Sportsman The Maine
May 2020 • $4.99
Maine Women Outdoors Pages 28-33
TURKEY TIME!
Pages 12, 34, 53, 57, 66
The Art of Sheltering in Place Page 6
Rig Your ATV for Fishing Page 18
Up the Moose River Without a Motor Page 58
Favorite Maine Trout Flies Pages 44 & 50
2 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
Sporting Camps & Lodges — A True Maine Tradition — Shoreline Camps Housekeeping Cabins & Boat Rentals on Big Lake
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����������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 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 monthlong 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 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
Editorial
Celebrating Women in the Outdoors
New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication
Sportsman The Maine
ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 572 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Fax: 207-622-4255 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Photo by Melissa Goodwin
In this issue of The Maine Sportsman, we feature a “Women in the Outdoors” special section, starting on page 28. Included are submissions from women guides, hunters and anglers, and an interview with one of our state’s three female game wardens. We plan to follow up next month, offering more information from women guides, and a “Maine Sportswomen to Watch” preview. And we’ll continue that trend, the following month, and the month after that. In fact, we plan to maintain the focus on sportswomen, until it’s no longer necessary to preface the nouns angler, guide, hunter or warden with the explanatory adjective “woman.” According to a recent survey on wildlife recreation, women are the fastest-growing demographic among new hunters. In our view, Maine should join other states in learning how to maximize the three “R’s” – Recruiting even more women hunters and anglers; Retaining those who are currently active in the waters, fields and woods; and Reactivating those who were once participants but who now venture outside less frequently. Surveys and studies may help teach Maine’s policymakers (many of whom, including our Governor and our IF&W Commissioner, are women) what values women bring to outdoor sports, what interests capture their attention and commitment; and what motivations must be present for them to learn and practice the skills necessary for successful angling and hunting. The answers to these questions are important to the future of fishing and hunting in Maine, regardless of the participants’ genders.
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www.MaineSportsman.com
Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 10 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 34 A Warden’s Life by Warden Lt. Bill Allen (Ret.)............ 43 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 38 Big Woods World by Joe Carvell.................................. 37 Bird of the Month by Erika Zambello............................ 13 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 57 Downeast by Jim Lemieux............................................ 53 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello....................... 44 Jackman by William Sheldon....................................... 48 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 41 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 15 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 17 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 55 Moosehead by Tom Seymour...................................... 51 My Maine by George Smith.......................................... 16 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 76 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 62 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 60 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith....................... 17 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 70 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 79 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 24 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 66 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 58 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 56 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.............. 79 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 61 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 65 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 64 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 80 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 46 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 72 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 50
GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 18 Boating in Maine by Steve Carpenteri........................ 21 Creatures in the Cellar by Alan Haley......................... 69 Letter to My Grandkids by Eric Lund............................ 74 Maine Women Outdoors: Q&A with Warden Orchard by Will Lund................ 28 New to Fly Fishing by Bonnie Holding...................... 29 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes................... 30 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding... 32 Outdoor Recreation, Part 2 by Mary Haley............ 33 Poachers by Sgt. Douglas Tibbetts............................... 68 Saved by Larry Connors by Randy Randall................ 54 Saltwater Fishing by Bob Humphrey............................ 26 Sheltering in Place by Steve Vose.................................. 6 Oddball Answers by Al Diamon................................... 78 On the Cover This is the month fly fishing comes alive in Maine’s streams, rivers and ponds. On the cover, a confident trout angler executes a roll-cast in a remote waterway.
����������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 5
Letters To The Editor
Surprise Shout-Out for Successful Biggest Buck Archer, Dan Knapp To the Editor: My brother, Dan Knapp, recently received the news that his 223-lb. buck was the largest deer taken in Maine with a bow this past season. He successfully bow-hunted the deer on October 28, 2019. I was fortunate enough to have been able to help him with the quick recovery of the deer.
After several years of trail camera photos of this buck, it all came together for Dan Knapp on October 28, 2019 around 8 a.m. A perfect 21-yard shot sealed the deal on his 223-pound, 11-point buck.
He has no idea I am contacting The Maine Sportsman, but I would like to ask if there’s a possibility to include a photo of him and his deer in one of your upcoming editions. This Biggest Buck was a true Maine giant of the woods! Thank you for considering this request. My dad, my brother and I all enjoy reading The Maine Sportsman. Rob Knapp - Fryeburg —
Nonplussed by Last Month’s April Fool’s Special Section To the Editor: So, you’ll have to explain Christi Holmes’ “deer glue traps” to me. Is this actually a thing? Are they going to let people use them? I understand what they are, I guess, but I don’t understand why the state is considering allowing them to be used. Are deer populations so high they need to start using a new method of trapping? In short – has the concept of fair chase been flushed down the toilet? Name withheld ***** Dear Name Withheld: Ms. Holmes’ article discussing a supposed bill before the Legislature, LD 2003, “An Act to Allow Glue Traps for Deer Hunting,” was part of the first annual April Fool’s edition of The Maine
Sportsman. That’s why the banner reading “APRIL FOOL’S Special Feature” was displayed across the top of the page. Sincerely, The Editor —
Beware the Brook Shark To the Editor: I find it odd that your April issue chose to highlight an imaginary creature, Bigfoot, while the very real Brook Shark invasion continues unchecked.
What started as a DNA splicing experiment, in which a Maine fisheries biologist combined a Bull Shark and a (Continued on page 7)
29th Annual
SPORTING AUCTION 2020 Wildwood Function Center, Route 113, Steep Falls, ME 04085
Due to the current pandemic situation, Giguere Auction Co. must POSTPONE our Spring Sporting Auction to an, as yet, undetermined date. Rest assured, this auction has NOT been canceled – only postponed! The Spring Auction will become a Summer Auction – perhaps a Fall Auction. The ultimate date will depend on the progression of the pandemic and the relaxing of the current social distancing rules and travel restrictions. Please check our listing on www.auctionzip.com for lots of photos and info on what you will find at this auction. You will find it listed currently with a date of 5/30/2020. The actual new date will be announced on www.auctionzip.com and on our website – www.giguereauction.com – as soon as we can confidently set a final, new Date. WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING QUALITY ITEMS FOR THIS AUCTION EVENT – PLEASE CALL US! We are looking forward to seeing All of Our Friends – Old & New – again. Until that day arrives – Please Stay Safe and Be Well – See You All on the Other Side!
AUCTIONEER GERARD P. GIGUERE (ME. LIC. 00884)
Office (207) 892-3800 or Cell (207) 233-8724 auctions@fairpoint.net
www.giguereauction.com www.MaineSportsman.com
6 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
— Guest Column —
What’s Your Plan for Long-Term “Sheltering in Place?” by Steve Vose If the recent COVID-19 outbreak has taught us anything, it’s that various levels of government use many different words to describe the types of orders intended to keep individuals and families indoors for extended periods of time. The phrases include “quarantine,” “lock down,” “hunker down,” “stay at home” and “shelter in place.” These local, state and federal directives are designed to help protect the U.S. population in cases of actual or perceived threats. Such threats can take the form of a hurricane, chemical spill, radiological release or – as we’ve most recently experienced – a pandemic. Many Mainers, being a hardy bunch, are familiar with the logistics of staying at home when natural disasters strike. For generations, our state’s residents have canned vegetables, cut firewood, hunted and fished for food
Were you unprepared for the “stay at home” rules imposed during the pandemic? It’s not too late to figure out how to get through this situation or to start planning for the next unforeseen circumstance. Here’s a discussion of the basics, from shelter and heat to food, water and communications – even how to keep a clear head and remain productive under pressure.
How much water do humans require? Astonishingly, nearly a gallon per person per day.
and generally maintained a high level of self-reliance, at least in comparison to folks who live in high-density urban settings far from the woods and the sea. When blizzards rage, making trips to the gro-
cery store hazardous, and ice storms shut down the power grid, sometimes for weeks, Mainers batten down the hatches, place another log in the woodstove and pull a couple of moose steaks out of the freezer. The abil-
ity not just to survive but to thrive in potentially life-threatening situations or natural disasters, is a valuable attribute. Mental Attitude The late great Yankees catcher Yogi Ber-
ra is credited with the saying, “Baseball is 90% mental; the other half is physical.” In his own way, he was trying to stress the importance of how we approach challenges. Experts who have studied stress and human behavior under severe circumstances have concluded that three keys to successful outcomes are 1) maintaining a positive mental attitude; 2) employing flexible thinking; and 3) controlling our emotional response. An inability to keep a clear head in times of emergencyputs certain people at a distinct disadvantage. Individuals who become depressed by their situation and view it as hopeless, or who panic or succumb to inaction, fare poorly under the pressure of trauma. On the other hand, those who are able to overcome these deep-set, natural and understandable emotional responses are (Continued on next page)
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better able to successfully navigate the challenges. For those looking to further explore the science and psychology of survival, the book with the starkly-worded title, “Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why” by Laurence Gonzales is a fascinating read. Much more than a simple survival manual, the book examines some of the greatest human survival stories of all time, analyzes each and examines the personal traits and employed strategies that determine who survived and who did not, when situations turned life-threatening. The Need for Shelter We’ve heard the expression that most humans can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 30 days without food, but another critical aspect of survival is shelter. Cold kills quickly, and hypothermia is an insidious threat that can rapidly overcome a person. “Sheltering in Place,” by definition, assumes that some form of shelter is available; however, how is that space to be maintained at a temperature that allows for human habitation? Fuel Wood stoves, ker-
osene and propane heaters, chemical heater packs, thermal sleeping bags and heavy wool blankets are just some of the ways that individuals can maintain body temperature, if power is lost or they become stranded. Many outdoors people also likely have camp stoves that run on white gas, propane or butane, these can not only provide an effective heat source but can also provide a means for cooking or boiling contaminated water to make it suitable for drinking. Personally, my preferred fuel is propane, given its ease of use, and because it is readily available almost anywhere. Plus, with the proper hose adapter, camp stoves, heaters and lights that typically run on the 16.4 oz green Coleman Propane Cylinders can easily be connected in an emergency to the 20-lb. propane tanks that most of us use to cook with our BBQ grills. However, REMEMBER, proper ventilation is important, so open windows, consult the owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
depends on a wide variety of factors, including exertion, environment, individual health, and even gender – males typically require 15.5 cups of fluids, while females require approximately 11.5 cups, including what we get by drinking and through food consumption. Fortunately, in Maine, a short drive in any direction will lead to a water source. Unfortunately, that source of water may not be suitable for drinking. To make water safe to drink, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends disinfecting drinking water by bringing it to a rolling boil for 1 minute. If boiling is not an option, drinking water can be treated using unscented bleach like Clorox. To use bleach, add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach to each gallon of water. Double the amount of bleach if the water is cloudy, colored, or very cold. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn’t, repeat the dosage and let stand for another 15 minutes before use.
body weight, while adult females need 1,600-2,400 calories. To help put things in perspective, a double quarter pounder with cheese, large fries and large coke at McDonalds contains 1,260 calories. However, in terms of the type of balanced diet needed in an extended survival situation, that’s not a meal that’s rich in fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. Many companies make nutritionally balanced dehydrated meals that have up to a 25-year shelf life and can be a lifesaver if a dramatic event like a blizzard, hurricane, tornado or other natural or manmade disaster strikes without warning. For those outdoors people who hunt and forage, freezers full of game meat, fiddleheads, goose tongues (a grassy plant also known as “sea plantain”) and other wild edibles are likely to provide a significant food source for an extended amounts of time, provided refrigeration remains constant. Should electricity fail, however, having a food back-up plan becomes critical.
