The Maine Sportsman June 2021 Digital Edition

Youth Writing Contest Results!

Page 35

Sportsman The Maine

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>> Camps, Boats & Land for Sale Page 80

2 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 3

Umcolcus Sporting Camps The Umcolcus Sporting Camps originated in 1917 when Walter Swett, a Maine guide, leased land located in T8 R6, Maine at the headwaters of Umcolcus Stream. “Umcolcus” is a Native American word meaning “whistling duck,” a reference to goldeneye ducks whose wings whistle when they fly. In 1919, Swett sub-leased the site of the camps – including two log cabins on Umcolcus Stream – to Walter D. Hinds. Hinds and crew constructed a camp for Charles M. Schwab, the youngest-ever president of US Steel. When the camp was completed, it was the only one of its kind in the state to feature hot and cold water and an indoor bathroom. The camp offered three sleeping rooms, a large kitchen, and a living room with a thirty-ton stone fireplace made with stone harvested from Umcolcus Stream. The camp also featured a separate guides’ camp with room for ten guides, and an icehouse that held 250 cakes of ice. The pressures of World War I dictated that Schwab, who headed the wartime ship-building effort, never got to hunt from the camp. However, Walter Hinds was prominent enough to attract import-

ant guests, including the world heavyweight champion boxer, Jack Dempsey, in 1922. In 1925, the main camp, kitchen and dining room were destroyed by fire as the result of a lightning strike. Luckily, a second large camp survived and became the main camp for many years. In 1926, Hinds transferred the camps to caretaker Almon Currier, who ran them until the late 1940s In the 1960s, Almon’s son Norman Currier, a guide and woodsman, took over running the camps. The camps’ next operators were Norman’s oldest son, Almon (Al) Currier, and his wife Audrey. During their ownership, new camps and a shower house were constructed, as well as a beautiful dining

room with a fieldstone fireplace, built in 1997. Jeff Fay became the owner of Umcolcus Sporting Camps in 2018, and he is committed to continuing the camps’ long traditions. “I hope all outdoor enthusiasts have a chance to come and visit to enjoy ‘the way life used to be,’” said Jeff. “We also own and operate Spaulding Lake Outfitters for guided fishing, and hunting for deer, moose, bear, grouse, coyote and snowshoe hare.” The year-round camps consist of fully-equipped housekeeping cabins, four handcrafted, clean and comfortable log cabins that accommodate up to 11 guests, and two smaller cabins spaced near the main lodge and shower house. Wild brook trout fishing is just steps from the cabin doors. The remote forest surrounding the cabins provides additional four-season opportunities, including scenic flights, and riding Aroostook County’s 2,500 miles of world-class snowmobiling, right from the cabin door with access to ITS 85, between Oxbow and Shin Pond. For reservations or more info, contact Jeff at (207) 841-0508 or email info@umcolcus.com.

www.MaineSportsman.com

4 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Editorial

“Land for Maine’s Future” Not Just for the Future

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 584 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com

The Covid 19 pandemic has sent large numbers of Maine families flocking to the state’s parks and land trust properties to walk the trails and enjoy access to our woods and fields, many of which have become open to the public in part through funding from the Land For Maine’s Future (LMF) Board. Some enthusiastic supporters have pointed out that these lands are not just for the future, but available for public use today. The events of the pandemic have shown the importance of open land, available for recreation today. Our state was not as active in the past in acquiring public access as some other states because so many of our landowners allow free public access. But as undeveloped lands have been sold and re-sold, often broken into smaller lots, our public access tradition has weakened. One traditional conservative Maine view has held that public land acquisition is bad because public ownership removes land from the tax rolls, increasing the tax burden on the remaining property taxpayers. Experience has shown, however, that the value of privately owned land is enhanced when it is close to land that is open for public recreation. LMF projects are truly public-private partnerships, in which land trusts and other local activists identify available land and provide financial support, spurred by the promise of matching state funds. However LMF has not received any new funding since 2012, and is sorely in need of additional funds, which would be provided by enactment of LD 983 (titled “An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation”), and approval by the voters next November. In addition, the bond package recently announced by Governor Janet Mills proposes to fund Land for Maine’s Future operations over the next four years, in memory of conservationist (and Maine Sportsman columnist) George Smith. LMF bond issues have regularly enjoyed strong public support in the voting booth. During more than 30 years of existence, LMF has conserved public access to nearly a third of a million acres of Maine forest, farmland and shoreland. We urge our readers to call their legislators to support additional funding for LMF by enacting LD 983 into law, and we also urge our readers to vote in favor of any LMF bond proposals that are on the ballot as the result of Governor Mills’ bond package.

On the Cover: Kennebago Brookie; photo by David Van Wie. “I remember this fish well,” reports Van Wie. “I was fishing a deep pool in the Kennebago River. It was raining. As the rain became heavier, fish started rising. I switched from a 6 wt. to a 4 wt., and threw a stimulator – a big green-bodied stimulator pattern I had tied a couple days before – across to a foamy eddy on the far side of the current. This trout slammed the fly the second it hit the water.” www.MaineSportsman.com

Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 15 A Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly.................. 54 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 38 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 32 Big Woods World by Joe Kruse..................................... 31 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 66 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux............................... 64 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello....................... 46 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 48 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 9 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 41 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding....... 34 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 58 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 13 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 40 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 65 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 52 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 75 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 30 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 50 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 78 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 55 Quotable Sportsman by Will Lund................................ 10 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 72 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 79 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 22 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 69 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 56 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 62 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund...................................... 79 Snapshots in Time by Bill Pierce.................................... 14 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 71 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 57 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 11 Tidewater Tales by Randy Randall............................... 43 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 67 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 80 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 44 True Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.68 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 74

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 26 Maine Moose Lottery by Steve Carpenteri................. 29 Saltwater Fishing by Ron Dupuis................................... 20 Youth Writing Contest Winners................................ 34-36 Transferring Firearms by Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D......... 60

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 5

www.MaineSportsman.com

6 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters To The Editor

Active Military Subscription Discount Now Available

To the Editor: My name is Vallerie and I’m writing to ask if it would be possible to receive a reduced subscription rate for The Maine Sportsman for our Maine National Guardsman who are currently deployed. These soldiers recently deployed, and many of them are hunters and fishermen. My husband, for one, is an avid hunter, and when he was here he purchased your magazine and enjoyed the articles in it. I can’t give specifics on the deployment due to safety concerns, but I can say they will be away for the next year. My husband and others serving our country will be missing an entire year of our great outdoors, and I’d like to be able to send them your magazine to keep them involved and remind them of home. Thank you for your consideration, Vallerie Brown – Etna, ME Editor’s note: Following receipt of this letter and other requests, The Maine Sportsman now offers a special $19/year subscription rate to active military/National Guard personnel. Please call our office at (207) 622-4242 to subscribe. —

Reader Wants to Protect Eyes, Ears To the Editor: I read and enjoy Steve Vose’s columns in The Maine Sportsman each month, including his recent column about the importance of caring for our eyes and ears when we are in the woods or when we are target shooting. The column struck home with me because of a recent incident. In March, I was out hiking, and I walked into a branch. The impact knocked my glasses off, tore a cut across my eyelid, and caused some bleeding. My eye is OK – it just left a scar on my eyelid. I was lucky not to have received damage to my eye itself. I’m 76. My hearing is not great. I can’t hear the birds in the woods nor the sound of babbling brooks. Where can I purchase – and be fitted to – the glasses Mr. Vose referred to in his column, the Wiley X Valor frames and prescription glasses? Also, where can I find the electronic earmuffs he discussed? Roger Codere, North Yarmouth, ME & Wayne, ME Columnist Steve Vose responds: Hi Roger, OUCH! Sorry to hear about your eyelid, but glad there was no lasting damage. I’ve had multiple encounters in the woods where I have almost suffered serious eye injury, so now I never leave home without my glasses! Since I live in Augusta, I get my eyeglass prescriptions filled at Atlee Gleaton Eye Care, on Eastern Ave in Augusta. I like my Wiley-X Valors so much I

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bought a second pair that only function as sunglasses. I always leave them in my truck. Regarding ear protection, I purchased my first set of electronic muffs at L.L. Bean, and a second set online. I see many sportsmen not doing enough to protect their hearing. Certainly do yourself a favor and protect the hearing you still have left! Steve Vose —

Hunt Coyotes on Sundays – a “Win/Win”

To the Editor: Two big outdoor issues in Maine these days are 1) the need to reduce the number of coyotes in order to protect deer yards; and 2) folks who want to hunt on Sundays, like they can in most states. I believe I have a solution to both issues – let’s open a season that permits Sunday hunting for coyotes. I know I, for one, would spend a few extra Sundays trying to help thin out the coyote population. It’s a win/win proposal. I also wanted to say I enjoyed Hal Blood’s recent Maine Sportsman column in which he stated that what constitutes a “trophy deer” varies from hunter to hunter. All the deer I’ve shot have been trophies in my mind, even though none has broken the Sportsman’s 200-lb. “Biggest Bucks” patch club mark. Each hunt was a special moment in time. (Continued on next page)

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son and moose. Please renew my husband Basil’s subscription for two years. He loves The Sportsman. If you have any questions, call me, but don’t leave a message on our phone – it’s a surprise gift. Eleanor Downs-Peterson, Standish, ME —

(Continued from page 6)

“Don’t Touch – Tell a Grownup” Grandfather Promotes NRA’s “Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program” for Children

Bethany Roberts of Surry, ME has been running her dogs for three years, helping deer survive the winter by reducing the population of coyotes in nearby towns.

Steve Clark, Dover Foxcroft, ME —

Shhh -- Don’t Spoil the Surprise!

To the Editor: I don’t consider myself a “sportswoman,” but I still enjoy The Maine Sportsman. I try to keep up to date and informed so I know what my husband is talking about. I like the recipes as well, especially for veni-

To the Editor: Regardless of your political or personal beliefs, I believe that we can all agree on the importance of keeping young people safe from accidental exposure to guns. Many people are not aware that the NRA sponsors a program called the “Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program,” to teach gun safety to children, pre-school through 4th grade. The program is free to schools, daycare centers, police and safe-

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8 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters to the Editor

gram and teach it at home, based on the information on that website. I strongly encourage parents, teachers, police and safety personnel to look at the free program designed to prevent the accidental injuries and death of children. As my grandkids would say, “Grampy, just Google it!” Bruce Eldridge, Palermo, ME —

(Continued from page 7)

In an animated musical video. Eddie Eagle teaches kids that if they find a gun, they should not touch the firearm, but should immediately find a grownup. Photo: Eddie Eagle GunSafe NRA

Better Late Than Never

ty organizations. It comes with an animated DVD that will hold the interest of children, and also a reminder coin to take home, as well as handouts for the child and parents. I have given this 15-minute program to my grandchildren, and it held their interest. It emphasizes the theme of: “If you see a gun, STOP, DON’T TOUCH, run and tell a grownup.” If you have children in this age group, or if you are a teacher, work as a daycare provider, or are in the police or fire occupation, you can find this program and may order its teaching items by using an internet search engine to find “NRA Eddie Eagle Program.” Any interested parent can preview the pro-

To the Editor: Enclosed is the application for a “Biggest Bucks in Maine” club path for my Dad, Timothy Farr. He shot the deer of his lifetime on November 3, 2011, but we did not apply for a patch at that time. It was certified at 202 pounds (field dressed) at the Minot Country Store on Minot Avenue. Enclosed are two photos. It took quite a bit of legwork to gather this information, but I hope we can get him a patch. He is an avid reader and has been

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a sportsman for more than 40 years. Sincerely, Mike Farr, Auburn, ME Editor’s note: Congratulations to your father. Based on the information and the certified application, we have awarded your Dad his well-deserved red shoulder patch. —

Support New Retail Trade-in Firearms Procedures

To the Editor: I am writing to encourage Maine Sportsman readers to support one of our best retailers in the creation of their new security measures. The retailer is the Kittery Trading Post, in Kittery, Maine. I have been shopping there for over half a century. One of the most enjoyable aspects of shopping there is that they accept trade-ins on firearms. Historically, customers simply walked in with the firearms and brought them directly to a retail counter. In later years, the greeter would affix a tag on the firearm, which would be removed by the gun floor clerk. Now, there is a new procedure: The customer waits with the greeter, who calls for a trained clerk. The clerk arrives, takes the gun to an adjoining room, where it’s cleared making certain it’s unloaded) and tagged. This takes some time, is a bit cumbersome to some, and the Kittery Trading Post has unfairly received some criticism for instituting this protocol. I, too, have found this frustrating – we all are a bit too wrapped up in getting things done. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that retailers like the Trading Post are actually erecting a cultural and legal wall between those of us who enjoy firearms and those who would prefer that we had none at all. Understand this: Kittery Trading Post is projecting responsibility. This is something that we all cannot do enough of. There is no room for criticism here. We all need to be proud of what we enjoy, and by if we display a measure of public sensitivity, it can only help bring the non-shooters, the people in the middle, and indeed the swing voters, to our side. The Trading Post should be applauded. When we bring in firearms, we all need to take a breath, proudly enjoy the time, and recognize that in so doing we are also buying a chunk of our future. Arthur Kyricos, York Harbor

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 9

Eyewitness to a Maine Mountain Lion As the author watched, the light brown colored animal leapt across the road in a single bound, with its tail – a tail as long as its body – stretched out behind. “Have you – or has anyone you know – seen a cougar in Maine?” is a question we have asked our readers in the Maine Sportsman Opinion Poll for a number of years. And we are often surprised at the percentage of affirmative answers we receive each year – usually around 25%. The notion of large carnivores roaming our woods gets even taciturn Mainers talkative, indeed. I had that unusu-

al experience myself years ago, in my early deer hunting days. It was brief, but exciting. The event lasted only ten or fifteen seconds, but I will never forget it. The sighting took place on the access road to Redington Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map 29, E-2). It was late afternoon on a clear day. The ground was bare. I had enjoyed a few days of deer hunting, although I had not seen any deer. I was alone, driving our Plymouth sta-

tion wagon on my way home. The gravel road goes through open country, mostly level and straight, with scattered clumps of brush growing on either side of the road. Off to my right, at some distance from the gravel road, was an open gravel pit, where material for road-building had been dug out. I was going around 25 miles an hour,

What the author saw was definitely not a bobcat, and not a golden retriever. The big feline cleared the logging road in one jump, and propelled itself to the top edge of a gravel pit with a second jump.

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Jottings (Continued from page 9)

hind a small clump of brush on the left side of the road. I let up on the gas pedal, and slowed down. As I drew closer, the animal leapt across the road in what seemed like a single bound, with its long tail stretched out behind it. The animal was light brown in color. The tail was about as long as its body. I briefly lost sight of the animal. When I reached the approximate place where the animal had crossed the road, I looked off to the right and saw the creature clear the top of the steep slope of the gravel pit in a single bound and disappear into the woods. The whole event was over in perhaps ten or fifteen seconds. Only Conclusion – A Mountain Lion Looking back at the event, I asked myself: “What had I seen?” The only answer that made sense to me

was a mountain lion. It was the wrong color for a bobcat, and much larger, and bobcats don’t have a long tail. It wasn’t a golden retriever, which can have similar color, but which has a shorter and bushy tail, and goldens do not cross a road in a single bound, nor were there any bird hunters around that day. A few coyotes were being seen in those days, but they were not light brown. Besides, what I saw was not a canine tail. It was long and round and fairly straight. Bounding up that steep gravel bank was a significant feat that a coyote probably couldn’t carry off. I was convinced that what I’d seen was a mountain lion. Skepticism A few years after my sighting, I made the acquaintance of a couple of bobcat hunters – enthusiasts who trained their Black-

Quotable

Sportsman

by Will Lund

“In my book Trespasser, I observe that the most famous game warden in history is the Sheriff of Nottingham, who was Robin Hood’s arch foe. Medieval wardens were basically armored thugs whose job was to punish any knave caught poaching the king’s deer. Modern game wardens, by contrast, are dedicated professionals …. [I]ncreasingly, game wardens are finding themselves at the center of the action. I don’t expect I’ll run out of things to write about any time soon.” Maine author Paul Doiron, to Powell’s Books blog — www.MaineSportsman.com

and-Tan hounds to hunt bobcats. Their strategy was to drive the back roads in winter, and if they found fresh bobcat tracks in the snow, they would release their hounds and trail the cat. If it treed, and was a large bobcat, they might shoot it. If it was a small cat, they would leave it to grow bigger. These cat hunters covered many miles of back country roads in their efforts to find a fresh track – enough ground that they would likely cross a mountain lion’s track if one lived in their territory. They were politely skeptical that a mountain lion could live in the territory they hunted without leaving tracks they would spot. Connecticut Cat Scroll on fifty or sixty years, and surprise! In 2011, a 140-pound male mountain lion was struck by a car and killed in Connecticut. First off, Connecti-

cut biologists hazarded a guess that the roadkill was likely someone’s pet that got away. A logical guess, but wrong. Surprise again! DNA tests revealed that it wasn’t a pet, and that instead it came from a group of wild cougars in the Black Hills of South Dakota. So what was it doing in Connecticut? Mountain lion experts have noted that young males often move away from their home area to establish a new territory. Apparently this 3-yearold male was doing just that. It had traveled 1,500 miles from its home. Occasionally, reports of mountain lions make the news in Quebec. Perhaps the critter I saw in Redington was a visitor from Canada, taking a swing through the USA. Intrigue and Danger What is it about mountain lions that

“Ted and Sheala lived in Athens for many years before moving to Jackman. They loved to night hunt, which kept the game wardens on their toes.” The April 21, 2021 Kennebec Journal/ Morning Sentinel obituary of Edward E. Cooley of Jackman, who died April 10, 2021. The same obituary recounted Mr. Cooley’s purported fishing strategy: “When he could not get the fish to bite, he would throw dynamite into the water and net the fish when they floated to the surface.” — “Kleiner said he and four other guides suspect at least some of those fishermen were novices, based on the number of dings they all had on their trucks at one particular boattrailer parking lot.” Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald, April 5, 2021, quoting fishing

fascinate people? Perhaps it is because mountain lions have been known to actually attack humans. We are not aware of any attacks by mountain lions in the Eastern US. On the West Coast, however, mountain lions have been known to attack humans. Of the seven fatal attacks in the United States in recent years, three took place in California. The experts’ advice? If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run. Instead, stand tall and make yourself look as big as possible. Grab any weapon you can find – even a stick – and prepare to fight. Now, we have new sets of unblinking eyes: trail cameras that are triggered by anything that moves, day or night. I will not be surprised if one of these days, someone gets a photo of a Maine mountain lion.

guide Don Kleiner, in an article titled “Pandemic has fueled a surge in fishing, including newbies to the sport.” Kleiner, head of the Maine Guides Association, told Fleming that four of the boat ramps along the coast he typically had to himself prior to 2020, were full every time he drove by them. — “The ‘Trout Bums’ are Waiting.” Headline of an article by Billy Baker, Boston Globe, April 2, 2021. Each year, reported Baker, Massachusetts wildlife biologists play a game of hide-andseek with trout fishermen as the state tries to sneak 500,000 trout into local waters without the anglers immediately pouncing. “It rarely works,” concludes the article. An alternate name for hopeful fishermen who follow the stocking trucks to the launch areas is “Ramp Rats.”

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 11

Fall Partridge at Grant’s Kennebago Camps Okay, so what’s Montgomery up to, doing an article on bird hunting in the Rangeleys when the season doesn’t open for months? And right in the middle of some fine fishing in Maine as well? I’m actually doing you a favor, because if you want to experience the wonders of fall upland bird shooting during one of the prettiest and most magical times of the year, you’d best get on the phone or computer and book some time and a guide at Grant’s Camps. The hunting can be so good, the cabins can fill quickly, and the superb guides get really busy, and I don’t want you to lose out on a fine opportunity for a cast-and-blast for salmon and brookies on Kennebago Lake, and ruffed grouse and woodcock in the surrounding forests and fields. You’re welcome. In June of 2020, when Governor Mills opened up Maine sport-

I headed up to Grant’s Camps for the partridge and the excellent fishing on fly-fishing only Kennebago Lake, where the cabins of Grant’s Camp line part of the western shore. All Photos by King Montgomery

ing camps, a number of Maine sportsfolks took impromptu staycations to get away from the isolation caused by the dreaded Covid-19 outbreak ravaging the world. That’s when I headed up to Grant’s Camps and the excellent fishing on the Kennebago River and fly fishing-only (FFO) Kennebago Lake, where the cabins of Grant’s Camp line part of the western shore. See The Maine Sportsman, August 2020, “Sportsman’s Journal: Grant’s Kennebago Camps” for more information on that fine fishing and morale-building trip.

Kennebago Lake, a fly fishing-only destination, is one of a very few Maine waters that are open for brook trout and landlocked salmon fishing until the end of October. And since bird hunting usually opens by the beginning of October, Grant’s Camps offers a true cast-and-blast experience.

A Little Background The weather was lowering when I reached the iconic scenic overlook at Route 17’s Height of Land, and Mooselookmeguntic was a little hazy in the distance. Most of the hardwoods had lost their fall color by this third week of October except for those with yellow leaves, such as the birches, aspens, and tamaracks. Parts of the landscape were a pleasing yellow gold. Very pretty, but I missed the reds and oranges of the latter part of September into early October. By the time Oquos-

soc came into view, the skies were grayer, signaling the rains weren’t far behind. Yes, rain, since the temperatures rose enough to cause liquid precipitation, unlike the 5-6 inches of snow that fell the week before. Perhaps I could get in a few hours of the “cast” part of this story this afternoon before the nasty stuff settled in. Maine sporting camps began back in the latter part of the 1800s because some people like to hunt and fish, and/or just to be in beautiful, healthful natural surroundings. And today,

A fall brookie, particularly the male in spawning raiment, is a gorgeous example of piscatorial artistic splendor. And they fight like the devil, too.

folks visit the camps for the very same reasons. Each camp has its own unique beginnings, and all have a story to tell. Grant’s is no exception, and we can thank Ed Grant, a Maine outdoorsman, guide, entrepreneur, and apparently a pretty good storyteller (and perhaps a pretty good tall-tale teller!). Grant ventured into the Kennebago Lakes region, when he and two others opened a wilderness camp complex at the head of the lake on the southeastern side. Grant eventually pulled out of the venture and started another camp at Seven Ponds, while his sons moved in and opened up Grant’s Camps along the southwestern shore of the lake in 1904. The senior Grant eventually moved in, and he and his sons ran the successful camps for almost 45 years. The camps were successful because of the excellent land(Continued on next page)

Guide Frank Lepore points the way for sport Ken Mason, an owner of the popular Seaside Inn in Kennebunk. Ken is a Coast Guard veteran, and an avid shotgunner and fly angler. www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Lexington locked on point is a sight to behold and gets the hunter in a state only known by others that participate in the sport. Gordon Setters were bred in Scotland in the 19th Century to hunt the wily grouse in the highland moors.

The ruffed grouse is the King of Game Birds, and they like the thousands of square miles of good cover/habitat in the Rangeley Lakes region. Camp owner John Blunt says to expect 15-20 flushes a day.

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 11)

locked salmon and brook trout fishing in the Kennebago River and Lake, the superb partridge coverts that are nestled in the terrain, rolling landscape, all complemented by the gorgeous natural setting and the tranquility that only a high lake surrounded by mountains and a bunch of mixed tree forests can give. And there’s plenty of other wildlife too. True Cast-and-Blast Opportunity Kennebago Lake, a fly fishing-only destination, is one of a very few Maine waters that are open for brook trout and landlocked salmon fishing until the end of October. And since ruffed grouse and woodcock seasons usually open in late September or October 1 at the latest, Grant’s Kennebago Camps offers a true cast-and-blast experience. Van Blauvelt works at Grant’s, and his fly angling pedigree is well-known. A former top L.L. Bean guide and instructor, Van knows his stuff, and he knows fishing in the Pine Tree State. We had a brief chance to cast some Rangeley-Style streamers before the wind and meteorological nastiwww.MaineSportsman.com

ness caused us to go to Plan B, which was to get off of the water and do something else. Yes, weather is everything when we’re outdoors, particularly with a fly rod. Van said the fall fishing on the lake can be everything from not-so-good to oh-mygoodness, but we all know that’s true with fishing in general. Streamers on an intermediate or sinking line often produce, and on the warmer days (and evenings), there can be insect hatches that bring the fish closer to the surface. If you keep a legal fish or two, bring them to the fine kitchen overseen by Chef Larry Gentile, and you’ll be treated with a masterful and tasty presentation of your catch. And if you don’t bring in fish or game, don’t worry: the food coming out of this kitchen is most excellent, and you will be very pleased with the fine fare. Thank You Lord Gordon General George Gordon, the Fifth Duke of the clan, formed the 92nd Regiment of the Gordon Highlanders of the venerable British Army; and he helped selectively breed a setter into a better “black

and tan” Gordon Setter. Guide Frank Lepore’s modern version, Sophia, was locked on point. Sport Ken Mason followed Frank’s silent commands and slowly walked up, 28-ga side-by-side at the ready and thumb poised to nudge the safety. Ken, an owner of the Seaside Inn on Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk, is a longtime avid bird hunter, whose famed pheasant pot pies are legend in the Kennebunks and Arundel. His Maine license plate is BRD DGS, sort of a dead giveaway that he – well – loves to bird hunt. He’s also an excellent shot, and the woodcock at the end of the point paid that price as it went into Frank’s game-bag. Frank alternated his Gordon’s Lexington and Sophia, and the hardy setters suffered the constant light rain, and my hounding for men and dogs to pose for the camera. It was tough hunting (and photographing) under these conditions, but the lands around Grant’s Camps gave up a goodly harvest of ruffed grouse and some woodcock. The terrain in the Rangeley Lakes Region is conducive to supporting good numbers of grouse and woodcock plus deer and moose, as well.

John Blunt, left and regular Grant’s Camps guest Tim Grimes, Kittery, join the Setters before a day’s hunt somewhere in the thousands of square miles of prime bird habitat.

