The Maine Sportsman June 2020 Digital Edition

Sportsman The Maine

June 2020 • $4.99

Classic Bass Lures Page 33

Not Naked, Not Afraid in Passadumkeag Page 50

North Pond Hermit: “Social Distancer”? Page 4

Side-by-Sides Page 23

Tracking Whitetails Page 44

2 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

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Editorial

Ten Lessons from the Expert –

What Can the North Pond Hermit Teach Us About Sheltering in Place?

Thanks to a new book (Michael Finkel’s The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit) and a documentary (“The Hermit,” available free on Vimeo), we will soon hear more about Christopher Thomas Knight, the socalled “North Pond Hermit” who lived in a tent in the woods of Rome, Maine for 27 years. Viewed through the lens of current pandemic guidelines, Knight is the undisputed king of social distancing. Despite living only a couple of hundred yards from the nearest Belgrade-area summer cabins, he remained undetected for the entirety of his time in the woods. So what can we learn from his experience? Knight’s 1984 Law1) To stay healthy, stay apart. Knight did not rence High yearbook take any medication or visit a doctor during the du- photo. Two years latration of his self-imposed period of exile. “You need er, he headed into the to have contact with other humans,” he told one re- woods. porter, “in order to get sick.” 2) Plan ahead, and plan carefully. To avoid detection, Knight lit no campfires, and did all his cooking on a small stove powered by stolen propane tanks. After several years, he knew exactly how many of the small tanks it would take to get him through the winter. 3) Have a Plan B. Knight buried a cache of supplies in a hidden spot nearby, in case his primary campsite was discovered and he had to unexpectedly “bug out” and start over. 4) Monitor your environment carefully. Air temperature was all-important to Knight, so he maintained three separate thermometers (a spring-driven type, a glass tube and a digital model). When winter temperatures reached minus-20 on several occasions, he knew he had to take extreme precautions to prevent fatal hypothermia. 5) Maintain a stock of critical supplies. Among the items Knight most frequently stole from summer camps were rolls of toilet paper and containers of hand sanitizer. 6) Take good care of critical equipment. When he was captured at 1:30 a.m. in April 4, 2013, Knight was wearing the same eyeglasses he wore in his 1984 Lawrence High School yearbook photo. 7) Stay in touch with the world. Knight pilfered batteries to fit portable radios, and strung an antenna high into a tree near his tent site. If he got tired of listening to the news, he enjoyed classical music. 8) Don’t think re-entry into the “real world” will be easy. Some of Knight’s early attempts to communicate with other prisoners (he was in jail for 7 months) and with reporters, did not go smoothly. He later explained he’d spent so long without human contact that, in essence, he’d forgotten how to talk. 9) Save your back. To lug some of the heavier gear (bed frame; multiple propane tanks) across the pond to his hidden campsite, Knight borrowed – and then returned – a small aluminum boat. 10) Sugar and alcohol consumption packs on the pounds. The North Pond Hermit purposefully enhanced his diet with high-calorie food and drink to bulk up each fall to prepare his body for the long, unheated winter. For him, the weight came off easily by springtime. Christopher Knight is currently on work release, receiving assistance and counseling as he continues his readjustment into the community. Having come out of one form of isolation, he now joins the rest of us as we strive to emerge from a period of more widespread social distancing.

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New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 573 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com 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.................................................... 12 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 40 A Warden’s Life by Warden Lt. Bill Allen (Ret.)............ 19 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 45 Big Woods World by Mike Stevens............................... 44 Downeast by Jim Lemieux............................................ 63 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie...................... 34 Jackman by William Sheldon....................................... 54 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 7 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 48 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding....... 53 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 51 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 20 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 52 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 59 Moosehead by Tom Seymour...................................... 56 My Maine by George Smith.......................................... 18 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 71 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 23 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 58 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith....................... 16 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 68 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 75 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 31 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 65 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 62 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 60 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.............. 75 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 67 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................... 9 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 64 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 70 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 76 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 36 True Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.61 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 72 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 43

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 21 Bass Fishing in Maine by Bill Catherwood.................... 33 Bear Hunting in Maine by Steve Vose......................... 26 Moose Hunting in Maine by Steve Carpenteri........... 38 Naming Scout by Randy Randall................................. 47 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 74 Q&A with “Naked & Afraid” Contestant by Will Lund.50 Saltwater Fishing in Maine by Bob Humphrey............ 28 Youth Writing Contest Entry by Nolan Raymond........ 37 On the Cover Largemouth bass are the most popular game fish in North America -- the first really big fish that many freshwater anglers catch as youngsters casting plugs with spinning rods. Read about classic, time-tested topwater lures that still hook their share of lunker largemouth, starting on page 33.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 5

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6 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters

anything like the accompanying photo. This tom has a 10-inch beard and has been hanging around the farm for a couple of years.

To The Editor

Trolling for Rangeley Salmon After Ice-Out

bling to beat the band. That’s one lucky critter! Steve Carpenteri – Lyman, ME —

Whitetailed Deer Handgun Record?

To the Editor: I know The Maine Sportsman administers Maine’s Biggest Bucks Club. Does the magazine maintain records of hunting success with a handgun? What’s the name of the hunter, and the score, associated with the largest Maine whitetail taken with a handgun? Ken Steigerwalt Orangeville, PA

To the Editor: Just read the article by Erik Lund this morning (see “Letter to my Grandkids – Fishing for Salmon After Ice-Out,” May 2020 issue), and I enjoyed it to the hilt! His description of sewing on smelt brought back my early days in Maine, trolling with my father. My Dad used (and taught me) the exact same technique, although it was mostly trolling for togue. When I ran out of wires, I used to take apart an old wire window screen and cut them into pieces to use. The article made my day! Leighton Wass – Vermont (Raised in Southwest Harbor, Maine) —

I heard him gobbling in the distance the other day and noticed that he was looking a little ragged – two tail feathers missing, and a big hole in his fan. I’d be willing to bet someone got the drop on him at close range … and missed! The charge of shot must have gone right by his head and tore a hole in his tail. He’s still out there every day, gob-

One Lucky Bird

To the Editor: I have been turkey hunting since 1970 (in the South) and have never seen

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The Editor responds: The Sportsman does not currently maintain a separate list for handgun hunters, Ken, although it’s something we may consider in the future. Unlike, for example, bowhunting and muzzleloader, in which the hunter must obtain a different type of hunting license, keeping track of handgun records would require information from the hunter – not just caliber, but also the type of firearm used. Thank you for the question and suggestion.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 7

Choosing the Best Small Boat for Your Needs I feel badly when I see that someone evidently blew their savings on some activity, only to discover that they or their spouse didn’t enjoy it, and offers all their equipment for sale. That happens sometimes in boats, and when it does, it can be a windfall for someone who follows the secondary market. So in boats, if you are a neophyte, proceed cautiously. Start small. Many of our publication’s writers, including Barry Gibson, Bob Humphrey and Steve Carpenteri, write about boats – especially fishing boats. However, they deal mostly with outboard-powered boats longer than 14 feet. This column will look at some of the choices in smaller boats, principally as

So you’ve decided to get a small boat. What length should you select? 12 feet? 14? And what material? Fiberglass? Aluminum? The author describes the often-competing factors of portability, stability, capacity and comfort. fishing platforms, through the lens of my own experience of over eighty years, during which a number of boats have just followed me home, like stray dogs. Small, but Not Too Small Boats and other small craft 14 feet and under offer a low-cost and handy way to access the many waters in Maine – including lakes, ponds, river and larger streams – that don’t have trailer-accessible launching areas. Such small craft include canoes and kayaks. Safety is the first priority, and length and craft type are re-

lated. While a 14-foot aluminum boat may safely hold two or three persons, depending on their size, a 14foot canoe is probably a one-person craft, unless it is unusually wide. Over the years, a number of boating accidents in Maine have involved overloading small craft. I once responded

to an ad listing a 12foot boat and motor for sale. The owner said he was selling it because the boat scared him. No wonder. He was running a 7-1/2 horse motor, and with

one person aboard, the boat scooted around like a scared rabbit. It scared me, too. The light boat was overpowered, and its short length made it turn quickly. As soon as I could, I sold the motor. A twelve-foot aluminum boat usually fits nicely into a truck bed and can be dragged by one person through the woods. It can prob(Continued on next page)

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Due to the current pandemic situation, Giguere Auction Co. must POSTPONE our Spring Sporting Auction to an, as yet, undetermined date. Rest assured, this auction has NOT been canceled – only postponed! The Spring Auction will become a Summer Auction – perhaps a Fall Auction. The ultimate date will depend on the progression of the pandemic and the relaxing of the current social distancing rules and travel restrictions. Please check our listing on www.auctionzip.com for lots of photos and info on what you will find at this auction. You will find it listed currently with a date of 5/30/2020. The actual new date will be announced on www.auctionzip.com and on our website – www.giguereauction.com – as soon as we can confidently set a final, new Date. WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING QUALITY ITEMS FOR THIS AUCTION EVENT – PLEASE CALL US! We are looking forward to seeing All of Our Friends – Old & New – again. Until that day arrives – Please Stay Safe and Be Well – See You All on the Other Side!

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8 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings (Continued from page 7)

ably be car-topped by two people. It can be propelled by oars or a small outboard or electric motor, and can serve two anglers of average weight. A lot of our small ponds are under-utilized and can offer fast fishing. If the owner wants to move up to a larger boat, or quit boating altogether, they will probably find a ready buyer.

many of our Maine lakes large enough to generate choppy waves. Compared to a 14-foot craft, a 12-footer bobs up and down enough in a chop to be fatiguing. Those who move up to a 14-foot craft find that the boat moves through most waves more smoothly than does a 12-footer, and carrying capacity is increased. It is probably too heavy to be car-topped. Unless you are covering long distances, an engine larger than ten horse-

Fourteen-Footer The principal drawback of a twelve-footer is evident when used on bigger water, like

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power isn’t needed. A smaller motor may serve adequately. On small waters, oars can be used, although most people rowing a small boat today either have run out of fuel or their motor has sheared a pin. (The traditional “help me” signal involves waving an oar or paddle, blade up, from side to side. Unfortunately, many of today’s boaters may not recognize the signal, so good luck with the signal.) Drawbacks of a 14foot boat include a tendency to overload it to the point where there is insufficient “freeboard,” or operating too fast. Unfortunately, the Maine legislature, in its infinite wisdom, has never seen fit to enact boating speed limits, even for nighttime operation. Imagine for a moment that you are a loon at night escorting your chick across a body of open water, and you see the lights and hear the noise of fast boat powered by a 200-horsepower engine bearing down on you. Which way do you go? Hull and Deck Material Moving on to boat materials: Along the highways, we see older boats for sale or even free. They’re usually built of fiberglass,

with a windshield and steering wheel. These boats are heavy, and the wood supports of the floor may be rotted. Costly even to haul to the recycling center, where they are may be classified as building debris. It is possible to build a lightweight fiberglass-reinforced plastic boat, but the process is labor-intensive. Polyester resin used to be cheap, so older boats were usually built heavy, and their weight today limits their use. The foredeck of an old free fiberglass boat shelters my well-cover from falling debris. But it is rare to see an inexpensive old aluminum boat, because they are usually lighter and less prone to weathering . In the smaller lengths, they can be turned over, propped up from the ground, and they’re ready to go when the snow is gone. Aluminum is often noisier if operated at speed, but relatively maintenance-free. My 16-foot Grumman canoe is over 60 years old. Not used for white-water, however. Both canoes and kayaks are used in sheltered waters for angling. I find sitting for long periods of time in a kayak to be tiring, and much prefer fishing from a ca-

noe, which allows the angler more flexibility as to where to cast and how to handle a fighting fish. Seats; Motor Bracket; Paddle Some canoes have bucket seats, which are to be avoided if possible. If you are solo and sit in the stern seat, the bow is high and the craft is windprone and tippy. You can put heavy rocks in the bow for ballast, which is inconvenient, or sit in the bow seat facing the stern, which is uncomfortable because of the shape of the seat. Whoever chose the plastic canoes for Baxter State Park was not familiar with canoeing. If a canoe floats away on a windy day, don’t swim after it. You may never get to it. Mounting an outboard motor on a canoe side-bracket seems like a good idea, but watch out. If you get out of the canoe, and the canoe doesn’t have weight in it, the weight of the motor may capsize the canoe. If you do a lot of paddling and haven’t tried a bent paddle, try one. They are not just for racing, and make for a very efficient stroke.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 9

The Maine State Museum Next door to the Maine State Capitol and sharing the parking lot, is the Maine State Museum (MSM). The attractive building also houses the State Library and the Archives. The MSM has had numerous stops and starts over the last century and a half, and finally, on its seventh iteration, seems to really have it altogether and is here to stay. In fact, it is one of the most interesting and well put-together museums I’ve visited, and I’ve seen a lot of the great museums in Europe. And of particular interest to me, it houses exhibits on Maine outdoor sporting life over the centuries, including guns, hunting, fishing gear and fishing, and sporting camps. The museum has a lot of really cool stuff that speaks to Mainers of many generations. A Little History The first Maine museum was founded in 1836, 16 years after

The author says the Maine State Museum is one of the best he’s ever seen, and he’s seen many! The museum’s exhibits celebrate the Maine outdoors, from the time of Native Americans through the Maine firearms manufacturing during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, to bamboo rod-making at the Thomas Rod Company facility in Bangor.

A small part of a larger mural at the Maine State Mueseum showing early people on a caribou hunt several thousand years ago in what now is The Pine Tree State. Every part of the animal was used. There are no more of these fine creatures in Maine. All Photos © King Montgomery

Maine become a state, and the year Texas won its independence from Mexico. According to Bernard Fishman, Director of the Museum, writing in a 2015 article in the

Guns are displayed throughout the museum reflecting the time they were used, such as in the Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. The specimens are stunningly preserved.

Maine Policy Review titled “The Museum That Would Not Die,” the museum would be “closed or eliminated six times over the next 135 years before being resurrected for the

seventh (and final?) occasion when its current building in Augusta opened in 1971.” We only can hope it’s here to stay. (I commend this very interesting article to you.

This MSM display recreates a rifle-making workplace of the 18th and 19th century. A number of fine gun-makers were esablished in Maine.

There are more gems of knowledge within, including for example, that the museum once was overseen by the Fish and Game Commission to show off the wonderful wild aspects of the Pine Tree State, including a large number of fish and game animal mounts originally displayed in the Capitol itself. The article and a lot more information is on the MSM website, www. mainestatemuseum. org.) Interestingly, the MSM is the only state museum in New England mostly funded by state appropriations. The current annual state allocation of just under $2 million provides about 80 percent of the museum’s operating budget. The remainder is from grants, donations, and entrance fees/gift shop sales. It hosts school classes from all over Maine at no cost to the students or chaperones. (As I write my column in May 2020, we are still in the throes of the Covid-19 (Continued on next page)

This hooded merganser decoy was carved in the early 20th century by Gus Wilson of South Portland. www.MaineSportsman.com

10 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

These two bull moose locked themselves together in a testosterone-driven fight that claimed their lives in October 1938 near Second Roach Pond in Kokadjo, Maine.

North American passenger pigeons, once numbering in the tens of millions in the US, were extirpated by market hunters and others around the turn of the 20th century. The last passenger pigeon, Martha, died in the Cincinnati Zoological Garden in 1914.

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 9)

pandemic, so it appears that “ain’t nobody going nowhere” for a while.) Outdoors-Related Exhibits The MSM is set up by traveling upward in time from the ground floor to the third floor, while the fourth floor houses temporary exhibits. Think about how geological strata are so layered – the Grand Canyon comes to mind – and that’s the set-up here. (The fourth floor is currently dedicated to new exhibits reflecting Maine’s Bicentennial, but few folks have seen them because of the pandemic shutdown.) The first known hunters and fishers

in what now is Maine were the Clovis or Paleo-Indian cultures of over 12,000 years ago. The First People’s descendants dominated the landscape until Europeans arrived here in the 1500s and reengineered the world. The exhibits of these early hunter-gatherers show stone tools and weapons, the bones of animals of the time (many no longer here), and fragments of clay vessels and plates. I was particularly taken by the fine and detailed hunting mural depicting the early people in their environment. The Fish All the “layers” have exhibits of guns, hunting, fishing gear,

Live brook trout swim around in one of the many displays of wildlife in Maine. www.MaineSportsman.com

and fishing scattered about, and one of the most interesting is what I call “The Fish.” It is a mounted fish, turned very dark over time, and it was stuffed by the renowned Rangeley Lakes taxidermist Herbert L. Welch. A faded brass plaque below says: World’s Record White Perch Caught by Mrs. Earl A. Small Waterville, Maine – June 4, 1949 Messalonskee Lake, Oakland, Maine Weight - 4 pounds and 12 ounces Taxidermist, Herbert Welch, Rangeley, Maine No, I’m afraid I don’t know the lady’s real name because back in those days,

Sport and commercial fishing in Maine are shown in various exhibits in the MSM. Both still play a large role in Maine’s economy.

a woman was identified by her husband’s name – which is really stupid, in my opinion. (If you know her name, please let me know.) Her fish still is recognized as a world record by the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin. I contacted the museum about the fish, and they said the information and weight most likely were taken from the old Field and Stream magazine fishing contests that were so popular with sport anglers in the middle of the 20th Century. See https://www.freshwater-fishing.org. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) in Florida maintains world fishing records under a more restrictive entry process where fish are

The Fish! This mounted white perch was caught in 1949 by Mrs. Earl Small in Messalonskee Lake, and weighed 4 pounds and 12 ounces. At the time it was listed as a world record, but didn’t have enough documentation or witnesses to qualify as such today.

weighed on certified scales, and a whole litany of criteria must be met for the catch to be entered. For more information on this, see www.igfa.com. The IGFA does not accept the old magazine fishing contest records. Regardless, Mrs. Small’s white perch is one helluva catch. I can’t imagine a white perch that size, and wonder what bait/lure/ fly it was caught on, and what tackle was used. I applaud the lady. I also acknowledge Herb Welch’s skill as a taxidermist, artist, and angler. (See the fine book Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in Maine Guide’s Wilderness by the late Graydon Hilyard and his son Leslie Hilyard, Stackpole Books 2018.) (Continued on next page)

One display is devoted to early commercial fishing practices in Maine, many of which are used today in updated version. These mounted fish and crustaceans represent some of the catch of the day.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 11

A commercial fisherman in a small boat hauls his net and probably fills the bottom of the boat. When full, it’s time to head back to port. (Continued from page 10)

Guns Guns are displayed throughout the museum reflecting the time they were used, such as in the Revolutionary War, the American Civil War, and so on. The specimens are stunningly preserved, and all the early ones – especially the shotguns – look really heavy. Sometimes my 5-pound 10-ounce o/a 20-gauge gets heavy in the field during a partridge hunt, and I can’t imagine schlepping a 10- to 15-pound rifle every day for a couple of years in our early wars. (The CAR-15 I carried in Vietnam in the late 1960s weighed less than 6 pounds.) There were a number of Maine gun-makers throughout our history – John H. Hall

A Dirigo Salmon Rod in 4 pieces was made by the Thomas Rod Company in Bangor around 1900. The much smaller “Fairy” Trout Rod below was made about 1930 by the Thomas Rod Company.

of Portland in the early 1800s is one of them – and they and their guns are nicely captured in the museum. Guns long have been part of our history, and still are today, used originally for hunting for food and defending against marauding Indians (and French at times, too). Today we use them for sport hunting, targets, self and home defense, and just good old (safe) plinking. The Thomas Rod Company One of the coolest exhibits is that of the Thomas Rod Company of Bangor and environs. The company, known for its quality split bamboo fishing rods, was founded by Fred E. Thomas in the late 1890s. Thomas, known as F. E.,

This photo from the “new” Thomas Rod Company’s website shows a bench very similar to the museum exhibit shown in the previous photo (top right). This photo dates from the period 1900-1920. See www.ThomasRodCo.com.

learned his craft working for the H. L. Leonard Rod Co. in Bangor and then New York. Thomas moved back to Bangor, formed several short-lived partnerships making rods, then was on his own, and the company was formed in Brewer and eventually moved back to Bangor. The Thomas Rod Company flourished, and in 1938, after F. E.’s passing, son Leon Thomas took over, and the company crafted bamboo rods for another 60 years in Brewer and Bangor. In 1958, the company was sold to Clarence “Sam” Carlson, and to Steve Campbell in 1999. The company again, after a 40-year hiatus, makes fine bamboo fly rods in Brewer, Maine! (www. ThomasRodCo.com, 207-659-3270.)

One of the workbenches of the Thomas Rod Company, replete with the tools, other equipment, and Tonkin cane from China (still the best in the world for making split bamboo rods), is on display at the museum. That’s all just part of what’s available to view at the Maine State Museum in Augusta. Allow a full day – you can go out to lunch and return without paying again – or better yet, visit for two days. I was disappointed in a way with one display on the third floor. Stuff that I remember having, or using or seeing as a kid, are on display as old relics! I just can’t imagine that. Until I looked in the mirror.

A box of streamer flies arranged meticulously in a case highlight how crappy my fly boxes look these days, but then the latter never will be displayed in a museum.

*****

In Memoriam My friend, noted book author, fly angler, and Rangeley Lakes Region historian Graydon R. Hilyard passed away from a stroke on March 20, just as the Coronavirus was getting underway. We had plans to fish out of his camp in June, but they are not to be. He was the author of the book Bogdan, and two with son Leslie, Carrie G. Stevens: Maker of Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies; and Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in Maine Guide’s Wilderness. One of the nicest and most intelligent men I ever met, Graydon will be missed; my heart is very heavy.

One of the many wildlife dioramas put together at the Maine State Museum. I zoomed in on our friend, the Maine moose, but needed a wide angle lens to capture the entire exhibit. www.MaineSportsman.com

Almanac

12 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —

“Snapshots in Time”

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

The more I research the numerous editions of the three vintage newspapers our Historical Society has digitally archived for future generations, the more I enjoy the quaint style and downhome approach the various writers employed to share stories from the wilds of Maine. What follows represents just a few samplings from the July 18, 1895 edition of the Rangeley Lakes. As I read these old papers, I marvel at what it must have been like to experience these woods and waters in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. We are grateful for our partnership with the Maine State Library to be able to share numerous editions of the Maine

Folks dressed up to go trout fishing in the Rangeley area years ago, and it’s no wonder -- with fish like these, the anglers could count on having their photos taken when they returned to shore.

Woods, Rangeley Lakes and Phillips Phonograph. You can enjoy these and

other vintage newspapers and documents on MSL’s Digital Maine website.

An Indian Devil (American Panther) Investigating the SR & RL R. R. (Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad)

July 18, 1985 – Last month, the surveyors on the Rumford Falls & Rangeley Lakes line were awakened from their slumbers by a most terrifying screech. It was at once recognized as that of the American panther, or Indian Devil, though none of the party had ever heard it before. The yell brought every man to his feet, rifles, revolvers and axes were seized while every cheek was blanched. The varmint did not attempt an attack on the camp but passed fully as near as was desired by the men, making occasional stops to give out a scream that no man in the crew will ever forget. There is no doubt that there is such a creature that visits this section of the country occasionally, as many old hunters can testify, and many people have been driven from the woods, after having had their hair stand on end from the screech. 100 Trout Dr. Miller, of New York, accompanied by Ben Gile, guide, went up to Little Kennebago Monday of last week, and while there saw twenty-three www.MaineSportsman.com

deer and caught 100 trout. As these gentlemen were gone but two days from Loon Lake, it seems the best combined record as yet. “Illuminating” Deer is Illegal It does not seem to be understood by guides, landlords or visitors, that it is contrary to the law to go out at night and look for deer with a jack light. The Commissioners of Inland Fish and Game wish it fully understood that known violations of this law will be prosecuted. They have so instructed the wardens. Dog Came Back The large brindle dog, which is so familiar a figure at Harry Pierce’s Camps at King Bartlett, is a much-travelled animal. He has a way of going where he pleases, anytime he pleases, and how he pleases! One of his latest feats was to jump from a swiftly moving train on the Phillips & Rangeley RR. Not long ago, Mr. Pierce tried to leave him at Farmington, but it wasn’t a success. Like the cat, he came back! Footed it all the way from Farmington to King Bartlett. He has lots of friends

all along the route. Bear Smells the Blood of a “Boston Man” A story comes from the woods region east of Moosehead Lake of a Boston man’s adventure with a bear. He was new to the woods, and his nerves lacked the steadiness that is so necessary to personal courage. He had an elegant fishing rod which must have cost a handsome figure, and many yards of silk line with which he expected to make such artistic “throws” that the eyes of the countrymen would stick out in wonder. Having been taught by an expert in the privacy of his Massachusetts home, he thought he knew how to do it. It was near nightfall when he got into camp with his guides. But early the next morning he was astir and thought he would take a run down to the lake while the guides got breakfast. He walked leisurely through the dewy forest, putting his rod together and adjusting the line as he went. He ran over in his mind the (continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 13 (Continued from page 12)

instructions in the manner of holding his line, lasso-like, to make a throw, and reeled it off in loops, about fifty or sixty feet of it, so as to be all ready for a cast when he came to the shore. His pleasant anticipations were suddenly interrupted by a big black object that came with long strides into the path a few feet ahead and rose upon his haunches, sniffing the air with the peculiar sound the hunters call “whistling.” His whole attitude seemed to say, “I smell the blood of a Boston man.” With a shriek of terror, the whilom fisherman turned and ran for the camp. His gold-mounted fishpole got between his legs and was broken in pieces, and the silk line—well, when he broke out of the woods into the presence of the guides, his broken rod dragging behind him, they unwound him as well as they could and in about half an hour, got him free of the tangled mass. He was frightened nearly out of his wits and nothing would do but they must pack up and leave the woods at once. He made a beeline for Boston and won’t visit Maine again till the bears are exterminated. —

Why Do Fenders Rust on Pick-Up Trucks in Maine? Readers who have shopped for a used pick-up truck in Maine have undoubtedly witnessed vehicles that run well, but the fenders are rusted through, posing a challenge at State Inspection time. But what’s a bust for some truck owners has proven a boon for body shops

Building Bridges to Fight Lyme Disease Together

Midcoast Lyme Disease Support & Education Awareness • Education Advocacy • Support

www.mldse.org

and supply stores, such as B&L Auto Parts and Paint, on Outer Hammond Street in Bangor. “It’s not necessarily that the stock fenders rust early,” Mike Carter, the store manager, told The Sportsman. “It’s just that manufacturers are making the rest of the truck so reliable, that the engine and drive train – so long as you maintain them properly – last a long, long time. While the truck can go 300,000 miles, it’s the ‘edges’ that will rust out on you.”

Carter does say that the salt brine (sodium chloride and water) that’s now commonly spread on Maine roads in the winter, can eat up thin fender metal in short order. And is the metal as tough as it used to be? “I think a great deal of the steel used in cars is recycled,” said Carter, “and I’m no scientist, but if I were one I might believe that the molecular structure of recycled steel is not as strong as steel that’s made from iron ore.” The proclivity to rust has led to growth in several industries – B&L sells fender rust repair kits, as well as replacement parts. And around the state, an increasing number of companies are selling undercoating – either using material that’s designed to last about a

year and be refreshed before each winter, or more permanent coating – offered primarily on new cars – that is intended to protect the underside and sheet metal for years. —

Surprise Bear-Baiting Regulation Proposed Under Maine law (5 MRS § 8055), if a state agency receives 150 signatures on a citizen petition to require rulemaking, it must issue a proposed rule for public comment. On May 6, 2020, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife announced it had received a valid petition to consider amending current bear baiting rules. In compliance with the law’s requirements, the agency issued a draft rule, and set a comment deadline of June 5, 2020. The revisions would 1) establish a bear feeding season; 2) establish a bear feeding permit; and 3) reduce permits issued each year such that all baiting would be prohibited within 10 years. The petitioner, John M. Glowa, Sr., wrote in the petition that he believes the proposed rule would “improve the health of bears by eliminating fatty foods and manmade sugars from their diets.” He stated that eliminating all feeding within 10 years would “force hunters, guides and outfitters to actually fair chase hunt bears.” A long-time opponent of bear baiting, Glowa testified in 2019 in opposition to a bill to permit a spring bear hunt. He stated, “Maine’s so-called bear management program is a perverse hoax … established for political and monetary reasons.” (Continued on next page)

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Check For Ticks Every Day! WARMER TEMPERATURES MEAN TICKS WILL BE ACTIVE NOW – EVEN IN SNOW! • Schools are closed so more children are active outside • Healthcare resources will be strained due to COVID-19 • Do your part to prevent tickborne diseases • CHECK EVERY DAY. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed.

