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2 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
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4 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
Editorial
Of Waiting Periods, Aquaculture, and the Outdoor Season That’s Upon Us Unintended Consequences of the 3-Day Waiting Period As this issue of The Sportsman headed to press, news came that Kittery Trading Post will likely move its firearms sales operations just across the border to New Hampshire if Maine’s new 3-day waiting period for firearms purchases takes effect as scheduled in August. Meanwhile, our friends at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) are raising money to fund a challenge to the law. We believe the challenge will be successful, since if Maine residents have a constitutional right to purchase and possess firearms, a delay in that right is akin to a denial – in the same way that justice delayed is justice denied. We believe the courts will determine that a constitutional right delayed is a constitutional right denied. Would we allow the First Amendment to be conditioned such that it granted us the right of free speech, but not until three days from now? We Were Wrong about the Aquaculture Lease Process We are on the distribution lists for the many lease applications for saltwater “farming” of kelp, fish, and shellfish, and we noticed that the vast majority of the applications are granted. At the same time, as recreational boaters and anglers, we’ve found ourselves excluded from more and more areas because of aquaculture sites, especially around the islands of Casco Bay. Our assumption, therefore, was that the process was easy and that it was tipped in favor of the applicant aquaculturists. Two factors changed our minds, at least partially. The first was a conversation with Sebastian Belle, of the state’s Aquaculture Association. Sebastian detailed the time, studies and expense that go into each application. The second was reading a recent application denial – all 17 pages of it. The hearing officer evaluated the possible negative impacts of a proposed site off a point in Freeport, and found that commercial fishing (lobstering and charter fishing), recreational uses (fishing and kayaking) and navigation, would all be jeopardized by allowing the installation of a facility in a narrow stretch of water between the mainland and an island. The analysis was detailed and sound, and left us feeling much better about the standards that must be met to site aquaculture facilities. Season Off to a Good Start Thousands of folks attended the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show in Augusta over the April 19 weekend. Participation in this year’s spring turkey season was strong, including young supervised hunters who got out on Youth Turkey Day. And Fort Kent is gearing up for a fun moose lottery festival (see details on pages 30–31). So far, the first exciting weeks of the summer of 2024 have nearly made up for the uncertain winter and stormy early spring just past. We hope everyone is getting outside now and enjoying everything our state has to offer.
¶
On the Cover: Anthony Jolicoeur caught and released this salmon last fall at the dam pool along Grand Lake Stream. He was using a Golden Retriever fly and a green Copper John dropper. A Maine Sportsman subscriber and registered Maine Guide, Anthony lives in Minot, Maine with his wife and son. “I travel the state fishing and hunting,” he reports, “and I bring as many people as I can along with me.” The photo was taken by fellow angler Jim Lowell. www.MaineSportsman.com
New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication
Sportsman The Maine
ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 619 • 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: Jon Mulherin distribution@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: $33 • 24-Month Subscription: $54
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 13 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 32 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 38 Big Woods World by Logan Rackliff............................. 36 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie...................... 54 Get Out There by Staci Warren.................................... 56 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 48 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 45 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Elliott........................... 42 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 18 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 62 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 50 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 74 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 52 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 67 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 77 Petzal Logic by David E. Petzal.................................... 53 Quotable Sportsman by Will Lund.................................. 9 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 69 Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly...................... 40 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 76 Saltwater Fishing by Bob Humphrey............................ 27 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 64 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 43 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 35 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund...................................... 76 Snapshots in Time by Bill Pierce.................................... 12 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 66 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 10 Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.63 Tidewater Tales by Randy Randall............................... 61 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 41 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 78 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 57 Vermont by Matt Breton............................................... 73 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 71
GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 19 Bear Hunting in Maine by Staci Warren...................... 22 Boating by Bob Humphrey............................................ 24 Maine Moose Lottery by Bill Graves............................. 30 GUEST: Hendrickson Hatch by Angelo Conti.............. 59 GUEST: Arctic Charr by Wyatt Ford.............................. 60
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6 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
Letters
and I can’t wait to take out that dang device again this year. Thanks for allowing Joe (and me) to share our stories. Ben Brown, Freedom, NH
To The Editor
Crossbow is a “Dang Device”
To the Editor: I was just re-reading Joe Saltamamachia’s January article in The Maine Sportsman about “the other device” ... a crossbow. First, let me say this – I dislike crossbows. They are heavy and cumbersome, especially up in a tree stand. Second, while I dislike these rifle-like arrow devices, I also love the dang things! Here’s the deal – in the last five years, I’ve injured both shoulders. First the right rotator … so, like Joe, I couldn’t draw my bow. I started bow hunting in 1980, so it was hard to hang it up. On a visit to Kittery Trading Post, I, too, purchased a crossbow. It wasn’t cheap, and it wasn’t expensive, but my experience was just like Joe’s – I found hitting the bull’s eye almost every shot made me think I might be onto something. A nice 6-pointer that fall was ic-
In the letter-writer’s opinion, crossbows are “heavy and cumbersome.” Source: Deposit photos
ing on the cake. By 2022, I was back with the compound bow, ready for the moose hunt that October, and looking forward to deer season with my trusty Hoyt. I had no success with the bow, but taking a bull moose with the rifle helped me to anticipate bow season on whitetail even more. But life changes quickly. Now the left shoulder decided to match the right injury of three years before, and once again I was forced to hang up the compound. So I decided on an upgrade of the older crossbow, and the 2023 deer season was a huge success with “That New Other Device.” I’m 76, so I suspect the Hoyt will remain on the bow hook this fall, since my shoulder requires more rehab. On the bright side, like Joe, I got my time in the woods, I’m eating venison,
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To the Editor: I am writing to thank you for the coverage in your May issue of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) grant program. The project you cited, our Connector Trail Improvement Project, is only the latest in a series of projects we have worked on with Yamaha’s support. Previously, a key bridge on the Moose Loop trail was replaced, and a great deal of erosion from trail wear-and-tear has been repaired, both of which were OAI grant projects. OAI grants have a straightforward application process, and Yamaha also provides assistance in promoting the grant to help get more folks out on the trail and aware of these programs.
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The writer responds: Ben – I love that you call it “that dang device!” For those of us who love bowhunting, and bows, “a device” is all a crossbow will ever be. However, there’s no doubt, they do serve a purpose. They’re nowhere near as lethal on game as a firearm. Yet they’re somewhere in between a gun and bow. I’m finding it difficult to love this new toy. However, my shoulder has not repaired itself, and drawing my bow without experiencing severe pain, is still impossible. In fact, I’ll be carrying that dang device in May in search of my turkey. If all goes well, you’ll see a photo and a story about the hunt in an issue of The Sportsman next spring. Best, Joe Salty —
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Grant programs like the Yamaha OAI illustrate how a rider’s choice of ATV brand can make a difference on their local trails. Purchasers of (for example) Yamaha ATV/UTVs can know that, nearly every year, a portion of their vehicle’s purchase proceeds come back to Maine. These grant funds are used to employ local businesses to maintain and improve the trails, enhancing and (Continued on next page)
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protecting them for all recreational uses. Alex Meijer, Board Member Day Mountain Road Association, Avon, ME —
Follow-Up from the Show of Shows To the Editor: Thanks for another great State of Maine Sportsman Show in Augusta in April. It was outstanding. In particular, I enjoyed the seminars put on by various of the Maine Sportsman writers, including Joe Saltalamachia. I had a follow-up question for Joe. I attended one of his deer hunting seminars. First off, I’d like to thank Joe for publicly telling my buddy to stop scouting every single day, since he’s jumping all the deer. Ha! That advice alone made the time spent worthwhile. At one point, Salty made a thought-provoking statement about scouting before one of his successful hunts, solely by examining the area by reviewing paper maps or online topographical illustrations.
That impressed me greatly. I would like to better understand how to interpret a hunting area’s geographic features. Can you check with Joe and get some additional insight? Tom Audet, Leeds ME The writer responds: Tom – Thank you for attending my seminar. In regards to your friend, you are welcome. Sometimes people need to hear it from other sources, before they make a change. I hope it works out for him. As far as learning how to scout from aerial photos and topographical maps, the smartphone and computer application “onX Hunt” offers some very helpful webinars, which are available on YouTube. I suggest accessing YouTube, Credit: onX Hunt (Letters continued on page 9)
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8 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
A Late-Season Spring Turkey Hunt As the old-time auctioneers used to call out: “Going once … going twice … are you all done at twenty-five dollars??? SOLD at twenty-five dollars!” With Maine’s 2024 spring turkey hunt, all turkey hunting ends one-half hour after sunset on June 1st. Going once ... going twice ... are you all done with turkeys until the fall season?? ***** It was late in the spring season a while back, but this hunter was having a last fling, and set up a couple of decoys in a lightly wooded area near Augusta where we had seen turkey scratching signs. The question was,
Yes, Virginia – politicians are good for something. For example, sometimes they leave campaign signs out by the road long after the election is over, and savvy hunters can use the signs’ frames to support swinging turkey decoys! “Have all the toms hung up their spurs for the year?” We were trying out a do-it-yourself decoy rig. It consisted of a turkey decoy that moved moderately in a breeze. The core of the rig was a wire frame of the type used to support a political “Vote for John Doe” sign. In the past, a number of these signs used to be left standing on the roadside long after Election Day, but there are fewer now, thanks to new state
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laws and local ordinances regarding how long political and other non-commercial signs can remain in public view. If you can find one of those old signs, just slide out the wire frame, and suspend the decoy under the frame using a short piece of monofilament line. Hanging freely below the frame, the decoy will move in the breeze. If the wind kicks up and you see that the decoy is moving too much, then adjust the wire so the decoy’s tail drags more on the grass, reducing its movement. Sounds primitive,
because it is primitive. Decoys In Action Along the field in the rural part of Augusta, we hung two lightweight decoys on campaign sign wires. They moved slowly, in response to occasional puffs of breeze. After spraying myself with tick repellent, I stretched out in the grass a short distance away. Silence reigned for a time. Then, somewhere in the distance sounded the faint gobble of a lonesome turkey. Then, silence. We sounded a couple of soft yelps on the box call. All was quiet. Another gobble in the distance, but maybe
closer. Another stroke on the box. I shifted my position, orienting my body and shotgun toward the direction where I expected to see the bird. The tom was closing in, likely following the sound of my call. Another call from the tom. Now the bird was in sight, dodging around some juniper bushes and heading toward me and the decoys. Up came the Fox double and bang! – the turkey tipped over, dead. Debrief In hindsight, I’ve asked myself: What was it that made the hunt a success? I’m not sure. The box call was one I had picked up at the L.L.Bean store in the 1960s, before Maine even had a turkey season. The hunt (Continued on next page)
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was not first thing in the morning. It wasn’t an elaborate setup, except possibly the moving decoys. It was a laid-back
invitation. I didn’t push the tom or try to rush the hunt. It was as if I’d invited the bird to join me, and the tom said, “OK, I’m coming.”
¶
Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 7)
and looking them up. They have been excellent in adding to my knowledge base. I could definitely teach some of their classes, but I choose to keep to myself. A few quick tips to look for on a hybrid satellite map that also has topographical contours: Look for pinch points, changes in cover type, benches on steep hill sides, and pinches between large, deep bodies of water like rivers, lakes or swamps, and forested land. Pinch points between fields are also excellent. These are also known as bottlenecks, since deer are funneled into a narrow area because they do not want to expose themselves in the open. I can spend hours dissecting and analyzing properties with people. Once you learn what to look for, great ambush or stand sites will pop off the maps at you. Hope this helps! Best, Joe Salty
¶
Quotable
Sportsman
by Will Lund
“Five People from Maine Arrested in Nova Scotia for Unauthorized Elver Fishing” Headline in an April 25, 2024 article by Edward Tomic, reporting for The Maine Wire. Canadian officials recovered more than 7-1/2 pounds of elvers, one vehicle, three dip nets, and one funnelshaped net used to catch the tiny eels. Those individuals detained were not identified by name in the initial news story.
Baby elvers: “Glass eels”
— “Question 22: Would you support banning the use of live scopes, and similar 360° imaging electronics in all Wisconsin waters?” Part of a survey of anglers being
When turkey hunting, even late in the season and in the middle of the day, sometimes a plan comes together. John LaMarca photo
conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Marine Resources. State regulators explained the subject this way: “With the ability of these types of units to detect fish, as far as 180 feet away from the user, anglers have become more efficient at locating and catching fish. This type of pressure could reduce fish populations, which may lead to reduced bag limits for anglers.” In an April 11, 2024 press release, the National Professional Anglers Association (NAPA) strongly opposed the possible policy shift, calling such a proposal “a canary in a coal mine.” “Whether you employ the technology or not,” argued NAPA, “we need to understand that a regulation to make a certain technology illegal will be detrimental to the sport. Forward-facing sonar (FFS) is used by guides, captains, tournament anglers and the general angling public to increase success on the water.” If a ban on FFS becomes law in Wisconsin, warned the association, “it could be a spark that starts an unmanageable wildfire from coast to coast.” — “The bill would prohibit the sale or possession of any semi-automatic weapon that has been ‘modified in any way that materially increases the rate of fire’ [which would include adjusting trigger weight or
changing the buffer spring]. These kinds of alterations are common among those using firearms for sporting purposes [and as a result] the bill may unintentionally ban a significant number of weapons used for hunting or target shooting by responsible gun owners in Maine.” A portion of the April 29, 2024 letter from Governor Janet Mills in which she vetoed L.D. 2086, “An Act to Amend the Law Governing Disposition of Forfeited Firearms.” The Governor correctly pointed out that the original bill had been amended to address the “very different, and very complex” issue of conversion devices, which are already regulated by the Federal ATF. — “The town [of Bar Harbor] reported that more than 270,000 cruise passengers visited the port in 2019.” Katie Shaw, in her article “Anchoring Change: Bar Harbor Restricts Cruise Ship Visitors to 1,000 Per Day,” in The Sand Bar, April 2024, published by Sea Grant Law Center, in Mississippi. Two years ago, Bar Harbor voters approved an ordinance that limits the number of cruise ship passengers who can disembark to 1,000 per day. That restriction recently survived a court challenge, with a federal judge determining that the ordinance was a proper exercise of local control. www.MaineSportsman.com
10 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Barrett’s Rangeley Boats & Beyond As much as I like Rangeley Boats, I thought I was done writing about them, at least for a while, after my last two columns of Sportsman’s Journal, but fortunately I was wrong. It all began with a wonderful letter from a reader of my column “The Wizard of Kennebago.” Phil Hopkins, an outdoorsman in Ellsworth who regularly reads The Maine Sportsman, along with his wife Brenda, have a unique connection to the Rangeley Boat through the Barrett family, arguably the best historic builders of this iconic boat. In his message, Phil wrote that he “has some very interesting information on The Barrett Rangeley Boats, written by Edwin C. Barrett, son of Thomas Barrett.” And, boom, my curiosity hit a new peak and I knew another article on this engaging boat and, probably more importantly, on some of the
Making Rangeley boats, it seems, was very much a family business. Mainers involved in building them, was on the drawing board. Mr. Hopkins kindly thought the information he possessed would be of use to me in writing my next column on a short history of the Rangeley Boat, but I’d already finished and submitted that piece before his letter arrived. So, voila, a new and different article that appears below. First, a short primer on the Barretts, and then their connection with Phil and Brenda Hopkins. The Boat-Building Barretts Around 1880, brothers Charles and Thomas arrived in Rangeley from nearby Weld, and opened their boat shop on the lakefront in the town of Rangeley. According to an old ad in a local paper, in addition to the Rangeley
Thomas Hale Barrett (1859-1929), father of Edwin Barrett and brother of Charles Barrett, was a woodworker and boat-builder of the highest repute. Despite severe physical limitations, he persevered and had a very successful life. Phil & Brenda Hopkins Collection
craft, the Barretts also offered Light Cedar Row Boats and Canoes of any size or style built to order. Also
An ad for Barrett boats in a local paper from around 1900. Rangeley Historical Society www.MaineSportsman.com
small Steam or Naphtha Launches built on short notice. They also would do custom orders. (“Naphtha” is an old term for a flammable oil made by dry-distilling organic matter such as coal, shale, or petroleum.) Thomas had meningitis as a teen and became blind in one eye, deaf, and had limited use of one hand. Despite these challenges, he was an excellent and meticulous woodworker who was a solid partner with his brother. During slow times in the shop, he would mend furniture for local residents and snowbirds from away. Charles, an excellent woodworker and allaround handyman in his own right, was more the face of the company, while Thomas mostly stayed away from the front end of the shop. Barrett Range-
leys were beautifully made and, if properly maintained, would last for many decades. In fact, several Barrett-built Rangeleys probably are in service at Grant’s Kennebago Camps, but recently are being replaced with fiberglass-hulled designs designed and made by John Blunt, owner of Grant’s Camps. (See my previous two columns on Rangeley Boats.) Thomas Barrett had five children, and the oldest and the youngest continued to play a role in the Barrett boat business. Frank, the elder, took over the company around 1930 and continued to make boats; and the youngest child, Edwin, worked in the shop for his brother for about five years. Both had worked in the business since childhood, and had solid apprenticeships under the tutelage of Uncle Charles and their father Thomas. (Continued on next page)
This Maine Folklife Survey photo of a Rangeley Boat shows the round seats, the thwarts built for storing stuff (where are my worms?), and the seatings for the round oarlocks – all originated by the Barrett brothers.
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 11
A load of Barrett Rangeley Boats makes its way through streets of Rangeley around 1900. Phil & Brenda Hopkins Collection (Continued from page 10)
The Hopkins – Barrett Connection Phil and Brenda Hopkins sent me copies of Edwin’s hand-written threepage synopsis of his life, and a typed (yes, on a typewriter) twopage history of the Rangeley Boat. Both documents are signed by Eddie. And both are absolutely loaded with good information, and they give a feel for the person who wrote them. I could do a column on these documents alone. Edwin Charles “Eddie” Barrett was born in Rangeley in 1912 and died in 1999 in Orrington. As a child he hung out in the boat shop, probably bothering his father and uncle, but also learning about how to work in
Charles W. Barrett on a trial run with a steamboat built for Fred Dickson of Dickson’s Island about 1895. Phil & Brenda Hopkins Collection
wood and how to make a boat. When his uncle and father passed away, Eddie worked full-time in the shop for his older brother Frank until at least 1934. In the fall of 1934, Eddie moved to Orrington and made his home with Frank and Leone Hamilton. According to Phil Hopkins’ handwritten notes on Eddie Barrett, Brenda Hamilton was born in 1945 and raised by her parents and Eddie. The latter was like a second father to her, and apparently she had nothing but fond memories of her early life with a dear family friend. Phil Hopkins recounts how he entered the scene in 1961 when he began courting Brenda Hamilton, and Eddie and he be-
SSG Edwin C. Barrett (1912-1999) proudly served his country during World War 2. He lived much of his later life with Frank and Leone Hamilton of Orrington. Phil & Brenda Hopkins Collection
came hunting and fishing buddies for many years. Phil says Eddie “became a second father to me, and later our children, after my wife and I were married in 1964.” Phil writes further: “Edwin was a good welder, blacksmith and painter. Everyone loved to watch him paint inside rooms. He covered everything with drop cloths, put his left hand in his back pocket, and went to work. We never saw anything on the drop cloth! The job was always perfect.” I suspect that’s the way it was when he was making boats, too. Model Rangeley Boats Edwin Barrett also built several model Rangeley Boats, a skill he no doubt learned
Rangeley Lake House and Board Walk early 1900s. The Board Walk ended at Pickford Camps, which is not far from the current Loon Lodge.
from his father Thomas. Phil and Brenda Hopkins have such a model Rangeley Boat, a four-footer. Eddie apparently also made a smaller version of the model boat, and it is shown in a May 1-2, 1982 Bangor Daily News Mainly People feature. The caption says “a 4-foot model” but the one in the photo is not that large, and most likely is the 30-inch model he said he makes. The boats are made just like the full-size versions, including the rounded seats and the round oarlock that allowed the oars to rest in the water while the guide netted a sport’s fish. Phil also recounts that Eddie was a fine fisherman and also “tied flies for years, a good number of them tandem hooked
streamers; he sold many of them at a local convenience store.” ***** Eddie Barrett also served in the US Army as a medic, including during WWII, and all of his time was in the USA. He was proud of his military service and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant when he mustered out. From what I’ve learned about Eddie’s remarkable life, I bet he was a very fine soldier. I’m very thankful for Phil and Brenda’s initial letter and for the subsequent email correspondence. It feels like I’ve just met some new friends in Ellsworth, and I wish them well as we enter the next phases of our respective lives.
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Phil and Brenda Hopkins of Ellsworth proudly hold the four-foot long Rangeley Boat model crafted by Eddie Barrett. A scale-model of the original Barrett Rangeley Boat, it is a true work-of-art and one-of-a-kind. Phil & Brenda Hopkins Collection www.MaineSportsman.com
12 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
“Snapshots in Time”
Historical Glimpses from Maine’s Sporting Past Compiled by Bill Pierce, Former Executive Director, Outdoor Heritage Museum
Ed Grant Promotes Beaver Pond Camps, Circa 1902 Introduction by the author: By April 18th of 1902, when the following editorial/ advertisement appeared in the MAINE WOODS newspaper, the legendary Maine guide Ed Grant had been in business for more than 30 years. The piece was written by Frank Maule of Philadelphia, a wellheeled “sport” of Ed’s. Maule also wrote a book containing a collection of Grant’s elaborate tall tales with which he regularly entertained his guests at camp. One of the short stories from the book was about an immense talking beaver that Ed had named “Black Edward V.” According to Grant, who also claimed he had a pet talking brook trout, BE V had lorded over the region for years, and had regularly outsmarted each attempt to trap him, all the while offering sage advice to Ed. Was Ed Grant a practitioner of truth in advertising? Who cares, as I would have written Ed to make a reservation at the first opportunity, just to hear his yarns! So here’s the promotion:
A BEAVER TALE What of “Black Edward V? Just one word’s enough – his heart is as tender as his tales are tuff. You www.MaineSportsman.com
Advertisements for Beaver Pond Camps would often share humorous claims, such as: “The road to camp receives improvements annually, and last year there were no reported fatalities.”
see, it is this way. A visit to the Rangeley Lake region without a little run up to Beaver Pond is as rank a failure as half a pair of scissors, or the hole of a doughnut with the dough gone! Yes, “Going up to Ed’s” is like smoking opium, lying, or warts — it grows upon you. And the man who once sets his happy foot on the shores of “Old Beaver” is as certain to return as well as a punched quarter. What do you do when you get there? Most people fish, while others tramp those glorious old trails and just soak their hearts and minds in the delights of mountains, lake and forest. For at Ed’s you must remember – we’re in the sureenough backwoods. Now as to the fish-
ing, a word or two. Guide’s talk notwithstanding, I have never yet found 5- and 10-pound trout plenty enough to be monotonous. Just never have, but the reasonable man with a fair idea of the proper dissemination of feathered hook has the chance to be a true sportsman and could ask for nothing better. Within easy reach of Ed’s door lie (even nature “lies” up there—I wonder why?), 5 or 6 lakes in which the fly fishing is simply “great,” and I say this after having fished every damn spot in that region many times. Take Ell Pond, for instance, around the bend among the pads, or Little Island with a gentle ripple about sundown. Such incessant rises and such a run of fish marks that
charming little pond as the acme of fly-fishing possibilities. What is there for the “Man behind the gun” up there? Simply this. In the open season, he can easily get all the deer the law allows him, and will also find “Ruffed Grouse” (i.e., “Patridge”) in abundance. With moose, bear and caribou, the ease is that of those 5and 10-pound trout, they do not actually “hang around the door yards.” How do you get to Beaver Pond these days? The total of 27 miles from Rangeley Village is now covered by buckboard to Kennebago Lake, thence by steamer down that beautiful sheet of water, and such a very pleasant break in the journey. Thence by buckboard again, di-
rect to Ed’s Camps on Beaver Pond. The roads, already good, are constantly being bettered, and ladies and children can now with perfect comfort make a journey that once meant miles of rough and toilsome tramping. At the Camps, the accommodations leave nothing to be desired, at least by those who realize that this is the “Backwoods and not Broadway.” The cabins are clean, roomy, and thoroughly comfortable, beds and table excellent (and most of the food at least eatable), while the proprietor, i.e., “the Old Man,” is a happy combination of kindliness and pleasing fiction. The first step for those who would like to see for themselves how much actual truth there is in all of the above, is to address: Ed Grant & Son, Beaver Pond, Maine, and then “wait ’til somethin’ drops.” ***** Author’s note: Thanks for reading this edition of “Snapshots in Time,” and please, if you hear beaver or trout speaking to you, be sure to seek some professional help. In the meantime, head outside and make some great outdoor history of your own! See you on the trail.