Maine is the most forested state in the union. Over the generations, it has been one of the most heavily-logged, a fact that, like many things involved in conservation of natural resources, is a good thing and a bad thing. Good in that excellent grouse and woodcock (and other game animals) habitat always is being renewed, and that logging roads are built into otherwise unapproachable areas so that we as hunters and anglers can access those wild places with our vehicles. Some of the best grouse hunting in New England is found here, and John Blunt, co-owner with his wife Carolyn, of Grant’s Kennebago Camps and a very experienced registered Maine hunting and fishing guide, says to expect at least 15-20 flushes a day on mostly grouse, with woodcock now and then just to keep things interesting. Three or four other top-notch bird hunting guides and their well-trained and hard-working dogs also work there. You also may bring your own dogs. Information • Grant’s Kennebago Camps: 1-800-6334815, grantscamps@ gmail.com, www. grantscamps.com. A very fine experience, and a wonderful rep-

resentative of Maine sporting camps. I’m going back soon. • Seaside Inn, Kennebunk: 207-967-4461, www.kennebunkbeachmaine.com. The only accommodations in the Kennebunks directly on the beach. A fine establishment. • Outdoor Heritage Museum: 207-864-3091, www.rangeleyhistoricalsociety.org. Fly fishing exhibits including Carrie Stevens streamers, Herb Welch, and Fly Rod Crosby. One of the best small museums in the country. • Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in a Maine Guide’s Wilderness: Superb book by the late Graydon Hilyard and his son Leslie on Oquossoc’s Herb Welch, tyer of the fabled Black Ghost Rangeley-style streamer fly. He was the Lefty Kreh of his day. • Rangeley Region Fly Shop: 207-864-3615, www.rangeleyflyshop. com. Everything you need for fishing at Grant’s and elsewhere in the region. Guided Trips • River’s Edge Sports: 207-864-5582, www. riversedgesports.com. Full-service fly shop and guide service in Oquossoc.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 13

Maine Wildlife:

Snakes Alive! by Tom Seymour

Many of us have an inherent fear of Maine snakes. Such fears are totally unfounded, since with the exception of the northern water snake, which can become aggressive if provoked, our state’s snakes pose no risk to humans. None contain toxic venom, although saliva of the northern water snake contains an anticoagulant, which causes its prey to bleed profusely and thus weaken, making it easier for the snake to swallow it. The most common snakes, the ones we are likely to encounter during our outdoor forays, include the ubiquitous but innocuous northern brown snake, northern redbelly snake (the little brown snake with the red belly seen when you turn over a plank or lift an outdoor flower pot), eastern garter snake, Maritime garter snake, eastern ribbon snake, northern ringneck snake and eastern smooth green snake. Maine has a number of other snakes, but these are the ones most frequently encountered. None of the above-mentioned snakes pose even the slightest risk to people, and in fact, some are so handsomely colored and marked that they are a joy to behold. So why are we so afraid of them? Well, fear of snakes can be an all-consuming fear, and unfortunately, some folks cannot defeat it. But for those who can appreciate them, our snakes have many redeeming qualities. Snakes, as predators, account for reductions of significant numbers of mice and other small rodents, as well as many insect pests, all of which we should be grateful for. Interesting Snakes I’ve had a few interesting experiences with our Maine snakes. The first one occurred while leading a foraging walk on Sears Island, a 940-acre island attached to the mainland via a causeway. One of the participants on the walk stopped and pointed at something alongside the road. It was a dead snake, a blue one. Having never seen a blue snake, this excited me greatly. Then I recalled that northern black rac-

The author once had a garter snake in his cottage. The snake entered via a hole chewed by a mouse through the outside wall.

ers, scarce in Maine, are said to have a bluish-black appearance. Could this little island snake be a black racer? I put the snake in a plastic bag and took it home for further study. After photographing the snake and sending my photos to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W), I was amazed to learn that my blue snake was actually an immature green snake. Green snakes turn blue shortly after death. The mystery was solved. The bush hog had just mowed roadside brush where the snake was found, and that’s what killed the snake. However, I was credited for being the first to observe a green snake on Sears Island – a great consolation prize. The other out-of-the-ordinary encounter also involved a possible blacksnake. It happened this way. One morning while walking along my gravel driveway, I saw a small, black snake spread out in a shady section of driveway. At first it appeared dead, but when prodded, it proved alive, but quite sluggish. I ran inside to grab a camera and ran back to the snake, still in the same place, to take some photos. Thinking that it was illegal to keep a wild snake in captivity, I decided to forgo the urge to capture it and place it in a bucket. The snake finally crawled away, never to be seen again. Once again sending the photo to DIF&W, I was amazed at the response. First, the biologist asked me why I hadn’t captured the snake so he could see it. Sigh! Then he told me that my find, rath-

er than being a black racer, was in fact an eastern garter snake in a melanistic, or black, phase. The biologist’s claim was based upon apparent keels on the snake’s scales. I was also told that there was probably a family of these black garter snakes, and I should expect to see more of them during the course of the season. That never happened. But still, a melanistic garter snake is something you don’t see every day. Porch Snakes My old place in Waldo held plenty of eastern garter snakes. One would often lie on the rock slab that served as my front porch, warming itself in the morning sunlight. Many mornings, I would sit on that rock sipping coffee while watching the resident snake. We had something of an understanding, I guess. Sometimes, though, the snake, or snakes, would startle me. When working in a garden bed next to the house, I would often disturb a resting garter snake, surprising both me and the snake. I often wondered if these snakes were of the same ilk as the black one I had seen earlier. They were probably related, but several generations apart. A garter snake once found a way into my cottage. A mouse had chewed a hole in the wall, which the snake used to enter the house. I never saw the snake, but I did find its shed skin. This happened several times and it left me mildly aggravated. It seemed that the snake should stay on its own turf and not invade mine. I’m grateful for these various encounters with Maine’s snakes. My life is the richer for it. www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

“Snapshots in Time”

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

I have often wondered aloud while enjoying one of Maine’s legendary sporting locales; “Just imagine what this spot must have been like back in the 1800s”! While researching vintage publications as part of my role as Director of the Outdoor Heritage Museum, I often come

across the answers to those very questions. What follows shares some short clippings from the “With Sportsmen” section found in the July 4, 1895 edition of the RANGELEY LAKES newspaper. The first shares an incredible catch

Two-Days’ Catch Seventeen trout weighing as follows taken: 8½, 6½, 5¾, 5¼, 5½, 3½, three at 2½, 4½, 4½, three at 1¾, 4¼, 4¼, 2½, two at 2 lbs. and two at 6¼ lbs. Grand Total: 75 3/4 lbs.! The above catch was made Friday and Saturday, on the “Middle Ground,” in the Big Lake, by “Nick” Boylston of Jamaica Plains, and his guide, Rufus Crosby. To say more is needless. The figures tell a better story than any words. (Amen, and I hope Old Rufus got a nice tip. The “Middle Ground” refers to the area between Mooselookmeguntic and Cupsuptic Lakes where a rapid once existed prior to the rebuild and heightening of Upper Dam in 1883.) The Mountain View House is not very far behind, when it comes to big fish. The first of the week, Mr. J. H. Henley of Brunswick, Me., took a handsome trout weighing 7¾ lbs. (That was in Rangeley Lake.) Several parties came out from Tim Pond Friday, they report excellent luck. (And good luck can still be had at this legendary camp.) A deer was seen in the field of a West Phillips farmer, near his barn, last week. (Imagine – the population Statewide was so low that the sighting of a single Whitetail would “Make the Paypahs”! It may have been the glory days for brook trout, but it was the low point for deer. U.S. Fish & Wildlife estimates that the white-tailed deer population fell to an estimated low of 500,000 nationwide in 1900.) W. G. Ellis, of Gardiner, photographed the big string of fish at Mooselookmeguntic House, Saturday.

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(Photos of fish were rare and enjoyed by only the wealthy. Now, my wife complains that she would enjoy seeing a photo where I am NOT holding a fish.) Nick Boylston, with Rufus Crosby, guide, in seven days’ fishing at Seven Ponds, recently caught 809 trout. (On the same visit to the Rangeleys, our friend Nick from paragraph one, goes and SPANKS ’em again? Old Rufus knew how to find and catch fish for his Sports, and Nick had better have been a big tipper!) A. J. Lynch, of Lowell, Mass., on Quimby Pond in two days fishing last week, took 100 trout, running from one fourth to 2 lbs. each. Bert Herrick, guide. (Not up to Rufus’ Standards, but I’d take it). We will close with a rare early mention of catch-and-release angling in the high-country ponds around Saddleback Mountain and a reference that illustrates misnomers about the true height of Maine’s peaks at the time.

Among the Clouds on July 1st, 1895

To Editors of Rangeley Lakes: Our party of four has passed three

even by the glorious standards of the Gilded Age of Maine Trout Fishing. Oh, to be as fortunate as Mr. Boylston here, but that would require a trip to Labrador now and a whole lot of luck. (Note: Bill Pierce’s commentary in italics) delightful days here. Although coming upon Mr. Fuller unexpectedly and finding him ready to go out to Rangeley, we found excellent entertainment in store for us. Situated in the Saddleback range many hundred feet above the sea in a virgin forest and guarded by grand old mountains, the rugged summit of old Saddleback, the second highest peak in Maine, just above us, the scenery ever varying but always magnificent, the air rare and pure, the water clear and cold, these camps are a veritable paradise to the lover of woods and nature. We were happily surprised to find a place away up “Among the Clouds” having all the attractions of camp life with few of its inconveniences. Flies and mosquitoes below but none here. The fly fishing, we find to be as represented by the genial Martin. We have taken over one hundred fine trout, most of which have been returned to the water, having fished only a few hours each afternoon. The trout were of good size, ranging from the ordinary pond trout of seven or eight inches, to two pounds in weight; three of them baked in cream making a dinner yesterday for six of us. We leave for home today with regrets that we cannot stay longer, as we find Mr. Fuller a most pleasing host, always looking after the interests and pleasure of his guests. In closing, we would say that the table leaves nothing further to be desired. – Pop Come see us at the Outdoor Heritage Museum where we have great stories galore and the artifacts of Maine’s outdoor past that colorfully illustrate them, and be sure to get outside and make some outdoor history of your own!

Almanac

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 15

— Compiled and Edited by Will Lund — Report: New ATV Trails Coming to Penobscot, Aroostook Counties

According to WFVX TV in Bangor, in a story by reporter Stephanie Wittenbach, two new ATV trails are near completion in northern Penobscot and Aroostook counties. The report quotes Blaine King, president of Shin Pond’s ATV Club, as stating that while snowmobile trails have been well established, ATV trails have historically received less attention. King credits the Irving Corporation with helping facilitate cooperation between snowmobilers and ATV riders.

Blaine King, president of Shin Pond Trail Riders, is working with the Irving Corporation to connect two ATV trail networks, one in Northern Penobscot County, and the other in Southern Aroostook.

The new trail starts in the Shin Pond area of Mt. Chase and extends to the Littleton/Monticello area, according to a story by Alexander MacDougall of the Bangor Daily News. The route will follow one traveled by snowmobilers during the winter, but expanding use to ATVs has required new signage, as well as bridge reconstruction. The new trail should be open once the woods dry out in early summer. —

Encounters with Wild Animals By Blaine Cardilli

The Rabid Skunk It was a beautiful day in early October, 1983, and my buddy Kip and I were walking the old railroad tracks down in Warren, looking for squirrels. I was carrying my old Savage bolt action .22, a single-shot rifle my dad gave me in 1967. I’d named it “Old Hawk,” as I just couldn’t seem to miss with the old girl.

As we sauntered along the tracks, enjoying the day, Kip noticed that a skunk had come up from the ditch and was trailing us. We stopped and tried to shoo it away, but when we did it began to run right for us. Trying not to overthink it, we stepped down off the tracks into the gully. To our great surprise, the skunk came down after us. Noting this was indeed a strange thing for it to do, we jumped up the embankment and back onto the tracks, but in seconds the skunk ran back up onto the tracks as well, and continued its fast approach. We tried to outrun it, but we were fully loaded with hunting gear and we quickly realized the attempt to flee was futile. I stopped to catch my breath, and told Kip enough was enough. We had gained some distance on the persistent animal, and by the time I took in a comfortable breath, the skunk was 60 feet away. It came directly toward us at a full, waddling gallop. As it approached, we could hear it wheezing, gurgling and growling, and we realized it was definitely sick and probably rabid. As Kip started backing away, I raised my rifle, aimed, and fired, knowing I needed to make this one shot count, or the animal would be (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

16 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 15)

at our feet. The shot was good, striking the poor animal in the head and causing it to drop instantly. However, at the moment of impact it flipped around, its tail raised and it involuntarily began to spray. The skunk was 30 feet from us. We saw the stream shoot about 10 feet in our direction, so we turned on our heels and booked it down the tracks as fast as we could go. Unfortunately, the mist caught up with us and left a bit of odor attached to our outer clothes, which we stripped off quickly. I guess if you spend much time in the Maine outdoors, strange things are certainly bound to happen! —

Orlando Delogu Fights for Public Access to the Shoreline Orlando Delogu, a law professor and long-time advocate for public access to Maine’s beaches, together with more than 20 other plaintiffs, have filed a lawsuit in an effort to overturn two previous court decisions that upheld the ability of shorefront owners to prevent people from walking along the intertidal zone – land under water at high tide, but exposed at low tide. Maine anglers, duck hunters and other sportsmen, as well as clam and rockweed harvesters and others who simply like to walk the shoreline, have a great deal at stake in the controversy. Maine’s Supreme Court relied – incorrectly, in Delogu’s opinion – on a 1647 ordinance when the court decided that intertidal land belonged to the “upland owners.” Delogu believes that if this land belongs to anyone, it’s the property of the state, held in trust for the benefit of all citizens. He believes the state or municipalities should control the taking of resources, such as rockweed, from this intertidal area. In his civil action. Delogu points to what he believes are factual errors in the court’s earlier decisions. For example, despite its plant-sounding name, “rockweed” is, in some folks’ minds, an organism rather than a plant. It attaches to rocks rather than to the soil, like a mussel. And in terms of the reproductive process, each plant is either male or female.

These are not simply hyper-technical distinctions, since that same Colonial ordinance from the 1600s allows access to intertidal zones to “fish, fowl or navigate,” so if rockweed is more like fish than plant, the ancient law’s wording takes on new meaning. “In sum,” wrote Delogu in a recent special to the Portland Press Herald, “a re-examination of the [previous court decisions] is fully justified.” He believes Maine’s highest court has committed “legal and scientific mistakes” that must be corrected. To read a copy of the civil complaint filed in court, or to assist with the litigation, go to www.OurBeaches.me. —

Study Tracks Boat Ownership and Use

Several months ago, the US Coast Guard issued the results of a survey of boat ownership and use, called the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS). Here are some of the key findings: 1) In the U.S., approximately 25.2 million boats are owned by 14.5 million households. 2) Joint and shared ownership is an increasingly popular way to get onto the water – 1.4 million boats are owned in joint or shared arrangements. 3) There are 11.82 million boats registered in the U.S. Another 13.4 million boats (such as canoes and kayaks) are not required to be registered by the state where they are kept and operated. Perhaps because the report was issued by the Coast Guard, it indirectly lobbies for increased registration requirements, (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

noting, for example, that “[t]he proportion of all boats that are unregistered is creating a number of financial and management issues and difficulties for boating safety and law enforcement agencies as well as agencies that provide and manage boat access and infrastructure facilities. Foremost, owners of unregistered boats do not pay registration fees, and because most are human-powered boats, they do not purchase fuel for these boats and therefore do not pay fuel taxes, which support the development and maintenance of boating access and infrastructure as well as boating safety education and enforcement.”

Let’s hope that trend does not extend to the State of Maine. Although it’s certainly true that a vehicle that car-tops two kayaks to the boat launch takes up space in the parking lot, we believe that, on the whole, self-propelled craft do not exact a great toll on Maine’s waterways. Kayakers and canoers should put identifying tags or labels on their boats so someone knows how to get ahold of the owner if the boats drift off the beach or shoreline, but in our opinion there is no need for an official state registration system for non-powered canoes, kayaks and rowboats. —

We Must Fund the Endangered Species Act by Nick Lund, Outreach and Network Manager, Maine Audubon

A recent boat ownership study released by the Coast Guard provides a great deal of information. It also covers a touchy issue -- should owners of canoes and kayaks be required to register those boats, to contribute to the cost of boat launches and other infrastructure? We at the Sportsman say “No.” Photo credit: US Coast Guard

The study reports that “a number of states are currently considering expanding registration requirements to include various types and sizes of human-powered craft.”

in Maine in 1967. Maine Audubon ran its inaugural Bald Eagle boat cruise up Merrymeeting Bay in 1969 and spotted just a single bird. And then, when extinction seemed inevitable, we changed. We recognized the harm we were causing to this beautiful species and we altered our behavior. We banned DDT, the pesticide that was killing so many eagles and Osprey. We passed the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. And, most importantly, we established the Endangered Species Act and included Bald Eagles on the list of protected species. America’s turn towards wildlife conservation still seems dangerous – a reckless driver’s last-second swerve away from a head-on collision – but its impact is nearly without precedent. Humans have been forcing animals into extinction for thousands of years, from Woolly Mammoths to Steller’s Sea Cows, and now we were finally checking ourselves. The conservation gains America made in the 1960s and 70s, where we admitted that we were the problem and also that we could find solutions, are some of the proudest American moments in our history. Plus, they worked. The Bald Eagle has almost fully recovered, and the 50th anniversary Maine Audubon eagle

What would it have been like if Bald Eagles had gone extinct? At the rate things were going it would have been, I don’t know, around 1990 or something. Older people would swear to incredulous youngsters that birds bigger than they were used to soar overhead, and some even had a treehouse-sized nest down at the other end of the lake. No, they weren’t bald, we’d explain, it was (Continued on next page) just the bright white feathers. The kids would think of them as mythic creatures, like unicorns or mermaids. It’s incredible how close this 1-800-662-8411 came to reality. After Bald Eagles had existed on earth for • Insect Protection millions of years, humans had • UV Protection • Speciality Items persecuted and poisoned the ea• Pet Protection gle population down to just 417 www.bugbaffler.com known pairs in the country in 1963, and a low of just 21 pairs Use Code MAINE10 for 10% Off Your Order!

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18 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

June 2021 Sunrise/Sunset

(Continued from page 17)

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

RISE

5:00 4:59 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

SET

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

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

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 2021 Tides 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

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 Wed

HIGH AM PM 4:28 5:19 5:31 6:18 6:33 7:15 7:34 8:09 8:33 8:58 9:25 9:42 10:13 10:23 10:57 11:01 11:39 11:39 — 12:19 12:15 12:57 12:51 1:35 1:28 2:12 2:06 2:52 2:48 3:34 3:34 4:20 4:25 5:09 5:19 6:00 6:17 6:53 7:19 7:49 8:22 8:45 9:24 9:40 10:22 10:34 11:19 11:29 — 12:16 12:24 1:10 1:18 2:04 2:11 2:58 3:06 3:53 4:03 4:47

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LOW AM PM 10:56 11:17 11:55 — 12:22 12:53 1:26 1:49 2:26 2:41 3:19 3:27 4:06 4:09 4:48 4:48 5:28 5:25 6:05 6:02 6:42 6:38 7:18 7:16 7:55 7:55 8:34 8:37 9:15 9:24 10:01 10:15 10:48 11:10 11:38 — 12:08 12:31 1:09 1:28 2:11 2:25 3:11 3:22 4:08 4:17 5:04 5:12 5:59 6:07 6:53 7:01 7:46 7:56 8:39 8:51 9:32 9:49 10:26 10:49

cruise in 2018 spotted 47 individual birds on the same stretch of Merrymeeting Bay. Ninety-nine percent of all species placed on the Endangered Species List have avoided extinction, and 46 species have fully recovered, including the Grizzly Bear and Humpback Whales. But the continued success of the Endangered Species Act is in jeopardy, as the agencies tasked with carrying out its objectives have been starved for funds in recent years. According to reports from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, hundreds of endangered species receive less than $1,000 a year for their recovery, with many receiving no funding at all. The Endangered Species Act doesn’t protect species magically – it takes the dedicated efforts of trained scientists working to understand threats and devise protections. That work doesn’t happen without funding, and without funding the species could be lost. In this new Congress, we have an opportunity to get back on track with the Endangered Species Act. Maine Audubon has joined with dozens of conservation groups to request that Congress fully fund the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Act. The total need is $592.1 million, distributed across five programs, starting this coming fiscal year. It’s a small price to pay to prevent animals from going permanently extinct, and for the joy in showing our kids and grandkids a Bald Eagle instead of just describing one. —

How to Safely Release Your Pet from a Leghold/Foothold Trap

If your dog is unleashed, there’s a chance it may get its foot stuck in a trap. Rest assured, traps used in Maine hold an animal’s foot but are not designed to cause harm or pain to the species. In fact, state biologists use these same traps to catch, research and release many Maine species unharmed. A dog’s reaction to being caught in a foothold trap can vary from calm to frightened. Foothold traps are designed to hold an animal by the foot, and not injure the animal. The most common type of foothold trap used in Maine is shown at right. If your dog gets caught in one of them, follow these steps:

Stay calm and get help: If available, get a second person to assist you. Protect yourself: Some dogs may be calm, others may be frightened and attempt to bite, especially as the trap is removed from their foot. Protect yourself by securing the dog’s muzzle using a jacket or vest, or by placing a barrier between you and the dog.

To open a leg-hold trap (also known as a foot-hold trap) to release a pet, push down (see arrows) using your hands or feet on the levers located at either end of the jaws. Photo source: Maine DIFW

Open the trap: If possible, put the trap flat on the ground. To open the trap, push down using your hands or feet on the levers located at either end of the jaws (see arrows in the photos).This will release tension on the jaws, allowing you to remove the dog’s foot. —

New State Record Bluegill Recognized

In this era of social distancing, it took Michael Gibbs a while to connect his fish with a Maine fisheries biologist. But now, proof of his fishing skill and his persistence is contained in the listing on The Maine Sportsman’s home page, under “Freshwater Fish Records”: Bluegill: .955 lbs. (15.28 oz.); caught June 21, 2020 by Michael Gibbs, Lebanon, ME, in Murdock Lake (Hatfield Pond), Berwick; Certified by James Pellerin, MDIFW Fisheries Biologist, Gray, Maine

Congratulations, Michael! (See photo on next page) (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 19 (Continued from page 18)

Tom Roth Publishes New Book “A Sporting Year in Maine” Color; 198 pages; Softcover; 5.5 x 8.5; $23.95

Michael Gibbs of Lebanon caught this new state record bluegill June 21, 2020 on a scented worm in Murdock Pond. The fish was 10.75 inches long and had a girth of 10.25 inches. It was weighed on certified scales at Sleeper’s Market, Sanford.

—

For more than 25 years, Tom Roth has written for The Maine Sportsman magazine, focusing on his “home area” of Sebago Lake to Lewiston-Auburn. While working a series of full-time jobs in law enforcement, he has managed to fill pre-dawn mornings, late evenings and weekends with outdoor adventures, including taking customers out onto the water, courtesy of his Maine Guide registration. A member of New England Outdoor Writers Association, Tom is experienced at prose – his writing style is comfortable and folksy, and he faithfully follows the seasons, so that readers in the early spring learn about ice-out trolling; midsummer is time for Sebago’s deep holes or pursuing largemouth in the shallows; early fall is upland game and duck hunting; and November brings the pursuit of whitetail deer. So several events were inevitable – that Tom would be asked to write a book; would quickly find a willing publisher (North Country Press); and the book

would take readers through a sequential calendar year, month by month, accompanied by Tom’s unique blend of instruction and entertainment, outdoors-savvy and story-telling. The late George Smith, who wrote several books himself, had the opportunity to review the galley proofs for Tom’s book before he passed earlier this year. George’s review of Tom’s publication tells you all you need to know: “This book will bring back many of your own memories of hunting and fishing adventures, as Tom shares his own great stories, organized by month, and he also offers a lot of how-to advice. It took me a while to read his book, because Tom inspired me to put the book down several times and write my own stories. You should do that, too!” To pre-order, go to www.NorthCountryPress.com, and click on Tom’s book cover, which is displayed on the publisher’s home page.

Watch the Moose Lottery Live on Your Computer or Smartphone!

The 2021 moose lottery permit drawing will take place June 12. The drawing will be shown live on Youtube, and the results will be listed on MDIFW’s website by 6 p.m. For more information on the moose permit lottery, visit Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s website.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret Cross Paths This month’s image, by well-known photographer David Small, shows two beautiful but distinctly different large wading birds as they search for food in the Essex St. Forest/Marsh in Bangor. Small calls his offerings “Photos By Chance,” because his many fans tell him he has a knack for being at the right place at the right time. www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Striper Fishing

Top Ten Lures for Every Angler’s Tackle Box by Ron Dupuis • fish_doc12@comcast.net From mid-May through mid-October, striped bass fishing in Maine can be excellent. Talk to any successful saltwater anglers, and (maybe!) they will tell you about their favorite lures, flies, and “secret weapons.” Years of experience and patience have led many fishermen to be confident they have the most productive lures in their tackleboxes. Where and what time of day you’re fishing has much to do with what type of lure you will use. Many types of jigs, spoons, top-water lures and plugs can be used to entice large stripers to your line. Stripers can be found around rocks, ledges, coastal rivers, and in the surf, and their location will dictate what type of lure is most suitable. Listed below are the lures I have found to be most successful. This information should help you be successful catching stripers in Maine waters.

2. Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencil

High speed trolling/rattling lure. This lure looks like one of stripers’ favorite meals: mackerel. This lure is designed to dive at different levels based on the angler’s retrieve. It can be fished shallow or deep, cast, or trolled. It also has a rattle feature that attracts fish. Many of my stripers in deeper water have been caught on this lure.

Closely related to the Cordell lure, this 5-inch plug can be as effective as the Cordell lure when fished across the top, but this lure has larger eyes and a shimmering back.

5. Hogy Charter Grade Popper

3. Big Eye Buck Tail Jigs

1. Cordell Topwater Lures

This type of lure is very popular with striper fisherman. To be successful with this lure, speed and retrieval must vary. You can start with long pauses, or retrieve faster, to determine the cadence that will attract the fish. It is also helpful if the lure is pulled across the water erratically. The popper is meant to imitate a shad in distress. You will also notice the big eye. I like big eyes on my lures.

The jigs displayed are Mustad UltraPoint jigs. These are very versatile lures that attract many fish. The fishing action applied to these lures consists of bouncing and twitching the jig, and lifting the rod to attract the fish. The lures can be cast as well, and then retrieved in a way that imitates an escaping fish. This lure can be fished vertically or horizontally. Note the large eyes. 4. Rapala Saltwater X-Rap

This is another top-water lure that has multiple rattle chambers. Again, this lure can be fished in the depths or cast distances away. Similar popper retrieval techniques and multiple rattles attract fish to the surface with pounding success. As you may have noticed, I love big-eyed poppers. 6. The Sand Eel Jig

A deadly eel imitation. In some cases, it replaces the diamond jig for its success rate and its likeness to a sand eel. A durable jig that can be fished fast or slow, or can also be used as a casting lure. My favorite way of fishing this lure is jigging. The 35g version, shown here, is my favorite, because of the olive back and silvery underbelly that fool many fish. (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 21 (Continued from page 20)

7. Swim Shads 6 inch

These plastics attract fish by creating flashes of light. The white shad swim bait is a favorite of mine, but the true-colored fish imitation is useful in specific situations. Both have 3-D eyes and true-to-life swim action that stripers cannot resist. 8. Traditional Trolling Tubes

The tube and worm approach to striper fishing is a traditional method of trolling for stripers. The rig is trolled behind a boat or kayak with a blood worm on the end. The tube rig is trolled at the slowest possible speed behind a boat. Therefore, trolling a tube/worm rig behind a kayak is very successful, because of the speed and quiet manner a kayak moves through the water.

10. Kastmaster (ACME Tackle Co.) lures

9. Slug-Go’s and Hogy Soft Plastic Black Eels

Stripers love black eel imitations such as the 9-inch Slug-Go or a 9-inch Hogy soft plastic. These are very effective in the surf. The Hogy lure shown here has rigging with very large eyes that add to the attraction of the movement in the water and the color of the eel.

I love these lures. They have unbelievable action in the water, and they do not twist your line. The lures pictured are 1 oz. lures, which are at the smaller of the scale for striper fishing. Normally 2 - 4oz. lures are used, but I use these for early season stripers with the green and white eel/worm imitation on the end of the hook for attraction. The author is a Maine Guide and Master Naturalist.