Water In one form or another, a typical adult consumes nearly a gallon of water each day. Of course, a healthy level of water intake
Food According to the U.S Department of Health, adult males generally require 2,000-3,000 calories per day to maintain
Communications Should normal means of communications fail, such as cell phones and land lines, CB and Ham radios will quickly become
Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 5)
Brook Trout in a misguided effort to “make the trout bite better,” turned tragic when several fish escaped and began reproducing and spreading rapidly. If you ask DIFW about this, I expect you will receive a denial – obvious proof of a coverup.
When will The Maine Sportsman begin paying proper journalistic attention to the real issues? Robert Grimm Winkumpaugh Corners, ME (Map 23, D-4) —
Gets It
To the Editor: Regarding the “April Fool’s” special sections in April – thank you for such
an effective means of maintaining communications in a disaster. While CB radio does not require licensing, Ham radio is regulated by the FCC, and all operators are required to be licensed. When choosing between the two options, there are many positives and negatives to each, the Internet has many great articles and YouTube videos that discuss how to pick the right option for your specific usage and situation. At camp, I have a small emergency radio that can be charged by electrical plug, solar and a hand crank. This small device doesn’t allow for two-way communications like CB and Ham radio, but it does provide emergency broadcasts, weather updates, new reports (NPR) and easy listening entertainment (something not to be overlooked when the situation is potentially bleak). As mentioned earlier, mental attitude in survival situations is as important as physical preparation. Communications allow us to remain connected with family and friends, help dispel our fear of the unknown, decrease our stress levels and assist us in receiving critical updates and information.
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a great issue! It was truly a welcome break from all the serious news we are inundated with now. I laughed out loud at the material. Please thank the writers who were responsible for contributing the material, from the bottom of my “away” heart. Erik Warren – Columbus, Ohio
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8 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————
Maine Alewives Part of Large Ecosystem The alewives were racing up through the rapids and swimming quickly upstream past us. In places, they looked to be packed as tight as sardines in a can. I was about eight years old. I had moved to Maine with my parents and brothers in 1935, and this was probably the following year. That spring Saturday, Dad had announced that we were going to see the “herring run.” We’d ridden in the car to the Sheepscot River, to a section of rapids above Kings Mills. People were hustling everywhere. Men were standing along the rocky shore swinging large landing nets, dipping up large numbers of the rapidly-moving alewives. Each man emptied his
Alewives are anadromous, meaning they head down-river to the sea and then migrate back to fresh water. If their migrations are blocked by dams, ocean codfish may lose a valuable source of food. But are things starting to look up? net into a burlap bag. When the bag was full, two men grabbed the bag, which pulsated with wiggling fish, and carried it away. I’d been taught to kill a small fish like perch by breaking its neck, and I remember asking Dad, “Aren’t they going to kill the fish?” Seeing so many fish packed together in the stream, swimming hard to beat their way upstream, and the gathering of burlap sacks full of wiggling fish, made a lasting impression on this young angler – a scene that is still vivid today. Some years ago, harvesting of alewives on the Sheepscot was being carried out below the Kings Mills dam. A huge dip net hung from a construction crane below the dam. The operator dipped alewives from the river and dumped
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them into a truck. Apparently the harvest was not well managed, because the harvest was later suspended. Historic Abundance of Cod Early explorers to the Maine coast reported that catching cod could be accomplished by simply lowering a basket weighted with a few rocks over the side of the boat. When the sailors hauled the basket back up, it would contain codfish. All along the Maine coast, cod were plentiful – a fact that is borne out by the use of “cod” to identify many of the coastal geographic features, such as West Cod Ledge off Cape Elizabeth. Dried cod became a major export from the Atlantic coast, but as many of our tributaries and streams were dammed to produce water power, we
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also cut off the ability of our anadramous fish to reproduce and send downstream and to salt water the huge numbers of young of the year, fish that used to feed our inshore cod population. Rivers and Streams Dammed for Power The laws of Massachusetts (which then included Maine) required that whoever constructed a dam had to provide passage for upstream migratory fish. While the law was clear and unequivocal, no enforcement of the law was provided. For example, in the case of Cobbossee Stream, which flows into the Kennebec River, the inhabitants of Winthrop repeatedly petitioned the Massachusetts General Court (the legislature at that time ) to require the owner of the dams in Gardiner to permit fish to move upstream. The petiStart a Lifetime of Adventure at our
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100,000 Eggs The reproductive capacity of alewives is mind-boggling. Each female alewife produces from 60,000 to 100,000 eggs. Unlike salmonids such as brook trout, alewives do not require special gravel bottoms to spawn success(Continued on next page)
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tions were ignored. Ultimately, the alewife run in Gardiner was – and still is – stopped by the dams, although the alewives still stubbornly arrive each spring and try to ascend Cobbossee Stream. Access up the stream to Pleasant Pond is blocked by three dams. A local group called Upstream is hard at work trying to enable the alewives to access the Cobbossee watershed, which at one time is thought to have supported a run of four to five million alewives before dams shut off the migration. The Department of Marine Resources currently trucks alewives from other locations and stocks Pleasant Pond, upstream from Gardiner.
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fully. These fish are open-water spawners. According to studies carried out at Damariscotta Lake, for every 35 alewives that spawn successfully, on average, 250 alewives will return to spawn in 3 years. So what happened to the tens of thousands of young-of-theyear that did not return three years later? Probably a lot of them were eaten by predatory mammals and fish, including cod. It is gradually making sense to observers that the reduction in cod populations may be due, in part, to the construction of dams that blocked the upstream migration of anadromous baitfish like alewives, rather than simply overfishing. The codfish stock may be showing signs of re-building. I have heard reports of small cod showing up in lobster traps. Perhaps alewife restoration is helping.
How to View Alewife Migrations An organization in Yarmouth, Maine Rivers (mainerivers.org), has issued a small folder titled Maine Alewife Trail Map, which lists fifteen places where alewives can be seen migrating, or attempting to migrate. To view the trail map, visit the group’s homepage, click on “Learn,” and scroll down to the trail map. A popular viewing site is at Damariscotta Mills, where a historic fish ladder has been restored at the outlet of Damariscotta Lake. If you are following the social distancing procedure, this may not be a good site to visit this year, as it is a major spectator destination. Ordinarily, the alewife migration up through the series of pools and into the lake is fascinating to the observer. A less-busy site that I find impressive is on Seven Mile Brook, at the outlet of Webber Pond in Vassalboro. The site is
Alewives congregate thickly at the outlet of Webber Pond in May, 2018. Photo by Jason Lund
convenient to both Augusta and Waterville. Alewives here are harvested for four days each week, but the fish can migrate freely the other three days. Our largest migration is at Benton Falls on the Sebasticook River, where a massive fish elevator lifts the fish and allows them to swim upriver. After 250,000 alewives
have been passed, the commercial harvest begins. Unfortunately, the migration has grown so large that the elevator cannot deal with all of it. At times, the public can see the viewing window, where the fish swim by and are counted. When I saw it last, a largemouth bass took a station and gulped down an
occasional alewife that did not swim by swiftly enough. If readers have not witnessed the spectacle of an alewife migration, I encourage them to check one out between mid-May and Mid-June, depending on weather and flow conditions.
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Almanac
10 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —
“Snapshots in Time”
Excerpts from the Annals of Maine’s Sporting Past Submitted by Bill Pierce, of the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine
Three “Bearly Believable” Tales! I have been told by many an old-timer that “folks are just plain softer these days.” It’s hard to argue with their wisdom. Modern conveniences and inventions have, without question, improved our lives immeasurably, but in doing so, what now defines “fearlessness and toughness” seems reserved for those in our elite Special Forces units. This writer does not recommend nor condone the methods of harvest described in the first two news clips from the May 3, 1901 edition of the Phillips Phonograph shared below. However, they certainly illustrate how times have changed in the last 120 years when it comes to the “pluck” of an average citizen. These snippets clearly illustrate
Bear hunting -- “Scene near the Rangeley Lake House”
the sheer determination, toughness and courage (or foolhardiness) of guide Edgar McIninch and farmer John Brackley. These badass dudes performed said deeds without any hope of modern medical intervention, should events have gone badly. I pity the fool who would pick a fight with one of these guys. By today’s standards, these men were cra-
zy tough and overtly brave, but back in the day, these deeds were just amusing anecdotes buried deep within the paper. It’s no wonder that men from this age would later storm “over the top” in the suicidal assaults of WWI. The events described in last article below, from the very same issue, would be more in tune with the valor this writer might be more capable of (excluding the 2-mile run). As it is written; “Sometimes discretion IS the better part of valor. Enjoy these “Bearly Believable” tales from Maine’s colorful sporting past and be sure to get outside and make some outdoor history of your own.
Bear, Dog and Man Fight —
Guide Drowns Bruin with the Assistance of His Dog That there is more than one way to kill a bear, Edgar McIninch, one of the Jo Mary guides, can assure you. The scene of the story is not in that section but at Great Pond, near the northern part of Hancock county. One day Edgar was going home, accompanied by his dog, and was crossing a pasture in which were a number of apple trees. Right here he saw a bear, and sent two shots after him
without success. Then the dog tackled the bear and they madly made their way down to the pond, where Bruin attempted to get away by water. In the water, the dog again tackled the bear, and at times both would be under water. The unfortunate bear was evidently trying to swim across a neck of the pond to gain the opposite shore. So, Edgar hastened around to the dam and waded out to his armpits
to meet them. There a fierce combat was going on, each animal trying to drown the other, when McIninch took a hand. When the dog became exhausted and came up, Edgar would try to hold the bear down. This continued till Bruin was played out, when he was taken ashore and dispatched with a club.
Mr. E. J. Gilkey of Strong tells of a bear hunt in West Freeman, how a bear was killed with an ax. Several years ago, a boy living in the northern part of West Freeman discovered a bear prowling around his pasture. He was not slow in giving the alarm, and soon several men with their dogs and guns were in hot pursuit. For sev-
eral miles only occasional glimpses were caught of the bear, as it plunged through the woods. John Brackley, a farmer who was cutting wood near his house, heard the commotion and, taking his ax, rushed after the animal far in advance of the other pursuers. The bear was getting tired, and Mr. Brackley being a good “sprinter”
soon came up with him, and with one bound the man was on the bear’s back and swinging the ax with all his might. He felled the bear at a single stroke. When the others of the chase came up, they were invited to Mr. Brackley’s home for a bear steak dinner, and all seemed satisfied with their chase.
