have otherwise escaped detection in thick cover. Our good-natured bantering during cocktail hour at grouse camp underscores an important point: we should respect individual hunting values and ethics provided laws are followed. Personally, I choose not to hunt bear using bait, traps, or dogs, but it would be wrong to impose my moral compass on bear hunters. Nor would I appreciate bird dog hunters lobbying the legislature to make it ille(Continued on next page)

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gal to shoot grouse eating clover or yellow birch catkins. Trust the Scientists Both bear referendums were defeated because voters rejected proponents’ emotionally charged accusations. Instead, Mainers trusted the science and advice of publicly-paid state wildlife biologists who manage bears in the best interests of all citizens. Maine state bear biologist Randy Cross oversees the longest continuous black bear study in the United States. Shouldn’t Cross’s knowledge carry more weight than the opinion of a lawyer or activist working for the Humane Society of the United States in a Washington D.C. office? The HSUS has pumped several million dollars into two failed bear referendums. No one should be surprised by news that the HSUS—with funding from animal rights groups and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—is gearing up to launch yet another “big brother knows what’s best for you” referendum. All of us—hunters and non-hunters alike— make ethical decisions each time we shop at a grocery store. Veal, chicken, beef and pork products come largely from animals that have endured horrible lives on commercial farms. Purchasing neatly wrapped cellophane packages of meat and then voting Yes on the referendum meets the definition of hypocrisy. “But I didn’t kill the animal,” is a common excuse offered to rationalize eating meat. True, but when we purchase meat in markets, we’re paying someone to do the killing for us. What’s Next? Lobster? Tuna? Let’s imagine that the bear referendum passed and it’s now illegal to

hunt bears with bait and traps. What would then prevent emboldened animal rights activists from attacking Maine’s lobster fishery with the same nonsensical unethical and unsporting arguments? Like bears, lobsters are lured into traps with bait. And is there a more inhumane way of dying than being tossed alive into a pot of boiling water? Should we replace lobster trapping laws with ones promulgating fair chase lobster fishing—ones in which only fishermen in scuba outfits and spearguns can legally hunt the crustaceans scurrying for cover on the ocean floor? Of course not, because changing lobster fishing regulations with the same misguided HSUS bear referendum logic

would be absurd. Very few citizens who sign bear hunting petitions have considered the fishing story behind the cans of tuna stacked in their cupboards. Is a bleeding 800-pound Bluefin tuna flopping on the deck of a fishing vessel a less ethical death than killing a black bear? A convincing argument could be made that killing tuna is much worse than shooting a bear quietly eating a jelly donut. Unlike Maine’s stable bear population, Pacific Bluefin tuna stocks have declined by 97 percent since the mid-1980s. Unlike bear hunting, tuna fishing produces a deadly by-catch of thousands of pounds of netted fish, seabirds and sea turtles. Why hasn’t Mainers For

Maine state biologist Randy Cross (green checked hat) has been studying bears since the late 1970s. Photo: Paul Cyr

Fair Bear Hunting rallied to save remaining tuna stocks or demanded stronger fishing regulations to reduce the bycatch of non-targeted ma-

rine life? Their logic and hypocrisy are difficult to comprehend. During the 2014 runup to the bear referen(Continued on page 33)

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Hard Work in July Increases Success in October and November Battling mosquitos on a warm July evening, I attempted to sit motionless at the base of a large maple tree near an old stone wall. I waited for deer to enter a green field. Though there were still nearly three months remaining until our deer season opened, I was hunting already. Before everyone gets excited, please know that I had no weapon. The only things a carried were my Thermocell, a notepad, a bottle of water and my binoculars. The Thermocell kept the biting bugs at bay, the water kept me hydrated and the binoculars helped me determine what deer I was looking at. Multiple times each July and early August when the winds are calm, high temps are below average and the barometric pressure is 29.8 or 30.2 (someday I’ll discuss this; until then, trust me), I’ll

Joe starts his white-tail deer scouting in July, familiarizing himself with individual bucks and does, and their travel and eating patterns. This information pays off in the fall, especially early in the season before other hunters cause deer to change their timing. sit on one of the green fields located on the farms I hunt. My goal is to see as many deer as possible. In particularly, I want to see bucks, but seeing does can be nearly as valuable. Taking Notes and Setting Goals When I was younger, I’d commit nearly all my deer sightings to memory. Inevitably, I’d forget the specifics of many sightings. Did I see 10 or 12 does and fawns? Did they enter a field from a low southern corner or from a thicket on the west side? As a young hunter I was just happy to see deer, and I often didn’t realize the significance of each sighting or how much I could learn simply by ob-

serving. Today, I don’t commit as much to memory. Even at the age of 48, my ability to recall information isn’t as strong as it was when I was 25. I find that taking notes is my failsafe. If it’s on paper, it’s there for me to look at until I lose or toss that paper in the trash. Having data to look has become more important as my hunting has gotten more technical. When I say technical, I’m actually talking about using information to help me target specific deer, not adding information to a database and utilizing complicated mathematical formulas to harvest huge bucks. The technical parts I write down are actually simple, and are often brushed off as insignificant by other hunters.

I document the deer I see – does, fawns, yearling bucks and adult bucks. I document how many I see and where I see them. I often document characteristics or markings on a specific deer, especially does. If the does have fawns, I note how many they have and if they’re button bucks or does. Did you know the button buck fawns of a doe will stay in their birth territory if mom is killed? When I see bucks, I try to document antler size, points and markings on their bodies, such as the shape of their white neck patch. I’ve read studies that indicate the variations in facial and throat patches can be used to ID deer, similarly to markings on a brook trout’s dorsal fin or the bottom of a whale’s tail.

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Just like humans, deer look different, too. Why is it important to know what doe I’m looking at when the season comes? I may have a bonus tag and want to kill a specific doe or pass on another. If I know a specific doe is seen with a specific adult buck or if she has three fawns, two button back fawns or something else, I may want to wait and make a positive ID before I shoot. A specific yearling spike may have been hanging with a bachelor group. I need to know how to identify it by more than just spikes that look similar to other spikes. It’s just another tool in the box. Where We See Them is Very Important Of all the information I write down, where I see these deer ranks at the top of the list. If deer don’t live in the area I hunt, I’m far less likely to kill them. If I know a group of deer enter a field from a specific area on a regular basis, it’s likely they’re showing me their core area or at least directing me toward it. If I can ID the core area through further observation in the forest, I can use this information later to focus on a group or areas between doe groups during the rut when bucks are on the move looking to pass on their genes. Obviously if I see an adult buck or bachelor group of adult bucks during the summer, I do all I can to figure out where they’re coming from. For many reasons, bachelor groups often enter fields from the (Continued on next page)

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same area and even on the same run during the summer. When this happens regularly, I’ll often try to find a way to use it against them early in the archery season. I’ve seen some big bucks in the early season using information I gathered during July and August. Unfortunately I’ve found these early season feeding patterns discovered in the summer can rarely be capitalized on longer than the first week in October. Increased activity and use of our forests by upland hunters, small game hunters and archers, either shift deer’s timing or squelch their daytime activity entirely. In Maine, we often

see adult bucks killed by archers in the first week of the season in fields. I’m seeing more of a pattern, however, with expanded archery hunters. Their advantage? No guns going off and no small game hunting makes for easier hunting. July and August may be hot, steamy months, but there are some great opportunities to get out and watch deer during the evening that could pay off big when the season opens or when the rut arrives. Don’t just fish or relax on the beach. Instead, get out to your favorite farm and watch a field. There’s plenty to see and learn now!

Bear Hunting Special (Continued from page 31)

dum, I conducted an unscientific survey of a subset of the 80,000 individuals who signed the bear referendum petition in Camden, Brunswick and Portland. I asked one poll question: do you eat lobster and tuna? Twenty-four of thirty respondents admitted to eating lobster rolls and tuna fish sandwiches. When told that lobsters and tuna die horrible deaths, some said nothing and walked away; others became angry, accusing me of changing the subject. Admittedly, my small sample size wouldn’t pass muster in a Statistics 101 class, nor was that the goal. I merely sought to make people think about their role as devourers of lobster and tuna fish. Clearly,

Scouting white-tail deer in July pays off when the fall season arrives.

signers of the bear petition were passionate about stopping bear hunting because it doesn’t impact them. Ending lobster fishing and tuna fishing? Not so much, because as consumers, they play a role in killing lobsters and tuna—a fact no one is comfortable confronting. Best Approach is Open-Minded The 2014 bear referendum is a microcosm of today’s divisive partisan politics. We line up on opposite sides of an issue and fight when words fail us. And words fail us when we haven’t persuasively articulated our viewpoint or listened closely to different perspectives. Lord Acton, “magistrate of history,” once said that we have no right to oppose a position until we can articulate it better than the proponent himself. Instead, we harpoon

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opposing views rather than make a concerted effort to educate ourselves on different viewpoints. Today, the art of argument and persuasion, perfected by our founding fathers in 1776, has largely been replaced by toxic vitriol. If we can’t learn to disagree civilly, there’s little hope for reconciliation or compromise on contentious issues, including constructive debates on bear referendums. Our polarized political discourse brings to mind a Thomas Dewar quote, “Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open.” Brace yourselves for a rocky Round 3 of the bear hunting battle. Ron Joseph is a retired wildlife biologist. He lives in Sidney.

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Our Endangered Species Scorecard When you hear the phrase endangered species, what comes to mind? Exotic African rhinos and Sumatran tigers? Beady-eyed black-footed ferrets? The tiny, yet persistent population of desert pupfish? These and other critically-endangered species capture the public’s attention and encourage us to open our wallets to support research and conservation efforts. What about here in Maine? The piping plover gets plenty of press. Perhaps you care more about the peregrine falcon, or the Canada lynx? Ever hear of the Roaring Brook mayfly? This elusive insect was first discovered near Mt. Katahdin, and has since been found in only a few high-altitude streams in northern New England. Or the tidewater

The Endangered Species Act may not be popular among developers, but in the last 40 years it’s been successful in saving from extinction 99% of the animals and plants listed. The author says that’s a pretty good score. mucket, one of three species of endangered freshwater mussels in Maine? Charismatic Macrofauna Not all endangered species fit into the category that is sometimes called “charismatic macrofauna” – those doe-eyed cuddly animals that capture our imagination, or ferociously symbolize an entire ecosystem. Yes, sometimes a slithering snake or bright blue fish can be pretty charismatic, but other less lucky and more homely species languish in obscurity and teeter on the edge of oblivion because they aren’t cute enough to win the pub-

lic’s support. Some endangered species are not animals at all. Furbish’s lousewort, the first plant listed on the federal endangered species list, is a rare herbaceous plant that occurs only in Aroostook County, Maine. This perennial member of the snapdragon family was famous for being one of several factors that killed the massive Dickey-Lincoln Dam project, first proposed in the 1960s, which would have flooded 57 miles of the upper St. John River. Conflicting Concerns For some folks, the words endangered species bring an eye roll at the

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thought of environmentalists-run-amok who are worried about the sky falling on yet another obscure critter or unrecognizable plant that fell behind in the ‘survival of the fittest’ marathon. By its nature, endangered species conservation frequently runs into conflict with human development and economic interests when such development encroaches on “critical” or “essential” habitat. It is up to our government leaders, as policymakers, to weigh economic interests against ethical concerns and also look at the broader ecological (and economic) value that protecting these species will bring. Some of the benefits we get by protecting endangered species and biodiversity include ecological stability, food security, potential medicinal and chemical properties, ecotourism and other ecosystem services, such as clean water, clean air and natural pest control. Ecosystem Value Maine is blessed with a dazzling diversity of habitats, from the tidewater of Kennebunkport to the alpine tundra atop Mt. Katahdin. With this diversity comes a rich heritage of wildlife and plant communities that many of us, both residents and tourists alike, appreciate as integral to “the way life should be.” Maine wouldn’t be

Maine without all the pieces and parts, however tiny and rare, of the ecosystem and landscape. When a species becomes endangered, the concern is not just about that one species. It is really about the health of the entire ecosystem that provides a home for that species. The black racer snake is at the northern edge of its range in York and Cumberland counties. It used to be found as far north as Skowhegan. The habitat it requires is under assault from development, fragmentation, and human activity. Loss of habitat for black racers affects not just the elusive snake itself, but other species with similar habitat requirements, such as the cottontail rabbit. And by losing a predator like the black racer, the community may see an increase in rodents, small mammals and other prey species. Keystone Species Some species, like the rusty-patched bumblebee, play an outsized role in the ecosystem and even our economy. Hundreds of plants, including cash crops like apples and blueberries, rely on bees to pollinate for successful reproduction. Many, many other species may rely on the plants that depend on the bees. And so on. Without bees, the entire plant community would shift. These types of species, like bees, are called keystone species, due to the number of plants and animals that (Continued on next page)

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rely on their critical role in the ecosystem. Bottom Dwellers Freshwater mussels, including the yellowlamp mussel, tidewater mucket, and brook floater mussel in Maine, are the most endangered group of animals in North America, according to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. An important food source for otters, raccoons, muskrats and other wildlife, these mussels are threatened by habitat degradation (shoreline development), water pollution and invasive species. Native freshwater mussels filter the water, helping to keep our ponds and streams clear and clean. Because mussels are inconspicuous and lack the charisma of other species, the public may underestimate the ecological and economic value of these lowly bi-

valves wallowing in the muck. Maine’s Shoreland Zoning regulations are an important protection for the mussels’ habitat, which is home to many other aquatic and riparian species. Record of Success The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been highly effective in protecting wildlife, fish and plant species from extinction. Every species on the list is there because of human impacts on the environment. The ESA enjoyed strong bipartisan support when it was passed more than 40 years ago. Since then, the Endangered Species Act has prevented 99 percent of the species under its protection from going extinct, with many species recovering to healthy populations. We have seen dramatic recoveries in the bald eagle, the sea lion, the California condor, the brown pelican, humpback

Arctic terns are on Maine’s Threatened Species list. The numbers of breeding pairs on coastal islands are at a fraction of historic levels. Van Wie photo

whales and hundreds of other species. These successes are worth celebrating. Here at home, the Maine Endangered Species Act continues to protect vulnerable species that are important to our state, both in parallel with the federal law, and also independently when a species is threatened or endangered in Maine, but

not listed federally. Species like the piping plover and least tern manage to hang on, thanks to our efforts, with a good chance for continued survival. Scorecard for Stewardship All of these protected species are important indicators of how well we balance human development with our natural

environment. For those of us who love nature and the outdoors, the endangered species list is a virtual scorecard for our stewardship, tracking the winners and losers as the human population continues to grow. I’d like to believe we can live up to the challenge. And who doesn’t like to see more winners?

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: BEAVERS by Steve Vose Beaver

Beavers (Castor canadensis) spend most of their lives living a semi-aquatic existence. Beavers are slow on land, but good swimmers. Evolution has provided the beaver with the unique ability to close off its ears and nose to keep out water, and they can hold their breath underwater for 15 minutes. A large flat tail and webbed hind feet make them efficient swimmers and well-adapted to watery environments. Once widely distributed across all of North America, beavers were almost eliminated in the late 1800s because of unregulated trapping. With proper management, however, beavers have been reestablished and are now common in many areas. Many of Maine’s marshes, lakes, ponds and streams hold abundant populations of this omnivorous rodent.

Telltale signs of beavers inhabiting these biomes include beaver dams. Engineering marvels, beaver dams work to increase water depth, allowing beavers to store food where it will not be frozen into the ice during the winter season. Within these small ponds, beavers build domed houses (lodges) constructed of mud, small sticks and vegetation. Beavers construct underwater entrances to their lodges, which helps protect them from predators. Though dens provide effective protection from predators, beavers are still preyed upon by black bears, coyotes, lynx, bobcats, fisher, and dogs while they forage for food onshore. If they are able to avoid predators, beavers typically live 5-10 years in the wild. When frightened, a swimming beaver will slap the water with its broad tail. This alarm serves as a warning to other beavers that danger is near. Herbivores, beavers feed on the leaves,

Questions 1. What unique ability do beavers have that allow them to swim without water entering their airways and ear canals? 2. How long can a beaver hold its breath underwater? 3. What adaptation do beavers possess that allows them to be very efficient swimmers?

twigs and inner bark of hardwoods such as aspen, birch, willow, oak and maple. Beavers cut down trees using their sharp front teeth. These teeth continually grow, so they must constantly be worn down by chewing on tree trucks, stripping bark and feeding. The soft and warm pelts of beavers remain a valued commodity in the fur trade. The Maine trapping season for beaver starts in October and runs until April or March, depending on the Wildlife Management Area.