MLDSE is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization, the Maine-partner of the National Lyme Disease Association, members of Maine’s CDC Vector-borne Work group, active in Maine’s Lyme Legislation movement and on the federal Deptartment of Health & Human Services Tick-borne Disease Working Group’s “Access to Care Services and Patient Support” subcommittee.

www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 13)

To obtain a copy of the proposed rule or to provide written comments, email Becky Orff at Maine’s DIF&W: becky. orff@maine.gov —

Boat US Asks: Shall We Say Goodbye to “Small Craft Advisory” and Hello to “Small Craft Warning?” So you are thinking of heading offshore for groundfish, but on the marine radio you hear there’s a small craft advisory in effect. What does that mean? What’s an advisory, versus a “watch” versus a “warning”? To simplify the answer to those questions, the National Weather Service has proposed renaming “Small Craft Advisory” to “Small Craft Warning.” Changing from an “advisory” to “warning” would not change when the notification would be given – any time sustained wind speeds or frequent gusts have reached 20 to 33 knots, or seas or waves are 4 feet and greater, or waves or seas are potentially hazardous. And by the way, what’s a “small craft”? We went right to one of our experts, Bob Humphrey, and he said: “Hard to keep up with these. Used to be small

Regardless of whether the National Weather Service calls it an “Advisory” or a “Warning,” there are days you just need to stay in port.

craft warning, gale warning, whole gale (or full gale) and hurricane. Whole gale was replaced by storm warning. Then small craft warning became small craft advisory, and it would appear is about to be changed back to a warning. “I don’t care what they call it – I just check the forecast for wind and seas.” Good advice. —

Landowner Volunteers Wanted for Tick Survey The Maine Forest Tick Survey is a collaboration between The University of Maine and volunteer landowners in southern and coastal Maine. The goal is to study the relationship between land management, tick populations and tickborne pathogens. Volunteers will collect ticks from their wooded properties this July 2020, and the program will identify and test the ticks for pathogens.

All volunteers will get a personalized report detailing which tick species and pathogens are present on their land. To comply with current Covid-19 restrictions, training sessions will take place online, and volunteers will collect only on their own properties. The program is currently recruiting volunteers for the July 2020 collection. Volunteers should own between 10 and 1,000 acres of wooded land and live in one of the following counties: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln or York. For more information, and to sign up, visit: umaine.edu/ForestTickSurvey, call 207-581-2503 or email Elissa Ballman, research associate, UMaine School of Biology and Ecology, at elissa.ballman@maine.edu. Participation in this program is being encouraged and supported by Paula Jackson Jones, President and Co-Founder of the Midcoast (Continued on next page)

Be sure to check out our website

www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

Lyme Disease Support & Education, Paula@MLDSE.org. —

“Who Do I Need to Contact to Get This Ticket Taken Care Of?” A judge in West Virginia was recently suspended from his position for three months after being charged with violating the code of judicial conduct during a confrontation with a game warden after he went fishing. The West Virginia Supreme Court recently increased the suspension recommended by a judicial hearing board against Wayne County Magistrate David E. Ferguson. The board had recommended a 30-day suspension without pay and a $2,000 fine. The court said the harsher suspen-

sion was justified due to Ferguson’s “flagrant attempt to intimidate” law enforcement officers. The court said Ferguson was fishing with his father in a lake that had been stocked earlier that day. The trouble started when he allegedly approached an undercover warden and confided: “Hey, you need to watch out. There’s some game wardens around here somewhere.” Later, Ferguson caught his daily limit of six fish, and then continued catching and keeping trout, either giving them to other anglers or breaking

their necks and placing them back in the water at his feet. News account say that when wardens approached Ferguson, the judge: 1) Gave the warden his license, together with his State Supreme Court ID card; 2) Began “pacing and screaming”; 3) Repeatedly asked who he needed to contact to “have this ticket taken care of,” and then continued, telling the wardens, “You do what you need to do , but I’m telling you right now, this ain’t going nowhere.” He later pleaded guilty to the fishing charge, paid a fine, and then faced the disciplinary board for additional sanctions. Sources: Court documents, as well as reporting by Chris Lawrence, host of “West Virginia Outdoors” radio program.

Dedicated Hunter: As an unusual late-spring snowstorm dumped several inches on May 9, 2020, did our intrepid “Central Maine” columnist Steve Vose decide to wait for better turkey-hunting weather? No way. Donning his snow camo, he headed out to the field and woods through the snowflakes in northeast Augusta, and dropped this handsome gobbler.

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16 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Quotable

Sportsman “Today, Penny and I are going fishing,” Legere said. “It’s the one thing we can do and avoid direct contact with the general public. I’m my happiest when I’m on the water, and it’s the safest place to be. Ironic, isn’t it?” Maine guide Dan Legere, who had lots of clients cancel because of the corona virus. John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, March 20, 2020 — State wildlife biologists recommended an 11% increase in moose permits this fall, with the hike affecting only hunting in northern-most Maine. “Moose numbers in these WMDs are stable and can accommodate harvest without decline,” said moose biologist Lee Kantar. Deirdre Fleming story, Kennebec Journal, March 26, 2020

www.MaineSportsman.com

Twins Get Their Toms

by George Smith

Today, Maine is home to at least 300 bass fishing tournaments and some 50 bass fishing clubs. So it’s no surprise that few fishermen complain about these non-native fish, or that state biologists manage the fisheries to ensure robust bass populations. Deirdre Fleming story, Maine Sunday Telegram, March 29, 2020 — Having been through a few of these, I know it’s slow to come back. It’s two years to where people are spending money, and three to four before it’s viable. It’s not a flip of the switch. Don Kleiner of the Maine Guides Association, about lots of business lost by guides because of the corona virus. Deirdre Fleming story, Portland Press Herald, April 5, 2020

Deryk and Drew Collins, 16-year-old twin hunters from Peru, Maine, each bagged a tom turkey on May 6, 2020. “I dropped them off at their hunting spot at 4 a.m.,” reported their mother Stacey Collins, “and at 6:15 a.m. they called and asked me to come pick them and their turkeys up.” Congratulations to these two young sportsmen!

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 17

Successful Father/Daughter Turkey Hunt

June 2020 Sunrise/Sunset Portland, ME DATE 1 Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8 Mon 9 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15 Mon

Mike Barry catches and releases stripers – lots of stripers. He specializes in river-fishing – the Androscoggin, the New Meadows and the Kennebec. “I start fishing as soon as the migration hits Maine,” he said recently, “and catch hundreds of schoolies before I am able to hook into some of the 10- to 15-year-old fish. “In the spring, I use a white bucktail jig tipped with a 6” rubber grub. I cast upstream and bounce the bucktail off the bottom as I slowly reel in. The key to fishing the rivers is matching the weight of the bucktail jig to the current of the river, so the jig just barely bounces off the bottom. Depending on the river flow rate and the tide, I cast anywhere from 1-3 oz jigs. “Nighttime is the right time for big bass. I’m always fishing on the night shift because the chances to hook up with a monster increase greatly.”

SET 8:17 8:18 8:19 8:19 8:20 8:21 8:22 8:22 8:23 8:23 8:24 8:24 8:25 8:25 8:26

DATE 16 Tue 17 Wed 18 Thu 19 Fri 20 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Tue 24 Wed 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon 30 Tue

RISE 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:58 4:58 4:58 4:59 4:59 4:59 5:00 5:00 5:01

SET 8:26 8:26 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28

June 2020 Tides

Natalie Sinclair and her father Matt had a successful day in the fields of Wayne, Maine on May 4, 2020, as they were able to return to Natalie’s grandparents’ farmhouse with a huge tom turkey. Photos provided by Dave Sinclair, Sea Ventures Charters

Nighttime is the Right Time for Big Stripers

RISE 5:00 4:59 4:59 4:58 4:58 4:58 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57 4:57

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

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

HIGH AM PM 7:29 8:05 8:33 9:01 9:34 9:54 10:31 10:45 11:26 11:36 — 12:19 12:26 1:11 1:16 2:02 2:06 2:53 2:57 3:46 3:50 4:39 4:45 5:31 5:40 6:23 6:36 7:13 7:32 8:03 8:27 8:49 9:18 9:32 10:05 10:12 10:49 10:52 11:32 11:31 — 12:13 12:11 12:54 12:52 1:36 1:35 2:20 2:22 3:07 3:12 3:58 4:07 4:51 5:06 5:47 6:08 6:44 7:12 7:42

LOW AM PM 1:16 1:42 2:21 2:41 3:21 3:36 4:17 4:28 5:11 5:20 6:03 6:11 6:54 7:02 7:44 7:52 8:34 8:44 9:25 9:37 10:17 10:34 11:09 11:31 11:59 — 12:28 12:50 1:26 1:40 2:22 2:29 3:12 3:14 3:56 3:55 4:38 4:35 5:18 5:15 5:57 5:56 6:38 6:38 7:19 7:22 8:03 8:09 8:49 9:00 9:38 9:55 10:30 10:54 11:24 11:56 — 12:20 1:00 1:18

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Nothing Finer Than Fishing With Your Kids In this issue, I’m going to share some favorite stories of fishing with my kids and grandkids: Joshua Casts Like a Pro As I cast a Brown Wulff up to camp to a Sourdahunk Lake brook trout that had risen about 40 feet from the boat, I was startled by a shout from young Joshua at the other end of the boat. “I got him!” he exclaimed. The water about six feet in front of me erupted as Josh’s brookie fought to separate himself from my son’s Hornberg. Josh had spotted the trout’s rise right beside the boat while my eyes were looking much farther out, and he had carefully dropped his own fly into the middle of the ring. The fish struck immediately, and Josh professionally set the hook. Up went his rod just as we had practiced, and the battle was on. Keeping a tight line, Josh played the fish well, bringing it in quickly so as not to tire it needlessly if we decided to release it. But I took one look at that brookie boatside and knew it was a keeper. Josh has released his share of fish and he deserved this one. I dropped it out of the net into the bottom of the boat and almost in unison our two voices said, “Wow, what a fish!” It was Josh’s bigwww.MaineSportsman.com

was 8 or 9 when I took her down Sourdahunk Lake in the boat to fish a favorite spot. Hilary was fishing from the front of the boat with the same fly I was using from the back of the boat. And she caught nine brook trout while I caught nothing. Hilary felt bad for me and suggested that we swap places and rods, so we did. And with her first cast with my rod she caught a nice brook trout. And I told her, “Hilary, you are already a better angler than your dad!”

The author’s grandson Vishal displays a nice smallmouth bass caught on a redand-white Dardevle.

gest fish to date, a colorful and fat 13-inch brook trout. It perfectly matched a fish I’d caught earlier that evening, and we limited our catch to those two fish, releasing the rest. If there’s a bigger thrill for a 12-year-old than casting a dry fly and catching a hefty 13-inch native brook trout in the shadow of Mount Katahdin, I guess I don’t know what it is. Heck, it was a pretty big thrill for me, watching my son working that rod and bringing in that trout. “Dad – I’ve Got All the Fish I Want” Later that week,

Josh and I fished the evening Mayfly hatch in a stiff wind, very few trout rising, and even fewer taking an interest in our dry flies. I tried a parcel of flies from grasshopper imitations to the ever-faithful Brown Wulff, with no luck. Shortly before dark, Josh cast his Hornberg about 15 feet toward shore, watched it ride on the waves for about a minute, keeping his line tight. Smash! A trout pounded his fly and he brought the rod up to set the hook, cool and calm. It was a handsome 12-inch trout and we

kept it, our only fish of the night. After I continued to cast for about 20 minutes, frustrated with my own lack of action, I looked at Josh and he said, very seriously, “Dad, why don’t you try my rod. I’ve got all the fish I want.” Boy, talk about being humbled. I thanked him, thanked God for him, and told him to keep fishing. We both had all the fish we wanted. On the Fourth of July, the Smith family enjoyed a feast of three trout. I can’t remember a finer meal, and it had nothing to do with the food. Hilary Daughter Hilary

Grandson Vishal Up to camp one summer, I took my 8-year-old grandson Vishal (whom we call “V”) fishing in a small pool on Sourdahunk Stream. I would cast the fly and hand V the rod and he would catch and reel in the trout, which I would release. After a while, V said he’d like to cast, so I showed him how to do it, and very quickly he was doing a good job of casting. And he was catching a lot of trout. Eventually he told me he would like to release the fish, so I showed him how to do that, and he quickly mastered it. V’s 25th trout was very big, and as he released it into the stream he looked up and said, “Grampy, we’re both very happy.” Boy, he got that right!

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 19

The Start of a Most Wonderful Adventure By early 1972, it actually seemed as if there was a real chance I was going to become a Maine warden. All I had left to do was make it through eight weeks of warden school, and then a year of probation. On February 7, 1972, I – and 13 other warden candidates – reported to the University of Maine in Orono to start warden school. We studied many topics, including search and seizure; tree, animal, and bird identification; land navigation; use of dynamite; arrest procedure; court procedure; and self-defense. Today’s wardens are much better trained than we were. Much of what we learned was handed down by senior wardens who wanted us to succeed, and we were very appreciative of them taking the time to show us the ropes. Family Way My wife Pat was pregnant during the time I was at the eightweek warden school. On March 9, 1972, I asked senior warden Mike Collins – who was keeping us in line at school – if I could go home for the night so long as I was back for class the next morning. He gave me permission, so I headed for Stockton Springs. About midnight, Pat woke me up and said that she was having contractions. Because we had planned for her to have the

I got to work with some really great game wardens – men like Lt. Gene Mallory, Sgt. Clyde Noyce, Wdns. Carlton Hill, Bob Carter, Phil White, Ernie Smith, and Mike Ayer – each of whom took the time to teach me the things that I needed to know to make me a successful warden.

The author’s wife Pat and young son Nate in 1972. The author reports the photo shows mother and son “standing by an apple tree in front of our trailer on the Hatch Knoll Road in Jonesboro.” For newly-minted Warden Allen, the year marked the beginning of a long and distinguished career as a Game Warden.

baby in Waterville, she suggested it might be a good idea to head over to my folks’ home in Vassalboro. At daylight she was still not ready to head for the hospital, so I drove back to Orono, with the understanding that someone would call the school to let me know when she went to the hospital. About mid-morning, one of the secretaries came in to the classroom to tell me that Pat had gone to the hospital, so I headed down to Waterville. That afternoon, Nathan James Allen was

born. Later that night, I returned to Orono. Graduation In late April, we graduated from warden school and left Orono for our assigned warden districts. My wife Pat and I headed for Jonesboro with our three-week-old son, Nate. I drove the Warden Service vehicle, a 1969 Ford Galaxy, while Pat followed me in our car. We were traveling through Blacks Woods when my radio cracked and a voice said, “764 to 766.” I had asked someone what my new call number was going

to be, and they had told me that it would be 766. It was Wdn. Carlton Hill calling me. He was to be the senior warden who would show me the ropes. I answered him and he asked me where I was. I told him that I was somewhere in the Blacks Woods and that I had just gone around a sharp corner by a pond on the right. He knew right where I was, and invited Pat, Nate and me to stop in Cherryfield at his house for supper. His wife, Elaine, put on a feed of scallop stew that I have never for-

gotten. I had never met the man before, but he made us feel right to home and became a wonderful friend and mentor. Got to Work with the Best Our new home was an old house trailer on the Hatch Knoll Rd. It was pretty humble, but got us by until we could find some land and build our house up on the Station Road. During the next five years, I got to work with some really great game wardens who took the time to teach me the things that I needed to know to make me a successful warden. I have always appreciated men like Lt. Gene Mallory, Sgt. Clyde Noyce, Wdns. Carlton Hill, Bob Carter, Phil White, Ernie Smith, and Mike Ayer sharing their knowledge and experience with me. Society was different then compared to now. Expectations of us were different. Being a warden was different, and I absolutely loved it. We were expected to work as many hours as it took to get the job done, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Being a Maine Game Warden was much more than a job – it was a great adventure, but more importantly, it was a way of life. It was what we were and who we were, and we loved being a part of it.

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20 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife:

Rainbow Trout

by Tom Seymour

Rainbow trout, natives of the Pacific slope from Alaska and down to Baja, California, are now distributed around the world. That should say something about their desirable qualities. Rainbow trout rank among the most important game fishes in North America. And yet, Maine’s fisheries managers took a long time to succumb to the allure of these “exotic” fish. For years, it was felt that rainbow trout, spring spawners, would out-compete our native salmonids for food. This was simply practicing due diligence and taking no chances – an approach everyone can agree upon. Also, Maine’s native trout and salmon spawn in fall. While spawning takes place in lakes and ponds, some spawning also occurs in tributaries. During times of drought, spawning brooks dry up, leading to a dearth of new fish to supplement those that have died or were taken out by anglers. But in spring, even the tiniest tributary runs high – perfect for rainbow trout to spawn. This, it was feared, could lead to a rainbow takeover. Rainbow trout were introduced to Maine in the twentieth century. But the stocking programs were discontinued, for various reasons. I recall enjoying catching rainbow trout from a local lake back in the late 1960s and being saddened when the stocking program ended. I wrote a fisheries biologist, and he told me that Maine water was not suitable for supporting a rainbow trout fishery and the program was not a productive one. He also advised that if I wanted to catch a fish that jumped like a rainbow, I should concentrate upon landlocked salmon. It appeared that, at least according to officialdom, Maine’s rainbow trout program was officially defunct. Interim Period In recent years, Maine has re-instituted its rainbow trout program, and the results are heartening. Rainbow trout are more easily taken than brown

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trout, our other non-native salmonid. In waters where both species occur, anglers take three rainbows to one brown, on the average. Because of rainbow trout, angler participation in waters where rainbows are stocked increases greatly. We love our rainbows, even though the love affair simmered for decades on end before coming to fruition. Even though the earlier rainbow trout-stocking program ended in the 1970s, rainbows did not just dry up and go away. A relict or remnant population remained in some waters. I recall seeing people catch rainbow trout, off and on, for years after stocking ended. What happened was that some rainbow trout from original stockings managed to spawn successfully, and the offspring sufficed to promulgate the species, albeit on a reduced scale. The new or current rainbow trout program uses fish that are supposed to spawn in fall, thus reducing the chance of rainbows becoming too numerous. Most rainbows taken today were originally stocked fish. Even so, a limited amount of spawning is successful. And that’s a good thing.

This carryover rainbow trout has developed striking color. Tom Seymour photo

Fighting Rainbows Rainbows have a fast metabolism and grow to maturity more quickly than Maine’s other salmonids. Consequently, fresh-stocked rainbow trout run considerably larger than other salmonids of the same age. This often leads anglers to believe they have either caught a native-born fish, or at least one that had lived in the lake or pond for several years. As with other trout, rainbow trout suffer a deep lethargy immediately after ice-out. The occasional lucky angler may take a rainbow at this time, but fishing doesn’t begin in earnest until perhaps three weeks after ice out. Rainbow trout hit lures, flies and baits with a vengeance, and when one strikes, anglers familiar with rain-

bow’s fighting qualities know they have hooked a rainbow trout. Rainbows begin vibrating and thrashing immediately upon being hooked. Their fight, which I refer to as “electric,” does not end upon reaching the net. These fish continue protesting until there are either released or killed and added to the daily bag. Holding a fresh-caught rainbow trout in hand always thrills me. The raspberry-tinted centerline against a black-spotted silver body, coupled with a greenish tint on the back, serves as a thing of beauty – a wonder to behold. Not all rainbow trout share the same color arrangement. It depends upon the type of fish stocked. Sometimes a rainbow will shine like polished silver and the reddish stripe appears dull by comparison. But no matter, all are rainbow trout and all share the same fighting qualities. New Opportunities As with any stocking program, the rainbow trout program does not introduce fish to waters that wild brook trout inhabit. Instead, rainbows are released in waters with no pre-existing trout population. Thus, lakes and ponds that formerly held only spiny-rayed fish, now offer us new fishing opportunities in the form of rainbow trout. When released in ponds and lakes with sufficient coldwater habitat, rainbow trout can and do carry over from year to year. And during that time, rainbows can attain great sizes. A 5-pound rainbow, while a trophy by any standard, is not necessarily unusual. Fish such as this don’t come along every day, but simply knowing that they are present gives anglers great hope. As per angler return, an important aspect of any stocking program, rainbow trout run near the top of the list. While brown trout give the average angler pause, and stocked brook trout are usually taken out within a short time of stocking and then seem to vanish like the spiderwebs on a lawn on a June morning, rainbow trout give us action aplenty all year round. Regarding esculent qualities, I consider rainbow trout, with their rich, orange flesh, on a par with store-bought Atlantic salmon. A lover of all trout, I am especially fond of rainbow trout because of their rich, sweet taste. Maine anglers, especially those in southern, central and coastal regions, have a new fish to love. I do hope everyone gets the chance to catch one of Maine’s fighting rainbow trout.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 21

ATVs for Backwoods Trout Fishing by Steve Carpenteri Some 94 percent of Maine’s forest land is privately owned, but more than 6,000 miles of trails are open specifically to ATVs, creating a gold mine for the June back-country wanderer. Hit the trail on any given day and riders can expect to encounter dozens, if not hundreds, of small streams, rivers, beaver flowages and small ponds that are open to trout fishing this month. Many of these waters have never been regularly fished, especially the smaller trickles, but experienced anglers know that it doesn’t take much cool, dark water to hide a 12-inch native brookie. Most of these waters feature bridge and culvert pools where trout like to hide during warmer weather. It should be an easy task to get away from the crowds on an ATV. Riders should target waters that rarely see a worm-and-hook rig. The farther motorized anglers ride away from populated areas, the more likely they are to find pristine, unfished waters. Excellent fishing

When heading out on your ATV in search of remotewoods brook trout, bring along gear to help you handle any foreseeable misadventure. For example, a portable saw, axe, tool kit and extra rope often end up salvaging a trip.

Most 4-wheelers are designed and rigged for efficient backwoods travel. Modify as necessary to fit your angling needs. Photo courtesy of BassProShops

can be found alongside nearly every ATV trail in Maine. Walk upstream or down for 15 minutes, and intrepid anglers will find more than enough opportunities to take their limit of fat Maine brook trout (a lim-

it of five trout in the north zone; two in the south) – in most cases, self-propagating, colorful native fish that are blood-red on the inside and absolutely mouth-watering in the pan.

Plan of Attack The first order of business for an ATV trout-fishing adventure is to study existing ATV trail maps (available from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at www.me-

fishwildlife.com). Click on the various links to find ATV trails, and then decide where to go based on time constraints, convenience and personal choice. With 6,000 miles of trails awaiting riders, it’s a cinch that many of them will lead to some excellent June fishing. Plan several trips at once using a cellphone or other GPS device. Store several back-up destinations in case there’s unexpected competition. Trail users tend to dwindle as miles are put behind you, so don’t discount a particular trail until you’ve had a chance to scout it thoroughly. As always, leave a written copy of your itinerary at home. That way, if you don’t return on time, family or friends will have some idea of where to start looking for you. Chances are you will never get “lost,” but back-woods explorers sometimes get “turned around,” become injured or experience mechanical failures. Gear for the Game For small brook fishing, nothing (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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Plump, colorful, aggressive brookies are the order of the day along Maine’s 6,000 miles of ATV trails. Photo by Steve Carpenteri

ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 22)

beats a lightweight 5-foot rod of your choice (bait-casting, spin-casting or a flyrod), a supply of No 8 snelled hooks and a coffee can full of fat angleworms, ideally dug from the garden the morning of the trip. A single gold in-line spinner will appeal to more trout when fishing rivers and ponds, but for small streams, a worm alone is sufficient to attract a brookie’s attention. June in Maine means black flies and mosquitoes, so carry a full can (plus a spare) of insect repellent, along with the usual safety gear, including a small shovel, water, and tow strap, plus extra gas. The beauty of an ATV is that riders can toss in all sorts of practical extra gear without worrying about weight or space. A 10x10 tarp can be turned into a shady

trail kitchen complete with a butane stove, cast-iron frypan and a tea pot. Drinks and snacks can be carried in a small cooler along with streamside luxuries such as bacon, diced potatoes and fiddleheads. A properly-equipped ATV can carry more than enough provisions for a day of back-country stream fishing. Add what you want to the list based on personal preference – just be sure to strap everything down for the trip in and back. Pre-Trip Inventory When the ATV is packed and ready to go, take a few minutes to check the basic operating systems (brakes, lights, fuel and winch), plus tie-downs and other necessities. Err on the side of caution, especially the first time you head for a re(Continued on page 25)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 23

Purchasing a Side-by-Side for Maine Off Road Travel – Part 1 Here’s what I need and what I don’t need in a sideby-side – I don’t need a lot of speed. I do need a windshield and a roof, since I’ll be out in all sorts of weather. And I do need a compact machine that still has enough room for a passenger in front and two dog crates in back. Readers of this column know about my interest in purchasing a side-by-side UTV/ ATV for hunting and fishing. I have waffled back and forth trying to decide not only which model to purchase, but also many of the other variables that go into this idea. At one point I was pondering the thought

of not getting the sideby-side, sticking with my current ATV to keep things simple. After the last few seasons of deer and bird hunting, I have noticed that age is becoming a factor. I don’t like complaining, but the ol’ legs and lungs aren’t what they used to be. The UTV option is looking better each

year I consider it. I’ve wrestled handlebars and thumb-controlled throttles on regular ATVs for years, and I’m done with that plan – the easy-handling steering wheel and foot throttle on a side-by-side will be much appreciated by this young-at-heart, aging outdoorsman. In previous col-

Side-by-sides allow for more riders and gear, with a roof over your head. Clunie photo

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Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 23)

remote locations within the Pine Tree State. I also will use this machine/tool for jobs around the yard, lawn

work, snow removal, gardening chores and tree work. This will be a twopart column, with part

two coming in July 2020. In this first installment, I cover the various side-by-side models available, and narrow my selection down to several of the top competitors. This

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selection will take into consideration my own personal needs for my specialized use: a UTV that best handles the job for me. These opinions of mine won’t hold true for all readers, so go out after reading this and form your own opinion of which exact model suits your particular needs. Personal Needs I am not, by any means, a trail rider... actually, I can’t stand riding through bumpy, muddy sloppy trails just for the “fun” of it. I cannot, for the life of me, understand what folks get out of driving their off-road vehicles (trucks, ATVs and UTVs) through mud runs and crawling through trails with huge boulders and obstacles. I get that folks can gain valuable information for making these vehicles operate more efficiently by racing through mud runs and rock crawls, but this is not a pleasurable thing in my mind. I’m not knocking those who enjoy this type of activity when done

legally and ethically – it’s just not for me. What I do like is getting way back in the woods, to hunt, fish, and camp, in the most simple, safe, and comfortable way possible. I ride slow and easy, without any racing or hot-dogging, working my way back in to remote areas of the state – I don’t need a lot of speed. I also will be riding this machine come rain or shine, so I’ll need a UTV with a good windshield and roof with doors and windows. Another personal requirement will be a machine that is easily trailered – I don’t want something that takes a special trailer to transport it. The trailer must also be able to handle travel on rough logging roads to access ATV trails that are back in remote areas. I will be, at times, carrying two bird dogs in crates, as well as a passenger. Hopefully, there will also be times where I will be (Continued on next page)

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GREENVILLE JUNCTION Moosehead Motorsports 13 Moosehead Industrial Park 207-695-2020 www.mooseheadmotorsports.com ©2020 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 Sunday 1st March 2020 to Thursday 30th April 2020. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. 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.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 25 (Continued from page 24)

carrying a huge whitetailed deer on the machine. Models Available Several companies manufacture sideby-sides with models and accessories easily obtained in Maine – Can Am, Polaris and Yamaha, Honda and Arctic Cat all offer models that would fit my own personal requirements. Each of these companies carries their own version

of similarly-equipped models. A good friend and extremely-knowledgeable mechanic told me, when I asked what company makes the best ATVs, “Nowadays they all make similar machines – all top quality and equally sound. There really is no difference between them in terms of reliability.” This makes the choice even more difficult. Honda, the Pioneer

model in particular, really attracts me immediately for several reasons, and I find myself comparing the other brands against this machine throughout the review process. For example, I like the way the Honda has extra seats that flip up in the rear to accommodate two other passengers or a couple of hunting dogs. This reflects my own bias, so in part two of this column next month I’ll be

trying very hard not to let my initial preferences affect my discussion of the different models. Next month I will be picking each of these machines apart, trying to match up my personal requirements to the corresponding brands. This won’t be easy, because each company makes such great products. The choice will come down to the UTV that best meets my own needs

– getting me to remote fishing, hunting and camping locations in a safe manner. Next month I will complete my explanation of how to choose the best side-by-side and lay out some of my own brand and model choices. Readers – please send an email message of your own thoughts on side-by-sides to me at william.clunie@gmail. com.

ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 22)

mote stream or pond. A portable saw, axe, tool kit and extra rope often end up saving a trip. Expect the unlikely, and be prepared for any eventuality. Luckily, with most ATVs there’s always room for another tool, another bag or box. With experience, you’ll know what you should bring and what can stay at home. Most ATV riders routinely carry a small, sealable box that contains all these basic survival tools and, in most cases, never use them – until they do! Finally, keep records of which trails have been traveled. Take notes on what the fishing was like, and jot down any specifics for future trips: “Rocky, uneven,

Intriguing trout hotspots like this jumble of fallen logs may be found just a few steps from busy ATV trails. Photo by Steve Carpenteri

washed-out trail,” “Low water in June,” “Moose encounter” or “Bring more fly dope!” Have fun out there, and make the most of the excellent ATV angling opportunities Maine has to offer.

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Canada Bear Hunt, Spring 2019 by Steve Vose One of my favorite hunts is the spring bear hunt in Canada. This past season made my third consecutive year chasing the elusive black bruins of St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Bear densities there are high – in 2018, my guide’s clients shot 18 bears, 4 shy of his highest total season of 22. In 2019, that translated to a success rate of over 90%. This of course excludes the clients (like me), who passed

on smaller bears that could have been shot. Spring Bear vs. Fall Bear Weights Spring bears are 30% lighter than they will be in the fall, meaning a bear weighing 150 pounds in the spring will be close to 200 pounds come fall. Because of this, spring bears, fresh out of hibernation, are notoriously hard to judge weight. Two hunting seasons ago, I pulled the trigger on a

170-pound bear that’s back was even with the top of a 55-gallon drum. I was positive the bruin would be over 200 pounds, but I was wrong. The bear had the apparent high gait, nose and ears that led me to believe it was bigger. Of course by fall, that same bear would have weighed close to 220 pounds.

Crossing the Border While some of my

readers cringe at the prospect of making the border crossing with a firearm, I have found that with a passport and proper paperwork, this is an extremely simple endeavor. Local guides provide licenses and provide the single page of paperwork required to bring a firearm into Canada. Upon return to the US, the American customs will require you to have a declaration form, so before entering Canada be sure

to stop by the U.S. customs office and get one. Hunters who wish to hunt with crossbow have an even easier entry into Canada, as crossbows require no declaration paperwork. Clients have the option of staying in Canada throughout the entirety of the hunt to eliminate the necessity of crossing the border each day. Personally, I stayed with family in Calais (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 27 (Continued from page 26)

and crossed the border every day with my firearm, and never encountered any issues. Picking the Right Guide Service What I like best about the guide service I used for my hunt was the meticulous care the guide employs in preparing bait sites, monitoring bear activity and especially the comfortable wooden blinds he has constructed to better hide hunters and protect them from the elements. While tree stands are available, I always request a blind, as they are extremely comfortable. As a matter of fact, I was sitting in a blind when I wrote the first draft of this column! Bait Sites Sites are baited with a huge assortment of goodies (not just doughnuts) that seem to appeal to the tastes of hungry roaming bears fresh out of hibernation. The food stuffs include mixed nuts, confectionary sugar, fry oil, candy and yes, even Tim Horton doughnuts. The guide also sprays down the site every night with Liquid Smoke. This strong-smelling product seems to serve the dual purpose of attracting bears and also covering up any human odors. Cameras The guide had cameras on every

bait site, and when I arrived he asked me, “Do you want to shoot ‘a’ bear or ‘the’ bear?” What he meant was that he had sites where he was seeing smaller bears (110-130 lbs.) almost every evening, and other sites where larger bears (175-300 lbs.) were being seen occasionally. This really blew my mind – the guide had such close tabs on the bear population, he could practically tailor a hunt to each hunter. I opted for the “the” bear hunt, and saw a massive bruin creep in from the shadows on Tuesday night about 5 minutes past legal hunting time, thereby offering no ethical shot. Have a Seat When picking out a guide service for a bear hunt, it is important to ask a lot of questions. I have been on multiple bear hunts over the years and seen it all. Perhaps the worst was in two occasions, when I went with outfitters who sat me in a chair 20 yards from the bait site in minimal cover and told me not to move a muscle for 5 hours. Now, I’m sure there are some amazingly talented hunters out there who could accomplish this feat, but not me. I always have a tickle in my throat and need a drink, have to pee or just get plain bored and fidgety. If an outfitter puts a

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sport in a blind or tree stand with minimal cover and their answer to this inadequacy is “Don’t move,” you are with the wrong guide service. While writing this column on my cell phone, I was sitting in a high-back plastic lawn chair with a padded seat, my gun hanging from a piece of string from the ceiling. If a big bear were to appear, all I’d have to do is lean forward, aim, turn off the safety and pull the trigger. The front window was covered in a screen, to partially protect me from the ravenous hordes of mosquitoes (though I also have brought a ThermaCell). Outside, it was raining buckets, but inside the blind I was warm and dry. In the 10 bear hunts I have been on, with 7 different guides, this one was certainly the most enjoyable. Meat Processing Another important consideration when choosing a guide is:

The author and one of his “Canadian bears” from an earlier trip to New Brunswick.

How will the beast be processed after the shot? Most guides simply quarter or debone the animal and leave everything else up to the hunter. Are you prepared with coolers, vacuum-packing supplies, knives and ice, to make sure your meat doesn’t go to waste? It’s important that you understand in very clear terms what the guide service is providing and what they are not providing. Local butchers may be available, if hunters are looking for an easier alternative. It pays to ask ahead, and even call them to make sure

they are operating. Care for that Hide When skinning, the guide will ask the hunter what he/ she is planning to do with the hide, as the skinning cuts will be determined by the choice. What about that beautiful bear hide? Will it become a piece of taxidermy? If yes, what type, specifically? Rug? Shoulder mount? Full body mount? The hunter should be aware if the costs associated with each, and plan accordingly.

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The Search for Bluefin Tuna:

Not So Wicked – Part 2 by Bob Humphrey More long hours drag on until you hear a nearby engine growl, and through binoculars see a tiny figure standing by a bent rod. “They’re hooked up.” It offers a tiny bit of encouragement, knowing the fish are biting, but also frustration because it’s not you. That feeling only grows when another diesel fires up. “They’re on, too. We should be next.” But you’re not, and as the sea takes on a darker tone, you try to wring something out of the day before decid-

Last month we learned the realities of tuna fishing are much different than what’s shown on TV. The author focused on the long hours involved – and patience required – for real-life tuna fishing. In the conclusion of this two-part series, we re-join the crew 20 miles off the coast, and witness what happens when a plan comes together. ing to haul the anchor, head for home and try again tomorrow. Or, you may opt to spend the night. Long Night It’s a different world 20 miles out to sea when the sun goes down. Good visibility extends only as far

as your floodlights, though you see tiny dots of lights from the other boats in the nottoo-distant darkness. What you don’t see are the lobster pots, anchor balls and floating debris, any of which could foul a line and bring a premature end to battling a fish. But

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with darkness comes a new opportunity. You notice it first on the fishfinder. The thin haze of clutter on the bottom grows thicker as bait rises from the depths. Soon the dark background on your multi-function display is obscured with a colorful cloud. Then you see them, swarms of herring and mackerel, attracted by the lights, flit by your boat. Occasionally a

squid jets through the throng. Time to re-fill the livewell. The night drags on, interrupted by another shark bite, this time a small porbeagle that comes easily to the boat without need to drop anchor or clear the other lines. Occasionally you hear distant shouts and engine noise, and watch lights moving back and forth as other boats hook up. The crew takes shifts, each member trying to catch 40 winks amid the constant lapping of waves against the hull and commotion of tending lines and catching bait. Eventually, the (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 29 (Continued from page 28)

eastern sky begins to brighten, and you prepare for another day. Choppy Water Every day is different on the ocean. Where yesterday the sea laid calm as a mill pond, today offers a steady chop of two to three-foot waves that will try to keep you off balance, and may send those with weak stomachs home early. Everything setting anchor, putting out lines and catching bait is more difficult. But the smaller boats stayed in so there’s a little more room to operate today, and maybe the weather change will produce a bite. More bait catching, more line tending, and more sharks fill more long hours. Another slack tide comes and goes without a bite. Later, the sun has passed its zenith and you’re already contemplating another day of coming in light when it happens. Whining Reel This time there’s no balloon pop, but one of the rods you’ve been staring at all day suddenly bends, ever so slightly. “Did you see that?” No one else did, and you start to question whether you saw it, when it happens again. The heavy, stiff rod bends into an arc, and line peels out as the clicker whines. “Fish on!” You can tell right away this is no shark. Orders go out again, but are unnecessary. It’s a well-practiced drill, with one person assigned to let go of the anchor, another to start the engines and a third to clear the other lines while the designated angler takes his spot at the bent rod. The

moment you’ve waited days – possibly weeks – for, is now at hand, but the battle has just begun. So much can go wrong, a fact magnified in proportion to the size of the fish on the end of the delicate line. In between angler and fish is a line with crimps and swivels, any one of which could fail. And you must maneuver that fish through a gauntlet of lobster buoys, anchor lines and other boats, all while not allowing even a fraction of an inch of slack. There’s a feeling of intensity and adrenaline. Salmon and trout fishermen experience it when a fish rises for a perfectly cast dry fly. Deer hunters experience it when that big buck steps into the clearing. In both cases it’s fleeting, lasting only minutes, until the fish is netted or the shot fired. For a tuna fisherman, it may last hours, every second of which you feel a pit in your stomach, hoping you remain attached to the fish. Turning, Maneuvering, Backing The first 30 minutes are spent turning, maneuvering and backing down, trying to recover as much backing as possible, but for every inch you gain, the fish takes back two. An hour into the fight you’ve finally got mono topshot on the reel, meaning the fish is still 300 feet away. You grab a handful and pull down toward the reel, simultaneously taking a half crank at a time. Each pull gains half a foot. Muscles burn. Sweat drips off your brow. It’s you and the (Continued on next page)

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Search for Bluefin Tuna (Continued from page 29)

fish, and each time you grab the line you feel the heavy beats of its broad tail. Slowly, gradually you gain more line, but the great fish is still too green to bring near the boat. You fight to tire him out, make him earn every inch of line, like he’s doing to you. Two hours in, the pit in your stomach, the adrenaline coursing through your veins and the anxiety have not abated; you’ve just gotten used to them. Then they reach a heightened state as the fish makes a sudden turn. The line goes slack for an instant as the boat comes down off a wave and you reel frantically.

You sense a change now, subtle at first. The fish isn’t fighting quite as hard. You grab the line and pull, one, two, three times, and each pull you make brings in longer sections of line. The fish’s runs are shorter and it turns at the stop. The end is near, but now comes the riskiest part. Readying the Harpoon Instead of short runs now, the fish begins circling, slowly, in ever diminishing arcs – pinwheeling. Captain and angler must remain in constant contact. “Bump it forward. Neutral. Forward. Hard right!” First your sinker rises

When a bite finally comes, a battle of endurance that could last several hours has just begun. Bob Humphrey photos

above the water’s surface. Then you see a deep shimmer. “Color. I’ve got deep color.” One man on the rod, one at the helm and one standing by with harpoon in hand as you prepare. One mistake now and all the time, energy and effort you’ve invested will be for naught. A badly timed wave could allow the fish enough

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When it all comes together, all the effort suddenly seems worthwhile.

slack to spit the hook. Too much tension, and the stressed line or terminal tackle could fail. A quick flick of the tail and the fish might swim under the boat. Instead it keeps circling, and rising, swimming closer with each circular pass. “Pull him up!” the captain shouts. “Not yet,” the angler cautions the harpooner. One ... more ... pass. “Now!” The harpoon is heaved and the crew holds their collective breath as the long silver shaft seems to take forever reaching its target before stopping suddenly, but only for a moment. The fish makes one more desperate rush, taking line over the side. Then it stops, but the battle is still not over. As delicately as one can pull a massive fish in, the harpooner begins retrieving the dart line, while the angler takes up slack on the rod. A massive scimitar tail rises out of the water, shaking violently. More instructions are shouted: “Gaff! Tail rope!” One man holds the gaff and one the dart line while a third deftly slips a loop around the tail and swiftly secures it to the cleat. Caught fish. Heading for Market The battle is won, but there is still plen-

ty to do. One crew member tidies up the deck while another prepares a swim hook. The long battle has heated the fish up and filled its muscles with lactic acid, like a runner finishing a marathon. It must be cooled, so you “swim” it, towing it behind the boat so it can recover. An hour later you haul it boatside, bleed it and kill it. Then it comes aboard to be gutted and iced down. Only then can you haul anchor and head for home. That’s the reality of fishing for giant bluefin. Most days are filled with long, monotonous hours of anxious waiting, occasionally interrupted with mundane tasks like catching bait and tending lines. The calm days can be relaxing and the rough ones grueling. But you’re on the water and you’re fishing, and occasionally, something magical happens. The reel sings and your pulse pounds adrenaline through your veins as you battle a beast that could outweigh you several times over, connected only by a delicate strand of line. Successes are few and far between, but when they occur, it all seems worthwhile.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 31

Pop the Shoreline for Spring Stripers By the first week of June, stripers have begun migrating north into Maine waters, and within a few days they’ll spread out to feed in just about every coastal bay, estuary, and river, as well as along the open ocean shoreline. One of the June activities I particularly enjoy is plugging the shoreline for schoolie bass, and an hour of casting when the tide is right often produces at least a couple of fish in the two- to sixpound range. No matter how many bass I catch from my boat, or how big they might be, there’s a special sense of accomplishment when I land a striper of any size with my feet firmly planted on dry land. And there’s nothing like the thrill of seeing a frisky bass chase – and then smash – a topwater popper. No special tackle is needed. A seven-foot spin rod with a stiff tip mated to a matching reel loaded with

12-pound mono will prove just fine. A traditional, concave-face popping plug tied directly to the line (forget the snap swivel – you don’t need it) is my number-one producer. My theory is that the plug has to kick up a lot of commotion to compete with the noise of waves breaking near or against the shoreline. Plugs I’ve had the best success with include Storm’s Saltwater Chug Bug (4.5”, 7/8 oz.) in blue back/white belly, Creek Chub’s 3 ½” Striper Strike in “blue flash,” and YoZuri’s 3 ½” Hydro Popper. Give It Some Splush! The technique is pretty straightforward. Cast out, close the bail, and start the retrieve the second the plug hits the water. Don’t let it sit there. Many times, a nearby bass will zoom in on the lure the instant it splashes down, and if the plug doesn’t appear to be escaping, the fish may quickly

lose interest. Pop the plug smartly with the rod tip as you retrieve it at a moderate speed, using wrist action to impart a distinctive “splush” as the lure lunges forward. The key is to develop a steady cadence that produces the loudest sound and the most water disturbance. In most cases you can sense when the rhythm’s right. If the lure skitters on the surface or the hooks continually foul in the line, chances are your retrieve is too fast. Slow it down, and be sure to work the plug all the way to the shoreline. Many times a fish will strike just as you’re ready to lift the lure from the water. OK, I’ve stated above that a loud popper is best – and it generally is – but there are situations when a quieter lure will work better. Very shallow water (two to four feet deep) in estuaries or along bay edges, especially in the evening

when the wind dies and the water flattens out, calls for a modified approach. In this situation bass can be spooked by a loud lure, so a floating darter, pencil popper, or “stick bait” may be the ticket. Try a five-inch Stan Gibbs pencil popper (my all-time favorite in this style) or the newer Rapala Skitter V or MirroLure Top Dog Jr. These lures are best worked with a side-to-side or “walkthe-dog” action to give them a quieter yet disoriented-baitfish appearance that’s highly effective in skinny wa-

ter. Hot Spots and Tides What types of areas hold shoreline stripers? There’s really no pat answer, but coves and points produce well, as do areas around submerged boulders. It seems that stripers cruise back and forth parallel to the shore in search of tidbits churned up by the waves or a flooding or ebbing tide. Often you’ll have about as much success staying in one spot and casting, waiting for the fish to come to you, as you will trekking along the (Continued on next page)

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Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 31)

shoreline and working different locations. As for tides, I’ve found that a couple of hours either side of high water (especially on the incoming tide) seems to produce best, and I’ve never had much luck at dead low water. Heavy surf rarely produces, either, but moderate swells, just enough to kick up some foam, seem to create productive conditions.

Release Carefully I want to include one public service announcement for the careful release of bass caught from a rocky shoreline. Mash down the barbs on your lure’s hooks, and take along a pair of stout fishing pliers. Many times the smaller, more active bass will get caught up in both sets of treble hooks, so you’ll want to grasp the fish behind the head and use

the pliers to remove the hooks. In the event you may have difficulty holding the bass, a towel soaked in seawater can be placed under the fish as you work on it. Above all, avoid laying a fish you plan to release directly on the rocks, as it will thrash around on the coarse, dry granite and damage its protective “slime,” fins and scales. Shorelines, stripers, and topwater plugs. You can’t beat this June combo!

A selection of some of the author’s favorite topwater poppers and chuggers. For calm, shallow water when a more delicate presentation is required, there’s a MirrOlure (second compartment from left, gold-colored) and a floating “stick bait” at far right. Barry Gibson photo

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 33

Bass Fishing with Classic Lures by Bill Catherwood When my brother Bob and I were young, we’d go bass fishing together. Without much gear of our own, we’d end up pawing through our father’s tackle box, looking at his assortment of bass lures. How well I remember the old wooden Jitterbugs and jointed Pikie Minnows, along with Crazy Crawlers, Flatfish, and – it seemed – every popper ever sold. There’s something special about casting out the same type of surface lure that our grandfathers once used. I think it’s a shame that a lot of younger anglers now don’t know about the classic bass lures and how deadly they can be. They haven’t experienced the thrill of seeing the water explode when a bass comes up to “kill” their lure. I’m reminded of the first time I got my son to try a Jitterbug. I think he had his doubts at first because he was sold on scented plastic baits. He finally tied on a Jitterbug and did what I told him to do. In fifteen minutes, he had boated and released three bass. After that, he was sold on them, and even got his friends to use them. Although he still uses

the plastic baits, he now understands that the classics became classic for a reason – they work! There are different types of surface lures that act in different ways. There is an old saying, “Different horses for different courses.” This is true of the old bass lures. We all have our favorites. I have a saying. “If you can’t get them on a Jitterbug or a floated jointed Rapala, then you should probably take up golf.” Now before we go any further and I ruffle any feathers, I am certainly not finding fault with any of the newer plastic baits. I use them quite often, because they are also effective. I just don’t want to see the classics get pushed aside. Jitterbugs and Crazy Crawlers There are many variations of surface lures. For example, the Jitterbug and the Crazy Crawler do almost the same thing – they both wobble across the water making a gurgling sound. Jitterbug is made by Arbogast Co., while the Crazy Crawler is made by Heddon. The Heddon Company was founded in 1894. When you have been doing something that long, you must be

good at it. Fred Arbogast started his company in 1930, so that’s also an old and highly respected brand. Propeller Lures In addition to the plop-plop-plop of Jitterbugs and Crazy Crawlers, you have the propeller-type plugs, with long oval bodies and propellers at each end. The Torpedo, again by Heddon, is very effective and popular.

morning in 1979, my brother Bob and I were fishing, and I was using a floating Rapala. Now I didn’t count the bass, but I know they kept hitting that plug. On the way home, we stopped for coffee. Bob grinned and said, “Do you know you got 14 bass in a little over an hour on that one plug?” I had no idea it was 14, but I do know if it’s made by Rapala, it’s good.

get any fish’s attention quicker than a steady retrieve. Plastic Frogs and Poppers No bass story is complete without mentioning poppers and plastic frogs. Let’s start with frogs.

Plastic Frogs Dying Flutter

A larger variation on that design is the Devil Horse, by Smith Wick. The Devil Horse has a long, narrow body with a propeller on each end. Heddon later adopted a similar design with its Dying Flutter, also a remarkably effective lure. Minnow Imitations When it comes to minnow imitations, my hands-down favorite is the Rapala. When my time comes and I go to heaven (hopefully), I hope I get to meet Lauri Rapala. That man always had my interest. As a decoy carver myself I couldn’t help but be interested in a man carving his own lures out of Pine Bark, starting in 1936. One cold October

Jointed Rapala

Of the various Rapala models, my favorite is the jointed floating model. I always fish it with a very erratic retrieve. I cast it out, let it sit there and give it small twitches, then start the retrieve and give it a jerk after a small distance to make it dive. Remember – a dying minnow doesn’t swim in a steady course, and an erratic retrieve will

We all know bass like frogs. My favorite models are the Booyah frogs as well as Scum Frogs. The Booyah frogs are fairly new while the Scum Frogs have been with us for quite some time. While I think that Booyah has the best finish I’ve ever seen, the Scum Frog is still great. When it comes to poppers, the first one that comes to mind is the Hula Popper, by Arbogast. (Continued on page 35)

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Fly Fishing Tools for Catching More Fish I only had the honor of fishing with Lefty Kreh a couple of times, but enjoyed the many times I talked with him on the phone or at various events. I’ve never met a more famous guy with such humility and kindness – he always made me feel like we were part of the same family. The first time I met him he came up to fish with a bunch of noted anglers from Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. After introductions, we drove to a local eatery and gathered around a big table for breakfast. As Lefty began to sit down he hollered, “Clunie, come over here and sit down,” motioning to the chair next to him.

Lefty told me that the typical “ten-to-two” casting technique that most other instructors teach is fine for short casting. However, to cast a large bug or frog imitation, or in windy weather, Lefty’s method has an angler sliding their elbow on an imaginary shelf and slightly rocking back and forth as they cast the back cast and the forward cast. Now why would he ever care about talking to me, an unknown fishing guide and even less-known outdoor writer. I was thrilled to death just to speak with him and expected to hear him go on about all the places he had fished in his life. The first thing that came out of his mouth was, “So how should we go about hooking up with some of these smallmouth today?” He wanted me to

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tell him how to catch a smallmouth bass with a fly rod? Lefty’s Mind In the short period of time that I knew the man, he taught me one huge thing about fly fishing – be versatile; never get locked into one train of thinking. His lifetime of fishing everywhere and for everything taught him to be prepared for anything, and this kind of life made him such a well-rounded angler

that he was able to tweak the heck out of the sport to the level of genius. The flies he created became standards that others try to imitate to this day, and his knowledge and application of knots have helped countless anglers on their way to fly fishing nirvana. His unique and successful casting techniques might just be his most famous improvement to modern fly fishing.

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Lefty told me that the typical “ten-totwo” casting technique that most other instructors teach is fine for short casting on little streams under perfect conditions – I still use this style of casting for the reasons listed above. Lefty did a lot of fly fishing in salt water where the wind became a huge impediment, and casting at longer distances was routine. Lefty’s method of fly casting allowed an angler to cast to normal distances under ideal conditions, but then if the wind picked up or a rise took place way out there, Lefty’s method of casting covered those conditions, too. His method has an angler sliding their elbow on an imaginary shelf and slightly rocking back and forth as they cast the forward cast and back cast. Words alone cannot explain this technique, so search out further instruction in his videos on YouTube. com, in his books, or find someone that can explain it at the shoreline. His casting technique isn’t that difficult and will really impress you with the extra distance gained – another tool in the fishing box to improve success by diversifying an angler’s approach. Lefty’s Right I started fly fishing for trout initially, thinking that flies were the way to go for finicky brookies, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 35 (Continued from page 34)

browns and rainbows. The “ten-to-two” technique worked fine in most trout fishing situations. I live on the banks of the Androscoggin River in Western Maine, and while there are plenty of trout in this river, smallmouth bass have moved in and offer a really fun alternative to trout. I don’t agree with any invasive takeover of a fishery, but the smallmouth bass are here, and that’s what we fish for on this river. In the warmer months, I can step out my back door and wade right into the river – awesome smallmouth bass fishing is less than a couple of hundred yards from where I’m writing right now in my home office. Fly fishing for bass, as opposed to trout and salmon, requires a shift in thinking, as

Lefty Kreh in mid-cast on the Androscoggin River. Clunie photo

well as a shift in gear and techniques. I have used a five-weight rod with regular WFF line and caught plenty of smallmouth on the river, but found that a seven- or eight-weight rod works so much more efficiently. Lefty’s technique for casting a fly rod with the huge bugs, frog imitations and articulated streamers used to catch these big Androscoggin River bronzebacks (smallmouth bass) works so much better than the typical tucked-elbow, ten-to-two technique

taught by most instructors. Getting these beefy imitations airborne with the usual trout rod and line can be done, it just might wear an angler out with the extra effort required. When outfitted with the correct tackle, accurately laying the big bugs out there at long or short distance can be done routinely – and with minimal physical expenditure. Most companies make a special line for casting larger/heavier bugs. For topwater

Lefty Kreh (far left) attempting to photograph “Maine Sportsman” columnist King Mongomery as King hauls in a big Androscoggin River smallmouth bass. Clunie photo

presentations, I prefer RIO Product’s “Mainstream Bass” line with a shorter and heavier head to help turn over these wind-resistant offerings. Using monofilament leaders with heavy butts and the proper taper also helps in this effort. I like making my own bass leaders using five-feet of Maxima’s “Chameleon” 40-pound test at the butt and onefoot pieces of 30, 20, 10-pound-test with a six-pound tippet from 18- to 24-inches (a Lefty creation). For subsurface

Bass Fishing

casting, RIO Products offers their “Big and Nasty” line with a sinking head. Attaching a four- to six-foot fluorocarbon leader gets the big bugs down deep. With these changes in technique and gear, anglers will be on their way to hooking up with some reel-screaming smallmouth bass this season. I’ll be on the river this summer, attempting the same on those big and nasty, hard-fighting bronzebacks.

Classic Lure in Action

(Continued from page 33)

One night while I was fishing on No. 1 Pond here in Sanford, I cast a yellow Hula Popper until I thought my arm was going to fall off, without a strike. Finally, a thought came through my thick skull – I should change to a black one. On the first cast, I hooked a nice bass. When you’re fishing at night, black should be your first choice of colors. Remember that a bass is under the surface looking up, and a black lure stands out against the Hula Poppers night sky much more than a lighter color. Also, I can’t stress enough to not always think a big lure means a big fish. I’ve seen so many times when bass preferred the smaller size. Flatfish Oh no! I almost ended the story without mentioning the Wordens Flat-

Flatfish

fish (and similar lures manufactured by Helin, and Lazy Ikes). These lures are half-moon shaped and, when they are retrieved through the water, wiggle back and forth with such vigor as to send off vibrations that could call in fish from Europe. I mean they will actually have your rod tip bouncing, and they are highly effective lures. I hope you have a great fishing season, and remember that no matter how good a lure is, it can’t catch a bass if you leave it in your tackle box!