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22 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Flounder Season is Here! Catching a mess of keeper winter flounders can be a challenge, but here are some tips to find them and get ’em to bite. Hey Cap – Where can I find some flounder? We used to catch buckets – full when I was a kid!” That’s a question I get asked a lot. Folks call on the phone or buttonhole me at the grocery store, but I don’t really have any good answers. Blackback or winter flounder used to be a staple catch along much of the Maine coast, but the stock was decimated as bycatch in the small-mesh winter shrimp fishery

back in the 1970s and 80s, and has never fully recovered. A device called the Nordmore grate, which attaches to the top of the trawl net and allows most flounders and other finfish to pass through unharmed, was mandated in 1992 and reduced bycatch from 50% to 15% but, as in much of fishery management, the damage was already done by the time the remedy was put in place. The results of the most recent flounder

survey, conducted in 2017, could not reliably estimate the size of the Gulf of Maine stock, but it was concluded that blackbacks are overfished, yet overfishing is not currently taking place. Bottom line is that there are flounders out there to be caught, but you’ll likely have to put in some extra time and effort to find and catch a few. Where They Lurk What kind of spots produce good flounder fishing? I like coves,

This nice flounder was taken on a “Zobo” rig baited with a seaworm in 15 feet of water. Sand and gravel bottoms are good spots to try. Photos by Barry Gibson

Bryan Colby of Boothbay took this keeper on a traditional “spreader rig.” The trick to hooking a winter flounder is to wait until you feel a steady weight on the line, then reel quickly.

estuaries, and inlets that have fairly deep centers and shallow

fringes which allow the fish to move back and forth with the tides. A sand or gravel bottom is ideal, and if it’s littered with clam shells or shell pieces it likely holds feed for these fish. The vast majority of flounders I’ve caught along the Maine coast has been in water from 10 to 18 feet deep. That doesn’t mean that depths deeper or shallower won’t produce, but I like this range. Edges of channels and slight depressions of only a foot or two can hold flounders and concentrate them during an ebbing tide. As for tides themselves, I haven’t found that incoming or outgoing makes a significant difference, but I have never done well at dead low or dead high. Flounder seem to feed best when the

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(Continued on page 24)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 23

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24 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Saltwater

(Continued from page 22)

water’s moving a bit. Another thing I’ve learned is that sunny, calm mornings are hands-down better than afternoons or windy, cloudy, or rainy weather. I have no idea why, but I have found this to be true everywhere I have fished for flounder. Also, if there is a brook that

empties out into an area of sandy bottom you may do quite well there, as blackbacks seem to congregate where there’s a little fresh water draining into the salt. Zobos and Sandworms Older anglers may remember those triedand-true brass “floun-

der spreaders” that date back to the 1940s, and although they still work fine, the most popular setup now is the high-low rig made of light monofilament, a couple of No. 6 to No. 8 Chestertown-style hooks, bright yellow plastic beads, and a loop or clip at the bottom for a sinker. Originally introduced by Pete Santini of the Boston tackle

shop Fishing Finatics as the “Zobo” rig, this new style of flounder-catcher is available at many Maine coastal tackle shops. If you can’t find them you can order on-line at www.santinitube. com. I’ve found the top bait to be a three-inch section of lively sandworm, although clam strips will also produce. Thread the worm

on the hook and leave about an inch hanging. The key is to use a small hook and a fairly small piece of bait, as an adult blackback’s mouth is only about the size of a dime. Tip: Bring a food storage container half full of dry corn meal with you, and put a few worms at a time in the meal. They’ll be much easier to handle, not at (Continued on next page)

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

all slippery, when you go to bait the hook. Chum ’n’ Twitch Chumming works great for flounder. Ground-up or cutup clams or mussels do fine. Chum pots are available at tackle stores, or you can make one in a jiffy with an onion bag, a rock or heavy sinker, and a length of cord. At-

tach the cord, drop the weight in the bag, fill it with chum, lower it to the bottom, and give it a good yank once in a while to disperse the tidbits and get the fish interested. I have a video of blackbacks feeding in the wild, and was amazed to find that they are primarily sight feeders. They lift their bodies up off

the bottom by their tails, like a cobra, and extend their eyes out on stalks to watch for motion. When they see something moving that might be food, they dart at it and grab it. This is why you’ll often have good luck casting your rig out and twitching it very slowly back along the bottom. Let it sit,

twitch it, let it sit. Often that familiar staccato tap-tap-tap of a flounder bite will come a mere second or two after you twitch the rig. Best way to set the hook on a flounder? Wait for a steady pull, like there’s a heavy sinker at the end of the line, and then simply lift the rod tip up and start reeling. Don’t try

to set the hook during the tap-tap-tap – you’ll miss fish more often than not! The minimum size for winter flounder is 12”, and there’s a bag limit of eight fish per person per day. If you “limit out” on any given day, you’ve really accomplished something!

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26 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The ATV Camper by Steve Carpenteri

The author enjoys heading out in his side-by-side ATV to visit fishing and camping spots. But as a self-described “minimalist,” rather than seeing how much stuff he can bring with him, his goal is to plan carefully and bring as little gear as possible. It’s June – time to put the pedal to the metal. Most springtime ATV restrictions are off this month, as riders look to new trails, new vistas and new adventures. Landowner permission is always required to travel on private property, but state-approved ATV trails are

open, so let’s get out there and ride! Day trips are fine and a great way to enjoy Maine’s varied outdoor opportunities. An ATV gives the adventurous rider a plethora of options: racks for canoes and kayaks, a generator and winch, even a trailer for more gear. It all depends on

where you want to go and what you want to do when you get there. For me, the transition to ATV camping is an easy and natural one. Again, you’ll need permission to ride and camp on private land along the way, but a few pre-trip phone calls should take care of that.

ATVs can take anglers and all their gear to great angling hotspots. All photos by Steve Carpenteri

A minimalist at heart, I’m all for packing basic cooking gear, water and a camp

chair, and then heading out to a favorite fishing or loafing spot (Continued on next page)

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

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 27

Summer is Your Go Time.

Depending on your need for luxury and comfort, a large amount of camping gear -- including tents, cooking supplies and (literally) the kitchen sink -can be transported via ATV. (Continued from page 26)

where I can make the most of my springtime adventures. The Basics For me as a lone traveler, comfortable June camping requires only a tent, a small stove and enough tea and “boilable” items to complement the bass or trout I expect to catch along the way. For short overnight trips, I usually bring extra water (either bottled, or in a 5-gallon container) and plan to live on tea and coffee, instant oatmeal, soups and the like. For longer trips, I pack a cooler with more substantial provisions carefully planned to last for the length of time of my excursion. My short list of necessities includes a tent, tarp (in case of rain, in which case I may elect to sleep in the covered ATV, uncomfortable as that can be), sleeping mat and bag, folding chair, cooking/eating gear, water, insect repellent, fire-starting gear (where legal, of course), LED lights or a lantern, extra clothing (including rain gear) and my fishing tackle. All of this fits into

a large, sturdy plastic tub that I keep packed and updated so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice. After years of tweaking, substituting and practice, I now arrive in camp and can be sitting by the lake sipping hot tea less than 30 minutes after I shut off the ATV. I can cut that time in half if my immediate mission is fishing. In that case, I pop the tent, unroll the sleeping bag and head for the water, taking care of the rest when I return just before dark. Beyond the Basics I know too well that some folks consider camping, even for one night, a “kitchen sink” event that must include every possible necessity times 10. I have friends who routinely bring full cooking sets, several lanterns, a tent designed for 10 people, cots, folding recliners and enough food to last a month. Espresso in the morning? Got it covered! This is all well and good if you have room for, can carry and truly cannot live with all that stuff. I actually en(Continued on next page)

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

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28 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

ATVing

(Continued from page 27)

joy ATV camping with such folks because it makes my stay that much more comfortable, and I don’t have to buy, bring, pack or

unpack all that extra gear. Spray for Insects These days, the threat of tick-borne diseases is real and

common, especially here in Maine. For the past few years I have made it a practice to set up camp, organize my gear and then spray everything I plan to sit or lay on with an aerosol perme-

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

thrin solution such as that made by Sawyer. It’s effective for six weeks, is non-staining, and is designed to spray on clothing and gear. I know that it works very well for short trips, because I may not unpack all my gear for a few days after a trip and I have yet to find a single tick in the tub. This product is not meant to be sprayed directly on the skin, so I use Cutter’s, Off! or some other repellent specifically designed for skin application. For those who are averse to smearing questionable chemicals all over their bodies, there are various herbal and non-herbal alternatives that seem (or claim) to work. Avon’s Skin-So-Soft

is one such product that I know is effective against biting insects, which campers are almost guaranteed to encounter in Maine by June. Finally, check with landowners, local authorities and the MDIFW regarding camping or riding restrictions in the area where you plan to ride. Log onto www.mefishwildlife.com and follow the ATV links for current regulations, restrictions, rules and updates. Find your own level of comfort, drive responsibly and follow the rules. Now, let’s strap in and head for the woods!

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Moose Lottery Update by Steve Carpenteri Maine’s annual moose lottery and hunt have come a long way since 1983, when Maine voters turned down a referendum question that would have stopped the state’s moose season only two years after it had been restarted. Thanks to the efforts of educated outdoorsmen, biologists and guides statewide, voters approved what has become one of the most popular and successful hunting seasons in the state. Consider that Maine’s deer hunters have regularly posted a 10 percent success rate since 1980, when the first moose hunt was held, while more than 80 percent of moose lottery permit winners fill their tags every year. The success rate may well be even higher, except that some stoic hunters hold out for an exceptionally large bull, choosing to pass on smaller animals. Although the very first moose hunts were fraught with difficulties ranging from some hunters blocking off roads to retrieval and processing issues for successful hunters, modern-day hunts are more enjoyable and productive than ever. Here’s a look at what Maine’s moose lottery hopefuls can

Newly-enacted rules increase the number of moose permits issued, especially cow permits, in certain specified zones. The planned 5-year effort to reduce moose populations, will test the hypothesis that fewer moose will break the destructive cycle of winter tick infestations. Results will be carefully monitored, and permit numbers can be adjusted year-to-year. expect in 2021: Rules Changes According to Lee Kantar, Maine’s senior moose biologist, primary points of interest for prospective 2021 moose hunters include newly-approved permit increases across Wildlife Management Districts (WMD) 1-6, 8 and 9. as well as the Adaptive Unit in the western half of WMD 4. “The additional 345 permits include 95 bull permits for the September hunt within WMDs 1-5, an additional 185 bull permits across WMDs 1-6, 8 and 9, an additional 65 antlerless moose permits across WMDs 1-6 and 8,” Kantar noted. The Adaptive Unit adds 550 antlerless permits for the western side of WMD 4. This includes three separate hunt weeks, including additional hunt weeks outside of the “traditional” hunt framework (Oct. 1823, Oct. 25-30, and Nov. 1-6). “When applying for

the 2021 moose hunt, prospective hunters should pay attention to the details of this hunt and additional requirements,” Kantar said. Additional information on the Adaptive Unit regulations is available at www3.maine.gov/ifw/ hunting-trapping/ moose-permit.html#adaptive. Background Biology The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire and New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, conducted research on adult cow and calf mortality in three study areas, including WMDs 8 and 2 in Maine, from 2014 to 2020. Over 675 Maine moose were GPS collared for the study, which revealed that winter tick infestations had inflicted mortality rates of over 50 percent on overwin-

tering collared calves during 6 of 7 years in WMD 8. Mortality rates over 70 percent occurred in some years. “While winter ticks are common throughout the U.S. and can parasitize other wildlife, moose are unaware of these ticks climbing aboard during the fall,” Kantar noted. “Moose can harbor winter tick loads of well over 50,000. This one-host, one-year life cycle tick lives all three of its life stages on a single host, taking blood at each stage. The result can be massive weight loss, anemia and ultimately death for the moose.” Kantar said that there is currently no

feasible way to treat moose for winter ticks. Spraying thousands of acres of privately-owned moose habitat to kill winter ticks would also be impractical. “Moose in northern Maine remain at moderate to high densities and compared to most North American populations, are much denser. Theoretical science tells us that lower densities of moose give us one opportunity to drive down winter tick abundance,” Kantar said. “In 2020, we lost 38 percent of our collared calves to winter tick, compared to 15 percent in WMD 2 and 54 percent in WMD 8,” Kantar added. “This year, with higher tick loads, we have lost 58 percent of our collared calves.” With all this in mind, the MDIFW has increased antlerless permits in one-half of WMD 4 that best represents habitat conditions and climatic (Continued on next page)

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How Big Does a Lake Boat Really Need to Be? With so many different styles, sizes, and types of boats on the market today, it can be very difficult to choose the optimal boat for a specific application. This column will mainly focus on lake boats – optimal for trolling with lead core and downriggers. There are countless styles of rigs around the lake, from center consoles to pontoon boats, cabin boats, walk arounds, aluminum open boats, side console rigs, and an occasional lobster boat … it can be overwhelming to choose among them. The reason there’s such a conglomeration of trolling boats out there is that most of them work. They do, however, vary in levels of comfort. Pontoon Boat & Center Consoles A pontoon boat, for example, is a very comfortable ride. It is OK for trolling as far as capabilities, but not ideal. Many pontoon boats run too fast to troll for togue, even

when at low idle. The cloth seats are likely to get gouged, slimy, or cut, and they do drift around in the wind. A center console, on the other hand, is just the opposite. Although it lacks in comfort, with only one or two bench seats and few comfort amenities, it excels in the fishing department; that is its design. With a deep hull, purpose-built motor, and often sporting downrigger mounts and rod holders, this is an ultimate boat for the hardcore angler. Cruisers Cabin cruisers, as well as walkarounds, are a bit of both. They can be great for fishing, with a large, deep hull, and angling amenities, but also offering a comfortable crew cabin in which to stay warm when it’s cold out, and protected from the weather. These boats are often designed as offshore ocean boats, so they can take a lot of abuse. Often equipped with radar and marine radios, they are

Moose Lottery (Continued from page 29)

conditions in Maine’s moose core range and where moose are afflicted with winter ticks. According to Kantar, lowering moose densities in this area has the potential to decrease the availability of the host (moose) to winter tick, and thus reduce overwinter mortality. The permit allocation change is designed to test this hypothesis for a five-year period, with an increased harvest and annual assessments of changes in moose www.MaineSportsman.com

Some anglers enjoy the comfort and stability of a pontoon boat. And with several licensed fishermen aboard, a spread of trolling rods can be deployed off the stern. Nolan Raymond photo

sometimes much more than you need for lake fishing,. They are also impractical if the boat has to be trailered to and from the lake or pond, since they are very large and deep, and heavy. Many require at least a halfton pickup truck to haul. Unless a mooring or dock is available, this option is fairly impractical. Personal Favorite My personal favorite boat is the smallest and most simple on the list: an open alu-

minum boat. My own boat, a 14 foot deep-V, with an 8-horse tiller outboard, is remarkably capable. It was once owned by the IF&W, and was trailered to countless lakes and rivers for fisheries surveys. It now resides at my camp on Sebago, where it has been dubbed the “togue rig.” During the summer months, it spends most days trolling with lead core and a downrigger for lakers. Even on the windy, choppy days for which Sebago is famous, it still handles very well, although it is sometimes a wet experience with a lot of splashing. The lightweight build can make it difficult to maintain a straight course on windy days, and the bow does get pushed around a lot. However, with no console, there is a huge amount of usable space, and everything is very durable – no cracked plastic or fiberglass, no torn seats (the seats are aluminum, as is the hull). And no concern if it gets dirty – it’ll just

density, composition, reproductive rates and overwinter calf mortality. The Lottery In its early years, Maine’s Moose Lottery Drawing was a popular, entertaining event that drew a large crowd of prospective hunters and onlookers. Attendees gathered under tents, enthusiastic Boy Scouts dove into a rotating barrel to draw permits, and master moose callers showed off their skills. According to Emily MacCabe of the MDIFW, the 2021 lottery will be very similar to last year’s virtual event. The public will be able to join by watching a

wash out in the next rainstorm! Since it’s so light, I store it right on the beach; no mooring or dock is necessary. The big open design also makes it a good work boat for putting in the moorings for the boats that do require them. It can carry a practically unlimited amount of chain, buoys, and anchors. There are certainly plenty of boat styles out there, and they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to realize that it may not be necessary to purchase a $45,000 center console or cabin cruiser, although more comfortable or capable, even for Maine’s biggest lakes. Instead, what’s important is knowing your own limits, as well as the limits of the boat. There are many days where it is simply a poor decision to hit the big water, so if it’s a close call, always err on the side of caution.

live-stream on YouTube. “This year, we will be adding some additional presentations before the drawing, but we are still working on the schedule and specifics,” MacCabe explained. “Details will be added to the MDIFW’s web site when we have them confirmed.” Additional information about the virtual lottery event is available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/species-information/mammals/ moose-virtual-series.html.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 31

Making It Happen by Joe Kruse

Some folks prefer to hunt whitetails from a stand, but Joe Kruse and Hal Blood prefer to “make it happen” by tracking the deer. Here, Joe explains why tracking provides “the opportunity to play an active role in getting a shot on a mature buck.” The Waiting Game In the world of deer hunting, and in most other types of hunting, waiting for something to happen is a common approach. Whether you are in your deer stand, sitting in a duck blind, or lying in a field waiting for geese to fly over, you have little control over what happens next. You can certainly up your odds of an encounter by doing your homework, scouting, and making good setups, but in the end you have no control over game movements. It is just a waiting game. I believe that is one of the reasons that hunting in general, and particularly deer hunting, loses some potential participants. People just think it is too boring. This is not to say there is anything wrong spending hours and days on end waiting for that big buck to come into shooting range. I love sitting in a tree stand with my bow or gun waiting for that few seconds of pure adrenaline rush that is responsible for the addiction that most serious hunters suffer from. There is the appeal of the surprise that we get at that first sighting of antlers coming through the trees or the ducks coming to-

ward you from far off. But in the end, the person who does not have patience may lose interest and realize that the waiting game just is not for them. Getting After Them Tracking deer on snow is one of the few types of hunting in which the hunter has a role in making it happen. If you do your homework and are willing to put in some physical effort, you will have the opportunity to play an active role in getting a shot on a mature buck. Unlike stand hunting, you are on a traditional predator/prey game of chess. Just knowing that the deer you are tracking is actually at the end of those tracks is what keeps us going. There is always much anticipation as you go along on the track wondering where – or, better yet, “if” – you will catch up to the animal. You strategize constantly about the age of the track, what the deer is doing or will do, how much time you have left in the day, and hundreds of other decisions that trackers make in order to get their shot at the buck. When you are on the track you are a participant more than a spectator. You have more control over the

type of deer you may encounter, and you leave less to chance – or as most would call it, luck. On the days when deer are not moving, you are not sitting for hours hoping for the best. You are on your feet covering miles in search of the right track, so that you can force the deer to make a move. It truly is, in my opinion, what makes tracking big bucks so appealing. The Why I am sure there are more than a few accomplished stand hunters out there who have big bucks on the wall who will disagree with my take on the subject. They work hard to “make their luck,” and I would certainly agree that many are particularly good at it. But in the end, all the work they put in will not get a deer on their feet like a hunter who is on the track. Speaking for many trackers out there, we’d rather be an active participant in trying to make it happen, rather than sitting on a stump waiting for it happen. If you haven’t tried it yet you should. Making it happen is a lot of fun! Hal’s Thoughts From the time that I first started hunting

“You are on your feet covering miles in search of the right track, so you can force the deer to make a move. It truly is, in my opinion, what makes tracking big bucks so appealing.” -- Joe Kruse

– and really even before I was old enough to – I never could sit still. I can remember at a very young age wandering the woods and exploring what was over every hill. My father was

mostly a sitter. He did putter around some, but never tracked. When I was in my early teens, I and sometimes a friend would track rabbits (Big Woods World continued on page 33)

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32 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

June Can Be a Productive Month for Deer Hunters The tiny animal was nearly invisible – a small, brown patch of hair among a sea of green ferns. The fawn was likely only hours old. It was curled up, instinctively hiding from the various critters in the woods who’d happily make a meal of the newborn animal if given the opportunity. Walking in the woods in June, no matter what we’re doing, can be an exciting time. Early Prep for Deer Hunting For many deer hunters, June isn’t an exciting month. Yes,

Clear your tree stand site; inspect the tree where you intend to hang your stand; check the stand itself for signs of wear; and set up some cameras (including the newest versions, that send photos to your phone) – June can be a busy month for deer hunters. it’s fawn season, but it’s also black fly season, tick season and fishing season. Deer are often the furthest thing from a hunter’s mind this month. For me, however, June can still be very productive in my quest to harvest a trophy. There are stand sites to prep, trails to clear, stands to maintain, cameras to hang, and new properties to ex-

plore. Occasionally, a friend or youth hunter will occupy my first few days of June, when they’ve not yet harvested a turkey. This year, spring turkey doesn’t end until June 5th. That’s nearly a full week of featherand-fan fun to have this month. Usually, Tom turkeys aren’t gobbling much by June, but

they can still be called in. My guess is they’re seeking hens whose nests have failed or who’ve not nested yet. Through sheer determination, my friends and I have killed birds well into June when pushed to do so. While turkey hunting in June, I’ve run into many fawns like the one I mentioned earlier. If this happens, it’s best not to get

too close. I’ve made the mistake of getting too close, trying to identify a fawn’s sex. These little guys imprint easily when they’re first born, and a few times I’ve had fawns try to follow me home. This is never good, as they’re nearly scentless, totally defenseless and need their mothers. Leading them too far from a hiding spot can take them away from mom, who’s their only true protection. Get Some Work Done This Month June is often a month for deer hunt(Continued on next page)

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ers to get some work done. Mornings are often still cool in June, providing a comfortable work environment. Stand sites and trails have often been ravaged by winter snow and windstorms, often require work to get them ready for the upcoming season. Trails used to enter and exit stands should be the starting point. Downed trees and debris should be removed, but cleaning them completely should be reserved for the month or so before the season begins. Summer storms will likely knock more debris to the ground before deer season, however removing the large barriers is a smart play now.

Inspecting stand and ground blind sites is also important and easy this month. Inspecting trees we’ll hang stands in, for dead branches and cracked trunks. The last thing a hunter wants is to be climbing a tree that’s dead, dying or at risk of falling while we’re in it. If we actually climb into a tree, to inspect shooting lanes, be careful not to trim existing shooting lanes too much this month. The woods will be lush, green and the thickest of the year right now. Over-trimming the area around a stand now, can leave a hunter looking like a golf ball on a tee in the fall. Keep the cover protected by just removing large barriers at this time. Examining tree

Big Woods World (Continued from page 31)

around. Sometime the one of us tracking would shoot the rabbit, and other times the one posted up would, but we always felt like we would be successful if we just kept after them. We shot a lot of rabbits that way before we graduated to getting our own beagles. Those early excursions carried on for me into the deer woods. My father wanted me to sit so he would know where I was, and I shot my first two deer sitting, but it was boring to me. When I turned sixteen, I was allowed to go to the family hunting

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stands if they’ve been left out over winter (which they never should) is also very important. Cracked metal tubing, loose screws, and frayed ropes or straps should all be searched out. Winter is tough on equipment. Any of these things can cause a stand to come crashing to the ground when we enter them after being away for six months. Please use caution and closely examine stands before performing elevated work in June. Time to Get the Cameras Out June is also a great time to get cameras into the field. By late May, mature bucks have a healthy set of antlers started and be easily distinguished. (Big Game continued on next page)

camp for a week. There was plenty of woods to hunt, and I roamed every inch of it in search of deer. I might sit an hour in the morning and evening, but that was it. I called that my “training grounds,” as there were plenty of deer, and I had encounters with them just about every day. I learned what they liked to eat, where they liked to bed down, and where they traveled. Ever since those days, I have always felt that I had more of a chance of shooting a buck if I went to them instead of waiting on one to come to me. Like Joe says, “Give it a try.”

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34 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Smoked Wild Mushroom Meatloaf I love the smell and taste of a good smoke. On a regular basis I have used the liquid smoke, at its purest. Presently in my cupboard I have Hickory, Mesquite and Applewood liquid smoke, and I use them all differently – in dishes ranging from salad dressings to stocks, meat, fish, bean, tofu and chicken. In this recipe, I complement the smoking process using a Turkish chili

pepper, Urfa Biber. It has a smoky, raisin-like taste. This pepper goes through such an interesting process – first sundried during the day and wrapped tightly at night. The night process, or “sweating,” works to infuse the dried flesh with the remaining moisture of the pepper. The result is an appearance ranging from deep purple to purplish black. Urfa biber is less spicy than many other chili

peppers, but provides a more lasting build of heat, which I love! The first time I made this recipe, I smoked with Pecan wood. It was too strong and hid most flavors, which wasn’t enjoyable to me. My testers will disagree, but hey, I’m cooking for all of you! Applewood is my choice. Enjoy, and Bon Appetit!

grees. Remove meatloaf; rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Heat oil in large skillet until hot. Add mushrooms in single layer and cook until browned and reduced in size. Remove mushrooms and set aside. Melt butter in same pan, stir in flour

to make thick paste. Add red wine and stock and simmer until reduced by half. Just before serving, stir in mushrooms to heat through. Spoon glaze over top of meatloaf.

Having photos sent directly to my phone will keep me focused on deer, taking away the temptation to visit cameras too often and alert deer to my presence. Since setting my first trail camera years ago, the temptation to look at photos too often has literally stopped me from utilizing them more often. Thankfully, I knew my limitations and avoided the mistakes other hunters have made. The only reason I’ll need

to visit the cameras after they’re hung, will be to replace batteries. Watching the photos come in after that will be a welcome task on hot summer days. June can be a great month to prepare for deer season. The work isn’t always as exciting as it is in September, but it’s good work, and actions taken now can make or break a season. Embrace June, and use this time to become better at deer hunting.

Meatloaf ingredients: • 1 ½ cups onion, finely chopped • 1 cup baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped • 2 teaspoons Smoked Sea Salt • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme • 1 teaspoon oregano • 1 teaspoon Urfa Biber* • ½ cup red wine • 1 pound ground moose • 1 pound ground bear • ½ pound pork, ground • 1 cup fresh bread crumbs • 2 eggs Mushroom Sauce: • 12 ounces Mousam Valley wild mushrooms, sliced • 1 tablespoon butter olive oil • 2 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoons flour • 1 cup red wine • 1 cup game stock (or beef stock) Directions: Combine all meatloaf ingredients in large bowl and mix thoroughly. Pat into loaf shape and place on greased pan. Place pan in smoker and turn on. Smoke meatloaf at 225 degrees for 2 hours, or until thermometer inserted into center of meatloaf reaches 150 de-

Big Game (Continued from page 33)

My personal excitement this month is in adding nine new cellular cameras to the woods I hunt. My hope is these cellular cameras will be the goal I’ve sought for years. Not having to visit cameras every two or three weeks to pull SD cards is a solution I’ve searched for since trail cameras came into existence over 20 years ago. www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 35

The Maine Sportsman’s 2020-2021 Youth Writing Contest is in the books, and our panel of judges was extremely impressed with the submissions. The rules were kept simple by design, to encourage creativity on the part of the youth writers – a 500-word maximum on topics of interest to our readers.