4. What animals prey upon beavers? 5. How long do beavers live in the wild? 6. What does a beaver do to alert other beavers that danger is near? Answers on Page 7. What do beavers eat?

www.MaineSportsman.com

36 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Aroostook’s Streams of Dreams Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., I must have glanced at the wall clock over a dozen times. I felt like a kid back in school waiting for the bell to ring for recess, except I was a big kid waiting to close the pharmacy so I could get in a couple of hours of evening dry fly casting. That last half hour reminded me of sitting in a dentist’s waiting room – the minutes trickled past glacially. Picturesque Prestile Within mere minutes of locking the door, I emerged from the small bathroom transformed from professional pharmacist to ardent angler – kind of a reverse Superman. Soon I was buzzing toward the Egypt Road in Easton with my truckload of tackle and an air of freedom, anticipation and confidence. For the first seventeen years of my life, I lived within 75 yards of Robinson Pond and its wooden dam on Prestile

July evenings spent fly fishing on “positively perfect” Prestile Stream and the Meduxnekeag River provide memories of wide-body brookies and browns that will last all year long.

Despite being a moderately-sized stream with easy access, the Prestile seldom gets overfished. When trout seek cool water in deep runs and spring holes, dry fly anglers often catch impressive fish like this. Graves photo

Stream – quite possibly the premier limestone native brook trout stream in Maine, perhaps New England. For nearly six decades I’ve fished ev-

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Then and now, a handful of pools remain unchanged, and during July they attract and hold large schools of brookies in deep, cool basins of

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spring-fed water. As the sun goes down, the fish come up, and the last hour or so of dusk dry flying yields fodder for winter daydreams. Doing my best imitation of Richard Petty in his prime, I navigated my vehicle from the store in Ashland to Presque Isle and Route 1, from which half a dozen crossroads join the Egypt Road which more or less parallels several miles of the Prestile. I used the Cambridge Road and then a farm field road near the tumble-down wooden bones of an old saw mill to reach a small parking area along the old B & A railroad, which is now a snowmobile and ATV trail, depending on the season. During my 45-minute trek, I worried another fisherman might arrive ahead of me. While the stretch can withstand two casters, it’s tight, and the prime deep hole is a one-man show. Although I had a couple of back up spots, a huge sigh of relief escaped when the vacant trailside parking area came into view. Ten minutes later I had geared up, hiked up the trail toward Clark Brook and sidled down the steep bank to a fishy set of rock-strewn riffles leading into the deep hole. Just Add Water I’d tied on a light Cahill size 16, and began to work the small eddies, pot holes and undercut bank edges. I raised several trout in about 15 minutes and got three in the 7- to 10- inch range to the net (Continued on next page)

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for release. One grabbed my semi-submerged dry fly on the retrieve after another fish had pulled it under but not gotten hooked. I kept a close eye on the deep run ahead, and sure enough with only about an hour of light remaining, dimples of feeding trout began to appear sporadically. Dozens of these deep runs, ledge seeps and cold creek-fed pools polka dot the length of the Prestile. Many are fairly remote and accessible only via unmapped farm road and two-tracks. But they are certainly worth the effort to locate. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not familiar with the area, just drive, explore, and talk to landowners and local anglers. Size 14, 16, and 18 dry flies are my proven sizes, and if I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch them on a Henryville special, Hendrickson, gold-ribbed hareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ear, ginger quill, Cahill or blue dun, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s likely a lost cause. I fished the stream alternating from both banks until I just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see my floating fly anymore, often resting the run for at least 10 minutes after hooking or playing two or three trout. I landed 11 brookies, and raised over twice that many, hooking and losing a handful. Most ran 8-12 inches. I battled two beauties to the net, one 14-and one 15-inch wide-body â&#x20AC;&#x201C; neither could resist a high-floating Henryville. Check out Delormeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Atlas, Map 65, E-2 for roads, access sites and a stretch of Positively Perfect Prestile. The Night Shift Another very special waterway wandering throughout central Aroostook is the Meduxnekeag River, especially the main branch flowing from Houlton to Littleton and then diverting into Canada.

During the dog days of July when weather is sweltering and smaller streams get shallow, deep holes on the Prestile attract large schools of trout. As the sun goes down, the fish rise for dry flies. Graves photo

All of its branches and tributaries offer rewarding brook trout action for fly flingers, but lurking throughout many languid pools of the main â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keag are breathtaking, behemoth brown trout. Hot

sun and low, warm water conditions tend to make these big browns lethargic during the day, but as dusk arrives the hungry trout begin to prowl. Pick an evening when (Continued on next page)

Mike Wallace of Freeport was working the edge of a deep run on the Meduxnekeag tossing a dry fly just at dusk when this aggressive brookie chose to do battle. The darker it got, the better the fishing became. Graves photo

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Aroostook County (Continued from page 37)

there are clear skies and plenty of moonlight so surface flies and streamers offer a notable silhouette. The most dependable time to fish runs from 8 p.m. to midnight, and anglers will often hear fish taking surface bugs or making noisy swirls as they chase bait fish near shore. Blind casting will stir up a few strikes, but dry flies enthusiasts will fare better wading near likely holding and feeding runs and casting to rising fish. I prefer light-colored, large bodied flies that allow me to follow the float, such as size 8 or 10 royal Wulffs, grasshoppers, yellow irresistibles, fluorescent green humpy or a rat-faced McDougal. Along the shorelines and in eddies below big rocks, a streamer fly generally draws some attention – especially one that

imitates a bait fish or aquatic and makes some noise or disturbance in the water. My go-to patterns include a muddler minnow, a Wooly bugger in black with an orange belly or in olive, or an olive Matuka sculpin. I have a couple of experienced night angling friends who swear by deer hair mice and mole patterns to entice voracious brown trout. Dow’s Hole, the iron bridge, Big Brook inlet and Covered Bridge are a quartet of well-known holding pools for dependable late evening fishing, and each will easily accommodate three or four casters but seldom attract that many. Route 1 has half-dozen side roads leading to the Meduxnekeag, such as the Little, Bartlett and Bell roads, while the Foxcroft Road parallels the

In July and August, the last hour or so of daylight often provides the most dependable dry fly action. The author keeps lightweight chest waders, a fully-stocked dry fly box and a compact L.L. Bean travel rod and reel set in his truck at all times -- there’s always time to stop for a few casts after work! Graves photo

eastern shoreline. Dirt roads and tractor trails will allow sportsmen to reach a few unnamed but productive pools along more secluded sections, but be sure to get landowner permission. Floating from spot to spot in a stable canoe offers va-

riety and stealth, but requires a two-vehicle set up for put in and take out. Check out Map 59, E-4 for directions and locations. Night fishing with fly rods provides a serene and surreal adventure; the

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In Search of the Perfect Pancake at Frost Pond This global warming thing has wreaked havoc on my hiking plans. Last year’s effort included a three-day hike into Frost Pond. This cold water gem sits near the northern tip of Baxter State Park (BSP). Steve Carter and I timed the trip for the early part of September, figuring the native brook trout swimming in those pristine waters would devour any fly offering we threw at them. By the time we arrived at the Matagamon Gate, the air conditioner in my Jeep was running full throttle. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but the cool weather I’d expected showed no signs of arriving. Undaunted, we moved along and parked at the Trout Brook Farm Campground. Before heading out on any backcountry adventure, I always spend a lot of time fiddling with my gear. I make lists, weigh everything on the list, and test anything that might need testing. For me, half the fun involves the preparation portion of the event. On most trips I’m analyzing some type of new gear. Last year’s “guinea pigs” included a titanium cook set and a “Sea to Summit” inflatable pillow. The cook set included a small, super-light frying pan. I wanted a pancake for breakfast, and this expensive little item looked like just the pan to get the job done. While it’s possible, and probably more efficient, to make Baxter State Park reservations online (www.baxterstateparkauthority.com), I prefer to call their headquarters on 64 Balsam Drive in Millinocket (207-

723-5140) and talk to a real live person. It’s also a good time to ask questions and fish for tidbits that might help make the journey memorable. Bob Mallard, owner of Kennebec River Outfitters and author of multiple fly fishing books, had tipped me off to Frost Pond and its brook trout fishery. The folks at BSP headquarters also confirmed the presence of square tails in the remote water. Fully Packed Fully loaded, my backpack tipped the scales at 38 pounds. I’m not sure what Carter’s pack weighed, but in it he carried a titanium French Press coffee maker. As we worked our way along the Freezeout Trail, I looked forward to the smell of coffee and the sizzle of pancakes the next morning. On every trip we always bring along one “treat,” and before we left my camp Carter took out his super lightweight “French Press” coffee ma-

chine. Weighing a mere seven ounces, this little beauty had the capacity to make three cups of coffee. For me, it was some pancake mix from a company in Nebraska called Humbolts. This mix requires only the addition of water, but I “perk” it up a bit with some powdered milk. The new titanium frying pan would soon see action. Often it’s the journey, not the destination, that interests this writer. We headed west from Trout Brook Campground on the Freezeout Trail as it weaved its way towards the shores of Grand Lake Matagamon. We could peak through the trees and catch glimpses of the big lake just as we came to the Frost Pond Trail. Frost Pond Lean-To As we headed south on the Frost Pond Trail, the destination inched ever closer. Frost Pond has only one lean-to and two canoes. By renting the lean-to, we had the keys to one canoe. The

The author poses for a photo at the intersection of the Freeze Out trail and the Frost Pond trail. Steve Carter photo

park reserves the second canoe for day-hiker use only. We had arrived! After setting up camp, we gave the rented canoe

a shove into this backcountry remote pond. The five-mile hike in keeps all but the more serious fishermen from wetting (Continued on next page)

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40 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Katahdin Country (Continued from page 39)

a line in this pristine water. A “where-to” tip

from Bob Mallard had us stroking our way to the

northwest corner, where feeding brookies dimpled the surface. When hiking into remote ponds in the BSP network, look for waters that have a waiting canoe. Fishing this water without a canoe would have proved nearly impossible.

Along the way I did meet a gentleman who had an eight-pound “pak raft” that he had successfully navigated along Trout Brook for three days. He had a minimal amount of camping gear to offset the extra pack weight of the raft and take-down oars. He had a

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plan, and prepared for it. As I’ve gotten older, a lean-to, a waiting canoe and an outhouse work just fine. Fortunately BSP has many remote ponds and streams that support brook trout, and tailoring a backcountry fishing trip simply requires matching one’s hiking ability to one of these pristine waters. For fishing gear I opted to bring my four-piece four-weight. It’s my go-to backcountry rod because it rolls up nicely in my tent, saving an even one pound by not using the rod case. Nothing goes on my back without me weighing it first. Morning Coffee? That first morning at camp broke with the sun stretching into our lean-to and a steady wind twisting the conifers in

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all directions. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter, as Carter and I went to work making breakfast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Did you see what I did with my bag of coffee beans?â&#x20AC;? asked Carter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nope,â&#x20AC;? I said â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the answer Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to hear. After much discussion, we realized that when he pulled it out back at my camp to show me he must not have returned the bag of coffee beans to his backpack.

Strike one. Well, at least we had some pancake mix. The pancakes mixed fine but steady, even heat makes cooking these buttermilk wonders easy. In spite of bringing a small bottle of cooking oil, we successfully burned both pancakes. Only the jelly packets, the kind found in restaurants that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need refrigeration, saved the day. As I call BSP headquarters to make current year reservations, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m making a few chang-

es. First of all, climate change or not, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going earlier this year, like the end of this month. Second, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve picked up a new lightweight Teflon frying pan in my never-ending search for the perfect backcountry pancake. Third, for casting from a canoe, a new nine piece six-weight pack rod will roll up in my tent next to my old four-weight. And, most importantly, this year Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m carrying the coffee beans.

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Steve Carter takes a turn striving for the perfect pancake at Frost Pond. Suffice it to say, neither of us will be hosting a cooking show in the foreseeable future. Sheldon photo

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42 â&#x20AC;˘ July 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ The Maine Sportsman

Sometimes We Get It Wrong Eleven years ago, after a decades-long corporate slide, U.S. Repeating Arms Company closed the 139-year-old Winchester factories in Hartford, Connecticut. In doing so, the company pulled the plug on the long line of legendary products founded by Oliver F. Winchester, and caused yet another blow to New Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already-depleted manufacturing tradition. Everyone involved with shooting sports, from gun writers to gun salesmen to one-weekend-ayear hunters, bemoaned the loss of Winchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s product line (see â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Shooterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bench,â&#x20AC;? April 2006). Even those with little or no interest in shooting shared the emotional reaction resulting from the termination of Winchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skilled and dedicated work force. Battered and bruised

When Winchester closed its Connecticut factories in 2006, experts predicted two results: First, no more Model 94s would be produced. Second, prices of existing lever-actions would jump sky-high. Well, the experts were incorrect on both counts. by competition at home and abroad, the Winchester brand survived the earlier 1964 tumult, when the company went through major design changes. Creation of the Super-X1 semi-automatic shotgun and the Model 101 over/under shotgun helped to restore the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation. Eventual acceptance of the redesigned version of the mythic bolt-action Model 70 also helped stabilize the organization. A string of front-office decisions and successive management teams through the 1970s and 1980s broke the company into fragments. Olin Cor-

poration, the ammunition maker, owned the Winchester trademarks. Olin licensed the trademarks to U.S. Repeating Arms, a subsidiary of Fabrique Nationale dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Herstal of Belgium, itself a sub-set of the Herstal Group, a holding company owned by the regional government of the Belgian State of Wallonia. Through it all, the factories in Hartford continued to turn out the lever-action Model 94, a rifle synonymous with the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;deer rifleâ&#x20AC;? and very much in the tradition of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gun That Won the West.â&#x20AC;? One of the few black powder designs to

successfully make the transition to smokeless propellants at the beginning of the 20th century, the Model 94 was the first sporting arm to sell a million units. Ubiquitous Model With more than seven million units sold by the time the end came, most hunters assumed the sturdy, reliable Model 94 would go on forever. And despite all manner of ballistic and cartridge development, the Model 94 remains popular in relatively plebian calibers such as .30-.30 and .32 Special. The Model 94 has taken every type of game ALWAYS BUYING, SELLING & TRADING QUALITY FIREARMS

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on the North American continent and then some. Along with its sister Model 1892, the Model 94 gained significant popularity in South America and Australia. It also helped arm the Texas Rangers, Canadian Northwest Mounted Police and, equipped with a bayonet, even outfitted the armies of Czarist Russia in World War I. Given that the vast majority of deer hunters in North America got their start using a Winchester Model 94, why did it slip out of production? The Model 94 never failed as a product. Rather, U.S. Repeating Arms Company failed as an effective, efficient business. Years of poor business decisions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; coupled with the high costs of labor in the northeastern U.S. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; finally brought the lines to a halt in 2006. Winchester-branded products traveled this road before. The Model 12 slide-action shotgun evolved into the cheaper, less attractive Model 1200 due to production costs. Same story with the Model 21 side-by-side shotgun â&#x20AC;&#x201C; unmanageable production costs led to the whole â&#x20AC;&#x153;pre-64â&#x20AC;? and after-1964 kerfuffle over the Model 70 bolt-action rifle. In order to continue making the Model 70, the company had to change the design to offset the cost of labor and time. What Now? When the doors closed and the lights went out in the old brick facilities along the Connecticut River, a lot of gun pundits, including (Continued on next page)

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

yours truly, were wrong in their predictions about the future. In fact, gun enthusiasts from Maine to California were wrong on at least two points. It was wrong to pronounce either the Winchester brand or the Model 94 dead. By mid-2008, when the rest of us were teetering on the brink of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great Recession,â&#x20AC;? both the Winchester name and the Model 94 were reviving. In August of 2006, Olin Corporation resuscitated the Winchester name by licensing it to Browning Arms of Morgan, Utah. A subsidiary of FN-Herstal, as was U.S. Repeating Arms, Browning now makes rifles and shotguns under both the Browning and Winchester names. Browning resumed production of the Model 70 in 2008 at a FN-Herstalowned facility in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2013 they relocated production of the Model 70 to Portugal. Production of the Model 94 resumed across the Pacific in Miroku, Japan. Today the Miroku factories offer four versions of Model 94 in longtime Winchester calibers of .25-35, .30-30, and .3855. At least one version comes chambered for the newer .450 Marlin car-

tridge. Priced by the manufacturer at $1,199 for the least expensive version and at $1,399 for the version called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sporter,â&#x20AC;? the current Model 94 costs more than twice what the Connecticut-made rifles did. With most of the original seven million units still serviceable, just how accepting the public remains with those prices will be interesting to follow. Still Classic Many of us also miscalculated the value of the Model 94 as Winchester closed its doors in 2006. We assumed that prices for Hartford-made Model 94s would skyrocket the way prices for Model 70s made before 1964 have. In April 2006 this column stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every one of the millions of Winchester products still in existence hold more value today than yesterday.â&#x20AC;? That remains a true statementâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; up to a point. While some individual Model 94s in rare calibers or takedown versions command premium prices, the great mass of Model 94 rifles and carbines can still be acquired at reasonable prices. Eleven years ago, we failed to comprehend the vast number of Model 94s already in the marketplace, making it almost impossible for prices to

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make any sort of jump. We incorrectly assumed prices would rise. The Model 94 has the numbers to ensure its prices remain reasonable and that it also retains its place as a satisfactory hunting rifle for legions of shooters who are currently not even old enough to hold it steady on the shoulder. The new Miroku-made Model 94s may be out of reach for many of us, but no matter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there is a welcome supply of good old Hartford-made ones to fill the need.