Mike Lund of Farmingdale used a classic Heddon Dying Flutter to catch, and then release, this nice largemouth at a local pond. Will Lund photo

www.MaineSportsman.com

36 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Practice Safe Catch-and-Release Fishing stocked waters this spring reminded me just how little certain well-intended people know about proper handling of trout before releasing them. I stood across from a family on the other side of a large pool and was pleased to see them catching trout. What didn’t please me, though, was how they mistreated their fish prior to releasing. Specifically, I watched in amazement as a young lady dragged her trout along the rocks and gravel, the fish flopping helplessly while no doubt being coated in dust and dirt particulates. Then, to remove the hook, the fish was solidly squeezed around the middle, after which a man took pictures of the lucky angler and her trout. And then, finally, the hapless fish was unceremoniously tossed back in the water. What might that fish’s chances of survival amount to? Next

to zero, in my opinion. Unsolicited Advice Knowing that unsolicited advice is seldom appreciated, I held my tongue and did not interfere with the people on the other side of the pool. Others were fishing an upstream pool and to my horror, treated their fish even more harshly than those across from me. Any suggestion that there might be a better way would have surely fallen on deaf ears. A little later, while fishing a small stream, a man caught a 10-inch trout, and his handling of the fish was no better than the people on the stocked river. He allowed his fish to flop on the ground, held it up by squeezing it in the middle and then asked me if I wanted it. Here was my opportunity. I said yes, I wanted it, since after such callous treatment it would probably not live if released. On the other side of the same coin, it is possible to catch and

The author decided to keep this beautifully-colored stocked brook trout, rather than releasing it.

release a trout multiple times, but only if proper protocol is observed. Now here is the rub. More and more people are practicing catch-and-release, but in far too many cases, the fish released have only a scant chance of surviving. Thus, in far too many instances, catchand-release, instead of saving fish for the next person to catch, wastes the fish. Far better to catch, kill and take home to eat. This is supposing a lack of proper release methods.

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Tale of Two Trout In my travels fishing by myself during the Coronavirus shutdown, several things have become clear. First, stocked waters get the lion’s share of angling pressure. I’m talking streams and rivers here. Second, the countless little brooks and streams that hold native trout see less and less pressure with each passing year. Let’s consider why people choose to fish for stocked trout as opposed to native fish. Stocked trout are easy to catch. They bite readily on most any bait or lure. And stocked trout often run big. A 14- to 16-inch stocked trout doesn’t raise many eyebrows, but that same fish would rank as a trophy from some small brook or stream. Unless an angler has a passion for wild fish, the obvious choice is to hit the stocked waters for larger trout. A great majority of anglers fishing stocked waters release their fish, but don’t handle them properly. Many these released trout soon die. Those who walk miles on uneven, hilly

terrain, who push through alder jungles and get their boots soaked while getting into position to fish a nearly inaccessible pool, have a love and respect for wild trout. Most of us who fish these diminutive waters keep and kill our fish. Catch-and-release on a 6- to 7-inch trout just doesn’t make much sense. What does make sense is to limit your kill. I never take more than a handful of trout from any small stream during any one season. This ensures the continuance of the species, while at the same time providing me with a reward for my efforts. Teaching Tools With so many people not practicing proper catch-and-release methods, it seems that the time has come for a concerted push to disseminate proper fish-handling instructions. After all, just by employing catch-andrelease, people are evidencing a willingness to protect the resource. But how to get that information out there stands as the big question. Nobody likes in(Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 37

New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA) 2020 Youth Writing Contest Maine Winnter – Senior Division

Lessons from the Hunt by Nolan Raymond, Grade 9, Hermon, ME

An unknown hunter once said, “Hunting is about the journey; not just the outcome.” This saying reminds me of my deer season. My family owns a fairly large plot of property, and there is a 110-acre plot neighboring ours. Luckily for my outdoors career, the owner is a friend of my dad’s. We are in an area with an established whitetail population, and the sign shows it. All through the winter, there is a wellworn “game trail” right through our front lawn. I have a game cam picture of four deer lined up and eating just feet from our porch. Plenty of Sign – and Deer Last August, I took a hike to the neighboring property to scout and plan the finer details of a hunt. Upon finding a solid deer trail following an old logging road, I set a

game camera up to see the traffic. On my hike back to the house, I spotted a four-point buck standing a mere 50 yards from me, on the opposite bank of the stream that cuts the property. It stood broadside to me, and watched me for at least 20 seconds. It was something of a surreal experience to see that deer participating in its daily life. By November, I had a pretty good idea of the game on the property: an 8-pointer, multiple 4-pointers, and countless antlerless deer, as well as a mature eagle and a healthy coyote population. I’d sat on an old staging yard a couple times with my rifle. I had a close encounter with what I still believe was the 8-pointer I’d seen on the game cam. I’d been observing his pattern for multiple months, and followed his trail a cou-

Trout Fishing (Continued from page 36)

your-face advice, though, which explains why I choose not to butt in when I see people mishandling trout. What, then, might serve best as a vehicle to get the word out? How about signage at boat landings and points on rivers and streams where the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks trout? After all, people are used to seeing signs regarding preventing the spread of certain aquatic weeds. Then at some places, DIF&W posts signs telling of fishing regulations, bag limits and invasive species. Why not add to the existing menagerie of signage, with signs describing – and illustrating –

The author, Nolan Raymond, heads into the woods on deer Youth Day 2019. He’s carrying a heritage Remington 740 Woodsmaster in .308 that was once owned by his grandfather.

ple miles. He showed up on the game cam almost every morning, quite early. However, I couldn’t find myself in my spot at the same time as him, despite multiple attempts. Someone Else’s Chair On one particular Tuesday during vacation, the 26th of November, I took my usual downwind route to the spot, to find a surprising scene: someone else’s chair,

a rifle leaning against the tree, and an orange figure about 50 yards up the clearing, with a deer. When I walked up, I found it to be the 8-pointer. The excited hunter’s account of the event told that he had heard the deer approaching through the sawgrass, and the moment he saw the head and neck through the grass, he pulled the trigger. I was overwhelmed with emotions. I’d made that deer my life for the past three

months. I’d frozen myself many days in the cutting waiting for him. It took the other hunter 20 minutes into daylight to take him. It was a flood of adrenaline, disappointment and frustration for me. Writing this now, I can still clearly experience those emotions. I suppose it proves to us that nothing can ever be guaranteed, and luck plays a huge part in our hunts, whether it is a positive or negative impact.

More Youth Writing Contest Winning Entries to Follow in Coming Months! First Place Junior Division: Magnolia Harms, Alfred, Maine for her essay titled “That Time in Summer” Honorable Mention Senior Division: Delaney Woods, Peru, Maine for her story, “The Waiting Game” Honorable Mention Junior Division: Charlotte DalPra, Lyman Maine, for her essay, “Outdoor Experiences”

proper catch-and-release methods? While the cost might prove prohibitive, a pamphlet detailing how to release a trout unharmed, might be included when people purchase their fishing license. Since this method would impact everyone who buys a license, it may well represent the best way to go. How-To Let me end by saying that if you wish to release a fish, do not take it from the water. Do not allow it to flop on the ground and don’t grab it with any kind of pressure, since that can disrupt internal organs. Instead, immobilize the fish by keeping it in the net. Don’t lift the net from the water. And use a hemostat (locking medical forceps) or some sim-

ilar device to remove the hook. Also, try bending down the hook barb if using natural bait. Fish tend to swallow bait deeper than they do artificial lures. A barbless hook, or a hook with a bump rather than a barb, slides out easily and does little damage to a fish’s mouth. It may also be possible to play the fish, bring it to shore and immediately grab the hook with the hemostat and remove it in one, fell swoop. Every so often, this method works for me. Something needs to be done. Why not take up the cause and do your best to inform and educate others regarding proper fish-handling methods? Good luck.

www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Moose Hunt 2020 Starts with First-Ever No-Gathering Lottery by Steve Carpenteri The 2020 moose permit drawing will be a “virtual” broadcast event, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. The state’s original plan was to hold the drawing in Jackman at the Unity College Sky Lodge, but with health-related restrictions in place, the event in Jackman has been rescheduled for

June, 2021, and this year’s lottery will be instead broadcast virtually. Along with the drawing of the names of the winners, DIFW biologists and wardens will offer presentations focusing on moose biology, wildlife management and moose hunting. Additional details will be made available

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in early June on how folks can tune in to this unique event. Moose Status Report So how’s the moose herd? MDIFW reports indicate that Maine’s core moose population has remained relatively stable over the last 10 years, but this comes after a century of fluctuation based almost solely on evolving habitat conditions. The herd likely reached its highest population levels by the year 2000. MDIFW

biologists estimated the moose population at around 76,000 as recently as 2012. Since the recovery, however, climate change has resulted in a proliferation of winter ticks, leading to poor reproduction and low calf survival past one year of age. To determine if moose density reduction can solve the winter tick problem in Maine, MDIFW is currently conducting a multi-phase adaptive management study on a 2,000-acre man-

agement zone in the northwestern part of the state (Zone 4). In Phase One, aerial helicopter surveys assessed current population size and composition. Sixty moose calves (30 in each section of the unit) were captured and fitted with GPS collars to monitor their survival. For Phase Two, MDIFW will propose to allow increased hunting in the western half in fall 2021 to reduce the moose population density. In the (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 39 (Continued from page 38)

eastern half, moose permits will remain at normal levels. Biologists will collect data on all moose harvested in either subsection of Zone 4, including ovarian cysts, canine teeth (for aging), antler spreads, winter tick counts and carcass weights. If it is found that an increased harvest leads to lower winter tick levels and healthier moose, that information may allow for increased permit allocations in other areas of the state. What’s Trending? In 2019, 1,948 moose were taken by 2,820 permit holders for a success rate of 69 percent. In years past the success rate was over 90 percent. Modern moose hunters have changed their focus from shooting any moose of any size to being more selective – with some waiting for the largest bull or cow they can find. There are several different tag options available. For example, in some Wildlife Management Districts a permit holder may kill one male moose of any age. In other WMDs, the permittee may kill a cow, a calf or bull with antlers

shorter than its ears. A small number of permits allow the hunter to shoot a moose of either sex. Expert Tips and Tactics Lee Kantar, Maine’s top moose biologist, said that the September season remains a world-class hunt highlighted by the opportunity to harvest bulls by calling. “This is truly an exciting and awesome experience for new and veteran moose hunters alike,” he said. The October bull season is special as well, due to increased visibility as leaves begin coming off the trees. Bulls are still searching for cows during mid-October, but don’t always respond as readily to calls. “Use your time wisely to scout feeding areas,” Kantar advised. “Look for fresh pellet groups, tracks,

browse lines, raked shrubs and pits or wallows in muddy areas. Set up early to call and listen. “The October cow season offers a different kind of hunt, more akin to deer hunting,” Kantar noted. “Hunters should focus on areas where there is a lot of moose food and signs of browsing activity. “We encourage hunters to get off the roads,” Kantar added. “Try your hand at walking up winter roads or other roads that are impassable by vehicle. You will get away from other hunters and have a greater opportunity to connect with a moose. “The key to moose hunting success lies with the weather,” Kantar asserted. “Unseasonably warm weather has been the standard over the last decade. When the weather turns warm,

moose will be more difficult to hunt, and you will need to work harder to find them. In most cases, riding the roads during warm weather will not work.” Kantar also cautioned hunters about handling moose meat after the kill. “Temperatures above 50 degrees require moose to be skinned and quartered immediately,” Kantar recommended. “Leave the ropes and winches at home, and learn to quarter your moose and carry the meat in game bags. You will have an easier time getting the parts out of

the woods, resulting in higher-quality meat. Hunters should take a few minutes to view instructional videos provided by the MDIFW at www.youtube.com/ mefishwildlife.” Finally, Kantar reminded hunters who are successful in harvesting a cow to bring both ovaries to the check station. “This information is vital to understanding Maine’s moose population,” he said. For additional information on Maine’s 2020 moose hunt, log onto www.mefishwildlife.com.

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Fishing is a Great Way to Enjoy Social Distancing Back in mid-April, Aroostook County was blanketed with 15 inches of snow in less than 24 hours, and thousands of folks lost electricity. It was Ol’ Man Winter’s way of reminding us that spring arrives at his and Mother Nature’s bidding in the Crown of Maine. Only essential businesses were open, social distancing was in full effect and home quarantine was recommended; and to think only a few weeks before we had been complaining about cabin fever and the winter

When heading to the Musquacooks, be certain to have a full-size spare tire available – the shale on the woods roads is tough on rubber. However, the solitude and the huge togue make the trip worthwhile. blues! I remember thinking as we suffered the brutal, late-season storm, “Well, a delayed thaw will just extend spring trolling – I might just be able to drag streamers on a few of my favorite lakes right into June!” Timberland Togue Some deep woods lakes are the last to free of ice, and due to their being accessible

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only via rough, muddy log-hauling roads, these azure gems garner far less pressure than waterways near paved roads, such as the popular Fish River chain of lakes. The Musquacooks are a quintet of moderate-sized lake trout havens far into the North Maine Woods, but easily accessible for a day trip from my home in Presque Isle. Anglers

from Houlton to Fort Kent can all enjoy an in-and-out venture with no need to camp overnight. This option grows in importance with the very real possibility that NMW officials may keep all campgrounds closed for the summer. Of the five lakes, Second Musquacook remains my favorite for its merits of consistent early-season

brook trout and togue action, ease of access, and spacious launch with a covered cookout area. Another favorable asset is the ease of access to First Musquacook Lake via a shallow, tight thoroughfare that nearly vanishes with dropping summer water levels. June trolling on the ’Cooks is my cup of tea, since the fish are still cruising high in the water column and my tandem streamers and shallow running plugs draw lots of attention. With warmer (Continued on next page)

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One enjoyable and productive method of fishing the Aroostook River during June is to float and watch for rising trout, then to drop anchor and cast, as these two anglers are doing. (Continued from page 40)

weather the togue settle deeper and require lead core lines or heavy metal and dodgers on broom stick rods to stir up a strike. Surefire streamer patterns include a Herb Johnson Special, Little Brook Trout, Blue Devil, Magog Smelt, and an Ouananiche Sunset. It’s a long bumpy journey to face slow fishing, so I always carry two extra fly spools loaded with a sinking tip and a full sinking line,-just in case. A depth/ fish finder sure helps clarify options. On my nine-foot medium weight spinning rod that I troll from a rod holder, I drag a size 8 or 44 Sutton silver spoon, a pounded copper Mooselook Wobbler, or an Eppinger 3” red and white Dardevle or five of diamonds. Travel Tips I drive to Ashland from Presque Isle on Route 163, but Route 11 north or south will work from many communities as well as from I-95. Travel through 6-Mile Checkpoint and onto the Realty Road to Big Machias Lake and beyond. Roughly 50 miles in will be a 4-way intersection known as Musquacook Crossroad, just after

The author’s 21-foot Two Rivers canoe provides a perfect trolling and casting craft for the Aroostook River during June water conditions. Here, another brookie comes to the net.

crossing Musquacook Stream. Take the right onto the Blanchette Maibec Road, then another quick right, and follow the signs to the Squirrel Pocket launch and camp site. Delorme’s Atlas Map 62, E-2 & E-3 provide

an excellent overview. Make sure your spare tire is operational, and pack a second if there’s room – the sharp shale on the roads is murder on rubber! At least carry an electric inflator, patch kit and can

Dave Ash of Ashland displays a lake trout just before releasing it back into Second Musquacook Lake. Shallow-running streamers provide great June action on this waterway deep in the North Maine Woods.

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42 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Mike Wallace from Freeport enjoys a lively tug of war with a fat, feisty togue on a June outing to second Musquacook Lake deep in the North woods.

While the author paddles the canoe along the Aroostook River shoreline, Mike Wallace balances in the bow casting a dry fly to rising trout during a short hatch.

The County (Continued from page 41)

nearby lakes to explore and within an hour it’s possible to be relocated. I’d suggest Upper McNally Pond, which is right beside the Realty Road a few miles before Musquacook Crossroads. See Map 62, E-4; the camp site and easy launch area offer top rate trout trolling. Clear Lake is another nearby option with togue, brookies, and even a few whitefish. It flows into Fifth Musquacook. A maintained launch site is simple to locate on the north end of this fairly large waterway, which features some great

coves. Remote and picturesque, this spot is far deeper than any of the five Musquacooks, and yields excellent fishing during warm weather when other lakes flag notably, and the togue tend to run larger than the average 2- to 4-pound size. Map 56, sector A-3 overviews Clear Lake. Its woods road approaches are in Aroostook County, while the lake itself is five miles south of the county line into Piscataquis. ’Roostook River June is my favorite time to fish pools on the long, circuitous Aroostook River. Be-

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cause this waterway wanders through so many towns and villages, many folks take advantage of the proximity to wet a line or float a boat. Thankfully, due to its length, crowding is seldom a problem. Trolling or floating and casting to rising trout is most common and productive for the first couple of weeks of June; some pools and runs require a canoe all summer while most of the river becomes wadable. My 21-foot Two Rivers Maine Freighter canoe proves a perfect, stable casting craft spring to fall. The Aroostook River brook trout fishery seems to improve annually with the 10- to 14-inch range fairly common. There’s a very productive run near Rum Rapids between Crouseville

Steve Hitchcock of Mars Hill prepares to release a colorful trout taken while casting small streamers along the shoreline of a remote northern Maine lake in early June.

Writer Bill Graves trolls streamer flies and sometimes even casts dry flies to sporadic hatches along the Aroostook River near Caribou each June.

and Washburn that’s worth an outing. It’s easily accessed from Route 164 that parallels the river. Anglers can also launch their canoe, kayak or small boat at the Washburn town ramp near the bridge and fish their way downstream.

Check DeLorme’s Map 64, C-5, Another top-rate stretch of river for wading, trolling or float and cast runs can be found above and below the inlet of Little Madawaska River. This area may (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 43

Hiking Into Remote Trout Ponds There’s nothing like a small trout pond in the evening or early morning – it looks like it’s raining, but the dimples on the water are rising trout. With the right dry fly, you’re in for a lot of fun. Among the many cool things the Maine woods have to offer is that the northern region is covered in little ponds, some of them full of wild trout. I have always enjoyed hiking to them, because you can get away from the crowd, fish in a wild environment, and get back to nature. There are ponds that I have been meaning to go back to that I remember as honey holes, due to their location, but if you look at the DeLorme Gazetteer or Google Maps you will notice all the little ponds everywhere across northern Maine. Some are certainly more productive than others, but if it looks good, try it once and maybe do some research online to see if there’s a state lake survey map on the pond (go to DIF&W website and search for “Lake Survey Maps”). If you don’t catch anything, chances are it was an adventure anyways, so you try another pond next time.

Fish Feed Late, Early There’s nothing like a small trout pond in the evening or early morning – it looks like it’s raining, but the dimples on the water are rising trout. With the right dry fly, you’re in for a lot of fun. Ideally, you can camp out overnight so you can fish during the two times the fish are most active – just as the sky is getting dark, and again in the morning. If you have to work hard to get to a pond, it’s probably remote enough to where there will be decent fishing to be had. Gear It’s always an advantage to have a canoe. It makes fishing the pond a lot easier – especially fly fishing. However, a canoe can be difficult to get into some places, so if that’s the case, you can purchase or borrow one of those compact inflatable pontoon-style rafts that give you the ability to get offshore, and they make casting a lot easier.

The County (Continued from page 42)

be reached from the boat launch below the Caribou bridge or via the launch at Grimes Mills just off the Grimes Road. Farther downriver toward Fort Fairfield are several islands that offer an

A lightweight fly rod and a mix of dry flies are all you need for fishing these ponds. Many are fly fishing-only anyway. If possible, try to hit the pond during a hatch. Some anglers wait months for the “hex” or green drake hatch. It’s the best time to fish a dry fly. In my experience, the hex hatch occurs late June/early July, but like anything relating to fly fishing, it can vary. Don’t Forget the Necessities If you plan to stay for a few days, it’s important to bring the right items, including several that you should always have readily available while you are hiking in. These include: • water • bug dope • a flashlight • protein snacks, and • a compass It’s safest to pack as if you may stay overnight – you never know for sure whether something will come

The reward -- a fat, wild brookie from a remote trout pond. Photo: Luke Giampetruzzi

Even if you plan to hike in and out the same day, the author recommends packing as if you may have to spend the night, in case something unexpected occurs. That includes bringing a means to start a campfire.

up that causes you to get stuck there for longer than anticipated. And sometimes it’s good to have a backup plan, in case the pond you intended to visit is gated off and you didn’t know about it or if you can’t make it through a washout on the woods road. I wouldn’t recommend bringing a Honda Civic or other lowslung street machine into these places, either. Boots or stiff hiking

excellent wade-and-cast opportunity, as trout tend to lay up in eddies formed by the isles. This region of the Aroostook River can be reached with just a short walk from either North or South Caribou Roads which trace opposite riverbanks. Look over Map 65, B-2 & C-3 respectively for these two sites.

shoes are must-haves, as some of these trails are rough and rocky, and twisting an ankle could ruin your trip and leave you stranded. Take what you think you will need, and once you get out there, make mental note of what you’ll do differently next time – what you didn’t bring that you need, and what you lugged to the pond and didn’t need.

Afoot or afloat, trolling or casting, lakes or rivers; there’s some great fly fishing this month up north. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a fisherman who came up with the original idea of “social distancing.”

www.MaineSportsman.com

44 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

“Still Tracking” for Big Bucks by Mike Stevens Around September, I looked at my deer schedule for the upcoming season. I had to guide three weeks, meaning that gave me two weeks to find a buck. Yes, I’m a big buck hunter, but I also have a family to feed and venison is important to us. So, when my honey told me the freezer was full of moose and bear meat, I was relieved. I could hunt all fall, waiting to pull the trigger on only the biggest of bucks. After my guiding duties, which saw my clients hang four bucks, I was ready to chase whitetails for the next couple of weeks. Getting on the Track I had a couple of days to hunt the 3rd week, since my clients weren’t coming in until Wednesday night. I picked up a nice track first thing in the morning on soft snow. I followed the buck not even a mile when I saw that he’d found where two huge cedar trees had fallen, enticing the deer to feed heavily on the fresh browse. After it snows, a fallen cedar tree is like a candy store to whitetail deer. He dinked around the heavily tracked-up area, then walked up a ridge towards a thick softwood bluff. This is where I changed my game. I had a feeling – okay, I knew – he was lying on the bluff. The wind was www.MaineSportsman.com

I just knew the buck was bedded down on the bluff. So I got downwind from the bluff, and sat down. Yes, I know this is not the “big woods way,” but it’s an effective way to kill bucks. I call it “still tracking.”

A signpost rubbed by a big buck the author was tracking.

wrong, doubling with the fact that I’m not the best at tracking uphill. So, I got downwind from the bluff and sat down. I know, this is not the “big woods way” to kill that buck, but it’s a way I’ve found to kill bucks. I call it “still tracking.” I have had success hunting bucks this way. Especially, since I beat cancer, got old, and can’t hump the big woods like I did when younger. I’d been sitting only a few minutes when a doe walked under a fallen cedar and began to feed. I watched her turn, check the wind and go up the bluff. I was convinced there was deer on the bluff. I made a bold move, tracking the doe 50 yards or so. Then I sat again.

The author and a nice 10-point buck.

A half-hour went by, and I was getting antsy. The wind picked up, but now was blowing NW. This allowed me to sneak farther up the bluff. A doe stood up and walked off with another deer. They stopped, looked back and trotted through the fir trees. Then, it happened. The buck was already standing but occupied with the does. I got the crosshairs on him but was having a hard time seeing his headgear. He scurried off, allowing me a good look. Nope, I let him walk. Though I didn’t get a real good look, he wasn’t the big guy I was looking for. The honed skills it takes to track a buck and kill him are the same skills needed to

“still track.” I knew – or would have bet – the buck was on that bluff. Though his track said he wasn’t real big, it did tell me he was looking for a bed. As my old buddy Kevin Harrison used to say, “Sometimes you just need to look outside the box to kill a buck.” Keeping After the Bucks I saw a few small bucks during Thanksgiving week, but no shooters. On the last Monday of deer season, which is muzzleloader week here in northern Maine, we had plenty of tracking snow. I was out of the truck before light, as I wanted to get into a spot before the deer retreated to their daily bedding areas. I was sneaking down an old snowmo-

bile trail as the rising sun peaked through the softwood trees, when a big doe jumped across the trail. She was followed by a beautiful high racked buck. The sex-driven stud aimlessly walked behind the doe, never knowing I was there. I placed the crosshairs on his shoulder at around 30 yards. A smile wrinkled across my face, as I let the buck walk. He was an awesome buck, toting six points. I also knew that in letting go – in an act of either courage or foolishness on my part – I might seal my doom for the remainder of the season. It did, as he was the only buck I saw for the remainder of the week. Remember, not everyone is a deer tracker. It is the hardest way to kill a trophy buck in America when done in the big woods of the northeast. Don’t be afraid to mix things up – I’m not. Hal Blood’s Thoughts Mike and I go way back, as I met him when we both moved to Jackman at about the same time. Mike has guided for me for years, and he always had a knack for thinking outside the box when it came to hunting any type of game. He’s always been way more patient than me, whether it came to guiding clients or hunting deer. I’ve witnessed his method of (Continued on page 46)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 45

When Speaking to Non-Hunters, Educate with Facts June tends to be a down month for most hunters. Temps are warming nicely, turkey season is mostly over and brook trout are biting very well up north. June is also planting season. I’m guessing more people will be putting in gardens this year because of the changes we’ve seen with the pandemic. Most commercial farmers I know aren’t changing what they do. They’re still milking cows, planting corn, haying fields and growing vegetables. Life will go on. We’ll get through this, and at some point things will get back to some sense of “normal.” In the meantime, I’ve been thinking back to last June and what I was doing. As most people know, I started a small farm with a friend last year. That farming will continue. Over the winter, I got my real estate license, and I’m associated with Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate in Waterville, helping people buy and sell homes, land and commercial properties. The thing I love most about real estate is the opportunity to meet and speak with new people. Lots of these people aren’t hunters, fishermen or outdoor enthusiasts. This provides people like me with opportu-

A great teacher inspires his or her students, says the author, but if you are going to be inspirational, make sure what you are teaching is factually accurate. When you’re talking about whitetailed deer, for example, it’s important to use correct terminology and to avoid passing on misinformation. nities to teach those who don’t understand our ways and what motivates us. Anyone Can Be a Teacher; However…. My mother and my stepfather were teachers. I remember them once quoting author William Arthur Ward in an effort to explain their careers. Ward wrote, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” If nothing else, I’ve attempted to inspire my students over the years. Sometimes I succeeded, while sometimes I just explained or demonstrated. I’d like to think I’ve made a significant contribution through my monthly columns and other writings. I taught wildlife and forestry courses at Unity

and Beal Colleges. I’ve especially enjoyed presenting Trophy Whitetail Hunting seminars at the State of Maine Sportsman Show. These avenues aren’t the only way to teach, however. Last June, the farm’s property owner was haying her fields when she came across a fawn. She mowed around it, getting fairly close a few times. She was shocked it didn’t run away. After I snuck to the uncut piece of field to get pictures of the little guy, I went back to the house to show the farmer my photos. She asked if it was injured. I explained that holding still was the fawn’s best defense against most enemies. I talked about a newborn fawn’s lack of odor, and how this keeps them safer than older fawns, which often try to run away to escape danger.

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I taught her that a doe’s overall health and age had a lot to do with the number of fawns they give birth to. She didn’t know fawns could breed. She didn’t know yearling does often have single fawns while older does, especially healthy does, mostly have twins and triplets. I explained that a doe could have three fawns, all with different dads. This is called multiple paternity, and it’s not unusual. The farmer was astounded! Later that day, I overheard her telling her grand-

son the same things I taught her. I’d inspired her enough that she wanted to teach someone else. When fishing in a canoe or boat with other friends in June, there’s plenty of time to talk. More often than not, the conversation of deer and deer hunting will come up. I’m often blessed to have the company of people who aren’t as experienced in deer hunting as I am. Because of this, I’ll often talk deer hunting strategies and deer biology with them. It’s extremely important to provide these newcomers to the sport with accurate information. The Importance of Accuracy I still hear people calling rubs on a tree, (Continued on next page)

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46 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Big Game Hunting (Continued from page 45)

scrapes. I still hear people saying spike horns are yearlings, four and six points are two-year-old bucks, eight points are three and bucks don’t get ten points until they are at least five years old. In this information age, it’s inexcusable to tell people these things. Terminology is also important. It may be semantics to some, but a baby deer is a fawn, not a lamb. Baby sheep are lambs. Deer aren’t sheep. All too often, I hear, “Deer are nocturnal.” When it comes to deer movement, the term crepuscular is more accurate. Crepuscular animals are most active just before and after dawn and dusk, during twilight hours. Details like this are important if we’re to ever fully educate

the public. How many times have we heard people call deer grazers? While deer do graze, they are very different from true grazing animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and many plains game animals such as gazelles. Grazing animals are vital to grassland health and diversity. While it’s true that deer do graze on grasses, they are more accurately classified as browsers. Browsers tend to eat more of the high-growing parts of plants, such as leaves, buds and bark. Our whitetailed deer have a tremendously diverse diet when compared with most grazers. Their digestive system is designed for this, and for good reason. If deer were true graz-

Big Woods World (Continued from page 44)

“still tracking” work for him time and time again over the years. As I get older, I just might have to

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ers, it’s doubtful they could survive a severe winter when grasses are buried under feet of snow and ice. No doubt, this browsing is an adaptation that has worked well for deer. Teaching people with truth is important. An inspiring teacher who spreads misinformation does more harm than good. Use facts when getting the word out. There’s so much our non-hunting brothers and sisters can learn from us. With the threat of meat shortages being discussed, food insecurity could lead more people to hunt this year. Who knows how much driving, socializing or hanging out we’ll be doing with friends and family this summer because of Covid-19? Fortunately, much of the outdoor activity we love doesn’t require close contact with other people.

