Sportsman The Maine
June 2018 • $4.99
Lefty 1925–2018 Kreh Page 9
Ron Joseph Asks: How Many Wild Turkeys Are Too Many?
Reader Opinion Poll
Page 31
Page 27
Page 5
Fish Shallow for Big Stripers Reversing Logging-Era’s Damage to Rivers Page 56
2 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A True Maine Tradition...
SPORTING CAMPS Trophy Fishing, Hunting & Four-Season Recreation!
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Matagamon Wilderness ~ T6-R8 ~ The Matagamon Families 207-446-4635 ~ mainebearhunts.com ~ matagamonwilderness.com
im Pond Native Brook Trout Upland Game Bird Deer Hunting Moose Guide Service and Seaplane Fly-Outs BrookTrout & Salmon Fishing Wild Ruffed Grouse, Bear Deer & Moose Hunts
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������������������������������������������������������ The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 3
The History of Bradford Camps As far as history can determine, the Bradford Camps – as they are presently known – were founded by William Atkins about 1890. He came to Maine from Quebec and began his guiding career in the Rangeley Lakes region of western Maine, where he was prompted by his “Sports” to find an area of his own to enter business for himself. It was with a small nest egg provided by his guests that he set out in search of a place for his Atkins’ Camps. From the Moosehead Lake area, he used the lakes and watersheds to explore the northern reaches of the state. This meant paddling the length of Moosehead, portaging to the Penobscot, and then down to Chesuncook Lake. He paddled across that lake and portaged into Chamberlain Lake. Heading north, he passed Eagle Lake and went downstream to Churchill Lake. From there it was a series of upstream drags and portages that led him to Echo Lake and the beginning of the Aroostook River. Upon arrival there, Will explored the interconnected lakes and streams that make up its upper reaches. He went down Munsungan Lake and noted its perfect fitness for a sporting camp. He also noted the many opportunities for hunting and trapping in the area, which
proved abundant. He followed the flow downstream to the small village of Oxbow, where he decided to build the Atkins Hotel, his base camp. Will Atkins had discovered a vast resource with the potential for becoming a true Sportsman’s Paradise. He built a set of cabins on Munsungan Lake and a set on Millinocket Lake. He linked the whole area with trails, small trapper cabins and outpost cabins for his sports. Eventually there were some 60 cabins in the area that he built and used for fishing, guiding and trapping. Atkins’ Camps were but a short trek from the major cities of the Northeast. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston were the origins of many of his clientele. They traveled by railroad to Oakfield where they were met and transported by wagon the 30 miles to Ox-
bow and his Atkins’ Hotel. After resting from their three days of travel, they would be met by their guides the following morning. The sports piled into canoes along with their baggage. Their guide poled and paddled halfway to the Lean-to Camps, while they fished all the way. The following day they would fish, paddle and pole to Atkins’ Camps on Munsungun Lake, and there begin their anxiously-awaited stay, which was often over a month, and sometimes extended to the entire summer season. For these past 125 years, the Bradford Camps have had but five owners – a testament to the quality of the resource from which it has gained the reputation for providing quality outdoor recreational opportunities. It also is a testament to the perfect choice Will Atkins made in placing Bradford Camps beside Norway Brook on Munsungan Lake. The land is flat and dry, the nearby brook runs fresh and cold, fair breezes keep insects at bay, and world class sunsets paint the sky in the evening. It’s the type of perfection that can never be recreated, but guests and hosts win for its presence. Come see for yourself! www. bradfordcamps.com, maine@ bradfordcamps.com, tel. 207-433-0660
Chandler Lake Camps We are located within the North Maine Woods of Northern Maine – a working industrial forest of approximately 4 million acres. We are situated in Township 9 Range 8 (T9R8), about 30 miles in the woods from the town of Ashland, Maine. The camps were originally built starting in 1902 by Almond Currier and Roach Adams, Guides from Oxbow. We purchased them in 1997 and have worked on and operated the camps since that time, for the last 20 years. We operate from May 1st until the end of the first full week in December. We are a full-service American Plan (providing all meals) sporting camp and lodge, specializing in fishing for wild Maine brook trout and landlocked salmon in lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, as well as hunting for grouse and woodcock, whitetail deer and moose. We are the only camps on Chandler Lake. We have a number of experienced, professional Maine guides, and for upland hunting they provide quality English pointers, setters, Brittanies and other hunting dogs. We offer private lakeside cabins of handpeeled spruce logs with private baths. All meals are served in our dining room. Meals are of the highest quality, from appetizers to desserts, home-made on site daily. We cater to smaller groups – weekly numbers aver-
age fewer than 12, and corporate and private groups up to 20. We offer the traditional sporting camp atmosphere with a few modern conveniences. Satellite telephone and Wi-Fi is available as needed, and electricity is provided 24/7 by generator or inverter/solar. Fall for us starts in September, with fall fishing for brook trout and salmon, followed by the first moose hunting week. Guests are able to fish a different body of water every day, with more than 30 canoes on various remote ponds and lakes in the area. October into the first two weeks of November is prime upland game hunting for grouse and woodcock. We complement that activity with afternoons or days of limited October fishing on a few select area waters. November is for our “Big Woods” whitetail
hunting. We are a unique operation. Starting this year, we are also the only licensed Upland Hunting Preserve within the North Maine Woods. With this designation, we offer upland hunting on 250 acres for pheasant, chukar partridge, and quail – pen-raised birds. Offered from May to December, there is no season, no license required and no bird limit. Any day and every day. Hunters use our bird-hunting dogs or bring their own. We supplement this preserve hunting with our “Grouse Walk,” a five-station sporting clay course with automatic throwers to simulate a grouse hunt in the wilds of Maine. It’s a challenging and fun course for all ages and genders. What is our sporting camp advantage? • All youth 16 and younger stay at no charge with a paid adult • All inclusive rates with no minimum stays • No fly-outs needed • Canoes, kayaks and boats with motors are offered at no additional charge • Your schedule is our schedule. Fish, relax or hunt early or late. We will accommodate your schedule. • No additional resort fee Please review our website: ChandlerLake Camps.com, or contact us at 207-731-8938. www.MaineSportsman.com
4 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Editorial
Reversing Logging-Era’s Damage to Rivers and Streams David Van Wie’s “Sporting Environment” column this month addresses a topic of great importance to development of future fishing opportunities in this state. The environmental quality of Maine’s rivers and streams was steadily degraded for more than 200 years to facilitate the driving of logs. Streams were channelized. Boulders were bulldozed out of the way. The famous “Jaws” in Gulf Hagas were not spared. Even Native American pictographs on ledges along the Kennebec in Emden were dynamited. For two centuries, streams and rivers were the vital link connecting sources of timber and fiber, initially to the sawmills and later, to the paper mills. River drivers, the men who kept the logs moving downriver, knew where the logs regularly hung up, and how to make the log drive smoother and easier by altering the rivers. These alterations made the logs flow more smoothly, but eliminated the ledges, pools and gravel banks that were the most valuable fish habitat. The extent to which the law favored clearing channels for log drives is made clear with the realization that until 1975, up to 1,000 feet of a river or stream in Boulder weir constructed in Nash Stream with wood debris for cover. Photo by John the unorganized territories could Magee, NHDF&G be altered without obtaining any permission from the state whatsoever. The law stated: Bulldozing of rivers, streams and brooks. The bulldozing between the banks of a river, stream or brook in unorganized territory in excess of 1,000 feet in length in any one mile, measured along the thread of the stream, is prohibited unless permission is first obtained from the commissioner of inland fisheries and game. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500. (1951, c. 333, later codified as R.S. 1954, c. 141; repealed 1975.) Now, however, we have a significant economic opportunity to restore structure to the rivers and streams, thereby greatly expanding the range of angling choices open to Maine anglers. Improved fish habitat will also enlarge the portfolios of Maine Guides who wish to provide river and stream angling choices to their clients. We should not underestimate the extent to the challenge to upgrade our rivers and streams to make them more hospitable to sport fish. These stream alterations were the result of the efforts of hundreds, if not thousands of river drivers over the span of a couple of hundred years to facilitate log drives. DIF&W biologists believe every stream and river in Maine was altered to some degree. We could start by having a symposium of landowners, biologists and anglers to learn the extent of the alterations and learn about successful efforts in Maine and elsewhere. We can also learn from our neighbors in New Hampshire, who have more than six years’ experience in restoring river and stream structure to improve trout and salmon habitat. www.MaineSportsman.com
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New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership
Sportsman The Maine
ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 549 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com OFFICE ASSISTANT: Victoria Peckham victoria@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER: Brent Basso brent@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Fax: 207-622-4255 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Almanac by Will Lund........................................................ 11 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves......................... 34 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia...................... 37 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello............................... 13 Bowhunting by Chris “Bubba” Johnson.......................... 43 Capitol Report by George Smith..................................... 17 Central by Steve Vose....................................................... 58 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux................................... 52 Editorial.................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Cluney......................... 48 Jackman by William Sheldon........................................... 45 Jottings by Jon Lund............................................................ 9 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon............................. 39 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding........... 47 Letters to the Editor.............................................................. 6 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour....................................... 36 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose................................... 38 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour................................... 55 Moosehead by Tom Seymour.......................................... 50 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.................................. 68 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie................................ 32 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith........................... 18 Rangeley Region by William Clunie................................. 72 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers................................. 74 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth......................... 61 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews...................... 53 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard................................. 59 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.................. 74 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie........................ 56 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery....................... 9 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 67 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller...................... 64 Trading Post (Classifieds)................................................... 76 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour........................................... 65 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.................. 71 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi............ 63 Young Maine Sportswoman by Alyssa Sansoucy........... 66
SPECIAL SECTIONS
ATVing in Maine by Steve Vose........................................ 23 Maine Moose Lottery by Will Lund................................... 20 Maine Sporting Camps....................................................2-3 Saltwater Fishing in Maine by Barry Gibson.................... 27
GUEST COLUMNS
How Many Turkeys Are Enough? by Ron Joseph........... 31 Final Hours of the SS Reed by Zachary Fowler................ 44 Fishing Passion Becomes Profession by Marty Lebson... 75 On the Cover: This month’s cover photo of the late, great Lefty Kreh is courtesy of King Montgomery. “This photo is from a day fishing on the Sebasticook River, with guide Bob Dionne,” King told us. “Lefty loved that little river, and so do I. We rotated guides, and I also spent time in Lefty’s boat, sometimes fishing and other times at the driftboat oars. We always had a ball!”
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2018 Maine Sportsman Opinion Poll 1. Should the required archery hunting education course be combined with the required crossbow hunting education into one course covering both activities? YES_______ NO______
29. Should municipalities that regulate bow hunting in the expanded season zones be barred from charging fees for permits? YES_______ NO______
2. Do you believe some landowners abuse the preference given to them in the any-deer permit drawings? YES_______ NO______
30. Should landlocked salmon be managed to promote larger fish? YES ______ NO______
3. Should the applications filed by landowners for preference in any-deer permit drawings be open to public inspection? YES_______ NO______
31. Should DIF&W regulate winter-feeding of deer? YES_______
4. Have you removed all lead sinkers and lead split shot from your freshwater tackle boxes? YES_______ NO______
32. Should nonresidents be permitted to hunt deer on opening day of the firearms season? YES_______ NO______
5. Did you hunt coyotes within the past year?
33. Were you checked by a game warden this past year? YES_______ No_______
YES_______ NO______
6. Should a person be allowed to live-trap red squirrels without obtaining a trapping license? YES_______ NO______ 7. Virtually all of Maine’s navigable rivers and streams have been channelized, bulldozed, dynamited, straightened, or otherwise altered to facilitate driving of logs, which ended in 1976. Should the state begin a program to restore our rivers to provide better habitat for fish and wildlife? YES_______ NO______ 8. Did you hunt with a crossbow this past year?
YES_______ NO______
9. Did you hunt with a muzzleloader this past year? YES_______ NO______ 10. It is unlawful to hunt in Maine with an autoloading rifle with a magazine with the capacity of more than five cartridges. Should it be unlawful to possess an autoloading rifle with a magazine having a capacity of more than five cartridges? YES_______ NO______
NO______
34. Should an outside agency investigate complaints against Maine game wardens? YES_______ NO______ 35. Do you believe that many hunters in Maine tag deer they didn’t shoot? YES_______ NO______ 36. Should the owners of land with conservation easements be required to post online maps showing the land and the location of the public’s right of access? YES ______ NO______ 37. Do you believe the Maine Legislature does a good job of enacting laws relating to Fish and Wildlife matters? YES_______ NO______ 38. Should a system of tagging turkeys by telephone or online replace tagging stations? YES_______ NO______
11. Do you believe deer hunting regulations have become too complicated? Yes_______ NO______
39. Should the price of a Maine hunting license include the right to hunt all game animals (except moose) without additional fees? YES_______ NO______
12. Do you believe global warming is a real environmental threat? YES_______ NO______
40. Should DIF&W game wardens participate in criminal investigations unrelated to fish and game matters? YES_______ NO______
13. Should DIF&W establish a program to improve spawning habitat for trout and salmon? YES_______ NO______
41. Should hunting with crossbows be allowed wherever hunters can use regular bows? YES_______ NO______
14. Should ice fishing be allowed on some salmon and trout waters now closed each winter, if anglers use artificial lures? YES_______ NO______
42. Should Maine’s law permitting children of any age hunt under supervision, be modified to establish a minimum hunting age? YES_______ NO ______
15. Should cat owners be prohibited from allowing their cats to run at large, as is now the case with dogs? YES_______ NO______ 16. Has the turkey population expanded to the point that the state should end the two-bird seasonal tag limit for the spring season, and allow the taking of one tom turkey each day? YES_______ NO______
43. Do you believe DIF&W wardens generally do a fair job of enforcing our laws? YES_______ NO______ 44. Should mechanized gold mining in Maine rivers and streams be ended? YES_______ NO______
17. Is the dumping of household goods and tires causing landowners to post their property? YES_______ NO______
45. Did you hunt or fish outside of the state of Maine this past year? YES_______ NO______
18. Should buyers of auto and truck tires pay a returnable deposit, as we do on beverage bottles, which we would get back when we returned the used tires? YES ______ NO______
46. Do you support the proposal to expand the instant background check of purchasers of firearms to include sales between private parties? YES_______ NO______
19. Should anglers be encouraged to kill any pike they catch? YES ______ NO______
47. Have you (or has anyone you know) seen a cougar in Maine? YES ______ NO_______
20. Should DIF&W encourage Catch-and-Kill Pike Tournaments? YES_______ NO______
If you answered “Yes,” write will@mainesportsman.com and tell us about it.
21. Should income from bear bait hunting sites leased by landowners be taxed, with the revenue going to DIF&W? YES_______ NO______ 22. Should a system be developed to allow an any-deer permit to be used in more than one Wildlife Management District? YES_______ NO______ 23. Do you believe DIF&W wardens are spread too thin to deter poachers? YES_______ NO______ 24. When wardens spend time on search and rescue activities unrelated to fish or game activities, should the state’s General Fund pay for their time? YES_______ NO______ 25. Do you approve of DIF&W’s current practice of stocking brook trout in marginal, put-and-take waters where these fish cannot survive warm summer water? YES_______ NO______ 26. Did you spend time fly-casting for trout this past year? YES_______ NO______ 27. Do you believe the nickel deposit on cans and bottles should be increased to reduce littering? YES_______ NO______ 28. Only 3% of all bears killed each year are harvested by trapping. To remove an emotional issue from future bear hunting debates, should the state end the recreational trapping of bears? YES_______ NO ______
48. PLEASE write in any question you’d like to have us ask in our reader poll next year: ________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your participation! Mail your responses to: Will Lund, Editor The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta ME 04330
You may also scan/photograph your poll page and email to will@mainesportsman.com OR answer the poll questions online at www.mainesportsman.com/resources We’ll tally up the results and print them in a future issue. If you have an opinion on a topic not covered above, describe it on a separate sheet and include it with your poll results. Name (Optional):_____________________________________________________ Address (Optional):____________________________________________________ City, State, Zip:______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Email (Optional):______________________________________________________ www.MaineSportsman.com
6 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Letters
ture slowly rises to exactly medium-rare. A quick searing on a hot grill or fry pan finishes the outside of the steak and Voila! A perfect steak.
To The Editor
Editorial Kudos from a Fine Editor To the Editor: The editorial “Fishing Secrets and Social Media” in The Maine Sportsman’s April 2018 issue impressed me. It reminded me of a wise writing guideline that this publication started during the early 1980s, when where-to-go columns became a mainstay. (I wrote for this magazine from March 1973 until 2015, and am blessed or damned with a good memory.) In fishing articles, the editor asked writers to concentrate on lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and brooks with stocked fish (paid for by the public), and to avoid waters with just native trout, a fragile resource. Hunting writers told readers to hit larger areas such as Big Woods Mountain, Endless Ridge, Lost Valley and so forth, and not send crowds to an alder run on the corner of Routes 27 and 234. If a writer broke the rule too many times, he or she could lose the writing job, and at least one did. From 1988 to 2015, I copy-edited much of the publication, so in those years where-to-go errors belonged to proofreaders and me. Observers sometimes criticize The Maine Sportsman for highlighting native fish resources, but the editorial rule was always to avoid sending crowds to those locations. Ken Allen - Augusta, ME —
Sous Vide - For The Perfect Venison Steak To the Editor: I have discovered a foolproof way to perfectly cook venison steaks, and I’d like to share it with the Maine Sportsman’s readers. It’s called sous vide (pronounced sueveed), which is French for “under vacuum.” I had a chance to use the cooking method on steaks from a mature doe taken during last year’s Augusta-area expanded archery season. Sam Burgess, of K&K Meat Cutting in North Monmouth, sliced the steaks just the way I wanted them – 1-½ inches thick. Sous vide is low-temperature cooking in a sealed environment, first described in the 1700s and made popular in 1974 by a French chef. The method uses a special machine, a pot of water, and meat sealed in plastic. My sous vide machine cost only $100. It clips it to the side of my stockpot, and I put my venison in a ziplock bag. The machine keeps the water at a very precise temperature – exactly the temperature of medium-rare steak – and, over a few hours, the meat temperawww.MaineSportsman.com
The sous vide machine maintains an exact water temperature, cooking (but not overcooking) lean meat such as venison. Chris Bradley photos
It works best with lean meat, such as venison, pork or beef tenderloin. So here’s the process: Sous Vide Venison Steak • 1 lb. thick-cut venison steak or chops, boneless • 5 oz. marinade sauce (I like Kikkoman teriyaki sauce) • 1 sliced or chopped onion, or 5 oz. sliced shitake mushrooms • 4 tbsp. olive oil • 6 cloves chopped garlic Put the venison in a gallon-size ziplock bag with the marinade and let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to overnight. Double-bag the meat if you’re not 100% sure the bag won’t leak. You try other marinades – the key is to add flavor to the meat, and also to the juice that comes out of it during the cooking process, since you will use the juice to make the sauce.
Fill a large pot with water and follow the directions for using the sous vide machine. I set the machine for 130 degrees for 5 hours, which produces a perfect medium-rare steak (my choice – your tastes may differ). Immerse the bag in the water, squeezing out any air pockets, and clip the top to the side of the pot. The steak will be done in about 2 hours, and then it will stay perfectly done for several more hours without being overcooked. You now have the flexibility to finish the rest of your menu, or entertain guests. To finish and serve your steak, start by pre-heating your grill or fry pan until very hot. Sauté the chopped garlic and the onions or mushrooms in the olive oil until brown. Take the bag from the water, open and pour the juice into the sauté pan – stir to make a sauce. Remove the steak from the bag and grill just enough to crust the surface and look like it’s been barbecued, or achieve a similar finish in a very hot fry pan, then slice and serve with the sauce. The thick slices of venison will be uniformly cooked just the way you like it, with just the edges seared. Perfect! Chris Bradley - Belgrade, ME —
Brandon Wants it Hot To the Editor: I have enjoyed the columns by your recipe columnist, Kate Krukowski Gooding, about the super-hot peppers she grows herself. My uncle, George Wengert, first read about the peppers in The Maine Sportsman, and he showed me the articles. I’m looking for Moruga Scorpion, Carolina Reaper and Dragon’s Breath seeds, and I understand she may be the person to contact. Thank you for any help you can offer. Brandon Dean Monroeville, NJ The Editor responds: Kate has offered to mail you some hot pepper seeds and germinating instructions. Good luck! —
Chowder Emergency
Crust the outside with a hot grill or fry pan, and VIOLA! -- the perfectly-done deer meat steak. Add the sauce made from garlic, onions, mushrooms, olive oil and meat juice, and you are done.
To the Editor: I have a problem that I hope your master chef Kate Krukowski Gooding can help solve. A co-worker here at the lumber company (we’ll call him “Scott”) gets the Maine Sportsman magazine every month, so I have become a regular reader of the “Kate’s Wild Kitchen” section. I’m not much for the wild game – I just enjoy reading her approach to preparing food. So here’s the problem – “Scott” brings in the nastiest, vile-smelling homemade seafood chowder to work for lunch. It stinks up the office the rest of the day! We try to make him stop bringing it in, but he makes it in large batches so he ignores our requests. I think I can get him to try another reci(Continued on page 8)
������������������������������������������������������ The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 7
Ray Bergman’s Trout – a Classic Fly Fishing Book for the Ages Ray Bergman’s classic book, Trout, was first published in 1938. My brother Erik recently presented me with a copy of the tenth edition, printed in 1946. Despite being in anglers’ libraries for some eighty years, the contents of this pioneer volume are still timely today. The author started out as many of us did, as a youngster fishing with bait. In those days, he relates, a sporting goods store would serve 50 customers buying bait hooks to only one buying flies. The course of his life changed when he met a fly fisherman while angling on his favorite stream. Young Bergman
had worked two miles of the stream, and caught but two trout, each six inches long. The fly fisherman stopped for a few words and showed the young angler “one of the prettiest catches of Brook Trout” he’d ever seen. Fished-Out? It was in the early part of July, and Bergman’s friends in town had opined that the stream was fished out, but he didn’t believe them. The fly fisherman made a 45-foot cast and landed his flies close to some alders, allowed the flies to sink briefly, and began a jerky retrieve. The water boiled and with a flash of pink, a
trout was on. The fly fisherman gave the youngster the trout and told him to show it to the boys who’d claimed the stream was fished out. The encounter made a deep impression on Bergman, and although he didn’t own any fly fishing equipment, he started to save the money he made on his paper route. He spent hours watching the trout in the deep holes and learning the trout’s feeding habits. He learned that the trout preferred to feed under water rather than on the surface, and that the slightest vibration sent the trout scurrying for cover.
NOW AN AUTHORIZED
DEALER
more than they did flies. Bergman believed later that he was going backward, not improving. As automobiles became more common, and more fly fishermen came to the Catskills, he would occasionally observe a fly fisherman who was more successful, using a ninefoot leader half as thick as their three and six-foot leaders. Gradually over the years, Bergman refined his gear, and improved his technique, but it is apparent that acquiring (Continued on next page)
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8 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Jottings
(Continued from page 7)
his skills was a slow and painful process. Still Relevant Today The early editions of Trout were written over 70 years ago. What does Ray Bergman have to say that is relevant to today’s anglers? Tough question. Double-taper and torpedo-taper fly lines were just coming into use. Nylon leaders, which had not yet been invented, have solved many of the problems inherent in the use of silkworm gut leaders. Much of Ray Bergman’s early trout fishing was carried on in streams of the Catskills. Probably strategy and presentation in moving water is more important than in a pond. Bergman’s early time
spent watching trout and other trout fishermen taught him that trout feed more below the surface than on top, so he favored wet flies and nymphs. He devotes minimal space to the technique of fly casting. Much more attention is devoted to fly selection, and the variations of fishing the fly, i.e. working it after it hits the water. But Bergman doesn’t preach. He speaks softly, as any good fishing buddy would do. He believed there is no magic fly, nor any retrieving technique that will catch trout in all situations. Liked Dropper Flies He was a devotee of using one or more dropper flies. And if an angler’s usual methods are not producing, he advo-
Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 6)
pe. I have a couple of Kate’s cookbooks. Can she suggest which recipe I could show him? Or maybe Kate could print her favorite seafood chowder recipe in the Sportsman for us to see? This is an emergency request. Regards, Mark in Connecticut The Editor responds – Mark, Kate tells us
Ray Bergman’s treatise titled Trout remains as relevant today as when it was first published in 1938.
cates trying everything else. The author describes fishing with wet flies, dry flies, nymphs, bucktails and streamers. Whatever is your style or fashion of fly fishing for trout, you are likely to see it de-
Bergman’s book contains 16 magnificent color plates displaying images of hundreds of wet flies, dry flies and streamers.
scribed by Ray Bergman. He was truly a fly fisherman for all anglers. My copy of TROUT is the tenth printing of the book since it was first published in 1938, so there are plenty of used copies in circulation.
she is working on a grilled seafood chowder recipe for one of our upcoming summer issues, so hang on – help is on the way! —
An Owl a Day Keeps the Robins Away To the Editor: I have admired Tom Seymour’s work for a long time, and his recent column about the American Robin struck a chord with me because he wrote about a problem we have experienced as well. We have a living room which has a lot of
My favorite source of used books is ABE Books, which acts as agent for bookstore all over the country, and they carry copies of TROUT at prices to suit every angler.
¶
windows and glass sliders. For a couple of springs, we had young male robins banging into the glass, just as Tom described. Somewhere we found an inexpensive plastic blow-up owl. The owl sits on the floor in front of a wall of windows, behind some house plants. Ever since, no more robins have banged into the windows. Problem solved! Marty Lebson - Tenafly. NJ
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������������������������������������������������������ The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 9
Lefty Kreh Lives On in Maine in So Many Ways Bernard Victor “Lefty” Kreh, the best known and respected fly angler in the world, passed away on March 14 at his home in Hunt Valley, MD at the age of 93. He suffered from congestive heart failure, but his mind remained strong until the end. Lefty was my close friend for over 20 years. I visited him in Maryland often; he visited me in Virginia; and we fished together in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, The Bahamas, and almost every year in Maine over the last dozen or so years. His last fishing trip was in Maine with me in 2016 when we floated the Androscoggin in various stretches. He still, at age 91 then, could cast like the champion he was, and he maintained his wonderful sense of humor even as his body slowly failed him. Below are some remembrances of the times Lefty Kreh and I spent together in Maine.
Lefty laughs in this 2007 photo. He did that a lot, and he made others laugh as well. He remembered every joke he ever heard, and his comic delivery and timing were perfect. I can’t remember a fraction of the jokes he told me, but here are a few: • The wife found a piece of paper in her husband’s pocket with a phone number written on it. “What’s this? she demanded. “Oh, that’s my bookie’s number,” he replied. Later that day when he came home, she hit him on the head with a frying pan. “Owww! What’s that for?,” he yelped. “Your horse called,” she answered. • An African Pygmy was posing by a huge, dead rhinoceros when a sport on safari and his professional hunter guide happened by. “Wow!,” exclaimed the sport. “What did you use to kill it? “ “My club,” quietly replied the small man. “Incredible! How big is your club?,” asked the sport. “Oh, there’s about 45
of us,” was the answer. • “I’d move to Maine, but I can’t live in a place you can store meat outside six-months of the year,” he often told me.
Smallmouth bass were Lefty’s favorite freshwater game fish, and he really loved Maine’s fine smallmouth rivers. (Bonefish were his favorite saltwater fish.) In this picture, Lefty shares a driftboat with Maine guide Bob Duport, and Bonnie Holding, on the Andro near Mexico in 2008. Good friends of ours, Bonnie and her husband Blaine, often fished with us when Lefty came to town. Smitten with smallmouth bass fishing as a child growing up poor in Frederick, MD near the Upper Potomac River, Lefty began his angling career as a “plug” (lure) caster. After his service in Europe in World War Two, he guided sports on the river, and in the late 1940s, famed outdoor writer Joe Brooks booked him for a day. Lefty threw his heavy casting lures and wasn’t catching much while Brooks scored often on a fly rod. Brooks got Lefty started in fly fishing that day, and the rest is history.
Lefty loved to share his knowledge with others and, for just a high school graduate, he was one of the smartest men I’ve ever known. In this 2008 photo, he helps guides William Clunie (noted The Maine Sportsman columnist) and Bob Duport with casting during a
shore lunch break on the Androscoggin up from Dixfield. You couldn’t help but learn ways to do things new and better if you spent a little time with Lefty. And much of that information is found in his 30-plus books.