Almanac
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— Compiled and Edited by Will Lund — The Importance of Maintaining a Journal
A journal is a wonderful thing. It’s a medium made to be seen by you and no other. It allows you to gather and process information unfiltered. You can be terrified, demolished, do a true debrief and really learn from it. My dad was a fighter pilot. They are famous for the honest debrief, because it keeps them alive. It’s also important to write all the good things that happen in life, or on a canoe trip.
Silver Blue “SBLU” DLY
MA IN
Ever since I was a baby canoeist, I have journaled. Millennials who have grown up broadcasting every little event for the world to see, are “discovering” the journal – a way to process life events, just for them. I’ve learned a lot from the old trappers journals I got at an auction in 1988 – proof they are timeless, as well. If you don’t journal but you’d like to start, here are some tips. At home, on the pristine, beautiful blank pages that hold a world of possibilities, write these categories:
LCWD 16 colours
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The author’s journal (foreground) in a waterproof map case, and her glasses. Lisa DeHart photo
Day and Date. Forecasted Weather and Wind Speed. Sunrise, Sunset, and Moon Phase. This information, done at home, comes in handy if you end up getting a little behind in the miles on a trip. Strategizing in the tent, knowing when sunrise and sunset are for the next paddle day without having to burn GPS batteries, is nice. The moon phase I usually draw in. This is good, especially if you get windbound and you have a group whose members you know can safely canoe under a moon you could read by, to make up lost distance. Other categories I always include are: Gratitude and Lessons Learned, Gear Notes and Repairs, Animal Counts, and Food. Food seams like a strange one to write when you’re sitting at home, but trust me, you become obsessed with it on a canoe trip. Recipes, portion amounts, what you wish you had, and what you’re glad you had. This easily goes for gear as well. The HP SPROCKET instant camera, modern version of a Polaroid, makes it so you can add your trip photos to the pages of your journal. I hope you fill your journal with romance and adventure! — Guide Talk by John LaMarca
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Three Minutes with a Maine Guide by Lisa DeHart
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3 PACK KITS
Top Water Striped Bass
Maine boasts so many wonderful opportunities, and the summer season does not disappoint. June marks the start of the striped bass migration really setting in here in Maine. Anglers all over the state come out to the coast and various rivers to wet a line and try their hand at catching these exciting and large fish. There are many ways to fish these bass, and many methods that are all valid. I, however, am going to describe my favorite method – top water action. (Continued on next page)
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14 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac
(Continued from page 13)
The author’s friend David Lynch with a striped bass caught on a surface lure. Photo: John LaMarca
As we make our way up one of the rivers in Maine, my good friend David and I head for a spot where the river is turbulent and the tides run hard. Something about this pinch-point draws in the bass migration, and they come in hot. We boat to the headwaters of the flow, drift with the current about 500 yards, and then loop up to the top to drift again, all the while repeatedly casting into the current as we drift. Our lure of choice is a blue popper-style top water rigs that, when jerked hard while reeling in, result in a loud “BLOOOP” sound as the water cascades around the mouth of the lures and then splashes back onto the water on the surface. This top water disturbance can cause the bass to hit the lure so hard from below that the fish fly completely out of the water as they hammer the lure! That is what makes it so wild and fun. We will be peacefully drifting down the river, warm breeze and a summer daze over us, sounds of birds calling and the rhythmic “Bloop...Bloop...Bloop” as we jerk the popper baits back towards the boat. Then, in an unseen fury, the surface erupts as a striper slams the
The author holds a nice striper before releasing it back to the tidal river.
lure from below so hard the fish bursts out of the surface of the water like a brick being thrown through a window! After that, hold on! These fish are strong, and they run down deep with the lure. It’s important to play the drag of your reel here, so as not to harm the fish and to keep it from snapping the line. As we work the fish in, the other person stands ready with the net in order to scoop the fish boatside, to take the gripand-grin photo, and release the fish. The only thing better? Striped bass run in schools, so every once in a while we will BOTH link up with a bass at the same time, then it’s real chaos fighting the fish, not tangling lines, keeping the boat safe, and finally landing the pair of fish. Note: Learn about live-bait angling for striped bass in Bob Humphrey’s “Saltwater fishing” column, starting on page 27. —
Lou on Slot Limits
During the recent State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, we asked Maine Guide and author Lou Zambello about slot limits, and he provided a first-hand
perspective: “I had a hand in the implementation of slot limits in Maine,” Lou explained. “More than 30 years ago, I was a ‘loaned executive’ from L.L.Bean to DIF&W. During that time, I pushed hard for slot limits in the Magalloway and Kennebago watersheds. “A slot limit means you can keep fish of a reasonable size, but the harvest of large breeding trout is limited. For example, on the Magalloway River above Parmachenee Lake, all brook trout below six inches or above twelve inches must be released from April to August 15, then it is catch-and-release only. So through August 15 you can keep a fish between 6 and 12 inches long for the frying pan, but the breeding population must be released.
Lindsey E. Rustad releases a 4-pound brook trout caught on a 16 Parachute Adams in Western Maine in May, 2023. Slot limits increase fish size, says the author. Lou Zambello photo (Continued on next page)
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“Studies had shown that brook trout genetics are highly variable, and in a given watershed, if all of the big fish were taken home, it wasn’t necessarily the oldest fish that were being removed. Rather, the fish that were being kept were those with the desirable genetics that allowed them to grow larger. Over time, one studied watershed started growing a population of diminutive brookies that bred at small sizes. “So, it makes sense – to improve fish size, if you don’t practice total catch-and-release, keep only the reasonably-sized ones. I believe that over the last 30-plus years, the growing catch-and-release mentality and slot limits have made a difference in Western Maine, with the size of trout increasing. Most Western states have trout slot limits, for the same reasons as do Maine’s striper regulations. “We are now catching brook trout in Maine from time to time that reach four pounds or better. Who knows – maybe someday that will be a more common occurrence?” —
Correction: That’s “Holst”
Tuna Tournaments Team Up for Gulf of Maine Grand Slam Series
Three Maine tuna tournaments have joined forces to create a new series called the Gulf of Maine Grand Slam. The series kicks off July 13 with the Bluefin Benefit Battle in Portland.
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In the special boating section in our May issue titled “Lithium Ion Batteries Help Boaters Power Electronics,” the surname of Norsk Lith-
ium’s spokesperson James Holst was mis-spelled. The Sportsman apologizes for the error. —
PROU
(Continued from page 14)
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16 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
(Continued from page 15)
The second leg begins July 21 with the Bailey Island Fishing Tournament, in Bailey Island. Hosted by the Casco Bay Tuna Club, the tournament includes opportunities for adult and youth anglers. The third and final leg is the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza, July 27 - August 2 in South Portland, which raises funds for Maine community college scholarships. To qualify for the grand prize, vessels
Swimming for Life
The summer months offer ample time to enjoy Maine’s waterways. From oceans, lakes and ponds, to streams and rivers, our state hosts a myriad of options. Water safety should be forefront in our minds. Someone can drown in the amount of time it takes to put a new worm on your hook. Accidental drowning remains the second leading cause of death in people ages 5-24, ac-
cording to the American Safety Council. The number one way to prevent drowning is to learn how to swim. The US CDC National Center for Health Statistics reported 19 drowning deaths in Maine in 2020. Maine’s rate of drowning is higher than the national average, which is 1.8 per 100,000 of population. The American Red id aine arine Cross has outlined the THE BOATER’S CHOICE five water safety skills www.midmainemarine.com that everyone should 885 Kennedy Memorial Drive learn how to do to preOakland, ME 04963 vent drowning. They (207) 465-2146 are: FOUR-STROKE OUTBOARDS 1. Enter water that’s over your head, then IN STOCK: return to the surface. • 2.5 M 2. Float or tread water • 3.5 M •4M for at least 1 minute. •5M 3. Turn over and turn •6M around in the water. • 8 M, ML • 9.9 M, ML 4. Swim at least 25 • 9.9 EH, ELH yards. • 15 M, ML 5. Exit the water. • 15 EH, ELH • 20 M, ML Sportsmen tend to • 20 EH, ELH, E encounter unusual wa• 20 ELHPT • 25 ELHPT ter situations that re• 40 ELPT quire additional skills • 40 ELHPT to survive. Rivers and • 50 ELPT • 60 ELPT streams present cur• 60 ELPT-CT rents, underwater haz• 60 ELHPT ards, dangerous wa• 90 ELPT • 90 ELPT-CT ter temperatures, and • 115 ELPT murky or unclear wa• 115 EXLPT PRO XS ter. • 150 ELPT Knowing how to swim, keeping calm, and the quick action of bystanders helped ensure the safety of my son when he was nine years old. While swimming in the West Branch of the Penobscot, he was swept Ask About Rebates downriver and was Limited Quantities Available headed for a stretch of Check Inventory at Class 4 rapids. As the current
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The author’s son avoided a bad outcome when he was swimming in the West Branch of the Penobscot at age 9. Photo by the author
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must be registered in all three tournaments. For more information, visit: www. gulfofmainegrandslam.com, or email gulfofmainegrandslam@gmail.com. — Wilderness First Aid by Stacey Wheeler RN
www.midmainemarine.com www.MaineSportsman.com
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pulled him under the Abol Bridge, he was able to get close to the bridge abutment, catch some footing on the gravel, and hold onto the abutment. He was not wearing a life jacket. My husband took off swimming after him, while some campers ran to the bridge with a rescue rope. When they got in position, they lowered down a life jacket. With the help of the rope, and guided by my husband, we walked my son across the river to safety. My son was a good swimmer and was unfazed by the incident and our reaction. He was the only one who was unconcerned. Here are the most important rules for staying safe in the water, especially in rough or fast-moving water: • Know your limitations • Never swim alone • Wear a life jacket • Stay sober on the water • Call for help • Swim across the current Taking some sensible precautions when you’re around water, even if you’re not swimming, can help save your life or that of someone you love. —
Primer on Fishing Net Material
Years ago, the sole purpose of a net was to get your fish into the boat. Little concern was given to whether the rough netting material caused any harm to the fish. Catchand-release for legal-size fish was not as common as it is today.
Traditional nylon
June 2024 Sunrise/Sunset Bangor, ME
Advantages: Thin nylon string construction; lightweight; minimal water drag Disadvantages: Prone to knots; hard on fish for catch & release fishing; snag-prone, especially with treble hooks PVC
Construction: PVC woven netting material with additional PVC coating. Advantages: Easy on fish for catch & release; most durable netting material option available Disadvantages: Possibility of hooking a seam Black Rubber
Advantages: Excellent hook-snag resistance; easy on fish for catch & release; doesn’t knot up Disadvantages: Some water drag; expensive Clear Rubber
A modern landing net. Photos: EGO (EgoFishing.com)
As anglers began releasing more fish, and as awareness grew about the harm to the fish that can be caused by rough knotted netting material, different innovations were introduced. A recent press release by EGO Fishing, a fast-growing Idaho company that specializes in the manufacturing of landing nets, highlights the different materials that are now available, together with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Advantages: Doesn’t spook fish; excellent hook-snag resistance; easy on fish for catch & release; doesn’t knot up Disadvantages: Some water drag; expensive
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DATE RISE 1 Sat 4:50 2 Sun 4:49 3 Mon 4:49 4 Tue 4:48 5 Wed 4:48 6 Thu 4:48 7 Fri 4:47 8 Sat 4:47 9 Sun 4:47 10 Mon 4:47 11 Tue 4:46 12 Wed 4:46 13 Thu 4:46 14 Fri 4:46 15 Sat 4:46
SET 8:15 8:16 8:17 8:18 8:18 8:19 8:20 8:21 8:21 8:22 8:22 8:23 8:23 8:24 8:24
DATE RISE 16 Sun 4:46 17 Mon 4:46 18 Tue 4:47 19 Wed 4:47 20 Thu 4:47 21 Fri 4:47 22 Sat 4:47 23 Sun 4:48 24 Mon 4:48 25 Tue 4:48 26 Wed 4:49 27 Thu 4:49 28 Fri 4:50 29 Sat 4:50 30 Sun 4:51
SET 8:25 8:25 8:25 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:26
June 2024 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
Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
HIGH AM PM
6:49 7:54 8:57 9:56 10:51 11:45 — 12:39 1:27 2:14 3:03 3:53 4:45 5:38 6:32 7:28 8:23 9:14 10:02 10:48 11:32 — 12:14 1:00 1:47 2:37 3:31 4:29 5:30 6:33
7:27 8:24 9:18 10:09 11:00 11:49 12:36 1:25 2:13 3:01 3:51 4:41 5:29 6:17 7:05 7:53 8:38 9:22 10:04 10:46 11:29 12:16 1:00 1:46 2:33 3:23 4:16 5:11 6:06 7:03
LOW AM PM
12:37 1:42 2:45 3:43 4:37 5:29 6:20 7:09 7:57 8:44 9:32 10:20 11:07 11:54 12:24 1:21 2:15 3:05 3:51 4:34 5:17 6:00 6:44 7:29 8:15 9:04 9:55 10:48 11:42 12:21
1:03 2:02 2:58 3:52 4:43 5:34 6:24 7:12 8:01 8:50 9:41 10:35 11:29 — 12:41 1:29 2:17 3:03 3:47 4:30 5:14 5:58 6:45 7:33 8:24 9:19 10:17 11:18 — 12:38
www.MaineSportsman.com
18 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Maine Wildlife:
June Bugs & Fireflies by Tom Seymour
Insects, it seems, are not friends of outdoor folk. Who hasn’t used strong, if not colorful, language after being bitten by blackflies, mosquitoes or deerflies? Yes, insects, or “bugs,” as we collectively call them, certainly do pester us, and the bites of some can become painful, itchy, inflamed and even infected. But not all insects and bugs cause us harm, and some even add a pleasant note to our overall outdoor experience. I recall one special night on a river I used to fish. The stream was bounded on one side by a field. It was around dusk, and trout were rising all over the place. It was a still, warm evening, with a slight but complex aroma of blooming flowers in the air. The moon hadn’t yet begun to shine. Then slowly, and then faster and faster, compounding upon itself, little floating lights a few feet above the field began pulsing and moving. This culminated in a truly breathtaking scene, with thousands of little flashing lights flitting about, their eccentric paths outlined by the illusion of contrails. This was the largest number of fireflies I had ever seen up to that point, and it was spectacular. Cold Light Fireflies, or “lightning bugs” as some might call them, are not flies at all. Instead, they are soft-bodied beetles. In the daylight, they remain out of sight and out of mind. Nothing much about them is remarkable. That all changes between sunset and when the stars step out. We all know that light produces heat. Just touch a lit lightbulb and find out. But with fireflies, it’s different. Fireflies produce light through a finely regulated chemical reaction in a www.MaineSportsman.com
Firefly & June Bug
waxy-looking organ at the lower end of the abdomen. This process produces little if any noticeable heat. Fireflies use this light to their advantage during their courtship rituals. The female sits on the ground or on nearby plants or limbs of shrubs, while the male flies clumsily about overhead. The male flashes a light pattern that tells the waiting female that he is looking. If she is interested, the female flashes back, telling him that she is receptive. Then the male flies down to the female to consummate the arrangement. What I find truly amazing is that fireflies use a code for their light pulses that only they can recognize. It seems likely that governments have studied this for military use. It all just reeks of intrigue. Just as amazing, the larval form also produces a soft light, but they don’t pulse. I have poked around wood edges in spring, looking for hidden treasures, and found little glowing lights. These were the glo-worms of The Mills Brothers fame. Fireflies represent at least one bug that we can all agree adds to our enjoyment of the outdoors. June Bugs It’s late May or early June, and while it’s not yet officially summer, conditions would say otherwise. Then on a still night, a bumping and thumping on the window screens draws our attention. June bugs have hatched. To me, this is a very promising sign. It means that summer has truly arrived, and it also means that some great fishing is just around the corner. June bugs, also called May beetles, are true bugs. They cause a lim-
ited amount of damage to ornamental plants and leaves. Their eggs are laid in dirt balls among roots, where the resulting white halfmoon-shaped grubs spend from two to three years. It is during the grub stage when the creatures damage our plants. Lawns also suffer, as a host of critters, especially skunks, dig for them, leaving unsightly holes and dirt piles. The grubs pupate in fall and hatch out the following spring. The adults feed upon the leaves of a variety of trees. I have never seen any instances of severe or widespread damage from foraging June bugs. If warm weather continues, June bugs will continue hatching, increasing in number with each passing night. Some people have an unwarranted fear of these, mostly because of their buzzing sound and their prickly legs. Because of those legs, June bugs can become entangled in sweaters and other coarsely knit garments. This can unnerve certain individuals. As for me, I don’t care if they land on me or not. They don’t bite, and it’s no big deal. June Bug Hatch Early on one still morning while I was slowly trolling a wobbling spoon near a shoreline, swirls on the surface drew my attention. Upon further examination, I saw lots of dead June bugs floating on the water. The trout had taken advantage of the “June bug hatch,” and were continuing through the early morning, sweeping up the floating survivors. Sure, many bugs and insects cause us pain and discomfort. But a few, especially fireflies and June bugs, add to the enjoyment of our time spent in Maine’s great outdoors.
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ATV Insights from a Visit to Windham Powersports by Steve Carpenteri
There are currently some 80,000 ATVs registered in Maine. Interest in summer riding continues to grow, due no doubt in part to the impact of unpredictable winter weather on the sales of some snowmobiles. To continue our
What’s the Buzz? Chris McDonald, owner of Windham Powersports at 646 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, credits the infamous pandemic for much of his success over the past few years, plus the
Most ATVs designed for youngsters include a remote shut-off switch so a parent riding with a child can stop the engine on the young rider’s machine if the child is going too fast or wanders out of sight on the trail. series in which we are bringing readers information about the
motorsports industry directly from retailers, including news of
design changes and ridership trends, we traveled to Windham.
(Continued on next page)
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LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com WARNING: Polaris® off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2024 Polaris Industries Inc.
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www.MaineSportsman.com
20 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 19)
Chris McDonald, owner of Windham Powersports, specializes in sales and service of youth-model ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and accessories. Photos by Steve Carpenteri
ADVENTURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
fact that he’s carved a comfortable niche for himself in the very competitive world of ATV sales in southern Maine. “I started out repairing and selling ATVs in my garage 11 years ago,” McDonald said. “We moved to our current location about six years ago, and our business has grown slowly but surely in the process.” McDonald noted that for a variety of reasons, the pandemic had a huge effect on ATV sales. “The government distributed a lot of money during that period,” he said. “At the same time, kids were stuck at home because most businesses were closed to avoid con-
tact during the Covid scare. Parents were looking for ways to get their kids outdoors and away from congested groups of people. It only made sense to purchase an ATV and turn the kids loose on trails near home.” During the pandemic, most ATV dealers, including McDonald, sold out of products. Resupply was difficult because manufacturers were curtailing production since employees were getting sick. The supply chain began to falter, which meant that dealers like McDonald were unable to offer any new products during that touchand-go period between 2022 and 2023. (Continued on next page)
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SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 www.kramersinc.com
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. ©2023 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. All rights reserved.
www.MaineSportsman.com
LEBANON Northeast Motorsports 451 Carl Broggi Highway • (207) 457-2225 www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com WILTON Mountain Side Powersports 912 US-2 • (207) 645-2985 www.mountainsidepowersports.com
WARNING: CFMOTO recreational vehicles are intended for off-road use only and can be hazardous to operate. Read Owner’s Manual and all product labels before operating. Never operate on paved roads. Operators and passengers must wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Operators must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. Always use seat belts, cab netting and doors (if equipped). Never operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Avoid excessive speed and sharp turns, and never engage in stunt driving. Check state and local laws before operating on trails. Take a safety training course before operating. Contact your CFMOTO dealer for more information, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887, or go to www.atvsafety.org. ©2015 Zejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 21 (Continued from page 20)
“Repairs and service kept us going during the darkest period,” he noted, “and now sales are beginning to pick up again. ATVs to the Rescue McDonald asserted that heavy competition was an issue among adult-sized ATV dealers, but was thankful that his focus on “kid-size” ATVs helped him establish a niche in the industry. “We have done very well in the youth market in this area,” McDonald admitted. “There are several shops focused on the adult market in southern Maine, but we are one of the few that cater to kids 16 and under.” Best-Selling ATVs McDonald said that Chinese-made units are his best sellers, including Tao Motors and Apollo products. “Today’s youthmarket ATVs are much improved from the ‘toys’ that were available in the early years of the sport,” McDonald said. “There have been great advances in automatic transmissions, suspension systems, tires, graphics and accessories, and most units even include a remote shut-off switch so that a parent riding with a child can shut off the kid’s machine if they are going too fast or wander out of sight on the trail.” McDonald is a certified Maine ATV trainer, and he noted that all riders under the age of 16 using state-managed trails are required to pass an ATV exam. The course takes about six hours to complete, and
is monitored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Limited Trail Options in the South; Some Head North According to McDonald, trail access in southern Maine is becoming more and more restricted each year, as a result of land sales, development and subdivisions. These changes have created gaps in the existing trail system. “Many new landowners are posting their property or closing off existing trails, making it more difficult for ATV owners to find a place to ride,” he said. “The best advice we can offer is to head north where there is more land open to the public and more state-managed trails to ride on.” McDonald said that ATV clubs have had limited success in the southern portion of the state due to landowner conflicts and proprietary issues with snowmobile clubs, which maintain their own trails yearround. “One option is the Jugtown Trail at the end of Jugtown Road in Casco and Naples,” McDonald said. “There is a large parking lot for trailered vehicles at the very end of the road. The trail starts from there.” Tips For ATV Riders While the common tendency for new ATV owners is to simply hop on and go, McDonald said riders will get more trouble-free use out of their machines if they follow a few simple rules, noting that carburetor malfunctions are among
the most common issues with ATVs. “Always use hightest gasoline, at least 90-plus octane, and nothing with ethanol added,” he said, pointing out that the cost to repair a carburetor is about $200 while the price of a season’s worth of fuel additive is only $10. “Be sure to use an approved gasoline additive, which should result in longer carburetor life.” “Also, plan to run your machine at least once a week for 15 minutes to avoid carburetor issues,” McDonald concluded. “If you’re not going to use the machine for weeks at a time, such as in the deeper snow of winter, have it ser-
Windham Powersports is located on Roosevelt in Windham.
viced to avoid costly carburetor issues.” For more information on Windham Powersports products, accessories and service, contact Chris McDon-
ald at (207) 893-8511, or visit them online at www.windhampowersports.com.