For many years, the author has enjoyed presenting trophy whitetail hunting seminars at the State of Maine Sportsman Show. Photo credit: Kennebec Journal

So take every opportunity to educate others, and stay safe while you do it. I hope

adopt his method, but hopefully that’s still a long way off for me! This article is a brief overview of Mike’s tracking method, as obviously there is a lot more to it. I’ve always told people to figure out a method of hunt-

everyone is doing well during this difficult time.

ing or tracking that fits their personality and capabilities, and fine-tune it to be consistently successful. There’s more than one way to skin a cat – or to shoot a buck!

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 47

— Guest Column —

Naming Scout by Randy Randall Who would think it would be so hard to name a dog? When Jean and I decided we wanted another dog in our life, we went looking for a springer spaniel. The first dog we got when we were just married was a springer. “Tory” lived with us for 14 years and was thebest-dog-evah! Since this new dog would most likely be our last, we thought it would be right to come full circle and have another springer. Names Posted on the Fridge We found a breeder with a new litter and we picked a little male with one black fore paw, but we couldn’t bring him home for another eight weeks. During that time, we thought maybe our new friend should have a name, and that sent us down a rabbit hole we could not have imagined. We put a list up on the refrigerator, and every day names were added and others were scratched out. Some names she liked and I didn’t, and other names I liked and she didn’t. We went about our chores during the day calling out various names to see how they sounded. We thought first maybe we would just reuse the old dog’s name – “Tory.” But then our son Ben informed us that reusing a dog’s name was bad medicine. He was not in favor. We took his

Trying to select a name for their black-and-white English Springer Spaniel puppy took the author and his wife down a rabbit hole. Oreo? Panda? Patches? Moxie? Bo? The task seemed impossible, and as the big day approached, the pup was in danger of remaining nameless.

Photo by Randy Randall

advice, and I didn’t tell him I had an old friend who had three different dogs when she was a girl and all three were named “Murphy.” Famous Canine Names Then we thought of “famous” dog names. We liked “Barkley,” the dog puppet from Sesame Street. And there was “Sailor,” the famous lighthouse keeper’s dog on Wood Island that rang the fog bell for passing ships. I thought of Corey Ford and his “Lower Forty” stories and how Judge Parker’s dog

was named “Tober.” Patrick McManus, the outdoor humorist and author, called his childhood mutt “Strange.” My aunt and uncle had a springer named “Chance” and he was another wonderful pet. Mom’s sister in New Brunswick had a mongrel named “Bumper.” Marina customers have dogs named “Salty,” Bailey,” and “Gauge.” But none of these names clicked. We consulted the Internet and found dog names in abundance. We read all sorts of articles about how to choose a suit-

able name. Rules? There Are Rules? We learned to our surprise there were rules. What? Rules for picking a name for a dog? It had to be one or two syllables and not be confusing. Our search got as specific as “names for black and white male dogs.” There were over 100. “Oreo” was kind of obvious, and “Panda” was sort of cute. We kept adding to our list. Names beginning with “T” were prominent: “Toby-Tyger-Trooper-Teddy-Tory.” We tried “Patches” and “Moxie” and “Bax-

ter” and “Ranger” and “Bo.” Supper conversation was consumed by dog names. What about “Chance” again or “Beethoven” or “Blaze”? He’s a “Brit;” maybe he’d like being called “Churchill?” But we got nowhere. Every name seemed to have plusses and minuses. We couldn’t agree. Decision Day Finally the day came when we could bring our no-name dog home. We drove to the breeder’s ranch in the morning. By now we were all wearing facemasks and practicing social distancing. Jean stayed in the car. I got out and the breeder, wearing gloves and a mask, passed the puppy to me. I took the warm squirming pup and passed him through the car window to Jean who settled him on her lap. As I did so I said, somewhat automatically, “Here you go, Scout,” a phrase I had used for years as the Scout Master for BSA Troop 633 in Brunswick. As we drove away, Jean looked at me and said, “Scout” is his name – “Scout?” I said, “I guess so.” The aftermath of all this is we now have a robust romping springer spaniel that’s full of life and cute as a button, and he eagerly answers to his name of “Scout.”

www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin – A Guide to Baxter State Park At Baxter State Park, you can hike up a trail and back, or travel point-to-point, or – if you are really ambitions – make a big 4-day circle, such as the time my friends and I hiked from Roaring Brook to Chimney Pond to Baxter Peak to Davis Pond to Russell Pond and back to Roaring Brook. My knees were younger then. The coronavirus has certainly played a role in my fishing plans this spring. The state opened the season a few weeks early to encourage folks bunkered down to get out and responsibly get some fresh air. All this spring, the pandemic presented more scary questions than answers. By mid-summer I expect to see flickers of hope on the horizon. As of this writing Baxter State Park is closed but is still accepting reservations online. The park posted a target opening date of July 1 – obviously subject to change. Most years, early summer is a great time to hike the network of trails that

weave on and around Mount Katahdin, but we’ll have to wait and see this year. In fact, social distancing, long before I heard the word “coronavirus,” was one reason I roamed the iconic park. Deciding where to go in the park kicks the ball rolling. All journeys start with a single step, and that’s the first one. Katahdin – A Guide to Baxter State Park Before even attempting to chart a course, I’d highly recommend purchasing “Katahdin – A Guide to Baxter State Park.” This guide, put together by the folks at Baxter State Park, contains detailed information on each one

Discover the

Katahdin Region

of the trails. It’s available online at www. baxterstatepark.org. It also comes with a color-coded geographical map of the park. Not only does it have the trails and various campsites plotted out, but the all-important contour lines that reveal elevation changes – especially important for those interested in climbing to the top of Katahdin. Anyone can set out and follow the wellmarked trails with good results. Studying the guide provides trail details and exact mileage to junctions, campsites, beaver ponds and stream crossings. Following the “Freezeout” trail, I had no trouble finding

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the “clear, cold spring on the right side of the trail” at 9.2 miles. Without reading the guidebook, I would have missed this hidden gem and an opportunity to refill my water bottles. Pure Water Despite the water looking gin clear, I always run it through my water filter. For years I’ve had the MSR Mini Works water filter. It has a replaceable ceramic filter that has kept my insides germ-free for

countless trips. Simply drop one end of a clear hose on a water supply, screw a standard water bottle to the underside, and start pumping. It only takes a few minutes to fill the bottle. A thorough cleaning when I get home contributes to its longevity. Good water makes the trip. Bad water ruins everything. The filter eliminates the need to carry eightpound-a-gallon water. On one of these (Continued on next page)

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Bill Sheldon emerges from his tent after waiting out a passing shower. The scattered fishing gear around the L.L.Bean tent gives away the intent of the trip – chasing brook trout in Frost Pond. Sheldon has used backcountry tent sites to practice “social distancing” for years.” Bill Sheldon photo

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 49 (Continued from page 48)

trips, I’m going to keep track of just how much water I filter and use. Reverse Course Unlike many guidebooks I’ve read, this one provides a “Reverse Summary” that details the trail heading the opposite direction. This makes knowing what’s coming up and how far away it is crystal-clear. Plus, many excursions, especially day trips, involve heading one way up the trail, turning around and reversing the route. This eliminates reading the trip backwards and any confusion that could cause. I’m a map hound, so I keep the map close by in my top pocket. My other top pocket holds my cell phone, put in “Airplane Mode” and tracking my progress on my Garmin “In Reach” GPS. Along with my map, I print out the trail directions from the guidebook. When I get to an intersection or other noteworthy spot, I compare all three. It’s always right on. I can calculate how many miles left to my destination by old fashioned math, or just looking at my phone.

head back to our vehicle parked at Roaring Brook. As my knees get older, I’ve decided that I do one day of hiking and spend the next day waist deep in cold water casting for brook trout. No more marathon, destination-focused runs for these knees. Study the Map! A good example of taking the contour lines of the elevation map seriously was the steep, slippery decent from the Northwest Basin Trail to Davis Pond. After summiting Katahdin, I thought we had a nice easy stroll to make camp at Davis Pond. Fresh off the glory of a successful summit, we headed down the Northwest Basin Trail to Davis Pond. A work crew hiking out

nonchalantly asked where we were going. As soon as we said Davis Pond, they all started looking at each other. “I don’t know if you have enough time – better get going,” the leader advised. I’m thinking it’s two o’clock and all downhill … piece of cake. Wrong! We collapsed into the welcome arms of the Davis Pond lean-to about 15 minutes after daylight expired. From our start at Chimney Pond, we had logged 11 hours on the trail … way more than my overloaded knees appreciated. Day hikers have the distinct advantage of not having to carry all the gear associated with setting up overnight accommodations. However,

Hikers looking to do some pre-scouting before tackling one of the many trails in Baxter State Park would benefit immensely reading “Katahdin – A Guide To Baxter State Park.” The highly detailed guidebook provides the step-by-step trail information needed for a safe, enjoyable backwoods excursion. Backpackers can take a virtual trip to www.baxterstatepark.org to purchase the guide book, which comes with a colorful, park-specific map.

I do believe anyone heading into the back country needs to have enough gear to spend the night if necessary. These days I have little interest in hik-

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Through-Hiking Through-hiking involves starting on one side of the park and ending up on the other side. Or, as two of my buddies and I did, start at Roaring Brook Campground, spend a night at Chimney Pond Campground, swing by and summit the peak of Katahdin, stay a night at Davis Pond, navigate to Russell Pond Campground for a night and www.MaineSportsman.com

50 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

— Guest Column —

Maine Contestant on the Discovery Channel’s “Naked and Afraid” –

Q&A with Kate Wentworth – Part 1 by Will Lund

Sportsman: So, you are located in Maine? Wentworth: Yes, I am constructing my future homestead on 18 acres here in Passadumkeag. Sportsman: How did you become a contestant on Naked and Afraid? Wentworth: It was a long journey that really began when I was 25. I left the US Virgin Islands, where I’d spent three years, and headed to wine country in Wisconsin. I worked hard at two different jobs, 7 days a week, to earn enough to purchase a 1986 Chevy Custom Deluxe C10 with a camper in the bed. Then I hit the road. Sportsman: Where’d you go? Wentworth: I’d heard about a fellow named Eustace Conway – profiled in Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “The Last American Man” – and decided to go check out Turtle Island Preserve, a Non-Profit Appalachian Heritage Farm in Boone, NC. I rode into the farm in a horse-drawn buggy, volunteered to work in the hide-tanning shop, and ended up staying more than a year. I lived in a teepee at Turtle Island. Each morning, I hiked down the mountain to tend to the animals and complete the morning chores before heading off into the field. A day’s work consisted of felling trees, operating www.MaineSportsman.com

“Naked and Afraid” has aired for 11 seasons, and earns the Discovery Channel big ratings and a huge fan base (700,000 Facebook followers). A former and current contestant, Kate Wentworth, has Maine roots and is a current resident of our state. We recently caught up with her.

A Break from Filming – Kate Wentworth, currently of Passadumkeag, Maine, enjoys a moment of respite on the shoreline of Isla San Jose, Panama, between rain showers, during the filming of her 21-day “Naked and Afraid” challenge. Rachel Maguire photo

a sawmill that turned tree trunks into lumber, and then erecting large buildings by hand. We grew our own food, hunted and foraged, and cooked over a hearth. It was primal; it was off the grid; and it was community. And I enjoyed every minute of it. Sportsman: Then you came to Maine? Wentworth: Yes, I took up residence in a geodesic yurt dome tent in Buxton, Maine. I had a work-trade agreement with the landowners. I spent fall, winter and spring on their property. Boy, was that ever cold! At one point, snow crushed the tent, but with some help I got the structure repaired,

added more wood to the stove, and continued on. After that, I stayed near Salmon Falls for a while, helping out some friends with their farm gardens and flock. Sportsman: So how did the Discovery Channel hear about you? Wentworth: I went back to North Carolina for a while, to help repair two cabins, and while I was there a fellow from Canada contacted me. He had seen my social media posts. We met, and he made a small documentary about my life adventures. That may have been how the show’s casting agents heard about me. They had

me apply, I went forward with the casting process, and a few

weeks later I was on a plane to Los Angeles to meet the producers. Soon after that, I was flown to Isla San Jose, Panama, to take on a 21-day Survival Challenge. Up until my show, Naked and Afraid had involved one male and one female (strangers), with no food, clothes or water, dropped off into a remote location for 21 days. I was part of the first same-sex challenge, in which I was partnered with Sara Burkett, of Tennessee. Next month: How did Kate do in Round 1 in Panama? And how did she do when she was selected again, for Round 2, in a different location?

Two Reality Stars – Kate Wentworth and Maine Sportsman contributor and “Alone” Season 10 champion Zachary Fowler enjoy a laugh after a day on the water hauling lobster traps. Photo courtesy of Fowler’s Makery and Mischief

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 51

Sportswomen to Watch Maine’s many sportswomen are inspiring, empowering, and fun to follow. Here are six you should keep an eye out for in the woods and waters this year. The Hunting Guide Abby Feener is a Registered Maine Guide at her family’s sporting camp, Tylor Kelly Camps in Allagash. In addition to guiding bear hunts, Abby helps with the day-to-day operations at the lodge. Abby grew up hunting, fishing and exploring the woods near her hometown of Lincolnville. Recently, she trained her own beagles, Finn and Daisy, to hare hunt! Regarding females in the outdoors, Abby states, “It’s okay to go by yourself if you don’t have a partner to go with you. Be independent and learn what your own abilities are. It is so much more rewarding to accomplish something that you gave 100% yourself.” Follow Abby on Instagram: @afeener89

Abby with her beagles, Finn and Daisy

the insect the fish are currently eating). Last year, Megan ventured to Louisiana, where she caught a 51-lb. black drum on a fly! Follow Megan on Instagram: @beadhead_flyfishing

Megan with a native brook trout

Megan with a 51-lb. black drum in Louisiana

The Tracker Liz Feeney-Walker, of Rangeley, has been tracking giant whitetails for years. Liz grew up in a hunting and fishing family, and started hunting at age five with her older brother and father. Liz prefers tracking whitetails because it feels like more of a hunt. “Tracking is all about learning your target – identifying your target’s rubs, tracks, bedding area and habits. You must be hyper-aware of your surroundings – are there a lot of does around? Is your buck rubbing often? Bedding down? If so, go very slowly and pay attention, because the deer will almost always see you first.” Follow Liz on Instagram: @sugarloaf.region.real.estate

Abby after a successful coyote hunt.

The Fly-Fishing Guide Megan Hess is a fly-fishing guide for Chandler Lake Camps in the North Maine Woods and commercial fly tier (Beadhead Fly Fishing). Megan grew up in Wisconsin and was introduced to fly fishing at the age of seven by her father and grandfather. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in aquatic biology with a focus on entomology, Megan moved to Maine to pursue a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Megan clearly enjoys learning about insects and shares her knowledge to help clients “match the hatch” (choosing the fly that best matches the behavior of

Liz with the 2019 buck she tracked that dressed at 212 lbs.

Liz with her 2017 buck she tracked that dressed at 196 lbs.

The Upland Hunter Patti Carter is an avid upland hunter and bird dog trainer. She grew up in Scarborough hiking, fishing and exploring the state with her family, but only

her father and brother hunted. “It was a guy thing,” she explained. Patti and her husband Blaine started Merrymeeting Kennels in 1976, breeding German shorthair pointers. Patti eventually got her own German shorthair pointer and began upland hunting and training dogs. The rest is history. Today, Patti hosts an annual women’s hunt in Eustis, is active with NAHVDA, and once won the Maine Duck Stamp Competition. Her children both hunt and train upland dogs. “Pass along your passion, always have a dog at your side and never forget to laugh,” Patti says. Follow Merrymeeting Kennels on Instagram: @merrymeeting_kennels

Upland hunting is a family affair for Patti Carter, pictured here with her two children, Misi and Jason.

Patti and her German shorthair pointer

The All-Around Sportswoman Emilie Cram is an all-around outdoor enthusiast, from making her own maple syrup, to ice fishing to turkey hunting. Emilie lives on a 140-acre farm in Pownal, and is a Gamekeeper at the Maine Wildlife Park, in Gray. She didn’t grow up in a hunting or fishing family, but was introduced to hunting while working with horses for an elk hunting outfitter in Wyoming. “I saw how ethical hunting was and how full of gratitude hunters are,” Emilie explained, “and decided I wanted to try it myself.” Nowadays, Emilie is passionate about all things outdoors, and enjoys trying new things. “One day I was hunting alone and doubled down on two large jakes with one shot,” she said modestly. Emilie offered some advice to those interested in hunting or fishing but who don’t come from a hunting family: “Join (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

52 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The Young Sportswoman Laurelai Winslow is a 10-year-old from Damariscotta who has been hunting since she was six. Laurelai has successfully hunted numerous deer, turkeys, rabbits, ducks and grouse, and a bear. She enjoys fishing for pike, trout, bass, and salmon. Recently she traveled to Alaska where she shot a caribou at 242 yards and caught a halibut. Laurelai offers the following advice for kids: “The outdoors is good for you, so much better than being inside and watching TV. It gives you exercise, it’s fun, and it’s healthy. “Never be goofy around guns – you have to be safe while you’re having fun.” And here some advice from Laurelai’s father for getting kids outside: “Have patience and prepare. Set up a blind for turkey hunting – that way, kids can move around and play while waiting for the turkeys to arrive. Talk about firearm safety from the very beginning. Let them have fun.”

Maine Sportswoman (Continued from page 51)

local chapters of conservation groups such as Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Unlimited, or Ducks Unlimited. The groups are great resources and have local events where you can make friends, learn techniques and locations.” Follow Emilie on Instagram: @instahcram

Emilie while pike fishing on Sabattus Lake.

Solo hunting without a photographer? Put your phone in the crotch of a tree, like Emilie did.

“You don’t ever want to shoot something and just leave it. Take care of it and cut the meat up to provide food for your family,” says Laurelai.

Maine Wildlife Quiz:

Rainbow Trout by Steve Vose

Because of their natural ability to thrive in hatcheries, Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) also known as “rainbows” (or even ’bows), have been introduced across most of the United States and inhabit many streams and lakes throughout the state of Maine. Though rainbows are an introduced species, many anglers enjoy catching this transplant for food and sport, despite its ability to over-compete many native fish species. Maine anglers normally catch stream-dwelling rainbows in the 8- to 16-inch range; with occasional lake-caught fish reaching upwards of 5 pounds. The current state of Maine record rainbow was 6.52 pounds pulled out of the Androscoggin River by Steven Day in 2007. Rainbows have silvery colored sides

and a white to pale yellow belly color and a prominent reddish-colored band extending from the cheek to the base of the caudal fin. A sizeable number of small black dots cover the entire body, with heavier spotting generally occurring along dorsal areas. Rainbow coloration can be highly variable, depending on size, sexual maturity and habitat. Rainbows are opportunistic feeders, relying on a variety of foods for sustenance, ranging from insects to crustaceans. Rainbows inhabiting streams tend to feed heavily on terrestrial in-

sects, such as grasshoppers, ants and aquatic insects. In lakes, rainbows feed primarily on crayfish, snails, small fish and fish eggs. Rainbows spawn in the spring and early summer. Female rainbows dig depressions in the gravel with their tails, into which eggs are deposited. A male fertilizes the eggs, covers them with gravel and leaves them to incubate and hatch. After hatching, young rainbows swim free of the gravel and begin searching for food. With luck, stream-dwelling fry will avoid predators, grow up, and live almost 3 years, while those living in larger bodies of water, such as lakes and ponds, tend to live 5-6 years. The oldest recorded specimen of rainbow reached a ripe old age of 11 years.

Questions 1. Are rainbow trout an introduced species in the state of Maine? 2. What is the average length of a stream-caught rainbow trout in Maine? 3. What was the weight of the largest rainbow trout caught in the State of Maine? www.MaineSportsman.com

4. What is a prominent feature of the rainbow trout that easily distinguishes it from other species of salmonids? 5. What do rainbow trout eat?

7. How old do most lake and pond dwelling rainbow trout live? 8. What was the age of the oldest rainbow trout?

6. When do rainbow trout spawn?

Answers on Page 78

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 53

Grilled Wild Turkey Shawarma with Yogurt Dressing and Sweet Potato Flatbread I asked many people what their favorite wild turkey recipe was. I am not going to tell you the answers, but for all

of you I spoke with and especially those who said they don’t love wild turkey, I hope you try this recipe and change your

mind. Enjoy and Bon Appetit!

Ingredients: 2 lbs. wild turkey sliced into ½” long slices Marinade: • 1 large garlic clove, minced • 1 tablespoon coriander, ground • 1 tablespoon roasted cumin, ground • 1 tablespoon cardamom, ground • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ground • 2 teaspoons Smoked Spanish Hot Paprika • 2 teaspoons Applewood Smoked Sea Salt • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 3 tablespoons olive oil Dressing: • 1 cup Greek yogurt • 1 garlic clove, minced • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 teaspoon roasted cumin, ground • 1 lemon juiced in bag, sliced • Salt and pepper Flatbread: • 1 cup sweet potato – baked, peeled and smashed • 1 cup flour, plus more flour for dusting • Lettuce leaves • Sliced tomatoes and cut into 6 equal portions. Dust your Combine marinade in glass bowl. hands frequently. Roll one piece at a Add wild turkey, and use your hands time between your palms into ball then to make sure each piece is coated well. lightly flatten. Cover with flour on both Marinate overnight. sides. Begin to roll out until thin 1/8” Combine dressing ingredients in thick. bowl and mix. Cover and refrigerate Heat pan on medium heat. When pan overnight. It will last 3 days in fridge. is hot, place flatbread in pan and allow Meanwhile, bake sweet potatoes to cook 20 to 30 seconds, until you see until soft. It needs to be warm to mash bubbles. Flip at 30 second intervals. The flour into sweet potatoes with fork. Once bubbles mean hot air is cooking from inyou can handle the dough, mix well with side out. your hands. Flour the work surface and Store in plate lined with clean tea place dough on it. Roll into thick log

towel. Always keep covered to keep flat breads soft. Heat grill on medium-high. Place turkey on a cooking sprayed holed grill pan grill, cook for 10-13 minutes, turning until nicely charred. Remove and cover loosely with foil. Place sweet potato flatbread on plate, place lettuce leaves and tomato on one half, line turkey slices in the middle, either half or roll to enjoy.

Save Room for Dessert! Pictured here is an Angel Food cupcake stuffed with fresh Raspberry Jam, Dark Chocolate Drip, and Fresh Raspberries. It pairs well with the COVID MAINEhattan Cocktail: • • • •

1.5 oz Boston Harbor Coffee Liqueur 1 oz vodka 1 oz St. Germain 3 oz Vanilla Almond Milk

www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

June Fishermen Reap Stocked Trout Bonanza Word has it that every blackfly in the Pine Tree State goes on vacation and heads to Jackman during the first two weeks of June. Any local will verify that story with hardly a flinch. On the other hand, try asking when the best fishing takes

place. With a little hesitation and one eyebrow raised, maybe someone will mumble something about the first two weeks of June. Others take their hats off and scratch their bald spots before giving out that information. The hesitation isn’t

about revealing the best timing. It’s more about whether they want to spill the beans at all. A gambling man would lay good odds that the beginning of this month offers some rod-bending action, along with a healthy population of blackfly activity. Fighting Blackflies First things first – it’s no fun fishing and swatting blackflies at the same time. A few simple steps can help minimize this seasonal annoyance. Clothes treated with permethrin, such as L.L. Bean’s Buzz-Off and

Small stream brook trout continue to be the author’s passion. True natives, often measured in palm widths, thrive in no-name creeks and overlooked tributaries. A “two-hander” found where no one fishes counts as a trophy for sure. The Jackman Region boasts an abundance of skinny, unnoticed waters that hide the author’s favorite fish. Bill Sheldon photo

No-Fly-Zone lines, certainly have a following. Folks who spot me fishing might have no-

ticed I wear a green Buzz-Off shirt specially designed for fishermen. It has all kinds (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 55 (Continued from page 54)

of pockets for fishing gear and gadgets. Arm straps that allow the long sleeves to roll up and stay there work great when the temperatures rise. For good measure, my closet has three of these bug fighters – all green. Why green? Just my favorite color, that’s all. However, I have heard that flying insects avoid lighter colors. No-Fly-Zone With that in mind, but no real proof, I’ve recently purchased some pull-over hoodies in blue and light gray, cleverly labeled “NoFly-Zone.” Also treated with permethrin, these light-duty shirts should help keep the bugs at bay. The directions indicate the permethrin is good for about 70 washings. One of the reasons

I’m switching over to hoodies involves keeping mosquitos and blackflies off my neck. If the bugs are really bad, I put my hood up and then put my bug cap on over the hood. My bug cap has a net that unfurls from over the visor. Some bug net companies have a hoop that keeps the net away from the face. Either way, putting the thin, treated hood up first keeps the bugs from leaking in and feasting on my

neck. For Christmas, I received a Bug Jacket and Mitts, manufactured by Sea to Summit. It’s lightweight and packs into a pocket-sized pouch. This ultra-compact jacket has a built-in hood. The super small packaging makes it a no-brainer to bring along for summer outings. Bean, Kittery, Cabela’s and L.L. Cote (Errol, NH) all have attire designed to repel annoying insects.