If possible, we’d fish the Sebasticook River when Lefty visited. This small, intimate river was Lefty’s favorite smallmouth water in the state. But sometimes the water was so low it couldn’t be floated in a heavy driftboat, and we’d have to go elsewhere, such as the Kennebec or Andro. In this 2009 photo, Lefty holds a pretty bronzeback taken while fishing in Maine guide Bob Dionne’s boat. On the Sebasticook, we usually were joined by Scott Davis, a Maine guide and fisheries biologist for the MDIF&W. Scott lives near the river and knows it well, and he became a friend of Lefty’s and mine.
Lefty’s last visit to Maine was in 2016 and he badly wanted to fish the Sebasticook River, but Scott Davis reported the drought had taken its toll and the water was too low to float. So we went with Plan B and had the pleasure of fishing the Androscoggin just above and below Lewiston-Auburn, and had a fine time chasing smallmouths with Chip Gray, an owner/manager of Freeport’s Harraseeket Inn; Bonnie Holding, Director of Information and Education at MDIF&W; and, on (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
10 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 9)
the last fishing day just above Auburn, with Chandler Woodcock, the Commissioner of MDIF&W. Our guides on this trip were Greg Bostater and Matt Bickford from Maine River Guides, and our friend Bob Dionne, and they, like all of our guides over the years, were just outstanding.
Lefty Kreh loved people, and people loved him back. In this 2009 photo, our Sebasticook River entourage this week posed for a rare group photo taken, I believe, by Scott Davis. From left: Carter Davidson, Bob Dionne, Lefty, Bill Pierce, Mac McKeever and me. The young lady sitting on the boat behind Lefty is Nathalie Pierce, then about 10 years old. Nathalie now is ready to graduate from high school. She’s an excellent angler. In this 2013 photograph, Lefty admires a nice St. Croix River smallmouth he landed on a Lefty’s Bug (Potomac River Popper). Lefty’s mentor was Joe Brooks, a superb outdoor writer in the middle part of the 20th century, and Joe was a frequent visitor to Grand Lake
Stream, and he often stayed at Weatherby’s Lodge. Joe told Lefty about the excellent landlocked salmon fishing in the stream, and the wonderful smallmouth action in the nearby lakes and in the St. Croix River that forms the border with New Brunswick. I told Lefty I’d be glad to take him there on our next trip together in Maine. Lefty was ready for a 2013 adventure Down East. We fished with Maine guide Mike May and guide Jeff McEvoy, the current owner of Weatherby’s. We stayed several days and floated different sections of the river, where we caught a mess of smallmouth bass, including some nice ones. Lefty was thrilled to see the Maine haunt of his old friend and teacher Joe Brooks. This 2016 image is one the last I ever took of Lefty. Here he sits in front of the superb Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oqu-
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ossoc with our good friend Bill Pierce, the museum’s executive director (and contributor to the Maine Sportsman). Bill is conducting a brief interview for the museum’s social media outlets, and Lefty is marveling at Bill’s enthusiasm and sense of humor. Pierce always tickled Lefty with his ebullient personality. “He’s a mess,” Lefty always said, and it was a compliment, a genuine display of affection he felt for Bill. It was Bill, when he was with the MDIF&W, who started bringing Lefty and me up to Maine to fish so we could pass the word to others about what a great place this is, and how very good the fishing can be. Thank you, Bill. And I know Lefty thanks you, too. Together we always had such a great time in the Pine Tree State. Lefty read The Maine Sportsman magazine whenever he had the opportunity. He said it’s the way an outdoor publication should be, and that’s teaching folks and showing them how they can have a good experience in our wonderful outdoors. He was very pleased when I joined the magazine almost four years ago. Thanks, Lefty, for everything. Goodbye, old friend.
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Almanac
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 11
Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —
“Snapshots in Time”
Excerpts from the Annals of Maine’s Sporting Past Submitted by the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine The following is an amusing “editorial-type” advertisement from the September 20, 1901 edition of “The Maine Woods” which was published in Phillips, Maine. The author is camp owner/guide is Ed Grant (1839-1919). I shared another writing about Grant in our last installment. Ed was truly a “Maine Original” and his flair for promoting in a way to attract the kind of “sports” he wished to serve (no dandies) to his beloved Beaver Pond Camps rings loud and clear. The piece is amusingly written in the third person and begins with one of his short poems about himself. It is “highly questionable” that his part of the Rangeley watershed was growing
“What of “Black Edward?” Just one word’s enough. His heart’s as tender, As his tales are “tuff.” YOU see, it’s this way. A visit up to the Rangeley Lake region without a little run up to Beaver Pond, ranks as a failure as do half a pair of scissors, or the hole of a doughnut with the dough gone. Yes, “Going up to Ed’s” is like a smoking opium, lying, or “warts”— it grows upon you; and the man who once sets his happy foot on the shores of old “Beaver” is as certain to return as well as a punched “quarter.” What do you do when you get there? Most people fish, others tramp those glorious old trails and just soak their hearts and minds in the delights of mountain, lake and forest; for at Ed’s remember, we’re in the sure-enough backwoods. Now as to the fishing, a word or two. “Guides Talk” notwithstanding, I have never yet found 5 and 10-pound trout plenty enough to be monotonous — never have, but the reasonable man with a
Bird Report One of the Sportsman’s faithful readers sent in this bird report: “This observer has seen a large number of turkeys this spring, with mixed flocks of twenty or more, and as many as five toms in full strut at once, but all in April. Not much in May. Possibly the birds are starting their mating season earlier than in the past? “Regarding woodcock – we saw a number of woodcock following the warm spell this
brook trout in the 10 pound-class in 1901, if ever, but 5 to 7 pound trout – perhaps? The fact he was still advertising for caribou hunts in 1901 (the last legal Maine caribou was taken in 1914 at Square Lake) strikingly indicates how late we were to recognize that this unique animal was soon after to disappear from Maine’s forests. The Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum is located in Oquossoc. We are open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday in June and would love to have you stop by and visit. Enjoy this missive from Ed Grant, and be sure to make time to get outside and make some outdoor history for yourself!
A Beaver Tale
fair idea of the proper dissemination of “feathers”— if he chance also to be a true sportsman, could ask nothing better. Within easy reach of Ed’s doors lie (even nature “lies” up there—I wonder why?), 5 or 6 lakes in which the fly fishing is simply “great,” and I say this after having fished every damn spot in that region many times! Take “Ell Pond,” for instance, around the “bend among the pads,” or “Little Island” with a gentle ripple about sundown. Such incessant “rises” and such a run of fish marks that charming little pond is the acme of fly fishing possibilities. What is there for the “Man behind the gun” up there? Simply this. In the open season he can easily get all the deer the law allows him and will also find “Ruffed Grouse” (i.e., “Pahtridge”) in abundance. With Moose, Bear and Caribou, as is the case of those 5 and 10-pound trout, they do not actually “hang around the door yards.” How do you get to Beaver Pond? Well thus: The total of 27 miles from Rangeley spring. This was followed by the late snow storm, which blanketed the ground for up to a week. After that, reduced numbers of woodcock were evident.” —
More on Cribbage … Our recent coverage of cribbage rules and variations has sparked more interest than we could have imagined. From one reader: “Thanks for your discussions about crib-
Ed Grant, pictured in his Indian headdress as “Chief Sitting Bull” of the Kennebago Tribe, a gentleman’s sporting, card playing and imbibing club made up of local guides and sportsmen in the Kennebago region. According to Bill Pierce, because of Grant’s flair for storytelling and occasional exaggeration, his “tribal” name seems more than appropriate.
Village is now covered by buckboard to Kennebago Lake, thence by steamer down that beautiful sheet of water, a very pleasant break in the journey, thence by buckboard again, direct to Ed’s Camps on Beaver Pond. The roads already good are constantly being bettered, and fatalities have dropped considerably. The ladies and children can now, with perfect comfort, make a journey that once meant miles of rough and toilsome tramping. At the Camps, the accommodations leave nothing to be desired by those who realize that this is the “Backwoods” and not “Broadway.” The cabins are clean, roomy, and thoroughly comfortable; beds and table excellent as most of the food at least eatable; while the proprietor — i.e., the “Old Man,” is a happy combination of kindness and pleasing fiction. The first step for those who would like to see for themselves how much actual truth there is in all of the above, is to address; Ed Grant & Son, Beaver Pond, Maine And then “wait ’til something drops.” bage. “Cribbage has long been a staple of hunting and fishing camp recreation. Week-long tournaments are typical, with a bottle of beverage (to be consumed by all) as the grand prize. “In fact, one of my cousins screwed up a great cribbage weekend at the cabin by wanting to go hunting. What were we to do? He wasn’t invited back. (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
12 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Almanac (Continued from page 11)
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“The most common method of play is a loose round-robin format of two-person games, with challengers playing the winner of the last game. This allows games to be played around chores like preparing dinner and chopping kindling for the stove. “Score-keeping can be as casual as trying to remember who won and who got skunked, or as formal as a written score sheet recording winners and scoring points. “Some camps keep a permanent log from year to year. This serves as an entertaining reminder of who was present each year, and how many games were played. “While 2-person cribbage is most typical, 3 and 4 person cribbage can be interesting variations.”
throat’ cribbage. In a friendly game you can humiliate your opponent more by showing him points he missed and then allowing him to take them.” —
Another Prize-Winner from the 1st Annual Trail Cam Awards Last month we introduced readers to an award-winning photo from the first annual game camera photo contest, held over Easter weekend at the Augusta Civic Center. Here’s another stunning entry – a bobcat photo taken by a trail camera owned and operated by Matt Tripp.
—
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From another reader: “Nice item on cribbage customs and rules in the April issue. “Cribbage rules vary from region to region. It is best to start out with a common understanding which rules you will use. Nothing is worse than having your opponent spring a rule on you that you had never heard of. “For example, some folks play that if your opponent offers you the cut and you take it, you lose a point. “The Muggins rule is also called ‘cut-
Matt Tripp won third place overall in the first annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show trail camera contest with this beautiful photo of a bobcat. The photo was taken March 7, 2018 at 4 p.m. Photo used with permission of Matt and Lacey Tripp
This photo won not only third place overall, but also the “People’s Choice” award. Congratulations to Matt and Lacey Tripp of Waldoboro, and thank you for submitting this entry. We had hundreds of photos to judge this year, and from all indications the field will be even more crowded next year. (Continued on next page)
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����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 13 (Continued from page 12)
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT – It’s Quintuplets!
turkey hunters bag a bird; bear hunters in Maine are successful 25% of the time; and deer hunters in Maine tag out 15-20% of the time, according to DIF&W. —
Bird of the Month – Black-necked Stilt by Erika Zambello
As summer returns to the shores of Maine, bird enthusiasts in Rockland await the possible return of a colorful visitor from 2017: a Black-necked Stilt. Michael Browning, registered Maine Guide and contributor to the Maine Sportsman, is proud to announce the birth of five English Setter puppies (three females; two males), whelped April 13, 2018. See www. GrouseHavenWingShooting.com for more details on these baby bird-dog bundles of joy.
MAKE SAFETY A PRIORITY!
—
Nearly 3/4ths of Moose Hunters Successful in 2017, Says DIF&W Despite warm spells during both the September and October moose seasons, 73% of all moose hunters harvested a moose last season, according to Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. 2,080 moose permits were issued in 217, and 1,518 hunters were successful in getting their moose. The success rate was high in certain areas, especially up north. More than 80 percent of the hunters in Wildlife Management Districts 1-3 and 5 and 6 in Aroostook County brought home an animal. How does the 73% success rate compare to hunters of other species? About 30% of
(Continued on next page)
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Almanac (Continued from page 13)
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In the Eastern half of the United States, stilts spend the summer months along the coast from North Carolina down to Florida, but every so often they venture all the way up to Maine. In August of 2017, over 40 observations of the stilt were recorded on eBird, a citizen science platform. Shorebirds can be maddening to identify, but that’s certainly not a problem for Black-necked Stilts. As their name implies, the birds have a black back and neck, plus a white chest, stomach, and bubblegum pink legs. Like Flamingos, their long legs dominate the birds’ silhouettes, and it’s always a surprise to me that they don’t teeter over when leaning down to feed. In fact, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, stilts are second only to Flamingos when analyzing the proportion of legs to body. Black-necked Stilts feed and breed in lowlands that frequently flood, lagoons, salt ponds, or other human-created wetlands. They need such shallow water habitats in order to find small fish and water invertebrates like crawfish, beetles, tadpoles, and more. In order to capture their meals, the stilts push prey to particularly shallow areas to trap them before striking with long, black bills. Though they can swim and dive, stilt prefer to wade for their food. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the number of Black-necked Stilts in the United States
held steady between 1966 and 2014. Though they were hunted in the 19th century, today stilts face habitat destruction and pollution as their main threats. —
Patten ATV Club Organizes Poker Run for Good Cause On August 12, 2018, the Patten ATV Club will hold its 2nd Annual Dustin’s Poker Run.
Patten ATV club’s annual poker run, scheduled for August 12, benefits Wreaths Across America, and is named in honor of SPC Dustin J. Harris, a 21 year old from Patten who was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2006.
The Poker Run was created by the club in 2017 to honor Patten’s hometown heroes. It was named in memory of a local fallen soldier, SPC Dustin J. Harris. Dustin’s parents, Scott and Lorna Harris, travel to Arlington National Cemetery yearly with Wreaths Across America to transport and lay wreaths down for all of the fallen soldiers. Patten ATV Club donates all proceeds from this event to Wreaths Across America. The event will consist of an ATV trail course and also a vehicle/motorcycle course. Both will start and finish at The Hangar Pizza, located at 53 North Road in Patten. For more information, contact Laura Chicoine at pattenatv@gmail.com or 207-538-6396. Item submitted by Steve Vose (Continued on next page)
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 15 (Continued from page 14)
Book Review – Foraging Mushrooms in Maine by Tom Seymour Everything you need to know to enjoy wild mushrooms Review by George Smith Linda and I love wild mushrooms, focusing on chanterelles and black trumpets. Years ago, we attended a seminar on wild mushrooms presented by a friend in Mt. Vernon who harvests them commercially. And several times, after picking our first batches of chanterelles and black trumpets, we took them to her to verify that we’d picked the right mushrooms. Now we are very confident when discovering chanterelles and black trumpets. We haven’t ever found a lot of trumpets, but last year we picked 8 pounds of chanterelles. Now you’ve got a chance to do this too, thanks to my friend Tom Seymour and his new guidebook, Foraging Mushrooms in Maine, a Falcon Guide published by Rowan and Littlefield.
Tom is an amazing guy, a professional naturalist who has written about everything from fishing to wildlife to wild plants and now, wild mushrooms. He is well-known for his many newspaper and magazine articles, and he’s conducted seminars and workshops throughout New England. He’s also a great player of Highland Pipes, and once performed up at our camp for a TV show. In the lengthy introduction, Tom gives us a lot of great advice, such as “Get to know one mushroom inside and out before going on to another species.” From sustainable harvests to avoiding toxic plants, Tom covers everything you must know to enjoy and safely harvest mushrooms. He even covers details like how to keep harvested mushrooms dry and fresh, and includes his favorite recipes for each of the many species he includes in the book. The photos are also very helpful. He even tells you about some mushrooms that don’t go well with alcohol. Fortunately, those are not chanterelles or black trumpets! I especially appreciated his advice to always get permission from the landowner before picking mushrooms on his or her property. He even referenced a legislative bill I proposed on this subject. Harvesting with-
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World-Class Hunting & Fishing Adventures
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June 2018 Tidal Chart
Portland, ME
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out permission is considered theft. Don’t do it. So, why should you read this guide and begin harvesting wild mushrooms? “More and more people are discovering the advantages of acquiring their own food rather than relying on commercial enterprises to supply it for them,” writes Tom. “And this doesn’t even address the immense satisfaction that comes from finding, identifying, harvesting, preparing, and finally eating your own foraged foods.” Boy, that is so right. When I spot a new bunch of chanterelles, the excitement is much like spotting a grouse or woodcock in the woods. But I must confess, I’m a much better picker than I am a shot. If only those birds would sit still like mushrooms!
Portland, ME
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Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
HIGH AM PM 1:23 2:04 2:02 2:45 2:43 3:26 3:26 4:10 4:11 4:56 5:00 5:43 5:52 6:32 6:47 7:22 7:42 8:11 8:38 9:00 9:32 9:49 10:25 10:38 11:17 11:28 12:10 12:19 1:03
LOW AM PM 7:50 7:53 8:29 8:33 9:09 9:16 9:51 10:02 10:35 10:51 11:21 11:44 12:10 12:39 1:00 1:34 1:51 2:29 2:42 3:22 3:32 4:13 4:22 5:04 5:13 5:55 6:05 6:47 6:58
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16 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
— June 2018 Hunting & Fishing Information — Hunting Seasons and Rules Moose Lottery: The moose lottery will be held June 9, as part of the three-day Skowhegan Moose Festival, which runs June 8 – June 10 at the Skowhegan Fair Grounds (see detailed write-up and full-page promotion in this issue). Spring Wild Turkey Season ends June 2, 2018 in all WMDs. Limit 1 bearded turkey in WMD 8*; 2 bearded turkeys in WMDs 7, 9 – 29. In WMDs 1 – 6, hunters born in an “even” year can hunt in Season A (April 30 – May 5, 2018 and May 14 – May 19, 2018), while hunters born in an “odd” year can hunt in Season B (May 7 – May 12, 2018 and May 21 – May 26, 2018). All hunters can hunt May 28 – June 2, 2018. Season limit in WMDs 1 – 6: One bearded turkey.* *Hunters may take a second turkey during the season, but the second turkey must come from a WMD that permits the taking of two birds. Note: Turkeys must have a securely-attached tag containing the hunter’s name, address and hunting license number. Hunters must then proceed to a registration location and pay a $2 fee for registration. Night Hunting for Coyote: Night hunting started December 16 and runs through August 31, 2018. To avoid violating Maine’s prohibition on Sunday hunting, night hunting for coyotes must cease at midnight each Saturday, and can resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. Others: There is no closed season for coyotes (daytime hunting), red squirrels,
porcupines and woodchucks. Hunting is prohibited at all times for cottontail rabbits, lynx, spruce grouse and ravens. HOURS: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, except for migratory game birds (1/2 hour before sunrise, to sunset) and raccoons (night hunting allowed in season). See “Night Hunting for Coyotes” section above for applicable coyote rules. Ammunition: Non-toxic shot only for migratory waterfowl. Looking Ahead Through September Expended Archery Season for Deer begins in designated areas September 8, 2018. Regular Archery Season for Deer begins September 28, 2018. General Bear Season for Bear begins August 27, 2018 Youth Bear Day is August 25, 2018 Hunting Bear with Bait begins August 27, 2018 and ends September 22, 2018 Hunting Bear with Dogs begins September 10, 2018 and ends October 26, 2018 Crow season starts August 1, 2018 in all WMDs (there’s no bag limit on crows) —
Fishing Seasons and Rules Free Fishing Days occur June 2 and 3, 2018. If you are 16 years old or older, don’t forget to purchase your new 2018 license before going out fishing for the first time this year. Go to www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/general-law-information, find the lake,
pond, river or stream you want to fish, and interpret the codes that apply. Look up the “S” (special rules) Codes. Learn the open-water season, the ice fishing season (if any), whether you are limited to artificial lures, or catch-and-release, and whether there’s a slot limit. Minimum size for brook trout, splake and arctic char: 6 inches; for landlocked salmon:14 inches (with a maximum size for salmon and brown trout of 25 inches in much of Washington and Hancock Counties); for togue: 18 inches; for brown trout: 14 inches in lakes (6 inches in streams and rivers); for rainbow trout: 12 inches in lakes (6 inches in streams and rivers). Brook Trout: Daily bag limit 2 trout on lakes and ponds in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington and York Counties. Other daily bag limits and minimum lengths (if any): Bass: 2 fish; 10-inch minimum; only one longer than 14 inches; Whitefish: 3 fish; Smelts: 2 quarts; Pickerel: 10 fish; Northern Pike and Muskies: no size or bag limit; Eel: 25 fish; Shad: 2 fish; Striped bass: one fish; 28-inch minimum; Alewives: 25 fish. ***** Atlantic Salmon can’t be targeted, and if caught they must be released immediately. Current saltwater fishing regulations are found at www.Maine.gov/dmr/recreational-fishing/regs-tips/index.html.
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����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 17
Firearms Issues Require Careful, Thoughtful, Comprehensive Approach Boy, have things changed. When I was in elementary school, many of us brought knives to school and played knife games at recess. Today a kid can’t even bring a plastic knife to school. In high school, I would sometimes bring my shotgun and leave it in the back of the room so I could hunt after school in a nearby orchard. I talked recently with a friend who said both he and his teacher brought their shotguns to school and they hunted together after school. Today it’s a felony to bring a gun to school. If they decide to allow teachers to bring guns to school, I’m not sure if a shotgun for bird hunting after school would qualify! A recent news story by Kevin Miller reported on the positions of various candidates for Governor on new gun laws. Essentially Republicans were against them, and Democrats were for them. That’s not going to get the job done. I thought Attorney General Janet Mills offered the most laudable approach, saying it is a complicated issue, including mental illness and domestic abuse factors, and she hoped to bring all sides together to come up with ways we can address these problems. That is the only approach that will work. All sides need to step back, stop the angry rhetoric, and get together to find ways we can make our kids and all of us safer and more secure. During my time at the Sportsman’s Alli-
ance of Maine, I was proud of SAM’s support for successful legislation that took guns away from those who had been served with temporary protection orders. At that time, only permanent orders gave the judge the option of taking away a person’s guns. We worked with then- Attorney General Steve Rowe to get that done. Years later, I conferred with AG Janet Mills over a problem – it is very difficult for the police to get authority to enter that person’s house and make sure the guns are gone. That person can actually just give the guns to a relative, so they are still assessable to him. And it is also difficult for the police to take those guns because they have no place to store them. Years ago I worked with my friend Ed Pineau, who was lobbying for SAM, for a bond issue that would give the police funding to build gun storage areas. But we were unsuccessful in winning legislative approval for that bond issue. This is still a problem. Mental illness is also a complicated and difficult issue, particularly in evaluating the illness and determining who should have guns, and whether that ban should be temporary or permanent. I guess it’s easy to debate bump stocks, but even the definition of an automatic firearm is very complicated. Lots of people don’t understand that they are talking about the same mechanisms that are available on my hunting rifles. And appar-
ently are going to argue about the age at which you should be allowed to purchase a firearm. I guess some people would be alarmed to know that I had my own gun at age 12. I can agree that most private gun sales should require a background check. But the Maine ballot measure calling for that went way too far and was defeated, albeit by a fairly narrow margin. That fall, when it was on the ballot, I loaned a firearm to a friend which she kept through the deer season until she actually shot a deer. That proposed law would have required a background check when I loaned her the gun and another background check when she gave my gun back to me. That’s ridiculous. So the private sale requirement should be more reasonable, with exceptions for family members and friends, particularly if the gun is only being loaned during
hunting season. One year, on the first day of the muzzleloading season on deer, I emerged from my friend Ed Pineau’s vehicle to discover that my muzzleloader wasn’t working. Ed quickly loaned me one of his muzzleloaders for the season. That should never require a background check. During my last years at SAM, we provided members with a kit that included forms to fill out when they were selling a gun to someone they don’t know. We thought that was important to protect the gun seller. I’m not aware that someone who sells a gun privately has ever been held liable if that gun is later used in a crime, but if that was possible it certainly would give most private gun sellers a strong incentive to get a background check done. Many gun sellers in Maine now perform background checks for private sales, and quite a few pri-
vate sellers take advantage of that, even though they have to pay for that service. I fear that we are going to get nothing done, or that we’re going to enact minor law changes that will not address this serious problem in a comprehensive way. That will be a shame. Fisheries Group Tackles Heritage Law Changes At the March meeting of DIFW’s “Fisheries Working Group,” members dove right into the many issues of Maine’s Heritage waters in which native brook trout and charr are protected. Francis Brautigam, DIFW’s fisheries division director, chairs the meetings and leads the discussion. A few weeks ago, Francis made some important promises to the Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, and he will report back to that com(Continued on next page)
www.MaineSportsman.com
18 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Capitol Report (Continued from page 17)
mittee in October. One key promise was to protect the tributaries to Heritage waters, but that was not a topic of discussion on March 13. Francis gave working group members the draft of a “Shared Vision for the Heritage Law.” Most of the meeting was spent discussing this issue. Working group members significantly improved and strengthened the vision statement. While Francis would like to remove the Legislature from the Heritage waters process, working group members opposed that. Gary Corson offered a good history of the issue and emphasized, “We are not there yet where we
can leave this to the department.” Some of the discussion involved stocking charr in Heritage waters, which would require taking the water off the Heritage list which prohibits stocking. Working group members suggested looking for waters not on the Heritage list which would provide good habitat for charr. Francis and the group agreed to meet with a few key leaders of the baitfish community to discuss baiting issues and concerns. Most do not believe there will be any significant opposition to banning the use of live fish as bait in the small tributaries to Heritage waters.
Quotable
Sportsman
by George Smith
“A 20 percent increase is very conservative. We’re doing it in the core moose range in Maine where we have excellent survival among cow moose – around 90 percent…. Higher densities of a host species usually perpetuate the parasite. And climate is absolutely a part of the equation… Based on the public feedback from polling, people in Maine support a healthy population, even if that means fewer moose.” Judy Camuso, DIFW Wildlife Division Director, on this year’s 25% increase in moose
DIFW staff is confident that bait is not now used in those tributaries. Francis reported that they are working on significant changes to the rules and laws governing the collection, storage, and sale of bait, including new rules and laws governing bait holding pens and schedules for when bait can be captured. Landowner Relations Program This is great news – the Maine Warden Service has doubled its landowner relations staff, adding Corporal Dave Chabot of Greene. For several years now, Corporal Rick LaFlamme has been the running this program alone, although all game wardens practice good landowner relations. Rick has done a
great job, but there is a lot more the agency could be doing as part of its landowner relations program. For example, the Legislature, in response to legislation I proposed, added the “Keep Maine Clean” program to DIFW’s landowner relations program, to encourage hunters and anglers to pick up trash near their hunting and fishing grounds. But Rick hasn’t had time to implement this new program – although he does participate in the one-day event focused statewide on trash pickup. The Maine Resource Recovery Association stepped up to sponsor Keep Maine Clean with projects by all Maine residents to pick up trash
permits. Deidre Fleming story, Portland Press Herald, March 8, 2018 — “With input from the Heritage Brook Trout and Charr Working Group, [we plan to] develop a proposal to protect tributaries of Heritage lakes and ponds by providing the same protections currently afforded Heritage fish lakes and ponds.” Francis Brautigam, DIF&W Fisheries Division Director, promising the Legislature’s IF&W Committee that his agency, after strongly opposing protecting tributaries, will now agree to do it. March 6, 2018 — “By far, our most unusual herpetological guests were five small American Alligators that had been kept unlawfully and were confiscated by Maine’s Warden Service. They
along our roads and elsewhere. You can access information about their program, and sign up to participate, at www. keepmaineclean.org. According to the Warden Service’s press release, Corporal Chabot has had a comprehensive 21-year career with the Warden Service, including serving on many boards and commissions on the state, local government and department levels. He has held supervisory positions, performed as a field training officer, Maine Warden Service Cadre, team leader, board examiner and Maine Criminal Justice Academy instructor, and is an active member of the Maine Warden Service K9 team.
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stayed here for only a short while before being transferred to a rescue organization in Pennsylvania.” Avian Haven, in Waldo County, 2017 newsletter — “It’s the crown jewel of fish. It’s just so damn hard to catch. It kept drawing me back (to Maine). I wasn’t going to quit until I got one. When I did, I was beside myself. It was maybe 10 inches long. Still, I was so proud knowing I caught one. It was like an Olympic gold medal.” Richard Wildermuth of Pennsylvania, about catching a Maine arctic charr. Deirdre Fleming story, Maine Sunday Telegram, April 1, 2018.
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����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 19
Skowhegan
Moose Festival
Moose n a
18
Ju
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tival Fes
Skowhe g
Photo by Mike McVey
8 -1 0, 20
Friday-Sunday, June 8-10, 2018 Skowhegan Fairgrounds, Skowhegan, Maine • • • • •
Maine Moose Permit Lottery Axe Women Loggers of Maine Chainsaw carving demo Moose calling contest Monster truck rides
• • • • •
Wild game and craft brew pairing Outdoor demos, seminars, clinics Phil Vassar/Bryan White concert Vendors selling food and wares Plenty of kids’ activities and more!