We offered three categories – Maine Junior (grades 6-8); Maine Senior (grades 9-12); and New England. Our winners have each won themselves $100. Several of the entries will be printed in our pages in future issues (see our Maine senior winners’ entries – we had

a tie! – printed on the following two pages), and in the coming weeks, all winning entries will be posted on our website, www.MaineSportsman.com/YouthWritingContest. Congratulations to all contestants! Here are the top Maine and New England youth writings for 2020-2021:

Senior Category – Maine (Grades 9 – 12)

Junior Category – Maine (Grades 6 – 8)

First Place (Tie): Michael Maines, 10th Grade, Gray-New Gloucester High School; “Judy the Shed Dog” Carly Turgeon, 10th Grade, Sanford High School; “Why I Like Wakesurfing”

First Place (Tie): Gabe Torberg, 6th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “Fishing with My Grampy and His Friend John” Colby Sughrue, 7th Grade, Thornton Academy Middle School; “The Nine-Point Buck”

Second Place: Riley King, 12th Grade, Ellsworth High School; “The Backwoods”

Honorable Mentions: Cole Mattson, 7th Grade, Dedham School; “Boat Troubles” William McDonnell, 7th Grade, Molly Ockett Middle School (Fryeburg); “200 Pounds of Beginner’s Luck” Brielle Densmore, 6th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “My First Time Paddle Boarding”

Honorable Mentions: Evelyn Dearborn, 11th Grade, Maranacook Community High School; “Paddling Reminisce” William Maines, 12th Grade, Gray-New Gloucester High School; “Give it a Try – Shed Hunting!” —

Special Recognition – Senior Best story about catching a lunker smallmouth on an ultralight rig: Sam Young, 10th Grade, Mt. Ararat; “Small Rod; Big Bass” Best story about hunting by someone who doesn’t hunt: Ms. Emerson Walston, 11th Grade, Orono; “City Girl Admires Maine’s Heritage Sports” Best story about fishing by an angler who later realized she doesn’t like the taste of fish: Eliza Lowell, 9th Grade, Massabesic High School; “Facile Fishing” Best story titled “Let’s Go Fishing” that’s really about an incredible game of “Capture the Flag”: David Curtis, 9th Grade, Massabesic High School; “Let’s Go Fishing” —

New England Category

First Place: Spencer Belson, 9th Grade, Andover High School, Andover Massachusetts; “Through the Tough Times” —

—

Special Recognition – Junior Best boating navigation story ever that reinforces the adage: “If you are going to be ahead of everyone else, you’d better know where you are going”: Zack Torberg, 8th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “Adventures in Kayaking” Best story about fried squirrel that the author says “tastes like chicken”: William Hickey, age 12, homeschooled, Scarborough; “Never Give Up” Best story about fresh fried trout that the author also says “tasted like chicken”: Arlan Cooper Smith, 6th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “The River with No Name” Best story that proves you don’t need to actually catch a fish to have a great day fishing: Hunter Vivian, 7th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “A Day at Bunganut Lake, Lyman Maine” Most optimistic quote from a confident young angler who has just cast his line into some prime fishing waters (“I can smell victory!”): Connor Remillard, 6th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “The Excitement of the Sinking Fishing Bobber” Best description of why the best antidote to boring online Zoom classwork is squirrel hunting during your noon lunch hour (as well as one of the best headlines): Luke Boissonneault, 6th Grade, Massabesic Middle School; “The Loud and Annoying Animals of the Woods”

Thank you to all of our youth writers, and congratulations to all winners! www.MaineSportsman.com

36 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

2020-2021 Youth Writing Contest Winner Senior Category – Maine (Grades 9–12)

Why I Love Wakesurfing by Carly Turgeon, Grade 10, Sanford High School My name is Carly. I am 16 years old, and my family has owned a cottage on Mousam Lake in southern York County for the past 10 years. Recently I have discovered my love for wakesurfing. Wakesurfing is similar to wakeboarding, except you are not hanging onto a rope. Rather, you are surfing on the wake at the back of the boat. Two summers ago, our neighbors invited me to go wakesurfing with them at 6 a.m. You should know that I am not an early riser, but I was so eager about the opportunity to learn something new that I got up bright and early and joined them! That morning my alarm went off and I threw on my suit and hurried my way down the dock, where they were already waiting for me. The sun was still rising, and the lake was as smooth as glass. Fog floated across the surface of the lake – a whisper of new beginnings. That morning was the beginning of a whole new life for me. I have never been athletic – my mom may say I have the worst aim she’s ever seen – but when I stood on that board for the first time, I knew I had found my sport. I fell many times before I could actually pull myself up on the www.MaineSportsman.com

Two years ago, the author discovered she’s a “natural” at the sport of wakesurfing. Her enthusiasm has allowed her to improve quickly, and to share experiences – and even provide instruction and encouragement – to family and friends.

The author is hoping to master the 360-degree spin on her wakesurfer this summer.

surfboard. My friends kept encouraging me and patiently gave me helpful tips until I finally stood up. At first I still had to hold onto the rope, but I was able to keep my balance. Eventu-

ally, towards the end of the summer, I was able to let go of the rope for the first time. The feeling was exhilarating – I was being propelled by the wave. August, 2019 soon came. I was sad that

summer was coming to an end and that I had to wait a long winter to get back out on the water again. I watched a lot of videos and researched wakesurfing all winter to get myself more knowledgeable.

As soon as summer, 2020 arrived, I borrowed my neighbor’s old surfboard and told my family to all sit on the same side of our boat to make the wake bigger. I remember the first time out that summer was the best I had ever felt. I finally got back to my favorite thing to do, and getting up again was just like riding a bike. By midsummer, my dad and I had become addicted to this new lifestyle – we’d both go to work during the daytime, and come home to go surfing after dinner for a few hours every single night. Eventually I got bored of just riding the wake and swishing back and forth, so I started to teach myself to do a 360 spin. The friends who had taught me how to surf eventually asked me to teach them how to do the new trick. The student had become the teacher. I had also taught many of my own school friends how to surf as well, and they fell in love with it just as much as I had. I am very excited to get back up on the board again this summer! I look forward to mastering the 360 and finding new tricks to learn.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 37

2020-2021 Youth Writing Contest Winner Senior Category – Maine (Grades 9–12)

Judy the Shed Dog by Michael Maines, Grade 10, Gray-New Gloucester High School Judy was no skinny beagle. She was stuffed full of kibble on that cold February evening as she sat by the warm fireplace that glowed yellow and amber. You see, Judy would eat just about anything she could get her paws on – a dropped slice of pepperoni, a few crumbs of cookie left on the floor, an ounce of fallen beef. The day had been blizzardy, so Judy and I had holed up in the cabin. She lounged on her tweed-covered bed for hours, as I flipped through The Maine Sportsman, wishing the snow would let up a little so I could get outside. By nightfall, snow was still falling. I bunked in early, knowing that the shed moose antlers would still be there in the morning. The sun rose. My tired face lit up with excitement; today was the day to go shed hunting! I clambered out of bed, shook Judy awake, jumped into my boots, and headed out of town. I parked hastily on the side of the roadway and trotted for the woods, my chubby beagle hot on my heels. We searched all day, Judy’s nose leading the way. She had found a couple of deer sheds, but no moose yet. The sun was dropping a bit now. I knew

After a long day in the woods spent fruitlessly looking for moose antlers, and with darkness approaching, the author and his beagle headed back to the truck. But when the author opened the door to let his dog jump in, she had disappeared – and a freezing cold night lay ahead.

Judy the shed dog has a nose for antlers and an instinct for survival. Michael Maines photo

we’d have to head out soon to make it out by dark. Judy was out of stamina, so I led the way. We made it out

to the truck as the sun nestled down behind a hill in the distance. Well, at least I thought we were both out of the woods.

I looked back, expecting Judy to be right behind me, but she had disappeared. The sun was gone by now, leaving me call-

ing for Judy in the darkness. After several failed attempts to locate her, I had to call it quits, or risk getting lost myself. Things were not looking good the next morning. The temperature had gotten down well below freezing. I arrived just as the sun appeared. As I jogged towards the woods, I glanced back to lock the truck. In the corner of my eye, I saw a furry white belly sticking out of the snow, in the ditch. “Oh no! Poor Judy!” my mind screamed. I sprinted over to the body. Reached down. Touched it. It was stiff. Cold. Dead. “Howooooo!” a howling bark came from the woods behind me, as I pulled a dead, frozen rabbit out of the ditch. I spun around to see Judy baying and howling, teeth locked onto a massive brown moose antler. I could see a narrow path, zigging and zagging into the woods, left by the antler as Judy had dragged it to the road. Judy sat a little closer to the fireplace that evening. She got an extra bowl of food and a couple of biscuits to chew on. Her big round belly protruded out in front of her, the fireplace’s glow painting it yellow and amber. Judy was no skinny beagle.

www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

June Fishing Options Throughout most of Maine, June is considered a summer month, regarded as the start of the warm season by many. Being an Aroostook County boy for my entire life and experiencing a vast variety of weather conditions as the snow, ice, slush and mud dissipate, I’ve always considered June the end of spring. Iceout on the big lakes generally falls within the week preceding Mother’s Day, and within a couple of days a battalion of boats inundate the Fish River Chain of Lakes. I brave the onslaught like a trooper each spring, because like most others “up North,” I’ve suffered a long, cold winter with no open-water action. Also I’ve proven over the decades that it’s more than like-

Most lake trollers have called it a season by early June on Aroostook waterways, but diehards like the author drag streamer flies with rewarding results, as this photo demonstrates. All photos by Bill Graves

ly ardent anglers are catching their largest salmon or trout of the season on flies during this freshet period. Thankfully, there are many lakes to visit, and pressure is lighter on weekdays. Also the boat traffic thins out after the first two weeks past ice-out. By the end of May, the number of boats trolling most lakes drops drastically, but here’s the secret – during the first 10 days of June most years, I’ve enjoyed as good, if

not better, streamer fly trolling on certain lakes than just after ice out.

the process of “turning over.” My results and conclusions prove there’s just as consistent action and just as many large trout and salmon caught on streamer flies in early June as right after ice-out. As an added advantage, there are fewer other boats on the water, often by at least half. My other interesting discovery has been that my tandem streamers produce more strikes in the late afternoon and to-

Revisit Long Despite its size, Long Lake gets very busy and a bit crowded in several favored, annually-proven hot spots during May, but not so much in early June. I’ve fished this lake at every time of day in every type of weather with mixed results, just as you’d expect with high, turbid cold water in

ward dusk than during morning outings this month. It’s happened too often over the last several years to be just a fluke, and my theory is that the surface water temperature rises a few degrees as the day progresses. That and the fact that fish often feed more at twilight has convinced me to make more visits to Long Lake later in the day. By using a threeway swivel, I’m able to troll two streamers at varied lengths and depths – one smelt imitation, and the other a bright attractor pattern. Proven favorites include Blue Devil, Red and White Special, Gray Ghost, Colonel Bates, Rainbow Smelt, and Herb Johnson Special. Along with the stark color difference, it’s been (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 39

Long shank streamer flies are well received by hefty brook trout during early June trolling on the Aroostook River. (Continued from page 38)

beneficial for me to make one fly a feather-wing and the other a hair-wing model. I also tie my tandems with the trail hook upward, and use a monofilament connector rather than wire. Likely runs for June trolling include Barn Brook outlet in Sinclair Cove, near Mud Brook in Van Buren Cove and along the shoreline across the lake from the Sporting Club, where Daigle Brook inlets. I also like trolling between Pelletier Island and the western shoreline near St. Agatha, there are two boat launch sites north and south of this prime area. Check Delorme’s Atlas, Map 68, C-3 to overview these locations, and use Route 161 and the Sinclair Road to access four great launch ramps with lots of parking. The River’s Right If you live in Central Aroostook County and someone’s talking about fishing “The River” during June, it’s almost certainly the Aroostook River. This long water meanders helter skelter from Oxbow through at least a dozen towns and villages before entering New Brunswick

There are many 12- to 16-inch trout finning about the pools on the Aroostook River, and every once in awhile a really hefty brookie will take the fly and make an angler’s entire year.

and finally joining the St. John River. There’s fabulous brook trout fishing to be enjoyed throughout June – trolling the first couple of weeks, then float-and-cast to fish rising to hatches the end of the month. Water levels drop from July onward, and wading to fish brook inlets, seep holes, ledges and deeper holding pools with dry flies is the

modus operandi. A top rate boat launch and parking for a dozen vehicles can be found on the north end of the Route 1 bridge just past the Presque Isle Mall. The reward of using this site is the opportunity to troll either up or downstream to equally productive water. The river makes a huge hairpin turn at this spot, so either direction has the

While trolling the Aroostook River in June, an observant angler will spot a hatch taking place and be able to anchor and cast to the rises. Every once in a while the effort will yield a double for boat mates.

angle trolling north. Upstream are some islands and several excellent runs near the Fish and Game Clubhouse and shooting range, and another

long pool below Rum Rapids. To troll downstream, you travel behind the mall and then through a stretch past (Continued on next page)

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40 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

A bit of rain not only helps Aroostook farmers, it also keeps the Aroostook River at levels that allow trolling much of June, and the fishing remains steady as well.

Don’t give up on trolling lakes on the Fish River chain when June arrives, since silver leapers like this beauty are still taking streamer flies.

The County

launch area to access both up- and down-river runs.

(Continued from page 39)

Merritt Brook and past the Maine Public Service substation and electric complex. There are always fish willing to strike a fly or lure along here. Rather than tandem streamers, try 3X single hook patterns, like a black nose dace, Supervisor, Miss Sharon, or a Hornberg in size 6 or 8. If you have a size 44 Silver Sutton spoon, a pounded copper Mooselook Wob-

bler, a medium size Al’s Goldfish or red and white Daredevle, trout will keep you busy. Experienced Aroostook River anglers will have a dry fly rod along, to take advantage of the occasional random hatch that occurs. Try a Henryville, Dark Cahill, Mosquito or Adams for those early season rises. DeLorme’s Map 65, D-1 will get you to the

Big Browns Wild brook trout are almost considered royalty on Crown of Maine brooks and streams. On the Meduxnekeag, however, fly casters hope the strike will be one of the huge brown trout that are so rare in Aroostook waterways. As summer progresses the Meduxnekeag shrinks and shallows, the brown trout migrate to the deep hold-

Brian Fields of Presque Isle lives right along the bank of the Aroostook River and takes full advantage of floating and locating hatches to cast over this month.

ing pools (of which there are few), and fishing pressure increases on those limited spots. June is a perfect time to float or wade, while the trout are well spread out all along the river, and cast streamer flies or large wet flies. Black, olive green or purple leech patterns, woolly buggers and Matukas work well at this time of the season, and I favor a sinking tip fly line. The Foxcroft Road

parallels the Meduxnekeag from Littleton to Houlton, and is easily accessed from Route 1. Dozens of pools and holding runs are just a short walk from the roadside. DeLorme’s Map 59, E-4 will offer an overview for newcomers to visit and perhaps hook an extremely rare Aroostook species. Three- to five-pound browns are common – some much larger – and it’s prime time this month.

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Snakes of Maine by Steve Vose

Of the nine species of snake found in Maine, none are capable of inflicting a venomous bite. State snake species include the Northern Black Racer, Ringnecked, Ribbon, Brown, Northern Water, Red-bellied, Smooth Green, Milk and Garter Snakes. Garter snakes are very abundant in this state, while the Northern Black Racer is currently listed as endangered, and the Ribbon Snake and Brown Snake are listed as a “species of special concern.” Snakes populate a wide variety of habitats, including islands, mountains, gardens and even suburbia. Their prolific nature stems from their ability to feed upon a wide array of creatures, including earthworms, slugs, frogs, mice, birds and fish. In addition, some snakes possess the ability to birth live young, meaning they do not have to lay and

Questions 1. What are the nine species of snake that call Maine home? 2. What do snakes mainly feed on? 3. Do snakes hibernate in the winter? www.MaineSportsman.com

The rare Black Racer.

incubate eggs that could potentially be eaten by predators. Snakes use rodent burrows, wood piles and rock walls as dens for shelter and protection from predators. During winter, snakes hibernate. These places of winter refuge, or “hibernaculum,” may be singular shelters or areas shared with several other snakes. In the spring, snakes emerge from hibernation and begin looking for mates. Young hatch throughout the summer 4. What is the name for a snake’s winter refuge? 5. To what length can a Black Racer grow?

season They can fend for themselves almost immediately after hatching, and reach maturity in about three years. Most Maine snakes grow to two or three feet; however, the Black Racer has been known to grow as long as 5 feet! Snakes exhibit extremely variable appearances, ranging in color from bright yellow, green and blue, to more muted earth tones with limited coloration. If disturbed, a snake will often strike at its aggressor, shaking its tail, and flattening out its head. Garter snakes will even excrete a foul smelling secretion onto their attacker. Like all wild animals, snakes should be treated with respect, observed from a distance and allowed to live out their existence unmolested by humans. 6. How long after hatching does a snake reach maturity? 7. Are Maine snakes venomous?

Answers on Page 47

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 41

#BuiltNotBought When my daughter Hannah mentioned she was in the market for a new kayak, I jumped at the chance to help. With extensive plans to kayak many of Maine’s storied waters this season, I launched into action. One small problem – I’ve got a self-imposed moratorium on new boat purchases. No more explaining to Mrs. Sheldon why I need a different boat for every day of the week. Of course, building a kayak is not “buying” a kayak, am I right? Hannah and I set to work researching plans for her new ride. We looked at tons of plans online, and finally settled on a Chesapeake 14. Picking a Ride Kayaks come in a variety of hull designs, and the Chesapeake 14 checked all the boxes for Hannah. She wanted something light (36 pounds), stable, and a step up from her big box-store plastic bathtub. It was time for a

The author was under strict orders not to purchase any more boats. “Building” a boat from scratch, however, does not violate the prime directive not to “purchase” any more boats.

Hannah Sheldon gets acquainted with her newly-built Chesapeake 14 kayak. It made for a perfect father-daughter Covid project. Hannah plans to kayak some of Maine’s iconic waters using our #BuiltNotBought wooden kayak. Bill Sheldon photos

real kayak. The folks at Chesapeake Light Craft do a thorough job of detailing the characteristics of their many boats.

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They also sell pre-cut kits ready to assemble – too close to “buying a boat” for me. Instead, I ordered a set of blueprints.

Hannah was also able to contact some folks who had built the same kayak, and garner feedback. Boat people love talking

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about boats. Three Sheets Construction commenced by bringing in three sheets of marine grade plywood. Nothing there to arouse suspicion. Either that, or Mrs. Sheldon seemed to be letting this slide. Although the last time I brought in marine plywood, it left my shop as a Mackenzie River Drift Boat. Of course, it’s time for a disclaimer – I do own an architectural millwork shop, which gives me access to all kinds of tools. Before long, we’d created a CAD file from the drawings and cut out the hull, bottom and sides on our CNC router. This included some neat “puzzle” joints to stretch the stock eight-foot plywood to the required 14 feet. A lot of this work comes pre-done for those purchasing a kit. Stitch and Glue The Chesapeake 14 uses a construction method known (Continued on next page)

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42 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 41)

as “stitch and glue.” The plywood parts are stitched together with copper wire, giving the hull its shape. It’s amazing how those flat sheets of plywood

quickly conformed to a shapely hull. A round of epoxy fillets on the inside preceded snipping the copper wires flush. It took lots of block plan-

ing work on the inner gunnels, and adding some radius frames to ready the hull for a deck. After sanding the hull fair and smooth came the fun part – playing with epoxy. The entire hull, inside and out, has a layer of fiberglass cloth soaked in epoxy resin. With one exception. Because I had some left-over carbon fiber from the Makenzie River drift boat, I used it in the cockpit. Pounding the carbon fiber on the rocks of the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers has

The Chesapeake 14 checked all the boxes for Hannah Sheldon … lightweight (36 pounds) … stable … fast. The purchased spray skirt helps keep water where it belongs, whether from dripping paddles or an unexpected shower. She’s taking classes to learn the “Eskimo roll.”

sold me on this stuff. It looks nice too. We did purchase a factory seat, some adjustable foot braces, and the yellow bungee and strapping for the deck from Chesapeake Light Craft. We capped it off with a brass ring

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on each end, and some graphics. For the record, note I use the word “We” concerning anything resembling a purchase. Our original plan was to paint the kayak yellow to match our family Jeep. After seeing how nice the mahogany looked, we clear-coated the epoxy with a few coats of marine varnish. The epoxy certainly had plenty of shine, but the marine varnish gives it a few lay(Katahdin Country continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 43

Yankee Ingenuity Gets Columnist Out of a Flat-Tire, Rusted-Hub Jam Guys like us who ram around the logging roads in the Maine woods, try to think of everything. We load our trucks up with tools, jacks, compressors, jumper batteries, tow straps, and some kind of winch. Nine times out of ten, these emergency devices never get used, and when there’s trouble, it’s often something you never dreamed could happen. We were bombing along the 73-00-0 Road near Osborn in Hancock County one morning, when a rear tire blew. We were surprised, but not overly so. We had the jacks and the tools, and our biggest concern was getting the lug nuts off. We began by loosening the nuts while the flat tire was still on the ground. Surprisingly, they all

Flat tire on isolated logging road. Spare tire ready. Wheel jacked up. Lug nuts off. But the wheel is rusted solid to the inner hub. Now what? came free. Now all we had to do was jack up the truck, lower the spare and swap it for the flat. But the wheel would not come off the axle. No way. That steel wheel was rusted tight to the inner hub. Nothing would break it free. No amount of kicking, thumping, or banging could shake that wheel loose. Now What? Who’d of thunk? So far, everything had gone textbook. The lug nuts had come off, the truck jack worked, and the spare tire was holding air. But dammit, that wheel just would not come off. I thought maybe I had one of those aerosol cans that will inflate a tire without

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 42)

ers of UV protection, along with some added sparkle. Maiden Voyage Hannah would soon find out the curse of owning a wooden boat. We took it to a local water for a maiden voyage. First, we had to answer questions about the kayak to bystanders at the launch. I’d warned her that folks love looking at wooden boats. Just stopping at a rest stop with my drift boat can easily result in a dozen people gathered around it, asking questions. It comes with the territory. Of course, no real kayaker uses a

taking the wheel off, but this particular tire had hit a sharp rock and poked a three-corner rip right in the tread. No way I was going to blow that up. That stupid wheel had to come free. But how? I used my ax to cut a long pole and wedged that behind the wheel for a lever. However, every time I jerked on it, the truck wobbled and threatened to topple the jack. I took the ax and crawled under the truck and whaled away with the back of the ax head at the steel wheel rim. I pounded and pounded. Nothing moved.

No logging trucks had been by. No fishermen, no camp owners. Nobody. If we were going to make it home that day, it was up to us. And no cell service either – typical Maine woods. How in heck was I going to get that wheel off that truck? Maybe if I lowered it down and tried driving on the flat, it might shake the wheel loose, but that plan had too many ways it could go wrong. What if the tire jammed under the fender? Then I found it. Tucked in the bottom of the toolbox was a small bottle jack.

It Was Up to Us It must have been around 9 a.m., and we were totally alone.

Salvation Not sure when I had put it there or why, but that’s what

store-bought paddle. Yup, dad whittled out a Greenland style paddle from another set of plans. More on this interesting development in a future column. With the wind at her back, Hannah put three sheets of plywood through the paces. She couldn’t get over how effortlessly it sliced through the water and tracked straight and true. Voyage #2 resulted in answering the usual boat launch questions, until she dug in her paddle in and broke free. It’s just 19 inches wide, and my old fishing kayak could hardly keep up. The Chesapeake is a rocket. Fast, straight and effortless, Hannah’s loving her new ride. If I’m going to keep pace, I think I need to order three more sheets of plywood.

we had. I crawled under the truck and put the jack horizontal between the wheel and the shock absorber bracket. It just fit. I had to hold it with one hand and pump the handle with the other. One stroke, two strokes. Three strokes, then BAM!! – with a noise like a 30-.06 firing, the wheel broke free and popped off the axle. Everything after that was anticlimactic. Mount the spare, tighten the lug nuts, lower the truck and head on our way. But for all the tools and the planning, who would ever guess a wheel would not come off, even when the lug nuts were free? I put that little jack right back in the truck box, and it’s been there ever since.

The author’s #BuiltNotBought kayak for his daughter started out as three sheets of plywood wired together. This photo documents the kayak’s “stitch and glue” origins. www.MaineSportsman.com

44 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Do Trollers Really Need All the Bells and Whistles? Don’t get me wrong. I like gadgets and gizmos as much as the next guy. My fondest dream is to own an 18-foot, fully equipped boat all set up for trolling. It would have bottom-sensing, automatic downriggers, underwater cameras, a bow-mounted electric motor and the best fish locator on the market. But is all that stuff really necessary? Not really. It is possible to catch trout, salmon and togue with simple, basic gear. I’ve done it. Inspiration for this topic came to me while sitting in a local restaurant. The place has a fishing theme, complete with mounts

When I was young and had only a canoe, I would paddle into the wind. Then, turning about, I would let out the fly line, allowing the wind to carry me along, trolling my tandem streamer. A good number of salmon succumbed to my flies fished this way. and photos. Antique fishing gear festoons the walls. A cane trolling rod hung on the wall next to my table. This had an ancient trolling reel fastened on, and the cane had rudimentary guides affixed to it. It seemed so incredibly primitive, and yet I knew the old rod had probably taken its share of togue and salmon. Knowing that, questions immediately came to mind. Were

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fish less sophisticated in bygone days? Or were people better anglers? The answer to both is a resounding “No.” Simple Concept Things have changed significantly since the old days. Instead of canoes or rowboats, or even motorboats with ultra-heavy, lowhorsepower, reed-valve motors, we have sophisticated watercraft, capable of zipping across miles of open water to the next trolling site. Our rods are lighter and stronger, and our lines are thinner and stronger. Our

lures are more sophisticated and lifelike. The old-timers had none of these things. And yet they caught fish. They did it by virtue of familiarity with the water, learned through years of hands-on experience. How many “togue holes,” or “trout holes” did the average angler know intimately? Lots of them, I’m sure. Let’s consider a basic premise. A smelt is a smelt is a smelt. Coldwater game fish are tuned into smelt, and have been since they first swam in the newly-created lakes

formed by the retreating glaciers. A slowly trolled smelt or even a smelt drifted along the bottom took fish then, and continues to take fish now. So what’s the difference? Well, from a fish’s point of view, not much. From an angler’s point of view, the difference lies in the delivery system. But again, the fish doesn’t care or even know if that same smelt is at the end of the line of someone holding a primitive rod and reel while sitting in a slow, clumsy watercraft, or if it is tied to the fluorocarbon line of someone sitting in an expensive, fully weaponized, custom-made fiberglass boat. (Continued on next page)

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These two salmon, taken on Patriot’s Day, 1981, fell to a streamer fly trolled with a canoe that was being pushed before a strong wind. Tom Seymour photo (Continued from page 44)

Neo-Primitive People today can catch coldwater game fish without using sophisticated tackle and without the benefit of powerful motors and expensive boats. Here’s how. In my salad days, I considered myself fortunate to own a 17-foot fiberglass canoe, made the last year White Canoes of Old Town was in business. This fit nicely on the racks of my old station wagon, and for that reason, it traveled everywhere with me. For ice-out trolling I would get my fly rod rigged with my favorite tandem streamer fly, and then paddle into the wind for as long as my endurance allowed. Then, turning about, I would let out the fly line and allow the wind to carry me along while the fly did its work. A good number of salmon succumbed to my flies fished this way.