A man working for Albion Savage on the Spencer stream was chased nearly two miles by a bear one day recently. Mr. Bruin got near enough to make a grab at the man, catching him
by the coat, tearing it nearly to pieces. But the man finally wrenched away and, when he dropped a meal bag which he had in his hand, the bear stopped to take a snuff at that. By the
bear’s stopping, the man was given a good start, and the bear was not able to overtake him.
Bear Steak Dinner
Chased by a Bear
(Almanac continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
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Differentiating Mixed Fuel and Raw Gas Contributed by Jon Lund Having fuel for four-cycle engines and two-stroke engines such as small outboards and chainsaws presents the hidden hazard of confusing the two kinds of fuel. Putting gasoline with oil mixed into a four-cycle engine probably won’t do any harm, but the reverse – fueling your chainsaw or two-cycle outboard with straight gas – will likely end in disaster. One solution is to make a tag for each fuel can that shows by where its tag is tied which kind of fuel is in the container. One hole means straight gas. The other hole shows gas plus oil.
The deer survived the fall and early winter hunting season, only to succumb to another type of danger. On February 1st, in the town of Orfordville, a man named Nathan Olsen was out with his dog looking for shed antlers, when he discovered that the large buck had locked horns with another huge deer, and they perished because the bucks were unable to separate their antlers. The large curves in the 17-1/2inch spread of the bigger buck’s anglers circled around the base of the smaller animal’s antlers, sealing their fate. Ironically, the large deer’s antlers may constitute the highest-scoring set in the state’s history. —
Visitor on the Porch Last month, a resident of Carrabassett Valley noticed an uninvited visitor standing on the porch.
Photo by Joan Sturmthal
If in doubt, drip a drop of fuel onto a knife blade or piece of clean metal. As mixed gas evaporates, it will show a visible residue of oil. If in doubt, assume it has no oil. The damage you will do with a double dose of oil is nothing, compared to the disaster of a two-cycle engine seizing up. The tag pictured is a scrap piece of aluminum siding.
Maine has the largest population of bears in the lower 48 states. In areas where bears are common, the Warden Service recommends not leaving attractants outside, such as bird feeders, garbage containers and barbeque grills.
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Massive Antler Rack Leads to Sad End for Record-Setting Wisconsin Buck
Is it Our Imagination, or are Freshwater Lures Getting More Complicated These Days?
Wisconsin has a lot of whitetail deer, and some big ones. However, in October and November, a monster but made a few appearances on trail cameras (see photo), whetting hunters’ appetites. The buck displayed a stunning, largely symmetrical set of antlers, with 23 countable points.
We have seen and used lures that look like a single small fish, but never before have we seen or used a lure designed to look like several fish, all at once. But that’s exactly the theory behind the new LiveTarget Yearling Jerkbait, which the promotional material claims is a “terrific choice for springtime bass.” The written descriptions are almost worth the cost of the lure: • “Ultra-realistic to game fish when feeding on yearling forage.” (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
12 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac (Continued from page 11)
weighing it down. But one lure company, Savage Gear, claims to have resolved the problem.
Wild Turkey’s Impressive Trot Back into Maine by Nick Lund, Outreach Director Maine Audubon
The LiveTarget “Yearling Baitball” is described as a “hardbody jerkbait” that’s intended to “replicate an in-line grouping of baitfish.” Photo: LiveTarget
• “This offering replicates an in-line grouping of baitfish.” • “The lure creates an array of flash profiles for unmatched simulation of a stretched-out baitfish school.” • “Hold one up for close inspection, and you’ll notice pinpoint accurate eyes, precisely contoured bodies, perfectly placed pectoral fins, plus a dead-ringer profile for an anatomically accurate representation with authentic action.” ***** Meanwhile, another lure development appears to have the potential to address a weakness in hollow-frog baits, popular for largemouth bass. If you’ve never tried a hollow weedless frog in the lily pads of a bass pond, you’ve missed a lot. You miss a lot of strikes (the two hooks are pointed upward along the soft sides of the lure, such that the fish must compress the lure’s body to become hooked), but it’s great fun, and exciting. Problem is, after a few lunker bass – or worse, large toothy pickerel – chomp on the rubber frog, it develops holes and tears, and water infiltrates the body,
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Hollow-body frog lures are fun to use when fishing for largemouth bass in the lily pads. However, after moderate use traditional designs begin leaking and become waterlogged. Now, a company has addressed this weakness with “dual chamber” construction. Photo: Savage Gear Co.
Savage just announced “DC” technology – that’s short for “dual chamber.” In other words, the hook shank travels through the body of the lure in its own separate tunnel, and stress on that hook protection won’t necessarily lead to water intruding into the buoyant body of the frog. In the recent announcement of this improvement, the design engineer is quoted as saying, “We recognized that water intrusion can be a serious impediment to proper bait performance, because once a significant amount of water has built up within the bait, you start to lose some of the action that earns you those explosive strikes. By designing each DC series bait with a separate chamber for the hook and one for buoyancy, we’re able to minimize this issue without losing any of the bait’s intended performance.” We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves! —
Wild Turkeys had been common in southern Maine for as long as there had been woods to trot through. For thousands of years, they were a dietary staple of the Wabanaki Nations, who ate their meat and eggs, and decorated clothing with their feathers. European settlers came along and ate them too, and hunted turkeys incessantly while at the same time converting the woods of southern Maine into farmland.
A tom turkey struts its stuff at Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. Male wild turkeys puff out their feathers, flair their tails into vertical fans and drag their wings, in an effort to catch the attention of hens. Photo by Doug Hitchcox (Continued on next page)
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Check For Ticks Every Day! WARMER TEMPERATURES MEAN TICKS WILL BE ACTIVE NOW – EVEN IN SNOW! • Schools are closed so more children are active outside • Healthcare resources will be strained due to COVID-19 • Do your part to prevent tickborne diseases • CHECK EVERY DAY. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed.
MLDSE is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization, the Maine-partner of the National Lyme Disease Association, members of Maine’s CDC Vector-borne Work group, active in Maine’s Lyme Legislation movement and on the federal Deptartment of Health & Human Services Tick-borne Disease Working Group’s “Access to Care Services and Patient Support” subcommittee.
www.MaineSportsman.com
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 13 (Continued from page 12)
Unregulated hunting combined with habitat loss meant a Maine empty of gobblers and hens by the early 1800s. It wasn’t just Maine—Wild Turkeys had been eradicated from 20 of the 39 states in which they ranged by the 1920s, with as few as 30,000 birds remaining in the country. Thankfully, that shortage wouldn’t last. York and Cumberland Counties were about 90% farmland in the 1880s, but just 15% farmland a century later, and much of the converted acreage was now fit for turkeys. Sportsmen led the charge to reintroduce the birds, and in 1942 the Department of Fish and Game released 42 farm-raised turkeys (it wasn’t easy to find wild ones) on an island in Penobscot Bay. They didn’t survive. Hunting clubs tried to bring other farm-raised turkeys into Bangor and Windham in the 1960s but they, too, perished. Farm birds aren’t the same as wild birds, just as a barnyard sheep isn’t the same as a Bighorn. Mainers needed to transplant some hardier birds – ones that were accustomed to dealing with finding food in snow and cold. We found them, eventually, in Vermont. The Green Mountain State had introduced their own wild birds in the late 60s from a wild population in upstate New York, and the birds thrived. Beginning in 1977, Maine released some of these Vermont birds into southern Maine, in York and Eliot, and then far-
ther east throughout the 1980s. In a future column, I will write more about capturing and transporting wild turkeys – hint: it involves rocket nets! – and about the roles of MDIF&W and the National Wild Turkey Federation. For now, suffice it to say, the effort was successful and the birds have flourished. From the 41 birds the state originally introduced into York County, there are now about 60,000 Wild Turkeys roaming the state, from York County to the Western Mountains all the way Downeast through Washington County and up through Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and into Aroostook County. Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm headquarters in Falmouth has a resident flock that delights and entertains thousands of visitors per year. Just as with humans, it takes a special breed to survive here in Maine. May the Wild Turkey, a historic and iconic resident of the Maine woods, continue to thrive! —
Bird of the Month: Royal Tern by Erika Zambello
lighting nearly 65 of the amazing species that makes our state so special. The first column I wrote featured the Spruce Grouse, a northern forest dweller, dark and mysterious. As my last almanac bird, I’m going to go in a different direction by introducing the white and silver Royal Tern.
Royal Tern
Royal Terns winter along the southern coasts of the United States, Mexico, and Central America before moving north to nest in the summer months.
Over 400 bird varieties have been (Continued on next page) recorded in Maine, from those just passing through to summer breeders to year-round residents. Take a trip you’ll never forget Immerse yourself in the Maine wildlife For over five years, it has been and scenery that YOU want to experience. Custom trips and tours. my privilege to write about one Personalized Registered Maine Guide Training native bird each month, highamaineguide.com • (207) 729-6333
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14 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac
May 2020 Sunrise/Sunset
(Continued from page 13)
Portland, ME
DATE 1 Fri 2 Sat 3 Sun 4 Mon 5 Tue 6 Wed 7 Thu 8 Fri 9 Sat 10 Sun 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat
RISE 5:30 5:29 5:27 5:26 5:25 5:23 5:22 5:21 5:20 5:18 5:17 5:16 5:15 5:14 5:13 5:12
SET 7:45 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:01 8:02
DATE 17 Sun 18 Mon 19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31 Sun
RISE 5:11 5:10 5:09 5:08 5:07 5:06 5:05 5:05 5:04 5:03 5:03 5:02 5:01 5:01 5:00
SET 8:03 8:04 8:05 8:06 8:07 8:08 8:09 8:10 8:11 8:12 8:13 8:14 8:15 8:16 8:16
May 2020 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
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 Thu Fri Sat Sun
HIGH AM PM 5:39 6:30 6:44 7:32 7:50 8:31 8:53 9:25 9:51 10:16 10:47 11:06 11:41 11:56 — 12:34 12:45 1:27 1:35 2:19 2:26 3:14 3:20 4:12 4:19 5:11 5:19 6:10 6:20 7:08 7:21 8:02 8:19 8:52 9:11 9:35 9:58 10:15 10:41 10:52 11:22 11:27 — 12:01 12:02 12:40 12:37 1:17 1:14 1:56 1:53 2:38 2:37 3:24 3:26 4:16 4:21 5:11 5:21 6:08 6:24 7:07
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LOW AM PM — 12:08 12:28 1:09 1:35 2:10 2:39 3:07 3:38 4:00 4:33 4:51 5:26 5:41 6:18 6:31 7:09 7:21 8:01 8:12 8:54 9:06 9:50 10:04 10:48 11:05 11:48 — 12:08 12:46 1:12 1:43 2:12 2:35 3:06 3:21 3:52 4:01 4:33 4:38 5:11 5:13 5:48 5:49 6:24 6:25 7:01 7:02 7:39 7:42 8:21 8:26 9:06 9:15 9:56 10:10 10:50 11:09 11:45 — 12:11 12:43
The birds are not common in Maine, but each year dozens of lucky birders catch sight of these graceful seabirds. Larger than most of the other terns that call our shores home, the Royal variety sport a black crest and bright orange bill. Strong as they are elegant, Royal Terns plunge-dive from 20-30 feet above the water, going after small fish and shrimp. Able to eat their prey while in flight, they sometimes turn the fish over in their bills before swallowing. Impressively, this seabird can live over 30 years. Since the mid-20th century, Royal Tern populations have remained relatively stable (except Florida, which has seen steep drops). There are 250,000 breeding birds across the globe – about half in North America. Climate change will negatively impact Royal Terns in the future, as sea level rise threatens their colonies and more frequent storms make foraging and migrat-
ing increasingly precarious. To create a more resilient future for Royal Terns – and seabirds in general – coastal communities can protect tern colonies from disturbance and encroaching development. Have you spotted a banded Royal Tern? Researchers use information from banded birds to conserve habitat and learn more about avian movements. To report a banded bird, visit www.reportband.gov. ***** Editor’s note: As Erika alluded to above, after 5-1/2 years and 65 “Bird of the Month” columns, she is moving on. She grew up in Maine, but is currently juggling responsibilities as communications director of Audubon Florida, and as the mother of a 6-month old. In her “spare time,” she is writing a birding guide to Northern New England for Wilderness Adventures Press. Thanks for writing for the Sportsman, Erika, and best wishes in your future endeavors.