SkowheganMooseFest.com www.MaineSportsman.com
20 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Skowhegan to Host Moose Lottery and Festival by Will Lund On Saturday, June 9, the 2018 Moose Permit Lottery will come to the historic Skowhegan Fairgrounds in Skowhegan, Maine—a fitting tribute to the Skowhegan State Fair’s 200th anniversary and a fantastic kickoff to summer. To celebrate, nonprofit Main Street Skowhegan is coordinating the Skowhegan Moose Festival, Friday June 8 through Sunday June 10. The festival will include exhibits, demonstrations, a moose-calling competition, the Axe Women Loggers of Maine, monster truck rides, kids’ activities, local food and live music. The musical events
hegan, ME 04976. Admission is free, as are most of the activities. * Tentative Schedule *
With any luck, permit winners will have an opportunity to hunt for a trophy like this specimen, photographed in Ashland, Maine. Photo by Aaron Smith, Ashland; Facebook: Aaron Walter Smith (Maineman); Instagram: Mainemanpictures333.
will culminate with a Saturday night concert featuring country stars
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Phil Vassar and Bryan White. The event will be held
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McNally’s Ross Stream Camps Moose Hunting Along the Allagash! Guides Available: Zones 1, 2, 4 and 5 30 Years Guiding in the Upper Allagash Open all seasons Grouse hunting • Deer hunting • Trout Fish • Bear Hunts over bait Great variety of long and short canoe/kayak trips transportation available
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����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 21
cert featuring headliner Phil Vassar and opening act Bryan White (Grandstand, 7-10 p.m.)
(Continued from page 20)
• K-9 field demonstration • Live music • Wild game and craft beer pairing and tasting (Constitution Hall, 5-8 p.m.)
Sunday, June 10 breakfast 7-10 a.m., activities 9 a.m.-2 p.m. • Maple Breakfast (Constitution Hall, 7-10 a.m.)
Saturday, June 9 9 a.m.-10 p.m. • Vendors including Operation Game Thief, Registered Maine Guides, outdoor retailers and food trucks • Raffles for major prizes including Cabela’s gear and a hand-crafted dog sled • Hunting and fishing demonstrations and seminars with Registered Maine Guides and sporting experts including Big Woods Bucks • Moose Maine-iah monster truck rides • Climbing wall and other exploratory activities for children • Face painting and antler-making • Archery range • Live music • Primitive skills demonstration • Meet and greet with Maine’s game wardens • Fly-casting demo and competition • Axe Women Loggers of Maine (four shows) sponsored by AtWork Personnel Services and The Bankery • Retriever field and drill demonstrations with Cabela’s Pro Staff • Chainsaw carving demonstration sponsored by Nickerson Yard Main-
19 year-old Ethan Cooley of Parkman, a sophomore at Unity College, harvested this trophy bull on October 9, 2017 while hunting in WMD 1 with guide Jake Feener of Tyler Kelly’s Allagash Guide Service. Ethan dropped the 872-pound bull with a single shot from a Remington .308 carbine inherited from his grandfather, Lowell Cooley, Sr. And along with him on the hunt to help celebrate was Ethan’s grandmother, Dianna Davis, who was also his sub-permittee. The majestic animal’s antlers sported 30 points and a 55-inch spread. The trophy qualified for both the MASTC and Boone & Crockett clubs, scoring 191 2/8 and 190 6/8, respectively. Photo courtesy Lowell Cooley, Jr.
tenance • Moose-calling competition for adults and kids (Grandstand, 12:45 - 1:30 p.m.) • Group moose call—
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• Vendors including Operation Game Thief, Registered Maine Guides, outdoor retailers and food trucks • Raffles for major prizes including Cabela’s gear and a hand-crafted dog sled • Hunting and fishing demonstrations and seminars with Registered Maine Guides and sporting experts • Moose Maine-iah monster truck rides • Exploratory activities for children • Archery range • Live music Source: Main Street Skowhegan; www.skowheganmoosefest.com
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22 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Skowhegan Moose Festival — June 8–10, 2018 — Skowhegan Fairgrounds • 33 Constitution Avenue, Skowhegan, ME MOOSE LOTTERY DRAWING JUNE 9TH AT 2PM BY DIFW IN THE GRANDSTAND! Exhibits • Demonstrations • Kids’ Activities • Local Food • Live Music • Moose Calling Contest • And Much More! Saturday Night Grandstand Concert featuring Country Stars, Phil Vassar & Bryan White — For concert tickets or Moose Calling Contest info, go to www.skowheganmoosefest.com or visit Main Street Skowhegan at 48 Court Street, Skowhegan —
www.MaineSportsman.com
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 23
Avoid the Most Common Law Violations This ATV Season by Steve Vose While many people ride their ATVs all winter, others prefer to place their ATVs in storage until milder weather re-
turns to the state. This means that now, in the late spring and early summer, the Maine woods see a huge influx of
ATV enthusiasts. ATV riding is a fun endeavor, and using these methods of transportation, sportsmen and
-women are able to explore areas of our state that are typically not seen by a large percentage of Mainers.
Though ATVs are fun, they are certainly not toys, and as such need to be respected. Dozens of (Continued on next page)
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24 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
ATVing in Maine
Ride your ATV down most public roads, and you’ll be ticketed. Exceptions exist, however, such as in Greenville, where town ordinances allow access to most of downtown. But be sure to get back to your lodging by dark, since ATVs can use Greenville’s roads only during daylight hours.
(Continued from page 23)
Mainers are injured every year in preventable ATV accidents, and the laws that apply to ATV riding are intended to make the sport as safe – and the operators as responsible – as possible. Most Operators Are Responsible The vast majority of ATV riders try their best to follow every ATV law, rule and regulation in the book. I say “try” because as a sportsman, I feel that with the long list of infractions possible, if you spend enough time in the woods you are likely to accidentally do some-
thing wrong. For example, a few years ago, I planned a trip up north with my wife to go ATV riding. Since my ATV is only used on my personal property for managing my wood lot and food plots, I am not required to register it for those uses. So guess what – we are at the trailhead and already to head out for the day, when and I suddenly remembered the machine was not registered for trail use. Nervous Ride Back to the Inn Well, anyone who is
as conscientious as I am about these things will understand when I tell you the two-mile ride back to the hotel, so that I could go online to register the ATV, caused me to feel physically ill. I could envision the embarrassment of getting pulled over by a warden, being assessed a fine, and having my name in the paper. In addition to my own mortification, what kind of example would I be set-
ting for my kids? Damage Done Fortunately, my wife and I finally arrived back at the hotel, registered the ATV and we were off, without incident. Psychologically, however, the damage had already been done. For the rest of the day, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was going to go wrong. After lunch, I told my wife I was done riding, so instead we went hiking
for the remainder of the afternoon. Law Enforcement Officials Use Discretion One of the many strength of the Maine Warden Service is that they are given the discretion to sort out those among us who are law-abiding citizens but who occasionally and unknowingly make dumb mistakes, from those who (Continued on next page)
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LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-Doo 255 US HWY 202 207-933-4976 doitatreggies.com
DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 huffpowersports.com
JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com
LINCOLN Lincoln Powersports 265 W. Broadway 207-794-8100 lincolnpowersportsme.net
FORT KENT Fort Kent Powersports 377 Caribou Road 207-834-3659 fortkentpowersports.com
©2015 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Offers valid in U.S.A. only, from February 1, 2015 to April 30, 2015. See an authorized Can-Am dealer for details. The conditions may vary from state to state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice.� Rebate up to $2,000 on select 2014 models: rebate applicable to new and unused 2014 Can-Am ATVs and Can-Am side-by-side vehicles. Rebate amount depends on the model purchased. Dealer may sell for less. While quantities last. ¥ Rebate up to $800 on select 2015 models: rebate applicable to new and unused 2015 Can-Am ATVs and Can-Am side-by-side vehicles. Rebate amount depends on the model purchased. Dealer may sell for less. While quantities last. � GREAT FINANCING : Low financing rates are available. Subject to credit approval. Approval and any rates and terms provided are based on credit worthiness. Multiple financing offers available. Other qualific ations and restrictions may apply. Financing promotion void where prohibited. BRP is not responsible for any errors, changes or actions related to the financing provided by the financial institutions. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: always wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Never carry passengers on any ATV 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. For side-by-side vehicles (SxS): Read the BRP side-by-side Operator’s Guide and watch the Safety DVD before driving. For your safety: wear a helmet, eye protection and other protective gear. Fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Operator must be at least 16 years old. Passenger must be at least 12 years old and able to hold handgrips and plant feet while seated against the backrest. ATVs and SxS are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. 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. Ride responsibly. 9100637
Can-AmOffroad.com
COLEBROOK, NH Lemieux Garage Inc. 161 Main St. 603-237-4377 lemieuxgarage.com
© 2015 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserve<!.™.®, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc. or its affiliates. 1AII other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. In the USA, the products are distributed by BRP US Inc. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some mcxlels depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or, in USA, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. In Canada, call the Canadian Safety Council at (6131 739-1535 ext 227. Read the Operators Guide and watch the Safety DVD before riding. Wear appropriate protective clothing and helmet. For side-by-side vehicles, fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Never engage in stunt driving and avoid excessive speed. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Side-by-side vehicles and ATVs are recommended for drivers aged 16 and older, and passengers aged 12 and older only. For off-road use only. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always ride responsibly and remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
www.MaineSportsman.com
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 25 (Continued from page 24)
are reckless, repeat offenders of the law. While it’s not always the case – sometimes the dumb and dumber among us get pinched – for the most part, the wardens do a just job of separating the nefarious from the negligent. To assist the Maine Warden Service and the ATV riders of Maine this season, I will now describe the two most commonly-occurring ATV violations in this state, in the hopes that readers will avoid getting ticketed. I conferred with members of the Maine Warden Service in writing the information below, and I would like to thank them for their assistance. Violation #1: Operating Unregistered ATV Not surprisingly, based on my own nearmiss, operating an unregistered ATV is the #1 most-ticketed violation. Fortunately, it is also among the most-easily avoided. Residents and non-residents alike can renew the registration on their ATVs online, avoiding the time involved in
visiting a state registration agent in person. In fact, if you are in the service area of a smart-phone or tablet, you can use the device to register your ATV without even leaving the trail. Keep in mind that all ATV registrations end on June 30th, so putting this date on your calendar – or even setting it as a repeating event on your smart phone’s electronic calendar – will help you remember. Are you from out of state, and do you just want to try a trial run on Maine trails without registering in this state? The frugal among you can take advantage of the “Free ATV Weekend for Nonresidents” scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 10 - 12, 2018. During this long weekend, nonresidents may operate an ATV in Maine that is not registered in Maine if the nonresident’s ATV has a valid registration from another state or from a Canadian province. Violation #2: Operating on a Public Way In a few areas in
JACKMAN Jackman Powersports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com
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SKOWHEGAN Whittemore & Sons 257 Waterville Road 207-474-2591 whittemoreandsons.com
LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 centralmainepowersports.com
RANGELEY Rev-It-Up Sports Shop Route 4 207-864-2452 revitupsports.com
TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road 207-729-1177 teamwoodys.com
‘Customer Cash offer good on select models through June 30, 2018. Free Warn® Vantage Winch -or- 18 Month Y.E.S. Yamaha Extended Service Contract-Offer ends May 31, 2018. 0% APR FOR 6 MONTHS-Offer available on approved purchases of new 2015-2018 Yamaha ATVs & Side-by-Sides. Eligible purchases will be charged no interest for 6 months from the transaction date. Offer valid through 6/30/18. Professional driver on closed course. Wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the Owne(s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Model shown with optional accessories. Vehicle specifications subject to change. ©2018 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.• YamahaOutdoors.com
A FIERCE NEW FAMILY TREE
The new 2018 Textron Off Road lineup, now with the power of Arctic Cat®.
(Continued on next page)
The Maine Sportsman Digital Edition
See Your Local Arctic Cat® ATV Dealer For More Info! AUBURN GORHAM SKOWHEGAN Ames Sport Shop White Rock Outboard Whittemore & Sons 84 Littlefield Road 351 Sebago Lake Road 257 Waterville Road 207-782-4917 207-892-9606 207-474-2591 See Us on Facebook whiterockoutboard.com whittemoreandsons.com
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EAST LEBANON Northeast Motorsports 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 207-457-2225 nemotorsportsofmaine.com
SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 kramersinc.com
BERLIN, NH Jericho Outdoors 232 Jericho Rd. 603-215-6002 jerichooutdoors.net
*Offer valid at participating U.S. dealers to U.S. residents on new and unused 2010–2015 Arctic Cat ATV models excluding youth, rental, government and special services models. See dealer for details and program dates. 4.9% FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS valid on 2010-2015 models, Financing provided through Sheffield Financial or FreedomRoad Financial and is subject to credit approval; not all applicants will qualify for credit. Financing promotions void where prohibited. 2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY valid on 2015 models and includes six-month limited factory warranty and 18-month extended service contract through Cornerstone. REBATES UP TO $1,000 valid on 2010–2014 models and varies by model purchased. Offer subject to change without notice. Excludes tax, freight and dealer setup. Only ride an ATV that is right for your age. Supervise riders younger than 16. Arctic Cat recommends that all riders take a training course and read and understand the owner’s manual operation. safety information, your dealer Safety Institute at eye (800) 887-2887. ©2015 Arctic Cat Sales Inc.,andThief River ROVs can before be hazardous to operate.For Improper use or cantraining cause severe injury or death.see For your safety, each or ridercall mustthe wearATV a seat belt, approved helmet, protection and protective gear. Avoid excessive speeds be particularly careful on difficult terrain. All ROV operators must be 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license. We recommend that all riders take a training course and read and understand the owner’s manual before operation. See your dealer for Falls, MN 56701. safety or training information or visit http://rohva.org. ©2017 Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Thief River Falls, MN 56701.
www.MaineSportsman.com
26 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
As a general rule, ATVs cannot operate on public streets and roads. However, exceptions do exist, such as when it’s necessary to safely cross over a road to continue on a trail, or in certain towns, such as Greenville and Monson, which have made municipal ordinance provisions for ATVs to use public ways under limited circumstances and conditions.
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LINCOLN Richard’s Sport Shop 239 W Broadway 207-794-3363 richardssportshop.com
TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Rd. 207-729-1177 teamwoodys.com
JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com
OQUOSSOC Oquossoc Marine Inc. 87 Carry Road 207-864-5477 oquossocmarine.com
LANCASTER, NH MOMS of Lancaster 244 Main Street 603-788-2281 momslancaster.com.com
LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 centralmainepowersports.com
GORHAM, NH Absolute Power Sports 471 Main St. 603-466-5454 absolutepowersportsnh.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. ©2014 Polaris Industries Inc.
www.MaineSportsman.com
ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 26)
Maine, ATVs are allowed to operate on certain public ways. These towns have made provisions for safe ATV use of the roads by controlling vehicle speed and erecting signage. Greenville is an example of a Maine town that really caters to ATV riders. Town ordinance allows ATV riders to access almost all of the downtown area, including the shops, restaurants and gas station. Just make sure you get back to your lodging before dark, because for safety reasons the right of way granted ATVs is only good from sunrise to sunset. Also, an ATV may be operated on a public way not to exceed 500 yards for the purpose of crossing a bridge, overpass, underpass, sidewalk or culvert, as long as that operation is done on the extreme right, can be made safely, and does not interfere with traffic approaching from either direction.
ATVMaine.com My final hint is to introduce all ATV riders to an important resource, and that is the website www.ATVMaine.com. This site includes: 1) A list of ATV clubs; 2) A description of “ATV Maine,” a statewide organization of all affiliated ATV clubs in Maine; 3) A description of liability laws; 4) A comprehensive list of prohibited acts while operating an ATV; 5) A description of registration, license and training requirements; 6) A list of safe riding practices; 7) A summary of ATV laws for adults, and a separate section for those under 18 years old; and 8) Six separate trail maps, from Aroostook to Medford to Farmington and more. Good and safe ATV riding to everyone this late spring and early summer – happy trails!
¶
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 27
Fish Shallow for Big Stripers by Barry Gibson I love fishing for striped bass in shallow water. I’ve caught the majority of my trophy Maine stripers – from 25 to 53 pounds – in less than six feet of water, and many of these fish inhaled baits in water that barely covered their backs. Stripers of every size, including the big cows, feed voraciously when shallow bays and flats drain during an outgo-
ing tide. Seaworms, grass shrimp, crabs, baitfish and other creatures of the mud funnel seaward as the flat or bay empties, making for easy meals. Bass often position themselves in, or move slowly through, prime locations with their noses into the current, grabbing these morsels as the current sweeps them by.
Find Your Spot How do you find pro-
ductive locations? Look for structure. Stripers love rocky ledges and islands at the edges of bay mouths or down-tide of emptying mud flats. These areas offers cover for the bass, plus habitat for green crabs, juvenile lobsters, and baitfish, and free-drifting forage tends to get pushed up against these hard edges by the current. If the water is three
to six feet deep and moving at one or two miles per hour as the tide ebbs, you’ve likely found a good spot. Bait Choices and Tactics I like live bait in this scenario, particularly tinker mackerel or herring. I’ll anchor up about 60 feet up-tide of the spot, and deploy a nose-hooked bait on a 5/0 octopus-style circle hook snelled onto
four feet of 25-pound fluorocarbon leader under an egg-sized plastic or balsa float. The tactic is to let the bobber and bait drift back with the current into the zone. The bait will struggle against the float and will appear as an injured fish being swept downtide. Once your offering is well past where the bass (Continued on next page)
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28 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 27)
may be holding, reel it back and set it out again. Watching the Water Boil When the current slows towards the bottom of the tide, you can often simply leave the rig in the zone as long as the bait doesn’t rise to the top and spin. Often all you’ll see is a big boil as a bass engulfs it! For this scenario I like a seven-foot spin outfit and 17-pound mono. Big bass often hit very hard in shallow water, and take off at full bore. I’ll wait a few seconds, and then quickly in reel any slack and slowly lift the rod tip in order to set the hook.
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Right in the Rocks You can troll plugs or tube-and-worm rigs around ledges and islands and catch fish, but the fact is that bass do much of their feeding in the wash where waves meet the rocks. The force of the waves dislodges crabs and other shellfish living in the crevices and submerged vegetation, and also disorients baitfish, making
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Casting for Cows This is the ideal chunk-casting situation from a boat drifting with wind or tide. Unless seas are very calm, however, one person should remain at the helm at all times to keep the boat near enough to the structure to present a bait, but far enough out to maintain safety. Always keep the bow pointed into the waves, in case you need to quickly move away from the shoreline. The tactic here is to cast a live bait, whole dead bait or chunk right up against the rocks. Even if the island or ledge drops right off to a depth of 50 feet or more, stripers will often do much of their feeding in the top two or three feet where the rock slopes away from the ledge or shoreline. Chunks or fillets of mackerel are ideal, although bigger bass sometimes respond better to a whole dead bait. Live eels also work well, but live mackerel, unless engulfed within seconds after touchdown, tend to quickly swim away from the ledge towards the protection of deeper water. The take-away here is that the wash right up against the rocks is where the action will likely be. Once your bait sinks down ten feet or so, reel it in and re-cast. Bass in the Breakers Big stripers can be caught in the surf along sandy beaches. The tactic is to ease the boat as close in towards the beach as possible, turn it so you’re heading bow-out (into (Continued on page 30)
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for easy pickings. If you can find an outcropping or island near a river mouth that has current flowing along its edge, particularly from an outgoing tide, you’ll have the ingredients for a hot spot.
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����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 29
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30 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 28)
Our warranty is the best in the business. Just like you’d expect from Honda. A Real, Factory Direct Warranty * Fully Transferable* Nationwide Service ELLSWORTH Pirie Marine 53 Sunset Park Road 207-664-0500 piriemarine.com
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Jumbo stripers like this one prowl the edges between mud flats and deeper channels to root out crabs, worms, and other goodies. This one fell for a live eel. Photo courtesy of George Poveromo
the waves) and then cast your bait shoreward as far as you can. Again, however, safety is paramount. Someone needs to be at the boat’s controls at all times, tempting as it is for the operator to grab a rod and fish as well. You’ll need a reliable depth sounder to make sure you don’t get pushed in too close and risk a grounding. It’s very easy to get turned sideways, especially if there’s an onshore breeze, and take a comber into the boat. A good bait is a chunk of mackerel. Live eels or
macks work great too, especially when the bass are feeding aggressively, but again, live macks will try and escape to deeper water if they’re not picked up right away. I’ve found that beach stripers often feed more aggressively during the last two hours of an incoming tide and the first two of the outgoing, although I’ve taken 25-plus-pound fish at virtually all stages. Hey, striper fishing is one of the few activities where “shallow thinking” really shines!
¶
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 31
— Special Feature — by Ron Joseph
A Remarkable Success Story Prompts Public to Ask, “How Many Turkeys are Enough?” In January 1784, newspapers printed stories that Benjamin Franklin preferred the wild turkey as our national symbol. “For my own part,” he had written in a private letter to his daughter Sarah, “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country.” Franklin argued that the eagle was “a bird of bad moral character” that “does not get his living honestly because it steals food from the fish hawk [osprey] and is too lazy to fish for himself.” The wild turkey, claimed Franklin, is “a much more respectable bird” and “a true original native of America” which “would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.” Designers of the national seal, the story goes, politely listened to Franklin’s impassioned pitch before endorsing the bald eagle as its symbol. Too Much of a Good Thing? Fast forward 233 years – and turkeys have become a royal pain in the butt to agriculturalists. In 1993, a Knox Ridge dairy farmer sternly approached me with a question: “Ron, since you’re a wildlife biologist, are turkeys endangered?” I replied, “No, they are not.” The farmer replied, “That’s good, because the next turkey that rips open my plastic silage coverings will be endangered by shotgun pellets.” No one in Maine, it seems, is ambivalent
Dairy farmers are particularly irritated with turkeys. “I took calls from dairy farmers,” said Phil Bozenhard, the acknowledged Grandfather of Maine’s turkey restoration program, “telling me that turkeys were standing there eating next to cows in their barns. You can’t blame the farmers for being upset. I’d be upset too if turkeys were eating silage and grain, and then [defecating] in the livestock trough.”
Fat tom turkeys cause great excitement among spring and fall hunters, but to dairy farmers and orchardists, according to the author, the big, hungry birds can be a “royal pain in the butt.” Paul Cyr photo
about turkeys: you either love or despise them. With the current estimated statewide turkey population of 60,000 to 70,000, have the birds become too abundant? Today’s highly successful turkey program took root in the 1970s, when state biologists released 41 Vermont wild turkeys in southern Maine. The fledgling population grew exponentially following the release of 101 Connecticut birds in the 1980s and ’90s. “Grandfather of Restoration Program” Phil Bozenhard, a retired Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) regional biologist, is the acknowledged “Grandfather of Maine’s turkey restoration program.”
Bozenhard said he is surprised by the turkey’s widespread distribution, but not the ensuing controversy. “Looking back to the ’70s and ’80s,” he told me recently, “we would have been thrilled reestablishing a viable turkey population within 25-30 miles of the coast. That was pretty much the range of the birds during colonial times. Two hundred years ago, turkeys inhabited salt marshes, especially during winter months. The fact that turkeys now occur in every county far exceeds my wildest expectations.” Bozenhard attributes today’s statewide turkey distribution primarily to farmland, which was limited in 1800. “In addition,” he ex-
plained, “thousands of Maine residents operate backyard winter bird feeders, and that, too, has benefitted turkeys.” “I received a call years ago,” recalled Bozenhard, “from a homeowner, reporting six turkeys at their bird feeder. They were thrilled because turkey sightings back then were relatively uncommon. The next year, the same couple called back to complain about twenty turkeys cleaning out their feeders.” Dairy Farmers “Irritated” Dairy farmers are particularly irritated with turkeys. “I took calls from dairy farmers,” he continued, “telling me that turkeys were standing there eating next to cows in barns. You can’t
blame them for being upset. I’d be upset too if turkeys were eating silage and grain, and then [defecating] in the trough.” “In the 1980s,” Bozenhard continued, “Brad Allen (state wildlife biologist in Bangor) and I were in Connecticut capturing and transporting turkeys to Maine. Since it’s best to learn by trial and error, Brad and I applied what we learned, as the Connecticut biologists monitored us from a distance. “A flock of turkeys arrived on our bait. Great, we think. I hit the detonate button to discharge the cannon nets, and nothing happened. I hit the button a second time. Nothing. I tried a third time, still nothing. “The birds departed, and the Connecticut biologists came down and asked what happened. I said, ‘I pushed the detonate button three times and nothing happened.’ We checked the 100yard detonation cord and found a small break. The best laid plans don’t always work out.” Net Losses, then Net Gains Bozenhard eventually mastered the turkey trapping and release program. “Sandy Eldridge (Phil’s assistant) and I were trapping turkeys in Elliot. Again, a bunch of turkeys walked onto the bait pile. “We hid in our makeshift blind, which consisted of a stack of four large tractor tires. I pushed the detonate button and BOOM. Two of three nets worked perfectly but caught zero birds. The (Continued on page 33) www.MaineSportsman.com
32 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Remote Traveling Confidence and Camping Comfort Moving through remote and wild land in Maine can be done in many ways – from the truck on logging roads that lace the counties, by snowmobile or ATV on the miles of groomed trails, or under our own power on foot, or skis, or snowshoes. Others enjoy traveling on pedaled or powered bikes (where legal), while some might prefer to go on horseback. Whatever the mode of travel might be, most outdoors folks agree that remote Maine travel can either be the most pleasurable part of a hunting
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I appreciate seeing a piece of recovery equipment that really works slick when needed, like the over-sized ratchet strap a friend used to “winch” my snowmobile out of an icy brook while we were coyote hunting a few years ago, or the ATV and winch that pulled an 800-pound bull moose out of the thick woods. or fishing adventure, or it can be the most dreadful and difficult piece of getting to and from the desired outdoor location. While presenting a deer-tracking seminar at Bob Howe’s “Pine Grove Lodge” in Bingham, Lanny Benoit of Vermont said his favorite part of deer hunting was navigating his way through
the challenging logging roads in Maine -- he actually enjoys getting stuck and figuring a way out of tight spots. For me, I have never liked getting stuck in the woods, and trying to figure a way out of a dicey situation feels like a waste of time. I want to get to my location and get on with the hunting or
fishing rather than piddling around with muddy and greasy equipment. To each his own, so they say. What I do enjoy is seeing a piece of recovery equipment that really works slick when needed, like the over-sized ratchet strap a friend used to “winch” my snowmobile out of the frozen grip of
an icy brook while we were coyote hunting a few years ago – or the ATV and winch that assisted in pulling an 800-poundplus bull moose out of the thick, wooded forest on numerous occasions. What Works While out traveling the remote parts of this awesome state this year, I’ll be reporting back here about certain pieces of equipment that help to keep me safely on my way to various hunting and fishing locations. Certain items I find useless will occasionally be discussed in general (Continued on next page)
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 33 (Continued from page 32)
terms, but I’ll never report about a company that makes a product that fails – I’ll just call the company and let them know what didn’t work for me. They can choose to fix the problem or not, but I won’t write about them again until they take care of the problem with their product. My father always said if you can’t say something nice about somebody, then don’t say anything at all – and I will follow through on his words of wisdom. I want to try some of those uniquely-styled snow chains I have seen on Facebook and YouTube. It looks like you can run them through a slot in the wheel and secure them around the tire, and then simply drive out of the thick mud or snow ... we shall see. I also want to try out that new foam mattress material for a sleeping pad in the bed of the truck. I thought I would
never camp again because my back issues made sleeping anywhere except in my bed at home a real nightmare. I’m going to get what they call a “topper” made out of the same foam material to sleep on in the truck bed. Maybe I’ll be able to camp in comfort again? Tacoma Progress Speaking of the Tacoma, I’ve had a slight delay in progress on the installation of the Rough Country (roughcountry. com) lift kit and suspension upgrade. I didn’t want to risk missing a day of coyote hunting, so I put off the installation until at least most of the snow melted around here. Well, the snow kind of melted so I mentioned to Dan Richard, owner of Dan’s Automotive in Rumford, that I’d like the kit installed and I’d also like an undercoating/ rust preventative applied at the same time. At the same time I got a notice in the mail about the frame
Turkeys in Maine (Continued from page 31)
warranty inspection that Toyota needed to perform, so Dan suggested that I get the frame inspected by Toyota first. Long story short ... the frame is fine, so Dan will be doing the Rough Country suspension kit and lift soon. I’d like the undercoating job done at the same time, as long as they are under the truck. I’m excited about the suspension upgrade – the truck rides a little rough with the snowmobile in the bed, especially on Maine’s extra-exciting pothole asphalt they call pavement. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t taken the time to really clean the interior of the truck after I purchase it; I kept thinking that I’d get one of those professional companies to detail every nook and cranny. I’m thinking differently now – I’m just going to do it myself, and I’ll do a good job, using a tooth brush and get into every little area of the inside of the truck.
