The Maine Sportsman July 2021 Digital Edition

Let’s Go Fishing!

Pages 39, 46, 54, 65, 67

Sportsman The Maine

July 2021 • $4.99

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>> Bear Baiting Tips Page 23 >> >> Best Saltwater >> Fishing Boats Page 26 >> Plan Your Moose Hunt Page 32, 75 >> >> Camps, Boats >> & Land for Sale Page 79

2 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sporting Camps & Lodges —

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BOGGY BROOK OUTFITTERS Booking Guided Fishing Trips, Bear, Moose, Turkey & Deer Hunts Lodge & Cabin Accommodations Master Guide Jesse Derr 207-667-7271 ~ jdcon@yahoo.com Branch Lake, Ellsworth, ME

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Allagash Lakes Region

Quality Cabins & Lodge on Haymock, Spider & Cliff Lakes American Plan Lodge • Housekeeping Cabins • Year Round

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im Pond CAMPS

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 3

Grants Kennebago Camps If you travel to any destination in Delorme’s Maine Atlas & Gazetteer this year, let it be to Map 28, C-4. You’re looking at Kennebago Lake and the Kennebago River – places you want to be for some fine landlocked salmon, brook trout, and brown trout fishing; and the Rangeley Lakes Region fall brings wonderful ruffed grouse and American woodcock hunting. And it’s at Grant’s Camps that you should stay. The 18 cabins range in size to accommodate large groups or single anglers. Each lakeside cabin has electric baseboard heat and/or a wood-burning stove. All have hot and cold running water, showers and flush toilets, and are con-

nected to the electrical power grid. Wi-Fi is available in the dining room, at the office and in the comfortable lounge next door. Every cabin has a vintage 16-foot Rangeley boat with a 6-hp outboard motor available. Quiet, comfortable and stable, the boats are good platforms for fly fishing or just tooling around the lake checking out the history and watching – perhaps photographing – the wildlife. Angling and upland bird hunting guides with gundogs are available to help you maximize your time fishing and or hunting in this beautiful area of the Western Maine Mountains. In October, guests may fly fish in the lake and hunt

woodcock and grouse in the nearby covers –a true cast-and-blast experience. Three meals a day are served in the comfortable dining hall, and bag lunches are available on request to take fishing, hunting or exploring. The food is excellent, and the table service is friendly and efficient. And the view of the lake and mountains through the large windows is photo-worthy. Grant’s Kennebago Camps: 1-800633-4815, grantscamps@gmail.com, www.grantscamps.com – a very fine historic and iconic Maine sporting camp, run by John and Carolyn Blunt.

Year Round Log Camp in Rockwood

Walk to Kineo dock launch and easy access for boating and snowmobile trails. Sleeps 8+, central warm air heat plus King wood stove. Charming wood interior with aged patina, disappearing stairs to loft, all new plank hardwood floor, new hot water heater, all old copper has been replaced with new PEX piping, detached log storage shed, year round access. Drilled well with filter system by AE Robinson, private septic. Outside deck and view of Moosehead Lake. If you know Rockwood the Kineo docks you have likely driven by our camp. A place to live or second getaway. 110 electric, cable TV and high speed internet. It is a place we have loved since 1983. The pristine wilderness and majestic Moosehead Lake and all it offers is waiting for you. Offered at $195,000. Email with any questions or request additional photos: tom@capecod.net. Thanks for looking! www.MaineSportsman.com

4 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Editorial

Preservation Should Take Priority in Moosehead Planning Process We agree with the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) when it states that the Moosehead Region is a special place of natural beauty, working forests, and a strong recreation-based tourism economy. We are pleased that the “Moosehead Lake Concept Plan” proposed by Plum Creek (now Weyerhaeuser) in the early 2000s has expired, and we are especially pleased that the conservation easements put in place as part of that Concept Plan are permanent and are not affected the plan’s termination. Now, LUPC is soliciting public comment on a similarly-named undertaking, the “Moosehead Region Planning Project.” Specifically, the state agency is asking the public for ideas on how to rezone 17,000 acres in the region formerly slated for development. Maine Audubon points out that although there are no plans to develop the area as envisioned by the former Concept Plan, conservationists believe the area is vulnerable to development because of the recently adopted “Adjacency Rules” which allow for expanded development opportunities across the unorganized territories. Fortunately, any zoning changes in the Moosehead Region are on hold until the current land use planning process is completed. LUPC announced this spring that they are taking public comments and using those comments to create several “discussion maps,” which are hypothetical zoning maps that will be used to prompt community discussion during public meetings to be held this summer. LUPC is to be commended for its clear website information, which highlights areas around the big lake that may be impacted by this process, including Rockwood, Brassua Lake, Greenville Junction and the Big Moose Mountain area. And its proposed use of discussion maps reveals an effort at transparency that portends well for the process. Through the upcoming meetings, it will be important for participants to keep in mind a couple of points: 1) Maine is known for its natural beauty – that’s why people come here to visit and to live – and adjacent land values tend to rise, rather than fall, in areas where land is preserved. 2) Maine is currently home to 356,000 acres of parks and wildlife areas. Although that sounds like a lot, it’s only 1.8% of the state’s entire land area, meaning that Maine currently has the 13th smallest proportion of its land designated for parks and wildlife areas. 3) The best way to preserve land in Maine is any way that works. For example, LD 404, “An Act to Preserve Deer Habitat,” which was drafted and promoted by Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, has been approved by lawmakers in the House and Senate and appears poised for enactment into law. That measure will prioritize deer wintering areas when the state purchases property, and DIFW – rather than private timber companies – will manage those deer wintering areas. That’s a positive change, since the desire for profits often overcomes the best of stated intentions under the current scheme of voluntary private compliance with deer wintering area rules.

On the Cover: Sam Cushing of Belfast is a Maine kayak angler extraordinaire. Our July cover photo shows him with a 22 1/4-inch, 7 lbs. 1 oz. largemouth bass he caught May 29, 2021 in an Oxford County pond using a bladed jig. The fish earned Sam a Maine Sportsman “Catch & Release” club patch. Cushing is active in many KBF (Kayak Bass Fishing) tournaments, and several years ago he helped start a local kayak fishing club known as the “Maine Yak Anglers” (look for them on Facebook). Photo by Pat Bride www.MaineSportsman.com

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 585 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 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.................................................... 13 A Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly.................. 58 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 39 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 34 Big Woods World by Hal Blood..................................... 33 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 61 Cooking Wildly by Kate Krukowski Gooding............... 56 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux............................... 59 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie...................... 45 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 48 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 42 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 50 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 17 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 29 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 60 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 54 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 75 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 53 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 21 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 77 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 57 Quotable Sportsman by Will Lund................................ 25 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 71 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 78 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 30 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 67 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 64 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 52 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund...................................... 78 Snapshots in Time by Bill Pierce.................................... 12 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 70 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 66 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 10 Tidewater Tales by Randy Randall............................... 38 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 68 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 79 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 46 True Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.63 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 73 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 65

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 18 Bear Hunting in Maine by Bill Graves........................... 23 Boating by Ron Dupuis.................................................. 26 Moose Hunting by Steve Carpenteri........................... 32 Youth Writing Contest Winners................................ 36-37

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 5

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6 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters

season has kicked off to a strong start. I’ve been catching them since May 3rd. We have a good population of holdover bass in the Merrymeeting watershed, as they now can go so far up the Kennebec.

To The Editor

Fan Mail – Always Appreciated

To the Editor: Please sign me up for a 2-year subscription. A friend of mine taught me how to hunt and fish and use firearms safely. He also told me to subscribe to your magazine, because it’s so informative and also because it includes many articles by and about outdoorswomen. I am 63 years old, and I have enrolled in the “Outdoors Women of Maine” program at Bryant Pond. I am having fun for the first time in a long time in the great Maine outdoors. Keep up the good work. Sherri McKay, Woolwich, ME —

“Striper World 2021” with Mike Barry To the Editor: I am pleased to report the striper

Mike Barry fishes late into the night, with the aid of a headlamp. The results speak for themselves.

Mike Barry, shown here, has been landing striped bass since early May, 2021. Following a warm spring, the fishing season started weeks earlier this year compared to 2020.

As of late May, my largest fish was 32 inches. And the fishing got hot much earlier this year compared to last. In fact, I’d caught no fish before May 15 last year, but this year I had already caught 100 stripers by that same date.

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I hope you and your readers have a great summer, and I look forward to sharing photos of my catches with you this season! Mike Barry —

Glad it Was an Automatic To the Editor: Randy Randall’s Guest Column in the May issue (see “Remembering Standard Shift,” page 35) reminded me of an experience I had long ago. In 1954, I was a Corporal in the Signal Corps, U.S. Army. I was stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and we hosted a group of ROTC cadets for their training between junior and senior years of college. I taught the entire group some of the lecture courses they took, and I was in charge of a platoon of them for the entire time they were with us. We had a “Deuce-and-a-half,” a two and a half ton truck. The Cadets rode in the back, while a driver took them out in the field.

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A “Deuce And A Half” 6X6 military cargo truck. Credit: Carscoms.com

At one point, the driver hurt his leg, and I was asked if I could drive the truck. Having grown up in New York City, I had very, very limited driving experience, but I said, “Sure.” (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 7 (Continued from page 6)

Believe me, I was very relieved when I scrambled into the driver’s seat and realized that, even back then, the truck was equipped with an automatic transmission. Marty Lebson, Tenafly, NJ —

How About a Little Respect? To the Editor: Hey, that picture of a woman and a man with a pitchfork on page 77 of the May issue is a fake. Know how I know? Here’s how. I know it’s not genuine because the background does NOT show the DIBBLE house, which Grant Wood’s real “American Gothic” does. And it so happens that my great uncle, Charles Dibble built and lived in that house. TRUE FACT.

Authentic “American Gothic,” says the letter-writer. Credit: Art Institute of Chicago

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The Dibble house today, in Eldon, Iowa. Credit: AmericanGothicHouse.org

Not the real “American Gothic,” says the letter-writer. Credit: Warner Bros.

I’ll expect a little more respect from all of you at The Sportsman now that you know of my personal connection to iconic images from the world of art! Dr. J. Birney Dibble, Wisconsin

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8 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Fresh Venison in April The phone rang. it was from our friend D, who had been cycling in the back roads of Chelsea. She had come upon a fresh roadkill deer. Was I interested in it? I remembered that years ago, Richard Anderson, the onetime director of Maine Audubon, was an enthusiastic collector of roadkill. After determining that it was

Misfortune for a doe is good news for the author, who follows the lead of a former Maine Audubon director in utilizing good deer meat, regardless of its source. fresh, he made it part of his meal plan. As I recall, beaver was one of his favorites. I checked with my wife, Joan, and called D back and told her yes, we were interested in the deer, and would meet her as soon as we could. Before leaving Hallowell, I gathered a roll of paper towels, a contractor-size plastic bag, a half-gallon of water and my Schrade folding knife, which has a sharp four-inch blade. We met D near her

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home, and together we drove to where the deer lay, but not until we had driven past it once without seeing the deer, folded up in the deep “killer’ ditch beside the blacktop. Keeping Things Clean It was a yearling doe, perhaps 100 pounds, and the body was still warm. Rigor mortis had not yet set in. It had been hit hard by a vehicle and had a number of broken bones. The ditch beside the blacktop road was deep and narrow, making it a difficult place to work. We rolled the carcass over and proceeded to dress it out

as best we could. I cut the contractor bag along one side and across the bottom, and spread it out in the rear of my Subaru Outback wagon. Joan and D and I slid the doe into the car over the slippery surface of the contractor bag, which effectively kept the rear of the car from getting bloody. D. pushed the hind legs in so that the rear cover could be closed. Checking with the Authorities Using a cell phone, we called the state police dispatcher and were advised that if this was a non-emergency, we should call the non-emergency

number. We called the non-emergency number, and related that we wanted to deal with a roadside dead deer and requested the dispatcher to call the game warden who was responsible for the Chelsea area. We asked that the warden call us on our cell phone. Shortly thereafter, our phone rang, and I gave the game warden my name and our location and explained that we had a roadkill and would like to keep the carcass. The warden said that he was unable to meet us at that time, but he provided us with a transportation tag number that we could use en route to the meat processor. He said to give that tag number to the meat processor. (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 9 (Continued from page 8)

Good Meat Processor in West Gardiner We were favorably impressed last fall when Scot Trussell, of West Gardiner, butchered my spikehorn buck, so I called him. Fortunately, I caught Scot at home, and although his regular season was over, he agreed to take the deer. Scot said that his cooler was shut off, but he would turn it back on. He suggested that we pick up some ice to assist in cooling down the carcass. When we arrived and unloaded the deer, Scot used a device that looks like a heavy-duty coat hanger that spread the deer’s hind legs when it was hoisted. He took a large sharp knife and sliced down through the breastbone and turned on a garden hose to wash the interior of the carcass. He then carried the deer into his cooler. We requested one half inch thick steaks and chops, and that the stew meat be ground into hamburg. The hamburg was lean and made excellent burgers and meatballs. We cut the steaks into smaller pieces served them with roasted potatoes, rice or quinoa, or in a stir-fry. Last fall’s spikehorn was young and tender. We have enjoyed have the boneless chops, steaks and hamburg. The venison was in small packages, suitable for two persons, all neatly wrapped and labeled. While venison processing is obviously a sideline for Scot, he did

a professional job. We have been eating like kings. If luck favors me in this fall’s hunting season, I’ll be calling on Scot again. He lives on the Pond Road in West Gardiner. 5922632. Not the same as Pond Road in Manchester. See Delorme Atlas, page 12 E-4. Case Against “Aging” Deer Meat Maine custom used to be that the hunter let a deer hang for a week before skinning out and butchering it. That procedure tended to give the meat a distinctive, strong “gamey” flavor that some people find objectionable, which is why many old-time deer meat recipes call for a lot of flavorings that mask that flavor. Much of that “gamey” flavor is avoided if the deer is skinned promptly after harvesting, and we enjoy the venison without any strong flavorings. Our favorite dish is stroganoff. Joan’s Venison Stroganoff Recipe Ingredients: • Venison

Fresh venison stroganoff makes a great meal and equally-good leftovers. McCormick photo

• Olive oil • Mushrooms • Onion • Sour cream • Cream sherry • Rice, quinoa or wide noodles Cut venison steaks into bite-size pieces. In a frying pan, sauté mushrooms (any kind, or a mixture) and sliced onion in olive oil or other oil, until done, and set aside. Then sauté the venison until just

cooked … it will be more tender if it is rare. Add back the mushrooms and onions to the pan. Then mix sour cream and cream sherry together, enough to cover the meat you have cooked. Take the pan off the heat, and add the sour

cream-sherry mixture (otherwise it will curdle). Serve over rice or quinoa or wide noodles. Author’s note: This makes a super meal, and leftovers make a second meal that it just as good or better than the first.

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10 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Really Good Outdoor Stuff Often I’m amazed at how much really fine outdoor equipment and gear is available to those of us who are totally addicted to the great outdoors. One of the many reasons this country is so great is our entrepreneurial spirit, and the quest to make money to support ourselves, our families, and our country by taxes and fees, mostly for the latter. A lot of the stuff we purchase – fishing tackle, bows, guns, and ammo to name a few items – have a tax that is collected by the federal government and distributed back to the states’ fish and wildlife agencies for use in needed conservation projects. So buy more of that gear, and it benefits us all. Below are some of the companies I’ve dealt with by purchasing and using their products, and I can vouch for their competence, honesty, and quality of wares. Some I’ve dealt with for decades, others just a few years. But I highly can recommend them all because of their product quality and their demonstrated excellent customer service, my two main criteria to judge excellence. BreamBugs.com

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The author, a hunter and angler with worldwide experience, describes the quality gear he uses and recommends.

Sliders by Walt Cary, Pecks and Pultz catch more fish than most others.

Virginia’s Walt Cary is a genius popper maker and he’s been doing it for well over a half-century plus!

For those of you that haven’t ventured south of the Mason-Dixon Line, a “bream” is a collective word for sunfishes such as bluegills, shellcrackers, pumpkinseeds (actually pronounced “punkinseeds” down yonder), and the like. And don’t you dare say “breem” because a Southerner will pick you out as a Yankee or other outlander. It’s pronounced “brim.” BreamBugs sells fly fishing lures primarily for, well, bream and black bass (largeand smallmouth primarily), and other panfishes. A small familyowned and operated concern in Rockbridge, Missouri, the CFF of

BreamBugs is Don Davis. And like us, Don is a fishing fanatic. Oh, “CFF” stands for “Chief Fly Fisher.” On their website, you can peruse and select any number of fine poppers, sliders, and other floating or sinking critter flies, including some by such luminary sources as Pecks, Pultz, BooglePopper, John Conrad, and my old friend Virginian Walt Cary. While I do buy flies on the website from other tyers, it always is Walt that I turn to for my favorites, primarily for Maine smallmouth bass. BreamBugs carries around 600 products to quench your fly fishing needs and wants. You order and you’ll have your stuff within days. Fine company. Contact: 1-800-513-7041, www.breambugs.com. FABARM

The Fabrica Bresciana Di Armi, or FABARM (literally, “Arms Manufacturer in Brescia, Italy”) has been extant for about

The FABARM XLR5 Waterfowler(True Timber Viper) in 12 ga is deadly on ducks.

The Autumn side-byside in 20 ga is new and the first side-byside the company ever has produced in its more than a century of making fine guns.

120 years, making wonderful rifles and shotguns of the quality Brescian gun-makers have been doing for centuries. The company has two subsidiaries, one in France, and one in Cambridge, Maryland, USA. I own two FABARMs: a XLR5 Waterfowler (True Timber Viper) in 12 ga, and an Autumn sideby-side in 20 ga; the latter is new and the first side-by-side the company ever has produced. The Waterfowler is a semi-auto that is deadly on ducks, but it is the gentle Autumn that stole my heart. It is so slim and pretty with its fetching English stock and tender splinter fore-end both in gorgeous deluxe Turkish walnut, when I caress it I have to look around to make sure no one is watching, because such public displays of affection might not settle well with some folks. FABARM USA

joined by Caesar Guerini USA and both of these fine Italian arms companies are represented very well by Wes Lang and associates on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay State. Quality products and first rate customer service always win me over, and I can’t recommend this operation highly enough. Contact: 410901-1260, www.fabarmusa.com Filson

The sheer quality of Filson products, backed by superb customer service, makes this company wonderful to deal with.

In 1897 C. C. Filson, born in 1850, opened C. C. Filson’s Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers in the small town of Seattle, Washington, mostly to outfit the thousands of men heading north to Alaska for the Great Klondike Gold Rush. His timing was perfect, and Filson did well because his heavy-duty wool clothing, boots, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 11 (Continued from page 10)

doors activity. Contact: 1-800-624-0201, www.filson.com Grundéns

I’ve been using my Filson deerskin gloves for driving and shooting for over six years and they still are going strong.

moccasins, sleeping bags and other such wear kept miners warm in the cold Alaska climes. The Stampeders depended on Filson products, and Filson always took their feedback and experience-based input to provide quality products. As the gold-mining ratcheted down, Filson, who had his own wool mill, produced clothing and gear for lumbermen who cut their way through the Northwest. It was in 1914 that the Mackinaw Wool Cruiser shirt/jacket came to prominence, and it was so good it’s still available today. All of these fine wares of yesteryear contribute to the lineup of Filson goods today, and the sheer quality of Filson, backed by superb customer service, makes this company wonderful to deal with. While writing this, I went to Filson’s website to get some historical info, but was delayed because of a shirt sale announced on the site and ended up buying two fine Filson shirts, so I’ve just about spent what I’ll receive for this column. But it’s worth it – Filson is a top notch company for all needs concerning hunting, fishing, travel, and just about any out-

Grundéns bibs are legend in commercial and sportfishing circles. They simply are the best.

As you look at Maine lobstermen and lobsterwomen or at their counterparts chasing blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay, or at the folks who chase Alaska salmon and king crab in Alaskan waters, you’ll see a lot of gear, particularly bib overalls and jackets, that say “Grundéns.” Tough, durable, waterproof, and warm when need be, Grundéns motto is “We are Fishing,” and if you check out their catalog of stuff offered, you’ll see why. Whether you’re hauling crustacean traps in every kind of weather imag-

I wear my Grundéns Men’s Deck-Boss Ankle Boots to keep feet dry and warm, and to grip wet surfaces.

inable or fishing on a jetty for striped bass, Grundéns gear stands up to whatever nature throws your way. Begun in the early 20th century by Swedish fisherman Carl Grundén, who grew tired of being wet and cold while fishing off his country’s coast, Grundéns continues to keep folks who work the water as comfortable as possible. This fine company offers bibs, jackets, aprons, fishing shirts, shorts, hats, fishing boots, boat shoes, and sandals for commercial and recreational fishing applications. Good gear and great customer service, Grundéns has it all. Contact: 1-800-3237327, www.grundens. com. Sitka Gear

Sitka has a full lineup of outdoor gear for men and women, and they stand by every product they make.

The folks who started Sitka Gear were hunting a couple of thousand feet up the mountain from their tent campsite, and were incredibly wet and cold, windblown and extremely disappointed and angry that their clothing

Sitka Gear’s camo patterns are unique and absolutely superb. There is none better.

wasn’t doing the job. So Sitka was born, and I’m glad their miserable experience helps me not be too cold or too hot when I’m outdoors duck hunting or chasing partridge in the uplands. Sitka now has the gear, much of it with Gore-Tex®, for all seasons and conditions. Jackets, vests, pants, bibs, tops, waders, hoodies, shirts, gloves and hats – the list goes on, and Sitka Gear, though seemingly expensive, is topnotch gear that lasts almost forever, so buy once and don’t worry: it will pay for itself and then some in the long run. I like the Gore™ Optifade™ clothing that was born of new discoveries in animal vision science. This breakthrough camo patterning prevents animals from recognizing hunters at all. I’ll guarantee ducks can’t see it (or me) as the apex predator in their world. It’s only my shooting that prevents me from limiting every time out. Contact: www.sitkagear. com, 877-748-5247. RST Classic Shotshell Co. Inc.

The only thing RST, located in Friendship, Pennsylvania, makes is quality shotgun, shells including Best Grade in 2”, 2 1/2”, and 3”; and Premium 2 3/4”. The small company relies on quality, not quantity, in the shells they offer, and I attest to their superiority. The shells can be used in classic and older guns, and, with a good gunsmith’s blessing, in vintage guns with Damascus and other steel twist barrels. The shells are low pressure, high performance, and cause noticeably reduced recoil. RST only uses lead, copper-plated lead, or bismuth in their ammunition.

The only thing RST, located in Friendship, Pennsylvania, makes is quality shotgun shells.

I’ve exclusively used RST shells for bobwhite quail, pheasant, chukar, ruffed grouse and woodcock for about the past 8 or 9 years, and attest to their quality in all levels of the hunt. I have not tried the bismuth loads yet so can’t speak first-hand about them. I hope to remedy that in October! Out of word space here and much more to say, but I’ll save that for another time, another column. Meanwhile, use the products I’ve mentioned, and I guarantee you that you’ll be well pleased.

www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

“Snapshots in Time”

Historical Glimpses from the Region’s Iconic Past Compiled by Bill Pierce, Executive Director, Rangeley Lakes Historical Society

From the 1911 Notebook of Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby The famous Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, holder of Maine Guide Badge #1, was the premiere sportswriter for the MAINE WOODS newspaper. Her column, titled “Fly Rod’s Notebook,” was a must-read for sportsmen. What follows are some short clippings from her column, that were included in the July 13, 1911 edition. [Note: Bill Pierce’s comments are in italics below various items.] The Diving Hawk Upper Dam. One day recently I saw Asa Ellingwood coming across the dam with a roll of telephone wire in one hand and a large dead gray hawk in the other. When he reached the piazza, I noticed the guides and sportsmen were all very much interested in what he was telling them. One of the boys said asked me, “Do you want to see a hawk that’s a man-killer, Fly Rod? Come over here.” We went over, and Asa told his story. He had been down on the telephone line on the way to Bemis working, when suddenly he saw this big hawk make a circle in the air and come direct for his head. Of course, he tried to hit the hawk with the hatchet he had in his hand, but could not, and the bird flew up in a nearby tree, looking as wild and mad as a bird could.

Later, Asa discovered a nest high up in a tree, and he thinks the bird was fearful that he intended to rob it, and that was why she attacked him. [Most of us who have spent some amount of time outdoors may have tangled with a mother blue jay or the like, but a hawk is indeed another matter.] Case of Mistaken Identity Rangeley. Mrs. E. E. Partridge is entertaining one of the “pale faced city chaps,” who in May was sent up here to try for a new lease of life. Well, he certainly has a new lease on live, and at the same time his skin has a thick coat of tan. One day recently he chanced to go into the Indian store. Peter Nicola, the store’s Indian owner, looked at the tan-colored chap, who truly has taken on a handsome brown, and addressing him in the Indian language, with a smile on his face, asked if he did not want a job?

Scampering across logs looks easy, but it’s not. Photo: Minn. Historical Society

Peter Nicola, proprietor of the Indian store in Rangeley in the early 1900s.

Then the bird made a circle and came for him a second time. Asa found something must be done, and he began to look for a club to kill the bird, who again came for his head, but met his demise with the stick Asa had ready for him. “I have been in the woods a great deal, said Asa, “but never before did any kind of a wild creature tackle me.” He gave me the bird to take up to Walter D. Hinds to mount. The claws of the hawk, to say nothing of the sharp bill, would hurt one in a very short time if used by the mad bird. www.MaineSportsman.com

on the racks outside the camps, and for a few days there will be no boats on the pool. The Berlin Mills Company has a crew of nearly 100 men busy here running thirteen million board-feet of their last winter’s lumber cut through the dam. Everyone is interested in the work of the log drivers, and it is most fascinating watching the hundreds of big logs as they rush through like so many matches. It surely is an art, the way the men on the logs with their piked poles handle them, and the way they walk about the logs in the water. It looked so easy that some of the city gentleman thought they would try it, and one who had on a dandy new suit was among the number.

