The Maine Sportsman March 2021 Digital Edition

Ice Fishing in Maine

Pages 23, 47, 56, 69

Sportsman The Maine

March 2021 • $4.99

>> Winter Climb Up Baxter Peak Page 42 >> Best Maine Boats Page 30 >> Hal Blood Busts Coyote Myths Page 37 >> Remembering George Smith Page 4 Plus Lots More!

2 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 3

The Maine Sportsman’s Featured Sporting Camp:

Shoreline Camps

SHORELINE, on Big Lake at the mouth of the fabled Grand Lake Stream, has been welcoming sportsmen and families to the pristine shores of Big Lake for over 60 years. Shoreline offers eight great cabins in a great location. Open-water fishing season opens April ice-out. Spring fishing is world class. Fly fish Grand Lake Stream, or slow troll Big Lake for salmon. June begins smallmouth bass season. Big Lake is one of Maine’s trophy smallmouth bass lakes. Summer brings families that enjoy swimming, canoeing and kayaking, hiking and fishing, July through August. Fall brings on the landlocked salmon run, and group-event season. Whether vacationing with two or 20, Shoreline Camps is the place to be. Well-appointed seasonal and year-round housekeeping cottages provide everything needed for a long week-end, week- or month-long stay in the quiet beauty of the Down East Lakes Region. Big Lake and the surrounding fields and forests are well known for excellent grouse and turkey hunting. The island-dotted lake is a kayak paddler’s paradise, with boating, swimming, snowmobiling and ice fishing, hiking and ATV trails making Shoreline Camps a four-season Maine experience. Big Lake is one of Maine’s largest lakes, encompassing almost 18,000 acres, a maximum depth of 70 feet, and measuring 70 miles in perimeter. It draws anglers from across the country, and Grand Lake Stream fly fishing is world-renowned. Local Registered Maine Guides are available for hire to assist you in catching trophy fish, finding a bear or moose, or inland game birds. Traditional guide services in traditional

Grand Laker Canoes made right here in Grand Lake Stream. Each camp – waterfront or water view – has from one to three bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room and private bathroom with shower, including fresh linens, blankets and towels. Shoreline Camps offers complimentary firewood, boat docks, boat launch and trailer parking. Shoreline Camps provides facilities for group events (catering is now available), family reunions, sporting club events, corporate retreats and workshops, destination weddings and event planning. Waterfront decks and fireplaces are perfect for enjoying a quiet cup of coffee while watching the sun rise, or for sharing the day’s adventures with friends and family. Join them for an unforgettable vacation, sporting trip, corporate or club retreat or family gathering. Shorelines Camps is the ideal place for seasoned hunters and anglers to introduce nature and the great outdoors to the next generations of their children and grandchildren. Whether you are fishing, hiking, bicycling, bird watching, swimming, or simply relaxing, Mike and Jean Lombardo are there to make your stay enjoyable. For more information about planning your visit, go to www.shorelinecamps.com, or contact them at 207796-5539; email shorelinecamps@ gmail.com.

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4 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Editorial

Remembering George Smith Readers of The Maine Sportsman, and conservationists everywhere, lost a friend and advocate on February 12, 2021 with the passing of George Smith of Mount Vernon. Every month, George contributed to this magazine – for more than 30 years, he wrote “Capitol Report,” based on his intimate knowledge of the workings of the Maine Legislature and its various committees, and also based on his participation in the rulemaking process at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW). About two years ago, he switched the title of his Sportsman column to “My Maine,” since he understood fully that readers wanted to hear true stories and anecdotes derived from his decades of outdoor adventures. His wife Linda often accompanied him in his travels, and later in life his columns also included proud references to his children and grandchildren. George honed his lobbying skills in his former role as executive director of Sportsmans Alliance of Maine, but long after he left that post to pursue writing full-time, he continued to “work the halls” of the legislature, on all manner of issues and controversies relating to conservation, protection of wildlife habitat, and the environment. He was a skilled and prolific writer even in his last months and weeks of life, as can be seen in his final “My Maine” column, found on page 20 of this issue. He was an unapologetic self-promoter, because early in his career he came to understand that if you are doing good work, it’s important to let others know about it every chance you get. His amiable nature was demonstrated by his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone he’d meet. And could he ever attract a crowd! If you walked down the hallway outside the IFW Committee hearing room and saw a cluster of people, George would usually be in the middle of the group, simultaneously smiling, chatting, entertaining and cajoling. And the same thing happened when he attended the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show – crowds of well-wishers would stop to talk with him, causing pedestrian traffic jams in the aisles. His advocacy skills again were on display after his diagnosis with ALS several years ago. George had the rare courage to share with the public his own struggles with the disease, increasing public awareness of the illness and supporting others who were dealing with it. George Smith will long be remembered by us here at The Sportsman and by all who enjoy the outdoors.

www.MaineSportsman.com

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 581 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 15 A Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly.................. 59 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 69 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 38 Big Woods World by Hal Blood..................................... 37 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 48 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux............................... 53 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie...................... 73 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 62 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 9 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 67 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding....... 45 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 42 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 22 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 41 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 52 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 56 My Maine by George Smith.......................................... 20 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 34 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 54 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 65 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 77 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 46 Quotable Sportsman by Will Lund................................ 19 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 40 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 79 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 55 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 47 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 61 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 64 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.............. 79 Snapshots in Time by Bill Pierce.................................... 14 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 44 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 58 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 11 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 50 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 80 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 74 True Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.60 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 35 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 51

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

Annual Reader Poll Results............................................ 21 Boating in Maine by Steve Carpenteri........................ 30 Fort Kent Hospital –Best ER Visit Ever by Peter Bloomfield.76 Ice Fishing in Maine by Wes Ashe................................ 23 Snowmobiling in Maine by Steve Carpenteri............. 26 The Trapdoor Springfield by Randy Randall.................72

On the Cover: Maine Sportsman columnist Christi Holmes pulls a lake trout out of Moose Pond in Bridgton, as her dog Argos looks on. Travis Elliott photo

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 5

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6 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters To The Editor

Don’t Even Ask the Bear-Trapping Question!

To the Editor: The 2020 Maine Sportsman Opinion Poll’s Question #28 (“To remove an emotional issue from future bear hunting debates, should the state end recreational trapping of bears?”) looks like it was worded by an anti-trapper! “To remove an emotional issue”? All things concerning our outdoor pursuits and passions are full of emotion. Should we give up trapping bear? (By the way, Maine is the last state where one can trap bear.) Anti’s aren’t going to give up or try any less to ban bear hunting, whether they fight baiting, hounds or any other method. Once we give an inch, they WILL greedily pounce a mile. They have strong emotions against every method, tool and technique we use, in their minds!

www.MaineSportsman.com

Ban scopes – they aren’t fair. Camouflage is too good; doesn’t give the animals a chance. Decoys are mean because they are deceptive and trick animals to come in. Bird shot is unsporting – I mean, how can you expect anything to get away when you don’t have to aim? Fishing lures too closely mimic things that are naturally a part of a fish’s diet, making it too hard for a fish to resist. Now more than ever, ALL outdoors people MUST stick together and help protect all of our outdoor interests – splitting hairs is only fueling the anti’s forward. Sportsmen and women, we all have one common goal – to enjoy our time in the beautiful outdoors. Ryan Benoit Former resident of Saco, ME

thereafter – the copy you sent, and the copy finally disgorged by the Post Office. It’s a great day! I will share the second copy with like-minded folks here. I was born and raised in Maine, and after a career in the Navy I landed a follow-on job here in Washington DC. I still try to get up to my camp and property in Washington County as often as I can – not often enough! Previously, I picked up your publication at a store on each trip up, but now, as a subscriber, reading The Maine Sportsman regularly will take me back to the woods, lakes and streams that I love in between trips. Chris Shannon –Woodbridge, VA.

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To the Editor: Your February issue was late getting to me in the mail, but it finally arrived. I can only presume that our local Post Office employees recognize superior writing and photography, and further that they are not only avid hunters and anglers, but slow readers! Chuck Scott – Johnsonville, NY

Post Office Slowdowns I To the Editor: As you know, my February issue was late and presumed lost in the mail. My call to your office was responded to by courteous and knowledgeable staff, and a second copy was mailed from your office. Well, I received both copies soon

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Post Office Slowdowns II

(Continued on next page)

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

Fat, Short Fish To the Editor: I just heard about your new “Catch and Release Patch Club” and I read up on the lengths required to qualify. In the past I’ve caught several browns that qualified for the “One That Didn’t Get Away Club.” However, these days I generally practice catch-and-release when I can, if the fish is still healthy. So here’s my question: For the “catch and release” club, the sole criterion is length, not weight. In the last couple of years, I have caught some 6-lb. or 7-lb. browns that could qualify for the One That Didn’t Get Away, but they are only 23 or 24 inches, just short of the 25” “catch and release” length. These are absolute tanks of fish – monsters, lunkers, whales. Can I get them qualified for catch-and-release? Jake Gagne Hiram, ME The Editor responds: Thanks for your question, Jake. With catch-and-release programs across the country, fish measurements are nearly always by length alone, not weight. Unlike scales that need to be calibrated and certified, and to avoid the fish being out of water an extended time for weighing and hanging by a jaw, the length measurement is designed to

be fast and certain – you catch the fish, lay it down on a board that has inches clearly marked out, take a photo, and then release the fish. The good news is that you are to be congratulated on reeling in some outstanding fish! Whether or not they reach the “catch and release” patch threshold for length, a 6- or 7-pound brown trout is a trophy to be proud of. —

Why are Wardens and Sporting Camp Owners Ineligible for Biggest Bucks in Maine? To the Editor: I am proudly a member of the Biggest Bucks in Maine Club, class of 1986. I was looking at the application form rules from a post in the Maine Deer Hunters Facebook group, and Rule #4 says sporting camp owners and wardens are not eligible. Could you enlighten me on the reasoning behind this rule as it applies to camp owners and wardens? For example, if wardens aren’t eligible, why wouldn’t this rule apply to guides or armed forest rangers or any other law enforcement official? Or should the current rule be discarded? Greg Berry Union, ME (Continued on next page)

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8 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 8)

The Editor responds: Sometimes it takes a question like yours to result in a change, Greg. After discussion, our managerial team has deleted the entire limitation from the form. If a camp owner on his or her day off, or a warden on his or her day off, legally drops a big buck, should they be excluded from patch club membership? We think not. The warden provision likely dated back to the 1950s when the Biggest Bucks program was operated by the State of Maine, so for wardens employed by the state to apply might have been viewed as a conflict of interest. However, that’s no longer the case. Likewise, in the “Wild West” days decades ago, sporting camp owners may have been tempted to apply for Biggest Bucks status based on a deer harvested by a guest or camp staff. However, those days are long gone, and we now see 100% compliance with the game laws from sporting camp owners.

www.MaineSportsman.com

New State Record Crossbow Buck Jody Pierce of Kennebunk is a skilled and careful hunter, and that acumen allowed him to establish a new state records for a deer taken with a crossbow -- 249 pounds -- on October 7, only three days into the archery season. 2020 featured a long dry summer and fall, and knowing this, Pierce scouted and located a rare spring deep in the woods that was being actively used by several deer. He constructed a ground blind from natural materials at the site. In the afternoon as he watched the spring, a 4-point buck emerged, followed soon afterwards by what Pierce described as an “epic giant,” and “easily the largest deer I have ever seen come out of this area.” The buck sported a towering rack, including a mass of non-typical points on its right Jody Pierce established a crossbow re- antler that gave it an overall total of 18 cord last season with this 249-pound (field points. dressed) buck. Due in part to a mass of Pierce fired a bolt, tracked the deer, non-typical points on its right antler, the found that it had gone to the edge of a massive whitetail sported a total of 18 pond, borrowed a canoe, paddled across points. Catie Pierce photo the pond, and located the deer. He then loaded the deer (289 lbs. live weight) into the canoe for the trip back across the pond. Congratulations to the state’s newest record-setter, and to his biggest fan and supporter, his daughter Catie.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 9

It’s Time to Develop Safe Prevention, Accurate Diagnosis and a Lasting Cure for Tick-Borne Diseases A good friend of mine recently remarked that he was giving up turkey hunting because of the dangers posed by ticks. That’s a shame, in my view, because there are measures we can take to minimize the dangers posed by ticks, as well as remedies we can pursue if we experience a tick bite. Covid 19 – and how to avoid the virus – have occupied the health news lately to the point of fatigue in most of us, and it has served to overshadow the health hazards posed by tick bites. Although tick bites are not as immediately life-threatening as the Coronavirus, such bites put Mainers at risk of such diseases as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Powassan Virus Disease. For that

With the rapid development of the Coronavirus vaccine, medical researchers have proven they can work together quickly to solve a serious health threat. It’s time to turn that same level of attention to tick-related diseases, which are a pressing problem here in Maine. reason we must takes steps to avoid the black-legged ticks that carry those diseases. Quick Treatment Required Because most hunting and fishing is carried on outdoors, it is no surprise that many of us have encountered ticks in the course of our recreation activities. If the tick is discovered and removed in a timely fashion, it appears not to be a threat to our health. However if the tick is not discovered and removed in time, the consequences can be difficult to diagnose

and more difficult to treat. “Timely fashion” and “in time” are generally taken to mean “within 24 hours,” but even that is probably a rough guess. And the usual prescription for a recent tick bite is the antibiotic Doxycycline. A number of our friends and family, and staff and writers for this magazine, have experienced Lyme disease, which proves to be difficult to diagnose and treat after the passage of time. I believe our medical community has been slow out of the starting gate in diagnosing and finding

suitable treatments for Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases. Our public health warning system has failed to inform the public as to the extent of the threat and the need for caution. Help from Congress Some help is now coming as a result of enactment of the Kay Hagan Tick Act, which was co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins of Maine. During debate on that bill, we

learned that our state has the highest rate of Lyme disease in the nation. Federal funding is on the way. According to a piece in the Kennebec Journal for January 28, 2021, disease experts now believe that actual cases of Lyme disease may be far higher, perhaps ten times higher, than previously reported. This under-reporting has occurred because of a bewildering array of screw-ups, including the fact that Lyme disease “was often not coded correctly” and that patients over 65 were not included in commercial insurance claims data. (Continued on next page)

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10 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings

(Continued from page 9)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently published a report estimating that 476,000 Americans contract Lyme disease annually. That translates to possible 20,000 Maine cases, rather than the 2,079 Maine cases reported in 2019. Economical Approach to Permethrin Tick repellent clothing and sprays have been on the market for some time now, and are effective. But both are expensive. The ready- to-use sprays are labeled as containing one half of one percent (0.5%) permethrin. For those interested in avoiding unnecessary expense, permethrin can be obtained from on-line sources in concentrations of 40%. It is then up to the buyer to dilute it to a concentration approximating the commercial 1/2 of one percent. To make up a gallon of spray for a pump spray bottle or garden sprayer, I added 4.8 tablespoonfuls of 40% permethrin to a gallon of water. (Calculating with gallons, liquid ounces and tablespoonsful is a pain and makes me wish for the metric system, where all you have to Fins & Furs Adventures

do is move the decimal point.) Outdoors, I laid out a couple of pairs of Carhartt jeans and, using a garden sprayer, soaked them from the knees on down with the mixture, and hung them up to dry. I marked the pocket with a “P” and the year, and avoided washing them as long as possible. Make Clothing Treatment Endure If I or someone else found a tick, for testing purposes we’d put the tick on the leg of the jeans and observe the behavior of the arachnid. First, the tick would start to climb uphill. Next, it would crawl in a circle, then curl up and drop off. I haven’t found any ticks on my clothing while wearing the sprayed jeans. I don’t know how many washings the treatment is good for. The makers of treated clothing do not disclose details of their treatment to achieve their claimed “up to 70 washings.” My guess is that the effectiveness can be reactivated by heat, or ironing. I have tried ironing the legs of my Carhartt jeans. I don’t know how long the treatment lasts, but a test with a live tick or perhaps an ant may

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Black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are carriers of a whole host of harmful diseases. Photo: University of Maine

provide the answer. Permethrin treating your clothing appears to be a good first step in avoiding tick problems. But as is often the case, there is a fly in the ointment. Possible Dangers of Permethrin The European Union, Canada, and a long list of other nations don’t allow the use of permethrin treatment to fight ticks, apparently because of a lack of evidence as to its safety. L.L. Bean can’t sell its “Buzz Off” clothes in the European Union. The EPA has found it to be toxic to fish and bees, and labels it “a weak carcinogen.” A year ago, the New York Times for

Jan. 7, 2020 published a piece by Nicholas Bakalar about a longterm study of 2,116 adults linking permethrin exposure to mortality, which concluded that long-term exposure to permethrin may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and early death. During the 14-year-long study, 246 of the 2,116 adults died. The one-third of adults with the highest levels of permethrin in their systems had a 56% higher rate of all-cause deaths, and three times the rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease, compared to the one-third of the adults with lowest permethrin levels. The study did not attempt to find the source of the permethrin linked to the higher rate of mortality. However, our experience with other pesticide levels suggests that the probable source of the permethrin was our food.

For do-it-yourselfers, Permethrin concentrate can be purchased in bulk, then diluted and sprayed onto pant legs, where it remains effective against ticks for a long time. However, how much to we really know about the safety of the insecticide? Photo: Martin’s

Time for Action is Now The EPA permits the spraying of permethrin on most common fruit and vegetables, from apples to corn and broccoli. In the light of this study, perhaps the EPA will re-evaluate its decision. Although 2020 was not a year marked by an activist EPA , I have been surprised at the official silence regarding the findings of the 14-year study, because of permethrin’s wide use in agriculture and in food production. The development of a Covid vaccine took only about 9 months, thanks to the public/ private research initiative known as “Operation Warp Speed.” When this pandemic is over, let’s hope that same type of mobilization can lead to safe prevention, accurate diagnosis and a lasting cure for tick-related diseases.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 11

Marco Island – Gem of the Paradise Coast I know, it’s not safe to travel to Florida while the pandemic ravages that state, and you’d have to quarantine or produce a negative Covid-19 test result to legally return to Maine after a visit there; but I just want to dream a little about warm southern climes, and salty waters abounding in a number of great game fish, and to have conch fritters, boiled crawdads, and buttered grits with fried eggs and country ham in the morn. And I want to share it with you so that when it is safe to wander, this trip should be one of your priorities. I can’t recommend it highly enough. The fish hovered just off of the mangrove-lined bank at almost dead low tide. We could just barely make out the dark shape in the turbid, stained water, recently befuddled by rains that dropped almost five inches onto

Marco Island is a magical place for anglers, with access to snook, tarpon, redfish, sea trout, various jacks and snappers, sharks, ladyfish and a number of other fly-friendly species.

By the mid-1960s the population of Marco was less than 600 people, and it’s over 17, 000. It swells to nearly 40,000 during the winter months when people flock to the sun-drenched island. All Photos by King Montgomery

this picturesque part of southwestern Florida. “Probably a redfish,” said Captain Ken Chambers from the poling platform over the outboard. A Mar-

Boats are everywhere on Marco Island, including at this marina. The island is crisscrossed by canals, and all the homes have boat docks.

co Island native now living in nearby Naples, he’s fished these waters for decades. “Drop it in front, and strip the fly when I tell you.” My cast with the

Orvis Helios 9-weight rod – Chambers is an Orvis-endorsed light-tackle and fly fishing guide who provides clients with quality fishing gear – was aided by a total lack

Captain Ken Chambers knows the waters off of Marco Island, including some submerged sandbars within sight of the high rise resort hotels.

of wind, an unusual circumstance on saltwater flats anywhere. The streamer fly with light lead eyes plopped less than 24 inches from what I thought was the head of the fish, and the shadow darted toward it. “Strip fast!” commanded Chambers, and I did. And the fish attacked the fly with its patulous maw. I was fast to a spunky redfish, and it provided a fun fight until it came to hand. The fish posed for a few photos then was released back into the dark waters. These vast waters of the Marco Island backcountry are some of the most fertile I’ve seen. Fish of many stripes that fall to flies, lures and bait are joined by curious manatees, dolphins that always look like they are having fun, and dozens of species of spectacular birds, including herons, egrets, (Continued on next page)

Joe Mahler placed his cast hard up against the mangroves and was rewarded with a spunky snook. We fished with Captain Kevin Merritt, an excellent guide with tons of experience in these waters. www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Captain Ken Chambers puts his clients on to fish in the backcountry off of Marco Island and beyond. He’s in his third decade as an angling guide.

Redfish are abundant and readily attack surface and subsurface flies with abandon. When you can keep them -- check the regulations -- they, like snook, are excellent table fare.

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 11)

roseate spoonbills, bald eagles, osprey, and various gulls. And there are gators, too, just to add to the mix. Captain Chambers works out of Backcountry Guide Service in Naples. Ken fishes year round for snook, tarpon, redfish, sea trout, various jacks and snappers, sharks, ladyfish and a number of other fly-friendly species. He launches his flats skiff out of nearby Calusa Island Marina in Goodland, first at a no-wake speed in deference to the engaging manatees that call this part of the Ten Thousand

Islands home. As we negotiated the island passages, the first glimpses of an erubescent sun shimmered in a light fog or mist that sat above the mangroves like a layer of frosting on a cake. Various shorebirds and raptors, the latter represented by bald eagles and ospreys, were getting active as the sun warmed feathers and the shallow waters along the tangled mangroves and over the oyster bars. The whole scene in the early light of day lent a pink sheen to water and sky, like a bunch of roseate spoonbills in

Captain Ken Chambers has a fly for every occasion and fish species, just like the rest of us afflicted with the fishing bug. www.MaineSportsman.com

front of a mirror. This, I mused, is a gorgeous place. “Meet us at the Calusa Island Marina at 4:00 a.m.,” said Captain Kevin Merritt of Naples Backcountry Fishing. “I’m going to show you something different.” Thank goodness I’m a morning person and would have no trouble making the appointed time. By 4:20 in the morning, we were catching snook under the dock lights in one of the nearby canals. It reminded me of fishing for striped bass pretty much the same way. The light attracts insects and tiny fish, the insects pull in lit-

Snook populations took a dive some years ago due mostly to some freezes that normally don’t happen here. They are back, and willing to eat lures and flies.

tle fish, and larger fish prey on the smaller ones. And so on down (or up) the line. The “us” Kevin referred to over the cell phone was avid fly angler Joe Mahler, outdoor writer and illustrator, fly fishing/ casting instructor, and excellent company in a boat. Between these two gentlemen, I learned a great deal about the Ten Thousand Islands and its wonderful fishing opportunities, plus had a fine time to boot. We caught a mixed bag of fishes and that served as an illustration of the diverse fishing available in these wonderful waters.

Captain Kevin Merritt with a snook caught in dock lights at dark by Joe Mahler.

Marco Island Marco Island has a long, historic pedigree that over time helped it evolve into the nicely-planned, well-manicured, and fun-filled place it is today. The first known occupants of the island were the Calusa Indians, thought to be descendents of the Maya of Mexico’s Yucatan and other parts of Central America. The Calusa were clever and practical sea-going people who made sturdy canoes for fishing and for transportation to trade with the mainland tribes. They built homes and docks on the island, and over many gen(Continued on next page)

An anhinga looks like a fancy cormorant, and like the latter it dries its wings before returning to the water for some lunch.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 13

Several species of terns take wing from an exposed sandbar within sight of the tourist resorts of Marco Island. Gorgeous birds are everywhere in the area. (Continued from page 12)

erations consumed what must have been enormous quantities of shellfish, including oysters. The mounds of shells, some over a hundred feet high, gave some protection from winds generated by storms and hurricanes, and also were used for religious purposes and burial sites. The mounds today are the highest places on the island. As the Calusa died out from diseases brought by the invading Spaniards, much of the southwest Florida area was sparsely populated until the latter third of the 19th century, when the Collier family moved in and things started to happen. “Captain Bill” Collier (for whom Collier County is named) built and opened a 20-room hotel on Marco Island that today is known as the Olde Marco Inn & Suites. Others followed and developed Marco Island, first concentrating on fishing and dredging shellfishes, then moving on to providing a place for northerners to visit to get out the cold and snow. Many folks bought winter hous-

Yes, there are alligators in the waters around Marco Island, and they do like (and need) the warm sun. Ancient creatures, they can be vicious predators when hungry.

es or condos, and time-sharing structures sprang up. Marco Island, all four by six miles of it, fast became a major part of Collier County’s Paradise Coast. By the mid-1960s the population of Marco was less than 600 people. Now it boasts a year-round population of over 17,000, and it rises to nearly 40,000 during the winter months when people flock to the sun-drenched island. A Few Things to Do There are so many things to do and sights to see on Marco Island and other nearby attractions in Collier County that visitors could spend months, and not see or experience it all. Water-related activities – just what you would expect on an island – tend to dominate outdoors pursuits from fishing, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, power boating, to walking the many beaches. Fly fishing and light tackle and ecotour guides ply the mangrove-lined shallows around Marco Island and the storied 10,000 Islands of southwest Florida of which Marco Island is

the largest and northernmost. Tarpon, snook, redfish, various jacks and snappers abound in these fertile waters. We saw a small pod of dolphin – the mammal, not the fish – porpoising on their way from here to there. Young manatees showed their heads now and then as if to say, “Here I am; come get me.” Occasionally, baby tarpon, which can run to 40 – 50 pounds or more, rolled or gulped some air before quietly sinking deeper. Alligators lounged in the sun on the sand spits, half in and half out of the water. Roseate spoonbills walked in the shallows, their unique bills scooping in water and the tiny critters that comprise its diet. Yes, life is good in the backcountry of Marco Island. At the Rose Marco River Marina, there are a number of larger charter fishing boats ready to take you out for snappers, groupers, mackerels, sharks, seatrout, tarpon, permit, cobia and other gamefishes for either half or full-day trips. Eco-tour charter boats berthed here take guests to the backcountry and off-

The first rays of sun piece the morning sky as the boat skims along the water. Marco Island hosts spectacular sunsets and sunrises, both visible if you’re in the right place at the right time.

shore to see the myriad wildlife that swim and fly this unique ecosystem. The Marco Island Princess is docked here, too, and she provides sight-seeing and lunch or dinner cruises around Marco Island waters. Some visitors hire a guide with a boat or rent a boat to take them to more remote islands in the 10,000 Islands chain to hunt for seashells, have lunch, and luxuriate on their own, unspoiled beaches. This part of Florida is one the best spots to find exotic seashells and other forms of sea life that wash up onto the sandy shores. The Paradise Coast is truly diverse, with over 30 miles of white sand beaches, including those on Marco Island. The latter has the widest beaches I’ve ever seen – well over a hundred yards from the beginning of the sand to water’s edge. Magnificent! The beaches are accessed from public rights-ofway or from resorts and hotels along the shoreline. All beaches in Florida are public. Marco Island Information • Capt. Ken Chambers, Backcountry

Guide Service, 239289-0984, www.backcountryguideservice. com. Capt. Kevin Merritt, Naples Backcountry Fishing, 239-2897228, www.naplesbackcountryfishing. com • Naples-Marco Island-Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1-800-To Escape, www.ParadiseCoast. com. • Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, 239-394-3061, www.marcoislandchamber.org. • Olde Marco Island Inn & Suites, 1-877475-3466, www.oldemarcoinn.com. Marco Island Lakeside Inn, 1-800-729-0216, www. marcoislandlakeside. com. • Mangrove Outfitters Fly Shop, Naples, 1-888-319-9848, www. mangroveoutfitters. com. • The Marco Island Princess, 239-6425415, www.marcoislandprincess.com. Luncheon, dinner, and other cruises around Marco. • Joe Mahler, author/illustrator/fly casting instructor, 239-482-0325, www. joemahler.com.

www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

“Snapshots in Time” Excerpts from the Annals of Maine’s Sporting Past

Submitted by Bill Pierce, of the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine

— The short installments below are from the January 19, 1906 issue of the MAINE WOODS newspaper. They share some interesting observations from the woods of Maine at a time when those woods were changing rapidly. In the first piece, given the subtitle “Fairy Tales?”, it seems the editor was skeptical as to the veracity of the reports shared.

Fish & Game Oddities Fairy Tales?