LEER Products cap or topper for the author’s 2010 Tacoma truck will offer a clean and dry camping area on remote fishing and hunting adventures. Photo: LEER Products
After a good cleaning, I’m going to have some rugged camo seat covers installed to keep the originals protected. I’d also like some of those form-fitting floor mats from Weather Tech (weathertech.com) to contain some of the mud and snow that gets slopped around the truck when hunting and fishing. I’ll also be getting a truck cap installed to cover the bed, for camping and keeping extra gear dry and out of the elements. I’ve contacted
LEER Products and am looking at a cap that is higher than most, allowing for more headroom inside. If I get stuck in the bed of the truck during a rainstorm, I think I’d enjoy a little extra headroom – at least I could sit on the bed comfortably and read a book until the weather changed. A lot of good things will be happening with my Tacoma this year, and I’ll report on the progress here in this column. Stay tuned!
¶
“Are turkeys endangered?” the farmer asked me in 1993. “No,” I replied. “That’s good,” he responded, “because I’m going to endanger them with shotgun pellets if they keep ripping open my plastic silage coverings.”
third net wasn’t hooked to the cannon gun, and wouldn’t you know, that’s the one that would have caught the turkeys. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but those growing pains actually helped us learn how to trap turkeys. It taught us patience and persistence; it’s the same with hunting turkeys.” Bozenhard continued, “We were green because none of us had any turkey experience, but what we did have was a determination to succeed. We learned from our mistakes, and given the turkey population today, I think we did okay.” In the 1980s, IFW captured turkeys from Region A (southern Maine) to transported them to Region B (central Maine). In hindsight, according to Bozenhard, that was too great a leap, because there was too much of a geographic gap without turkeys. “We discovered that by moving turkeys no more than 10-15 miles apart,” he explained, “the two populations could fill in the gaps with a continuous bunch of birds. Once we figured that out, we had a lot more success establishing birds in Maine.”
that Connecticut turkeys brought deer ticks to Maine. “One November,” he said, “I checked a deer on a vehicle driving north into Maine. The deer and was crawling with deer ticks. “So I asked, ‘Where did you shoot this deer? And the hunter said, ‘Lyme, Connecticut.’ Lyme, Connecticut is where deer ticks and Lyme disease were first discovered – he was transporting that deer and its load of ticks into Maine. “How many Maine hunters transporting Connecticut deer unwittingly brought deer ticks into Maine? Therefore, I doubt turkeys were the primary tick carriers.” The growth of the flock statewide has led to a fall season, and to two-turkey limits in many part of the state in the spring hunt. But bottom line? Maine’s largest upland game bird is here to stay.
Not the Source of Ticks Bozenhard doesn’t buy the argument
¶
Ron Joseph is a retired wildlife biologist. He lives in Central Maine.
Carter Bragg, age 12, of Sidney, scored this big ol’ tom turkey on Youth Day, 2018. Congratulations, Carter! Photo contributed by Holly MacKenzie www.MaineSportsman.com
34 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Wet Flies and Wading in Aroostook June water conditions on Aroostook rivers and streams vary significantly from one spring to the next. Freshet conditions from snow and ice melt as well as rain control water levels. While much of Maine considers June a summer month, it’s still spring up north, and fishing conditions remain unpredictable. At some point this month, however, waterways will recede enough to allow safe, comfortable wading conditions and the opportunity to enjoy the often overlooked sport of casting a wet fly. “Elegant” Tradition When I consider dry fly fishing, the precise presentation of a floating feather imitation, “classic” seems an appropriate word, while casting a sleek streamer along a swift run brings to mind the word “aesthetic.” For the less commonly-practiced art of drifting a swept-wing wet fly through a likely trout pool, one of my personal favorite high water en-
Wet fly fishing while wading is prime in June. It’s also one of the most likely time to hook an elusive brown trout like this beauty. Graves photo
deavors, the best word is elegant. Namesake of the County, the Aroostook River offers prime trout fishing all season, but between high water trolling and warm weather dry fly action, top-rate wet fly wading happens this month. To best access and cast over many of the productive pools, chest waders are a must, and I highly recommend a sturdy wading staff for balance. The stream bed is very uneven and covered with slippery rocks and a
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fairly strong current also hinders travel. Trout average 12-14-inches, but the last few years 14-16 inch brookies are becoming more prevalent. I find a 6-weight, 9-foot graphite or boron-mix rod with a large arbor reel and weight-forward floating line yields distance and backbone for hefty trout in fast water. Often, a pool needs to be fished from one side with a quartering cast. Start with a rod-length of line, then add a foot
with each consecutive cast and drift. Allow the line and fly to drift until it straightens directly below your wading location, then let it swim in place with a couple of twitches before stripping a bit and recasting. If water depth and speed allows, cast to both sides as you move downstream one step after each cast. River Runs Otter Brook joins the Aroostook River at a big hairpin bend in Caribou. Trout school along the
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confluence, offering a fine wet fly wading opportunity. A quarter-mile downstream, Little Madawaska River pours into the Aroostook, yielding another likely location – not only can anglers cast wet flies along a lengthy pool below the run-in, but several good spots lie upstream on the Little Madawaska as well. Route 1 and the Grimes Road offer prime access to gravel roads right to the shoreline. Check Delorme’s Atlas, Map 65, B-2. Parkhurst and Maysville Sidings, old railroad spurs, are located between Presque Isle and Caribou, and three small brooks join the Aroostook along a mile of this stretch. Farm roads and two tracks offer bankside access to each spot, providing excellent wading runs with light fishing pressure. Less than a mile upstream from Fort Fairfield near an old gravel pit are several mid-stream (Continued on next page)
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Wet fly fishing while wading is not practiced as much as it once was, but it’s still a productive method. If anglers use patterns like those on this rod grip, June action can be fast and furious on Aroostook brooks. (Continued from page 34)
islands. Brook trout abound in the riffles and rivulets that flow along and around these isles, offering steady wet fly action. DeLorme’s Map 65, C-2 and C-3 provide overviews of these two spots along Route 1 and Route 161 respectively. Brookies and Browns No June wet fly season would be complete without a foray or two along Meduxnekeag River in Houlton. Another long, rambling stream originating from Hovey Swamp and dozens of small brooks beyond Harvey’s Siding, from Monticello to Houlton and its exit into Canada, this fair-sized stream offer myriad wading pools this month. The Covered Bridge and Dow’s Hole are two well known spots near Littleton, and the Foxcroft Road parallels the waterway for several miles offering easy access to many likely wading pools. There’s a long set of slow rapids behind the old starch factory right in Houlton on the main river, and a miles or so away at Cary’s Mills on the south branch is an “S” turn in the South Branch offering three productive wading stretches.
Brook trout are the norm, but some bruiser browns eschew the deep runs to cruise the current for food during the day this month. Just a single 2- to 3-pound broad-shouldered brown makes a trip the The ’Keag worthwhile. Check DeLorme’s Map 59. E-4 and Map 53, A-3 for pro-
As the author demonstrates in this photo, the weather is often chilly during June in Aroostook. Extra layers and neoprene waders make a wet fly outing comfortable, and feisty brookies are the reward.
ductive wet fly pools. When the water levels remain moderately high and a bit dingy, I prefer a brightly-hued pattern in size 6 or 8. Proven performers include a Trout Fin, Royal Coachman, Grizzly King, Silver Doctor and Parmachene Belle. As water drops and clears, a size
Caston Lovely of Presque Isle and the author pose for a quick photo before releasing a brace of brookies taken from the Aroostook River during a June wet fly foray.
10 or 12 McGinty, March Brown, Hare’s Ear, Ginger Quill, Coachman or Light Cahill wet fly all draw strikes. As a final thought, be sure to carry a box of dry flies in a vest pocket on June wading excursions. Toward late afternoon and just at sundown, a sudden hatch might oc-
cur, and surface action can be fast and furious, but may last only 15- to 30-minutes. Be prepared, just in case, to enjoy a wet fly-dry fly combo event. Help keep a Maine tradition alive – try casting a true wet fly this month, and you won’t be disappointed!
¶
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Maine Wildlife:
Brown Trout by Tom Seymour
As a young angler, I fished for Loch Leven brown trout and German brown trout. Both were the same fish, of course, but the common names paid homage to the original source of brown trout. Brown trout have a long history in Maine, the first ones being stocked in Branch Lake in Ellsworth in 1885. The 7,000 fry in this initial stocking were raised in the federal fish hatchery (the 19th- century term for it) in Orland. By the mid-1930s, brown trout swam in multiple waters throughout Maine. At the time, brown trout were considered a panacea, in that they stood in the gap created by diminishing returns of native landlocked salmon. But fisheries managers, even after 50 years, still knew little about the lives and habits of Salmo trutta, the brown trout. Some anglers struck gold during the early years, in that they figured out how to catch lunker brown trout from lakes and ponds. Methods then employed heavy rods and reels and wire line. Tackle more suitable for brook trout didn’t allow lures and baits to get down to where brown trout lurked, and most people were not able to figure out just how best to fish for and catch brown trout. Thus began the notion that brown trout were a super-crafty, sagacious species of trout that were beyond reach of the average angler. In time, browns were considered a fish for the elite, meaning the rare few who knew how to catch them. This mindset persisted until only recently, and in fact those who know the secrets of successful trolling for brown trout are still viewed as piscatorial savants.
By trolling very slowly, I began taking brown trout on a regular basis – not the freshly-stocked 10- to 12-inch fish that people catch in streams and rivers, but big, fat trout measured in pounds. ers boast a remarkably silver sheen, much like that of a landlocked salmon. Brown trout are always a beauty to behold. Fortunately for me, a local pond had held brown trout for many years. Most people icefished for trout there, but only a scant handful bothered with open-water fishing. For me, however, one trout caught in open water was worth a dozen taken through the ice. So using a borrowed rowboat, I began seriously probing the secrets of this small but productive trout pond. And one thing soon became abundantly clear, and that was that persistence pays. But to persist took faith – faith that brown trout were present and active. Fortunately, still afternoons in early summer usually saw brown trout sipping insects from the calm surface. These fish were terribly difficult to catch on flies, but then again it was near-impossible to determine what flies the trout were taking. But the old-timer’s method of slow trolling finally paid off. In the 1960s, when I began fishing for brown trout in earnest, older anglers swore by the classic spinner-and-worm combination. These rigs varied in configuration from one manufacturer to another, but all used one or two small spinner blades, plus some small, red beads. A worm, lightly hooked and riding behind the spinner, completed the offering. Rowing Troller So with my spinner-and-worm dragging behind, I would set my rod down, making sure to brace the handle in case a large fish struck, and slowly row around the pond. Few of us had motorboats back then, and manually-powered watercraft were what most people used. It didn’t take long to realize that early mornings and late afternoons were the best time for brown trout activity. Even during summer’s heat, brown trout would cruise
near the surface on still evenings. And surprise of surprises, these roving trout found my spinner-and-worm to their liking. And so it was that my interest in trolling lakes and ponds for brown trout was cemented. In time, as with so many others, I bought my first boat, motor and trailer, and that opened up a whole new world of trolling for brown trout. Now, with a power boat, my spinner-and-worm was traded for a heavier, Dave Davis trolling rig. These, fished on a lead-core line, reached far deeper than any spinner-and-worm could ever go. And consequently, it became possible to troll successfully for brown trout at any time of day. But except for ice-out fishing in early spring, slow remained the order of the day. That’s where the legacy of my rowing-and-trolling days paid off. I began taking brown trout on a regular basis, not the freshly-stocked 10- to 12-inch fish that people take in streams and rivers, but big, fat trout measured in pounds rather than inches. Still Mysterious As late as 1967, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife continued to view brown trout as something of an experiment. An article in Maine Fish And Game, the department’s printed vehicle, discussed the future of brown trout in Maine. The author, fisheries biologist Matthew Scott, said, “One might pose the question: Should we continue to stock brown trout? A single, unqualified answer cannot be given.” Scott ended his article on an upbeat note: “On the other hand, brown trout will provide a popular sport fishery when they are properly managed, as many Maine fishermen will attest.” Scott’s conclusion was prophetic, in that now, over 50 years later, brown trout swim in countless Maine waters and rivers and have become entrenched as a popular and desirable coldwater game fish. And it’s for certain that countless Maine anglers, some yet unborn, will continue the fascination with brown trout. And one day, one of these newly minted brown trout anglers will catch a double-digit brown trout – the fishy equivalent of the Holy Grail.
Persistence Pays While brook trout remain my first love, brown trout fascinate me. Aggressive, strong and full of fight, browns rank as a topnotch sport fish. Besides that, brown trout often vary in color, in that while some display shades of golden-brown, marked with black spots on head and back and red Due to their intense and varied color, according to the author, brown trout are always a beauspots on the side, oth- ty to behold. They are hardier than brookies, and can thrive in warmer water. www.MaineSportsman.com
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Field-Judging Whitetails in Maine I’d been waiting two seasons to hunt this spot. Precipitation, strong winds and overall nasty weather are normally associated with east or northeast winds, but today was different. It was unusually calm and cold. Conditions were ideal for hunting this stand, but I thought I’d already blown my chance. Long story short – I’d forgotten my pack at the car and had to hike all the way back after arriving at my spot an hour before daylight. There was no way I’d get back to the spot under cover of darkness, so I took my time and still-hunted the last 200 yards to my destination. I approached the old orchard slowly and silently. When I was just 40 yards from the tree I’d been at before sunrise, I saw a deer moving toward me. Dropping slowly to one knee, the standoff began. The old buck and I had spotted each other. What Makes a Buck a Shooter? For deer hunters focused on shooting the buck of a lifetime, hunting is often different than it is for those wishing to
Heavy bucks will display a deep chest; swept back, smaller-looking hind quarters; and a fat swaying belly. They often rock their heads back and forth as they walk. For MASTC-scoring antlers, try to estimate main beam length, tine length, circumference and spread. put venison in the freezer. Trophy buck hunters often target specific bucks or buck sign. The phrase “If it’s brown, it’s down,” no doubt, originated from the lexicon of a meat hunter. Fortunately, both types of hunters coexist in the deer woods of Maine each fall. For the last twenty years, I’ve specifically targeted adult bucks. Prior to that, I was a meat hunter. I’ve enjoyed both types of hunting; however, the thrill of pursuing adult bucks has become an obsession. Field judging a buck in the thick timber of Maine is certainly different than in the more open hardwoods of the Midwest. Hunting both areas can be challenging; however, the fir and spruce thickets of Maine create conditions which often force a deer hunter to make quick decisions when determining if a buck is a “shooter” or a younger buck they should
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pass. So what should hunters wanting to take an adult buck look for and focus on before shooting? The answer depends on each hunter’s desire. Those looking for the coveted red “Biggest Bucks in Maine” patches awarded for bucks dressing out over 200 pounds, should focus more on the body of an animal. Hunters wishing to earn the yellow patches of the Maine Antler, Skull and Trophy Club (MASTC) should focus more on a buck’s antlers. Good news! Both body size and antler size can be strong cues for a hunter trying to make a decision. Over the past 20 years, I’ve killed seven whitetails and one mule deer buck that dressed from 205 pounds to nearly 300 pounds. Three others came close but fell just short at 192, 195 and 198 pounds. Sometimes it was antlers that made
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me take the shot, other times it was body size. The physical makeup of each of these bucks was similar – a deep chest; swept back, smaller looking hind quarters; and a fat swaying belly. These big bucks also rocked their heads back and forth a bit as they walked. This happens either because the rack is bit heavier or it’s a swag-
ger. These are tell-tale signs of an adult buck worth shooting. All About the Bones My success on bucks with “giant” racks hasn’t been as common as on heavy bodied bucks; however, a few high-scoring bucks have fallen to my rifle. I’ve had opportunities at a few more with my bow, but a “family curse,” buck fever and bad luck, kept them off my living room walls. What makes a rack trophy-sized? Well, in Maine, a typical rack must net at least 135” and a non-typical must (Continued on next page)
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Big Game (Continued from page 37)
score a minimum of 150” to qualify for a MASTC patch and make the book. So, what should hunters look for in a MASTC qualifying buck? Numbers of tines and points are very important. More tines equal more inches of antler. Especially on typical racks, more tines mean more length on the main beam. Hunters fortunate enough to catch a view from the side or from above should look for main beams extending to or past a buck’s nose. Nearly every buck making the book will have main beams longer than 20 inches. World-class bucks often have main beams over 28” in length. Though it’s often difficult to count points, it’s easier to estimate and look at mass. If the tines look thin, it’s likely the beams are also spindly. Look for long, heavy tines and if there are many, the buck is likely a shooter. If a buck has multiple, long, heavy tines and drop-tines, he’s a shooter
for sure. Mass or circumference of a rack is important in the overall score. If a buck sports a rack with soda can bases and palmation on its beams, it’s quite obvious. In the scoring process, mass is measured at four different spots on a beam – the circumference at the base, again between the brow-tine and the G2, G2 and G3 and then again either between the G3 and G4 or half-way to the tip on an eight-point buck. Extra tines don’t grant a buck more circumference or score from mass. Heavy beam measurements add inches to score. True big bucks usually have bases of five inches or better, and main beam circumferences over four inches. Spread is also very important. Example: we have two 10-point bucks with equal mass, main beams and tine length scoring 115 net inches, one with a 22” spread, and the other with an
18” spread. The first nets 137” and makes the book, the second nets 133” and misses the book. Spread becomes especially important when big mass, long tines and long beams aren’t present. If a buck’s antlers spread wider than its ears, the beams are likely at least 20” wide. Most high scoring bucks have spreads of at least 20”. Many worldclass racks are often wider than 24”. Main beam length, tine length, circumference measurements and spread make up a total score for a whitetail rack. Field judging isn’t always easy; however, when an adult buck possesses long beams, lots of points and big mass, it’s easy to see. I call it the “wow factor.” A decision to shoot one of these bucks is a no-brainer. Getting Back to the Orchard Buck …. If the old buck had identified me as a threat, he’d have run off immediately. At first I thought he was a spike horn. Thick cover prevented me from seeing him well. For nearly five minutes we stared at each
The author is shown here with the big orchard buck described in the accompanying column. Joe explains: “This buck left little question he was a shooter. The wide rack and multiple points on each main beam gave him the “WOW factor” every deer hunter looks for when they’re seeking out a buck with a trophy rack. Spread, big mass, multiple tines and long beams are needed if a hunter wants to kill a book-qualifying buck.”
other. Finally the old buck decided he was safe. In turning his head toward some does I hadn’t yet seen, I easily saw his monster rack. His rack sported lots of points and was very wide. This buck had the WOW factor! He was a shooter. I took aim and fired, dropping him where he stood. Walking up to the old
buck, it was evident to me that he was a giant. I had my first MASTC patch and a buck that gross scored 156” and netted 145”. As the saying goes, you never forget your first. To this day when I stare at this mount, I remember that buck turning his head. That wide rack did him in.
¶
MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: The American Robin by Steve Vose
The Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), also known as German Brown Trout, Brownie, Loch Leven Trout and Saibling, is a game fish native to Europe that was stocked throughout South America, North America, New Zealand, Australia and many other countries. Brown trout were first introduced into the United States in 1884 when they were released into the Baldwin River in Michigan. Brown trout possess light brown coloration with pronounced black spots on the back, sides and head. These black spots are ringed with a red halo. Red spots also exist all along its sides. In Maine, brown trout tend to thrive in lakes, ponds and streams that would kill brook trout and salmon. Because of this , the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) is looking at the brown trout
Darrell Wentworth of China caught this 25.5 inch brown trout on Spectacle Pond in Vassalboro.
to support a viable sport fishery of the future in “marginal” waters. Brown trout can grow to huge sizes, depending on habitat. In a small ponds, for example, a 16-inch brown is considered big, while in large lakes they can weigh 10 - 20 pounds, depending on available feed. In Maine, brown trout regularly grow 14 - 20 inches in length, and 1 to 2 pounds.
Questions 1. By what other names is the brown trout called? 2. What is the only continent where the brown trout is native? 3. When were brown trout first stocked in the United States? 4. How big do Maine brown trout usually grow? www.MaineSportsman.com
5. 6. 7. 8.
However, Maine brown trout will occasionally reach 10 pounds. Young brown trout survive on a diet of aquatic and terrestrial insects, but browns larger than 12 inches feed primarily on large prey such as other fish, crawfish and even mice. The biggest brown trout move very little during the daylight, instead preferring to hunt for food primarily at night. Scientists tracking the movements of large brown trout have determined that during daylight hours big brown trout barely move from their protective hiding places. At night, however, they will travel miles in search of food. Brown trout spawn in the fall. Young brown trout (fry) emerge from the eggs early in the spring and immediately begin searching for food. If able to successfully avoid predators, Brown trout may live 20 years.
What do brown trout longer than 12 inches primarily feed on? When do brown trout spawn? What are baby brown trout called? Answers on Page 78 How long can a brown trout live?
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Katahdin Region Offers Day-Hike Opportunities Galore! I’ve always admired the Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hikers. Yup, those dusty, muddy, unkempt souls with enough determination to put one foot in front of the other all the way from Georgia to the top of Mount Katahdin. Over the years I’ve read countless books describing the trials and tribulations associated with the 2,181-mile trek. Only a small percentage of hikers who start the expedition actually complete the journey. Others, perhaps those with a little more patience than the rest of us, do sectional hiking. This process of traversing a different section of the trail each year allows those with time constraints to hike the AT over a period of years, one small segment at a time. Unfortunately, I fall into the “dreamers” category. Getting into this elite group requires lots of reading about it, talking about it, but never actually lacing up the hiking boots. It’s a sad group of individuals who will have no stories to tell their grandchildren.
Discover the
Up until now, the author has been an Appalachian Trail “dreamer.” That means he reads about it, and talks about it, but doesn’t actually do it. He says that’s all going to change this year – he’s going to lace up his unused hiking boots and walk sections of the trail. I’m working on a fix. It’s called “mini-sectional” hiking. I’m proposing to do a few short day hikes along the AT so the grandkids can at least get an undersized story or two. Appalachian Trail The AT rolls through much of Katahdin Country, as detailed with the meandering red dotted
line on Map 42 of the DeLorme Atlas. This seems simple enough to me. I’m picking a section that runs between two roads – keeping my hikes to no more than one or maybe two days. A quick look at Map 42, B-3 reveals a chunk of trail that weaves along between Jo-Mary and Cooper Mountain as it
follows Copper Brook. The six miles from Johnston Pond Road to JoMary Road should make for an easy day hike at my average travel speed of two miles per hour. The contour lines on the map tell me the trail stays mostly at the same
elevation, so I won’t need to think like a mountain goat. Cooper Brook will provide a good source of water, always an important consideration on any outing. Whenever I hike, I always take my full backpack loaded like I’m never coming home. First of all, should something go awry I like the option of spending the night and eating dinner in comfort. My second reason? It’s good training for longer (Continued on next page)
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40 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
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Katahdin Country (Continued from page 39)
hikes. While I’m sure the water in Cooper Brook is crystal clear, I’ll definitely run it through my water purification pump. It’s important to filter all water in the backcountry – you’re never quite certain what’s going on upstream. Another day-hike of five miles or so stretches
between Blanchard Road and Route 6/15 in Monson (Map 31, A-3). With only one small water crossing near the northern tip of Doughty Pond, I’ll pack in some water. Once again the contour lines indicate gradual elevation changes. Earthmate Before attempting any backwoods travel al-
ways consult a good map. I have a Garmin Earthmate on my cell phone that does a pretty reasonable job of determining elevations, water crossings and other obstacles. It also tracks my progress and lets me know exactly where I am at all times. It works off the satellite system and therefore doesn’t require cell phone coverage. Also, pre-trip, I can map out my course on my (Continued on next page)
This photo of a lean-to at Davis Pond demonstrates how small, free-standing tents can fit inside the wooden structure. Only free-standing (self-supporting) tents are allowed, to comply with park rules prohibiting using nails or other sharp objects to secure the tent, since that would damage the walls or floor of the shelter. This arrangement allows for bug-free sleeping. Sheldon photo
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42 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Katahdin Country (Continued from page 41)
base computer and link it to my phone. By tracing the trail from the start to the destination point, one can get a very accurate mileage number – great for planning purposes. While I embrace the technology, a compass and paper topographical map fit neatly in the top compartment of my backpack. Some things just never go out of style. Another easy ac-
cess point, where the AT crosses the Golden Road (Map 50, D-5) offers day hikers a chance to hike to a campsite just three miles or so south. It’s fun to check out the campsite and then turn around and head back to the Golden Road. Hiking on this end of the AT increases the odds of crossing paths with a real thru-hiker. Baxter State Park What many folks
consider the crown jewel of Maine, Baxter State Park, lies in the heart of Katahdin Country. Those looking to enjoy part of the extensive trail system can pre-scout this phenomenal area by logging on to the Baxter State park website (www.baxterstatepark.org). Four years ago, I participated in a four-day through-hike that encompassed 23 miles. Now, no summer goes by without multiple trips to the park. My first few expeditions utilized some of the trails
in the southern portion, which included a trip to the mile-high summit. My first taste of hiking in higher elevations involved climbing the Chimney Pond Trail and spending a night at the Chimney Pond Campground. We spent the night in one of the three-sided lean-to huts. The lean-to system works well. It beats sleeping on the ground, and, especially during the rain, keeps everyone high and dry. I still set up my one-person L.L.Bean tent
inside the lean-to. By setting up the ultra lightweight free standing tent inside the structure, I create a “bug free” zone. Bugs, especially while sleeping, rate as a deal-breaker. The only requirement is owning a tent small enough to fit inside, and using a free-standing model, as the park rules prohibit putting any type of nails or spikes into the lean-to. Day hikers looking for that perfect one-day event need look no further than the Five Ponds Trail system (Map 51, A-1) located in the northern reaches of the park. This loop allows for multiple planning options. Just make sure to figure the miles and adjust for that ever important average travel speed. For those looking to establish a base camp from which to do multiple day hikes, the park has numerous campgrounds. Let’s lace up those unused hiking boots and see what the Katahdin Region has to offer.
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Careful Preparation Makes Up for Less-Than-Perfect Shots This time each year, I find myself watching bowhunting TV shows in anticipation of the deer season, which is likely a rollover from being in the woods for turkeys. These modern hunting shows are very different from those I watched years ago. For the most part, shows nowadays don’t address poor shots and resulting lack of, or little, blood trail. It’s as if the modern shows’ entire focus is on the hunt and not on any part of an animal’s resulting death. They make it seem as if every shot is a perfect one. By contrast, the great Fred Bear shows I watched years ago would always show details from the shot through the kill. If the shot wasn’t perfect, the show would include a long tracking segment on how the animal was ultimately found and dispatched. But now, modern shows imply the hunter only had to track the animal a short distance because the shot was properly effective. Not the Real Story In my opinion, these stories don’t tell the real story of what many hunters experience. Tracking an animal after the shot is a huge part of hunting, and it’s our obligation as woodmen and -women to find and respect that animal, regardless of the effectiveness of the initial shot. I don’t believe these shows are produced in partial disclosure or in bad faith, but noticing how rarely poor shot
placement seems to occur on these shows and their lack of addressing that fact, I believe it’s important to discuss the results of bad shots, and the creation of blood trails. Creating Blood Trails In a perfect world, arrow hits would cleanly penetrate an animal’s lungs or heart, and death would come quickly. The broadheads we use are designed to cause rapid and massive blood loss, resulting in a swift kill with minimal suffering and stress to the animal. However, extreme internal blood loss doesn’t always result in blood loss outside the animal. But to the extent we can control it, it’s important to get blood out of the body and on the ground, because deer can cover a lot of ground in a short time, and we primarily track deer by finding blood, not tracks. Powerful Bow; Sharp Broadhead One of the most important aspects of creating blood trails is to use a bow setup with enough kinetic energy so that the arrow completely passes through the animal. Because blood pools inside the body cavity until it reaches the level of either the entrance or exit wound, having both wounds versus only the entrance wound allows more blood to escape. Another piece of this equation is the broadhead itself. It’s important that our broadheads are as sharp as possible when hunting. Deer have several blood clotting factors
that interact to produce a blood clot when the animal is cut. One of these factors is accelerated if the body senses trauma. If no trauma is detected, it takes the body longer to coagulate or clot the cut. A good example of this phenomenon is when folks get a paper cut or razor cut – they don’t feel it, but only notice their injury when they see blood. Often, these cuts take longer to clog up than with a more serious injury, simply because our bodies sense no trauma. Scientists call the phenomenon “hypercoagulability.” Trauma and stress cause an animal’s body to release an enzyme that promotes faster clotting. All things being equal, sharper broadheads cause less trauma to whitetails than dull ones; thus, deer bleed out quicker and suffer less because the wounds coagulate more slowly. So not only do sharp broadheads offer us a potentially greater blood trail to follow, but the deer travel a shorter distance, which is more ethical. In short, we owe it to both ourselves and the animals to use the sharpest broadheads possible. Less-Than-Perfect Hits Unfortunately, for various reasons, some shots aren’t perfect. As hunters, we may be cold, excited or we can just plain mess up a shot. The animal may move at the last second, or the arrow may hit a twig in its path.