Needless to say, a person must be in excellent physical shape for this type of trolling. But for the young or even not-so-young of good health and fitness, it represents the most basic and affordable means of trolling out there. More Methods It is also possible to take fish by trolling while paddling a canoe. It is imperative that the rod sit in a rodholder, since just leaving it propped up, sticking over the gunwales, will most usually result in a lost fish, or even a lost rod. The most important thing to remember when paddling is, don’t stop. If you do, that’s when a fish will bite your fly or lure, and the slack line will keep it from getting hooked. Also, you can’t depend upon momentum to fully hook a fish, since you must first stop paddling once a fish strikes. That means you will need to strike

fast and hard to ensure a solid hookup. Two people paddling a canoe makes it easier for both, since when a fish bites, the other person can continue paddling, thus allowing for more solidly-hooked fish. If you just don’t, or can’t, paddle for very long, you can always drift a smelt or shiner along the bottom. It helps to know the water, so you spend your time in productive areas. For drift fishing, hook a smelt through the membrane behind both lips, from bottom to top. This will allow the bait to swim naturally as you slowly drift along. Make sure to be ready to feed out line in order to allow the fish to fully take your bait before setting the hook. Don’t let lack of fancy gear put you off. You can still take plenty of fish with whatever gear you have.

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46 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Hints for Beginning Fly Anglers – Part 2

Nymphing is great for those new to the sport, since it’s nearly as simple as bobber and cane pole fishing. Let the current take your rig downstream, use the rod to bring it back upstream, and keep a close eye on the strike indicator (bobber). During the pandemic, many people either took up fly fishing for the first time, or returned to it after many years. In my April column, I shared a number of tips for newbies or anglers who are mentoring newer fly fishers. I addressed fly choice: The only patterns you need are a barbless Hornberg or a barbless Pheasant-tail nymph. Where to fish? I wrote that I favored small or medium-sized rivers, and I discussed a simple way to hook

fish on such waters. I also reminded folks that learning how to fly fish does not mean catching only trout – any fish will do. I promised to give more tips for beginners in this column, and so here we are. Beginner’s Quarry Any fish that takes your fly is fun and instructive. In many rivers, chubs and fallfish are more abundant than trout and take a fly in the same way. They provide excellent practice in setting the

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hook and playing a fish. If fishing ponds and lakes, nothing beats a smallmouth bass to improve fly-fishing skills. They eagerly smash topwater poppers, allowing inexperienced anglers to improve reflexes on setting the hook on the obvious take. Smallies prefer smaller poppers that are easy to cast, and they will happily eat them near the boat most of the time, so short effortless casts work fine. Smallmouth

My daughter, Mary, when she was eight years old, with her Apache trout caught nymphing. Photo by Lou Zambello

bass fight hard, jump, make strong runs, and come grudgingly to the net. If a new angler learns to play and land these bruisers, any trout or salmon can be handled.

Mary last year, still out-fishing me. Photo by Will Folsum

Because bass don’t have teeth, they can be landed without a net, just grab their lower jaw between thumb and forefinger and lift out of the water (be (Continued on next page)

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

careful of the hook), and then support them with both hands for any photos. Beginning Casting Beginners think that fly fishing is all about elegant and synchronized casting strokes. It isn’t. Keeping it simple is the key to early casting mastery – and not hooking oneself or anyone else is a side benefit. Typically, New England beginners are taught dry-fly fishing with the traditional forward cast, and it is only years later that they are introduced to nymphing – that is, drifting an artificial fly under the surface with the current to imitate the immature stage of aquatic insects. This order can be reversed. In fact, out west where drift boat fishing is popular, guides introduce new anglers to nymph fishing first. Why? Nymphing isn’t much different from bobber and cane pole fishing. To try nymphing, first find running water. Position yourself streamside, or perhaps wade out knee deep (no further). Tie a standard nymph on the end of the line (a Prince nymph, Pheasant Tail, or Copper

John will work fine). Not more than one, please; multiple fly rigs will come later. Attach any strike indicator that suits your fancy so that the fly in the water will suspend a foot or so off the bottom. For beginners, a type called a Thingamabobber works well, because it’s like a bobber and it’s easy to tell when you get a strike. There will be no casting. Strip out about 10 feet of line. With nymphing, that is all you need. Let the current take your rig downstream until you feel the water tension on the indicator at the end of the drift. Then try to flip the line upstream. When the indicator breaks the surface tension, the bend in the rod will propel it upstream. Almost everybody can do this after a few tries. Now, watch the bobber as it drifts back downstream. If it goes under, jiggles, or moves upstream, it’s a bite, so just raise the rod tip to set the hook. No reeling or line manipulation – it’s just like a cane pole and a bobber. Often a beginner’s first fish is derricked through the air to shore. That’s okay. This method is foolproof – no casting, no

need for line control, easy hook setting, and easy landing of the fish. First Trip My daughter Mary was 8 when I took her on her first fishing trip. We were off to the White Mountains of Arizona. I wanted to catch the rare Apache Trout (a subspecies of rainbow trout) that is only found in a few watersheds in the country. The mountain streams were about 20 feet across and 3 to 6 feet deep, perfect for a beginner. I handed her a flyrod with a pink Thingamabobber, a barbless pheasant-tail nymph, about 12 feet of line out and the drag cranked down so she couldn’t pull out line. Even at 6,000 feet, the Arizona summer is hot, so she just waded out in shorts and sneakers, flipped the line upstream, and raised the rod tip when the indicator disappeared. I didn’t get to fish much; I was too busy netting and releasing her fish. When the action stopped, she just walked downstream a bit and cast again. Roll Cast Another easy cast for a beginner is not the standard overhead

Wildlife Quiz Answers: Snakes of Maine (Quiz on Page 40)

1. The state snake species include the Northern Black Racer, Ringnecked, Ribbon, Brown, Northern Water, Red-bellied, Smooth Green, Milk and Garter Snakes. 2. Snakes mainly feed on earthworms, slugs, frogs, mice, birds and fish. 3. Yes, snakes hibernate in the winter. 4. A snake’s winter refuge is

known as a “hibernaculum.” 5. A Black Racer can grow up to 5 feet in length. 6. A snake reaches maturity in approximately three years, but they can fend for themselves almost as soon as they are born. 7. No, Maine snakes are not venomous, but some will bite and other secrete a foul smelling secretion onto their attackers.

If you can land a smallmouth bass this size, then you are ready for any trout or salmon you hook. Photo by Lou Zambello

cast but the roll cast. Why? It doesn’t require a back cast, thus eliminating the need for open space behind you or any split-second timing. To attempt a roll cast, strip out 15 feet of line through the top of the rod and pile it in front of you. Stand facing the casting target and slowly raise the rod until it is straight up and down (pointing to 12 o clock). Pause. Then bring the tip of the rod smoothly forward towards the ground or water, accelerating the motion of the rod tip as you go. This builds momentum that forms a loop in the line that then propels the end forward.

The roll cast isn’t the cast to achieve distance beyond 25 feet, but 90% of freshwater fly fishing can be done within that distance. I don’t have the column space to go into further detail, so research the roll cast on YouTube for more info. A good overall resource for beginners is www. howtoflyfish.orvis.com June is the best month for new anglers to hit the water. Fish of all sizes are actively feeding, and water temperatures are ideal. The likelihood of success will never be higher. Protect against black flies and mosquitos to better enjoy your experience.

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48 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The Old Fisherman and the Brook More than once, says the author, his poorlypresented dry fly had unceremoniously turned into a wet fly, and thereafter connected with a hungry trout. After a few of those episodes, he started stocking more wet fly patterns in his fly box. The grizzled fisherman drifted his bead head nymph along the edge of a seam that skirted a beach ballsized boulder. “Nothing,” he muttered. After a few more drifts, he changed flies. Same result. He had pulled brook trout religiously from that very spot for too many decades to count. Perhaps the

sun was too high. Maybe the trout sizzled in another angler’s pan. He gave the pool a rest, and moved on. Every nook and cranny of that bubbling brook had washed his waders. The small tailwater below a makeshift dam always produced a brookie or two. His worn boots plodded the familiar path to the rock he’d stood on

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a thousand times. Mayfly Bonanza Fly anglers in the Jackman Region carefully monitor the beginning of June for selfish reasons. The mayfly hatch starts in earnest by the end of May and continues throughout June. While brook trout do most of their feeding below the surface,

From the end of May through the month of June, mayfly hatches feed hungry salmonids. Those idyllic late afternoon hatches have helped make the Jackman Region a “go-to” destination for brook trout fishing. Matching the size, color and profile of the real time hatch goes a long way toward connecting with Maine’s fabled square tail. Bill Sheldon photos

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

By now many of the region’s waters have received a visit from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) stocking trucks. Regardless of whether a water has had supplemental stocking or not, mayflies provide the main course for hungry salmonids. A perusal of the fish stocking list in the April edition of The Maine Sportsman details which waters – and when – received a splash of salmonids the previous year. The schedule remains similar from year to year. The DIF&W website tracks current stocking information – solid

information when trying to decide between “Pond A” and “Stream B.” Sub-Surface Success These days, I really try to take advantage of “bugs on the water” by matching the size, profile and color of what goes floating by. Casting a size 16 Blue Winged Olive to rising square tails can keep me engaged for hours. After all these years, getting the perfect drift still presents quite a challenge. I’ve also learned to look for trout that roll. This means they are hitting bugs BEFORE they break through the water’s surface. Then I’ll try a wet fly.

An old friend of mine routinely fished “wet” flies, with consistent success. More than once, my poorly-presented dry fly has unceremoniously turned into a wet fly and connected with a hungry trout. After a few of those episodes, I started stocking more wet fly patterns in my fly box. For years, I’ve tried getting a handle on drifting nymphs. I’m finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. A new threeweight rod, all of 10 foot six inches long and with a sensitive tip, has helped with that. Equipment Musings Rods designed spe-

cifically for nymphing have that soft tip that lets the angler detect even the slightest bump. Long, thin leaders allow a direct connection to the business end of the fly line. It also lets the fly penetrate deeper in the water column at a much quicker rate. It’s not all about

fly fishing this month. Spin cast and bait fishermen have plenty of opportunities also. Before wetting a line, check the DIF&W website for each water’s rules and regulations. Maine has different regulations for just about every (Jackman Region continued on page 51)

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Back Road Drivers Must Be Vigilant The four-cylinder engine strained as I gave it the gas, but the sturdy Tacoma seemed to fly up the steep logging road. For such a dinky little engine, the trusty Toyota always did the job for me. The afternoon was getting late and I had to get the bear bait out to fourteen separate bait sites before dark, so a speedy delivery was in order. I was working for a bear hunting lodge deep in the woods of Western Maine, and had to travel many miles in the shortest period of time possible, to keep the bait sites full in preparation for the upcoming bear season. The trick was to set

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“Why would someone put these sapling right in the middle of the road?” I wondered, as I got out of my truck in the darkness to move them. Then, looking just beyond the small trees to where the road used to be, I understood …. the bait out the same time each day – about the same time we would be putting our upcoming bear hunting clients in their stands to look over the bait sites. We didn’t want to put the bait out too early during the day, since the younger bears would eat it before the mature bears got to it – big bear usually come out just before dark, so the timing was critical. If I hurried and got the bait out around

four in the afternoon, about the time we would be putting hunters on stand, then I could get back to the lodge and guide anglers on the lake for an additional boost to my meager guiding income. Somewhere during that rush hour in the remote and wooded mountains, I’d eat a fast supper and hope my Tacoma pickup would take the daily beating I put it through. The unbelievably tough truck

went through three mufflers in the two years I worked there, but never had another mechanical problem through it all. Driving the Woods I only had a couple of close calls during those years of speedy back road travel. One time I nearly got sideswiped by a huge bull moose. I was barreling along, and a big moose just busted out of the woods as if he were aiming to run directly into the side of my truck. I actually gave it more gas to avoid the crash. I still don’t know if the moose was trying to hit me, or if he just happened to be running in my direction. The second nearmiss incident happened when I almost got in a head-on collision with a fully-loaded logging truck. I always have a CB radio tuned to channel 19 when I’m riding on logging roads, so I can keep tabs on where the trucks are traveling and be prepared when we meet. The truckers always announce what mile they are on and what direction they are going. That way, anyone with a radio will know almost ex-

actly when they will be needing to pull off the road ... even before the trucker comes flying by your position. I guess I had been traveling such a bumpy road that it had knocked the CB unit around enough to where it skipped from channel 19 to channel 20, so I was completely unaware of a truck anywhere near my location. When I reached the very top of a shelf in the grade of the road, a fully-loaded logging truck was bearing down on me – and both of us were traveling at a pretty good speed. I braked hard and immediately swerved my truck into the ditch on the right-hand side of the road. The logging truck could not move an inch either way and zoomed past me. I caught one glimpse of the trucker’s face as he passed and noticed a huge smile. When I found out that I had my CB on the wrong channel, I called the trucker and said, “Sorry about that,” and explained my situation. I also asked him why in the world he was smiling as he passed me. He said, “I saw that you were going to make it into the ditch before I rolled over your little truck ... and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a terrified look on someone’s face before.” (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 51 (Continued from page 50)

Safe Riding Play it safe when traveling these remote logging roads ... the trucker might have gotten a kick out of the look on my face, but I could have easily been crushed by his heavy truck. Remote back roads are no place to fool around. It may cost a few extra dollars to purchase a CB radio, but a few hundred dollars is cheap insurance considering the alternative. An accident with a logging truck could easily be deadly. When you approach a hill or curve, take extra precau-

tions ... even though you have the radio tuned into channel 19 and believe you know where the logging trucks are, there may be a surprise waiting – another traveler, a big game animal, or somebody’s hunting dog. Slow down and enjoy the scenery – it may save your life. Some back roads actually have speed limits posted. Keep an eye out for signage, as well as clues that might tell you of impending danger. One dark night, I stopped to haul a couple of good-sized saplings out of the gravel road and wondered why someone would

A fully-loaded logging truck cannot maneuver nimbly or stop quickly because of the heavy weight it’s carrying. William Clunie photo

place these trees right in the middle of this remote logging road. As I walked up to the trees, I could see just beyond them and noticed that the recent rains had completely washed

out the road, leaving a very deep canyon that would have sucked up my truck without any trouble at all. I might not have survived the crash at the bottom and was thankful for

Jackman Region (Continued from page 49)

water, so it’s important to verify which equipment will keep the DIF&W satisfied. I have a six-foot Fenwick “Classic Glass” spin cast rod that has served me well for decades. I’m pleased to see that fiberglass rods are making a comeback. By sitting tight, I’m back in style. I spool the rod with some 4-pound test, and bring along some classic spinners, a few Swedish pimples, and the Tom Seymour-recommended Trout Magnets. Old Man Meets Boy Water split its current around the mid-stream boulder. Getting to the cat bird’s seat on the rock was getting a little harder each year for the old guy.

The author leaves a six-foot three-weight fly rod set up with a sinking tip line for sub-surface offerings. This native beauty went for a bead head nymph. Wet flies fished just below the surface also prove an effective option. Fish feeding off the surface tend to kiss the fly from below. Trout feeding just below the surface leave the tell-tale roll, with their dorsal fin and back breaking the surface.

This time, it took even a little longer than usual. With no action on the surface, he

the person who left the trees for my protection. I marked the surrounding trees with flagging tape, and thanked the Lord.

tied on a bead head pheasant tail – one tied in his own vise the night before. Multiple drifts on each side of the familiar stone went unnoticed below. He paused, seemingly looking back in time. Puzzled, he left the rock and worked his way to a stone wall along the edge of a field. He had done this as a kid decades ago. Getting back to the rock took its toll. Once settled, in he reached into his fly vest and pulled out a small container. With one last survey, he impaled a freshly dug earthworm on the newly tied pheasant tail. The old man, like most of us, started out fishing with worms as a boy when his age was still in single digits. Over many years, he evolved into a fly fisherman. For this moment, he was both.

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Chesuncook Promises Endless Salmon Action If you are not enthusiastic about how togue tastes, then try brining the fillets and them preparing them in an electric smoker. Follow the author’s culinary guidelines, and you’ll quickly become a smoked togue (and salmon) connoisseur. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) has a favor to ask of you. The next time you fish Chesuncook Lake, please keep all salmon less than 16 inches. There is no bag limit on salmon less than 16 inches, and a 1 fish daily bag limit on salmon greater than 16 inches. For someone like me who loves to eat salmon, this comes as an easy favor to grant. To others, though, accustomed to selective killing or even strict catch-and-release, keeping any number of fish seems abhorrent. For those people, here’s something to consider. Fisheries biologists have only so many management

tools at their disposal. The most powerful of these is the ability to regulate angler take. This applies to any lake, pond, river or stream. Biologists conduct surveys to determine days per year of angler use, and then translate that to how many fish anglers will take that year. With that information, biologists are able to manage any given water for maximum production, whether that be for numbers, size, or a combination of both. However, a formula is only as good as the data it relies upon, and if anglers fail to take the expected number of fish from a water, the equation gets skewed, and the end result often becomes too many small-

er fish. The way to restore the balance is for anglers to do their part and take fish home. Smoked Salmon Here’s a suggestion for people who like salmon but heretofore have refrained from killing their catch – buy a smoker, and smoke your salmon. There are a number of home-use smokers on the market, and the most popular by far are the electric smokers that not only smoke but slowly cook the meat at the same time. There are even some smokers made for indoor use. I have a Cameron Stovetop Smoker and I love it. This stainless steel beauty comes in two sizes, and each size comes with a selection of fine-ground wood chips and instructions.

The Cameron Stovetop Cooker is a great device for smoking togue and salmon indoors in your kitchen.

Just add some wood chips to the bottom of the smoker, place your fillets on the rack, slide the airtight lid closed, place on a burner and turn the heat to somewhere between low and medium. It isn’t necessary to soak your salmon fillets in a brine, but doing so imparts a different flavor and I think it helps to soften small bones. Soaking shad (the flesh is full of tiny, hairlike bones) fillets in a salt brine prior to smoking makes for an especially delicious product.

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Here is my recipe for a fish brine: Fish Brine Recipe Combine in 1 gallon of water: 1 1/3 cup canning salt, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1-3 teaspoons garlic powder and 1-3 teaspoons onion powder. Add Worcestershire sauce and/or soy sauce to taste. Let sit for 1012 hours in brine before smoking. Brined, smoked fillets keep well in the freezer. Moosehead Hot Action on salmon and togue continues unabated on Moosehead Lake. I have taken salmon near the surface on streamer flies in early June. The difference between May and June is that now, smelt have finished spawning, and consequently fish have mostly dispersed from near-shore locations and have spread our around the lake. My suggestion for a day on the water goes this way. Begin in the early morning by (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 53 (Continued from page 52)

trolling with a sinking fly line and streamer flies. Lead-core line will serve for this as well, but don’t let out more than two colors, or your streamer will go too deep. Go at a good clip. None of this ice-out, slow trolling. Fish with streamers as long as fish continue to bite on them, and when the flies no longer produce, switch

to lead-core line on a trolling rod or use any rod set in downriggers. Now, use either live bait or hardware. Bait generally takes larger fish. It may be difficult to find live smelts in June, but John Whelan’s preserved smelts work nearly as well as the live variety. For hardware, use Mooselook Wobblers or stop in at any area tackle shop and in-

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quire as to what lure fish currently favor. This may be the best thing you can do, since people who work in stores around the lake always have an ear to the ground (or the water, in this case), and their advice will serve you well. Smoked Togue My friend Tony Wieman used to turn his nose up at togue. That was until he

bought an electric smoker and began smoking them. Another friend, Andy Collar, routinely smokes togue, and keeps the brined, smoked fillets in the freezer. They are sumptuous. Moosehead Lake brims with togue and any trip, no matter the intended quarry, usually includes some togue on the other end of the line. Some days

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54 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Wildfire! When I was a young boy, I often accompanied my dad, a Maine Forest Service Fire Warden, on his fire patrol. From that experience, I learned firsthand the damage caused by wildfires. As a departure from my usual column about the Allagash, this article is about a torching incident that occurred in 1980, when I was Manager of Cobscook Bay State Park in Edmunds. Last summer, according to the Maine Forest Service, there were 57 fires caused by someone criminally setting fire to property – arson. Downeast Arson Ranger Dennis Preston was worried. In his eight years as a Maine park ranger, he had never experienced such a dry summer. The scenic coastal park, normally framed by branches of evergreen softwoods, now displayed tree limbs scalded by the sun. Fir needles toasted to a burnt orange attested that the area was ripe for a forest fire. Furthermore, campers reported that the ground duff was so parched the radiant heat from campfires was igniting the underground network of root systems of nearby conifers. With over 100 occupied campsites spread throughout the 900-acre tinder-dry park, Ranger Preston knew that in the event of a forest fire, he would be required to evacuate the entire campground. With public safety our top concern, we had spent hours that summer extinguishing unattended campfires, instructing campers on fire safety, and authorizing campfires on a case-by-case basis. To top it all off, the sheriff’s department reported that a vandal was driving along nearby Route 1, flinging lit pieces of newspapers into the tall, dry grass along the roadside. Area towns were so concerned about fire safety that a nearby community loaned us their fire engine – a red pumper truck. It was nearly an antique, but it was said to be in operational shape, and we were told the emergency vehicle was www.MaineSportsman.com

ready to respond as needed. After receiving a late-day delivery, we conducted an initial check, with plans for a in depth inspection the following day. But unfortunately, that opportunity never presented itself.

The red pumper truck. Photo: Tim Caverly

The next morning after confirming that all was well inside the Park, Ranger Preston and I began the final check of the bright red engine. Our examination went well. The truck started easily and after filling the water tank, we found pump and firehose to be in excellent order. Our next step was to dive deeper into the mechanics of the vehicle, but before that examination, there was a radio call. The park receptionist hailed over her two-way radio, “Cobscook to 1530.” “10-3 (go ahead),” I replied. Trying to remain calm, the receptionist stated, “I have received a report that someone has set a forest fire along the Park’s Burnt Cove Road.” “10-4 (I understand). 1531 and I are on the way.”

While Ranger Preston started the firetruck, I grabbed a spade, axe and chainsaw to fight the blaze. We responded within minutes. I hoped we’d be in time. Arriving at the Park’s tool booth with flashing red lights and wailing siren, we found a line of people beside the road, all pointing the way to the gravel lane to the right. Navigating a ninety-degree turn, we immediately saw a blaze creeping up an orange-brown broken fir top that was lying diagonally slanted to its splintered stem. Flames escalated up the inclined branches. While Dennis downshifted to slow the vehicle, I opened the door slightly, in preparation to grab hand tools, when Preston shouted, “Don’t jump, I can’t stop!” Looking over, I saw my ranger pumping the footbrake for all he was worth, but to no avail. The emergency vehicle sailed right by the burn, and we heard the group gathered near the blaze holler, “It here! The fire is back here!” Latching the door, I stuck my head out the side window, and with a wave shouted, “We’ll be right back.” A short distance down the road, the truck coasted to a halt, allowing us to back up the short distance to the flames. Once we’d stopped, I placed large chocks under the front and rear tires to hold the vehicle in place. The other equipment worked fine, and we quickly extinguished the fire. Later, we learned that during the night the brake line to the reservoir had broken, allowing the brake fluid to drain out – a failure that was immediately repaired in case a new emergency came to call. Next month, my column will return to the North Woods, to report an incident entitled ‘Wilderness Theft.’ Tim Caverly has authored ten books about Maine’s northern forest. For information about his books or speaking engagements, visit www.allagashtails.com.

Courtesy Maine Forest Service

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 55

Summer Project I needed to convert my city-slicker nephew into a Maine outdoorsman. Once he easily aced the fishing test and assembled a pop-up blind, Island Boy and I knew we needed to find him an unwinnable challenge. June – a month when I line up my summer project. Not projects, project. It is important for one to not overburden oneself with a list of projects. Too much fishing to do, boating to enjoy and camping to experience to waste away summer accomplishing projects. Former Project: Aidan A few summers ago, I had a very challenging project. His name is Aidan. He is my nephew. He came to me as a lost soul. My mother-in-law from the Boston area had taken ill. The wife and her sister from St. Paul headed to Massachusetts to help her out. When they returned, in tow with my sister-in-law was 11-year-old Aidan. It was decided he would stay with me up here in central Maine for a month or so. The first thing I needed to do was evaluate the upcoming project. The kid had definitely been abused. He had great manners, was polite, wicked smart, great with technology, and kept using words I couldn’t understand. Raised

as a city boy, he knew museums, fine restaurants, and worthless stuff like that. Poor kid. This was going to be one tough project, getting him ready for the world. Fishing, and Deer Blind I started out taking him out in the boat to show him how to fish. After unhooking his first 20 fish in 30 minutes, having not caught one myself, I figured he could unhook his own fish. I told him to grab the squiggly wet fish, and then I sat back to watch him struggle. He simply placed an old glove on one hand, grabbed the fish, unhooked it, and slid it back into the water. This was going to be a very long month. The next step in his training was to teach him how to set up a one-man deer blind. Out in the back yard, I removed the blind from its case. Aidan was standing in front of me. I kinda forgot how to open it up. As I separated the rings, the blind exploded open, knocking my glasses off and missing him by a few inches. “Wow,” he stated, “that is a cool way

to open it …” Call for Assistance This is when I realized I needed help. This summer project was definitely more than a one-man job. So I called Island Boy. Told him I needed help, and why. Mike understood immediately. Being a dad and an uncle, he had been challenged by similar summer projects. Mike and I decided we needed to take Aidan to a place where we had the advantage. So off we headed north to camp. We loaded the crew cab pickup with guns, ammo, fishing equipment and grub, and off we went. Once on the dirt road, we spied a pickup off to the side of the road. We pulled over and asked if they needed help changing a flat tire. The ladies in the truck, and their kids, were happy to see us. I grabbed the floor jack while Mike used the star wrench to loosen the lug nuts. Island Boy and I had changed many a tire, and we had the process down. I jacked the truck, Mike removed the flat, mounted the spare, tightened the lugnuts. I lowered the truck, and off we went.

Island Boy, planning his next project.

Aidan’s “road traveled.”

Aidan asked, “Are you guys part of a NASCAR pit crew?” This kid was definitely a wiseguy.

the road tighter and tighter. Aidan stopped again. “Uncle Ed,” he said, “the road is too narrow.” I told him to toughen up and keep going. We knew where this road would open up again.

Driving Lesson Our next lesson was teaching this city-slicking kid how to drive a ¾ ton crew cab on narrow dirt roads. We left camp and headed deeper into the North Woods. Once we had arrived at a crossroad we hadn’t been on for 10 years, I told Aidan to get behind the steering wheel and take over. As he headed down the road, barely able to see over the dashboard, Mike and I chatted about where this road would eventually come out. The farther we drove, the more the alders closed in on the road. As branches began brushing the side of the truck, Aidan stopped. “Why did you stop?” demanded Mike “Keep going!” The alders made

less

Whose Fault? He proceeded along the road a little more. Then we came to a bridge which had totally washed out. Aidan stopped the truck. The alders now totally surrounded the vehicle. At the exact same time, both Island Boy and I started screaming at him for continuing to drive and getting us into this mess. He simply lowered his head to the steering wheel, and with a big smile on his face said, “This is the best day of my life!” Boy, we had more work to do on this project.