They also make pants, hats and socks treated with permethrin. While I prefer to let the professionals treat my clothing, some folks buy permethrin online and treat their own outerwear. And some folks seem happy to slather up in DEET or one of

the many “all natural” spray bombs. I personally don’t like spraying myself. Of course, going old school and lighting up a cigar worked for several guys I’ve fished with over the years. Heavy Stocking Cool water and (Continued on page 57)

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56 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Moosehead Lake as Vast and Productive as the Ocean Moosehead Lake, New England’s largest freshwater lake, and its vast expanses of open water, give boaters the impression of being out on the ocean. And certainly, being out in a boat on such a huge lake stands as one of the best ways ever to get away from any threat of danger from the health issues plaguing Maine, the

country and the world. It’s no secret that I love Moosehead Lake. And being the Moosehead Region columnist for the Maine Sportsman only serves as icing on the cake. For me, it’s a dream job to recreate in this wild and scenic area and to write about it. I recall reading a story in a national magazine about

brook trout fishing in Moosehead Lake. This was probably in the early 1960s. Blackand-white photos of a man holding a sting of brook trout that made my eyes pop, served to make me promise myself one thing, and that was to fish Moosehead Lake. But back then, my only access to a boat was my grandpa’s 12-

foot aluminum boat – not sufficient for Moosehead Lake. So it would take another 15 years or so until my dream came true. Even today, while out on the lake catching togue, trout and salmon, my thoughts run back to that magazine article that spurred my interest so long ago. Sometimes seemingly minor events

make a far larger and longer-lasting impression than we realize at the time. South End Most of my fishing occurs on the north end of Moosehead Lake. There, Moose River enters the lake in Rockwood and in spring, the area becomes the epicenter of (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 57 (Continued from page 56)

red-hot action on salmon, trout and togue. In summer, deep water near Mt. Kineo holds loads of fish, suspended in the thermocline. This may be 40 feet down and may drop to over 50 feet. Across from and north of Kineo, extremely deep water holds record-breaking togue. So it’s little wonder that my travels take me to this part of the lake. But last year, a trip with a buddy to the lake’s south end opened my eyes to the great fishing opportunities there. Salmon and togue fishing in the south end was

equally as good as at the north end. Launching the boat at Greenville Junction, we mostly plied the waters between Deer Island and Sugar Island. There, even though it was midsummer, we took salmon near the top by fishing with fly rods and sinking lines. That speaks volumes about how cold the water remains here, even during hot spells. Last winter I had a field day on togue by ice-fishing off Moose Point, a mainland peninsula just west of Deer Island. Combined, my fishing trips to Moosehead’s south end proved that, as I have said many times

Jackman Region (Continued from page 55)

brook trout get along just fine this month. Some of the local ponds receive supplemental Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) stockings between the middle of May and the beginning of June. Last year, DIF&W dumped 1,100 landlocked salmon in Attean Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map 39, C-4) just before June 1st. They should repeat that this year. Big Wood Pond (Map 39, B-4) also saw 2,150 brook trout, along with 500 landlocked salmon added to its depths. Bear in mind Big Wood Pond saw lots of stocking in October of 2019. DIF&W consistently does a good job supplementing the brook trout population in this local water. Anglers with boats won’t have to leave town for rod-bending action. Anglers looking for moving water and stocked brook trout need look no further than Heald Stream (Map 39, B-5) and Sandy Stream (Map 39, B-4). Both waters received 500 brook trout on May 22 last year. We can expect a similar stocking this year, just in time for blackfly season. Of course, some of us look for more than 10-inch stocked brookies. However, with DIF&W consistently stocking, the odds for a

before, the entire lake offers great fishing. Not too many other waters can rightfully offer the same opportunities. June Tactics If fishing Moosehead Lake for the first time, it pays to employ a local guide. These people know the lake intimately and are aware of where and how to fish at any given time. While it’s fine to bring your own tackle, most guide services supply rods, lures and bait. I highly recommend a day on the water with one of these professionals. If bringing your own boat, know that June still sees fish within 20 feet of the

trophy holdover improve dramatically. Another heavily-stocked water, Crocker Pond (Map 39, A-3), saw 2,200 brook trout the first week of June last year. This little gem has a serviceable gravel boat ramp and is ideal for self-propelled craft. Crocker’s ledge- covered shoreline and gravelly bottom seem perfect for squaretail habitat. If temperatures warm up fast, the brookies can always fin deep in the 30-foot depths in the center of the pond. Parlin Pond (Map 40, C-1), often overlooked by travelers focused on heading north on Route 201, usually gets a mid-May splash of brookies to the tune of 2,700 fish. Please note that the ramp along Route 201 is private, but they do allow use, provided folks do not block the ramp and park up top in the roadside parking area – a small price to pay for some great fishing. The stocking truck also finds its way north on Route 6/15 and makes a splash by dumping 1,800 brook trout in Long Pond (Map 40, B-2). Canoe access is along Route 6/15 across from the Hardscrabble Road. For up-to-date, daily stocking reports, check the DIF&W website at www.maine.gov.

Andy Collar hooks a salmon off of Deer Island on Moosehead Lake. Tom Seymour photo

surface. And even when trolling with streamer flies has become non-productive on other waters, fish here continue to slam fast-trolled smelt patterns fished on a fly rod and sinking fly line. Streamers will work best on a slight chop, rather than when the surface is glassy-smooth. Hardware, though, accounts for most fish in June. The various Mooselook Wobblers, DB Smelt and Li’l Jakes, along with similar lures from Northeast Troller, all take salmon, togue and trout. Begin fishing with whichever lure seems good at the time. If after 15 minutes you don’t get a strike, change lures. Keep repeating the process until you find the lure that fish want for that day. Bait works well too, with smelt being top choice. But

live smelt have long gone from dealer’s tanks. Preserved smelt, though, from Harmon Brook Farm Baits ([207] 474-1215; harmonbrookfarm. com] work nearly as well as live smelt. Just keep them in a cooler, and unused smelt can be placed back in the freezer at trip’s end. Also, pick up several sliding bait rigs. These have a stationary bottom hook, with a slider just above it. Such rigs accommodate smelt of all lengths. After hooking, make sure to watch your smelt as it gets pulled along. If the smelt twists, lengthen or shorten the line between hooks until the smelt swims in a straight line. Always Good To my mind, fishing on Moosehead Lake is always good. Some days are better (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Spring Fishing, or Poseidon Adventure II Life is plump full of lessons to be learned. Some folks learn very easily. Others not so much. I am in the latter group. Island Boy’s mom, Aunt Jeanne, had a saying for Mike and me. Her quote was, “You’ll only come in when your brains are wet!” She was, of course, referring to the brains we sit on, not the one we rest our hats on.

was when the wind shifted, the ice floated to my side of the pond, lifting my boat and dock. Friends and neighbors reacted favorably to my 911 call for help. We saved the dock, and the boat. It was a very uniting experience. My wife was not as impressed as I was. I did learn. Now I wait for the ice to be completely gone. Like this year.

On the Edge Living on the edge of a pond in central Maine, I have ice-out (or as my wife says, “water-in”) earlier than most. The key to my early fishing relies on having my dock in. This means I can simply attach my boat in my front yard. Then I walk across the lawn, step into the boat, and voilà, I am fishing. I reach out to family and friends to set my dock up, as soon as the ice leaves and the water level is low. In fact, I have been known to set it in prior to complete ice out. The issue that year

Didn’t Learn My Lesson Late March 2020 saw ice out. I made the call for the dock to be placed. My wife questioned if this was early, as the last couple of years saw high water, requiring me to pull the boat and place cement blocks on the dock so the decking wouldn’t float away. I pretended not to hear her. It is a trait I have mastered, being a dad to five kids. The dock went in, the boat launched, and I was a fishing fool. Then came mid April’s rain and wind. Cement Blocks

Moosehead Region (Continued from page 57)

than others, of course. I have never been skunked on Moosehead and don’t know anyone who, after a day of fishing, hasn’t caught at least a few fish. So it’s safe to say that anyone fishing Moosehead, using the proper tackle and lures, will catch fish. I would not feel comfortable making that statement anywhere else. When fishing Moosehead Lake, fish account for only part of the grand www.MaineSportsman.com

Should Do the Trick The first storm on the horizon, I was cautioned to pull the boat. Being hard of hearing, I missed that conversation. Mid-storm saw my wife and me pulling the boat, fighting wind and rain. The water level was rising. Once back at the house, cement blocks were placed on the dock to weigh down the planking. My wife asked if this would really work, as another huge rain and windstorm was predicted in a couple of days. I assured her it would work. Two days later saw my wife, my niece and me taking out the four sections of decking. I then instructed the crew to place all the cement blocks on the farthest-most part of the dock. I was asked whether this would work, or should we simply take out all the decking. I guaranteed the blocks would hold. Hate It when a Plan Comes Apart Everything was going according to my

It’s never too early in the season to get your dock in the water, according to the author. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? Photo: Tami Heilemann, US Dept. of the Interior

plan. However, I had not accounted for the possibility that a 20foot log would slam into the dock. Cement blocks shifted; decking started to float away. Just as dinner was being served, I thought it a good time to grab my waders and spend some time in the pond, up to my shoulders in ice-cold water, with waves splashing overhead, fighting wind, waves, and downpours. We salvaged the remaining decking. On leaving the shoreline, I noticed a coil of rope at my wife’s feet. I assumed it was there in case I ran into trouble while playing Poseidon, in which case she would

adventure. The scenery, from Squaw Mountain to the west and Mt. Kineo to the east and other tall mountains even farther to the east, promotes a sense of serenity amid nature’s grandeur. Moosehead Lake has an interesting history, too. Maine’s Indian tribes knew the value of flint, and made annual pilgrimages to Mt. Kineo to harvest rhyolite, a kind of grayish flint marked with white flecks or incursions. Samples of artifacts constructed from Kineo flint have turned up all over the state. Also, during the heyday of Maine’s

throw me the rope and pull me to safety. No, she said when I inquired about the need for the rope. She explained: “I would lasso your foot, tie my end to a tree, and call 911.” My wife and niece were less than impressed. I thought it a bonding experience. So I have learned several lessons from this experience. First is keep a better supply of cement blocks, always invite your niece to stay with you during a pandemic, and maybe pay attention to what your wife is saying. And yes, my brains were wet!

logging industry, dozens of steamboats plied Moosehead’s waters, bring supplies to remote camps and ferrying people back and forth. Laid-Back During your visit to Moosehead Lake, think upon the beauty and history of this as-of-yet unspoiled region. There’s nowhere else like it.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 59

Fishing is a Safe and Healthy Activity The month has arrived about which poet James Russel Lowell wrote, “What is so rare as a day in June?” Lowell was spoton, especially when viewed from a sporting perspective. June stands as the best all-round month for fishing, whether on lakes and ponds or in brooks, streams and rivers. Coldwater species have become ravenous, as have the various spiny-rayed fishes. In other words, whatever you like to fish for, chances of success rate high in June. Whether you have a fully equipped fishing boat with all the bells and whistles, or a plain old canoe, boating now makes all kinds of sense. After months of being penned up inside, boating rates as a safe way to get out, have fun and stay away from others. When you’re finally out on the water, the feeling of release, of freedom, will lighten your burden and lessen your worries. I have found that while fishing, my cares and forebodings vanish. Fishing gives us a way, if only temporarily, of abandoning stress. Fish Fry As a dedicated trout and salmon fisherman, I like to pursue my species of choice as much as possible. But given that we live in such uncertain times, much of what we took for granted before seems out-of-reach now. We don’t know how long this pandem-

ic will last, but it’s a sure bet that we won’t be all the way back to normal for a long, long time. Supermarket shelves will probably not brim with fresh cod, haddock and other ocean fish. For those who like white, flaky fish, this poses a problem. However, there is an easy solution. Spiny-rayed fish such as white perch and black crappie are abundant and easily taken in June. Perch and crappie fillets taste as good as any store-bought fish and lend themselves to being rolled in a seasoned coating (some may simply use flour) and fried. Also, the fish that most everyone despises, species such as yellow perch and sunfish, make good eating too. Don’t disparage these ubiquitous and otherwise-unwelcome species, because a fish fry of yellow perch or sunfish beats no fish fry at all. You may even come to like them. I do, and I’m pretty fussy about such things. So for the sake of varying your diet, I suggest having a go at spiny-rayed fish species. Besides them tasting so good, they are fun to catch. Sure, the glamor species fight better by virtue of being larger. On the other hand, a 12-inch white perch can give an inflated impression of its size once the battle begins. Try using ultralight outfits. If you have a fish locator, use it to locate schools, since perch and crap-

pies are schooling fish. Have an anchor ready, so that when that first fish bites you can gently lower the anchor and stay in touch with the school. The anchor may temporarily put the fish down, so just keep casting. In a few minutes, they should go on the bite again. Also, it pays to have two rods all rigged up, so that if one gets hung on bottom or if the line breaks, you can grab the other rod and continue catching fish, unabated. River Trip Goose River in Swanville and Belfast makes its way from Swan Lake to the sea in a sinuous, slow-moving course. With lots of sharp turns and oxbows, the river makes the perfect vehicle for exploring by canoe. Try launching at the upstream side of the Smart Road Bridge (See the DeLorme Atlas, Map 14, A-5). By paddling, you should reach Smith Pond, a flow-through pond about 3 miles upstream, in perhaps 45 minutes, depending upon how fast you wish to go. The trip may take longer, given the circuitous nature of the river, and that’s a good thing. At every turn, expect to see various forms of wildlife. Perhaps you’ll see a deer or two, drinking from the river’s edge. Ducks of all kinds will launch into the air as you round each bend. Songbirds, including warblers, will add to the mix. Here

Midcoast angler and Maine Sportsman contributing writer David Putnam takes his boat to local ponds for smallmouth bass. Tom Seymour photo

and there you will see swirls on the still water – signs of pickerel or bass frightened by your approach. Although the river is bounded on both sides by roads, it’s shielded by a significant barrier of trees and fields, giving the impression of being remote and uncharted. It’s an illusion, but a nice one. And again, while paddling this natural wonder, cares of the world dissipate like morning mist before the rising sun. Once in Smith Pond, try fishing for the wide variety of fish species, including brook trout (DIF&W stocks the river annually, and many spend their lives in the pond), chain pickerel, largemouth bass, white perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, and even the occasional salmon that managed to surmount the dam at Swan Lake and swim downstream. Hidden Wonders No matter where in Midcoast Maine you live, you can find adventures similar to

the Goose River trip. Break out the DeLorme Atlas or contact DIF&W biologists in your region and ask them for advice. These folks are always ready and willing to share information. When you decide upon a place to visit, pack a lunch and bring a camera. Even if the fish don’t bite, which is unlikely, you can revel in your time spent in Maine’s great outdoors and take pictures to view later. It’s a fact that far more people head away, up north for example, for their boating and fishing. But in doing so, they ignore the countless possibilities in their own backyards. Every county in Maine contains places to go boating and canoeing. And perhaps, once the world and the State of Maine finally settle down to something like normal, you will have found a new, favorite place to visit and recharge. My very best wishes to you all.

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Shooting for Sanity Amid the Pandemic The best way for shooters to deal with the current situation is to get out to shoot, wherever and whenever possible. The second-best way is to start planning for the upcoming hunting season, and the one after that, and the one after that. The virus and the threat of the virus have already impacted all the outdoor pursuits we love. Spring turkey hunts and coyote baiting doubtless have seen less participation this year. Rod and gun clubs closed months ago, rather than risking violating social distance guidelines. At the time of this writing, sporting camps hold no guests, and guides go without clients. Perhaps only fly-tying and spending time at the reloading bench remain as safe yet solitary pastimes. Without access to a significant tract of private land and perhaps some needed tools such as a clay target launcher, these are not good days for most shooters. Bore cleaning and dry firing exercises offer only limited amounts of fun. One sign of the times that ought to concern us all seems rooted in the earliest

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days of the crisis and continues to march right along with the advances of the disease – whenever instability looms, Americans seem genetically programmed to respond by stockpiling. A hurricane forms in the Gulf of Mexico, and stores all along the Eastern Seaboard sell out of milk and flashlight batteries. Snow is predicted, and people rush out to buy another snow shovel. In this case, it is ammunition and toilet paper sending otherwise rational people rushing to buy. Apparently, large numbers of our fellow citizens feel the response to a pulmonary ailment includes firearms and toilet paper. It seems to me there is a difference between prudence, and panic. Ammo Sales At the end of March, AMMO, Inc. asserted in a press release that the compa-

ny intends to “expand its manufacturing and production capabilities at its facilities in Arizona and Wisconsin to meet the increased demand as a result of Covid-19 and the upcoming election.” The upcoming election? Really? The election of Andrew Jackson was decided in the United States House of Representatives. The United States Supreme Court determined the election of George W. Bush. I am not aware that any previous election in the United States of America ever required increased ammunition production. AMMO, Inc.’s press release goes on to state, “With the significant rise in recent pistol and small rifle ammunition purchase orders, AMMO’s production facilities are currently operating at near maximum capacity. AMMO’s facility in Payson (AZ), which primarily serves retail partners, is currently operating at surge capacity of 115% with employees working two shifts, seven days a week.” Those statistics fly in the face of Maine’s recent workforce expe-

The best medicine for shooters during this Coronavirus pandemic is looking ahead to a return of fine times spent with good friends, talented dogs and the firearms we steward for the next generation. Here, the author’s friend Brad Varney pauses during a mid-week pheasant hunt a season or two ago. J C Allard photo

riences. This of us who are still working, feel relieved to have a job at all. This writer doubts all the increased ammunition production corresponds to increased sales of hunting licenses. A safe assumption says the increases reflect demand for 9mm and .45 caliber pistol ammunition, as well as .223 center-fire rifle cartridges for the AR-15 family of weapons. Social Distance I am far more the taciturn old Yankee than most, and lived through all the years when we thought the Soviet Union would attack without warning. I even delivered firewood by moonlight during the Great Northeast Blackout of November 1965.

My parents raised us to keep supplies in the larder and, of course, keep a stock of ammunition close by. If I see a sale on Winchester AA trap loads, I buy them. If I come across .270 or .308 at a good price, I pick it up. But that is not the same as frantic purchases that empty the store shelves and deny our neighbors the same opportunity. The best way for shooters to deal with the current situation is to get out to shoot, wherever and whenever possible. The second-best way is to start planning for the upcoming hunting season, or the one after that, when we all can get back out there together. Back in 1918, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 61

A Bucket of Smelts These days, most of the large smelt runs in Maine are closed to dipping; such is the case with what was once a major event for many years in the Town of Harmony. Folks with nets gathered at a place called Harmony Castle, where Main Stream – which is actually the west branch of the Sebasticook River – dumps into Great Moose Pond. Each April, as the dandelion greens are ready to be boiled in some salt pork, I can’t help but to think it’s time for the smelts to run at “The Castle.” Other wardens and I spent many nights there – it was a ritual for so many people. In fact, it’s one of those things you can’t describe and need to experience first-hand for the images to seem real. The Junked School Bus There were several ways to access the smelting area – you could come by boat or canoe, or take one of

It was after midnight. I knew the poacher would come back for the smelts he’d hidden in the abandoned school bus. The question was – could I wait him out without becoming hypothermic in the frigid pre-dawn darkness? two paths through the woods. One path came off Wild Goose Drive and the other off the Castle Road. The Castle Road path was the most popular for those arriving by foot, and it was the one I most often utilized. Along this path, a short way in from the road, sat an old yellow junked school bus. I always felt this would be a good place for someone to hide their over-limit of smelts before they got out to the road, and I always checked on my way out in the wee hours of the morning. The Discovery For years, I had no luck locating over-limit smelts. Then, during the winter of 1980-81, on a pitch-dark, cold and very windy morning about 1:30 a.m., to my surprise I found a ten-quart pail full of smelts hidden behind

Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 60)

World War I and the effects of the socalled Spanish Flu devastated the fall hunting season. But the season came around again in 1919, and then 1920, and so on, and no one thought of buying up all the ammunition in the store in case they met a flu victim or worried over Warren Harding’s November 1920 defeat of Governor James M. Cox.

the bus. Everyone had left the run, so I decided to stay and wait for someone to return for the smelts. The problem with this plan was that I was not dressed to sit and wait, as the weather had become exceedingly difficult to tolerate. The fact is that during surveillance, wardens often are required for hours at a time to remain in one place in the bitter cold or while fighting off clouds of biting insects. It’s an art form that takes a great deal of self-discipline and willpower. Meanwhile, back behind the bus, I tried to make myself as comfortable as possible. After about an hour, I got so cold I started doing push-ups and other exercises to keep warm. The thought of leaving never occurred

to me – I had waited so many years to actually find some smelts hidden there that I had no intention of abandoning the bus. I kept up this lonesome suffering the rest of the night. Gotta Move the Warden Truck Just before dawn, I knew I had to re-position my hidden vehicle, because when it became light it would be visible from the road. So at the first sign of light from a rising sun, I made my way out to the road and to the spot I had stashed my truck about ten hours earlier. I knew that coming out onto the road to a new hiding place would be a critical time that could compromise my effort, but I had no choice – it had to be moved. I entered my truck, started the engine and began pulling out onto

Recall just a few years ago, when fictitious reports claimed the Obama Administration intended to strangle supplies of ammunition in an attempt to bring gun control by executive order. Stocks of .22 rimfire disappeared overnight, and stayed gone for months. Turns out the panic buying started the shortage, and the maker’s slim profit margins on .22 rimfire kept it going. Something similar could easily grip us now.

the road. As I reached the point of no return when the truck was free of the bushes and fully exposed, I spotted a Jeep stopping by the footpath. The passenger door began to open. Busted The passenger started to exit the vehicle, but the he glanced back, saw my truck, and quickly pulled his leg back in and slammed the door. I’d been had. My frustration was more than I could describe. I did all I could – I made note of the license plate number, and just drove on by. Down the road, I turned around and came back, went back to the bus and retrieved the bucket of smelts. There was nothing for me to do but own the whole sad episode, go home and lick my wounds. Maybe, I thought to myself, if I wait a few more years, I’ll find another bucket of smelts behind the bus.

Better Times So when the loading bench gets boring and the guns are cleaned and oiled, get out and shoot. And at the end of the day, sit down with good books, such as Brad Varney’s great two volumes of Maine-ly Bird Hunting and Mainely Wingshooting, and Terry Wieland’s Dangerous Game Rifles. And leave some ammo in the store for the neighbors.

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A Season Struggling Not to be Lost In mid-March, when Acadia National Park closed down, my son and I canceled our weekend biking trip we had planned for mid-April. No problem, I thought to myself, look inland – fewer people; less congestion. Two days later, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument closed down as well. On April 3, the Governor issued an executive order that suspended all lodging operations, including campgrounds, and all public and private camping facilities. It didn’t occur to me until a week or so later, that the order meant Maine North Woods would close their gates to campers as well. Which of course they did, including all my favorite river-access Allagash and St. John campsites. I canceled a week-long canoe trip to the St. John River that was planned for the short window of navigable water flow in May. On April 14, the Appalachian Mountain Club closed its gates to the vast territory east of Moosehead Lake, known as their Maine Woods Initiative. Lodges, cabins, trails and campsites would remain empty until at least June 4. Meanwhile, large sections of the Appalachian Trail, south of Maine, were being closed in areas that traversed national parks. Virus hotspots www.MaineSportsman.com

in other states closed AT trailheads and support facilities. A family fishing excursion, planned for a weekend at Little Lyford Pond Camps in late May, went by the wayside A few days later, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation closed all campsites on public land units throughout the state. This included even remote-access sites like those in the Holeb Unit along the Moose River west of Jackman. And Baxter State Park announced it would not open the camping season or roads until July 1. The most remote campsites in the state, along with Katahdin and the northern terminus of the AT, will remain vacant until summer is in full bloom. A mid-June fishing trip to some remote ponds near Holeb Falls on the Moose River went down the tubes. And my July canoe trip to Matagamon Lake inside Baxter State Park is in obvious peril. No Axe to Grind The complete ban on camping, backpacking, canoe trips and multi-day spring fishing trips over the entire state was breathtaking. The crisis has been marked by widely-distributed images of empty city streets all over the world. A more fitting monument for Maine might be the deserted sum-

mit at Katahdin on a sunny afternoon in late June, or an empty beach at Lily Bay State Park. The places we go for solitude, and for reassurance that the natural world continues outside of our human hamster wheel, have been shut down. We need those places now more than ever. And it’s fair to question the necessity of including far-flung remote places in the shutdown orders. But when a microburst thunderstorm is bearing down on you in the Allagash, you don’t decide to tie down some of your canoes and leave others untethered. Caution, even over-caution, must be the rule when the potential consequences are so severe. It’s fun to run Class 3+ rapids in an empty canoe with nearby road access. It’s madness to run that rapid on the St. John, miles from rescue, with a child passenger and a load of essential gear for the week ahead. The shutdown made sense. Folks in Jackman, Greenville, Allagash Village and Bar Harbor don’t want their health endangered by me traveling to their location, any more than I want my health impacted by someone traveling from Manhattan. If nothing else, it reminds us how incredibly fortunate we are to have these places to go to in ordinary times.

Not the Allagash River: For the time being, we will settle for the Sandy River, shown here near Farmington.

The Other Side of Shutdown Assuming no magic-potion vaccine comes along, opening the woods in Maine is likely to be a gradual event. It would make sense that single-party, remote campsites would open before the large campgrounds do. For instance, Baxter State Park will likely open backcountry lean-tos and tent sites before a big venue like Roaring Brook Campground or the cabins at Daicey Pond. Self-propelled travelers who are willing to hike or canoe to a remote site may see the first available openings and have an advantage over car campers or the RV crowd. North Maine Woods might be willing to open the river-access only sites along the Allagash, while multi-party camping areas on the road system are still closed. Campsites that have traditionally been multi-party sites might be limited to a single group of folks who are traveling together. And sites that have traditionally been open to whoever arrived first may require a reservation

made ahead of time. When the larger venues do open, it’s easy to imagine that steps will be taken to avoid crowding. Maybe only a third of the usual drive-in sites will be available on a given night at popular campgrounds like Mount Blue State Park or Sebago. Big lodges that share bathroom or kitchen facilities, like the AMC lodges near Gulf Hagas and the Maine Huts & Trails lodges, will have even bigger challenges to overcome. And traditional sporting camp operators will need to make adjustments as well. A Different Experience It would be nice to think that this crisis will all go away in June and leave us with at least the remnants of an outdoor season that involves more than short walks at the local land trust. The reality, however, is more complicated, and it reveals that when we go to the woods, we don’t really isolate ourselves from contact with other humans. It just feels that way.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 63

Downeast Offers Hot Trout Action in June Spin-casters and fly-rod anglers can find plenty of salmonid action on a multitude of waters this month. Hancock and Washington Counties both offer fast trout action in June. According to Region C fisheries biologist, Greg Burr, “With this winter’s poor ice conditions, there will again be more trout and salmon held over to the spring fishery.” An excellent bet to catch brook trout is Fox Pond. This water is found along Route 182, between Hancock and Cherryfield. Refer to Delorme’s Atlas (Map 24, D-5). This small 77-acre brook-trout water was stocked last fall with 3,050 hatchery brookies ranging in size from 7 to 12 inches, and those fish should provide for plenty of excitement this spring. According to Cliff Gray of Orland, bait fishers often use worms and bobbers to fish for trout along the shorelines. Once Fox warms up, fly-rod trollers use small streamers such as a Jerry’s Smelt, a Nine-Three or a Gray Ghost to catch brookies. Wet flies such as the Mickey Finn or a Woolly Bugger, when fished slowly on a wet line, can produce trout in the 10- to 12-inch range. Fox Pond offers a boat launching site and ample off-road parking. Browns and More Jones Pond in Gouldsboro (Map 17, A-1) should contain hold-over rainbow

trout and should be excellent trolling for ’bows up to 22 inches. Hatchery personnel stocked 700 rainbow trout and 100 brown trout last fall. Jones Pond is a medium-size, 467-acre body of water with a maximum depth of 48 feet. The principal fisheries are for brown trout and rainbow trout. An experimental brown trout stocking program was initiated in 1980. This species and rainbow trout now provide a more consistent fishery for anglers. One of the best ways I know of to entice rainbows is by trolling lures about 10 feet down and 75 to 100 feet behind the boat. My nephew, Kevin Pendexter of Auburn, who fishes for brown trout regularly, suggests trolling an orange and copper, Speedy Shiner. Kevin also recommends slowly trolling sewnon shiners to entice brown trout. Another exciting possibility to try is to cast a dry fly, especially a size 12 White Wulff, close to the shoreline as dusk approaches when browns normally feed. A good public boat-launching

site is maintained by the town of Gouldsboro along the northeastern shore. Another new trout water is Williams Pond, T28MD. It is a small, 19-acre pond in eastern Hancock County (Map 24, A-5). This was stocked in the fall of 2019 with 250 13” brook trout. Williams Pond provides fine water quality for brook trout, but pickerel are present and probably limit the fishery. To get there, take the Beddington CCC road from Rte. 9 (the “Airline”) at Beddington, and bear left in the general vicinity of Gould Brook. Washington County Action One Washington County stream that comes alive in May and June is Grand Lake Stream (GLS). This stream (see Map 35, B-4) is world renowned to fly fishermen. Annual high flows of water often push salmon out of the dam pool down into the hatchery pool and below. High water also pulls some fish down from West Grand and others up from Big Lake. Crystal-clear water and over two miles of stream offer fly casters great fish-

ing opportunities for feisty brook trout or tail-walking salmon. According to Region C Biologists, “adult salmon will be stocked into Grand Lake Stream beginning this spring. The 900 salmon will be 17 inches or more, and will be stocked to augment the 800 10-inch brook trout spring fishery for May, June, and possibly for the beginning of July. The salmon will be scatter-stocked in the various pools throughout the length of the stream.” My fishing friend, Don Lynch of East Orland, uses a size 12 Hornberg with a tiny Pheasant-tail, bead-head as a dropper. He also recommended a 4X tippet, and a Weight Forward (WTF) 5-weight fly line fly. However, other fly-fishing friends of mine often throw Bead-Head Woolly Buggers, Bead-Head Caddis Pupa, small Mickey Finns, or an Adams.