Bad shots happen. Some of the most common off-target shots are edge hits, high hits above the vitals, and one-lung shots. As stated above, massive internal blood loss doesn’t always equate to external blood loss. The reverse is true with edge hits. Edge hits include shots such as the back of the foreleg, side of neck and brisket. Edge hits often bleed profusely at first, but then the bleeding diminishes to nothing after time. If a true edge hit does occur, it’s an animal’s salvation, because the wound will heal quickly and the animal will be all the wiser. High hits behind the shoulder are common “bad shots” as are high hits above the lungs between body cavity and spine. These often don’t kill an animal. One-lung hits are also a result of bad shots. Almost always, a one-lung hit occurs at angles hunters probably shouldn’t shoot in the first place, particularly quartering-to shots. It’s easy to miss a quartering-to shot, but if the hunter does indeed connect, it will often only pierce one lung, which may leave little to no blood trail, and the animal may survive
for hours. Wait Time There’s no standard rule of thumb of waiting after a shot deer. Personally, I only take ethical shots that I know will kill a deer quickly outside of any factors I can’t control. Because of that self-imposed rule, I’ve passed up more deer than I’ve shot. Generally, I wait about 30 minutes if I’m certain it was a good shot. I’ll only begin a search sooner if it’s raining hard and I’m worried about blood being washed away. If I’m uncertain about the shot, I’ll wait an hour or so, then look for blood. If it’s scarce, I’ll wait another hour before tracking slowly. I have never gut-shot an animal, but if a hunter knows he/she did pierce the gut, wait at least 6 hours or so before tracking. Harvesting an animal is not always a perfect process. Reality often does not follow the patterns depicted on idealized hunting shows on TV. However, it’s our duty as hunters to control as many factors as we can, taking only clear shots, and respecting the animal as we track and dispatch it.
¶
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44 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
— Guest Column — by Zachary Fowler
Fowler Gets a Sinking Feeling In early spring in Maine, canoeists and kayakers get all fired up to get out there and bomb down the rivers swollen with snow melt. Being slightly crazier than most, I decided to do it in my handmade boat made out of reeds. So I entered the 45th Annual Passagassawakeag River Race, held on April 7 of this year. The race covers seven miles of river in Waldo, Maine with one stretch consisting of more than a mile of white water. Not a Stranger to Whitewater I’d never canoed this river before, but I am no stranger to navigating rivers in small watercraft. My father and I canoed the entire length of the Otter Creek in Vermont, which is one of maybe two rivers in New England that flows north. Last year, we started on the Connecticut River up close to its headwater, where Vermont, New Hampshire and Canada all meet. We managed two 3-day trips, and plan to keep that up until we’ve canoed the whole thing. That being said, the reed boat is no canoe, and my only experience with the “SS Reed” consisted of taking it out into Camden Harbor this past winter (see The Maine Sportsman April and May, 2018 issues). Race Day The day of the race started out like any other spring day in Maine – snow, sleet and a bit of rain mixed with some sun. Man, I was excited! I drove up to Waldo with the reed boat on the top of my truck good and early so I could get registered. www.MaineSportsman.com
An early arrival would also give me an opportunity to make some minor modifications to the boat, and paddle a bit before the race. It took the officials a minute to decide what class they wanted to put me in, since there was no reed boat class, but they gave me a number regardless. I was Boat Number 4.
ing your feet up on the deck makes it even more wobbly. So I drove some stakes through the center of the deck to act as foot pegs so my legs wouldn’t have to dangle in the water. This helped a bit with the stability and would have to do. Nothing more could be done but to learn on the go – at this point I was committed.
“Tippier Than I Remembered” My apprentice Chris and I took the boat down to the river and tried her out. It was a bit tippier than I remembered. To stay balanced on the reed boat, you have to put your feet just over the side because keep-
First Turn in the River; First Capsize With the boat all rigged with rolling camera for the YouTube video I was making of this adventure, I set out to get in position as my turn arose. I wonder what people were thinking. There were at least 100 onlook-
Fowler remembers thinking the SS Reed felt tippier in the river than it had on his inaugural trip out into Camden Harbor.
– Part 1
ers. I maneuvered my reed boat with my custom paddle made from a tree and two cold steel shovel blades up to the start alongside another paddler. When they said “Go!” he was off like a rocket. I followed at my own pace, just happy not to tip over in front of the crowd. I managed to stay upright until the first turn and flipped it. I even managed to block up the entire river for a few difficult seconds. Hitting My Stride It took about three more dunkings and another mile of travel down the river before I really hit my stride and got comfortable.
Fowler managed to get back onto his boat several times after capsizing early in the race. Little did he know the worst -- far worse -- was yet to come.
I even managed to get back on the boat without having to go to the side of the river and climb back aboard. It was a beautiful day and it seemed to be only getting better. Everyone (and their brother – literally!) was passing me, so it was good that I was Number 4 and had gotten a slight head start. I got hung up for a few minutes on a log over the river because, unlike the smooth bottoms of the other racers, the strings and reeds didn’t allow me to slide smoothly over just submerged obstacles. This was always my biggest weakness and therefore my primary concern. I passed the first bridge on the river after what seemed like a long, long time – at that point, I was just trying to stay upright. I caught a glimpse of my apprentice Chris, who was flying a video-equipped drone. He got some great footage of me and the other racers making our way down the river. Thought I Had it in the Bag Of course just when I thought I had it in the bag and things were at their best, the river changed. Up to that point, it had been extremely calm. The majority of the obstacles were just a few tight 90-degree turns in the river and the single log I’d encountered. But now I could hear the roar of the river, so I knew I was coming up on some faster-moving water. Look for Part 2 next month to learn Fowler’s fate at the hands of the merciless Passagassawakeag River.
¶
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Jackman’s Heritage Waters a Precious Resource My guide for the evening walked around my four wheel drive Yukon before nodding in approval. “Good,” he muttered. “You’re going to need the ground clearance where we’re going.” Now I’ve followed many guides through the backwoods alleys of Maine and learned a thing or two along the way. They all seem to drive extremely fast for the minimum-maintenance logging roads that weave through the back country, and they usually leave a plume of dust behind. Keeping up can turn into a white-knuckle affair.
I’ve had the best luck hanging back as far as possible while keeping track of the dust cyclone ahead. The ride usually comes to a conclusion when the overhanging alders slapping both sides of the truck sound like fingernails on a chalkboard. This trip proved no different. Oh, and never buy a used truck from a guide. Cold Stream Forest The Jackman Region teems with back-country trout waters, and various organizations have risen to the challenge of protecting this valuable resource. The recent purchase of the Cold Stream Forest did just that. This
Emily Bastian, Chairperson for the Maine Chapter of the Native Fish Coalition (NFC), displays proof that a properly-managed native fishery can reward anglers with quality angling opportunities.
important conservation accomplishment required the joint efforts of Trout Unlimited, Maine Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W), the Trust for Public Land, and a host of additional public and private resources to preserve this 8,000-acre resource. This trout bum really appreciates the eight wild brook-trout ponds and the 12-mile stretch of Cold Stream that flows from Cold Stream Pond south to the Kennebec River. Experts in the field tell me that Cold Stream provides excellent spawning grounds for Kennebec River brook trout. Wild brook trout opportunities in the Jackman Region don’t end with the Cold Stream drainage. Just about
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46 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Jackman Region (Continued from page 45)
Pine Tree State, which put her finger squarely on the pulse of wild brook trout in Maine. The NFC works to protect, preserve and restore native fish species, wherever possible,
in their native waters. In talking with different members of the organization, it’s clear that educating the public about managing this precious resource also takes a high priority.
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The State of Maine has adopted 578 lakes and ponds as “Heritage Fish Waters.” These ponds must have no records of stocking for at least 25-years, and must have a population of eastern brook trout or artic char. The Jackman Region alone has approximately 125 of these valuable waters. To further protect
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native, self-reproducing fish, laws prohibit the use or possession of live fish for bait on these ponds. Anglers looking to fish “Heritage” designated waters still need to check the DIF&W regulations, because the rules and harvest limits do vary from one body of water to the next. Don’t expect stocked trout in Heritage waters.
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One of the key conservation pieces of the puzzle prohibits the DIF&W from stocking hatchery raised fish in Heritage designated waters. This means that wild native trout don’t have to compete with pen-raised fish for food and other resources. Fishing Heritage Waters After stuffing my Yukon as far off the road as possible, we hiked to the tail end of Lang Pond. This trip took place long before Lang Pond became an official “Heritage Water.” The dusty cyclone, my scratched-up truck and the tiring overland hike were all forgotten as my boots rippled the edg(Continued on next page)
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Grilled Partridge with White Barbecue Sauce After you have made this white barbeque sauce, close your eyes and taste it. The thickness, texture and heat are
there. There is thickness from the combination of ingredients, texture from the whole grain mustard and heat from the white
pepper. Now go enjoy. When I make this for dinner, I always say, “I’m just going to change…,” and my husband cuts me
off and says that I cannot change a thing. And it is his new white ketchup, period. So there you have it, a
recipe I created and then prepared it the first time. Your feedback please?!
Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •
12 partridge breasts 1 cup mayonnaise ½ cup plain yogurt ¼ cup Fiore Summer Peach White Balsamic Vinegar 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard 5 teaspoons prepared horseradish 2 teaspoons white pepper, coarsely ground 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon cane sugar
Directions Combine all ingredients in a bowl, except partridge, and whisk. Place partridge in large zip bag and add half the sauce. Marinate in fridge, turning once, for 2 hours. Preheat grill to medium high, and cook 2 minutes per side. Meanwhile, heat remaining sauce on low. Serve sauce on partridge or on the side.
Jackman Region (Continued from page 46)
es of the glass-smooth pond. Like all good guides, this particular professional had two canoes stashed in the woods near the shoreline. His, like most “beater” canoes, still had the yard sale price stuck to the seat. We shoved off without complaint. I asked Bastian how the NFC might help anglers in the Jackman Region. The NFC is effectively a voice for the wild native brook trout in the region. Identifying waters that support wild fish leads to the NFC’s battle cry of “Protect, Preserve, Restore.” Another way anglers will notice the NFC’s efforts comes in the way of signage. The group has currently undertaken the sizable project of installing “Heritage Brook Trout” signage on hundreds of designated Heritage waters. The fish sign project is an example of DIF&W, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, and the NFC working together. Bastian also mentioned the need for volunteers posting the “Heritage Waters” signage on the 578 designated waters throughout the Pine Tree State. What a great way to do some fishing, and help a great cause – all the same time.
Green Drake Hatch As the sun singed the top of the tree
line, the much talked-about Green Drake hatch engulfed our beater canoe. How could I miss? All I needed to do was drop my perfectly-tied Green Drake on the water and wait. And wait I did. Apparently a robust Green Drake hatch doesn’t “guarantee” the fish will bite. By the time darkness took away my best chance of tying a wet fly or nymph on, it was simply time to go home. Emily Bastian has spent a lot of time fishing remote ponds and searching for Heritage Waters throughout the Pine Tree State. I thought I’d try to find out her “favorite” Jackman pond to pass along to readers. She coyly narrowed it down to 10,000-acres or so around the Cold Stream project. While searching the Maine laws for the Heritage Waters, I noticed one glaring omission that seemed odd to me – the Heritage Waters consist of “lakes and ponds” that contain state heritage fish. My question, why would the state not include moving water, like brooks streams, tributaries or even rivers? Anglers looking to assist in the cause of preserving wild native brook trout can contact Emily Bastian at ME@nativefishcoalition.org. Enjoying this valuable resource requires taking care of Maine’s favorite game fish.
¶
This map, provided by the Native Fish Coalition, shows the high concentration of Heritage Fish Waters in the Jackman Region. The Native Fish Coalition, a national organization with a state chapter here in Maine, has taken on the challenge of protecting this unique and valuable resource for future generations to enjoy. Source: Native Fish Coalition www.MaineSportsman.com
48 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Swinging Toothpick Streamers with a Switch Rod I had an excellent fishing trip last year with my buddies from the disabled veterans organization I volunteer for with the catchy name, “Back In The Maine Stream” (BITMS). We took several veterans fishing for trout and salmon on the Salmon River in New York – a place famous for huge steelhead, coho salmon, king salmon, and more. During the trip, the guides gave some of us a quick lesson on how to use a two-handed method for casting with a switch rod, something similar to a Spey Rod. With hardly any room for backcasting in the normal, one-handed fashion, the two-handed method worked perfect for performing huge roll casts with big streamers and made it easy to execute a tangle-free cast when using the terminal
The two-handed fly fishing technique allows me to keep the fly in the water longer and cast farther with less effort, and it doesn’t seem to put a strain on my casting arm after a long day on the water. Maybe using two hands cuts the work in half? tackle associated with unwieldy nymphing rigs. To top that off, later in the morning our group of disabled veterans had the pleasure of meeting expert Spey Casting instructor, Walt Geryk (speydoctor.com). Mr. Geryk proceeded to pick up where the guides left off with the casting instruction. Anyone that follows two-handed casting understands that Mr. Geryk holds a top spot as a leader in the instruction of this method here in the United States, and his lessons that day remain etched in my mind. Folks can take his
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casting seminars or order his instructional DVDs to learn his two-handed casting techniques, but the bulk of this instruction doesn’t just stop at casting ... a huge portion of success with this technique comes from selecting the right rod/reel combination, and then fitting it with the exact line to make the whole outfit perform the way it should. Happy with Hardy Mr. Geryk said he had worked with several rod companies and suggested for me Hardy’s six-weight “Demon” switch rod with a D-8000 reel, also made
by Hardy (hardyfishing. com). To top the Hardy outfit, RIO Products (rioproducts.com) sent me the line as specified by Mr. Geryk – “Scandi VersiTip” and “Connect Core” shooting line. A similar set-up was used on the Salmon River trip mentioned above, and it worked fine for me. I’m hoping to get a little more instruction from Mr. Geryk when the rod comes in ... I’ve got some plans for swinging big streamers and nymphing rigs on large rivers here in Maine. I believe this set-up will work wonders on some of the rivers I
normally fish, but that I can’t really cover with a regular fly rod because of the extreme breadth of the channel. Even anglers fishing smaller streams where there’s no room for a back cast would benefit from the two-handed techniques and rod/reel combination recommended by Geryk. How many times have I come upon a perfect looking hole, only to find that it can’t be reached with traditional fly fishing gear? Normally, a regular one-handed technique works just fine for swinging streamers or casting a nymphing rig. The big difference for me when using a two-handed technique comes from eliminating all false casting, thereby keeping the fly in the water longer. (Continued on next page)
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 49 (Continued from page 48)
The two-handed technique allows me to keep the fly in the water longer and cast farther with less effort, and it doesn’t seem to put a strain on my casting arm after a long day on the water. Maybe using two hands cuts the work in half? Charlie Mann I started volunteer work with BITMS, the non-profit organization mentioned above, as a guide helping disabled veterans with their fishing. I met one of the older members and found out that I drove right by his home to get to the monthly meetings, so we started driving together and became fast friends. This member, Charlie Mann, told me all about his love of fly fishing, tying flies, his family and his extensive military career. I stopped at his house one day after our meeting to check out his tying room, and discovered some of the nicest streamers I’ve ever seen. I also found out that this humble gentleman is “THE MAN” when it comes to tying streamers that catch fish. I never realized that Mr. Mann was such a famous fly tier, but after doing a little research I found out that his flies are well known in the world of fly fishing – especially among those anglers who enjoy catching big fish on streamers. Mr. Mann’s smelt imitations begin with a unique technique that employs a toothpick (Stim-U-Dent) as the body, wrapped on the shank of the hook. Mann has given me a few of his flies to try out this year and offered to teach me how to tie his toothpick streamers. I have yet to take him up on the offer, but will as soon as possible. This is just too good to believe. I can’t wait to start swinging his streamers all over this
Columnist William Clunie with a king salmon from New York’s Salmon River.
state and beyond. Back in the mid-nineties Mr. Mann tied a special fly for then Governor Angus King, appropriately naming the fly the “Governor King Streamer.” While most folks know Charlie Mann as a awesome inventor of fish-catching streamers, he also gets regular recognition from Maine’s Warden Service for his volunteer work with them. After a lifetime of
serving out country in the military, he immediately went to work serving our community here in Maine ... truly an outstanding individual. 2018 Season So this year a few things will be changed to mix up my fishing season a little – just something to keep it interesting. For me, fly fishing keeps me on a learning curve that (Continued on page 51)
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AMC’s Medawisla Lodge Ideal for Fishing Vacation Last June I was a guest at Medawisla, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) newly renovated and rebuilt lodge at Second Roach Pond. After several days in a brandnew, fully equipped cabin, I developed a high esteem for the place and the people running it. Upon checking in, I was met by Brandon Newell, the lodge manager. As luck would have it, Brandon was an avid angler and had recently found great fishing at the head of Roach River, within walking distance of the lodge. And instead of just telling me about it, Brandon accompanied me to the charmed pool where he had experienced such great fishing. So with thoughts of big, wild brook trout and even salmon floating through my mind, it wasn’t a surprise when a heavy fish struck on my first cast. The fish, which I knew had to be a brook trout, fought well, making repeated line-sizzling runs. Imagine my dismay when the fish finally came to hand. It was a creek chub of massive proportions. Subsequent
Brandon’s 16-inch brook trout from Roach River at Medawisla. Seymour photo
casts resulted in several more hookups and though these were not my intended quarry, they were great fun to catch. Roach River The reason for the presence of chubs and lack of trout or salmon in the river (Brandon did take an 8-inch brookie while fishing with me) was that the water had gone down precipitously because of a statewide drought. Salmonids had either swum downstream to deep holding pools or had made it up to Second Roach Pond. Either way, I hit it wrong. But my lack of success, trout-wise, has no bearing on the viability of this fine fishery. Brandon showed me photos of some trout and salmon he had taken just before the water had reached such
low levels. I was greatly impressed. Also, AMC keeps canoes at their lodges, Medawisla included, and I could have tried my luck on Second Roach. But the second day of my visit turned out windy – too windy for practical fishing from a canoe. This just goes to point out that no matter how we plan, we can do nothing about climate and weather conditions. So, it being too windy to fish, I walked along the river and was thrilled to find some natural treats. First, a pair of red crossbills hopped along in front of me. These are fairly uncommon songbirds, and it was a great pleasure to watch them. And next, growing alongside the last pool before the pond, I found
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cotton grass, a perennial plant common to the Arctic tundra, that also grows in northern Maine. The leaves resemble grass, and the seed heads have the appearance of a ball of cotton. Finally, I reveled in the heady scent of the wild mint that grew all along the river. Any naturalist would have a field day here. My meanderings only touched the surface, and someone with the sole intention of finding and identifying interesting and even rare wild plants would find Medawisla a perfect place to visit. Hex Hatch On calmer days, Second Roach Pond sees a heavy hatch of Hexagenia limbata, our largest mayfly. According to Brandon, fishing the evening hatch of these giant mayflies brings some of the pond’s largest trout and salmon to the surface – a fly-fisher’s dream. Visiting Medawisla in June with the specific design of hitting the Hex hatch makes all kinds of sense. Everything needed is close at hand – canoes, paddles and a pond filled with hungry trout and salmon just waiting for the evening hatch. Besides staying at
the main lodge, visitors have the option to strike out on their own and stay at any of the numerous campsites that AMC has established not only on Second Roach Pond, but also at Trout Pond, Third Roach Pond and Fourth Roach Pond. The AMC keeps canoes at landing sites reachable by motor vehicle. All the angler need do is grab a canoe and head out to one of the remote campsites. Who says you need to go to Canada in order to experience high-quality wilderness camping and fishing? It’s all right here in Maine at any of the various AMC lodges and campsites. If heading to Medawisla for the Hex hatch, make sure to stop in Greenville on the way and visit any of the retail fishing tackle outlets there. They all carry Hexagenia imitations and can tell you which ones fish are taking at any time. And when out on the water, it stands as a good idea to remove that 2-pound tippet and exchange it for something more substantial. After all, the biggest fish in the pond may suddenly suck in your Hex imitation. “Gulp!” Spinning, Too Fly fishers aren’t the only group to get in on the action at Roach River near Medawisla. From the red markers at the outlet of Second Roach Pond to the confluence of the North Inlet, an artificial-lures only regulation is in effect. For me, that was good news, since ultralight spin gear has (Continued on next page)
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 51 (Continued from page 50)
become my first choice in tackle for stream and river fishing. Brandon Newell, too, uses light spinning tackle, and that was what he
used to take the 16-inch brook trout in the accompanying photograph. But fly fishers, if hitting this section of river during times of normal or even slightly high water lev-
Fly Fishing (Continued from page 49)
never ends. Besides trying to perfect my two-handed casting technique, I’m also planning several other fishing related events to keep my
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els, would do well to try brightly colored bucktails such as Edson Tiger Light or Mickey Finn. The yellow in these flies acts as a magnet for hungry brook trout.
Hopefully, I have convinced readers to give Medawisla a try. To make a reservation, contact Appalachian Mountain Club Reservations at P.O. Box 298, 361 Route 16, Gor-
knowledge base growing. I want to see if the two-handed casting style improves my streamer fishing success. I’ll report on this at the end of the year. I also will be increasing my knowledge of aquatic insect life by taking several “on-thewater” entomology seminars through the BITMS program. I’m trying to get Thomas
¶
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52 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Downeast Trout Fishing as Hot as the Weather The Panther-Martin ¼ oz. yellow and black-spotted lure attached to my Shakespeare 5-foot, 6-inch spinning rod looked like a perfect recipe to catch a few brookies. The small spinner shined radiantly as it slowly submerged into the water of the crystal-clear river. On my second cast of the morning, the thin rod bent as a 12-inch, red-bellied brook trout (salvelinus frontinalis) inhaled the lure and darted upstream. Within a minute, the beautifully-speckled fish came up to the green, grass-covered bank at the
water’s edge. I eased it from the water and carefully released it back into the water. After I made several more casts with no luck, another trout grabbed the lure and sped toward the center of the river. The fish raced toward the opposite shore several times before I was able to bring it to my waiting net. After admiring the red-haloed spots and its orange-tinged fins for a few seconds, I freed the 13-inch trophy back into the rushing water. The Orland River where I caught these beautiful fish is only one
of many well-stocked trout waters in Hancock County. The Orland River contains excellent deep-water pools where lures or earthworms can attract enough brookies to keep anglers coming back every chance they get. I have caught and released a daily limit of stocked, 10- to 13-inch trout on many mornings every spring. Refer to DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 23, E-3 to pinpoint this brook-trout haven. According to fisheries biologist Greg Burr, this water is going to be
stocked two times this year, once in the spring and again in the fall. The Orland River was stocked with 150 14-inch brookies and 400 10-inch brookies last fall, and to my knowledge very few of these fish were ever caught. According to Mr. Burr, more spring-yearling brook trout were to be dropped off by hatchery personnel between the Upper Falls Road and Alamoosook Dam in May. One avid Orland River angler, Mark Augerton of Bucksport, mentioned to me that he and his son, Cody, are often in the company a dozen other
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anglers when they fish this water in the evening. Hancock County Brookies Another excellent choice for a few brookies is Bubble Pond (Map 16, B-4). Bubble Pond is a small, well-stocked brook-trout water within the scenic confines of Acadia National Park. Bubble lies between towering Cadillac and Pemetic Mountain; thus, the water temperature remains cool. Brook trout are the only fish in the pond. The maximum depth is 39 feet down the center of the pond. Close to shore, depths ranging from five to 10 feet. Bubble Pond is stocked annually with 175 10-inch brookies. Fly fishers and bait anglers using worms catch trout from this water. The best time to fish this pond is during early June. Dry-fly enthusiasts (Continued on page 54)
����������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2018 • 53
The Redemptive Power of Bicycling In the 1990s I was an office-dwelling, 30-ish newlywed who had lost whatever little fitness I might have had from high school and college sports. I worked long hours at a desk job, watched a lot of TV, owned a motorcycle, and did not exercise at all. I hadn’t ridden a bicycle in many years. My next-door neighbor had a long driveway. She worked odd hours at the L.L.Bean warehouse. And we were in the midst of a historically heavy snow season for southern Maine. I had a snowplow on my truck. It seemed only natural that I would help her out. We never talked about money, and I never expected any pay. But in the early spring, as a thank you gift, she arrived at my doorstep with two bikes she had purchased from the L.L.Bean employee store. The “E store” was the home of returned, discontinued and rejected items that were deemed unfit for resale to retail customers in the factory
I replaced the sensible tires on the Acadia all-terrain bike with skinny racing slicks. I added an aero bar extension, clip-in pedals and a digital speedometer/odometer computer. The result looked like a water buffalo with the lower extremities of a gazelle.
Near Nahmakanta Lake, 2012
store. Bean employees eagerly scoffed up this misfit gear at low prices. The bikes were both branded L.L.Bean models. One was an Acadia – an all-terrain bike that Bean marketed to casual, occasional bicyclists who might encounter either paved or unpaved roads in their local travels. The other was an old-school, hard-tail mountain bike made of steel.
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Later that spring, I rode the mountain bike into the headwaters of the Magalloway River, with a four-piece packrod in my knapsack for the first time. The freedom of travelling beyond the gates was intoxicating. I loved the low granny-gears that allowed me to creep along the back woods roads – just fast enough to stay ahead of
the blackflies. I went on to use this tactic for both fishing, and later hunting, in many different backwoods ventures. That summer, my wife and I loaded both bikes into my canoe on a flat, calm August day and launched from Cousin’s Island in Yarmouth. We paddled across the narrow reach to Chebeague Island for a day of biking on the quiet roads there.
Avoiding the public ferry fare was only half the fun. I was already thinking about how the bike could help me avoid canoe shuttles on solo-paddles of streams and rivers – something I have done hundreds of times over the intervening years. Later that fall, I rode the Acadia on the carriage roads in its namesake park, Acadia National Park, for the first time. Off-season bicycling visits to the national park became an annual tradition that continues to this day. Before the Gift Most Americans don’t ride bicycles as adults. It’s usually something we put away with other childish things – like participation in team sports or playing a musical instrument. This is true even if our childhood exposure to bicycling is extensive. Before the gift of those two bikes, I could have easily slipped over that divide into a life without (Continued on next page)
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54 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Self-Propelled (Continued from page 53)
the simple joys of twowheeled, self-propelled travel – even though a single-speed Schwinn had been my preferred childhood ride over hundreds of miles of back roads to small brooks and native trout, and even though I later rode a 10-speed Varsity model to team practices during a regular 15-mile commute to my regional high school. But the gift confirmed me as an adult bicyclist. And I have turned to the bike over the years to resolve all kinds of life issues. Sandwich Generation When my kids were born a few years later, I began calculating how old and infirm I would be by the time they graduated from school and moved on. This calculation frightened me. A few years after that, both of my relatively young par-
ents became gravely ill with cardio-pulmonary diseases. This terrified me so much that I began plotting ways to keep myself above ground and taking nourishment. I replaced the sensible tires on the Acadia with skinny racing slicks. I added an aero bar extension to the straight handlebars so that I could duck down out of the wind. Clip-in pedals and a digital computer that tracked mileage and speed completed the transformation to a “road bike.” The result was something that looked like a water buffalo with the lower extremities of a gazelle. But, if I stayed in shape, I found I could squeeze a steady 15 miles per hour out of the mongrel bike – even in the hilly terrain around Farmington.