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Moosehead Lake Tops Tom’s List of Must-Do July Fishing Trips July has arrived and summer is in full swing. Salmon, trout and togue (lake trout) have gone down to deeper water to find comfort, and anglers catch them with lead-core line and standard tackle fished from downriggers. And believe it or not, on a clear, comfortable July morning, only a few boats dot the placid surface of Moosehead Lake. Onlookers note a small amount of boat traffic in the Rockwood area, while on the other side of the lake boaters come and go from the launch at Lily Bay State Park. But Moosehead is a huge lake, and this low boater usage does not re-

To catch togue, salmon, brook trout and smallmouth bass in what’s arguably the prettiest, most productive coldwater fishery around, grab the boat and head to Moosehead Lake. flect a lack of fishing opportunities. Indeed, some folks consider July and August among the best months to head out on Maine’s biggest lake. Moosehead Hotspots Case in point – consider Matt Gillie, a Maine guide whom I met at his Salmon Pro Charters booth at the 2017 Annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show at the Augusta Civic Center. Matt guides anglers on a number of lakes

around Maine, including Moosehead. And Matt told me that July and August are his favorite months to head out from the public boat landing at Rockwood. Matt and I discussed the various hotspots in the Rockwood region, including that area directly in front of the trail system at Mount Kineo and – this next might come as a surprise – the water in front and a bit north of the boat ramp.

But I was aware of this situation, and thinking of it always brings me back to the days when, fishing West Grand Lake with my buddy the late Leo Mills, we would watch a small flotilla of boats take off from the landing just above the dam, gun their motors and speed off to parts unknown. Leo’s offhand remark was always the same, that it was if we could hear those speedy boaters say: “Let’s get out of here as fast as we can;

the fishing can’t be good this close to the landing.” But Leo’s sarcasm was based on a truism: indeed, fishing is good fairly close the boat landing. The same goes for the state-of-the-art landing at Rockwood. In fact, my advice for those new to trolling Moosehead is to drive straight off from the landing for about 200 yards, bear left to parallel the shore, slow down to trolling speed and begin fishing. Readers might ask if it could really be this easy, and my answer is an emphatic “Yes.” Matt Gillie isn’t the only guide to work the (Continued on next page)

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Rockwood/Kineo area of Moosehead Lake. Bob Lawrence of Lawrenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lakeside Cabins in Rockwood has plied these waters for many years. In fact, one of my most highly-anticipated trips of the summer is my annual fishing trip with Bob in July. We always take fish, and the mix of species has much to recommend it. Whereas in years past togue comprised the lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share of fish boated, that has changed a bit, and now salmon often come aboard in higher numbers. And even better, brook trout, some on either side of 5 pounds, have become regular additions to the lucky anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. Look for Rockwood and its boat landing on the Delorme Atlas, Map 41, A-1. Moosehead Tactics During a usual July, coldwater game fish hud-

dle in the thermocline, which can be down 50 feet or so. But this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold, late spring may have the effect of keeping the water cooler than normal, meaning that even in July, salmon and trout could potentially hang near the surface on a still, chill morning. And even during the heat of the day, anglers shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to fish quite as deep as in past years. The usual summertime technique for Moosehead anglers is to use downriggers in order to get deep enough to where fish wait. Leadcore lines also work, but not as well as downriggers. However, if my prediction comes to fruition, lead-core might be all we need to reach down to trout, salmon and even togue. Even better, the new, thinner lead-core line, detailed in my â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trout Fishingâ&#x20AC;? column in this issue, allows anglers to use lighter tackle while

reaching down where salmonids lurk. So even the casual angler, someone not equipped with downriggers, will be able to find exciting action on the big lake this summer. For terminal gear, frozen smelt, if available, are a hands-down winner. Some anglers have good results with live shiners, too. Those like me who prefer artificial lures, might stop in at one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tackle shops and ask which lure area guides are using most. These folks understand that their livelihood depends upon catching fish, and they only use the most productive lures. For starters, though, look for some of the new, hot-colored Mooselook Wobblers. So for a day or several days spent on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arguably the prettiest, most productive coldwater fishery around, grab the boat and head off to Moosehead Lake. And for those wishing to use

a guide service rather than going it alone, look no further than the advertisements in the pages

of this issue of The Maine Sportsman. (Continued on next page)

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46 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Mooshead Report (Continued from page 45)

Anglers’ boats tied up at the marina at Lily Bay State Park, on Moosehead Lake. Seymour photo

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Fishing Campsites Camping and fishing go arm-in-arm at Moosehead Lake in summer. Some anglers prefer the peace and tranquility found at the various primitive campsites around the lake. For example, across from Rockwood in Days Academy Grant Township, a number of primitive campsites dot the shore of this big peninsula. A bit farther south, Sugar Island, Maine Public Reserved Land, offers a number of good, primitive campsites. To reach Sugar Island, some folks launch at Lily Bay State Park and with boat loaded with camping gear, and head out to select a wild campsite on Sugar Island. Lily Bay State Park itself offers camping, with some scenic lakeside sites, as well as a great boat launch with a marina and mooring opportunities. And for those who want to hit the deep water to the south of Sugar Island, it’s not far from

Lily Bay to the southwest side of the island and its 95-foot depths. Other anglers may prefer to remain around the shallower waters just off Lily Bay. Here, illegally-introduced smallmouth bass grow to weights of 4 pounds and more. For those interested in pursuing these unsanctioned warmwater species, I suggest using light or ultralight spinning tackle and panfish jigs such as Crappie Magnets. That’s all you need to load up on Moosehead bronzebacks. And for those who relish a dish of golden-brown bass fillets, bear in mind that there is no size or bag limit on bass in Moosehead Lake. So do your part to help the lake’s coldwater game fish and keep all the bass you catch. And enjoy a huge, Lily Bay fish fry. Find Lily Bay and Sugar Island on Map 41, C-3.

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

Pat the Poacher was very proficient. His weakness, however, was that he could not tell a lie. In court, the judge asked: “Pat, have you ever violated Maine’s fishing and hunting laws?” “Yes,” admitted Pat. “How long ago did you commit your last offense?” asked the judge. “Well, Your Honor, what time is it right now?” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A mother came home from work to find her young son riding a new bike. “Where’d you get the money for that bike?” she asked. “I earned it by hiking,” the son replied. “Come on,” the mother said. “Tell me the truth.” “That is the truth!” the boy explained. “Sis is home from college for the summer, and whenever she wants to spend time at the house with her boyfriend, she gives me $20 and tells me to go take a hike!” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Question: What’s the difference between a developer and a conservationist? Answer: A developer sees a forest, and wants to build houses there; a conservationist lives in a house in the forest, and doesn’t want to see any more houses built there. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Wife: How’s the exercise plan going? Husband: If God had intended for us to touch our toes, he would have put them farther up on our body. www.MaineSportsman.com

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 47

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Moose River Bow Trip — Maine’s Best-Known Paddling Adventure

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A downriver trip in which you end up where you started? Impossible, say? The author describes how it’s done. Nearly a decade ago, I came across a gentleman and his two young daughters at the Attean Pond launch. Next to their canoe were a couple of home-built wood dry boxes opened up for packing. “Heading out?” I queried. “Yup, doing a father-and-daughters trip,” the man replied. “Always wanted to do the Moose River Bow Trip.” As their paddles parted water on the first leg of the journey I gave them an envious wave and a heartfelt, “Good luck!” As fate would have it, a few years later I’d have that same experience with my own daughter. Back then I didn’t have an official “bucket list,” but what’s referred to locally as the “Bow Trip” belongs on every water-rat’s list. Canoe, Kayak or Stand-Up Many years ago, an excursion like the Bow Trip had “canoe” written all over it. Then along came the kayak craze. Guilty as charged, I bought a few Eskimo water-sleds myself. Now it seems that every other vehicle has a stand-up paddleboard strapped to its roof. It’s tough keeping up with progress. In the last few years, I’ve come to appreciate the fine art of rowing. From simply rowing a “car-topper” to a streamlined rowing shell, this graceful activity offers excellent exercise along

with a surreal connection with the water. These self-propelled boats offer plenty of fun on a bright July afternoon.

vehicle. After navigating to the outlet at the southern tip of Holeb the open water paddling ends and the river-running starts. A short run down Holeb Stream soon intersects with the Moose River. Various books rate this river as class I and II. The river flows mostly wide and flat punctuated with a series of rips and rapids that require a bit of experience to navigate. Selecting the best technique for tackling these rough water stretches depends on water flows. We used a method called “lining” to navigate all but the “must portage” Holeb Falls. We chose to run Attean Falls – adding a little excitement to the end of the trip. Lining involves tying a rope to the bow and stern and guiding the canoe through the rapids from shore. The internet provides a great deal of information on Maine’s most famous canoe trip. Those looking to run this 34mile trip for the first time would do well to team up with a local guide or go with someone familiar with the river.

“Bow Trip” The descriptive “Bow” in this counterclockwise circular trip is derived from the “oxbow” (curved) shape the Moose River makes south of Holeb and Attean Ponds and around Attean Mountain. The river heads south from Holeb, then meanders east and finally flows north again back toward Attean. Most water travelers start the Moose River Bow trip at the boat launch on Attean Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map 39, B-4). Actually, the boat ramp serves as the start and finish of this 34-mile journey. The beginning of the trip requires an open water paddle across Attean Pond to a 1.2-mile portage trail that leads to Holeb Pond. Some folks, like me, cheated this first portage by starting the journey from the boat ramp at Holeb Pond. But, using Holeb Pond as the starting point requires use of a second shuttle

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Final Stretch We used official campsites along the river. At Attean Falls, the last bit of rough water before the Moose River spills back into Attean Pond, the campsites were full. (Actually, we had one but offered it up to a family of

five from Massachusetts.) We then looked Attean Falls in the teeth and bravely ran the rapids with success, ending up back on Attean Pond and a campsite along the east shoreline. Now, we could have (Continued on next page)

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Jackman Region (Continued from page 47)

The Moose River Bow trip features two portages and some whitewater, but the passage can be navigated safely if care is used. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 3-day camping trip for most paddlers, and 21 campsites are found along the water route. Image source: The Nature Conservancy

portaged the falls, but in order to make it to the next campsite before dark we needed to gain a little time. Those falls were at the very top edge of my skill level, but eventually we flushed out into the remaining current of the Moose River and stroked our way towards Attean. Attean Falls, with its close proximity to Attean Pond, attracts thrill-seekers making a day trip by paddling upstream in the flat water and then portaging to the beginning of the short, but stout rapids. They then make a day of running the fast

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Dandelion Greens — Often-Ignored Wild Edibles Each Spring, like many Mainers, each spring we look for fiddleheads, by driving along roadways, searching from a boat or canoe, or just walking down trails to find a few here and there. But my Uncle Steve has taught me about how to select and harvest another delicious wild edible – dandelion greens. Once common practice, eating dandelions is becoming a lost tradition for families in Maine. This weed tastes just like spinach. It is rich in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus. Every part of dandelion is useful. You can

harvest its leaves, flowers and roots in the season when they are most vital. In early spring, leaves quickly shoot up and gather sunlight. This is when they are most tender and can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried for tea. As the leaves age and are exposed to sunlight, they can become intensely bitter. For that reason, you have to get them before the flower blooms. To harvest them, I take a junk knife and cut the root under the dirt and wash it off to get all the dirt out. To prepare them, I soak the dandelion greens in a large bowl of water with a little salt

for 10 minutes. You may have to rinse them a couple of times to remove all traces of dirt. Then, you can put them in a salad, boil them or fry them. I like to add vinegar butter. Some folks fry them with a little garlic. I’ve even heard of preparing them with salt pork. The best thing about them is they grow anywhere. To pick a bucketful, all I have to do is walk out onto the front lawn! I’m not sure why more folks don’t pick dandelions – all I know is, I look forward to picking them every spring.

Eating dandelion greens has become a lost tradition for families in Maine.

The Smilin' Sportsman

Youth Edition

Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com Kid: “Doc, once you fix my broken arm, will I be able to successfully cast a fly rod?” Doctor: “Yes.” Kid: “That’s great, ’cause I’ve never been able to fly-cast before!” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Question: What’s stucco? Answer: It’s what happens when you step in bubblegummo. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Question: What do you get when you cross a parrot and a centipede? Answer: A walkie-talkie! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• “Did you hear about the worker who got fired from the frozen orange juice factory?” “No, what happened?” “He couldn’t concentrate!” www.MaineSportsman.com

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 51

Finding July Solitude in North Maine Woods “Never again in July!” the Commander muttered under his breath. We were camped at Allagash Falls on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Our usual mid-May river trip had been postponed for some reason until mid-summer. And we were not alone. A large party of young boys had taken up residence in the adjoining campsite, and they were doing what big groups of young boys do – making noise and having fun. Their leader’s attempts to quiet them was having exactly zero effect. My faithful paddling companion, Kevin Regan (a.k.a. “the Commander”) was unamused. We had seen the large group earlier in the day at Michaud Farm and hoped that they might be taking out there. But not long after we set up camp along the portage trail, they descended on us in full force. We settled in for a long night. Solitude can be a precious commodity in July. Even the more remote waterways that are reliably lonely at most times of the year can seem

crowded this month. And waterways that are open to large boats – or even personal water craft – are the noisiest of all. It’s enough to drive a dedicated canoe camper to distraction. But there are ways to avoid the crowds and the noise – even in July. Here are a few ideas. Allagash Lake Allagash Lake puts the “wilderness” back into the Allagash “Wilderness” Waterway (Delorme’s Atlas Map 55, D-3). The AWW regulations prohibit boat motors of any size on this lake. And getting to the lake itself is not an easy task – a recurring theme in this list of quiet places. Access is via a onemile portage trail at the southwest corner of the lake. Or by way of Allagash Stream from the northwest, with two possible put-in spots – Johnson Pond, or a streamside location about four miles upstream from the lake. The lake is a popular spring fishing destination – both despite and because of its remote location. Difficult access always seems to coincide

with higher fish populations and larger average fish size. The trout and togue in Allagash Lake are no exception. But by mid-summer, the fishing pressure eases, and campsites that surround the shoreline are much quieter. There are ice-caves to explore here and a hiking trail to the top of Allagash Mountain – but the real attraction this month will be the motor-less solitude.

A flat calm morning on Webster Lake. Andrews photo

Webster Lake At the far southern end of the AWW is another Allagash gem that cries out to solitude-seekers. Webster Lake straddles the northwestern border of Baxter State Park (Map 50, A-3). The put-in spot is at Chamberlain Bridge on the Telos Road (Map 56, E-1). You will undoubtedly share this popular launching spot with busloads of Allagash canoe campers headed north on Chamberlain Lake to begin their Allagash experience. Wave goodbye to them as you turn your canoe southward into Telos Lake. This will im(Continued on next page)

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The Young Maine Sportswoman with Alyssa Sansoucy

183 State Street Suite 101 Augusta, ME 04330

Alyssa Preparing to Compete Again in Home Away Home Taxidermy Show —from This Time, with her Buck The MAT (Maine Association of Taxidermists) holds its annual show the first weekend of August at Sunday River. This year the show starts Friday, August 4 and runs through Sunday, August 6. Taxidermists from all over start preparing months advance, perfecting pieces and getting them to competition standards. I myself have been competing in the MAT competitions for 4 years. The first year, I painted a reproduction crappie fish. I did not try to make it seem realistic, but rather presented it as a patriotic piece of art. I did very well that year, and enjoyed painting the fish from start to finish. Throughout the years I’ve continued the trend of painting reproductions because that is my favor-

ite thing to do. This year, though, I am going to try something new – mounting the 9-point buck I got last season. The best part of the competition is what I learn from each one. They teach me so many things, from mounting, to changes in painting, and much more. All the judges offer critiques after the pieces have been judged. They may tell you what could be improved, or why it was given a certain score or placement. These offer a lot of learning opportunities that you don’t always get from just mounting pieces yourself. The public may view the pieces again once the judging is over and everything has been scored. There are also vendors who come and sell their

Self-Propelled (Continued from page 51)

mediately reduce your chances of sleeping next to a scout troop. Telos itself offers great camping and distant views of Katahdin from some of its beaches. However, the easy access from the Telos Road guarantees that real solitude will be tough to find here. At the southeast corner of Telos is the Telos Dam, the most southerly point on the entire AWW. July water levels will dictate that campers portage around the dam and then along the one-mile trail that parallels Webster Stream. The stream is navigable for experienced canoeists during high water in early spring – but the trail is well-suited to a wheeled canoe-carrier cart, which I highly recommend. Portages almost always guarantee solitude, and this one is no exception. The payoff is Webster Lake in the most remote corner of Baxter State Park. Access from the Park is limited to a dead-end hiking trail that terminates at the far eastern tip of the lake. A lean-to at this beach spot can be reserved through the BSB reservation system. Hikes to other remote ponds and attracwww.MaineSportsman.com

products. On the last day of the show, there is a banquet that everyone can go to, to see if your piece earned an extra award. The banquet also offers an auction with a variety of items to win. There is lots to do at Sunday River besides the show. There are zip lines, gondola rides, a pool and many more ways to have a great experience with your family. I really enjoy the show, and look forward to it every year, so I encourage everyone to come. This is not just a show for taxidermists – it’s for anyone who loves and supports the outdoors. More details can be found on the MAT website: www.mainetaxidermy.org

My first year I entered the “Peace Fish,” and was awarded first place in the kids division.