Among some of the odd happenings noted recently are the following: Professor Knowlton, of the Presque Isle Normal School, fired at what he took for a wild goose, and shot the biggest bald eagle ever seen in Maine, the bird measuring eight feet from tip to tip of its wings and weighing forty-two pounds. Dr. Martin, of Boston, has shot a white moose, the only one ever seen in Maine. George Archer, of Clifton, has captured and killed a genuine North American panther that measured eight feet one inch from end of nose to tip of tail, and weighed 123 pounds. It is the first panther that has been seen in Maine since 1875, when Henry Snow, of Lincolnville, shot a small

one, which was supposed to be the last of its race in New England. Wild geese have come down from the north and are feeding among the inland lakes a month earlier than usual, indicating that the weather is very cold under the Arctic Circle. More wood ducks and partridges have been shot this season than for the past five years. Nobody has seen any evidence to indicate that there is a caribou in Maine, and the chances are that these animals have gone for all time.” Note to readers: I would love to find the mounts or skins of that albino moose or of the panther for the museum. The decline of the caribou mentioned here was only a little premature. Because the woodland caribou is a migratory animal, it is uncertain exactly when the last caribou from a native Maine herd was sighted. One credible account occurred on the slopes of Mount Katahdin in 1908. In 1911, a small herd was seen at Burntland Brook along the Allagash River by a local Game Warden, Bert Spencer. Reports persisted of a small herd in the Katahdin region until 1914. In this next article, either the reporter or the “victim” (or both) seemed to have a flair for “flinging it” as well. —

Game of Moose Tag in Calais

The Bangor Daily Commercial is responsible for the following story from Calais: John Waddingham of Rolling Dam, N. B., had an experience recently with a moose, and is thankful that the animal did not linger longer in his vicinity, as things were looking

A blow on the head from the flat side of Mr. Waddingham’s axe caused the moose to stop for an instant and shake its head before resuming the chase.

a trifle blue for him just as the monarch of the forest entertained a new thought. Mr. Waddingham was working in his woodlot when following a crashing in the bushes, a big moose suddenly appeared before him. Mr. Waddingham decided that a retreat was right in his line about that time, as his only weapon was an axe, but evidently the moose had a grudge against some person and was determined to vent it upon the first one he met, for no sooner did Mr. Waddingham start to get out of the way than the moose made a rush at him. A blow with the flat side of the axe head made the bull halt for an instant and shake his head, but he didn’t stop to consider this indignity very long, and in another instant was upon the man again. “Tag you’re it,” said the farmer as he swatted the moose once again with the axe, and the pair began a game of chase around a convenient tree in which the chaser seemed to have more fun than the chased, as things were beginning to look serious for the latter, who was not in the best of form for sprinting. Finally, Mr. Waddingham threw his axe at the moose and made a break for home. The moose, which evidently dropped in for a little sport, viewed his fleeing playmate for a second or two, then turned in disgust towards the place from whence he came. Mr. Waddingham was pretty well winded when he broke from the circle and struck for home, and, had the moose chosen to follow him, would have overtaken him with ease. The animal was a monster, judging from the big hoof prints made in the soft earth while playing tag around the tree. — Readers: I love a good Maine woods story, whether completely believable or not, as over time, every story tends to gain a little “color”. Until next time, I hope you create plenty of wonderful tall-tale-inspiring memories as you get outside to make some enjoyable outdoor history of your own!

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Almanac

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 15

My Adventures with Wildlife, Episode 3

Owl Attack! by Blaine Cardilli

The year was 1984, and two of us were predator-hunting, mainly for red fox. It was late in the afternoon, and we were in a tall, open stand of pines overlooking scattered bushes and scrub. As was our usual practice, my buddy and I set up on the ground by some brush, facing each other about six feet apart, me watching behind him and him watching the area behind me. I broke out my P. S. Olt model T-20 call, and began my series imitating a dying rabbit. I had been working the calls for about 15 minutes, when I saw Kip’s eyes open wide as he looked past me. He mouthed something at me, but I couldn’t hear it, so I stared at him and this time he yelled, “Duck!!” so I instinctively leaned forward. As I did, something struck me in the back of the head, knocking me forward. It was a big owl that swooped past, and it had my hat in its talons. It landed on a branch in the next pine and dropped the hat to the ground as it stared back. Luckily, my scalp just suffered scratches and some pulled hair, but it would’ve been much worse if I hadn’t ducked! —

A Young Hunter Shares Secrets of His Success Among our state’s youngest successful deer and bear hunters this past season is Alex Larrabee, of (appropriately) Deer Isle. Alex is 8 years old, and he’s already been hunting for four years. In that time he’s harvested two bears, one doe, three bucks (including a 6-pointer in 2020, with his crossbow!) and several turkeys. We asked Alex to let us in on the secrets of his success, and he sent us the following note: ***** My favorite part of hunting is watching what animals come out of the woods when I am sitting in a stand or ground blind. I like to set up deer cameras and go to different spots to see what deer are in the area. When I sit in the tree stand, I feel

Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —

excited, because you never know what is going to come out. I have hunted deer since I was 5, and I have harvested one every year. It is so fun!

This photo of a Eurasian-domestic swine that escaped from a Maine breeding facility shows the damage they can wreak. In addition, sows can produce litters of between 4 and 12 “cute” young, which mature so quickly they can breed within a year.

Alex Larrabee -- experienced deer hunter.

I love hunting with my Dad. He calls me his hunting buddy. I think I am his good luck charm. I love to bear hunt because it is so exciting to see how big the bears are in the woods. It makes me shake when one walks out. I have to try to control my breathing so they can’t hear me. I sit for 7 hours a day until I get a bear. I’ve learned how to sit very still. I love to feed my family. The meat tastes so good. The harder you try, the more chances you’re going to get one. Alex Larrabee —

Feral Swine in Maine – Preventing an Invasive Species by John Wood, Wildlife Specialist USDA Wildlife Services, Augusta john.j.wood@aphis.usda.gov Are there feral swine in Maine? The short answer is no – but we must remain prepared. Feral swine management in Maine is dependent on YOU reporting any sightings, which initiates our response to help prevent their establishment in Maine.

Invasive feral swine have spread rapidly across the US as a result of expansion of their natural range, illegal relocation by hunters, and escapes from hunting preserves and domestic swine facilities.

As Wildlife Biologists for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services program, we resolve wildlife conflicts such as these. Feral swine are destructive, invasive, and dangerous, causing more than $1.5 billion in damage and control costs in the U.S. each year. (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

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Almanac

(Continued from page 15)

Their presence could destroy the framework of Maine’s native wildlife and biological diversity. Large Game Shooting Areas Maine has several Certified Large Game Shooting Areas (CLGSAs), which are strictly regulated by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. Maine breeders provide these high-fenced facilities with a genetic-hybrid swine, comprised of domestic and Eurasian genetics, which produce larger, hairier, more aggressive, and adaptable swine. Hunters pay to harvest them within high-fenced CLGSAs. Despite being highly regulated, these swine may escape and become feral. Escaped common-domestic swine are considered comparatively as dangerous and destructive as those with Eurasian genetics; both are afforded the same management and prevention techniques and are considered feral swine when loose on the landscape. Report Any Sightings Since 2012, Maine has resolved 14 feral swine incidents originating from illegal transportation into Maine, as well as escapes from breeding facilities, CLGSAs, and domestic swine farms. Our biologists work cooperatively with state-agency partners to resolve these situations quickly, but we still need your help. Help prevent all origins of feral swine in Maine – Call USDA Wildlife Services at 207-629-5181 to report sightings. —

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The Three-Patch Pike? (A Real Fish Story)

Some rules are made never to be broken, right? Like the limit of a single “One That Didn’t Get Away” patch per fish. I mean, there’s just no way we here at The Maine Sportsman would violate that sacred rule. Well, maybe there’s one way.

The dynamic trio of Dano, Justin and Hillary combined their skills and talents to pull this 18.25-lb. northern pike through the ice at Great Pond, Belgrade.

From Justin Barber, of Mercer: “Two of my friends and I were ice fishing on Great Pond in Belgrade. One flag went off, and nearly all the line quickly peeled off the spool. Hillary Henderson of Norridgewock set the hook and tried to slow the speed of the fish. “As she was fighting that fish, one of my flags went off, 50 yards away. I ran over, and set the hook. As I was fighting the fish, I suddenly realized both of us were on the same fish. I thought the fish was simply wrapped up in my gear, until I saw the fish through the hole in the ice, and it had Hillary’s hook in its jaw, as well as my hook in its jaw. “As I grabbed the fish and lifted it out of the hole, both lines snapped. My buddy Daniel “Dano” Hill of Oakland lunged forward, grabbed the pike around its belly in a bear hug, and we all sprawled onto the ice away from the hole. “Official weight: 18.25 lbs. Length: 39.3”. Girth 18.5”. “My question is – can we get three patches, one for each of us, since technically we all caught it? The fish was certified by IFW Fisheries Biologist Scott Davis, and the three applications are all filled out.” ***** It’s always the exception that makes the rule, so after an official meeting of the rules committee’s subcommittee on unique circumstances, Hillary, Justin and Dano were each awarded a coveted “One That Didn’t Get Away” patch. —

Rangeley Outdoor Heritage Museum to Host Virtual Screening of International Fly Fishing Film Festival We heard recently from Heidi Nute, a member of the board and events chair at the Outdoor Heritage Museum (and a record-holding fly angler in her own right). “For the past three years,” she wrote, “we’ve hosted the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) here in Rangeley. It’s a collection of short films with nearly two hours of footage of fly fishing adventures all over the globe. “This event has proven exceedingly popular, but with Covid, we have restrictions for in-person gatherings. So the IF4 producers have offered the museum an exclusive virtual screening for the states of NH and ME, to allow our supporters to watch the film in their own homes through the web. “All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the museum here in Rangeley. “The films will take viewers around the world, casting to steelhead in the northern frontier of British Columbia, Baltic salmon in the heart of the Swedish Lapland, sight-fishing Giant Trevally in the Seychelles, and tuna in Colombia.

This year’s Fly Fishing Film Festival to benefit the Outdoor Museum in Rangeley will feature adventures such as the pursuit of Baltic salmon in the rivers of Swedish Lapland. Film festival photo

“The film goes live on March 18th at 7:00 p.m., and can be accessed any time within 48 hours of the showing, and for seven days thereafter. Tickets on sale now for $15. After purchase, viewers will be emailed a password and link to the website to access the film. “In addition to the film, there will be fly fishing product giveaways and other promotions at the event. One lucky attendee will be selected to win the 2021 Grand Prize drawing for thousands of (Continued on next page)

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

dollars’ worth of fly fishing gear provided by IF4 sponsors. “Tickets on sale now: outdoorheritagemuseum.org; a preview of the film is available at https://vimeo.com/499350091” ***** We at the Sportsman wish all the best to Heidi, to our monthly “Snapshots in Time” contributor Bill Pierce, and the rest of those involved in the Outdoor Heritage Museum, for a successful and fun fundraiser, starting March 18. —

2020 Set New Record for Lead-poisoned Bald Eagles by Nick Lund, Outreach and Network Manager, Maine Audubon Diane Winn, the co-founder of Avian Haven, has become so accustomed to seeing lead-poisoned Bald Eagles arrive at her rehabilitation center that she has learned to recognize the symptoms before she administers the diagnostic blood test. “A signature symptom is the respiratory distress,” she told me via email, “that results from damage to red blood cells, specifically hemoglobin.” The video of a Bald Eagle experiencing this “respiratory distress” she emailed along with her comments

was one of the most difficult I have ever watched. An adult eagle lies on its belly on a table against a wall, its wings and tail spread. The bird’s head is craned backwards onto its own back, its yellow eyes wide. The bird opens its beak and gives snoring breaths, its entire body heaving with effort, its voice sounding like a raspy crow. “The eagle died shortly after this video was taken,” reads the caption.

The author reports that a video of an eagle showing the effects of acute lead poisoning “was one of the most difficult I have ever watched.”

Of the 34 Bald Eagles brought to Avian Haven for rehabilitation in 2020, 25 had elevated blood lead levels, and only three of the 25 birds survived. Both numbers are increases over 2019, when 9 of the 19 eagles brought to the center were found with elevated lead levels. None of the 9 survived. Bald Eagles are scavengers, and scientists believe the primary vehicle for lead to get into their bodies is from lead bullet fragments in deer (Continued on next page)

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18 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

March 2021 Sunrise/Sunset

(Continued from page 17)

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

RISE 6:15 6:13 6:11 6:10 6:08 6:06 6:04 6:03 6:01 5:59 5:57 5:56 5:54 6:52 6:50 6:48

SET 5:31 5:32 5:33 5:35 5:36 5:37 5:38 5:40 5:41 5:42 5:43 5:45 5:46 6:47 6:48 6:49

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

RISE 6:47 6:45 6:43 6:41 6:39 6:38 6:36 6:34 6:32 6:30 6:29 6:27 6:25 6:23 6:21

SET 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:56 6:57 6:58 6:59 7:00 7:02 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:06 7:08

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

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

HIGH AM PM 12:05 12:23 12:48 1:10 1:33 2:01 2:22 2:57 3:17 3:59 4:18 5:06 5:24 6:18 6:36 7:29 7:44 8:31 8:45 9:25 9:38 10:13 10:26 10:55 11:09 11:34 — 12:49 1:10 1:27 1:44 2:04 2:17 2:42 2:53 3:23 3:31 4:09 4:16 4:59 5:06 5:55 6:02 6:56 7:04 7:57 8:06 8:52 9:02 9:41 9:53 10:25 10:41 11:09 11:28 11:52 — 12:16 12:36 1:04 1:22 1:54

LOW AM PM 6:09 6:35 6:57 7:19 7:47 8:07 8:42 9:00 9:41 9:58 10:46 11:02 11:57 — 12:13 1:10 1:25 2:15 2:28 3:11 3:23 4:00 4:12 4:43 4:56 5:23 6:37 6:58 7:15 7:32 7:53 8:06 8:30 8:41 9:10 9:19 9:53 10:02 10:41 10:50 11:34 11:43 — 12:33 12:43 1:36 1:45 2:34 2:44 3:25 3:37 4:11 4:25 4:55 5:13 5:39 6:01 6:23 6:49 7:09 7:39 7:56

*Daylight Savings Begins at 2:00 AM EST March 14, 2021.

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carcasses or offal piles. The authors of a 2006 study published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin searched for lead fragments in deer carcasses supplied by cooperating hunters and in offal piles. In all, 94% of samples of deer killed with lead-based bullets contained bullet fragments, and 90% of 20 offal piles showed fragments. Counts of individual lead fragments from the bodies of whole deer made available to the scientists found high counts of 544 and 521 fragments in individual deer. By way of comparison, studies of deer shot with expanding copper bullets found a high count of just two fragments. The return of the Bald Eagle to Maine after its populations were ravaged by the pesticide DDT is one of the greatest success stories of our lifetime, but we may not get to enjoy their resurgence for very long. The staff at Avian Haven hope to avoid another record year for poisoned Bald Eagles, but they’re off to an inauspicious start. To quote the last sentence of Diane Winn’s email, “Our first [Bald Eagle] of 2021 was admitted yesterday [January 20], and it is already dead.” —

Having grown up with a mother

who told stories about her younger days lobstering summers out of a rowboat to put herself through college, I looked forward with anticipation to reading Pretty Rugged, which the author, Ali Farrell, dedicates to “the generations of women with salt

In an image from “Pretty Rugged,” Capt. Lindsay McDaniels hauls a trap onto the deck of Fishing Vessel Lanaia Jade, of Southwest Harbor. Photo: Celeste Sandstrom

in their veins and strength in their hearts.” Mom was the only woman pulling traps in 1949 in Casco Bay and beyond, as far as she knew. Her choice of work was such an anomaly that it caught the attention of “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not,” where her story was published, and she was also the subject of a feature story in the Portland Press Herald. Fast forward to today, it is heartening to see so many women in commercial fishing, as businesswomen, captains and boat owners as hardy and skilled as their male counterparts. The women featured in Pretty Rugged are an impressive lot who defy often-dangerous conditions to follow their passion and love for the sea and commercial fishing. Many began as little girls aboard their father’s or grandfather’s boat, and they are already passing on the tradition to the next generation. After reading about Captain Virginia Oliver, age 100 and still fishing, I believe she must have beat my mother as the first woman hauling traps – sorry, Mom! Pretty Rugged an outstanding book, with quality photos on every page, and written by an author who understands her subjects – her earlier works include an inspirational book for younger readers, titled A Lobster Girl Can. I thank Ali Farrell – whose father was an offshore fisherman – for bringing us the stories of these amazing women who share not only their harrowing experiences, but also the good-natured pranks that make their jobs anything but mundane. I am also grateful to them for plying the bold ocean waters each day to bring home their catch that feeds our families, and for inspiring generations of women to follow in their wake. — (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 19

Quotable

Sportsman

by Will Lund

Remembering George Smith

Starlight, Star Bright Our monthly photo contributor Jonathan Wheaton submitted this stunning photo taken at Baker Lake in mid-October, as the Milky Way rose over the south end of the lake. The image was taken with a 15-35 mm lens with a 20-second exposure at f2.8, with his Canon Mark IV (Continued from page 18)

Readers’ Poll Results Released Again this year, hundreds of outdoorsmen and women took the time to review and thoughtfully respond to our annual Readers’ Opinion Poll. The results, found on page 21, provide fodder for interesting analysis. The numbers reveal many areas of agreement among those who enjoy Maine’s outdoors: • 95% of readers believe that the dumping of household trash on private property discourages landowners and leads to posting, and 65% (a number that gets higher every year) now favor a “deposit” on tires that you get back when the purchaser returns the worn tire; • Nearly 70% oppose background checks for firearms purchases; • More than 90% believe the state’s General Fund should pay for Search-and-Rescue efforts to look for people who have not purchased a fish or game license; and • 84% of readers favor making hunting licenses simpler by allowing purchasers of a single “unitary” license to hunt all game except moose.

We noted some differences in results listed on the paper returns compared to online results. For example, only 57% of the paper-based responders said they’d removed all the lead sinkers from their tackle boxes, while that number increased to 70% for online responders. Are online responders younger and more socially opinionated? If so, that might explain the fact that only 53% of the paper-based responders feel human activity is leading to climate change, while that number climbs to 65% for online reader responses. And while only 30% of the paper-based respondents had tried non-lead ammo, a full 50% of the online responders said they had used modern copper or alloy slugs. Reader comments were highly informative – and entertaining – as well. Why should the state pay contractors to rid areas of nuisance beavers, asked one, if trappers are willing to purchase a license to do it? And our favorite: the reader who suggested that DIFW should collect tons of acorns during prolific growing years, and use them to keep deer fat and happy during the lean years. Thanks to all of you who participated – we appreciate your input, observations and ideas.

“George Smith’s passion for hiking, hunting, fishing, and nature was eloquently expressed in his columns. His writings reflected his reverence for the beauty of every corner of Maine, gave a voice to the experiences of countless other sportsmen, and sparked a renewed appreciation for our state among his readers. He built a proud and enduring legacy of conservation. Current and future generations of outdoor recreationalists will be forever grateful for his advocacy.” U.S. Senator Susan Collins, in a statement released February 13, 2021, the day after the passing of George Smith – advocate, conservationist, author and Maine Sportsman columnist. — “An avid sportsman, a prolific writer, and a good-natured friend to all, George Smith was the very embodiment of the character of Maine – strong but kind, independent but compassionate, wise but humble.” Governor Janet T. Mills, in a statement in memory of George Smith. — “George Smith was tough, smart, and deeply determined to protect the boundless beauty of Maine.” U.S. Senator Angus King, quoted in the Portland Press Herald. — “George Smith had the rare ability to present a different perspective on an issue or even disagree, all without being disagreeable. His amiable nature was demonstrated by his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone he’d meet. When he attended the annual State of Maine Sportsman Show, he generated a traffic jam on the floor of the Augusta Civic Center.” Jon Lund, Publisher, The Maine Sportsman magazine — “When people go to the beach to enjoy access, or to public lands, they should know and appreciate that George had a role in making those things happen.” David Trahan, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine executive director, quoted in the Waterville Sentinel, Feb. 14, 2021. Smith helped establish and promote the Lands for Maine’s Future Program, and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. — “We will miss his humor, his caring, his written words, his stories, and his humanity. George was a man who loved and knew Maine, with every bone in his body and every breath of life.” Pete Didisheim, advocacy director, Natural Resources Council of Maine, quoted in the Kennebec Journal. www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Restoration of Our Rivers Has a Long Way to Go Removing river dams, says the author, restores access to critical habitat for Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring (alewives and blueback herring), and eels. Peter Taylor’s book about the restoration of the Penobscot River is really good and important. From the Mountains to the Sea, published by Islandport Press, tells the amazing story of the very long and expensive effort to remove dams and build fishways on the Penobscot River. While a lot has

been accomplished – including the removal of dams – fish are still blocked in many places. Atlantic salmon are on the brink of dying out in the Kennebec River. The Department of Marine Resources has created a new Kennebec River Management Plan, but I am skeptical it will really make a dif-

In the summer and fall, Bethany Roberts of Surry flyfishes local rivers, and hunts a wide range of game, including coyote, fox and bobcat. Wintertime finds her on the ice, such as in this photo, in which she holds a black crappie. www.MaineSportsman.com

ference. The biggest problems for Atlantic salmon are four dams between Waterville and Skowhegan. These dams block salmon from reaching their ancestral spawning and rearing habitat in the Sandy River, which enters the Kennebec in Starks. There is no viable spawning and rearing habitat for Atlantic salmon below the Sandy. These four dams also block vast amounts of habitat for other important species, including American shad, river herring (alewives and blueback herring), and eels. Good News But there is also some good news. An unlikely alliance of many individuals and groups – including the Natural Resources Council of Maine – spent many years restoring the Penobscot, and Taylor interviewed more than 50 people for his book. It’s amazing to me that this group never gave up, despite lots of problems, including raising tens of millions of dollars to buy and remove the dams. They also had to overcome opposition by many who lived along and near the

From the Mountains to the Sea, by Peter Taylor (Islandport Press), chronicles the arduous effort to remove dams and build fishways along the Penobscot River.

dams, because the dams produced clean energy. I appreciated that Taylor also included some information about the effort to remove dams on the Kennebec River, because that’s where I spent my time and effort. After the federal government ordered the removal of the dam in Augusta, I enjoyed amazing fishing from Sidney to Waterville. Amazing Fishing I’d put my boat in at the Waterville launch, and motor up and down the river, catching lots of fish. On my desk is a photo of me in my boat on the river, holding up a huge bass. And yes, I am smiling! Over the years, I have fished the entire Kennebec River, from Moosehead Lake to Popham Beach. Dad and I would put our boat in the river in

Bath and fish all the way to Popham. I’ll never forget the time a seal swam up and grabbed Dad’s fish. I also fished the Penobscot River. I remember one time fishing the river on the Brewer side, right across from Bangor, and seeing two seals swimming up the river, enjoying a meal of fish. Yes, removing the dams didn’t please just anglers. The book includes lots of beautiful photos of the Penobscot River. And we can all be proud of the successful effort to remove those dams on this beautiful river. I encourage you to take a trip down the Penobscot and the Kennebec – and bring your fishing rod! And please, support any effort to remove more of the dams on these wonderful rivers.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 21

2020 Maine Sportsman Opinion Poll Results Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to our Readers Poll! Please look over the results, and send your comments and questions to our editor at Will@MaineSportsman.com. 1. Have you hunted with non-lead ammo? YES 38%

NO 62%

2. Should Maine establish a spring bear hunt to help reduce the bear population? YES 51% NO 49% 3. Should the applications filed by landowners for preference in any-deer permit drawings be open to public inspection? YES 67% NO 33% 4. Have you removed all lead sinkers and lead split shot from your freshwater tackle boxes? YES 64% NO 36% 5. Did you hunt coyotes within the past year? YES 18%

NO 82%

21. Should income from bear bait hunting sites leased by landowners be taxed, with the revenue going to DIF&W? YES 30% NO 70% 22. Should a system be developed to allow an any-deer permit to be used in more than one Wildlife Management District? YES 61% NO 39% 23. Do you believe DIF&W wardens are spread too thin to deter poachers? YES 81% NO 19% 24. When wardens spend time on search and rescue activities unrelated to fish or game activities, should the state’s General Fund pay for their time? YES 92% NO 8%

6. Because of Covid-related restrictions, did you hunt and fish close to home more frequently than usual this year? YES 47% NO 53%

25. Do you approve of DIF&W’s current practice of stocking brook trout in marginal, put-and-take waters where these fish cannot survive warm summer water? YES 42% NO 58%

7. Virtually all of Maine’s navigable rivers and streams have been channelized, bulldozed, dynamited, straightened, or otherwise altered to facilitate driving of logs, which ended in 1976. Should the state initiate a program to restore our rivers to provide better habitat for fish and wildlife? YES 75% NO 25%

26. Did you spend time fly-casting in the past 12 months? YES 47% NO 53% 27. Should mechanized gold mining in Maine rivers and streams be ended, to protect trout and salmon spawning areas? YES 90% NO 10%

8. Did you hunt with a crossbow within the past 12 months? YES 11% NO 89% 9. Did you hunt with a muzzleloader within the past 12 months? YES 35% NO 65%

28. Only 3% of all bears killed each year are harvested by trapping. To remove an emotional issue from future bear hunting debates, should the state end the recreational trapping of bears? YES 34% NO 66%

10. It is unlawful to hunt in Maine with an autoloading rifle with a magazine with the capacity of more than five cartridges. Should it be unlawful to possess an autoloading rifle with a magazine having a capacity of more than five cartridges? YES 31% NO 69%

29. Should municipalities that regulate bow hunting in the expanded season zones be barred from charging fees for permits? YES 77% NO 23% 30. Should landlocked salmon be managed to promote larger fish? YES 73% NO 27%

11. Do you believe global warming is caused by human activity on Earth? YES 61% NO 39%

31. Should DIF&W regulate winter-feeding of deer? YES 52% NO 48%

12. Do you believe global warming is a real environmental threat? YES 59% NO 41%

32. Should nonresidents be permitted to hunt deer on opening day of the firearms season? YES 39% NO 61%

13. Should DIF&W establish a program to improve spawning habitat for trout and salmon? YES 92% NO 8%

33. Were you checked by a game warden within the last 12 months? YES 23% NO 77%

14. Should ice fishing be allowed on some salmon and trout waters now closed each winter, if anglers are required to use only artificial lures? YES 49% NO 51%

34. Should hunting with crossbows be allowed wherever hunters can use regular bows, as is now the case with hunters 65 and older? YES 60% NO 40%

15. Did you hunt or fish outside of the state of Maine in the past 12 months? YES 32% NO 68%

35. Do you believe many hunters in Maine tag deer they didn’t shoot? YES 59% NO 41%

16. Has the turkey population expanded to the point that the state should end the seasonal tag limits for the spring season, and allow the taking of one tom turkey each day? YES 51% NO 49%

36. Should the owners of land with conservation easements be required to post online maps showing the land and the location of the public’s right of access? YES 46% NO 54%

17. Is the dumping of household goods and tires causing landowners to post their property? YES 95% NO 5% 18. Should buyers of auto and truck tires pay a returnable deposit, as we do on beverage bottles, which we would get back when we returned the used tires? YES 64% NO 36% 19. Pike are an exotic invasive species that has the potential to wreak havoc with our native trout and salmon. Should anglers be required to kill any pike that are caught? YES 74% NO 26% 20. Would you support a proposal to expand the instant background check of purchasers of firearms to include sales between private parties? YES 31% NO 69%

37. Should Maine’s law permitting children of any age to hunt under supervision, be modified to establish a minimum hunting age? YES 56% NO 44% 38. Should a system of tagging turkeys by telephone or online replace tagging stations? YES 62% NO 38% 39. Should the price of a Maine hunting license include the right to hunt all game animals (except moose) without additional fees? YES 84% NO 16% 40. Have you (or has anyone you know) seen a cougar in Maine? YES 27% NO 73%

www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife:

Sea-Run Trout

by Tom Seymour

Anadromous trout, otherwise known as “sea-run” trout, are in trouble. Numbers of fish returning to their natal streams from saltwater environs continue to decline. What’s the problem? No one has an answer, or at least no one I’ve spoken with. I have a supposition, and to me it makes sense. My experience with sea-run trout goes back many decades and over that time, the phenomena of shrinking numbers of sea-run trout has become more and more apparent. Here’s what I think – the decline of sea-runs corresponds to the advent of the elver fishery. Most, but not all, sea-run trout return in spring, the time when elver nets are out in full force. These nets have excluders and because of that, it seems unlikely that many trout are being caught in nets. But the nets still appear to have an adverse effect. Streams and rivers have paths of travel, which fish use generation after generation. We learn of these by observing where in the channel the fish swim. Accordingly, elver nets are placed in these “travel lanes.” Tiny elvers simply swim into the mouth of the net and become trapped. Trout, being larger, must alter the paths where they swim. It appears to me that trout dislike these changes in their established courses, and thus stay out in the saltwater rather than returning home. Changing Habits I liken this idea of returning trout being deterred by elver nets in their travel lanes to people like me, who dislike crowds. If I enter a supermarket and find it jam-packed, I’ll usually turn around and get my groceries from a smaller venue, or else just go home and thaw out something from the freezer. The stream is the supermarket, and the elver nets are the crowds of people. Trout are put off because access to their traditional travel routes are blocked. Some bite the bullet and swim www.MaineSportsman.com