¶
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DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 www.huffpowersports.com
WILTON LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-Doo Mountain Side Powersports 912 US-2 255 US HWY 202 207-645-2985 207-933-4976 www.mountainsidepowersports.com www.doitatreggies.com LINCOLN Lincoln Powersports 265 W. Broadway 207-794-8100 www.lincolnpowersportsme.net
©2024 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Some vehicles depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or, in USA, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. In Canada, call the Canadian Safety Council at (6131 739-1535 ext 227. Read the Operators Guide and watch the Safety DVD before riding. Wear appropriate protective clothing and helmet. For side-by-side vehicles, fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Never engage in stunt driving and avoid excessive speed. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Side-by-side vehicles and ATVs are recommended for drivers aged 16 and older, and passengers aged 12 and older only. For off-road use only. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always ride responsibly and remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
www.MaineSportsman.com
22 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
What’s the Best Bear Gun? by Staci Warren, staci@mymainelygirladventures.com
Each year, I read countless social media posts in which members, oftentimes firsttime bear hunters, ask about which gun they should use. When I first hunted bear, I figured if my firearm would kill a deer, it would kill a bear, even though bear have a lot more fur and fat to shoot through. Little did I know there’s more to it than that. Over the years, I’ve used several different rifles, all with different calibers. On my first hunt, I wanted to use my .260 Remington rifle, since it was my gun. I killed a small bear with it, but the slug did not penetrate as effectively as I’d hoped it would. The bullet was too light even for a lung shot. The following year, I traded my rifle for a .30-’06 Remington Model 700 rifle with a scope, which I’ve used to dispatch a trapped
Caliber, slug size and bullet composition all play a role in making an effective shot. Equally or even more important is learning proper shot placement.
This Bass Pro Shop cartridge chart indicates that black bear can be taken at short ranges with a .30-30 or .300 Savage, while a longer-distance shot requires a .444 Marlin or a .45-70 Gov’t.
bear in the middle of the night. In addition, my husband John and I have both dispatched trapped bear in the middle of the night with his .44 lever action scoped rifle.
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Favorite, with Practice My favorite is the .45-70 lever action that my son lets me use when I sit over bait. It has open sights, so I can’t use it at nighttime, but it’s a gun that I can handle and dispatch a bear with one shot.
The first time I shot at a bear using this gun, I missed it; well, I grazed its chest, and the bullet lodged into the tree it was standing in front of when I shot. User-error and overconfidence contributed to that never-again episode – I had only shot the gun
twice, and misunderstood how to line up the sights for the shot. All I got was an angry bear and some tufts of bear hair. Wide Range of Opinions I discovered that everyone has an opinion about the best bear calibers, but hands down the ones that are named most often are also popular deer rifle calibers: .308 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .30-30 Winchester, 30.06 Springfield, and surprisingly, the 6.5 Creedmoor. These calibers will kill a bear, but they’re designed primarily for shooting long distances of 100 yards or more. Since most Maine bear hunters shoot within 25 yards of a bear, are they truly the best choice? What’s In Your Bullet? Bullets come in different types as well as calibers. A “bonded” bullet is designed to prevent the copper jacket and lead core from separating. Bonded bullets create deeper wounds, and can penetrate bone without losing velocity or shape. A non-bonded bullet separates and expands rapidly; however, the hunter must be careful with shot (Continued on next page)
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 23
Zachary Warren used a .30-30 to drop this monster bruin. (Continued from page 22)
placement, avoiding the shoulder. If the angle of entry is not correct, the bullet can fail to penetrate deeply. The last thing a hunter wants to do is shoot a bear and not have the bullet penetrate enough to create a good blood trail if the bear travels after the shot. A hollow tip expands and slows the bullet with controlled penetration. To quote RifleShooter magazine, “Standard-velocity cartridges such as the .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 7mm-08 Remington perform very well with non-bonded bullets [but] can achieve impressive penetration when used with a bonded bullet. When choosing a bullet for heavy game, always go with a heavy-for-caliber version, whether it’s bonded or not.” For short range
bonded bullets, recommended calibers include .30-30 Winchester 170 grain, .44 Marlin 240 grain, and the .45-70 with a whopping 300-405 grain (and yes, it has more recoil!). A final consideration is that bonded bullets are more expensive than non-bonded bullets. It’s All About Placement As with all hunting, shot placement is key to a quick kill. Achieving proper placement starts with selecting a caliber that’s within your ability, and then practicing with your chosen gun so you can make a clean, accurate shot. Remember that a bear’s kill spot is not the same as that of a deer; it’s often referred to as the “middle of the middle,” i.e., higher up and back more. However, with all that fur and fat, it’s much harder to determine
the most effective target zone. No gun, no matter the type or caliber, will make you a successful bear hunter unless you can make the shot. Good luck!
¶
Bear • Moose Deer • Grouse Muskie Fishing
The author found that a .44 caliber rifle was an effective firearm to dispatch this bear. Located in Zone 4 in the Adaptive Unit North Section Only 13 Miles from the South Section
Also Hunting Zone 8
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24 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Merging Your Boat’s Electronics by Bob Humphrey
On the ocean’s surface, everything looked the same, but a quick glance at my multi-function display told me we were nearing our destination: COG – 175°; SOG - 18 kts; Distance to Waypoint - 0.1 NM. The depth sounder still read 375 feet, but the chart showed a steep edge rising up to shallower structure. As I slowed to idle, the sea floor rose up, and tiny red arcs began appearing on the screen – first a few, then more and more. “This is it,” I said as I picked up the mic to my VHF. “I found
Integration of your boat’s chartplotter, depth sounder, radio and radar, says the author, provides such a wealth of information that the system’s overall value to the angler becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
Users can customize multi-function display (MFD) screens to show as much or as little as they like. Images courtesy of Raymarine
’em, on my location,” I broadcast to the boat following two miles behind. We would soon both be into the fish.
Greater than the Sum of its Parts Basic marine electronics include chartplotter, radio, depth
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sounder and radar. The more boating you do and the farther you venture from shore, the more important each device becomes. Each serves a different purpose, but modern technology allows integration of the devices, with the result that the system’s value becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Multi-function displays (MFDs) merge a range of functions into a single unit. The most basic combine a depth sounder with a GPS chartplotter. Most also have a split screen function to show both simultaneously. That way, you know not only what’s under you, but what lies ahead that you might want
to approach, or avoid. Add integrated navigational charts, and your plotter will also display aids to navigation. Stealth Communications Synching your radio with the GPS in your chartplotter allows you to transmit your location (latitude-longitude coordinates) digitally to another boater, without telling everyone else. You know what would happen if you got on your VHF’s Channel 16 and announced, “Tuna Colada, this is the Falcon. I’m in the middle of a striper blitz; come quick!” and then listed your coordinates on the air. It’s also a nice safety feature. All new radios also have digital selective calling (DSC) capability that will send an automatic distress alert to the Coast Guard with the press of a button. With the addition of a free Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number, which you must register for, and GPS integration, it will also transmit your vessel ID and location. In a (Continued on next page)
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VHF radios can be integrated with automated identification system (AIS) electronics and MFDs to digitally transmit your vessel’s location to other boaters. (Continued from page 24)
true emergency, you may have time to send only one transmission, but they’ll have all the information they need to find you, and know who and what to look for. Who’s Out There? Similarly, AIS (Automated Identification System) transmits the location and name of vessels using broadcast transponders. They can be linked to radios with an MMSI number and the GPS in your chartplotter. This allows other boats to see your location, and you to see theirs, without radar. And you can overlay this information on your nav chart. Radar may not be an absolute necessity, but it’s far more than a luxury. It allows you to go out on days when those without it can’t,
or shouldn’t. It allows for prudent navigation at night, or in conditions of poor visibility. Some older systems have discrete display units, but most newer ones can be integrated with a multi-function display (MFD). That gives the option of overlaying radar on your chartplotter, or setting up a splitscreen with both. In either case, make sure the orientation on both is the same. Autopilots, Navigation Autopilot is another feature that, while not necessary, sure is handy on long trips. Here again, they can function independently, or be integrated into an MFD. In the latter case, you only have to program a track or course into the MFD, and the autopilot will read and follow it. (Continued on next page)
Over 100 Boats Available for 2024 Sold as Packages with Mercury Outboards
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See Your Local Yamaha Outboard Dealer for Details!
BAR HARBOR Bowden Marine Service 713 Norway Drive (207) 288-5247 www.BowdenMarine.com
GORHAM White Rock Outboard 351 Sebago Lake Road 207-892-9606 www.whiterockoutboard.com
THOMASTON Jeff’s Marine 2 Brooklyn Heights Road (207) 354-8777 www.JeffsMarine.com
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HAMPDEN Hamlin’s Marine 581 Main Road North 207-907-4385 www.HamlinsMarine.com
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Larger boats often have multiple MFDs that can integrated to allow the to communicate with one another.
*PROGRAM TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Consumer benefit for purchasing a new (unused, not previously warranty registered) select eligible Yamaha four stroke outboard is based on horsepower as follows: 425 -450 hp is a 24-month Yamaha Extended Service (“Y.E.S.”) contract (choice offered by Florida dealers is a 24-month Yamaha Extended Limited Warranty in lieu of Y.E.S. contract); 30-300 hp is a 24-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered by Florida dealers is a 24-month Yamaha Extended Limited Warranty in lieu of Y.E.S. contract); 2.5 hp to 25 hp four stroke outboard is a 36-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered by Florida dealers is a 36-month Yamaha Extended Limited Warranty in lieu of Y.E.S. contract) and a dealer credit of up to $500, based on hp, toward the MSRP value of goods and/or services purchased, at the authorized participating dealer that sold the outboard, at no extra cost to consumer. To be eligible, outboards must also have been manufactured since January 2017. Promotion is only applicable from authorized participating Yamaha Outboard dealers in the U.S.A. sold to purchasing consumers residing in the U.S.A. Promotion is limited to available stock in dealer inventory that is sold April 25, 2024 – June 18, 2024, and PDI completed, delivered and warranty registered on YMBS by the dealer in accordance with Yamaha’s promotion and warranty registration requirements. No model substitutions, benefit substitutions, extensions or rain checks will be allowed. Outboards sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, guide, rental, promotional/demo, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship use are not eligible. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other Yamaha offer. Some exceptions may apply. Some exclusions may apply in the Yamaha Extended Limited Warranty offered by Florida dealers (as compared to the Y.E.S. contract), such as TRIP coverage. See authorized participating Yamaha dealer for complete details. Yamaha reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2024 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
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26 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Boating (Continued from page 26)
Keep it Simple. Build it Rugged!
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We all have smart phones, and most of them are smarter than their users. However, their capabilities become more limited the farther we venture from shore. Many marine electronics companies offer apps that allow you to integrate phones and MFDs. At the very least, you can access and modify displays. You can also sync them with satellite communicators like Garmin’s inReach, which will allow you to send text messages even when you’re out of cell phone or radio range. Monitoring Boat Systems All boats have basic instruments that provide information, including engine RPMs, oil pressure, water
temperature and fuel levels. They’re usually reliable, but anything mechanical is prone to fail. If that happens, it would be nice to have a back-up. The fact is, all these features can be incorporated into an MFD. With a little user manual study, you can even program them for things like monitoring fuel consumption, which might help you determine optimum cruising speed. These are some of the basics. Let The Maine Sportsman’s editor know if you have implemented other creative ways to integrate marine electronics that allow you to enjoy a safe, enjoyable boating experience.
¶
All New 20hp & 15hp FourStroke READY FOR SUMMER? With Honda Marine’s Cruise into Summer sales event, now’s the time to gear up for some fun on the water! GET UP TO $1000 INSTANT SAVINGS with the purchase of any new 40hp – 250hp Honda Marine outboards, now through July 7th, 2024.*
Visit Your Local Honda Marine Dealer for Details! ELLSWORTH Pirie Marine 53 Sunset Park Road (207) 664-0500 www.piriemarine.com
LEWISTON Al’s Sport Center 1818 Lisbon Road (207) 784-75910 www.alssportcenter.com
STANDISH Richardson’s Boat Yard 633 White’s Bridge Road (207) 892-4913 www.richardsonsby.com
GORHAM PORTLAND YORK White Rock Outboard Portland Yacht Services York Harbor Marine 351 Sebago Lake Road 100 W. Commercial Street 20 Harris Island Road 207-892-9606 (207) 774-1067 (207) 363-3602 www.whiterockoutboard.com www.portlandyacht.com www.yorkharbormarine.com *At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2021 and newer models, sold and delivered between April 15, 2024 and July 7, 2024 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 27
Winning Strategies to Catch More Striped Bass When live-lining linesides, fine-tuning your bait techniques using mackerel, pogies, eels and even harbor pollock, will lead to greater success. This is a big month for saltwater fishing. As the water heats up, so does the action for striped bass. There’s a range of tackle and techniques to use, but few if any rival live bait. It seems fairly straightforward, too: hook on a bait, toss it over, and wait for a bite. But there’s a bit more to it, if you want consistent success. Bait Rigging Stripers attack their prey head-on, so you’ll have fewer missed strikes by hooking your baits in the head (the nostrils or eyes). Bridling is even better, because the hook is totally exposed, and can turn freely without fouling in your bait. Also, it’s more likely to be properly oriented to catch in the latch of a fish’s jaw, which is important with the mandatory circle hooks. You
can use rigging twine, dental floss or a small rubber band to attach the hook, and there are plenty of online videos showing the proper procedure. What you use can also make a difference. The four most popular striper baits are mackerel, pogies, harbor pollock and eels. Forget pollock if you can get the others, but when all else fails .... In terms of preference, mackerel are king, if you can get them. Pogies are next, and they are usually more abundant and available. Eels are more of a specialty, used mostly when fishing at night, from the beach, or when targeting larger fish. Leader Plays a Critical Role When using braided line, you should attach a mono or fluoro leader. Stripers can
be line-shy, especially the big ones, and even more especially when you are fishing in high-visibility conditions. There are no hard and fast rules about leader length, but roughly the same length as your rod is a good guideline. For test weight, go a little heavier than your main line, especially when fishing rocky structure. Go even heavier when eeling – I use 50-lb. leaders. Methods Your method of fishing should vary with conditions and location. In general, gently cast your bait away from the boat and let it run freely, with no tension or resistance. That means fishing with the bail open on a spinning reel, or on free-spool on a conventional. I prefer spinning reels with a (Continued on next page)
Live eels are a great choice when targeting large stripers. Photos provided by the author
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28 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Saltwater (Continued from page 27)
Using heavier gear may be less sporting, but minimizing fight time is important in reducing release mortality.
bait-runner function. The next step is very important. When line starts
peeling out, indicating a strike, be patient. When using circle hooks, it’s critical that
you resist the temptation to set the hook. Count to 5, at least. Then close the bail or increase the drag, and slowly take up tension. Let the circle hook work, and allow the fish to hook itself. You can simply cast the line and let it run, which I do more often when fishing pogies. It’s exciting, because your baitfish often swims for the surface, and you can watch 30- or even 40inch fish swatting at your bait like mammoth trout taking dry flies. For mackerel, I use a bobber or a balloon. This helps keep track of the bait’s location, and whether it’s being
WHEN GETTING THERE IS
HALF THE FUN
chased. You don’t want that line going under the boat, especially when fishing from an inboard. The best locations are where surf and current create moving water that confuses baitfish. That’s where the stripers like to feed. Target structure, such as rocky points or reefs, or even where there’s breaking surf. Targeting pogie schools can also be effective, but not all are the same. If the baitfish are milling along in a consistent direction and gently flipping the surface, you might be wasting your time. If they’re balled up, roiling the water and moving erratically, get a general direction on where they’re headed, cast your baits in front of the school, and get ready.
Baiters Beware Bear in mind, the highest source of striped bass removals (fishing mortality) is recreational catchand-release fishing. Using single circle hooks reduces mortality, but anglers should take additional steps. Use heavy gear to reduce fight time. Keep fish in the water when removing hooks, and cut the line if the fish is hooked deeply. Perhaps most important is to minimize your overall fishing time. You’ll have far less impact by catching a few fish and keeping your daily limit of one for dinner (within the current slot limit – between 28 inches and 31 inches inclusive total length) than you will by catch-and-release fishing for hours on end.
¶
Visit Your Local Suzuki Marine Dealer for Current Promotions!
Our outboard motors are about a whole lot more than just the specs. A truly great motor delivers it all:
BAR HARBOR Lake & Sea Boatworks 204 Knox Road (207) 288-8961 www.lakeandsea.com
PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 100 W. Commercial Street (207) 774-1067 www.portlandyacht.com
GORHAM White Rock Outboard 351 Sebago Lake Road 207-892-9606 www.whiterockoutboard.com
STANDISH Richardson’s Boat Yard 633 Whites Bridge Road (207) 892-4913 www.richardsonsby.com
5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2024. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
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PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, and the ULTIMATE EASE OF USE. Visit Your Local Dealer for the Models & Promotions!
ELLSWORTH Pirie Marine 53 Sunset Park Road • 207-664-0500 www.piriemarine.com SPRUCE HEAD J&H Marine 670 Spruce Head Road • 207-596-5511 Find Us on Facebook
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 29
— THE MAINE SPORTSMAN —
FISHING CHARTER DIRECTORY BATH / BRUNSWICK / MID-COAST Captain Andrew Gibbs Striped Bass • Mackerel
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30 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Details Coming Together for June 15 Moose Lottery in Fort Kent by Bill Graves For all Maine moose lottery entrants, I’m pretty sure the only thing more exciting than winning a tag is to be sitting in the audience when your name is announced. On June 15th, hopeful applicants and other outdoor enthusiasts and family members can attend the annual
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drawing, and can also experience a full day of outdoor-oriented fun. Start by finding your way to Fort Kent, far north in the Crown of Maine where bragging-size bull moose and mammoth musky are plentiful. The 2024 moose lottery will take place at Riverside Park
from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the pavilion. Activities will be ongoing throughout the day on the grounds and in nearby tents from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Several food trucks are lined up to provide a wide array of taste treats for attendees. Baxter Brewing Company will set up a beer garden
offering a selection of beverages and the chance to sit, talk, and enjoy a drink. Vendor tents will also be on site, offering Mainemade products as well as outdoor merchandise. Throughout the day, sponsors will offer a number of displays and demonstrations,
with events designed to entertain visitors of all ages. Ax Women Loggers of Maine will put on multiple demos, Hal Blood of Big Woods Bucks will offer a hunting seminar, and of course the annual moose calling contest will be a big draw. A very informa(Continued on next page)
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 31 (Continued from page 30)
tive and entertaining canine demonstration will be provided by the Maine Game Warden Service, and they will also have an air boat display. OMM Outfitters will provide a seminar on moose
dressing, butchering and meat care, and a knife sharpening class will be available at other venues during the day. Kids will have plenty of fun, too, with a bouncy house, face painting, and trying
out the new playground equipment in the park. For folks who want to make a weekend of it, there’s an RV park near Riverside. Other entertainment options include tours of the Fort Kent Block House, historical expe-
ditions, and a visit to the chain saw museum in nearby Allagash. Suzie Paradis is overseeing the lottery and event planning, and she told The Maine Sportsman she expects plenty of excited visitors, and a fun-
filled weekend. Check the Fort Kent town office website, FortKent. org, for more information. Here’s hoping you hear your name as a lucky permit winner!
¶
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32 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Aroostook Fishing Fine Afoot or Afloat Aroostook’s fishing options this month are very eclectic – depending on location, anglers can still enjoy late spring trolling while sporadic hatches offer dry fly casting on certain waterways. Weather conditions, especially rain, will determine if brooks and streams can be waded, and if worms, lures or flies are the most productive offerings. Climate change produced the weirdest winter I’ve ever experienced over seven decades in “The County,” so who knows what June will yield? Aroostook River One sure bet, afloat or afoot, I’ll be catching big, beautifully colored brook trout from our namesake river this month. Fish flourish and remote pools proliferate this meandering wa-
Launch a small boat, wade in with hip boots, or cast from shore – it’s an “eclectic” fishing month, reports the author, as he tells readers exactly where to find brookies and brown trout in June.
Trolling the Aroostook River this month with colorful streamers offers the chance to hook multiple fat, feisty brookies. All photos provided by the author
terway formed from brooks, creeks and wetlands near Oxbow. The Aroostook River flows a long, circuitous route through forest, farm fields and near a dozen towns and villages before entering into Canada at Fort Fairfield. In addition to the numerous maintained boat ramps, a
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vast number of field roads and two-tracks broach water’s edge all along the river’s path, allowing canoes and 12- to 16-foot boats to be launched. Trolling is prime the first couple of weeks of June, and longer if we receive regular rain. Orange size 7 Rapalas, red and
white Dardevles, ¼ oz. hammered copper Mooselook Wobblers, and size 81 and 5 silver Sutton Spoons are proven trout takers. Streamer enthusiasts should do well with colorful flies like the venerable old Mickey Finn, and red and white bucktail patterns. A Magog Smelt,
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Herb Johnson Special and Little Brook Trout usually produce some action as well. Float a Fly Even during trolling trips, when water levels remain high and wading pools are scarce, take along a rigged-and-ready dry fly outfit. Very few Aroostook River outings occur when I don’t spot an afternoon or early evening June insect hatch along the shoreline. It’s easy to pull the canoe over, anchor up within casting distance, and deploy the dry flies for some exciting surface fishing. I keep track of river stretches where hatches occur regularly so I can access from a nearby farm road when river levels drop to allow wade and cast fishing. Promising dry fly patterns include a Light Cahill, Mosquito, gray Slim Jim, Hendrickson, and Henryville Special. Likely casting and trolling runs for newcomers to the river include up or downstream from the Rt. 1 Presque Isle boat launch, and upstream above the Caribou dam. There are several great pools above and below the inlet of Little Madawaska Stream and around the islands downriver of the Fort Fairfield bridge and boat launch.
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(Continued on page 34)
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 33
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34 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
It’s not uncommon to find dozens of patches of tasty fiddleheads along the shoreline of the Aroostook River. It’s a perfect taste treat to go with fried brook trout.
Bill Graves gives up his canoe for chest waders to catch trout in many pools along the Aroostook River near Caribou in late June.
The County (Continued from page 32)
Meduxnekeag River The ’Keag is another County waterway that exits into Canada after several branches join to form the main flowage. The stream can become very shallow during the summer, with fish concentrated mostly in the deeper runs, and wading offering the best casting option. Late evenings and bright moonlit nights can offer a unique venture to hook one of the big brown trout lurking along feeding runs. This month however, decent water levels allow stable canoes and moderate
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length V-hulls and Jon boats to troll the main branch. Colorful streamers, and 1/8to 1/4- oz. Dardevles, Super Dupers, Al’s Goldfish, and yellow Panther Martins are annual favorites. Near Littleton, the pools above and below the Iron Bridge, near the now-burnt covered wooden bridge and Dows Hole all hold numerous brown and brook trout. This region also supports a healthy population of smallmouth bass that have found their way from New Brunswick’s St. John River. After a hard strike, many
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an angler’s smile at finally hooking a hefty brown turns into a frown as a smallie somersaults into the air. Another popular sector of Meduxnekeag’s main branch is beside the old starch factory past the midtown bridge in Houlton. Further on near Cary Mills, the stream runs right along Route 2 and makes a sharp bend; excellent early June trolling and late June wading may be enjoyed over this stretch of several pools. Fishermen who don’t care to troll or endure the hassle of hauling a boat should visit the North Branch of the Meduxnekeag, north of Monticello. Use the Jewell’s Corner turn west off Route
There are a lot of ponds in the North Maine Woods that get only light June pressure due to the long, rough drive. However, Mike Wallace of Brunswick finds the trip worthwhile.
1, and head for Harvey’s Siding. Check Delorme’s Atlas Map 59, grid C-2. A bridge crosses North Branch, and there’s off-road parking for a couple of vehicles and a short walk to the water. Brook trout abound and readily take a worm or colorful wet fly; most are in the 6to 12-inch range, and the farther you wade from the bridge in either direction, the better the action. Hip waders will suffice, but the stream bed is rocky, uneven and slippery, so felt or Lug soles on boots or a wading staff are recommended. I’ve enjoyed steady results with a Parmachene Belle, Trout Fin, March Brown and a yellow-bodied Turkey Wing Grasshopper.