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56 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Hardest Part of Canoeing is Moving Boats on Land It might be theoretically possible to own too many canoes. Certainly, I and others have been the targets of such accusations. But my rule of thumb is that as long as each canoe gets at least one proper outing per year – then by definition, there cannot be too many of them. For those of us with a well-stocked fleet, this means a lot of storing, loading, transporting, unloading, launching, re-loading, re-transporting and re-storing canoes of all different shapes and sizes. The manual labor involved in manipulating canoes on dry land far outweighs any physical efforts made with pole or paddle while afloat. And it is a leading cause of canoes sitting in barns, resting under camps or turned-turtle on the back lawn – instead of being on the water. Roof racks for canoe transport are like democracy. It’s a horrible system, but 100% better than any other alternative. Boat trailers for canoes are ridiculous. Who needs

Lugging, loading and storing canoes is no fun – especially managing the tasks all by yourself. Mankind should really invent a wheeled gadget to make the job easier. What, what? They already have? a third axle to worry about on your trip to the Allagash? It’s just wrong to use a trailer for a canoe. The sight of a well-secured canoe atop a car or truck is magic! It screams independence and sell-reliance. It’s as close as any of will ever come to being the true trout bum or the long-distance tripper that we aspire to be. Switching to lightweight solo canoes, made from new spaceage materials, doesn’t really help. They tend to be expensive and delicate boats. Loading them on the roof rack by yourself, without damage, is still a challenge. Engineering to the Rescue What we need is a system that allows a solo person to move large and small canoes almost effortlessly over dry ground. Ideally, it would permit one person to load and un-

The four-wheel canoe cart. All photos: Jim Andrews www.MaineSportsman.com

load a boat from a roof rack – without damaging the canoe, and without lifting the full weight of the canoe. Fortunately, America still has people like Bill Kralovec of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin. Bill is an engineer and a life-long paddler. Over the last 25 years, he has applied his expertise to these very issues. The result is the four-wheel canoe cart – a deceptively simple device he invented to solve almost all of our problems. I admit to having been skeptical at first. The cart does not overwhelm its new owner with its genius – at least not right out of the box. It’s comprised of four 10” wheels attached to a rugged, injection-molded plastic frame, with an adjustable attachment strap. Unboxing I immediately removed the price sticker, and took my new

No dragging necessary.

toy to the basement workshop, while my wife was otherwise occupied. There was a somewhat-cryptic instruction manual in the box that did not bolster my confidence in the new purchase. Bill is an engineer, not a salesman. But then I attached the contraption to the stern of a randomly-selected canoe, which was hanging (keel-up) supported by storage straps, in my barn. Eureka!!! Now I could lower the rear of the canoe to the barn floor. The stern rested on the cart, without touching the floor. No need, at this point, to wiggle underneath the thwart to get it on my shoulders, and carry to the truck. Instead, I simply loosened the bow storage strap, lifted it down, and used the wheels under the stern to steer

Ready for loading.

the boat to the rear of the truck. The boat moved almost effortlessly on the wheels, and the weight was insignificant. Bill claims this method reduces weight-bearing by more than 50%. With the canoe’s stern resting on the cart, it never touched the ground or the barn floor – fancy wooden canoe owners take notice! It was simple to then lift and rest the bow that was in my hands on the rear rack of the truck. Again, the weight was significantly reduced, the stern rested solidly on the wheels and moved easily as I positioned the boat’s bow end on the rack. No dragging the tip of the bow on the ground to move the boat. No precarious tipping off to the side occurred – as the point of the stern never rested on the ground. I then simply moved to the stern end, lifted it (contraption and all) and slid the boat over the front rack and into position for transport. It was (Self-Propelled continued on page 59)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 57

“Greening” Your Off-Road Experience –

Here Come the EVs!

Electric-powered vehicles for sportsmen will be here in the near future. Ford has promised more horsepower, torque and acceleration from an electric F-150 pickup, by next year. Polaris announced that an all-electric Ranger side-byside can be purchased starting in December 2021. And Bombardier says they will offer ATVs, Ski-Doo snowmobiles and Sea-Doo watercraft, by 2026. Ready for an offroad r-EV-olution? With improved battery technology and lower costs, the electric vehicle (EV) market is growing by leaps and bounds. Increasing concern about the global climate change means more Mainers want to stop pumping gasoline into their vehicles and putting CO2 into the atmosphere. EVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and “old fashioned” hybrids seem to be everywhere on the roads these days. But what about off-road? EVs are now making headway into the sport utility vehicle (SUV), pickup truck, and even the power sports markets. Electric ORVs – off-road recreation vehicles – are gaining ground. Electric ATVs are here. Snowmobiles and jet skis are not far behind. SUVs and Pickups Many outdoor enthusiasts prefer an all-wheel drive (AWD) or 4WD vehicle for driving on rough dirt roads, two-track woods

roads, and snow-covered roads. In addition to better traction, higher ground clearance is important, as is extra cargo space for gear. Unfortunately, the AWD feature on even the smaller SUVs like Subaru Outback and Nissan Rogue limit gas mileage to 25 mpg or less, at least until the hybrids came along. Two years ago, we bought a Toyota RAV4 AWD hybrid that averages 30 mpg tank after tank and tops out at 43 mpg. Today, most major manufacturers sell SUVs with hybrid gas/ electric motors. Unfortunately, there are far fewer hybrid pickup truck models, but more are coming soon. And EV models are on the way. An excellent website called www. greenercars.org from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy provides mileage and other green ratings for most makes and models, including both electric and hybrid models of SUVs and pickups.

EVs Are Coming Toyota’s newest 2021 SUV model – the RAV4 Prime – is a plug-in hybrid that uses only electric power for short trips. Then, in hybrid mode, it will get up to 40 mpg. Jeep recently announced a new all-electric Wrangler 4Xe, and the company plans to make other EV versions of its products. This is a big step for Jeep, which for years notoriously had several vehicles near the bottom of the Greencars ratings. As for pickups, Tesla, of course, announced the Cybertruck, a futuristic electric pick-up truck. Not to be left out of the excitement, Ford has an electric F-150 coming in 2022. Ford claims that it will have more horsepower and torque and faster acceleration than any F-150 model available today. Electric ORVs EVs are also breaking into the outdoor recreational vehicle (ORV) market. One of the coolest features of electric ORVs is that they

The all-electric Polaris Ranger side-by-side, which should be available by December of this year, offers a 48-volt, 30-hp engine; a 1,000-lb. payload; and 1,500-lb. of towing capacity. Photo: Polaris

are silent – a big plus for landowners near trails, and for riders who enjoy the quiet of the backcountry. They also have impressive torque and acceleration. Two companies already have electric ATVs available in the U.S. They are so popular they are backordered for months. DRR, an Ohio based company (www. drrusa.com), has three models of electric ATVs on the market. • The EV Stealth ($7,500) is a light-duty quad with a 35-mile range designed for search and rescue and “eco-tours.” Their EV Adventure ($8,500) has a 70-mile range and “an effective 5kW motor made to increase the ATVs incline climbing power.” • The heavy-duty EV Safari 4x4 is designed for hauling, snow-plowing and other utility tasks. At $12,999, it has a quiet 7.5

kW electric motor with a range of 35 miles and operates in 2wd, 4wd, and 4wL. A British ATV manufacturer named Eco-Charger makes several models of ATVs that are now available in the U.S. (www.ecochargerquads.com). Their Lithium Range “quad bike” has a range of 68 miles, regenerative braking (recharges the battery when you brake), and a top speed of 60 mph. In March, Polaris announced that an all-electric Ranger side-by-side, will be available for sale in December 2021. Minnesota-based Polaris signed a 10- year partnering agreement with Zero Motorcycles, the Santa Cruz, CA company that has been producing electric motorcycles for fifteen years. Zero and Polaris will develop, manufacture and sell electrified ORVs and snowmobiles using Zero’s (Sporting Environment continued on page 59) www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The Controversy About Soft Plastic Lures No angler likes to find soft plastic lures in the stomach of a fish they’ve caught, but legislative proposals to enact prohibitions on such lures have been viewed as overly restrictive and have not garnered widespread support. So it’s 2021 – why hasn’t someone invented a tough, practical, biodegradable plastic lure? A soft plastic Senko worm is a must for bass fishermen for good reason – it works. Really well. They’re also very durable – soft plastics last in the environment for decades. A bill under consideration by the Maine legislature in 2019 (LD 695) would have prohibited the use of all non-biodegradable lures in Maine starting in 2024. The bill was carried over to the 2020 session before being voted out of committee “Ought Not to Pass,” at which point it was placed in the legislature’s “dead file.” A similar fate met a 2013 bill, LD 42, which would have prohibited “all artificial lures made of rubber,” but which was killed in favor of a move to study the issue further. L.L. Bean stopped carrying soft plastic lures for half a decade, and only recently brought them back due to consumer demand. Various studies have shown that fish often eat discarded soft plastic lures and worms, slowing or blocking their digestive system and causing them to lose weight. And B.A.S.S. www.MaineSportsman.com

Nation promotes the “Pledge to Pitch It” campaign, encouraging anglers to properly dispose of soft plastics. Why Target Soft Plastics? There is consensus among sportsman that discarded soft plastics are bad for the environment. But so are soda cans, or any litter, for that matter. So why are soft plastics being targeted? There are two main reasons lost soft plastics are of special concern: 1. Fish want to eat them, and can eat them. That’s the whole point, right? Fish are much less likely to eat a soda can. 2. The chemical and physical makeup of some soft plastics is detrimental to fish. When a fish swallows certain soft plastics, the lures absorb water and swell within the fish’s stomach. This creates a blockage that hampers their ability to digest other food, resulting in weight loss and anorexia. Plasticizers, such as phthalate, are a major constituent of plastic lures. Supporters of soft plastic lure bans believe these

chemicals are harmful and that they remain in the environment for years. How Do Fish Eat the Lures? The most common way fish ingest soft plastics is eating them off the bottom. Some lures may be eaten when an angler’s line breaks while fighting a fish, but the high number of lures in the bellies of fish leads one to think they are eating them off bottom. How do they end up on bottom? Any worm angler will admit that their lures frequently break during a fight with a fish, and portions come off the hook. And some anglers may toss old lures overboard, rather than taking them back to the boat launch or home, where they can be thrown in the trash. But Will Soft Plastic Lures Kill Fish? I’ve caught many fish that had soft plastics in their stomach, but since I caught them, they were still actively eating, so it can’t be that bad, right? In 2009, MDIFW and Unity College published a study on soft plastic ingestion,

This salmon, caught by Andrew Jalbert in Moose Pond, Denmark, had a stomach full of rubber worms that had swelled and were blocking the fish’s digestive tract. Photo credit: Brian Boyt

titled “Voluntary Ingestion of Soft Plastic Fishing Lures Affects Brook Trout Growth in the Laboratory.” For 90 days, biologists fed 38 brook trout a mix of commercial trout food and added soft plastics to the tank. A control group was also used. Two key takeaways from the study were: • Soft plastics were found in 63% of the test fish, despite the fish being fed a balanced diet at a rate that should promote growth and satiation; and

• The group offered soft plastics lost an average of 6 grams of weight, while the control group gained an average of 31g. The study concluded that, “brook trout ingesting soft plastic lures will have reduced growth rates, be more vulnerable to predation, and have lower catch rates than unaffected brook trout.” The study did not promote or recommend a ban on soft plastic lures (SPLs), however, but stated (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 59 (Continued from page 58)

that “anglers should be discouraged from discarding used SPLs in trout waters.” It’s 2021 – Why Hasn’t Someone Invented Practical Biodegradable Soft Plastic? We are getting there, but we aren’t out of the woods yet. Some of the largest manufacturers of soft plastic are developing lures they promote as being less harmful than traditional lures. • BioBait’s water soluble, plant-based soft lures are less likely to swell, says the company, giving fish a chance to pass them if eaten. The amount of time it takes for the lure to degrade varies,

based on the water temperature and the pH of the belly of the fish. • Berkley’s Gulp! is made using water-based resins. The lures are marketed as “100% biodegradable.” Information from 2010 indicates it takes about 1-2 years for a lure to degrade in freshwater, depending on current, water clarity and temperature, so how long it takes in a fish’s stomach is unclear. What Can We Do? Based on my personal observations and experiences, I recommend the following: 1) Don’t discard soft plastics overboard; 2) Encourage boat

Self-Propelled (Continued from page 56)

shockingly simple. I never bore the full weight of the boat. The boat never touched the ground. I strapped the canoe down on the roof rack (contraption still attached) and drove to a favorite put-in spot on a local mill pond in Farmington. Once there, I reversed the process. Pulled the boat back off the roof rack, rested the wheels of the cart on the gravel parking area. Then I lifted the bow down off the rack and rolled the boat a hundred feet down a path to the pond’s edge. Here’s the genius of four wheels. At

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 57)

powertrain technology and hardware. The goal is to offer EV versions of all Polaris power sports products by 2025. Bombardier Recreational Products of Canada has announced a similar goal – a full line of EV power sports products, including ATVs, Ski-Doo snowmobiles and Sea-Doo watercraft, by 2026.

How Green are EVs? There will always be some debate

launch operators to provide receptacles for soft plastic lures, in the same manner many provide areas for monofilament line to be discarded; and 3) Check your lure and line knots often, to reduce the chances soft plastics will be lost during a fight with a fish. As with many things in the world, demand drives supply, and everyone “votes” with their dollar. If more and more anglers begin requesting biodegradable products, lure companies will begin spending more on research and development to develop the products.

The author recently purchased some plant-based BioBait lures. Though a perfect “biodegradable” soft plastic has yet to be invented, BioBait claims their lures are less likely to swell, giving the fish a chance to pass them if eaten. Photo: Christi Holmes

a grassy spot near the water, I used the bow of the boat as a handle to flip it 180 degrees, so the boat was right-side up. The side of the canoe rack touched the grass during this maneuver, but the canoe never did. The other two wheels of the cart now supported the boat as I wheeled it (right-side up) directly into the water. A Life-Changing Piece of Gear I went right back home and tried the cart on other boats. With some adjustments, the cart fit everything – from a 20-foot, 100-lb. behemoth Old Town Tripper XL, to a 13-foot solo-canoe. It protected the polished bow of my beloved 1951 wood and canvas Old

here. No vehicle is all that green. EVs produce no tailpipe emissions nor gas fumes at the pump, but the electricity and the battery itself have environmental impacts. Net emissions depend on the owner’s source of electricity. Maine, fortunately, has a high percentage of renewable electrical generation from wind, hydro, and biomass – a plus for EVs. After lagging other states for several years, solar photovoltaic (PV) is now a fast-growing segment in Maine. The Greenercars ratings for EVs and hybrids consider not just mile-

Town OTCA model. It worked perfectly on my (new to me) 18-foot guide’s model, built by Island Falls Canoe. I admit to some minor home-made modifications. I replaced the attachment string/strap with a sturdier ratchet-strap system. And I traded out the ten-inch wheels on one end of the cart for some larger pneumatic tires that accommodated the steep pitch from my upstairs barn storage space for larger canoes. I’m thinking those larger tires are going to make portaging around Allagash Falls much less painful this year. Even Bill Kralovec isn’t perfect.

age/fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions, including greenhouse gases, but also other lifecycle impacts, including weight and materials. For example, larger vehicles require larger tires that must be produced and recycled. For EVs, battery size and weight are important factors. As for ORVs, a big benefit will be the quiet ride and the chance to breathe the fresh air without exhaust fumes. After all, many of us go out in the woods to enjoy nature, so EVs will be a welcome improvement for humans and wildlife.

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— Guest Column —

Transferring Firearms by Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D.

Planning to leave your firearms to your out-of-state descendants? Hoping to inherit firearms from your out-of-state relatives? Scheduling a hunting trip out of state and bringing your own firearms? In a Maine Sportsman exclusive, Dr. Stephenie Slahor reports on her interview with Nickolaus Buckholz, firearms transfer expert, giving readers the “lay of the land” concerning interstate transfers. Transferring ownership or possession of a firearm, whether through an estate plan or during the lifetime of the transferor, has legal implications you need to consider. While state laws vary, federal law imposes another layer of legal obligations, and both require that firearms owners obtain practical legal knowledge about the identification, possession and transfer of their firearms. So says Nickolaus E. Buchholz, an attorney associated with the firm of Lester, Cantrell & Kraus, LLP of Riverside, California. A shooter, collector and reloader himself, his legal practice includes advice on legal firearms transfers, and products liability claims involving firearms. Mr. Buchholz states that there are an estimated 310 million firearms owned by private citizens in the US, with the number quickly rising. California leads the nation in firearms sales and transfers, yet has over 10,000 restrictive firearms laws, which, he said, “grow exponentially each year.” He adds that fear, uncertainty and doubt often cloud owners’ thoughts about leaving or giving their firearms to others. In essence, most firearms laws deal with identification of the “type” of firearm, who can possess it, and ultimately whether (based upon prohibitory definitions of the firearm “type”) it can be transferred (e.g., by a will, sale or gift). For an example, he states that those who cannot possess firearms and therefore cannot be the recipient of a www.MaineSportsman.com

Maine is a great place to buy and sell firearms, since state law affords much more freedom than do states such as California and New York. However, in private sales even in Maine it’s important to know the person you’re selling to, and to ensure they are not a “prohibited person” under state law. Photo: David Johnson, WGXA TV

firearm transfer usually include individuals who have felony convictions or temporary bans on such possession (such as those persons subject to a protection from abuse order). Some misdemeanor offenses (such as threats of bodily harm or some domestic violence offenses) can also carry restrictions on firearms, Buchholz explained. It’s important to note that not every firearm carries the same legal definition and – depending upon the type or configuration – some may be possessed and transferred, while others cannot. Firearms falling into the definition of “curios, relics or antiques” may be subject to different laws than those applicable to modern firearms, Buchholz says. The most significant restrictions – led by California legislators and emulated in other states as well – surround the modification and increased complexity of what consti-

tutes an “assault weapon.” The latest iteration, Buchholz says, is expanding to include almost all commonly-owned rifles, shotguns and pistols. Not only do “assault weapon” restrictions prohibit possession of most commonly-used semi-automatic firearms (unless registered as an “assault weapon”), but they also create a virtual ban on any firearm owner’s intrastate transfer to a third party. Ammunition-feeding devices known as magazines, also face strict regulations, he adds. For example, California (again emulated in some other states) has restricted the capacity of magazines (ten rounds), and has banned possession of any magazine with the ability to hold more than ten rounds. “Thus, the landscape for firearms owners in performing what would appear to be a simple transfer of their firearm is likely to amount to numerous potential felony violations,” he

says. With so many legal restrictions, many firearms owners walk the proverbial “felony” tightrope in an attempt to comply with state regulations regarding the “how,” “when,” and “where” a firearm, feeding devices or ammunition can be possessed and transported. Buchholz feels that firearms owners must continue to educate themselves on the latest restrictions, in conjunction with existing laws. Moreover, what may be legal in your state may be prohibited in another state in which you are hunting, target shooting or just hiking or fishing while in possession of a firearm. Buchholz adds that hunters should note whether they are on federal or state land, because the possession and use rules can differ significantly. Fundamentally, he says, transfer of a firearm seems to be a simple affair. Many family members or close friends would prefer to see their firearms transferred to a recipient who will care for the prior owner’s collection and appreciate what has been bestowed. But Buchholz adds that, unfortunately, whether by gift, bequest, intestate succession or loan, every state has different restrictive laws regarding firearms transfer, and an attorney’s help is advised to ensure legal compliance. It is also advisable to review any estate plan that specifically identifies firearms, because new laws may restrict their transfer. (See “Maine Perspective on Firearms Transfer” on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 61

Maine Perspective on Firearms Transfer by John Chapman, Maine attorney and authority on gun owners’ rights

The information provided by Dr. Slahor provides valuable caveats for those who are considering interstate transfers of firearms, especially if those transfers involve activist states such as her state of California, as well as other gun-control states such as New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Illinois, Rhode Island and Delaware. In stark contrast with states such as California, Maine offers relative ease of transfer of firearms to law-abiding adult Maine residents, who are not “prohibited persons”; where the transfer is not for a “business purpose”; and absent information that would lead a reasonably prudent person to have justifiable concerns. • The Gun Control Act of 1968 (the GCA) is grounded in the “interstate commerce” power of Congress. When passed, the Act didn’t reach transfers in-state, because federal lawmakers correctly understood their authority did not extend that far. Thus, transfers to persons

John Chapman, a regular presenter at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Shows on firearms laws, tells readers in the Pine Tree State how fortunate they are to live here, if they want to transfer firearms through private sales, especially to family or friends. within the state were not prohibited – for loans, gifts or private sales. • The GCA prohibits transfer of a “firearm” or ammunition to someone you have “reasonable cause to believe” is a “prohibited person.” The phrase is defined to include fugitives from justice, “felons,” those subject to domestic violence orders, those who have been committed to mental institutions or successfully pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, drug users and certain nonresident aliens. • The federal law also forbids transfer of handguns to persons under age 18. • Some of the prohibitions apply only to sales by federally-licensed dealers. “Straw purchases” (one person purchasing for another) are also restricted. Background checks are

required for FFL (federal firearms license) dealer sales, but are not required for private sales. • Maine has its own, slightly more restrictive list of prohibited persons. Persons prohibited under 15 MRSA sec. 393 (titled “Possession of firearms prohibited for certain persons”) cannot possess even black powder or antique firearms. By contrast, the federal GCA does not regulate guns made before 1898, or those that use ammunition that can be fired with antique guns, or black powder guns. • Maine’s criminal code has limits on transfer of long guns to those under 16, or handguns to those under 18. There are also limits on transfer of ammunition, black powder and air rifles to those under

16. • If you have reason to believe that your transferee may be planning a crime, you may be guilty as an accomplice. If you have reason to believe that they will negligently hurt someone, you may be civilly liable under a “negligent entrustment” theory. • Some people are under temporary orders to not possess firearms or weapons. Transfer to those people can get you into trouble. In my personal opinion, Maine is a breath of fresh air compared to states such as California and New York. In 2019, Maine was tied for the LOWEST homicide rate in the nation, and were the lowest in the USA in terms of violent crime rate. We “get” the bad guys. We leave the good guys alone. California treats everyone as a potential criminal, and they seem to have gotten what they have assumed.

— Trophy Gallery —

Worth Gobblin’ About! This foursome experienced an especially productive turkey hunt May 1, 2021 in Peru, Maine. From left: Deryk Collins, Curtis Errington, Drew Collins and Brian Palmer.

Nine-year old Julianna (center, in the bow of the boat) holds a fish rod with a pickerel on the line, much to the delight of her friends Landrie and Jillian. All three girls are holders of lifetime fishing and hunting licenses. Photo by True Bragg www.MaineSportsman.com

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Thompson/Center Contender – A Half-Century Old Design Still Rocketing Along In 1965, Warren Center joined forces with K. W. Thompson Tool Company. Together, they formed the Thompson/Center Arms Company of Rochester, New Hampshire, and began impacting firearms design and America’s shooting culture. Their variations of 19th century Hawken rifles brought the thrills of blackpowder shooting to large numbers of enthusiasts and helped create the special hunting seasons – set aside for those who load at

The single-shot contender and its progeny, the Encore, offer interchangeable barrels in an incredible variety of calibers – which may be a very good thing, as pandemic-related shortages have reduced availability of the more common loads. the muzzle – that we all know about today. Very soon after its founding, Thompson/ Center began influencing the shooting world in other ways, as well. Warren Center brought a radical new idea out of his basement in 1967, and launched an immediate best seller. His “Contender” single-shot pistol proved

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to be the most versatile and variable handgun ever. Center’s design changed handgun hunting and target shooting. Not often discussed here at The Shooter’s Bench, the Contender nevertheless deserves all its many accolades and enviable sales record. An influencer for almost 55 years, and still going, the Contender’s lasting impact must be acknowledged. Versatility The Contender is a chameleon among firearms. Its capabilities span the field, from the smallest rimfire cartridges to powerful big-game or longrange target rounds. It seamlessly adapts to use iron sights, telescopic sights, and ultramodern holographic sights. There is even a shotgun barrel with a ventilated rib. Contemporary versions have morphed the original design

into a carbine that can do even more. Unbelievable Flexibility The Contender is a break-action single shot with an exposed hammer. The hammer contains a selector that allows for switching from rimfire to center-fire and vice versa. A hinge pin located beneath the forearm permits rapid release of the barrel so another can be installed. The extractor and sights dismount with the barrel, so nothing related to any given cartridge remains with the frame. Today, the Contender accepts barrels from .17 HMR up to .45-70 Government. After-market barrels add additional configurations, such as the .500 Smith & Wesson. Contemporary versions called the “Encore” may be had in .308 Winchester, as well as 12- and 20-gauge.

Success of the Contender benefitted certain cartridges, including the 7-30 Waters, and helped preserve some older cartridges, such as the .35 Remington and .221 Remington Fireball. Contender barrel lengths include 6, 8 ¾, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 21 inches. The heaviest calibers may include a muzzle brake to help deal with recoil, and the earliest Contenders used an octagonal barrel. Finishes may be either blue or stainless steel. Contenders also come with an array of wood or synthetic pistol grips and forearm pieces. Thompson/Center released the “G2” (gun-speak for second generation) Contender in 2002. The G2 incorporates an automatic hammer block safety, and offers the ability to re-cock the hammer without breaking open the action. Otherwise, the G2 is near identical to the original. Beginning in 1998 the similar “Encore” came along, accommodating such cartridges as the .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, .30-’06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, and .480 Ruger. Today, the Encore sometimes appears as an in-line muzzleloader. Perfect Time This seems like the perfect time to embrace the Contender/ (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 63 (Continued from page 62)

Encore family. The arrival of summer means that shooting sports keep, in the main, to target practice or varmint hunting. And Warren Center’s creation remains a firstclass choice for either. As a single-shot, the Contender forces users to concentrate and send its rounds downrange with deliberation. Enhancing concentration makes for better shooters. No doubt it makes for better hunters, as well. The use of a single-shot always serves to slow us down, and that can be a very good thing. Slowing down retards the expenditure of ammunition and, in a time of short supplies and ridiculous expense, conserving ammunition is an important con-

sideration. Hoping for ammunition availability and that prices will return to pre-pandemic levels seems something of a pipedream. Conserving today may mean a supply of ammunition remains for another trip to the range tomorrow. Unusual Ammo in Greater Supply The great variety of Contender barrels offers another pandemic-related side benefit. Many shooters have observed and commented that less common, less in-demand stocks of ammunition remain on retailer’s shelves. The Contender’s bountiful selection of calibers may mean that, with an additional barrel or two, a shooter can exempt himself or herself from the shortages that plague so many

The bold idea and well-executed design of the Thompson/Center Contender changed handgun shooting forever, and it remains a good choice for modern times. Credit: Thompson/Center

users of the more common calibers. For anyone who has considered a new or used Contender or its progeny, the Encore, moving on that idea now offers many advantages. Summer is here. Just the chance to get out-

side with family and friends to spend some lazy hours punching holes in targets is reason enough. For others, the opportunity to load up with tick repellent and head out after coyotes or woodchucks seems equally compelling. In either

case, the Contender makes a fine companion, well worthy of a first, second, or third look. For a long time, I have thought of trying skeet shooting with a Contender and its .410-bore barrel ….