Sea run brook trout are the the focus of preservation and restoration efforts in several coastal New England states. Photo: Justin Fleming, for Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition, www.searunbrookie.org, Newburyport, MA

upstream anyway, but only a small percentage do that. This all sounds terribly upsetting, but it really is only a matter of dispersion. The overall trout population – and mostly I’m talking about brook trout – in any river or stream does not necessarily diminish because of the lack of returning fish. My thought is that returning fish will choose not to make the trek to saltwater again, and they will pass down that trait to future generations. In the end, fewer and fewer trout will venture into the salt water. We must remember that trout are highly responsive to any changes in their environment. That explains why trout will migrate, en masse, overnight, from a so-so area of a stream to a place where there is more shade, cooler water, and more dissolved oxygen. Likewise, trout are quick to catch on that going to the saltwater is fraught with problems. Sea-Run Notes We will probably always have at least a remnant number of sea-run trout in Maine. A number of small streams, not large enough to host an elver fishery, host runs of trout. I live within walking distance of one of these streams, and it always gives me a feeling of comfort to hit the brook on a day when it is filled with 6- to 7-inch, silvery brook trout, fresh from the sea – well, not directly from the sea, but from the Penobscot River. Tidal sections of our major rivers host runs of seagoing trout, something that the hopeful sea-run trout angler should not dismiss. I would never give out locations of such places, since greatly increased fishing pressure could harm the fishery. But if someone has the determination to go out and search

for these little treasures on their own, all the more power to them. Just remember to go in early spring and check out even the most insignificant-looking brook. Regarding the physical nature of sea-run trout, the habit of spending part of the year in the saltwater does not reside solely in brook trout populations. Brown trout and rainbow trout will, if given the opportunity, go to sea. Returning brown trout acquire a silvery sheen, making it easy to mistake them for Atlantic salmon. Just remember that brown trout have an extra row of teeth on the vomerine plate on the roof of the mouth. Adult brown trout exhibit a crooked, double row of vomerine teeth, while salmon have a rather straight single row. Sea-run rainbow trout should pose no identification problems, since they will always show a bit of a raspberry-colored band running down their middle. Sea-run rainbows fight even harder than their purely freshwater brethren, as hard as that is to believe. Sea-run rainbow trout are not leader-shy, either, so if you fish were these are known to swim, use at least 4-pound test line. The Future Overall, despite decreasing numbers of returning fish in streams hosting elver fisheries, the future of sea-run trout seems promising. Small streams will ensure that trout will still go to sea and return home. Also, not all trout in larger streams and rivers are deterred from migrating, keeping the trait alive in some of the population. Also, stocked brook, brown and rainbow trout sometimes escape over dams and enter the saltwater. So overall, the future looks good.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 23

Ice Fishing for an Invasive – Where and How to Catch Black Crappie in Central Maine by Wes Ashe, Fisheries Biologist

If trophy crappie in central Maine are what you’re after, the author suggests trying Long Pond (Belgrade), Great Pond (Belgrade), Messalonskee Lake (Oakland), Lake Wassookeag (Dexter), and Maranacook Lake (Winthrop). Like interstate billboards and Red Lobster restaurants, Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) aren’t supposed to be in Maine. Their native range extends from Florida and Texas, up the gut of the country, into the Midwest, New York, and the Great Lakes. Now, primarily as a result of “bucket biologists” and accidental stockings, this finned invasive species is found in nearly every state in the U.S., including here in Maine. First introduced to headwaters of the Sebago drainage exactly 100 years ago, black crappie are now present and abundant throughout most of central and southern Maine, and their range continues to expand. All About Crappie Black crappie are a member of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae), and their habits and habitat are relatively similar

to our native sunfishes – pumpkinseed and redbreast. They are spring-spawners, congregating and building nests along sandy, muddy shorelines typically in 3 to 8 feet of water. Black crappie are incredibly fecund, producing up to 60,000 eggs per female, and have the ability to populate and saturate a given water in little time. Their diet

consists of a buffet of zooplankton, insects, crustaceans, and smaller fishes, and they are highly cannibalistic when food is limited. Pre-Google Mystery Fish I caught my first black crappie when I was a sophomore at Bangor High back in the early 1990s. I was fishing solo on Souadabscook Stream in between Hermon

Crappie can grow to a good size. Photo: Wes Ashe

and Hammond Ponds – sucking in exhaust fumes under the northbound lane of I-95. When I caught the crappie, I had no idea what species of fish I’d landed. With its gaping mouth, large size, and beautiful black with iridescent blue and yellow coloration,

I imagined it was native to the Amazon River. There’s no way English was its native tongue. The internet was just being developed, so I didn’t have the luxury of Googling my catch. For quite some time, this fish (Continued on next page)

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24 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Ice Fishing in Maine

promise they’ll tighten your line more often.

(Continued from page 23)

Where, How to Find ’Em In my job, I’m lucky to spend lots of time on lakes and ponds throughout central Maine. I’ve learned where crappie are and where they are not. I have a good idea on where trophy-sized crappie reside, where they stockpile and rarely grow to 12 inches, and where they are becoming established. Remember, fish diets are more caloric than bug diets. So, waters with ample fish forage (i.e., robust rainbow smelt or landlocked alewives) likely have crappie populations that aren’t robust but have some hefty individuals. Typically, these waters are deep, cool, and oxygen-rich.

remained unidentified. I certainly had no idea that my mystery fish would eventually become my most targeted (and consumed) species through the ice. My crappie jigging addiction started late in my angling career. I blame a couple of diehard fishing buddies who had recently moved to Maine. They introduced me to every piece of equipment and tidbit of knowledge I’d need out on the ice.

Goods in search of a few smaller jigs (1/8 or 1/16-ounce) – white or chartreuse in color. I recommend simple jig heads with rubber bodies, Hali Sukkula jigs, glow-in-the-dark tungsten teardrop jigs, or even the Rapala Jigging Rap when targeting larger fish. Tip your jig with a waxworm or smaller dead bait. Lastly, a sonar flasher (Marcum, Vexilar, or Garmin) is helpful in pinpointing the depth, location, and pieces of submerged structure (e.g. trees, weed beds, junked farm tractors, etc.) where schooling crappie are concentrated. These flashers aren’t cheap, but I

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Unless you’re intimately familiar with waters that meet these criteria, crappie populations can be difficult to pinpoint. That’s where the sonar flasher comes in handy. Spend some time drilling holes in different areas around the lake. Depths vary from water to water, but it seems crappie congregate anywhere between 20 and 50 feet deep in these oligotrophic lakes. If you’re lucky enough to find one crappie, you should find more. Set up camp, make swiss cheese around your original hole, and start jigging. If trophy crappie are what you’re after, try Long Pond (Belgrade), Great Pond (Belgrade), Messalon-

skee Lake (Oakland), Lake Wassookeag (Dexter), or Maranacook Lake (Winthrop). If you’re looking to fill a 5-gallon bucket with smaller crappie, then you’ve got a lengthy list of lakes and ponds to choose from. These waters are typically shallow, warm, and oxygen-challenged during the summer months. Crappie rely primarily on insect larvae and smaller crustaceans (e.g., midges, amphipods and dragonflies) in these meso-/ eutrophic lakes, and their high densities make schooling populations much easier to home in on. If you find any large structure on the bottom in 10 to 30 feet of water, you should be golden. Web(Continued on next page)

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

ber Pond (Vassalboro), Unity Pond (Troy), Togus Pond (Augusta), McGrath Pond (Belgrade), Hermon Pond (Hermon), Threemile Pond (China), Pleasant Lake (Stetson), and Great Moose Lake (Hartland) are all very productive. Black crappie aren’t supposed to be in Maine waters, so don’t be afraid to harvest a whole mess of them and fill your freezer. Not only do they taste delicious, but they’re low in mercury, nearly parasite-free, and wicked fun to catch through the ice!

Kayla Burnham of Poland, Maine caught this monster pike on February 7, 2021 in Sebago Lake. It weighed an astounding 23.2 pounds and measured 44.5 inches. Her family members had to enlarge the 8-inch hole in the ice with chisels just to fit the behemoth through!

Sebastian “Seabass” Philbrook of Yarmouth, age 9, displays a 20-inch brown trout he caught January 23, 2021 at Pettingill Pond in Windham. A year-round angler, Seabass enjoys bass and striper fishing in the summer, as well as trolling for salmon and togue in the fall. Photo courtesy of parents Obie and Thuy Philbrook

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Last Chance Snowmobiling and Ice Fishing by Steve Carpenteri

March offers some of the best riding and ice fishing of the season – warmer air temperatures and lots of sunlight. However, it’s also a time of melting trail cover and thinning ice – starting in Southern Maine and working northward. Enjoy all the month has to offer, says the author, but be prepared to change your plans, if necessary, to ensure your group’s safety. For Maine’s snowmobilers and ice anglers, March is often a month of contradictions – lots of snow and thick ice at the very beginning of the month, but rapidly-deteriorating snow conditions and unsafe ice as springtime approaches. It’s not known as the “In like a lion; out

like a lamb” month for nothing! On the “plus” side of the ledger, comfortable temperatures and long days can offer some of the best riding and ice angling of the entire season. However, safety on the trails, and even more so on the ice, becomes a greater concern by mid-month, especially

in the southern half of the state. Maine is a huge state, and conditions in the west and far north will be vastly different from those in the south. But wherever you are, if there’s sufficient snow on the ground for riding and enough ice to safely spend a day fishing, there’s no better way

Head out for March ice-fishing with a full complement of safety gear and fishing tackle properly stowed in a towable sled or trailer. Photo: Steve Carpenteri

to spend these waning days of winter than riding to the nearest small pond or sheltered lake cover for a day of hardwater angling.

What we’re doing is essentially combining two popular sports into one: snowmobiling and ice-fishing. Each requires specialized gear, equipment (Continued on next page)

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SNOWMOBILE RENTALS RECENTLY RENOVATED Trailer Parking Direct Trail Access Lodging & Snowmobile Packages Available

Greenville, ME • 1-800-792-1858

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Greenville, Maine 1-866-223-1380 www.MaineOutfitter.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 27

WE MADE IT SO YOU CAN

It may be necessary for snowmobilers to head north this month to find deep snow and packed trails. Coburn Mountain near Partlin Pond Camps; photo by Al Swett, Maine Snowmobile Association. (Continued from page 26)

and knowledge so participants can enjoy a satisfying, productive outing. On the Trail When planning a day trip to a local lake or pond, snowmobilers must always make certain their machine is in top condition, fully operational, fully fueled and ready to handle many miles of possibly hard riding trails that may feature dramatically-thinning snow cover. At this time of year it’s not unusual to find sections of trail that are covered with ice, frozen woody debris or frosty bare ground, all of which conspire to cause wear and tear on your snowmobile while at the same time making the trail more difficult to navigate. Be sure to bring safety gear and equipment on every ride, including spare parts, repair tools, a tow rope and a cell phone (kept in a sealed plastic bag to keep in dry). Tell a friend or family member your destination, estimated travel time, contact information and anything else that could aid in finding you if you don’t show up when expected. Rather than heaping all your gear and extra equipment on

your sled, it’s best to store your emergency equipment and fishing gear on a small trailer or sled designed to be towed behind the snowmobile. On the Water When choosing a lake or pond for fishing, it’s important to remember that the safest destinations are small, secluded ponds and coves where the ice is usually thicker and lasts longer into the month. Keep in mind that ice forms in slowly and erratically in the early winter, and goes out the same way now that warmer weather is here. Depending on weather conditions, there may be open water around the edges of even the smallest ponds, plus pockets of open water, especially where there’s even the slightest current, or where streams enter or springs are active. The safest rule, of course, is to stay off the ice altogether, especially on rivers. However, if you decide to snowmobile on the ice this month, make sure the ice is safe and thick enough, and trust your own judgment and observations. If you have any reason for concern, turn around and find another place to go. Plan to ride and (Continued on next page)

LIVE IT — See Your Polaris Dealer for Details Today! — JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com

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

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

GORHAM, NH Absolute PowerSports 461 Main Street 603-466-5454 www.absolutepowersportsnh.com

Polaris recommends that all riders take a safety training course. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never drink and ride. Polaris is a registered trademark of Polaris Industries Inc. © 2020 Polaris Industries Inc.

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See Your Local Yamaha Snowmobile Dealer for the Latest Promotions! JACKMAN Jackman Powersports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com

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

RANGELEY Rev-It-Up Sports Shop Route 4 207-864-2452 www.revitupsports.com

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

Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corp, U.S.A. All rights reserved.© 2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

www.MaineSportsman.com

28 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Snowmobiling in Maine (Continued from page 28)

The Next Big Thing is Just the Right Size

BLAST M / BLAST ZR / BLAST LT — Visit Your Local Arctic Cat Dealer for Details — GORHAM LEBANON White Rock Outboard Northeast Motorsports 351 Sebago Lake Rd. 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 207-892-9606 207-457-2225 www.whiterockoutboard.com www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main St. 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com

SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 www.kramersinc.com BERLIN, NH Jericho Outdoors 232 Jericho Rd. 603-215-6002 www.jerichooutdoors.com

fish as close to shore as possible, where the ice is thicker and the water shallower. Set up for fishing only where your test-holes show you the ice is consistently a minimum of 4 inches thick. Don’t ride across any lakes or ponds that have areas with open water, and keep your distance from inlets and outlets, where ice usually thins out at a faster rate. There are some obvious signs that the ice is too shallow where you are. For example, if you drill a hole and water continues to come up and over the ice, vacate the area immediately. The rising water likely indicates a “soft” spot in the ice, and could be a precur-

sor to cracking or a collapse. If there’s standing water on the ice or if the ice’s surface features pin-holes, find another place to fish. Maine’s winter sportsmen and women hate to see the season end, but March is traditionally the last hurrah. It’s also a great time to spend a day with family and friends in the sun and relative warmth. As the month progresses, head north if you have to in order to locate deep snow, packed trails and thick ice. Pay attention, ride safely and in groups. Take no chances on or off the ice.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 29

ANY WORKLOAD. ANY TIME. See state-of-the-art Fisher® Plows at these locations:

HT Series

AUGUSTA O’Connor GMC Chevrolet 187 Riverside Drive 800-452-1911 www.oconnorautopark.com

WEST BATH Bath Auto Parts 116 State Street 207-443-4274 www.napaonline.com

BELFAST Stanley’s Chevrolet 6 Belmont Avenue 800-339-2468 www.stanleychevybuick.com

WISCASSET Wiscasset Auto Parts 693 Bath Road 207-882-6389 www.napaonline.com

TAKE EVERY RIDE TO THE

NEXT LEVEL Visit Your Local Ski-Doo Dealer for Current Offers! AUBURN Wallingford Equipment 2527 Turner Road 207-782-4886 www.wallingfordequipment.com

JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com

AUGUSTA North Country Ski-doo 3099 N. Belfast Ave. 207-622-7994 www.northcountryh-d.com

LINCOLN Lincoln Power Sports - Access Auto 265 West Broadway 207-794-8100 www.lincolnpowersports.com

DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 www.huffpowersports.com

LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-doo 255 US Hwy 202 207-933-4976 www.doitatreggies.com

FORT KENT Fort Kent Powersports 377 Caribou Road 207-834-3659 www.fortkentpowersports.com

WILTON Mountain Side Powersports 912 US Route 2 East 207-645-2985 www.mountainsidepowersports.com

GREENVILLE JUNCTION Moosehead Motorsports 13 Industrial Park 207-695-2020 www.mooseheadmotorsports.com

WINDHAM Richardson’s Boatyard 850 Roosevelt Tr, Rt 302 207-892-9664 www.richardsonsby.com

©2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Products in the United States (US) are distributed by BRP US Inc. Always ride safely and responsibly. *Observed HP measured on internal Dyno test in optimal conditions for 2-stroke engines.

www.MaineSportsman.com

30 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Five Best Boats for Maine by Steve Carpenteri

Kayaks and canoes have the advantage of portability. Roof rack systems and straps are available to safely transport small, lightweight boats atop car roofs. Photo credit: Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI.com)

Fishing opportunities in Maine range from tiny, winding trout streams to small ponds, lakes, rivers and even the salty coast. In every case, a watercraft of some sort improves and enhances the angler’s chances for success, in most cases making each trip more enjoyable as well. Most shore fishermen will admit that they’ve often longed www.MaineSportsman.com

What boat is best for Maine anglers? Each size and design has advantages and drawbacks – a lightweight hull means portability and maneuverability, while a heavier boat provides stability and seaworthiness. A space to walk around the inside of the gunwales allows the angler to play a large fish that’s circling the boat. A fixed or folding bimini offers shelter from the sun, while a cuddy cabin provides a spot for a porta potti. for a boat – any boat – that would take them just beyond their longest cast, which, we all know, is where the fish

are. Here’s a brief look at the five top trailerable or car-top boats that will help improve

any angler’s odds for success in 2021: 1) Kayak/Canoe For the purposes of this column, we’ll

combine kayaks and canoes, because they are generally used by anglers for the same purpose – to access streams, ponds and lakes where shoreline access is difficult and deep water makes wading impossible. The beauty of these small craft is that they are lightweight, easily transported by one or two persons, relatively stable, relatively comfortable, and very (Continued on next page)

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

maneuverable. Spring bass fishermen love them because they can paddle along the shorelines and cast to smallmouths that are lurking in the shallowest water along the bank. Trout anglers use them to reach brook trout and salmon that are rising just beyond a long cast from shore, or for trolling in cold, shallow water just after ice-out. 2) Johnboat The most basic, true “boat” on our list is the johnboat, generally a flat, square-ended craft with a shallow draft. Early models were made of wood, but aluminum and various composites now rule the market. Compared to canoes and kayaks, these popular boats provide improved stability, extra room for

gear and comfortable seating. A reinforced transom allows for the use of small gas or electric motor. Johnboats are the watercraft of choice for small-pond anglers seeking bass, pickerel, perch, bluegills, hornpout and other popular warmwater species, but are also used for slow trolling on large lakes, rivers and brackish waters in protected areas of the coast. 3) V-Hull Boat For big-lake fishermen, the next step up is the V-hull boat, generally a 16-foot craft with a square transom for attaching a motor, two or three wide seats, and a V-shaped bow that cuts easily through the water, making long-distance trolling or traveling a breeze. V-hulled boats are

Contact Your Local Mercury Outboards Dealer for Details!

MACHIAS Whitney’s Tri-Town Marine 29 Dublin Street • (207) 255-3392 www.tritownmarine.com PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 100 W. Commercial Street • (207) 774-1067 www.portlandyacht.com SHAPLEIGH Parker’s Boathouse 86 Emery Mills Road • (207) 636-2722 www.parkersboathouse.com Rebate amounts vary by engine model. Limited time promotional financing offer available through Medallion Bank and administered by Brunswick Financial Services Corporation. On all loans approved under this program, buyer has the option of making no down payment and no payments for 6 months. Interest will begin to accrue on the principle balance at the end of the promotional period, 7 months from the loan closing date, at the rate listed on the Simple Interest Note and Security Agreement. For example, if the loan were for $10,000.00 for 84 months at a contract rate of 8.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR), the regular monthly payment would be $160.84. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Offer available to residents of the USA except in the states of Montana and West Virginia. Minimum amount financed is $5,000, maximum amount financed is $50,000. Dealer sets actual sale prices. Both the promotional financing offer and the rebate offer apply to Engines purchased between January 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 at authorized, participating Mercury dealers. Standard 3-year limited warranty applies, and any applicable promotional warranty that may be offered and is within the program guidelines. All Pacemaker, Mercury Racing, Government, previously registered engines, donations, as well as engines sold for commercial, camp or resort applications and sales/registrations outside the United States are excluded. Also excludes any non-U.S. resident, or address outside of the U.S. Engines originally sold to a Boatbuilder are also excluded. Engines on the Angling or Sponsorship program do not qualify. Consumers are only eligible for one benefit on the qualified repower engine. Promotional financing offer may not be assigned, traded, sold or combined with any other offer unless expressly stated herein. OFFER VOID WHERE RESTRICTED OR OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

available in a variety of sizes and conformations for freshwater and saltwater use, but from the angler’s per-

spective they generally look and act the same. Roomy, comfortable, stable and seaworthy, V-hulls are the boat

of choice for anglers plying the likes of Moosehead, Sebec, Sebago and the Rangeley (Continued on next page)

Dealer opportunities available in certain areas, contact Tom at Thomas.D@hewittrad.com.

Spring into Savings with Honda Marine Ready to get out on the water in 2021? Now is the time! Get up to $2000 instant savings with the 40hp – 250hp Honda Marine outboard engine, now through March 31st!*

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

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

PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 100 W. Commercial Street (207) 774-1067 www.portlandyacht.com STANDISH Richardson’s Boat Yard 633 White’s Bridge Road (207) 892-4913 www.richardsonsby.com

*At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive instant savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2015 and newer models, sold and delivered between January 5, 2021 and March 31, 2021 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice.

www.MaineSportsman.com

32 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Boating in Maine (Continued from page 31)

Lakes for deep-water fish, including lake trout, brook trout, salmon and, in some waters, northern pike and muskies. 4) Bass Boat Today’s bass boats are available in a wide variety of configurations, with prices starting at $25,000 and going higher from there. All are designed to travel fast in comfort and style, with huge motors to get you to the best spots, sonar gear for locating fish, and electric trolling motors to get you qui-

etly into the hotspots, notably shallow water for shoreline bass. Modern bass boats are extremely comfortable, with chair-type seats fore and aft, carpeted decks and builtin coolers, as well as live wells, bait containers and multiple rod holders along with storage containers for the hundreds of lures most avid bass fishermen must have. Bass boats are extremely fast and agile, getting anglers to their favorite locations in record time. Upon

arrival, electric motors help maneuver the boat in and along shoreline vegetation, quietly putting anglers right on top of the fish (more on this topic in the April issue). 5) Center-Console Boat For serious biglake trolling and coastal saltwater fishing, most serious anglers opt for a center-console boat. Compared to the boats discussed above, these are generally longer and wider, and with a deeper draft – all features designed for big-water conditions. Some models feature inboard

Modern bass boats offer comfort, speed and agility, as well as all the bells and whistles, including built-in chairs, a live well, bow-mounted electric motor, and integrated electronics. Photo courtesy of BassTracker

engines, although most are propelled by one, two or more outboard engines. Certain manufacturers feature a cuddy cabin in the bow, for extended trips. All controls and switches, including steering, ignition, trim control, radio and other electronic devices, are operated from the cockpit area. A big advantage of center consoles is that

anglers can walk all around the boat, from stern to bow, such as when playing a large fish. Some models may have a small storage space and/or bathroom facilities. Certain models have a roof-like structure that provides some relief from sun or rain, and also serves as a mounting base for antennae, radar, lights and outriggers. (Continued on next page)

See Your Local Yamaha Outboard Dealer for the Latest Promotions! BAR HARBOR Bowden Marine Service 713 Norway Drive (207) 288-5247 www.BowdenMarine.com

FREEPORT New Meadows Marina 132-2 US Route 1 (207) 869-4008 www.NewMeadowsMarina.com

LINCOLN Lincoln Power Sports 265 W. Broadway (207) 794-8100 www.LincolnPowerSportsME.com

BELFAST Hamlin’s Marine 7 Front Street (207) 930-3780 www.HamlinsMarine.com

HAMPDEN Hamlin’s Marine 581 Main Road North 207-907-4385 www.HamlinsMarine.com

SOUTHPORT Hodgdon Yacht Services 100 Ebenecook Road (207) 633-2970 www.hodgdonyachtservices.com

BRUNSWICK New Meadows Marina 450 Bath Road (207) 443-6277 www.NewMeadowsMarina.com

WATERVILLE Hamlin’s Marine 290 West River Road 207-872-5660 www.HamlinsMarine.com

*Available to qualified buyers through authorized participating Yamaha Full Line Outboard (Repower) Dealers (found at YamahaOutboards.com/Dealers) financing purchase of eligible new Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors** through Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A (YMFUS). Eligible outboard models must be sold, delivered, PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) completed, and warranty registered on Yamaha Marine Business System (YMBS) by an authorized participating Yamaha Full Line Outboard (Repower) Dealer from 1/5/2021 through 3/31/2021. $3,000 minimum finance amount required. For example, 3.99% APR financing for 180 months at $7.39 per month per $1,000 financed regardless of down payment. Higher financing rates and/or down payment requirements apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Subject to YMFUS approval; not all buyers will qualify. Yamaha reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time. Offer void where restricted or otherwise prohibited by law. Other terms and conditions apply. See your authorized participating Yamaha Full Line Dealer for complete program details and for eligibility with other Yamaha promotions. **Promotion eligible for consumer financing of new, not previously warranty registered Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors manufactured since January 2014 and related Yamaha brand propeller and rigging equipment purchased through authorized participating Yamaha Full Line (Repower) Outboard Dealers located within the United States. Outboard motors sold as part of a new boat/motor package, sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, rental, promotional/demo, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship use, and/or which are sold, registered or housed outside of the United States are NOT eligible. Any other items including, but not limited to, boats and trailers, CANNOT be included in this promotion. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2021 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

www.MaineSportsman.com

Our outboard motors are about a whole lot more than just the specs. A truly great motor delivers it all: PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, and the ULTIMATE EASE OF USE. Visit Your Local Dealer for the Models & Promotions!

PORTLAND North Atlantic Inflatables 65 West Commercial Street, Suite 102 207-844-1742 northatlanticinflatables.com SPRUCE HEAD J&H Marine 670 Spruce Head Road 207-596-5511

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 33 (Continued from page 32)

Which Boat is Right for You? Anglers considering purchasing a boat should be aware that

motorized fishing craft must be maintained periodically, some extensively; they must be registered; and many must be transported and stored on trail-

ers. Others require docking or storage at a marina or similar facility, adding rental and maintenance fees to the equation. To find out more

about boating opportunities and requirements in Maine, log onto the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Web site at www.me-

fishwildlife.com, and click on the boating links.

Keep it Simple. Build it Rugged!

Visit us in Bowdoin or Call Us and We Will Come to You!

www.pleasantdocksystems.com Pleasant Dock Systems are Manufactured by JL Custom Fab, Inc. Augusta Road (Rt. 201) Bowdoin, ME • (207) 666-5800 Buy DIRECTLY from the Designers and Fabricators!

Many Maine fishermen find the standard 14- or 16foot aluminum V-hull boat to be ideal for most medium to large lakes where a boat launch is available. Photo by Steve Carpenteri

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Contact Your Local Suzuki Marine Dealer for Details! 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

SOUTHPORT Hodgdon Yacht Services 100 Ebenecook Road (207) 633-2970 www.hodgdonyachtservices.com

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

Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model 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 Motor of America, Inc.

www.MaineSportsman.com

34 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Not My Typical Tracking Story Readers of my last month’s Maine Sportsman column will recall an exciting encounter I had this past fall with a couple of lynx in the Parmachenee Lake area, near the NH/ME state line. One detail I purposefully omitted, in order to gather more research before commenting on, was that the larger lynx was wearing both an ear tag and a radio collar! This caught me by surprise, as I didn’t know that any agency was collaring and tracking lynx.