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Oddly, the fish also respond well to a size 12 dry fly pattern fished wet. If tossing worms, I’d suggest a silver or pearl spinner, and a slow cross-current retrieve. Deep Woods Options Several lakes and ponds in the North Maine Woods tend to experience ice-out a week or more later than open-ground waterways. Most of these spots offer toprate trolling well into this month, and despite the long, bumpy drive, are worth the effort. I make the trip to 6-Mile Checkpoint beyond Ashland and the Realty Road a couple of times each June, and find more fish and fewer fishermen than on urban edge waters. Late season trolling options include Big Machias Lake, Upper McNally Pond, Clayton Lake, Long Pond and of course the Musquacooks. Along the way, traveling anglers will have the option of stopping and wade-fishing at least a dozen roadside brooks that receive only light pressure this time of year. Sometimes it’s good to get off the beaten path and away from the madding crowds. Try the deep woods.
¶
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 35
O.F. Mossberg’s Guns for the Working Class During the planning process for this month’s column, an unexpected text message and a photo arrived from a long-time reader of The Maine Sportsman, who is a resident of Maine’s backcountry. The photo showed a brace of .22 caliber bolt-action rifles made by Mossberg. Shown at the top of the picture, mounting a telescopic sight, was a Mossberg Model 740T in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. Shown below that was a single-shot Mossberg Model 320B, chambered in .22 Long Rifle. The text message ended with the almost cryptic, “That concludes my long-gun collection.” O.F. Mossberg & Sons manufactured rifles, pistols and shotguns in New Haven, Connecticut between 1919 and 1962. Since 1962, the company’s shops have filled factory space in North Haven, Connecticut. Earlier, Oscar Mossberg worked as a designer for Iver Johnson, Marlin, Stevens, and Shattuck Arms companies. Never as famous with the public as Winchester, Remington, or even Savage Arms, the Mossbergs’ company grew steadily, and today Mossberg products occupy no fewer than 46 pages of the current Blue Book of Gun Values. While never pro-
For over a century, Mossberg firearms have provided American buyers what they wanted – a reliable product at an affordable price. The Model 32B in .22 long rifle, and the Model 740T in .22 magnum, are proof that formula has worked well.
Two vintage Mossberg .22s that still make great choices, from plinking to small game hunting. The top rifle is the Model 740T in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, and shown on the bottom is the Model 320B in .22 Long Rifle. Photo: Amelia DiDonna.
ducing something as iconic as a Winchester Model 70, a Savage Model 99 or a John M. Browning design, modestly-priced Mossberg firearms have introduced tens of thousands of youngsters to the shooting sports, and have outfitted thousands more budget-conscious adult shooters and hunters. Mossberg .22 rifles and Model 500 shotguns launched and
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the ubiquitous AR-15 platform that so many folks want to own these days. Decent Shooters Our friend’s Model 740T came off its as-
sembly line circa 1980. His 320T is a 1962 example of a version in production from 1960 to 1966. Assuming both are in good condition and have seen routine maintenance over the decades, their respective ages of more than forty and more than sixty years is of little concern to potential purchasers. Either will still do the job it was designed to do. Not a pair in the purest sense, these two rifles would undoubtedly serve that purpose for any user. Firing .22 short, long, and long rifle rimfire ammunition, the 320B is a flexible, adaptable, safe and appropriate rifle for the learning (Shooter’s Bench continued on page 37)
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36 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
To Shoot or Not to Shoot by Logan Rackliff As hunters, we’ve all been in situations where we’ve had to make a hard decision on whether or not to snap the trigger on prey we’re hunting. It’s hard enough to decide while sitting on stand, but it’s much harder to decide whether to take the shot on a jumping buck you’re tracking in the Big Woods. There are a couple of things to have set in your mind before heading into the woods. Obviously, you want to make sure that you know what a legal buck is for the area you’re hunting. If you are not sure if it’s legal, don’t take the chance – it’s just not worth it. A life taken by mistake is not a small thing, and it’s not worth the integrity of your soul. Another thing to have your mind made
SS
Since the author only takes tracks that are made by big old mature bucks, the big question in his mind if he sees a deer ahead of him in the woods is simply – “Is this the buck I’ve been tracking?” up about before you head out hunting is, what’s your standard? What is a shooter-buck to you? While tracking a buck, don’t plan on being able to score antlers or count points, which makes it even more difficult in areas outside of Maine that have antler restrictions. The track can tell you more about the age and size of a deer. Try to stick to your guns on what size buck you’ve decided on trying for. This may change as the season goes on. I try to hold out for a big, mature buck, and will modify my standard only a little for the last week of
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muzzle loading here in Maine. The choice is ultimately yours to make. Things Happen Quickly The most exciting part of the hunt is when you’re on the track and have jumped the buck. He’s heading out in quick fashion, and you have thoughts racing through your mind. When I’m tracking, if I get a look at a buck for three seconds or more, I consider that a great chance for a shot. This is most likely three seconds of jumping over and through trees. Here is what goes through my mind in that second or two. Since I only take tracks
that are made by big old mature bucks, the big question in my mind is simply – Is this the buck I’ve been tracking? The second question would be, is this a buck I want to shoot? I’m looking to make sure he has a big body with heavy beams, and with any luck he will also have tall tines and a wide rack! I just hope that when I walk up to him on the ground, he’s as big as the track indicates, or bigger! The most important things to me are the hunt, the chase, and the story. I want to get that buck I’ve been following all day. I have spent the day in the buck’s tracks, and I’ve tried to visualize
our final encounter. If you think he’s a shooter, follow him with your bead or crosshairs until he hits an opening, try for center-mass, and snap the trigger. Don’t stop shooting until he’s down. When you walk up if he’s not what you were hoping for, respect the animal and be grateful for him – do not talk down about him to yourself or others. Enjoy what God allowed you to have, and give Him the praise. Happy hunting. Hal’s Thoughts Shooting at buck – or any game, for that matter – is an individual choice. Everyone’s shooting skills are different, so make sure that with any shot you take, you are confident that you can make it. Some people can drive tacks at the range from a bench rest. Others can shoot flying or running game easily. Some hunters think running shots should never be taken. It’s probably because they can’t make running shots. In my opinion, a hunter who practices and is comfortable with running shots is as deadly on game as a hunter who will only shoot at standing game. It’s basically just two different ways to get the same job done, which is to shoot an animal in the most humane way possible. (Continued on next page)
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 37 (Continued from page 36)
I have shot bucks standing, walking, and running. Some have been in the brush where all I could see was small openings to shoot through. The thing that made me good at it was practice. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You’ll miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.” There is no substitute for practice. I have missed way more running shots on bucks than I have ever made, but have never wounded a buck. But boy have I shot a lot of trees in the process! I don’t take a shot unless I think I can make it, so I hit the deer or I hit a tree or branch instead.
Practice will also help you identify what you see if a deer bolts away. Does do not run like a mature buck. Does have more of an up and down bound. Bucks, on the other hand, have a longer, lower bound. They appear to me almost as if they are in slow motion. You also have to look for the head first as you bring your gun up. That way you are ready to shoot. If you wait to bring your gun up until you see antlers, it might be too late to get a shot. The end game is played out in seconds, so make sure that you are clear about the buck you’re after when it’s go time!
¶
Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 35)
shooter. With no need to keep track of rounds in some kind of magazine, the shooter is free to concentrate on loading the single round, aiming, holding a clear sight picture, and employing a deliberate trigger squeeze. The 320B is also a fine rifle for the experienced shooter who wants to do some casual plinking, target practice, or even hunting small game such as squirrels and rabbits. The 740T takes the sport up a notch. The .22 WMR round is a superb small game and small varmint cartridge, including bobcat and coyotes out to 100 yards or so. The five-shot capacity detachable box magazine offers plenty of firepower in reserve. With almost no recoil, the .22 WMR makes an excellent hunting round for young and other
Logan Rackliff knows that the end game is played out in seconds, so a hunter must be clear about the buck he’s after when it’s “go time.”
less-experienced shooters. Fitted with birch wood stocks stained and finished to resemble walnut, both rifles were emblematic of a frugal purchase – perhaps even something a hardworking paperboy or diligent lawn-mowing youngster could buy for themselves. They remain so today. With no crowd of collectors, nearly all Mossberg firearms, new or used, occupy the lower rungs on the pricing ladder. For over a century, Mossberg firearms of all types have opened doors. They opened doors because they provided American buyers what they wanted – a reliable product at an affordable price. Mossberg firearms have also proven that they can keep working through a succession of owners. Lasting Impact O.F. Mossberg’s legacy rests on the sheer numbers of people influenced to
take up shooting sports because somewhere they encountered a Mossberg firearm, and found it safe and effective to use. Beyond that, they found that membership in the aristocracy was not a prerequisite for owning one. I suspect our reader’s comment about concluding his long-gun collection will only hold true for a while. Most shooters will find something else to purchase before long. That said, I also suspect he will get many years of shooting pleasure and experience from the two Mossberg .22s now at his beck and call. They make a fine pairing for any Maine homeowner or small game hunter. Almost makes me wish I hadn’t traded my Mossberg 320B with its 4X scope for that 6.5mm Japanese Arisaka rifle back when I was in high school. I’m doubting I made the best deal.
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38 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Opinions on Sunday Hunting in Maine When I left New York State for Maine in 1992, I’d been able to hunt whitetails on Sunday, but only with archery equipment. Small game, upland birds and waterfowl had been legal to hunt on Sundays throughout my lifetime. However, the cries from deer hunters were growing louder. In 1993, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) started a three-year trial for Sunday firearms deer hunting. I’ll admit, it was nice to have an extra day of deer hunting over the Thanksgiving break. In 1996, NYS made permanent the ability to hunt for deer on Sunday with firearms. However, I became a full-time Maine resident in 1994, so the change held no real benefit for
The author reviews the arguments for and against Sunday hunting, and opines that both sides have true and valid points. Then he reveals how to find peace as a hunter, whether or not the current prohibition is ever changed. me. As an outdoor writer, public speaker and social influencer in Maine’s deer hunting world, I am often asked by people for my opinions on Sunday hunting. My typical response is, “I don’t have a dog in the fight.” I probably enjoy and dedicate more time to deer hunting than 95% of hunters. In my late teens, twenties, thirties and forties, I undoubtedly spent a disproportionate amount of time thinking of, scouting for, and hunting deer. Though I wasn’t hunting Sundays, I was scouting from the couch, after
church and after football. Deer were always on my mind. So, I can relate to those wishing for a Sunday hunting opportunity. “Sundays are for Chruch, Football and Rest” Because Maine has never allowed Sunday hunting in my 32 years of living here, free time after church has been used for scouting or resting, at least when my football team isn’t playing. When the Steelers or Patriots are playing, I’m watching the game, and during those times I feel no pressure to be in the woods. When in NY during deer season, church and football only happen when the weather is poor. Hunting on Sunday often makes me feel guilty about missing church. If the Steelers are playing, the game is recorded and watched later. Honestly, while
hunting, I pray a lot anyway, not just on Sundays. In fact, I’ve felt most religious while in the deer woods. Sitting quietly by myself lends itself to listening. In fact, Matthew 6:6 says, “Find a quiet, secluded place to pray.” However, the third of the 10 Commandments says “Keep holy the Lord’s Day.” If I’m hunting on a Sunday while out of state, I just pray a little more. If Maine ever makes Sunday hunting legal, I’ll still go to church, but I’ll deer hunt, too. Protecting Private Land, Guides, Deer Numbers and Non-Hunters There are many arguments against Sunday hunting. Groups representing private landowners are concerned about losing access to hunt private lands. Some private landowners have
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threatened to end public access if Sunday hunting becomes law. Many believe Sunday hunting will lead to “reverse posting” laws. Guides say they need the off-day for family and to prepare for next week’s sports. Biologists warn that our deer herd can’t handle the additional hunting pressure of four additional days of firearms hunting, let alone archery and muzzleloader. Finally, non-hunters want their quiet/ safe time in the fall woods. There’s truth and validity in each argument against. However, there are excellent arguments for the addition of Sunday hunting. Private landowners wishing to hunt their own property on Sundays are denied the opportunity. Guides in other states that adopted Sunday hunting, didn’t lose business or access for long periods of time. In fact, some guide services saw increases in their business. In regards to our deer herd, the numbers game can be played, if DIF&W is willing to play it. Adding four busy Sundays would likely mean our firearms-deer season would get shortened by a week or more. However, we currently have one of the longer firearms seasons in the country. Finally, safety and sharing the woods haven’t changed (Continued on next page)
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in other states that have adopted Sunday hunting. Arguments both for and against Sunday hunting are valid. Change is hard for most people, and with something that has so many moving parts and so many players, the change would likely be extremely complicated and heated. Some social media posts have been downright mean, and in some cases, extremely personal. I know people who won’t comment on a Sunday hunting post, because of how contentious some have gotten. A few arguments have even gotten physical. That’s ridiculous. However, we must understand that passionate people can sometimes become overstimulated and can act inappropriately. So, when I’m asked where I stand, my simple answer is, “I don’t have a dog in the fight.” I’ve enjoyed 32 years of hunting in Maine. In fact, Maine hunting has been the best hunting of my
Trophy Gallery
The author and his wife Karrie enjoy watching football and going to church on Sundays during deer season. However, if Sunday hunting is ever legalized in Maine, Joe might have church in the woods, and record the games for viewing after dark. Note: Salty is also a Patriots fan, as long as they aren’t playing the Steelers.
life. If a change is made, like most people, I’ll adapt. Life will still be good. Hunting will still be good. In fact, it might become better than it is now. Until that day, I’ll use Sunday to rest, pray and watch football.
Please remember, it’s just hunting, and the question of whether or not to allow hunting on Sunday shouldn’t become the most important issue in anyone’s life.
¶
Iven Leet of Gray (right) was hunting with Eric Duplessis in T8 R8 WELS on September 30, 2023 when he earned membership in the Maine Moose Hunters Club by harvesting this 746-lb. bull moose with his .308. The trophy was registered at Gateway Trading Post, on the Garfield Road in Ashland.
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40 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Hiring Employees: “Mistakes Were Made” During my twenty-seven years as an administrator for the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, it was always my pleasure to offer applicants employment with Maine State Parks. Spring was the time to begin the hiring process to fill vacant positions. Interviews were conducted to determine the best candidates for rangers, assistant rangers, receptionists, lifeguards, and laborers. After studying references and work history, and conducting interviews, I’d have a strong pool of applicants from which to choose. Employee daily responsibilities included such activities as environmental protection, public safety, registering visitors, collecting fees and interpreting the park’s natural history. I am pleased to relate that several of my appointments became Game Wardens, Forest Rangers, and Park Managers. The fun part of my day was when I called an applicant and offered them a position: “You can start work on Monday – Welcome aboard!” Then There Were Others However, despite my best efforts, sometimes there were a few who were smooth enough to slide through the interview process. Such was the case with assistant ranger Fred, whom I inherited when I became Park Manager of Cobscook Bay.
shared that Fred was growing marijuana on Park property. We carefully watched his activities. Before long, dayuse groups of 10 to 12 often-impaired individuals began arriving for picnics. With the intoxicated visitors came vehicles that traveled at high rates of speed, sometimes barely missing children riding bikes. Eventually, we learned the visitors were there to harvest crops of cannabis.
Cobscook Bay. T. Caverly Collection
One night, I noticed that Fred was later than usual leaving for the day. Backtracking, Dennis and I found where he had parked near the Park’s shower facility. From there, we followed a foot trail, all the while watching for hazards intended to ward off people in uniform. After hiking through thick alder bushes, we arrived at a clearing where we discovered 130 cannabis plants, all ripe for harvest. I must admit that Fred had worked hard on State time in the summer heat to grub out a garden in the thick tangled roots of the hardwood bushes. In the clearing were several shovels and garden rakes that were proudly identified as “Property of Cobscook Bay State Park.”
Map of Cobscook Bay. T. Caverly Collection
Fred was a likeable fellow, and although he sometimes needed encouragement to find work, his accomplishments were passable. Then came the day when my year-round Ranger, Dennis, received a late-night phone call. The next morning, Dennis told me about the phone conversation, and www.MaineSportsman.com
Baby Great Horned Owl living Cobscook. T. Caverly Collection
in
I alerted the local Sheriff, and the next day in the park office, the two of us confronted Fred with our findings. At first, the man denied any knowledge of
the illegal patch. But when we showed him several pulled plants and explained the seriousness of conducting such activities in a State park, he became extremely nervous. Softening my questioning, while the deputy stood near, I told the employee that according to the Sheriff’s office this was his first offense. I added that he was a good person, employee, and someone whom I hated to see arrested and go to jail. Not to mention the probability of paying a heavy fine for harvesting and trafficking drugs near a children’s playground. However, if Fred chose to resign, I wouldn’t file charges nor ask for fines to be levied. The employee agreed to sign a resignation, and I never saw him in the park again. The rest of the marijuana plants were pulled and destroyed, and within a few weeks, the alder bushes had regained lost ground.
Cobscook Bay Low Tide. T. Caverly Collection
In next month’s issue, I’ll return to the Allagash and Umsaskis Lake, to relate another personnel tale. I had an appointment at 8:30 a.m. to meet with Assistant Ranger Ollie to discuss his performance standards. But when I arrived at his camp, the worker was nowhere to be found. Around 9:15 a.m., forty-five minutes late, his car came roaring into the driveway. When he stepped out of his vehicle, I saw that Ollie’s face was crisscrossed with imprints of little square check marks. Silently I wondered, “What in the world could have happened?” We’ll answer this question next month. Tim Caverly has authored thirteen volumes about Maine. For information about his latest book written for grades 3-5, look for “Stella’s Odyssey” at www. allagashtails.com
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 41
Warmer Winters Facilitate Under-Ice Muskrat Trapping Trapping muskrats through ice in Maine has rarely ever been done, because up until recent years, “normal winter ice conditions” have made the effort not worth the return. Chopping through thick ice for the return on beaver is even questionable at times, but for a $2.00 muskrat, it just doesn’t even begin to make sense. As our winters appear to be getting warmer, and ice thickness is becoming less in the fall and spring, trapping muskrat becomes more attractive. Also, with the beaver seasons beginning earlier in the fall and running later into spring, more open water trapping is possible in both seasons. The law allows the trapping of muskrat whenever beaver may be trapped. For trapping muskrat through ice, a trapper needs only to scale down in size the methods used to trap beaver. The baits used for muskrat include slices of potato or ear corn, or small pieces of parsnip or carrot. If using potato or corn for bait, cut it so that it’s about 1 inch thick. Apple should not be used for muskrat bait under ice because it darkens fast and becomes soft enough that a muskrat may knock it off the trigger without being taken. The fastest and easiest under-ice trapping can be done with a size 110 body grip (Conibear) trap, along with
Warm weather is finally here, but our trapping columnist is already making plans for the coming winter, since the thinner ice of recent years has made muskrat trapping feasible and viable. the 120 and 155 size body grip traps, although a friend from Wisconsin who has trapped under-ice for muskrats for years says that he has a much higher catch rate using the size 160. A trapper needs only to place the body grip onto a pole such as a dry sapling or wood lath (so beavers won’t chew on it) about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter that the body grip spring(s) eyes will fit over. Store-Bought Poles Easier than Saplings? A better way is to purchase wood laths or furring strips. Any lumber yard or big box store such as Lowes or Home Depot should have them. There are also pressure treated ones available. They are inexpensive, with bundles being the cheapest way to buy them. Compared to cutting saplings, buying your poles is more practical and probably a cheaper way to get them. They also fit into a canoe or sled much better than a pile of random length poles cut from saplings. Keep in mind that the length you purchase will be determined by the thickness of the ice and the depth of the water you are trapping in. If you’re using foothold traps on the poles, then a larger in diameter/thickness pole or lath will be required. A furring strip of 1-inch x 2-inch can work for this, or something larger, depending how they are to be assembled. They will be rigged like a miniature foothold pole set for beaver. The older under-spring “jump” traps in number size #1 or # 1 ½ work well for this, as does the newer coil spring traps of the same size. The jump trap is no longer made, but there are usually plenty of them available wherever used traps are sold. The same size coil spring traps as well as some of the newer manufactured single long springs
will require the pan adjustment screw/ nut assembly to be loose so that the pan drops easily. The body grip set is easier than a foot hold trap set to put together, because it has fewer components to assemble. The pole used to support either set needs to be long enough to reach the bottom to stabilize it and have enough length left to mark the set above the ice surface. All you need is a body grip trap and some wire to attach it to the pole and bait. When placing potato or corn on the trigger, ensure the lighter surface is visible both ways. Making the Platform If using foothold traps, any manner of platform for the trap can be made of wood and secured to the pole by screws or nails. This may be done several ways – the same as you would do for beaver, just on a smaller scale. Making platforms ahead of time that can be attached once on the ice, speeds things up. One of the easiest and fastest methods is making the platform out of heavy gauge wire. This is done by cutting wire to a length that will leave you two ends on which to set the trap. The length of the wire (average is about 1 ½ feet) is determined by the thickness of the pole. The wire is centered on the pole and (Trapping continued on page 44)
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42 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Artificial Intelligence in Hunting and Fishing For centuries, hunters and anglers have relied on local knowledge, intuition and luck for success while out in nature. In recent years, technology has advanced quickly, from cellular game cameras to E-bikes, and outdoorsmen are entering into a new era. It makes you wonder what tools we will have at our disposal in the future. How will technology and artificial intelligence (AI) advance and influence our time outdoors, and where should we draw the line from an ethics and traditions perspective? AI Today Outdoorsmen already benefit from AI in several ways, whether we realize it or not. Below are some examples: • Apps like DeerCast and FishBrain use AI to predict the best windows for deer hunting and fishing, based on such factors as weather patterns, lunar phases, barometric pressure, time of day, and tides. • AI is to thank for more accurate GPS
Whether we’re ready or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, and its integration into hunting and fishing will continue. The author surveys the products that are currently available, makes some predictions for the future, and asks, “Are outdoorspeople at risk of becoming over-reliant on technology? And what about fair chase questions, and privacy concerns?”
Technology is advancing quickly and creating ethical dilemmas. Garmin says the Livescope XR can see up to 500 feet forward or below the boat in freshwater. Photos sourced from the manufacturers
maps that show users where they are at all times, and thus improve their safety. • Speaking of maps, OnX maps recently announced that coming soon, the app will be able to analyze and
hunters research and apply for tags based on factors like draw odds, states, species, weapons and dates. • AI-powered drones can be used for scouting or tracking wounded game (where the
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integrate data provided by your cellular game cameras with weather patterns, moon phases, and time of day, to predict what deer are doing on your property. • Apps now help
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practice is legal). • The Garmin Livescope sonar fish finder detects real time movement underwater in front of you and to the side, guiding anglers on where to cast. • Swarovski Optiks recently unveiled a smart binocular that will identify wildlife species for you while you’re looking through the eyepieces. • Old Town Canoe launched its E-pdl kayak earlier this year, which offers manual mode, pedal assist, or cruise control. • AI-powered riflescopes analyze wind speed and distance to calculate aiming recommendations. Some may consider this “cheating,” while proponents argue that it results in fewer wounded animals. What do you think? AI in Conservation and Law Enforcement Biologists have used AI to model wildlife population trends for years, but its capabilities continue to improve, utilizing both historical data and environmental factors to guide decisions about hunting quotas and seasons, as well as identifying high-value habitat. To give one specific example, recently biologists started using AI to complete the tedious task of identifying specific wildlife (Maine Sportswoman continued on page 44)
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It’s Canoe Month – Find a Double-Ender, and Paddle! I’ve always considered June to be canoe month. Maine has so many canoes. Chances are that there is at least one in the life of every person reading this page. It might be a weather-beaten aluminum veteran of the family camp, it might be an heirloom wood/ canvas beauty, or even a high-tech fly-weight carbon investment piece. We are canoe people. Kayaks, standup paddleboards, rowing shells, drift boats, and every kind of motorized craft abounds in this state as well. But canoes continue to hold a place in our common self-perception as outdoor sport people who live or play here. Even those of us who don’t canoe often are convinced that we were born with a beavertail paddle in hand. How did canoes become such a large part of Maine’s identity? We Owe it All to Birch Bark Maine’s canoe culture extends back in
To fully understand the significance and importance of the canoe culture here in Maine, go to a different part of the country where there are no canoes: no canoes on the water, no canoes on passing cars or trucks, no canoes to rent – simply no canoes.