But our city chap refused the job of selling blankets, explaining that he can drive an automobile much better than he can paddle a canoe. [Note: Peter Nicola was a longtime shop owner in Rangeley selling a wide variety of handcrafted Native American items. Two things come to mind in reading this – first, I am grateful that we have indeed evolved as a society to the point that this anecdote would not be written & printed today. Two… that few of us have the opportunity in this overly busy day and age, to be on a fishing vacation for long enough to result in such a tan – that would indeed be nice!) It Ain’t Easy Rolling Logs Upper Dam, Me., July 8, 1911. Just now the guests have hung their fly rods

“It was as good as a circus to see the Doctor attempt to walk that rolling log, and away he went into the water. Everyone on the piazza laughed as they fished him out and how could they help it?” But the remark was not intended for this reporter to hear. When the gates were opened for the logs to go down into the other lake, the fly fishing had never been better. Everyone could see the big fish, but not everyone could get a strike, or if they got a strike not everyone could hook the fish. [Note: The days of a fishery closing due to a log drive in Maine are long gone, and I have read that the flyfishing for trout was often excellent around a raft of logs. Perhaps this was due to the fish enjoying the insects on the logs, as well as the protective shade overhead.] Happy Independence Day, and have a great July. Be sure to thank a Veteran for your freedom, and be sure to get outside and make some outdoor history of your own!

Almanac

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 13

In the summer, it’s illegal to haul lobster traps at night, or late Saturday afternoon, or any time at all on Sunday

Legal Hauling Times for Lobsters If you are considering obtaining your recreational lobster license, be certain you understand the days and times it’s legal to check your traps. Summer and early fall rules: It is unlawful to raise or haul any lobster trap during the period 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise from June 1st to September 30th, both days inclusive, and during the period 1/2 hour after sunset until 4 a.m. from October 1st to October 31st, both days inclusive.

Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —

“thug” jakes came in silently at 5:20. This one was boss, and he beat up my quarter-strut tom before mounting my hen decoy. This is my wife’s very first turkey ever! Nice jake at 16 lbs. even. Taken at 12 steps.

Blaine Cardilli – humbled hunter.

— Blaine’s wife, Susan Cloutier, with her firstever wild turkey. Blaine Cardilli photo

If you are considering recreational lobstering, it’s important to know the applicable laws, thereby avoiding difficult conversations with Marine Patrol officers. Credit: Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative

Summer Weekend Rules: It is unlawful to raise or haul any lobster trap during the period from 4 p.m. Saturday to 1/2 hour before sunrise the following Monday morning, from June 1st to August 31st, both days inclusive. *It is lawful to raise or haul traps during this period if a hurricane warning issued by NWS is in effect for the coastal waters of the State. Late Fall, Winter and Spring: It is legal to haul lobster traps at any time from November 1st to May 31st; it is also legal to set (but not raise or haul) lobster traps at any time throughout the year. — Blaine’s Outdoor Adventures With Blaine Cardilli

Two Turkeys, Two Shots, Two Different Outcomes On June 2, 2021, I took my wife, Susan Cloutier, out early in the morning. We were in the blind at 4:30 a.m., and began calling at 4:45. I couldn’t buy a gobble, but three

Day 2 Hunt On June 3, 2021, I went out by myself, just after noontime. It was my fastest hunt ever, and not in a good way! I set the decoys at 12:20 p.m.; got in the blind 12:25; and hit my box call at 12:30. Immediately I heard gobbling 75 yards away, and a tom and three jakes appeared at the decoys at 12:35.

Taking this photo cost the author a bird in the fryer.

Being the consummate professional outdoor writer, I snapped a few photographs. Just then, the birds decided to hightail it out of there, and as they trotted off I rushed the 12-yard shot – AND MISSED? Just call me “#humbled.”

Superintendent LaRoche of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Retires; Deroche (no relation) Steps In According to Jocelyn Hubbell of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Mark Deroche has been selected as the next Superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW).

Mark Deroche, the new AWW Superintendent

A Master Maine Guide, Deroche gained experience as the Northern Region Manager for Maine State Parks, as the Manager at Lily Bay State Park, and as an Assistant Allagash Ranger based at Round Pond. Deroche stated that he’s been coming to the Allagash since he was 13 years (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 13)

old, and that he plans to start his tenure by visiting all 82 campsites along the 93mile waterway. Deroche replaces Matt LaRoche, who recently retired after 44 years. —

It Just Got a Little Easier to Deal with Nuisance Beavers Are beavers dams flooding your gravel access roads, or damaging your trees or farmlands? Dealing with the issue just got a little easier, following enactment of a law sponsored by Representative MaryAnne Kenney of Knox, and cosponsored by lawmakers from East Machias, Guilford, Weld, Acton, Milton Township and Washington. Under Maine law, if certain animals cause “substantial damage” to a person’s orchards or crops, the animals can be trapped or killed. However, those laws did not apply to nuisance beavers. Instead, until two months ago, the rules for nuisance beavers were more strict, allowing only agents of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (“Animal Damage Control Agents”) to take beavers out of season. However, on May 25, the Governor signed into law “An Act Regarding Nuisance Beavers,” which allows the Com-

Photo: Maine Forest Service

missioner of the department to “authorize a landowner, a person on behalf of the landowner” to take or kill nuisance beaver. The legislature’s Fish & Wildlife Committee heard testimony that the decrease in trapping statewide has led to a situation in which the population of beavers is near or at the maximum sustainable capacity, and that beavers cause damage to loggers’ harvestable forestland and farmers’ irrigation ponds. The law took effect upon the Governor’s signing. Landowners should contact a game warden or regional wildlife biologist with any questions. — (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

What Kinds of Nests Do Birds Use?

by Nick Lund Network Manager, Maine Audubon Last month and early this month, birds across Maine are getting down to the important business of laying eggs and raising their young. Eggs, of course, pose a challenge. They’re delicate, and require near-continual care from parents to keep them just the right temperature. Eggs are also a food source for certain animals (as anyone reading this over a morning omelet knows), and so birds spend considerable time concealing or defending their eggs. In response to this pressure, birds have developed all kinds of strategies to keep their eggs and young babies safe. Let’s cover a few. Stick Nests. When most people think of wild bird eggs, they think of nests. Many birds turn into engineers each spring, constructing elaborate bowls or other structures to host their eggs. One advantage of a stick nest is that the parents can choose its location, letting them find the safest or most out-of-the-way spot (or, in the case of some birds, the most annoying, right-above-the-garage-door

Photo: Maine Audubon (osprey)

spot) to raise their babies. Many different birds in Maine build stick (or grass) nests. Maine’s smallest is the 2-inch wide nest of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which is typically placed on a horizontal branch and made of grasses, plant fibers and spider webs, and camouflaged on the outside with lichens and dead leaves. On the other end of the spectrum is the wooden McMansion of the Bald Eagle, which can occupy whole treetops. In fact, the largest bird nest on record was a Bald Eagle nest in St. Petersburg, Florida, which was 9.5 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, and which weighed almost 6,000 pounds! One important thing to note about stick nests is that the majority of birds don’t reuse them year (Continued on next page)

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16 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

July 2021 Sunrise/Sunset

(Continued from page 15)

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

RISE

5:01 5:02 5:03 5:03 5:04 5:04 5:05 5:06 5:07 5:07 5:08 5:09 5:10 5:11 5:12 5:12

SET

8:28 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:26 8:26 8:25 8:25 8:24 8:24 8:23 8:23 8:22 8:21 8:21

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

RISE

5:13 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 5:28

SET

8:20 8:19 8:18 8:18 8:17 8:16 8:15 8:14 8:13 8:12 8:11 8:10 8:09 8:07 8:06

July 2021 Tides DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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

Portland, ME HIGH AM PM 5:00 5:41 5:57 6:33 6:55 7:24 7:53 8:15 8:49 9:03 9:40 9:47 10:27 10:30 11:11 11:10 11:53 11:50 — 12:32 12:29 1:10 1:07 1:48 1:46 2:26 2:27 3:07 3:13 3:51 4:03 4:39 4:57 5:30 5:56 6:25 6:58 7:23 8:05 8:24 9:09 9:24 10:10 10:21 11:07 11:17 — 12:02 12:12 12:54 1:03 1:44 1:53 2:32 2:42 3:20 3:33 4:08 4:25 4:56 5:18 5:45

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LOW AM PM 11:18 11:48 — 12:10 12:48 1:02 1:47 1:54 2:43 2:45 3:33 3:31 4:18 4:14 5:00 4:55 5:39 5:34 6:17 6:13 6:54 6:53 7:31 7:33 8:10 8:16 8:50 9:02 9:34 9:53 10:20 10:48 11:10 11:45 — 12:03 12:47 1:01 1:51 2:02 2:55 3:04 3:56 4:02 4:52 4:59 5:47 5:54 6:39 6:47 7:28 7:38 8:15 8:29 9:02 9:21 9:48 10:14 10:35 11:08 11:23 —

after year. Large birds like eagles and herons are exceptions, because their large stick nests are durable, but most smaller birds don’t. So, if you are trimming brush in the fall or winter and notice an old nest, don’t worry about keeping it safe; the birds will build a new one next spring. Cavities. An even safer and more permanent place to raise babies is inside trees. Natural cavities are made in a variety of ways, including a dead branch falling away from a tree and leaving a hole, excavation from a feeding woodpecker, or simply cracks in rotten wood. All kinds of birds use cavities, including chickadees, owls, flycatchers, woodpeckers, American Kestrel, wrens, bluebirds, and even ducks like Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers. The trouble is, humans don’t often like to leave dead trees up, and so cavities can be hard to find in developed areas. But we’ve made a solution: nest boxes. The backyard birdhouses or larger bird boxes are really just cavity mimics – enclosed wooden areas for birds to find. Maine Audubon encourages backyard birders to install nest boxes, but recommends doing some research first. Birds are pretty particular about their nesting locations, and so try looking at Cornell’s NestWatch site to understand what type of box will work best – hole size, height and direction – before you hang them up. Right on the Ground. Some birds don’t live in areas with vegetation, or otherwise can’t or won’t get up in trees to nest, and often those birds lay their eggs right there on the ground. Maine’s endangered Piping Plovers might be our most famous ground-nesters, and they lay their camouflaged eggs among dried seaweed among the dunes.

But they’re not alone: most gamebirds like Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse nest on the ground, as do shorebirds like Killdeer (and many more that migrate to the far northern Canada, where there’s nothing but ground to nest on), and most waterfowl, which aren’t as adept in the trees. ***** Birds’ nesting strategies are as diverse as birds themselves and there are many not covered here – Mud structures built by Cliff Swallows! Hanging nests made by Baltimore Orioles! Atlantic Puffin nest burrows! Belted Kingfishers digging into a riverbank! – but maybe we can return to those topics next nesting season. —

Tough Way to Earn a Meal by Will Lund

As we walked around the side of our remote camp last month, we sensed motion, and heard a large animal moving away from us through the woods. Exploring, we found a large rotten tree trunk that had been standing the day before. A bear had leaned against the tree trunk, dropping it to the ground. Then, the animal had ripped the tree apart, searching for, and finding, ants and ant eggs.

This publication’s editor inspects the results of a large bear’s search for food earlier in the day. Photo: Sara Holmbom

It was a reminder of the power of these animals and of their abilities to survive and thrive on the resources offered by the Maine woods. Photo: Maine Audubon (plover)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 17

Maine Wildlife:

Pollock

by Tom Seymour

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data, the Atlantic pollock stock is above the target population level and is not overfished. As a testimony to the health of the pollock (Pollachius virens) population, there is no minimum size or bag limit on pollock in Maine Territorial waters. In federal waters, the minimum size is 19 inches, but as in Maine waters, there is no bag limit. Juvenile pollock inhabit inshore waters, and summertime anglers often take them while mackerel fishing from floats, piers and breakwaters. Pollock, even small ones, give up a great fight because of their streamlined shape. And unlike cod, to which they are related, pollock keep their mouths closed when hooked, and therefore don’t drown themselves. Despite this, pollock mostly get short shrift in comparison to more glamorous species such as striped bass, bluefish and even mackerel. Ratings of pollock as table fare differ according to who you talk to. Some find the somewhat dark flesh inferior to cod, while others relish it with gusto. My taste runs toward liking pollock a lot, and to my mind, nothing beats a fresh pollock fillet, drizzled with fresh lemon and broiled, or wrapped in foil and grilled. On larger fish, the meat comes apart in large flakes, but juvenile pollock’s flesh is somewhat softer and less flaky. I still like it, though. Shore Fishing Anglers fishing from shore are relegated to taking smaller pollock, fish between 10 and 16 inches. On light and even medium spinning gear, they fight as well as any freshwater fish of a similar size. I used to fish for pollock with a 6-foot fly rod with an Edson Tiger Light bucktail on the terminal end. Mackerel and stripers also took this pretty yellow-and-green fly. It was great fun. The little outfit allowed pollock to run and fight to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, many anglers who take pollock as a bycatch while mackerel fishing don’t award them the courtesy they deserve. Hardly anyone bothers to take them home to fillet and cook. They don’t know what they are missing.

In the 1970s, the author took 25-pound pollock from the waters off Wooden Ball Island, and also from the harbor at Cutler in Washington County. Just imagine the battles these mammoth pollock provided! For those who want to fully appreciate these superb game fish of the sea, here are a few tips. First, pollock often stick around at full low tide, rather than going out with the tide and coming back in when the tide returns. Often, water around breakwaters and piers hold more pollock at low tide than at half-tide, when most other species bite best. Pollock will take bait as well as artificials. Mackerel jigs work, but Swedish Pimple jigs work better. Flashy, silver-colored spoons drive pollock wild, and everything from Mooselook Wobblers to Kastmasters take their share of pollock. One other artificial that few, if any, use may come as a surprise. I take most of my pollock on crappie jigs, the best among them being Crappie Magnets, made by Leland Lures, the same company that makes Trout Magnets. Fish these as if you were fishing for perch and crappies – cast out, let sink to bottom or near bottom, and retrieve by alternately lifting the rod and reeling. For those who may want to expand their pollock horizons, remember that island pollock generally run larger than those taken from the shoreline. So if the 10- to 12-inch pollock that swim near mainland floats don’t satisfy that need for larger fish, take a ferry to one of the islands and try your luck there. It goes without saying that you need to check ahead of time if recreational angling is allowed from town floats or wharfs before heading over. Ocean Pollock Pollock taken in the open ocean

rank among the sportiest fish around. Streamlined, fast and determined, a 10-pound pollock will rip line off the reel in rapid bursts. I liken a pollock’s fight to that of a bluefish. Both are powerful, fast and strong and neither give up, even after they are netted and brought aboard. In decades past, I used to take 25-pound pollock from the waters off Wooden Ball Island, and also from the harbor at Cutler, in Washington County. Just imagine the battles these mammoth pollock provided! But due to overharvesting by commercial interests, the average size of larger pollock steadily diminished from the glory days of the 1970s. While no one knows if the 20-to 30- pound individuals of 45 or so years ago will ever return, even 5- or 10-pound fish put up a remarkable account of themselves. So-called “deep-sea pollock” will bite on almost anything, including bait in the form of clams, squid and anything else that will stay on the hook. Cod jigs, those jumbo versions of the famed Diamond Jig used for mackerel, take pollock, too. I used to use a 1-pound, slightly curved, Norwegian jig to good effect. However, one jig, the Hopkins Spoon, stands out as a pollock slayer. These two-sided, pebbled-finish spoons do best when used as a jig. That is, let down to whatever depth fish are holding, and then work like a regular jig. Often, pollock will hit the spoon as it flutters down. No matter how you catch them, pollock are sure to please. www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

ATV Club Grants by Steve Carpenteri Many ATV riders and clubs are not aware that money is available to all Maine ATV clubs each year simply by registering with the ATV Program of the state’s Bureau of Parks and Lands. The money is designed to help defray ATV trail development

Maine ATV clubs will receive about $2.5 million in reimbursements for trail development and maintenance costs this year. Is your club one of them? If not, here’s how to start planning to get your fair share next year. and maintenance expenses. According to Bri-

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an Bronson, supervisor of Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program, ATV riding in Maine is just as popular as snowmobiling, with some 80,000 ATVs registered last year. “There was a little over $1.5 million budgeted available in 2020 for grants,” Bronson said, “while a total of $2 million was actu-

ally spent on ATV trail maintenance. If pending legislation passes, the expenditure those numbers will likely double within the next two to three years. “We have to provide a much higher level of road maintenance for landowners who are allowing us to use their property for trails,” Bronson added. “The increased ATV registration num-

bers combined with a fee increase two years ago is allowing us to budget for approximately $2.5 million in ATV grants this year (2021). “We have created new rules during the last few months to make the grants more accessible to clubs, with less required local match,” Bronson concluded, “so we can get more money on the ground more efficiently.” How to Apply All ATV groups planning to organize a local club must regis(Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 19

Summer is Your Go Time. Maine’s ATV clubs may apply for special grants designed to help defray the cost of creating, upgrading and maintaining trails on private land. Photos courtesy of Arctic Cat (Continued from page 18)

ter their club by June 1 each year, so start planning now for next year. Clubs must submit grant applications by July 1. January 30 is the last date to submit reimbursement requests for costs incurred the previous calendar year. Clubs must be incorporated and in good standing with the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions to receive a grant. Interested clubs may contact the Bureau of Parks and Lands, Off Road Recreational Vehicle Program at 6247752 or visit their website, where downloadable PDF documents may be found. If you have difficulty accessing PDF forms, call the ATV Program at (207) 287-4958. A completed grant application must be submitted to the ATV Program by July 1. Any application postmarked after that date will be denied for that season. Written or oral landowner permission is required for use of the land where the trail passes. Approved Costs Approved expenses for trail creation and maintenance include gas and oil, nails, bolts, equipment rentals and repairs, bridge and culvert materials,

and even labor, for approved trail projects. The Bureau does not reimburse clubs for capital equipment purchases (e.g., ATVs and trailers). However, a reasonable hourly rental fee or mileage rate can be charged. ATV trails have to meet certain guidelines, which are included in the material accompanying the application. If circumstances warrant, the Bureau can make exceptions, providing they do not detract from the safety and enjoyment of the user. Grant Approval Process A letter will be sent notifying the club of the disposition of the application. A copy of the approved application will accompany the approval letter plus the grant amount. The maximum any club can receive may change each year, based on available funding. Clubs should keep in mind that the grant is a reimbursement program. Local money must be spent before State money can be received. A completed reimbursement form must be submitted to the ATV Program. Clubs should send their requests for reimbursement in as soon as work is completed; however, reim(Continued on next page)

GET OUT THERE. See Your Local Polaris Dealer for Current Offers! JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com

TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road 207-729-1177 www.teamwoodys.com

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

GORHAM, NH MOMS Jericho 461 Main St. 603-466-5454 www.momsjericho.com

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 driver’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 don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2019 Polaris Industries Inc.

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

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

TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road • 207-729-1177 www.teamwoodys.com

Adventure Pro available on XT-R models only. Professional riders and drivers on closed courses. Side-by-Side (SxS) models are recommended for use only by operators 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Yamaha recommends that all Side-by-Side riders take an approved training course. For Side-by-Side safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ROHVA at 1-866-267-2751. Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding. Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Models shown with optional accessories. ©2020 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved • YamahaMotorsports.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 19)

bursement requests should not be submitted more often than monthly. All requests must be postmarked

on or before January 31 of the following calendar year. A club can receive reimbursement only

for out-of-pocket expenses relating to club trail construction and maintenance. Reimbursement cannot exceed the approved amount; however, the Bureau asks to be kept

informed of the club’s total expenses, to assist them with future program evaluation. Worksheets and copies of receipts should be submitted with the reimburse-

ment form. Clubs should retain copies for future inspection, should the need arise. Clubs may receive money if the reim(ATVing in Maine continued on page 23)

ATV Trail Fund Grows

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See Your Local Arctic Cat® ATV Dealer For Current Promotions! GORHAM White Rock Outboard 351 Sebago Lake Road 207-892-9606 www.whiterockoutboard.com

SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 www.kramersinc.com

LEBANON Northeast Motorsports 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 207-457-2225 www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com

BERLIN, NH Jericho Outdoors 232 Jericho Rd. 603-215-6002 www.jerichooutdoors.net

WARNING: Arctic Cat® vehicles can be hazardous to operate. For your safety, all riders should always wear a seat belt (Side-by-Sides), helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Arctic Cat recommends that all operators take a safety training course. For safety and training information, please see your dealer or call 1-800-887-2887 (ATVs) or visit www.ROHVA.org (Side-by-Sides). Arctic Cat vehicles are for operators age 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license, except the Alterra 90, which is intended for operators 10 years of age and older. ©2020 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. All rights reserved.

Much has changed in our state since the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands’ Off Road Recreational Vehicle Program began in 1999. At that time, 24 grant projects totaling 716 miles of trail improvements were approved, with a total state payout of $58,365, or roughly 70 percent of the actual cost of trail creation, improvements and maintenance. Fast forward to 2020, and the numbers are very impressive. Last year, 136 grant projects were approved, totaling 6,170 miles of trails. The state paid out nearly $1.3 million in grant funds. Brian Bronson, supervisor of the OffRoad Recreational Vehicle Program, attributed the program’s growth to more ATVs being registered, as well as a fee increase that went into effect in 2018. Bronson expects an impressive $2.5 million in reimbursements to be distributed to ATV clubs this year. For more information, interested ATV clubs may contact the Off Road Recreational Vehicle Program, Bureau of Parks and Lands, State House Station 22, Augusta, Me 04333-0022 or call Bronson at (207) 2874958.

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©2021 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Offers valid in the United States only from Saturday 1st May 2021 to Saturday 31st July 2021. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. † Rebate up to $1,750 on select Can-Am Defender models: Eligible units are all new and unused Can-Am Defender models, excluding all XMR packages and 2020 Defender PRO models. Qualifying buyers of eligible models will receive $1,000 rebate per Defender when purchasing two or more Defender models and up to $1,750 rebate per vehicle when purchasing six or more Defender models. See dealer for details †Rates as low as 3.99% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for 36 months. Examples of monthly payments required over a 36-month term at a 3.99% APR rate: $29.52 per $1,000 financed. An example of a monthly payment with $0 down, no rebate, an APR of 3.99% APR for 36 months at an MSRP of $9,999 is $295.17/mo. Total cost of borrowing $626.97 with a total repayment obligation of $10,625.97. Down payment may be required. Other financing offers may be available. Minimum and Maximum Amount Financed may vary. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply, depending on the participating financial institution(s). BRP is not responsible for any of the financing terms and conditions. Offer subject to change without notice. Financing promotions void where prohibited. See your BRP dealer for details. †Rates as low as 6.99% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for 60 months. Examples of monthly payments required over a 60-month term at a 6.99% APR rate: $19.80 per $1,000 financed. An example of a monthly payment with $0 down, no rebate, an APR of 6.99% APR for 60 months at an MSRP of $9,999 is $197.50/mo. Total cost of borrowing $1,877.70 with a total repayment obligation of $11,876.70. Down payment may be required. Other financing offers may be available. Minimum and Maximum Amount Financed may vary. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply, depending on the participating financial institution(s). BRP is not responsible for any of the financing terms and conditions. Offer subject to change without notice. Financing promotions void where prohibited. See your BRP dealer for details. † Eligible units are select new and unused 2020 and 2021 Can-Am Outlander 450 Base models purchased from a participating BRP dealer. Examples of monthly payments required over a 60 month term at a 6.99% APR rate: $17.78 per $1,000 financed. An example of a monthly payment with $642 down, no rebate, an APR of 6.99% APR for 60 months at an MSRP of $6,299 is $111.99/mo. Total cost of borrowing $1,062.33 with a total repayment obligation of $6,719.40. Down payment may be required. Other financing offers may be available. Minimum and Maximum Amount Financed may vary. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply, depending on the participating financial institution(s). BRP is not responsible for any of the financing terms and conditions. Offer subject to change without notice. Financing promotions void where prohibited. See your BRP dealer for details. BRP recommends that all ATV-SSV drivers take a training course. See your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATV and SSV can be hazardous to operate. Never carry passengers on any ATV-SSV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. All adult model Can-Am ATVs are Category G ATVs (General Use Models) intended for recreational and/or utility use by an operator age 16 or older. Carefully read the vehicle’s operator’s guide. Follow all instructional and safety material and observe applicable laws and regulations. ATV and SSV are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. For your safety, the operator and passenger(s) must wear a helmet, eye protection and applicable protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Always ride responsibly and safely. See your authorized BRP dealer for details and visit www.can-am.brp.com.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 21

Getting Back to Remote Camping Adventures The author had plans to retire from camping life and instead to enjoy comfortable lodges and sporting camps. But the pandemic changed all that, and it’s tough to find a place to stay while enjoying the solitude and quiet of Maine’s woods and ponds. So he’s decided to “adapt and overcome” by reverting back to his former camping ways. It used to be rather easy to load my truck up with fishing gear and head out to a nearby fishing location for a quiet day on the water. But things aren’t quiet anymore. Since the pandemic started, it seems folks have decided to gather in many of the places I used to find fairly quiet – even during the normally-peaceful midweek. The woods and waters are now filled with folks getting out of crowded cities, avoiding quarantines, social distance and mask rules. This is great for the economy – Maine can really use the boost at a time like this. It’s good to see people getting out more. I’m sure as soon as the pandemic scare settles down, these same folks will go back to the working world and things around here will get back to “normal.” For now, I’ll just pick up my gear and head farther back into more remote areas to find the peace and quiet that I desire. The only thing that might change will be a move from day trips to more overnight trips. Traveling back further into remote areas will

require camping overnight. Lodging Logistics In the recent past, if I planned on staying overnight somewhere, I’d usually opt for staying at a nice and comfortable camp or lodge of some sort. I hate cooking, so it is nice to wake up to a prepared meal before heading out to fish for the day. Likewise, it sure is convenient to come back to camp and have a meal waiting for you. Camps and lodges (even campgrounds) this year have been completely booked up. Most folks just planned on being under some kind of “emergency state” because of the pandemic, so they thoughtfully booked their vacations well ahead of time. So, to the woods I go. The tent and sleeping bag I thought I might use occasionally will now get a good workout this summer and fall. Fishing and hunting trips will definitely include camping in the woods ... with me cooking my own meals. I really don’t mind this ... I’ve been doing it for years. After retiring (semi-retired) a few years ago, I

thought I’d start hitting all of the lodges and camps, giving up the sleeping bag and tent life for the comfort and convenience of a fine lodge. Besides yard work and family life, all I really have to do is hunt and fish and then write about it. No more guiding or anything that resembles a nine-to-five occupation. Now, with the effects of this pandemic filling up all of the available lodging, I’ll have to adapt

Sleeping in a truck bed can be very comfortable, if you have the right gear. William Clunie photo

and overcome – revert back to my old camping ways. I will actually enjoy this push to go farther into the remote locations. Day trips always seem so rushed.