I reached out to my local NH wildlife biologist, to ask some preliminary questions. I also thought that perhaps there was a chance it could be a NH-collared lynx, since it was only a mile or two from the state line. The biologist told me, however, that NH doesn’t collar lynx. She informed me that Maine collars some that are incidentally caught by trappers targeting other species, and they tag kittens, whose den location is known because

of a previous collaring and tracking of the mother. New Hampshire’s lynx study is limited to game cameras set up in likely areas: remote softwood thickets in the northern part of the state. I have encountered several of these lynx “camera traps” in my explorations. They are usually identifiable by a couple of unique features (other than a sign by the camera warning you of it being property of NH Fish and Game and part of a research study). The

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Maine DIFW’s “Canada Lynx Assessment” documents include a map of long-distance lynx traveling recorded from lynx that biologists collared or tagged. The farthest straight-line travel distance was an incredible 297 miles -- roughly the distance from Providence, RI to Bangor, Maine.

few I have stumbled onto have had ruled stakes driven into the ground in front of the

Northern New Hampshire

camera to measure snow depth—and they (New Hampshire continued on page 36)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 35

Time for Fly Anglers to Prepare for Upcoming Season How many readers are already thinking about open-water fishing season? It can be difficult, with snow still over the tops of my boots. This month I’ll be going over all of my fishing gear to make sure I’m ready. Anglers should have already made any major purchases ... long shipping times can keep anxious anglers from getting a good night’s sleep. I know a few years where I tried my best to remain calm while waiting for some fishing gear to arrive before good fishing started. Sometimes gear maintenance gets forgotten until the last minute, too. I routinely wait too long before checking out my own fishing gear for the new season. At pres-

ent, I have not looked at any of my reels or line to clean them or store them properly ... one thing I often recommend here in this column. Getting Started One item that often gets overlooked when preparing for the new fishing season is sorting and refilling the fly boxes. If I pull my fly fishing vest out of the closet right now, I’ll be sure to find fifty to a hundred flies all jammed into the front pockets. These front pockets on my vest are used for temporarily placing flies in them to dry while on the water. When anglers get home, they are supposed to go through those pockets, putting dried flies back into their respective boxes ... something I hardly

Loose flies need organizing, and reels and line could use a little TLC before the new season. William Clunie photo

ever do. I usually keep them in those pockets all season, figuring I’ll be using them within the next few days anyway. I shouldn’t fool myself like that, though

... at the end of the fishing season, there are plenty of flies at the bottom of those pockets that have only been used once all season. Sticking a hand in there to retrieve a fly when they are stuffed full like that could cost you a sharp jab in the fingertip (a good reason to go barb-less). If I were a smart guy, I’d have refilled my supply of flies at the end of last season when I had it all fresh in my mind. Now I have to pull out each box, check to see what’s missing, and either tie some new flies or purchase them. This year I’ll have promised myself that I’d be better prepared by having an extra supply of the flies I routinely use, stored in a container in my truck. I try to mini-

mize the number of fly boxes I carry while on the water to keep my vest as light as possible. I have so much stuff in my vest that I’ve had to really narrow down the items to only those essential few that are necessary for the particular day I happen to be fishing. The rest of the stuff gets put in a boat bag and kept in my truck. This year I want to have a complete duplicated set of the flies I use on a regular basis in that boat bag, to pull out when my vest goes empty. This frees me up by allowing me to carry only half the number of flies I have dragged around in the past. Last Word Besides cleaning and lubing my reels (Continued on next page)

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www.MaineSportsman.com

36 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Western Maine (Continued from page 35)

and treating the line on each one, I’m going to take a look at my sunglasses to see if they need replacing. Each season they get more and more worn, and I know there’s a pair or two that will need replacing. I have been testing sunglasses from several companies and have a general idea of what works best for my eyes.

I’ve tried everything from the most expensive to the cheapest, big-box brands. My results from testing on the water will come as no surprise ... the eyewear that works the best will usually cost the most. The cheap sunglasses don’t last very long, and they often are miserably-made pieces of junk that

New Hampshire (Continued from page 34)

have also had a feather tied to a string, presumably as an attractant. Cats are curious. In this case, curiosity photographed the cat. The NH biologist told me that they just wrapped up a successful five-year lynx study using this camera method, as well as a method involving counting snowshoe hare pellets within a defined area. (A healthy hare population supports a healthy lynx population.) In the study, they successfully identified different lynx populations in the state (which were thought to not exist just a decade ago). The lynx are making a comeback after years of bounties in the mid 20th century. The NH biologist confirmed they had captured photographs of lynx on the NH side of the line (in Pittsburg and Second College Grant townships) near where I saw the collared lynx. She also said that she’s seen Maine’s GPS maps showing some of their collared lynx data, and some of their monitored cats do cross over the border and spend time in NH. I tried reaching out on a couple occasions to a Maine biologist to track down more specific information on lynx in the Parmachenee area. Although I never received a response back, fortunately Maine DIFW has published lots of its lynx research for anyone to access on their website. After reading through some of the downloadable material available on the DIFW website, I wanted to share some of the more notable or interesting things the Department has determined. (And I can save the less voracious reader some time, since even a single one www.MaineSportsman.com

don’t do what is needed anyway. Most anglers are probably frugal like me, but when it comes to fishing, I would recommend purchasing a top-brand pair of sunglasses. There are several companies out there that offer excellent quality sunglasses, including Costa, Maui Jim, Oakley, and Smith Optic. I have a pair of Smith Optic sunglasses that I’ve used heavily for well over fifteen

years ... I might have to replace them this year. That’s the kind of quality an angler needs, but it comes at a price. This year I’ll also have a pair of sunglasses from one of these companies that I can use when the lighting is muted, like early morning, on overcast days, or in the late afternoon. The other sunglasses I own are too dark for these darker times of the day, but I still

of these documents represents over 100 pages of scientific mumbo jumbo.) Where are they? The highest areas of lynx population seem to be in the North Maine Woods and the western mountains, from Jackman to New Hampshire. The best habitat is that which supports a good snowshoe hare population, since that is the predominant food source. The choicest locations seem to be in forests of conifer saplings, as opposed to those of deciduous saplings. Specifically, former clear-cuts that have regenerated thickly with small softwoods are prime habitat. This describes well the areas where my deer camp crew has encountered the Parmachenee-area lynx. The home range of the lynx depends on the hare population and snow depth. Where both of these criteria are doing well (like they are in northern Maine currently), the average range is 10-25 miles squared. In less stable areas (like in western Maine and New Hampshire), it can be twice that much! Occasionally, lynx will wander a long way – a real long way. In the “DIFW Lynx Distribution Study,” a map shows the straight-line travels of ten long-distance collared or tagged lynx. Starting in northern Maine, some traveled far south into central Maine, some north and west (well into Quebec), and a couple east into New Brunswick. One lynx traveled 249 miles northeast, almost to the Gulf of the St. Lawrence! What threats do they face? Obviously, a deterioration of the above-described habitat would affect the lynx population, and historically

need protection from damaging U.V. rays and the visual clarity of polarized lenses. I’ve seen a few companies that produce lenses made specifically for these muted moment of the day, and I’ll be anxious to see how they perform this season. If I get them early enough, I guess I won’t be anxious – just comforted in knowing I’m prepared for the new fishing season.

that’s been the case. The lack of New Hampshire’s lynx population, in comparison to Maine’s, could be attributed to the fact that much of the high elevation softwood areas that could potentially serve the species well are part of the White Mountain National Forest. This is detrimental in the sense that the WMNF sees little logging in comparison to Maine’s north woods. There isn’t the same amount of thick conifer regeneration, which would attract a good hare population. Another threat is the bisecting of the lynx’s primary habitat by logging roads. Often times the thickest regeneration occurs alongside the road. Lynx frequenting these areas distractedly chasing prey can be hit and killed by log trucks and other vehicles. Also, an increase in other predator species, such as coyotes, fox, bobcats, could cause too much competition for a limited and ephemeral food source, causing lynx to migrate. The last, and perhaps most notable, threat is a lack of snow depth. Lynx are able to out-compete other predators in the deep snow, given their large poofy paws’ ability to distribute their weight like snowshoes. The past few winters have surely provided well in the deep snow regard—perhaps the reason for my anecdotal noticing of more tracks in the Parmachenee area. Only time will tell if the upward trend in population and westward expansion of the Maine lynx will continue. In the meantime, I will cherish seeing the poofy prints in the roads and the occasional bearded face staring icily back at me from the shadows.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 37

Coyote Myths by Hal Blood What we now call the eastern coyote first showed up in the northeast in the 1970s. We don’t know exactly the route they traveled, but they infiltrated the western mountains of Maine first and then continued to spread east and south. The eastern coyote is larger than its western cousin due to the fact that somewhere along the way they interbred with wolves. This must have taken place in western Canada, as there were no wolves in the United States at that time. Eastern coyotes have been shown through DNA testing to possess about 17 percent wolf genes. This would explain their larger size and propensity to prey on big game. I had my first experience with coyotes one season back in the 1980s when I started hunting in the Big Woods of the Jackman area. The snow was deep that year. Almost every deer track had a coyote track following it. Even way back then, I knew this was going to be a problem. Myth # 1 – Coyotes Don’t Kill Deer In 1988 I purchased a piece of land in Jackman on which to construct a set of sporting camps. I moved an old mobile home hunting camp onto the property, which allowed me

Do you believe coyotes don’t kill deer? Do you think hunting can’t reduce coyote populations and protect deer wintering in yards? Read the views of the author, who has spent thousands of hours in the Maine woods and who can debunk those myths based on his own experiences and observations.

The author holds a large coyote from last winter’s season.

to spend a lot of time there in the winter. Back then, there were a lot of deer yards in the area. There was a large one that ran from the south side of Attean Pond all the way to Holeb Pond. When first exploring the area that winter, I was shocked and also maddened at seeing that deer had been driven out on the ponds and killed by coyotes. There were very few days that I didn’t see a coyote on

It’s not just smaller deer that are at risk from coyotes. This buck, perhaps fatigued by the long rut, was killed following the end of hunting season last year.

the ponds. Back then when the buzz began about coyotes killing deer, the biologists insisted that they didn’t kill them. Their schoolbooks must have told them that. Anyone spending any time in the woods knew better. For those of you old enough to remember, they were trying to introduce caribou to the north woods at about this time. As it turned out, that introduction

was unsuccessful, and we were told that bears had preyed on them. I personally never believed that, and assumed coyotes were the culprits. However, that wouldn’t fit the narrative, as we were being told coyotes didn’t even kill deer. In fact, I can tell I have seen many instances in which coyotes have killed moose in the winter. That started long before we had the winter tick

problem that weakened a lot of moose. One winter 20 years ago, I found a nice big cow moose dead out on Canada Falls Lake. It was written in the snow how several coyotes had chased her out onto the ice and killed her. That struggle was evident in the snow, and I have seen the same storyline hundreds of times when coyotes have chased deer onto the ice. And on many occasions when I’ve guided moose hunters who shoot a bull, the moose’s hamstrings show bite marks from coyotes. So yes, coyotes kill deer and always have. It is my opinion that even though many of the deer yards were being cut in the 80s and 90s, if it were not for coyotes, the deer could have survived it a lot better than they did. Myth #2 – You Can’t Control the Coyote Population by Hunting Some of the same biologists who told us coyotes don’t kill deer, also tell us that you can’t control the coyote population by hunting them. To me that statement is absurd. Once again that nonsense comes from some study somewhere, and is now treated as fact. The theory is that if you kill coyotes out (Big Woods World continued on page 39) www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Have Cellphones Changed Deer Hunting? Cell phones allow you to communicate silently with other hunters. They provide an aerial view of the property you’re hunting. They even tell you the wind direction. However, it’s easy for a deer to sneak away from you when you’ve got your nose pressed to a tiny screen. When I started hunting deer on my own back in 1983, the toughest thing I often had to overcome was boredom. The deer densities in our hunting area were not nearly as high as they are today. Seeing one or two deer a week was normal. In between sightings, I learned to enjoy the natural world around me. Watching birds, squirrels, rabbits, mice and more of nature’s creatures helped me pass the time. In 1983, folks new to deer hunting

would have to entertain themselves with nature, or learn to be very disciplined and be alone with their thoughts, in order to get through a long sit without seeing deer. Today, things are very different. New hunters of all ages are entering the woods with cellphones in hand. No longer is that self-discipline required to get a person through the day. Texting friends, surfing the internet, watching TV or videos – all those activities can be done using a cell-

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phone. While it’s likely not everyone uses their cellphone to keep themselves occupied while deer hunting, it’s my guess that many do. It’s also my theory, and several of my hunting buddies agree, that many new deer hunters use phones to keep themselves occupied and that if it weren’t for those phones, many of those new deer hunters would quit the sport. A Blessing … Cellphones have certainly made many aspects of deer hunting easier. Back in the day, a hunter wanting

Smartphones have features that can help hunters, but it’s difficult to stay alert to the presence of big game if you are absorbed in an electronic world.

to look at an aerial view of a piece of property had to go to the local soil and water department or to a town office to look up a piece of property, pay for the aerial photos, and carry them around in a pack or container to keep them dry and protected for use in the woods or at home. Today, satellite photos are ridiculously easy to access on a phone. Not only can we

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look at virtually any piece of property, but also mapping applications (“apps”) mark our location within a few feet. Properties that once took me weeks to research and figure out, can now be scouted in minutes from the comfort of my home. Speaking of apps, some of the newest apps we can get on our phone have the capacity to downright spoil us. I use a fabulous app called “On X Hunt” these days. This app has been especially helpful in learning new properties and their boundaries. The app contains satellite imagery of the property and, as long as the town has provided access to tax maps, the overlays show up on the satellite imagery, and the user can accurately follow property lines. Back in the day, this could not be accomplished with such ease and accuracy. At least (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 39 (Continued from page 38)

not without more hassle. I’d say this app qualifies as “an ‘Easy’ button.” Texting and cellular calls have also made deer hunting easier. Friends hunting a piece of property together are able to chat back and forth silently. Back in the day, if we wanted to do this, we’d use handheld two-way radios or walkie talkies if we wanted to talk to each other while hunting. Those devices were loud and often bulky. Quiet, instant communication among hunters provides a tremendous advantage to today’s user. No noise needed. We can tell each other when deer are moving or if we’re quitting for the day, without spooking deer. What a gift! … And a Curse While there are many positives to using cellphones in deer hunting, they can also

be distractions. In fact, this past season my use of a phone likely cost me an opportunity at a shooter buck. It was a windy day, with gusts topping 35 mph. I was on the ground, wind in my face, looking at an open creek bottom, bordered by old growth hemlock trees. I was answering a text from my brother, who’d killed a great buck the day before. As I hit “send” on a response text, a commotion arose just 10 yards behind me. I knew the sound well. As I turned, a beautiful, mature buck was already making a move away from me. To make a long story short, I didn’t get a shot at the buck. Had I not had my nose in my phone, there’s a great chance he’d be in my freezer. Because of this experience, my new policy is to not text while deer hunting, unless I’m letting my wife know

Big Woods World (Continued from page 37)

of a population, the remaining females will produce more pups to make up for it. Once again, I beg to differ, as I have witnessed just the opposite. Coyote hunting with hounds started getting popular about ten years ago. It’s a great sport and the most effective way to hunt them. Coyotes follow the deer into their winter yards, and relentlessly chase and kill them. A coyote doesn’t kill a deer every time it chases one, but when deer are chased all winter, they become weak. So even if deer don’t get killed by coyotes, the whitetails may not survive until spring. For the past five years, I have been hunting with a crew that hunts with hounds. We’ve been focusing on the deer yards in town. The first year, we were just learning how to kill coyotes. We started in February, and killed 17 of them. The

I’m in my stand safely, or that I’m heading home, or if I have an emergency. My bet is, other buck sightings have also been missed because of cell phone distractions. Hopefully, from now on I’ll be able to stick to my new policy and stay focused on deer instead of texts. The sky seems to be the limit on cellphones and deer hunting technology. Electronic deer calls, deer hunting apps that utilize current weather to tell us what treestands give us the best odds to see deer, and easier communication among hunters, are all now readily available. How and when we use this technology is up to us. Have phones improved hunting and helped revive a sport that was losing numbers? I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know things have changed because of them.

On November 7, 2020, Bethany Smith qualified for the Biggest Bucks in Maine club with this 206-pound, 8-pointer. She was hunting in Union, and used her .243.

next season, we killed 48 coyotes, most of which were within a couple of square miles. Back then, we could select from as many as 10 tracks to run every morning. The next year, we noticed that some of the place we hunted had very few tracks, but we still killed 37 that year. Last winter we killed 35, but we had to travel all around town to find them. This winter the snow came late, and we killed eight in the early season. So the fact is, coyote populations can be controlled by hunting. We have suppressed them enough in the Jackman area that now, they are having very little impact on the deer. My observation is that as we killed the coyotes in the yards, more coyotes moved in from surrounding areas. When we killed those coyotes, more moved in, and we killed them, and so on. The result is that not only are there very few coyotes near the deer yards – there are almost none within 20 miles.

And contrary to the rest of the theory, we have not witnessed an increase in the number of pups. If that theory held water, we would have been shooting a majority of young coyotes the past couple of years, but instead the opposite is the case. Out of our totals each year, fewer than 10 have been pups. Final Thoughts Please let me be clear – I am not trying to disrespect biologists. There are many who understand that coyotes kill deer and recognize the problem. It just usually takes time and experience for them to realize it. There are also some biologists who are anti-hunters, so their philosophy keeps them from recognizing the importance of controlling coyotes. Fortunately, this phenomenon is not common in Maine, but is more prevalent in other states. There are more myths about coyotes, but I’ll save them for another time.

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40 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Patterning Old Shotguns for Confidence in the Field In my January 2021 “Rangeley Region” column, I wrote about my shooting difficulties with a sweet little L.C. Smith 20 gauge shotgun that I have been grouse hunting with for the past several seasons. In recent years when I’ve hunted with the shotgun, I’ve noticed I was missing a lot of easy shots. I attributed some of the poor shooting to my older eyes, hearing loss, and age in general ... until one day last October. I was walking a flat section of an old skidder trail that had been cleared right down to the dirt. Suddenly I noticed a partridge sitting directly in the middle of the trail at about thirty yards. I normally wait until they fly before shooting, but I wanted a dead bird for some training for my young pointer, so I took careful aim, fired, and watched in complete amazement as the bird

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flew off unharmed. The shot felt perfect, and I knew I should not have missed that bird. I logged that experience into the files of my pea brain, and thought of it often during subsequent hunts. But things didn’t click until a hunting friend mentioned a problem with shooting old shotguns – he said they often pattern poorly and inconsistently with modern ammo, because their 2 1/2-inch chambers don’t handle modern, 2 3/4-inch shotshells very well. I did some research and found that his remarks were correct, and further that I also risked damage to the old shotgun if I kept using high-brass, modern ammo. Turns out the L.C. Smith double-barreled shotguns can splinter at the delicate hand grip with extended use of modern 2 3/4-inch ammo. Finding a Solution As much as I liked the old L.C. Smith

double (made in 1913), I started looking for a replacement that would be able to handle some hard-hitting ammunition needed for our tough Maine grouse. I normally like using a high-brass (heavy charge) shotshell with number sixes to make sure I drop the birds effectively, especially if they are a little beyond the normal twenty-five or thirty-yard-range. After some research and discussion, I reached the conclusion that I should pattern the old shotgun and see how it was performing on paper before purchasing a new shotgun. I also noted that several folks “in-the-know” suggested using 2 1/2inch shotshells – that I would definitely see an improvement in my shooting. So I did both ... I bought some 2 1/2inch RST (rstshells. com) shotgun shells that would fit the 2 1/2-inch chamber in my shotgun, and took it to the range. I attached a large piece of cardboard to some stakes in the ground and taped huge sheets of paper to the cardboard, drawing a thirty-inch circle onto the paper. I stepped back thirty yards and fired the shotgun with the RSI ammo, and then some modern ammo. For comparison, I also shot another mod-

Testing your shotgun’s pattern on paper can help you in the field. William Clunie photo

ern 20-gauge shotgun with modern ammo. I changed the paper target between each shot and compared the targets after shooting. Right away, I noticed a huge difference between the different types of ammo. Poor Pattern My research and my friend’s suggestions proved true ... the old shotgun threw an awful pattern with modern ammo. Looking at the paper showed the modern ammo (both high and low brass) had a pattern with gaps in the pellet spread that would easily cause a miss. In other places within the thirty-inch circle, there were clumps of holes indicating an overly-dense pattern of shot. The 2 1/2-inch RST ammo patterned perfectly, spreading the shot charge evenly over the thirty-inch circle. After compar-

ing the shot distribution made by the RST ammo using the old shotgun, with the modern shotshell and the modern shotgun, I can find no difference between the effectiveness of either one – in other words, I don’t need to purchase a new shotgun so long as I use 2 1/2-inch shotshells in my L.C. Smith double. I’m so relieved to find that I can still use my old L.C. Smith shotgun. I’ve come to enjoy its excellent feel in the woods and really appreciate the spectacular wood and steel of its traditional design. It’s comforting to know that this shotgun wasn’t stamped out with modern machines in a foreign country – it’s a handmade, quality firearm produced right here in the good ol’ USA. I’m almost as relieved to know that the poor shooting wasn’t (Continued on next page)

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

from my lack of shooting ability. I’ve always thought I was a pret-

ty good shot, and this issue had me worried a bit. For a while, I thought this whole phenomenon was just

part of the aging process. While I am still aging, I am looking ahead to the 2021 sea-

son with a new confidence. At the same time I plan to get plenty of shotgun practice this summer by en-

tering some sporting clays competitions at the local range.

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Sea-Run Trout by Steve Vose

“Sea-run” trout are anadromous, meaning that they migrate up rivers and streams from the sea to spawn. These incredibly adaptable fish possess the ability to thrive in both fresh and saltwater. Brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus alpinus), cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and rainbow trout (known on the West Coast as ocean-run steelhead) also can inhabit marine environments at least a part of their lives. In Maine, any stream with unhindered access to the sea has the potential to support runs of anadromous brook trout (a/k/a squaretail, brookie, and speckled trout). Sea-run brook trout

are freshwater fish that spend only part of the year at sea before returning to freshwater. Alewives and shad, on the other hand, are saltwater fish that only venture into fresh water to spawn, before returning to salt water where they spend a majority of their lives. Sea-run brook trout differ in appearance from their fresh-water brethren. Time in a marine environment alters the trout’s appearance. Sea-run brookies, also known as “salters,” de-

Questions 1. What does the term “anadromous” mean? 2. What are sea-run rainbow trout called on the West Coast?

3. What other names is the brook trout known by? 4. What is the difference in behavior between sea-run brook trout and other species like alewives and shad?

velop an iridescent sheen that reduces the sharpness of the trout’s distinctive dots and vermiculation. Ocean dwelling rainbows undergo a similar transformation, losing some of their iconic pink stripe, and developing a more silvery color. Sea-run trout feed on wide variety of creatures, and the ocean environment is rich with prey. These hearty fish consume fish eggs, crayfish, mollusks, insects and even small rodents, allowing them to grow large. With optimal conditions, and if they are successful in avoiding osprey, eagles, striped bass, bluefish and a long list of other prey species, sea-run brook trout can live upwards of 5 or 6 years. 5. What do sea-run trout feed on? 6. What species prey on sea-run brook trout? 7. How long can sea-run brook trout live? Answers on Page 43

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Climbing Katahdin in the Winter It is human nature to want more, to do more. After summitting Maine’s highest mountain a few times in warm weather, I wanted more. I wanted to climb Katahdin in the winter. The Baxter State Park website warns winter visitors that “[c]onsequences are magnified in winter; rescue may be days away.” It was 2012, and I had thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail the year prior. I knew I was physically capable, but I had limited experience with winter hiking. I knew it could be dangerous. First Try After some research, my friend Amy and I signed up for a guided group summit through Maine Bound, an outdoor club at the University of Maine in Orono. The trip would be led by students and one advisor that January. Baxter State Park roads are closed

Climbing Maine’s highest peak is a challenge in the summer. In the winter, snow and ice transform the mountain, magnifying the consequences of any errors. After one unsuccessful effort, the author gathered up her crampons and ice pick for a second try.

Christi Holmes at the summit, with Knife Edge in the background. All photos: Christi Holmes

in the winter, so we would park at Abol Bridge on a Friday afternoon, and snowshoe nearly five miles to Abol campground, where we would sleep in a lean-to. Saturday morning, we would hike the mountain, snowshoe out, and drive back to Orono. It was an aggres-

The author and friends took Abol Trail up Katahdin in the winter. www.MaineSportsman.com

sive two-day schedule. The $150 fee included food, transportation, and rental gear – helmet, crampons, ice pick, snowshoes and a minus-20-degree sleeping bag. The fee also included the required winter camping permit from Baxter State Park. The weekend ar-

Snow and ice make steep trails seem even steeper.

rived, and the 10 other participants, four student guides and the advisor crammed into a couple of vans and we headed north. When we parked at Abol Bridge, it was already dark. Before we got out of the van, the advisor gave us a warning about winter hiking I have never

forgotten: “It is 15 degrees out,” he said. “When we get out of this van, I want you to be cold. When we start snowshoeing you will warm up. If you bundle up too much initially, you will sweat, your clothes will get wet, and you will get cold sleeping in them. We are not stopping for people to shed layers because then those who dressed appropriately will get cold when we all stop and wait.” The 15 of us shouldered our bulky packs and began the trek. Two hours later we arrived at our lean-to. Amy and I unpacked our sleeping bags in the three-sided wooded structure while the guides started a fire in the firepit. It was bitterly cold. Before bed, the guides poured boiling water into each of our Nalgenes, and I slept with the bottle between my legs for extra warmth. (Continued on next page)

This photo shows the flat top section of Katahdin, near the summit.

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

We awoke at 3 a.m., had a couple Pop Tarts for breakfast, and started snowshoeing up the Abol Trail. We made good time and things were going smoothly until we reached Abol slide. Abol slide is an old rockslide, and the trail just follows it up. It is unsheltered and exposed to the elements. The mountain’s harsh winds had blown the slide free of snow and each boulder was coated with ice. We removed our snowshoes and switched to crampons. Turnaround Time Arrives We were slow moving as a group. We could only go as fast as our slowest hiker. At one point I checked on Amy and she was shivering. I gave her a snack-size Milky Way and with my urging, she ate it. You must eat a lot while winter hiking. Your body is burning more calories trying to stay warm, plus you are carrying gear, and climbing Maine’s tallest mountain. Noon was our agreed-upon turnaround time. If we were not to the summit by then, we had to turn around. By 11 a.m., we were still climbing the slide, not even at the table near the summit.

We accepted defeat and turned around. I had hiked the Abol Trail many times in the past. I thought I knew it. Winter had transformed it. One Sleeping Bag Too Few It was only January, still plenty of winter left to attempt a second summit. Now that I knew what I was getting into, I reached out to my friend Justin, an experienced winter hiker, and we made plans to hike it that March with a few other friends. Just as before, on a Friday evening, we snowshoed into Abol Campground. When we arrived at the lean-to and began unpacking our things, we realized one major problem – we had forgotten one sleeping bag back at the truck. We brainstormed our options. The two people on the outside definitely needed their own bags, but if the two people in the middle shared, or if we all unzipped our bags and snuggled, would that work? What if the person without a bag put their feet inside a backpack? How warm are emergency blankets anyway? None of us slept well that night. Pre-Dawn Ascent My watch beeped at 3 a.m., and we read-

ied for our ascent. I was energized with excitement. Again, we snowshoed to Abol slide. My breath lit up like smoke in the light from my headlamp. Once at the slide, we removed our snowshoes and put on crampons. This time, there was plenty of snow on the slide. It made climbing feel less technical than during the January attempt, and we moved quickly. It was like being on a stair-climbing machine on Level 10. My quads screamed. We reached the summit around 10 a.m. Fierce winds bit at my hands when I removed them from my mittens to take a photo. It was breathtaking, to stand atop Maine’s mighty mountain covered with snow and ice, just the four of us. Best Way Down is … Backwards? On the descent, things got dicey. There was one very steep section I had not noticed on the ascent. On the way up, my center of gravity was up the mountain and if I’d slipped, I would safely fall forward on my knees or chest. But on the descent, I was forced to look down the steep slope. Only the tips of the boulders jutted out, like shark fins in the sea. If I fell, my center of

After an unsuccessful first attempt, the author and friends successfully summited Katahdin in the winter. From left: Dylan Whitney, Justin Whitney and Christi Holmes.

Justin Whitney demonstrates how to self-arrest – stopping yourself when you’re sliding down a mountain.

gravity would cause me to tumble down the mountain, bouncing off boulders. Though I had an ice pick, I did not know how to self-arrest (stop myself with it if I fell). I decided to descend backwards, like going down a ladder. I kicked foot holes and had to put my entire weight on the two tiny crampon picks at the front of my boot with each step. My friends

Wildlife Quiz Answers: Sea-Run Trout 1. The term anadromous refers to fish species that migrate up freshwater rivers and streams from the sea to spawn. 2. Another name for sea-run rainbow trout is steelhead. 3. Other nicknames for the brook trout include squaretail, brookie and speckled trout.

4. Sea-run brook trout are freshwater fish that spend part of the year at sea before returning to freshwater. Alewives and shad are saltwater fish that venture into fresh water to spawn, before returning to salt water where they spend a majority of their lives. 5. Sea-run trout feed on wide variety

encouraged me, and eventually we all made it past the steep section. Once on the more manageable slope, Justin gave a lesson in self-arresting. We each practiced it and ended up sliding on our butts, laughing, the rest of the way down. It was the perfect way to end our strenuous challenge up Maine’s tallest mountain.