A birch bark canoe, as seen at the annual Maine Canoe Symposium. All photos provided by the author
time to our Abenaki predecessors and their modern ancestors. Other places had birch bark canoes, but the Malecite, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes were the most refined builders. For thousands of years, these canoes were the only conveyance across the huge landscape that would become Maine and New Brunswick. If you can’t imagine sheets of birch bark large enough to make an actual floating watercraft, check
An Old Town “Octa” model canoe, deep in the Maine woods.
out the huge paper birches on the east side of Upper South Branch Pond in Baxter State Park. Then imagine them spread all over the state – it makes their use as a source of canoe material seem obvious. For a look at those materials transformed into iconic canoes, see the real thing at the Pejepscot Museum in Brunswick, Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, or the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor. To completely immerse yourself in First Nation culture, go on a Wabanaki Cultural Canoe Trip on the Penobscot River with native guides and the Mahoosuc Guide Service. You’ll get a rare chance to paddle a birch bark canoe, and perhaps see one being built by native Penobscot craftsmen on the banks of their home river.
Wood & Canvas The wood and canvas era cemented Maine’s reputation as canoe country in the nation’s mind. Old Town Canoe Company built more than 4,000 wooden canoes per year between 1906 and 1929, and more than 200,000 of them were built in Old Town by the end of the 20th Century. Based on native birch bark designs, the boats were shipped nationwide and overseas with the iconic Old Town Canoe nameplate boasting
their Maine origins. It’s tough to buy state branding like that. Maine’s wooden canoes were sailed, rowed, poled and paddled even in urban settings, with boating clubs springing up in wealthy parts of large cities. Many of these urbanites first encountered wood & canvas canoes as youths at summer camps in Maine and other rural areas. For deep woods lumbermen and other workers, canoes remained vital for transportation. But as Maine’s recreational industry started to come to life, fishing and hunting guides recognized the magic ambiance that wooden canoes loaned to any outing. Tin, Fiberglass and Plastic With the end of World War II, Grumman Aircraft and other wartime builders funneled excess manufacturing capacity into producing aluminum canoes and boats for the recreational trade. (Continued on next page)
Workhorse of the North: the 17’ Old Town Tripper, constructed with Royalex. www.MaineSportsman.com
44 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Self-Propelled (Continued from page 43)
Maine canoeists mostly turned up their noses at these New-Yorkbuilt, noisy, shiny intruders. But these first challengers to the wooden tradition foretold dramatic changes ahead, and they were quickly followed by fiberglass and various types of laminated plastic boats in the 1970s. Meanwhile back in Old Town, the wood and canvas classics were still being produced. But just when Maine’s canoe-building tradition seemed
to be in peril, the nation’s most-famous canoe manufacturing company went all in on a space-age material named Royalex. This laminated plastic sandwich with a foam core and vinyl exterior became the gold standard for modern canoe material. Royalex proved to be ultra tough, abrasion resistant, lighter and more rigid than polyethylene, and it had amazing structural memory. One Old Town Canoe ad showed a Royalex boat
Trapping (Continued from page 41)
wrapped once around, and then the ends are twisted several times to ensure the “platform” is secured tightly to the pole. The wires are then bent out on each side of the pole. Next, the wires are bent at 90 degree angles, several inches from the pole so that they are facing out, providing about a 4-inch-wide platform. The
being thrown from the factory roof to the pavement below without damage. The new material was UV resistant and quiet to use, and it slid effortlessly over rocks. Old Town Canoe spun hundreds of thousands of canoes, and then kayaks, from this wonder material until about 10 years ago. Their most iconic model was the Tripper in 17’ and 20’ lengths. These boats became the workhorse of the north for outdoor outfitters, guides and backwoods enthusiasts across North America and beyond.
An iconic wood and canvas Old Town canoe manufactured in 1953.
You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ’Til It’s Gone The persistence of the open canoe in Maine’s popular culture isn’t always obvious to those of us immersed in it. At least until we visit places where the canoe culture doesn’t exist. Three recent summer road trips in the Mountain West
trap is then secured on the wire platform by passing the ends of the wire between the base plate and the spring levers on a coil spring, or between the baseplate and jaws and spring on a jump or long spring trap. Once the trap is set in position, then cut off excess wire sticking out beyond the trap, and wire the trap chain to the pole. When using a foothold, the bait is attached approximately 3 inches above the trap,
and Pacific Northwest were remarkable for the absence of canoes and the place that they hold in the imagination of Maine residents and visitors. No canoes on the water, no canoes on passing cars or trucks, no canoes to rent – simply no canoes. It was eerie.
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with the bright surface facing out. The foothold pole set may also be used in open water by securely setting the pole in the bottom with the trap platform 3 or 4 inches below the surface and the bait just above. Lure may be placed on the top of the pole to enhance its attractiveness. This allows the trapper to use this set both under ice and in open water.
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Maine Sportswoman (Continued from page 42)
calls. When Georgia wanted to estimate quail populations, in the past, technicians left a recording device in the field and then spent hours listening to the audio for quail calls. But now, AI can do the listening and identifying. Game wardens can use AI to identify areas in need of more patrolling, or use thermal imaging with human recognition software on game cameras that alert to night poaching. What’s Next for AI? From smart gear to better apps, the power of AI is barreling along at an incomprehensible speed. Here are some advances that may be available to outdoorsmen soon: • Smart fishing rods that detect water temperature and clarity, and when paired with an app, can suggest the best bait or lure to use for specific species. www.MaineSportsman.com
While users are looking through them, Swarovski Optiks’ new binoculars can identify species, and take photos.
• Smart firearms, with safety features such as fingerprint recognition. • Improved electronic calls (that perhaps will become too realistic and work too well?) • Virtual reality devices that generate realistic hunting and fishing scenarios, allowing sportsmen to practice aim, tracking skills and casting, all from home. What do you think about the current and future use of AI in the outdoors? Are we creating an overreliance on technology? There are many positive uses for AI in the outdoors from a conservation
Advanced mapping systems by companies such as onX help keep users safe.
and education standpoint, but in my opinion, we must ensure that its integration ensures fair chase, and protects the privacy of individuals.
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 45
Bill Sheldon – A Man of Many Stoves The morning dew burned off Davis Pond and mixed with the smoke coming off Dave Gadoury’s frying pan. His heavy pan and old school single-burner Coleman took center stage, as we shook off an 11-hour trail hike from the day before. I had my own Jet Boil working on some dehydrated hash brown mix I’d concocted just a week earlier. The third musketeer, Steve Carter, heated some dehydrated egg casserole on his lightweight MSR burner powered by iso-butane. Heating up meals on the trail rates as one of my great personal pleasures. Nothing adds to an outdoor event like a hot meal in the middle of nowhere. As a result of that indulgence, Bill Sheldon is a man of
Take it from an outdoor culinary master – a camper/hiker/drift boater can NEVER have too many cookstoves! Here are his “Top 9” models.
The author has a fascination with outdoor cooking. Here, he displays a partial collection of the many cook stoves he uses while recreating in the Pine Tree State. They range in weight from 4.3 ounces to 46 pounds. Other times, however, a simple campfire in a fire ring (foreground) gets the job done. Bill Sheldon photo
many stoves. When backpacking, everything comes down to weight and time. To keep a low pack weight, it’s im-
portant to plan for every ounce. However, sometimes it makes sense to sacrifice a few ounces for a better cooking experience.
Old School Coleman For many years, I went old school single-burner Coleman with a built-in tank filled with white gas.
Perfectly serviceable, but a little large and heavy. When the Lightweight Coleman 442 multi fuel came out, I switched. It did everything the original did, in a slightly more compacted space. Coleman is an iconic name in camping gear. I still have and use my large two burner stove for “car” camping. It’s a collector’s item these days, but mine still gets the call from time to time. With two Coleman lanterns going, I feel like I’m camping in the 1970s. I guess the drawback to old school Coleman involves carrying around the white gas. Most of my trips are not extended in duration. Filling up the attached tanks has lasted fine for these short trips. I do worry (Continued on next page)
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46 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Katahdin Country (Continued from page 45)
about the fuel leaking in my pack, but so far it’s a non-issue.
Jet Boil Then one year, a “Jet Boil” showed
Trophy Gallery
Harvey Wheeler of Cumberland Foreside was fishing on Moose Pond in Bridgton on April 29, 2024 when he caught and released this 7.8lb. largemouth bass on a jig. In recognition of his accomplishment, Harvey earned his Maine Sportsman “Catch-and-Release” club patch. Congratulations!
up under the Christmas tree. This sleek, all-in-one unit runs on iso-butane cans. I store my fuel canister inside the unit when packed. The Jet Boil works great for boiling water in record time. As a fan of hot chocolate and dehydrated meals, I bring it along on shorter hikes. I’ve added a “French press” attachment for an occasional coffee. I also bought an attachment that allows me to use just the burner, so I can pair it with a small titanium frying pan. Cooking pancakes in this has proven challenging. Part of the problem is it’s hard to get a really low flame on the Jet Boil. Burnt pancakes on the trail taste fine, with extra maple syrup. Venturing into the realm of not having to carry fuel, I discovered some folding stoves that burn twigs, pine cones and other burnables that litter the forest floor. They are fun to use, pack well and don’t overload the scale. Perhaps a little
smoky, and certainly not as easy to control as a fuel-powered unit, their one drawback is their reliance on available fuel. On a soaking wet day, expect a smoky fire at best. For lightweight backpacking, it’s hard to beat my 4.3-ounce GigaPower Stove from Snow Peak. It can crank an amazing 10,000 BTUs, and it boils water incredibly fast. Of course the 4.3 ounce stove packs down small enough to be a non-factor spacewise. Add in another four ounces for a small can of iso-butane. Boat Stoves When floating rivers in one of my drift boats, I’m usually cooking for three. For that, I bring out my Coleman Fold-and-Go. What makes this unit appealing for boat or car camping is that I can keep everything I need in the handy case it comes with. There’s enough room inside for two one-pound propane canisters, two fry pans, four plates, and a host of utensils. It’s pretty much grab-and-
go, while not taking up much space in the boat. I also keep a little dish soap and extra paper towels for cleanup. For super large groups, my Camp Chef three-burner comes to the rescue. With the large flat griddle on top, I’ve fed over 200 people breakfast. It’s just a little heavy for the trail. And what did my daughter get me for Christmas? Yup, another stove. The kids have caught on to my fascination with cooking in the field. The newest addition to the Sheldon arsenal is a compact folding iso-butane stove that has two burners. After extensive testing around the home, this unit will get some serious use. Now heating water for hot chocolate and making pancakes can happen at the same time. Of course, never overlook the culinary experience of roasting an all-beef hot dog over an open campfire.
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48 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Fishing Dry Flies – Keep it Simple! Fishermen come in many flavors. Most of us start our journey with a bobber, hook and a worm. As the hands of time inch forward, serious anglers move on to spinning rods and bait-casting outfits. Others pursue the slender wand, and spend countless hours agonizing over false casts or the perfect mend. Most average fly fishermen will use an arsenal of nymphs, streamers and dry
“With a four-weight rod and a Blue-winged Olive tied to the business end of my leader, I sent my offering into the feeding lane. It took two tries before I put the fly the hungry fish’s nose.” flies to seduce unsuspecting salmonids. I’d like to put myself in that “average” category. Maybe that’s a stretch. Fish do most of their dining below the surface. Give me a bead head pheasant tail bouncing along the bottom, and I’m in my zone. The less techni-
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cal nature of streamer fishing has also led to some memorable fishing trips. My first introduction to streamer fishing came on the Moose River, below Brassua Lake Dam. Ripping streamers through frothy water triggered hard hits and fish to hand. I was, no pun intended, hooked. Dry Fly “Purist” But there’s another breed of fly fishermen out there that sets their own rules. A good friend of mine, whom I’ll call Mike, is a master at tying flies and one heck of a fly fisherman. He’s on a much different stratosphere than poor ole me.
He absolutely refuses to fish anything but dry flies. He lives for the tail end of May and the month of June. In a world that some view as complicated, he simply enjoys tying on early season mayfly imitations, and putting them delicately on the nose of a feeding trout. Mike gets pretty technical, and I’ll venture he catches more fish because of it. In my view, he’s only a bamboo fly rod away from being a true “purist.” Our late editor, Ken Allen, taught me that it’s only as complicated as you make it. Allen System When trout start
sipping bugs off the water surface, it makes sense to join the action. Allen taught me to find a fly that matched the size, color and silhouette of the bugs on the water. More importantly he said not to worry about fancy Latin names or obtaining a degree in entomology. To get a closer look at these bugs, I carry a simple seine net. It’s no more than a fine piece of netting between two dowels. If I’m not sure what to tie on, I hold it in the current until it’s full of bugs. With a net full of bugs to go by, I just open my fly box and pull out the closest thing based on the Allen theory of size, color and profile. Poof, I’m in the dry fly-fishing business. Another sneaky
(Continued on next page)
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way to use cheat notes involves asking the local fly shop what’s hatching. It’s a great deal. They’ll give up some good intel and then sell a few flies that usually arm anglers with the right stuff. Internet chat rooms and some fly shops post current conditions and hatches online for the major waters. Assorted Flies The early season fly box should include an assortment of mayflies in various sizes. For me, it’s hard to beat my personal favorite Blue-winged Olive. That doesn’t mean I’ll leave my Hendrickson and March Browns behind. I’d be hard pressed not to mention having a few caddis flies also. Again, assorted colors and sizes make matching that captured bug a pick-and-pull affair. Dry fly fishing takes a little more finesse. It’s important to be accurate and drop the fly strategically upstream so it naturally drifts into the feeding lane. And
of course, the ultimate challenge, setting the hook, makes it all worthwhile. Cold Stream Forest Long before Cold Stream Forest came under the umbrella of Maine’s Public Reserve Lands program, I caught my largest brook trout to date. We had waded upstream from the Kennebec River north into Cold Stream. Methodically feeding at the tail end of a trampoline-sized pool, a large squaretail repeatedly sipped mayflies off the surface. With a four-weight rod and a Blue-winged Olive tied to the business end of my leader, I sent my offering into the feeding lane. It took two tries before I put the fly on the end of the hungry fish’s nose. Never weighed or measured that fish, but I’ve never matched its size and beauty since. Cold Stream Forest has seven waters designated as Heritage Fish Waters. This designation means no stocking of hatchery fish over native fish
Dry-fly fishing dominates local waters this month. Using the “Allen method” of matching bugs on the water with a fly that mimics size, shape and color keeps the author in the game without learning Latin. A good assortment of dry flies makes selecting the right bug a pick-and-pull affair. Bill Sheldon photo
allowed, and no use of live fish as bait. These waters contain pristine wild native brook trout, and have special fishing regulations. The Native Fish Coa-
lition has posted signs in the field identifying the Heritage Waters. This treasured collection of ponds includes Little Lang, Lang, Snake, Durgan,
Little Berry, Lone Jack and Berry Pond. Cold Stream Forest, and purists like Mike, are a match made in heaven.
¶
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50 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
An Essay on Togue, Salmon, and “Beautiful” Cusk By early June, what I call the “togue and salmon diaspora” has occurred. After congregating around river mouths in early spring to feast on smelt during their spawning runs, coldwater game fish have left those areas and dispersed throughout the lake. Barring long stretches of very hot weather, fish should
Cusk aren’t ugly, argues the author. In fact, largemouth bass are much uglier than cusk. Mature largemouth bass do not present a pretty picture – they are unsymmetrical, with huge, gaping mouths, unsightly pot-bellies, and misshapen caudal (tail) fins from fanning their nests. hold at mid-range depths through the month of June, perhaps 40-45 feet of water, sometimes less. Nighttimes still require shirts and jack-
ets, and early June mornings break on the chilly side. These are the times when you need to bring a towel to wipe the frigid dew from boat seats before
sitting down. The first hour after sunrise sees salmon and even brook trout picking off floating insects from still surfaces. I’ve always threat-
ened to bring a fly rod, pre-rigged with a dry fly, to fish to these early morning risers, but the lure of trolling has more appeal, and so for me it’s just one of those things that I “set out to do,” but never get around to doing. I regularly write about fishing during each month of open-water season. And after much (Continued on next page)
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soul-searching, I must confess that instead of ranking one month as being better than another, or naming one special month as my very favorite, I find that each month of the season has its benefits and charms. There is no “best month.” You might hear me saying that “June may be my favorite month,” but notice that I said “may,” not “is.” Beautiful Cusk I noticed in the April, 2024 issue of The Maine Sportsman, in “Letters to The Editor,” that an outof-state reader quoted me as saying that “cusk are the ugliest of all freshwater fish.” I never actually said that, and in fact I don’t find cusk particularly unattractive at all. The reader went on to say that “eelpout,” a fish of his state, are far uglier. Well, “eelpout,” is an Upper-Midwestern Regional term that’s applied to cusk. They are one and the same fish. That points out the importance of knowing the scientific names of fish species. Cusk, Lota lota, are Burbot, closely related to the burbot, or cusk, found in the Atlantic Ocean. Call them what you will, cusk or eelpout, but they are the same fish. I once saw a television special on fishing for “eelpout” in the Midwest. It looked like great fun, and if I were one to travel, I would have liked to visit the area in order to partake in the great cusk fishing. This was during an “eelpout” festival, and it was
complete with vendors cooking and selling freshly caught cusk. In terms of ugly fish, I do find a popular sportfish here in Maine to be “ugly.” Largemouth bass are unsymmetrical, with huge, gaping mouths and unsightly pot-bellies. Some individuals have misshapen caudal (tail) fins, from fanning their nests. All in all, a mature largemouth bass does not present a pretty picture. I once landed a 9-plus-pound largemouth bass that bit while I was crappie fishing. After tiring the fish enough to safely net it, I was appalled by its appearance. I knew people who would have run to the taxidermist after catching that fish, but I ate it instead. The fillets reminded me of codfish. Old Reliable While the capricious laws of nature add a bit of uncertainty to any fishing trip, it is pretty safe to say that you will catch at least some fish on any given day on Moosehead Lake. I was telling a friend the other day that concerning Moosehead, you can safely say you will catch togue. After that, it’s likely that you will catch at least one salmon, and if for-
tune favors, you may catch a brook trout. Or not. Of these, togue stand as the most reliable fish in the lake. For me, togue rate as the mainstay of any fishing trip – the one species I am sure to catch. I love togue, and there are plenty more like me out there. While double-digit togue are scarce, Moosehead Lake holds just enough of them to keep anyone’s interest up. Day-to-day catches range in the 2- to 4-pound class. And believe me, a 3- to 4-pound togue can convince the angler that it is far heavier than it really is. Togue are street fighters – headdown battlers that refuse to give up. As I said, togue are a given. Salmon come next, and it’s hard to recall a day on Moosehead where I didn’t take at least one salmon. Other lakes, such as Chesuncook, may offer faster salmon fishing, but Moosehead Lake can claim bigger fish overall. As for trout, a brook trout from Moosehead Lake stands as a welcome reward for many days spent on the water. Moosehead’s Call I find myself unable to resist the Moosehead Region’s siren call. Try it, and you will feel the same.
Dawn Holbrook admires a hefty Moosehead Lake togue. Photo provided by the author
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52 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Maine’s New Boater Education Requirement
A guide helps land a sport’s fish while trolling. Registered Guides do not need to complete a boater safety course. All photos provided by the author
I, for one, am very excited to spend the summer and fall on the water, both on recreational rides, and trolling for salmon and togue. As of January first, a boaters’ safety course has become required for some folks looking to put the boat in this season, and I’ll have to get it done. Boaters born after January 1, 1999 will now have to complete a safety course to operate a boat with a large engine. There are multiple course options available, both online and in-person. The state is currently using three vendors for online courses: BoatUS foundation (which is free, with a ‘suggested donation’), Boat-Ed ($34.95), and Boattests101 ($24.95). The in-person class is offered by DIF&W, and available classes can be found on their website. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers an in-person www.MaineSportsman.com
The author pulls up to the dock with his 8-hp boat. While a boating safety certificate is not required to operate a lower-power boat, it’s still a good idea to take the course, he says.
The author at the helm of a pontoon boat powered by a 90-hp outboard. He must pass the safety course before operating this boat in 2024.
Implementation of the new boater education law – which applies to younger boaters and more powerful boats – is being met with mixed reactions. However, one observer told the author that the folks who are complaining the loudest about the new requirement, may be the ones who need it most. course. This is called Boat America, and meets the requirements for Maine’s boaters’ safety. “Equivalency Exam” Option Don’t worry – for my readers under 25 who have spent their whole lives on the water, there’s hope. The State of Maine offers a Boating Education Equivalency Exam. The exam, consisting of 75 in-depth questions, is proctored by a state employee or volunteer. This seems like the best option for those who already have a good understanding of boating safety and don’t think they need the full class – just study up, and pass the test.
What’s in the review course is, in my opinion, valuable. In my experience, uneducated boaters tend to cause hazards to themselves and others, and their actions lead to negative feelings from other boaters and shorefront owners. I’ve said for years that boater education seems like a good idea – while it may be inconvenient for experienced boaters to have to take a course, it will improve the experience for everyone. As a friend of mine said regarding the new law and folks’ reaction to it, “It seems as if the people who are the most upset about the new boater safety requirement, are the ones who need
it most.” I think he’s right. Exemptions, and Early Feedback Now it’s worth noting that we who own slow boats (boats with motors 25 hp and under) are not required to complete the course. I guess the thought process is that there’s a lower level of risk when operating a slower, less powerful boat. Still, it may be a good idea to complete the requirements, regardless. In reality, an eight-horsepower outboard can be just as dangerous to a swimmer or operator as a high-performance craft. Plus, you never know when a friend may offer to let you operate their larger,
more powerful boat. There are a handful of other exemptions in place for certain boaters – Maine guides, as well as commercial fishermen, merchant mariners and daily boat renters, aren’t required to take a course. Still, it may not be a bad idea, depending on boating experience. It’s tough telling how this requirement will impact boating safety in the coming months and years. Lt. Jason Luce, a Game Warden based in Maine’s Region A Gray headquarters, was involved in the process of enacting these rules. “It’s early in the seasons so there is not a lot of feedback on the process,” Luce stated. He went on to give a preliminary analysis: “There is a lot of positive feedback from the marinas, and people seem generally happy that the legislature passed the law.”