I entered this sea turtle in last year’s competition, taking first but in a higher division.

tions inside Baxter are an option from this point, although relaxed July campers may find it difficult to tear themselves away from this beach. Upper South Branch Pond Baxter State Park can offer camping solitude, even in July. The general rules are: • Stay away from Mount Katahdin; • Use the north entrance to the park at Matagamon Lake; and • Bring your canoe. The campground at Lower South Branch Pond (Map 51, A-1) will be full of families and hikers. But a short canoe ride through spectacular mountain scenery can change all of that. At the southern end of the pond, find the tributary stream and wade the boats upstream through the shallow water to the upper pond. Another short paddle takes campers to the southern end of Upper South Branch, and to the lean-to that is the only designated camping spot on the pond. No motors, beautiful scenery, and great hiking are the major attractions here. Plus, the guarantee that a scout troop won’t set up camp next door.

Campfire on the Beach at Webster Lake. Andrews photo

View from Lower South Branch Pond. Andrews photo

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 53

Waters Large or Small Create Outstanding Fishing in July Want to find smallmouth bass and white perch in Hancock County? Based on his own knowledge and after consulting with the experts, the author tells you exactly where to lower your hook. Penobscot Bay anglers are becoming increasingly dedicated to the sport of freshwaterbass fishing. This may be a result of the more than 35 warm-water fisheries in Hancock County that provide fast tackle-busting bass excitement throughout the summer. Smallmouth bass and white-perch fishing can produce exciting results in July. Some top-quality action can be found by referring to DeLorme’s Atlas, Maps 15 and 23. Many of these waters produce bronzebacks in the 2- to 6-pound range, and white perch in the 8to 12-inch range. My favorite lake for white perch is Brewer Lake (Map 23, C-3). Rod-bending perch action is found near Nickerson Island and Kings Island. Another area near Bowden’s Island, according to fall-fishing enthusiast and Brewer Lake cottage dweller Robby Howard of Bucksport, can produce some fine ingredients for a perch chowder. Morning and evening fishing with spinning-gear and garden hackle can produce enough perch for a meal. This lake also contains landlocked salmon for fall anglers to catch. According to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) biologist Greg Burr, “Brewer Lake is noteworthy for its smallmouth-bass and chain-pickerel population.” A boat launch near

the north end of the lake is accessible by taking the Snow’s Corner Road from Route 15 to the Brewer Lake Road. Alamoosook for Bass Another exceptional freshwater-bass fishing water that can produce explosive action is Alamoosook Lake in Orland (Map 23, E-3). With a maximum depth of 28 feet, this medium-sized water contains 1,133 acres of fertile smallie habitat. Bass fishers often use live bait, bass plugs or plastic worms to entice smallmouths in the 2-to 3- pound category. Fishing near the small islands, especially French Island, produces most of the trophy bass action during July. Other quality bass haunts on this same water are located in the vicinity of Randall’s Bridge. This area of water is known as the Dead River and contains some fine bass fishing. Another piece of water where smallies can keep a rod bending is near the Alamoosook Lake outlet. The coves just before the dam are noted for the hefty-sized bass caught there during the summertime. Alamoosook Lake also provides fast perch, pickerel and salmon action. Easy access can be found by following Route 1 to East Orland. Follow the signs toward the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. The Alamoosook Lake

boat landing is located within the boundaries of the fish hatchery. Small Bass Waters Another water worth spending a little fishing time on is Wight Pond (Map 15, A-3). This small, 135-acre pond contains prime humpback habitat. Fast action for worm-eating perch is found near the north end of this water. An area toward the center of the pond can also produce excellent results. Perch are usually found in six to 30 feet of water. Simple spinning gear works great when a No. 6 hook contains an ample amount of garden-hackle. Wight Pond is also known for its largemouth bass and pickerel population. A fourth top-rated bass fishery is Silver Lake in Bucksport (Map 23, E-2). It contains 630 acres of water, and has a maximum depth of 33 feet. This lake produces fast bronze-back action along the east shoreline. Another productive spot for bass action, according to angler Mike Stanley of Bucksport, is found around the islands at the north end of the lake, where ledges and a rocky bottom structure create ideal habitat for smallmouths. Stanley mentioned that bass anglers using plugs or other plastic lures are able to entice smallies in the 1to 2- pound class, with an occasional 3-to 4-pound

Smallmouth bass can be pulled out of many large and small lakes and ponds in Hancock County. Photo: Reed George/Flickr

trophy a realistic possibility. Large-mouth bass may also be a part of a day’s catch on this water. Healthy numbers of white perch and pickerel can create fast action for warm-water anglers. The boat launch lies about midway down the lake on the Silver Lake Road. Another water that features fast bass action is Chemo Pond in Eddington (Map 23, B-5). This medium-sized pond contains a few trophy smallies for summer anglers to catch. Even though other warm-water fish thrive in this water, smallmouths are the number one species sought after by July anglers. Bronzebacks in the 2-to 3-pound range are often landed by summer fishers; however, many more strikes are created by smaller bass trying to inhale anything on the water. The boat-launching facility at Chemo Pond is located off Route 9 between East Eddington and Clifton. A fifth top-notch bass pond that offers solitude and great bass fishing is Swett’s Pond in South Orrington (Map 23, C-2). Even though this is a relatively small body of water, it contains excellent

smallmouth-bass habitat and a respectable number of fish. This pond provides a great number of bass in the 1-to 2- pound category. These two waters often provide a more tranquil setting than some of the better known warm-water waters; plus, they offer an excellent chance for anglers to catch a few explosive bass. Each of these waters produce smallies in the 1- to 2-pound range throughout the summer, with a few 3-to 4-pound trophies caught annually.

In addition to smallmouth, the region holds some nice largemouth. Here. Deven Pendexter of Poland, Maine displays a trophy. Lemieux photo www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Fishing for Sculpin Fishing off the commercial pier in Eastport (Delorme’s Atlas Map 27, A-4) has always ranked as one of my fondest childhood memories. We used to catch a lot of mackerel back then, but I don’t recall ever keeping any of the fish; instead, we likely threw them back into the Atlantic or gave them to one of the many other anglers fishing the pier. In those days, the fishing was fast and furious, and a young boy had all the mackerel he could dream of catching by just lobbing a single weighted hook into the large

Mackerel aren’t biting off the salt-water pier? Then how about catching some longhorn sculpin? If you can learn to deal with the stinging spines, you can get some tasty fillets. schools. I remember the schools being so massive that anglers could watch the mackerel whip the water frothy as they chased baitfish around the entire harbor. While the fishing these days certainly isn’t as good as it once was, fishing off the Eastport pier still has all the makings of a fun adventure for young and old alike. This past July, I had

the pleasure of taking my two young sons angling for the first time off the pier in Eastport. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side, and over the course of several hours, we never managed to land even a single mackerel. My understanding, from talking to several locals, was that we were a few weeks early, and the schools of tinker mackerel had not yet reached this section of

the Washington County coast. However, while the mackerel didn’t cooperate, what we did manage to have fun catching were several sizeable sculpin. What’s a Sculpin? Within the Gulf of Maine, there exist several different fish that are members of the sculpin family. Included in this list are the Hook-eared sculpin, Mailed sculpin, Shorthorn sculpin, Long-

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horn sculpin, Stag horn sculpin and Arctic sculpin. Of the species listed above, the Longhorn sculpin is the most plentiful, and it’s the fish most frequently caught off Maine piers. While not a massive fish, the Longhorn sculpin can grow to 18 inches, although most of them don’t get longer than 10 to 14 inches. Not a fish that will ever win a beauty pageant, the homely sculpin has been known to elicit screams of fright from unsuspecting anglers who haul one out of the briny sea. Oddly proportioned with a head and mouth seemingly too large for its body, strangely-colored and possessing spines that jut out from its head and fins, the sculpin is truly an ugly-looking fish. In its defense, however, the lowly sculpin has evolved over the millen(Continued on next page)

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nium to become a master of camouflage, possessing the ability to vary its skin color to match its surroundings. Needle-Sharp Spines Additionally, predators that are unlucky enough to attempt to attack or eat a sculpin will quickly learn the error of their ways, as the fish are covered with numerous needle-sharp spines. Because of these impressive defenses, anglers who hook sculpin may find them bothersome to unhook. The easiest way to remove the hook and return the fish to the water without getting stuck is to subdue the fish by firmly grasping it by the mouth. U n less your choice of footwear includes steel-toed shoes, never attempt to kick a sculpin off the pier and back into the water. Why? Because their spines can easily penetrate the thin fabric of a sneaker. Bait Sculpin have a voracious appetite, readily taking any type of bait or lure that is presented. What type of lure doesn’t seem all that important, as they will strike about anything dangled in front of their gaping mouths. Adding a small morsel of clam, squid or fish belly helps to encourage a strike, but anglers can still enjoy a high degree of success by simply jig-

ging a lure close to bottom. Fishermen who specifically target sculpin do so using dropper rigs. These simple set-ups consist of taking 4 feet of 20 lb. monofilament line and attaching a 4-oz. weight to the end. Twelve inches up from the weight, tie on a 2/0 hook using a dropper knot; go up another 12 inches and tie on a second 2/0 hook again using a dropper knot. At the end of the line, opposite the weight, attach a barrel swivel. In lieu of using bare hooks, some anglers prefer to attach small bucktail flies to the dropper knots, as these have the benefit of still eliciting strikes even if the bait falls off or is stolen. For Ease of Filleting, Cut Off the Spines! So greedy were the sculpin inhabiting the waters around the Eastport pier that it would not surprise me if the kids caught several of the same sculpins multiple times, and would have continued to catch these fish over and over had we not moved farther down the pier. In Maine, the longhorn sculpin is considered a “trash fish”. In the past, they were processed into fishmeal, dog food or used to bait lobster traps. Sculpin is, however, an extremely tasty fish to eat. The one caution to preparing this fish for the dinner table is to use

The author and his son enjoying a sunny July day catching sculpin.

great care when filleting it to avoid getting stuck by one of its many spines. The easiest way to avoid being stuck is to

simply cut off all of the spines with a pair of pliers, and then filet like any other normal fish. The delicious flesh can then

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Catching Bass on a Fly Rod Requires Specific Gear Sometime when I was in my late forties, my fly fishing skills finally got to a point where I began consistently experiencing many wonderful days of tight lines, jumping fish and screaming reels. I was having so much fun that I decided to get my guideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license and show other anglers the joy of fly fishing. After getting my license, I started guiding anglers in the Western Mountain Region of Maine. Initially, my fishing clients came to Maine to catch trout and salmon, and I gladly showed them where and how to catch the awesome salmonid that call this part of the Pine Tree State home. As the years progressed, I noticed a shift in the requests; more of my clients started asking

A hungry smallmouth bass is looking more for a frog or mouse than for a mayfly, so an angler should not use flies designed for brookies. And a whippy 5-weight rod and micro-thin leader wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the heft to cast the bigger fly or haul in the heavier fish. about fishing for smallmouth bass. This happened about the same time that several wellknown outdoor writers started filling magazines with wonderful stories and beautiful photographs of their fishing adventures for huge smallmouth bass in Maine. Lefty Kreh, noted angling expert and author of numerous books and magazine articles about fishing, wrote several articles at that same time (early 2000s), and in one I remember reading that Maine was among his favorite places to fish.

I fished with Lefty and his friend King Montgomery (a fellow Maine Sportsman columnist) on several occasions after he wrote that article, and he told me that even though he has been all over the world fishing, he still prefers to come to Maine and fish for â&#x20AC;&#x201C; guess what â&#x20AC;&#x201C; smallmouth bass. Maine Bronzebacks It has been widely reported that Maine has experienced an increase in the number of anglers coming here to fish for bass rather than the traditional salmonid. My small experience of see-

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ing a shift to smallmouth fishing in Maine supports these reports. Even though I cannot stand the thought of an invasive species like bass getting into treasured salmonid waters, I still enjoy catching smallmouth bass on a fly rod. Hopefully biologists will figure out how to solve this problem. In the meantime, I will happily continue catching these awesome fighters with my fly rod. For those used to angling for trout or salmon, catching bass with a fly rod requires a slight

change in focus. To be successful at catching black bass takes a little tweaking of gear and a small deviation in technique. I fish for smallmouth bass (also called bronzebacks or smallies) predominately, but these techniques also work for largemouth bass and others in the black bass family. To be a better bass fisher, anglers must learn a little about the fish and the environment it inhabits. On rivers, bass hang out in areas similar to salmonid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; deep holes where the current doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t force them to expend energy. In swift water, large rocks or other obstructions provide a pocket of slack water in front and behind where fish can rest and wait for food to (Continued on next page)

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pass by. On lakes, bass prefer the protection of structure like large boulders, sunken trees or aquatic plant life. They also find bait fish hiding in these same areas. On both lakes and rivers, bass also enjoy the security of overhanging branches that give shade from the hot sun and cover from predatory birds. Food Shift Now that we’ve identified where to find bass, let’s take a look at how to catch them. When going from fishing for trout and salmon to bass, the first big equipment change that I notice is fly selection. Although bass, on occasion, feed on the same aquatic life and bait fish as salmonid, knowing the few important variations between what the two types of fish prefer can make a difference between catching a few small bass versus hooking into a good number of mature bass. I don’t know why bass like to attack some surface imitations, but they do, and it is my favorite method of hooking up with these muscular fighters. While salmonid prefer an aquatic hatch of mayflies, caddis or other insects, bass like something with a little extra meat, such as frogs and mice. I use poppers and divers of all size and colors with great success – definitely my most enjoyable method of fishing for smallmouth bass.