(Quiz on Page 41)

of creatures, including fish eggs, crayfish, mollusks, insects and even small rodents. 6. Osprey, eagles, striped bass and bluefish are among the many species that prey upon sea-run brook trout. 7. Sea-run brook trout can live upwards of 5 or 6 years. www.MaineSportsman.com

44 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Atlantic Salmon in the Saco and Ossipee Rivers Will Help Economy March in southern Maine is a glass half-full or half-empty month. You can either look at it as one more month of winter, or take “the glass halffull” attitude and realize it’s the beginning of spring. I prefer the latter. This month, icefishermen are removing their ice shacks and staging their tip ups in the shed (shacks must be removed by March 31). This creates a fishing void for many people. To fill the void, anglers should consider open water fishing this month. I did a lot of ice fishing when I was younger, but became bored with it. My problem was I couldn’t sit still more than a few minutes; waiting on a frozen lake for a red flag to spring up was totally out of the question, at least for me. Then I started open water fishing during the winter; which for me became

If Southern Maine rivers can develop fishable populations of salmon, it will provide an economic boon for an area that needs it badly, says the author. And he proposes a novel idea – an “Atlantic Salmon lottery” patterned after the moose lottery! a passion. At the time, most waters here in Maine were closed to open-water fishing during the winter – so I fished in New Hampshire. My go-to spot was a tailwater behind the dam at Barry Bay in Effingham Falls. It’s the headwater of the Ossipee River (Big) that flows into Porter, Maine and then dumps into the Saco River in Cornish. Fishing at the dam in Effingham Falls offers an exciting option for anglers. Rainbows, browns, brookies and salmon are available. However, Landlocked and Atlantic salmon must be released, unharmed, at once (I use barbless hooks on flies so it’s easy to release fish without removing them from the water).

Landlocked salmon season in NH opens on April 1 and lasts to September 30. There’s no Atlantic salmon season in either state – they must be released in the river system in both states. Atlantic Salmon! How did Atlantic salmon get into the Ossipee River? They were stocked as fingerlings in the river system in both the Ossipee and Saco Rivers for years, along with some “trapped and trucked” mature fish taken from dams in Saco. Now there’s a new improved method used – it seems to be working better. Why? Today, fertilized salmon eggs are implanted into streambed gravel. This process emulates what

occurs in nature. It enables emerging salmon to hatch into their natural environments. They can then disperse and feed on natural forage and become part of the water system. It has proven to work better than the dump-and-hope methods used in the past. Last year, 49 brood-stock wild Atlantic salmon between 5 and 6 pounds were released into the Saco at undisclosed locations. While fishing the Saco, anglers could hook into one of these hard-fighting fish swimming in the river system, and of course these salmon had to be released unharmed. This month, salmon instinctively swim upstream to headwa-

Effingham Fall’s dam tailwater, and the headwaters of the Ossipee River. This location offers good winter fishing opportunities, with plenty of parking. In March, fish enter the spillway and tailwaters. Will Atlantic salmon also congregate there in the future? Val Marquez photos www.MaineSportsman.com

ters, so when they hit a dam with or without a fishway, then they stage in the tail waters, bumping their noises against concrete. Fish Passageways The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires that re-licensing criteria for dams include installing fish passages, and to date the five lowest dams have passages in the form of either fish ladders or elevators to allow fish to migrate upstream. The next upstream dam to install a fish passage system is the Bar Mills Dam. Work at the dam should start soon. Planning for a fish passage system for the West Buxton Dam should be completed in 2021. Following the West Buxton fish passage project, the Bonny Eagle Dam should become operational in 2022. After that, the Hiram Falls Dam fish passage should go operational in 2025. Dams on the Saco River in New Hampshire are the Saco Lake Dam (which is only about 10 feet wide) and Wiley Pond Dam. Both small dams have little effect on the Saco’s flow and water quality. When these fishways are completed, salmon and other migratory fish will once again have access to the whole river system, from the White (Southern Maine continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 45

Lake Trout Pie And the ice fishing continues! Lake Trout is so delicious in a great recipe. Try this one for size, as it’s pretty easy and it looks amazing! I hope you enjoy this combination of decadence and spices! Enjoy and Bon Appetit! Lake Trout Pie Note: White peppercorns come from the same vine as black ones, but are soaked in water after the harvest to remove the outer skin. This process gives them the slightly fermented taste and the smooth mellow flavor I enjoy. Ingredients: • 3 tablespoons mustard oil (or vegetable oil) • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter • 2 onions, finely chopped • ½ teaspoon white pepper • 1 large garlic clove, minced • ½ teaspoon mustard powder • ½ cup flour • 1 cup dry white wine • 1 ½ cups fresh fish stock • 1 ¼ cups heavy cream • ½ lemon, juiced • 1 large lake trout, fileted and chunked • 3 tablespoons capers, rinsed, drained and roughly chopped • ½ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped • 1 puff pastry • Pie dish Directions: Heat oven 350F. Grease pie dish. Heat oil and butter in pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, mustard and flour; cook 1 minute. Add wine and stir with

Southern Maine (Continued from page 44)

Mountain National Forest in NH to the sea in Saco. Economic Value These fishways are good news for the future economies along the complete water system. If the Saco River has a fishable population, anglers will

wooden spoon until smooth. Slowly stir in stock, cream and lemon juice, stir 5 minutes or until sauce is thick. Turn off heat, stir in fish, capers and dill, and pour into baking dish. Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface to fit top of dish with slight overhang. Cut off thin strips from overhang edges to line edge of dish. Wet edge with

water, then lay strips on top. Wet pastry strips, then lay large piece of pastry on top to cover the filling, and a few on top if you’d like or decorate top of pie with trimmings. Using a fork, prick pastry a few times to let out the steam, bake for 35-45 minutes until pastry is golden and puffed.

flock to the area from around the world, spending money and resulting in a “mud-season” burst of customers for local, hotels, restaurants and “mom and pop” stores in the areas. During early spring, many of these small businesses are two customers away from bankruptcy, and an influx of large groups of anglers and their families would certainly help everyone in the area.

What about offering an “Atlantic Salmon Drawing” patterned after the Moose Permit drawing held each year? If you are selected for a permit, you receive one Atlantic salmon tag. DIFW would make money and would also have a method to control fish populations. Something to think about.

www.MaineSportsman.com

46 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Payback Time for Brother Norm Have you ever noticed some things you can’t remember, and some things you can’t forget? Brother Norm, my oldest brother, used to have a sense of humor; you might even have called him a jokester. Now, as age has crept up on him, he seems to have lost his sense of humor. Let me explain. Big Gift – A School Bag Years ago, Norm returned home on furlough from his first of three combat years in Vietnam. I was so happy to see him. As a tough nine-year-old, I had cried myself to sleep the year he was overseas. I vividly remem-

The great part about family is that you’ll be seeing them again and again – there’s plenty of time to right a wrong.

For five full decades after the .410 incident, the author carefully plotted his revenge.

ber the day he burst though the front door of our home on Pineau Street. He was all decked out in his army uniform, his 173rd patch proudly on his shoulder, his spitshined paratrooper boots. He also came bearing gifts for my two sisters and me. For

Marie, a year older than me, he gave her a diamond watch. She hugged him soooo hard. For Rita, my kid sister of three years, he gave her a brand-new bicycle. She jumped with joy! And for me, after telling me he heard I liked school, he gave me a $#@*&#% school

14-year old Brody Walker earned his 2020 Biggest Bucks patch with this 208.2-pound buck. Brody was hunting with his grandfather, PaPa, in Bethel when he dropped the 8-pointer with his 7mm 08. www.MaineSportsman.com

bag! I tried to look happy, but I was devastated. Holding back tears, I ran down the hallway to my bedroom. As I opened the door, I saw his real gift to me – a brand-new Western Auto .410, lying on my bed. I thanked him profusely, but I filed the incident away in my memory for payback at a later date. Payback is a $#@*&#%! Later, much later, like 50 years later, it was payback time! Norm, brother Ray, Island Boy and I were at camp at Northeast Carry for a spring fishing week. Norm is the camp cook, camp cleaner, camp organizer, and all-around camp repairman. Actually, he’s a great guy to have at camp. The camp has a hand pump that draws water from the lake into the sink. Norm had replaced the leathers in the pump to stop it from leaking and losing suction. He

had fixed it, or so he thought. Remembering the shotgun incident from so long ago, Mike and I developed a plan. Whenever Norm stepped out of the kitchen, Mike or I would dribble some water around the pump base. On cue, when he came back into the kitchen, he saw the water leak. He again took the pump apart and “fixed it.” As he left again, we would repeat our water on the pump base. On his return, again he would disassemble it again, swearing profusely. Mike and I and brother Ray would sit back, thoughtfully and helpfully offering ideas on how to fix it. Ratted Out This pattern repeated itself for several days. Alas, on about Day #4, Norm was fuming. He decided to rip the entire sink cabinet apart to find the problem. “I’m going to fix this $#@*&#% pump if it’s the last thing I do!” This is when brother Ray ratted out Island Boy and me, for fear Norm would recruit him into helping rip the kitchen apart. Being knowledgeable about paratrooper training, Island Boy and I made a quick, wise choice – we left camp and went for a long moose ride!

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 47

Tom Targets Togue and Salmon This Month Fisheries biologist Jim Pellerin explained that the bait balls we guides saw on our fish finders were alewives that likely migrated down from Raymond Pond. While it made for good close-to-the-surface fishing, the phenomenon does not bode well for smelt populations that are trying to recover. Although we typically experience warming temperatures in March, if area ice anglers pick their spots carefully they usually have a few more weeks to pound the hardwater. Our region is blessed with several spots known for lake trout and salmon, so targeting them is no problem. Sebago Togue Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1) is the go-to spot in this region for lakers and although the action can be slow at times, you have the chance to catch a lunker fish. After lake trout were introduced into the lake in the 1970s, they took hold and began to outcompete the salmon for forage. This spelled the decline of smelt and ultimately salmon. While we experienced some great salmon catches this summer, the togue severely impacted the lake. While guiding parties this past August and September, I and other guides noticed some huge balls of bait fish on our fish finders. Before long, we would see a commotion on the surface in the area

where seagulls and other water birds were feeding. If you trolled though these spots with lures or bait close to the surface, you got into salmon. On one sweltering August day, for example, I had clients consistently taking fish with only about 20 feet of leader in the water and a surface temperature of 79 degrees. I was elated to put these sports onto fish, but I was dumfounded. I called fisheries biologist Jim Pellerin, and he explained that the bait balls were alewives that likely migrated down from Raymond Pond. That made sense to me, as most of the fish I was catching, including lakers, were belching up several small ale-

wives after I netted them. Of the fish I kept and cleaned for clients, their stomachs were packed with alewives. Pellerin asked me if any stomachs had smelt in them, and I told him no. That was concerning, he said, as that signaled a lack of smelt in the lake. So what was a boon for salmon anglers this year might not be a great thing for Sebago Lake overall. In any case, we will continue to target lakers this month, as salmon are protected from ice fishing. Togue ice anglers employ a variety of techniques on the big lake, but essentially most set traps, jig, or do a combination of both. I catch most of

Here are the author’s ice-fishing “tools of the trade.” He recommends setting four traps and jigging in one additional spot. If there’s no action after 30 minutes, he says it’s time to move on. Tom Roth photo

my lakers jigging, and I will only fish a hole for 30 minutes before moving on. I call this jigging-on-the-move. I

deploy my jig, usually a Swedish Pimple tipped with a piece of (Sebago to Auburn continued on page 49)

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48 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Author Puts Maine’s New Crossbow Law to Good Use Starting last year, Mainers were allowed to use crossbows to hunt deer during the open archery season, as well as during the fall open season on wild turkey. The law, titled “An Act to Allow the Use of a Crossbow for a Limited Duration during the October Archery Season on Deer and the Fall Season on Wild Turkey,” established a limited-time (three years – 2020, 2021 and 2022) expansion of the archery law. The intent of the legislation, which was introduced as LD 27 and subsequently enacted as PL 2019, Ch. 98, was to expand crossbow hunting opportunities for the three-year period, on a trial basis. In early 2022, the DIFW Commissioner will be required to submit a report to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee in which she will recommend whether or not to continue to allow the use of crossbows during the regular archery seasons. The Department provided testimony to the committee during the bill’s deliberation, stating that biologists did not believe crossbow use would result in negative consequences for the deer population. In fact, they referred to studies indicating that hunter results using www.MaineSportsman.com

For a limited time, Maine hunters can use crossbows during the regular crossbow season as well as during the fall wild turkey season. Modern crossbows are well-adapted to the small parcels and dense residential development found in Central Maine. Moreover, they are powerful and effective, as the author discovered during the 2020 season.

The author is shown here with the second of two crossbow deer he harvested in Central Maine during the 2020 season.

a crossbow were very similar to those experienced by archers. Ohio Study A study from the state of Ohio compared hunters using crossbows, to those using archery equipment. The results showed: • The average shooting distance for all bow hunters was 25 yards. Shots that hit

the deer averaged 22.4 yards, while shots that missed averaged 31.1 yards in distance. And one finding was consistent between bowhunters and crossbow hunters – accuracy decreased with distance. • Most shots taken with both compounds and crossbows were 20 to 24 yards. • Compound bow ar-

chers released 1,015 shots and connected on 686, for 67.6 percent accuracy, while crossbow archers released 719 shots and connected on 529, for 73.6 percent accuracy. The DIFW’s “fiscal note” to the bill (the projected revenue or cost to the state) was neutral, and one possible reason for that

is that any additional costs incurred to implement the law will likely be offset by license fees from new hunters who take up the sport of crossbows. Crossbow hunting has been shown to increase hunter recruitment numbers, adding more new hunters to the sport. Good for Central Maine Crossbows have specific advantages in areas of Central Maine and Southern Maine where greater population and residential density make crossbow hunting advantageous. Although slightly louder than a compound bow, crossbows do not have the explosive report of a firearm. And for folks who lack the arm strength to keep a compound bow at full draw while waiting for a deer to present a clear shot, the crossbow offers the advantage of being “ready at the draw.” I was able to make good use of the new crossbow law here in Central Maine, dropping a nice small buck with my crossbow late in the season – my second crossbow deer of the 2020 archery season. Picking the Perfect Crossbow The crossbow market offers a wide array of choices for any need and budget. Here are (Continued on next page)

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

two quality models I have used: I have been thoroughly impressed with the capabilities of the TenPoint Turbo GT ($999), the crossbow I used to score the two deer mentioned above. It sends the bolt at 360 feet per second. My model also includes the Accudraw, a device that allows the shooter to pull back the bow limbs into the fire position with a hand crank

mechanism, instead of having to pull back the draw string using a special pulley device. Even quality products have issues from time to time. With the TenPoint, I experienced a splintering problem with the limbs, which in turn led to excessive wear to the string. I mailed the crossbow back to TenPoint for repair. While the company made good on the repairs, the shipping costs and replacement of the first worn string

Kallie Stone, age 12, was awarded her “Biggest Bucks” patch for this impressive 205-pound, 9-pt. buck. She was hunting with her grandfather, Richard Stone. Karen Stone photo

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 47)

sucker, or other times I may use a tube jig, in anywhere from 30 to 100 feet of water. I’ll work a hole for a half-hour and then move if I don’t have any luck or don’t see any fish on my flasher. I also set four traps baited with 6- to 10inch suckers. Salmo Salar With Sebago Lake closed to salmon until spring fishing opens, anglers have a few other options if they want to target large, silver-sided prey. Pleasant Lake in Casco (DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 5, A-1) is loaded with them, although they run on the small side. I trolled Pleasant Lake last spring, and we had some lively action, but the fish ranged from 10 to 14 inches. Pleasant Lake salmon are subject to a minimum length requirement of 16 inches

amounted to more than $200 – a high price for a crossbow a little more than two years old. A crossbow comparable to the TenPoint is the Ravin R10 ($1,299). My hunting buddy has a Ravin, and it is every bit as impressive as the GT. I have had multiple chances to load and fire this crossbow, and I’ve been very impressed with it. Bottom line when choosing a crossbow – do your homework.

Use an online search engine to review potential issues before purchase, and if possible take the model you’re planning to purchase to the range and get a good feel for it before putting money on the counter. Garmin’s New Crossbow Sight Crossbow technology continues to develop. For those who want to improve their chances of success regardless of cost, Garmin is about to release a new sight called the Xero

Tim Wood of Jefferson bagged this immense trophy 240-pound buck on Opening Day, 2020, using a 30-’06.

during ice fishing season. Last spring the lake received a stocking of 400 seven-inch fish. There are other species in the lake, so it’s a good location to take the kids out on. Panther and Trickey Ponds Panther Pond in Raymond (Map 5, C-2) benefits from a liberal salmon stocking program, and anglers regularly take landlocks in the two- to five-pound range. Panther Pond has a maximum depth of 70 feet, and relies on regular stocking of salmon to produce decent salmon for area anglers. Smelt-baited tip-ups are the preferred set up on Panther Pond. Shiners take a close second for trap bait. White perch are also a popular draw for anglers intent on making a chowder. Panther Pond received 450 12-inch salmon last November, but those aren’t big enough to catch, yet! Trickey Pond ( Map 4, B-5) in Na-

Xli Crossbow Sight ($1,399). The scope integrates a rangefinder into a 3.5-poweer scope. Looking through the scope, the hunter will see an “aimpoint” dot on the target that automatically brightens or darkens, depending on the amount of available light. And it integrates with Garmin’s GPS technology, so it will mark the location of the shot on your GPS unit.

Melissa Moody of Newburgh saw only one buck all season as she and her 8-year old daughter sat in their tree stand. Luckily, that one deer was a monster -- 10 points; 229.6 pounds.

ples is another top local spot for salmon. Although small, at just 311 acres, Trickey Pond’s excellent water quality and spring-fed bottom serve as a good home to cold water fish such as brook trout, splake and salmon. Salmon in the two- to six-pound range are taken here regularly, making this a top destination for area anglers who want salmon in decent sizes. Anglers using tipups baited with smelt or shiners have the best success. Trickey was recently stocked with salmon, but they need to grow some, as well. March is our last month to enjoy ice angling, and it always feels like I am stealing an extra day afield when I fish this month. Be cautious of deteriorating ice conditions, and enjoy one last hoorah before trolling as ice-out takes center stage.

www.MaineSportsman.com

50 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Trappers Support Wildlife Studies The public needs to know about the indepth involvement of trappers with the scientific studies of wildlife by state and federal agencies. Because of the onslaught of misinformation from animal rights organizations, trappers are sometimes thought of as destructors of various wildlife species. Trapping is portrayed as a cruel, antiquated profession that needs to go away. This is not true. We trappers are deeply dedicated to the wellbeing and understanding of not just our furbearers, but all wildlife. We fully support scientific research for the betterment of the species and our knowledge of them. Researchers Rely on Trappers Trappers from many states and Canadian provinces continue to participate in research on furbearers and other species here in North America. Trappers are often hired by agencies to assist in the research of non-furbearer species, due to their indepth knowledge of wildlife and their familiarity with specific geographical regions.

A little-known example of the “official” involvement of hunters occurred during the Gulf War, when trappers were hired by the U.S. Defense Department to trap animals in the combat areas, to protect and preserve them from harm or extinction. Similarly, American trappers are hired by major corporations, such as the petroleum industry, to do studies in foreign countries on wildlife and their populations, to ensure the well-being of native species. In addition, American trapping lures and scents are utilized as attractants by various countries doing research. More Examples of Trapper Involvement Maine trappers have been involved in studies in this state and in other states, as well as working with various federal agencies, academia, industrial and medical institutions. These have included assessments of furbearer populations, travel ways, genetics, pollution levels of both animals and watersheds, various diseases and parasites, and

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studies of tick species, including their populations and distribution. Trappers have also lent support to studies of predator impact on threatened and endangered species, and the introduction of invasive species – mammal and plant – just to name just a few. Maine trappers are currently supporting studies with The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) of fisher, marten, otter and bobcat. Maine trappers are also supporting a Northeast Regional study of distemper in fisher. Recent Request – Mink Genetics Maine Trappers Association (MTA) just received a request from the University of Oklahoma, Middlebury College (VT) and the Smithsonian in December 2020 to support a study of the genetics of minks in Maine, with a particular interest in comparing American minks with the extinct Gulf of Maine sea mink. Researchers have archaeological material on hand from Maine archaeologists and the Passamaquoddy Tribe to study those minks of the past, and are now looking to obtain some recent mink tissue for comparison with ancient samples. During previous research, they were surprised to learn that virtually all of publicly available mink genetic data is from China. They have an in-

Maine trapper/federal biologist Adam Vashon demonstrating traps and equipment to biologist at a “Trapping Matters” Workshop.

terest in mink from our coastal areas, but they will take samples from a wide geographic range across the state. During the study, they will provide updates throughout the research process. In addition, they have requested any specific questions or insights that we might have about mink; they may incorporate them into the research project. Muskrats on Isles of Shoals Islands The individual who submitted this request to the Maine Trappers Association collaborated some years ago with Maine and New Hampshire trappers to complete undergraduate research on muskrats in the Isles of Shoals. Ten Maine and New Hampshire trappers were involved in that study. In the case of their muskrat study on the Isles of Shoals, we learned that in the early 1900s, a population of muskrats were introduced to the Isles of Shoals archipelago, within the Gulf of

Maine, for the purposes of fur harvest. That was the first genetic study of “introduced muskrat populations” within US borders and of any island population, and it provided an important contrast with studies of introduced muskrat populations worldwide. We learned further that the muskrat, a semiaquatic rodent native to North America has become a highly successful invader across Europe, Asia, and South America and has inflicted ecological and economic damage on countries’ wetland systems. At the end we were furnished with the completed study documentation, which added to our knowledge of muskrats. Much of this was reflective of what we know about the rodent nutria (a/k/a coypu or swamp rats) that was introduced into the United States from South America for the same purpose, and the similar damages to wetlands along our south and the west coast.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 51

Luke Converts a Leaky Old Aluminum Boat into a Mean, Olive-Drab Fishing Machine Soon I’ll be trolling for trout and salmon, just as I’ve been doing ever since I could walk. The ice will be all gone and the smelts will be running. I love this time of year, and I can’t wait to get out and do it even if the fishing’s slow. I never liked trolling when I was younger – it always seemed to be wicked cold and we never caught much, but now I want to do it by myself because there are a lot of good memories that come after putting in the time and seeing that rod double over. You’re missing out if you’re not trolling while the smelts are running – it’s a great time to catch trout, salmon, togue, browns and rainbows. But to go trolling, you’ve gotta have an aluminum V-hull boat or at least a stable square stern canoe, neither of which I had, and there was no chance at all of my dad letting me take his boat, so I decided I would find a really inexpensive old boat and fix it up. Step 1: Get the Trailer So I came up with the idea one day when I had enough money to buy a cheap boat and trailer. However, with my limited budget, neither the trailer nor the boat I was looking at had seen the water since the 1980s.

But I like a project. For this project, I wanted to keep costs to a minimum and I wanted the boat to be customized to do what I intended to use it for – trolling, and duck hunting. So I bought an old trailer off a buddy. It needed wheel bearings and lights – easy enough. By the way, it never hurts to ask if family or friends want to get rid of old trailers and stuff like that, because in this case, they wanted it gone. You can also go online and find them pretty cheap too, through private sellers. Step 2: Get the Boat Now all I needed was a boat to go on the trailer. They’re everywhere, but you get what you pay for. I found a 12-foot V-hull boat. I didn’t care what the make or model was – I was just looking to make sure the seats were solid, and the boat was wide and somewhat deep, which this one was. As long as it was solid, I wasn’t concerned if it leaked and needed a transom – that’s an easy job that doesn’t require any fancy tools.

bolts. The best way I found to do this was to put the 2 pieces of wood together and drill holes right through both pieces – doing them individually is not as easy. It didn’t have to be fancy; just solid enough to support my 4-horse motor. It’s an old Evinrude, but it’s reliable. This I also got from a family member.

Bad Transom – No Problem I took the boat home and the first thing I did was fix the transom. I used pressure-treated lumber and stainless steel

Leaky Hull – No Problem One thing I didn’t want to deal with on the water was anything leaking steadily. At first I thought of using spray-on pick-up

With pressure-treated lumber for the transom, and roofing tar to slow the leaks, the author rebuilt this fishing and duck-hunting boat, on time and under budget. Access to the water means access to big fish, as demonstrated by this massive landlocked salmon.

truck bed liner, which would work great to seal leaks, but it’s just too expensive. So I bought a cheap can of roof sealer. Sure, it’s messy, and it took a little while to get the whole boat covered, but a one-gallon can did the trick for the inside. I left the in the sun and it baked on solid. Any places where it was too thick didn’t turn solid, but I fixed those areas by spreading it out more evenly. For the most part it was perfect – it was a thick coat that didn’t leak, and it was still somewhat flexible so it wouldn’t crack. I’ve used it for a summer and I’m happy with it – it still leaked slightly, but nothing that amounted to anything. It’s not slippery at all – perfect for what I do. Repainting the Outside I left the whole bottom black, but I took a grinder and removed all the paint on the topsides of the hull. This was the hardest part of the whole project, and it’s just more time consuming than anything. After the old paint was off, I could have used any marine paint and primer, but I wanted to use it for duck hunting in the fall, so I decided to paint it with olive drab Parker duck boat paint. After that dried, I used some spray paint and stencils to make a

camo pattern. It seems to be holding up really well and it makes the boat look pretty sharp – at least I think so, anyway. Accessorizing So at this point I was pretty much done. All I needed to do now was add some accessories. I like Down East rod holders – they’re simple and they work great for small boats like this one, plus they’re a must have if you plan on running more than one rod at a time. And you’ve got to get some good life jackets. And throwable cushions – don’t forget these; you’ll be sore at the end of the day without them. They are also good for safety reasons. Rope lines are also a must-have in any boat for towing or tying up to docks – can’t go without them. Another thing I made sure to always have two drain plugs – the one that’s in the hole, and an extra in case you misplace the first one. It’s always a good idea to tie one close to the drain so you don’t lose it. So that’s how I built up my trolling/ hunting boat. Nothing beats putting something like that together just the way you want, in order to meet all your needs.

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52 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Midcoast Waters Get Stocked with Monsters The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) hatchery trucks carried some hefty trout to Midcoast waters this past fall. A conversation with Jason Seiders, regional biologist for Region B, was an eye-opener. Jason asked me to guess what DIF&W had stocked in Levenseller Pond in Searsmont. I opted for the most unlikely choice of all, and hit it on the nose. “Retired hatchery broodstock togue,” I blurted out. Jason laughed and then explained – Levenseller has become what the department calls a “destination water,” and as such, it is subject to greatly expanded stocking compared to other waters. Because of the large volume of stocked trout, and also the size of some of these introduced fish, people from far and wide travel to this 35-acre, 15-footdeep* Midcoast pond. [*Note: DeLorme’s Maine Fishing Depth Maps booklet shows only 10 feet of depth at Levenseller, but the booklet is inaccurate in many ways, including fish species. I have gone through my own copy and deleted species listed that do not exist, and added those that do. The booklet could use updating.] Jason went on to explain that since retired broodstock togue rarely get taken by anglers when stocked in www.MaineSportsman.com

The author and biologist Seiders joked about how an unsuspecting angler jigging for 13-inch brook trout in Levenseller Pond in Searsmont would react upon hooking a 10-pound togue. It was easy to imagine the excitement. larger lakes, putting them in a small pond such as Levenseller ensured that people would have every opportunity to catch some of these monsters, some weighing up to 10 pounds. Maximum Benefits Continuing our conversation, we joked about how someone jigging for 13-inch brook trout would react upon hooking a 10-pound togue. It was easy to imagine the excitement. Brook trout rank as the regular stock in trade for Levenseller, and between October 2020 and November 2020, DIF&W released 300 13-inch trout, 400 8-inch trout and 26 15-inch trout. The 31 24-inch togue were just icing on the cake. Note that lengths given in the stocking reports are only general guides. A wild 24-inch togue will weigh between 4 and 5 pounds. Many fish released in Levenseller hit the 10-pound mark. Jason Seiders also noted that while the togue stocking was his brainchild, the administration in Augusta was in full agreement, since the mission of stocking in waters where there is little or no chance of natural reproduction or long-

term survival is to give anglers every chance to catch good numbers of legal and above-legal sized trout. I say kudos to the administration in this regard. Such policies can go far toward getting more people interested in fishing, a sport that can give a lifetime of rewards. If you are heading to Levenseller Pond this season, be aware that monsters lurk beneath the ice. Don’t rely upon thin lines of 4-pound test or less, because they don’t have a chance of holding on to some of the fish there. Instead, I recommend using the thinnest 8-pound-test available. It would be a shame to lose a trophy because of tackle failure. See Levenseller Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 14, C-3. Megunticook Back A problem with hatchery-reared rainbow trout over the last several years has set the fishery back somewhat in Megunticook Lake. But that problem was resolved, and in fall of 2020, DIF&W released 1,000 14-inch rainbow trout in Megunticook, 50 22-inch rainbow trout and 200 13-inch brown trout. The disparity between rainbow and

brown trout numbers lies in the smaller percentage of what biologists call of “angler return” on browns. However, for those who have the knack, Megunticook ranks as a high-grade brown trout fishery. I sometimes take 3- and 4-pound brownies in summer while deep trolling. I’ve had far bigger fish on, but I find there is much truth in the old saying that “big ones always get away.” The trout fishery at Megunticook should rank as a putgrow-and-take situation. Fish in this deep, well-oxygenated water often grow to trophy size. Also, fish stocked in any given year are never all removed from the lake, which allows for them to carry over from one year to the next. This means that it is always possible to land a fish that lived in the lake for three years or more. Finally, lingering open water even into January means fewer trout will leave the lake this winter, leaving more for open-water fishing this spring. Hare Hunt The season on snowshoe hares runs through the end of March. Given the right circumstances – bare

ground with lingering patches of snow – it is possible to take hares without the use of a dog. Hares know they are susceptible to predators now, especially if they have some white pelage left from winter. Therefore, hares will stick to little patches of snow like grim death, trying to blend in. A hunter with a .410-gauge shotgun or even a .22-caliber rifle or pistol, can have a field day.