An overnight trip works out perfectly for what I do. If I can talk my wife and dog into coming along, I’ll be sure to bring the kayaks so they can paddle (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 21)

around while I’m out fishing. The “Roadhouse Screened Tarp” I got from Slumberjack (slumberjack.com) will finally get a real workout. Anyone considering a camping adventure would do well to check out their website and see the myriad items useful for staying comfortable in the woods. Years ago, they were famous for their unexciting, but tough, sleeping bags... now they have a huge

line-up of sturdy, wellbuilt gear for the outdoors. Landowner Permission To some, the above paragraphs might leave the impression that I simply drive off, willy-nilly, into the wooded sunset to locate a great camping site. Please be assured that I take all measures to do my camping within the bounds of the law. Contacting landowners before hit-

ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 20)

bursement request is submitted after the deadline. However, for each day the request is late, 10 percent of the approved amount, or 10 percent of the actual expenses, whichever is less, will be deducted. No reimbursements will be made 10 days after the deadline. Program officials will review sub-

www.MaineSportsman.com

ting the woods is essential to creating the perfect camping experience – I must enjoy a clear conscience to totally enjoy the peace and quiet while I’m out and about in the wild. I find it relatively easy to gain camping access most of the places I go. While some of the places I’ve camped have been well off the beaten path, a lot of them are at established campsites. I call them “established” only because someone maintains the sites and requires

some kind of paperwork or phone contact to acquire permission to camp there. In the other, more “wild” locations, I simply call the landowner and ask if it’s okay to park overnight on their property. I mention that I won’t be having any kind of campfire and that I’ll leave it cleaner than I found it. They usually have no problem at all with me sleeping in the bed of my truck or pitching a tent for the night. I spend a little time with a map to find

mitted expense reports for approval. If there are no problems, checks are normally issued within 20 working days. A check will be sent to the club president of record and mailed to the address on record with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands. Clubs should note that all trails funded by this program must be open to the public for ATV riding, and this

campsites with good water, lots of views, and awesome fishing. I think landowners who have someone call them to ask for access really appreciate the fact that I could probably camp on their land without permission anytime and no one would ever know... BUT, I took the time to consider and respect their ownership. And that’s what it’s all about – respect them, and they’ll respect your need to get out and enjoy the beauty of these wild locations.

includes non-member riders. Finally, a representative of the ATV Program will conduct periodic field inspections and audits to ensure that all program criteria have been met. For more information, contact Brian Bronson, State House Station 22, Augusta, Me 04333-0022, or call (207) 624-7752.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 23

Ten Steps to Better Baiting – Part 1 by Bill Graves Bear hunting over bait came late in life to me – I was almost 40 when I sat on a friend’s bait a few nights and took my first bruin with a black powder rifle. Over the next three years, I hunted in Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec. Enjoyment, thrills and success combined with a growing accumulation of knowledge, tactics, techniques and tricks, led me to start setting up my own bait sites. It’s 25 years later, and I’ve shot a lot of bear with handguns and crossbows, and I’ve accompanied dozens of friends hunting my stands. Each season I learn something new about Maine’s black ghosts. I’ve also assisted a bunch of folks – many of them rookies – as they set up their own bear bait using a ten-point check list I developed. Starting in this issue and finishing in the August issue, I offer these strategies to readers of The Maine Sportsman. Selecting a Site With Maine’s burgeoning bear population, it would be difficult to select an unproductive spot to set up a bait, especially in central and northern zones. But like real

The author reveals secret techniques for successful baiting, allowing hunters to attract more – and bigger – bear. estate for a successful business, the three most important factors are location, location, and location! Find a spot within a 30-minute drive of your home, and no more than five minutes from the nearest twotrack, farm or woods road. Remember – you need to lug bait every

day or two, and hopefully haul a big bruin out, so don’t set up too far in the woods. Find a spot that allows you to get to your stand without having to walk by the bait bucket. Steer clear of ATV trails, hiking trails, and regularly used woods roads as well as

avoiding camps, farm buildings, machine sheds and any other structures where people, vehicles and noise may interfere with fall hunts. Avoid other bait sites by at least a mile (a two-mile buf-

fer is even better), and if there’s some dark growth, a swamp, marsh or water source within half a mile, it’s a definite plus. Fairly thick brush and ground cover makes approaching bear feel more comfortable. Positioning the Bait Bucket Once a prime lo-

(Continued on next page)

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24 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Bear Hunting in Maine

(Continued from page 23)

cation is found, Step #2 is to decide where the bait container will be, and then the best spot for a ground blind or a tree to attach a stand overlooking the food supply. Prevalent wind direction, late afternoon shade and sun locations, and optimal shooting lanes without disturbing too much foliage, are factors worth of consideration. I prefer a ladder stand for comfort over long periods of sitting. In addition, elevated stands offer a “bird’s eye” view of approaching animals sneaking through bushy shrubs, leafy brush and tree limbs and trunks.

Select the right location, set up a good bait container, and utilize a strong attractant scent, and the bear will occasionally visit in pairs. Bill Graves photos

Most big game quarry don’t anticipate danger from above, and the height helps dissipate human scent. Finally, the leaves, limbs, fir bows and camo stand cover hide any slight motion by the hunter. Portable ground blinds offer protection from the elements, particularly rain, and hordes of black flies and mosquitoes, as well as shade on really warm, sunny days. They also help contain human scent – re-

gardless of scent-free clothes and sprays and lotions, some odor will always remain. And the camo walls and screens hide movement of the occupants from sharp-eyed game animals. The downsides of ground blinds include only low level, directional vision and shooting lane, material noise on windy days, and the occasional destruction disaster that meandering moose and nighttime nosey bear inflict on

Steve Hitchcock of Mars Hill blends into the tree limbs around his padded, comfortable tree stand, height and cover work in the hunter’s favor.

lightweight, tent-like structures. Bag, Bucket or Barrel? Element #3 is selecting and setting up a bait receptacle. Remember – it must be secured in place; it must be able to with-

stand abuse inflicted by many bruins for a full month; it must keep other pests from eating the food; and it must keep rain and debris off the food. The array of options for receptacles (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 25 (Continued from page 24)

and methods of set-up can be mind-boggling, but the tried-and-true 5-gallon pail or 55-gallon barrel top the list. If using a pail, wire the pail four feet high on a tree trunk, and hold the lid in place with a large rock that only a bear can reach and remove. Chain the big barrel to a tree, stand it on end and place rocks or several heavy pieces of wood on the cover so it’s accessible only by a powerful bruin. I run a 20-foot 3/8inch cable between two 8-inch thick trees, and I use two eye bolts to horizontally suspend a 35-gallon plastic barrel with one end removed. I adjust the height so only larger bear can reach the food, and also so I can judge the animal’s size as it stands to eat. A suspended container saves food from small bear and scavengers as well as keeping it dry and fresh. A friend reuses plastic grocery store

bags as single use bait containers,-He suspends a rope over a tree limb with a snap hook suspended five feet above the ground. A gallon or two of food is placed in the bag at home, and the top tied closed for transportation, keeping the vehicle food and odor free. Once on site, the new bag is clipped in place and the old one removed. Bear learn very quickly that a quick slash with sharp claws spills lunch right at their feet. Hanging bags keep food dry and fresh, allow hunters to control amount disbursed, and it takes seconds to replace the ripped bag with a fresh one. Scents Make Sense Step #4 to establishing an active bait site visited regularly by multiple bear is the use of attractant scents to hurry along the discovery of the location. The smell of the food used for bait will eventually entice visits, but a strong wind-born aroma of a favorite flavor, such

as honey, blueberries or bacon, will speed things along. You can go old school and purchase a bottle of anise at the local pharmacy or sports shop, then sprinkle drops on the trees and leaves around the bait site, and let the breeze do the rest. A honey burn is another oldie but goody – pour a jar of honey in an old frying pan and use a Coleman stove or a can of Sterno to heat it until it burns and smokes. The thick, sweet, pungent fog of honey will waft through the trees around the bait site, sticking to the foliage and lasting for weeks. Every time the wind blows, the scent will drift for miles and draw bear to investigate, after which they will find the bait barrel. Many commercial companies offer hundreds of ready-made aromatic mixtures in sprays, concentrates, pastes, stick rubs, blocks, balls and incense sticks with doz-

Writer Bill Graves poses with one of his first bear taken with a black powder gun during a spring hunt in New Brunswick, just 30 minutes from his home in Maine.

ens of attractant aromas. They will all help entice bear to your location, and even have the added feature of covering some human scent. Northwoods Bear Products offers Gold Rush concentration to add to fryer grease, and Gold Mist Spray – this combo is like a bear magnet. Bear Scents, LLC, another Wisconsin aroma factory, produces a bacon scented bait ball that lasts the full two months of baiting and

Quotable

Sportsman

“In Maine, interest in RVs spiked 132% during the pandemic.” – Analysis by consumer lending company LendingTree, based on borrower inquiry forms and loan applications. —

by Will Lund

“Man, did I ever get into the middle of a hex hatch the other night on the pond,” the excited angler said to the fly shop owner. “Really?” the owner said, with a knitted brow. “Did you see any Ephemera?” “Good Gawd, yes,” the fisherman replied. “There were women fly anglers all over the place.” – From a draft of “Fly Fishing the Hex Hatch,” an upcoming book by Leighton Wass, all about Hexagenia limbata. The author explains that Hex flies belong to a large classification (order) of mayflies called Ephemeroptera, which are grouped together because they all share very short life spans.

hunting. These two companies’ products have been my surefire hanging scent attractors for years. So there are the first four major considerations when setting up a bear baiting site. Join me next month for Part 2 – the final half-dozen preparation steps that will increase your chances, not only for a successful hunt, but also to bag a trophy bruin this season.

“While fish may not always want a full meal, they’ll rarely turn down a potato chip.” – From an article in Fishing Wire titled “Mini Lures for Maxi-Fish,” espousing the belief that “tiny lures promise a lot of action on everything from bluegills to largemouths and rainbows to brown trout.” — “Don’t sleep in the same clothes you cooked in.” – From “Tips for Avoiding Bears,” from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands newsletter

“What’s the difference between a developer and an environmentalist? Well, a developer wants to build houses in the woods, while an environmentalist already has a house in the woods.” – A Gardiner, Maine real estate lawyer www.MaineSportsman.com

26 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Best Recreational Saltwater Fishing Boats for Maine by Ron Dupuis • fish_doc12@comcast.net There are many types of recreational fishing boats used in Maine’s saltwater. Depending on the type of fishing you are doing, or the creature comforts you are looking for, there is a boat type to meet your needs.

Spend time at the mouth of a tidal river or on Casco Bay on a weekend day, and you will see a wide variety of boats. Some are designed strictly for functionality, where others offer additional comforts for those who

can afford them. Here are my impressions of different styles of saltwater fishing boats, based on years of fishing and guiding. Center Consoles I have owned and operated several cen-

Visit Your Local Honda Marine Dealer for Details! ELLSWORTH Pirie Marine 53 Sunset Park Road (207) 664-0500 www.piriemarine.com

MACHIAS Whitney’s Tri-Town Marine 29 Dublin Street (207) 255-3392 www.tritownmarine.com

PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 100 W. Commercial Street (207) 774-1067 www.portlandyacht.com

LEWISTON Al’s Sport Center 1818 Lisbon Road (207) 784-75910 www.alssportcenter.com

MANCHESTER Clark Marine 57 Puddledock Road (207) 622-7011 www.clarkmarinemaine.com

STANDISH Richardson’s Boat Yard 633 White’s Bridge Road (207) 892-4913 www.richardsonsby.com

*At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive instant savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2016 and newer models, sold and delivered between April 1, 2021 and July 4, 2021 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice. ** Offer good on new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2016 and newer models, sold and delivered between April 1 and July 4, 2021. At participating dealers only. Register your new marine engine after purchase and receive an additional one year to the Honda 5-Year Warranty. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY: Failure to register your product will not diminish your warranty rights. Go to marine.honda.com to see warranty details and register your Honda Marine outboard. ***Registration card must be post marked by July 4, 2021.

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ter consoles boats, ranging in length from 16 to 23 feet. This type of boat is very versatile for the bays and tidal rivers. They are typically 18 to 26 feet, but some of the newest and largest models can run as long as 40 feet.

The larger models are suitable for both inshore and offshore excursions. The advantages of center consoles include their flexibility to fish inshore and offshore as well as their (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 27 (Continued from page 26)

“fishability.” These boats can be fished from the front, back, and sides, and an angler can follow an active fish by walking the inner perimeter of the boat. Also, if you are running charters with a center console, they are lighter weight and therefore cheaper to run compared to larger boats.

Center console model. Photo: Boston Whaler

The disadvantages of the center consoles are unless they have a T-top, the exposure to sun can make for a long day on the water, and they offer little protection from the elements. On smaller models, a marine head or even a porta-potty may not be available on the boat. This could pose problems for your clients, especially if you have an inshore trip with kids. Cuddy Cabins Typical cuddy cabin hulls run between 18 and 32 feet, and are used for inshore and offshore fishing. They provide small sleeping quarters, as well as limited galleys. They normally include heads, which provide comfort for crew and clients during longer trips. I currently own and operate a 25-foot cuddy cabin boat. A cuddy cabin can provide shade and the ability to get out of the elements. People on the boat can make their way into the cab-

in to take a quick nap, get out of the weather, or make lunch in the small kitchen area.

for gear and supplies provide comfort on extended trips. Fishing is generally confined to the

stern of the boat, but that stern portion is wide and spacious. The biggest drawback for many anglers and

guides is the cost – all this technology, comfort and room comes at a price. (Continued on next page)

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Cuddys offer small enclosures or cabins, allowing customers or guests to get out of the elements. Photo: Albemarle Boats

However, they provide less flexibility than center consoles. Since they are designed for deeper water, they are not as easy to handle in sandbar or shoal areas. And unless the cuddy is a walk-around style, fishing can be restricted to the stern of the boat.

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Flybridge Sportfishing These are comfortable vessels designed for extended offshore fishing trips. They are typically 30 feet or more in length, providing stability in the rougher waters often encountered offshore.

Flybridge fishing boats provide an elevated helm station, allowing the captain to spot fish in the surface. Photo: Bertram Yachts

The advantages of these boats are they are generally the goto boats for serious big game fishing boats for tuna and shark here off the Maine coast. Comfort is unmatched, with larger galleys and berth space for crew and passengers. Air conditioning, showers, and available space

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28 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Boating in Maine

waters, they can be propelled by poling or electric motors. There is very little engine noise to scare fish.

(Continued from page 27)

Flats Boats and Skiffs I have used flats boats in the bays of North Carolina and in the Keys, and I really love fishing on these boats. The design allows for fishing in skinny water. In fact, some areas that would have been normally looked at as “wadable”

can be accessed by this style boat. Here in Maine, these are great to use for sneaking up on large stripers in shallow water, fishing either flies or lures. These boats are normally in the 15- to 19-foot range. They are very quiet, and when you’re in shallow

One of the drawbacks to this type of boat in Maine is that because of their small size and light weight, they are very sensitive to weather conditions. Also, anglers are in the sun, and storage space for clothes and tackle is limited. The sun blockage and exposure to the weather is like center console boats and gear storage for additional tackle

Flats boats and skiffs are ideal for quiet approaches in shallow water. Photo: Maverick Boat Co. Inc.

and clothing can be limited. However, I am seeing more and more skiffs and flats boats in protected areas and near tidal flats along the Maine coast. Pilothouse Pilothouse boats offer a more spacious protected area than a cuddy. The ability of get out of the weather, space for a head, and gear storage capacity (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 29 (Continued from page 28)

are all advantages for this type of boat. Pilothouse vessels

Pilot house boats are rugged and made to take a pounding while providing shelter for captain and crew. Photo: Osprey Boats

provide large spaces in the stern for comfortable fishing. The ride of this type of boat can be a little rougher than some other boats because the weight of the pilothouse is located toward the front of the vessel. However, these boats are rugged and well-suited for bay and offshore fishing.

What Kind of Fish is THAT?

Invasive Rock Bass Found in the Androscoggin Eleven year old Zane Perreault of Lewiston was fishing in the Lower Androscoggin on May 16, 2021 when a feisty fish grabbed his 3-inch white shad lure. “It fought like a smallmouth,” reported his Dad, Randy Perreault. “It even came out of the water like a bass.” Variously called a rock bass or a rock perch, the fish is an invasive species that was first noticed here in 2020. The population appears to be growing. “Yep, it’s a rock bass,” confirmed Wes Ashe, a state fisheries biologist. “They’re pretty prolific in lower sections of the Androscoggin River. The good news, if there is any, is that they are very susceptible to angling, and they don’t get overly large – maxing out around 10 -12 inches. They are actually a member of the sunfish family – their fins look almost crappie-like – so they’re not a bass at all.” Other young anglers have discovered rock bass fishing in the same area – see, for example, a thoughtful YouTube video at http://bit. ly/ZaneRockBass. Anglers are generally not returning the invasive fish to the water, given that they are in direct competition with existing species.

Zane and his Androscoggin River rock bass

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: American “Harbor” Pollock by Steve Vose

The American “Harbor” Pollock (Pollachius virens) inhabits the cool continental waters on both sides of the North Atlantic, spanning from Nova Scotia to Chesapeake Bay and throughout the North Sea, English Channel, and even into the Bay of Biscay. In the Gulf of Maine, fishermen catch large numbers of pollock to be used both for bait and for human consumption. Pollock meat has a sweet, mild taste reminiscent of haddock, thus making it a favorite among cooks and diners. Pollock possess plump bodies, pointed noses, projected lower jaws, forked tails, and a handsome greenish hue Questions

1. What is the primary habitat of the pollock? 2. Are pollock a game species pursued by fishermen for food? 3. What are the distinguishing features of a pollock?

that fades to smoky gray on each side below the lateral line. In the open ocean, pollock routinely grow to a length of 2-1/2 feet and a weight of 20 pounds, with some individuals reaching mammoth proportions in excess of 40 pounds. Immature pollock inhabit the shallow, more sheltered areas around docks, piers and other natural and manmade 4. What is the average length and weight of a pollock inhabiting the open ocean? 5. How big do “harbor” pollock tend to grow? 6. Which do pollock tend to use more when hunting for food, their sense of

structures to escape predators. These juveniles rarely exceed 10 inches, and tend to stay in the confined habitat of Maine’s harbors till they are large enough to survive the rigors of the open ocean. Pollock tend to use their keen sight rather than scent to capture their prey, and fishermen target pollock with shiny silver lures to capitalize on this fact. Pollock feed chiefly on shrimp and small fish, such as cod, haddock and halibut. They are voracious feeders, as demonstrated by the fact that a biologist once examined a nine-inch pollock and found that its stomach contained seventy-seven herring averaging 2-1/2 inches long! sight, or their sense of smell? 7. What do pollock mostly feed on? 8. How many 2-1/2 inch long herring were once found in the stomach of a nine-inch long pollock?

Answers on Page 31 www.MaineSportsman.com

30 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Seaworms Deadly on Schoolie Stripers If I had to pick just one bait for schoolie striped bass here in Maine that can be fished along the shorelines and in the rivers, my choice – hands down – would be the ubiquitous sandworm. The closely-related bloodworm works very well too, but I prefer “sands.” Sandworms (also called seaworms) have been used with success since the Pilgrims first tossed baited hand lines into the sea nearly 400 years ago. Worms are a natural part of a striper’s diet, are loaded with nutrients, and are effective whether trolled, drifted, still-fished on the bottom, or set back in a current. They give off a scent that bass can pick up from yards away, and when a fish hits a worm, it’s lights out – there’s rarely much nibbling or pecking foreplay. Bang, you’re on! Drifting worms along the bottom in ten to 30 feet of water

Bait your hook with a couple of fat seaworms, instructs the author. Then lower the rig to the bottom as you drift along with the current, and wait for the fireworks to start!

Seaworms and schoolies bring smiles! This double-header was taken just a few feet from shore, on light spinning tackle. Barry Gibson photo

is a time-honored technique. River waters are ideal for this, and both the incoming and outgoing tide can be productive. My go-to schoolie rig for river drifting is a spinning outfit with 12-pound mono. I slide a two-ounce egg sinker

on the line, and then tie on a snap-swivel. To the snap I’ll attach a 24” length of 25-pound fluorocarbon leader via a surgeon’s loop. At the business end of the leader, I snell on a 5/0 octopus in-line circle hook. The technique is sim-

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ple – pin a couple of fat seaworms by their collars, then again through their mid-sections, and lower the baited rig to the bottom beneath the boat as it moves along with the current. Bring it up a crank or two, and wait for the fireworks

to start. You’ll need to continually drop the rig to the bottom and reel up as the depth increases, or reel in if your line starts angling out, which indicates you’re dragging on bottom as the water becomes shallower. I seem to get the best results when my line is straight down under the boat. Anchoring Tactic Anchoring in tidal current in a river, in four to eight feet of water, is another good strategy. Rigging is simple – slide a oneeighth to one-quarter ounce bullet weight on your line, and then tie on a 5/0 circle hook. Hook a couple of sandworms once through their collars, and let the rig back about 50 feet in the current. The bullet weight will keep the bait down below the surface, and the worms will undulate enticingly. I dead-stick my (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 31 (Continued from page 30)

rods, with the reel drags set, in rod holders. When a bass hits, the rod will bow over sharply, and you’ll be hooked up. It’s a great technique, and as they say, “It ain’t rocket surgery.” Bobbering Bass As in fresh water, you can’t get much more fundamental than a worm fished under a bobber. A couple of seaworms impaled on a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook, and an adjustable plastic bobber or foam float attached three or four feet above, make up this simple rig. Again, this tactic is best deployed where there’s some tidal current, either in a river, or where a bay or estuary empties out through a narrow cut. I like to anchor up 40 feet or so from the shoreline in six feet of water, and cast the rig up-current and within a few feet of the shore. Let it drift down below you, and keep paying out line until the float is about 75 feet away. Then, reel in and re-cast. Sooner or later, the float is going to suddenly disappear, and you’ll get that same feeling you got 50 years ago when that bluegill in the pond pulled your little red-and-white plastic bobber under. Only this time, there will likely be a 25-inch striper on the end of the line! Make Worms Happy Seaworms are expensive – $7 to $10 a dozen is not uncommon today at tackle shops – so you need to take good care of them. I use a Tupperware-type food-storage

container and drill a few air holes in the lid, then line the bottom with about six layers of black-and-white newspaper. When I buy or dig my worms, I place them in the container on top of the newspaper, and add a good dollop of damp seaweed over them. I place the container in the refrigerator (I had to get written per-

mission first), and the worms seem to make out fine, providing I change the newspaper every day or so. If you do it right, several dozen worms will stay nice and lively for up to six days. Seaworms – you can’t beat ’em for schoolie stripers!

Charter boat Shark Six crewman Larry Grimard assists Cindy Raasch of Florida with a photo-op of a nice schoolie bass she took on a seaworm in the Kennebec River. Barry Gibson photo

Wildlife Quiz Answers: American “Harbor” Pollock (Quiz on Page 29)

1. The pollock prefers to inhabit the cool continental waters on both sides of the North Atlantic, spanning from Nova Scotia to Chesapeake Bay and throughout the North Sea, English Channel, and even into the Bay of Biscay. 2. Yes, pollock meat has a sweet, mild fish taste reminiscent of haddock, thus making it a favorite among cooks and diners. 3. Pollock possess plump bod-

ies, pointed noses, projected lower jaws, forked tails, and a handsome greenish hue that fades to smoky gray on each side below the lateral line. 4. In the open ocean, pollock routinely grow to 2-1/2 feet in length, and a weight of 20 pounds. 5. Harbor pollock rarely exceed 10 inches. They tend to stay in the more confined habitat of Maine’s harbors until they reach a size where that allows

them to survive the rigors of the open ocean. 6. When hunting for food, pollock tend to rely more on their sense of sight than their sense of smell. 7. Pollock feed chiefly on shrimp and small fish, such as cod, haddock and halibut. 8. Seventy-seven 2-1/2 inch long herring were once found in the stomach of a nine-inch long pollock.

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32 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Planning Your Moose Hunt by Steve Carpenteri

Was your name selected in the moose lottery? If so, whether you hire a guide or plan a do-it-yourself hunt, prepare for the adventure of your life. Here’s what you need to know to make your six-day season a success. Some 4,30 hunters were selected in June to pursue Maine’s premier big-game animal, giving lucky permittees about three months to prepare for their hunt. Finding a Guide Some hunters will prefer to hire a Maine guide. This is a good choice for those who have never hunted moose or who may not have all the gear, know-how and experience to find and handle these largest species of deer, some of which can weigh over 1,000 pounds. The most competent moose guides will provide accommodations, meals, and transportation. They will offer realis-

tic expectations of seeing a moose, and for the successful hunter they will prepare the animal for trophy mounting and meat processing. Guides can also provide entertainment, telling great stories about skilled hunters, and also unskilled outdoorsmen and the mistakes they make. Topping the list is failing to load their rifles as the hunter jumps out of the truck. Second is missing a 1,000-pound bull moose at 30 yards – repeatedly! Third is talking too loudly or moving too quickly when approaching a moose that is in thick cover or moving through a clear-cut.

Black Bears & Bulls

Don’t end up as a guide’s story. Follow your guide’s instructions, and be ready to do your part when that big cow or bull provides an opportunity for a shot. To find a moose guide, simply log onto www.maineguides. org, where a complete listing of registered Maine guides may be found. Do-It-Yourself Hunts Hunters who plan a do-it-yourself adventure should be equipped and prepared for camping, scouting, trouble-shooting and processing their animal. Sighting in your firearm is a manda-

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Hunters enjoy both comfort and success when they stay at a deep-woods camp or lodge during their moose hunt. All photos by Steve Carpenteri

tory basic. Though moose are Maine’s biggest game animal, there is a lot of room around them, and even a 1,000-pound bull can be a mere speck at 400 yards across an open clear-cut. For best results get closer. And closer. And closer. Lottery-drawn moose hunts last for six days (Monday through Saturday), so hunters should be prepared to eat, drink and rest by bringing their own supplies and gear, or by staying at a convenient camp or lodge in the area they’ve been selected to hunt. They should be ready to use ATVs, trucks and trailers to recover their moose. Some lodges will provide recovery and meat-handling services (for an extra fee). All of these logistics should be worked out and accounted for prior to the trip. Techniques for moose hunting include:

• Calling; • S t i l l - h u n t i n g through moose feeding areas; • Stand hunting in clear-cuts; and • Riding the roads at a slow pace, in hopes that a moose will appear near or in the road. Expect to put on hundreds of miles when using the latter tactic – which means bringing spare fuel. Even though most moose are shot early in the morning or late in the afternoon, hunters are advised to spend every possible minute of daylight in the field, because these animals are unpredictable, particularly in early fall when the rut is on. Hunt all day every day from dawn till dark. Moose are abundant in Maine, but they are not behind every tree. This is, after all, a hunt! (Moose Hunting continued on page 35)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 33

Hunt Where the Big Woods Bucks Travel by Hal Blood Most deer hunters spend their time in the open hardwoods or around cuts where the visibility is good. If they are a sitter, they usually look for a knob in a hardwood ridge where they have a commanding view of the area. There may not be any sign of deer traveling through the area, but it “looks good.” Picking a random place like that to take a stand is leaving a lot to chance and luck. If you are going to sit on a hardwood ridge, at least scout around and look for a saddle that goes over the ridge. That is where deer will get funneled through. It might only be a 100yard stretch, but it will up your odds of seeing a traveling buck. An even better place to sit or stillhunt is in the transition zone where the softwood meets the hardwoods. Bucks, especially the older mature bucks, travel most of the time where there is cover. Sure, bucks might be seen about anywhere when the rut is on, but in their everyday travel most of the year, it is the transition zones where they travel the most. The 90-10 Rule The 90-10 rule means that ordinarily, a buck uses only about 10 percent of his home territory. For example, if an old buck has a 10 square mile home range, he spends most of his time in about

The author believes big bucks spend 90 percent of their time in only 10 percent of their home range. Find that 10 percent, he says, by learning to look for signposts indicating heavy deer usage. Then spend 90 percent of your time in those areas, whether you’re still-hunting or on stand.