If the fish don’t seem to be taking top water flies, I switch to subsurface bugs like wooly buggers, zonkers, or any number of streamer selections. I make my subsurface selections as fat and hefty as possible. With bigger flies and heavier fish, the next consideration for anglers is the adjustments that must be made in the strength and heft of their fishing gear. Shifting Gears Anglers need a rod and line that can handle the larger and heavier fly selections required to entice bass into striking. Typical trout and salmon rods, engineered to gently toss microscopic flies to the fish without disturbing the surface of the water, don’t work effectively when trying to launch heavy, air-resistant bass bugs. While many anglers can get away with using their favorite five-weight trout rod for getting big flies airborne, I prefer something like a sevenor eight-weight. For my casting preferences, if I had to stick with a fiveweight rod, it would have to be very fast with little flex at all. While that happens to be my personal preference, others may require something different. Fly line manufacturers produce line specifically made for getting big flies airborne and turning them over properly, with several companies labeling it for bass. I’ve tried several and notice a defi-

The author’s seven-weight G. Loomis rod and Rio’s “Clouser” line deliver heavy ﬂies for catching big Maine bronzebacks. Clunie photo

nite difference in the way they turn over the bulky, heavy flies use in bass fishing. A properly-built, tapered leader also makes a world of difference when it comes to turning over a large bass fly. Leaders need a very heavy, large diameter butt section that makes up at least 50 percent of the total, with the rest graduating

in size down to a tippet material of around six pounds. A great recipe for a super-functional tapered bass leader can be found in Lefty Kreh’s wonderfully informative book from Stackpole Books, called “Fishing Knots” (Kreh, L., 2007, p. 7 and 8). I find that building my own leaders for big bass bugs works best for me,

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58 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Black Crappies — How to Catch Them, and How to Cook Them Black crappies, originally only found in only a few areas in Maine, have spread out like cold syrup on a hot pavement. Illegal introductions, coupled with the fish’s remarkable ability to pioneer and colonize new waters, has led to numerous waters now holding crappies that never had them before. One such place, Norton Pond in Lincolnville, should produce well on quiet mornings this July. Going on leads from others, I’ve tried open-water fishing for crappies in Norton over the last several years, with poor results. But now, given the inevitable exponential increase in the species’ population in Norton Pond, I predict anyone willing to put in at least a minimal amount of effort will be able to take fish. This prediction is not idle conjecture, but rather is a logical projection based on the outstanding ice fishing season experienced by local anglers this past winter. For instance, Charlie Herrick, a new crappie adherent, told me that he caught 350 crappies this winter at Norton Pond. I congratulate Charlie not only on his remarkable crappie-fishing prowess, but also on his ability to keep count of fish caught. As for me, I lose count after a dozen or so and then quit trying. Counting endless numbers of spiny-rayed fish requires a certain mind, one of which I am not equipped with. Crappie Equipment So try Norton Pond in the early morning or toward day’s end. Use www.MaineSportsman.com

crappie jigs such as the 1/16-ounce Crappie Minner, available from Cabela’s. Or – and these are my favorites – Crappie Magnets, available from Leland’s Lures, the maker of Trout Magnets. Both these offerings feature painted jigheads, rendering them legal ammo for Maine waters now that bare-lead jigs are banned. Spinners, too, attract crappies, and the various Mepps spinners will take fish. Another favorite spinner, C. P. Swing, stands as a real crappie killer. C. P. Swings are not usually available from tackle outlets, but can be found online. A fish locator will help greatly in finding schools of crappies. Depending upon time of day, fish can hang out in 20 or more feet of water, or they could hold a mere 4 or 5 feet down. Crappies often require some hunting around in order just to find them. After that, these calico-sided panfish usually bite well. Go Ultralight In my opinion, ultralight spin gear is the best tackle for wringing the maximum amount of sport from each crappie taken. Lines of 4-pound test or less are important, since they allow the jigs to work freely. Thin lines also telegraph delicate takes better than heavier lines. So leave the old Zebco and 10-pound line at home or reserve it for mackerel. For crappies, go light – even ultralight. Also, crappies are exceedingly fond of small minnows, and widely-available golden shiners make some of the best

The author holds a crappie taken from Belfast Reservoir #2.

crappie bait around. If fish are in shallow water, a small bobber can help alert the angler to strikes. If fishing deeper water, just let the bait drag on bottom. Earthworms work too, but nowhere near as well as shiners. See Norton Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 14, C-3. Belfast Reservoir Belfast Reservoir #2, once used as a reserve for drinking water for the City of Belfast, has in the past served as a place to catch white perch. These fish were large, but few in number. Now the perch are gone, replaced by crappies, the result of an illegal stocking. Last year, a huge drawdown begun the year previous drained much of the impoundment, leaving only a section by the dam still filled with water…and crappies. Now, the reservoir has filled with water again. By this summer, those crappies should begin putting on growth. This happens every time a body of water is drained

and then refilled – fish grow like mad. So even if crappies don’t grow to impressive sizes this year, watch out in 2018, because they will surely reach monstrous proportions. A hiking trail, recently marked, bounds the east side of Reservoir #2, allowing for anglers to find access to the water at several different locations. This is really nothing but a newly-blazed incarnation of the old trail that anglers used in days gone by. Will fish bite in the same areas as they did before the drawdown? This remains to be seen, so I recommend anglers use the cleared trail and try all different accessible points. Gone to the Dogs? One note on fishing here, though – the hiking trail is often used by people walking their dogs. Despite a law requiring dogs to be under the owner’s immediate supervision, many dog-walkers disregard that very sensible regulation. Consequently, dogs, often big and sometimes mean, roam practically at large here. Because of that situation, I always carry pepper spray, since dogs have the nasty habit of attacking and biting me on sight. So for those who come out on the wrong side of run-ins with dogs, be advised of the danger and act accordingly. We can rightly say that Belfast Reservoir #2 has become a multi-use area. It seems too bad that the dog problem exists, but it does – and not only here, but at a grow-

ing number of places with trails by streams, lakes and ponds. Find Belfast Reservoir #2 on Map 14, B-4. Crappie Cookery Many Mainers have yet to try eating crappies. For those who like nothing better than a plate of fried white perch fillets, crappies make a morethan-suitable stand-in. Crappies are easy to fillet. When done properly, the process produces nice, thick, bone-free fillets. These may be cooked the same as any fish, but by far the tastiest cooking method is to pan-fry. Any coating, cornmeal or flour, will do for coating crappie fillets. But my Cajun friend John McMillan has introduced me to a product that makes, in my estimation, the world’s best crappie fillets. The magic stuff is called “Slap Ya Mama Cajun Fish Fry,” and while somewhat spicy, the heat isn’t overpowering. Some retail stores sell this, and it is also available online. I like to put some Slap Ya Mama in a plastic bag. After pat-drying the fillets to prevent clumping, I drop the fillets into the bag and coat them thoroughly. Then, fry the fillets in whatever medium seems best. I like Olivio, a butter-like product made with olive oil that does not burn and imparts a delicious flavor to fried foods. Fry the fillets to a golden brown, drain and serve. Mercy, they’re good

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 59

Plenty of Haddock Out There! Capt. Gibson says a dozen haddock, perhaps augmented by a few cusk, pollock or redfish, make for an enjoyable offshore outing and lots of good eating. Haddock fishing here in the Gulf of Maine has improved significantly in the past few years, and the stock has rebounded to the point where fishery managers have increased the bag limit for sport fishermen (it was only three fish per day as recently as 2015) and dropped the minimum size down to 17 inches. Haddock are no longer considered overfished, and the recreational quota is 1,160 metric tons (mt) for 2017, up from 928 mt in 2016. The daily bag limit this year is 12 fish per person per day, enough to make a deep-sea trip well worthwhile. Unfortunately there’s a ban on the possession of any recreationally-caught cod for 2017, but a dozen haddock, perhaps augmented by a few cusk, pollock or redfish, still make for an enjoyable offshore outing and lots of good eating. Regardless of how many haddock might be swimming in the waters

off Maine, catching them consistently isn’t always a sure thing. These fish have definite preferences as to habitat and feed, as well as the ability to shake themselves off the hook while being reeled to the surface, so I’ll share a few tips I’ve picked up on my most recent haddock trips. Light is Right First off, if you’re specifically targeting haddock you’ll want a rod that’s right for the job – lighter than your favorite cod jigging stick. A good haddock rod is six to seven feet long with a fairly limber tip, as most haddock fishing is done with bait and you’ll want to be able to feel a pickup in 200 feet of water. In addition, haddock have soft mouths, so a rod with a little “give” will help prevent the hook from pulling free as the fish is being brought up from the bottom. And remember, haddock run much small-

er than cod – generally about two to five pounds – so a light rod provides the most sport. The reel can be around 3/0 in size (I use a Daiwa Sealine 30SHV), and loaded with 50-pound superbraid, which has the diameter of 10-pound mono. Superbraid has almost no stretch, which helps you feel the haddock’s bite, aids in hookups, and cuts the water so that the slack or “bow” in the line is minimized. Rigging Up My basic haddock rig starts out as a six-foot length of 60-pound mono with a six-inch loop in one end for the sinker, which can range from eight to (Continued on next page)

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Saltwater (Continued from page 59)

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erel “steaks” about a halfinch in thickness, as well as chunks of herring, and strips of squid. The charter guys down in Massachusetts also use shrimp, which can be very effective. Regardless, haddock like fresh bait, and seem to shy away from an offering that’s been soaking down on the bottom too long. If you don’t get a hit within ten minutes of so, reel up and put on a new bait. You can also add a colorful soft-plastic teaser to each hook for extra attraction, then thread on a strip of clam or squid, or a shrimp. A four-inch paddletail fish-body in green or chartreuse glitter works well, as does a pink or orange shrimptail. Four-inch synthetic fiber flies, often called “snapper zappers,” in blue and purple are also effective.

Reel Easy When cranking up a haddock, resist the urge to pump-and-reel like you would with a striped bass. The best technique is to hold the rod approximately horizontal, and simply wind slowly and steadily. With a little experience, you’ll be able to tell a cod from a haddock as you work it to the surface. A haddock will cause the rod tip to “bounce” up and down in a lively manner, whereas a cod normally feels more like a steady weight with random yanking.

although a few rocks or boulders won’t hurt. However, you generally won’t catch many haddock in areas of high, hard relief such as granite spires, or over a soft, muddy bottom. Productive depths can range from 150 to 300 feet.

And finally, the best part about haddock fishing is in the eating. Bleed each fish immediately by cutting the throat latch while it’s still alive, and place it on ice in a cooler. They’ll keep for many hours, and you can fillet them when you return to

the dock. Deep-fried, broiled with a diced tomato and cheddar cheese topping, or baked and stuffed, fresh haddock fillets bring plenty of smiles around the dinner table.

Haddock Grounds Maine’s offshore party and charter boat operators can usually put you on haddock pretty quickly, and a trip on one of these vessels is the way to go if you’re new at deep-sea fishing. If you want to try for haddock from your own boat, look for flat bottom. Clay or gravel is best,

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62 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Stocked Fish Means Steady Action The Sandy River starts as the outlet of Sandy River Ponds in Sandy River Plantation (Delorme Atlas, Map 19, A-1) and runs 73 miles generally southeast (but with a lot of twists and turns!) to its confluence with the Kennebec River in Norridgewock (Map 20, B-4). A “river” in name only, most anglers consider the Sandy to be a large stream. Regardless of its label, this picturesque flowage provides diverse and often productive angling throughout most of its course. Both brook trout and brown trout successfully spawn in the Sandy River and its many tributaries, but not in sufficient numbers to provide the desired fishery, so the state supplements the wild fish populations with heavy stocking of both species. For example, in 2016, the Sandy received 5,600 browns and 4,450 brookies in a variety of spring and fall plantings throughout its course, with both species ranging in size from eight to 13 inches. Years prior saw similar numbers stocked, give or take a 1,000 fish total and in slightly different ratios between browns and brookies. That figures up to some 130 to 140 fish per mile, so anglers can feel confident of there being fish

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Smart anglers target the mouths of cold-water tributaries into the Sandy River, while fishermen in Upper and Lower Narrows Ponds seek big smelt-fed salmon and togue in the surprisingly deep holes. around even if the action slows occasionally. The water temperatures are usually a big factor this month, so anglers enjoy the most success fishing deep pools or near the mouths of the many tributaries of the Sandy. Those tributaries frequently dump noticeably cooler water into the flowage, and the fishing in the tributaries themselves can also be excellent in the 100- to 300yard stretch above where they meet the river. Besides trout, the lower stretches of the Sandy offer outstanding bass fishing, primarily for smallmouths. The bass typically run small, often in the 6- to 12-inch range, but the sizes increase as anglers get closer to the Kennebec. Between New Sharon and Norridgewock, anglers will occasionally land bass in the 2- to 3-pound range. The mouth of the Sandy River can also hold very large trout this time of year, as the big salmonids seek a respite from warmer water temperatures in the Kennebec. Fishing under the cover of darkness or at dawn or dusk produces the best results this month for trout of any size or larger bass. Anglers should note some key regulations when fishing the Sandy River. For starters, anglers must use artificial lures or flies from the river’s origin down to the Route 142 bridge. Second, throughout its length, there is no size or bag

limit on bass – a valuable tidbit for someone who enjoys eating bass and who would like to prepare a large, guilt-free fish fry. And lastly, while not specific to the Sandy River, the maximum length allowed on brown trout and salmon in flowages is 25 inches, meaning that anglers must release any salmon or browns taken that top 25 inches. This rule is new under the general law provisions and is intended to help prevent the inadvertent harvest of Atlantic salmon, a federally-recognized endangered species. In recent years, efforts have been undertaken to reestablish a breeding population of Atlantic salmon in the Sandy River, so it’s possible anglers might encounter a large salmon here in the lower stretches of the river. Also, while far from common, anglers have reported encounters with 2-foot and longer brown trout from the stretch of the Kennebec River where the Sandy River enters, so it’s likely that some of these large browns enter the lower stretches of the Sandy from time to time. Narrows Ponds Anglers looking for a good water to try this month might consider Upper and Lower Narrows Pond in Winthrop (Map 12, C-3). At 279 acres and 255 acres, respectively, Upper and Lower Narrows are not large ponds, but both offer an abundance of deep, cold wa-

ter suitable for trout and salmon, plus both waters also hold solid numbers of warm-water species. Upper Narrows tops out at a maximum depth of 54 feet, while Lower Narrows nearly doubles that figure at 106 feet. A small thoroughfare connects the two waters, and fish of all species use this as a means to move between the two ponds. Neither water holds much in the way of spawning habitat for trout or salmon, but annual stocking ensures decent populations remain available for anglers. Both waters receive annual stockings of brook trout, plus landlocked salmon are stocked in Upper Narrows every couple of years, and a handful of lake trout are deposited in Lower Narrows periodically. This spring, Lower Narrows received 200 10-inch brookies, and Upper Narrows was stocked with 400 of the speckled beauties. In 2016, a total of 550 brookies were placed in Lower Narrows and another 1,050 trout deposited in Upper Narrows. These numbers are fairly typical of brookie stockings here over the last few years. Additionally in 2016, the state stocked 250 8-inch landlocked salmon, plus another 22 retired brood stock salmon – fish that measured 18 inches or more. Upper Narrows received salmon in 2012 and 2014 as well. Lower Narrows was last stocked with lake

trout in 2015, a planting of 100 fish. From 2007 through 2014, it received lakers in two other years – 210 fish in 2011, and 200 specimens in 2012. Given the longevity of togue, a few members of these stocking classes very likely still swim in one of the Narrows Ponds today. Decent smelt populations exist in both waters, plus Upper Narrows is the water supply for the town of Winthrop, and a large section of the pond in the vicinity of the water intake pipes remains off limits to all activities, fishing included. Signs mark the area, which also provides a sort of sanctuary from fishing pressure and likely helps a fair number of fish to grow larger by avoiding angler contact. Because of the sizeable smelt populations, the salmonid fishing can prove a little slow at times on both waters, but the reward comes in the form of fat fish that tip the scales a little more than might otherwise be expected. Both ponds also harbor good numbers of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and white perch. The largemouths in particular grow to good sizes, and while most fish run in the 10- to 16-inch class, 3- to 4-pound specimens show up consistently enough to keep things interesting, and even larger fish appear from time to time. Small boats or canoes can access the ponds from the Narrows Pond Road or via a short carry from a small parking area on Route 202.

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Tom Trolls Sebago for Lakers This Month It was going to be a scorcher last July 17, according the weatherman the night before. We were spending the weekend at Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1), as we try to do most weekends. The kids slept in but I decided to beat the heat and troll at sunrise. I motored out into Jordan Bay as the sun just peeked over Tasseltop Beach. I had my leadcore lines rigged up with trolling spoons followed by a Mooselook wobbler. I chose fluorescent orange, a Sebago favorite. I started marking fish in about 50 feet of water, on bottom, so I played out as many colors as I thought would get me close. The spoons and thick line put quite a strain on the rod, and I watched it pulse as I dragged the depths. I set another rod on the starboard side, not going quite as deep.

Getting out onto Sebago lake early in the morning, with a thermos of coffee and two trolling rods, is a great way to beat the hot sun and the fleet of boats that will appear later in the day. And the sight of a 3-foot togue whets the author’s appetite to find the leviathan’s twin. After only ten minutes, the shallow rod started clicking, signaling a fish. I slowed the boat but kept the other rod in the water. The fish didn’t put up a fight against the boat, but I could feel an occasional run, so I knew it was still hooked. Eventually the spoons came up and I saw my prize – a ten-inch smallmouth bass. Back in the water he went. I trolled about an hour, enjoying my thermos of coffee during the coolest part of the day. I made a turn before I got close to the shallow rock pile near Frye’s Notch, and heard the deep reel clicking. I set the hook and knew I had

a bigger fish. After a bit of give and take, I netted a healthy Sebago laker weighing approximately 3 pounds. I let him go back to the depths and headed in, as the kids wanted crêpes for breakfast, happy that I caught two fish before the doldrums set in. Mystery Fish Later that morning, we decided to take the bowrider and head up the Songo River. We had just gone past Frye’s Leap and I was getting on the OMC Cobra when I spotted something floating in the water. I suspected it was a towel or piece of clothing, but as I slowed I could see it was a massive togue.