Downeast (Continued from page 52)
are at times successful by using a Mosquito, Light Cahill, Adams or a March Brown in numbers 12 to 14. Wet-fly casters do also do well on small Chenille Nymphs or Wooly Buggers. People fishing this water often use float-tubes, waders, canoes or kayaks to catch trout in the 8 to 10-inch range. Anglers can only keep two fish on this water. A third brook-trout water is Lily Pond (Map 15, D-3). This 37-acre water is located off the Monument Road in Deer Isle. Lily Pond received approximately 1,100 7-inch
Kittery to Fort Kent Seven years ago, I was preparing to embark on a month-long self-propelled tour of the state from Kittery to Fort Kent. Both of my parents had passed away – the trip would be, in part, a tribute to them, and in part a cure for a mid-life crisis. The plan involved hiking, biking and canoe-
On an Acadia carriage road
ing in various stages. The proposed hikes included most of Maine’s portion of
brook trout and an additional 50 12-inch brown trout last fall. Hatchery trucks should drop off another 100 spring-yearling brown trout and 250 spring-yearling brook trout in May. Worm-casting in early June often yields a couple 12- to 13-inch brook trout. Lily has a maximum depth of 20 feet near the center of the pond. Anglers can gain access to Lily Pond by foot from a dirt road off the Monument Road in Deer-Isle. According to avid fisherman Cliff Gray of East Orland, Lily feature fast fishing as soon as the water warms up and aquatic activity increases. On this and all waters, consult the current open-water fishing regulations to avoid running afoul of any special rules.
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And I rode it like the hounds of hell were in pursuit, including some triathlon races and a half-dozen tours across the state in the American Cancer Association’s Trek Across Maine. This annual three-day tour from Bethel to Rockland celebrates everything about being an adult bicyclist. The June event occurs over Father’s Day weekend, and is by far the most lavishly-supported bike tour in the state. It’s not a race – but the Acadia and I relished outpacing younger riders on more prestigious steeds.
Washington County Brookies A productive brook trout and brown trout water in Washington County is Simpson Pond in Roque Bluffs (Map 26, D-3). This small, 21-acre pond is very shallow; however, natural spring in the pond and chilly nights along the nearby coastline provide enough cool water for trout to survive through the summer. Canoes or small boats may be launched on the pond, but motor boats are prohibited. This water provides an acceptable fishery for brown trout,
the Appalachian Trail. During training for (Continued on page 57)
which are stocked as spring yearlings. Although most of the catch is comprised of 12 14 inch fish, anglers occasionally catch 3 - 4 pounders. In a recent conversation with Maine Guide Stan Hubbard of Roque Bluffs, he mentioned to me that he had caught a few 3-pound brownies in past years. Stan also mentioned that the nearby Englishman River, in late May and early June, produces some productive sea-run brook-trout action. Three hundred 12-inch brookies and 50 12-inch brown trout are stocked in Simpson Pond most springs, providing fast action. More than a few of these brook trout hold over, attaining lengths of 13 -15 inches. Shore anglers enjoy good luck using a worm/ nightcrawler and bobber. Kayaks can be rented on-site to explore or fish the pond. Part of Simpson Pond lies within Roque Bluffs State Park. The park situated on the shore of Englishman Bay, and offers solitude near the beach as well as along the five hiking trails. The beach features beautiful sunrises. The park’s admission is just $4 per day for adults, and includes a full playground, bathroom facilities and picnic areas. Although the beach and trails remain open year-round, the park’s main areas, parking lot and restrooms remain gated between October 1 and May 15.
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The Early Bird Gets the Crappie Crappie fishing heats up now, and early morning times present the best opportunity – which isn’t to say that crappies don’t bite any time of day, because they do. Crappies have become widespread in the Midcoast region in recent years, and crappie waters abound. What’s more, both large lakes and small ponds hold crappies. Also, another phenomenon kicks in when a new fish species gains a foothold in a new water. That is, fish grow like rockets. The same holds true for many different fish species. For instance, brown trout often reach gigantic proportions several years after being stocked. Eventually the average size decreases, but this happens over a long period of time. Crappies in the Midcoast region can reach up to 16 inches – big for any panfish. And given their fecundity, it doesn’t hurt a thing to catch and keep as many crappies as desired, because fishing cannot hurt the stock. Quite the contrary, in fact – fishing pressure helps keep fish such as crappies and white perch in bounds, and that always means larger fish. Crappie Waters Unity Pond ranks as the best-known crappie water in the Midcoast region. But other lakes and ponds offer equally good fishing. Sebasticook Lake in Newport, only an hour’s drive from the coast, has had resident crappies for many years. See Unity Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 22, D-1.
One of the nice things about Sebasticook is that it is possible to do well on crappies without even needing a boat. Several road crossings offer places to pull off the road and begin fishing. Crappies often run 12 inches or more here, making Sebasticook a good place to go for large crappies. Find Sebasticook Lake on Map 22, A-1 and A-2. Here’s another good crappie water, this one a place that people around the country are aware of. Belfast’s Lower Reservoir, just off Route 1, holds some big crappies. The reservoir and surrounding woodlands have achieved national fame as the future site of the world’s largest landbased salmon farm. Fortunately, planners say a hiking trail (read that to mean “trail to good fishing”) that bounds the north side of the small
reservoir will remain untouched. Few if any anglers hit this place for crappie, but over the years it has become one of my favorite crappie waters. And why do I willingly divulge one of my best crappie spots? Because there are so many other equally good crappie waters. Besides, catching crappies in Belfast Reservoir requires some special effort, and the angler must be in the right place at the right time. In other words, success here probably requires multiple trips in order to figure out the place. Look on Map 14, B-4.
season. But many of these ponds, especially smaller waters, hold plenty of carryover trout. One of these, Dutton Pond in Knox, often rewards me with good catches of 2-year-old brown trout and brook trout. And of course, larger fish inhabit the dark water of this small, Midcoast trout pond. Access in summer can be tricky, since the only boat launch site sits on the shallow west end of the pond. The last two summers saw water so low that it was impossible to launch a boat. But with luck, 2018 will see better conditions, and that opens the way for the occasional early-morning or late-afternoon fishing trip. Even before Dutton Pond became a “destination water” – that is, Maine Department of In-
Unsung Hotspots Some Midcoast trout waters see an incredible angler presence in winter. And after that, these places are soon forgotten until the next ice-fishing
land Fisheries & Wildlife (DIF&W) saturates the place with catchable-size trout in order to attract anglers from near and far – the pond was always a sleeper place for big brown trout. Back in the mid-1970s, I trolled Dutton one evening and never got a bite. My golden shiner fished behind a set of gold Dave Davis trolling spoons failed to elicit any interest. So just as the sun was setting, I silently glided my boat to shore. But my spoon set and shiner remained in the water. While picking up the rod to swing the spoons back in the boat, a brown trout as long and as wide as the blade on my canoe paddle nailed the shiner in an explosion of water and froth. Unfortunately, the trout only got the tail end of the bait and thus es(Continued on page 57)
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Structural Stream Restoration Improves Habitat for Trout and Salmon For almost 200 years, loggers and lumbermen owned the streams and rivers in Maine. Every winter, thousands of loggers cut millions of board-feet of sawlogs and pulpwood that had to be moved downstream to the mills come spring. Fortunes were tied up in the wood waiting to go downriver, so driving logs efficiently was paramount. To do this, river drivers changed Maine’s waterways drastically to suit their needs. Loggers constructed dams – some temporary, some permanent – to store water and hold the logs. Channels were straightened, and canals, slips, and sluiceways were built. Crews cut off meandering curves and built berms to keep the rivers and logs in line. Stream banks were hardened with rocks and booms. Dynamite was used to blast obstacles like boulders and jutting ledges out of the river. Smaller rocks and gravel bars were removed by teams of oxen or steam-powered equipment. River driving in Maine surged between 1820 and 1880. Records show that Colonel John Black, a major lumberman near Bingham, spent $63.62 blasting rocks between
• access to back channels • cool tributaries, and • spring holes. Trout and salmon need cold, oxygen-rich water with plenty of cover from predators. Habitat diversity is also necessary for the aquatic life that provides food for the growth and survival of native coldwater fish.
Constructed rock structures in Cold Stream.
1820 and 1825 (roughly $2,000 in today’s dollars). Another company estimated that “over $1,000 must be expended blowing ledges and rocks” in the East Branch of the Penobscot to improve log transport. Rocks were blown in Ripogenous Gorge in the 1840s, and the same actions were undertaken continuously along the West Branch of the Penobscot through the 1870s. Log drives in the Crooked River above Sebago Lake, the Moose River, the Union River and the Passadumkeag endured similar blasting for “improvements.” What Logs Do And, of course, once the logs were in the rivers, they did what logs
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will do. Pushed by spring floods, rafts of logs filled even the largest rivers from bank to bank for miles, tearing vegetation from the banks and scouring the gravel bottom. Logs still jammed in the pinches and bends, where they’d be blasted again to keep them moving while the water remained high. Today we see remnants everywhere of the dams, booms, sluices and platforms that were constructed. Still, it is hard to imagine the scale of the changes made to Maine’s rivers, large and small. River Recovery Maine’s last log drive was in 1976. Lawsuits over river access, public concern about environmental impacts, and changes in the economics of transportation ended the annual drives after 200 years of continual impact on river ecosystems. Since the 1970s, our rivers and streams have been “recovering,” as nature tries to strike a new balance. Water quality has improved, and numerous dams and barriers to migration have been removed, allowing
fish to access free-flowing habitat. But the physical changes to the streambeds were so drastic that many will never return to their natural state without active restoration and re-engineering to repair the damage and promote a more natural, dynamic river system. Do we even know what has been lost? We can’t see what isn’t there. What’s Needed for a Healthy River For the past twenty years, fisheries biologists, hydrogeologists and engineers have been surveying Maine’s rivers to re-envision the streambeds and improve habitat for salmonid (trout and salmon) species. The surveys show that even our best coldwater streams are sorely lacking in certain features that are necessary for salmonids to flourish, including: • plunge-pools over ledges and rocky ridges • in-stream structures such as boulders and large logs with massive root wads • cut banks with overhanging vegetation
Showcase Projects Several successful projects showcase these types of efforts. In the Kennebec watershed near The Forks, Cold Stream provides the primary spawning habitat for wild brook trout from the main stem of the river. Several years ago, geologist John Field designed structural improvements to the streambed to enhance trout habitat. The design and in-stream work was paid for out of a habitat restoration fund from the Indian Pond hydropower relicensing settlement agreement. The results are paying off, as resting pools, constructed riffles and turbulence, deep channel incision and cover structures now provide essential habitat diversity for spawning and rearing wild trout. In another example, Merry Gallagher of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife described improvements made in Intervale Brook, which flows into First Roach Pond. Working with Plum Creek several years ago, biologists and geologists reconfigured the stream channel to promote natural meandering where (Continued on next page)
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Backhoe digging a trench in North Branch of Meduxnekeag to bury a log and root wad. Photo: John Field (Continued from page 56)
the channel had been straightened, in order to flood back-channels and the natural floodplain. Early Results Promising As a result, gravel and sediment deposition has changed, carving deeper holding pools for cold water refuge and migration. Large trees were anchored into the streambed to create cover and capture organic material to support macroinvertebrates (e.g., aquatic
Johnson Brook (NH) step pools constructed with logs. Photo: John Magee, NHDF&G
bugs). “Trained foresters and biologists are now doing more ‘chop-anddrop’ projects to properly place large trees in rivers and streams to improve habitat elsewhere in the state,” Merry said. The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians completed two stream improvement projects in the Meduxnekeag watershed in 2014 and 2017 to create places for fish to rest and spawn, and promote turbulence to oxygenate the water.
Midcoast
(Continued from page 55)
caped getting hooked. Nothing has changed over the years, except that the pond sees more and bigger trout getting stocked. See Dutton Pond on Map 14, A-3. Fishing, Too Hosmer Pond in Camden has a reputation as the finish point for the annual toboggan race. Sitting next to the Snow Bowl ski area, few people bother with open-water fishing in Hosmer. But the select few who do enjoy an easily fished, small pond that holds lots of carryover trout. Hosmer Pond gets stocked in fall to give hardwater anglers plenty of fish to catch. For instance in November 2017, DIF&W released 25 19-inch brook trout, 250 13-inch brook trout and 50 12-inch brown trout in this 65-acre pond. During years of high water, many of these freshly stocked trout make their way
Self-Propelled (Continued from page 54)
the trip, my 50-year-old right knee decided that it would be a good time to take umbrage at a football injury and the subsequent surgery, which had occurred more than thirty years earlier. The arthritic knee swelled to twice the size of its well-behaved mate. Hiking and running became excruciatingly painful – even walking wasn’t all that great.
Stream channel improvements included placing boulders and logs with large root masses to form pools and holding water for trout and other coldwater fish. In New Hampshire, Trout Unlimited and the Department of Fish & Game have been cooperatively restoring Nash Stream, which was devasted by the catastrophic failure in 1969 of an old log driving dam. Since the 1990s, over 100 structures have been added to encourage the stream to
Constructed log jam in Nash Stream (NH) after six years. Photo: John Magee
meander in its floodplain. Meanwhile undersized culverts were replaced to improve habitat connectivity. Finally, Project SHARE was recently awarded $72,000 from the US Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for similar streambed improvements in Downeast rivers, to improve critical habitat for Atlantic salmon. Merry Gallagher emphasized, “The scale of the watershed improvement issue in Maine is
downstream to Goose River. But since the last two autumns saw Maine reeling under drought conditions, all those stocked fish, minus whatever were taken through the ice, remain in the pond. And if any of those 19inch brook trout carried over, they should have gained an inch or two by the time June rolls around. In years past, launching a boat at Hosmer Pond was a challenge, since the launch ramp had very little pitch. But now, anglers have a brand-new concrete ramp, with a good degree of pitch, as well as a spacious parking area. Here’s a tip for fishing Hosmer and similar Midcoast waters. Many such ponds are ringed with camps, and most of these camps feature outside lighting. These lights attract Junebugs, which smash into the lights and land in the water. Trout have figured this out, and eagerly wait for the big, clumsy beetles to land. Anglers fishing in the evening and early morning hours can match the “Junebug hatch” with small poppers. Alternately, just hook a But biking was pain-free. I got back on the Acadia to keep training and I changed the trip itinerary to replace most of the hardest hiking with mountain bike trails that paralleled the AT. I bought a replacement mountain bike for the old steel LL Bean model – and the bike portions of the 2012 trip became one of the highlights. Aging Hipster I considered the recent diagnosis of severe osteoarthritis of my left hip as a badge
huge. We’ve been surveying streams for 15 years and have yet to find a stream that wasn’t altered.” Land trusts, the Maine Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy and other landowners are showing more interest in these types of in-stream improvement to improve salmonid habitat. Financial and volunteer assistance is always needed. Each of us can make a difference by getting involved.
¶
John McMillan holds crappie from small Midcoast pond. Seymour photo
live or dead Junebug and use that for bait. So if you thirst for adventure in the form of big trout on the end of the line, give this method a try. Check out Hosmer Pond on Map 14, D-3. And good luck.
¶
of honor for a life well-lived to this point. It’s a wear and tear injury – not one you can get from sitting behind a desk for too many years. The hip replacement surgery that followed has become commonplace and routine – the key to success is all about the recovery. I’m medically cleared to get back on the bike next week.
¶
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Wormin’ One of the simple pleasures in life is striving to be more self sufficient. I feel at times we as a society are losing this seemingly innate ability, instead being lulled into complacency. Perhaps it’s our “modern” lifestyle or perhaps something harder to define, but either way, fewer and fewer people seem to be catching their own bait these days. While there is nothing wrong with buying worms from the local convenience store, those who do not at least understand how to harvest their own fishing bait are missing a vital part of the entire cycle. Catch ’Em As a kid, one of the most interesting parts of any fishing trip happened days before, when we would grab flashlights and quietly sneak across the lawn in search of night crawlers. If it rained earlier in the day, the evening was sure to entice dozens of large crawlers to emerge from their tunnels. Contrary to popular opinion, night crawlers do not emerge from their tunnels for fear of drowning. Instead, rain
After you gather your own worms, there’s a way to keep them fresh and lively for weeks. Fill an old plastic tote with potting soil, peat moss, coffee grounds, leaves, shredded newspaper and vegetable scraps. Mix the ingredients together, moisten with water, add worms, and keep it in a cool place.
The author’s sons, Savage and Wildman (second and third from left), join their friends as they enjoy an early spring day of bobber fishing. Vose photo
and high humidity allow worms of all species to move above the ground at night without fear of drying out and dying. Above the surface, worms can move about more freely than underground to explore new territory and find food. While finding night
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crawlers is a relatively easy task, extracting them from their burrows requires practice. Night crawlers are covered in tiny bristles or setae that help them crawl as well as serving to anchor them firmly in their burrows. To pull a night crawler out of its burrow, a person must apply gentle but constant pulling pressure. Too little and the worm slips away, too much and the worm breaks in half.
A quick search of the internet will yield many other interesting ways to catch worms, including using dish soap, car batteries and even chainsaws. While I like technology just as much as the next person, I have to say that in this case, I am just going to stick to the old methods and leave the “high tech” worm catching methods to the professionals. Keep ’Em Considering that night crawlers are relatively easy and also fun to catch, I typically release back to the yard any worms not used after a day of fishing. To keep worms for an extended period of time, you need to provide them with a healthy place to live.
For those looking to get something quick and easy, the Frabill Habitat II Worm Box with Super-Gro Bedding ($13) is available on Amazon and a great choice. Just follow the easy directions, add worms, and your night crawlers will last for months. Anglers seeking a homemade option can fill an old foam cooler or large plastic tote with potting soil, peat moss, coffee grounds, leaves, shredded newspaper and vegetable scraps. Mix all of the ingredients together, add a small amount of water to make everything moist, and add worms. If kept in a cool location like a cellar, worms will keep for months. Occasionally, check on amount of vegetable matter, and add more if qualities look low. Use ’Em Beyond the practical use of worms – fishing – the end product of all of the vegetable matter passing through an earthworm’s digestive systems is vermicompost or worm castings. Vermicompost contains 100 times more beneficial bacteria and fungi than can be found in typical topsoil, and is one of the most highly prized plant fertilizers. Anglers who want to try worm farming rather than just keeping worms for bait should check out raising Red Wigglers. Red Wigglers are one of the easiest worms to keep, due to their ability to adapt to temperature and humidity extremes that would kill other worm species. Red Wigglers also make great fishing bait (Continued on page 60)
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The Henry “Long Ranger”: A New Offering with a Legendary Name Years before Oliver F. Winchester started winning the West, Benjamin Tyler Henry revolutionized firearms design with his lever-action and metallic cartridge Henry Rifle. First produced in 1860, after three years in development by Winchester’s New Haven Arms Company, the Henry could have altered the course of our Civil War. Concerned with the Henry’s relative fragility compared to the Spencer repeating rifle and production considerations of its copper cartridges, Union logisticians failed to embrace it. However, anyone on the receiving end of the Henry’s 16-round .44 caliber firepower understood its potential. In spite of limited use by both sides in the Civil War, the Henry rifle changed the American firearms industry. Product improvements led directly to the creation of the brass-framed Model 1866 “Yellow Boy” and the name change from the New Haven Arms Company to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Originally hired as Oliver Winchester’s manufacturing manager in 1857, Benjamin Henry disputed Winchester over compensation and control of the company. Winchester won. Henry left just as the Model 1866 launched. He continued to work as a gunsmith and died at age 77 in 1898, when lever-action rifles dominated the American shooting scene. Today the Henry Repeating Arms Company honors the name of Benjamin T. Henry. Founded in 1997, the firm holds
The Long Ranger features a detachable box magazine not found on most lever-action rifles, meaning that flatshooting spitzer-type bullets can be used, gaining velocity, range and accuracy, compared to the round or flat-nosed bullets required of tubular magazines.
The Henry Long Ranger is a new lever-action offering Maine shooters a choice for the deep woods, in calibers up to .308 Winchester. Photo credit: Henry Repeating Arms Company
corporate offices in Bayonne, New Jersey, and manufacturing facilities located in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. From these shops come an astounding array of single-shot and lever-action rifles and shotguns. They make dainty carbines in .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire and bruising .45-70 models, as well as 12-, 20-, and .410-bore shotguns. Wide Array The Henry Company offers 73 models and variations in the current catalog. They offer buyers everything from brass- or iron-framed replicas of the original 1860 Henry and moderately-priced field rifles or shotguns, to deluxe engraved gold and silver plated models, commemorating everything from the Freemasons to coal miners to Ea-
gle Scouts. The current line-up includes a 12-inch barreled “Mare’s Leg” reminiscent of the Winchester Model 1892, complete with a saddle ring and an all-weather ten-shot in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt. Versions in .30-30 compete well against the ever popular Winchester Model 94 or Marlin Model 336. Bowing to customer demands, Henry released in 2016 a variation to extend their reach both in practical hunting terms and a broader segment of the buying public. Enter the Henry “Long Ranger.” In the words of Henry’s catalog writers, they developed the Long Ranger “as a total departure from where we’ve been so far.” They call their
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effort “a logical evolution in lever action technology.” Evaluators at American Rifleman Magazine called the Long Ranger “a modern lever-action rifle chambered for flat-shooting cartridges capable of making hits at extended distances.” Creating the Long Ranger extended the spectrum of what Henry offers to hunters and lever-action fans. With this one model they opened new opportunities for
significant shooters.
numbers
of
Extended Range A casual glance might mistake the Long Ranger for the older, more established Browning BLR. The Ranger’s blue-black matte finish, walnut buttstock and forearm look similar to the BLR. Also similar is the detachable box magazine not found on most lever-action rifles. The box magazine means spitzer-type bullets can be used, thus gaining velocity, range and accuracy. Hunters and long-range shooters immediately sense the advantages over the round or flat-nosed bullets required of tubular magazines. Henry’s designers chose to make the Long Ranger’s receivers from anodized aircraft aluminum to save weight. According to American Rifleman, “For strength, the rifle’s chrome-plated steel bolt has a six-lug head that rotates into en(Continued on next page)
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Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 59)
gagement with a barrel extension, not unlike an AR-15.” Combined with a 20-inch barrel, the result is a strong, handy, rapid fire game rifle weighing in at seven pounds. The Long Ranger comes in two versions, one with iron sights, and the other without but including a scope base by Skinner and a hammer extension. Both versions come drilled and tapped for any optics the owner may wish to install. Henry offers the Long Ranger in three reachout-there calibers: .223
Remington (also called 5.56 mm NATO), .243 Winchester, and .308 Winchester. In Maine, the Ranger in these calibers suits everything from woodchucks to coyotes, deer and bear; with the right bullet and shot placement the .308 version performs well enough for moose. Tried and True As a “total departure” it seems interesting that the design team chose such tried and true veteran calibers for the initial launch of this 21st century product. These are all
Central Maine (Continued from page 58)
for a wide variety of fish species. Bob ’Em Bobber fishing for trout is one of my favorite springtime activities. There is something about watching a fish gently tugging on the end of that line that gets young and old alike excited. Seeing the bobber emit those small ripples, then suddenly, plop! – underwater goes the bobber, and the angler yanks the line taunt. In Central Maine, many of the waters
great calibers covering a broad spectrum of uses, and each will be around for decades to come, but they all date from the 1950s. The newest, the .223 Remington, dates back to 1957. Eighteen years into the new century, many would expect the launch of a new rifle to include offerings in 6.5 Creedmore, 7mm-08 Remington, or perhaps the .300 AAC Blackout—maybe even the .338 Federal for big game. However, no one can fault the Henry Company for their design choices. Their three options rank as some of the most popular and suc-
we fish are now stocked (sometimes multiple times a year!) with hatchery-raised fish. A secret to catching hatchery raised fish, that was told to me years ago by a fisheries biologist, is to attach a small red bead to the fishing line just above the hook. Hatchery raised fish can become stressed and die if they are exposed to too much human contact. Therefore, hatchery raised fish are fed on demand by a small metal arm tipped with a red bead suspended just above the surface of the water. When a fish is hungry, it is “trained” to nose the small red bead and PRESTO, food
Ryan Leach of Farmingdale, Maine pulled this 17-inch rainbow out of the Swift River in Ware, Massachusetts, on a fly he tied himself. Leach plays professional baseball with the Ottawa Champions of the Can-Am League. www.MaineSportsman.com
cessful cartridges available. Sized right for the Maine woods and most other hunting spots east of the Mississippi River, the Long Ranger offers shooters a solid choice. Many might choose it in .223 for the large quantities of available, affordable ammunition translating into a lot of shooting. Here at the “Shooter’s Bench,” we would opt for either the .243 or .308 versions as more versatile in the field. Either would out-perform Marlin or Winchester lever-actions, and perform on par with the Browning in the same calibers (although a Hen-
ry in .250 Savage would make an outstanding addition to the line-up). The MSRP for the Henry stands at $1,066, which the company acknowledges dealers may often discount. A new North Carolina-made Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 costs about the same. The box magazine and versatility of loads alone argue favorably for the Henry. Ben Henry and Ollie Winchester battled for control of the old New Haven Arms Company. One could say they are still competing 152 years later.
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drops into the water. Soon, all of the fish in the tank learn that little red bead means food. Find ’Em Central Maine anglers looking for the “Big One” this spring fishing season should check out Savade Pond (DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 13, C-3), McGrath Pond (Map 20, E-5) and Cochnewagon Pond (Map 12, D-2). These bodies of water were stocked in 2017 with brook trout hatchery brood stock from ranging in length from 18 to 20 inches.
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While crappie fishing on Unity Pond in early May, columnist Tom Seymour hooked a big fish on his ultralight spinning rod, using 4-pound test line and a tiny Crappie Magnet lure. It took him a while to bring the fish in, but he was finally able to net this 9-pound largemouth bass. Congratulations, Tom!