A signpost rub. Hal Blood photos

one square mile of it. Now, that one square mile is broken down into travel corridors, green bluffs, and lowlands such as cedar swamps or wet areas. The other 90 percent is used very little, at least until a buck goes cruising for does during the rut. Most hunters spend the majority of their time hunting the 90 percent areas, because those are the places with the best visibility and are the easiest to get around in. This way of hunting is totally opposite of the way they should be hunting. Here’s a better 90-10 rule – I spend 90 percent of my time in the woods

How a signpost rub is made.

in the 10 percent areas where bucks spend most of their time, and 10 percent of my time in the 90 percent area where bucks spend very little time. That 10 percent of my time is usually moving fast through the area to get to another 10 percent area.

bucks travel. Signpost areas are the best 10 percent of a buck’s real estate. That is where bucks communicate with each other as well

as with does. You will find signpost rubs in the wet areas, which often coincide with the transition zones. Signpost rubs are a great place to sit, as it is where different buck’s territories overlap. On trail cameras, I’ve seen 5 or 6 different bucks show up at the same signpost rub over the course of a season. Put your time in sitting at a signpost rub and you’ll up your odds of shooting a buck. When there is bare ground, I like to still hunt from signpost areas to signpost area in the transition zones. If you are going to hunt, I recommend you up your odds by doing it where a buck is most likely to travel. When I head into the woods on snow to pick up a track, I go right to – you guessed (Big Woods World continued on page 35)

The 10 Percent The only way to find the 10 percent areas is to scout. Whether it’s spring scouting, pre-season scouting or just scouting as you hunt, it is the only way to identify where the bucks travel. Anyone who has followed me over the years knows I believe that signpost rubs are the key to unlocking the secrets to where www.MaineSportsman.com

34 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Ready to Join the Maine Trail Camera Gang The trail cameras are linked together electronically. Even in thick cover, each will communicate a quarter mile to the next one. With my nine cameras at quarter mile increments, the cameras can extend over two miles. That will cover the farm well enough for me to know exactly what the big bucks look like, when they move and where they go. When I was younger, scouting and walking deer trails was the only way to know if deer were using an area regularly. Looking at the tracks the animals left behind was the only way to remotely know how long ago a trail had been used. If we saw multiple sets of fresh and old tracks, that was a good indicator the trail was being used regularly. Unfortunately, we had no way of knowing if the use was during the day or night. Track size was a possible indicator of a good buck; howev-

er, big doe tracks and those of younger bucks were close to the same size. Back in the day, it seems we had to work harder than hunters today to shoot a great buck. I’m ready to embrace the technology, but times have certainly changed. If you’re older than 50, and been deer hunting the last 40 years, the changes witnessed are not only impressive – in some cases, they’re downright spectacular. I remember stringing sewing thread across trails on hard ground back in the

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early 1980s, to get an idea of the direction deer were traveling. By the late 80s, we had timers set up with the same sewing thread. A deer would walk by and pull the thread to stop the timer, and we’d know what time of day that deer walked by. In the mid-late 90s, I saw my first trail camera. It literally used film, and seems so antiquated now. By 2000, digital trail cameras were coming on the market, and since then the quality has only gotten better, with some coming in with 20 megapixels or more. Sharp, crisp photos and fewer grainy images sure do make for better viewing and planning.

Technology Comes Through Again! Today, cellular trail cameras are all the rage. No more needing to check cameras too often, and no more temptation to check them too soon. Pictures are sent in almost real time to your cell phone. Unfortunately, terrible cell reception on the farm I hunt, combined with high costs, had kept me from purchasing. Last month I purchased a new set of Cuddeback, CuddeLink Trail cameras. A nine-camera system like the one I purchased sells for between $1,500 and $2,000. This month, I’ll be setting them out. As I mentioned, the farm I hunt primarily has very poor cellular reception. Unlike many of the cellular trail cameras on the market today, the CuddeLink system depends only on the “Mother Camera” or “Home Camera” to

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get cell reception. All the rest of the cameras link to this camera and each other. The remote cameras need to remain in contact with each other. In a dense Maine forest, they can be a quarter mile to a half-mile from each other and still function well. In open spaces, they can link up to one mile from each other. Do the math. With nine cameras at quarter mile increments, the cameras can extend over two miles, covering a significant amount of property. With half-mile increments, that extends to over four miles from the home camera to the final remote camera. That’s a whole lot of deer range! Strategically Placed Cameras are Key to Success The farm I hunt 80% of the time covers approximately 400 acres. Placing nine cameras on it should provide ample coverage, an indepth knowledge of (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 35 (Continued from page 34)

deer movement, and a good idea of the quality of bucks in the immediate area. All of this should assist me in formulating a plan of attack for the fall. However, it’s important to set cameras up strategically to gain this knowledge. Food, water and shelter are a deer’s only necessities for survival. Knowing this, I’ll certainly target edges of known bedding areas, feeding areas and watering holes on the farm. In fact, during drought, finding the right wa-

tering hole can lead to amazing action and photos. In 2016, this deep spot on a local stream contained the only water for miles. Even last year as water levels dropped, this spot attracted large numbers of deer and other animals on a daily basis. The CuddeLink cameras also have a “primetime” mode which can be configured to take photos at more rapid intervals, early in the morning and later in the evening. This is set up to take advantage of a deer’s desire to feed in a field during this time

of day. Honestly, I’m still learning about all the bells and whistles these cameras have. I’ll be researching and making adjustments as I go. My goal is to cover the farm well enough to know exactly what the local population looks like, when they move and where they move. Good news is, if nine cameras doesn’t provide enough coverage, there’s an option to add up to six more. That oughta do it! Stay tuned for more ... pictures, that is!

Even in an area with poor cell coverage, as long as the hunter can position the “mother” camera (the largest one) so it receives a signal, that central unit will create an electronic network by connecting with all the other cameras. Photo: Cuddeback.com

Moose Hunting (Continued from page 32)

Tips for Success If another hunter is in your “secret” spot, simply move on. Maine’s moose are common and numerous in the hunting zones, and one may well step into view right around the corner. Give other permittees room to hunt, as well. Decide before the hunt what kind of moose you want or are allowed to take (cow or bull, adult or calf), and be prepared to shoot when your chosen target appears. It may be advisable to hold out for a larger animal by passing up smaller specimens or first-day moose, but keep in mind that the only moose you see may be the one you just passed up. The success rate on Maine’s moose has routinely been in the 80-percent range, but so far no hunt has generated 100-percent success. The harder you hunt, the greater your chances for a kill. Come prepared to take lots of quality pictures of your moose. Tuck the moose’s tongue back into its mouth. Squat behind the animal to make it look even bigger. Be sure the photographer has the sun at his or her back, and use the camera’s “fill flash” feature

Big Woods World (Continued from page 33)

it – the 10 percent areas. I may cut through a saddle in a ridge to get into the transition zone. Then I check all the signpost rubs that I know of in the areas. That is why I go very few days when I don’t find the big toe-dragger

It takes a lot of gear, know-how and manpower to handle a Maine moose after the shot.

to eliminate shadows. Most guides recommend aiming for the spot about one foot below the large shoulder hump. This will drop the animal in its tracks by severing the spine and breaking the shoulder. In most cases the typical heart-lung shot will kill the animal eventually, but some tracking and hard work are likely to follow. Finally, be respectful of the animal when taking pictures or video for posting on social media. You have just track that I’m looking for. Up Your Game If you spend time scouting and hunting for that 10 percent area in the woods you hunt, I guarantee you’ll up your hunting game and success. You can find the wet areas, saddles in ridges and other likely areas on a topo map,

A guide comes in handy for doing the difficult field-dressing work after a successful hunt.

killed one of the most regal animals on earth. Honor the animal when photographing your trophy. Avoid humorous, degrading or discourteous poses or depictions of the hunt. Remember, your actions reflect on every one of us. With all of this in mind, GOOD LUCK!

but until you get in the woods, you will not know where the green growth and transition zones are. Finally, I estimate that 10 percent of the hunters kill 90 percent of the bucks each year. Play the odds, and you’ll up your game!

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36 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

2020-2021 Youth Writing Contest Co-Winner Junior Category – Maine (Grades 6–8)

Fishing with My Grampy and His Friend John by Gabe Torberg, Grade 6, Massabesic Middle School So one day I was at my grandparent’s house and my Grampy said, “Do you want to go fishing?” I said, “Heck, YES!” Then we packed up, grabbed our bathing suits, hopped in the truck, and we headed off to my Aunt Beth’s. She had a motorboat that she let us use. We picked up my grandfather’s friend John and we went fishing! We trolled around and then REEEEEEEE!!! OH, I GOT ONE!! I started pulling and reeling. I saw it was a pickerel. I got it into the boat, and it was all bloody. One of the gills was injured. We let the thing go, and then we saw a bigger pickerel eat the smaller one! Then we saw a huge swarm of eagles and it was so cool! Then we had lunch – my Grammy had packed us sandwiches, and they were some good turkey sandwiches! She also packed us S’mores cookies. I ate all of the cookies! My Grampy said, “GABE – YOU ATE ALL OF THE COOKIES! I said, “YES, I am so sorry, but they are cookies!” We started fishing again, and my Grampy’s friend hucked his line into a tree and it got caught. He had some vulgar language www.MaineSportsman.com

Life is clearly an adventure for this young angler, and he reacts to every interaction with nature, with family and with friends, by displaying an unflagging enthusiasm and an enviably-optimistic spirit.

The author, Gabe Torberg, is clearly the happiest fisherman of all time.

(p.s. do not swear at home, kids – you will get into a lot of trouble). Then…. REEEEE!

I GOT ANOTHER ONE!!!! I kept reeling and reeling and reeling. I caught a huge bass! It had my lure

into its throat. It was a very sad moment, the fish died and that was sad, but that is how life works. You just got

to move on from when something has died. I was so proud of myself for how I handled it. Then I saw something in the water, and it was … an OTTER! “GRAMPY! GRAMPY!” He took a picture of it on his phone. That was cool! Then Grampy’s pole went REEEEE! REEEE! “Go Grampy! WOOOOO!” He caught a tiny perch. It was so funny because it was a huge fight for him! John and I were laughing so hard. John kept casting and he kept losing lures in trees. It was so annoying. Grampy and I whispered “Why, Grampy, why? Why did you bring him along?” We had some diet coke! My Mumma would not approve, but that’s part of the fun of Grampy’s! We drove the boat back to Aunt Beth’s and we went swimming at the dock. It was cool because I got a tiny minnow with my hand. I fished for sunfish. It was epic and it was so much fun! Aunt Beth had a rope swing, and that was so much fun, too. We headed home and we told my Grammy everything. She couldn’t believe I ate all the cookies! It was a cool experience to go on an adventure.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 37

2020-2021 Youth Writing Contest Co-Winner Junior Category – Maine (Grades 6–8)

The Nine-Point Buck by Colby Sughrue, Grade 7, Thornton Academy Middle School It all began when my dad and I woke up at 5 a.m. to eat our breakfast. We were heading out early to hunt the monster whitetail buck we had been tracking all season. We’d been watching this deer for three years. We got settled down at the base of the tree in the nearby woods. We were able to see down a hill and into the trees below. We patiently waited. All of a sudden, “CCCHHH.” At first I thought the blowing sound was a bird of some sort, but Dad whispered it was a massive deer coming into our area. The deer started to circle around us, trying to catch our scent. Luckily, we had previously drenched ourselves in Scent Killer Gold. The buck blew about fifteen more times, and walked away out of sight. We called back, to draw in the deer for a clean shot. Just when we thought the deer was gone, we heard crashing coming up the hill to our left. We got our rifles up and ready, and then there he was! The biggest buck we had ever seen! I remember seeing the massive main beam on his rack come through the pines at the top of the hill. My dad pulled up his gun and took a

The author and his Dad headed out early in the morning in pursuit of a wide-antlered buck they’d been keeping track of for three years.

The author, Colby Sughrue, age 13, with his father Pat and the 9-point buck.

shot. BAM!!! Leaves went flying into the air, trailing behind the bullet that had just been shot. The deer didn’t seem affected, and was hiding behind a tree.

Then the deer took another step, BOOM!!! It was all in slow motion. The deer started off in a sprint, with blood spraying out the side. My dad was in disbelief, hoping he’d hit

the big-bodied animal in the engine room where it counted. We waited for thirty minutes so the deer would bed down and bleed out. Those thirty minutes were the lon-

gest thirty minutes of my life. After the shot, I had watched the whitetail to see where it went, so we could track easier. We walked down the blood trail slowly, and sure enough, there was the insanely wide nine point we had been after all season. Dad and I couldn’t believe what we were seeing. It was hard to maneuver the deer to a perfect spot to make an incision and gut the deer. We did eventually though, and finished field dressing the mythical creature. After storytelling with family, we brought the deer to Laflammes to get it weighed, measured and butchered. On the way, we put our tailgate down so people could see the deer. Folks in a few trucks took pictures. It weighed 177 pounds. We were slightly bummed the deer didn’t make 200 pounds, but still elated to have secured such a massive deer. My dad and I decided to get the deer shoulder-mounted because you don’t find many deer like ours in Southern Maine. However, I am still hopeful we get more whitetails like this in the coming seasons.

To see the top 21 youth writing contest entries, go to www.MaineSportsman.com/YouthWritingContest. www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Map and Compass Does anyone teach map and compass in this day of smart phones and GPS? Most of us old timers will say, “Of course. Good to have a backup. Them electronic gizmos will let you down just when you really need them. Compass don’t need no batteries, neither.” The Junior Maine Guides campout is a week of learning, camping, and testing for all the young campers striving to become JMGs. My task for the afternoon was to help a few of the kids with their map and compass skills. We sat at a picnic table under a tarp with a topo map of Maine spread out before us. I said to the young woman, “How would you orient this map?” She looked at me with a blank stare. Which Way’s North? I said, “In order to use the map, we have to orient it toward north, right?” I helped her out. “Which way is north from here? Look at your compass.” She set her Sunto compass on the table and watched the needle. “That way,” she said pointing approximately north and toward the chow hall. “Okay, good,” I said. “Now, where is north on the map?” She knew. “At the top,” she said. “Good,” I said, “so how about you turn the map so the top is pointing to north?” She pushed the map around and said, “There, how’s that?” “Very good,” I said, www.MaineSportsman.com

“you have demonstrated orienting a topographical map. Now show me what course you would follow to hike into this little pond.” I showed her a crossroads and said, “If you park here, what course will you need to follow to reach the pond?” Replaced by Smartphones and GPS? We spent the next hour learning how to adjust her compass and take a reading in degrees magnetic from the map so we could hike into the beaver pond and go fishing. “What course would you follow to get back to the car?” I asked her. She was a nice bright kid, but whoever had taught her map and compass had left out a lot of details. I don’t know, does anyone teach map and compass in this day of smart phones and GPS? Makes you wonder if there’s any point in learning map and compass any more? Most of us old timers will say, “Of course. Good to have a backup. Them electronic gizmos will let you down just when you really need them. Compass don’t need no batteries, neither.”

In On One Course; Opposite Course Out Grandfather, and Dad, and all their friends had a variety of compasses. Grandfather carried a surplus Army compass. Others carried compasses that looked like pocket watches. Dad had a little Marble pin-on compass attached to the lapel of his hunting coat. Us younger guys had Boy Scout Silva compasses. I must admit the old guys didn’t read maps much. After the trucks were parked and everyone was standing out in the road loading their rifles, someone would look at his compass before they entered the woods. “Course is northeast.” “Southwest will get you back.” We set the bezel for northeast, and when it was time to head back, we followed the opposite end of the needle and thought we were being very clever. How Many Directions? As a scoutmaster, I spent a lot of time teaching map and compass to the boys. We practiced setting courses in the church basement, and on the next weekend we tried to follow those same

The author believes there’s great value in understanding map-and-compass skills. Photo: Silva

routes around Camp Gustin. We asked, “How many directions does the compass needle point?” The tenderfoots and second-class scouts thought hard. Someone shouted the obvious answer: “One. It points north.” “Yes, it does,” I said. “So, is that all?” They boys pondered. “All of ’em,” a kid answered. “360 degrees. It points all directions.” “Yeah, that’s pretty good. Not what I had in mind though.” And then one little scout peeped up, “It points two directions – north and south.” No More Shortcuts Learning to trust the instrument was also a problem. Some guys carried two compasses just so they could compare one against the other. Bill and I were deer hunting in thick scrub pines, and it was getting late. I knew the road ran roughly east and west, so I told Bill we’ll save some time by going north through this short section of woods.

The woods were dark, and we were running out of daylight. We walked and walked but nothing looked familiar. I kept checking my compass. Bill began to grumble. But I was sure a north heading would bring us to the road, so we just slogged through brambles and swale holes and across a little brook. Just when it was almost too black to see, we stepped out onto the road. I could tell because there were no trees overhead. “Truck’s to the right,” I told Bill. We walked 50 yards and were gratified to find the truck right where we had parked it. Within minutes we had the engine running, the heater going and the lights on. I told Bill as he began to back up, “Kinda spooky back in them woods. Good thing we believed our compass, or we’d be sleeping out tonight.” Bill grunted. “Yeah, we don’t need no more shortcuts like that.”

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 39

Fishing Options Abound This Month My friends play “brook trout bingo” along the Realty Road beyond the 6-Mile Checkpoint near Ashland. The winner is the first one to catch four trout, each one from a different road-side stream, and all before lunch. The wonderful old house in which I spent the first seventeen years of my life was less than a hundred yards from the Prestile Stream in Robinson, Maine. From our wrap-around veranda, I could see the dam and the bridge, and I could watch the flowing blue ribbon every day. At about the age of 6 or 7, while at my Dad’s side, I discovered the beautiful brook trout that finned about by the thousands. Since those formative years, I’ve fished and hunted the Prestile from its headwater springs and marshes in Easton, to Bridgewater where it crosses into New Brunswick. I’ve even fished its many meandering miles in Canada for trout, and its inlet into the St John – a renowned regional Atlantic salmon pool in its day. Prestile Paradise Prestile Stream might just be the finest true limestone waterway for fishing native wild brook trout on a fly in Maine – perhaps in all of New England. A few roadside simple-to-locate-andwalk-to pools garner

regular pressure, but even these are seldom crowded or overfished. Solitude and remote runs are plentiful, thanks to access via the old B&A railroad track bed, multiple ATV trails, and literally a thousand twotrack and farm roads broaching the banks on both sides of the waterway. Most are not marked on any maps, and only intense scouting and exploring or hooking up with local fishermen will pinpoint prime pools. In Westfield and Mars Hill, a wide, deep pool known as Buckley’s Deadwater can be found and fished. It’s a spot that attracts large

numbers of trout as stream levels drop and water temperatures rise. A small boat, a short stable canoe or even a kayak will offer the best fly casting success, but bait and lure anglers can work from shore. The narrower stretches above and below this great pool are certainly wadable; chest highs work better than hip boots. The bottom is rocky, uneven and a bit slippery; so consider felt or lugged soles. Buckley’s Deadwater is less than five minutes off Route 1 to the west, or right beside the West Ridge Road on the opposite shoreline. Check De-

In early July, water levels are perfect on the Prestile for wading pools and casting over good numbers of trout spread out all along the stream. Photos: Bill Graves

lorme’s Atlas, Map 55, A-3 to get in the vicinity, then locate the appropriate field roads. A small streamer pattern – say a size 10 long-shank in a black and white bucktail, black nose dace or Herb Johnson Special – works most days. When trout are dimpling the surface, try floating a Hendrickson, mosquito, Henryville or blue dun to stir up some action.

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The only way to reach certain stretches of the Prestile Stream is via unmapped farm field roads and two-tracks, but Mike Wallace proves the native brook trout action this month is worth the effort.

The County

Three Brooks Stream is just one of several creeks that inlet into the Prestile, and during early July, water levels are plenty high to allow wet fly casting, as Tom Tardiff demonstrates on this small holding pool.

(Continued from page 39)

Brooks. While the pools below the dam and below the bridge are fished regularly due to being right beside the road, most folks don’t venture far downstream. When you finish on the Prestile, fish your way up Three Brooks creek to the old Iron Bridge, then walk up the track bed to the dam, an excellent parking area. Small, bright wet flies really stir up the trout in Three Brooks. DeLorme’s Map 59, grid B-4 will help newcomers locate this section of top-rate trout water, and while fish average 8 to 12 inches, there are hefty, pound size

15- 16-inch brutes to be hooked. Piles of Perch Some anglers prefer floating to wading, and for a break from stream fishing I’ve got just the spot – Wytopitlock Lake in Greenwood. About as far south as you can go and still be in Aroostook, “The Pit” is a perfect location to bring novice fishermen and youngsters who crave action; perch – pickerel and bass are plentiful and ready to rumble. Pickerel as long as your forearm – 20 inches plus – offer a great battle on lightweight spinning gear, while tasty white

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perch larger than a man’s hand are plentiful. Some visitors troll, others skip from spot to spot and cast along the rock and boulder strewn shorelines, and everyone enjoys steady strikes. Yellow perch and smallmouth bass join in the fray, but a lot of sportsmen enjoy fried white perch filets as much as fried trout, so they are a prime quarry. I seldom see more than a couple of other boats fishing, and with a maximum depth of 34 feet it’s an easy waterway to explore and enjoy. There’s a gravel launch area and parking for about 10 vehicles and trailers, but the cove going out to the main lake is shallow and rocky, so motor slowly and carefully. Try trolling a size 7 floating Rapala in blue or black/silver, a mirror minnow or an Al’s Goldfish. For bass or pickerel. a 5-inch Senko worm in

Hatches are random in early July, but when they start in the brooks of the North Maine Woods, trout like this beauty make it seem like the water in the small pockets is boiling.

green, black, or blue with glitter will work. A friend swears by a Mepp’s spinner with a brightly colored blade and a small worm on the treble hook to entice white perch. Route 2A offers the best access from the north to reach Glenwood, while I95 or Route 2 and then Lake Road will get visitors to Wytopitlock Lake from the south or west. Peruse DeLorme’s Map 52, sections E- 4 & 5 for more directions. It’s a perfect location for a day trip, shore lunch, more fish than fishermen – oh, and piles of perch! Brook Trout Bingo For the past few years, each June a couple of my retired friends pack fly rods, fishing vests, hip waders and other assorted equipment into a pickup truck and head to the North Maine Woods. It’s only a day trip, but a Coleman stove, assorted pots,

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pans and utensils plus a cooler with a few essential cooking supplies also occupy the truck bed. Once past 6-Mile checkpoint near Ashland, the bingo game begins. If you recollect, it’s necessary to place a token or bean on five contiguous numbered squares to win a prize, but in my friends’ game, the squares are road-side brooks, creeks and rivers, the tokens are flies, and the prize is a brook trout. Since there’s always a FREE center square, the boys need to take a trout from four different spots before lunch to win the game. And the winning prize is, of course, a delicious stream-side meal of fresh fried brook trout, fiddleheads, fresh home fries and a dish of homemade baked beans, all washed down with their beverage of choice. Greenlaw Stream is the first opportunity beyond the checkpoint, then there’s Machias River and nearby Twenty Mile Brook, then Twenty Five Mile Brook, Rocky Brook and so on, with a casting opportunity every few miles along the Realty Road. Opportu(Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 41 (Continued from page 40)

nities grow when you start taking off-shoot logging roads. If fishermen use Fish River checkpoint or Oxbow checkpoint, the roads and brooks change, but there are still dozens of great fly fishing spots right along the road. There are plenty of native brook trout, even more homegrown black flies and

mosquitoes, but very few other anglers, thanks to the many streams. If you haven’t guessed already, trout bingo is just a chance to enjoy a half day or full day fishing outing in the fairly remote, mostly secluded North Maine Woods on fishfilled waterways. To be off the grid for awhile, catch and release a bunch of trout, keep

a couple, and enjoy a shore lunch in the great outdoors. With so many roadside fishing options, it’s a bingo game where every player is a winner, and what a delicious reward. There’s a game every day this month, so grab your rods, your Gazetteer, pack the truck and enjoy the challenge.

Wytopitlock Lake offers fast action on a variety of species this month. Big white perch are among Bill Graves’ favorites, for fun and for flavor.