As I slid the boat alongside this lunker laker, I could see it was moving its gill plate very slowly. It was on its side and the gills were very pale pink. I surmised that someone had caught it and it

likely had an air bubble in its stomach from a rapid ascent. I grabbed this leviathan by the tail and really got a chance to see its size. This thing was massive! I had no ruler but I’d guess it was close to 3 feet long and likely weighed 15 pounds or more. I tried massaging air from the fish’s stomach, to no avail. I took a picture to capture the mo(Continued on page 65)

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64 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Changing Landscapes and the Outdoorsman Trappers see first-hand the environmental damage caused by excessive logging and by the blasting and road-building required to construct high-terrain windpower projects. Trappers, hunters, anglers and those living in rural areas see much more of what is taking place in our natural world than do city-dwellers. A trapper is by far the most observant outdoorsman, due to the nature of his occupation. One could call a trapper a sportsman, but in reality they are more of a naturalist, since they have to understand not only the animal they are pursuing, but also all things pertaining to that animal’s life and habits. Most trappers engage in trapping various animals. This usually includes those of different species, such as the weasel (mustelidae) family, the canine (canidae) family, the feline (felidae) family and others. It takes years for a trapper to become proficient at trapping various animals. A few trappers specialize in a specific

species and become very good at it. A complete understanding of the animal and its environment is necessary, and if one traps in different climate zones, those differences must be factored in. Such a case would be trapping bobcats in the snowbound forest of Maine, and then trapping them in a semi-tropical state such as South Carolina or in the desert regions of Arizona or New Mexico. Yes, there are trappers right here in Maine who have trapped in various geographical regions across this country over the years, and a few who have even trapped in other countries. Man’s Impact on the Environment Maine trappers have to be aware of the manmade changes that are occurring if they are to remain proficient at trapping successfully over

time. As our Maine forestland timber harvesting methods have evolved in the last half century or so, there have been many ecological changes associated with it. As the use of horses for timber harvesting decreased and the use of heavy equipment increased, the impact to our landscape became obvious to the naked eye. All the while, the impact to the associated flora and fauna is not as visible, at least not to the average person. One has to have an interest in the land at a much more personal level to see its true impact. Damaged Deer Yards Even casual hunters have observed the abuse to our deer wintering areas. Our deer herds have suffered horribly due to the damages of timber harvesting in and around the deer wintering areas

Over-harvesting of trees caused the siltation shown here.

over the last 50 years or so. Slowly, deeryards are now being purchased and managed to improve what has been damaged. Hopefully the deer herds can recover statewide over time if enough wintering yards are owned and managed by the state. “Vernal Pools” Dug by Skidder Tires? The scars of the heavy equipment used today are visible many years after a logging operation has occurred. Those evaluating the land in preparation of wind power development have listed some of the deeper skidder ruts as “vernal pools.” In one such evaluation, the majority of the vernal pools listed were the result of skidder ruts. A friend and I verified one project’s documented vernal pools across three

mountains in western Maine several years ago for a group opposing the project. Some logged areas in the Western Mountains have seen excessive runoffs after extremely heavy rainstorms. Even with the restrictions in place to prevent this, including buffer zones along watercourses and road construction standards for timber harvesting, accidents do happen. These have resulted in the erosion of hillside areas, causing washedout roadways, silting of streams, and damage to adjacent properties due to mud, rock, and debris movement during heavy runoff periods. Several years ago a major dirt road washed out on my property, causing the roadbed to in(Continued on next page)

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 65 (Continued from page 64)

filtrate a Silver Maple wetland area up to four feet in depth and silting a trout stream. This was caused by a mountain being logged off so that it couldn’t hold or absorb heavy storm waters or spring runoff. This happened several years in a row until vegetation growth on the mountain once again helped the ground to hold the water. The massive wind power developments on our hills and mountains have resulted in many of the same problems, such as the mudslide at the Kibby Mountain Project a few years ago. The large-scale construction requirements of the wind industry destroy thousands of acres of prime high-altitude, wildlife-rich forested areas. Other destructive issues include a large amount of uncontained blasting during the construction of the large roadways required to

support the movement of the huge wind tower assemblies up to the tower locations. The deep blasting for tower foundations can cause disruption of the local hydrology. This may affect the cold water sources of the local streams originating on the mountain and hillsides that support our world class cold water trout fisheries. Some blasting has even thrown debris and large chunks of rock hundreds of yards out from the actual blasting site, damaging surrounding properties. In the case of largescale timber harvesting, the habitats of many species of wildlife are affected for a number of years after the landscape is disrupted during logging operations. On the other hand, the forest regrowth period is beneficial to some species. One easily-seen benefit of the regrowth period is that it provides

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 63)

ment but sadly slipped the fish back in the water where it surely did not survive. The scenario puzzled me all day. Sebago Lake has a slot limit on togue, fish between 23 and 33 inches must be released. Anglers can keep one fish over 33 inches. I was certain this fish was longer than 33 inches, but couldn’t be sure. I surmised that someone had battled this whopper togue and then chose to release it, likely thinking it fell in the slot size, but after the battle from the deep, the fish was bloated and couldn’t dive again. I may never know the true answer. Despite being disappointed that I couldn’t revive this trophy, I was pleased to know what type of fish prowl the bottom of the lake, and I spent many more summer days looking for its twin. Togue anglers are a tight fraternity on Sebago Lake and you will see the same boats on the water early in the morning this month and sometimes in the evening. Nothing beats watching a sunrise with a fresh coffee like I did that July morning, except enjoying the evening cool of the setting sun on the big lake. Togue Tactics I troll Sebago with leadcore or wire line

a plentiful food source for the expansion of our snowshoe hare population. This in turn provides a food source for the predators, such as weasels, marten, fisher, fox, coyotes, bobcat and lynx. These regrowth areas also benefit many species of raptors, such owls, hawks and bald eagles. The same cannot be said of the current and projected wind industry’s impact to the landscape. Its physical damage to the landscape is largely permanent, and the use of herbicides to maintain many miles of transmission lines benefits nothing in the environment or ecosystem. “Green” Ponds In recent years, anglers and camp owners have seen the impact to our cold water fisheries, as nutrients have leached out from septic systems into our lakes and ponds over long periods of time, causing algae blooms, which in turn changes the ponds into warm-water

The scarring of mountains for wind-power sites is, for all practical purposes, permanent.

aquatic environments. As our ponds and lakes are developed with homes and camps, this problem will continue to spread. We are fortunate here in Maine where one may still drink (with some caution) from many natural springs and clean-flowing streams in our forestlands. There are few places left in the lower forty-eight states where this is still possible. It behooves us to try

set-ups. Many anglers choose these methods. Still others use downriggers with great success, precisely following the bottom contour. Lure choice runs the gamut. I prefer spoons like the Mooselook wobbler or DB smelt. Some anglers like flies behind an attractor like a dodger or spoons. Others troll bait, either shiners or frozen smelt. There are likely some other “secret” techniques out there among the trolling crew. At 12 miles long and 8 miles wide, Sebago is Maine’s second largest lake, behind only Moosehead. Encompassing 45 square miles with 105 miles of shoreline, the lake provides plenty of water to troll. Most anglers concentrate around Jordan Bay, as it has the most “fishable” water. By that I mean it has depths that anglers with conventional tackle can reach. Jordan Bay depths vary from shallow water to a deep spot of 160 feet, but anglers can easily find 40- to 80-foot depths to target. At the deepest spot on the lake, almost dead center of the big bay, it’s 305 feet to the bottom. This makes Sebago Maine’s deepest lake. I have often wondered if any true monster togue can survive at that depth, but a lack of tackle capable of fishing that deep prevents me from trying. Fishing Maine’s deepest – and arguably

to protect our clean water sources; one only has to travel overseas to see how precious a resource our waters truly are. All outdoorsmen, hunters, anglers, and trappers need to engage the non-consumptive users such as hikers, kayakers, canoeist, birdwatchers and others into taking an active part in helping to preserve all that we hold dear.

cleanest – lake for salmon in the summer days of July is a great way to stretch your day on the water. Getting out early and then late also helps avoid the invariable barrage of boats that Sebago sees this month. As for me, I’ll be out there in the mornings looking for the twin to that big laker I saw last season.

The author tried in vain to revive this monster lake trout found floating by Frye’s Notch. More lake trout like this one roam the deep, clear waters of Sebago, making Maine’s second-largest lake a popular trolling destination in the summer months. Tom Roth photo www.MaineSportsman.com

66 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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July in Rangeley Delights Anglers, Hikers and ATV Riders Years ago, on a hidden and unnamed stream way back in the willywacks of the Western Maine Mountain Region, I had the pleasure of watching a steady stream of small, delicate mayflies float by my position in the middle of a fairly large flow of water. The aquatic fish-food insects emerged from the surface after a struggle, spread their wings to the sky, and drifted down the stream looking like an armada of sailboats heading to a distant land. Earlier that morning, without noticing the hatch, I had repeatedly tried without success to trick the trout that rose and dipped back into the waters of this same mountain stream. After seeing the amazing vision of natural beauty produced by the hatching mayflies, it took my breath away and made me rethink my fly selection – like a hammer to the head. I saw several trout rising before me in the early morning light, but couldn’t get them to hit any of my offerings. I guess I had tried everything but a mayfly imitation, because as soon as I carefully drifted a size 20, blue-winged olive with similar-colored body and wings on the surface, they heartily took the offering. Sometimes an angler relies on outdated information or preconceived notions of what might work to catch fish on a certain section of water to the extent that they become totally unaware of what is actually happening above and bewww.MaineSportsman.com

At first, the author couldn’t raise a trout. Then he opened his eyes and recognized the fly-selection clue being offered by Mother Nature.

Nice, chunky brook trout from the Rangeley Region fills the author’s net. Clunie photo

low the water’s surface. Rather than absorbing what’s around them and then basing their fishing tactics accordingly, they blunder on to failure using the wrong fly for the job at hand. The more I fish, the more I learn that “experiencing every day anew” is not just a catchy phrase to describe the wonder of fly fishing – it should be applied to each trip to the water. Go into each day of fishing with a completely open mind about what might work best for that day. Maybe even take it a step further, employing this open-minded tactic each time you move to a new piece of water throughout the day. Sandy River Stockers Most of the waters in

the Rangeley Region hold healthy populations of self-sustaining salmonid. Very few lakes and rivers here require any kind of stocking to maintain good numbers of fish; it’s just one of the qualities that make this region a great angling destination. The Sandy River, one of the few rivers in this region that gets stocked with fish, begins at the Sandy River Ponds where the Appalachian Trail crosses Route 4 (DeLorme’s Atlas Map 19, A-1). The gently sweeping river takes water from these ponds and parallels Route 4 all the way to Farmington (Map 20, D-1). From there, the river flows to the east until it connects with the Kennebec River just south of

Madison (Map 20, B-4). Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) hatchery specialists have done an extensive stocking of the Sandy River on an ongoing basis. Each May, they pour in several thousand brook trout from eight to 10 inches throughout the river, from Farmington to the ponds just south of Rangeley. In addition, they often add 1,000 or more brown trout of a similar size. In many areas, access to the river requires only pulling off the paved Route 4. In some areas along the gently winding river, homes and camps line the banks, while other sections flow through uninhabited fields and woodlots. Using a kay-

ak or canoe solves access problems, but anglers fishing from the banks should always ask landowner permission before enter the river from the shore. Happy Hikers The spectacular scenery in and around the Rangeley Lakes Region offers energetic outdoors folks not only beautiful sights, but a wonderful system of hiking trails. Hike at the right time, and some of the mountains that grow bushes full of berries will be ripe for the picking – if the black bears leave some fruit behind. The trail to Aziscohos Mountain (Map 28, E-1) starts on Route 16, near the twin tubes that empty Aziscohos Lake. Look for the green trail sign and roadside parking area right on Route 16. Get ready for phenomenal views – this trail takes hikers to the top of the Rangeley Region, and showcases the surrounding range of awesome peaks. The Wilhelm Reich Museum Walking Trails (Map 28, E-4) on Dodge Pond Road remain open all year, but please call ahead for weekend use at (207) 864-3443. Trails consist of a series of interconnecting loops featuring a self-guided nature trail, bird watching area, educational stations and picnic tables. Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary offers a series of walking trails to view wildlife on Rangeley Lake’s Hunter Cove, on land given by the Maine Audubon Society to the (Continued on next page)

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Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust. Hikers can ďŹ nd the trailhead on the south side of Route 4, at the foot of Dodge Pond Hill between Rangeley and Oquossoc. Bring a camera or binoculars and enjoy the abundant ďŹ&#x201A;ora and fauna. Joyous ATV Riding By July the spring rains have subsided and Rangeleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ATV (all-terrain-vehicle) trails will be in good shape. The remarkable trails in this region provide excellent pleasure riding as well as a network of access routes for anglers looking for out-of-the-way ďŹ shing locations. Riding the trails, a great pleasure in its own right, gives folks a chance to investigate a huge

amount of real estate for new ďŹ shing locations. At the same time riders who hunt can keep an eye peeled for new hunting territory for later in the fall. ATV trails in Rangeley start at Rev-It-Up Sports Shop on Route 4/16, just east of town. A small trail leads into town, while the main route offers a run to Stratton (Map 29, C-2). At this same junction, trail riders may also choose to head south to Phillips (Map 19, B-3). Interested ATV riders can get further information about the Rangeley ATV trail system at atvmaine.org. Click on the ATV club search and type in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Camp-2 Trail Ridersâ&#x20AC;? for club phone numbers.

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The new Upper Dam, between Mooselookmeguntic Lake and Upper Richardson Lake. Clunie photo

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68 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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A Smart Guide Does Not Fish with the Clients I learned a long time ago that a guide will always come out looking bad if they fall into the trap of fishing with their clients. I was told the guide should always decline any such offer, and simply row the boat. If the guide chooses to fish with the client, two possible outcomes can occur – both of them bad: 1) If the guide doesn’t catch a fish, the clients will assume they have made a poor choice in selecting a guide that can’t even catch a fish; and 2) If the guide does catch a fish, the clients will assume the guide has a huge ego and does this kind of thing to show off his angling skills. Either way, the guide comes off looking unprofessional, and loses. One day a few years back, my fishing clients and I finished our lunch on the huge peninsula of sand by the shore of the Androscoggin River when one of the two elderly gentlemen asked me if I’d like to try out his new Sage rod. Without thinking, I grabbed the beautiful rod and cast it out near a distance rock in the slow current. I didn’t even get the opportunity to do a little false casting to check out the rod, because a huge smallmouth slammed the popper and dove for stronger current. While fighting the fish, I heard one of the guys say in a sarcastic manner, “Oh, you make it look so easy!” I knew he was only teasing, but it got me thinking about the rule I had just broken about never fishing with clients. I immediately released www.MaineSportsman.com

the fish and gave the rod back to the client and said some things like, “Wow, excellent. Nice rod.” Cool Androscoggin Tributaries Even in the heat of July, anglers can find big and hungry fish like the one mentioned above – they just have to adjust and tweak traditional fishing methods to work around fishing problems associated with water temperatures that can sometimes approach seventy degrees. Well-shaded, springfed brooks and streams drain cool water from the higher elevations of the mountains that surround the Western Maine Mountain (WMM) Region. Deep in the woods, the water remains cold as it flows from these cooling tributaries to the region’s larger streams and rivers. The Wild River flows into the Androscoggin River from the south in Gilead (DeLorme Atlas, Map 10, B-1). Several brooks also fill the Androscoggin from the north near Gilead: French Brook, Twitchell Brook, Peabody Brook, Whites Brook and Chapman Brook all feed the river with chilly water from the Bear Mountain Range. Moving downstream, the Pleasant River meets the Androscoggin near West Bethel (Map 10, B-2). The green, rolling hills provide a scenic backdrop for anglers on this majestic stretch of river. Plenty of deeper pools form where this smaller river joins the mainstream of the Androscoggin. Sunday River and Bear River connect with

the Androscoggin River between North Bethel and Newry (Map 10, C-1). Picturesque dairy farms dot the grassy shoreline of this scenic section of the river. Huge, swirling pools form in the river at Rumford Point (Map 18, E-4) where the Ellis River makes its junction. Barkers Brook and Concord Brook also dump their cooling waters into the Androscoggin here, before the river reaches the paper mill in Rumford. Webb Lake Hungry anglers who enjoy a meal of fried fish find a bounty in Webb Lake (Map 19, C-2), a 2,146-acre body of water full of trout, salmon, smallmouth bass, white perch, sunfish and pickerel. A narrow channel of deeper water (40 feet) cuts through the center of the lake, from the north shore to the southern end. During summer’s warm temperatures, trout and salmon anglers troll this deeper path in search of salmonid hugging the cooler bottom water. Warm-water fishing can be found throughout the rest of the lake, mostly around the shallow, weedy shorelines. With a gorgeous background of greenish/purple mountains surrounding the big lake, anglers feel like they are fishing in the foothills of heaven itself. I’ve been out in the middle of this lake on several occasions and suddenly noticed hundreds of white perch rising to hatching insects. White perch, not the usual target for a fly fisherman, suddenly became a huge source of entertainment.