¶
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 15
Maine Wildlife:
White Perch by Tom Seymour
What’s in a name? Well, in the case of white perch, a lot. Up until recently, white perch, along with other temperate basses, were considered members of the perch family. But now they are officially placed in the family Moronidae, a widespread family of fishes present in America, Europe and northern Africa that includes striped bass, as well as white bass and yellow bass. Despite what scientists call them, though, we Mainers continue to refer to these sporty fish as “white perch.” And somehow, I doubt that that will ever change. Good fighters, abundant and in my opinion, sweeter-tasting than haddock, white perch thrill anglers who purposely seek them or happen to catch them while pursuing other species. White perch were once far more popular than they are today, and for a surprising reason. Once, shore-bound anglers happily took buckets of white perch during their springtime spawning runs. Others who were fortunate enough to own a small boat or canoe, fished for white perch in lakes and ponds. But times change, and that change has seen an increase in economic prosperity. So the anglers who once had few options other than fishing for white perch from shore and trout from streams, now have more disposable income, and that translates to bigger boats and motors. Most people who own such watercraft don’t bother with 10to 14-inch white perch. Instead, they target more glamorous species such as salmon and trout. And some dedicate themselves to bass fishing. Dedicated Fans A solid core of Maine anglers continues to hold white perch near and dear to their hearts. Many of these same folks despise other spiny-rayed fishes such as bass, yellow perch and sunfish.
Years ago, the author encountered a school of 2- to 3pound lunker white perch. A biologist said a “perfect storm” like that may never happen again. But why do we elevate white perch to superior status? The reasons are many. White perch are a schooling species, as opposed to other spiny-rayed fish that swim in Maine waters. Often, huge schools splash and leap on the surface at sunrise and sundown. For anyone who has never witnessed this amazing spectacle, it appears other-worldly, with hundreds of white perch splashing on the surface, sunlight glinting off their silver sides. The sight makes my pulse race with anticipation, and I suspect it has the same effect on others. Also, white perch have a tenacity unrivaled by other spiny-rayed fish, including bass. A 12-inch white perch can pull a 12-inch bass backwards. Besides that, white perch make powerful bursts of speed, ripping line from reels in the process. Of course bass grow far larger than white perch, but for perch fans, that seems inconsequential. Unexpected Monsters Back in 1981, an unusual set of circumstances presented me with the best fishing of my life. It was September, a month when white perch bite better than ever at my favorite perch pond, a 612-acre pond that I considered my “home water.” Work didn’t permit me to get out until the beginning of the third week of the month, and what happened next will remain with me forever. Using shiners from a local stream, I drifted along with my bait bouncing bottom in about 20 feet of water. A fish took my bait, I set the hook and instead of a 10- to 12-inch white perch, I found myself with a 16-incher on my line. This was the largest white perch ever
Two bragging-size white perch. Seymour photo
Tom
from this pond. That was only the beginning, though. I continued taking 16- to 18-inch perch, and quit only after my bait ran out. This was the most astounding event in my angling career. Hoping that this was not a one-time event, I returned the next afternoon to find the giant white perch still in the same area. This time my bait bucket held a few extra-large baitfish, and these took the biggest perch, fish that weighed around 3 pounds – very close to the current state record. Smaller bait usually took smaller fish. This was a lesson well learned, and from then on, I did my best to trap and keep the largest baitfish possible. Perfect Storm What might have caused these fish to grow to such extreme sizes? For the answer, I turned to a fisheries biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. He told me that infrequently, circumstances come together to allow fish – in this case, white perch – to grow far larger than normal. “This may never happen again,” my biologist friend told me. Back then, the term, “perfect storm,” wasn’t in use. But if it were, it would have fit this situation perfectly. After the last day of the season, which back then was the last day of September, I was left to ponder the recent fishy events. My biggest hope was that these monster white perch would be available the next season. But that didn’t happen. I never saw fish such as these again. So the biologist was correct. A yearclass of fish had grown to unimaginable sizes because of a particular set of circumstances. It would never happen again, or at least after 39 years, it hasn’t happened yet. The Quest For me, the quest for those giant white perch continues. Perhaps fortune will favor me, and perhaps it won’t. But nonetheless, my enthusiasm hasn’t waned. Maybe you, dear reader, will find a perfect storm of white perch. I wish you well. www.MaineSportsman.com
16 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Wonderful Moosehead Memories If you’ve never visited Greenville and Moosehead Lake, put it on your travel list this year. It’s a very special place with nice inns and restaurants and wonderful woods and waters. I have lots of great memories of Greenville and Moosehead Lake, where I started fishing when I was a kid. My dad had a friend who owned a camp just north of Greenville, and we visited there several times and fished. My favorite times as a kid were at a camp owned by relatives at the north end of the lake, at Seboomook. My family had some great trips there. Salmon, Togue On time, when I was a teenager, I got into the rowboat and paddled out to catch salmon. And boy, did I catch a lot of fish! I didn’t even notice that I had drifted way down the lake, but eventually my dad discovered that I was out of sight and he got in the boat and motored down the lake. When he found me, he towed me back to camp. I remember being upset because I was catching fish and I did not want to stop fishing! As an adult I fished all over the lake. One time a guide from Rockport took me out to a deep hole just off Mount Kineo and we caught some nice www.MaineSportsman.com
Ed Pineau’s friend from Texas hunted every year at Ed’s Northeast Carry camp. The friend hadn’t seen a deer in five years. On my first day hunting with them, I shot a nice buck. I don’t think Ed’s friend was very happy with me!
The author fondly remembers a guided fishing trip on Moosehead Lake to a spot just off Mount Kineo, where a deep hole yielded some nice togue.
togue. And one of my most memorable fishing days was when the guide Dan Legere took me to the east outlet, where the Kennebec River begins. Writing About Our Travels I also love Greenville. During the seven years that Linda and I wrote weekly travel columns for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, we included several columns about places to stay and places to eat in Greenville. During one visit, I did a book talk at the Greenville library. You can still read those columns on my website, www.george-
smithmaine.com. Select “Best of Maine” and “Greenville” to access those columns. We also wrote columns about two of AMC’s sporting camps east of Greenville – Gorman Chairback and Medawisla, where we enjoyed great visits. I also enjoyed two visits to AMC’s Little Lyford camp, where I caught lots of brook trout in remote ponds. Deer, Bird Hunting with Friends I also enjoyed some deer, moose, and grouse hunting trips at my friend Ed Pineau’s camp, right on the lake in Northeast Carry. On my first visit there to hunt deer,
one of their friends from Texas who hunted with them every year was there, and he hadn’t seen a deer in five years. On the first day, I shot a nice buck, and I don’t think he was very happy about that! My favorite grouse hunting story occurred when I was hunting with Ed Pineau at his camp. We would drive along the road and take turns shooting at the grouse we spotted. Well, it was my turn to shoot when Ed saw a grouse in the woods to our right, so he stopped the vehicle a short way away and we walked up the road to where the grouse
was. But I couldn’t see it, so Ed told me to give him my gun and he’d shoot it. But I said, no way. It’s my turn to shoot. Ed pointed into the woods to a big stump. He explained the grouse was right at the bottom of that stump. I still couldn’t see it, but I aimed at the bottom of the stump and shot. When I walked out into the woods to the stump, I was astonished to see that I had shot two grouse! I did not see one grouse, but I shot two! Wonderful Experiences Linda and I and our kids enjoyed camping at Lily Bay State Park on Moosehead Lake, and we also stayed one time at Rockwood Cottages, which were owned for many years by my cousin Ron Searles and his wife Bonnie. The only thing I regret is that I never climbed Mount Kineo. Of course, there were no fish up there! Because of my illness, ALS, I am not able to travel or fish anymore, but I can’t be disappointed, because I’ve had a lifetime of wonderful experiences and memories, including many in Greenville and on Moosehead Lake. Be sure to spend some time there this year.
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 17
Quotable
Sportsman
by George Smith
“In the future, MDIFW will continue to seek cooperation during moose hunting seasons. Biologists will be at tagging stations requesting submission of ovaries to study ovulation rates and reproductive viability data in cows. The reproductive potential of moose in Maine determines the population growth or decline, so the participation and compliance by hunters are invaluable contributions to the future of Maine’s moose population. With the support of our state’s hunters, we can ensure the protection and enhancement of Maine’s moose population for generations to come.” Lauren McPherson, DIFW Wildlife Promotional Coordinator, Maine Woodland Owners newsletter, March 2020
“I’ve never minded sharing the woods with hunters. In fact, there’s good news in this story. Maine makes a lot of grouse. Our forests are so productive that there are more grouse in this state than there are people – up to two million birds by the end of summer. Like most prey species, grouse survive by making a lot of babies. Foxes, bobcats, hawks and owls are much bigger threats to grouse than human hunters are. In fact, cold, wet weather is a bigger threat. Conversely, ruffed grouse are doing great in Maine. I’m actually rather pleased to see so many hunters in the north woods. Once upon a time, deer hunting helped sustain the rural economy there. Grouse hunting has helped fill the void.” Bob Duchesne, Maine birding guide, Bangor Daily News, February 27, 2020 —
creatures that are no longer seen in the region today. Wolves, caribou, panthers and rattlesnakes are among the animals found roaming the woods and waters of Maine 200 years ago. Now, they’re all gone. “The state is no longer losing species like it once was, but its wilderness continues to change. Currently, 51 animal species are listed as threatened or endangered in Maine. Some populations are dwindling, but others are on the rise. Maine has also gained many animals in the past 200 years due to natural expansion, the rapidly changing climate and accidental introduction by people traveling from other areas. The coyote, opossum, turkey vulture and deer tick are all examples of ‘new’ Maine wildlife. And these animals all affect ecosystems in ways that often can’t be predicted.”