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Greenland Paddle Perfect for Katahdin’s Waterways Last month I detailed the journey of my daughter Hannah as she graduated from a plastic bathtub (loosely called a “kayak” by the big box stores) to a “built-notbought” real wood kayak. But as the sawdust settled, one last detail needed my attention – her plastic paddle. No way was I sending my baby girl out to sea with a recycled barbie doll. I scoured the internet looking for the perfect paddle to complete her kayaking outfit. Small in stature,

How do you prevent your daughter and her new handmade wooden kayak from being up the creek without a proper paddle? Why, you build her one, of course! Hannah needed a paddle that barely moved the scale and complemented a kayak perfectly capable of completing the Eskimo roll. Perhaps because of my fascination with Inuit boats, I settled on a traditional Greenland paddle. Greenland Paddle No, I’m not sending her out hunting for seals. Yes, I did order a set of plans for a Greenland Paddle from Cape Falcon

Kayak (www.capefalconkayaks.com). This very informative website took the mystery out of crafting a paddle specifically for Hannah’s power stroke. Greenland paddles have a cult-like following. Incredibly simple, a properly sized paddle competes easily with some of the best carbon fiber wands on the market. Their long thin blades are designed for efficient water

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propulsion. Proponents talk of a natural stroke that’s easy on the shoulders. Kayakers hooked on rolling swear by them. Best of all, it seemed within my skillset to build one. I’d let Hannah decide if they lived up to the hype. Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes Katahdin Country has no lack of waters to mess about with kayaks. The Chain of Lakes, located on pag-

Katahdin Region

es 42 and 43 of DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, provides a self-propelled watercraft owner with a lifetime of pushing water. Technically, the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes includes Ambajejus, Pemadumcook, North and South Twin and Elbow Lake. I like to include the little gem that sits on the west side of Route 11, Quakish Lake, in the conversation. Quakish Lake, with its easy access boat ramp located a bow shot off Route 11, (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 43 (Continued from page 42)

attracts those looking to wet a paddle without spending hours searching the backcountry. The lake’s many islands set the stage for parting water and exploring. The boat ramp at South Twin Lake invites paddlers into North Twin Lake and Elbow Lake. These waters also feed the appetite of water travelers fond of island hopping. Both sides of the Golden Road, where it crosses Ambajejus Lake and Millinocket Lake, feature boat ramps. The Ambajejus Lake ramp opens access to the “Big Five.” The ramp on the western side of the road lets boaters take full advantage of Millinocket Lake. While not technically part of the “Big Five,” it has miles of structured shoreline and a reputation for great fishing. The somewhat protected waters of Elbow Lake create a near perfect situation for folks looking for a piece of solitude. This small corner avoids the heavier traffic associated with the larger sections of North and South Twin Lakes. A word about boat ramps. The DeLo-

The author’s daughter Hannah tools along using a traditional Greenland paddle. These light, easy-to-build paddles have a long Inuit history dating back to when kayaking served as a means to feed a family. In today’s world, they excel as a practical means of propulsion without putting excessive wear and tear on shoulder joints. Bill Sheldon photo

rme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer does a good job identifying boat ramps. Official boat ramps provide safe, legal parking for vehicles. With that said, a kayak like the Chesapeake 14, which weighs a mere 36 pounds, easily portages through undriveable terrain to the water’s edge. Use common sense and courtesy when straying from identified launch sites. Greenland/Yankee Like everything I build, the Greenland Paddle needed some

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east coast Yankee twist to it. The plans called for carving the paddle from one piece of wood. Certainly serviceable, but hardly what I had in mind. To keep it light, I glued two pieces of eastern white pine together. The twist is that I applied a strip of carbon fiber between the two pieces. This solved two problems. First, the carbon fiber strip allowed me to use the much lighter pine and added a measurable amount of strength. Second, (Continued on next page)

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44 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 43)

if Hannah starts hob-knobbing with snobs, she can always tell them she has an expensive carbon fiber paddle. From there, it took

a lot of carving and sanding while closely following the layout in the plans. For anyone thinking of building a paddle, spend the $10 and get the six pag-

es of plans and directions. A few drenchings with tung oil followed by a coat of butcher’s wax sealed the deal. She’s fast, light and smooth. Interesting note – more than one internet expert recom-

mended not using a marine varnish or polyurethane on the grounds that it punishes the skin on human hands. Not sure how I feel about that, but wood loves oil, so I soaked it good and applied the wax. I never told Han-

nah the kayak came with the Greenland Paddle. I figured she could make up her own mind once she tried it out. Looks like another plastic paddle will be headed to the landfill.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 45

Gnarly Knots, Advanced Casting Techniques, and Cool Gear The author envisions an invention that will improve fly-fishing safety and also make him a very rich man – a combination fly fishing vest and auto-inflating Personal Flotation Device (PFD). I’m not an inventor, but I sure do have a lot of ideas. I imagine there are a bunch of folks that think the same thing. My wife, Nancy, is always saying, “Well look at that – they actually made that thing I thought of creating ten years ago. If I had put a patent on it, I’d be a millionaire.” Right now, if someone could create a fly-fishing vest with a built-in PFD that is automatically deployed by CO2 when it hits the water, they’d have a gold mine. I’d probably buy two of them for sure. I know I’m supposed to wear a PFD in case I get knocked unconscious while falling out of my boat, but I can’t stand the bulk. If I try wearing the smaller model that uses CO2, the kind that looks like a set of shoulder straps, how in the heck am I supposed to use it while wearing a fishing vest? I can’t wear it under my vest without the fear of it imploding beneath the already tight-fitting and bulky vest. If I place it over the vest, I can’t get to my fishing gear within the vest. My invention involves a lightweight fly-fishing vest that

has the air chambers as shoulder straps that form a “U” shape around the back of the neck, built right into the vest. These inflatable chambers are nestled out of the way into the shoulder straps and don’t deploy until the angler is submerged. Nifty Knots As much as I enjoy the art of tying useful knots, I only use a few for fly fishing. Here are the few I use routinely. • Surgeon knot. I use this knot for connecting sections of leaders and tippet together. I use a triple surgeon knot for small diameter tippet like 6x or 7x, and a double surgeon knot for everything else. • Davy knot. I use this knot when attaching flies with hooks

smaller than a number 18. It holds great and is very compact, more so than any other knot I know. • Loop knot. There are many variations of the loop knot. When fishing for bigger trophies, I like one that slips so it can act as a kind of shock absorber. I use the Duncan loop for almost everything, including attaching streamers, wet flies, nymphs, dry flies, poppers and divers. I also attach my backing to the reel with this knot, sliding it tight on the reel and then cranking the line onto the spool. • Nail knot. I connect my leader to my line with this knot, using a “Tie-Fast” tool made specifically for this procedure. It just makes it so easy. • Last, but not least...I tie my anchor line to the anchor with

Anna Morrow, the author’s granddaughter, practices fly fishing in the back yard. William Clunie photo

a bowline knot, because it holds great and I can easily untie it if I need to.

Directions for all of these knots can be found on YouTube. (Continued on page 47)

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46 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The Perennial Search for the Thermocline By July, water temperatures have warmed to the point that trout in rivers and larger streams seek the cool sanctuaries offered by tributaries, while fish in lakes and ponds find comfort in the thermocline. Understanding this trend, anglers can target their favorite species where they live now, rather than where they were earlier. Those who love flowing water can still find action, but the size of the waters they fish must be pared down. Likewise for those fishing from boats – trout and salmon have sought more comfortable conditions by congregating in the thermocline. Interestingly, the thermocline – defined as a stratum of cool,

The larger and deeper the body of water, the deeper the thermocline. In Moosehead Lake, that layer may be 50 feet or more down, but in a small pond, the thermocline may form at a depth of only 30 feet. well-oxygenated water that forms in lakes in summer – varies in depth from one place to another. To locate the thermocline in your favorite trout water, try cruising about with a fish locator, keeping an eye to the screen to see at what depth most fish appear. Or go the easy route, by calling local Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologist. Biologists conduct pond and lake surveys, and can give you solid information on thermocline location. Either way, once you locate the thermo-

cline, the rest is easy. If the thermocline isn’t too deep – say 30 feet or less – it is possible to troll with medium-weight spinning gear and heavy spoons that will not twist the line. Choose Al’s Goldfish, Li’l Jake and Kastmaster, and go slow. These all have a fish-attracting wobbling motion, and they won’t twist your line. Summertime Trolling For some people, July marks the beginning, not the end, of trout and salmon fishing in lakes and ponds. It’s easy to see why, too, since gone are the

cold, wet and windy days of surface trolling in spring. Now, comfortable temperatures and calm conditions reign. Also, since salmonids have mostly segregated themselves to one area of the pond – the thermocline – finding fish becomes far easier than in spring. Generally speaking, the larger and deeper the body of water, the deeper the thermocline. In Moosehead Lake, for instance, that could be 50 feet or more down, but in a 500-acre pond, with a maximum 50foot depth, the thermocline may form no more than 30 feet down. Trout Tactics Trout, especially brown trout and rain-

Streamers • Bait Rigs • Spinners • Hornbergs Coneheads • Flutterspoons • Lake Trolls Super Smelts • Cod Teasers • Flies & Nymphs

bow trout, can withstand warm conditions better than salmon. This means that summertime trollers seeking trout usually need to fish shallower than those pursuing salmon. The same terminal tackle works for both salmon and trout. That is, live or frozen smelt, shiners and artificial spoons and other lures fished from a downrigger at the preferred depth will take all species of salmonids. Adding dodgers and even lake troll sets (Dave Davis spoons) makes your offering even more inviting. It’s easy to believe that deep-trolling terminal gear, spoons and dodgers are specifically designed for use at great depths. They are not. Such devices are solely meant as attractors, and they serve that purpose no matter how deep or shallow they are fished. (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 47 (Continued from page 46)

And that stands as one of the little secrets of successful brown trout anglers. One high-scoring brown trout angler took loads of browns by trolling a shiner behind a dodger, just off beds of lily pads at sundown. Brown trout would venture into the shallows in the cool of the evening to feed, and so become targets for his skillfully fished offerings. People fishing the depths of the same pond at midday often wound up fishless. It’s the little things that separate the haves from the have-nots, at least as far as fishing for the inscrutable brown trout. Salmon Rules What applies to brown trout does not necessarily hold true

for salmon. Salmon may feed near the surface at dawn on overcast or drizzly days, but mostly they hold deep in summer. True denizens of the thermocline, salmon are. While a fast-trolled streamer fly works wonders on springtime salmon, the same won’t do now that fish have gone deep. Moderate speeds are the order of the day. It may help to vary speeds, especially if fish are uncooperative. A bit slower or perhaps slightly faster might make a great difference in number of strikes. The old adage that bait takes larger salmon but artificials take more salmon, has a solid foundation in fact. This isn’t to say that you won’t hook on to Old Walter with your Mooselook Wobbler, but chances of

— Trophy Gallery —

These rainbow trout fell for a small shiner, hooked on a single-hook bucktail fished behind a dodger.

taking a wallhanger are better with bait. I use one rod with a live shiner or frozen smelt and the other rod with a trolling spoon. This ups my chance of finding at least some kind

of action. Finally, while brown trout tend to concentrate in numbers, you are more likely to find salmon spread out, although at similar depths.

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 45)

com. If you are like me, you’ll need to tie them repeatedly to sear it into the memory section of your brain.

Young Hunter; Two Shots; Two Birds Easton Gradie of North Belgrade, age 9, had a very successful first-ever turkey hunt in Clinton. Guided by his uncle, David Gradie, Easton used his single-shot .410 to drop each of these jakes. Photo provided by Jon Cox

Advanced Casting Over the years, I’ve found a few advanced casting techniques that come in handy. I don’t always need to use them, but when I do I sure appreciate having practiced them enough to be able to put them to use. As a matter of fact, I have had such great success with these techniques that I highly recommend anglers learn these two advanced casts as soon as they conquer a basic casting level. The first one, what they call the “Reach Cast,” is used to present a dry fly with as little drag as possible. It helps position the fly downstream of the tippet and controls the drag by limiting the time it takes the line to make a bow in the current. While the line is still in tra-

Thus, salmon trollers in summer usually cover more water than those targeting brown trout. Make sure to begin with a full gas tank.

jectory from the forward cast, and before it hits the water, lift the rod high and upstream while allowing the line to flow through the non-casting hand. Quickly move the rod back to a forward and low position, taking up slack and preparing for a strike. The second cast, the “Curve Cast,” allows an angler to present the fly around obstructions – into places that can’t be reached with a straight-forward approach. In this cast, perform a quick and short haul on the line right before it hits the water. The fly will whip itself out of the loop in an opposite direction and “hook” itself around any obstruction that is in the way. Either of these casting techniques can be found on YouTube. com, same as the knots. Simply type in “How to do the Curve Cast” or “How to do the Reach Cast,” and there will be a multitude of selections for your viewing pleasure. I especially like any of these instructional videos produced by Orvis or RIO Products.

www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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class to learn how to navigate using satellites. I added two new batteries to the unit, and handed over my money. Back in those days, I always carried a compass in my pocket. Yup, it went everywhere I went, even to the supermarket. Eventually I wore the numbers off it. And for the record, I always found my way home. It just made sense to at least give the new to me technology a try. However, when I returned to the store for my “free” lesson, the

door was boarded up and the building empty as a hot air balloon. Market Training That left me in Aisle 6 of the local supermarket, trying to figure out how to use it. I laugh about that because a good friend of mine, Mike Holt, had the same unit, and he advised me to take it everywhere and just use it until it was second nature. Solid advice that created a few awkward stares in the market. Since that rough start into the world of satellite navigation,

I’ve added three more units to my collection. They continually got easier to use and more accurate. For my sporadic “wood lot” wandering and the less imposing forays along well marked trails, my GPS and old faithful compass gave me all the peace of mind I needed. It wasn’t until my cardiologist said “I’m worried about you” that I decided I needed a little more than a standard GPS offers. On those occasions (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 49 (Continued from page 48)

when I leave the limits of cell tower coverage, I want a way to connect with the outside world in case of an emergency. InReach Explorer After over a year of reading reviews, watching YouTube videos and pondering life’s twists and turns, I purchased a Garmin inReach Explorer +. This offered me two key options that were unavailable on previous models. First, in case of a real emergency, the inReach can trigger an SOS message and activate a search and rescue if my cardiologist’s concerns prove

accurate. Second, I can use the device to email or text family and friends. Communication with the outside world takes the worry off many shoulders. If I’m north of Long Pond in Jackman and I need help, but it is not an emergency, I can contact someone without triggering a full-blown rescue operation. In the event of a full-scale SOS, the ability to have twoway communication with first responders can help them better evaluate their response. They can also text advice that might help the situation before they arrive.

The inReach also tracks my path and posts it on my MapShare page. This allows friends and family to follow my adventure from the comfort of their home. I can send both preset and custom messages to anyone on my contact list. A simple “All is good but I’m staying an extra day” message can eliminate the uncertainty that comes with off-grid adventures. And, of course, it has a few bells and whistles, like accessing weather reports. I can also pair it with my cell phone. This gives me the advantage of a larger (Continued on page 51)

The author invested in a DeLorme inReach, partially because he likes to dabble in orienteering and partially because it make sense to have two-way satellite communication during his frequent offgrid forays. However, he is not giving up his DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer paper maps anytime soon. Bill Sheldon photo

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50 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Clamming Maine is so much more than four seasons. January kicks off ice fishing, followed by syrup, smelting, and shed hunting. When the woodcock arrive, it’s time to chop wood, do some trolling after ice out, turkey hunt, and pick fiddleheads. Up next comes the striped bass, alewives and mushrooms. Finally, there’s big and small game hunting, trapping, and canning. But one activity that has no season and can be enjoyed year-round is clamming. Need a break from early mornings ice fishing? Go clamming. Sunday during hunting season? Go clamming. Forgot your mother-in-law’s birthday? Dig her some fresh clams. If you love steamers like I do, it’s time to try digging them yourself! A sore back and muddy boots will make them taste better; I promise. Here is everything you need to know about recreational soft shell clam digging. Gear You probably have most of these things already. You’ll want to wear your tallest boots (hip waders are even better). Rubber gardening gloves work fine, and bring a bucket. A clam rake is the only proper gear you’ll need. You could try a handheld garden hoe, but a rake is much www.MaineSportsman.com

While you’re at the town office getting a license, ask which areas are open to clamming. I dig clams at Wolfe’s Neck State Park in Freeport and Reid State Park in Georgetown. No license is required at either location – just pay the $4 entrance fee, and pick a peck of clams.

Any time spent along the Maine coastline is worthwhile; working hard to earn your dinner is just a bonus.

better. Look for a used one at yard sales and online, ask to borrow one from a friend, or buy a new one for about $70 from Maine Clam Gear Co. online. Finally, leave a plastic clothes basket in your car and a change of boots/ pants so you don’t have to get into your car covered in mud. Where to Dig Once you have everything you need, you’ll need to find a place to dig. Contact the town office in the town you want to dig

clams in, and inquire about recreational clamming license. Licensing varies per town – some charge $10 for a three-day license, while others sell annual recreational licenses. While you’re at the town office, ask which areas are open to clamming. Certain areas may be closed for conservation, or public health reasons. I dig clams at Wolfe’s Neck State Park in Freeport. A license is not required – just pay the $4 entrance fee, and

pick your one peck per person per day. This is also true at Reid State Park in Georgetown. Regulations Folks at the town office will tell you the local regulations, but most allow each digger one peck (two gallons) per day. Clams must be least 2 inches long, so it’s helpful to measure something out ahead of time and bring it with you as a measuring device. I attached a cut ring of 2” PVC pipe to my clam basket.

Watch Out for Red Tide You’ve probably heard of red tide, and should never dig clams during a red tide. Red tide, or paralytic shellfish poisoning, occurs during an algae bloom when toxins enter the water, and then clams ingest the algae. The Maine Department of Marine Resources updates its “Shellfish Sanitation Hotline,” which lists areas closed to clamming. I generally will not dig clams if there’s been 1 inch or more of rain within the past few days, as runoff can bring toxins to the coast. How You’ve got your gear, you’re at your spot and it hasn’t rained recently. You’re ready! Arrive at an outgoing tide, or at low tide, and look for small, straw sized holes in the mud, which reveal where a clam is hiding. At high tide, clams stretch their neck up to the surface to eat and breath. Now, at low tide, each clam has retracted its neck, thus creating a hole. Dig your rake into the mud about 6” away from the hole (to avoid breaking the clam), and turn over the mud. Remember – you’re not actually raking. Go slow and be gentle as you get the hang of it. Inevitably you will break a few (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 51

Clamming is back-breaking work. Turn the mud over, don’t rake, to avoid breaking the clams. (Continued from page 50)

clams, but going slowly and digging behind the hole will help prevent breaking shells. Once you pull back some mud, look for a clam squirting water, shriek in delight, pick up the clam and aim the stream of water at your friend. Don’t see a clam but still see the hole? Dig a little

You’ll feel like a kid exploring the beach and finding neat things, such as this shed shell from a horseshoe crab.

deeper, or feel around for the clam with your hands. Be gentle wiggling it out of the mud, verify that it meets the minimum length, and place it in your bucket. You will find yourself repeating the above steps, struggling to walk in the mud and almost losing your boots every time you try to move locations. If your back

— Trophy Gallery —

starts to get sore, and if you are wearing hip waders, kneel in the mud to give your back a break. If you’re like me, after two hours you’ll be covered in mud (including hat, hair and face), and you might have half a peck of clams. ***** Once I am done and get back to my car, I change out of

Rinse off the clams wherever you have access to clean saltwater, and store the clams overnight in salt water so they will expel any remaining mud and sand.

my muddy clothes and drive to the closest boat launch. There, I place the clams in a plastic laundry basket and submerge them in the seawater, sloshing the basket back and forth, rinsing the mud from the clams. Then I fill a bucket with fresh saltwater, and store the clams in the bucket overnight, allowing them to

Jackman Region (Continued from page 49)

screen, and coordinates nicely with my Earthmate app. At home, I plot out routes on my iPad using the Garmin Explorer website, and they magically show up on my hand-held unit. Off course, all electronics have a downside. This unit requires a monthly subscription. Garmin has multiple plans to choose from. Personally, It’s well worth the peace of mind. I also consider it cheap entertainment, as I bungle along learning to coexist with satellites as my friends.

Josh Sprague pulled this 19-inch smallmouth out of Hadley’s Lake in East Machias on June 5, 2021 at 5 p.m. Photo provided by Thomas Sprague

Summer Trails The Jackman Region has plenty of marked trails for beginner GPS students to familiarize themselves with satellite navigation without having to worry about getting lost. The Sally Mountain Trail in Jackman measures 6.8 miles, and

purge any remaining grit and mud. The clams can be stored in a bowl in the fridge with a wet paper towel over them. Before eating, you can soak the clams in fresh water for one final rinse. Steam until the shells open, and enjoy with melted butter!

takes an average hiker 3.5 hours. The trip tracker on most any GPS will provide important statistics. After a few hikes, take note of the average walking speed. This is great information to have when trip planning. The Coburn Mountain Trail gets a lot of press during the snowmobile season, as winter wanderers scale to the top looking for views. Summer ascents avoid the logjam of sleds looking for a summit. It takes some sure footing to keep the loose rocks underfoot on the way up, but the views are worth it. The fire tower helps add some artificial elevation for cameras set on “scenery.” The internet is awash with details about these trails and more. Meanwhile, don’t think it strange if some guy in Aisle 6 is using a GPS to find the adult beverages.

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Old Guns and Dog Days To hold one of these antique firearms inculcates a sense of the past, a sense of the history that each one represents, a sense of those gone before. Spending a couple of hours researching the history of a piece offers some genuine satisfaction, and attempting to decipher what lies under two centuries of patina is inspiring. “Stop by,” said the voice on the phone. “I have a couple of pieces for you to look at.” Readers and friends often ask for an opinion from The Shooter’s Bench about this or that firearm. In this case, a friend of more than 50 years wanted to show me his latest acquisitions. When I pulled into the dooryard the next morning, Michael was rushing around getting chores done before it started raining again. As he set two long guns and a pistol in a plastic bag onto the backseat of my car, he told me that they came from an estate sale. Acknowledging the impending weather, we postponed further conversation, and I headed home with the armament. Back at home, I took the two long guns out of their protective “socks” and removed the somewhat oily pistol from

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its zip-lock bag. Almost at once it dawned on me that these three old blackpowder guns represented the evolution of the shooting sports, and that we’ve not delivered much for fans of blackpowder shooting for some time. What lay across the bench were three examples of successive blackpowder developments, with the two long guns spanning from the early 1700s to the 1830s or 1840s, and culminating with the pistol sometime between 1850 and 1870. Each enjoyed a heyday here in Maine and across the entire country. Then they gave ground, as newer, more efficient and more effective technologies came along. They showed their age, but pieces such as these, in the hands of our ancestors, gave our favorite sport its genesis. Perhaps the oldest among these

pieces accompanied settlers as they sallied forth when northern New England was the frontier, or became part of the struggle for independence. The newest one, the pistol, possibly went south in hands determined to abolish slavery and preserve the Union. Propelling Lead Some research revealed that the musket was not as old as I first thought. It was a rare Model 1816 U.S. military musket made by E. Buell in Marlborough, Connecticut, under contract to the government. Firing a .69 caliber lead ball from a 42-inch smoothbore barrel, the Buell model employs identical technology to the arms used here for hunting and defense of the home in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Smoothbores often used a measure of shot or even a combination of ball and shot known to old timers as “buck and ball.” Wrapping the ball in a greased patch before ramming it home tightened its fit in the bore and often produced better accuracy. A striking, eyecatching tiger maple full stock adorned with brass ‘furniture’

You never know what you might find at an estate sale. Sometimes it is as much fun to find and research old firearms as it is to shoot them. JC Allard photo

makes the second long gun stand out. A .32 caliber rifle with a 40-inch octagonal barrel, this piece is both a technological leap ahead and a beautiful nod to the gun maker’s art. Its percussion cap mechanism and set triggers increased both reliability and accuracy. The smaller diameter ball spun by the rifling meant higher velocity and effective range to 200 yards and more. Remnants of engraving hide beneath almost 200 years of patina and pitting caused by the corrosive action of blackpowder. “Cincinnati, O.” remains clear on the lock plate, but the maker’s name has faded so as to be unreadable. I suspect a replacement ramrod, but it is a beautiful piece still, and could be used to take game today. As for the .44 caliber cap and ball pistol, the maker’s mark says “J. Adams. London”

and its look seems reminiscent of the more famous Starr revolver of the U.S. Civil War era. It may have come through the Federal blockade to make its way to the hands of some Confederate soldier to fire on a soldier from Maine. The pistol mounts checkered wooden stocks and an interesting side-mounted ramrod. Not a hunting weapon, the pistol reflects those technological changes that brought about multi-shot firearms and cartridge developments we know today. Lasting Influence None of these vintage arms will likely spend any additional time in the woods and fields. None will feel a determined grip in defense of the homeland. But to hold one almost certainly inculcates a sense of the past, a sense of the history that each one represents, a sense of (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 53

Keep Litter and Trash in Your Boat, Not in the Water I once heard a quote, “This world would be perfect, if it weren’t for all the people.” This may sound super “back to nature,” but it’s sort of true. There’s no question that a lot we do is harmful to nature and wildlife. However, I know that sportsmen and women are some of the people that truly care most about conservation and preservation of this resource. One of the big issues seen in a lot of areas is littering. Especially in busy lakes and ponds, floating debris is becoming very common. It can be harmful to wildlife, and it’s not good for the image of people who recreate on these waters. Currently, a controversy is brewing over the use of soft plastic baits. They are extremely popular among warmwater fishermen, and many people who fish for coldwater species use them, too. However, they frequently fly off the hook while casting, playing a fish, or getting snagged. Subsequently, a lot of soft plastic lures litter lakes and ponds. When this hap-

Shorelines of popular lakes are littered with foam coffee cups, plastic wrapping and monofilament line. By taking some simple steps, boaters can avoid adding to the mess, helping keeping water clean and protecting the reputations of sportsmen and -women.

Reusable coffee and drink mugs like this Yeti model tend to stay in the boat rather than getting blown out during winds or fast rides over waves. Nolan Raymond photos

pens, fish and aquatic birds can eat the soft plastics off the bottom. These can often be lethal, clogging the internals. Like lead sinkers, soft plastics can be lethal to the birds and fish that consume them believing them to be real. I have gutted a number of togue with their stomachs literally bulging with the mass of soft plastics they can’t digest. It’s not just baits

Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 52)

those gone before. For most, July is the nadir of the shooting year. Heat renders the trap field or the range inhospitable. The humidity and ticks make varmint hunting uncomfortable, if not dangerous. Now

Some anglers are beginning to rethink their use of soft plastic lures that are not rapidly biodegradable. The author has found plastic worms packed inside fish he’s been cleaning for a meal.

that litter our waters – miscellaneous boat trash is a real problem too. Foam cups, wrappers, alcohol bottles and other junk can be found all along the shore, and in clear water like Sebago, you can see a lot of it on the bottom. Some trash can be consumed by wildlife; other items can clutter the bottom and take decades to deteriorate. Given the impor-

tance of water as a resource, it’s vital that it does not get damaged. In our boat, we keep a trash bin. Any bit of wrapper, or tag, or end of fishing line, gets placed in the bin, after which it is brought ashore and put in the household trash. Especially on big lakes, it is extremely unlikely that someone will be picking up behind you. It’s the responsibility of all outdoorspersons

the scarcity and expense of ammunition and components offer additional mid-summer challenges. Even the crazy neighbors have ceased their Sunday morning “mad minute.” However, the world of firearms offers lots of interesting alternatives— some without involving actual firing. Spending a couple of hours researching

to pick up after themselves to preserve these resources for the future. Advance preparation can be a big help in reducing trash in the boat – for example, opening individually wrapped foods ahead of time and putting them in a ziploc, rigging rods ahead of time, and bringing a reusable mug instead of plastic or foam coffee cups. We like the Yeti Rambler Tumbler. It keeps coffee and drinks hot on cool mornings, it’s extremely durable, and it’s ergonomically designed. You can even get them customized with a name or symbol. This removes the need to bring a plastic or foam coffee cup, which is likely to be blown out of the boat. With such a fine and amazing natural resource as our pristine bodies of water and their fisheries, it is our responsibility to keep them nice. By each of us doing our part in keeping these waters clean, this resource will last for future generations of those who appreciate the outdoors.

a piece offers some genuine satisfaction. Attempting to decipher what lies under two centuries or two decades of patina is inspiring. There is no reason for any interest in shooting to languish in July. After all, hunting seasons get cranking in earnest in about 90 days.