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • June 2024 • 53
An Ax of Distinction to Grind
On the left is a new Brant & Cochran Allagash Cruiser, while on the right is a restored double-bitted felling ax. The head of the double-bitted ax was made by the Cayuga Axe Company, probably in the early 1900s. Photos by David Petzal
In his Tidewater Tales column in the November, 2023 issue of The Sportsman, Randy Randall told the story of a Snow & Neally ax which a friend brought back from the dead by a liberal application of elbow grease and skill. Randall made an excellent point – some of the badly neglected old axes we come across, if they’re still sound, can be given a new lease on life. But all too often, because axes were so commonplace, used so hard, and did not cost a fortune, they were abused into uselessness. There’s nothing you can do with these; the only thing left is to buy a new one. Most people go to the hardware store. The mass-produced axes you get there are durable and don’t cost a lot. But to someone who knows what a fine ax is, they don’t measure up. They can’t be gotten really sharp; they don’t balance quite right; and they’re simply not the same as an ax made by hand by someone who really knows what he’s doing. Needed an Ax for His Godson When the timber industry was at its peak, Maine was the ax-making capital of the United States. There were nearly 200 companies turning them out here, and many produced exceedingly fine tools indeed. The longest-lived maker was the Spiller Company of Oakland. It was started in 1813 by Samuel Spiller, a blacksmith, grew into a factory, and finally closed its doors in 1965, the very last Maine ax maker to do so. Which brings us to 2010, when a Mainer named Steve Ferguson wanted to buy a fine American-made ax for his godson, and found there was no such thing. So he decided to make them him-
What do you do if you’re a Mainer and you can’t find a quality ax that’s made here in the USA? Well, you make them yourself in South Portland, of course! self, and founded Brant & Cochran (the names are part of the Ferguson family tradition) to do so in South Portland. 1050 Steel, and White Ash After much research, he settled on a ¾-sized ax, which he calls the Allagash Cruiser. (Timber cruisers were highly skilled woodsmen who were turned loose in the forests to identify trees that could be harvested, and to mark them with a blaze, cut with a lightweight ax.) At the height of the ax’s popularity, there were more than 40 head patterns, and from these, Ferguson picked one called The Maine. The B&C version weighs 2-½ pounds, is forged from 1050 steel, has a heavy poll, and hardly any beards to the cutting edge. During the forging process, it’s quenched in the waters of Casco Bay. The handles are 28 inches long, and turned from white ash. Originally, they were made in the B&C shop in Portland, but the work is now done by an Amish woodworker in Pennsylvania. Every ax gets a leather sheath which is made right heah in Maine. In addition to its headstamp, each B&C axe wears an additional trademark – a braided red and white hanging cord. Award-Winner Brant & Cochran went into produc-
tion in 2015. Currently, there are six people involved in producing each ax, and they turn out between 60 and 70 a week. So great is the demand that they are 20 weeks behind on orders. In February, Brant & Cochran was honored as Maker of the Year at the annual South Portland Business Awards. This is an open competition for any handmade product, and for a non-trendy item like an ax to win is a hell of a testimonial. The Allagash Cruiser was joined by the Dirigo Belt Axe, which is a hefty, long-handled hatchet, and by the Forester’s Friend, a double-bit felling axe that is made on special order. Brant & Cochran also restores old axes, and these vanish immediately when they become available. Nothing Brant & Cochran sells is cheap. On the other hand, if you watch their axes being made, you’ll wonder how they can sell at the prices they do. Their website is bnctools.com. Author’s note: If you’re interested in axes, here are two books you want: The first is American Axe, The Tool that Shaped a Continent. It’s a short, entertaining, information-filled work on old axes. You can get it from Brant & Cochran. The other is The Ax Book—The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter. Written by Dudley Cook and originally published in 1999, this is the ax bible as far as I’m concerned. Mr. Cook has put more information in here than you ever dreamed existed. There are copies available from all over the internet, and very cheaply, too.
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www.MaineSportsman.com
54 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Author Admits to Lifelong Battle with Wind Knots A few simple tips from the pros may pop into your head when you are struggling with a casting issue, helping you avoid knots forming in your leader, while also enabling you to cast a longer, straighter line. After years of training with some of the best fly-casting instructors, I still find myself with the occasional wind knot in my tippet. Does this happen to everyone? I am going to start asking around. I bet I will find that there are many folks who fight this curse, and that they’re just like me … they don’t want to admit it. I read a Facebook post the other day, and the author of the post claimed that wind
knots were made from casts that had a tailing loop. He proceeded to explain how he thought it happened when the fly rod was forced ahead too early from the back cast … meaning that the line didn’t have a chance to completely unfurl in the back cast before the angler started the forward cast. That simple explanation didn’t cut it for me and a host of other readers, even though the author also included a good explanation
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of how proper timing can be achieved in the casting stroke to avoid this troubling issue. Several unkind folks responded to the post with cutting remarks about how stupid the guy must be, and how he probably wasn’t a “real” fly fisherman, and other comments that really didn’t help. Several others nailed it on the head with a few other reasons for why a wind knot forms. I agreed with them all, and have to say I was quite impressed with
their suggestions – several types of slight casting imperfections can create wind knots. Back to Basics In my mind, as I processed this online casting advice, my thoughts immediately went to visualizing basic casting instructions. One instructor aptly described the correct casting stroke as being similar to flinging an apple off a stick. I remembered as a kid we used to stab an apple on a stout stick, swiftly swing the stick forward, then abruptly stop the stick mid-stroke. The apple would get tossed at an amazing velocity, and if we practiced enough, we’d get pret-
ty accurate with the apple toss. The forward and back cast should both be done in this fashion – typically stopping at ten o’clock and two o’clock positions. The casting stroke itself, both forward and back cast, should start slowly and gradually gain momentum, and then stop abruptly at those ten and two positions. For short cast, I like to stick with the traditional idea of pivoting at my elbow during the cast. I’ve heard it described like this; “Pretend you are holding a book against your body with your elbow as you cast.” When I cast for any distance beyond 20 or 30 feet, I like to use a method that the famous casting instructor Lefty Kreh taught me. He said, “During your casting stroke, use your whole body and rock back and forth on your feet a little. Make as if your elbow is on a shelf, and slide it back and forth with each stroke on a level plane. Get your elbow off your hip, so you don’t look like a pansy” (he was such a wonderful jokester). Mr. Kreh showed me how his method stopped the big arc in the line that gets formed when someone casts the traditional way, with their elbow as the fulcrum. After using the Kreh method, my loops started to (Continued on next page)
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tighten up, and long, accurate cast started happening on a regular basis. Thank you, Lefty! Further Technicality Another great thing about Lefty’s method – the line flies on a level plane throughout the cast. A lot of tailing loops that form wind knots come from dropping the rod off this level plane as the angler begins the forward cast. If you are riding your elbow on that make-believe shelf, you won’t drop your casting arm and cause a problem. I see a lot of guys casting the traditional way at moderate distances, and they do just fine. But when someone wants to really rip that line out there, they need to
use their whole body. Watch a tournament caster, and you’ll see they look like they are performing some kind of ballet or tai chi movement when they cast the line … it’s graceful, yet so powerful. Another childhood memory just surfaced that kind of explains how important the timing issue is to avoid wind knots. Some of you might remember cracking a bull whip as a kid. If you timed the back stroke just right, and brought the whip forward really fast, the tip of the whip would crack, and you could pretend that you were a young lion trainer in the circus under the Big Top, cracking that whip to keep the ferocious lions in order. Well, I’ve accidentally “cracked the
Famous fly fisher and casting instructor Lefty Kreh is shown here teaching his casting method to folks at L.L. Bean in Freeport. William Clunie photo
whip” with my fly rod a few times, and snapped the fly right off the tippet by coming forward with my
cast too soon. To avoid this, stand somewhat sideways when casting, and watch your back cast unfurl …
then cast forward, and see your line shoot out in a more uniform and consistent fashion.
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56 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Baitcasting – A “Purist’s” Preferred Method of Bass Fishing? I am a fly fisherman, period. Now before you get all mad, let me tell you why. I love the skill it takes to fly fish, which comes with practice. I love the peace and quiet, but most of all, I love the smash as a salmon or brook trout hits my dry fly, followed by the adrenaline rush and excitement of fighting a fish and netting it. It’s like nothing else … or so I thought. Many evenings after work, we venture out to the stream in our pontoon boat for a ride and some fishing. I have an old flyrod I keep on the boat, and once in a while I get lucky and land a crappie. I have yet to land a bass with my fly rod, and fly fishing from a moving boat isn’t always the easiest, especially for my driver, who’s ducking my line. Spinning Gear Good for Kids So, most of the time, we use those inexpensive, thumb-operated, closed-reel rods you buy at the department stores to
The author is a fly fisherman, but she finds bass fishing with a bait-casting reel can offer the same type of excitement experienced by those using the “slender wand” and tied flies.
The author with a largemouth bass. Photos provided by the author
A baitcasting reel takes some practice in order to make long casts without causing backlashes in the line.
catch bass, pickerel, or perch. We keep three or four on the boat, so that if the kids want to fish, there’s always gear available. Our tackle consists of crawlers, artificial lures, frogs and spinners. We fish as we boat through the channel, casting into grasses, under wharfs and over-hanging branches, and near fall-downs where bass hang out. Each time I cast, I
hard to flip the bail and react to a largemouth bass hitting your frog as soon as it hits the water. According to wired2fish.com, “With a lot of practice and patience, learning to use a baitcast reel can expand a fisherman’s ability to use different baits that spincast and spinning reels can’t handle like flipping, frogging, and larger spinnerbaits.”
have to reel like crazy to retrieve my line. In the time it takes to reel in my line, I lose a lot of opportunities to make another cast. After talking with an avid bass fisherman, I found out that there are rods just for bass fishing. The spinning openfaced reel with flip bail is easy to use, but also has a slower retrieval than baitcast reels. I can attest that it’s
Faster Retrieval Than a Spincast Reel The baitcast reel is designed to cast farther, and allows faster retrieval of the line. The typical spinning reel has a 1:4 ratio, meaning for every crank, the spool turns four times. With a bait cast reel, the ratio is 1:7 or more, so you reel in the line almost twice as fast. The disadvantage is that they are harder to learn to use, since the spool’s speed is controlled by the thumb, and if not held properly and timed correctly, will “bird-nest” or backlash the line. Unlike a spinning reel, baitcast reels require the purchaser to select a left- or right-handed option that’s not interchangeable. Combos take the guesswork out of whether or not a reel fits the rod, and most manufacturers have one or two options. Most combos come with a butt cap on the (Get Out There continued on page 58)
Braided line requires special knots, such as the palomaror the uni-knot. Credit: 101knots.com www.MaineSportsman.com
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Early Morning Trolling Pays Off In Dividends Those anglers who can get out on the water just as the sun breaks over the hills will discover a whole new world of fishing, says the author, including the opportunity for a morning “trifecta” of trout, salmon and togue. With June comes warm (and sometimes even hot) weather. And yet, coldwater game fish have not yet dropped down to the deeper, colder water where we’ll find them in July and August. In fact, the wee morning hours of June can see a nip in the air. This is often enough to cause trout and salmon to feed near the surface. Hitting the water at daybreak puts you in the driver’s seat. Trolling slowly, not more than 10 to 30 feet down, can bring amazing results. I have a rod-andreel combo that is light enough so I experience a good fight out of any fish. The reel is loaded
with modern thin leadcore line. With this outfit, I can effectively fish at all depths, from shallow to deep. Of course we can say the same thing about downriggers, which allow us to use any rod we like. But on early June mornings, even a fly rod with fast-sinking line will do the trick. It’s just a matter of getting out there early and trolling slowly. I like to begin closer to shore, in 20 to 30 feet of water. After all these things fall into place, it’s time to relax and wait for that reel to scream. Multi-Species If you fish a water that contains trout, salmon and togue, it
is possible to take at least one of all three species before 10 a.m. For brook trout, stay close in toward rocky shorelines. Pretend it’s ice-out and you are targeting trout feeding in the rocks along the shore. Brown trout and rainbow trout range out a little deeper and farther from shore. After taking your one trout, then try for salmon next. It’s impossible to recommend a perfect distance from shore, because some lakes – especially dam-controlled ones – have shallow water going out hundreds of feet from shore. Once you find the 30-foot depth, presuming you are troll-
Early-morning anglers out trolling for salmon and togue. Tom Seymour photo
ing with two rods, set one at around 25 feet down, and the other a little more than 30 feet down. Bear in mind that a salmon will happily rush up to grab a lure or bait, but because of the placement of their eyes, they’ll seldom if ever take an offering fished beneath them. As fish bite, if they do, adjust your depth accordingly.
Assuming that the water remains calm, togue become your next quarry. Troll near bottom beginning at 30 feet, and let out line as needed, according to how fish respond. After you take your togue, you can sit back and ponder what to try for next. Bear in mind as the early morning turns to mid-morning, fish will have (Continued on next page)
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58 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Trout Fishing (Continued from page 57)
gone deeper, especially on sunny days. Let’s say you want to try for another salmon, assuming the lake where you fish allows for a 2-salmon bag limit. Move out farther from shore, and find at least 45 feet of water. In most cases, this is the charmed depth for salmon from mid-morning and until at least noontime. Again, vary your depths as circumstances warrant. Finally, remember that
all depths given here are approximate. Each lake is different, and there is no overall “perfect” depth. Lures, Baits Now that we have the when, where and how of early morning trolling established, it’s time to consider lures and baits. To begin, always remember that many times, simpler is better. Whether it is a lone smelt trolled by itself without any fur-
Get Out There (Continued from page 56)
rod, which helps when fighting larger fish, and rods come in graphite, fiberglass or composite. Graphite with a cork handle is by far my favorite set up, because it’s lightweight and easy to use for long periods of time, but that doesn’t mean it’s made me a better bass fisherman. The cost of a good-quality baitcast combo starts at $50 on sale, but can run as high as $300 or more. Gear Specifics As with most reels, the size of a baitcasting reel is based on the target species, to ensure that it can handle the specific requirements of line capac-
ther spinners or other trappings attached, or even a single streamer fly, less is sometimes better. I used to fish Junior Lake and West Grand Lake for salmon in spring. In time, I began experimenting with what lures, baits or lure/bait combos worked best. Then one day I tied on a Joe’s Smelt, and began trolling. It was as close as I ever got to having to beat the salmon off with a stick. Joe’s Smelt, when trolled, compresses into a sleek, slender
imitation that perfectly suggests a speeding smelt. I found that when using a Joe’s Smelt, faster trolling speeds took more fish. Likewise, a live smelt, hooked to an adjustable sliding-hook rig, will often kill salmon. Lacking smelt, a golden shiner works nearly as well. Sometimes, a size 000 dodger, 16 inches ahead of the smelt or 10 inches ahead of a Joe’s Smelt, will make all the difference in the world. Finally, wobbling spoons have a solid
ity and strength. Braided line is most often used, which also requires special knots, such as the Palomar (www.101knots.com/palomar-knot.html) and Uni-knot (www.101knots.com/uniknot.html) (see illustrations, page 56). Using the same simple know you use for monofilament and fluorocarbon line will cause your braided line to become untied. As with any type of set-up, the size of line varies depending on what you’re trying to catch and where you’re fishing. If you’re fishing with larger lures, lines vary from 35-80 pound test, but this can be considered personal preference, since some fisherman like the challenge of lighter line test. A higher test line will handle being yanked out of
day-in, day-out reputation for taking salmon and also togue. Mooselook Wobblers, my traditional favorites, come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. The company works hard to come up with new fish-taking color patterns. Go Slow With the exception of fishing a Joe’s Smelt, slow is key to early morning trolling. If you can get on the water as the sun breaks over the hills, you will find a whole new world of fishing.
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brush and tree limbs without breaking and losing gear; therefore, line choice depends on where you fish. Having a new rod and reel specific to bass fishing will be an interesting test for me. I’ll have a new set-up that I will have to learn to master while I watch bass jump for dragonflies on a summer evening, and me waiting for that moment when the bass slam my lure. I’ve discovered that it’s not just fly fishing that I love, but in fact it’s the smash when the fish hits my bait that gets my heart racing and keeps me coming back for more. If you get the chance, get out there and give bass fishing a try.
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— Guest Column —
June is Hendrickson Hatch Time by Angelo Conti, Harrison, ME
The month of June is marked differently by many people. For some it means the summer garden is here. For others, it means long days on the boat or at the beach. But for fly anglers, June is marked by a special event – the Hendrickson hatch. Hendricksons, Ephemerella subvaria to be proper, are one of the first significant mayfly hatches of the season. They are worth noting in my mind as they occur right when the water is perfect to have the fish most active. They also tend to emerge in high number groups, so if you can find them, the action will be nonstop. Find What Works Hendricksons are a larger mayfly species. Typically their dry flies are anywhere from size 12 down to a size 16; with nymphs being only slightly smaller. They can emerge in any weather conditions, but I find sunny breaks on a cloudy day is best. They are fairly poor emergers, with the duns hanging out for a long time on the surface. I find parachute-style drys work great to mimic a dun that’s wounded or stuck in the surface film. Many days if I find I am getting short takes or misses, I switch to a wet fly or emerger, and that tends to do the trick.
Hendricksons are among the bigger mayfly species, and they emerge in large numbers. Therefore, if you can find them, the action will be nonstop.
Studying the fish to see what they’re feeding on, and how they are eating, will help you land more fish, says the author. Photo: Jake Lettiere
Reading the Fish Many anglers can be deceived by splashy takes on the surface. Having an imitation refused no matter the size leads them to give up, thinking their entomological (bug studies) skills need work. However, it’s more likely their ichthyological (fish studies) ob-
servation skills need to be honed. Perfecting this skill of seeing what trout are taking, or reading the trout’s body language, is invaluable in fly choice. Size Differences for Males and Females A unique feature of the Hendrikson is its sexual dimorphism, meaning the males
and females look very different. They even emerge in different riffles. Rarely will you find male and females emerging in the same spot. The darker males are often called Red Quills, though they do not represent a different species. The duns are much dark-
er, and tend to be a size down from their female compatriots. So if the females are size 12, in my experience the males will almost always be a 14. The name difference is really for anglers, and perhaps fly shops, to note the different duns. The nymphs are identical across the genders. Fly choices for this hatch would be the light and dark Hendricksons (wet and dry) for both duns and emergers. Also Adams or March Browns tend to work great. Suggested Flies and Techniques My standard nymph imitations are the Red Fox or the Hares Ear. Try fishing these with a swing at the end of your dead drift. For those with better line control skills, throw heavy mends at the indicator to lift the indicator and therefore the rig, giving it a swimming motion. Over the years, I have become a utilitarian nymph fisherman for production’s sake. However, I chomp at the bit to fish drys or swing wets whenever I can. The Hendrickson hatch is my favorite time of year to do that. It’s a great hatch to get kids or older people out and involved, as it is rarely boring. So this June, hit your local water and keep your eyes peeled. Good luck!
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60 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
— Guest Column —
Green Lake: An Arctic Charr Winter Fishery Slipping Away by Wyatt Ford Once occupying waters as far as Vermont and New Hampshire, Arctic charr are now known to be found only within fourteen to possibly fifteen bodies of water, all within Maine. With their limited range, extra protections are placed for Arctic charr in most of their waters, to reduce mortality and overharvest in their remaining range. One such regulation is the ban on ice fishing on any water containing Arctic charr, to prevent the higher mortality rate and potential of baitfish introductions into their waters. This is not the case for a single water containing the species in the state. Green Lake, located north of Ellsworth and south of Dedham, is unique in many aspects when it comes to Arctic charr. Not only does it allow for ice fishing, but it is also the southernmost water containing the species within its range in the Lower 48. On top of this, it is one of only two Arctic charr waters that has a native population of rainbow smelt (the other being Floods Pond, which is closed to all fishing), and the only one with a native population of landlocked Atlantic salmon. Charr Prevailed Over Rainbow Smelts The fact that www.MaineSportsman.com
In the author’s opinion, the state is not doing enough to protect Arctic Charr in Hancock County’s Green Lake.
Arctic charr caught ice fishing from an introduced population in Colorado. Photos provided by the author
Green Lake’s charr population evolved in the presence of rainbow smelts is incredibly unusual, as every other instance where rainbow smelts were introduced into an Arctic charr water resulted in the latter rapidly declining in numbers and/or even-
tually becoming extirpated. Being one of only two populations to evolve alongside one of the most lethal species to their continual survival makes them something of great importance, as their genetics may provide answers as to how they can survive, unlike
Arctic charr captured from Green Lake in 2006.
those found elsewhere. Unfortunately, the Arctic charr of Green Lake have not been able to fend off the negative impacts of another species known to decimate their populations when they come into contact: lake trout. This species has been known
to be the cause of the New Hampshire and Vermont Arctic charr populations becoming extirpated, due to competition for food, direct predation, and hybridization. With this in mind, it is baffling to me to think there is an active stocking program to this day in Green Lake for lake trout, with all the danger they pose for Arctic charr. Further adding to the confusion of this program is the fact that surrounding Green Lake are multiple lake trout waters with wild populations, whereas the population in Green Lake does not naturally reproduce. Urges a Stop to Togue Stocking in Green Green Lake has the potential to be an incredible winter fishery for both native Arctic charr and landlocked salmon that exists nowhere else, but due to the stocking of invasive lake trout, the continued survival of the native Arctic charr is in jeopardy. If action is not taken to end stocking and remove invasive species in the lake, we will lose not only another charr water (the largest remaining in the state), but a unique assemblage of fish that has evolved nowhere else.
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How to Sink an Outboard Motor An old friend once told me, “Randy, if it weren’t for bad decisions, there wouldn’t be any good stories.” He was right about that. Here at the marina, we tell a joke when we’re about to try something that may be a really bad idea. Like when we’re getting ready to turn a dock upside down using the forklift, and we’ve tied all the ropes and adjusted the lengths and checked the knots and put skids underneath and it looks like we’re prepared. Matt swings up into the cab of the forklift, pauses for a moment, glances around, winks at us and says with a big smile, “What can go wrong?” Yeah, right. What can go wrong? Matt should know, having been the chief culprit in a really poor decision made at our camp. Wise to Take a Few Deep Breaths Matt and his family were at the cabin on vacation, and they had invited a few friends to join them. The phone rang Sunday night. I picked it up, and it was Matt. “Hi,” I said. “How was your week?” “Oh fine,” he replied, “but I lost your outboard motor.” Dead silence. Then I asked, “You did what?” Matt hesitated. “It’s a long story,” he said. “I bet,” I said. “How’d you lose my motor?” In situations like these, it’s wise to take a few deep breaths. No one was hurt. The main thing is everyone is safe, and the situation did not require any trips to the hospital. But still, my outboard motor? How? The Explanation Well, it was like this. The motor on the pontoon boat was not running. It’s an older two-stroke with a built-in oil tank, and that tank had been leaking. I’d removed the tank, planning to buy a new one and replace it; but for Matt’s week at the camp, the pontoon boat was just a floating dock. Until, that is, when he and his friends thought maybe they’d like to go fishing. And that’s when they found my
A homemade outboard motor bracket constructed of scraps of lumber – what could possibly go wrong?
“I think the engine’s flooded!” Photo: yachtingnews.com
little 4 hp Suzuki leaning in the corner of the tool shed. “Hey, we can use this,” they shouted, and dragged the little motor out into the daylight. DIY Excitement was building. “All we need is some kind of bracket,” they decided. “Yeah, we can build something.” The idea was infectious, and before long, four guys were sawing, drilling and measuring. It only took an hour or so to construct a semblance of an outboard bracket and mount it on the stern of the pontoon boat. Matt would have to reach over the back seat in order to steer and run the throttle, but that should be do-able. After all, what could go wrong? The fishing trip was on. Guys climbed aboard the pontoon boat, and pushed it out into deep water. Matt pulled the
cord on the motor. Heading Out It fired right up. That 4 hp four stroke was a nice little motor. It always started and ran like a champ. Matt twisted the throttle, and the pontoon boat began to move ahead. “Hurrah!” the guys shouted. “It works!” Except the 20-foot pontoon boat is wide and ponderous, and when the wind pushed it back toward the reeds, Matt turned the motor and gave it some gas. Outboard Overboard The little motor was no match for the weighty pontoon, so Matt twisted the throttle farther. In an instant, the wooden bracket collapsed, the tiller twisted out of Matt’s hand, and the engine disappeared into the lake! Just-like-that. Only a few ripples showed where the motor had sunk. Needless to say, the guys were dumbstruck. Everything got very quiet. Sure, what can go wrong? The guys had not gone very far anyway, so they were able to paddle back to the camp. And that was it. Matt felt terrible, of course. He spent two days diving and searching for that motor, but to no avail. The only thing left was to call me and blurt out the news. As the boys sometimes say, it’s better to yank the Band-Aid off quickly. He certainly did that. Honesty being the best policy and all. Mostly, we laughed. I told him it was alright. We’d try to salvage the motor by bringing grapples from the marina. We tried that, but never did catch the motor. So, what does this little story tell us? For one thing, it proves that my friend was right – poor decisions do make for good stories. Also, when dumb things happen, laughter is sometimes the best response. After all, stuff is just stuff and can be replaced. And besides, I’m partly to blame as well. I should have had the pontoon boat fixed for their vacation. Karma can come back and bite you sometimes.