“When Maine achieved statehood in 1820, it was home to a number of wild
Aislinn Sarnacki, Bangor News, February 29, 2020
Daily
MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: White Perch by Steve Vose
The white perch, Morone americana, actually do not belong to the perch or Percidae family of fishes but instead scientists classify them as Moronidae, members of the temperate bass family. Possessing completely silver bodies, white perch look similar to juvenile striped bass, but with a slight humpback appearance and no stripes. A hard, scaly body and a dorsal fin containing several sharp spines, work to protect the fish from predators and can easily provide unsuspecting anglers with an unpleasant surprise. White perch range from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, and have been illegally introduced into the Great Lakes, causing destruction to native fish species. A voracious feeder, white perch can easily consume so many fish eggs and fry that they can effectively take over an entire landlocked body of water. Because they are a delectable speQuiz Questions 1. Are white perch members of the “perch” family of game fish? 2. What are the primary defense weapons of the white perch? 3. What is the native range of the white perch?
cies of game fish, anglers pursue white perch with intensity, and frequently enjoy catching average specimens measuring 8-9 inches and weighing up to 1 pound. In 2009, Daniel Dolloff pulled a trophy 3.24-pound white perch from the wa4. Do white perch exist in the Great Lakes? 5. What was the weight of the biggest white perch caught in Maine? 6. What is the average weight of an adult white perch? 7. When is the mating season for the
ters of Ellis Pond in Brooks, Maine, and it currently stands as the state record. White perch migrate throughout April to June into tidal fresh and slightly brackish waters to spawn. Mating occurs with females first releasing a sticky, gelatinous mass of over 150,000 eggs that adheres to the first thing it touches. During the weeklong spawning season, males in the area release milt around the eggs to fertilize them. Eggs and sperm are randomly mixed, and 1 to 6 days after fertilization, the young hatch. Juveniles hide in protected inshore estuaries and creeks, feeding on aquatic insects and small crustaceans until they are old enough to school together with adults in open water. White perch typically live 9-10 years, with some specimens living as long as 15 years. white perch? 8. What is the average life span of a white perch? 9. How long does it take after fertilization for white perch eggs to hatch?
Answers on Page 82 www.MaineSportsman.com
18 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Rigging ATVs for Remote Fishing by Steve Carpenteri Most ATV riders in Maine consider their trail machines to be multiple-use conveyances. Riding is certainly tops on the list of uses, but in springtime, angling becomes a preferred purpose for those who use their machines to access otherwise-inaccessible fishing destinations. Most ATVs are designed for travel, and these days, topend models are wellequipped for the purpose. They will get you wherever you’re going and back safely and in
Traveling to backwoods fishing spots with your ATV or UTV can open up a whole new world of angling possibilities, but only if it’s done right. Bottom line? Reduce your gear as much as possible, then fasten, tie, strap or bolt everything inside or outside your machine so that it remains intact for the rough ride along the trails or through the woods. style, with everything you need to enjoy a comfortable, secure and safe riding experience. Irrespective of fishing plans, efficiency, comfort and safety should dictate what is packed and what stays behind. Think
ahead, plan ahead and pack ahead. Keep related items together so loading, unloading and repacking for the return trip can be accomplished with as little aggravation as possible. Rigging an ATV for fishing requires
some knowledge, experience and a knack for conserving space. The Flintstones can just pile everything on top of their primitive vehicle and head for the hills, but that won’t work for most of us Maine adventurers. Everything you bring
on your trip should be useful, practical, and built to last. No Loose Ends Everything you place in, on or over your ATV should be in a container and securely attached with hooks, straps or bungee cords. Anything that is transported loosely and unsecured will likely bounce around, fall out or break – you can bank on it! Starting from the top, fishing rods should (Continued on next page)
Contact Your Local Can-Am ATV Dealer Today for the Current Offers!
THE
ULTIMATE OFF-ROAD EXPERIENCE www.MaineSportsman.com
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 Can AM 3099 N. Belfast Avenue 207-622-7994 www.northcountryh-d.com
LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-Doo 255 US HWY 202 207-933-4976 www.doitatreggies.com
DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 www.huffpowersports.com
LINCOLN Lincoln Powersports 265 W. Broadway 207-794-8100 www.lincolnpowersportsme.net
GREENVILLE JUNCTION Moosehead Motorsports 13 Moosehead Industrial Park 207-695-2020 www.mooseheadmotorsports.com ©2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. *Offers valid in U.S.A. only Sunday 1st March 2020 to Thursday 30th April 2020. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. Some mcxlels depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or, in USA, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. In Canada, call the Canadian Safety Council at (6131 739-1535 ext 227. Read the Operators Guide and watch the Safety DVD before riding. Wear appropriate protective clothing and helmet. For side-by-side vehicles, fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Never engage in stunt driving and avoid excessive speed. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Side-by-side vehicles and ATVs are recommended for drivers aged 16 and older, and passengers aged 12 and older only. For off-road use only. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always ride responsibly and remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
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By utilizing standard or aftermarket front and rear racks, owners of conventional ATVs have plenty of room for securing fishing gear, camping gear and other necessary equipment. (Continued from page 18)
be disassembled (no reels, hooks, lures or bobbers) and stored in a sealable tube or box that is solidly attached to the roll bar or frame, well out of the way of doors, passengers and the operator’s field of view. Place all fishing gear (including those reels and other tackle) into a secure, lockable tackle box or gear box that can be bolted or strapped securely to the front, side or back of the ATV. Prepare separate, individual tackle boxes (one for each fisherman) so that anyone can grab their gear at any time without displacing anyone else’s equipment. Always keep tackle boxes closed and buckled shut, especially when traveling between hotspots, to avoid messy entanglements, breakage or loss.
ATV and UTV upgrades include plenty of front, rear and overhead rack space for stowing rods, tackle boxes, camping gear and safety equipment.
Caring for Live Bait While certain types of live bait – such as worms – can endure some rough riding conditions, other types, including minnows and shiners, will not survive if bounced or shaken when traveling to remote locations. For this reason, live bait should be carried in secure containers that will not break open, leak or fall off the ATV in transit. Place these baits on the ATV near “center-gravity” points that will experience the least upheaval while traveling over rough roads and trails. In a side-by-side, place bait containers in the middle of seats between passengers or other secured gear to avoid costly losses en route. Try not to situate any loosely-fitting or unsecured gear inside or outside the rig
THE WORLD LEADER IN OFF-ROAD POWERSPORTS
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See Your Local Polaris Dealer for Current Offers! JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com
TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Rd. 207-729-1177 www.teamwoodys.com
LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com
GORHAM, NH Absolute PowerSports 461 Main St. 603-466-5454 www.absolutepowersportsnh.com
WARNING: Polaris® off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2019 Polaris Industries Inc.
THE CAT IS BACK
(Continued from page 18)
See Your Local Arctic Cat® ATV Dealer For Current Promotions! GORHAM LEBANON SIDNEY White Rock Outboard Northeast Motorsports Kramer’s Inc. 351 Sebago Lake Road 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 2400 West River Road 207-457-2225 *Offer valid at participating U.S.207-892-9606 dealers to U.S. residents on new and unused 2010–2015 Arctic Cat ATV models excluding youth, rental, government and special 207-547-3345 services models. See dealer for details and program dates. 4.9% FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS valid on 2010-2015 models, Financing provided through Sheffield Financial or FreedomRoad Financial and is subject to credit approval; not all applicants www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com www.kramersinc.com will qualify for credit.www.whiterockoutboard.com Financing promotions void where prohibited. 2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY valid on 2015 models and includes six-month limited factory warranty and 18-month extended service Top-end ATVs and UTVs are equipped to handlecontract a through Cornerstone. REBATES UP TO $1,000 valid on 2010–2014 models and varies by model purchased. Offer subject to change without notice. Excludes tax, freight and dealer setup. Only ride an ATV that is right for your age. Supervise riders younger than 16. Arctic Cat recommends that all riders take a training course and read and understand the owner’s manual before operation. For safety or training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at (800) 887-2887. ©2015 Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Thief River wide variety of gear, passengers, coolers, canoes, Falls, MN 56701. kayaks and other necessities. ROVs can be hazardous to operate. Improper use can cause severe injury or death. For your safety, each rider must wear a seat belt, approved helmet, eye protection and protective gear. Avoid excessive speeds and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. All ROV operators must be 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license. We recommend that all riders take a training course and read and understand the owner’s manual before operation. See your dealer for safety or training information or visit http://rohva.org. ©2017 Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Thief River Falls, MN 56701.
www.MaineSportsman.com
20 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Rigging ATVs
because it will break off or you will lose it along the way.
(Continued from page 19)
during travel, because the constant pounding of woods voyages (thumps, bumps and sudden stops) will send everything flying at the most inopportune moment. Bringing a Boat? Traveling with canoes or kayaks requires special racks
that are custom-fitted to ATVs. And remember to bring along a life jacket and paddle for each user. Securely store peripheral gear inside the boat, and then attach the boat to the ATV’s rack. Try not to have anything sticking out, flopping around or hanging over the side,
Camping Gear Tents, sleeping bags, coolers and other camping gear should be reduced to the smallest number possible, combined whenever feasible and then securely attached to the ATV. Keep in mind that ATV fishing, hunting and camping are ultra-light activ-
REALIZE YOUR ADVENTURE
ities that should be approached from the minimalist’s point of view. Passengers should be instructed to reduce their gear to the absolute bare essentials, and at that point it’s up to the ATV operator to decide what can and cannot go. Safety Gear and Preparation Most enclosed ATVs/UTVs have room built in for safety gear, including a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, tow rope, gloves and a small shovel. Also consider adding a phone and/or GPS charging kit for emergencies. Most folks already carry cell phones and charging equipment wherever they go. These will come in
handy in a crisis, but only so long as they are fully charged and there is cell service available (not always the case in the Maine backwoods). Finally, notify someone at home where you plan to go, how long you plan to stay and when you expect to return. Write it down, and provide a map with your destination clearly marked. Stick to your schedule as tightly as possible in the event that rescuers must be sent out to find you. Maine covers more than 33,000 square miles, which means your disabled ATV will be a very small needle in a very large haystack!
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Did You Bag a Turkey? Become a Member of The Maine Sportsman
MAINE WILD TURKEY PATCH CLUB!
Wolverine X2
Visit Your Local Yamaha ATV Dealer for Current Offers Today! JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com
SKOWHEGAN Whittemore & Sons 257 Waterville Road 207-474-2591 www.whittemoreandsons.com
LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com
TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road 207-729-1177 www.teamwoodys.com
Professional drivers on closed course. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and product warning labels before operation. Model shown with optional accessories. Vehicle specifications subject to change.