The author saw lots of snowshoe hares in the Midcoast region this past summer, and he expects they will still be available when the snow starts to melt. The season runs through the end of March. Tom Seymour photo

I have taken my limit of hares this way. It’s a special time and a special season and things don’t always pan out, climate-wise. Often, March snowstorms preclude this type of hunting. But in recent years, a warming climate has seen perfect conditions for a solo hare hunt with small arms. So get out. Fish, hunt and enjoy.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 53

Snowshoe Hares and Late-Season Ice Fishing Top Downeast Agenda This Month Woods and waters in the Downeast area produce notable hunting and ice-fishing and opportunities each March. Checking DeLorme’s Maine Atlas, Maps 23, 24 and 25 for an overview of the best prospects for both activities in Washington and Hancock County. An outdoor sport certain to please gun enthusiasts is rabbit hunting. Beagles are often heard in full chorus on the warm winter days of March. Rabbit hunters in the Surry Region are finding more bunnies in the woods than in previous years. Several rabbit covers in this area that provide top-notch gunning lie along the dirt side roads branching off Route 176 in Surry (Map 23, E-4). Scout for areas that feature streams, and an abundance of cedar vegetation, since that’s the topography that will hold more than a few bunnies. This region features alder cover and a southern exposure that can provide for some exciting rabbit hunts this month. Bunnies are experiencing their March mating ritual, so be prepared to see rabbits two at a time across the trail ahead of a baying beagle. This area has been logged in recent years, which has created vantage points for a hunter to get some good shots at an ever-circling bunny. Fellow hunting partner

Opportunities look good for last-chance ice anglers. According to regional biologists, salmon, lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and splake are growing well in many of the larger lakes and ponds, resulting in good catch rates as well as chances for large fish.

A worn but still worthy pack-basket. Photos by Jim Lemieux

and beagle owner Eric Peddle of Bucksport and I often pick up a few bunnies on each outing. Hot Molasses Ice-fishing is another exciting option for outdoor folks this month. According to Region C Fisheries Resource Supervisor, Greg Burr, “Salmon, lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and splake are growing well in many of the larger lakes and ponds, providing anglers with good catch rates and chances for larger fish.” One water that offers outstanding ice-fishing results is Molasses Pond in Eastbrook, (Map 24, C-3). Molasses Pond is 1,252-acre water with a maximum depth of 47 feet. A good road goes by the north end where a boat launch site is available for public use.

Typical Downeast fishing scene in March -- note open water beyond anglers.

In the fall of 2020, Molasses was stocked with 500 12-inch brown trout and 75 19inch salmon. The good news is that many of these fish may still be available for ice anglers to catch in March. In recent winters, anglers have reported catching brown trout between 5 and 8 pounds, and salmon up to 5 pounds. This pond provides good habitat for salmonids to thrive. Salmon and brown trout have been stocked here for over a decade with satisfactory results. White perch also are plentiful in this water. Anglers often catch perch fish in the 10- to 11-inch range. Smallmouth bass are also present in this pond, and they often trip ice-trap flags.

brook-trout fishing in March is Hopkins Pond in Clifton (Map 24, B-1). Hopkins contains only 422 acres of ice surface; however, this remote body of water offers some of the best trout fishing of the winter. State biologists replenished this pond with 600 13-inch brook trout in October 2020. Brook trout measuring from 11 inches to 13 inches are the norm; however, winter anglers also catch a few brookies in the 2- to 3- pound range each winter. According to Mike Cummings of Bucksport, the most produc-

tive method of catching a winter brookie is placing a worm-baited hook in 4 to 6 feet of water along the southeast shoreline. Winter anglers also catch a few salmon and lake trout from this water. Fishing a small smelt just under the ice in the southwestern part of this water can produce legal-sized salmon. People ice fishing also catch lake trout in 30 to 50 feet of water on the southeast end of the pond. Cut-up suckers or large shiners are the usual bait required to entice a bottom-dwelling lake trout. Hopkins Pond is restricted to a two-trap limit, with a daily limit of one togue per day. The dirt road leading to Hopkins Pond is about two miles long and can be easily traveled by snowmobile or four-wheeler. Brood Stock and More One more good winter-fishing possibility is Pleasant River Lake in Beddington (Map 25, A-2). Pleasant River Lake is located south of Route 9. (Downeast Region continued on next page)

More Hancock Waters Another water that may produce excellent www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Take It From Someone Who’s Already Gone Through the Ice – Safety is Crucial In my opinion, March can be the best ice fishing month in much of Maine. Although the brook trout bite is settling down, lake trout fishing is still going strong. One of the best things about March fishing is the beautiful weather. I’ve been fishing on plenty of days that are 35 degrees or warmer, and sunny. On days like this, ice shacks and heaters are completely unnecessary – all you need is your gear and a chair. However, with the warmer weather comes tender ice. This month, it is doubly-important to be aware of changing ice conditions. The spring melt often starts with soft spots and slush in isolated spots around the body of water. You should never be out on less than 2 inches of ice. Personally, I wouldn’t fish on less than 5 inches. It’s also important to measure the ice frequently, as thin spots develop with the warm weather. Every hundred feet is usually sufficient.

A sight hole is a large square or rectangular hole cut into the ice to allow room for jigging and playing a fish. It’s especially important for anglers to clearly mark these holes at the end of the day. Photo credit: Jagged Tooth Tackle, West Fargo, ND

Danger of “Sight Holes” It is very important to bring appropriate safety equipment for everyone involved. For example. ice picks are crucial. Having fallen through the ice already this year through an unmarked sight hole, I am now a firm believer in ice picks. For those who don’t know what a “sight hole” is, it’s a large square or rectangular hole cut in the ice to allow anglers to see fish and view the action while they are jigging. This January, I fell into a sight hole that was unattended and unmarked. Thankfully, I was able to get out quickly. Due to snowfall, it was covered with slush and

Downeast Region (Continued from page 53)

There are many shoreline camp roads that can provide winter access. People can also get to the lake by following the gravel road to the boat launch at the northeast end of the lake. www.MaineSportsman.com

invisible. I am not discrediting the use of sight holes, but remember that responsibility is a two-way street. I understand the purpose of the hole. However, had it been a non-fisherman or a small child who fell into it, that could create public opposition against the entire sport of ice fishing. Please be responsible, and preserve the sport for your peers and future generations. I am sure sight holes can be used safely and effectively, but use precautions – put markers on each of the corners, even fir boughs from the shore, and don’t drill sight holes in areas that receive a lot of walkers, snowshoers or snowmobile traffic.

In March, as the ice begins to get tender, anglers can’t be too careful. From left, 1) Ice picks worn around the neck allow a person in the water to grip the slippery surface of the ice and haul themselves out; 2) a “throw bag” or “throw rope” can be tossed by someone on the ice to an angler who’s fallen through; and 3) a self-inflating life jacket will keep a person afloat while others arrange a rescue.

Other Safety Gear We also keep throw lines in our snowmobiles. The brand Scotty makes a convenient one in which all the rope are bunched into a floating bag, which you can throw to a person who went in. These seem like a very valuable tool. It’s also not impractical to wear a float coat or inflatable PFD on late-season occasions. Some people choose to fish from shore, and simply walk to traps from the shoreline. This is not a bad idea, as reducing time on questionable ice reduces chance of an accident. Ask Experts About Changing Ice Conditions One of the best

Splake and brook trout are the sought-after species on the lake. Last fall, 350 13-inch splake, and 700 13inch brookies were released. In addition, 25 12-inch salmon and 50 19-inch salmon were also released here last fall. Splake appear to be surviving, and

ways to learn about ice conditions is by contacting local officials. If you plan to fish the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, you can find up-to-date conditions on their website or by contacting a ranger. In other areas, game wardens are usually knowledgeable about the ice conditions in their districts. As the adage goes, it’s best to “Know before you go.” March ice fishing can be fun and exciting, as long as you keep safety a priority and take responsibility for your own well-being. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy Maine ice fishing while avoiding harsh conditions!

their growth rate is good. The splake’s main food on this water are smelts. Smallmouth bass are at times caught during the winter. The majority of bass are 12 to 16 inches, with a few larger 4-pound trophies caught each winter.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 55

Redfish Now a Deep-Sea Target Redfish are now far more important to Maine’s recreational anglers than in past years. The reason? Redfish have become a legitimate “target” deep-sea species primarily because Gulf of Maine codfish are only legally available for several weeks each year, with a bag limit (as of this writing) that still stands at one fish per person per day. When the most severe recreational cod restrictions were implemented back in 2015, redfish quickly morphed from a “trash” bycatch fish to a sought-after saltwater panfish that some believe rival cod on the dinner table. Many New England party and charter boats now advertise redfish as one of the species likely encountered during a day of bottom fishing, and extol their “eatin’ qualities” – and with good reason. “Most of my customers will take them home,” Capt. Tim Tower of the famous groundfish party boat Bunny Clark (www. bunnyclark.com) out of Ogunquit recently told me. “Redfish have become more important to us, because there have been periods, especially in the spring, when we can’t keep cod or haddock, and pollock aren’t yet on the grounds. That’s when we actually target redfish. As the water temperature

“When we find them out in the deeper water, we often get some real big ones, up to 18 inches. Those are beautiful food fish!” --Capt. Tim Tower of the party boat Bunny Clark out of Ogunquit

A nice “keeper” redfish taken a few miles south of Sequin Island off the mouth of the Kennebec River. These fish make terrific eating. Barry Gibson photo

starts going up, they move out into deeper water, and when we find them we often get some real big ones – up to 18 inches. Those are beautiful food fish, and they really are delicious!” Redfish Comeback Redfish (properly named Acadian Redfish, sometimes known as rosefish, and often labeled “ocean perch” in fish markets) is a prolific cold-water species that supported a robust commercial

Wrecks make good redfish haunts. This wreck is the steamer Portland that went down in 460 feet of water off Massachusetts during a blizzard on November 27, 1898. Photo courtesy NOAA

fishery up until the 1970s, when Gulf of Maine stocks became depleted due to overfishing by draggers. Protective measures were put into place in the late 1980s, and since few were then caught, the market for them dried up. Today, redfish are reasonably plentiful again, and commercial fisheries and markets have been redeveloped to take advantage of this new abundance. Besides being good

eating, redfish carcasses or “racks” left behind after the fish are filleted, are a valuable and time-honored lobster bait. Redfish prefer hard or rocky bottom in depths greater than 100 feet, and like to congregate in schools around structure, including wrecks. Back

in 1978, I went down along the bottom in 180 feet of water on Jeffreys Ledge in the two-man research submarine Johnson SeaLink. We were looking for lost or “ghost” gillnets, but I also viewed swarms of redfish continuously circling boulders and piles of cobble. Redfish grow slowly – and they can live more than 50 years – but don’t normally get very big. The largest ever reported was brought into Gloucester in 1884, measuring 24 inches and weighing a whopping 14 pounds. However, the current International Game Fish Association’s All-Tackle World record for a rod-andreel caught redfish is only 2 pounds, 8 ounces, taken off Iceland in 2010. Easy to Catch… and Eat Most of the mature redfish we now catch here along the Maine (Saltwater Fishing continued on page 57)

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56 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Late Start Means More Fish at Season’s End A warm beginning to the ice-fishing season saw legions of unhappy anglers – people whose plans were made well ahead of time, who were unable to get out on the ice, because there was no ice. Unsafe conditions persisted long enough so that the sponsors of the 14th Annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby added a second weekend in late February to ensure that participants would find safe ice conditions. To many of us, it seems unfathomable that ice-cold Moosehead Lake was not solidly locked in with safe ice on January 1. But a changing climate rules as the final arbiter, and so many hoped-for angler hours just did not occur. However, there’s at least one positive aspect to this development – namely, fish that were not taken in the beginning of the season remain available to anglers at season’s end. It’s a matter of numbers, really. Although Moosehead Lake teems with coldwater game fish, leaving a certain number of as-yet-uncaught fish in the lake benefits late-season anglers. Like many other outdoorsmen, my plans on some early season action were blasted, and now my hopes lie in some season’s-end time on the ice. www.MaineSportsman.com

A line set just a foot or two beneath the ice with a lively baitfish – smelt if you have them, and shiners if you don’t – can reap big benefits now. Salmon, prowling just under the ice, will see your bait swimming and wriggling from far away, and they’ll make a beeline toward the baitfish, grabbing it without hesitation. Togue Time The derby aside, March rates as a top month for togue, especially trophy togue. Chances of taking a biggie now rank as the best of the entire year. New regulations for this year include no minimum length limit on togue. However, the 5-fish daily bag limit is still in effect. Only one togue may measure more than 18 inches. So for those like me who relish a dish of fresh togue fillets, it makes sense to keep up to four fish and reserve the fifth slot for a trophy. That way you’ll be guaranteed several meals of togue, all the while retaining the chance to land and keep a real lunker. Here’s another thing to consider – smelt supplies often run low toward season’s end. But this year may not follow suit, due to a lack of angling pressure early in the season. That prediction isn’t chiseled in stone, though, so it makes sense to purchase some smelt while they are in good supply, and freeze some for use toward season’s end. Togue will hap-

Tom out on a cold, but successful, day at Moosehead Lake.

pily scoop up a dead smelt sitting on bottom. It pays to score your smelt with a knife, making lots of little slices along the length of the fish. That will allow the smelt scent to leach out in the water, attracting togue. Also, commercially available scents have a proven record, and coating your dead smelt with any of these can increase your chances of a hookup. Salmon, Too While trophy togue serve as the focus for anglers in March, salmon remain active throughout the ice-fishing season. Late March, even the last week of the month, can see fat salmon prowling just beneath the ice, looking for pods of smelt.

Remember, too, that the springtime smelt run looms just over the horizon, something fish are keenly aware of. I consider late-season ice fishing as a lead-up or prelude to springtime open-water fishing. A line set just a foot or two beneath the ice with a lively baitfish – smelt if you have them, and shiners if you don’t – can reap big benefits now. Salmon, prowling just under the ice, like so many finny wolves, will see your bait swimming and wriggling from far away, and any salmon that sees it will make a beeline toward it and grab it without hesitation. If you have set your sights on taking a late-season salmon, make it a point to head out in March, since current regulations declare that all salmon caught in April must be immediately released alive without removal from the water. Ice fishing is permitted in April, but togue and cusk are the only coldwater game fish that you may keep. Brook trout, too, remain active now and

anglers may encounter brookies anywhere around the lake. Make sure to stay close to shore if brook trout are your target. Two feet of water is not too shallow for brook trout chasing baitfish under the ice. I realize this sounds more like fishing on land than over water, but more brook trout come to hand in shallow water than from mid-depth range. Jigging Works Getting back to trophy togue, remember that some of the season’s largest fish fall to a gently worked jig. A medium-weight ice-fishing rod, paired with a reel filled with at least 6-pound test line, will do the trick. Swedish Pimple jigs, in different sizes and different color patterns, work as well as anything. If you have access to suckers, try cutting thin strips from the white belly and attaching one to the Pimple hook. Barring that, the tail of any baitfish works fine, too. If you are new to jigging, try not to overwork your jig. Let it down to bottom, reel in a few turns and hold it steady. Occasionally work the jig up and down in order to attract fish, but keep such action to a minimum. Give March ice fishing a shot. Good luck.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 57

Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 55)

coast, which are at least eight or nine years old, run just five to 12 or so inches in length. The legal minimum size is nine inches, but currently there’s no bag limit. Redfish are easy to catch once you find them. They’re quite voracious, and the larger ones will even strike an eight-ounce diamond jig, but fresh bait works best. A high-low rig with a pair of 5/0 hooks and an eight- to 12-ounce sinker attached at the bottom works

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fine. For bait I use small mackerel “steaks” with good success, but clams, shrimp, and squid strips are also effective. Given the redfish’s small average size, a bottom-fishing rod with a fairly sensitive tip is a plus. Once you swing them into the boat (double-headers are common), take care not to get stabbed in the hand or fingers by their needle-sharp fin rays. These spines have some sort of a nasty coating that makes for a very painful, if temporary, puncture injury. I have personal knowledge of this!

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58 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Appreciating Those Who Came Before Us Sometimes, while following a path along a river or stream, I wonder, “How long has this path been here? Who else walked this way long ago?” For some trails, the answer is obvious. The guys from the fishing camp hacked a shorter route down to their favorite pool. But other paths … well, the river has been there a long time, and it isn’t hard to imagine someone walking that same route perhaps 200, 400 or maybe 4,000 years ago. Or more. They didn’t wear lugged hunting boots or studded waders. But they may have portaged the falls by skirting those same rocks. Or crossed that saddle between two peaks following the same contour. It’s important and fulfilling to appreciate those who fished, hunted, lived and travelled in these hills and valleys before us, to try to see our sporting environment as they might have. Before the Colonists The earliest European settlers – loggers, farmers and others exploiting the vast resources of our region – left many of the most obvious remnants of human habitation. Those artifacts are fascinating–stone walls and cellar holes, remnants of dams, abandoned roads and railroad beds. But not every mossy pile of stones in the forest was placed there by early farmers. www.MaineSportsman.com

Across New England, Indigenous people constructed stone structures for a variety of practical, cultural or ceremonial reasons. It is not always easy to tell which culture created a structure, but some stone chambers, rings, niches and cairns that we encounter likely predate European contact. Wabanaki Ancestors Long before Europeans arrived along the Maine coast in the 1500s, the islands, river valleys, and hills were home to the Wabanaki people, today known as the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Micmac and Abenaki communities. Over 8,000 Maine citizens of Native American descent carry forward the knowledge and culture that extends back many generations. When we walk the backwoods and paddle the rivers and lakes of Maine, we are enjoying the prehistoric and historic hunting, fishing, gathering, and trading range where these dynamic and intertwined Indigenous communities and cultures have lived since the last ice age. Much of the physical evidence of the earliest occupants of Maine and New Hampshire is now invisible to us. It only takes a few years for the forest to reclaim a path through the vegetation. Some of the most well-travelled routes

are now roads and highways. Some of their seasonal villages are now shopping centers or downtowns. Different Flora and Fauna The flora and fauna were quite different then compared to what we experience today – enormous chestnut trees; fantastic runs of salmon, shad and alewives; wolves and wolverines; woodland caribou and passenger pigeons; mountain lions and sea mink. Back then, there were no brown trout, no starlings or house sparrows, no smallmouth bass or northern pike. No buckthorn, honeysuckle, or devil’s paintbrush flowers in July. But signs of ancient human activities endure in many places in the New England outdoors. Signs of the Times After the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated over 12,000 years ago, caribou migrated seasonally up and down what is now the Magalloway River near Aziscohos Lake. In the early 1980s, archaeologists found evidence that hunters ambushed the caribou herd at a narrow passage near the river. They stored the meat in a stone cache built on the permafrost. A second encampment with stone structures over 10,000 years old was located nearby. On the coast, Indigenous communities ate clams, mussels and oysters that were abundant in the tidal

The Magalloway River valley was once a major caribou migration route where, 12,000 years ago, early hunters ambushed the herd.

rivers and inlets. They left behind huge piles of shells, called middens, next to their encampments. Near the Damariscotta River, the Whaleback Midden, for example, was 15 to 30 feet deep and 400 feet wide. Most of the Whaleback Midden was mined in the 1800s for industrial and agricultural uses. Some of the oyster shells removed were a foot in diameter! Mount Jasper, near Berlin, New Hampshire, was a favored source for rhyolite, a type of stone used for tools and weapons. The site is unusual in that the paleo-miners dug tunnels to access the veins of rhyolite there. Tools and weapon points from Mount Jasper have been found in archaeological sites across the northeast. Petroglyphs Maine’s rocky coast contains hundreds of petroglyphs that were chipped into the rocks as much as 3,000 years ago. It’s not surprising that these images, many in and around Machias Bay, feature

both human figures and animals, including deer and birds. Unfortunately, some of the petroglyphs and nearby shell middens are being lost as sea levels rise. The Passamaquoddy Tribe has been working to catalog and protect the sites where possible. Abbe Museum The Abbe Museum at Bar Harbor, which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute, has many interesting collections and exhibits that they interpret with the cooperation of the Wabanaki Nations. To learn more about Wabanaki people and their history, you can download an excellent two-volume report called Asticou’s Island Domain: Wabanaki Peoples at Mount Desert Island 1500-2000, by Harald E. L. Prins and Bunny McBride (2007). The report is on the Acadia National Park website at https://www.nps.gov/ acad/learn/historyculture/wabanaki.htm

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 59

An Eventful Winter Patrol – Part 2 The author could barely understand what the ice fisherman was saying. Was the man hypothermic, and struggling to speak? It was ice fishing season in northern Maine, and I was standing on the frozen surface of Allagash Lake with field glasses in hand. On patrol, I perused the 4,000-acre lake for anyone who may be in trouble or violating rules. Near the northwest shore, I noticed two fishermen excitedly jumping up and down. From their antics I could not determine the cause of the behavior, so I headed that way. Part of any watch, especially in subarctic conditions, is to remain vigilant for the well-being of all sportsmen. In these locations, officers may be the only one who people see all day, so a life may depend on a ranger’s diligence in monitoring for signs of stress or illness. If people seem anxious, perhaps they have broken a law. If, on the other hand, they display a gray skin pallor, dizziness, or slurred speech, maybe the cause is a heart attack, stroke, or diabetic low sugar. Shutting off my snowmobile, I felt the northwest breeze as it delivered a bitter cold windchill. Walking closer, I saw that both anglers were holding fresh-caught trout.

In minus-degree temperatures like this, game fish immediately become stiff. The bearded angler waved a hand of greeting. Nearing, I noticed indications of hypothermia. Shivering extensively, both are red-faced, and display patches of frostbite on their cheeks. Facial hair on the bearded man was plastered with snow and icicles. I offered congratulations to the first man for catching the large fish, and he only nodded. Curious, I inquired, “I see you have two nice brookies – have you had any other luck?” Again, both responded only by shaking their heads. I sense something is wrong, so I asked another question: “Cold, ain’t it?” The fisherman with the frozen beard mumbled, “Mi umms ar fozz!” Alarmed, I asked louder, “It’s really cold, isn’t it?” Once again, the man replied “Mi urmms ar fozz.” Worried they may be suffering from the cold, or worse, I probed, “I can’t understand a word you are saying. Are you feeling OK?” With that, the fisherman who spoke spat

a giant brown gob of bait into a mittened hand, and then announced with clarity, “It’s so cold up here my worms were froze.” Well, I guess when fishing in a wilderness area, a person just gotta do what they gotta do to take home a fresh catch. Ski-Doo Stuck in Slush Once assured the two were OK, I turned south to check on the Allagash Lake ranger’s camp. Entering the southwest cove, I drove my sled into a pocket of soggy mush. Slush occurs on Maine lakes when heavy snow weights the ice down, allowing water to seep through fissures up into the icy cover. The track of my sled was entrapped by this watery mess. Unable to gain traction, the rubber track spun uselessly, spraying water across the ice. Dismounting, I stepped into 8-inchdeep slop. There was so much weight packed into the tunnel of the sled, that I could not lift the back end to clear away the snowpack. With no one else around, my only option was to find a way to hoist the snowmobile out of the mire. My snowshoes, broken from that

The chilled but T. Caverly photo

determined

morning’s experience, were useless, consequently I trudged to shore with my pole ax. Reaching land, I cut down two 4-inch diameter fir trees. From the first softwood, I axed out a 6-foot section and a 2-foot section. From the second tree, I chopped out 5 24-inch-long sections. Carrying the segments back to the sled, I used the longest pole and a short section as a lever and fulcrum to lift and free the weight from the track. While holding the lever, I placed a small log under the rear of the sled. Now that the snowmobile was free from the watery trench, I placed two more pieces under the middle and front, and lowered the sled onto the stable base. Once the track was free, I placed the remaining two pieces under the center of each

ice

fishermen.

ski. My transportation now rested above the white slurry. To ensure that I wouldn’t get stuck again, I broke a trail from the front of the sled to the nearest shore. Once that was done, the sled started easily, and by throttling carefully, I gained enough momentum to move across the lake onto land. My shift was nearly over. Twilight approached as I inspected the ranger’s camp and learned that while there were signs of human visitation, the cabin is secure. Being only twenty-five miles from my camp, I was looking forward to an uneventful trip home, a warm meal and hot tea. Tim Caverly has authored ten books about Maine’s northern forest.

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60 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

A Carefree Day Off It was mid-winter 1977, and I had a day off to just do whatever I wanted. I decided to take my snowmobile, a twin cylinder Ski-doo Elan, and do some exploring. There would be nobody looking for me today, and I could relax and look the countryside over. About 8:00 a.m. I departed from my residence in downtown Corinna and headed to North Newport and Stetson. I was feeling great, the weather was just right, and no telephone calls or stress would interrupt the peaceful and serene day I had ahead of me. Little did I know how soon that would all change. Overturned Snowmobile In North Newport I stopped at the height of a large potato field, owned by Carl Smith, where I could gaze off to the south with a picturesque view of Lake Sebasticook. Then I continued along the trail. After crossing into the Town of Stetson, I met a lone Arctic Cat snowmobile with a male operator. We both slowed a little as we passed, but did not stop. I traveled about another half a mile on the ITS trail, and about a quarter of a mile from Route 222, I came upon an overturned Arctic Cat and a woman lying on her back in the trail. I could see that her www.MaineSportsman.com

All the author wanted was a day to relax on his snowmobile. That was before the body in the middle of the trail, the distraught relative, and the charity “ride-in” with its parade of sleds going by. machine had failed to negotiate a right-hand curve and rolled over, bouncing off some trees on the left side of the trail. I found the woman to be unconscious and I could find no pulse. There I was, alone, with no way to contact anybody, as it was long before cell phones and it would be another year before the Warden Service was even issued portable radios. I knew that Bob Merrill lived on Route 222, just at the edge of the trail, so I decided to hurry down to see if I could use his telephone. His wife was at home, so I used their phone to call the dispatcher at the barracks and get an ambulance started. I explained to Mrs. Merrill where I would be on the trail, and headed back to the scene. As I hurried back, it occurred to me that this was all occurring on my day off, but that no longer mattered.

tree. She was wearing a helmet, but the impact had been to her forehead under the visor edge of the helmet. Just then, the rider I’d encountered on the trail came racing back from the direction where I had met him. For some reason, I wasn’t making any connection between the two riders, but as he jumped off his sled and asked me, “How is she?” I replied that I believed she was dead. The poor man went into emotional frenzy. I asked, “Who is she?” He replied, “She’s my wife.” Alone together in the trail, I did my best to comfort him. I was relieved when a local man, who was acquainted with the victim and her husband, showed up on his snowmobile. That was a big help and as I waited for the EMS personnel, I was able to send the victim’s husband off with this man to his nearby residence.

Deceased Accident Victim Arriving back at the crash site, I turned off my snowmobile and removed my helmet in order to better examine the victim. I could find no signs of life, and I could see she’d struck her forehead on the trunk of a stout fir

How Much Worse Can It Get? But I now had more problems, as it turned out this was the day of the Pine Tree Camp for Crippled Children’s “Ride in” at the Sebasticook Valley Snowmobile Club in Newport, and a whole line of snowmobiles

started coming down the trail. The victim was in the middle of the trail, I had nothing to cover her with, and she could not be moved until I had permission from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Shortly, the EMT arrived on a snowmobile he had borrowed from Mrs. Merrill. He had a blanket to cover her, and I was able to leave and go back to the Merrill residence to utilize the phone again. I spoke on the phone with the dispatcher, hoping that some extra warden might have been located to come give me a hand, but none could be located. I called the Medical Examiner’s office, and after describing the situation I was given permission to have the victim transported to a funeral home, where a medical examiner could meet me. I called the dispatcher back and asked them to arrange for hearse to come to my location. I then went back to the crash site and relieved the EMT, who was not dressed to be out in the cold. I asked if he would wait at the paved road for the funeral home vehicle to arrive, which he agreed to do.