The author’s wife Donna with two Orland River brook trout caught this spring. Jim Lemieux photo

Isolated Ponds For folks who are practicing strict social distancing, three small, isolated Washington County brook trout ponds – the Spectacle Ponds – might just fit the bill. Located in Deblois, these ponds are newly stocked kettle-hole ponds; see Map 25, C-2. They were stocked in 2019 with 850 7-inch brook trout. Anglers can access these waters from the Schoodic Lake Road that goes through the (Continued on page 66)

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64 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

How and Where to Enjoy the Outdoors During COVID-19 Well into the month of May, Covid-19 continued to expand here in southern Maine with no sign of decline, folks were quarantined in their homes with social distancing restrictions – everyone wanted things to “get back to normal.” Before Covid-19, many people were living in a synthetic bubble of technology, fast-foods; totally relying on frozen, processed foods. They survived with the aid of technology – all was good with most people. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed weakness in medical equipment availability and – who would have guessed – toilet tissue. We may have exceeded our “technology carrying capacity.” Thank goodness for the frontline first responders, medical staff along with others who are putting their lives on the line. The country will recover, but there will be a new normal. Some people will have a difficult time adjusting, however. Reality Check Outdoor people understand the “circle of life” and are familiar with the natural law of “carrying capacity” a condition where animal (including human) populations exceed the available food and require more natural resources that the environment can provide. They have experience with hunting and fishing, as well as with preparing and www.MaineSportsman.com

consuming what they kill. There are three groups of people: 1) Those who have no understanding of nature or outdoor skills whatsoever – their environments are malls and smart phones; 2) The sunny-day hikers and urban bird-watcher types – they like to watch nature through glass, while staying on groomed, marked trails; and 3) Hunters and gathers, who like to jump in and become part of nature. The third group doesn’t mind getting their hands in a gut pile or cutting the head of a fish; they understand how the natural system works. For them, hunting and fishing is a safe refuge that will provide food, enjoyment of the natural world, and exercise. Most people reading The Maine Sportsman are in this category. The new reality is that the safest place you can be is outdoors – camping, hiking, hunting or fishing. And luckily, there are a lot of public lands available for those activities in southern Maine. Public Lands During this pandemic, Doris and I are spending a lot of time in the Vernon S. Walker WMA, located in Shapleigh and Newfield. I look for good stand locations and check game cameras;

Doris likes the exercise and fresh air. This 4,937-acre parcel of public land offers a lifetime of outdoor recreation opportunities, everything from hiking to hunting and fishing. Camping and fires are not allowed in the WMA. This WMA is located in the center of York County. There are multiple access points and adequate parking, Route 11 runs parallel to the northwestern boundaries and the Mann Road bisects the area. The northern section is in Newfield and can be accessed from Route 11 farther north; look for a Wildlife Management Area sign. A trail runs from the parking area into the WMA with great views of the surrounding mountains. Other access points are on the Mirror Lake Road and also the Mann Road. To locate the best parts of the area and avoid others, consider getting off the beaten trails while exploring more remote areas. Use a GPS unit or compass and map to plan your outings. Bushwhacking For hunters who are scouting for hunting stand sites for the upcoming deer season, I have found that wild game avoids most of the hiking trails in the area because they are saturated with human and dog odors. Hunters should consider getting off the beaten path to locate poten-

Game cameras can be great fun for the family. However, certain rules must be followed. You must have landowner permission to use them on private lands, while on public land you can use them without permission. Val Marquez photo

tial hunting areas. Fishermen also need to locate difficult to access sections of streams to avoid overfished, easy accessed waters, as well. There are three brooks located in the Vern Walker WMA: Branch, Davis and Jones, as well as three ponds: Spicer, Mann and Unnamed. The WMA also holds one of southern Maine’s premier trout streams, Little Ossipee River, into which IF&W stocks trout each spring. These waters have confusing regulations, and folks need to check the fishing law book before fishing. The Little Ossipee River from the stone dam upstream of the Route 11 Bridge in North Shapleigh to Bridge Street in Newfield is artificial lures only, and all trout must be released alive at once. Also the section of Davis Brook from the bridge on the Mann Road to where it dumps into the Little

“O” comes under these same restrictions. Spicer Pond is also artificial lures only, no ice fishing, is closed to fishing from October 1 to March 31, and no motorboats are allowed. Spicer is a shallow pond managed as walk-in trout water. Anglers who enjoy float-tubing for remote brook trout will love this pond. A tricky part as far are regulations are concerned, is Spicer’s tributaries, which flow from the stone dam at the pond’s outlet to the bridge on the Mann Road – this section is general fishing regulations. You can access Spicer from a gated dirt road at the WMA parking area on Route 11 in Shapleigh, or for a more interesting walk, consider a trail on the Mann Road. To locate it, look for a cable across the trail head near the Davis Brook Bridge. (Continued on page 66)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 65

Bass Take Center Stage This Month I was trolling for lake trout on Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1) running leadcore lines and frozen smelt instead of my usual downrigger set up. I was working from my cove over to Frye’s Gut in about 60 feet of water. One rod was set deep, while the other ran midway in the water column. As I neared Squaw Island, the telltale clicking from the reel on the shallow rod told me that I had a fish on. I set the hook and started reeling. I was amazed by the tenacity of this fish. It shook the line hard, making me think I had a salmon on. As I played the fish closer to the surface, it really came alive, but instead of diving like a salmon or laker, this thing started darting left and right. Not until I got the fish in did I think it was a bass, but it was, a nice smallmouth, at that! I was shocked, as it was mid-June and

that bass should have been along the shoreline spawning. As our waters warm up this month, bass come into the shallows to spawn, providing some great angling opportunities. Sebago Lake is a top local spot for bass angling. The crystal-clear water, miles of shoreline and plenty of structure – natural, and man-made – are tailor-made for bass. Most camps or homes on Sebago have some form of sand beach, created back before it was illegal to do so. Bass love these sandy spots to fan a nest, and if there is a dock to provide shade and cover, that’s even better. Most residences have both. “Get Away from my Dock!” As a kid, I would fish with my dad, working the shoreline this time of year for spawning bass. He would place our boat parallel to the shoreline, and we would cast

to shore, trying to get alongside any docks or rocks where we suspected fish were holding. More than once he had to bring me in so I could unhook my lure from someone’s dock, much to his chagrin. He always told me not to hit a tied-up boat or the dock, but I think his warning caused it to happen. I chuckle now because he loved to fish around docks for bass but hated it when someone did it at his place. I recall two anglers in a sleek bass boat pitching lures under his dock one June day while he was get-

ting steamed watching them. I egged him on by telling him if they caught a fish, they would likely put it in their live-well and haul it across the lake. That was too much for him. He walked down to the dock and hollered at them, sarcastically asking them if they wanted to come and fish from his dock. Dad was a very peaceful person, but don’t mess with his fish! Lures Bass anglers use a variety of lures, from rubber worms to spinner baits to stick baits. We always had good luck with Mepp’s spin-

ners. Anything that invades a bass nest will get struck at, and if you’re lucky you will hook the fish. Dad and I always had good luck with Rapala floating minnows, too. These things look like a real baitfish, and the plastic lip on the front makes them dive and dart, perfect for shallow fishing along the shoreline. Casting a sinking fly line with a streamer toward shore is another great way to target June bass. Bass Spots – Thomas Pond A few years ago, (Continued on next page)

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66 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 65)

I got tired of driving past Thomas Pond in Casco (Map 5, B-1), so I decided to fish it. Access to this small pond starts on the south side of Route 302. Boaters must navigate up the small brook that flows out of the pond and under the bridge over Route 302, so a very small boat or canoe or kayak is all you can access the pond with. Once I got through the maze of rocks, I started trolling the shoreline from my square-stern canoe, and within minutes I was onto a small-

mouth. This one was a little one, but it gave a spirted fight, as I was trolling a streamer on a fly rod. Thomas Pond has large- and smallmouth bass and is also stocked with brook trout and salmon, so you never know what you are going to get into. After I made my second lap around the pond, I latched onto another smallie, and this one was bigger. It gave a spirted fight, especially on the fly rod. No more fish on that trip, but it was fun to fish a new spot that is

Downeast (Continued from page 63)

barrens off the Hatchery Lake Road. A short carry of 50 feet will bring you to the pond. The Spectacle Ponds are located behind Pineo Pond. The pond splits into two basins, each being smaller than 10 acres and no more than 16 feet deep. According to Region C Fisheries Biologist Greg Burr, “These ponds are producing nice looking brookies.” Both ponds have carry-in access.

right in my backyard. Range Ponds; Lake Auburn To the north, the Range (rhymes with “bang”) Pond Chain (Map 5, A-3) in Poland is a top bassing destination, also heavily stocked with all three trout species. Trolling the shoreline of any one of the three ponds will put you into bass and trout territory. Boating anglers can launch on Skellinger Road and choose Middle or Upper Range Ponds. You can access Lower Range Pond from the launch at Range Pond State Park. Farther north,

Lake Auburn (Map 11, E-4) is known for being an ice-out salmon and lake trout lake, but the bassing is top notch on this water supply for the Lewiston-Auburn area. The shallow waters along Lake Shore Drive are ideal for catching largemouth and smallies on their spawning beds. Be sure to stay north of the buoys that run from the launch to Spring Road, as the left half of the lake is closed to boating. June is the official start of summer in this neck of the woods, and bass angling is hot and heavy. Whether you throw a worm on

The third small, secluded water is Upper Spectacle Pond, located in T19 ED BPP (Map 36, E-3; not to be confused with the Deblois-area Spectacle Ponds discussed above). It was stocked in the fall of 2019 with 1,750 8-inch brookies. The pond has a carry-in trail that is approximately 400 feet long. “Upper Spec” is approximately 25 acres and 30 feet deep. This pond also contains yellow perch and chain pickerel that might entertain any young anglers who might have tagged along.

Fellow guide and neighbor of the author, Craig Bailey, shows off a nice Sebago Lake smallmouth taken last summer. Photo by Tom Roth

a bobber off your dock or pitch lures toward shore, this is the time of the year to fish the shallows for some spirited and plentiful fishing action.

In Memoriam The author’s brother, Bob Lemieux, passed away April 10, 2020. According to Jim, “Bob was a passionate hunter, fisherman and woodsman. He shared his passion and outdoors knowledge with his siblings, his nephews and many other family members.” This photo was taken on Allagash Lake during a Lemieux family outing.

Southern Maine (Continued from page 64)

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Family Outings Keeping kids in the house and separated from friends and sports creates all kinds of lasting issues. So getting kids outdoors in a safe environment is really important during the troubled times. Placing and checking game cameras can be an interesting and safe pastime for the whole family. Fishing with the family is another good option. No one really knows how this pandemic will play out – it could go very badly, or – like in a fairy tale – it could disappear, which unfortunately I doubt will happen. Whatever, people that had no interest in the outdoors will become more reliant on the physical distance-safety and table fare it provides. Environmental groups like the Natural Resources Council of Maine and other organizations got it right. The new world order may force many of us to become much more reliant on the environment and less reliant on technology.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 67

Feeling Frustrated Without Friends and Family? For many of us, our sporting passion is as much about friends and family as it is about getting outdoors. Our enjoyment of the outdoor sports experience is enhanced by the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, including our canine companions. Hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor experiences and traditions are fun in themselves, but sharing them with others is what really makes these moments so special. Sure, hunters and anglers typically relish time alone on the river or in the woods. But even if we spend hours in a secluded deer stand or casting solo to rises in our favorite pool, we often have a camp or campsite to go back to where we share the day’s joys and frustrations with our siblings, spouse, children, parents or other relatives and friends. A Different World This year is quite different. Many of our sacred traditions will have to be postponed, delayed or changed in response to the global health crisis. Depending on our circumstances, we may not have the opportunity to get outdoors with some of our closest friends or family members, except perhaps at a reasonable distance or by changing up logistics and lodging to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

This might be workable for some activities, like kayaking, but not possible for others, like going to camp. I’m sure I will be able to meet up at the stream for an evening hatch with some of my local fishing friends, like we usually do, as long as we arrive in separate vehicles and stay several rod-lengths apart. And I’m itching to get out with my friend who promised to help me train my young bird dog so she’ll be ready to point some grouse and woodcock in the fall. That might be only possible if we take extra precautions. A Tradition Interrupted This will be the first year in almost three decades that my college buddies and I won’t be going on our annual June fly fishing trip. The seven of us are scattered from New England to Maryland to Utah, but air travel and long driving trips are not advised at this point. Our traditional destination is a cabin in northern New Hampshire where we share close quarters, cook family style meals, and sometimes mix up whose beer bottle is whose. We’re all over 60 now, so none of us want to put ourselves or our friends at risk of illness. It’s kind of ironic that even a remote cabin won’t be a safe refuge until we have a vaccine or some

kind of immunity ID cards. Earning Points We managed to pull off our trips every year since the early 90s, even when we had young kids or teens playing sports. This usually required each of us to build up some serious “points” with our wives, or horse-trade comparable weekends for them to enjoy with their friends. Now and then, one or two of us would miss a year because of a conflict; fortunately never because of an illness. A few times we had to resort to a make-up trip later in the year when someone missed the June weekend. We all dread the thought of missing an entire year. It would never take much convincing for me to “sacrifice” another weekend to go up to the cabin a second time as a “special favor” for one of my friends. It’s tough to accept that it may be quite a while before we can plan our annual trip, especially given that we aren’t getting any younger. Fortunately for me there are plenty of places within an hour’s drive of my house to wet a line. And I have miles of hiking trails right out my back door. But my more suburban friends are deprived of the soul-refreshing days in a cabin deep in the woods and fishing on a

Many of us are frustrated to have our annual outdoor traditions with friends interrupted. The author (front row, center) has gathered with his college friends for a June trout fishing trip for nearly 30 years -- but not this year.

beautiful river for wild brook trout.

sun. Soon after we moved to a new house, but it was more than a year before my wife and I were ready to welcome another dog into our lives. Last fall, we decided it was time. We picked up our puppy in late October and named her Autumn. She’s a Llewellin Setter, which is a type of English Setter bred for hunting, not dog

Canine Companion At this point, getting outdoors isn’t a problem for me. In fact, it’s a necessity to give my newest canine companion a chance to run while I take my daily (or twice daily) walks in the woods. Two years ago, we lost our dear April, a lab-hound cross, who’d been with us for sixteen laps around the

(Continued on page 69)

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68 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Growing Bigger Brook Trout in the Rangeley Region I moved from Michigan to Maine in 1990, after serving five years as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy, and after that as a licensed

practical nurse at veteran’s hospitals. When I first arrived, it only took a few short trips to the woods and waters to discover that

Maine exceeded Michigan by far when it came to top-quality hunting and fishing opportunities – there were way too many people in Michigan. In Michigan, I mostly fished for brown trout, but always read and dreamed about the big brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Maine. In Michigan I caught a few small brookies, but never found any place where they offered bigger versions of this beautiful fish. My first fishing expedition in Maine took me to a glacial brook

trout pond on the top of a mountain south of Rangeley. I hooked and landed an 18-inch brook right away, and assumed this was a “normal” fishing experience – I just figured Maine was full of huge brook trout. At that time, I never thought it would take me another ten years to catch a brookie bigger than that 18-incher. When I finally did start catching larger brook trout, I still never topped the 18-inch mark ... and these 17and 18-inch brookies didn’t come easy at all. I tried everything

I knew and started absorbing as much information as I could to teach myself more about this awesome creature. I drooled over the old photos of huge brook trout from the Rangeley Region, where it seemed a concentration of big brook trout lived. Fishing Tradition At some of the antiquated fishing lodges where I have guided or fished in the past, I totally enjoyed the old tarnished, knotty-pine walls, covered with black and white photos of fish from

(Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 69 (Continued from page 68)

yesteryear. In some lodges they had actual mounts on display, weathered and worn from decades of wear and tear, but in most places just a simple outline on a board of the trophy fish and a description of its length, weight and girth. Dreams of a chance at catching huge brook trout in the Rangeley Region bring anglers from all around the world, now and back then. Over the years, I have enjoyed reading about the history and tradition surrounding Rangeley’s famous brook trout fishery. Some of the more recent data I’ve read suggests that our current fishing is not what it used to be – that the big brookie numbers and size are way down from days past. From my point of view, and in the opinions of biologists and outdoor writers, several factors might have caused the decline in big brookie numbers: 1) the blueback trout (Salvelinus alpinus oquassa) that served as a food source for huge brookies of the past are not around like they used to be; 2) bait fish-eating lake

trout and landlocked salmon have been introduced throughout the region; and 3) over-fishing by those old-time fishers may have really done a number on the brook trout population – especially affecting bigger brookies in a negative way. Fortunately, some forward-thinking folks have been trying to reverse the damage done in the past by instituting fishing regulations (such as size and creel limits, limited ice fishing, and catch-andrelease) to help the brook trout population better thrive. I especially like the push to save native brook trout waters from the introduction of illegal fish, from the “bucket biologists” as well as improper stocking programs. There’s a time and place for stocked brook trout, but native brookie waters should remain pristine if possible. When an angler nets one of these special native brookies and then releases it back into the water, it’s kind of like the canary in the coal mine shaft – an indicator of well-being within our ecosystem.

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 67)

shows. I was first introduced to Llewellin Setters when writing an article for The Maine Sportsman in 2016 (Is Your Dog Fit for the Hunt? August 2016) featuring Maine Guide Kurt Spear and his three Llewellin Setters: Storm, Gus and Moxie. After spending a few days with those remarkable dogs, I knew that my next dog would be a Llewellin Setter. I did my research and found a breeder I liked – Blue Mountain Llewellins, in Colebrook, NH. We monitored their reports on each litter.

The Great Experiment The effort to grow bigger brook trout in the Rangeley Region has been going on for quite a while now. In my limited time in this region, I have noticed a slight uptick in the number of larger brookies – nothing based on scientific data, just anecdotal information from my own experiences on the water. I have also listened to other anglers report their catches, and sorted through the fish tales to find some clear evidence. At one fishing lodge where I guided, there was a photo on the wall of a fellow proudly holding his trophy – a four-pound brookie that was caught sometime around the mid-1990s. I started guiding at this lodge around 2003, and at that time the owners said they hadn’t had a client take a brook trout of that size since the fish in the photo. A few years later I had clients at this lodge catching brookies that started approaching that size of fish in the photo. I took my own “personal best” brook trout of 19 inches during this time, topping my original re-

This stocked “trophy” will be released into the frying pan, while native brookies go back into the water. William Clunie photo

cord of 18 inches. I came back to the waters near this same lodge and fished on my own around 2010 and finally caught a brookie that hit the 20-inch mark. Several of my other angling friends in this region have taken much larger brookies since then – I’m not on the record as having taken any brook trout larger than that one yet. This season I will be seeking big brook trout in the Rangeley Region, searching out secret holes on the many excellent brook trout waters in this gorgeous land. I will mix this trophy hunt with plenty of angling adventures on other waters that don’t produce huge brookies ... I really do enjoy hitting remote brook trout ponds, knowing that a “tro-

In October, a pup became available from a pairing I liked, so we made the move. And we couldn’t be happier. Even though we may not see our friends or grown children for a while, we are happy to have an energetic and willing companion to keep us entertained. And, boy, can she run! As a well-bred Llewellin should, Autumn is good at staying close and checking in with me. We’ve got much more training to do, and I hope to get her on some live birds soon. Come October, I plan to be out covering some ground with the newest member of our family – man’s best friend.

phy” on these waters would run around 15 inches. The sheer enjoyment of hooking up with these smaller brook trout appeals to me. Their striking beauty and equally-striking fight keep me coming back, year after year. I do take stocked brookies home for the frying pan, but those beautiful native brook trout always get gently held with wet hands and quickly released back into the water. The past several years I haven’t even taken them out of the net to measure them, preferring to keep them right in the wet net for a quick release. I don’t care about a “personal best” anymore – I just want to feel the tug and hear the reel sing that familiar song.

The author’s energetic Llewellin Setter is always willing to enjoy a walk in the woods. Soon, she’ll be training to hunt ruffed grouse and woodcock. www.MaineSportsman.com

70 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Muskrat Trapping Some critics say you need a law degree just to understand the rules that apply to trapping muskrat. Here, the author convenes an introductory class titled “Muskrat Regulations 101.” Today we try to mentor our younger generations to get them involved in sports and outdoor recreations. There are several reasons we do this – mainly to get them outside doing healthy activities and to continue the heritage of that which we love so much, such as trapping, hunting and fishing. The furbearer most commonly first trapped by youngsters is the muskrat. Today trapping is so regulated and controlled that even trapping the lowly muskrat requires a comprehensive knowledge of the laws, as you will see below. This is a hurdle that turns off many of the young when taking the state-required trapping course. It is common to hear the comment “You need to be a lawyer to trap.” The regular muskrat trapping season corresponds to the regular furbearer trapping seasons published annually. There

are additional periods before and after the regular season during which muskrats may be trapped. These periods are the early and late seasons and they have specific additional rules in place, which must be followed. The Early Muskrat Trapping Season The early muskrat season is to allow the trapping of muskrats prior to the opening of the general trapping season. The reason for the early season is to allow trappers to take muskrats prior to freeze-up. In the Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) in the upper part of the state and areas of higher elevation, ice forms earlier than in the lower part of the state. Skim ice forms in October in most of these areas, making muskrat trapping difficult at best. Currently WMDs 1-6 and 9-11 have the early season. Additional rules apply during the early

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season. They are: • Traps must be set at or below ground or water level. Note: For enforcement purposes, traps will be considered set “at or below ground or water level” when they are set on objects which muskrats frequently visit, such as floating logs, logs extending from the water onto the bank and tree stumps located in or near the water. • The only traps allowed are foothold traps that are limited to an inside jaw spread between 3-11/16 inches and 5-3/8 inches (equivalent of a size 1-½ ), killer-type traps with a jaw spread of not more than 5 inches and colony traps (colony trap restrictions apply). • The use of any exposed bait (see below for definition of baits) or visible attractors is not permitted. • Keeping incidental mink or raccoon caught in muskrat traps is permitted. Any other furbearing animal caught incidentally in a muskrat trap must be immediately released alive, or, if found dead, must be left there in the trap and reported to a game warden as soon as possible.

This float has been designed to be selective in that it will not allow birds, especially raptors, to be caught during the late (spring) muskrat season.

The Late Muskrat Trapping Season After the close of the regular trapping season, muskrats may be trapped, but only in those areas that are open to beaver trapping. After February 28, in those WMD’s that remain open to beaver trapping, muskrat trapping is restricted to: • Killer type traps, foothold traps and colony traps, which must be “set to remain underwater” at all times. • Footholds on “covered floats.” A covered float is defined as a float completely covered on the sides and top with solid material, or hardware cloth, screen, or similar material, having a mesh size no greater than ½ inch square. • A covered float must be set, placed, and tended so that it is completely surrounded by water, and access to the float must be limited to openings at the extreme ends of the float and the opening may not exceed 7 inches in height, or 14 inches in width. • Only one trap may

be placed per float: the trap must be recessed 3 inches or greater from any opening in the cover; the trap chain or wire must be at least 3 feet long; and the maximum foothold trap size for covered float sets is No. 1-½ or equivalent size foothold trap. • The use of exposed bait (see below for definition of baits) or visible attractor on covered floats is prohibited. Colony Traps Colony traps, because of their construction size and their use, are limited to underwater; they are primarily a muskrat trap. Occasionally mink are caught in them, which can be kept as incidental while muskrat trapping. The following are rules that apply to the colony trap: • Colony traps may be used to trap furbearing animals throughout the trapping season, except that the outside dimensions of colony traps may not exceed 7 inches high (Continued on page 73)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 71

Backpacking for Trout If you are a devoted trout fisherman—an insanely devoted trout fisherman—then New Hampshire has something to offer you and your go-to-the-ends-ofthe-earth obsession. If you are a purist, wild brook trout in wild places is the holy grail of purity. There are around fifty designated “remote trout ponds” in New Hampshire that fingerling brook trout are stocked into via helicopter. There is also a plethora of icecold, crystal clear, wild brooks, streams and rivers that support fantastic fisheries. Some of these waterways house good-sized brown trout and rainbow trout, others only small native brookies. Great North Woods Coos County is relatively undeveloped. Paper and timber companies own much of this land, and the only access is through a webbing of dirt logging roads, which may or may not be maintained and easily passable. There is a spattering of remote trout ponds within these lands. Most of these ponds are shallow, muddy bottomed, and are located in midrange elevation of the forested hills and lower mountains. Thus, these ponds are not the typical superb cold, clear quick-moving water that trout thrive in on their own. It is questionable how the population would

If you weren’t a student or professor at Dartmouth College, you can’t drive to some fabulous trout-filled streams and rivers located within the Dartmouth College Grant. The only way past the locked gates is on foot, but if you’ve got the time, the fishing rewards make the long walks worthwhile.

The writer fly-fishes a remote helicopter-stocked trout pond in Northern New Hampshire, while enjoying the serene ambiance of a brilliantly pink sunset.

fare without the annual helicopter dump of fingerlings. Most of these ponds lie in the far northern Pittsburg-Errol vicinity. Some of the more popular ponds are Round Pond, Moose Pond, Middle Pond, East Inlet, and Bear Brook Pond which are all stocked with larger trout via a hatchery truck. Of the helicopter-stocked ponds, Coon Brook Bog, Harris Pond, Munn Pond, can be driven near to. Perry Ponds, Wright Pond, Stub Hill Pond, Signal Pond, Corser Pond, and Sweat Pond require some hiking and ambition to get to. One can certainly be rewarded for giving the extra effort, though, as these ponds receive much less pressure than their

counterparts and can produce some beautiful fish. Like the ponds of the area, many of the brooks here are muddy bottomed and not as clear and cold as those in the White Mountains. But they shouldn’t be overlooked for casting a fly or – where permitted by law – using a worm and bobber. Indian Stream, Perry Stream and Corser Brook all offer relatively easy access to stream fishing, with roads that parallel not too far away. However, the gems of moving-water fishing in the North are the Dead Diamond and Swift Diamond Rivers. Unfortunately, most of the access points to these pristine waterways and their fabulous hon-

eyholes are behind locked gates. They are located within the Dartmouth College Grant, a township owned and controlled by Dartmouth College. The only ones who can access the road system are students, faculty, alumni or members of partnership organizations. However, foot traffic is welcome for those willing to hoof it into the deep swirling pools, but it means miles of walking down dirt roads. White Mountains These high peaks offer a pristine landscape of alpine terrain, rock outcroppings and an occasional shale slide—reminiscent of what one would find in the Rocky Mountains. Scattered distantly throughout

these peaks are several hard-to-get-to trout ponds. Most are in high elevation and miles back on a hiking trail. Some of the most notable are Lonesome Lake (NH Delorme Map 43, F-11), Sawyer Ponds (Map 44, I-4), Greeley Ponds (Map 44, J-1), and Flat Mountain Ponds (Map 40, C-3). These are all located in the southern portion of the National Forest. Given the far away location of these waterbodies, it is sensible that if one is going to hike all the way in to fish, they may as well make it part of a longer backpacking trip to at least enjoy some summit or overlook views. Frankly, if this writer was going to do it, I’d turn it into a multi-day adventure. The general rules for the WMNF are that camping is allowed anywhere beyond 200 feet of an established trail. Why not hit a pond or two, take in a mountaintop view, maybe explore some swimming holes on a nearby brook and set up a mobile camp as you go? You could just live off the fat of the land – at least, if your fishing adventures are successful. There are many wonderfully beautiful brooks and streams to explore for trout in the area as well. The Peabody, Saco, Pemigewasset, and Wild Rivers are all fantastic (Continued on page 73) www.MaineSportsman.com

72 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Andro River Bronzebacks “Bust a Move” in June Standing waistdeep in the cold running water of the Androscoggin River felt good and offered some wonderful relief from the oppressive, muggy, summer humidity. The big sweeping river runs directly through Maine, forming a huge river valley from the border of New Hampshire all the way to the East coast of Maine, where it pours into the Merrymeeting Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. The hot and humid air always hangs in the lower elevation of the river valley, settling there like a stagnant puddle on hot, black asphalt in a seldom used parking lot. Where the river runs through the Western Maine Mountains (WMM), the valley holds the air even more still because of the rocky, mountain-

My reel sang as the smallmouth made a run for deep water, then shot back toward the rocky riverbank. At that point, the fish leapt out of the water and landed directly on the slab of ledge rock sticking out from the bank – truly the best-fighting smallmouth I have ever hooked into. ous ledges surrounding the river. As I fished my way through the sweltering heat, the chilly water wrapped my bare legs in a cooling flow and refreshingly soaked my shorts and wading boots. The wet wading actually energized my late afternoon adventure, helping me gather my thoughts as I stalked closer and closer to what seemed like an exceptionally large smallmouth bass, feeding on the surface way out in the river. I really had to clear my mind to formulate a plan that allowed me

a way to present my fly to the feeding fish. The swirling river provided no easy way to accomplish this feat, so I trudged on and finally found a small sandbar formed by the swift current. I had to cast directly out to the fastest current in the middle of the river and let the popper get swept down river to where I began a quick series of violent mends. I tried the casting stunt two times before I perfected it, ripping the line back without letting it disturb the area where the fish decided to graze. The third time was a

charm, as they say, and the popper floated over the feeding fish without drag. I popped it once and let it float until the huge fish smashed it – driving itself airborne and head-first back into the deeper parts of the river. Something’s Wrong As soon as I hooked the fish, I knew something was wrong. The airborne take was great, but something looked different about this fish. When I started hauling line in, the fish came directly to me without any further leaping or tugging – a sure sign of

what we call, “getting chubbed.” When I netted the chub, technically a fall fish, I should have taken a photo ... this was the largest chub I’ve ever seen taken on this river – a gaudy, stinking, ugly, bottom-feeding fish that had aged like a rotting mushroom. Even though I felt discouraged, I didn’t let it bother me. I forged on and caught several smaller bass and felt good about the day. I still felt lucky as I waded my way through a favorite fishing area, kind of heading back to where I started. After several unproductive casts, I noticed a small area of slack water without current just behind a slab of rock jutting out from the bank. I tossed the fly (Continued on next page)

Get out and enjoy the lakes, mountains, rivers & woods in Western Maine! Lisa’s Barber Shop

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 73 (Continued from page 72)

above the rock and let it drift gently into the slack eddy without any disruption. Before I could give the popper a yank, the smallmouth slashed at the fly and made a run for deep water in the middle of the river. As soon as he did that, he shot back to the rock on the shore and went airborne, landing directly on the slab of ledge rock sticking out from the bank. I started to laugh out loud and was quickly brought back to the task at hand by another screaming

run. The fish tossed itself up onto the rock two more times with several runs that really made my reel sing ... this was truly the best-fighting smallmouth I have ever hooked into, and when measured only came to 18-inches. I’ve never seen a fish throw itself on a rock before – this fish was crazy. New Flies I can’t wait to get back out on the Andro this season again. I have several new streamer patterns that I used a little last year ... this year I’m going to fish the streamers heavily.