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www.mainesportsman.com and click “Patch Clubs” to download, print and mail your application with $10 to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 Don’t have a computer or printer? No problem! Give us a call at (207) 622-4242 and we’ll mail you an application. Other Maine Sportsman Patch Clubs Include: Biggest Bucks in Maine, The One That Didn’t Get Away, Catch-and-Release, Maine Black Bear, Maine Moose, Maine Big Game Grand Slam, and Maine Bowhunters.
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How to Buy a Used Boat and Trailer by Steve Carpenteri Sooner or later, every shoreline fisherman yearns for a boat that will take him away from the cluttered shoreline to where the “real” fishing is. Considering that a new, fully-equipped bass boat can cost over $40,000, it makes sense that first-time boat buyers will scour the “Used boat for sale” ads for an affordable boat, motor and trailer that fits their needs. When shopping for a used fishing craft, it’s important to be reasonable in your expectations. Anticipate dings and dents,
scrapes and scratches. A used boat is probably just that – used! It won’t be – nor should you expect it to be – factory perfect. However, a used boat should be complete, with no leaks, holes or cracks, and all parts and fittings should be intact. Check for hull cracks or repairs, and inspect the boat to see whether any parts or components look newer than the other aspects of the boat. Look the Boat Over Carefully Look for signs of excessive wear or neglect. On a larger ves-
sel, make sure the generator and electronics work, the seats swivel correctly, hatches open properly, and port lights (cabin windows) have not been affected by water leaking past the bedding material. Neglect in one area, such as the hull or upholstery, may mean previous owners have neglected in other areas. Everything on the boat, including handles, cleats and other accessories, should be functional, and all lights and other safety gear should be operational. In other words, the boat should be sea-
worthy and safe to operate. Go online to research the particular make and model you are considering purchasing, to ensure that “your” boat is the complete and original version. Don’t be afraid to dicker on price (downward, of course) if any important original
parts are missing or if extensive repairs are in order. “Used” should not be considered the same as incomplete or damaged. Survey, or No Survey? What is the pricepoint at which you should consider employing the services (Continued on next page)
Be Sure You’re Ready! Call Us Now for Boat Tops, Covers & Interiors
Repairs and Alterations Welcome!
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!
Protect the Interior
Your ou and r y! Y p e e K ean & D Boat Cl
COVERS IT ALL UPHOLSTERY & CANVAS Central Maine’s Largest Upholstery Service Oakland • (207) 465-7847 • www.coversitallupholstery.com — A full time, full service shop where experience counts! —
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 www.MaineSportsman.com
22 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Buying a Used Boat (Continued from page 21)
Dealer opportunities available in certain areas, contact Tom at Thomas.D@hewittrad.com.
STANDISH PORTLAND BAR HARBOR Lake & Sea Boatworks Portland Yacht Services Richardson’s Boat Yard 100 W. Commercial Street 633 Whites Bridge Road 204 Knox Road (207) 892-4913 (207) 774-1067 (207) 288-8961 www.portlandyacht.com www.richardsonsby.com www.lakeandsea.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 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 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 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. 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 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. “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. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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of a surveyor? There’s a simple answer – if your budget and financial circumstances are such that you can easily ignore the cost of the boat, then you don’t need a survey. Otherwise, consider having a surveyor look the boat over for you. Assuming you have made a purchase conditional on a satisfactory survey, there are two situations in which you may want to employ a surveyor. First, if you decide you have offered too much for the boat, and want a reason to back out or negotiate a lower price. Second, you love the boat and simply want to know what future expenses you will face. Let the surveyor know, either way. They are dispassionate observers, but they are still working for you. Acting as Your Own Surveyor Boats offered for sale that are sitting on a trailer on the front lawn should be suspect. Always ask for a test-run. Get the boat into the water, and take it out for at least a onehour test run. Be on the look-out for weak spots in the seats, transom or motor mount, as well as hull leaks, handling or balance issues. Sit in each of the seats. Inspect consoles, mechanicals and operating systems. Look for signs of dampness. A well-maintained boat with a sturdy hull shouldn’t have any patches of mildew or mold growing on it, and should not display any signs of rot. Mil-
dew is often a sign of water damage, leakage around fittings, or a faulty – i.e., leaky – hull. Generally, the smaller the craft, the fewer the issues. Set your own limits on what is acceptable, given the size of the boat and the price, but do not compromise on issues relating to function or safety unless you are skilled enough to properly repair the defects you observe. Trailers Travel any distance in summer on a major highway, and sooner or later you’ll come upon some unfortunate soul’s disabled trailer. In most cases, it is the trailer that is the weak link – specifically, the wheel bearings, which are most frequently the mechanicals to give out on used units. A close second is worn, faulty or disintegrating tires. So pay close attention to wheel bearings and tires! When examining a second-hand trailer, start with the hitch assembly. Be sure all parts are present and functional. Safety chains and connections should be serviceable. Next, check the axle, hubs and wheels for signs of wear. Examine the wiring harness for frayed wires and rusted connections. In many cases, trailer lights are erratic or no longer work, which creates additional expense after purchase. Check all light connections, housings and fixtures to be sure they are operational, (Continued on next page)
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Many small, used boats offered for sale come with a basic trailer. Inspect the hitch, wiring harness, lights, axle hubs and frame for signs of rust, breakage or excessive wear. (Continued from page 22)
or factor in their replacement as part of the purchase price. Remember, all boat trailers must be registered, and they must be in working order. Anything that is broken or not working is up to the new owner (that’s you!) to repair or replace. Examine the frame of the trailer from end to end. Look for rusted, broken, cracked or damaged areas. These will need to be repaired or welded. Check all loading and security fittings to ensure that the boat can be safely trailered, tied down and hauled. Any part that is broken, missing or isn’t functioning, will need to be replaced. Motors Boat motors are expensive, and they require annual maintenance. Before purchasing any used outboard motor, take it to
Don’t buy a boat of any size without first inspecting it while it’s in the water or taking it for a test run. Look for weak spots, rot, rust, cracks and holes that may indicate other issues. Photo courtesy of Blue Dot Marine
Larger boats require heavier and more sophisticated trailers, equipped with a spare tire, greater towing capacity and easier loading functions. Photo courtesy of Humminbird
a certified brand mechanic for evaluation. He or she will tell you whether anything is wrong with the motor, what needs repair, and how much it will cost. Considering that the average outboard motor is worth thousands of dollars, it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into before you complete the sale. Laws and Regulations It’s a good idea to research state and local laws regarding boats, motors and trailers, their use and restrictions, as well as taxes and operating costs, before purchasing a boat and trailer. All motorized boats must be registered. Trailers must be separately licensed. Learn the regulations governing the use of motorized boats, including who may operate the boats, proper use, safety equipment that must be aboard, protecting against the spread of invasive plant species, and other considerations. Before purchasing any boat or trailer, new or used, log on to www.mefishwildlife. com and click on the “Maine Boating Laws” link to learn what is required to own, maintain and operate a boat in Maine.
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2.99% FOR UP TO 48 MONTHS on New Honda Outboards!* Visit Your Local Honda Marine Dealer for Details!
ELLSWORTH Pirie Marine 53 Sunset Park Road • (207) 664-0500 www.piriemarine.com
PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 100 W. Commercial Street • (207) 774-1067 www.portlandyacht.com
MANCHESTER Clark Marine 57 Puddledock Road • (207) 622-7011 www.clarkmarinemaine.com
STANDISH Richardson’s Boat Yard 633 White’s Bridge Road • (207) 892-4913 www.richardsonsby.com
*APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 2.99% APR financing for 24 – 48 months, available to customers who qualify for AHFC credit tier 1. Example for new Honda outboard engines: 2.99% APR for 36 months financing at $29.08 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.99% APR for 60 months financing at $18.41 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.99% APR for 84 months financing at $14.13 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. Lower rates may also be available. Offer valid through July 6, 2020, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines (2hp – 250hp) and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply.
YAMAHA OUTBOARDS:
THE KEY TO RELIABILITY
See Your Local Yamaha Outboard Dealer for the Latest Promotions! BAR HARBOR Bowden Marine Service 713 Norway Drive (207) 288-5247 www.BowdenMarine.com
JONESPORT Moosabec Marine 3 Rosemary Ln (207) 497-2196 www.Moosabec.com
BRUNSWICK New Meadows Marina 450 Bath Road (207) 443-6277 www.NewMeadowsMarina.com
LINCOLN Lincoln Power Sports 265 W. Broadway (207) 794-8100 www.LincolnPowerSportsME.com
FREEPORT New Meadows Marina 132-2 US Route 1 (207) 869-4008 www.NewMeadowsMarina.com
THOMASTON Jeff’s Marine 2 Brooklyn Heights Road (207) 354-8777 www.JeffsMarine.com www.MaineSportsman.com
24 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Looking for a Life Raft? Consider the Compact Air Survival Equipment (C.A.S.E.) Here’s a compact, lightweight, reasonably-priced six-person self-inflating life raft that can easily be carried onboard almost any recreational boat venturing out on salt water. As a charter captain and guide here in Maine for the past 49 years, I’ve learned to take safety at sea pretty seriously. Although I’ve never (knock on wood) had any sort of significant safety issue during a trip, I like to be prepared. That why I always carry an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), a Globalstar satellite phone, and an emergency self-inflating life raft on board. Interestingly, none
of these items are actually required by the Coast Guard on my charter boat (unlike Type I life jackets, flares, throw ring and other gear, which are required), but I say as the Boy Scouts say, “be prepared.” I’ve had the same life raft for about nine years. It has a six-person capacity, is stored in a vinyl valise, and weighs about 75 pounds. All life rafts must be re-packed at certain intervals (generally ranging from annually to every three years) at a cost
that’s not insignificant. My raft, which is no longer produced, must be re-packed every three years at a cost of around $700. With my third re-pack coming due this spring. I decided to shop around and see if there was anything new in the way of rafts I could buy as a replacement. After a bit of searching, I came across the website for Liferaft Services, here in York, ME (SurvivalAtSea.com), and a new raft caught my eye. It’s produced by a company called Crewsaver (that’s actually been around since 1957) and it’s called the Rescue Compact Air Survival Equipment, or C.A.S.E. for short. It’s a six-person, self-inflating raft designed for recreational boaters that comes in a small (16.5” x 13” x
Tanner Robinson of Liferaft Services in York, Maine displays the ultra-compact, 25-pound C.A.S.E. six-person life raft. The nylon cord he has gripped in his right hand is pulled out to the end to automatically inflate the raft. Barry Gibson photo