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Tom Cuts His Teeth on June Bass June is the month to work the shallows and shorelines in search of big bass – both largemouth and smallmouth. With bass spawning and coming into the shallows, it’s prime time for bassing in the region. Recently, I was going through some old photos and I found what I believe to be a picture of the first fish I ever caught. Standing on the dock, I sported a heavy kapok life preserver around my neck and what looks like a sunfish or bluegill in my hand. My grandfather looks on from the end of the dock with his favorite fly rod at his feet. With both he and my parents departed, I may never know if this is my first fish, but at 20 months old, it has to be. The only caption on the rear of the photo is “September 1967.” While my first fish may have been a small panfish, I caught many a smallmouth bass from under floating docks each June, and I still do. Some were lunkers and others were runts, but there is still something about casting a line out from the dock and relaxing on a June day. This month, anglers are after bass from docks, boats and the shoreline. With bass spawning and coming into the shallows, it’s prime time for bassing in the Sebago to Auburn Region. Local waters are warming, and bass are on the spawn. You’ll also see more sleek bass boats on the lakes and ponds. In the southern part of the region, several waters stand out as top bass destinations. Seba-
go Lake (DeLorme Atlas Map 5, C-1) is perhaps the most popular water, seeing fishermen from the ranks of professional bass anglers on down to kids like me dunking worms and casting lures from the family dock. Home to smallmouth and largemouth, Sebago has so many bass spots that it never gets crowded – that is, unless you find that someone is at your favorite spot. Sandy, shallow spots rule this month as the spawn hits high gear. Most camps and cottages have sandy beaches, dumped there long before there were strict environmental regulations prohibiting such acts. Accordingly, bass anglers working the shoreline around developed areas do well this month. Last June, I was enjoying a morning coffee on my deck and I saw a bass boat working our shoreline. Two anglers were flipping and pitching lures under and around the docks. When one spoke to the other, I recognized the voice of Phil Hebert of Westbrook. Phil’s a tournament bass angler and was out practicing for an upcoming tourney. I told him I had one tied just under the dock, and we both had a chuckle. Aside from shorelines and docks, the area around the Raymond boat launch in Jordan Bay is
all sand and makes for great spawning habitat. If you find yourself farther up the lake, the rocky and sandy bottom around the Dingley Islands can’t be beat, either. Likewise the sandbar at the start of the Songo River, aptly named “the Spit,” draws bass in this time of year like its draws crowds of boaters later in the summer. More Bassing While some newcomers to the area think Little Sebago Lake (Map 5, C-3) is connected to the big lake, it’s not. Down the road in Windham and Gray, this “cousin” to the (Continued on next page)
The author believes this to be a picture of the first fish he ever caught. Here, young Tom stands at age 20 months wearing his red, white and blue life jacket, as his grandfather looks on with a smile. Roth family photo
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Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 61)
big lake shares the name and a reputation for some great bass angling. Again, both small- and largemouth bass inhabit Little Sebago, and heavy development means san-
dy shorelines and docks. Several shallow sandbars also create optimum bass habitat, especially during the spawn. I troll flies and small spoons in early June on
Little Sebago for trout, and invariably catch as many bass as I do trout. Of course I am following the shoreline in prime bass habitat, so that makes sense. Anglers casting toward shoreline can pinpoint “rocks and docks” and find bass
hanging out in the shadows. Farther north, Thompson Lake (Map 5, A-2) is changing over, as salmon and togue trollers give way to bass anglers. Camp owners have their docks in, so the developed shoreline is a top starting
destination. Anglers also do well in the shallow waters adjacent to the Heath on the southern portion of the lake. To the east, Lake Auburn (Map 11, E-4) is on the other end of the spectrum. Lake Auburn (Continued on next page)
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Ten Helpful Hints: Fly Fishing with Dry Flies My favorite way to fly fish is using dry flies. There are few things more satisfying than watching a trout inhale your dry fly. Every time I fly fish, I learn something new. Here are some of the hints and suggestions I have picked up along the way. 1) If you can find the seam on the river, where the fast water meets the slow, that is a good place to cast your fly. 2) Also try casting behind rocks. Trout will often hang out in the slower water to conserve energy. When a bug floats downstream, the fish can come out and catch it. 3) Regardless of hints #1 and #2 above, even if there is neither a seam nor a rock, the fish will still be there somewhere. It’s important to try each spot in the stream, because the fish are often found where you least expect them to be. Match the Hatch, but Don’t Spook the Fish 4) If you find yourself in the middle of a hatch, make some quick observations. You’ll know it’s a hatch because fish will be rising to feed on insects – sometimes the fish will come right out of the water, while other times they barely break the
in particular – perhaps something a bit colorful to give them something different to look at.
The author, age 15, prepares to release a brookie caught on a dry fly. Luke reports there are few sights more exciting in outdoor sports than seeing a trout sip your dry fly off the surface of the water.
surface. So open up your fly box and select the fly that looks most like the insects you see around you. Proceed quickly but carefully, since trout are very wary, and if you cast
Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 62)
has very little shoreline development in the northern portion of the lake where you can legally fish. Camps and cottages are slowly but surely purchased by the Water District and torn down, eliminative potential sources of harmful run-off into the area’s drinking water supply. This stringent control is one reason the water is so good for salmon,
your line right on top of the fish, they are likely to spook. 5) Once they stop feeding on natural flies, it may be time to try a different spot, since those
fish probably won’t come back to the surface for a while. 6) Sometimes when there is nothing hatching, I will tie on a fly that doesn’t look like anything
lake trout and bass. Anglers following the shoreline do well from Lake Shore Drive where it starts at Route 4 until you hit Taber’s Driving Range. Along the shoreline in this area, anglers will find a shallow, sandy bottom full of bass nests. I caught one of the biggest bass I have ever landed trolling a streamer fly in the shallows by Taber’s one June, many years ago. It was a largemouth, and it smacked
Keep it Floating 7) Check your fly every so often, to make sure it is still in good shape. For example, sometimes your fly will start to sink. If this happens there are several things you can do. First, make sure you are casting your fly back and forth enough without letting the fly touch the water. This should do a good job keeping your fly dry. 8) If this doesn’t work, try adding a touch of liquid floatant – this will help a great deal. 9) If you tie your own flies, make sure to add plenty of hackle, because the hackle will help it float too. 10) If you still can’t seem to keep your fly floating, try downsizing to a lighter weight tippet material. Fishing with dry flies may seem complicated, but like many other outdoor activities, it’s important to keep at it. Through the process of trial and error, your skill level will increase and the process will become easier.
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that fly with a vengeance and never let up. June is the month to work the shallows and shorelines in search of big bass of both species. Docks and sandy stretches give bass shelter and nesting habitat during the spawn. Be sure to release bass near where you caught them and enjoy one of the region’s top seasons.
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Trapping News Round-up — Lynx, HSUS, Furbearer Meetings and Beaver Damage Canadian Lynx In good news for Maine outdoorsmen, the plaintiffs in an appeal relating to Canadian Lynx asked that their court action be dismissed, and the Federal Court of Appeals for the First Circuit granted the request. The plaintiffs, consisting of the Center for Biological Diversity, the Wildlife Alliance of Maine, the Animal Welfare Institute, and Friends of Animals, had appealed after losing an earlier lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The plaintiffs challenged the USFWS’s issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to the State of Maine to allow trapping to continue in Maine. Had they won, their lawsuit would have effectively stopped all trapping in Maine. Their action was brought based on the fact that the Canadian Lynx is listed as “threatened” on the Endangered Species list in the lower forty-eight states. The State of Maine, Maine Trappers Association, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and The National Trappers Association intervened on behalf of the USFWS. More recently, on January 11, 2018 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the completion of a scientific review on the Canadian Lynx in the lower 48 states. That review concluded that the Canadian Lynx may no longer warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act and should be considered for delisting due to recovery. It reported that Maine www.MaineSportsman.com
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that their scientific review of the Canadian Lynx concluded that the population is recovering to the extent that the lynx may no longer warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act, and should be considered for delisting. has the largest lynx population in the lower 48 states. This is in a large part the result of the collaboration among state agencies, the Maine Forest Products Council, private landowners, tribes, conservation organizations, and the support and efforts of the Maine Trappers Association. This is the first step in a long process to get the lynx delisted. The various animal rights organizations will surely oppose this at every step of the way. Hopefully at some point in the future, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be able to continue managing its wildlife resources using sound science. Animal Rights Organization Falters The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is experiencing many personnel and internal problems. In the last several years, the organization has faced a variety of employment and financial allegations. Recent sexual harassment charges led to an investigation and the subsequent resignation of board members and longtime president and CEO, Wayne Pacelle. The organization’s recent problems are leading to difficulties in raising money, as well as limitations in the group’s ability to muster much support for their causes, which many sportsmen view as radical.
HSUS paid out over $15 million in 2014 in a federal RICO lawsuit related to bribery and witness tampering. And according to HumaneWatch.org, the organization’s tax filings late last year reveal they have “invested” $26 million in Caribbean accounts – not illegal, perhaps, but the revelation will certainly raise questions for an organization that has long been criticized for their aggressive fundraising and the small percentage of their overall budget allocated to helping domesticated animals in distress. Furbearer Meetings Several issues of importance to trappers were discussed recently between the Maine Trappers Association (MTA) and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W). The MTA has several meetings a year with IF&W wildlife personnel and the Warden Service to discuss issues involving wildlife management and trapping. In addition, annually the MTA has a joint meeting with IF&W and The Maine Sporting Dog Association (Houndsmen). It is held at the Augusta Civic Center on the opening day of the State of Maine Sportsmen Show. This year’s meeting was held on 30 March, and several key points discussed included: • The furbearer biologist Cory Mosby leaving
Maine to take a job in Idaho and the process of hiring a new biologist to take his place. • An update of the Canadian Lynx potential delisting as a threatened species in the lower forty-eight states. Also addressed were the expected steps in the delisting process. • The collection, tagging and handling of fisher, marten, otter and bobcat teeth/jaws for population sex and age studies. • Age & Sex Data Collection from the first years (2016) furbearer tooth collection. Discussions addressed the 2016 results and the projected desired results. • The need to include the houndsmen’s and bait hunter’s participation in the bobcat tooth studies. • The new requirement to tag Maine furs electronically. • A proposal to change the three-day period that furs must be tagged when taken by hunters. They would like time requirements similar to what trappers have for the tagging of their furs. • The discovery of a new unique strain of distemper that has been found in New Hampshire affecting their fisher. IF&W will join in the research with New Hampshire. • Because a trapping license is a “commercial license,” trappers are currently required to renew annually their license in person in Augusta. Due to the long driving dis-
tances, the MTA would like to be able to do it electronically, the same as hunting and fishing licenses may be renewed. Finally, a trapper at the meeting displayed a new design of a muskrat float for spring trapping. Hopefully IF&W will consider authorizing it and any other configurations designed if they meet the “covered float” requirements in place to protect birds of prey and waterfowl. Beaver Beaver continue to be a major problem causing issues statewide. The loss of forest growth due to flooding of woodlands, and the washing out of roadways and culverts, all of which cost tax payers and private property owners substantial amounts of money annually. Because of low fur prices, the majority of trappers do not harvest the amount of beaver that they previously did. Beaver trapping is the most intense furbearer harvesting of all. Cutting through feet of ice, handling large and heavy traps, pelt preparation time and moving beaver that may reach weights of 70 to 80 pounds all involves hard, cold, and sometimes dangerous work. Other than trappers, the removal of problem beaver is accomplished legally year round by both state and federal Animal Damage Control (ADC) agents. The ADC agents for your location may be contacted through the Regional Fish and Wildlife Office. The one requesting ADC services must pay for the service.
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June Rains Mean Hungry Trout The often-rainy month of June offers one last shot at red-hot, latespring brook fishing for wild brook trout. Most folks have had it with brook fishing by the time June arrives, preferring to get out in the boat and troll for trout, togue and salmon. But for those who love fishing for our native brook trout in small streams and brooks, the high water of June creates just the perfect conditions. Whereas in spring, high water makes for poor fishing, June downpours only serve to introduce food to the water and to stimulate trout appetites. Much of this has to do with water temperature. Spring rains bring cold water, which slows trout metabolisms. But warm June rains make for comfortable conditions, and trout respond accordingly. Very often, water in small streams and brooks becomes quite low by late May. But June rains swell streams and invigorate trout. So places that haven’t been fished since late April or early May get a new lease on life. Sometimes, the biggest trout of the season come to net in June. One of my regular June haunts, a small stream that holds lots of wild brook trout, gives up its treasures on calm June mornings. A deep pool, with a large boulder at its head, usually accounts for at least one 12inch beauty each June. Such streams abound in rural Maine, and everyone knows at least one or two. I highly recommend
June rains swell streams and invigorate trout, so places that haven’t been fished since late April or early May get a new lease on life. Sometimes, the biggest trout of the season come to net in June.
Preserved smelt are the next best thing to live smelt.
taking a day and having a go at June’s hungry brook trout. James Russell Lowell was right when he asked, “What is so rare as a day in June?” The answer is nothing, as long as the day comes with lots of fat, hungry brook trout. Hungry Salmon Inserted somewhere between ice-out trolling and summertime deep trolling, June ranks as one of the better months for trolling for salmon. Fish have gone deeper now, but not as deep as in July and August. Early and late hours rank as the best times to hit the water. In June, salmon continue to visit shallow-water areas during the early-morning hours. As the sun gains height in the sky, fish follow suit and head for deeper water. But anglers who begin trolling at sunrise might do well to try fishing 10 or 15 feet down in 30 feet of water.
Northeast Troller trolling spoons have extra shine and are light as a feather.
Something about early morning trolling fascinates me. The lack of wind ranks as a big plus, allowing anglers to gaze over the water and see trout and salmon cavorting near the surface. Once the morning winds pick up, this topwater action ceases. But the stillness of early morning holds a certain charm and it also imparts a sense of confidence. Chugging along, lure or bait following behind, the sense of impending action becomes tangible.
Many times I’ll have a salmon in the boat and be headed back home by 10 a.m., leaving the rest of the day open for whatever other kind of fishing comes to mind. New Stuff Northeast Troller, a fishing tackle company out of Thorndike, Maine, has some interesting products. As the name implies, the company manufactures trolling tackle, and some of their offerings impressed me greatly.
I met owner Christian Carlson at the Annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show in Augusta this past spring, and though busy with customers, Christian took time to chat with me. Two of the offerings at the Northeast Troller booth caught my eye to the point that I couldn’t resist purchasing them. The first item was a set of silver Dave Davis-type trolling spoons. These were of lighter material than the old Dave Davis sets, a big plus because of decreased water resistance. The individual spoon blades were about as shiny as a new automobile just off the showroom floor. The set comes with an attached rudder, a lightweight bit of plastic emblazoned with a shiny, holographic pattern that seems sure to add flash and luster to the set. The deep-red beads attached to the flexible, black cables add a nice touch to this flashy trolling set. When coupled with a modern, ultra-thin leadcore line and a flexible but strong graphite troll(Continued on next page)
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It’s the Season to Get Outdoors! The month of June kicks off a number of latespring/early-summer activities, and I am looking forward to them. First off, I plan to join lots of other people in this state by doing a lot of hiking and camping this year. I have already started to purchase equipment. I love being outside, and in addition, hiking is good for your physical health. The best part about camping is that you can combine it with a hunting or fishing trip, and you can do it with friends or with your family. I have not had the opportunity to do a lot of camping in the past, but with the proper equipment I know it will be a comfortable experience. I am going to try warm-weather camping first, and if I like it, I may acquire some more technical gear and try winter camping in the future. Canoeing, Kayaking I am also looking forward to canoeing and kayaking this summer.
Some people do it just for fun, but I like to go fishing at the same time. One of the benefits of paddling a canoe or kayak is that it’s nearly silent, making it easier for anglers to approach the best fishing areas while still avoiding spooking the fish. People also incorporate these activities into their camping trips as well. So if you have room for camping gear aboard your canoe or kayak, you can find a spot for your tent and sleeping bag at the end of the day, and make it an overnight camping trip. It’s really a wonderful experience to wake up shore-side in a tent and be able to go fishing a few feet away in the calm waters of the early morning. Boating, Including on Salt Water Another fun activity to do during the spring and summer is boating. You can go boating just to get outside and on the water, or to go fishing. For fishing from a
Trout Fishing (Continued from page 65)
ing rod, the angler can feel well-equipped to take on any coldwater game fish. Carlson Spoons Northeast Troller also offers their Carlson Spoons. These come in every conceivable color combination. Long, thin and with a good action, these spoons seem sure to find a place in any angler’s tackle box. In fact, my friend Wes Ashe, a fisheries biologist with DIF&W, recently mentioned that he had great luck last season using Carlson spoons. And Wes’s word is good enough for me. I now have a fairly complete collection of Carlson Spoons. For more information, go to www.NortheastTroller.com. www.MaineSportsman.com
boat, I enjoy saltwater fishing even better than freshwater, because you have a nearly-endless number of places you can go in the ocean, and you can go pretty far out to sea. There is also a much greater variety of fish available to saltwater anglers, and the fish can be bigger in the ocean. However, I also enjoy freshwater fishing, especially for bass. The Beach – Where Land Meets Sea One last great summer activity it’s important to mention is going to the beach. It’s great for kids and also for adults, since there are so many things to do – swimming, looking for shells, going clamming (with a proper license, where needed), building sand structures and playing games. Maine beaches are very popular – especially when it gets really hot inland – and that popularity is for a good reason. So now, early in the summer, I recommend
There is something magical about combining a fishing trip and a camping trip, because you can wake up and go fishing in the calm waters of early morning. Sansoucy photo
making a list of activities you want to do during the next few months. Then cross them off as you go. If you don’t get through the whole list, then save them for next summer.
Perfect Smelt Another product that I picked up at the Sportsman’s Show was something that answers a lot of needs and to my mind, represents a big leap forward for trollers. The product, Preserved Smelt, closely resembles live smelt fresh from the water. This product comes in a plastic, vacuum-sealed pouch. The pouch needs refrigeration to maintain freshness. But it’s fine to take a packet of smelt and place them on ice in a cooler for a day’s fishing. Back home, just fold over the top flap and seal with tape or vacuum sealer. Then store in the fridge, or even the freezer. These preserved smelt will keep throughout the season if properly cared for, and stand up to repeated freezing and thawing. To use, just treat as live smelt. They
So get outside, stay cool in the increasing heat, and most important – have fun with your friends and family.
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lend themselves to sewing and also, to being affixed to a sliding bait rig. For me, the time-honored method of sewing bait seems awfully tedious, especially when it’s so easy to hook up a smelt on a sliding bait rig. These smelt, preserved according to a proprietary formula, work better than frozen smelt because the color and shine remain intact, while frozen smelt lose much of their luster. These preserved smelt seem the answer to this problem. Look for these at selected variety and general stores throughout Maine. Also, order them online at www.harmonbrookfarm. com. Don’t procrastinate, though, because stores run out of preserved smelt by midsummer. Good luck with these great baits.
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Exploring Old Mine Sites Provides Memorable Family Adventures Silver was discovered in York County in 1877. The silver vein ran along a high ridge in the towns of Acton and North Lebanon. Four mining companies started operation in Acton during the 1880s – the rush was on. These companies were located close to each other, and as funding began to dwindle, they decided to consolidate forming the “Acton Consolidated Mine Company.” Later that same year the company folded because of lack of funding – many stockholders unloaded their stocks, resulting in the company having inadequate funds to stay in operation. The Acton silver mine sites had had the potential for profitability; however, the veins were not as rich as originally though. Today the mine shafts remain in the mountains of Acton and North Lebanon, with only a few locals aware of their locations. In North Lebanon, there are 16 mine sites. These abandoned sites run along Goding Road. To locate one site, you need to leave your vehicle at a parking spot on the right side of that road and follow a trail about 1,500 feet to a fork in the trail. Then take right to an old bridge and beaver dam, and proceed on a faint trail north about 1,000 feet to the old mine site on the left. For further information, Google “silver mine sites in Acton.” Gully Oven Historical records tell the tale of an eleven-year old boy named Philip
Today, silver mine shafts dug in the late 1800s remain in the mountains of Acton and North Lebanon, with only a few locals aware of their locations. In North Lebanon alone, there are 16 mine sites. Locating old mine sites with your family is both exciting and educational.
Lydia Suhy holds a silver ore rock she discovered at Gully Oven in North Lebanon. She found the rock in the brook, and it was laced with shiny silver.
Door who was captured by Indians during the French and Indian War. The group then traveled six miles north and camped the first night at “Gully Oven,” in what is
now in the town of North Lebanon. They continued the trip to Canada, where young Philip was held for many years before finally being release.
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He then returned home, and became one of the first settlers in Leba-
non. Gully Oven is a natural curiosity located on the Gully Oven Road in Lebanon – you really need to check this place out. It’s a deep ravine carved from sheer rock by ice and water during the Ice Age. Today it’s a park, with steps leading to the bottom – a great place to picnic and explore with the family. Porter Lead Mine It took me quite awhile to locate the Porter Lead Mine shaft. It’s more remote, and involves a mile hike in mountain terrain, and also some climbing. The abandoned mine is around 90 feet deep and today is filled with water. This mine is located in Porter on Mine Mountain, overlooking Mine Pond. Check DeLorme’s Atlas (Map 4, D-1, along the ME/NH border) to locate the area. It’s on the Northeast side of the (Continued on page 69)
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Summer Fun on the Interstate Waters Anyone traveling through New Hampshire’s “North Country” this summer should make sure to spend some time near the headwaters of the Androscoggin River. Amid striking scenery and abundant wildlife, the upper “Andro,” as it is referred to by locals, offers several adventurous undertakings. The Magalloway River winds south from near the Canadian Border through the famous Maine lakes of Parmachenee and Aziscohos before crossing and following the NH/ME border and dumping into Lake Umbagog. The Magalloway River offers some world-class fly fishing, and some history, as well, with Dwight Eisenhower famously fishing Little Boy Falls, north of Parmachenee Lake. More along the beaten path, below the bridge in Wilson’s Mills, is the newest popular fly-casting location. Consult the law book carefully if you fish here, though, as certain areas are restricted to use of barbless hooks and to a “quick release” requirement. Warmwater Fish As the river slows and nears the warmer waters of Lake Umbagog, there are more setbacks with stumps and weedy areas. The structure attracts bass and other warmwater fish. One may encounter a tournament angler or others with spinning or baitcasting rods, especially at the mouth of the river. www.MaineSportsman.com
The writer’s favorite Umbagog pastime is to fish topwater in the early morning, and to see a three-plus pound smallmouth torpedoing out of the glass-still water and shaking the rattle of a Zara Spook. It is even more exciting in the pea-soup morning fog, when you can hear the strike, but can’t quite see it happen.
Morning mist rises off the Androscoggin River along with the sun. (Photo: Brian Emerson)
This section of river between the bridge in Wilson’s Mills and Lake Umbagog is a beautiful canoe/kayak paddle, with lots of bends and switchbacks. There are access points where you can put a car-top boat in at several areas in between: the covered bridge at Aziscohos Campground, Pond Brook Road right at the state line, and USFWR landing across from Mt. Dustin’s butcher shop. Lake Umbagog – though it has trout, salmon, perch, pickerel, a few largemouth bass, and rumors of a couple northern pike – is really famous for its smallmouth bass fishing. A pair of anglers can catch 100 bass in a day if they fish hard and at the right time.
A Rare Double – One Lure; Two Bass This writer’s favorite Umbagog pastime is to fish topwater in the early morning on the six-totwelve-foot-deep flats. There is nothing quite like a three-plus pound smallmouth torpedoing out of the glass-still water and shaking the rattle of a Zara Spook. It is even more exciting in the peasoup morning fog, when you can hear the strike, but can’t quite see it happen. I like to use big action baits: spooks, plugs, buzzbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits and spinnerbaits. The idea that the bigger your bait, the bigger your fish, doesn’t always apply, as there are some pretty ambitious
perch out there; however, I can’t help but feel that three treble hooks are better than two. This particular point was enhanced on one foggy morning on Umbagog last summer when I happened to have a mightily forceful hit on a jerkbait. Once I started to reel the fish in, though, the fight was gone and it came skidding through the water mostly immobilized. Once near the boat, I came to realize that I had not one bass, but two! Each was only a little over a pound – one on the middle treble hook, and one on the rear. [See photo, page 69.] Like a Wilderness Lake Umbagog is rare in that most of its shoreline
is undeveloped. It really feels like a wilderness lake. A great experience for adventurers is to reserve one of the thirty-four remote campsites scattered along the lakeshore. This is a great way to spend a weekend with a group of friends and enjoy some great fishing, swimming, paddling, and wildlife-watching. The campsites are run through the state park, and can be booked on ReserveAmerica.com . The Androscoggin River flows out of the northwest end of Umbagog Lake, right where the Magalloway dumps in. It is pretty famous for the numerous dams and mills along its 180-mile pathway to join the Kennebec and empty into the Atlantic. The upper portions in New Hampshire boast fantastic trout and salmon fishing; however, it is also a great smallmouth bass fishery. One usually doesn’t have a problem catching smallmouth in this river, though it may be tough to find one of much size. Kayaks and Whitewater The river is also popular for its paddling. Many canoeists and kayakers have floated downstream through the scenic “13Mile Woods” area. There are several options for day paddles or overnight trips, with state-run campsites. For those of you who are whitewater enthusiasts, the upper Andro (Continued on next page)
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is where you want to be—specifically, below Errol Dam or Pontook Dam. The floodgates to the dams are routinely released, gushing tumultuous waters down to the line of rafters eagerly waiting below. There are several outfitters who offer rafting and whitewater kayaking trips at these locations: Raft NH, Northern Waters, ELC Outdoors, and North Woods Rafting. Wildlife Abounds Perhaps the most appealing aspect of all three of these waterbodies is that one can routinely see wildlife. It is almost guaranteed that you will see large birds of prey, such as eagles, osprey, heron, and hawks. One also has a good chance of seeing river mammals, such as otter, mink, muskrat, and beaver. If you are lucky, you might catch a moose or deer out for a swim in the early morning mist, trying to escape the blackflies.
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A rare double -- Ethan Emerson caught both these Umbagog smallmouth at the same time on one jerkbait.
Southern Maine (Continued from page 67)
Pond, and near the top of the mountain. If you hike along the top of Mine Mountain, you will come to a clearing with a good view of the pond and surrounding mountains. The mine entrance is right under this outcrop. At this point you will need to carefully climb around and down to the mine. Family Float Trip Ossipee River is a large, dam-controlled river that flows from Porter to Cornish. This 18-mile long river has perfect conditions for cold water species like salmon and trout. The lower section, from Kezar Falls to the Saco River in Cornish, is a freestone river that can be easily waded or fished from shore. Islands in the river offer good fishing, I’ve had luck fishing pools just downstream of mid-stream islands – catching; brookies, browns, smallmouth bass and even salmon all on the same outing – it’s my go-to spot. The upper section, from the Berry Bay dam in Effingham, New Hampshire to Kezar Falls is mostly slow-moving water with some fast, rocky sections. Tail water at a dam at Berry Bay offers quality year
Brian Emerson poses with a winning take of two smallmouth and two largemouth at the conclusion of a bass tournament on Lake Umbagog.
round fishing for rainbow trout, along with landlocked salmon and browns. Brown trout hold in rock walls along the dam’s outlet, preying on disoriented bait fish. Anglers should fish the eddies and whirlpools formed at the outlet with bait, either nightcrawlers or baitfish. I caught a 20-inch rainbow while fishing at the outlet, using a size-8, black-stonefly nymph swimming it with a dead drift in a whirlpool downstream of the dam. Slower sections hold both large and smallmouth bass as well as other typical warm water fish. Slow-water areas with weed-choked shores below the Route 25 bridge in Effingham, N.H is often overlooked, but it is a great location for small and some whopper largemouth bass. I can’t think of a better angler/canoe trip in southern Maine. Folks will not have to deal with other recreational paddlers like on upper sections of the Saco River. Put in at the boat access ramp in Effingham N.H. and then float and fish to Kezar Falls. Route 25 follows the full length of the river and has many, put-in and take-out locations, as well. While in the area, check out the historic covered bridge in Porter on Route 160. This
section of the river runs slow and deep with some swimming holes, Tarzan ropes and sandbars. Large brown trout cruise these waters, feeding on minnows, frogs and smaller fish. Dead-drifting bait near bottom at night can produce Jurassic-size trout. Part of the Ossipee River is in New Hampshire, so both Maine and New Hampshire fishing licenses are required to fish the whole river. There are also some special rules involved, so always study both law books before fishing. Check DeLorme’s Atlas , Map 3 for state boundary lines. School is over for the summer—it’s time to plan family outings. Mixing things up is always the way to go with kids. My grandkids like outdoor trips, but I find it’s important to keep them interested. Fishing trips combined with campfires along with a tasty shore lunch or swimming and canoe trips work. Family-friendly fishing spots are easy to locate here in southern Maine, and the addition of an adventure to Indian encampment site or hidden silver mines is both exciting and educational. Keep safe, and remember to protect against ticks and other insects when venturing outdoors in these areas.
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June Brings Increased Insect Activity to the Western Maine Mountains Spring ends and summer truly begins this month, though I’ve been longing for warm and sunny weather since well before the end of April. The sun shines higher in the sky in June – those golden rays more direct every day, even considering our northerly latitude. While I really don’t enjoy thinking about pesky insects like mosquitoes or black flies, I surely do look forward to the increased aquatic insect life that the warmer temperatures of June bring to the cold water of the Western Maine Mountains (WMM). Most anglers agree there’s truly nothing else like standing knee-deep in the current, watching various bugs hatch and come off the rippling surface of the water. I vividly remember those times when I was fortunate enough to be able to witness a scene in which miniature flotillas of mayflies swiftly drifted past my fishing location right out in the middle of the current. I like everything about gorgeous June days afield, with nothing better to do than wander these skinny, bug-filled brooks in search of hidden pools way back in the mountains. Don’t get me wrong here – these hidden pools never contain the large amounts of beautiful brook trout that dreams are made of. However, they sometimes hold that single, most spectacular brook trout of your life. Brookie Heaven I don’t want to get www.MaineSportsman.com
Whether it’s secret stream pools holding native brookies, or ponds stocked regularly by IF&W, it pays to get off the beaten path and away from paved roads. The harder it is to get to a spot, the more productive the fishing is likely to be.