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54 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Blue Skies, Blue Water and Fair Breezes The fat, healthy 13- to 15-inch togue I caught were so full of smelts that baitfish were falling out of their mouths. It’s clear that smelt stocking by the Moosehead Coalition is working. While the bag limit of 5 fish remains, DIFW has removed any minimum size limits on togue. July in the Moosehead Region sees azure skies mirrored on blue water. Gone are the slate-colored conditions of spring, replaced by the contrasting brilliance of summer. Moosehead’s spectacular scenery is ready for all to view, and the scenic wonder of this natural area keeps generations of people coming back, year-in and year-out. A drive along any part of the lake discloses breathtaking views, but to fully embrace the coming colors of summer, get out on the water. People who fish Moosehead Lake and other waters in the

region enjoy not just great fishing, but fishing set in a vast panorama of lakes, mountains, forests and sky. Talk about a bang for your buck! Because of the scenic grandeur, a camera stands as must-have item. You’ll get unique photos while out on the lake, because every day brings a different perspective on the view. Cloud cover, and differing amounts and types of sunlight, all play a part in affecting the ever-changing landscape. Don’t hesitate to take all the pictures possible, since modern digital cameras allow you to discard less-than-perfect shots. But I’ll wager

you won’t want to discard too many. Wind, the bugaboo of boaters in May, becomes more manageable in July. Breezes usually spring up by mid-morning, but most of the time they have no effect other than serving as nature’s air conditioning. Keep in mind, however, that more serious winds can pose a threat. This almost always happens when a low-pressure system departs and a high-pressure system follows in its wake, “filling the vacuum” so to speak. The first day of clear weather after a prolonged period of unsettled conditions almost guarantees strong winds. This is true not just for Moosehead, but for anywhere in the state. With high pressure comes winds – you can count on it. Best Lures Moosehead salmon and togue bite well in summer, although lead-core lines and downriggers become the order of the day. Daybreak may see salmon feeding near the surface, but the rising sun quickly sends fish down to deeper water. A fish

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Bob Lawrence prepares to release one of Moosehead’s numerous smaller togue. Tom Seymour photo

locator helps greatly in locating fish and in determining how far down they are holding. For terminal gear, artificial lures always work on Moosehead’s coldwater species, and two of the best and most reliable, Mooselook Wobblers in the now-famous “Wonderbread” pattern, and Li’l Jakes in gold body with red dots, are must-haves in every tackle box. While I was out on Moosehead Lake during a recent trip with Moosehead legend Bob Lawrence, we discussed the ins and outs of the best artificials for the lake. We agreed that an angler would not go far wrong using only Wonderbread Mooselooks and Li’l Jakes in gold with red dots. Other lures have their day, their “15 minutes of fame,” but for staying power, year after year, Wonderbread Moose-

looks and Li’l Jakes bring dependable, consistent results. Indeed, our twoday fishing trip saw us trying on a number of metal offerings, but they were of no avail. For two days straight, the only things that caught fish were Wonderbread Mooselooks and Li’l Jakes. That says a lot about these two lures. As is the case with many anglers, my tackle box brims with lures, but only a select few stand out as regular producers. All the same, it’s true that we can never have too much fishing tackle. Rods, reels and lures beckon, and most of us are unable to resist their siren call. That’s all well and good, but when it comes to catching fish, it’s nice to have a solid arsenal of known producers such as Wonderbread (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 55 (Continued from page 54)

Mooselooks and Li’l Jakes. All the rest is just icing on the cake. Fat Togue Fish in Moosehead have achieved the best condition I’ve seen in years. Fat and healthy, it doesn’t seem that trout, togue and salmon could become any more robust. Even smaller fish exhibit this well-fed ap-

pearance. I decided to keep some smaller togue, between 13 and 15 inches, simply because they were so fat. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) has removed length limits on togue in Moosehead. The daily bag limit of 5 fish remains, and only 1 fish may exceed 18 inches. The togue I caught

were so full of smelts that smelt were falling out of their mouths. This clearly indicates a healthy smelt population, and a booming smelt population is the reason Moosehead’s coldwater game fish are in such great condition. It seems likely that past years of smelt stocking by the Moosehead Coalition has had a positive effect. Everything in our

coldwater lakes depends upon smelt, and Moosehead stands as proof positive of this. Most of us have become accustomed to only keeping large fish to take home. With removal of the minimum length limit, it makes sense to give these smaller togue a try. Interestingly, it appears that a certain year-class of togue are quite prevalent,

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56 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Pickled Lake Trout and Onion Salad Sandwich Even though I mostly cook out of my own cookbooks, I like to create new recipes for The Maine Sportsman audience to try. I am grateful to the feedback I periodically receive and hope it continues.

I was racking my brain, and our editor, Will Lund, suggested something pickled. Here is something I have never done before, but I will do it again. We first loved it as a sandwich, then it was awesome as appetizers. The versatility

is great. This 2-step curing process is worth the results. It’s the first time I made a pickled fish, and I am enthused now to make others. So stay tuned and enjoy!

Ingredients: • 1 ¼ pounds Lake Trout, skinned, filleted and cut into 1” chunks Brine: • 2 cups white vinegar • 5/8 cup canning salt Freeze Lake Trout for 48 hours to kill off any parasites. In glass bowl place fish and cover with salt. Pour white vinegar and stir to incorporate. Refrigerate 5 days, stirring each day. Rinse fish in cold water TWICE, letting stand each time for 30 minutes. Drain water off. Pickling Solution: • • • • •

1 ¼ cups white vinegar ¾ cup granulated sugar 4 teaspoons Pickling Spice 1 sweet onion, sliced 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced

Heat vinegar, sugar and pickling spices almost to a boil. Cool completely. Pack quart jar by layering each item. Start with thick layer of fish, then add layers of onions and peppers. Layer until all fish is packed in jar. Pour COLD pickling solution over contents, completely covering everything in the jar. Refrigerate. Pickled fish is ready after 5 days, but gets better the longer it is stored in refrigerator. Pickling Spice Combo: • • • • • • • •

2 tablespoons black peppercorns 2 tablespoons mustard seed 2 tablespoons coriander seed 1 tablespoon dill seed 1 tablespoon Cassia Buds 1 tablespoon allspice berries 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 10 dried bay leaves , crumbled

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar, shake, cover and store away from heat. Onion Salad: • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 3 large yellow onions, halved and www.MaineSportsman.com

• • • • • •

thickly sliced 1/8 teaspoon chili pepper flakes 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/8 teaspoon turmeric 1/8 teaspoon curry powder 1/8 teaspoon ginger 1 bay leaf, halved

Sauté onions in oil until soft – about 5 minutes. Add chili, garlic, turmeric, curry powder, ginger and bay leaf, stir and cook 2 minutes more. Cool and serve with pickled Lake Trout on your favorite bun with a swipe of mayonnaise/salad dressing or mustard. *When I made the appetizers, I chopped the onions up smaller. First, water cracker, a swipe of mayo, fish then top with chopped smaller onions ;-) YUM

Need Dessert?

Check out Kate’s delicious recipe for

Strawberry-Rhubarb Skillet Cake with Basil Cream on our website, www.MaineSportsman.com/Recipes.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 57

How to Call a Moose (Or, How NOT to Call a Moose) July. Hot. Humid. Buggy. What a month. From where I sit, the best thing about July is the Moose Lottery occurred last month. Having someone in our group who was the lucky hunter, we now start the planning of yet another moose hunt. Having been on 25-plus moose hunts, I have a lot of experience on how to plan for this Maine tradition. An important part of any moose hunt is the ability of at least one of our group to be able to call moose. This is the reason why Mike (“Island Boy”) is always invited to a hunt. He has the ability, by using his voice only, to call out a bull to within shooting range. He has mastered the technique to draw out a beast, which usually comes charging out of the tree-line. Island Boy Calls On a hunt a few years back, the wife (Cate) drew a permit. Three of us – Mike, the wife and I – were up in the Northwoods. At daybreak, we spied where a couple bulls had pushed each other around on the gravel road. The road was barely passable, as the alders encroached from both sides. Cate and I loaded up, her standing by the passenger door, and me by the driver’s side. We waited in total quiet for a few minutes. Island Boy then

Island Boy was calling; the bull moose was coming closer; and the permit-holder was indisposed.

Even a skilled moose caller can’t predict exactly when a bull is going to show up.

imitated a cow call. Immediately, a bull responded within feet of the passenger side of the truck. Several times, Mike called, and the bull grunted. The wife broke out in a sweat, as the bull was really close; we just couldn’t see it because of the leaf cover. Mike continued to call; the moose kept answering. After 15 minutes or so, the bull wandered off. Nature Calls We then were about to head to another spot we had

scouted, when the wife said she had to answer nature’s calling. I told her that Mike and I would stay to the rear of the truck, and she said she would go on the opposite side of the road from where the bull was. She then proceeded off the road, and splashed though the water in the ditch. Next she stomped down the high dead grass, and it made a crunching noise under her feet. All this time, Mike continued to call from

behind the truck, to see if we could bring the bull back to us. After a few minutes, I also heard the wife imitating a bull grunt. After several more grunts, I thought the wife sounded really authentic. I was kind of surprised how good she sounded, as I’d never heard her practice. Then a thought occurred to me: what if it wasn’t the wife grunting …? I walked to the front of the vehicle, looking toward the wife. The forest was

one of those softwoods in which the trees are packed so close together you can hardly pick your way through them. Hasty Retreat Eighty yards up the knoll from Cate, the trees were shaking, and a large bull – grunting with every step – was headed directly toward her. I couldn’t see the beast yet, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what was about to happen. Mike was standing by me as we tried the get the wife’s attention. We waved our arms madly. She finally looked our way as she was buckling up her hunting pants. She threw her arms out in disgust at us for invading her privacy. We pointed behind her, as the bull was closing in. Of course we didn’t holler, as we wanted the angry beast to keep coming. She then turned around and saw the trees shaking and heard the grunting. Have you ever seen a woman cover 100 feet in two strides? Both Island Boy and I were impressed, for two reasons: 1) she didn’t scream to alert the moose, and 2) she can really run! In hindsight, maybe we should have hollered to her about the angry bull moose coming toward her …

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58 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Theft in the Wilderness In the north woods, Allagash Rangers soon learned the importance of watching for anything out of the ordinary. Here’s a true story to drive home that point. The local ranger was on days off, and the district was full of campers. To ensure resource protection and public safety, I planned to patrol the area during his absence. Launching my 20-foot Grumman canoe from the dock, I noticed people were already moving north on calm waters. By 8 a.m., there was a scattering of red, green, and aluminum canoes tracking across Umsaskis Lake. Beginning the day, I visited campsites and checked for unattended campfires, litter, cutting of live trees, or campers’ dunnage left behind. My first stop was the empty Ledge site, where I found a daypack under the picnic table. Wishing to locate the owner, I gathered the pack and hurried to catch up with the travelers. Passing under the Realty Road Bridge near Glazier Brook, I saw a party of two frantically paddling south. Shutting off my outboard, I greeted them. “Where ya headed?” I asked. The leader in the stern quickly replied, “Back to last night’s campsite. I may have left a haversack behind. We stayed at the Ledges.” What kind of pack is it?” “A green daypack.” “Like this?” I responded while holding the bundle. Obviously relieved, the woman in the bow said, “Yes – thank you! The bag contains my husband’s diabetic insulin and meter. We’d be in trouble without it.” After talking briefly, I continued north onto Long Lake. To my right, the Page Camp sat majestically along the shore. Built in 1954 by John Page, the cabin is state property and a place folks love to visit.

The identity of the person who’d unbolted the valuable chandelier was a mystery – or was it? Beaching on the gravely shore, I noticed the camp appeared empty; however, upon entering through an unlatched screen door, I noticed the padlock was missing from the interior entry. “Hmmm!” Inside, I saw the wagon wheel chandelier, hanging near the living room’s field stone fireplace. Along the back wall runs a full kitchen, while the upstairs features two bedrooms. But today there were indications of vandalism. The kitchen table under the light was broken in half, wooden chairs were tipped over, and the chandelier, once held in place by three 36-inch-long chains, now swings from only two restraints. Someone had attempted to steal the state’s property. It appeared that the thief had stood on the table, unbolted one of the chains, and when the heavy wheel swung partially free, the force had knocked the burglar off the table and across one of the chairs, possibility causing him to injure his back. The historic wheel was a remnant from the days when horse-drawn-bellydump gravel wagons were used to construct Long Lake Dam. The dam was an impoundment chartered in 1907 that held a 15-foot head of water.

Long Lake Dam

Page Camp All Photos: T. Caverly Collection www.MaineSportsman.com

Motoring back to the Ranger’s camp at the Thoroughfare, I gathered tools to safeguard the wheel before it could be pilfered. Returning to the Page Camp, I stood on a step ladder and unbolted the 50-pound wheel, then lowered it to the floor. Once it was detached, I rolled the heavy spindled hoop outside and down a

grassy path to my canoe. There, I flipped the wheel into the Grumman, and returned to my truck. Three hours later, I arrived at the Churchill Dam storage barn, where I locked the historic artifact safely away.

Horse drawn belly dump gravel wagon

Two days later while in my office, I received a visitor who fished the area and often visited. After a brief conversation, he inquired over coffee, “Was the Page Camp broken into?” “Why do you ask?” “Well, this morning while fishing, I stopped by and saw a new padlock on the door. I looked inside, and it appears the chandelier is gone. I hope nobody took it.” “Actually, someone tried, but I was able to rescue the artifact and place it under lock and key.” With a far-away look, visitor muttered, “The politician who’s got a place on the next pond over ain’t going to like that – he wanted that light for his camp.” When I asked him to repeat, the caller dismissed his statement offhandedly – “Oh, nothing.” With that, the man declared it was time to get back to fishing. As the caller rose from his chair, he grimaced and grabbed for his lower back. “Have you hurt yourself?,” I inquired. “Oh, not really. Last week while walking to a fishing hole, I tripped over a blowdown and twisted my back.” Please watch for my August column, titled “Arson on the Allagash,” and read the rest of the story. Tim Caverly (www.allagashtails. com) has authored ten books about Maine’s northern forest.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 59

Warm-water Fishing Downeast Heats Up in July Downeast anglers are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about the sport of bass fishing. This may be a result of the multitude of warm-water fisheries in Washington and Hancock Counties. Rod-bending action can be found by checking out DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas, especially Maps 15, 23, and 35. Smallmouth bass and white perch fishing can produce exciting results in July. Many of these waters produce bronzebacks in the 2to 5-pound range, and white perch in the 8to 12-inch range. My favorite lake for white perch is Brewer Lake, Map 23, C-3. Fast action for white perch is found near Nickerson Island and Kings Island. Another area near Bowden’s Island, according to fall-fishing enthusiast and Brewer Lake cottage dweller Rob Howard of Bucksport, can produce some fine ingredients for a perch chowder. Morning and evening fishing with spinning-gear and garden hackle (that’s worms, for you newcomers to the sport) can produce enough perch for a meal. 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

The author and his wife plan to hit the road in search of great angling this summer hauling their new-to-them teardrop camper. Lemieux photo

by taking the Snow’s Corner Road from Route 15 to the Brewer Lake Road. Wight Pond, Silver Lake Another water worth spending a little fishing time on is Wight Pond, Map 15, A-3. This small, 135acre pond contains prime humpback habitat. Fast action for worm-eating perch is found near the north end of this water. Another 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 large-mouth bass and pickerel population. A third 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, can be 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 1- to 2- pound class, with an occasional 3-to 4-pound trophy a realistic possibility. Largemouth bass may also be a part of a day’s catch on this wa-

ter. 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. Washington County Waters Crawford Lake in Washington County is one of the best bass lakes in eastern Maine. Crawford is located just north of Route 9, Map 36, D-2. A gravel road allows easy access to an excellent public boat launching site on the lake’s eastern shore.

The shoreline is dotted with permanent and seasonal residences. The lake’s rocky shoals and numerous small islands establish high quality smallmouth bass habitat. Fishing is regularly good for bass in the 11to 13-inch size range, with fair numbers of larger fish in the 1-½ to 2-1/2 pound range caught each year. Largemouth bass of 4 lbs. are at times also caught from this water. The peak of bass fishing usually occurs in late June and early July. White perch are abundant, and they provide fast fishing in July. A reasonably good number of white perch are in the 10- to 12-inch size range are caught annually. Anglers make excellent catches of pickerel in the 1-1/2 to 3 -pound range. An especially productive area is off Maine Stream. Pickerel are readily caught by casting lures in the numerous weed beds. One productive area is off the mouth of Maine Stream. Casting lures (Downeast Region continued on page 62)

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60 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

From Ponds to Coastal Bays, Celebrate July with White Perch and Mackerel Along with homegrown vegetables and wild game, my family ate whatever fish were in season. In July, that meant mackerel and white perch. These graced our table interchangeably, depending upon whether we fished a nearby pond or made the short trip to Penobscot Bay. Even today, perch and mackerel stand as regular July fare for me, and here’s why. I enjoy catching and eating these species, and huge schools of both become available in July. Mackerel come in and out with the flowing tide, while perch, once they are located, go on fastpaced feeding sprees during which anglers can haul in dozens of fish in a short time. When white perch come to the boat by the bucketful, that means it’s time to save a few for fresh eating, while freezing the rest. Perch freeze well for about three months, before developing a slightly strong flavor. For long-term frozen fish, stick to crappies. In my experience those last a whole year without any perceptible change in flavor.

When targeting white perch, try a worm on a snelled hook coupled with small, red beads and a spinner blade. Your catch rates will soar. Mackerel do not last long in the freezer, but like perch, they will last for several months. It is important to split or butterfly mackerel before freezing. This allows you to place them in a freezer bag and then fully squeeze all air out of the bag, so the sides of the bag adhere to the flesh. Mackerel frozen whole do not last long, because there is no way to fully remove all the air in the body cavity. Perch Tricks “Lures catch more fish, but bait catches bigger fish,” applies to trolling for trout and salmon. Something similar applies when targeting white perch. “Worms catch more fish, but bait (shiners) catches bigger fish.” Artificial lures figure into the mix as well. Crappie jigs work well on white perch, and fish both large and small eagerly gobble them up. Here’s an interesting note regarding earthworms for white perch. A plain

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the jig settle to bottom and then work it slowly back. Even if I lack bait, I’m never under-gunned as long as my tackle box holds a good supply of crappie jigs.

The author displays two lunker white perch that fell to golden shiners fished near bottom.

worm on a hook catches perch aplenty, but when coupled with a spinner blade above it, catch rates soar. Eagle Claw sells snelled hooks with a single spinner blade above some small, red beads. This traditional rig continues to perform, and I recommend it for white perch fishing with earthworms. One other thing. Night crawlers are a second-best for perch. You’ll take fish, but a single night crawler isn’t a good choice, since the fish will nibble the tail and you’ll be left with half a worm. Half a night crawler is not very appealing to fish. Better to use one or two common earthworms, hooked so they dangle in an appealing manner. If using crappie or panfish jigs, the kind with a rubber body and lead jighead, let

School Days White perch have congregated into schools both large and small beginning in July. In the old days, familiarity with the water, gained by years of experimenting, told us where to seek schooling perch. Today, fish locators make the job simple. Just slowly cruise around with an eye to the screen, and look for groups of fish suspended a few to 10 or more feet off bottom. With or without the benefit of a fish locator, when you see or suspect a school of white perch, just drift along. Be careful not to make banging noises on the bottom of an aluminum boat, since those water transmits those vibrations and it can put the fish down. Continue drifting or slowly motoring, and when you pick up one or two fish, drop the anchor. Regarding anchoring, have your anchor ready, and try not to let it bang against the side of the boat. Let it slowly down and tie off, leaving a bit of slack if there is any

wind. If you were careful with the anchor, the fish should bite almost as soon as your lure or bait reaches bottom. Now is where planning comes into play. When fishing to schooling perch, remember that the school is likely to move on in search of food. But you can keep them around by the action of hooked fish. A fish fighting against the rod interests the school, and they remain out of curiosity. So unhook your perch and drop your hook back down as soon as possible. But what if you break your line? The time it takes to tie on a new hook or lure can be enough time for the school to lose interest and move on. That’s where your second (or third) pre-rigged rod comes in. Just place the rod with the broken line safely out of the way, pick up the other rod, and keep fishing. This works wonders, and hardly anybody does it. But now you know, so you, too, can become a perch-slaying machine. Mackerel, Too In July, visit any float, breakwater or pier and cast Diamond Jigs or Swedish Pimples, and mackerel will cooperate. Moving tides are best. Put your fish on ice for best results, keeping them fresh tasting for the table.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 61

No Need to Travel Far for Striped Bass One good thing about living in Central Maine is that it’s a short drive to salt water and to the stripers found there. Maine has plenty of opportunities for surfcasting. Let’s explore the how and where. Spin Gear A successful surfcaster needs only a comfortable seat, sand stake, fishing reel and rod, knife for cutting bait, cooler for bait and a small tackle box with replacements for everything. Any inexpensive open face spin casting reel that holds 20-lb. line will work; however, gear designed for fresh water simply won’t hold up to the extremes of sand and saltwater. For a modest investment, anglers can procure a Penn Spinfisher VI (Life Liner), matched with a quality 8-10 ft surfcasting rod like the St. Croix Mojo. If cleaned and maintained regularly, rods and reels of this quality will bring years of enjoyment. The Penn Spinfisher is designed for salt water, with internal components sealed to prevent sand and salt spray from getting into the gearbox or drag system. However, all gear should still be washed down with a spray of fresh water at the end of the day.

Sand Stakes Sand stakes, like

the 28-inch Sea Striker, provide a solid platform for pole and reel. They allow anglers to run multiple rod and reel set-ups, and to take a break from constantly holding the rod. For the budget-conscious angler, a modified PVC pipe offers a cheap way of holding the rod and reel out of the gritty sand. Cut a 2-inch diameter PVC pipe to a length of 32 inches, with one end square and the other cut at a 45-degree angle. Insert the sharp end into the sand; the other end holds the rod. Popular Fishing Locations Access to stripers is offered by several locations that are short drives from Central Maine: 1. Androscoggin River, by the Seadog Restaurant in Topsham 2. Mouth of Mousam River at Parson’s Beach 3. Kennebec River in Gardiner, off the town pier. 4. Popham Beach State Park 5. Reid State Park 6. Crescent Beach, and 7. Fishermen’s Park in Brewer, on the Penobscot River Of course the best spots to fish are those off the beaten path, and not those likely frequented by others. With Maine’s 3,478 miles of shoreline, there are lots of wonderful fishing locations

to explore. DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 5, is a good place to start! Braid Over Monofilament I recommend using braided lines. They have smaller diameters than monofilament, making it easier to fit more line on the reel, and they provide much greater casting range In addition, braided lines don’t stretch, meaning the angler can feel even a light strike. It’s also resistant to abrasion, making it perfect for the extremes of fishing

along Maine’s rocky coast. One of my favorite braided lines is SeaKing Monster W8 in 40-lb., low-vis green. While 40-pound test may seem overkill, my general rule is to use a 1 to 10 ratio, meaning a 4-oz. sinker to a 40-lb. line when casting, to protect against breakage. Since I only use weights up to 3 ounces, the 40-lb. test line provides plenty of protection against rigging loss. Plus, you never know when that truly epic fish of a lifetime

will bite, as happened to me last summer! The Rig A slider rig for chucking bait for striped bass is a relatively simple set-up. The rig consists of a #8 Octopus hook and 18-inch monofilament leader, slip slider rig and a three-ounce triangular lead weight. The slider rig allows the fish to take the bait without tension, creating a high percentage of hook-ups.

Bait For bait, I recom-

(Continued on next page)

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Central Maine (Continued from page 61)

mend fresh tinker mackerel. These small 7- to 8-inch mackerel can be easily cut into three pieces (head, middle, tail), providing a perfectly-sized bait. However, they need to be fresh, or at least freshly frozen and not something pulled out of a freezer from last season. Last summer, I had to resort to using “old” bait and never caught a fish in three hours of fishing while my brother, fishing beside me, hauled in seven fish. Finally, seeing that I had suffered long enough, he offered me his freshcaught bait, and I started hauling in fish.

State Regulations Striped Bass A person may take and possess 1 fish per day. The fish must be at least 28 inches and less than 35 inches total length. “Total length” is a straightline measurement from the lower jaw to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched together. Fish must remain whole and intact. Hook and line only, no gaffing of striped bass. No bait allowed when using treble hooks. It is unlawful to use more than two barbed or barbless treble hooks on any artificial lure or fly while fishing for striped bass

Downeast Region (Continued from page 59)

into the weed beds here often spells success for anglers. Fisherman at times catch fish in the 1-½ pound range. Travelin’ Angler Last fall, I purchased a used, 2015 T@B teardrop travel trailer. This summer, my wife Donna and I plan to travel above Greenville to fly fish in June. We also plan to take our off-road Outback camper and go fishing at Sabao Lake in July. Lower Sabao Lake, Map

The author with 48-inch Striped Bass from 2020 season.

in territorial waters. It is unlawful to use any hook other than a non-offset circle hook when using bait. Exception: Rubber or latex tube lures may be used without a circle hook, as long as they are a minimum of 8 inches long and have a single hook protruding

from the end portion of the tubing where bait may be attached. Be aware of special regulations for striped bass for the Kennebec, the Sheepscot and Androscoggin Rivers and all related bays and tributaries. These areas have a catch-and-release sea-

35, E-1, is located in a remote area of T35MD. You can drive right to the lake over the Sabao Road, which leaves Rt.9 (the “Airline”) in Township 30. Be prepared for a long drive of more than 10 miles over gravel roads. Beautiful wilderness scenery abounds at Lower Sabao. Folks are often provided opportunities to watch moose at dawn or dusk by paddling along the shoreline. Tall red pines overlook the lake’s reddish-brown waters, and wide, sand beaches nearly encircle the lake. There is a good boat landing and a fine Forest Service tenting site.

son with special gear restrictions from May 1 through June 30. Fishing in this area is restricted to single hooked artificial lures only, and use of or possession of marine bait, dead or alive, is prohibited.