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Downeast Salmon and Trout Fishing Thrills June Anglers Of the three Toddy Ponds, First Toddy, where the author spends summers, is the deepest, boasting a maximum depth of 122 feet. The southeast shoreline, known locally as Whiskey Springs, is a good spot to troll for landlocks and lake trout. Brook trout, salmon, splake and lake trout will create fishing excitement on many waters in the Downeast Region this month. Some of the most fertile fishing grounds in Hancock County and Washington County can be found by referring to Delorme’s, The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, especially Maps 23 and 45. A June entry from my 2020 fishing journal reveals the thrill that I often experience while fishing local waters for salmon and lake trout: As the warm June morning unfolded, the fluffy cumulus clouds filtered out much of the rising sun. The excitement of trolling again on open water brought back fond memories of gymnastic salmon striking my streamer fly. I inched my 16-foot aluminum boat close to the Whiskey Springs shoreline, hoping to pick up a

salmon. My 9-foot Eagle Claw trolling rod held its arc as I edged close to the shore on one of Hancock County’s prime game-fish waters. The pulsing vibration of my rod stopped abruptly and curved downward. The Sal-Trout reel kicked in and began discharging several yards of lead-core line. The fish on the other end of the line thrashed, trying to free itself from the tandem-hooks of a Gray Ghost streamer. After an exhilarating five-minute battle, most of the lead-core line lay re-coiled on my reel. The salmon broke through the choppy-water surface several times before I was able to slip my net under the 17-inch beauty. Shortly after setting my line back into the water, my other rod began to tremble, letting me know for sure that I had another strike. The second

battling fish made several runs. However, after several minutes of anxiety, I caught and released the 18inch beauty. A half-hour later, while still-fishing with cut-up suckers near the Knights of Columbus camp, I caught and released two 17inch togue. I pulled into the mooring at my cottage 20 minutes later, a happy angler. Toddy’s Gamefish Toddy Pond, found in the Blue Hill, Surry and Orland region, is a prime salmon, brown trout and togue water. It is made up of three ponds separated by a set of narrows; see Map 23, E-4. Each pond consists of uniquely different fresh-water habitat. First Toddy, my summer residence, is the deepest of the three ponds, boasting a maximum depth of 122 feet. This pond contains most of the salmon and lake trout caught by anglers.

Jeremy Glick of Bangor displays a typical-size Toddy Pond brown trout. Jim Lemieux photo

The southeast shoreline, locally known as Whiskey Springs, is a good spot to troll for landlocks and lake trout this month. First Toddy has a healthy population of togue, and also receives an annual stocking of 550 landlocked salmon. Second and Third Toddy have conventionally been known as warm-water fisheries; however, yearly stockings of brown trout and splake have convinced anglers to spend more time fishing here. Second Toddy has a maximum depth of 22 feet, and it’s approximately two miles in length. Several ledges on the east shoreline, locally known as “The Bear’s Den,” create deep water pockets. This area

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offers good habitat for trout during the summer months. In the fall of 2020, Second Toddy was stocked with 1,000 10inch splake and 1,000 12-inch brown trout. Fish-stocking number have remained quite constant over the last decade, so sports should see similar numbers of fish released into the pond each year. Third Toddy, one of the two smaller ponds, has several bass tournaments each summer. This area also offers good white perch and smallmouth bass angling. Washington County Game-Fish East Grand Lake, Map 45, A-4 is one of the premier salmon fisheries in the state. In a recent phone conversation, Region F fisheries biologist Kevin Dunham said, “Landlocks of 5 to 6 pounds are not uncommon catches for a few lucky anglers each (Downeast Region continued on page 70)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 65

New Beginnings Newly-relocated to Frankfort, the author is checking out nearby freshwater and saltwater fishing opportunities. So far, things are looking very, very good. Midcoast Maine consists of Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties. Most of my life was spent fishing and hunting in the southern section of Waldo County, with regular forays into Knox and Lincoln Counties. The northeast region of Waldo County in the towns of Frankfort and Winterport seemed like another country, wholly different from my home turf. Having moved to Frankfort in late fall, it was difficult to get out and prospect for hunting and fishing areas. But people in town were quick to point out places for me to check. As luck would have it, some of the best upland cover I have seen since I was a teenager sits almost within walking distance of my new house. My October plans are all set, and finding new fishing opportunities now tops my agenda. As good fortune would have it, Marsh Stream crosses Route 1A, again within walking distance. Downstream, sea-run brook trout hold in the swift water. It’s pretty-looking water, too, with riffles, pools, boulders and such, made-to-order for trout fishing. Above the dam, Mill Pond beckons. People tell me that white perch, pickerel, smallmouth bass and

hornpout live there. I’ll leave my canoe at a friend’s property to save transporting it every time I want to visit Mill Pond. Marsh Stream Mill Pond serves as a reservoir for the local fire department, as well as a beloved recreation area for local people. The 1½ mile paddle upstream to the head of Mill Pond, I’m told, leads to the beginning of what sounds like trout heaven. A friend likened this section to the Allagash River, for its remote beauty. Marsh Stream holds brook trout throughout its length. But trout are where you find them, since not all sections of stream have good trout habitat. June will stand as the telling month where hopefully, I will separate the wheat from the chaff. By looking on Maps 22 and 23 of the De Lorme Atlas, you can trace the passage of Marsh Stream from its beginnings in the Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Unit in Knox, east through the towns of Brooks, Monroe, and finally Frankfort. In years past, I frequented a prime fiddlehead area along Marsh Stream in Brooks. This section of stream held quite a few brook trout, and fishing persisted until

early June. Some of the larger pools – and there are numbers of big ones on Marsh Stream – run deep and slow. Here, people catch smallmouth bass as well as pickerel. This just underscores the hidden potential of this little-known, little-fished stream. Saltwater, Too Whereas most of my saltwater fishing took place from Belfast and points south, my new digs put me within a short driving distance of the Penobscot River. The sum total of my experience with this section of Maine’s great tidal river was in the form of smelt dipping just above the railroad trestle in Prospect. That is about to change. A public boat launch at Mendall Marsh, just down the road from me, allows access to one of the widest sections of the Penobscot, Marsh Bay. Also, the mouth of Marsh River, where it debouches into Marsh Bay, looks like a potentially good spot to try for a variety of saltwater species – some of which interest me greatly. In addition to striped bass, the lower Penobscot now holds American shad and white catfish, the former a native species on the rebound, the

A small stream behind the author’s house holds lots of brook trout. Tom Seymour photo

latter an illegally introduced species that has established a firm foothold in not only the Penobscot River but also the Kennebec River. It seems likely that one of those two species might pass through Marsh Bay. Saltwater sections of the Penobscot River get little press, as opposed to the Kennebec River. But that’s not to say there are not great, undiscovered fishing opportunities. I intend to find out. Stripers Galore My striper-fishing career has been at a low ebb over the last few decades. Crowded conditions at my favorite shore-based locations turned me off. It just wasn’t worth it to battle a crowd for the slight chance of taking a legal striper. However, a new friend who owns shoreline property in Winterport has offered me a chance to fish off her dock for what she claims are “hundreds and hundreds of 6- to 7-pound stripers.”

So with only a few local anglers using the dock, coupled with the presence of large numbers of stripers, the chance of landing a fish that meets or exceeds the minimum length limit are greatly improved. Besides that, catching loads of 6-pound stripers sounds like great fun to me. The trick to success on Penobscot River stripers, my friend tells me, is to hit the run at its prime. This happens some time in June, and it lasts for several weeks. This explains why one of my buddies, determined to find stripers in the Penobscot, always comes up empty. He launches his boat in Brewer and follows the river all the way down to Penobscot Bay. But he never tried it when the run was on. That should change this year. New horizons always excite me, and now I have them. Wish me luck.

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66 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Bugs and Rodents – Flying, Biting and Chewing Pests Mice nests in air filters and inside a propane wall heater, as well as chewed wires in a boat and a snowmobile, cost the author a total of $600 last year. I love Central Maine and all its glorious creatures; however, at times my patience is tested by a variety of winged, crawling and slithering vermin that also call this wonderful state home. Over the years, I have devised ways to overcome these hurdles and have evolved my means and methods to coexist with these creatures whenever humanly possible. However, every man has his limits, and when the balance of nature swings more toward beast than man, it’s time to take action! Bug Off! By early June, even during the most miserably cold of springs, the blackflies and mosquitoes become almost unbearable. These vile hordes can really put a damper on early spring camping trips and even simple, lazy afternoons sitting on the patio. A few years ago, after becoming increasingly irritated at these blood-sucking insects, I took a chance and purchased a Thermacell Blackfly and Mosquito Repeller. While extremely skeptical, I was desperate and willing to try just about anything in an attempt to reclaim my backyard and bring joy back to family campwww.MaineSportsman.com

ing trips. After several years of using this device, let me just say that it’s the best $20 I have ever spent on a sporting product. Two years ago, I was bear hunting in Canada during the second week of June, and the guide set me up on the edge of a massive cedar swamp. If not for the Thermacell, I am certain I would have perished from blood loss. If you don’t have one of these devices, go and buy one now – I promise you will not regret it. Ticks As sportsmen, I know you are likely sick and tired of hearing about ticks, Lyme disease and all of the other nasty pathogens that these tiny creatures carry. Unfortunately, the best way to handle not getting infected is vigilance, including here in Central Maine. I’m not going to say that in the past I have been necessarily mounting a great defense against these arachnids, but I am getting considerably better. My personal motivation is driven by a previous episode of Lyme infection (not fun) and a desire to better educate my children about prevention, so they will never have to be sickened by this

debilitating disease. The past three turkey seasons I have been using a product by Sawyer, called Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent. If you use this product correctly and in accordance with the recommended application guidelines, ticks are no longer a problem. I prefer to additionally tuck in my shirt and pant legs and apply DEET around my neckline and head. By using all these precaution, I have received only a single tick bite in three years, after hundreds of hours in the woods. While ticks are an incredible nuisance, as lovers of Maine’s woods and waters we cannot allow our time outside to be stolen from us by these invaders; therefore, we must mitigate the risks and continue to enjoy our time afield. Mice Six hundred dollars is the amount of money that mice caused in damage this past year to my camp, snowmobile and boat. In addition to building nests in air filters, chewing on wiring and clogging up my camp’s wall mounted propane heater, they also seem to have found that my camping equipment is a great spot to defecate.

Mice have enjoyed chewing on wiring in the author’s snowmobile and boat. Credit: Wheels.ca (Toronto)

I feel that somehow they have also formed a destructive partnership with the red and gray squirrels that run rampant all across my property. Together these rodents cause me constant and considerable angst. Fortunately, a well-organized eradication plan, implemented late last summer, has helped keep these vermin in check. While mothballs and dryer sheets have discouraged the mice from continuing to destroy my camping equipment, more lethal means were necessary stop their continued chewing, gnawing and nesting in my expensive equipment. In the past, I have used poison to control mice, but since it causes mice to crawl into the most impossible to reach places and slowly decay, causing nasty odors that can linger for weeks, it was necessary to look into other options. As a “low-tech” solution, I have been extremely impressed with the effectiveness of simple mouse traps,

when regularly baited and checked daily. During the months of August-October, I caught 50 mice using 5 traps, and all my problems quickly vanished. Squirrels Pulling into camp this past October, I noted a strange discoloration on the door to the outhouse. Upon further inspection, I noted a large hole had been gnawed through the door, likely by the local and robust population of red and gray squirrels. Perhaps someone in the readership will enlighten me on why these rodents were so adamant about entering a structure that I only visit when under extreme and urgent need. With some live trapping combined with an aggressive relocation program and the purchase of two Crossman air rifles for the kids, the squirrel population slowly but continually decreased throughout the fall, until it reached a more ecologically sound and manageable level.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 67

Uses of Beaver “Castoreum” Through History Castoreum, a byproduct of beaver trapping, has been used as a medicine and as perfume. Its popularity was one reason for the near-extinction of beaver in the United States around 1900. (“Castor” is the Latin word for beaver.) Beaver are found in North America, Europe and Asia. The beaver’s castor sacs produce castoreum, which is generally a brownish yellow thick fluid or exudate. Both sexes have a pair of castor sacs located in two cavities under the skin between the pelvis and the base of the tail. The castor sacs are not true glands; therefore, references to scent glands is a misnomer. Beavers use castoreum to mark their territories by making what trappers call “castor mounds.” This is where a beaver scrapes up a pile of mud or dirt near the water’s edge and places some of their castoreum and occasionally some urine on it. This is why trappers when trapping in open water commonly use the castor mound set. Trappers simulate this activity by scraping up material and placing some castor lure on the mound. A colony of beaver are aware of their own members, but let an outsider come into their area, and they will hunt for it and drive it off. Anytime another beaver’s scent is detected, the resident beaver all search

out the newcomer’s location. Viewed as a Medical Panacea Castoreum has been used by humans for thousands of years. Most people do not find the odor of castoreum offensive. Castoreum has had numerous uses over time, from perfumes and flavoring foods to medical applications. Medically in the past, it was used or recommended for insomnia, anxiety, earaches, toothaches, colic, gout, inducing sleep, preventing sleep, and general strengthening of the brain. There is no scientific evidence to support many of these claims, but the same can be said of many old folk remedies. Castoreum has also been used to treat headaches, which makes sense, given that it contains salicylic acid, the main ingredient in aspirin. Its use in perfumes goes back at least to pre-Egyptian times. As a tincture, it is currently used as a fragrance or fixative in perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics. It is also used today in foods and beverages as a flavoring agent, which I have addressed in earlier articles.

Led to Drastic Population Decreases Castoreum has been used since the earliest of times. During the Middle Ages, the demand for castoreum and beaver pelts was so high that they were hunted to extinction in England, and became endangered all across Europe. When Europeans settled North America, they found beavers by the millions, and castoreum-mania began running once again. The colonization of America led into an increase in the availability of beaver pelts, which were used to make fine hats all over Europe, and a resurgence of interest in castoreum as medicine. It was in the 19th century that the substance began to be widely used in the perfume industry. By the end of the 19th century, the demand for pelts and castoreum was so great that North American beavers were on the edge of extinction. Days of Beaver are Numbered? Beaver became a pillar of the New World economy for several centuries. In 1894, a representative of the Hudson Bay Company, a major beaver pelt and castore-

um trading firm, said, “The beaver’s days are numbered. The animal cannot coexist with civilization.” Also in 1894, Scientific American wrote that the days of hunting beaver were numbered, as populations were dwindling to near extinction, causing the price of beaver pelts to rise. While castoreum’s incredible potency continued to make it attractive as a scent and flavoring agent, once beaver trapping ceased to be a serious industry, the castoreum market dried up with it. Castoreum and felt for hats were among the causes of the near extinction of our beaver by 1900. Amazingly early on, the cigarette industry learned from the Algonquins that dusting tobacco with a bit of castoreum can make them taste more luxurious. Today’s Value Today the current market for castor sacs when properly removed and dried is running between $70 and $100 a pound. This should continue

to climb as the demand for the castoreum increases, while the beaver harvest declines due to the low prices for the beaver pelts. Beaver is one of the trapper’s most labor-intensive of all furbearers to harvest and prepare for marketing. A profit can still be realized by the trapper if one combines the marketable products of a beaver. They are the pelt, castoreum, teeth (used for crafts) and the meat. Beaver meat is utilized for human consumption or as dog food. One of the best uses of castoreum heard of today, is that in Sweden they soak it in liquor (reportedly vodka) to make a schnapps called Bäverhojt (translation - beaver shout), a shot of which is traditionally taken before embarking on a beaver hunt. I am not sure what produces the need to shout. My Swiss sonin-law made a strange face and shouted “medicine” the first (and last) time he tasted Moxie.

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68 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Who Was That Guy, Anyway? The hunter whom I suspected of shooting two deer and failing to register the first one, asked me why I was questioning him. “Well,” I replied, “you don’t think I just pulled your name out of a hat, do you?” It was early November of 2001 when I received a telephone call from a close friend by the name of John. He had just returned from deer hunting in Detroit, Maine and wanted to report an encounter he had with another hunter that afternoon. John did not reside in Detroit, but he’d grown up there, having moved away many years before. His mother still lived there, and he was hunting an area close by her residence that he was very familiar with. He had spent the afternoon down a long logging road off the west side of Route 220. Rifle Shot At the end of the afternoon, as he was returning to his truck, he heard the sound of a rifle shot come from an area between his location and Route 220. Getting into his truck and heading out in that direction, he came upon a lone hunter next to the woods road. The hunter was talking on a cell phone. Being a social sort of guy, John stopped to chat with the man, and learned he had just shot a doe deer. John looked the deer www.MaineSportsman.com

over and commented “That’s a nice doe you got there.” The man stated he was calling someone to come get him, as he had been dropped off and had no vehicle. John asked where he lived, and the man replied, “Detroit village.” John told him there was no need to call anyone, as he was going right out. They could just toss the deer in the bed of John’s truck, he said, and he would give the fellow a ride right to his house. The man accepted John’s offer of assistance, so they loaded the deer and headed for town. “Don’t Stop at the Tagging Station” On the way, John obtained more information from the hunter, such as his name, where he lived, where he worked and how long he had lived in Detroit. As I previously said, John is quite social. In traveling to the residence, they passed directly by the tagging station at Poulin’s store. John offered to stop at the station, but the passenger said he’d prefer to continue on home. This made John a little suspicious, and he began to feel that

things weren’t quite cricket. (John liked the word “cricket,” and often used it, having plagiarized it from local auctioneer Razor Crossman.) At any rate, after John had filled me in, I added this to my list of things that I needed to check up on. This was deer season, and I usually had a backlog of things to look into. Each day in November, I would get home to find as many as fifteen calls waiting for me on my answering machine. “Let’s Look at the Records” As it turned out, it was about a week before I had a chance to stop at the Detroit tagging station and look over the deer tagging records. What I found was that nobody with the hunter’s name had tagged a doe deer on the day in question or the day after. But to my surprise, I discovered that the individual in question had tagged a buck deer four days later. Clearly (lawyers overuse that word), the doe deer had either not been registered, or somebody else had falsely registered it. It was now time to locate this success-

“I want to know about the doe deer.” “What doe deer?” “The one you killed and didn’t tag.” “Oh, THAT doe deer!”

ful hunter who clearly had a problem either way. Knock and Talk I located him at his nearby residence, and asked if he could describe the circumstances surrounding the buck deer he had registered. He described killing the buck off the same woods road where my friend had helped him with the doe a few days before. He then asked why he was being questioned about the buck, and I replied, “Well, you don’t think I just picked your name out of a hat, do you?” (I borrowed this line from a former warden.) He replied “Well, no.” I then proceeded to inquire about the doe deer and the man who had trucked it home for him, but he couldn’t seem to quite

understand what I was talking about. In a few moments, however, a light bulb miraculously came on, and he commented, “Oh, you mean that doe deer. I didn’t know you were talking about THAT deer.” I replied, “Yes, that deer,” and asked myself how many times I’d had similar conversations with hunters. The guy now decided the game was up and asked me, “Who was that guy with the pickup, anyway and how did you find out about me and him?” I told him that was simple – I had known John Ready since he was seventeen and pumping gas at Friend & Friend’s Garage in Newport, and for the 25 years he had served as a Maine Game Warden before his recent retirement.

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Bass Angling Heats Up in June Sebago is full of giant rock and boulder piles left over from the glacial scouring. Post-spawn, the bass head to those big rocks that are found in depths ranging from just below the surface, to 15 or 20 feet deep. I was guiding clients out of the fabled Migis Lodge in Raymond on Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1), targeting salmon and lake trout. I had my downriggers on bottom and a fly line up top. Suddenly, the fly reel started screaming, and the rod doubled over. I pulled the rod from the holder, set the hook, and handed it to one of the clients to play. It took her a while to get accustomed to the left-hand retrieve and small handle of the fly reel, but she learned quickly. I proudly exclaimed that she had a salmon, and the plan was for the lodge cook to make their lunch with our bounty, preferably a salmon. I saw the line race to the surface and

knew we were in store for a tail dance by ol’ Salmo salar – quite a sight for a neophyte angler. Much to my chagrin, however, a smallmouth jumped to the surface, and dove again, bending the rod. I was crestfallen, but she couldn’t have been happier. That smallmouth reminded me why my dad and I targeted smallies in June. They bit anything, and provided great sport. Just into the spawn, the male guards the nest fiercely and attacks anything that invades his space. Dad and I worked the shoreline, casting a variety of lures to shore and reeling them back to the boat. Sometimes I would toss a fly line out and get some prac-

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tice in. A streamer works great. Big Lake Bass With a lake the size of Sebago, you would think it would be hard to find and pattern bass. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course, spawning bass are on the shoreline in the sand. They hide under docks, and generations of fish seem to nest in the same location year after year. Once the spawn ends – and I predict it will end early this year

An angler fishes the inlet to Lake Auburn intent of bass or white perch. Photo by Tom Roth

due to the early start we got – the bass move out a tad deeper. Sebago is full of giant rock and boulder piles left over from the glacial scouring, and the bass head to the big rocks that are in depths ranging from just below the surface, down to 15 or 20 feet. Post-spawn, bass don’t shut down like many think – they just move to a new neigh-

borhood. Try a crayfish lure or soft bait and get into the nooks and crannies of these rock piles. My dad always kept a shiner off the back of the boat on a bobber, and that generally elicited a strike when we floated around rock piles.

Other Bass Spots Little Sebago Lake

(Continued on next page)

A Sporting Year in Maine by Tom Roth

PRE-ORDER $23.95 Color 198 Pages; Softcover 5.5 x 8.5 Pre-Order link: bit.ly/ASportingYearInMaine “This book has a folksy, conversational tone that will remind you of sitting around the table at camp...” that will appeal to readers of all stripes.” – TOM SEYMOUR, author of Forager’s Notebook, Getting Your Big Fish, and other books. — “If you are interested in the outdoors, this is the book for you.” – ROBERT J. ROMANO, JR., author of Shadows in the Stream and the Rangeley region series of fly-fishing novels. — “In the pages of A Sporting Year in Maine, Tom takes us through each month of the calendar, telling true stories from his years of experience in the woods and fields, and on the waters and ice, of our great state.” – WILL LUND, Editor, The Maine Sportsman Tom Roth enjoyed a 32-year law enforcement career working as a summer game warden, a parttime deputy sheriff, a patrol officer, school resource officer, and even an undercover officer, and now runs Maine’s Fraud Investigation Unit. Despite a full week of work, Tom spends as many hours afield or on the water as he can, be it hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, skiing or just enjoying the beautiful State of Maine. Since 1995, Tom has penned a regional column in The Maine Sportsman, New England’s largest outdoor publication. Tom has also had thousands of articles published in national magazines. Tom now lives in the family home on Sebago Lake and guides anglers for the abundant lake trout and salmon. His YouTube channel, Troth1966 and web page, www.sebagolakeguideservices.com highlight many of his adventures.

Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.

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70 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

— Trophy Gallery —

Gabrielle Jandreau of Mapleton earned her Maine Sportsman moose club patch with this 863-lb. bull, taken October 13, 2020 in Ramsey Brook, Maine. The bull’s antlers had a 48-inch spread. It was registered at Ben’s Trading Post, Presque Isle. Maine’s 2021 moose lottery will be held broadcast live on June 12th.

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 69)

(Map 5, C-2) is a phenomenal bass fishery. With a shoreline defined by both rocky stretches and sandy spots, it offers ideal habitat for during and after the spawn. I usually troll the shoreline with streamer flies, intentionally targeting the abundant trout stocked there, but I always end up with a smallmouth or two. You can troll Little Sebago for bass, but working the shoreline with lures pitched toward docks and the banking will work better. Also, concentrate on the gravel bars that extend into the lake. They are not well-marked, but your lower unit will eventually find them. Ask me how I know. Anglers can easily access Little Sebago from the state launch at the end of Angler’s

Road off of Route 302. Farther north, the Androscoggin River (Map 11, C-4) runs through towns like Turner, Lewiston, Auburn and Durham, providing some topnotch smallmouth angling. River smallies seemingly put up a stronger fight, likely due to the added current as well as their added athleticism due to living in moving water. Find rocky stretches, and try tube jigs. You can’t go wrong. Shallow stretches from Auburn south of New Auburn through Durham even provide some ability to wade and fish – great sport. Despite some fast water, work the downstream side of any large rock you see, as the bass hold there to rest from the current. Try spoons such as an

Downeast Region (Continued from page 64)

summer; however, 17- to 20-inch fish are more often the bigger part of a day’s catch.” In June, salmon generally descend to depths of 20 to 30 feet or deeper. When salmon are deep, the best method to catch them is trolling with lead core line or with a downrigger, using copper, gold, live smelts or silver lures. Washington County hatchery personnel stock this water with 4,000 7-inch salmon annually. Aroostook County hatchery workers also stock 2,000 salmon in Orient. Salmon anglers often find success by fishing in the vicinity of Meeting House Point, Five Islands, Caribou Point and Little River Cove. Youth Turkey Day 2021 proved productive for 10-year-old Logan Guay. On his first-ever hunt, he bagged these two toms in Gorham. Photo by proud grandfather, Jeffrey Davis www.MaineSportsman.com

Trophy Lakers Trophy lake trout from 4 to 12 pounds are often caught during the summer. A good number of

Al’s Goldfish in gold or fish-pattern. Thompson Lake (Map 5, A-2) is known for lakers and salmon, but it also has a great bass fishery. Fish the shallow Heath for a less crowded angling experience. Canoes and kayaks are made for this piece of water. If you want to fish the main lake, use the same aforementioned tactics, and hold on! June kicks off the summer season, especially in the Sebago lake region. Increased lake use, more activity at camps, and just more people on the water, scatter the postspawn bass some, but the alert angler adapts and finds fish. They’ll be hanging by the docks at the start of this month, and they’ll move deeper as it progresses. Adapt your fishing to the change, and you will be rewarded.

trout anglers fish along Greenland Cove. East Grand has a 1-fish daily limit on lake trout. In the summer, the best method of fishing for them is trolling with lead core line or downriggers using minnows or a copper, white, or silver lure. In June you’ll typically catch lake trout at depths below 45 feet. Last year, East Grand received 5,000, 10-inch brook trout and 800, 13-inch brookies. Fishing near the shoreline, in approximately 10 to 15 feet, produces the most brook trout strikes. Smelts or worms are the usual bait used to entice these beauties. If you plan to fish both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the lake, make sure to first obtain fishing licenses from both countries. Several sporting camps are available nearby to provide lodging as well as offering fishing advice. Ample parking is available at Butterfield Landing, Greenland Cove parking area, and several smaller parking areas along the lake.

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 71

Consider Hornpoutin’ for Fun and Food Hornpout, says the author, are the best-tasting freshwater fish in Maine. And catching them at night is an adventure, especially if you have kids along. Here’s where to find them, how to catch them, how to clean them and how to cook them up. I have heard it said that coyotes will be the last animals on earth, and that cockroaches will be the last insect. As for fish species – I declare, that brown bullheads (hornpout) will be the last fish on this planet. Why? Their ability to survive under a wide range of conditions – they can live in a mud puddle – and their diet, which consists of anything that they can fit into their mouths – even vegetation. Hornpout are in the catfish family; they have broad, flat heads, and are brown with cream colored bellies. They’ve got square tail fins, and their smooth and slimy. And their skin features an unusual ability – hornpout can breathe through their skin. They grow to about 12 inches, and any fish larger than that is an exceptional fish (no Maine state record is listed on The Maine Sportsman’s roster, but New Hampshire’s state record is 18 inches). Hornpout have black barbells (whiskers) on their chins that help them locate movements, because they have very poor eyesight. They do have a good sense of smell.