Unless anglers plan to keep and eat a fish, they should keep the fish in the water as much as possible while unhooking it. Clunie photo

The actively-feeding perch also make a wonderfully tasty meal, especially after paddling a canoe around such a big body of water. Sitting by a campfire and savoring the succulent, flaky fillets easily beat any restaurant meal. Sharing the campfire meal with family and friends seems to increase the satisfaction of this region’s awesome bounty. Hiking Anglers The mountains that surround the WMM Region offer anglers plenty of opportunity to get away from crowds. Most folks shy away from expending the extra energy of a tough climb, or don’t have the backpacking gear to stay overnight. It doesn’t take much gear, and anyone in good health can hike mountainous trails; it just takes some of us longer to get there. Tumbledown Pond (Map 19, C-1), often described as a “jewel among peaks,” offers some wonderful, elevated brook trout action. Several trails lead hikers to this pond, and each of them starts on the Number Six Road. I like to pack a lightweight rod and reel, an extra-light sleeping bag and pad, a compact tent or tarp that doesn’t weigh much, and some freezedried meals in case I don’t

catch many fish. Retired biologist Forrest Bonney once told me, “Of course you can take fish out of Tumbledown Pond, that’s why we stock them. Glacial ponds like that don’t allow fish to live from year to year, so you might as well enjoy eating them.” I noticed a lot of folks on social media sites complaining when some angler posts a picture of a fish they have decided to kill and eat. Now I certainly hold all anglers to a high standard when it comes to taking extreme care about returning fish to the system unharmed where it is called for – but I also enjoy eating fish that have been taken legally from a resource that can handle this kind of pressure. If a guy or gal decides to legally keep a fish to eat that comes from stocked water, or a resource that has been determined can handle the pressure, I congratulate the angler instead of taking the smug, elitist’s angle of trashing the person in front of the public on a social media site. As much as anglers need to constantly educate folks on taking extreme care of the resource, we also must encourage these elitists to cool their jets and enjoy the wonderful sport we call fishing.

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The Forgotten Whites Many locals take the White Mountains for granted, but whether you ascend theå peaks or hike the scenic trails of the Wild River Valley, the author recommends seeking the hidden gems in the eastern White Mountains of New Hampshire. East of Route 16, between the east-west Routes 2 and 302, is located a large tract of beautifully wild land—mostly forgotten about. In fact, a large portion of this land is designated as an official wilderness area. If it weren’t for the famous Appalachian Trail, which traverses the western portion of the region described, few people would ever witness such a magnificent range of “God’s Country.” Wild River Wilderness Area Just about the entire area between the roads described above is part of the White Mountains National Forest, which itself comprises about 800,000 acres. Within these 800,000 acres are six designated wilderness areas. The Wild River Wilderness Area, located in the middle of the described area between the Carter-Moriah Range and the Baldface-Royce Range, contains 23,700 acres of pristine woods and water – an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. A wilderness area is Congressionally-appropriated, and therefore is subject to a certain amount of federal regulation. The Wild River Wilderness Area can be used for most recreational purposes, including hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. A few restrictions apply, however, including a

prohibition against any mechanized equipment or transport—even bicycles. Check with the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) headquarters to learn the wilderness rules before making big recreational plans. It is better to know the limitations ahead of time, than to have your bubble burst in the middle of a trip. In this wilderness area, it’s amazing what one can uncover in the “middle of nowhere” and how well preserved it can be. Modern explorers can find remnants of old logging trails and railroads along the valley floor. This is an area rich with timber and paper mill history. The valley floor is fairly easy-going terrain, but it rises quickly and ruggedly to thick softwood and ledge peaks on both sides. Hiking The Appalachian Trail enters the eastern White Mountains from Route 16 in Pinkham Notch and traverses nine peaks before crossing Route 2 in Shelburne, NH. The most prominent peaks include Wildcat Mountain, Carter Dome, and Mount Moriah—all well over 4,000 feet in elevation and offering tremendous views of the Presidentials and surrounding valleys.

In the eastern half of the region, along the Maine border, another rugged mountain range protrudes from the hardwood forest, this one much lesser known and traveled, but every bit as beautiful. Eastman Mountain, and North and South Baldface Mountains, offer tremendous views. Being relatively short in comparison to neighboring peaks (3,000-3,500 feet in elevation), but still above treeline, these mountains give climbers a big bang for their buck. A loop trail allows hikers to see all three; the unobstructed ridgeline that connects them is reminiscent of the best of the Presidentials. In my opinion, hikers benefit from distractingly-beautiful views, since what’s easier on the eyes also seems to be easier on the knees. Less-challenging hikes can be found in the valley along the scenic, boulder-laden Wild River, where there are many places to picnic, take a dip, or camp—without a crowd of peak-baggers running you over. In total, there are about 30 miles of trails that traverse the Wilderness Area. Waterfalls and Swimming Holes There are dozens of cold, crystal-clean mountain brooks that drain into the valleys. There

Maylynda Emerson and “Galt” enjoy the gushing waters of Garnet Falls on the Peabody River, near Pinkham Notch. E. Emerson photo

are more waterfalls than space here to describe. Though this writer finds the most rewarding waterfalls to be the ones not written and read about, but rather those discovered by chance, here are a few prominent ones you should see. Jackson Falls are the most popular and easy to get to. A long series of waterfalls of various sizes, they sit adjacent to the Carter Notch Road, only a minute outside of the village of Jackson. During hot summer months, the exposed granite that lines these falls will be festooned with sunbathers and swimmers. Thompson Falls are just a short (15-minute) walk from Wildcat Mountain Ski Area, and they feature several large drops and slides, with a

couple “dippable” pools. The terrain to ascend the falls is extremely steep and rugged, but it is quite easy to get to the bottom, with a wide, flat path. Emerald Pool in Chatham is one of the most glorious swimming holes in the region, with its enticing blue-green clear mountain waters. It is located in Chatham, NH, near the Baldface Mountain trail. Basin Pond is a picturesque mountain pond surrounded on three sides by ledge-faced mountains. It sits at the south end of Evan’s Notch, just on the New Hampshire side of the state line. There is a nice, small, inexpensive campground near the pond, run by WMNF. From the pond, there are several (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

70 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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New Hampshire (Continued from page 69)

hiking trails following the brook and leading up to several mountaintop destinations. The pond itself is stocked with brook trout, and has a small boat launch. Camping In addition to Basin Pond, the WMNF operates several other small campgrounds within the Evan’s Notch area, the biggest being Hastings

Campground. The Wild River Campground sits at the very end of the fivemile dead-end dirt road that follows the Wild River to the beginning of the Wilderness Area. As far as campgrounds go, it doesn’t get much more remote than this. There are only twelve sites here, but it’s ideal for those desiring to explore the river and its tributaries or hike the surrounding peaks.

The most adventurous enthusiast could spend several weeks in this wonderland without seeing it all. In fact, most locals have spent decades without even noticing or realizing that it’s there. Anyone can follow the extensively written-upon scenic guides to the Presidential Mountains, but it takes a truly passionate outdoorsman to uncover the hidden gems of the far eastern White Mountains.

The old-growth untouched forests of this region provide miles of gorgeous white birch glades. E. Emerson photo

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——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • July 2017 • 71

Quest for Old-Growth Forest and Tail-Water Trout While I was setting up a turkey blind this spring, a forester came past and asked if I was familiar with this section of woods. He was looking for a route that he could use as a right-of-way in order to haul logs to the nearest road. I explained that I’ve been hunting these woods for over 50 years and that I felt no one knew their way around this forest better than me. “When I was 10 years old,” I explained, “Vern Walker the local game warden at that time, used to ask me for information about locations on this mountain.” Vern had asked me the location of a particular pond – we called it the “green pond” – that was located on the northeast side of the mountain. Indeed I did know where it was, I told him. I pointed to the rocky pass on the mountain, and said “Follow that pass and then take a left – the pond is a few hundred yards north.” As the forester walked off I said, under my breath “Crap, there goes the last old-growth forest in these woods.” I’ve lived long enough to see good, bad and sometimes ugly logging in my “Sherwood Forest.” It’s the place I explored first as a kid, and now as an old fart – still with a bow in my hand after all these years. Sherwood Forest When I was 10 years old, armed with a 35-pound longbow and wooden arrows tipped with .38 caliber empty shell cases, I explored this deep, green-moss covered forest under the canopy of large oaks, ma-

ples and ash. Oaks covered the high ground and maples grew in the valleys, while ash thrived in the low wet areas around the many brooks. But I didn’t intend this column to focus on a sage old guy reminiscing about the good old days – rather, it’s about where you can still find old mature forests to recreate in. Sorry to have gotten side-tracked a bit. Finding Old-Growth If you want to hike, hunt and fish in mature forest, I have a few places you should check out. Mt. Agamenticus, a parcel consisting of 1,116 acres of public land in South Berwick and York, has miles of bike and hiking trails along with numerous animals and large sections of mature forest. Another area with mature forest is the “Vern Walker Wildlife Management Area (WMA).” There are not many marked trails there, but you will find many old woods roads that lace the area along with a walkin trout pond and brooks with wild brookies. This is a real remote area – a place you can get off the beaten path, explore the mountains and catch a wild trout. Also check out the Steep Falls WMA in the towns of Standish and Baldwin. This 2,467-acre section of public land has miles of woods roads to explore, as well as two brooks, Tucker and Davis, that hold wild brook trout. To the northwest, you’ll find the Brownfield Bog WMA. This massive 5,624-acre area is mostly lowlands and river bottoms. The Bog is extreme-

ly diverse, consisting of mature upland forests, rivers, open-water wetlands, fields and flooded woodlands. The Bog is known for excellent duck and grouse hunting – a paradise for wing shooters. Access to the Bog is along Route 160 in Brownfield. For a real change of pace, go to the Kennebunk Plains WMA, located on Route 99 in the Town of Kennebunk. This is an unusual area consisting of sandplain grasslands and blueberry barrens. Not a lot of mature forest here; however, there’s some good trout fishing in the cold-water brooks, and one hidden pond you will have to find on your own. Free Range Rainbows Dams on the Saco River are massive, and their tail waters are tough to fish well. Regardless, their tail waters offer perfect mid-summer conditions for trout – especially rainbows, which love fast whitewater. The large dams can be very difficult to fish. They are simply too massive to fish from shore, and boats are required to cover the water properly. Smaller dams can be fished from shore effectively. However, be aware that most of the dams on the Saco are active and flows can change quickly, so read and obey posted signs. ’Bows prefer these waters for a number of reasons, including cooler temperatures, oxygen-enriched water, disorientated bait fish, and of course the migration instinct. In July, all species of trout hang out downstream to take advantage of these conditions.

The Saco River harbors large free-ranging rainbow trout that prefer fast, white-water conditions found in tail waters below dams. Browns like to lie in ambush under foam lines created from the turbulent currents or in slower waters pockets, attacking food as it passes in the currents. Rainbows, in contrast, like to chase their food, moving around like sharks in the rapids to locate food. Cool Water Trout Brooks, bogs and swamps have tail waters, too. Brook trout live in the tail waters below beaver dams created by the aquatic rodents and also in the pools formed as a result of the dams. Brookies (Salvelinus Fontinalis) are actually charr, distant cousins of the rainbows (from Pacific Coast) and browns (from Europe). Charr are from the cold waters of the Arctic. As a result, brookies prefer cool water tem-

peratures, moving to the cooler sections of the water system. In ponds and lakes they move deeper in the water table to escape warm surface water during summer’s high temperatures. Locating a lake’s thermocline depth is the key factor for quality fishing in July. Trolling a lure or bait just above or below the thermocline layer will result in no fish. While fishing in the proper thermocline (the “sweet spot,” as I call it) will produce memorable strikes. This is why you used to overhear fishermen talking about lead-core line colors to determine where the trout are located in the water column. For many modern anglers, electronic fish finders have replaced this method. All the exciting locations listed above are open to the public. You own them – so go use them!

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72 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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— Guest Column —

Where to Go? “Dad, You Just Passed It!” by Douglas Watts

One of the great things about living in Maine is that you don’t have to travel far to encounter nature. The author tells of bald eagles, Atlantic sturgeon, great horned owls, muskrat and fox, all within a few miles of his home in Augusta. While fishing with our Dad, sometimes a striper would hit a plug so near the boat he would say, “It’s too close to cast to.” He meant that even if you hooked the striper, you could never get it in. But where-to-go is very different. Sometimes whereto-go is right under your nose; you just drove by it. “I have travelled a good deal in Concord,” wrote Henry Thoreau 170 years ago in his book, Walden. I never knew if this was just an inside joke or a truth-telling, but a short Sunday trip along Route 105 from Augusta to Appleton in south central Maine suggests both. Route 105 goes through some of the most delightful rural landscapes New England has to offer; woods, streams, ponds, scattered houses, 1800s farms and fields. It winds and curves and goes up and down like a deer trail; almost defying you to speed and not take a look around. On just one short jaunt I watched in quick succession: a large red fox dart across me, a baby muskrat scoot from a one side of a bog to another, a juvenile bald eagle in the middle of the road (pecking at a run-over porcupine); and a giant tom turkey strutting his stuff to two hens on the gravel shoulder. All of this was within 20 minutes of my house in Augusta. Take Time to Take a Walk In the early 1980s, the State of Maine hired www.MaineSportsman.com

a company to survey Maine outdoors people on what they desired for an outdoors experience. By far the highest number of respondents said, “Wilderness you can drive to.” I hate driving long distances; I get bored easily and am too eager to get in the woods with crunching or damp leaves under my boots. So I tend to stick close to the “home office.” In late April I had to return a chain saw to my friend Ralph in Dresden, Maine. On the way home I whipped out my Maine Gazetteer and decided to check out a brook along the Eastern River in Pittston. What I witnessed in this five minute downhill hike was amazing. In a tiny beaver meadow at the end of an old, abandoned town road was a “covey” of bald eagles totaling 15 juveniles and adults. They were feeding and hunting on river herring coming up the small brooks flowing into the Eastern on their spring spawning run. Then the beaver started slapping their tails at me; one was the size of a Springer Spaniel – probably the largest beaver I’ve ever seen. This was all 15 minutes from my house near a place I’ve driven by without notice for 20 years. Broken Lawn Mower Owls One day last summer the lawn mower wouldn’t start; time to get a new one. A lawn mower shop is a half mile up the street. The dead-end road

it is on is at the trail-head for a nice “pocket park” in Augusta near Cony High School which follows a small brook, Whitney Brook, and some nice granite ledges. After dropping off the mower, I took a walk up and sat on a small precipice. In five minutes, a great horned owl roosted in a hemlock no more than 50 feet from me at eye level. I stayed quiet as a mouse. Then its mate showed up. Great horned owls are surprisingly big animals. They were talking to each other – clearly this was a roosting place for them. Their prey? Newly hatched-out wild turkeys, which are now very common in the woods here. I quickly drove home (one minute) and brought my wife Lori there. We sat on the ledge and the owls were still there at 3 p.m. Leaping Six Foot Sturgeon The Calumet bridge is a low, two-lane bridge which crosses the Kennebec River at its head of tide in downtown Augusta. It’s a 2 minute walk from our house. On hot days in July, the river is low and there is a small sandy beach and ledge just upstream of the bridge. My wife has christened it “Sturgeon Beach.” When it is hot and muggy we pack a tote with a couple of towels, walk down the street, go swimming and watch 5-6 foot long Atlantic sturgeon do half-somersaults

Smelt fishing at Worthing’s in Randolf. “Bringing the kids fishing, is more important than fishing,” says the author. Tim Watts photo

and belly-flops out of the water just a few dozen feet from our feet in the sand. The Kennebec at the bridge is a spawning ground for Atlantic sturgeon coming in from the sea; Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about watching them leap at the same spot in 1837. We count how many jumps we see per minute; in recent years we’ve given up counting because they come so fast. Sometimes a mother mallard or black duck will come paddling and dapping down the river next to us with her troop of powder-puff babies. We stay silent and they come to within a few feet of us. Wilderness Is Important This is not to denigrate wilderness, which I define as places so remote and trackless and not user-friendly that if you twist an ankle you’re in serious trouble. I like those places, but work schedules make them at best special treats, to be

enjoyed maybe a couple weekends a year. But what about the other 50 weeks? A lot of our most watchable wildlife seem quite content living close by us, often within a 5 minute walk or drive. Find those places near your house; explore them and get to know them. You might find you get as much or more from them than your longer jaunts. Make an Effort to Meet Landowners Most landowners in Maine are very friendly if you are friendly to them. On a dead-end road in the woods (say), I always try to at least see if I can talk to the landowner, tell them who I am, where I live, what I am doing and how long I will be there. They are often great founts of inside information. If you do this right, you will most likely be welcomed back.

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CLASSIFIED RATES Subscribers may place one free 20-word classified ad per month, limited to two months. Items for sale must include a price. Real estate ads must include an address or location. The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word. Include a black and white photo for an additional $10. Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted. You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 • E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta ME 04330 Website: www.mainesportsman.com

SUBMIT AD AND PAYMENT BY THE 30TH OF EACH MONTH AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE.