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62 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
For Better Bass Fishing, Hit the Small Ponds Think small for big bass, says the author, as he explains that he often catches more bass than the bass fishermen, even though he’s fishing for trout or crappies. While I don’t target bass specifically, I manage to catch a lot of them while pursuing other species. More – and often, bigger – bass fall to my trout and panfish lures while I’m fishing small ponds than while covering big lakes. Of course, our larger lakes certainly do hold monster bass. But for consistent action for medium and large bass, try hitting smaller lakes and ponds. You won’t go wrong by following an adage that I coined some years ago in this column; namely, if a place looks like it might hold bass, it probably does. This bears some explaining. Back in the 1980s, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) saw to it that shallow ponds in the Midcoast area – the kind that were far too warm to support coldwater game fish – were stocked with largemouth bass. I knew one game warden, a personal friend, who took it upon himself to see that bass were released in many small ponds and marginal waters throughout the region. Too Hasty It appears now that DIF&W may have www.MaineSportsman.com
acted in haste when implementing their bass-stocking agenda. Many of the ponds that now contain mostly bass, once held thriving populations of white perch and chain pickerel. These native fish were unable to compete with voracious predators such as largemouth bass, and as a consequence, almost completely died out. Interestingly, I haven’t seen that happen in waters that hold smallmouth bass. The native species appear to get along nicely with smallmouths, but have a difficult time competing with largemouths, and I cannot fathom why. No matter, because whatever damage was done cannot be undone. Besides, hardly anyone cares about pickerel, and a dwindling number of anglers target white perch. Most everyone prefers the glamor fish of the spiny-ray group, and that is largemouth bass. Also, don’t discount very small ponds, even your local millpond. My local millpond went from a first-class pickerel water to an exclusive haunt of largemouth bass. For bass fanciers, this is all good news. Truly, the species are every-
where. In fact, I would have trouble naming a Midcoast water that does not hold largemouth bass. Bass Tactics I have a friend who hails from Louisiana, and he just loves his bass. John knows all the tactics and baits (it took me a long time to come to grips with something made of plastic being called a “bait”) and knows how to use them. But there are some days when my panfish and trout gear take the lion’s share of bass. So here’s how I do it. I fish for white perch and black crappies with panfish jigs, my favorite being Crappie Magnets, made by the same company that gives us Trout Magnets. I’ll drift around a pond, trying to locate schools of fish. Sometimes I’ll even slowly troll two rods with two different color Crappie Magnets. This drives bass nuts, and sometimes I’ll catch far more bass than the fish I’m fishing for. Trolling with panfish lures is an especially hot method for taking smallmouth bass, although it works for largemouths, too. Once locating a school of, for instance, crappies, I’ll drift, if the water is calm. If
This 9-pound-plus largemouth bass fell to Tom’s crappie jig, fished using an ultralight rod.
wind becomes a factor, I’ll drop the anchor. Very often, after landing the first few crappies, I’ll catch a bass. Perhaps the action of hooked crappies attracts accompanying bass. Also, casting past where you believe the school of crappie is holding can be a deadly bass tactic. Bass prowl the peripheries of schools of both perch and crappies. I have had bang-up days on bass at the same time diehard bass fishermen in huge, powerful bass boats caught little or nothing. And the irony of it was that I wanted crappies, not bass. Trout Lures Springtime trolling with shiners or wobbling spoons takes plenty of trout in early spring. But even then, the occasional bass will hit an offering intended for trout. Those bass fight well in the frigid water of late
April and early May. But when June comes around, water warms to a point that trout go deep. Trolling in the same springtime haunts still produces fish, only they are bass, not trout. Go to your springtime trolling haunts, tie on a Mooselook Wobbler, and begin trolling. You’ll take plenty of bass, perhaps more than those fishing with more traditional bass gear. You might even want to use a 9-foot fly rod and fast-sinking line. You’ll take plenty of fish, and have great fun, too. One of my favorite setups for trout in the mid-depths, a dodgerand-fly combo, takes lots of bass in June, and big ones. Tie the sliding bait rig so that it trails about 16 inches or so behind the dodger, and hang on. So think small for big bass, and most of all, have fun.
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Time to Vacate This Place It was Monday, November 16th, 1981 – the middle of deer season. I’d gotten home in the wee hours of the morning, and I was still in bed. My wife called to me that there was someone at the door, dressed in hunter orange. I crawled out of bed and pulled on some trousers. I recognized the visitor as Dwaine Colbert. He’d been a year or two behind me in high school, and now resided in Corinna. I invited him inside and asked why he’d stopped in. Dwaine told me that just after daylight, he had shot at a deer, up on the Atkins Road. He said it was a good deer, a nice buck, that was standing in the dirt road about 100 yards from him when he fired at it. He told me his 30-30 had a scope on it, and he knew he had hit it, as it had humped up and ran into the woods on the west side of the road. He made a point of describing how the deer’s back seemed to be almost black in color. The problem was that the woods where the deer ran into after he fired was posted. He’d gone to see the landowner, Lyle Bolton, to ask permission, but Bolton was pretty grouchy about it and said he could only go look if Bolton went with him. History with Bolton Bolton and I had a rather complicated history. He raised dry beans, and always complained about crop damage problems with deer during the summer. He kept asking me to issue a permit to a very sketchy individual, with a dubious reputation, to shoot the deer in his beans. This caused other complaints from his neighbors, as he kept his land posted and did not allow them to hunt there in the fall. Subsequently, Dwaine and Bolton went up to the area in question and began to look around independently from each other. Dwaine stated that they hadn’t looked very long when Lyle yelled to him that he had other things to do and didn’t have all day to look around. Dwaine said he told Lyle that he was sure that he’d hit it, but Lyle said, “There’s no sign of it – you must have missed.” Dwaine wanted me to go see Lyle and inquire about allowing him to come back and continue looking for the deer. I told him I would go see Lyle as soon as I
The author started driving to the crime lab with the evidence, but he didn’t get far. got myself organized. Chance Encounter On the way to see Bolton, I stopped for gas at a store that was also a game registration station. The owner, Bobby Pearson, came out to chat, and casually stated that Lyle Bolton had been in that morning with a nice buck. Well, that got my attention. I asked Bobby if the buck was uncharacteristically dark-colored along its back, and he replied, “Why, yes.” He said Lyle had hauled the deer all around town in the bed of his pick-up truck showing it off, down on Main Street by the woolen mill, the restaurant, and up to Hartley’s Garage. I headed out to Lyle’s residence. I pulled into the yard and saw that his pickup was parked there, with the deer still in the back. As I got out of my truck, Lyle came out of the barn and met me at his truck. I said, “That’s a nice-looking buck, Lyle.” He replied that it was, indeed, a good one. As I began to ask the usual questions people ask when looking over a hunter’s recent success, I took notice that the deer’s back was very dark. Recovery of a Slug I asked, “Where did you get it?” and he said down behind the chicken barn, right by where the gut pile is. I asked if he had gotten it with one shot, and he replied, “Yes, I hit it just in back of the shoulder, and it didn’t go any distance at all.” I could see the bullet entrance area and asked if the bullet had gone all the way through. He said he was not sure, so I asked if it would be alright to roll him over to see. He said sure, and as I rolled the buck over, I could not see any exit wound, but as I felt the hide with my fingers, I could feel the bullet just under the hide. I told Lyle, “I think the bullet is right there, just under the hide,” and asked if it would be okay to cut it out. Lyle said, “Yeah, go ahead,” so I cut it out and
found the bullet to be intact with minimal damage. I nodded toward a rifle in the gun rack of his pickup that looked like a .308 Remington, and asked, “Is that a .308 there that you shot it with?” Lyle replied, “Yes.” I asked Dolton if he’d spoken with Dwaine Colbert earlier that morning. Lyle replied that he had spoken with him, and they’d gone up the road to look for a deer, but Dwaine must have missed it. I told Lyle that I thought I should go up the road to where Dwaine said he shot at a buck, and look around a little. Lyle said that he would go with me, and we headed to the area in separate vehicles. The Scene We parked on the edge of the road and went in along a field. I observed some fresh tire tracks in a muddy area along the wood line. Then I found a drag mark where it appeared a deer had recently been dragged from the woods into the edge of the field, with the drag marks disappearing near to where the vehicle tracks were located. I called for Lyle to come back to where I was, and showed him what I had found. He immediately blurted out, “That must have been the fellow from Exeter [the sketchy guy I previously mentioned] over here last night.” I said, “Well, let’s follow these snow tread tire tracks back out to the road.” When we got to the road, I looked at Lyle’s truck and said “Lyle, those tire treads are just the same as the ones on your truck.” He replied, “There are a lot of them around.” Lyle continued to protest his innocence, so I told him we could clear everything up if he loaned me his .308 so I could take it to the crime laboratory in Augusta to see if the slug in my pocket was a match. He said he was sure it would not match, and he retrieved the .308 and handed it to me. Just before I departed, Warden Sgt. Bill Allen arrived on the scene. I had a brief conversation with Bill about the situation, and then I drove off, transporting Lyle’s rifle. (Tales from the Warden Service continued on page 65) www.MaineSportsman.com
64 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
June Bassing Brings Back Great Memories While the author’s father fished close to other camp-owners’ docks, he did not like it when anyone cast near his dock. He claimed an ownership interest in the fish. Just to get his goat, my mother would look out and announce to the author’s Dad that another fisherman was after “his” fish again. As spring transitions away and summer arrives, I wax nostalgic about days spent chasing smallmouth bass during the spawn along the shoreline. I’m a devout troller for salmon, lake trout and brookies. But I didn’t start that way. As a kid, I loved to fish for bass with my Dad, especially this time of year. Spawning bass hold tight, and attack any lures dropped nearby. Even a clumsy
kid with a dangerous back cast could hook a smallie if he slammed his lure down near a spawning bed. Although we spent time on Sebago and Rangeley Lakes (still my favorites), Dad had a friend with a nice lake house on Sunapee Lake in New Hampshire, so we rented it from him for most of June for many years. The place came with a 14-foot aluminum boat, and we had a
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1966 Evinrude 6-HP motor that we lugged along. As a teen, I could get that boat up to plane and zip along at a good clip. I’m not certain what I looked forward to more – catching those spawning bass, racing around in that boat, or hanging out with the girls who came to the lake for the summer. Treasure Chest Dad’s tacklebox was another icon of my youth. It was a huge Plano model that was filled with treasures. Most were geared toward bass fishing, so we often fastened on a Creme rubber worm complete with spinning propeller, a Fred Arbogast Jitterbug, or the productive Mepp’s spinner.
Craig Bailey of Raymond holds up a decent Sebago Lake smallmouth he caught while fishing with his neighbor, the author. Photo by Tom Roth
Mepp’s was and still is a popular spinner. As a kid, I potted red squirrels with my BB gun, and sent in my collection of squirrel tails to Mepps, and get either a cash reward or a selection of lures. Times change, and Mepp’s still buys squirrel tails, but now they gently remind prospective providers that the squirrels should be harvested
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first for their meat, and not just the tails. There was a smattering of spoons that caught bass, too. My favorite was the blueand-nickel Little Cleo Wigl Lure. It featured an engraved image of a topless dancer on the back of the lure that I always giggled about and showed my buddies when Dad wasn’t around. I still have that tacklebox with most all the old lures. It still has the same musty rubber worm smell that it always did. Bass Tactics Our tactics were simple, no matter if we were on Sunapee or the home base of Sebago Lake (DeLorme’s Map 5, C-1). We used oars or the little electric transom-mounted motor to get within casting distance of the shoreline, kept the (Continued on next page)
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boat parallel to shore, and cast in. Docks were especially productive, as the shade made some of the best spawning beds. Dad would always remind me to be careful not to hook the dock or hit a boat, but almost as if destined by his saying that, I landed on the dock or
in a boat. It was early when we fished, so there typically wasn’t anyone around as we went up to the dock to retrieve my lure. If I was lucky, I could skip it off the dock, but most times we had to go in. Ironically, my Dad hated others fishing near his dock, claiming ownership of any bass near the proper-
ty, sort of like a new take on NIMBY. My mother would chime in, “Looks like someone’s after YOUR fish again!”, just to get his goat. Male bass create the spawning bed, and then guard it fiercely. I contend that almost any lure dropped in or near the bed will elicit a strike. Each spring, I
full, many of the customers Tales from the was being hunters. It was a popuplace in hunting season, as Warden Service lar the cook and owner was an avid (Continued from page 63)
I had gone only about a mile when Bill called me on the radio and asked me to return, as there had been a development. I learned that as soon as I had left, Lyle asked Bill if I was really taking his rifle to Augusta, and when Bill said yes, Lyle spoke up and said, “Don’t bother – I didn’t shoot that deer.” I returned, and Lyle came clean with the whole story. When looking for the deer with Dwaine that morning, he had found it but told Dwaine there was no sign of it and that they had looked long enough. Subsequently, he came back with his pickup, loaded the deer, and took it into town to register it in his name. I completed some paperwork, and loaded the buck into the back of my truck. Getting back into town, I located Dwaine at Eastland Woolen Mill and informed him of the developments. I told him I would make arrangements with the tagging station to cancel Bolton’s registration so Dwaine could register the deer in his name. The Final Act in the Drama You can only imagine how quickly news of this episode spread around in a small town during the middle of hunting season, especially because Lyle had paraded the buck about town after he had tagged it. About three days later, I had the opportunity to be in the only eatery in town, Gallison’s restaurant, having the daily special with my friend Ken Emerson. It was still hunting season and the place
hunter and like many such places in rural Maine, he’d posted a chart on the wall for the weight and sex of deer to be entered in a yearly contest. I looked up from the table and saw Lyle’s elderly father heading my way. Now, I had really been hoping that I wouldn’t be running into the senior Mr. Bolton, due to the recent happenings concerning his son. Mr. Bolton was the nicest man you’d ever wanted to meet – he’d long been a friend of mine. I knew he would be very upset about the deer issue, and the last thing I wanted was to have him embarrassed in any way, especially in my presence. He came right over to me and said in a loud voice (he spoke loudly, as he was hard of hearing) that everyone could plainly hear, “My son Lyle got a nice buck the other day – have you seen it?” Everyone in the place started looking at us, and it was evident that the father did not know anything about what transpired after he had seen the buck on the morning Lyle had brought it to town. Clearly, however, everyone else in the place knew. I didn’t know what to say, and just kind of nodded my head as he was talking. He then went over to the deer chart on the wall and said, “I wonder if Lyle entered it in the deer club contest.” The whole place had turned very quiet, and now people were staring. I quickly threw some cash on my table. These deer cause so much trouble – it was time to vacate this place.
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go out on my dock and relive my youth, sight-casting to the spawners along the shoreline. I can generally see them, and I’ve noticed that to guarantee a hit, the lure must swim into or by the nest. Lately I’ve taken to roll-casting small streamers with a four-weight fly rod with great success. Nothing beats a small-
mouth bass on a light rod! Bass are on the spawning beds this month. Recreate old or make new memories, and chase those fish down. Just be sure to release spawning fish with care, close to where they came from, so we can all enjoy these memories in the future.
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Trophy Gallery
The accomplished hunter on the left, Delaney Woods, of Peru, Maine, harvested this 673-lb bull moose in Zone 5 (T11 R8 WELS) on October 10, 2023, using her 7mm-08. With Delaney is her brother and sub-permittee, Colten Woods. The bull, which was registered at Gateway Variety on Ashland, earned Delaney membership in the Maine Moose Hunters patch club.
Kevin Pagnano (left) of Durham was bear hunting in Mount Chase on September 2, 2023 when he dropped this 351-lb. trophy boar with his .300 Weatherby. Guiding Kevin was Master Guide Paul Reed. This trophy earned Kevin membership in The Maine Sportsman’s Maine Black Bear patch club. www.MaineSportsman.com
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Ethical Trout Fishing During Mid-Summer Heat Waves Trout fishing can be difficult during periods when mid-summer air temperatures can reach 90 degrees. This comes at a time when water levels in streams are at yearlong lows. As a result, trout are under severe stress, and if these water conditions persist, then it may cause dieoffs. Like many other wild animals, trout are programmed by nature with migration instincts that allow them to relocate to suitable environments and survive. These are spots anglers need to find if they want quality trout fishing this month. However, they also need to fish ethically to protect that fishery. Consider water environments that cold-water fish like trout require. And then scout for these conditions on your favorite streams – it’s like a science project. For example, trout need a minimum of six parts per million (6ppm) of dissolved oxygen for good growth and survival; most southern Maine streams and brooks don’t maintain that level year round. Trout can tolerate lower levels for short periods, but if the conditions are present long-term, then they die off. As a result, to provide trout fishing opportunities, DIF&W must manage these streams as “put and take” trout fisheries. www.MaineSportsman.com
It’s fun to find cool-water sanctuaries where trout have taken refuge in warmer weather. However, once you locate them, says the author, it’s important to take on the role of conservationist, so as not to deplete the fishery beyond its ability to recover and thrive.
Many southern Maine rivers have old stoneworks from abandoned saw mills that prospered during the last century. The mills on the Mousam shipped oak planks to the shipyard in Bath. The development of iron ship hulls made these mills obsolete, and forced them out of the market. The remains of the old B.C. Jordan, sawmill located near the author’s home on the Mousam River offers good cool, oxygenated water that trout require during mid-summer heat. Photo by Val Marquez
Honey Holes Every stream will have a few spots that provide the proper water conditions trout require, even during low water mid-summer heat waves. These often-overlooked spots have trout lurking in deep, shaded waters. Many of these spots are right under your nose, while others require some effort to locate. Here’s how to find them. Look for deep, shaded waters with undercut banks – spots that maintain lower water tempera-
tures and are shaded from sun. There’s a deep pool on the Little Ossipee River, in Shapleigh, which comes to mind – it has a whirlpool that cuts into its bank, causing a deep, dark overhang. Casting a streamer fly or silver spinner past that undercut often results in a strike. Brooks and Springs Brooks and underground springs that flow into the main stream are also good locations to fish. Cooler water from the brooks attracts trout
– often you will see trout staged at the brook’s entrance to the stream. Underwater springs that ooze cold water into the stream are excellent places to find trout, as well. Brooks are easy to locate and fish; however, springs need a little more effort to locate – here is one way to find them. Look for underwater sand spots with currents and bubbles rising in the water column – a sure sign that cold water is seeping from a spring. Bill Hutchins, from Shapleigh, showed me
a way to locate springs while we drove the Mann Road in Shapleigh many years ago. The Mann Road runs along the Little Ossipee for a few miles. That road has a few low spots, with cracks running across them. Bill explained that these were hints that underground springs were flowing from Mann Mountain on one side of the road to the stream on the other. I have caught many trout there over the years. He also told me that when he was on a canoe trip with a few family and friends down the stream, he saw many springs bubbling from the stream bed. He added that he wanted to stop and fish them, but the group wanted to keep paddling. Any place where cooler water enters a stream is always a good spot to fish, especially during mid-summer heat. Not all streams have these conditions, however. Larger rivers, like the upper section of the Mousam River, located in Shapleigh and Springvale, is actually a free-stone type water, and you will need to look for different water conditions. Dams and Mills Stones Anglers looking for trout in these types of waters should check out tail waters – places like downstream of (Southern Maine continued on page 68)
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Are Electric Vehicles Practical for Remote Travel? The recent solar eclipse darkened our little town of Dixfield enough to make it look like sunset at 3:36 p.m. The sky lost its light, and shadows took form in a weird pattern that made the back yard look like a scene from a scary film. About an hour after the complete eclipse, my wife and I sat near our front window that overlooks Route 2, and wondered why all the vehicles on the road were stopped and backed up as far as we could see to the east and west
The road to converting from gas-powered vehicles to electric modes of transportation, has not always been a smooth one. The author needs to be convinced that more of the practical and environmental kinks have been worked out before he’s willing to head into the deep, remote backwoods with an EV. of town. We heard a few drivers screaming at each other, and then noticed a few riding their vehicles up on the sidewalk in a foolish attempt to get around the jammedup traffic. Our little town of Dixfield had seemingly turned into a busy Boston street,
complete with loud, impatient drivers full of road rage. We checked the news and social media sites to discover that loads of folks from “away” traveled to get to the best location for the eclipse (path of totality), and were now having trouble getting
home because our rural road system wasn’t made for the large influx of traffic produced by the thousands of eclipse-watching travelers. The heavier-than-usual congested traffic lasted for a little more than an hour, and then thinned
back to its usual pattern. As my wife and I checked the news outlets, we watched reports of heavy traffic in other areas around the state. We were amazed at the reports of folks being stranded in electric vehicles (EVs). Some lost power and were forced to pull over along the roadsides, while others got stuck in long lines at the few available charging stations in rural, north-country locations. Some folks with electric vehicles decid(Continued on next page)
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Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 67)
ed to stay at local motels for the night, rather than risk traveling without the ability to easily re-charge their vehicles. Off-Road EV So where does this leave the off-road traveler when considering the switch to an EV, rather than a regular gas-burning form of transportation? As wonderful as ending fossil fuel-consuming vehicles sounds to some, it seems that mining for lithium for EV batteries is just as damaging to the earth as burning fossil fuels. Have you seen the size of the huge lithium mines – and the huge holes in the earth they leave behind? They are just as ugly as the monstrous wind towers they keep building on mountains around Maine. I checked several sources, and found compelling arguments on both sides of this issue. It’s clear there isn’t an easy solution to this question of saving the earth. For me, using an EV in the big woods would not make sense. I’m not willing to risk
running out of juice in a remote location. I carry extra gas if I’m going way back in the deep woods, so I’m not sure how the EV folks propose remote traveling. If I did run the battery down on an EV truck, the tow truck wouldn’t just be able to come out and give me a quick jump to get going again – rather, they would have to tow my little EV truck out of the remote location, all the way to a charging station to be re-charged. Other Electric Vehicles Recent mechanical failures in electric school buses across the state came to light this past winter. Several school districts received electric buses through generous government programs that diverted tax dollars to allow the expensive buses to be available. After complaints of mechanical failure from the bus drivers of some of the vehicles, many of the brandnew buses were pulled off the road and returned for repairs or modifications.
Southern Maine (Continued from page 66)
the Emery Mills dam and downstream of old stone mill works along the river. Trout will congregate there seeking cooler, well-oxygenated waters. These are examples of water conditions that trout migrate to over the summer, as they locate cooler water in order to survive the summer heat. Both the upper sections of the Mousam River and the Little Ossipee River in Shapleigh and Newfield are waters I’ve fished life-long. As a result, I have learned these streams well – plus, I have fished these waters with www.MaineSportsman.com
The challenge for EV travel in the back woods is finding a charging station. William Clunie photo
I also read several reports of mass transport bus systems returning electric transit buses and going back to traditional diesel- or gas-powered vehicles. Complaints included higher costs in both purchase price and maintenance, long charge times, lower mileage between charges, and mechanical failure. With all these obstacles impeding EV usage, I can still see a great place for electrically powered snow-
mobiles, motorboats, and ATVs/UTVs. Just think how nice it would be to quietly sneak along a trail with one of these electric machines. Game animals wouldn’t be able to hear you as easily as they could if you were on a gas-powered machine, and the silence would be greatly appreciated by others in the woods. I’m still not sure I would want to purchase any kind of machine run by lithium batteries. From what
some local trout fishing legends, like Bill Hutchins. Don’t Be That Guy! During summer conditions, the last thing trout need is over-fishing in areas that they need to survive. Anglers should practice catch-and-release, consider using barbless hooks, and avoid the use of treble hooks while fishing for these mid-summer trout. Greedy fisherman who overfish waters during critical times for trout can cause DIF&W to take action to protect fisheries. For example, parts of Wedgewood Brook in Parsonsfield, from Route 25 to the confluence of the Big Ossipee River
I read, most of the world’s lithium mining is controlled by the Chinese, and they are notorious for having a lack of environmental concerns. In a rush to save the planet, we need to avoid plowing ahead with ideas that might be just as bad, or worse, than what we already have. I’m not sure this off-road traveler is ready for an electric vehicle yet … although your mileage may vary.
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including 100 yards both upstream and downstream of the main river (marked with red signs) is closed to all fishing to protect trout, as a result of past overfishing there. Locating trout during summer heat waves is easy; preventing overfishing by the general fishing community is another matter. Don’t be that guy who depletes these larger hold-over trout. Limit yourself to a few fish for the frying pan over the summer, and return most of them to the water; these fish will continue to grow and thrive, providing anglers with great fish in the future.