How Move Body Down the Trail? As I waited with the victim, I realized that I had no means of transporting the body. But as luck would have it, a local man came along on a snowmobile. He volunteered to go get his dogsled and come back. Subsequently, that all worked out and I was able to go locate the victim’s husband and discuss the sequence of events. Next, I rode my snowmobile back home to Corinna, changed into my uniform and drove to the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home in Newport to wait for the medical examiner. “It’s Good That You Took a Day Off” When that task was completed, I drove back to Stetson, parked my vehicle and walked up the snowmobile trail so I could make a sketch of the crash site, take some measurements and jot down some notes. By the time I got back home, my wife was home from work. As I came into the house she asked “Why do you have your uniform on? I thought you were out relaxing on your snowmobile today?” I replied, “Yes, I was.” “Well,” she said, “it’s good that you were able to take a day away from your job.”

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 61

Battling Climate Change Will Benefit Sportsmen There’s a section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) near Rainbow Lake, not far south of the Golden Road (DeLorme’s Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 50, E-3) that captures Maine’s forest past – and perhaps its future. The AT skirts the southern shoreline of the lake and then winds northeasterly for about 6 miles to Abol Bridge and the famous haul road. Rainbow is a magnificent, remote lake. The fishing is incredible, and the view of Katahdin is amazing. But from the trail, the lake is mostly just an azure-blue backdrop that hikers glimpse through the trees. It’s those trees that attract the hiker’s attention. The AT passes through 281 miles of Maine woods on its way to Katahdin, but those forests are nothing like this. This is part of the Debsconeag Wilderness Lakes Area (D.W.L.A.), established in 2002 by The Nature Conservancy, when it acquired 46,000 acres of forest surrounding Rainbow Lake and First, Second and Third Debsconeag Lakes. This remote area – sandwiched between Baxter State Park to the north, and the Nahmakanta Public Land Unit to the south – is managed as an ecological reserve. But the groves of massive spruce, hemlock and pine trees along the AT date back

Mt. Katahdin as viewed from Rainbow Lake. Photo by Jim Andrews

to long before the 2002 acquisition by the conservation giant T.N.C. By some quirk of fate, or luck, or foresight, the forest in this huge area remains largely intact and undisturbed by axes, saws, skidders or more modern machinery. Nearly half of the acreage shows no sign of past logging. Some of the actual old growth forest remains standing. And the most remote corners contain some trees that are over 300 years old. Hiking Through the Past Hiking through old, undisturbed forest like this can make us lose track of time. The first time I saw it, I remembered a trip I took as a young man to California’s redwoods. It was the only frame of reference I had for this kind of cathedral-like atmosphere. It makes a hiker think about how incredible the wild parts of the state must have been before we started to cut it all down. A hike here can remind us of what Henry David Thoreau was already mourning 175 years ago. At the same time, the immense value of all that huge, stand-

ing timber made this sixth-generation son of a Maine logger lick his lips. For better or worse, we have placed a cash bounty on the head of this type of beauty, since our arrival on these shores. But the monetary value of this kind of treasure is now being calculated in a different way. The existential threat of climate change has brought us to the point where these standing trees are more valuable than the board feet of lumber their logs would provide. Carbon Sequestration in Maine Maine is the most forested state in the nation, with about 20 million forested acres of land. All those trees absorb carbon dioxide – the most-prevalent of dangerous greenhouse gases – from the air, and emit oxygen. By some estimates, Maine trees have absorbed and locked away nearly 1.5 billion tons of carbon. Climate change has created a situation where keeping that carbon locked up – or even better, increasing carbon lock-up over time – has a monetary value. Corporations

and industries that emit carbon into the air are seeking offsets to counter-act their environmental sins. They are willing to pay for those carbon offsets to their greenhouse gas production. National advocates for combating climate change envision that at some future point, the government will impose, or the polluters will agree to place, a cap on carbon emissions in order to save the planet. Those industries that necessarily emit carbon dioxide would be required to purchase carbon offsets to reach a carbon-neutral position. All of this is a complicated way of saying that to combat global warming, corporate America will pay Maine landowners not to harvest their trees for hundreds of years. Old, undisturbed forests with massive trees, like those in the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, are ideal at locking up carbon. Managing the woods to maintain and increase the amount of carbon being locked up will become the new normal. If Maine increased its forest carbon storage by only

one percent, it would be enough to offset the state’s entire fossil fuel carbon emissions for three years. Large Maine landowners are already becoming involved in the carbon sequestration markets. There’s also an effort in place to begin organizing smaller landowners into bargaining units that share management costs and income from carbon markets. From the Sportsman’s Perspective Hikers on the AT in the D.L.W.A. or Baxter State Park will hardly notice. But other land across the state will start to look more like these old, undisturbed forest preserves. We can look forward to fewer clearcuts, a longer harvest cycle, more mature trees left in place, and careful selective cutting to encourage maximum tree size. Hunters will experience a vast expansion of forest types suitable for deer wintering areas. Fishermen can expect cooler tributary waters shaded by mature trees, with less erosion from intense logging. And outdoors people of all types will benefit from a commercial forest whose owners prosper more from cultivation than extraction. In other words, the woods will start to look like a forest again.

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62 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Hare-Chasing Hounds Bay Their Sonorous Songs The two dogs in the back whined as my Jeep rolled to a stop. A flagpole-tall stand of birch trees had caught my attention. The hounds pressed their noses against the crate

as my door swung open. Before releasing the anxious canines, I took a quick survey of the woodlot, looking and listening. My eyes told me a

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partridge could make it through the winter on the abundant supply of birch buds. However, my ears told me the rest of the story. Gangs of rabbit hounds were singing along in the large tract of paper company land. I knew they could easily head my way, as hares cover lots of ground when pushed. With no telltale vehicles parked nearby, the sound of the chase betrayed what could otherwise be mistaken for a cold, still forest.

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Ken Allen, former editor of this magazine, taught me to take a few minutes and observe a fishing hole before splashing in and putting every fish in the pool into lock jaw. That was excellent advice for fishing, and I have applied that to hunting as well. Out of respect for the guys conducting a rabbit hunt, and over the objections of two very eager bird dogs, I decided to pass on hunting this parcel – at least for the day. No sense getting in the way. However, that got

me to thinking – always a dangerous situation for me. While I couldn’t participate in the rabbit hunt, why not enjoy listening to the hounds sing away as a slippery ole snowshoe hare leads them on a merry chase? For over an hour, I leaned on my Jeep, arms folded, and my good ear twisted towards the action. The dogs ran in a large circle which seemed to move with every completed lap. I speculated that this was an older hare taking the dogs on a wild goose (Continued on next page)

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

chase. I’ve had rabbit-hunting junkies tell me that “senior” hares run larger circles, while young bunnies run smaller, tighter circles. It’s amazing just how much real estate it takes to keep this show rolling. As the days of March grow longer, snowshoe hare hunters can take advantage of bright sunshine slipping through the branches. That extra sunshine contributes to this month’s meltdown, compacting snow and opening up access to prime bunny country. Advantage – Guide It’s difficult for the average outdoorsman to keep a kennel full of sharp-nosed rabbit hounds on staff. My wife has drawn the line at two bird

dogs. My favorite rabbit hunting guide, Art Corson from Moscow, keeps an average of 17-plus hounds fed and trained – some years even more. Corson spends countless hours running his dogs in the field year-round. It’s important that he has them in top condition so they can spend a long March day chasing hares. He usually runs four dogs at a time and needs to evaluate which dogs work best together. And, he also has a leg up on knowing which real estate holds healthy hare populations. All this training time also reveals how the rabbits run when chased. This lets Corson position his clients for maximum opportunity – just one of the many reasons all my rabbit hunts start with

a call to my friend and guide Art. Snowmobile Madness Most years, the early part of March provides some incredible snowmobiling. Warming days and cold nights, along with a solid base from months of grooming, keep trail runners slapping the throttle. Some rabbit guides, their snow machines set up with dog boxes, head deep into the Jackman Region, utilizing the Interstate Trail System (ITS). Nothing wrong with penetrating under-utilized hunting grounds. With trail runners down south mothballing their machines for the winter, folks along the Canadian Border score an extra few weeks of primo (Jackman Region continued on page 66)

Swampa the rabbit hound goes airborne trying to chase down an elusive snowshoe hare. The snowshoe hare season extends until March 31. Many bunny busters rate March as prime time for rabbit hunting. Bill Sheldon photo

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64 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Brand New, But Rooted In the Past The action of the Courteney rifle is simple – a single-shot with a falling block action activated by a lever that also forms the trigger guard. However, the production of this particular model projects outstanding “curb appeal” – color case hardening, upgraded wood, a fancy Prince-of-Wales grip, checkering, and a contrasting fore-end cap of African heartwood.

Trim lines and new features blend smoothly into the old Model 1885 design.

Last month we covered some of the firearm and cartridge changes sweeping the shooting world. We talked about how popular new designs challenge familiar and comfortable traditions. Sometimes, however, tradition strikes back. Just released in 2020, the Courteney Stalking Rifle by Uberti is a proven 19th-century design reborn for the 21st century. A maker of replica firearms, A. Uberti of Serezzo, Italy has been a force supplying the Cowboy Action Shooting movement. With the Stalking Rifle, Uberti has produced a modern hunting rifle with deep roots in the

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past. Originally a John Browning design manufactured by Winchester as the Model 1885, it’s called by some the “high wall” model. Uberti has flavored it with the taste of the British Empire. The rifle’s name, Courteney, rings in American ears like that of a pretty girl – a wrong assumption for sure. Uberti named its creation after Frederick Courteney Selous (1851-1917), the British Empire’s equivalent of Buffalo Bill Cody. A writer, naturalist, professional hunter, explorer, soldier, and friend of Theodore Roosevelt, Selous died in combat leading a patrol

of East African irregulars against German colonial troops during World War I, when he was 65 years old. Despite its American origins, the new Courteney Stalking Rifle continues a legacy of rugged outdoor challenge, often in service to king and country. A single-shot with a falling block action activated by a lever that also forms the trigger guard, the Model 1885 appears similar to the wellknown Ruger #1, except for its exposed hammer. Deluxe Edition Uberti used Winchester’s Deluxe Sporting Rifle version of the Model 1885 as the basis for the Stalking Rifle. Characteristics include color case hardening on the action, upgraded wood, a fancy Prince of Wales grip, checkering, and a contrasting fore-end cap of African heartwood. Typical of many British rifles, the front

Frederick Courteney Selous, the Stalking Rifle’s namesake, was a legendary British sportsman and professional hunter.

sling swivel mounts not to the fore-end but to a band around the barrel. Concessions to modern shooters include a red recoil pad and a slotted quarter rib that accommodates Weaver scope rings. The Stalking Rifle comes with iron sights, a hooded ramp in front, and a folding leaf at the rear. An optional smooth rib is available to those who wish to use different iron sights. A tang mounted sight could offer another option still in keeping with the heritage of the old Model 1885. The rifle weighs about seven pounds without a scope. It has a 24-inch round barrel of blue steel. The Stalking Rifle possesses what a real estate agent would call “curb appeal.” It catches the eye and does not let go. It brings to mind campfires and hot mornings in the long grass, or a windswept dawn among the heather. Completing their

homage to the halcyon days of the British Raj, Uberti’s engineers chose to chamber the Courteney Stalking Rifle in .303 British—an interesting choice. Almost as old as the Model 1885, the .303 entered British military service in 1888, and lasted there until well into the 1950s. Simultaneously, it gained sporting popularity wherever hunters roamed the Imperial landscape. Our Canadian cousins used – and continue extensive use of – the .303 for deer and black bear. With a 215-grain bullet, Canadians often use the .303 Brit for taking caribou and moose. Frequently compared to the old U.S. military .30-40 Krag of similar vintage, modern factory loads for the .303 perform more akin to the .308 Winchester than the .3040. This is good news for anyone consider(Shooter’s Bench continued on page 66)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 65

Off Road Travel Preparations for Summer Camping At some point, I’ll sell my 2010 Toyota Tacoma and get a fullsized Tundra. The Tacoma has around 140K miles and will easily go another 200K miles. So in the meantime, I’ll be traveling the back roads, hunting, fishing, and camping in this fine truck that just seems to keep rolling. When I get the larger Tundra, I’m going to seriously consider getting a slide-in camper. Until then, I’ve decided to sleep in the back of the Tacoma when I’m in remote places and don’t want

During late-winter months, the author dreams of warm-weather overnighting in his truck in the woods – sleeping on a memory-foam mattress, resting his head on his “My Pillow,” and in the morning packing everything safely in the truck bed under a protective, rigid, three-panel tonneau cover. to make the long drive home for the night. I’ve got a huge tarp/ tent from Slumberjack (slumberjack.com) called the “Roadhouse Tarp” that easily covers the whole truck, creating a water-free, screened sleeping area with room left for a good-sized cooking area. With a few quick maneuvers, I can drive

right out from under the tarp and head out on the road if I have to, leaving the whole rig set up until I return. If I know I’ll be leaving the campsite for more than a quick jaunt, I’ll take it down, roll it up, and throw it in the back of the truck. Now this “throw it in the back of the truck” concept has

been used far more than I noticed ... my little truck has reached maximum capacity, full of all sorts of gear for staying way out in the willy-whacks. Over the years I’ve gathered the essential gear I feel I need, and it all just doesn’t fit behind the front seats in the access cab of the truck. After deciding

against a cap to cover the truck bed, I’ve decided on a Tonneau cover. Tonneau Cover Tonneau covers can be made with a soft, leather-like material or hard materials like composite or metal. I am going to go with the hard stuff for security reasons. Anyone intent on stealing the gear from the truck could easily cut through the soft tonneau covers with a knife ... the hard covers would be more difficult to get past. I’m also looking at (Continued on next page)

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66 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Off-Road Traveler

(Continued from page 65)

a security system for the truck that blows the horn if someone rocks the vehicle (as in breaking into it) while I’m away from the truck. If I park the truck and take off on a long trek through the woods, I want to be alerted to a break-in so I can make a quick return. I’m sure they also make some kind of silent alarm that would send a signal to my cell phone so I could make a surprise arrival at the scene of the crime. The specific tonneau cover that I’m looking at has three panels that fold on top of each other so I can also use the truck for hauling larger items in the open bed if needed. From what I gather, installation should be fairly easy, but just in case, I have a back-up

Gorgeous lakes, sweeping valleys and mountainous forests await the Off Road Traveler.

mechanic to fix anything I ruin in my DIY attempt. A friend of mine has a tonneau cover on his full-sized pickup and I really like the way we have traveled with so much gear stored in the bed of the truck, leaving us plenty of room in the cab. When it comes time to access the gear in the covered bed of the vehicle, he simply rolls back the cover and pulls the dry gear out. Dreaming of Camping On these cold and snowy March nights, it comforts me to dream of camping in the warm weather of the upcoming

Jackman Region (Continued from page 63)

trail riding. In non-Covid years, this usually meant less traffic on the trails. The trail from West Forks (ITS 89) to north of the hamlet of Jackman slips through some prime hare country. Some of the shorter connector trails, like the one north of Parlin Lake that connects ITS 89 and ITS 87, provides tantalizingly attractive snowshoe country.

Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 64)

ing the Courteney Stalking Rifle or even a surplus British military rifle to sporterize. The .303, using a 123-grain Hornady bullet, steps along at over 3,000 feet per second. Hunting loads of 150-grains and 180-grains, while slower, generate muzzle energy in excess of 2,400 foot pounds. The 180-grain Sako soft-point bullet will squeak out 2,575 foot pounds of energy.

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months. I will definitely start with some early-spring fishing in the north country, on days and nights that might get a little chilly. Not to worry – I’ve got the gear for winter camping, so a little cold weather won’t stop me. I like the idea of having all my gear right with me in the back of the truck. I won’t have to keep carrying it in and out of the house each time I prepare for a trip ... it will be snugly stowed away for any spurof-the-moment travel that happens. If I am out in a remote area and some emergency takes place, I simply

The author comes from a long line of campers. Here is his father, Robert Clunie, on a successful fishing/camping trip on the shores of Lake Huron. William Clunie photos

grab my gear from the under the cover, and set up camp. I haven’t tried out my new memory-foam sleeping pad, yet. It covers the full bed of the truck, and folds up into a third of its size when not in use. Couple that luxury with a good sleeping bag and “My Pillow,” and it should be a pretty comfy night’s sleep.

I’ll be sure to fill a tote with cooking gear, freeze-dried meals, and plenty of snacks for camping or the unexpected survival experience. Either way, I’ll be completely ready with a truck full of enough gear to last me quite a while in the woods, come rain or shine or late-season snow.

Of course, not everyone riding the trails has bunny busting on their mind. It’s easy enough to just enjoy flying by balsams dripping with moisture and lit up by the promise of spring shining through the branches. The off-trail crowd takes advantage of snow that absorbs the above-freezing temperatures during the day and settles. This compacted snow allows for some off-trail riding opportunities, in areas where that’s allowed. Remember

that it’s important to have permission when navigating off the ITS or local trails. Local snowmobile guides can assist with legal and safe off-trail riding opportunities. Off in the distance, the distinctive crack of a 20-gauge told me someone had put themselves in the right place at the right time, and shortly after the singing hounds went quiet, having been put back in their crates.

the great Model 1885 offers a perfect match for traditionalists looking for a new hunting companion. As the Uberti catalog states, “It’s perfect for the whitetail woods.” Any Maine sportsman could hunt a lifetime with one. Priced at $1,689, the Stalking Rifle requires more than a sudden impulse to buy one for most. But, spread over a lifetime of hunting seasons, the cost seems not so unreasonable. The .303 round represents an intriguing choice on the part of the maker. Down the road some other veteran cartridges might make an equally in-

teresting next-generation of Stalking Rifle. The .275 Rigby, what Britons call the 7x57 Mauser cartridge, would make an excellent round for Courteney’s namesake. Another worthy concept would be the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum. Ruger gained much success with a single-shot .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. Uberti could as well. The addition of a tang mount or some other type of “peep” sight would also enhance the excellent revival that Uberti has started.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 67

They Don’t Call Them Three-Season Tents for Nothing! Apparently, none of the three seasons for which a threeseason tent is designed, involves heavy, wet snow. Earlier this winter I took the opportunity to set up two of my three-season tents for a test run. Before heading off on any overnight trip, I always check my gear out and make sure everything works as it should. It’s best, I have found, to avoid surprises on the trail. I have an L.L. Bean Microlight FS-2, and a Sierra Clip Flashlight CD. Both two-person tents have performed well over the years. The Bean tent is self-standing, while the Sierra tent needs stakes in the ground to hold its shape. When weight is not an issue, I carry one of the two-person tents to enjoy the extra space. For ultra-light travel, my one-man L.L. Bean FS-1 gets the call. I’m convinced tent designers embellish the capacity of tents. If the outing requires filling a two-person tent, make sure the second person doesn’t roll, pass gas or snore. Partners are for dancing, not tenting. The one four-season tent I owned disintegrated a quarter century ago. Since then, I’ve used three-season tents for winter camping without a problem … until now. Tenting Lesson After I set up both tents in the backyard, all seemed well. I fig-

ured I’d leave them up for a few days while I readied the rest of my gear. Didn’t give a thought to a forecast of snow. Oh, that’s why they sell four-season tents. Yup, a wet, heavy snow collapsed both tents. The Sierra Clip held up better. After scraping the snow off it bounced back to life. The Microlight FS-2 – not so much. The main tent poles bent badly. I called the fine folks in Freeport trying to purchase new poles, to no avail. Perhaps being a tightwad was catching up to me. Of course, had I been inside the tent (where I belonged) during the storm, I could have acted and averted the problem. Perhaps it’s just time to upgrade to a true winter tent?

Winter Opportunities March rates as an ideal month to set stakes and start a campfire. Longer days, more sunshine and moderating temperatures can take the hard edge off winter. A certain amount of snow “settle” can make packing down a tent site a bit easier. Baxter State Park (207-723-5140) and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (207-456-6001) both offer camping opportunities. Proper arrangements require a phone call to the above numbers. The beauty of winter camping involves pairing the challenge of winter camping with another compatible activity. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowshoe hare-hunting can all add an extra element

The author’s daughter Hannah, at a young age, with the author’s old L.L. Bean four-season tent. After a heavy snow collapsed his current three-season tent, he’s thinking of reverting back to something a little more stout. Bill Sheldon photo

to spending the night in a winter wonderland. Snowmobiles rule

the trails this time of year. Letting the internal combustion en(Continued on next page)

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Katahdin Country (Continued from page 67)

gine carry the camping gear shows some forward thinking. The internet has plenty of downloadable maps that print out nicely for those of us who still like looking at paper, as opposed to a screen. Spending time outdoors when the mercury hovers dangerously low requires proper

gear. For me that’s the challenge – beat the weather at its own game. BSP Tote Road Baxter State Park allows snow machine travel on the Tote Road only. This ungroomed winter road stretches 42 miles between Matagamon Gate and Togue Pond Gate. A

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strict 20-miles-perhour speed limit turns this destination into a journey. The slow-downand-smell-the-roses speed limit also takes into consideration that snowmobiles share the trail with self-propelled travelers. Whether slapping the throttle or putting one foot in front of the other, please exercise caution and courtesy. Last Chance Hares The snowshoe hare season lasts until the end of this month. Bunny-busters often eye the slowly-settling snow as an opportunity to push deeper into prime hare country. Ideally, a sharpnosed rabbit hound should lead the

Nobody passes this rock without stopping for a picture or at least taking a closer look. Snowmobilers especially like to add this scene to their social media page. The author speculates this may be the most photographed stone in the Pine Tree State. Bill Sheldon photo

charge. Lacking a good dog, tracking bunnies offers its own unique challenges. The process starts with locating some fresh tracks. Lepus americanus leaves most of

his tracks while the sun sleeps. Cruising slowly along snowmobile trails early in the morning offers astute trackers a good way to search for sign. Check the edges of freshly-groomed trails for tracks or droppings. Snowshoe hares breed this month. Finding fresh sign may indicate an area with multiple rabbits bouncing around with mating on their minds. Moving one careful step at a time along defined rabbit “runs” requires diligent scanning of the forest floor. Gramp’s Tip This past fall I spotted a rabbit tucked neatly under a blow down. True to form, the bunny held tight. When I pointed the hare out to my hunting buddy, he wondered how I ever spotted the well-concealed fur ball. It goes back to my childhood. My grandfather taught me not to look for the rabbit, but to look for the bunny’s eye. “Look for the shiny eye,” he would say. True to his words, when I spotted the eye, the rest of the rabbit would come into focus.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 69

The County Offers Late-Winter Fish and Hunt Options East Grand Lake offers ice anglers six different species of game fish. Rowe Lake is less accessible but worth the trip. And for snowshoe hare hunters, the author recommends carrying an over-and-under .22/20-gauge combo. To say 2020 was a bizarre year would be an understatement. Thank goodness the multitude of open fields, widespread woodlands and plenitude of waterways throughout Aroostook offered countless outdoor options and builtin social distancing for regional outdoorsmen and women. I can’t remember such a mild December; here today gone tomorrow snow with the ground completely bare Christmas morning! Even in mid-January, many lakes still did not have a safe thickness of ice for anglers, let alone snowmobiles and vehicles. A Grand Option If you took a straw poll of Aroostook hard-water anglers from Presque Isle north, I bet 90% travel north and west to visit a favorite lake. The Fish River chain alone is a huge draw, and dozens of North Maine Woods waters offer multiple species, bragging-size fish and light pressure for those who don’t mind a long, slow ride to secure some seclusion. I’ve got friends who drive right past a dozen perfectly good lakes to visit their “favorite”; I’ve done it myself. A couple of times

a winter I make an exception and let my wanderlust draw me southward, occasionally to Pleasant, Nickerson, or Drew’s Lakes, all rewarding options. But more often my final destination is the vast expanse of East Grand, Aroostook’s largest lake at over 16,000 acres – twice the size, for example, of popular Square Lake. Just to be precise however, this huge waterway is situated about a third in Canada, and the southern end actually extends into Washington County. There are so many winter access points all along the USA

shoreline, and the ice field is so extensive that with the use of a snowmobile, an angler can always find a secluded spot to drill holes. One of my favored locations is near Orient, reaching the lake via Peter’s Cove Road. The cove of the same name and the area around Caribou Point as well as Halfmoon Island are always productive. A bit farther south, look for Cedar Cove Road right to the shoreline and haul your gear to set up by Burnt Island or out from Work Point and Work Cove. Farther down the lake toward Weston

While most winter anglers hope for brook trout, salmon or togue to flip their flag, a mammoth size cusk like the one held by Tom Tardif of Robinson makes for a lively battle and some great chowder. Photos by Bill Graves

and Danforth are several more proven hot spots. Visit Dark Cove and Davenport Point, and when it’s not occu-

The Most Remote Hunting in the North Maine Woods Wilderness

pied, Greenland Point always yields some action. (Continued on next page)

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When a fisherman is jigging for smelt with a handline, it’s always a pleasant surprise when a beauty like this brookie grabs the bait.

For many winter fishermen, it’s not about the size of the fish but more about the steady action of flags flying. These trout, salmon, pickerel and two species of perch all came from one lake during an afternoon outing.

The Country (Continued from page 69)

Boasting six species of gamefish, East Grand always provides some variety to keep flags flying, a perfect location for youngsters and rookies to be introduced to hard-water fishing. Two- and three-pound brook trout and salmon are fairly common, while togue can weigh twice that. Perch, pickerel and smelt are sure to fill in any slow time when the “Big Three” aren’t biting. Route 1 south or north offers the best access to this behemoth frozen gem that can be scrutinized on Delorme’s Maps 45 and 53 covering over half-a-dozen quadrants. There’s food, snacks, bait, gas, and fishing gear at many

local stores in at least four villages along the lake. Keep in mind that East Grand is an international boundary waterway. Check limits, regulations and special rules, and above all, don’t venture ashore on the New Brunswick side. Remote Rowe For ice fishermen who don’t mind a bit more travel and who are seeking a lake accessible only via snowmobile, Rowe Lake up in the North Maine Woods (NMW) might be the ticket. Use whatever road necessary to join Route 11, then travel to Six-Mile checkpoint near Ashland and bear left onto the Pinkham Road as

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if you were heading to Big Machias Lake. Just after crossing the Machias River, bear right onto the Jack Mountain Road, and follow it towards Weeks Pond. Delorme’s Atlas, Map 63, grid E-2 pinpoints the lake. Normally the wood hauling roads are kept plowed all winter, but a call to NMW office, Ashland fisheries office or the local game warden will verify conditions. Road conditions tend to be rough and slow, especially if you’re hauling a snowmobile trailer because a sled is necessary to reach the lake. Heavily-loaded log trucks are plentiful and always have the right of way. Despite the hurdles, the 370-acre Rowe Lake is worth the effort. The lake is secluded and moderately fished, and it’s possible to have the entire surface to yourself on a weekday. With a max depth of 40 feet, most of the water is less than 20 feet deep

There are more than a few lakes and ponds in the North Maine Woods (NMW) that require as snowmobile or set of snowshoes to visit. Other anglers are scarce, and fish are plentiful.

and simple to fish. Brook trout, smelt and an occasional salmon have been the main draw, but stockings of splake the last few years have upped the action. Brookies and splake average 12 to 15 inches, but 18-20 inchers broaching two pounds are certainly a possibility. There are two inlets and one outlet which are likely locations to set a few tipups. Since there are smelt and plenty of yellow perch at hand, it’s always fun to save one auger hole for jigging cut bait or a small lure like a Swedish Pimple on a handline or light jigging rod. A bit of hands-on fishing helps pass the time between flags, and really perks things up when a larger gamefish unexpectedly grabs the bait! As with most of Aroostook’s smaller, secluded ponds, you’ll see more fish than people. The March Hare Not only do many March days offer the most comfortable rab-

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bit hunting days of the season, but it’s also mating season, meaning hares will be on the move. Usually the snow cover has depleted significantly this month, so hunters may not even need snowshoes to access many likely covers. If you use beagles or bassets, conditions are easier on them as well. During the earlier season, I favor a shotgun since many shots are at fast flying targets, and also because partridge season is still underway. My late season choice is a Savage O/U .22 and 20-gauge combo that I’ve owned over 50 years. I get notably more stationary targets in March; my buddies and I don’t use dogs, and we execute stop-and-go tactics by taking a few steps, then stopping to search for an eye, a twitching ear or any oddly out-of-place shape. A single head shot is always better than picking pellets out of prime meat, and a quick thumb twitch changes to the scattergun barrel if necessary. Some very dependable covers to visit this month can be found near Limestone, just off Route 1A is the Old East Road. At least a dozen field roads wander among crop fields, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 71

When introducing a youngster to the chilly sport of ice fishing, there are three main factors -- keep them warm, fed and entertained. A big pickerel has this young lady ready for her next outing. (Continued from page 70)

small woodlots and hedgerows that harbor plenty of snowshoe hare. See the Atlas, Map 65, C-5 which will

More women than ever before are venturing out ice fishing. Allison Leonard of Sinclair went fishing at Long Lake, just a few minutes from her home, and caught the main course for supper.

guide hunters to the correct area. Bridgewater, a village more to the south, offers two or three of my favorite hare haunts. Check out the

Bootfoot Road or the Boundary Road; they both turn off Route 1 right in town and offer plenty of covers along both sides of each road. A two-track just

Thanks to the bare ground, this past December was a great time for hunters, as demonstrated by this trio’s successful hunt. Those same conditions were not so good for the rabbits that had already turned white.