Trapping (Continued from page 70)

by 7 inches wide and 40 inches long. • All colony traps must be set so as to remain completely underwater at all times. • For tending purposes, colony traps are considered killer-type traps. Bait and Attractors Trapping regulations that define bait and attractors do not prevent one from using non-animal related baits, such as apples, parsnips, carrots, or other baits attractive to muskrat. • Bait is defined as animal matter, including meat, skin, bones, feathers, hair or any other solid substance that

New Hampshire (Continued from page 71)

fisheries. Get back away from nearby roads to avoid crowds of anglers pursuing recently stocked fish. I recommend exploring their remote tributaries for small native brook trout, with a #2 or #3 fly rod. Gear List Lightweight is the name of the game in sporting goods equipment now. Everything from tents to rifles have been redesigned for the mobile backcountry enthusiast. Assuming one is not going the route of a multi-day camping trek, here are a few items to fill a daypack for a remote summer fishing outing. Besides the basic hat and longsleeves to protect from the sun and bushwhacking, I recommend bringing a headnet. Honestly, I’ve never worn

These flies are big and heavy, sometimes articulated, both flashy and subtle to entice the big bronzebacks out of their dark covers. For the last several years, using poppers on this river just hasn’t been successful ... these fish much have seen thousands of poppers over the years. I’m also tying a Clouser-like fly with a very light dumbbell eye. I want just enough weight to make the fly perform a jigging movement when I twitch the line. I think this will really get those bass to

Nancy Carpenter, the author’s wife, who is also the Advertising Director of this publication, shows off a huge fall fish (chub) from the Androscoggin River. William Clunie photo

attack the fly with all they’ve got ... maybe getting them so excited they throw them-

use to be part of an animal. This includes live or dead fish. Bait does not include animal scat, urine, or animals, dead or alive, held in a trap as the result of lawful trapping activities. • Attractors are any items hung at a trap set that attracts animals as a breeze moves it. This includes items such as CD-disc, flagging, tin can covers, feathers, or any like items. Under-Ice Sets For enforcement and information purposes, all drowning sets for muskrat (and beaver) during January and February will be considered “under ice drowning sets,” which have no tending requirements. During the months of November, December, March and one, and I laugh at the appearance of those who do. But when I think of what keeps me from doing this type of activity in the summer, blackflies are atop the list—especially on the shores of muddy, boggy ponds. And there likely aren’t going to be any jerks like me in those remote areas to laugh at you. Companies such as L.L.Bean, Cabela’s, Kittery Trading Post and LL Cote carry lightweight waders that can be easily packed. They also make telescopic spinning rods that will fit in or strap to a backpack. If one is fly-fishing, there are rods that break down into four or more small sections. Finally, if you’re like me, you’re constantly struggling with getting far enough away from shore to not catch the gosh-blasted bushes on your backcast. One solution to this is a cool lightweight inflatable packraft. These can add as little as six pounds to your pack

selves onto the shoreline ledge rocks.

April, if a drowning set is “under ice” there is no tending requirement. However if the trap is in open water, then regular tending rules must be followed. Trapping Near Muskrat Houses It is illegal to destroy or damage a muskrat house or den. You are not allowed to set a trap within 10 feet of a muskrat house or a muskrat den. A muskrat den is any cavity that is capped by muskrats with vegetative matter, including but not limited to hollow stumps and bank cavities. Holes in the bank not covered with vegetative matter are not considered to be muskrat dens.

The best secret to this gorgeous swimming hole in the White Mountains is not its outof-the-way location, but the fact that it holds some beautiful trout. From the ledge above, one can see clearly 15 feet to the bottom and watch as the trout take the angler’s nymph or Mepps spinner.

and can inflate easily with a big air sack bladder. These seem awful handy, as I’ve seen them featured on many videos of western hunts for getting hunters and gear safely across rivers and ponds.

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74 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

— Outdoors and Other Mistakes —

Al Goes Hunting – Indoors by Al Diamon

I took careful aim, and missed. Several times. But as every hunter knows, it’s not about the kill – it’s about the thrill of the hunt, and the feeling of being one with a greater ecosystem. I brought my frazzled nerves under control, drew a deep breath, and took another shot. I’m not going stir crazy. I don’t have cabin fever. The walls aren’t closing in. And – honest, officer – long before I was confined to quarters by circumstances beyond my control, somebody else stashed those 600 brook trout in the chest freezers in my basement. In short, I’m not any more nuts than I’ve ever been. It’s just that during this extended period of confinement, I feel like shooting something. I suppose I could venture into the woods and take potshots at whatever’s in season. But the woods are full of stuff I’d rather not deal with, such as trees. Over the past few months, I’ve grown a little paranoid about their intentions, what with all those branches and stuff. Being housebound, my options grow ever more limited. There’s nobody here except my wife (much more likely to shoot me than vice versa), my dogs (not unless we get really hungry) and some squirrels chewing on the electrical wiring in the eaves. I suppose blasting away at rodent intruders would be acceptable if it weren’t for the collateral damage to walls, windows and personal www.MaineSportsman.com

possessions. Animal Mounts Mocking Me Speaking of which, several of those possessions appear to be mocking me in my hour of distress. The jackalope head on the stairway wall looked unusually smug as I descended past it this morning. Someone should remind that creature that it’s a taxodermalogical fiction. Did that weasel head on the bookcase always have that smirk on its face? The skunk on the shelf seems to be telling me it knows something I don’t. The stuffed javelina and wild boar appear to be sharing a private joke at my expense. And the sea serpent in my office (see photo) has a look in its eyes that indicates it has neither forgiven nor forgotten that unfortunate incident involving the harpoon. Creatures – mammalian, reptilian and imaginary – stare at me with accusatory (glass) eyes from every nook and cranny of my home. Considering I’ve never gone hunting, I have to wonder where all this mounted fauna came from. I suspect it has something to do with flea markets. Good thing those

dens of temptation are closed until the pandemic passes. The Weapon As I stumbled backwards in an attempt to escape the sea serpent’s gaze, I tripped over a dog and ended up on the floor facing a lower shelf filled with forgotten items of dubious provenance. There in the back was just what I’d been looking for – the perfect weapon for indoor hunting. It was, according to the stickers crookedly applied to its side, an AUTO MAG MAGNUM Texas 12-shot rubber-band gun. According to the promotional material, it’s “great fun and easy to load and use for hours of fun.” So, I suppose that word repetition means it’s fun. But could I actually kill anything with it, since it’s guaranteed to be non-lethal? It’s also guaranteed to be annoying, according to my wife, who said something about killing me if I hit her with one more rubber band. The dogs expressed similar sentiments. The sea serpent seemed indifferent. The Prey But as I crouched in my camouflaged blind (actually, I was

Sea serpent versus rubber-band gun. This won’t end well. Photo by Lou Ann Clifford

slouched in an easy chair in the living room), I noticed a fly on the window. It paused its flittering about and appeared to be cleaning its legs. I willed myself to relax, took careful aim and fired a dozen times. The fly flew off toward the kitchen. One of the dogs tried to eat a rubber band. As every hunter knows, it’s not about the kill. It’s about the thrill of the hunt. The feeling of being one with a greater ecosystem that includes not only me and the fly, but also carpenter ants (rubber bands don’t seem to have any effect on them), ladybugs (likewise) and fleas (difficult to assess, but the dogs didn’t appreciate my efforts). A Trophy, Gained and Lost Despite these failures, I was dead set on trying again, and I didn’t have long to wait. A housefly the size of … well, a slightly larger-than-average housefly settled on the back of the couch. If

ever a trophy animal had crawled through a hole in my window screens, this was such a beast. I brought my frazzled nerves under control. I drew a deep breath. I took the shot. And eleven more. The fly fell over, as dead as Joe Exotic’s reputation. I felt triumph swelling in my bosom. Or perhaps my t-shirt was a size too small. In any case, I moved swiftly to collect my prize. But I didn’t move swiftly enough. The dog that missed out on the rubber band swallowed the fly in a single gulp. His satisfied expression seemed to say, “I bet you think I didn’t notice that comment earlier in this essay about you eating us.” Al Diamon writes the weekly column “Politics & Other Mistakes” for the Daily Bulldog and the Portland Phoenix. He can be emailed at aldiamon@ herniahill.net.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 75

Smilin’

Sportsman A man was watching television. “Don’t do it! Don’t do it!” he yelled at the screen. “Stop! Do NOT enter that building. Just walk away! OH NO! NOW YOU DID IT!” “What on earth are you watching?” asked his wife, from another room. “Our wedding video.” ••••••••••••••••••• “Honey,” said the wife, “I noticed an opening at the dressmaker’s shop for a part-time seamstress, and I am thinking of applying.” “Darling,” replied the husband, “you stick to the washin’, ironin’, cookin’, and scrubbin’ here at home. No wife of mine is gonna work!”

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

••••••••••••••••••• Bill: “Jim, you’ve been married to the same woman for 55 happy years, what’s your secret?” Jim: “Well, when we got married, we agreed that she would make all the little decisions, and I would make all the big decisions.” Bill: “How did that work out?” Jim: “Just fine! Turns out, in all our 55 years of marriage, there’s never been a big decision!”

The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com. After a long circus career of being blasted into a net, the “human cannonball” was tired. He told the circus owner he was quitting. “But you can’t!” protested the boss. “Where am I going to find another performer of your caliber?” ••••••••••••••••••• Flo: “I just burned 2,500 calories in 45 minutes.” Eb: “How?” Flo: “I forgot to take the brownies out of the oven.” •••••••••••••••••••

A guy went to the lumberyard. “I need about a dozen two by fours,” he told the employee. “How long do you want them?” asked the employee. “Oh, for quite a while – I am building a deck.” ••••••••••••••••••• Eb: “I asked my insurance agent if I’d get paid off if a nearby dormant volcano suddenly erupted and lava destroyed my house while I was sleeping.” Flo: “What did he say?” Eb: “He said, ‘Don’t worry – you’ll be totally covered.’”

www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word line classified ad per month (2-month limit) • Items for sale must include a price • Real estate ads must include an address or location

• The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word • Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted

• You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101 Augusta ME 04330

SUBMIT AD AND PAYMENT BY THE 30TH OF EACH MONTH AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE. BOATS 1918 OLD TOWN CANOE Grade AA Otca, 17'. Fiberglassed, wood in good condition. At

camp in Hancock Co., ME. $500.00 OBO 304-678-8875. VINTAGE 1950s MAINE GUIDE 20' OLD TOWN CANOE

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

RANGELEY PLT - Enjoy the westerly views overlooking Rangeley Lake, Doctor’s Island, sunsets over Bald Mountain! Meticulously maintained, one owner home offering 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sun filled living spaces, living area with wood stove, spacious deck overlooking the lake/Mt views. Detached 2-car garage with storage above, snowmobile/ATV from your door, plus deeded access to HOLA waterfront park with marina, small boat launch, swimming area. MLS #1438039 - $295,000 RANGELEY PLT - This 2 bedroom cottage offers year-round living all on one level! Recent updates including refreshed kitchen, bathroom, roof, drilled well. New 12x22 storage building/garage. Relax on the 3-season porch or spacious rear deck overlooking the Rangeley Lake and Saddleback Mountian views. Snowmobile from your door. Quiet/private location off the beaten path and yet minutes to town amenities. Being sold moslty furnished! MLS #1450304 - $165,000 RANGELEY - Year-round cottage offers 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, cozy open kitchen/living area with wood stove on main floor and 2nd floor 1/2 bath and spacious bedroom that sleeps a crew. Just steps to shared 419’ waterfront with dock and legendary fishing on tranquil no-motors Quimby Pond, plus easy snowmobile trail access from your door. Ready for your immediate enjoyment - come see what makes the Quimby area so special, inquire today! MLS #1448121 - $229,000

Wood/Canvas. Excellent Condition. Stable, high gunnel, a real work horse! $4900. Call 603-359-4420. — CAMPS/CABINS FOR RENT PARKMAN, MEBUCKS CROSSING WMD 17 Rental Cabins. Turkey, deer, moose, upland game. All amenities included. Great rates- nightly, 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. No Quarantine Required. 207-

Remote Waterfront Log Cabin

End of the road in T4-R7 on Peaked Mountain Pond, 100 miles north of Bangor. Within walking distance of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument land. Excellent Condition, 16’x32’ cabin, sleeps four, insulated, propane lights, heater and appliances. Jotul wood stove. Two generators. New boat docks. 267 ft. frontage on a 1.25 acre secure lease lot. Asking $65,000. Send inquiries to: carriefitz70@gmail.com or mail to: Camp Owner 56 Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield, ME 04353

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636-3689. — CAMPS/CABINS FOR SALE RARE OFFERING: COZY LEASE CABIN Directly on Aroostook River headwaters. $59,000. Contact Chuck at Cbjohnston72@hotmail. com. GREENFIELD, MAINE MODERN 2-STORY CAMPS Sleeps 6, well maintained, on 4 acres on Pickerel Pond Road. Drilled well with new pump, has septic system. Modern kitchen & bath w/ shower. 2 gas water heaters, 2 fridges, 16 gas lights & 2 generators (house wired) and 3 outbuildings. Great hunting! Asking $64,900. Call Frank at 207-3633862. SEBAGO LAKE/ KETTLE COVE CAMP 200' from common beach, waterview, mooring, golfing. Needs total rebuild in footprints, 1100 sq ft structure allowed. Surveyed lot 100'x50' power, septic, water, Great water sports and fishing. Casco, Maine. $95,000. Call Joe at 207-671-6613. HUNTING/ TRAPPING CABIN 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, $39,900.

207-944-0873. SMALL COTTAGE ON 10 ACRES Completely isolated, yet only 10 miles from Belfast. More deer than people on land. Great for hunting camp or year-round living. $80,000. For more information, go to www.masiellow. com. Call Judy Brossmer at 207-322-3392. — COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER'S DREAM: 6.6 ACRES 370ft. road frontage on Whittier Rd. in Farmington, Maine, just off Routes 2 & 4. Electricity on site, 4 water hookups and 4 sewer hookups, Tax Incentives possible. 207474-0778. LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING On large lots, waterfront on Androscoggin and Webb Rivers, US Rt. 2 in Western Maine. Two floors, plus stage & balcony, basement, kitchen, bathrooms. Restaurant, function hall, fishing lodge, more. Asking $137,500. Call 207-562-7564. — REAL ESTATE WATERFRONT HOME FOR SALE Exceptional waterfront year-round home on pristine Pleasant Pond, Caratunk. 460' frontage, exceptional privacy, many unique features. $415,000. Call for a brochure (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 77 (Continued from page 76)

FOR SALE

207-672-4983. — DOGS

ZEISS BINOCULARS CONQUEST HD 10X42 New in Box. Fog, water and shockproof . Adjustable eyepieces, perfect for hunting or birding, amazing clarity. Retail for $1,000 plus tax and shipping. Selling for $800. Bill Graves 207-551-5777.

GUN DOG TRAINING At Spruce Meadow Kennel in Rangeley, Maine. Experienced with pointing and flushing upland bird hunting dogs. Contact Jeff Hawksley 207 864 3610 or 207 670 8010. STARTED BRITTANYS Worked on Woodcock. Prices from $1,800 to $3,000. Orvis Endorsed Breeder. Quail Hollow Kennel 856935-3459. —

EXCALIBER EQUINOX CROSSBOW NEW. Camo. Variable power Scope. Bolts field and broadheads, lighted nocks, quiver mount, soft, padded travel camo case, extra strings and multi-

ple accessories $1000. Bill Graves 207-5515777. WANTED SKIDOO, ELAN OR TUNDRA Any Condition. Have Cash. Will Travel. Call Or Text 207-522-6940

share life on a homestead in a very country location in Mid-Western Maine. If you, or someone you know, wants to get out of a town or city and has

Proud father Matt Guillemette took his son, Matthew Jr., turkey hunting on May 4, 2020. The dad wrote: “Hello! My son Matthew Guillemette, Jr. shot his first wild turkey today. He is six years old, and holds a Maine lifetime hunting and fishing license. This is the first turkey I have ever called in. We both enjoy The Maine Sportsman very much.” Congratulations to you both!

DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206. SINGLE MALE OUTDOORSMAN SEEKING SINGLE FEMALE OUTDOORSWOMAN or would like to be - to

PRICE REDUCED!

95 ACRES off discontinued road on Streaked Mountain. Secluded and wooded with many trails to recreate on. Blueberries nearby. $170,000

77 ACRES secluded with right of way. All wooded with feldspar mine on it. Has been selectively cut. $100,000 125 ACRES – Own half of Streaked Mountain on the Buckfield side. Open fields and woods. Discontinued road to top of mountain. Unbelievable views and wildlife. Lots of possibilities for this land. Old house on property could be renovated. Dead end road for lots of privacy. $240,000

BETTER HOMES & GARDENS MASIELLO GROUP

GLORIA A. HEWEY, REALTOR

Cell (207) 399-8553 • Office (207) 782-8311 gloriahewey@masiello.com www.gloriahewey.masiello.com

Noyes Real Estate Agency 2388 Main Street • Rangeley, ME 207-864-9000 • info@noyesrealty.com www.noyesrealty.com

Great Fishing Locations! #500 – MLS #1450299 – Classic farmhouse on two acres. Full foundation, close to Oquossoc village and Rangeley Lake boat launch. $129,000 #529 – MLS #1416420. Log home in Wilsons Mills. All season recreation, sledding, fly fishing the Magalloway River, hunting, boating on Aziscohos Lake. Lots of room and charm! $199,000 #310 – MLS # 1452565 – Enjoy the world class fishing on the Kennebago River and Kennebago Lake. Well maintaind cabin on leased land with access to Kennebago River. Drilled well, septic system in place, screened porch. $139,000

Junior’s Turkey

★ SPORTSMEN TAKE NOTICE ★ Here is Your Own Hunting Kingdom! 65 ACRES with frontage on North Whitman School Road and Route 117. Open fields off both roads used for hay for several years. A small grove of sugar maple once used to collect sap. Nice property. $130,000

a love of the outdoors and all the activities it provides, it can be at your doorstep! Phone calls please: 207-7176094.

175+/- ACRES Howland - 2,000’ of frontage on Merrill Brook and 1,200’ of frontage on Runaround Brook. Merrill Brook flows into the Penobscot River and Runaround into the Piscataquis River. Good access. $199,000

Milo - Recreational opportunities abound on this well-wooded 20 acre lot. Immediate access to ITS 82 and locally maintained ATV trail. Good views. $24,900

Harrington - 175 +/- acres with 1,650’ of salt meadow frontage on Flat Bay. Numerous coves, sea grasses and changing tides create a unique experience. Westerly views and mature timber. $149,000

PRICE REDUCED!

83+/- ACRES Wilton – Diverse lot with mountain views, wildlife and stone walls. Year round stream with waterfall. Rolling topo. Good access. Small cabin, as-is. Many locations for house. $119,000 New Sharon - 678 +/- acres with abundant wildlife including deer and upland game birds. Diverse land with Bragdon Brook and Salt Marsh Creek running through the lot. Over 900’ of frontage on Weeks Mills Road. $299,000 or only $441 per acre.

Woolwich - 148 +/- acres. Remarkable lot with small CAMP. Hunt, hike, bike, sightsee, harvest some of the large oak and pine. Great westerly distant views from Bigelow Knoll. $150,000.

King & Bartlett TWP - 770 +/acres surrounding the majority of the 538 acre 159’ deep King & Bartlett lake that supports wild brook trout, salmon and togue. Remote unique parcel.

102+/- ACRES Bancroft Twp - Acreage on Mattawawkeag River. Camp just 200± feet from river with exceptional frontage. Mature trees, easy access and special protection designated for salmon and deer habitat. $105,000

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

Beauty runs deep. So does our land sales experience.

John Colannino – Broker & Forester American Forest Management, Inc. 40 Champion Lane | Milford, Maine | 04461 O: 207.817.9079 | C: 207.266.7355 John.Colannino@afmforest.com For more information on available properties please visit:

www.AmericanForestManagement.com www.MaineSportsman.com

78 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Wildlife Quiz Answers: Rainbow Trout (Quiz on Page 52)

1. Yes, rainbow trout are an introduced species in the state of Maine. 2. The average length of a rainbow trout caught in Maine is between 8 and 16 inches. 3. The largest rainbow trout caught in the state of Maine was 6.52 pounds.

4. Rainbow trout are easily distinguished from other salmonids by a reddish colored band that extends from the cheek to the base of the caudal fin. 5. Rainbow trout are opportunistic feeders and eat everything from grasshoppers and ants to small fish, fish eggs, crayfish and snails.

CUDDY ROAD, CAMBRIDGE, ME

ANSON - Here is your chance to have that hunting camp you have always dreamed of where you can sit on the screened porch looking over your field at the distant mountain view and roam 50 wooded acres. The interior was recently insulated, wired for generator and finished in pine. Have your off grid paradise with composting toilet, gravity spring water, propane lights, stove and refrigerator with woodstove and wood cookstove. Pelton Brook crosses the back corner of the land. This would also be a great homestead if you are looking to get back away from it all. Power poles were recently run on Brown Hill so hooking in may be a possibility. ATV and snowmobile trails on the road so you can ride right from camp. Schedule a showing to see if you can see yourself here. Property is agent owned. MLS #1451608 - $89,000 ATHENS - Great camp for hunting, recreation or just a get away. One bedroom camp with power, dug well and septic system on 10 acres. There is a kitchen, living room with wood stove and private bedroom. No need for an outhouse - there is a toilet area off the living room. You can sit on the deck and enjoy all this property has to offer. MLS #1449361 - $79,000 FORKS PLT - Lake Moxie is located in the heart of Maine. Moxie falls, a tons of recreational opportunities surround you. The camp offers all the amenities of home, first floor master bedroom and bath, open concept living. Spend the summer, fall or stay year round - its up to you. Enjoy boating, swimming, wildlife, while the sun crests the shore every morning, and the full moon needs to be seen to be appreciated. Fully furnished, turnkey, boat included and ready for the next adventure. MLS #1428449 - $216,000 ATHENS - Approximately 100 acres of land close to ATV and snowmobile trails. Excellent hunting area. Part of a larger parcel so taxes are to be determined. MLS #1438817 - $79,900 CORNVILLE - Well wooded 5 acre lot in the beautiful Maine wilderness! Dug well already in place and a small portion has been cleared for a spot to build your off grid hunting camp or seasonal retreat. Access via right of way through the “Old Logging Road.” MOS #1449779 - $17,500 WELLINGTON - 85 surveyed acres located on Spruce Mountain. Enjoy the incredible views, field and woods. 325 feet road frontage with power and phone at road. MLS #1450559 $99,000 PLEASANT RIDGE PLT - Beautiful 180 degree views of Wyman Lake boasting 300 acres of land. Nice interior road. Electricity available at the road. Many recreational activities including snowmobiling, ATV riding, fishing, white water rafting, canoe/kayak and boating as well as great hunting. Public boat landing is beside this parcel. Property is in tree growth for tax purposes. (23025Ha353) MLS #1361727 - $349,900 HARTLAND - Approximately 212.14 acres with about 1600 feet frontage on a brook. Town maintained road. Driveway already existing. Power and phone at road. ATV trail on property. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Sa014) MLS #1100933 - $96,000 SOLON - Approximately 54.91 acres of land on town maintained gravel road. Flat and level land, great for home or camp. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb 357) MLS #1098961 - $52,000 06/20

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7. Most rainbow trout inhabiting lakes and ponds live between 5 and 6 years. 8. The oldest recorded rainbow trout lived to be 11 years old.

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Beautiful 2.3 acre lot close to the Interconnected Trail System (ITS) on a town maintained road. The remains of a hunting camp that once had a dug well and septic onsite are on this wooded lot. A great spot for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and more! MLS #1444773 – $16,900. Melissa Morrill, Associate Broker (207) 233-2456 melissa@signaturehomesmaine.com Signature Homes Real Estate Group, LLC 383 US Rte 1, Suite 2D, Scarborough, ME www.signaturehomesmaine.com

6. Rainbow trout naturally spawn in the spring and early summer.

Burlington - Well-built cute cabin tucked away in the woods with access to Madagascal’s gorgeous private sand beach. ATVing and snowmobiling and POSSIBLE OWNER FINANCING. Take a look today on W. Madagascal Pond Road. $49,900

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

Lincoln - 3 bedrooms with 1 full bath downstairs and both a ¾ master bath and ½ bath upstairs. Paved drive, attached 2 car garage, enclosed porch, covered porch, and patio all overlooking 191’ frontage on Cold Stream Pond. $299,000

Mattawamkeag - Private cottage with shower house, shed, privy and covered porch overlooking the water. Gas lights and some wiring done for generator use. Enjoy all the outdoors has to offer on Back Settlement Pond. Not many like this one! $78,500

Danforth - Only 25’ from the water’s edge, family camp is log sided with a beautiful knotty pine interior. Large, detached 2 car garage offers parking or storage. Lakeside of cottage is all glass providing great views on Upper Hot Brook Lake. $135,000

Pukakon - Lakefront paradise cabin on one of Maine’s most desirable lakes, Junior Lake. Fabulous fishing. Hunting, Snowmobiling and ATVing are just some activities out your door. Lake views through many windows. $345,000

Lakeville - Outstanding lot on Lower Sysladobsis Lake. Lots of recreational opportunities: fishing, boating, snowmobiling and ATVing are just a few. Brook Trout and Salmon are just a few. Great frontage. $79,000 Lakeville - Nice lot on Duck Lake with a driveway. This lot has Electricity on Pine Point Road. The roads are maintained by a lot owners association. Very peaceful area to enjoy all that this lake has to offer. $65,000 Lincoln - Lot sits on the edge of a dead water that is a crossroads for wildlife, is at the end of a dead-end road, has access to ATV/snowmobile trails and all outdoor recreation. Electricity available and on Boulder Lane! Come take a look! $24,500 Lincoln - One of the best lots in Lincoln’s most exclusive lakefront subdivision. Nice frontage, beautiful views, level lot with mature grown trees offering shade and privacy. Build your dream home here on Mattanawcook Pond. $70,000

R E A L

E S T A T E

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

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

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

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2020 • 79

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80 • June 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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