6.5”) valise with a handle on top. The whole thing weighs only 25 pounds, and it retails for just $1,039. Pull the Painter to Pop So, I took a ride down to Liferaft Services to check it out, where I was met by Tanner Robinson, the
company’s Inside Sales Representative. “The raft is designed with a single tube around the six-sided perimeter,” Tanner explained, “and therefore has a smaller and lighter bottle of carbon dioxide (CO2) than larger rafts might have. “To deploy, you (Continued on next page)
SPIN • FLY • BAIT • FRESH • SALT • GUIDES WE'VE MOVED to 200 Veranda Street, Portland, ME • (207) 773-FISH www.MaineSportsman.com
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 25 (Continued from page 24)
simply pull out the painter line about three arm lengths, and toss the raft into the water. If you’re not in danger of sinking right away, you can attach the line to the boat – otherwise, just hold onto it. When the full length of the painter is pulled out, it will ‘pop’ the raft, which will quickly self-inflate.” The C.A.S.E. has an attached fabric boarding ladder that pulls out from the tube, which is easier to use than the stirrup-style device found on some other rafts. It also has five 100-pound, self-filling
seawater ballast bags. “The ballast helps prevent the raft from flipping over,” said Tanner. “It also helps slow down the raft’s drift, so you stay closer to the position where you activated your EPIRB or where you radioed that your boat was in trouble. It helps rescuers find you more quickly.” The raft is bright yellow in color, and has three lengths of reflective tape on top of the tube for added visibility from a vessel or aircraft. The C.A.S.E. has a three-year re-pack interval, with costs ranging from about
$300 to $600. “The cost will depend on the components that need to be tested or replaced” explained Tanner. “For instance, the second re-pack will require the CO2 bottle to be sent out, hydro-tested, and refilled. So, that re-pack will be more at the high end of the range.” Designed for Coastal Boaters The C.A.S.E is designed for recreational coastal and near-shore boaters, especially those who operate their boats on day trips out to about 30 miles during the warm-weather months
The C.A.S.E. raft, inflated. At bottom is the fabric boarding ladder. The bright yellow color and reflective tape on top of the tube increase visibility. Photo: Crewsaver
where assistance can be expected within several hours. “It’s all about
what you’re comfortable with,” said Tanner. “If you plan to run (Continued on page 27)
— FISHING CHARTER DIRECTORY — BATH/BRUNSWICK/MID-COAST
PORTLAND/SOUTH PORTLAND
Marsh River Charters
WELLS HARBOR
In-shore Trips for Stripers & Bluefish Off-shore Trips for Everything from Haddock to Tuna
Fishing the Mid-Coast area including Kennebec, Sheepscot and New Meadows Rivers
Tackle Provided • Full & Half Day Trips Bluefish • Striped Bass • Mackerel • Offshore Fishing
— Capt. Derek Peters —
Capt. Hank DeRuiter, U.S.C.G. Licensed, Registered Maine Guide
207-882-4086 • DeRuiter58@comcast.net www.MarshRiverCharters.com
KEY:
(207) 608-2903 www.apexcharters.com
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OBSESSION CHARTERS Light Tackle and Fly Fishing Lower Kennebec Area STRIPERS, BLUEFISH, & SMALLMOUTHS OFF-SHORE TUNA & SHARKS Departing Kennebec Tavern and Marina, Downtown Bath
Capt. Dave Pecci
Orvis Guide of the Year Award Recipient Quality Fishing Experience Since 1991
Credit Cards Accepted
Capt. Mike Faulkinham
207-619-1584
KEY:
Striped Bass • Sharks Fly/Light Tackle on The Flats Inshore Bait Trips Family Fun Groundfish Charters Full & Half Days USCG Licensed/Reg. Maine Guide
Call 207-841-1444
www.fishportlandmaine.com
KENNEBUNKPORT/OGUNQUIT
Shallow Water Sight Casting for Kennebec River Striped Bass
www.obsessioncharters.com • e-mail: obsessionscharters@gmail.com
DEEP SEAon FISHING
• Full & Half Day Fishing Trips
Captain Tim Tower
• Charters Also Available • Rods & Reels Provided
207-646-2214
KEY:
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Perkins Cove • April 1–November 15th Daily For Info Write: Tim Tower, PO Box 837F, Ogunquit, ME 03907 www.bunnyclark.com • e-mail: bunnyclarkdsf@gmail.com
PORT CLYDE
Sea Ventures Charters
Fly & Light Tackle • All Trips Catch-Photo-Release 18’ Flats Boat & 25’ Custom Center Console
www.MaineStripers.com 207-522-9900 • pfallon@mainestripers.com Gillies & Fallon Guide Service, LLC
Book your chartered fishing trip today!
Site-seeing Tours & Specialized Trips for Kids! KEY:
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YORK/KITTERY/PORTSMOUTH, NH
SHOALS FLY FISHING & LIGHT TACKLE Captain Peter A. Whelan
USCG Lisc. • Registered Maine Guide Striped Bass • Tuna • Bluefish 23 ft. Mako • Furuno Radar-GPS • Furuno Color Fish Finder Fly Casting Instruction • Family Trips Welcome
Wentworth Marina, Newcastle, NH • 603-205-5318 pawhelan@comcast.net • www.shoalsflyfishing.com LAKE ONTARIO, NY SALMON & TROUT
Wilson Harbor Lake Ontario, NY 270 Sea Ray Amberjack —
Captain Roger Young
USCG Lic. #811007 (860) 480-3395 papasmurffc@hotmail.com www.papasmurffishingcharter.com
KEY:
+ (UP TO 6)
~ Captain Dave Sinclair ~
Custom Schedule, Personalized Charters Commercial Diving/Salvage • Recreational Dive Trips • Island Cruises Offshore & Inshore Fishing Sharks, Giant Bluefin Tuna, Mackerel, Halibut, Bottom Fishing
207-446-5484 • dave@divefishmaine.com Credit Cards Accepted
www.DiveFishMaine.com
KEY:
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KEY: How Many Anglers Per Trip + 1 or 2 Up to 4 6+ www.MaineSportsman.com
26 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
The Search for Bluefin Tuna:
Not So Wicked – Part 1 by Bob Humphrey Large arcs appear on the multi-function display screen as the fishfinder beeps an alarm. “We’re marking! Wolf pack at 20 fathoms.” Moments later a big rod bends over and the clicker starts slowly, then buzzes as line peels off the reel. “We’re on, we’re on, we’re on!” Pandemonium ensues as lines are cleared and the battle begins. Time elapses quickly, and soon a big bluefin is pinwheeling under the stern. “Color. There he is. Take the shot!” A harpoon is heaved, more pandemonium, then the tail wrap is secured and it’s high-fives all around. All the action, which may have taken several hours, is concisely encapsulated into a four-minute segment. That’s reality TV, but it’s not reality. Television Magic Through the magic of television, The National Geographic Channel’s immensely popular show, Wicked Tuna, has brought all the excitement and drama of bluefin tuna fishing into the homes of millions of viewers, www.MaineSportsman.com
The realities of tuna fishing are much different than what’s shown on TV. Climb aboard the author’s boat as he describes the long hours – and periodic exhilaration – of the chase. as well as encouraging hundreds of eager anglers to take up the chase. While the former continue to enjoy rapidly unfolding events, the latter soon learn the action occurs at a much slower, more protracted pace, characterized by hours, sometimes days, of down time punctuated by occasional exhilaration. Like the hunting shows where it only takes 30 minutes to kill a big buck, or TV dramas where even the worst dilemma can always be solved within an hour, the reality of tuna fishing is quite different from what we see on TV. Climb aboard, and I’ll show you. Bait First It all seems so romantic, idling past the channel markers at dawn, then throttling up as you pass the last point of mainland. Gulls, just leaving their night roosts are mere silhouettes
against the eastern sky, ablaze in red-orange tones that repeat themselves where they meet glass-calm surface waters of the bay. Then you pass the last island, and ahead lies only boundless sea. Today the ocean is yours, for you are a tuna fisherman. It’s right about here, where you can cut the dramatic music and heady daydreaming, because it’s time to go to work. The first order of business is securing fresh, live bait. Depending on time and schedule, some fishermen roll the dice and run straight for the fishing grounds first, planning (hoping) to catch bait after they’re anchored up. It saves time, but can be a very risky proposition. Unless you arrive after dark, there may not be any baitfish on the surface, and the depths may not yield the choice species that fishermen and tuna
prefer. Either way, you’re burning valuable time. Others stop at strategic locations along the way to fill the livewell. This is only slightly less risky, for the fish may not be where they were last week, or even yesterday; and you can easily burn an hour or two searching. The more well-prepared and -equipped fishermen may have bait pens tied to the docks, but even those need to be kept fresh and full on almost a daily basis. Getting to the Right Spot Next comes the steam that, depending on your intended destination, could be one or several hours long. It’s not so bad on calm days, when you can enjoy occasional sightings of dolphins, porpoises and whales. It’s work in moderate seas, and can be downright miserable when the waves build to
three, four or five feet. Everything, including simply staying on your feet becomes more difficult by an order of magnitude, but the fish are still out there, so you go. Landing in the right location is often critical to success. If you left early enough and didn’t spend too much time catching bait, you might be able to pick your spot. More often than not, another boat is already there – probably spent the night. You hope that won’t be you tomorrow morning, but it might. So you settle for your second or third choice, knowing the fishing won’t be quite as good, and you lower the anchor over the side, let out the proper scope, tie off and wait for wind and tide to orient the boat. Waiting is the Hardest Part If all goes well, which it seldom does, both wind and tide will be in your favor. Too often it seems the two forces, like jealous siblings, are at odds with one another. Wind holds the boat in one (Continued on next page)
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While boring, waiting for a bite can be relaxing when wind, tide and seas cooperate. All photos © Bob Humphrey (Continued from page 26)
direction, while tide carries lines in another. Sometimes you can adjust, running lines off the side or attaching large, inflated trash bags, which act as sails to pull the baits away. Other times you fight wind and tide, continually moving and adjusting lines, balloons and rods, possibly for hours. The only consolation is – it’s something to do. Then comes the waiting. The sun and the seas are now up. What are the Chances? Fishing of any kind is a game of odds. For tuna fishing, those odds are very long. Consider that you’ve got three, maybe four baits dangling over the side at different depths somewhere between the surface and two to three hun-
Everything, including catching bait, becomes more difficult and unpleasant in rough seas
dred feet of water. Your hope lies in the possibility that a fish, swimming in a boundless ocean, somehow chances upon one of those baits, and then decides to eat it. The bluefin tuna is a remarkable fish. It is heterothermic (warm-blooded), meaning it can adjust its body temperature to compensate for colder water. That complex circulatory system also sends warm blood to the brain and massive eyes. If the bait isn’t hooked right or doesn’t swim right, if you haven’t darkened your crimps or if the notorious pink slime has soiled your leader, they’ll see it and they won’t bite. Finally, a Strike – But is it a Tuna? Long hours drag on, and you pass the time fishing for bait, or groundfish for the dinner table, periodically
C.A.S.E. (Continued from page 25)
when the water’s cold, stay out at sea for a few nights, or take long trips, you might want a higher-end raft.” The C.A.S.E., however, is small enough and light enough to take aboard any boat from about 16 feet on up, and can be brought home at the end of the day for secure storage. I think it’s a great safety item for coastal Maine
checking and re-setting baits and telling lies. As the tide begins to ebb, the crew slowly stirs from hours of inactivity. It’s time to freshen the baits in advance of slack tide, when tuna are more inclined to bite. Lines are re-set, you settle back into what comfort you can find, watch the fishfinder and wait some more. S l a c k tide passes uneventfully and just as the current starts to run again, it happens. The first signal is the “pop” of a balloon. Jolted into alertness, you quickly scan the rods to see which one is bent. It’s the down line, in the left rear gunwale rodholder. Orders are shouted out: “Start the engines. Drop the anchor. Clear those other lines!” The crew jumps into action as one angler cranks up tension on the line, suddenly
Porbeagle and blue sharks break up the monotony and provide a brief source of excitement but are also an expensive nuisance.