This fine stocked brookie will become dinner. William Clunie photo
folks lost by writing about stuff like this — hidden pools of huge fish, way back in the mountains. What I am saying, though, is that anglers would do well to disperse from the typical places of gathering ... the places that everybody else hits when fishing season comes around. Travel the back roads, keeping a close eye on the map, and locate places where little brooks intersect the gravel roads. Park the vehicle well off the road so logging trucks can get by, and follow the little brook upstream until a hidden pool of huge brookies comes into view. Then, sneak up on the huge trout and gently place a teeny fly in a likely spot on the surface of the silent pool. If an angler gets lucky
and finds a hidden pool like this in the mountains in this region, I am here to tell you that there will be a big fish in that pool waiting for a bite to eat. I often find and fish several smaller pools as I work my way up to the bigger pools, and am always surprised to catch such nice fish from such skinny water. Most mountainous brooks around here don’t maintain adequate water to hold fish during the middle of the summer, but they often contain fish early in the season when the water is a little higher. A wonderful fisheries biologist from this region once told me about electro-fishing small streams in the mountains to gather information on our wild, native brook trout. This great researcher
said I would be completely amazed at the size of some of the brook trout in these hidden pools. Traditional Haunts I’m not advocating anglers leave their regular waters that consistently produce, but I would highly recommend an occasional search for those lost pools that could hold the most spectacular brook trout of your life. Thoughts of these wild places often fill my dream world and keep me looking forward to each new fishing season. In between my searches for dreamy, hidden pools, I relish my time fishing the local angling hot spots. One of my alltime favorites is right in my back yard – the mighty Androscoggin River, running from the Maine/New
Hampshire border all the way through the Pine Tree State to the Atlantic Ocean. The river can be fished in this region, and an angler is likely to see no other anglers in the stretch from Gilead (see Delorme Atlas, Map 10, B-1) to the dam in Jay (Map 19, E-5). I can catch rainbow trout, brook trout, landlocked salmon and brown trout along the big river’s length, as well as some of the region’s largest smallmouth bass. Most of the smaller ponds in this area routinely get stocked and can be fun fishing. A few of these ponds remain restricted to a fly-fishing-only status, but many allow bait and lures, too. As is the case with treasured trout pools mentioned earlier in this column, the best ponds to fish are the ones that are farthest away from the paved road. The explanation is simple – these remote ponds don’t get fished as hard as the other locations that feature easier access. Hiking in a ways gets anglers into some great fishing in places that most folks don’t ever get to see. WMM ATVing ATV riding can also get anglers farther back into some of these special places within this region. ATV transportation involves several trail systems, each maintained by separate ATV clubs. Contact Maine’s state ATV organization, ATV Maine (atvmaine.org), for local club contacts. Through these local clubs, ATV (Continued on next page)
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riders can obtain maps of local trail systems. Two trail systems within the WMM connect, forming a link between two campgrounds. Riders can camp at Mountain View Campground, one mile north of Dixfield (Map 19, E-2), and follow the trail system west towards Mexico (Map 19, E-1). In Mexico, the trail connects with a multi-use
trail (Corridor 17) that parallels Route 17, all the way to Coos Canyon Campground in Byron (Map 18, C-5). Great fishing can be found at either of the camping areas. Mountain View Campground offers miles of fishing on the Webb River, and Coos Canyon Campground gives ATV-riding anglers loads of fishing action on the Swift River.
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72 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Four Famous Fisheries Feature Flavor of Rangeley’s Historic Angling As I moved my cleated wading boot gently over the rocky stream bottom, I found a perfect location to cast to the rising fish without the fish getting spooked by me or my shadow. It had taken me about an hour to hike in to this location, a little ways north of Oquossoc, but the easy walk was well worth it. I started walking after a late lunch, and reached a big bend in the river that formed a goodsized pool about the same time as the fish started feeding on a sparse caddis hatch. I tied on a number 16 cream-colored elkhaired caddis imitation, and skittered it across the surface just upstream from where the fish were rising. “BOOM!”; a healthy, 10-inch brook trout took the fly. After a brief and exciting struggle, I landed the gorgeous trout and immediately cast to the same location and had a slightly larger landlocked salmon slam the small fly. I repeated this same skittering retrieve and continued to catch both salmon and trout in different locations around
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This region is steeped in fly fishing history and tradition. In 1925, famous fly tier and angler Carrie Stevens put Upper Dam on the map when she caught a 6-pound, 13-ounce brook trout – a feat covered by the popular and highly-read publication Field & Stream magazine.
The wild and remote Rapid River appears to boil over on the surface. William Clunie photo
this pool for the rest of the afternoon. By the time I returned to my truck, my shoulder was sore from casting the same exact maneuver repeatedly, but it was
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a good pain – one that would be forever associated with a great day on the water. Four Famous Fisheries This region, noted for its many spectacular and historic fly fishing waters, often overwhelms anglers who are searching for one single fishing location. Let me narrow the selection down to four locations that should be fished by both newcomers and experienced anglers alike. The Rapid River (Delorme Atlas, Map 18, B-1) is one of the most sought-after fly fishing destinations in the whole
of New England – the awesome fishing can only be topped by the sheer beauty of the area. The Rapid River location drips with fly fishing tradition, known for being the birthplace of Louise Dickinson Rich, as well as the inspiration for her books about life in this region. The famous writer’s original home still stands on the river, and one room that overlooks the fast-moving water displays her old typewriter and writing desk. Another fantastic and famous fishing location, Upper Dam (Map 18, A-2), holds a similar and special place in many angler’s hearts. The fa-
mous fly tier and angler Carrie Stevens (18811970) made this location famous many years ago (July 1, 1924) when she caught a 6-pound, 13-ounce brook trout here that was made popular in the highly-read Field and Stream magazine. That magazine article and Stevens’ unique, hand-tied streamer creations launched an advertising campaign that brought anglers from all over the world. The fanfare that started so long ago still permeates the stream-side locations of those anglers from the past. Renowned Rivers Kennebago River offers fly anglers quite a length of fantastic fishing, all the way from its beginnings near the Canadian border (Map 28, A-3) to where it pours into the big water of Cupsuptic Lake and Mooselookmeguntic Lake at Indian Rock (Map 28, E-3). Anglers can find access at the bridge where the upper river and Tim Pond Road intersect (Map 28, C-3) as well as the lower pools along the Boy Scout Road north of Route 16 (Map E-3). The Magalloway River, another well-regarded water with beginnings in the remote area near the Canadian border, also provides fly fishers with plenty of pristine pools and riffles to fish throughout its length. Anglers can access the upper sections of the river through a chain of logging roads that begin on Parmachenee Road in Wilsons Mills (Map 27, E-5) and head (Continued on next page)
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north into the big woods. The lower part of the Magalloway River starts at the twin tubes flowing out of Aziscohos Lake on Route 16 (Map 27, E-5). Anglers can access this section of the river along Route 16 in various locations where the river comes close to the road. Big brook trout and landlocked salmon can be found in both of these awesome and historic rivers. Each of these fly-fishing-only (FFO) waters contains spectacular aquatic insect hatches. Information specific to this region can be found by calling Brett Damm or his wife Sue, owners of the Rangeley Region Sports Shop, at (207) 864-5615. Museum Magic I cannot drive past the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc without a strong urge to pull into the parking area and run inside the
museum to see what new display they have for anglers’ and historians’ viewing pleasure. If you’ve never been to the museum, or if you’re a multiple-visit kind of obsessed angler like this writer, check out their website at rangeleyhistoricalsociety.org or visit their Facebook page to see what’s happening at the museum and to check their hours of operation. Activities at the museum for June alone will keep interested anglers in deep thought and reflection for months to come. I really enjoy the rich feeling of tradition that pours from the walls and displays at that place. Anglers would do well to pay attention to the museum’s complete collection of traditional flies on the numerous displays throughout the building. These same flies that worked way back in those early days still work fine on the waters around this region today.
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Original home of famous author, Louise Dickinson Rich, in a room that overlooks the Rapid River -- complete with her personal typewriter and desk. William Clunie photo
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74 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
Smilin’
Sportsman A steady “drip, drip, drip” from the shower stall kept the out-of state guest awake at an inexpensive Greenville hotel. Finally, at midnight, he’d had enough, and called the front desk to complain. “GOTTA LEAK IN THE SHOWER!” he yelled at the sleepy night manager. “Well, you just go right ahead, Bub,” responded the night manager. “Everyone else does!” ••••••••••••••••••• A solder had carried his favorite Colt Model 1911 semiautomatic pistol for his entire military career. Two months before he was scheduled to be sent back from his oversees assignment, he was told he would not be able to bring the pistol back home through US Customs.
So he disassembled the pistol into 52
Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com
pieces, and sent one each day back to his fiancée in the states. With a week to go before he was scheduled to return, he mailed home the final piece, the mainspring housing. The following week, as he was boarding the military transport plane to go home, the base postal clerk came running up with an overnight package that had just arrived. Opening it, he found his Colt 1911, completely reassembled. Inside the box was a note from his fiancée: “I’ll bet you didn’t think I could do it, did you?” ••••••••••••••••••• Jerry the Giraffe, Donny the Deer and Sammy the Skunk were at the Greenville bar drinking whiskey and sodas in tall glasses.
The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition Father: “Son, it’s about time we had a talk about sex.” Son: “Sure, Dad — what do you want to know?” ••••••••••••••••••• Did you know that if you rip a hole in your trout net, there are actually fewer holes in it than there were before you ripped it? ••••••••••••••••••• A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks they’re stupid, stand up.” After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up. The teacher asked, “So, Little Johnny – you think you’re stupid?”
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The bill came to $10.
Sammy the Skunk said, “Don’t look at me for help paying this tab – I only have a scent!” “I can’t contribute much either,” said Don the Deer, “I only amount to a buck!” “OK, guys,” sighed Jerry the Giraffe. “I guess the highballs are on me.”
Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com.
“No, Ma’am,” replied Little Johnny. “It’s just that I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!” ••••••••••••••••••• While it may be true that the early bird gets the worm, it’s also a fact that the second mouse to the trap gets the cheese! ••••••••••••••••••• Confucius say: “A day without sunshine is like … night.” ••••••••••••••••••• The smart kid changed all his computer passwords to “incorrect.”
His friend asked, “Why did you do that?”
“Well,” the smart kid explained, “now, whenever I forget my password and enter the wrong one, the computer tells me, ‘Your password is incorrect.’”
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— Guest Column — by Marty Lebson - Tenafly, NJ
Son’s Fishing Passion Becomes a Profession This true fish story begins in 1977 on a lake in Maine. It’s proof that you never know how far your childhood passion may take you in life. My wife Judy and I have a camp on Great Pond in Belgrade. We’ve had it for about 30 years, but our Maine experiences began long before that. In the mid-1970s, our three boys began going to summer camp at Camp Modin, on Lake George in Canaan. Our son, Dan was the first to attend, around 1975. Over the next few years, our other sons, Steve and Jim, went to Modin as well. In the summer of 1977, our youngest son Jim was at Camp Modin, and Judy and I went to visit. We took Jim out in a small boat. I rowed, and Jim fished with a Red Devil lure, an old favorite. What a Fish! Nothing happened for a while, and then Jim had a bite and began reeling in. He reeled and reeled, and reeled some more. And then, he reeled in a HUGE brown trout that weighed 8-1/2 pounds! What a fish!
Young Jim in 1977 with his 8-1/2 pound brown trout.
Jim managed to land it. It was the Winner of the Week! It was 22 inches long, and weighed about 4-½ pounds. We had that fish mounted, and it is on the wall of our camp to this day.
The original “One That Didn’t Get Away” card.
Naturally, other campers who liked to fish were excited. The chef of the camp cooked the fish, and many kids had a fish meal. This catch caused a run on Red Devils at the local store. In addition, the Camp Director was able to get Jim a card from the “One That Didn’t Get Away” club, sponsored by The Maine Sportsman magazine, proving his catch. Another Opportunity Seven years later, in 1982, the family was staying at Belgrade Lakes Camps, on Hoyt Island in Great Pond. It was owned at that time by Barbara and Lee Roberts, who remain our friends to this day. All members of our family were pretty good at fishing, and we had won some of the weekend prizes given out for the largest fish caught. This particular week, it was getting late in the day on Friday, and the deadline for the week’s fishing contest had almost arrived. The leading smallmouth for the week wasn’t very big, so were all hoping one of us would catch a bigger fish. As the sun was setting, I suggested to Jim that he tie on one of the lures that had belonged to Judy’s father, whom the boys called “Daddy Morris.” Their grandfather had loved fishing, and had passed away a short time before. Jim rigged up his rod, and Judy pointed out a spot in a tiny cove near the shore on the East Side of Hoyt Island, down from the camp. … and Another Big Fish! Jim took one cast with Daddy Morris’ lure – a yellow, black and green jointed Jitterbug – and a very big smallmouth grabbed the lure. The fish jumped a couple of times, and
Attorney, and CEO Fast forward. Young Jim grew up, went to Skidmore College, graduated law school, and opened up a law partnership. Not long afterward, Jim was approached by a childhood friend, Toyo Shimano (yes, the Shimano family known for bike gears and fishing equipment). Toyo told Jim that Shimano had purchased the G.Loomis Company, maker of high-end fishing rods in Washington State. He invited Jim to join him and work at G.Loomis. Jim accepted the offer, and in a short time he became CEO of G.Loomis. He remained as CEO for a number of years, and left there a year or two ago. Now he and Toyo Shimano are involved in another project. Who would have thought that little boy with the big brown trout would someday be CEO of a national fishing rod company? Jim, his wife Janet, and their 10-yearold son, Jacob plan to join us this summer in Maine. We look forward to fishing with them. Perhaps young Jacob will develop a passion for fishing that will help shape his future?
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The author and his now-grown son Jim at a lodge in Mexico. The author was invited to join Jim and other G.Loomis executives as they demonstrated some new rods to outdoor writers. www.MaineSportsman.com
76 • June 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �����������������������������������������������������
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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. FOR RENT EAST GRAND LAKE DANFORTH, ME 24x32 Camp- Greenland Cove, Sleeps 6-10. Deck, small dock/beach. Hunting, Fishing, Boating, ATV, $500/wk. 207-8311447 PARKMAN, MEBUCKS CROSSING WMD 17 Rental Cabins. Turkey, deer, moose, up-
land game. All amenities included. Great ratesnightly, weekly, monthly. $75/night for two people. 207-277-3183 CAMP ON SMALL POND In Shirley. $500/wk. Great hunting, fishing & ATV trails nearby. Also, local hunting club 1/4 mi. away is actively looking for five new members. 207-636-3689
CAMP ON SNOW POND Oakland, ME. 5 Bdrm, sleeps up to 10, log-cabin style. Great fishing & swimming. $1000/wk: May, June, Sept & Oct. $1400/wk July & Aug. 207-380-1952 LAKEFRONT CABIN FOR RENT On the Little Narrows Basin of Upper Cold Stream Ponds in Lincoln, 4-season cabin w/cable, internet, kayaks, canoe, access to ATV & snowmobile trails. Depending on season, can be rented nightly, weekly or monthly. More info & pictures on Craigslist under Vacation Rentals/Lincoln. Call Tate 207-794-4208 ———————————
DOGS STARTED BRITTANY Worked on Woodcock. Prices from $1,800 to $3,000. Orvis Endorsed Breeder. Quail Hollow Kennel 856-935-3459
Ten-year-old Johnny Madigan of Lyman, ME proudly displays his first turkey he bagged this spring. The tom weighed 22.8 lbs., had a 9-1/2” beard, and spurs measuring 1-1/4” and 1-3/16”. The bird was officially scored and will make the books with a 64.625. Johnny was accompanied on the hunt by Sherman Bradeen.
TRI-COLORED ENGLISH SETTER PUPS Available at the end of May; 4 males & 1 female. Sire & Dame & pups all registered with AKC & American Field. For more info, call: 636-4530
FOR SALE NORTHWOODS DEFENSE Powerful protection against ALL biting insects. 11 proven essential oils in a long lasting concentrated formula for a bug shield you can trust! Available at www. MaineSimple.Etsy.com. Made in MAINE! PENN 209M LEVEL WIND FISHING REELS 2 with lead core. 2 with fast-sinking fly line, all with backing. $50.00 ea. 207-400-6239 ———————————
REAL ESTATE GREAT POND RD AURORA, ME 322 Acres on Beaver Pond. Well, septic, generator, sleeps 8,fully furnished, full bathroom & kitchen. Trout & Wild Game. $250,000 FMI 207-584-2004 CAMPS FOR SALE For Sale: 2 camps on beautiful Fish River Lake, T14 R8, miles of shore front with no neighbors. Great fishing, hunting for deer, moose and birds. Camps are fully furnished..bring your toothbrush and move in! $199,000. OBRO. For pictures and more info call
207-745-0191 24’x 20’ CABIN JACKMAN, ME On 1/4 Acre on Spruce St. in scenic Jackman, Me. Fully equipped bath & kitchen. 150 ft. from Big Wood Lake. $94,000. Built in 2004. 1-860-4292425 CAMP FOR SALE SANGERVILLE, ME Traditional Maine camp located in Sangerville Maine. Steam front on five well wooded acres. Three bedrooms fully furnished with all gas appliances including refrigerator. Great four season area, must be seen to be appreciated. Please contact Bob @ 774-260-1465 for more info $ 52,500 LAND FOR SALE Lagrange 20 acres $20K; Hartland 25 acres $35K; Lakeville 40 acres & Cabin $72K. Owner finance 20% Down. 207-949-7501 HUNTING CAMP FOR SALE North Maine Woods T13R10 Great Moose hunting Zone 2, also bird, bear, deer. Furnished, sleeps 6, shower, propane fixtures, Finished in Cedar, P&C lease, $49K, 207-944-0873 (Continued on next page)
ALUMINUM DOCKS, BOAT LIFTS AND SWIM RAFTS | COMPLETE INSTALLATION AVAILABLE | 15 YEAR WARRANTY | FACTORY DIRECT PRICING | FREE DELIVERY*
www.MaineSportsman.com
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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LIVE IN NORTHERN MAINE AND MAKE MONEY Restaurant, Linneus, ME. Grammy’s Country Inn. $1.2 million average food-only gross sales last 6 years. Opportunity for sales growth with addition of alcohol. Featured in Down East, Bangor Metro, Yankee Magazines. Named Top 10 Restaurants in Maine. Over 35 awards. 65+ year restaurant tradition, 28 years under same ownership. This is a step-in opportunity! Price reduced $999,000. 207-5324500 www.firstchoicerealestate.com
PRICE REDUCED!
WANTED DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS WANTED Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/ racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206
VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE Looking for pre-1980, vintage motorcycle scrambler, enduro, or off-road motorcycle. Have cash will travel. Call 207-5226940 SEEKING SKILLED UPHOLSTERER at Covers It All Upholstery in Oakland, ME, to
Jackman, Maine Great year round house or camp to get away close to fishing, hunting and ATV riding! Fully renovated with brand new stainless steel appliances, granite counter top and new front load washer and dryer. Close to town and trails, big yard, 2 car detached garage and a large basement with potential for second bath and more living area. Call with questions or to make an appointment to take a look! (207) 324-0214
make, repair, & replace Tops, Covers & Interiors on Vehicles & Boats. Must be highly motivated, focused on excellence in all aspects of the work, capable of working as part of a team and the
ability to complete work independently. Min. of 2 years’ experience required. Pay based on experience. Call 207465-7847 or go to coversitallupholstery.com
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Moosehead
— Cedar Log Homes — WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING AT MAKING YOUR LOG HOME LIVING DREAM COME TRUE OR JUST FIXING A DECK, CALL MOOSEHEAD CEDAR LOG HOMES FOR ALL YOUR CEDAR NEEDS! Specializing in siding with a variety of profiles to fit your budget. Also available: 514 cedar decking, 1x and 2x stock, round rails, newel posts and balusters.
1-800-571-3296 Greenville, ME • mclh.net
ALLAGASH WILDERNESS LAND & CABINS FOR SALE 4.5 acres with 2 fully-furnished large log cabins, sleeps 14+, 750’ frontage on Spider Lake with great year-round fishing. Includes guest cottage, workshops, woodshed, outhouses, boats, motors, ice fishing shack, generator, docks, skylights, and gardens.
$395,000
Contact Fred & Linda Boucher Email allagash.linda@yahoo.com or leave a message at (207) 573-1541 or (207) 227-9769
Kersey Real Estate visit www.kerseyre.com to view our complete listing
“No Blarney Spoken Here”
207-585-2411 207-585-2412
506 West Side Road • Weld, ME 04285 • Mike Kersey, Broker
Carthage, ME Camp 12’x32’ ready to be finished as you choose- unfinished inside but ready to go. Nice 1.6 Acre lot with mountain views plus ATV & Snowmobile access. Very private. Excellent hunting and fishing near Webb Lake and Webb River, plus all the amenities of the western mountains. MLS#1316984 - $29,500
Carthage, ME Camp with screened-in porch on 4.18 +_ acres, with ATV & Snowmobile access. Very private with excellent hunting and fishing near Webb Lake and the Webb River plus all the amenities of the western Maine mountains. MLS#1316987 - $37,500
— BUILDING LOTS • ACREAGE • WOOD LOTS —
Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275 caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com
THE LAST FRONT ROW CABIN AVAILABLE! Year-round and offered furnished. Featuring single floor living, open kitchen/living area, spacious 3-season porch just steps from prime 2400’ frontage on the South Shore. Beautiful setting on 45 park-like acres with blend of woods, fields, walking trails. Direct ITS snowmobile trail access from your door. Once you arrive, you’ll never want to leave - get it before it’s gone! MLS #1337468 $259,500 SUMMER TIME AT THE LAKE! Lake View, one of the original Saddleback Lake Camps log cabins, is ready to enjoy seasonally or convert to year-round. The vintage cottage brimming with Rangeley charm boasts unobstructed Saddleback Mt/Lake views and is just steps from central sandy beach and shared/owned 1800’ frontage on no-motors, fly-fishing only trout stocked lake. Very well run association with 32 acres, walking trails, tennis courts. Listen to the loons, gaze at the stars PRICED TO SELL, don’t miss it! $128,500 AZISCOHOS LAKE remote hunting/fishing camp on owned land with 200’ frontage and small beach. Off the grid A-Frame has gas appliances/lights, large wood stove for heat. “Bath House” out building with privy, shower stall, storage. “Boat House” shed for small water sport accessories. Beautiful setting with unspoiled lake/Mt views - listen to the loons sing, gaze at the stars, enjoy the peace and quiet in this private location. Awesome spot to get away from it all, don’t miss out on this one - inquire today! $225,000
www.MaineSportsman.com
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Be Sure to LIKE The Maine Sportsman on Facebook! Noyes Real Estate Agency 2388 Main Street • Rangeley, ME 207-864-9000 • info@noyesrealty.com www.noyesrealty.com
RANGELEY AREA – FAMOUS FISHING LOCATIONS #425 - Classic log home on Aziscohos Lake. Open frontage, guest cottage, 2 car garage. Off grid with all amenities, more waterfront available. $319,000 482 - Vintage, well maintained camp on Little Kennebago Lake, full foundation, electricity, garage and boat house. Fabulous fly fishing and views. $390,000 #483 - Kennebago cottage on the Logans. Views, world class lake and river fishing. 3 bedrooms, loft and 2 bathrooms. Includes 2 buildings at the lake. $399,000
Wildlife Quiz Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
(Quiz on Page 38) The brown trout is also known as the German Brown Trout, Brownie, Loch Leven Trout and Saibling. The only continent to which the brown trout is native, is Europe. The brown trout was first introduced into the United States in 1884. Maine brown trout routinely grow to 14 - 20 inches, and 1- 2 pounds. Browns larger than 12 inches feed primarily on large prey, such as other fish, crawfish and even mice. Brown trout spawn in the fall. Baby brown trout are called fry. If successful in avoiding predators, a brown trout can live to be 20 years old.
Lincoln - 2 bedroom cabin sitting right on the water’s edge. The deck is only inches from the water. Beautifully maintained inside and out, with a huge, two story garage, for “toy storage.” Only a few minutes to town right on Little Narrows. $219,000
Lincoln - Wonderful, well maintained 3 bedroom home, large kitchen, dining and living rooms. Sited on 2.68+/acres with paved driveway, nice landscaping, 2 garages and over 300’ frontage on cold water Big Narrows. $259,000 Reduced to $245,900
Lakeville - Cozy 2 bedroom log cabin with wood floors, 2 lofts, space in the foundation, decks, bathroom with laundry and big garage, boat access to several lakes, sits on 7.5+/- acres with 394’ along Junior Lake. Reduced to $300,000
Mattawamkeag - Open concept camp, partially wired for generator, year round access, electricity available, 10+/- acres of field, 40+/acres of woodland, long interior road leading from Route 2. Reduced to $59,000 Lincoln - Close to Big & Little Narrows, year round paved access, electric available, 3.5 acres with driveway, 4.5 acres with roughed in driveway, frontage on Transalpine Road. $15,000 each
Springfield - Remote parcel in recreational area for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and ATVing, 50+/- acres, interior roads, Bog Brook frontage, sited off Moores Road. $25,000
Lee - 4.1 wooded acres, year round road, electricity available, easy access to ATV and snowmobile trails, possible owner financing, broker owned, 290’ along Old Steamboat Road. $14,900
LOOKING FOR ACREAGE, CALL US OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE – 10 TO 500 ACRES AVAILABLE!
SOLON. Nice waterfront camp on the shores of beautiful Ironbound Pond. Relax among the towering pines or lounge in your 8x15 sun room. Enjoy ample privacy and 198 feet of water frontage. Boat, fish, canoe, or kayak to your heart’s content. Enjoy all the comforts of home with a full bath, running water, electricity, and a well-appointed kitchen. This is a perfect vacation getaway or sportsman’s retreat. Enjoy year round access. Only 20 minutes from shopping. Property part of Ironbound Pond Association. $129,000 ANSON. 7.1 acres with 261 feet of frontage on Lemon Stream. Mostly wooded lot, would be a great place to build a camp or year round home! Electric at the road. Restrictive covenants. $22,000 SKOWHEGAN. Come and enjoy this beautiful waterfront property, offering 384 feet frontage on Oak Pond, in the Skowhegan countryside. This 24 acre parcel is well-wooded and ready for your enjoyment. Plenty of privacy and wildlife, yet only minutes from downtown Skowhegan. $42,500 MAYFIELD TWP. 2.79 acres with 228 feet of frontage on Kingsbury Pond, which is a 390 acre pond with great fishing including Landlocked salmon, splake, white perch and chain pickerel. This is a rare find. Check it out, build your camp or home and enjoy the peace and quiet of living on the water! $58,900 ANSON. 32 surveyed acres on a year’ round road. This property has incredible views. Electricity available at the road. This is certainly worth a look! $59,900 WELLINGTON. Wanna go upta camp?? This property is for you! Camp built in 1990 on 43 acres. Generator hookup and wood stove give this camp year-round use. Sleeps 5. Road in is unmaintained but 4wd will get you in. Come hunt, hike, 4 wheel, snowmobile, or whatever outdoor activity suits you! Call for more info. $55,900 EMBDEN. Approximately 27 acres of land with frontage on 2 roads. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb167) $42,500 SOLON. Looking for the perfect piece of property? This could be it! Approximately 71 acres with about 900 feet frontage on the West Road. Tons of room to build a camp and then roam and hunt until your heart is content. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb356) $75,000 BINGHAM. Approximately 123 acres of land with about 3.700 feet frontage on Mahoney Hill Rd and about 2,500 feet frontage on Brighton Rd. Lots of room to roam in this parcel. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb323) $99,900 6/18
The Maine
May 2017 • $4.99
Lincoln - Lot located in a nice neighborhood and is in a very quiet area. Close to the hospital and shopping. Take a look and start planning that new home on Buckley Avenue. $24,000 Lincoln - 2.151 acres halfway between downtown and the hospital. Leach field is installed and ready for building to begin. Take a look at this modern subdivision on Winter Street. $20,000 Burlington - Ready for a camp, some clearing complete, driveway onsite, close to Saponac Pond boat landing, owner financing, electricity available, 2.7 acres with 260’ frontage on Route 188. $14,000
Success
Pages 26, 28, 50, 51
Handgun for Bear Country Page 20
Spring ATV Riding
Page 21
Lessons Learned On Thin Ice
Page 56
www.MaineSportsman.com
E S T A T E
5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com
1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you!
“Tate” Aylward ................ 794-2460 Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM
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