Fire pits, picnic tables and outhouses are the only amenities provided. Lower Sabao Campground has tent and RV sites, but no hookups for electricity or water. You can make reservations online for Lower Sabao Lake Campground at campingdwe.com, starting at $20 per site. The lake’s habitat is ideally suited for white perch and chain pickerel. Anglers report that the catch rate is above average, and summer perch fishing is especially popular.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 63

Who Got the Last Laugh? “Why don’t you do something about her?” That was what many of the ice fishermen at Lake Wassookeag, in Dexter, were asking me when I made my rounds out on the ice. In the early eighties, the smelts were plentiful there, and several clusters of ice fishing shacks populated the lake. The regulations required anglers to fish for smelts using only hook and line, and not by any other means. The activity was quite competitive among the fishing enthusiasts, so who was having the most success was always a topic. It seemed that one woman, who I will call Jane, usually fished alone, was consistently having better luck than all the others. This was generating complaints directed towards me, along with various theories on how she was managing to have such good luck. The most popular theory was that she was utilizing a handheld net to scoop a small school of smelts that were attracted to some bait. I knew something was up, but catching her was proving difficult, as Jane was a veteran smelt fishing person with previous brushes with the law. There were several shacks close to hers, but she kept the door closed, and if she sensed I was around

I already had one conviction under my belt. The door to Jane’s smelt shack was half open. I glanced inside, and got the shock of my life. she would lock the door, as she could most always hear somebody approaching her shack. Additionally, every time I would come out on the ice, someone would invariably pipe up and announce, “Here comes the warden!” Underwater Camera? For most of the winter I tried different methods, but she always outsmarted me. This was very frustrating as the other fishermen kept asking me, “Why don’t you do something about her?” I tried to think of new ways to address the problem, even to the point of considering placing a shack right next to hers and utilizing an underwater camera to watch her hole in the ice, but keeping that a secret with all the people around would be impossible. My Opportunity Arises Then came a warm day in March when I came to the smelt fishing grounds and could see her vehicle was there, but very few other fishermen were around. I made my way out onto the ice. Due to the warmth of day, the snow was soft, and I was able

to walk quietly to her shack without having to speak to anyone. I grabbed the door handle, and to my surprise the door opened right up. Jane was seated with her back to the door, and she turned to look at me. Soon thereafter, she pulled a net with a wooden handle partially out of the water, then she dropped it back into the hole. I retrieved the net, which still had two or three smelts in it, and asked her to step outside with me where we could talk, as the ceiling in the shack was too low for me to stand up straight in. Jane had a heavy Maine accent, and asked “Whatfor?” I replied, “You know whatfor.” Jane requested a trial at Newport court before District Court Judge F. Davis Clark. On March 28, 1984 the hearing was held, a finding of guilty was adjudged, and a fine of $50 imposed.

The only contention at trial was exactly how long the handle on the net was, so Judge Clark said, “Why don’t we just measure it?” not that it made any difference one way or the other. Judge Clark loved to hear any fish or game cases. I think he looked at it as a break from his ordinary runof-the-mill caseload, and then he could throw in some story about the old days up in Piscataquis County hunting or fishing with his grand daddy. Repeat Performance? The next winter Jane was back smelt fishing at Lake Wassookeag. She had an improved shack in the same general area along with seven or eight other shacks, all gathered fairly close together. So, on a rather pleasant day, I made my way out to this group of shacks and engaged in conversation with several fish-

Sportsman The Maine

ermen. Everyone was aware of my presence, and it was a laid-back and cordial event. After a few minutes of small talk, I began to just take a walk around the shacks and make a general inspection of the area. As I passed by Jane’s shack, the door was half open and there, in plain sight, was Jane sitting on a porta potty with her pants down. I quickly glanced away and kept going, but Jane began to screaming at the top of her lungs, yelling “Help! Help! He is peeking at me!” You can imagine the range of reaction from all the other smelters. I’d clearly been had, but I will leave it to you, fair readers, to decide, “Who got the last laugh?”

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Iconic St. John and Allagash River Trips Call Out to Paddlers Folks drive all the way across the country to experience river trips on Maine’s impressive waterways. Isn’t it time our state’s paddlers cleared their schedules and made time to traverse these rivers, which are right in our own backyard? In the bow of the canoe, my 70-pound, half-Lab family-dog soaked up the morning sun as we slipped downriver a few yards from a breeding pair of Black Ducks. The hen gabbled noisily as the two birds darted nervously back and forth, calculating whether the red Old Town and its occupants presented a safety hazard sufficient to send them into flight. My dog, Tucker, never lifted his head from the gunnel as we passed by a few feet from the noisy ducks. In his separate canoe, fellow river-tripper Wayne Sturdivant remarked on the keen hunting instincts of my canine companion. “Just wait ’til he comes out of stealth mode,” I replied. “He’s a killer on tennis balls

and dog treats.” St. John Headwaters are Early Season Medicine We were on the second day of our nearly week-long canoe trip from Baker Lake to Allagash Village. The St. John presents paddlers with an early-season alternative to the more popular Allagash River trip. Our route passed through a hundred miles of remote northern forest terrain that tips northward along the Canadian border toward the crown of Maine. Arguably more remote and more challenging than the Allagash, the St. John is recognized internationally as a premiere northern-forest canoe-camping experi-

Lunch time on the Allagash. www.MaineSportsman.com

ence. But the annual window of opportunity for tripping here is brief. A few weeks in late May and early June have traditionally been the only option for reliably navigable water levels. Canoeists often encounter the remains of river ice pushed onto shore by the spring torrent at break-up. By the time those icebergs have fully melted, the mighty St. John sometimes resembles a trickle through a rockstrewn gravel pit. Allagash is the Reliable Grandad of Maine River Trips With multiple huge lakes serving as headwaters, the Allagash reliably provides navigable waters throughout the summer. In late season, the channel for

Long Lake Dam, Allagash

Ever-vigilant fierce hunter. All photos: Jim Andrews

a loaded tripping canoe might be confined to a narrow chute in some spots, but it will be there. Standing to pole or paddle allows canoeists to pick their paths northward and find the deepest water. There are lots of shorter trips that can be arranged by putting in at various access points along the waterway. But every Maine outdoorsperson should experience the entire length of the waterway in one trip, at least once in their lives. In modern times this means paddling from Cham-

berlain Bridge (DeLorme, Map56, E-1) to Allagash Village (Map 66, D-4). It’s a bit less than 100 miles of lake and river travel. And it will take most canoeists 6 or 7 days to do the complete trip. For those who paddle the waterway often, the river is never the same trip twice. Even the most experienced Allagash guides tell us that the combination of weather, water conditions, companions and time of year make each trip unique. (Continued on next page)

Allagash shuttle service.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 65

Making the Case for Rainbow Trout They grow fast, eat alewives, survive warm water, can compete with pike, and taste good. What’s not to like? In the area in which I live, stocked brook trout can be caught in just about every big lake or pond around. They get put in these lakes to be caught and kept. Many don’t make it through the summer due to water quality and invasive species. They also don’t grow very big. Browns are a good alternative, because they can compete better with other species and show better growth, but their catch rates are much lower than brook trout. DIFW Experiment? But what seems

to be an experiment by DIWF looks to be a big hit for a lake in the Belgrade region, and that is rainbow trout. These fish can live side-by-side with northern pike, while growing upwards of five pounds. The lake used to be an incredible salmon fishery back before the illegal introduction of pike wreaked havoc on the salmon population. Then the introduction of landlocked alewives killed off the smelts through competition, and finally the salmon were gone. Brown trout were

Self-Propelled (Continued from page 64)

Maine’s Embarrassment of Riches Having two of the finest long river trips in the world at our fingertips spoils us to a certain degree. I met a couple from Colorado on the St. John this spring. They had driven across the country with their canoe, gear and two big dogs to catch the early season on the headwaters. And while they often did raft trips in their home state and other western spots, they were willing to travel thousands of miles to canoe in Maine. I began to think, in comparison to their trip, that the long drive from home over rough roads to our put-in spot at Baker Lake didn’t seem so bad after all. If the last year has taught us anything at all, it’s that the future is uncertain. Delaying a big river trip that we have always yearned to do is less of

stocked as an alternative and they did well, but the catch return was really low. Stocking ’Bows So an experiment was put together by the state to stock rainbows and see how that went. Now, a few years later, biologists are netting 5-plus-pound fish, and lucky fishermen are seeing huge fish come out of there, also. And unlike salmon, these fish are very healthy. Rainbows have no problem making alewives into a food source, which is a good thing, because

A viable alternative for waters that are too warm or inhospitable for more sensitive trout? Giampetruzzi photo

there’s plenty of alewives in there. Rainbows have amazing colors, and though they might not be the prized brook trout the state is known for, I think it’s a good thing the state is stocking ’bows in lakes that won’t support a good salmon or brook trout fishery. They fight good, make great table fare, grow fast and – big plus –

they can live along with invasive species. Maybe this is not the most ideal situation, but with the way southern Maine’s lakes and ponds have changed, I think rainbow trout would be a smart way to grow bigger trout that don’t need to be raised to that size at the hatchery.

an option now. Just because the rivers are relatively close to us, and relatively protected for now, and relatively unchanged in their biosphere, it doesn’t mean that will always be the case. I will always regret that I missed the heyday of trout fishing on the St. John – before the introduction of Muskies that changed the entire river system forever. Preparation is the Key Hundreds of sources can help prepare you for the practical mechanics of your trip. Maine’s two river giants are very much approachable for do-ityourself planning and execution. Your trip will be immensely easier and more enjoyable if you at least employ local shuttle services and suppliers at each end of your adventure. And some may want to employ a Maine Guide to plan and lead the full expedition. Guided Maine river trips are a financial bargain.

A great way to spend a summer!

No matter how the practicalities work out, each canoeist should remember to bring a special mindset to their trip. Philosophy doesn’t need to be complicated. Life is short. The only constant is change. As Thoreau wrote, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.

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66 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Lyme Disease and the Prognosis for a Vaccine The medical world mobilized against Covid-19, says the author – now isn’t it time to use all that energy and experience, and all those resources, in the search for an effective vaccine for Lyme Disease? Now that we are all experts in epidemiology, vaccines, mRNA and clinical trials, a voice inside my head keeps yelling – OK, NOW FIND A VACCINE FOR LYME DISEASE! Tick to Trout Ratio Yesterday, I went trout fishing on a small stream near my house. I caught four nice brookies. Then, between stepping out of the stream and finishing a beer on my front porch, I pulled eight ticks off of my shirt, arms and ear. Yes, the tick to trout ratio is troubling. And concerns about ticks and Lyme disease carry over into many other high-risk outdoor activities, like gardening, and even indoor activities like petting your dog or cat. Increased Exposure The COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged millions of people to get outdoors on a daily basis. The ticks are loving it. Over 50% of Americans now live in areas where Lyme disease occurs in ticks. When I was a kid, ticks were pretty much a non-issue. The data are not yet in, but experts have predicted a sizwww.MaineSportsman.com

able increase in the number of people contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as a result of the pandemic. I found one report that said Lyme disease in the US is up six percent from last year, but that number is preliminary. To make matters worse, one medical journal noted that some patients were late in getting diagnosed with Lyme disease because of delays and fears in getting timely health care, and confusion about symptoms with other ailments, including Covid-19. Time for Lyme With all we’ve been through, the time to finally create a human vaccine for Lyme disease is here. As one person put it, “Here we are in the third decade of the 21st century, and we have a Lyme vaccine for my dog, but not one for me.” The good news is that there is a promising vaccine in development for both adults and children. In March 2021, Pfizer and a specialty vaccine company called Valneva SE announced Phase 2 trials of a vaccine called VLA15. It ap-

pears to work against six different stains of the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that cause the disease. The goal is to determine the effects of different doses and timing regimes before moving on to a Phase 3 trial, expected soon. In a Phase 3 trial, the vaccine is given to thousands of volunteers to determine efficacy and safety. This Phase 2 trial was extended to include children age 5 and older. The good news is that everything looks promising, and we could have a vaccine for ourselves and our kids as early as 2022. Fortunately, we won’t have to worry about herd immunity or anti-vaccination campaigns. Unlike communicable diseases such as measles or Covid-19, Lyme disease vaccination is more of an individual choice. When a vaccine is available, we can decide for ourselves whether it is the right thing for us. Past Problems The bad news is that a previous Lyme disease vaccine that was approved in 1998 was pulled from the market by its manufacturer after three

Deer tick -- carrier of Lyme Disease

years due to lack of demand. The vaccine called LYMErix took over a year (two tick seasons) to become 76-92% effective after three injections. There was a bunch of bad media coverage after a lawsuit was filed alleging harmful side effects, even though the FDA found no evidence that vaccine caused the adverse reactions. Since 2002, there have been few serious efforts at a Lyme vaccine until now. Hopefully, this time they will get it right. mRNA to the Rescue? The question on everyone’s mind is probably “With the wonders of mRNA for the Covid vaccine, bringing a Lyme vaccine to market should be a snap, right?” The answer to that, as far as I can tell, is that the VLA15

vaccine does not use appear to use mRNA technology. It targets the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia, an established mechanism of action for a Lyme disease vaccine. But Lyme disease isn’t the only tickborne disease to worry about. There is an effort underway to use mRNA on the tickborne virus called Powassan. A 2019 article indicates that the vaccine was effective in mice and seems to work on several related viruses. Hopefully, after the success of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, work on mRNA options for tick-borne diseases will accelerate. Another Approach At UMass-Amherst, researchers are (Sporting Environment continued on page 69)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 67

Slamming Salmon This Month? Heck Yes! I was guiding two women clients. One hooked a togue; the other a salmon. The salmon did a taildance mere feet from the boat. We all laughed. Later, one was posing with a salmon, and it jumped from her grasp and back into the lake. Good times! Something funny happened on the lake last July. The heat of the summer, starting in July on Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1) forces anglers to fish deep for lake trout and look for salmon at deeper locations, too. But word was getting around the close knit band of guides on the lake. We were getting into salmon just under the surface. When I first heard it, I couldn’t believe my ears! Salmon don’t come to the surface in July. Had they all gotten together to prank me? So I started running fly rods with sinking line on my outings, both with clients and without. Sure enough, I would occasionally get a salmon. Then we started paying attention to what was happening. When we got into salmon lake trout up top, we were trolling through a bait ball, according to our electronics. This also coincided with seeing a commotion on the water from birds dive-bombing for something. That had to be the bait that was being chased to the surface by salmon and togue. So now we had it down to a science. We

would troll bottom per usual for lakers, scanning the lake for a conglomeration of birds. They could be seagulls, loons, mergansers or any water bird that eats fish. I carry a pair of good binoculars when fishing, and they helped me to search for circling or diving birds. If we spotted this occurrence, we would motor over and deploy a shallow line set up. Nothing is more exciting than a salmon on a wispy fly rod, so I use a trolling fly line with a 30-foot leader of 8-pound fluorocarbon. When targeting salmon on top, sometimes I will only let out the leader. One early July morning, I was guiding two women from central Maine when we started seeing the birds, and then we got into some salmon and lakers. One of the fly reels got snarled at the same time a downrigger tripped, indicating a fish on. I shoved the out-of-commission fly rod outfit in the port rod holder with a still-baited sliding bait harness only 12 feet from the end of the rod. One of the clients brought in the lake trout that struck the

bottom-hugging downrigger. All of a sudden, the disabled rod doubled over and started thumping. I snatched it from the rod holder and instructed Client #2 to pull the line in as best as she could. Now the salmon broke the surface and did its inimitable tail dance, all mere feet from the boat. How she managed to bring that spirited fish in is beyond my comprehension, but she did. We all had a good laugh. That is until her fishing friend was holding a salmon and it jumped from her grasp and back into the lake. A fun outing, to say the least. Unconventional Tactics Our discovery of bait-slashing salmon coming to the surface lasted all summer and long into the fall. We would report bird sightings to each other, hoping all could get their clients in on the action. I was in workfrom-home mode, and my home office looked out on the lake. I keep my binoculars by my desk, and on more than one occasion I texted a fellow guide with info on where the birds were congregating on the water. All for one, and one for all.

While fishing with the author on his boat, the “Black Ghost,” this happy client kissed her salmon. Photo by Tom Roth

I checked the surface temperature of the lake and was amazed to see it was in the mid- to high-70s. Way too warm for salmon, or so I thought. I phoned regional Fisheries Biologist Jim Pellerin to get his take on the current state of affairs. He agreed with my hypothesis

– those salmon were chasing the alewives toward the surface, drawing in the birds. Pellerin asked me if any of the fish we kept had smelts in their stomachs. I replied no, they were burping up alewives. While it was good we were catching (Sebago to Auburn continued on page 69)

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68 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The Great Pandemic Fur Auction An impressive number of furs were sold at the April 25, 2021 auction sponsored by the Central Maine Chapter of Maine Trappers Association – 574 beaver, 464 muskrat, 111 coyote, 78 mink, 45 otter, 23 red fox, 11 fisher, 8 raccoon, 9 skunk and 7 grey fox. There has not been a fur auction in Maine (or elsewhere) since the pandemic started. Many trappers have placed their furs in freezers awaiting an auction. Many local Maine fur buyers have been hesitant to buy furs because of the impact of the pandemic on the large international auctions. Many have their freezers full of furs awaiting the opening of the overseas auctions, while some are waiting for the market to go up, in hopes of making a larger profit. In recent years, the price of our wild furs has been at a record low point due to U.S. sanctions, foreign economy fluctuations

www.MaineSportsman.com

and oversea fur farming. The first Maine auction held since the pandemic started was on 25 April, 2021. The auction was sponsored by one of the Maine Trappers Association chapters, the Central Maine Chapter. This drew in a number of trappers with some nice furs. This chapter has held the largest annual fur auction in Maine for a number of years, and is one of the more active chapters. Among other things they manage and maintain the Trappers Museum at the Windsor Fair Grounds. The President of the Central Maine Chapter is

Ted Perkins; Director & Secretary is Adam Vashon; and Treasurer is Dan McAllister. The chapter currently has 37 active members. Traditionally, once trappers are done handling their pelts and have removed them from the stretching boards, they have several ways to sell their furs. Most go to a local Maine fur buyer, some ship their furs off to the international sales, while others bring their furs to a Maine Trappers Association fur auction. The two biggest auctions are held annually, one by the Central Maine Chapter in Palmyra Maine at the

Nine year old Jace Ireland sold his muskrat furs for a nice price. David Miller photos

Community Center, and the other by the York County Chapter, held at the North Berwick Rod & Gun Club. Basically, a fur auction is an event where trappers bring their furs, and a buyer grades each pelt by species. The buyers then offer the trapper a price for their furs. The way it works at these large auctions is the trappers come in and are given lot numbers for their furs. Long rows of tables are set up, and the lot numbers are called out numerically. The trappers place their furs on the tables in the order called out. The buyers in attendance individually grade each pile

of fur by species, writing down an offer for each lot. The offers are given to a chapter representative, who looks at them. Once all have been received for that lot, the chapter representative takes out the highest bid. After all the lots on the tables have been bid on, then a chapter representative calls out the lot numbers in order with the number of fur, as well as the bid amount. The trapper goes up and gets the buyer’s offer, then he can accept the offer, or he can take back his furs. This sequence of events repeats itself until all the trappers (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 69

A nice stack of beaver pelts awaiting bids. (Continued from page 68)

have presented their furs to the buyers. At this year’s auction, all attendees were required to wear masks. There were two Maine Game Wardens in attendance for tagging pelts if required. They were Wardens Johnson and D’elia. One of the highlights of the auction was a 9 year old boy by the name of Jace

Jason Vance displayed an impressive pile of 78 coyote furs.

Ireland, who brought in his first catch. He had 10 muskrat, and he was given Lot Number One. When the $51 offer was announced, the look on his face told it all. He was sitting near me, and I can assure you that when they called out his high bid, a new trapper was born. His father and grandfather had brought him down to the auction from

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 66)

trying to develop a different approach, called Lyme PrEP. This is not really a vaccine, but it “delivers a single anti-Lyme antibody directly to a person rather than triggering the patient’s own immune system to make many antibodies as vaccines do.” Lyme PrEP is intended to work as a

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 67)

them, Pellerin was hoping for smelts to fill the stomachs of our catches, a sign of the return of smelt. Laker Takers As stated earlier, lakers go down deep as the summer heat comes in. Angling methods are varied, but here are a few techniques to fish for deep lake trout. Most serious anglers on the lake use downriggers. They get the line

Passadumkeag. One of them had placed a small sign by his furs that said, “First Year Trapper – 9 years old – be kind.” Another trapper, Jason Vance, presented an impressive pile of 78 coyote pelts. Someone had set up a small table off to the side with several furs and associated signs explaining how furs are graded. Many of the younger trap-

Fisher furs with the lot sheet filled out.

pers were looking that display over. There were quite a few piles of well-handled, quality fur brought to the auction. These included beaver, otter, coyotes, fisher, foxes, mink and muskrat. Others in lesser amounts included skunk and raccoon, and there may have even been an opossum or two hiding among the piles of fur. Considering the

seasonal shot that people can get once a year before tick season begins. The results in mice are encouraging and Phase 1 clinical trials are expected in 2021. Practical Protection Meanwhile, we must continue to do what we’ve been doing for years: • Wear light-colored clothing when outdoors so ticks are more visible • Treat your outdoor clothes and shoes with permethrin (follow instrucdown to an exact depth. The modern ones, like what I run, will even track the bottom, keeping your bait or lure at a fixed distance from the bottom surface of the lake. They are self-motorized, so it’s not necessary to handcrank up a heavy cannonball. To spice things up a bit, I tie on a large flatfish, often in orange or green, and drag lead core line in 60 feet or so of water. I send the flatfish down until I feel it digging into bottom and letting go. I try to run areas with a sandy

limited number of trappers attending due to concerns over COVID-19, the auction processed an impressive number of furs – 574 beaver, 111 coyote, 11 fisher, 7 grey fox, 78 mink, 464 muskrat, 45 otter, 8 raccoon, 23 red fox, 9 skunk and an unknown weight of beaver castor which sold for an average of $70 a pound.

tions, and be careful near pets) • Use insect repellents that work on ticks, such as DEET or picaridin • Do full body tick checks immediately upon returning from outdoors, and again before bed. • Remove biting ticks quickly with tweezers or tick-removal tools • Check your pets daily and have them treated with Lyme vaccines. Now go outside and enjoy yourself!

bottom to avoid getting hung up. The trick is to get the lip of the lure to just touch the sand, stirring up a commotion. I seem to always get larger lakers on these big lures. Sebago gets busy this month, but early anglers can have the lake to themselves. Be ready for topside action in case the salmon do the same things this summer as last. Also go deep for lakers this month. I’m betting they’ll be there.

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70 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Now’s the Time to Scout Deer in Isolated Public Lands I am lucky – I have access to large blocks of land to hunt and fish in southern Maine, due to the fact that I’ve lived here all my life. Many of these properties are posted because of continuing illegal off-road, use and dumping of household trash. Regardless, I have the right to use game cameras and tree stands and exclusive parking locations, and I have the right to camp on some lands, as well. Not everyone has this advantage, and those folks have to go knocking on doors requesting landowner permission to go on their properties. Another option is to hunt and fish on public lands. For those who choose to go the public land route, there are many locations that offer good hunting and fishing. In fact, some public lands are as good or even better then private lands in this region. WMAs, Parks, Refuges, Forests Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), as an example, are managed for wildlife, whereas most private lands are managed solely for profit, although some responsible landowners hire professionals to manage their properties for fish and wildlife, and for timber productions. I’m not going to spoon-feed you locations – you’ll need to put in time exploring www.MaineSportsman.com

Savvy hunters don’t wait until just before the season opens to scout deer on public lands. Instead, they start in the summer months. Think of it as “hunting” all year long, but “shooting” only during the season. It’s not too early to start your scouting in the months of July and August.

This buck, caught on a game camera in late July, apparently went windowshopping for does every few weeks. The author’s trail camera data shows hundreds of does in this core area. Bucks pass through the area but never -- at least this time of year – following doe trails. Photos by Val Marquez

the back country of the following public lands to figure out where to place your treestand or cast a line. Plus each area has its own rules as to tree stand use, campfires and parking. The options are Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), State Parks and forests, Wildlife Refuges, and towns’ public forests. You can study IF&W and other appropriate

websites for information on each. In this column, I will concentrate on WMAs. One WMA to avoid hunting on is the Kennebunk Plains, located in Sanford and Kennebunk. It has special seasonal rules to protect endangered species known to inhabit the area. You need to always read and follow signs posted at each WMA.