Hornpout are ugly-looking fish that can hurt you; they must be handled with caution. They have sharp, venomous spines (not lethal but painful) on their pectoral and dorsal fins, which when deployed can cause serious pain. I have handled hundreds of hornpout and never have been harmed, and in reality when they are handled properly, it’s easy to remove hooks from ’pouts, and they are easy to clean for the pan or fryer. Hornpout can tolerate waters with low oxygen levels and poor water quality. They prefer shallow low-oxygenated areas of lakes, ponds and rivers, and they like muddy bottom areas with weeds. They are bottom feeders, vacuuming up worms, leeches, snails, small fish, and even aquatic plants – that’s why I think they are true survivors, and why I place them on “the last fish on earth” list – truly a remarkable and resilient fish. Hornpout are nocturnal feeders – they hide out during the day, and come out during the night to feed.

Fishing Methods During my youth,

I spent many nights setting on the banks of Lower Mousam Lake in the glow of a campfire or lantern, and always came home with fish in the bucket. These fish are easy to catch, but anglers need to use the proper methods and gear. Hornpout gear consists of long-shank hooks, needle-nose pliers, lead-free sinkers, a pail, a lantern, a head light, and bait. Night crawlers work well – you can catch those big worms on damp nights, (Google “How to catch night crawlers”). I like to bring a folding chair while fishing, as well. As mentioned, ’pouts are bottom feeders; obviously, you will need to place your bait on the bottom to catch them – and that’s the reason for lead-free sinkers. You must also watch your fishing line for movement, or place a little bell on the rod tip. It’s important not to set the hook too quickly – ’pouts will eat just about anything, but they take their time to bite down on the bait. Give them a few seconds to swallow, since if you pull up too quickly, then you’ll pull the bait from their

Hornpout are native to Maine and are easy to catch and clean. They are fantastic eating, and make a great shore lunch for the family.

mouths. They spawn in April and May, when water temperatures reach 65 degrees. Cleaning Them So you’re standing there looking down into a pail full of horn pout – what now? Gutting and preparing the fish to cook is easy once you learn how. It’s wise to use a cutproof glove to hold the fish while cleaning. Place the palm of your hand over the top of the ’pout’s head, sliding it over the head from the front (nose), and then hook your fingers around the side spines. The back spine will stick up between your two fingers. You now have safe, total control of the fish to remove hooks or cleaning. It’s easy to clean hornpout, too; simply cut the skin along the back, then cut the backbone behind the top spine, push your finger into the incision, hook the backbone, and pull the meat from the skin.

Fantastic Eating Hornpout are one

of the best-tasting fish in Maine. They are best when fried, and a favorite is fried in beer-batter. You make a pancake mix, but instead of milk, use beer. Mix to the consistency of thin pancake mix, dip the fish in it, and place it into hot oil in a fry pan. Make some home fries and a salad; serve with the rest of the six pack – makes a great shore lunch. Always check with local fire departments and or landowners before starting fires – consider using lanterns or battery lights. Brook trout and hornpout are native to Maine. Hornpout are prehistoric fish that refused to evolve, and they really didn’t need to. Hornpoutin’ is a great family outing; kids will enjoy campfires and catching a lot of these scrappy fish. A good place to fish is at public boat launch site on Lower Mousam Lake, Squire Pond and Shaker Pond. Number One Pond in Sanford is also good.

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Rangeley Region Reveals Splendor in All Directions The Rangeley Lakes Region encompasses such a vast range, from towns in the east such as Kingfield, Philips, and Farmington; to towns in the west like Wilson’s Mills, and Oquossoc – with extensive wild and scenic hunting and fishing territory in between. Visitors relish the quiet, small towns, full of the finest restaurants, shops, and accommodations suited for city-slickers and country folk alike. The combination of breathtaking scenery, awesome outdoors activities, fine dining, and comfortable lodging cannot be beat. The expansive lakes in this region provide visitors with both beauty and excellent fishing. One of the biggest lakes in this region, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, gives up some tremendous fish at times. However, the

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Starting January 1, 2021, DIFW implemented new landlocked salmon regulations for Mooselookmeguntic Lake – no size or bag limit on salmon under 16 inches in length. Biologists hope the removal of some of the smaller fish from the lake will make food more available to grow larger trophy-size fish.

The beauty of the Rangeley Region stretches as far as the eye can see in all directions. William Clunie photo

fish stocks are in need of some “fine-tuning.” In recent years, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and

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Wildlife (DIFW) fisheries biologists, as well as many anglers, have voiced concerns over the overabundance of undersized landlocked salmon in Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Past attempts at increasing the bag limit to take more small fish out of the system seemed like they might help, but now the effort will be given a boost by new regulations. Starting January 1, 2021, the DIFW implemented new regulations for the taking of landlocked salmon

on Mooselookmeguntic Lake – no size or bag limit on salmon under 16 inches in length, and a one-fish bag-limit on salmon greater than 16 inches. DIFW biologists are hoping that the new, liberal regulations will promote salmon growth by allowing the remaining fish an increased food resource without the competition of so many smaller fish. Increased Opportunity History will be made this year, when

the Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association (RRGSA) holds the first “Mooselookmeguntic Landlocked Salmon Derby” June 19 and 20 at Mooselookmeguntic Lake. The RRGSA, partnering with the DIFW, will hold the derby in an effort to improve the health of the landlocked salmon fishery on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Hight Chevrolet/ Buick/GMC of Farmington and many other local businesses are supporting the derby, with prizes of $1,000 to the boat that catches the most fish on Saturday; another $1,000 to the boat that catches the most fish on Sunday; and an additional $1,500 to the boat that catches the most fish over the two days. There also will be additional gifts and hundreds of dollars in prizes offered throughout the derby. Funds raised from the derby will go to RRGSA youth programs, including a six-week Summer Junior Guides Program, college, conservation camp scholarships, kids’ fishing pond, nature trail, and story book trail. Due to the popularity of this first-ever derby on Maine’s fourth largest lake, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 73 (Continued from page 72)

entry forms and fees should be sent in early by going to their website at: rangeleyoutdoors.org/salmonderby. The Derby fee is $40 per boat, with no limit on the number of anglers in a boat. Information can also be obtained at the “Mooselookmeguntic Lake Salmon Derby – 2021” Facebook page. It’s the People Whatever the Rangeley Region is doing to make it such a great place, I would like to say, “Please, keep doing what you are doing.” The people of this region maintain the greatness in this awesome place, through a strong commitment to their community and by tak-

ing swift action when needed. The fine folks from this region’s DIFW office also do their part in maintaining a wealth of hunting and fishing opportunities. An extensive fish stocking program keeps anglers hopping, as well as efforts to keep a tight rein on those waters that shouldn’t be stocked. Hiking trails, ATV and snowmobiling trails, and both alpine and Nordic ski trails lace this wild, mountainous land. If someone wonders what to do around this region, all they need to do is step outside and start walking ... in no time at all, they will encounter an exciting and memorable adventure.

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One of the best things going for this region is the fact that an angler can bring their non-fishing family members up here, hit the water for a day of fishing, and come home to hear the non-fisher’s stories of a wonderful time spent “in town,” visiting the region’s extensive businesses, as well as swimming holes, hiking trails, plane rides, boat tours, museums, and water sports activities. Visit the Rangeley Chamber of Commerce website (rangeleymaine.com) to get the full grasp of all this area offers. Anglers and their families enjoy it all in the Rangeley Region. Landowner Respect The Rangeley

Region is surrounded by miles of forest management activity. While private individuals also own a mix of seasonal camps, lodges, and year-round homes, much of the land is owned by companies in the pulpwood and lumber business. The extensive lacework of logging roads, made possible by these logging companies, requires extra care when folks are traveling the gravel and dirt routes. The use of ATVs or snowmobiles is prohibited on most of these roads, while regular vehicle traffic is allowed on most of them. Check with local ATV and snowmobiling clubs for trails that are open for off-road travel. When riding on

these logging roads, always remember that just over that hill or around the next curve there could be a fully-loaded logging truck headed in your direction. These trucks are heavy and hard to stop, so please give them full berth – pull right over as far to the right as possible, and stop while they pass. Also, remember to never park a vehicle directly on these privately-owned roads. Find a turn-out or side trail that gives others enough room to pass from all directions. These logging roads are owned by the various companies, and the big trucks have the right-of-way.

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74 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Anglers Connect with Smallmouth Bass on the Androscoggin River I am blessed to be living right on the Androscoggin River – it certainly has its advantages. I really enjoy that fact that I can simply walk outside, put on my wading boots, throw on my fishing vest, grab my fly rod, walk across the back yard, and step right into some awesome smallmouth bass fishing. From the riverbank in the back yard, I can look out at the river and see a large rock that indicates proper water depth for wading. If the water is over the top of the boulder, the river is still too high to wade effectively – so I get the kayak or drift boat out and have at it. By the time June rolls around, the river usually runs at a

The author has had great success with big, gaudy flies thrown directly at the bank and stripped perpendicular to the shoreline. He twitches the bait fish imitation around in a crazy fashion while retrieving it ... the fast, wild action seems to put the big fish in a feeding frenzy.

Here, columnist William Clunie prepares to float down the big Androscoggin River in search of fat smallmouth bass. William Clunie photo

manageable level for good smallmouth fishing. This month also brings warm weather

that increases water temperatures to a level (somewhere above the mid-fifties) that

gets the bronzebacks feeding. Most smallmouth bass spawning activity finishes up this month, and the warmer it gets, the more the hungry smallies can be found feeding in shallow water. At the same time, the hungry, post-spawn fish begin hitting topwater offerings with reckless abandon. June Smallmouth Techniques For many years,

I put off fishing for smallmouth bass until they started hitting on the surface, just because I really prefer a topwater strike above all other hits. Over the course of the past few years, I’ve had great luck with using bait fish imitations early in June, when the fish don’t seem to be interested in surface offerings. I’ve had great success with big, gaudy flies thrown directly at the bank and stripped perpendicular to the shoreline – and in a crazy fashion. These same flies can be swung down into deeper holes in the river with good results, also. I have tied up some great flies of my own that really get the smallies in the attack mode. I use enough floating material on the fly to keep it from sinking, and then tie it onto a sinking-head line. This allows the sinking head to follow the course of the bottom of the river, while the bait fish imitation follows at a level just above the surface to avoid snagging the bottom.

(Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 75 (Continued from page 74)

There are many companies out there that make a sinking head line...I use RIO PRODUCTS (rioproducts.com) “Big and Nasty” sinking-head line, and find that I get almost as much excitement out of watching the huge fish attack my subsurface presentation. The large, flashy flies really do stand out enough for me to view the whole attack and hook up. Just make sure to really twitch that bait fish imitation around while stripping it in ... the crazy action seems to put the big fish in some kind of feeding frenzy. Dual Purpose Fly Another fly that I’ve been tying is a spin-off of a simple diver. I wrap a number two or four hook (kinked shaft) with thread, and then glue on a foam diver head. I then attach two matched feathers to the tail and wrap some hackle or a rabbit strip forward to the back of the foam head. Pretty

simple, but it works on both smallmouth bass and salmonids. I use floating line (WFF) and cast this fly as close to the bank as possible, letting it set for around five to ten seconds. On the retrieve, the fly dives below the surface and then floats back up to the top if the stripping action stops. I work the fly to make it dart under the surface quickly several times before it gets completely retrieved. Don’t limit casting to the bank exclusively – this same technique works when casting in and around structure at the surface or underwater. Gentle Release These huge smallmouth bass appear to be such a hardy fish that many anglers fail to take proper catchand-release (C&R) measures. Nobody I know keeps these fish for eating, so please don’t grab the bottom lip and lift it up for a photograph. I’m not trying to be “holier than thou” here ... I used to do the same thing until

When taken on a fly, huge smallmouth bass provide an exciting fight. William Clunie photo

I found out how this lip-grip action can kill a bass by putting extreme pressure on their heart and other internal organs when the lower jaw is pivoted in this manner. Another factor to consider when hauling in these big fish on a fly rod is that it takes a little longer to retrieve them than when using spinning gear and heavy line. I use a minimum of six-pound-test tippet, and I attempt to get

the fish in the net as quickly as possible. After bringing in a big fish, if you must snap a quick photo, make sure to lift it up with the support of both hands. Great photos can also be taken by leaving the fish right in shallow water or in the net. To show perspective and relative size, I like to lay my fly rod next to the fish on the wet gravel at the shoreline when I take a photo. Take more time

reviving the tired fish than usual. A long battle really wears down bigger fish. I like to hold them facing upstream and let cool, oxygenated water flow through them until they kick their tail and forcefully leave my gentle grip. Trophy smallmouth bass are gorgeous fish, and I like to feel that I have just passed them on to another angler.

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76 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

“The Wilds”

(Not the Amazon Prime Series) America offers some of the world’s most beautiful wilderness. Some of these wild places are called “Wilderness” with a capital W. This is an important distinction – it’s an official designation by the federal government that comes with certain protections and regulations. Most of us are familiar with the names of the major national parks, including Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite and Grand Canyon. But few are familiar with some of the lesser-visited

New Hampshire’s White Mountains feature five areas with official “Wilderness” designations – Presidential Range/Dry River Wilderness, Great Gulf Wilderness, Sandwich Range Wilderness, Wild River Wilderness, and Pemigewasset Wilderness. Go there with good camping gear but without a carefully-planned agenda, says the author; instead, “make your own path, tread where others haven’t, and discover your own hidden gems.” and remote (hence the name) Wildernesses that may be within or adjacent to the parks. Some of the more recognizable names of these are the Boundary Waters, Bob Marshall, Zion, Death Valley, River of No Re-

turn, and Joshua Tree. You’ll notice that most of these are in the western part of the country. This is not without good reason. The vast expanse of almost-untouched meadows and mountains is breathtaking.

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And it beckons me personally, as well. Wilderness in New England But these days traveling to the Rocky Mountain west has become much more encumbering, perhaps to the point where many

Northern New Hampshire

of us feel it unworthy of the hassle of health screenings, vaccines, and masks. For us here in New England, we are in luck. New Hampshire has plenty of the desired wilderness—and even the desired Wilderness. There are five different designated Wilderness areas in the White Mountains of New Hampshire: Presidential Range/ Dry River Wilderness, Great Gulf Wilderness, Sandwich Range Wilderness, Wild River Wilderness, and Pemigewasset Wilder(Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 77

The evening sun lights up the writer’s tent and one of the stunning white birch glades in a designated Wilderness area of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest (WMNF). Emerson photos (Continued from page 76)

ness. There are general rules for all of the wilderness areas, such as no mechanized equipment, including chainsaws, snowmachines and even bicycles. Tent camping is allowed, but sites must be 200 feet or more from hiking trails, or a quarter-mile from designated huts and shelters. No camping is allowed in the alpine zone. There are many people who forego the tent and just run the trails from hut to hut—but I say, what is the fun in that? If you are in a “Wilderness” area, enjoy the wilderness! Forget about

the huts, shelters, and trails. As long as you are competent and capable, see and enjoy what others don’t have the guts to: the actual wilderness. The Actual Wilderness There are numerous opportunities to engage nature in the Wilderness areas. Camping is an obvious one, but I tend to camp out of necessity while pursuing my other objectives. There are countless clear-running streams, many of which have glorious swimming holes, wild trout pools, or cascading waterfalls. There are some trail-less open-topped summits with awesome views.

The Presidential/Dry River Wilderness Area of the WMNF boasts some of the most breathtaking alpine views east of the Mississippi.

There are hidden ledges and outcroppings for you to dangle your sweaty feet into the cool mountain breezes. There are enormous trees, glacial erratic boulders, wild berries, funky-colored mushrooms, autumn aromas, and much, more to admire. Take out your map of choice; find the White Mountains in the north-central part of New Hampshire; and home in one of the aforementioned wilderness areas within it. Close your eyes; slide your finger or mouse around; wherever it stops, mark an X; gas up your car; lace up your boots, and go. Let your feet and gut instinct lead the way.

(But bring a compass and/or GPS in case you have bad luck with gut instincts.) Make Your Own Path I could refer to my Google Earth or OnX Maps and start listing for you coordinates to beautiful birch glades, glistening waterfalls, ferocious ledges, and stunning summits that I’ve found—but coordinate-chasing someone else’s spots defeats the purpose of wandering into the wilderness in the first place. The whole point is to make your own path, tread where others haven’t, and discover your own hidden gems. And find your own soul-cleansing fulfillment.

Why do we take to the wilds? In this superficial age, there are many who do it just for the Instagram photos, Apple Watch workout stats, Facebook likes, and whatever people who have Twitter do. Sure, you can be happy you filled your exercise ring, and you can take some selfies, too. But don’t make that your reason for venturing. The ends shouldn’t justify the means. You may end up finding that the means are actually more desirable than your planned ends. The journey can occur—and be gratifying—without a defined destination.

— Trophy Gallery —

Cory Pomeroy of Winslow caught this 6-lb., 2-oz. brown trout on May 1, 2021 trolling with a smelt on Great Pond in Belgrade.

Will Jellison of Bath bagged this jake on Spring Youth Day 2021, on his first spring turkey hunt. He harvested the bird in Woolwich, thanks to the generosity of the landowner. Kyle Jellison photo

Dale Carpenter of Oakland holds a lunker 6.8-lb., 29-inch brown trout, he caught March 27, 2021 in Mesalonskee Stream. www.MaineSportsman.com

78 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Sunday, Bloodless Sunday A creative solution to the Sunday hunting controversy from a group of overlooked stakeholders

There is no more divisive issue among Maine sportsmen than Sunday hunting. Actually, I have no idea if that’s true, but it certainly makes for a snappy first sentence. My first-hand knowledge of the subject is, to put it politely, somewhat limited. Until recently, I was under the impression there was some sort of large animal called a Sunday (sort of a cross between a unicorn and an ice-cream dessert) that some folks wanted to shoot, while others preferred gelato. I now see where I made my mistake. Since I don’t hunt on Sunday (or any other day for that matter), I wouldn’t presume to tell those of you who engage in this activity whether Sunday hunting is a good idea. But I have noticed that you hunters haven’t been able to resolve this is-

sue to anyone’s satisfaction for roughly the past millennium. Fresh Perspective Needed A fresh perspective might be required, by which I mean one with a best-used-by date that hadn’t expired about the time motion pictures added sound. We’ve heard from those in favor, those opposed, landowners, poachers, legislators, columnists, communists, animal-rights activists and space aliens, all without coming within rifle range of consensus. Perhaps that’s because what’s being overlooked is the opinion of those most affected by an extra day of hunting each week: The animals that get hunted. Talk with the Animals To correct this

omission, I asked several creatures that constitute legal game in Maine for their views. The information I gathered was incisive, instructive and, possibly, imaginary. “I absolutely appreciate that there should be a day each week when hunting isn’t legal,” said a bull moose of my acquaintance. “But it shouldn’t be Sunday. That’s the only day we have to run errands, and lots of places aren’t open on Sunday.” “Just try to get something dry-cleaned on a Sunday,” a doe

told me. “There’s no place available. If you need a plumber, you’re going to pay extra because plumbers don’t usually work then. And if something goes wrong with the car, forget about getting it fixed. The big box stores are open, but a lot of the smaller places and service providers aren’t.” How About No-Hunt Wednesdays? A black bear offered a possible solution: “Instead of banning hunting on Sunday, they should ban it on Wednesdays. That way, we could get to the fabric store, the hardware store and the pot shop without any hassles. And all those hunters would have a mid-week day to run errands without having to miss out on time in the woods on weekends.”

“Lots of gun shops aren’t even open on Sunday,” a tom turkey pointed out. “If we wanted to shoot back, we couldn’t buy a firearm. That’s just not fair.” The vast majority of the woodland creatures I surveyed favored changing the Sunday ban to a midweek day. “I don’t care if it’s Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday,” said a ruffled grouse. “I can make an appointment at the hairdresser, schedule a doctor’s appointment or get to the liquor store without ruffling my feathers any more than they already are.” Blue Law Remnant The Sunday hunting ban is a remnant of the old blue laws meant to keep the Christian Sabbath holy. But not only do lots of non-Christians not celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday, neither do most animals. “No matter what Walt Disney told you, a lot of us are atheists,” a duck admitted. “That’s why you never see us in church.” While our furred and feathered friends make some solid arguments in favor of shifting the off day for hunting, their voices aren’t being heard where it counts: in the Legislature and the offices of powerful fish-and-game bu(Outdoors & Other Mistakes continued on page 81)

www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 79

Smilin’ Sportsman The Bagpiper A bagpiper had been hired to pay at a graveside service for a homeless person, but he got lost on the way to the cemetery. He arrived an hour late. He saw that the hearse and the clergyman had already left. Only the diggers and crew remained, and they were eating lunch. “I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late,” the bagpiper explained later. “I went to the side of the grave and looked down. The vault lid was already in place. “I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before, for this homeless man. “And as I played ‘Amazing Grace,’ the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. “When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Although my head was hung low, my heart was full. “As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, ‘I have never seen anything like that before, and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.’”

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80 • June 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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�� The Maine Sportsman • June 2021 • 81 (Continued from page 80)

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Outdoors & Other Mistakes (Continued from page 78)

reaucrats. The reason for this is obvious. Animals are banned from the buildings where all the important decisions are being made. The only exception is for seeing-eye dogs, and seeing-eye dogs don’t seem to have any strong opinions on the question of Sunday hunting. “We’d hire a lobbyist to get our message to those in charge,” said a pheasant, “but what are we going to use for payment? Venison steaks? Beaver pelts? A nice, mounted moose head? You can see why most of us aren’t willing to make that kind of a deal.” If, as seems likely, the Sunday ban remains in place, some woodland creatures would like to see it cover a broader range of activities than merely hunting. “Clearly, we need one day a week when it’s not legal to play the bagpipes,” said a rabbit. “And it wouldn’t hurt if they shut down the accordion, as well.” 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. Even on Sunday.

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(207) 943-5225 www.dewittjonesrealty.com BROWNVILLE – 120+/-ACRES with small unnamed pond and Alder Stream going through the back corner. Great location with lots of privacy and possible distance views. Located on seasonal road with easy access to the recreational trails right from the property. Schoodic Lake just a short distance. MLS #1485874 – $199,000 BROWNVILLE – .87+/- ACRE LOT with public water and septic on location. Power is at roadside. Access the recreational trails right from the property. Located in the heart of 4 seasons recreation. Circular gravel driveway in place. Great location to build a home, park a camper, storage building, the uses are numerous for this lot. MLS #1484636 – $15,000

MILO – 80 +/- ACRES on a very nice piece of property. Quiet location for your getaway cabin in the woods. Plenty of wildlife on the property from deer, moose, bear, etc. Land has ATV and ITS snowmobile trails near the property. Don’t miss out on this great piece of land. MLS #1458326 – $77,900 DOVER-FOXCOFT – Two vacant lot being sold as one giving 5.1 ACRES, great visibility for your business with all the traffic headed north to Guilford in Greenville, There is a driveway giving access to the lot. MLS #1462418 – $69,900 MEDFORD – 51+/- ACRES with ROW to the Piscataquis River. Plenty of privacy off the grid and a great hunting area. Build a camp or bring a camper and enjoy the great outdoors! ATV trails nearby. Located on a seasonal road. MLS #1431003 – $49,900 BROWNVILLE – House or camp lot on 61.5 ACRES. Non-maintained seasonal road just minutes from Schoodic Lake. MLS #1465897 – $55,000

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EAST MOXIE TWP – Remarkable opportunity to own your very own 2 acre island on Moxie Pond. Enjoy the views and the solitude amongst the towering pines. Only a short boat ride from the boat launch in Moxie, this property is extremely unique and in need of a little TLC. Call today for your private showing. MLS #1474905 – $139,000 WELLINGTON – Well-wooded 42 acre lot on an old county road in Wellington. Enjoy plenty of peace and quiet. Great place to hunt or build your secluded cabin in the woods on a nice southeast facing slope. ATV and snowmobile access nearby. Possible timber investment. Come have a look. MLS #1348521 – $50,000 MADISON – 147 acres of mostly wooded land just outside of the town of Madison. Good amount of road frontage on the Shusta Road. Jones Brook runs through the property. MLS #1369798 – $147,000 WELLINGTON – Hunter’s paradise! A whopping 580 acres of land - a rare find. There is a gravel pit within the property and frontage on both Higgins Stream and Buzzell Brook. Property offers 3 miles of interior roads. This is truly a piece of Maine’s beautiful outdoors and waiting for you to come and explore. MLS #1369861 – $580,000 PITTSFIELD – Nicely wooded 1.30 acre house lot in beautiful country setting on major road with power at the street. No mobile homes permitted. Close to town and the Interstate. MLS #1373013 – $12,500 CORNVILLE – Nicely wooded 2.84 acres of land with Fir, Cedar, Pine and White Birch. Property is located on the outskirts of town yet close to town. Power available at the road. Mobile homes permitted. MLS #1401926 – $15,000 CORNVILLE – 101.25 surveyed acres of Maine wilderness in the heart of sportsman’s country. Privacy, plentiful hunting, and trails throughout the property. Long road frontage along Munn Flat Rd. Back line of property is over 2,600’ of frontage along Black Stream. MLS #1468946 – $81,900 MOSCOW – Approximately 19 acres being offered on the Deadwater Road in Moscow in the heart of recreational country. Moscow is along the Route 201 corridor, a short drive to White Water Rafting or ATV trails, several fishing and hunting opportunities in the area. Possibility for mountain views with some clearing and lots of potential. MLS #1474828 – $34,400 6/21

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

T5R7 WELS – Views of Mt. Katahdin from the shore, this new and beautiful cabin has 247 feet of waterfront on Lower Shin Pond. Access to Katahdin National Monument and Baxter State Park. Amenities of home in the deep Maine woods. $279,000

Mattawamkeag – On the river’s edge, Mattawamkeag River, view across is something to see. Charming qualities but does need a bit of TLC. Attractive old wood trim, dry cellar and lawn upkeep is minimal. Possible 2 unit house. $59,000

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

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

Lee – A cute little hunting camp tucked nicely in the woods of Northern Maine on Hale Farm Road. Easy access to recreational trails and good Maine hunting. $22,900

Lincoln – Inexpensive lot on Stump Pond. The lot has a driveway started and is very private. Great Bass Fishing. More Land available at added cost. $29,900 Lincoln – Larger private lot with lots of shore front. The lot has a road built with three access driveways. This 59 acre lot with over 3000 feet of water front on Stump Pond is a must see. $99,000 Cooper – This lot has electricity available at the road and great access. Wonderful frontage. New driveway in. Forest on Cathance Lake is Deep Cove Forest and will be maintained as forever wild. A must see lot! $79,000 Molunkus TWP – Lot located 22 miles from Lincoln is a must see. 320 feet of water frontage and 1.6 acres this lot offers lots of opportunities. Mattaseunk Lake is 576+/- acres. Enjoy all this lot has to offer. $49,000

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

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

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

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