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Inflatables for Fly Fishing Remote Ponds Today’s float tubes are extremely durable – not at all like your childhood inflatable pool toys. With a modicum of care and maintenance, they will allow you to fish remote locations for many years. When I first started guiding, I bought a 13-foot inflatable Aire Raft (aire.com), outfitted with a fishing frame, that allowed me to take two anglers fishing. I sat comfortably rowing in the middle of the boat, with one angler casting away in the bow and another in the stern. Before I owned the raft, it had been used by a rafting company to run adventure-seeking clients down the fast water on the Kennebec River for approximately five years. Then another guide used it on the Androscoggin River for another five to ten years before he sold it to me. I bought the raft around 2001, and after guiding with the big raft for more than ten years, I sold it to Bill Sheldon, a fellow col-
umnist for this magazine. I’m sharing all of this to let folks know that these inflatables can take a beating and keep on floating, year after year. The materials they use nowadays are far from the cheap plastic rafts used by kids in pools that routinely fail to stay inflated. I’m pretty sure I heard Mr. Sheldon mention that he had to retire the old Aire Raft after a solid lifetime of some 25-plus years of usage. And let me tell you, I did not baby that raft in any way, dragging fishing clients through plenty of tough water over the years. It was made for rough water, rocks, gravel, and long drags over land to the trailer.
Handy Watercraft The beauty of the inflatable watercraft, from big fishing rafts like mine to smaller float tubes, is that they can be deflated for easy transportation or storage. Once an angler gets to the chosen fishing location, they are easily inflated – manually, or with a power source. Some of the smaller float tubes can be carried in like a backpack, and then inflated at the shoreline. These smaller craft can be powered by small electric motors, oars, or
The author says he’ll be fishing remote ponds with this float tube from Wilderness Lite this season. Photos: Wilderness Lite
swim fins. I prefer the type that have a seat and oars … they’re elevated enough to keep my back cast from hitting the water’s surface. I have fished from
my own inflatable one-person float tube from Dave Scadden Paddle Sports (davescaddenpaddlesports. com). I have the “Outlaw Avenger,” a 12(Continued on next page)
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Rangeley Region (Continued from page 69)
foot version that has its own fishing frame, oars, and anchor system. It weighs only 70 pounds, so I can throw it in the back of the truck and go anywhere. I have also fished from smaller personal float tubes that can be carried on your back. You have to modify your casting techniques to lift your back cast a little, but you can sneak the lightweight craft into remote ponds and streams with ease. The one I fished out of had a hand pump to inflate the craft once you got to the water. This year I’ll be testing a “Backpacker Pro” ultralight float tube from Wilderness Lite (wilder-
nesslitefloattubes. com), weighing in at 3.6 pounds. You power it with fins, and carry it in a small stuff-sack. It will surely be easier than dragging in a canoe to remote fishing locations. Considerations Always store an inflatable partially deflated, even if it’s only overnight. A little heat or sun on the craft can inflate it to extreme pressures and cause trouble. Conversely, as you settle the craft into the water, the cooling action deflates it, so be prepared to inflate and deflate as needed. Never leave a fully inflated craft out in the sun. As tough as these modern-day inflatables are, keep an eye
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out for sharp objects. I was dragging my Scadden inflatable up a steep launch, and snagged the back of the craft on a sharp piece of rebar. It was fortunate that I was at the end of a fishing trip … the sharp metal slit one pontoon, and put the craft temporarily out of commission, but it was easily repaired later. Most of these inflatables are made from polyvinylchloride, a PVC-type material that can degrade if left out in the direct sunlight for extended periods of time. It’s best to keep the craft under cover. Also, to keep the material in good shape, it’s recommended to occasionally treat the PVC with a conditioner specifically made for this material … a product sev-
Bringing a fish to hand while in a float tube is an “up close and personal” experience.
eral levels more precisely engineered than the typical “Armor All” product we all use on our automobile interiors. The last recommendation I have would be some kind of line management system for the craft. When fishing from these inflatables, I had quite a mess of line that I stripped off, floating and tangling
all around the craft. In the larger crafts, I have used small baskets to collect the stripped line. I’m still working on a way to manage line in the smaller inflatables. I have used a small stripping basket around my waist while wading that might work in the float tubes … we’ll find out this season.
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Wild, Wild, Western Maine Mountain Rifles At a very young age, I received a long and slender gift under the Christmas tree that surprised the heck out of me. My parents trusted me enough to allow me to own my very own Daisy “Red Ryder” lever-action, BB air rifle … maybe that’s why I still have such a strong attraction to lever-action rifles today. I love the traditional feel of these lever-action “cowboy” guns. I watched all the cowboy shows I could when I was a young man, and felt like the rifle was just perfect for hunting whitetail deer, black bear, and moose. I shot my first deer with an 1895 lever-action Marlin in .444 Rem. I have also used the Marlin 39 lever-action in .22 LR for rabbit hunting for many years. As my eyesight became less sharp with age, I found I could no longer hit anything over a hundred yards without using a scope on my rifles, but personally, I just could not see putting a scope on a older, traditional lever-action rifle. I feel that most lever-action rifles were made for shooting at game under 100 yards with iron or peep sights. In my opinion, a rifle scope is made for modern rifles, not the old lever-action. I hunted with a Model 336 Marlin in 30/30 Win. for years,
The author has a strong affection for leveraction rifles, based on his childhood “Red Ryder” experiences and on the natural “feel” of the rifle in his hands. He’ll be mounting a low-power scope on a new .308 lever action model, and preparing for hunting season at the range by practicing bringing the gun up in a smooth motion and firing. then switched to the same rifle in .308 Marlin. I gifted that rifle to my grandson, and continued hunting with an 1895CB Marlin rifle in 45/70 Gov. I had a hunting situation in which a big buck came running past me at about 70 yards. I could tell it was a big deer, but couldn’t see its antlers until just before it jumped into the thick stuff. If I’d been carrying a scoped rifle, I could have dropped that big deer right there in its tracks. From that point on, I hunted with a scoped bolt-action rifle that would allow me to clearly see game animals.
ing a scope on Savage 99 rifles. I feel it doesn’t take away the traditional, historic feeling of the rifle. I can hardly explain it and have only talked with one other person about this, and they feel the same way. Why is it okay to scope the Savage lever-action rifle, but not the other lever-actions? I’m not sure, but I’m going to purchase a Savage 99F in .308 Win. and start hunting with it this fall. The featherweight Model 99F exhibits
good accuracy. It’s easy to carry all day, and quick to swing into action. I’ll probably mount a small Leupold scope, nice and low to the receiver … maybe a little 1x5 I have that won’t add much weight. That combination should allow me to confidently drop game up close, and also at a self-imposed maximum of 300 yards if I do my part. Most of the deer I have shot have been dropped at 30 to 70 yards anyway, so I’m not worried about
getting any extra distance out of the rifle. .308 Winchester Cartridge I’ll stick with the .308 Win. for deer, bear, and moose. I already have the reloading tools and components for making my own ammo for the rifle. I’ll work with the rifle and ammo at the range this summer, and find out what works best in the Savage. Half of the fun, for me, is finding what ammo works best in a particular rifle. When I work up a load, I usually make ten to 20 rounds with a particular charge, starting off low and working my way up in very small increments. I go to the range with two or three differ(Continued on next page)
A Savage Awakening I have hunted with and enjoyed several bolt-action rifles over the years, but I always look back and yearn for those lever-action days … to the rifle action of my youth. I don’t know how I started my recent fascination with the Savage Model 99 rifle, but these days it consumes many of my quiet moments. It’s very curious, but, for some reason, I’m okay with mountwww.MaineSportsman.com
72 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Western Maine Mountains (Continued from page 72)
ent loads to see which charge produces the best accuracy. After finding the most accurate charge, I reload a bunch up and just enjoy shooting the rifle off-hand as much as possible. I don’t stay at the bench long … just long enough to find that accurate charge. I like to place balloons at various ranges from 30 to 100 yards and try to hit the targets as fast as I can from a hunting
position without having the rifle mounted to my shoulder in advance. I’ll sit with the rifle in my lap with my eyes off the target, then turn my head, see the target, and mount my rifle to shoot. If I’m standing, I do the same thing – kind of like I’m actually hunting. I spot the target, mount the rifle, and fire as smoothly and quickly as possible.
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The author has taken several game animals with lever-action rifles. William Clunie photo
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Adventures with Dad June is a month that gently settles me into a summer routine, keeping me busy while allowing me to cast a long glance toward the fall. I find the transition from March into April welcome, yet jarring, with a radical shift from ice fishing and rabbit hunting to open water ice-out lakers and early yellow perch. Then we leap into May, with a pivot to VT’s walleye fishing and turkey hunting. Woven in amongst those three months are activities such as boiling sap, garden planting, and the flush of green for gathering wild leeks, fiddleheads, and maybe a morel, all on ground that was snow covered just a few short weeks earlier. It feels like a tremendous rush of activity, with barely a moment to catch a breath.
What do you do if you shoot an elk, and find a big grizzly bear at the kill site? Why, pull your cowboy hat tight down on your head and ride your horse right toward the bear, of course!
Dad with his Wyoming Elk. All photos provided by the author
The pace finally slows now in June, where I’ll have a few months of steady fishing, hiking, and shooting. I’ll shoot my bow, shotgun, and rifles regularly. I’ll load up my pack in preparation for the fall, getting out
on progressively longer hikes, dreaming of fall hunts. My regular companion on all these adventures will be my father, Richard, whom I’ve written about before. We’ve shared a pile of fine adventures together, and it seems
Outfitter Ryan L chasing grizzlies out of a meadow on the ride back to camp.
right to reflect on a favorite for Father’s Day. Adventures After I left the Army and came home, Dad and I started to spread our hunting wings. We began by tracking bucks togeth-
er across northern New England. Eventually, we set our sights on a trip West, saved our money, and lined up a WY wilderness elk and mule deer hunt ahead of his 60th birthday. We arrived in Jackson, WY in late October after a snowstorm had blanketed the mountains. Our outfitter was enthused, thinking it would get the elk moving. With the riding horses saddled and the mules packed, we proceeded to ride into the Bridger-Teton National Forest, eventually crossing into the Teton Wilderness. We arrived in camp and were given the tour – mostly the cook tent, the outhouse, and our bunks. Then warnings were handed out about grizzly bears in camp, which increased the (Vermont continued on page 75)
Elk loaded up for the packout. www.MaineSportsman.com
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Online Game Registration: Is it Accurate? In last month’s issue of The Maine Sportsman, I explored some of the concerns and data regarding online registration of deer harvests in NH last fall. To briefly recap: 1) about half of hunters took advantage of the new online registration system; 2) many people are concerned about it promulgating illicit behaviors; and 3) some are just upset the state doesn’t issue metal leg seals anymore. There are more thoughts and nuances, but that was the gist of things.
At the request of our columnist, NH state officials reviewed their records to see whether online registrations reflected markedly different sizes and weights for whitetail deer and wild turkeys compared to measurements of game registered inperson. Here are the results. In this column, I’d like to address another area of concern that has been making its rounds, both in in-person discussions and the online deer hunting forums; namely, inaccurate reporting on the online registration system. Questions As mentioned in
the previous article, there are certain days of the hunting season that in-person deer registration is required, so that biologists on hand can collect reliable data. But how can we be sure that the data garnered through the online system is accurate and reliable?
Hypothesis There are several reasons to believe that the self-reported data is not necessarily an accurate representation. First, quite a few of those people probably aren’t using a well-calibrated scale. Who knows? Some of them may not be using a scale at all, and just
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eyeballing a guesstimate. Second, even if people are using accurate scales, some are likely weighing the deer with heart, lungs, or maybe even liver and other organs, still intact, whereas others are weighing them completely cleaned out. (This is a controversy I’ve written about several times in the past.) When biologists staff the check stations, they check the body cavities to promote consistent data collection. (Continued on next page)
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Third, some people may just be plain lying. It isn’t out of the realm of a possibility that an outdoorsman would stretch the truth a little, right? Perhaps, for bragging rights, someone may pad or inflate their buck’s online registration weight or rack size. A 175-pound buck, now becomes a 180 … a 190 now becomes a 200 … and an 8-pointer with a couple of big bumps on the bases now becomes a 10-pointer. Data I reached out to the state to investigate these hypotheses. Rebecca Fuda, the Deer Project Leader, and Allison Keating, the Turkey Project Leader, were generous enough to sift through and parse out the data from online registrations, compared to in-person registrations. So does the data show a great disparity between the two? The
short answer: not really! (See illustrations for full data comparisons.) For deer, the average doe was the exact same weight: 110 pounds. For bucks, the average online registration was 137# and 5.2 points, whereas the average in-person registration was 144# and 5.8 points. For turkeys, the average weight was 18.1 pounds for online registrations, and 17.8 pounds for in-person registrations. Perhaps the only thing really disparate shown in the data is that the biggest turkey registered online was a whopping 28.5 pounds! Conclusion I don’t believe that the data show anything too incongruent between the two registration methods. Though there are surely isolated instances of padded or exaggerated weights, as a whole, the data don’t support that as an influencing
Vermont (Continued from page 73)
pucker factor a bit, and we were off to bed. Views of the Tetons greeted us the next morning, highlighted by the glow of sunrise, as our mounts followed the guide’s horse up a narrow trail. We saw one nice mule deer early while on horseback; I can tell you now from experience – a Remington pump is not the rifle to carry in a scabbard. We stopped to glass several times, and eventually we spotted a mule deer buck. Dad was carrying only an elk tag, so I had the first opportunity. The 125yard shot was on the money, and the buck rolled over in its bed. We got to see a western approach to getting game out, with the quarters and head loaded on a mule. It’s a scene I never get tired of seeing. Cowboys and Grizzlies On the third day of hunting, Dad
trend. Actually, they lean the other direction. It was theorized by Rebecca Fuda that, perhaps, the reason why the in-person deer average is bigger is because when people shoot big bucks, they are more apt to want to showcase the deer at the local weigh station for others to admire, rather than register online. I think
this is an interesting point, and add that it would give even more of an excuse to drive around with the tailgate down. Lastly, I think it important to note – and the biologists I spoke with also stressed the point – that officials fully expect there to be accuracy issues when it comes to self-reporting practices like the online game registra-
spotted a few cow elk together on the same side of the drainage along which we were riding. Our guide, Ryan, suspected there was a bull there, too, He got us circled downwind and tied the horses up, and we snuck toward the spot. Ryan let out a bugle when we were close, and a bull responded. We snuck in even closer, finally spotting the bull. Dad got a good rest and made the shot, while I got to follow up with shots of my own. The elk went down, and we were elated. It was relatively late in the day, so we had to hustle to get the elk broken down and then get back on the trail to camp. Our horses led us safely back to camp. We started out later the next morning to retrieve the elk, waiting for daylight. Ryan’s mood had changed. He was serious before, but there was something extra going on that day. As we rode to the elk, he informed us there would probably be a grizzly there, too. Sure enough, when we crested the ridge and gazed down to where we had
tion. And therefore, no biological or legal recommendations or decisions are based solely off that data. Instead, the data collected by the biologists staffing the check stations on the opening few days of the rifle and muzzleloader seasons are what are predominantly used for those kinds of recommendations and decisions.
¶
left the elk, there was a grizzly on the kill. Ryan had Dad and me stay with the wrangler and the mules. In true cowboy fashion, he pushed his hat down a little tighter on his head, and rode at that big bear. The bear took off into some dark timber, and the scene paused. In less than a minute, the grizzly charged back toward Ryan and the elk. Ryan spurred his horse toward the bear again. The bear stopped and stood on his hind legs. He looked around, gazing up at us, too. Then he took off. Ryan waved us down to him, where we got to work on the elk. On the ride back to camp, we encountered another grizzly, which Ryan also chased off. Dad and I talk about that adventure often, and the many others we’ve shared. If you’re a dad, get out there with your kids and share the adventure. If your dad is still around, get out there with him, and cherish the memories you’re making. Happy Father’s Day!
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Smilin’ Sportsman
76 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
My wife told me she’d slam my head into the keyboard if I don’t get off the computer. I’m not too worried — I think she’s jokindkdkslalkdlkfjslfjslksdlkfjuahehwhgwdklaljdf — “I get a Biggest Buck almost every year,” bragged the hunter. “Really?” asked his friend. “Yes – I almost got one in 2021, almost in 2022, almost in 2023 ….” — Judge: “The charge is keeping too many trout. Are you the defendant?” Defendant: “No, your honor. I’m the guy who kept too many trout.” — “Back in the 1980s, I cooked up a really great meal of venison and fiddleheads.” “So why are you telling me now?” “Because there was no Facebook in the 1980s.” — Eb: “I’m writing a book!” Flo: “What’s it about?” Eb: “It’s all about beer.” Flo: “How’s it coming?” Eb: “I’m on my fourth draft.” —
Husband, hollering from the living room: “It says here in the Bangor Daily News that women speak around 20,000 words a day, while men speak only about 10,000.” Wife, shouting from the kitchen: “That’s because we have to repeat everything we say to you knuckleheads.” Husband: “What?”
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Turtles in the Soup My great grandkids may never see a live turtle in a Maine pond or woods. By the time the little boogers get themselves born and mobile enough to traipse around a forest or body of water, the few remaining species of native turtles will be either such a rarity as to be invisible to all but experts, or extinct. I could be accused of being too pessimistic in the preceding paragraph. There are still plenty of eastern painted turtles around, and snapping turtles seem to be enduring in spite of their ill-deserved reputation for biting people and eating ducklings (they’re mostly scavengers). But it’s doubtful you’ve seen a spotted turtle in the last decade, highly unlikely you’ve ever encountered a wood turtle, a safe bet you won’t run into a Blanding’s turtle anywhere outside of captivity, and a near-miracle if you spot a box turtle. There are probably musk turtles lurking about, but they’re so secretive they could all be CIA agents. Speaking of secret agents, I’m aware Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were, in part, dreamed up in Maine, but they don’t really live here. Disappearing The reasons turtles are vanishing from the state’s environment aren’t difficult to figure out. Devel-
Our columnist laments the rapidly declining numbers of shelled reptiles
opment and its attendant pollution dry up their preferred habitat and food sources. But mostly, it’s motor vehicles. Evolution designed turtles to deal with all manner of living predators, but they haven’t been so fortunate when it comes to trucks and cars. In her book, Of Time and Turtles, Sy Montgomery cites a study by a State University of New York biologist that found that in areas crisscrossed by roads in the Northeast, Great Lakes and southeastern U.S., nearly 20 percent of adult turtles are killed by cars every year. The overall mortality rate for new hatchlings is probably much higher, since they have to contend not only with motor vehicles but with threats posed by both animals and humans. The latter category includes turtle poachers, part of an illicit worldwide trade, with some species worth thousands
of dollars (although the ones from Maine sell for much less). Montgomery quotes U.S. Geological Survey ecologist Jeffrey Lovich and his co-authors in an article in the journal Bioscience as pointing out the dilemma: turtles have “survived everything nature could throw at them from both Earth and outer space (e.g., the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs) … but will they survive modern humans?” Because spotted, Blanding’s and box turtles are so rare in Maine and have such limited breeding areas, the loss of even one or two individuals can dramatically affect the local population’s scant chances to reproduce and thrive. What’s to be Done? The advice from experts is clear. When driving near lakes, ponds and streams, slow down, and keep an eye out for turtles
crossing the road. This is particularly true in spring and early summer when females are seeking soft sandy spots to lay their eggs. If you spot a turtle on the blacktop, stop, put on your emergency flashers and help the creature to cross quickly. Make sure you move the turtle in the direction it was going, even if that seems to be away from the water. If you don’t, it will just turn around and crawl back onto the road. It’s easy enough to lift a painted turtle out of harm’s way – just pick it up and set it down in a safe space. Painteds rarely bite, and even if they do, it won’t hurt as much as watching the Portland City Council in action. Snappers are another matter. Adults have long necks and powerful jaws that can reach fingers holding the sides of their shells. Grasp the back of the shell to avoid
suffering a digital loss. If you find an injured turtle, organizations such as Maine Audubon or the nearest animal shelter may be able to connect you with a veterinarian or rehabilitator who can help. The website www.humanesociety.org/resources/ how-find-wildlife-rehabilitator can direct you to turtle rescue groups. If you come across a wayward turtle, should you take it home as a pet? As someone who had pet turtles until I should have been well past my youthful ignorance of the harm I was doing, the answer is no. Get a dog, a cat or a goldfish. Leave members of Maine’s diminishing population of turtles in their natural habitat. If my great-grandkids should be fated to grow up in a turtleless environment, they may not notice the loss. After all, most of us manage to get through our days without mourning the absence of dodos or passenger pigeons. But that’s just because we don’t know what we’re missing. Ignorance isn’t always bliss. Al Diamon writes the monthly column Politics & Other Mistakes for The Bollard magazine.
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78 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
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Lincoln – This large lakeside home has an oversized garage, lawn to the lake and a paved driveway right on Mattanawcook Lake. Many mechanical updates completed, leaving cosmetics up to you to make your own. Come take a look today. $235,000
ANSON – Gorgeous 8.32 acre parcel of land, perfect for the outdoors enthusiast and nature lover. This lot offers long and picturesque views of the surrounding Kennebec River Valley. Small brook bisects the property. Only minutes from the Kennebec River. Gravel driveway in place. There is also an old camper on the property. MLS #1586120 – $55,000
Lakeville – Large cabin is unfinished on the inside and sits on a half-acre of land. End of road privacy in quiet, rural location on Duck Lake. It has a one car, drive in full foundation with a 400amp underground electrical feed. $162,000
CANAAN – 7.39 surveyed acres on a quiet country road in Canaan. This property has a small clearing at the road. Property is very private and wooded. Road becomes discontinued a short distance beyond this parcel. This is a great spot for to build your home or camp in the woods. MLS #1582988 – $36,000
T3R1 – Remote. Private. Wooded and beautiful. With deeded access to Bill Green Pond, this would be a wonderful place to build your seasonal cabin right off Engstrom Road. POSSIBLE OWNER FINANCING. The driveway is shared with lot 17 and is partially installed. $24,900
HARMONY – Enjoy 17.6 peaceful acres with 250 feet of frontage on the North Road and 560 feet of frontage on Higgins Stream. This property is the ideal place for your dream home or cabin in the woods. This is a well-wooded parcel with large stands of mature hardwood and softwood. ATV and snowmobile trails nearby. Call today for your private showing. MLS #1582681 – $75,000
Lee – Looking for some privacy but still need year round access and electricity? This lot is well wooded, fairly level and ready for you to take a peek at on Old Steamboat Road. It could be the property you have been looking for. $37,500
WELLINGTON – This 88 parcel has something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Well-wooded lot sits high and dry on a bluff at the top of Ward Ridge in Wellington. This gently sloping land is the perfect spot build your cabin in the woods. Here you can clear a spot and have gorgeous views of the surrounding hills. From this location, you can find miles of snowmobile and ATV trails. If hunting is your pursuit, you will have ample locations for that perfect stand or travel a short distance down the road where you can find thousands of acres of land that is open to the public. So you can go find that big buck track you’ve been dreaming of and stalk him for miles. This property is only minutes from Kingsbury Pond, Piper Pond, and Whetstone Pond. MLS #1578259 – $99,000
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Lee – Year round road with electric available on Thomas Hill Road. Well wooded. Near ATV and snowsled trails, with dozens of lakes all within an hour’s drive and being a wonderful place for your getaway cabin, home or the RV. $24,900
207-794-2460 • 1-800-675-2460 cwa@cwalakestreet.com R E A L
E S T A T E
5 Lake Street, P.O. Box 66 LINCOLN, ME
— Call any of our brokers to work for you! — “Tate” Aylward 207-794-2460 Peter Phinney (207) 794-5466 • Kirk Ritchie (207) 290-1554
Visit www.cwalakestreet.com for more listings! www.MaineSportsman.com
80 • June 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
www.MaineSportsman.com