Wildlife Management Areas There are 69 WMAs statewide, and 11 are located here in southern Maine. All are open to the public for hunting, fishing and other outdoor use. One of the purposes of WMAs is to preserve, protect and enhance fish and wildlife. Generally, WMAs are open for all recreational use – with the exception of Ken-

nebunk Plains WMA. There’s no camping or fires allowed on WMAs, and ATVs are generally allowed only on maintained gravel roads with vehicular access and approved ATV trails. All WMAs are open for hunting and fishing. Swimming is prohibited, except in designated areas that are clearly posted. All WMAs have red painted blazes and signs to mark their boundaries. The following WMAs are a few I have hunted and fish on. I can assure you that they offer good hunting and fishing opportunities: • Mount Agamenticus, located in Eliot, South Berwick, York and Wells. • Vernon S. Walker WMA in Limerick, Shapleigh and Newfield; and • Newfield WMA, in Shapleigh and Newfield. The areas have well-managed lands geared towards wildlife, and they offer good hunting for deer and small game, as well as fishing opportunities. But to take advantage of the good hunting you need to use the back door and explore the more remote areas of the WMAs. Off the Beaten Path Game animals on these WMAs have been conditioned and trained for generations to avoid human (Southern Maine continued on page 72)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 71

Responsible Catch-and-Eat Fishing in Maine “How many did you catch over there?” I hollered to the two guys fishing from the rowboat. I could see them netting several fish in the distance, and when they got close enough to me I just had to know. “We caught a bunch of little ones, maybe six-inchers, and kept a couple that were about 10 or 12 inches,” they answered. “My wife likes brook trout, so we’ll have them for dinner.” In this particular pond, stocked by biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW), anglers are allowed to keep two fish over six inches. Personally, I only keep stocked fish that have been in the water for a few years – in this pond that would be a fish over ten inches. I like the idea that I’m not eating a fish that just came from the hatchery ... maybe a little wilder and tastier? I have eaten stocked fish from glacial ponds that were just over six inches, because that’s all that was available and I was hungry. Climbing up the side of a mountain to fish a small pond can work up an appetite – for something more than a commercial, freezedried meal can satisfy. Nothing seasons a meal of fresh brook trout better than a

two-hour climb – although, I think the best tasting brookies I’ve ever tried were wild and came from Nesowadnehunk Lake near Baxter Park. Normally, I wouldn’t eat a wild brook trout, but the brookies in this lake are so plentiful that DIF&W biologists pull trout from the beautiful lake to help supply hatcheries throughout the state. In My Experience Over the years, I’ve noticed a few things and tried to confirm my own fishing experiences in the Rangeley Region with other anglers, fisheries biologists, and folks I would consider experienced in the outdoors. I like to compare my own experiences with those of others to make sure I get my information straight. Years ago, an angler could tell a stocked fish from a wild fish by looking for clipped fins – biologists snipped a fin to identify hatchery fish from the general population. I also noticed back then that the flesh of recently-stocked fish had a pale white color, rather than the rich, pink-colored meat of a wild fish. I’ve caught stocked fish that had been in the wild for a few years and noticed they have a more pinkish color ... maybe from eating in the wild. Nowadays, I don’t notice clipped fins or pale flesh as indicators

to determine the difference between stocked or wild trout. Biologists have told me that they hardly, if at all, clip fins anymore, and that the hatchery uses shrimp-based feed for some fish that makes the fish flesh nice and pink. So determining the difference between wild and stocked fish can be difficult. Rangeley angler Steve Marsters showed me a few identifying features to look for when trying to figure out the difference. The woods-wise angler said, “I look for dorsal and pectoral fin damage on the stocked fish, from scraping against the concrete walls of the hatchery ... the wild fish don’t have damaged pectoral fins, and their dorsal fin sits straight up from their back. Many of the stock fish have a dorsal fin that lies flat and close to their body.” Ethics of Eating Most anglers nowadays have been almost brainwashed into releasing every fish they catch. Years ago, there was a push to get anglers to think about the resource more, encouraging them to take fewer fish and put more back in for the next person. The effort worked great! I strongly encourage anglers to stick with this idea of releasing fish, but to also use their heads when

The author, William Clunie, enjoys a fish taco from Bald Mountain Camps, as well as a few fish he catches from the wild.

trying to determine what the ethical choice is when it comes to keeping a few fish for the frying pan. Some folks make it easy and simply refuse to take any fish home, under any circum-

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stances. That’s fine if that’s their personal choice, as long as they don’t expect all anglers to hold this same opinion of whether or not to keep a fish. In speaking with (Continued on next page)

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72 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Rangeley Region (Continued from page 71)

numerous fisheries biologists around the state, most will tell the same story – they stock fish so people can enjoy taking them

home for a meal. At the same time, taking fish out of certain waters might not be the right thing to do. As a general rule, the biol-

Southern Maine (Continued from page 70)

Here’s a shack designed to provide opportunities for shooters with disabilities that’s located on a local WMA. Most WMAs have facilities accessible to folks with disabilities.

ogists set regulations that adhere to a policy of what is best for each water around the state. If there’s a law limiting the bag limit to zero, there a good reason for it. Personally, I like to keep a few fish now

and then for eating. I really enjoy the taste of a fish that comes from the wild rather than the store. I actually believe that in some waters, taking a fish or two now and then helps the others grow larger by reduc-

contact. They have learned to avoid areas where people hike, pick berries, and walk dogs. Hiking trails, roads and parking areas on WMAs have concentrated levels of human and dog scent year round, and so deer are on alert near them. In my experience, hunters need to get at least 200 yards from these locations to find more deer activity and to encounter more relaxed deer. If you plan to hunt these WMAs, you should locate remote access areas away from all roads and trails. To locate good hunting spots, look for thick and remote ambush sites. Then look for key foods like acorns and water sources, and always remember the old adage, “Bucks high; does low.” In general, look for doe sign in fertile deer cover with consistent year-round food availability.

ing the impact of too many fish on the available supply of food for that specific piece of water. Make your own decisions based on the law, as well as current information.

Once you locate doe family core areas, then check out the most thick and nasty hell-holes nearby and, if available, higher ground, and you will find buck sign. During the rut, bucks will venture out more into the open as they cruise for does. My trail camera data show that during the summer, bucks will pass through doe core areas every few weeks, apparently just to window-shop for does. Most hunters start deer scouting just prior to the season opener, but savvy hunters scout year round. A good method to consider is hunt deer all year but only kill during the hunting season. The months of July and August are not too early to start a scouting deer program on public lands.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 73

Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Proves Itself When I am on a river or stream fishing moving water from a kayak, I glide quietly past the fishing location, turn the craft back upstream, and then cast to the fishy-looking area from a downstream location. I have been searching for just the right kayak for fishing and maybe some duck hunting ... and I finally found it – an Old Town Sportsman “Salty” 120 PDL. Other kayaks I have tried to fish out of worked fine most of the time when paddling in lakes or ponds. On rivers and streams, I often use them to “get to” fishing areas, then get out and wade-fish. They work great for getting to spots that I couldn’t reach when wading. Actually, fishing out of a kayak has really frustrated me at times. Getting a kayak to stay in position while casting a fly rod on moving water, or even in the wind on a lake or pond, just doesn’t work. An anchor can be used on flat water, but in the current of a river it can cause trouble by violently tossing the craft about and possibly tipping it or pulling it under. After testing an Old Town pedal kayak a few years ago, I found that I can easily keep the craft in position with the pedals while casting and fishing on lakes and ponds ... but moving water

can still be a problem. In the Stream What I do to fish out of a kayak on the moving water of a stream or river is to pass the chosen fishing location, turn the craft back upstream, and then proceed to cast to the fishy looking area from a downstream location. If the current is slow, like in a flat eddy, I can actually anchor the craft with a stake-out pole through one of the scupper holes in the kayak. I made this “anchor pole” out of a fiberglass gardening stake from Lowe’s, forming a handle out of a “T” section of PVC pipe and a piece of foam pipe insulation. There are loads of YouTube.com videos that detail the build. The stake-out pole anchor holds the kayak steady while I cast to a specific location. When I’m done casting, or I catch and release a fish, I just lift the stake-out pole out of the scupper hole and take off again downstream. Another option, if the current isn’t too strong, is pedal power. The new Old Town kayak is just about the fastest pedal kayak on

the market, if not THE fastest ... so holding the craft steady in a current isn’t too tough, as long as the water isn’t moving really fast. The Old Town pedal system allows anglers to move in reverse – this also helps in maintaining a specific position while fishing. One of the most frustrating things for me is to lay my fly line out in one direction and have the kayak start turning away from where the fly landed. With the pedal power, I can tweak the direction of the kayak easily by using my feet on the pedals. I really like this because my hands are free for casting and retrieving my fly, netting the fish, or whatever else I need to do. Subtle Changes I’ve made a few subtle changes to the kayak to reflect my own angling desires. My number one change involves the already-comfortable seat. My other kayaks have me seated too close to the water. My back can’t take sitting in that position for hours on end, but this new kayak seat is higher off the deck,

The propulsion pedals, as viewed from the comfortable seat of one of Old Town’s PDL kayaks. Photo: Old Town Canoe

and it’s the ultimate in comfort. I can slide it forward or backward to suit my leg length on the built-in channels on the gunwales. I will be shimming the seat frame a little, just to get about another inch or so of elevation – it really helps if you like to stand to cast. Yes, you can actually stand up in these stable kayaks to cast or stretch your legs. The next change I made was to zip-tie a four-inch section of foam pipe insulation

to the top of the pedal system, right on the handle. I tied it with the slot opened up so it can hold my fly rod in position if I need to use the paddle. I don’t like laying my fly rod on the deck ... too many chances of crunching it under foot. The next change improves the keel system used for steering the kayak. The kayaks come from the factory with a pin in the hinge of the keel system that rattles and drifts from side to side. This slight (Continued on next page)

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74 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Western Maine (Continued from page 73)

distraction annoys me, so I ordered a new pin that solves the rattle by gripping it with

plastic “O” rings on each end of the pin. These slight changes are not real-

ly needed; I’m just a picky angler, I guess. It’s just that I’ve been doing this for a good number of years, and I know what I like and don’t like. I like

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The Maine Sportsman

the ability to keep my focus on fishing rather than messing with the boat. This new Old Town Sportsman “Salty” PDL 120 is the cat’s meow. I’m guess-

ing the fish will just jump right on in the kayak, and save me all the hoopla.

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A happy John LaMarca of Bowdoinham earned his Maine Turkey Hunters Club patch on May 13, 2021 with this 20-pound, 3-ounce tom. The bird was certified at the Bowdoinham Country Store on River Road.

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A Moose-Summer Night’s Dream At this time, there are 4,030 lucky Maine moose permit-holders, a soon-to-be 94 Vermont moose permit holders, and a laughable 42 NH moose permittees. For many of these lucky winners, it will be their first moose hunt. Inevitably, there will be a good number of people who are simply in over their head because they’ve failed to prepare and put in the hard work. Thankfully, though, there will be many more lucky winners who have dreamt of this hunt their entire lives and have spent years in anticipation and preparation. There will also be a few who have been around the block a few times and are experiencing their fourth or fifth moose rodeo. (Note to these people: don’t brag about it being your fifth tag to people who have been waiting decades to get drawn; you might lose some friends.) What to do once you’ve been drawn? Too many people put off moose hunt prep until the week before the season starts. Though the two weeks preceding the hunt are important for locating specific moose hunting areas (because moose migrate from summer areas to fall areas), your general hunt preparation should be-

Got your moose permit? Often, in order to gain valuable information about where and how to fill your moose tag, all you have to do is ask. But’s important to figure out whom to ask, and how to ask.

Using a chainsaw winch is a slick (albeit slow) way to extricate a moose. It is really a three-person job: One guy to run the winch, and two to hold the animal’s head up and help steer. Photo: Karla Harmon

gin much earlier in the summer. Gathering Intelligence There is no shame in being a gossip queen when it comes to a potentially once-in-a-lifetime moose tag. The key, though, is to pick the brain of the right people. Sometimes it seems that for every truly knowledgeable asset out there, there are 10 wannabe knowit-alls. Guides with clients can be secretive, for good reason—but I think you’ll find that most good woodsmen are happy to help others who are willing to put in the time and effort to be successful. Even people who are typically guarded

Fall scouting is fun and important to success, but responsible moose hunt prep begins in the summer. Photo: Ethan Emerson

about their deer hunting, shed hunting or fishing hole locations, are willing to put their information-sharing reservations aside for something so limited as a coveted moose tag. Perhaps it is because they can’t shoot the big one themselves for lack of a tag, so they might as well get some joy in helping someone else do it. At least this is the way I look at it. I’m much more likely to help someone who approaches me looking for my thoughts on some of their own ideas first, rather than just demanding that I give them GPS coordinates. If they show me that they’ve given consideration to a variety

of areas, have done some scouting, and have a general sense of what they are doing, and that they are willing to work hard to be successful, I’m glad to help in any way that I can. But if someone who I’ve never met before calls me up and says, “I have a moose tag this year. Where exactly did you find that set of big sheds I saw a picture of on Facebook?”, I’m going to tell them to try someone else. You have to respect how much time, effort, and money these people have invested into gathering this information. Unpaid days from work, time away from family, possibly thousands of miles of

vehicle-rattling dirt roads, and hundreds of miles hiked. Show some respect and gratitude for their willingness to share their hard-to-come-by knowledge. Lodging Especially in Maine, given the sheer number of tags issued by the state, places to stay are going to book up fast. At the same time, you can’t be too quick to book a place before you know the general area that you want to hunt, because you could end up a couple hours’ drive away. NH and VT have much smaller units; therefore, this is much less of a problem. You may run into a situation in which you can’t find a commercially offered place with open, affordable bookings in the area you want to be in. If so, it’s time to hit the gravel and find those hidden gems of small cabins in the woods. Paper company land, and even some of the state and federal lands, have privately owned or leased camps in them. Many of these lease agreements preclude sub-letting or commercial renting of the camps. But most camps also have a general expense Donation Box, or a camp owner with a big hand to shake, if you catch the (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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drift. The good news is that most of these camps don’t see much use in October, anyway, being between fishing season and deer season. Extrication and Care It’s never too early to start planning extri-

Welcome to

cation and meat care. Call on your friends with ATVs, trailers, chainsaw winches, come-alongs, pulleys, tow straps and long ropes. Wrangle anything and everything that you can, and get to know how it all works in advance. If worse comes to worse, you’ve

Northern New Hampshire

got to be prepared to carry it out. Make sure you have a bucket of sharp knives, a good knowledge of the caping, quartering, and butchering process (tons of great YouTube videos on this), and some extra backpacks or pack frames for some good friends willing to answer that phone call.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 77

How Did We Forget Bill Clark? The memory of one of Maine’s best outdoor writers has faded away, says the author – and that’s just wrong. “It’s almost like they raised the price of fame.” – Kinky Friedman, “Sold American” William M. Clark used to be about as famous in Maine as it was possible to get. His newspaper column ran in three of the state’s daily newspapers. He wrote books that garnered critical acclaim. He authored articles that regularly appeared in national magazines. If TikTok had existed in his day, he’d have dominated that medium like a Kardashian. Just kidding. Bill Clark probably wouldn’t have owned a computer or a smart phone. He’d still be using a typewriter and mailing in his copy. Even so, he might be famous yet if he hadn’t made a poor career decision back in 1988 and died. Almost immediately after the ink dried on his obituary, he was forgotten. Thirty years of columns got sent to the recycling bin. His books went out of print. And when it was suggested by the likes of the late George Smith and a few others that Clark was long overdue to be elected to the Maine Press Association’s Journalism Hall of Fame, one of the old codgers on the nominating committee

told me, “He might be a good candidate. But to tell the truth, I don’t remember much about him.” Smith persisted, and the press association grudgingly conceded it had overlooked a fine candidate. In 2010, Clark became a member. And was promptly forgotten again. Let’s try to remedy that sad situation. Some Logrolling Clark was born in Caratunk in 1913. He attended local schools, Colby College and served in the military, after which he worked as a teacher, logger, sawmill operator, electrician and bulldozer driver. In 1957, angered by what he called “the stupidities of thoughtless woodcutting,” he wrote a commentary for the Portland Press Herald on how quality hardwoods were being wasted in Maine sawmills. Shortly afterwards, the paper asked him to contribute a regular feature. Thus was born the column that became “Some Logrolling.” Fictional Town of Cedar River Clark was a conservative, back when conservative didn’t bring to mind voter suppression and dislike of minorities, but rather a belief in per-

sonal liberty and personal responsibility. In his fictional town of Cedar River, a composite of the many small settlements where he’d lived, “The local legal code, developed and refined, protects the residents from almost nothing but themselves, and that but rarely.” Clark didn’t care for environmentalists. He felt they were intent on preserving land to the detriment of logging, hunting, fishing and other traditional uses, without regard for how this would impact rural residents. “It was not a question of interference or of forbidding,” he wrote. “It was a question of courtesy, of a pattern that seemed worth keeping.” Didn’t Like Bureaucrats He detested bureaucrats, who he believed were trying to force a single set of rules on a state that featured radical differences between its urban areas and countryside. “Complexity,” he noted, “was not born with Suburbia.” Clark was never harsh or didactic, and had little patience with those who were. His most pointed criticisms were almost always leavened with humor, using Cedar River’s imaginary inhabitants to drive home his points.

Bill Clark. Source: Maine Press Association Hall of Fame

Here’s his take on the town bootlegger and general ne’er-do-well: “My uncle Oscar was one of the only men I ever knew who recognized the extent to which most people deceive themselves in order to reconcile conscience with happiness. If he hadn’t recognized that, he might have followed their example. That would have been a deadly thing, actually, because as a solid citizen he would have been a bore and a blithering nuisance.” “Seeds Sown on a Rock” His Maine was populated by richly drawn characters tied closely to the land: “Cedar River people have always been more undecided than Hamlet about whether to be or not to be. Their ancestors built them a

town in a hidden land that was mostly gravel and river and ledges and ridges and hills. Sometimes the people grow weary of the need to force growth from seeds sown on a rock, and they retreat from reality. Thus, they are not there when the census taker comes and their town torments the topographers.” His columns and books are so filled with gems there’s a temptation to go wild quoting them. I’ll yield to that temptation. On happiness: “Anybody can be happy. Unhappiness is a gift. The unhappy see what others do not see. Need and desire and demand, those are all gifts.” On the myth there’s a novel in every life: (Outdoors & Other Mistakes continued on page 80) www.MaineSportsman.com

78 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Smilin’ Sportsman

Eb: “I asked my accountant, Amy, whether I should go into business and open a distillery.” Flo: “And what did she say?” Eb: “She said that kind of investment is too whiskey.” — Eb: “You see that house over there? When I was a kid, my Grampa told me never to go there. He said that if I did, I’d see things I wasn’t meant to see.” Flo: “And?”

Eb: “So one day, I went there, and he was right!” Flo: “What did you see?” Eb: “My Grampa.” — Guy at the bar: “Hey, Beautiful, where have you been all my life?” Woman: Well, for the first half of it, I hadn’t yet been born.” — Little Johnny: “Dad, I think your truck’s carburetor is flooded.”

More cartoons on page 81! www.MaineSportsman.com

Dad: “Johnny, do you even know what a carburetor is?” Little Johnny: “No.” Dad: “So why do you think it’s flooded?” Little Johnny: “Because your truck rolled down the driveway and into the lake.” — Q: How does a woman break up with a tractor salesman? A: That’s easy – she writes him a “John Deere” letter!

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 79

— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word line classified ad per month (2-month limit) • 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 • 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

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

rates. Call: 207-3223877

FIBERGLASS RANGELEY BOAT Good condition (except for the wood gunnels, which need to be replaced ) Made in Maine by Riverbend Fiberglass. $950 or best reasonable offer. Hallowell, 207-6224843.

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— CAMPS & CAMP SITES FOR RENT EAST GRAND LAKE DANFORTH, ME 24x32 Camp- Greenland Cove, Sleeps 6-10. Deck, small dock/ beach. Hunting, Fishing, Boating, ATV, $600/wk. 207-8311447. CAMPING SITES FOR RENT IN LINCOLN, ME PRIVATE! All ready for camper or tent. ATV trail at end of driveway. $400/year. Also daily or weekly

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 3 STORY COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN WESTERN MAINE US Rt 2. Restaurant with some equipment, furniture, more. Potential wedding/ event venue, fishing lodge, etc. Grassy boat launch on Androscoggin, paved parking lot. $139,500. Call 207-562-7564. ICONIC PARMACHENEE CLUB ON 2- ACRE ISLAND Gated access to 1,000s of acres of prime hunting, fishing & snowmobiling! 5 furnished cabins with over $150k in new roof and pilings on steel beams. Spectacular views and one neighbor. Includes. shared lot at Landing for dock and parking

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DEVELOPER’S DREAM: 6.6 ACRES 370ft. road frontage on Whittier Rd. in Farmington, Maine, just off Routes 2 & 4. Electricity on site, 4 water hookups and 4 sewer hookups, Tax Incentives possible. 207474-0778. — DOGS GUN DOG TRAINING At Spruce Meadow Kennel in Rangeley, Maine. Experienced with pointing and flushing upland bird hunting dogs. Con-

tact Jeff Hawksley 207-864-3610 or 207670-8010 www.fb.com/ rangeleydogboardingandgundogtraining. SQUAIL HOLLOW KENNELS: BRITTANYS Simply the best personal shooting dogs and family pets. Puppies and started dogs. Woodcock training November through March. Forty years of excellence. Call after sunset 856-935-3459. — FISHING SUPPLIES FULL LINE OF MATERIALS

& FLIES Tools, Kits, Lessons, more. Mr. Ed’s Flies & Supplies, 11 Honeysuckle Ln., Brunswick, ME. mredsfliesandsupplies.com or call 207-229-8468. — LAND FOR SALE GUILFORD Just below Moosehead Lake 18 buildable acres on town rd. w/ power Excellent hunting,fishing & snowmobiling. Sebec Lake nearby. $2000/acre 413-229-2969. — (Continued on next page)

#315 – Richardsontown TWP – Camp, walking distance of Upper Dam Pool. Leased land $1,525 per year. MLS#1477070 – $164,500

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80 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————— (Continued from page 79)

WANTED SEASONAL HELP Looking for a couple with a camper who would love to be in

Grand Lake Stream for the season. I am looking for some help at the camps, in return for camper space. Private docking. 207-

796-2822 indianrockcamp@gmail.com. DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer

and moose shed antlers/racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206.

Be Sure to LIKE The Maine Sportsman on Facebook!

Outdoors & Other Mistakes (Continued from page 77)

“Up here, there isn’t. Nobody can keep his mind on anything except perhaps unusually dedicated adultery for long enough to make even a short story.” On winter: “There were no prayers for winter warmth. We knew that winter was already planned. The wind would bring what cold it willed. The skies would allocate what misery seemed due.” On being forgotten: “Memories are not neat like an orderly classroom full of Mrs. Kelly’s scholars. Memories are jumbled in a bureau drawer with a covering of folded handkerchiefs, placed just so, in order that a burglar looking for money will know that the housewife is tidy. Impressions of a burglar are important.” ***** In these tempestuous times, we need all the wit we can get. Bill Clark should be back in print. Parts of this column appeared in a 2014 article I wrote for a now-defunct publication. I’m still writing my weekly column Politics & Other Mistakes for the Daily Bulldog and the Portland Phoenix, and can be emailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.

Mattawamkeag – On the river’s edge, Mattawamkeag River, view across is something to see. Charming qualities but does need a bit of TLC. Attractive old wood trim, dry cellar and lawn upkeep is minimal. Possible 2 unit house. $49,000

Chester – Main House, 12’ x 20’ Seasonal bunkhouse, 28’ x 33’ heated garage, 10’ x 33’ screened Summer Kitchen, 16’ x 20’ seasonal cabin, tent sites, a fire pit, and a privy all on the Medunkeunk Stream. Three lots stitched together. $375,000

Grand Falls – This cabin was landed on this lot two years ago and ready to finish off and use. This 41 acre lot sits high on a hill with great views on Lord Brook Road. ATV and snowsled from this location. Take a look. $79,000

Lee – A traditional northern Maine hunting camp. Located along an ATV and Snowmobile trail. Private location and hidden from view on Ames Road. This is a wonderful hunting location and is priced fairly. $29,900

Springfield – Rural living in a quiet neighborhood on Park Street. Part of this house has been nicely refinished. Along with about half of the interior having been redone, the foundation needs to be repaired. $79,000

Lakeville – Gorgeous waterfront lot with a nice, wide driveway in place. Some clearing has been done. Electricity is nearby. Nice frontage on Duck Lake. LOW TAXES. A wonderful location to build your dream home or a seasonal getaway. $110,000

Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275 caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com

PARKERTOWN TWP – Fishing/hunting camp on owned land with 100’ sandy frontage on the widest part of Aziscohos Lake. Off grid, fully insulated, 2 bedroom camp with knotty pine throughout, gas appliances/lights, Empire wall heaters, wired for generator, DishTV setup. 10x12 storage shed, 12x12 deck, sealed pit privy (pumpable), gravity-fed shower. Sold furnished. Peaceful lakeside setting, level lawn to the beach, unobstructed views, private boat launch. MLS #1454838 – $178,500 SANDY RIVER PLT – BEAVER MT. LAKE WATER ACCESS! 2.34 acre wooded land parcel offers potential views of scenic Beaver Mt Lake! Several possible building sites to choose from. Located directly across the road from deeded lake access with small boat launch. Town maintained yearround road, plus low plantation taxes. Nice spot close to Rangeley amenities, Saddleback ski area. Don’t miss out on this one - inquire today! MLS #1475451 – $90,000 SANDY RIVER PLT – Potential lake and mountain views from this 1 acre building lot in desirable subdivision with protective covenants, well maintained roads and underground power. Lightly wooded offering privacy and has easy ATV/snowmobile access from your door. Deeded access to the HOLA association waterfront on Rangeley Lake offering small boat launch, marina, swimming area with dock. Just 3 miles from Rangeley Village and 7 miles from Saddleback. MLS #1487376 – $69,500

www.MaineSportsman.com

Lincoln – Easy access to this Lakefront lot on Long Pond. Electricity is being installed to subdivision. This lot is a must see. $69,000 Lincoln – This large private lot with 500 feet on Egg Pond is a must see. The lot has a new driveway and gravel pad. With 6.5 acres enjoy the privacy. $109,900 Lincoln – Lots of Frontage, acreage and privacy. ATV trails nearby. Nice southern exposure. Swim, kayak, boat, fish and much more on Upper Pond. This lot is a must see. Lot is 4.5 acres and has 501 feet of waterfront. $69,000 Lee – This improved lot is ready for you to build or move your new home onto. A private country setting only a few miles from Lincoln’s amenities on Winn Road. Come take a look today. $25,000

R E A L

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

1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you! “Tate” Aylward ............. 794-2460 Peter Phinney............... 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie................... 290-1554

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

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 81

“How would you folks like your cod cooked?”

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82 • July 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Sportsman The Maine

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BERG ACTIVEWEAR

Penobscot – 105 acre 4th generation farm with 1850’s farm house and barn with updated barn along with guest/rental home close to Castine and Blue Hill. $549,000.

Wilton – 55+/- acres. Waterviews and access to Varnum Pond. Mature timber on lower half. Potential Sugarbush with 4,000 to 5,000 taps. Seasonal access. $99,000

Eddington – 605 acres along Rt.9 with 475’ of frontage zoned commercially and is the proposed last NON-controlled section before the I-395/Route 9 connector begins. $525,000

Linneus – 167 acre lot with seasonal access. Major portion of the lot is considered significant wildlife & inland waterfowl habitat. $83,500

Palmyra – Palmyra 18 hole Golf Course and RV Campground are situated on 433 acres. This is a turn-key business with buildings and infrastructure pristine. $1,500,000

Hancock County - Over 800 acres with 5,400 sq. ft log cabin completely surrounding Fox Pond. Miles of maintained trails. Adjacent to 20,000 acres of conservation lands. www.foxpondestate.com. $4,300,000

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Caratunk – 1,064 acres. Views of the Kennebec River – Wyman Lake, Moxie Mountain -east & Bigelow Mountains -west. Interior gravel roads and groomed snowmobile trail. $625,000

Beauty runs deep. So does our land sales experience. John Colannino Broker & Forester

Pembroke – 25+/acres. Coastal Maine property with over 2,000’ of tidal shore front along Hardscrabble River. Year round access. Amazing views. $150,000.

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AFM Real Estate 40 Champion Lane | Milford, Maine | 04461 O: 207.817.9079 | C: 207.266.7355 John.Colannino@afmforest.com For more information on available properties please visit:

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2021 • 83

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