North of Bridgewater will lead to Whitehead Lake’s shoreline and a very productive copse of woods. Atlas, Map 59, B-3 will overview all of these likely hare

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— Guest Column —

The Trapdoor Springfield by Randy Randall Grandfather owned a single barrel Champion 12-gauge shotgun, and cousin Simeon wanted it. Grandfather said it was a great little gun, and that’s probably why Sim thought he should have it. He pestered Grandfather for months about trading the shotgun. Gramps wasn’t too eager to let go of his little twelve gauge, but Sim must have been very persuasive, or he just wore Grandfather down, because in the end they swapped guns. Simeon took the Champion, and Grandfather took Simeon’s 1873 trapdoor Springfield. This was a surplus Army rifle chambered in 45:70. It was a long unwieldy firearm that weighed a ton and had iron sights. Grandfather always regretted making the trade. He told me many times what a nice little gun the Champion was, while the old Springfield leaned in the corner of the kitchen behind the stove and gathered dust. Fired it Just Once Grandfather said he fired the Springfield exactly once, and that was enough. He said, “That gun kills at both ends!” Shortly after he and Sim traded, my grandfather took the gun to Mont and Alta’s farm on the River Road in Hollis. Uncle Mont had the reputation of being the best www.MaineSportsman.com

Grandpa fired at the old apple tree. His ears rang and his head spun from the noise. Smoke filled the air. And his shoulder hurt like hell – for a week.

The Springfield Model 1873 in 45-70, a successor to the muzzleloader, featured a hinged breechblock. It was standard issue for US Army troops until 1892, but its single-shot capabilities and powerful recoil led to its eventual replacement by bolt-action rifles with multi-cartridge magazines. Photo: Army Historical Foundation

rifle shot in the family. He never failed to harvest a deer in the fall. Grandfather thought Mont might have some advice about the Springfield – maybe check out the sights to see they were lined in correctly. Mont’s farmhouse was up on a hill with fields and fences surrounding. Down across the road were his barn and some apple orchards on the side. Mont was always up for shooting someone else’s ammunition, and suggested they fire a few rounds to sight in. “Honor” of Firing First They took the gun out into the front yard and laid it on top of

the well house. From there they had a good view down across the hayfield to the apple trees beside the barn. Grandfather wanted Mont to shoot first, but Mont stood back. He said it was Grandfather’s gun, and therefore he should have the honor of firing the first round. The well curb was just high enough so Grandfather could lean over a little bit and rest the barrel on the flat roof and pull the butt into his shoulder. Mont pointed to a scraggly little apple tree beside the road and said, “Shoot that tree.” Grandfather cocked the hammer, took careful aim at the tree and pulled the trigger.

Aftermath He told me his ears wouldn’t stop ringing after the blast of the gun going off; but more than that, the vicious recoil knocked Grandfather backwards. His head was spinning, and his shoulder was badly bruised. He told me his arm hurt like hell for the next week. The gun had a metal butt plate. After the smoke had cleared, Grandfather laid the gun on the well house, and he and Mont walked down to look at the tree. Sure enough, the sights must have been dead on, because Grandfather had hit the tree trunk right where he had aimed. He said the bullet had gone into the wood

and passed through the tree, and where it came out on the backside had torn splinters two feet long off the trunk and left a fourinch hole! Wall-Hanger Mont declared the Springfield would be a better wall-hanger then a hunting rifle. He said that bullet would pulverize the deer, and there wouldn’t be any meat left to eat. Grandfather agreed. So that was the first, last and only time he ever shot the gun. Years later, Mom and Dad remodeled our home, and Dad laid up a nice fireplace using recycled bricks. The mantle was a hand-hewn beam Dad had found up country somewhere. To really make the fireplace look authentic, Dad borrowed the Springfield from Grandfather, and hung it on a couple of wooden pegs above the fireplace. Mont had gotten it right. The gun really was better as a wall-hanger, and it hung there in our living room for many years. No one ever thought about taking it down and actually shooting it, mostly because of Grandfather’s vivid memory of destroying the apple tree and telling everyone, “That gun kills at both ends!”

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 73

Shifting Gears for Winter Fly Fishing It has only been within the past five or six years that I have even considered fly fishing after the month of September. I just got accustomed to putting away my fly fishing gear and bringing out the hunting gear at the first sign that October was nearing. I’m a huge bird hunting fan and hold October as a special month of the year. I don’t make any appointments during this time ... no doctor’s visits, auto repairs or other obligations. It is kind of like the beginning of open-water fishing season – I don’t want anything interrupting my precious time in the woods or on the water. It might sound terribly rude, but I even attempt to get out of family obligations at these critical times of the year. I try to complete all the odd jobs around the house before the season, and then hope that no one decides to do something foolish like plan a marriage or have a birthday during this timeframe. And I’m serious when I tell family members that I don’t care about my own birthday party – I’d rather be hunting or fishing instead of eating ice cream and cake. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “My only birthday wish is to spend the

day in the woods hunting.” (My birthday is in November.) Changing Plans Well, this year I might be asking to spend my November birthday fishing. For several years now, I have been fly fishing on certain waters that remain open for extended, open-water fishing in October. I’ve had great success during that month, and have been noticing a few friends that have pushed that success beyond October. Some are even fishing well into the winter wherever it remains legal. I’ve got to check the regulations and find some places to give it a whirl myself. One loca-

tion that immediately comes to mind is right in my back yard – the Androscoggin River is open to fly fishing year round, from the border of New Hampshire to the tidewater at the ocean. I’ve got the gear for it, too. I bought some extremely-insulated waders for late-season steelhead fishing on the Salmon River in New York a while back, and will put them to use here in Maine. My brother fishes in Michigan throughout the winter months, He gave me quite a few pointers for staying warm and catching trout and salmon during the coldest temperatures. The biggest prob-

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lem, besides staying warm, will be finding out where the fish are located. The fishing will take place on rivers, streams and brooks that have open water – those that are legal to open-water fish according to the law. Each species will probably differ in their preference of locations within the selected

water, but the general message I’ve gathered for fishing on moving water in the winter is that most fish like to lay low throughout the winter near the bottom, in deep and slack water or at the tail-end of a shallow run where the water is deeper and not moving too fast. (Freshwater Fly Fishing continued on page 75)

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74 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

The Need to Re-Think Opening Day The author wants Opening Day moved permanently to an earlier date – in fact, he wants it set on March 1. And as for all the talk about the “tradition” of April 1, he feels that within a few years, March 1 would easily become a new “tradition.” Opening day of open-water fishing has, for years, fallen on April 1. But given that a warming climate has had such a profound effect upon when spring arrives, that date is no longer relevant. Consider that several times in the last few years, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) has conceded to warming conditions and moved opening day earlier by a week or more. That was good policy, and it reflects a realistic take on the situation. But when discussions are held about beginning earlier than April 1 on a regular basis, all I hear when talking with DIF&W folks is that the April 1 date is “tradition.” I ask readers, how many of you would gladly sacrifice tradition for a chance to get out on rivers and streams as early in spring as possible? Every angler I talk with about this agrees that opening day should be moved sooner. I suggest March 1 as the new opening day. In a few years, March 1 can easily become “tradition.” In fact, there is no biological reason not to open the season early. www.MaineSportsman.com

By early winter, trout have finished spawning in streams and tributaries. If opening day were January 1, that would allow time for fish to spawn. Besides, only a few hardy anglers would even consider going out in January. But if the January thaw saw good water conditions, I’m betting that more than a few people would dig out the open-water tackle and give it a try. By March 1, most anglers are itching to get out and go fishing and if the season opened on that date it wouldn’t hurt a solitary thing. Water Levels Often, March actually sees better conditions than April, at least on streams and rivers. Often, mid- to late-March days bring comfortable temperatures amid perfect water levels. By April, snowmelt can raise the water considerably, thereby putting off fishing in any but the tiniest trickles. I have stood at bridge crossings in March, looking down in the water and watched trout that I couldn’t fish for. And now, with spring arriving far earlier than in the past, the April 1 opening day date serves no practical purpose.

An extra month of open-water fishing in streams and rivers will not harm trout populations. More anglers fish stocked waters than places with all-wild fish anyway. The few who have the courage and determination to plow through tick-infested alder jungles to try for a few small brook trout ought not to need to wait for an arbitrary opening day of April 1. Some of the early brooks that I fish require considerable physical effort compared to the return on effort invested. Catching lots of big trout isn’t the reason for fishing such places, though. Instead, my time afield on tiny streams where wild brook trout swim gives me immense personal satisfaction. Some of these tiny streams are like old friends. I know every inch of them – the good, and the bad. The April 1 opening day date seems like a dinosaur – something that has outlived its purpose. In southern Maine, lakes and ponds now remain open yearround. Many rivers are also managed as year-round fisheries. Only small streams where no stocking takes place fall under

April 1 opening day on St. George River, a stocked river. Tom Seymour photo

the April 1 rule. I’ll end my discussion here with an appeal to anglers – If you would like to see opening day moved back to March 1, contact DIF&W and voice your opinions. And remember, there exists no biological reason for the April 1 date. New Gear With ice fishing coming to an end and open-water fishing on the horizon, now seems a great time to go out and buy that new fishing gear you have long wanted. I just bought the outfit of my dreams, and am all the better for it. I’m talking ultralight spinning gear, and fortunately, prices have fallen, and quality has steadily improved. So for what it costs to fill the gas tank in your truck, you can buy perfectly good and serviceable fishing gear. That is exactly what I have done, and these midto low-priced outfits have served me faithfully. But my dream was always to have

a high-end outfit, the kind that my practical Scottish nature always forbade me to buy. However, it occurred to me that I am not getting any younger, and if a high-quality outfit is in the works for me, now seems like the perfect time to make that dream come true. So I ordered a 2-piece St. Croix Ultralight spinning rod. This rod felt better in my hand than any rod I have ever tried. Unfortunately, my new rod was damaged in shipment and a new one is on the way. But it will arrive soon, I’m told. Ditto for the reels. My Daiwa QZ750 ultralight spinning reel has 6 ball bearings, a silky-smooth drag, and a cork grip on the handle, something designed for comfort and a positive feel. This will pair well with the St. Croix rod, making for, at least in my estimation, a dream team. I wish readers a memorable 2021 fishing season.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 75

Mitch Stanley pulled this nice landlocked salmon through the ice at East Grand Lake in early February, 2021. When Mitch is not ice fishing, he enjoys hunting and snowmobiling.

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 73)

I’m sure it will be similar to locating active fish during warmer months – find the water temperature that arouses feeding activity, and then feed them what they like. Chillin’ Thoughts I’ll be sporting some good metal cleats and wearing a pair of insulated wader liners, along with a good set of heavy winter socks in loose-fitting boots. I’ve heard folks mention that they coat their rod guides with petroleum jelly to keep the water from freezing them closed. I’ll try a different product ... I’ve heard that petroleum products like Chapstick or just straight petroleum jelly can ruin a good fly line. Loon Outdoors (loonoutdoors. com) makes an environmentally-safe product called “Stanley’s Ice-Off.” This paste goes on the guides and keeps them open for easier casting, avoiding the trouble associated with freezing water that might lock up the fishing line.

Loon recommends that anglers don’t pry off the ice if it forms on the guides to avoid bending or breaking the delicate parts of the fly rod. They tell anglers to simply dip the rod in the water, and the ice will melt because the water temperature is warmer than the air. I always have a thermos full of hot tea for cold weather adventures ... I’ll be sure to take some along this winter. I’ve been told to wait until the temps rise in the afternoon for better fishing, too. I’m good with that ... no sense in standing out in the freezing current in a pair of rubber pants for nothing. The pros in winter fly fishing also tell me to prepare for fewer fish, but also be prepared for big fish. I am guessing bigger fish need to fill up more than little fish? They also recommend nymph fishing or swinging streamers – I’ll try both, but prefer streamers. Swinging streamers might keep me moving, and more activity means a warmer time inside those rubber pants (extremely-insulated waders).

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76 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

— Guest Column —

Fort Kent Hospital – Best ER Visit Ever by Peter Bloomfield, Hollis, NH

The author dreaded the thought of seeking medical treatment in Northern Maine. He envisioned the usual chaotic scene – sitting for hours in an uncomfortable hard plastic chair in the ER waiting room, listening to crying babies while he waited for harried, overworked staffers to call his name. Would his fears prove justified? Crunch! “Guessed wrong again!” We waved the canoeists behind us off, directing them to try another path down the river, as our route had proven too shallow. We both got out of the canoe (yet again) to walk it over the gravel bar. We were on the next-to-last day on a week-long canoe trip down the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. It was early August, and the water level was low enough that the last stretch of river was like a maze, requiring us to search for a path down the river where we wouldn’t hit bottom. The first part of the trip had been great, making the usual stops at the locomotives, tramway and the Lombards. The rebuilt section of the tramway at the Chamberlain Lake end was fascinating – kudos to the volunteers who reconstructed it. We’d had great weather with no rain, which unfortunately doomed our trip on the last portion of the river to a combination paddle/hike, as we worked our way through the shallow sections. We had done the trip many times before, but this was much more of a “hike the Allagash” www.MaineSportsman.com

than any of the previous trips. Minor Injury My canoe had gotten stuck a half-adozen times before we stopped at Michaud Farm for lunch. As I munched an apple, I noticed that I had cut the back of my foot one of the times I’d stepped out of the canoe into the river to get over a low spot. As I cleaned the cut, I found a small leach attached to the open wound. I flicked it off and didn’t think any more about it, until that night at the campsite when I took off my sandals to put on dry socks and shoes. The Achilles tendon was red and slightly swollen, so I put some goop on it and went about the business of making camp. The next morning, my foot was noticeably swollen, but we were coming off the river that day and I wasn’t concerned – I figured I’d deal with it at home in New Hampshire. After a couple of hours of paddling (and walking/dragging), we arrived at Allagash Village, where we our truck was parked after being shuttled from the put-in at Chamberlain Lake.

Seek Immediate Medical Advice The foot was even more red and swollen, but I was all set to go home (eight-hour drive) and have a doctor check it out there. I didn’t want to try the emergency room at the local hospital, because I didn’t want to make the other five people in the group wait for the five hours I was sure it was going to take. I had visions of the usual chaotic scene with a crowded emergency room filled with crying little kids and comatose future patients gathering dust while they waited for the overworked staff to get to them. However, I was outvoted, and I didn’t have the keys to the truck, so they dropped me off at the front door of the emergency room at the Fort Kent hospital. The rest of the crew went down the street to have lunch and a few beers at the Mooseshack while they waited. With a sigh, I walked in, resigned to deal with the usual emergency room hassles of filling out personal medical history forms, medical insurance (did I even have my card with me?), and sitting in an uncomfortable plastic

The author and his group had plenty of water early in the trip, such as here, just downstream of Churchill Dam, but the water levels dropped later in the week, resulting in his injury and his visit to the Ft. Kent hospital. Bloomfield photo

chair for hours. Hopes Brightened As I walked in, I noticed that there was only one other person in the waiting room, and my hopes rose a tiny bit. As I approached the desk, a male nurse looked up. “Can I help you?” he asked. “Yes,” I replied, “I have this ….” “Well here, come right in,” he responded, interrupting me and opening the door back to the examination rooms. I shrugged and followed him to one of the exam rooms. I sat on the end of the exam table, and he asked for my name and address. As I was answering him, a doctor came in. Tag-Team Interview “What have we got here?” the doctor asked. “Your age, please?” the nurse asked. “I have an infection on my foot” and explained the story to the doctor. As I removed my boot and sock, I was tag-teamed with questions from

the nurse and the doctor. Doctor: “Where on the river?” Nurse: “Medical insurance?” Doctor: “Where did you put in?” Nurse: “Any allergies?” Doctor: “When did this happen?” Nurse: “When was your last tetanus shot?” I felt like a ping pong ball going back and forth. More Help Arrives As the doctor cleaned the wound and bandaged it, he chatted about the last time he’d been on the river that summer. A second nurse came in and prepped a tetanus shot, while the first nurse was still standing beside the bed filling out my entry forms on the computer. The doctor went to the computer to make a few entries, while the second nurse swabbed my arm with an alcohol wipe and gave me the shot. Then a third nurse came in and (Fort Kent Hospital continued on page 78)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 77

Birds on the Brain OK, I know this is supposed to be the ice fishing/snowmobile issue. But spring arrives in another month or three, so it’s far more timely to consider the exciting outdoor sport of birding. As I understand it, birding involves looking at birds in ways that would get you arrested if you did it to people. Another reason I’m skipping the snowand-ice stuff – it takes a lot of gear, what with helmets and boots for snowmobiling, augers and traps for ice fishing, and snot-blotters for both. Birding is simpler. Before heading into the wild to violate avian privacy, you should pack binoculars, cameras, bird-identification books, face masks, compass, GPS, first-aid kit, bug repellant, sunscreen, flare gun, ropes, canteens, mobile hotspot equipment and 50 pounds of bird seed. It’s also important to do some advance research on our feathered friends, lest you end up trying to photograph a duck decoy.

The author wonders why we aren’t allowed to eat the official state bird (the chickadee), since we are encouraged to eat the official state animal (moose) and the official state crustacean (the lobster), seagulls, buzzards and urban-dwelling pigeons. Also, I think there are laws against eating eagles, penguins and swans swimming in city parks. Hummingbirds are way too small to make a satisfying meal, and condors are too big to fit in the oven. Nobody should eat chickadees because they’re Maine’s official state bird. Which is sort of inconsistent, because we eat moose, the state animal; lobster, the state crustacean; blueberries, the state fruit and red hotdogs, the state health food. But chickadees are off limits, and I suppose there’s no

Long-wattled umbrella bird -- a rare sight in Maine. Photo by Paul Cozza

point in arguing about how delicious they are. Not that I would know. In addition, there’s a vast category of inedible avian creatures that serious birders refer to as “LBBs,” which stands for “little brown birds.” Some of them are common – sparrows, thrushes, mosquitoes – while others are endangered

species – slightly different sparrows and thrushes – but they all look so similar that even their mothers can’t tell them apart. Rather than risk dining on the last surviving pair of reticulated amorphous Bandersnatches, it’s best to plan the menu around more easily identifiable fowl. Such as the spatchcock. Spatchcock Farms? I’ve searched state hunting regulations and can’t find any mention of when it’s legal to hunt spatchcock. Maybe it’s always open season on the tasty creatures.

Or possibly spatchcocks aren’t found in the wild, and all those delectable carcasses displayed on cooking shows and in food articles are from domesticated birds lovingly raised on organic, free-range, spatchcock farms. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any breeders in my area. In general, birdhunting regulations seem to be wildly inconsistent. There are seasons for wild turkey, duck, grouse, quail, pheasant and woodcock. There’s even one for crow (thanks, I’ve already eaten my fill) and something called the common snipe (those fish and game people are great kidders). But there’s no hunting season for the most common(Continued on next page)

Two Types of Birds According to ornithologists (which is some kind of scientist, or perhaps members of a strange cult), there are two basic kinds of birds: 1. The ones we eat. 2. The ones we don’t. I’m not sure why anyone would be interested in the latter category, which includes www.MaineSportsman.com

78 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Outdoors & Other Mistakes (Continued from page 77)

ly devoured bird, the chicken. Seems like a serious oversight. Cormorant Pâté? Back to those winged creatures that are never going to

qualify for the plat du jour at ritzy Portland restaurants. Some of them have been passed over because it just wouldn’t feel right devouring robins, red-

wing blackbirds and red-necked grebes. Others have been rejected because they probably taste bad, such as cormorants, the Toronto Blue Jays and that “Freebird” song that drunken idiots in bars keep requesting from every cover band. Then there are the ones with marketing problems. Before any sane diner orders a heaping portion of (I swear these are real names) long-wattled umbrella bird or bearded tit, there’s going to have to be a serious rebranding effort. Likewise with the red-bellied oxpecker, the fluffy-backed tit-babbler or the tinkling cisticola. That last one

might sell if it wasn’t a bird, but a refreshing alternative to Coke or Pepsi. Forego the Smew Those ornithologists in charge of naming birds may well be a strange cult, after all. As evidence, I present the hoary puffleg, the rough-faced shag, the Andean cock-of-therock or the blue-footed booby. It wouldn’t surprise me if they got these terms from expletives hurled at elected officials. I’ll respect your sensibilities by not even mentioning the bushtit, the southern creamer or the dickcissel. I’ll also forego the smew. A couple of final warnings about the hazards of birding. If

you happen to be near a golf course, you may spot an occasional birdie. Keep in mind those duffers are almost certainly lying about their scores. And if you train your binoculars on a nudist colony, you’re likely to spot more birdish euphemisms than my editor is going to allow me to explain. And now – back to ice fishing and snowmobiling! Al Diamon writes the weekly column Politics & Other Mistakes for the Daily Bulldog and the Portland Phoenix. If you’d like his recipe for parakeet pie email aldiamon@herniahill.net.

Kyle Weymouth harvested this impressive bull moose October 14 in Zone 9. He is shown here with girlfriend Lindsey Sanborn. Kyle’s brother Kurtis Weymouth served as subpermittee.

Fort Kent Hospital (Continued from page 76)

told the doctor to stop entering information in the computer, because she was already doing it at her station, and he was messing her up. She explained that she had emailed a prescription for antibiotics to the CVS next door. Back in Time for Lunch I had just finished tying up my boot and started walking out the door of www.MaineSportsman.com

the examination room when the third nurse came in again. “Please hold out your arm,” she said, and started putting a plastic bracelet on my wrist with my name and patient number. “But I’m just leaving .…” “I know, but it is hospital policy.” I profusely thanked the whole crew and left. It was obviously a quiet day at the hospital, as it seemed like the whole day shift had pitched in to speed me on my way.

I walked down to the Mooseshack and got there just as the rest of my crew were ordering lunch. Definitely Going Back The next time I need the emergency room I am definitely going to the Fort Kent Hospital – it will be worth the drive. I may bleed to death on the way up, but I know they’ll treat me right – in the door, all fixed up, out the door and on my way.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 79

Smilin’

Sportsman

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

Youth Edition

Two sausages were sizzling in a frying pan. One turned to the other and said, “Geez, it’s hot in here!” “YIKES!” exclaimed the second one. “A talking sausage!” ••••••••••••••••••• Teacher: “Little Johnny, why did you walk out of the school play after the first act?” Little Johnny: “Well, the program said, ‘Second Act – Two Weeks Later,’ and I didn’t want to wait that long.” ••••••••••••••••••• A man came to work with both ears bandaged. “What happened?” asked his friend. “I was ironing my shirt yesterday, and my cellphone rang. I accidentally pressed the hot iron to my ear, thinking it was my cell phone.” “But how did your hurt your other ear?” “Well, duh – I had to call the doctor, right?”

Adults Only

Grampa was reminiscing. “Ah, yes,” he said, “I remember the good old days when my mother would give me a dollar, and I’d go to the store and come home with five pounds of bacon, two dozen eggs, a quart of milk, and three loaves of bread.” “Wow, Grampa,” said his wide-eyed grandson. “You sure can’t do that today!” “That’s right,” his grandfather replied. “These days they’ve got WAY too many of those darn security cameras!” ••••••••••••••••••• It was a Sunday night in August when the warden came upon two hunters and a dead deer. The rifle held by one of the hunters was still smoking. “What are you doing?” demanded the warden. “See,” said one hunter to the other, “I told you the warden wasn’t very bright!” ••••••••••••••••••• A man was walking into a bar when he stepped in some dog poop. Moments later, a Hell’s Angel biker was walking into the bar, and the same thing happened. “I just did that,” said the first man. So the biker punched him in the nose.

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80 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

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Chris Sargent of Surry bagged a nice grouse during his lunch hour from work one day last fall. Chris’ friend Emily Goode of Bucksport told us about the photo: “The dog’s name is Gunner. He’s 13 years old and nearly blind, but in his heyday he was quite a bird dog. When Chris shot this partridge, Gunner retrieved it so quickly and expertly you’d never know he didn’t have his sight to help him. He paraded it around, shaking excitedly. The rest of the day, Gunner paced around the house, hoping for more hunting.” www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2021 • 81

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MADISON - Water frontage, road frontage, large acreage, snowmobile trails...this property has it all! Don’t miss this opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind property in Madison. There are twelve acres with 1,300 feet of frontage on the Kennebec River on one side of the road and 190 acres on the other side of the road. Enjoy plenty of privacy with 1,300 feet of road frontage. Three large fields are rented annually to a local farmer for corn. Fantastic deer hunting with over 100 well-wooded acres. This is an ideal location to build your dream home or your sportsman’s retreat. The Patterson Bridge Road (discontinued) runs the length of the property and provides easy access to the interior of the lot. Major snowmobile trail bisects the property. You can also enjoy fantastic brown trout, salmon, and bass fishing in the Kennebec River with miles of water ready to access. MLS #1479139 - $430,000 SOLON - About 198 feet of frontage on Ironbound Pond in Solon sitting on 0.69 acres. Sale includes all furniture and dock. New metal roof in 2017. Come for a viewing and make this your new summer getaway home. Beautiful views can be yours from the wrap-around deck. 3 bedrooms for family and friends. MLS #1463826 - $179,000 CORNVILLE - Sportsman’s Retreat! This is a nice three room camp with a loft area. Much of this fully insulated cabin is still unfinished, but just bring your tools and your ideas and make this blank slate your dream escape or convert it into your year round home. Property abuts the CMP power line where a you can ride a short connector trail less than 1 mile to ITS 84. The property also boasts an RV site and a drilled well, so don’t hesitate to bring your friends. This are is also known for it’s population of whitetail deer. Enjoy over 400 feet of private road frontage. Everything is here for you to begin recreating immediately. MLS #1467618 - $65,000 ROCKWOOD - Location and quality all in the same spot. Own the quintessential log home with about 127 feet of water frontage on Moose River. Boat right into Moosehead Lake, as there is a public boat launch near and enjoy everything Maine has to offer. Home has 2 bedrooms and a loft area, a full kitchen and 1 full bathroom. New metal roof and dock. The double lot will allow room for a garage or storage building. You are right across the road from the snowmobile trail, so pull in and park and go. MLS #1470461 - $299,990 EAST MOXIE TWP - Remarkable opportunity to own your very own 2 acre island on Moxie Pond. Enjoy the views and the solitude amongst the towering pines. Only a short boat ride from the boat launch in Moxie, this property is extremely unique and in need of a little TLC. Call today for your private showing. MLS #1474905 - $139,000 ATHENS - Approximately 5 acres of land in a great hunting location. Close to ATV and snowmobile trails. Build yourself a little camp or a home. Privacy is yours. Power is available at the road. Owner financing available to qualified buyers. Talk with listing agent about option. MLS #1475316 - $35,000 BINGHAM - Approximately 123 acre parcel with long road frontage. Awesome hunting area... build a camp and roam the land. Currently in ‘Tree Growth’ for tax purposes. (Hb323) MLS #983202 - $79,000 SOLON - Nice parcel of approximately 118 acres on U.S. Route 201. Great place for a house or camp. Enjoy the area with the Kennebec River close at hand. Hunt, fish, snowmobile from this location.Entrance drive already existing. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb355) MLS #1097927 - $95,000 3/21

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Just imagine relaxing in your very own Northeastern log retreat!

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

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

Springfield - Complete with a full, concrete foundation, well, septic, laundry. Cabin can easily be year round residence for someone looking to live off grid on True Road. With snowmobile access. It is situated in a great recreational area. $79,500

Lakeville - 52 acre lot with rustic cabin sits at the top of the hill offering breathtaking 180 degree views of area lakes and hills. ATVing and snowmobiling are at your door step on Vista View. Set it up for solar and live here year round. $99,000

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

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

Lincoln - Inexpensive lot on Stump Pond. The lot has a driveway started and is very private. Great Bass Fishing. More Land available at added cost. $29,900 Lincoln - Larger private lot with lots of shore front. The lot has a road built with three access driveways. This 59 acre lot with over 3000 feet of water front on Stump Pond is a must see. $99,000 Molunkus TWP - Lot located 22 miles from Lincoln is a must see. 320 feet of water frontage and 1.6 acres this lot offers lots of opportunities. Mattaseunk Lake is 576+- acres. Enjoy all this lot has to offer. $49,000 Lincoln - Easy access to this Lakefront lot on Long Pond. Electricity is being installed to subdivision. This lot is a must see. $69,000

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E S T A T E

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

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

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

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84 • March 2021 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————