CAMPS FOR RENT CAMP ON SMALL POND Shirley, ME. $500/wk. Great hunting, fishing & ATV trails nearby. Also, local hunting club 1/4 mi. away is actively looking for five new members. 207-636-3689 EAST GRAND LAKE DANFORTH, ME 24x32 Camp- Greenland Cove, Sleeps 6-10. Deck, small dock/beach. Hunting, Fishing, Boating, ATV, $500/wk. 207-8311447 CABIN IN WMD 17 Comfortable, clean, secluded CABIN FOR RENT, with all amenities. Sleeps 4-5. Available May-Dec $450/wk. Call 207-277-4565 HUNTERS!! CAMP ON 140 ACRES Hogback Mt. Montville, abuts Fry Mt.2000+acres. Sleeps 5, $800.00/wk. Carriage House extra. 207-631-1023 wildernesscabin.org LAKEFRONT CABIN On the Little Narrows Basin of Upper Cold Stream Ponds in Lincoln, 4-season cabin w/cable, internet, kayaks, canoe, access to ATV & snowmobile trails. Depending on season, can be rented nightly, weekly or monthly. More info & pictures on Craigslist under Vacation Rentals/Lincoln. Call Tate 207-794-4208

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HUNTING/FISHING LODGE FOR SALE Active commercial hunting and fishing lodge with 7 cabins, 10 acres, 50 leased bait sites. $250,000. 802-738-3877 GUIDE SERVICE IN BROWNVILLE, ME $239,000. Main lodge and one cabin. Sleeps 18 total. Two utility buildings, one with a walk-in-cooler. 45 leased bait sites for bear. 1 1/2 townships in one area. 40 stands. 2 acres with another 20 acres for $25,000. Fully equipped and ready to go. Great operation for bear. deer, moose, small game and fishing. FMI Retiring. 207-965-8875. FISH RIVER LAKE CAMPS T14-R8- Remote camps with miles of shorefront and few neighbors. Great fishing, hunting and lots of privacy! Moose, bear, deer & birds. Camps are fully furnished-bring your toothbrush and move in! Water, showers, toilets, gas lights & generator, sleeps 8-10 easily. www.MaineSportsman.com

74 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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(Continued from page 73)

The Maine

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Want to See Your TROPHY PHOTO or OUTDOOR TALE Published in The Maine Sportsman? Send your photo with details or your story to us and you might see it in an upcoming issue! Email: will@mainesportsman.com Photos to be published at Editor’s discretion. Not all photos may be published.

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WANTED

Along Aroostook River Masardis, Maine. Mostly wooded with 2 open fields. Deer, Moose Bear and waterfowl habitat. Electric available at roadside. Felicia O’Clair at Dobbs Realty, 92 Bennett Dr. Caribou, ME. 207-493-

ZONE 25 ANY-DEER PERMITS Dedicated still-hunter, bow/rifle/muzzleloader, seeks transfer of ME resident Zone 25 permit in September. Will share professionally butchered venison. Thank you. 207779-7634.

MEAT CUTTER Eagle-Lake-Wild-Game Processing looking for meat cutter for two months to process bear and moose. Call if interested. 207-227-7529 WANTED DEER/ MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/

Kersey Real Estate visit www.kerseyre.com to view our complete listing

“No Blarney Spoken Here”

207-585-2411 207-585-2412

506 West Side Road • Weld, ME 04285 •Mike Kersey, Broker PEN

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

— FOR SALE BY OWNER —

tĞůů DĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ͕ Ϯ ĂƚŚ ,ŽŵĞ ŝŶ ŽƵŶƚƌǇ ^ĞƫŶŐ >ŽĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ DĂŝŶĞ͛Ɛ ďĞƐƚ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ͕ ĮƐŚŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƐŶŽǁŵŽďŝůŝŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ͘ /d^ ƚƌĂŝů ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĂĚ͘ ϮϬϬ͛ ĨƌŽŶƚĂŐĞ ŽŶ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ƵŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ DĂƌƌ WŽŶĚ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ǇŽƵƌ ĮƐŚŝŶŐ ŶĞĞĚƐ͘ 'ĂƌĂŐĞ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ǇŽƵƌ ƚŽǇƐ͘ tŽŽĚ ĂŶĚ Žŝů ŚĞĂƚ͕ ŽŶ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ŚŽƚ ǁĂƚĞƌ ŚĞĂƚĞƌ͘ ůů ĂƉƉůŝĂŶĐĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͘ >Žǁ͕ ůŽǁ ƚĂǆĞƐ͘ 'ƌĞĂƚ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŚŽŽĚ͘ ^ŝƚ ŽŶ ǇŽƵƌ ƉĂƟŽ ĂŶĚ ůŝƐƚĞŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůŽŽŶƐ͕ ǁĂƚĐŚ ƚŚĞ ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞ͕ Žƌ ũƵƐƚ ĞŶũŽǇ ƚŚĞ ƉĞĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƋƵŝĞƚ͘ ^ĞĞ ĞůŽƌŵĞ ŵĂƉ ηϯϮ͕ ͬϭ ĨŽƌ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͘ $135,000

Call (207) 270-0878 for More Details or to View EUSTIS

EUSTIS

This iconic Bed & Breakfast has been run for the last 28 years. Close to all outdoor recreation and direct access to snowmobile trails. Everything is included with the sale of the home. $175,000

Gorgeous log home situated in the heart of the Western Mountains of Maine. Outdoor recreation abounds just outside the front door. Access to miles of snowmobile and ATV trails. Just a short drive the Sugarloaf Ski Resort. Flagstaff Lake across street. $349,000

EUSTIS Outdoor recreation surrounds this adorable cottage. Located on Rt. 27, it is a short drive to Sugarloaf Ski Resort, snowmobile highway and Flagstaff Lake. It is the perfect camp for someone looking for an affordable second home. $58,000

More Camps and Land Available. Call Janet Peruffo at

CSM REAL ESTATE

207-265-4000 • e-mail janet@csmrealestate.com 259 Main Street, Kingfield, ME • www.csmrealestate.com

The Maine

May 2017 • $4.99

It’s like being in a tree house with all the amenities of home! Just relax & enjoy being surrounded by gorgeous big trees. This custombuilt home has spacious, open floor plan, wonderful kitchen w/ topquality cabinets, all doors & windows are very efficient. Enjoy trout fishing in your front yard. Plus only 8 miles from Richardson Lake & some of Maine’s great hidden fly-fishing destinations, and within walking distance to the Appalachian Trail. $199,500. MLS #1257338

FO RUM

Come see the gorgeous land that only Maine can offer spectacular views extremely private setting surrounded by hundreds of acres yet only a short distance to all the amenities of in town living. Skiing, lakes, hunting, shopping nearby. Lay at night listening to the babbling brook that meanders the property or sit on the deck quietly below the night stars. Cabin is built tough, strong & carefully crafted. ALL REASONABLE OFFERS CONSIDERED. Owners will consider helping with closing costs. $119,500. MLS #1271393

Success

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Handgun for Bear Country Page 20

Spring ATV Riding Page 21

Lessons Learned On Thin Ice

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TO WIL

Beautiful place to spend all the seasons Maine has to offer this home is currently being used for three seasons but could be converted to year round living. Come see whats in store for you at the waters edge with dock, great swimming and magniﬁcent sunset views.This property has wonderful inclosed porches that offer easy access to the front yard,dock and lake... Don’t miss the boat! $249,000. MLS #1293994 Well maintained cabin off the grid surrounded by stonewalls and old growth trees. If you have been looking for a camp well here it is. $59,900. MLS #1307502

— BUILDING LOTS WITH ATV & SNOWMOBILE ACCESS — Large 13 acre camp lot with trail accessible from the property, gravel road frontage in great recreation area for snowmobiling, ATVing, hiking and hunting. $24,500. MLS #1244750 Looking for a remote spot for your cabin or camper? Here it is! 8 acres w/ easy access, nice view right in the heart of the Western Mnts, a few miles to Mt Blue State Park & Webb Lk. $18,500. MLS #1282348 Very private 17 acres with great brook frontage and a common area on Meadow Pond located deep in the Western Mountains. $36,500. MLS #1269352 Roxbury - Don’t wait any longer! Large 12 acre + lots w/ spectacular views of mnt & valley, on private association rd. Plus a 10-acre common area for all lot owners. All lots have protective covenants to insure investment and privacy. $47,500. MLS #1304495 Excellent building lots w/ easy access to ATV & snowmobile trails. All lots surveyed and have driveways into building site. Ready for your new cabin in the woods? Then come check em’ out. $26,500. MLS #1205057 Phillips 40 acre lot with over 1900 feet of paved road frontage in the Western Mountains near Rangeley Lakes, Webb Lake and State Parks. Located on Rt 142 only 7 miles to Webb Lake. Listed at....$49,900. MLS #1204173 Very nice 218 acre wooded lot with views of the Androscoggin River Valley. A well-built gravel road will bring you up the mountain side to several plateaus and building sites. Priced right at....$139,500. MLS #1261656 Carthage/Weld 511 acres with over a mile of paved road frontage, three interior roads. The land is very well wooded with nice mountain views your only 10 minutes to Mt Blue State Park & Webb Lake.. The Webb River is just across the road. ATV and snowmobile trails can be accessed from he property along with hunting and other outdoor activities. NOW ONLY $279,000 MLS #1229364 Carthage 160 Acres with views of Tumbledown and Webb Lake absolutely gorgeous spot for a cabin or two great recreation area for snowmobiling,ATVing and hunting.You gotta see this one. $95,500 MLS #1244326.....$95,500

WE HAVE LOTS MORE! Looking for your own private get away? Here is 92.6 Acres with driveway deep into the interior of the lot. Property is located in recreation area with lakes, rivers,state park and all the things the western mountains of Maine has to offer like great snowmobiling, ATVing, boating and the list goes on. MLS #1311224.......$69,500 556 Acres, gated raods, views, western mountains – PENDING....................................$295,000 26.2 Acres, Roxbury Pond, paved and private access ........................................................ $69,500

T BE

11,,35 356 A AC CRE RES

BETHEL KING LOT This land boasts exceptional development potential or enjoy the vast land with your friends and family, excellent road infrastrucure and beautiful views of local ski areas. 1356 acres offered at $1,250,000. MLS #1149583

WOOD LOTS • WOOD LOTS • WOOD LOTS #1282270 - Byron, 99 Acres ............................................................................ $55,000 #1282273 - Byron, 116 Acres .............................................................................$74,900 #1282275 - Byron, 28 Acres............................................................................. $29,900 #1282237 - Hartford, 574 Acres ...................................................................... $299,00 #1282239 - Hartford, 91 Acres......................................................................... $63,900 #1282241 - Hartford, 156 Acres – PENDING ................................................ $117,000 #1282230 - Jay, 136 Acres ................................................................................ $88,900 #1282243 - Peru, 191 Acres...............................................................................$161,900 #1282246 - Peru, 322 Acres...........................................................................$206,500

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Wild Turkey

Extremely well built cabin nicely tucked in the woods overlooking the Webb River. Located in the heart of the Western Mountains with easy access to hunting, ATVing, snowmobiling, hiking and all the activities around Webb River & Webb Lake. $144,900. MLS #1282498

Your Name _________________________________ Your Address ________________________________ ___________________________________________ City _______________________________________ State______________________ Zip _____________ VISA/MC __________________________________ Exp. _______________________________________

Two Years $49 Phone______________________________________ Email ______________________________________ Include your Check, Money Order or VISA/MasterCard info to: The Maine Sportsman 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330

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ALLAGASH WILDERNESS LAND & CABINS FOR SALE

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4.5 acres with 2 fully-furnished large log cabins, sleeps 14+, 750â&#x20AC;&#x2122; frontage on Spider Lake with great year-round fishing. Includes guest cottage, workshops, woodshed, outhouses, boats, motors, icehouse, generator, docks, skylights, and gardens.

$399,000 Contact Fred & Linda Boucher Email allagash.linda@yahoo.com or leave a message at 207-573-1541

NEW COTTAGE FOR SALE IN NORTHERN MAINE WOODS

Nesowadnehunk Lake Outlet. Two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, full bath, utility room and closed in porch. Beautiful view on a 200x200 leased lot. $150,000. Call (207) 290-0085 or HPDLO ÂżQHOLQHLQF #KRWPDLO FRP

Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kennebago Camps. RARE FIND! Famous sporting camp with main lodge, commercial kitchen and dining room overlooking docks DQG .HQQHEDJR /DNH 6HYeral well kept cabins, boats, motor & most furnishings included. Considered to be a UDUH FROG ZDWHU ÂżVKHU\

- 4-season camp or tiny house living as these owner do. Wellbuilt, electricity, septic, well, pine interior, sited on 17.3 private acres on year round W. Tucker Ridge Road. $65,000

Mattawamkeag- Driveway & graveled DUHD ZLWK Ă&#x20AC;UH SLW DQG SLFQLF WDEOH 1.8 acres close to electricity, ATVing and snowmobiling, easy access and views of pristine Mattawamkeag River. $24,500

Springfield- Well-built and maintained 2 bedroom log sided cabin, electricity, dug well and sited on 12 acres beside a little brook, close to many lakes on year round Bottle Lake Road. $69,900

Very successful and well- established Bear Hunting business with lodge and 6 cabins. 140 D ! bait sites, tree L leased SOstands, buckets, barrels, etc. included! Best bear hunting LQ 0DLQH $FFHVVLEOH E\ ODQG RU Ă&#x20AC;\ LQ RQ 3RUWDJH /DNH BETTER HOMES & GARDENS MASIELLO GROUP

GLORIA A. HEWEY, REALTOR gloriahewey@masiello.com www.gloriahewey.masiello.com Cell 207-399-8553 â&#x20AC;˘ Direct Line 207-795-9671

&200(5&,$/ $662&,$7(6

Burlington- Cabana for relaxing and shade! Absolutely stunning 1.1+/- acre lot, huge gravel pad, driveway leads right to the lake, 165â&#x20AC;&#x2122; sand beach frontage on Madagascal Pond. $80,000

Lowell- Cleared for views, 3.4 acres complete with driveway, large gravel pad, full septic system and dug well. Shade trees, dock and nice gradual frontage along Eskutassis Pond. $68,900

T5 R10 EHGURRP FDELQ ZLWK SLQH Ă RRUV and walls, propane appliances, water and sewer, one of the historic cabins on Camp Phoenix, westerly sunset views of Nesowadnehunk Lake. $89,000

Lowell- Year round accessible road in great recreational area with privacy, 7.74 acres with driveway installed, 900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;+ of nice frontage along Eskutassis Stream. $18,900 Lincoln- Improved areas on this nice sized lot with privacy, driveway, electricity available, spot to launch a small boat and 150â&#x20AC;&#x2122; of great frontage along Cambolasse Pond. $48,500

207-233-8275

caryn@citycoverealty.com www.realestateinrangeley.com

Lakeville- 18.2+/- acre parcel close to public access to lakes, ATV trails, close to electricity, year round road, low taxed area and be a great 4-season getaway, 700â&#x20AC;&#x2122; on Dill Brook. $16,900 Burlington- Recreation abound and sited very near Saponac Pond boat landing, this 2.73 acre lot has year round access, electricity available, owner Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLQJ Âˇ DORQJ Route 188. $7,900

Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your Real Estate Source for the Rangeley Regionâ&#x20AC;?

R E A L

E S T A T E

5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com om

1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tateâ&#x20AC;? Aylward ................ 794-2460 Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554

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

#1139 - RANGELEY LAKE: LIVING IS EASY and HASSLE-FREE at Niboban Sporting Camps on Legendary Rangeley Lake! Only 3 front row cabins remaining. Once you arrive, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never want to leave! Get one before theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gone! $269,900-279,900 #3094 - SADDLEBACK LAKE: Summer time at the lake! Brimming with Rangeley charm â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lakeviewâ&#x20AC;? is just steps to central sandy beach and shared/owned 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122; frontage on no-motors, fly-fishing only waterbody. Plus tennis courts, walking trails all on 32 acres. $129,500 #1158 - RANGELEY LAKE: 2 camps for the price of 1!! 2 bedroom camp with open floor plan, lakeside deck and 2-bay garage with 2 bedroom apartment above. Both are fully year-round, well maintained, move-in ready. Frontage on Hunter Cove with dock. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss it! $319,000

www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • July 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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GEAR UP FOR SALTWATER FISHING Get what you need at our Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport, open 24/7

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Come in and check out our extensive selection of new and used long guns firsthand—available from over two dozen manufacturers. We can also special order firearms, ammunition, optics and more. Contact our firearms experts at usedguns@llbean.com or call 207.552.7728. NEW L.L.BEAN SURF ROD Offers the technical features you need to tackle the surf zone

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