feeling the weight and the life of the big fish. More orders: “Hard to starboard. We need to keep him away from the anchor ball!” The first blistering run of line off the reel slows, then stops, and you begin gaining, slowly at first, then more rapidly. Disappointment The fish seems to give in too soon. Your gut and experience tell you something isn’t quite right, and you curse in a muffled voice, “Dammit.” The crew responds, “What?” but they know. The line is coming in too easily. Still, you go through all the motions because you just never know. But you do. Soon there’s color, a faint hue shimmering from the depths; not the silver sheen of a giant bluefin, but the cobalt and white of a blue shark. You crank
boaters and recreational fishermen, and in the world of life rafts, the price is very reasonable. I was so impressed by the C.A.S.E. and what Tanner said about it, I ordered one on the spot. New Striper Rules As of this writing, it appears that Maine will adopt the striped bass regulation voted on by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) back in October. It will be one fish
down the drag, hoping to retrieve your hook, but knowing your $50 leader is already shot. The shark is released, and you return to anchor and start all over again. “It was a good practice run,” you rationalize. ***** Next month’s conclusion: Watching other boats around you connect with tuna; more waiting; then this: One of the rods you’ve been staring at all day suddenly bends, ever so slightly. “Did you see that?” No one else did, and you start to question whether you saw it, when it happens again. The heavy, stiff rod bends into an arc and line peels out as the clicker whines. “Fish on!” You can tell right away – this is no shark.
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per angler per day, minimum 28 inches and maximum 35 inches. So, it’s pretty much the same regulation as the last several years, except it’s now a “slot,” since all stripers over 35 inches will have to be released. All other regs (circle hooks, no gaffing, special Kennebec Watershed rules) remain in place. More to come on this topic in the June issue of The Sportsman.
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www.MaineSportsman.com
28 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Q&A with District Game Warden Megan Orchard by Will Lund Game Warden Megan Orchard patrols the northern regions of Aroostook County. She is one of three women in the Maine Warden Service. Sportsman: What’s your current job position? Wdn. Orchard: Mars Hill District Warden. Sportsman: What path did you take to this profession? Wdn. Orchard: I am the first member of my family to go into law enforcement. I graduated from Unity College with a bachelor’s degree in Conservation Law Enforcement. I was hired in August of 2016, then graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy police training program in December, 2016, followed by graduation from Advanced Warden School in April of 2017. Sportsman: Any other recent accomplishments? Wdn. Orchard: I am the first female firearms instructor for the Maine Warden Service. Sportsman: Tell us www.MaineSportsman.com
about a typical day on the job. Wdn. Orchard As a game warden, you never know what your day is going to bring. I start most days with a plan, but as the workday progresses, I end up doing something completely different. We wardens are fortunate to have opportunities to travel the state to work peak activity throughout the year. Maine is such a large and diverse state that wardens’ day-to-day tasks are vastly different from one end of the state to the other. For example, in early spring, while wardens in the southern half of the state are dealing with ATVs, nuisance wildlife and open-water fishing, we are still working snowmobile and ice fishing activities. Sportsman: What trends are you seeing in outdoor activities? Wdn. Orchard: Even during the relatively short time I’ve been on the job, I have noticed a growth in outdoor activities. At least until the health-related slowdown this spring, we were seeing more and more recreational vehicle traffic, hik-
ing, snowshoeing and wildlife watching, in addition to hunters, anglers and trappers. Sportsman: What aspects of the job are the most challenging? Wdn. Orchard: Our primary responsibilities are two-fold – first, we protect Maine’s natural resources by enforcing laws designed to prevent overhunting, overfishing and other activities that can damage fish, game and the land. At the same time, we are tasked with keeping the public safe, by ensuring that activities such as boating, ATV operation and snowmobiling are done in such as a way to reduce the chances of injury to operators, passengers and other folks who are enjoying the outdoors. So being a Maine Game Warden comes with a lot of responsibility. We are responsible for all hunting, fishing and trapping enforcement, and all recreational vehicle enforcement. And if things don’t go as planned on the lakes or in the woods, Game Wardens are the lead agency in the state for search and rescue. Sportsman: The most
Warden Orchard
enjoyable parts of the job? Wdn. Orchard: I like the fact that every day is different, and our jobs change with the seasons. One month we’re working spring fishing activity, and then we shift our focus to summer boating and ATVs, and next to fall hunting and trapping.
One of my favorite parts of the job is that every day is different and the job changes with the seasons. I also really enjoy getting outside every day, and meeting many great people who appreciate the outdoors as much as I do.
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— Maine Women Outdoors —
New to Fly Fishing? Here’s How to Get Started by Bonnie Holding
The #1 rule from this Master Guide? When it comes to learning how to fly fish, don’t try to teach, or be taught by, your spouse or partner! Is this the year to start fly fishing? YES! Do it! Fly fishing will take you down some beautiful roads, introduce you to some wonderful people and maybe help you locate some fishing holes close to home. A couple things to get you started down this great path. First, don’t have your partner begin the teaching process. Take it from someone who knows. It is amazing to me that when you have to make a comment to help with the teaching process and it comes from someone else teaching, you take it as that – a comment. BUT, if that same comment comes from your partner, you’re sure
that it is against you and everything you do in life!! When I have fly fishing schools, I have been known to separate spouses – I will partner them with other anglers. Not only does this work with the learning process, but it also gives them different stories to tell at the end of the day. Along this same line, I also suggest if you can, go to a fly-fishing school. Learning from a guide is great and helpful, but sometimes learning in a group is more successful. The reason is that sometimes you don’t know what question to ask, but another person does. I have found that great conversa-
tions and learning opportunities happen in small groups. And really important – once you get going, hire a guide! This will help you to know what fly to use, what piece of water to fish, and when to go. Guides are a wealth of knowledge. Fly fishing is a wonderful way to pay attention to your surroundings, maybe bring you to the fly-tying world and perhaps even to the rod-building arena. Whether you choose to have this your alone time or find other outdoors enthusiasts with common interests, it will be some of your most amazing memories.
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Bonnie Holding of Coplin Plantation has been a Master Maine Guide for more than 30 years. In April, 2019 she received the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Maine Guide Award. In 2008, she was honored by Outdoor Life Magazine as one of the top four female guides in the nation. Holding has been instrumental in the success of “Casting for Recovery,” a national program that uses fly fishing to help women recovering from breast cancer . Photo by Blaine Holding
More and more Maine women are participating in the state’s outdoor sporting activities. Here, Emilie Crahm and Christi Holmes set mallard decoys along the shoreline of the Presumpscot River in Windham. In the last decade, the number of women hunters in this state has increased from 17,000 to 22,000, and the number of women anglers has grown from 50,000 to more than 60,000. Photo by Melissa Goodwin
www.MaineSportsman.com
30 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Baxter Brookies I hit redial on my cell phone and called Baxter State Park’s reservation system for the fourth time in a row. Still busy. I redialed again. It was 8:04 a.m., four months prior to the weekend I hoped to stay at the park. My hope was to get through to the reservation folks in order to arrange a repeat of last spring’s successful trip. Every year, my three girlfriends and I spend a weekend fly fishing, and last year we camped at Kidney Pond for our getaway. The trip last year started unremarkably. We swatted away black flies upon arrival at our cabin. Margaret lit a propane light in the cabin, and Loren went to get wood for the woodstove from the ranger station. Andie unpacked her sleeping bag onto one of the bunkbeds, and I went to scope out the outhouse, located about 50 feet from the cabin. In typical Maine camp fashion, by the time we went to bed, the woodstove had the tiny cabin sweltering hot, and we slept with a window open. Breathtaking Sight Loons sang us awake the next morning. The view in the daylight took my breath away. Our cabin stood less than twenty feet from the rocky shore of Kidwww.MaineSportsman.com
We watched as a fish slurped down Margaret’s dry fly. “The fish feels big,” she said, a bit anxiously. I grabbed the net as she coaxed the fish into it. It was a beautiful 18-inch brookie.
The author holds a beautifully-colored brookie before releasing it back into the waters of Jackson Pond.
ney Pond. Katahdin loomed in the distance, its perfect reflection painted on the calm lake. Fees for the twelve rustic cabins are between $57/night (sleeps two), to $135/ night (sleeps six). The cabins date back to 1899, and were built by the Hunt brothers. The brothers guided hunting and fishing out of the cabins. They also built the Hunt Trail, up Katahdin, after guests expressed interest in
climbing tain.
the
moun-
Headed to Jackson Pond Andie fired up her Coleman two-burner stove and made some grainy coffee, while Loren and I walked to the ranger station to inquire about fishing at the nearby ponds. There are a handful of ponds within hiking distance from Kidney Pond, and the Park keeps a canoe or two at each. The keys for the canoes at Big and Little Rocky
Ponds were already taken, the ranger informed us, so we took the keys to the canoes at Jackson Pond. After a second cup of grainy coffee, we rigged up our rods and began the relatively flat 1.25-mile hike to Jackson. No Effects from Accidental Stocking From our tippy aluminum canoe in the middle of Jackson, Margaret and I paddled beneath Katahdin and Doubletop Mountains. The pond was
a wilderness paradise, squeezed between scenic mountains. Mixed conifers lined the shore; their tannins stained the water the color of tea. Loren and Andie shared a canoe and we split up on the pond, searching for productive areas. The pond is fly fishing only, and boasted native brook trout until it was accidentally stocked via plane in 2003. However, a 2010 survey captured no hatchery trout – only wild fish. According to MDIFW fisheries section supervisor Joe Overlook, biologists “do not anticipate any impact to the wild population as a result of the accidental stocking.” In the technical and scientific language that applies to such situations, he said that “infrequent or historical stocking events rarely result in genetic introgression from hatchery strains,” since “hatchery alleles [a variant form of a gene] are often selected against.” In other words, nature usually wins out. Almost Lost a Spool I had quick luck on my full sink line, catching two nice brookies off the bat. They were gorgeously dark – colored from the tannic water, I imagined. Margaret only had a sink tip, and being a good canoe partner, I offered to let her (Continued on next page)
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The group’s canoes glided quietly along the surface of the water. (Continued from page 30)
use my rod while I canoed her around and smoked a Cuban. We tried different parts of the pond and Margaret landed a couple of smaller brookies before giving me back my rod. I took one cast and PLOP! – the spool fell off the reel and into the lake. I must not have snapped it fully in. With a look of horror, I tried to remember if the backing was tied to the spool. I frantically pulled up the line, hand over hand, but I was just pulling line off the spool, not actually pulling the spool itself up. I increased my intensity and after an anxious minute, I could see my spool. I dove my arm into the pond and grabbed it.
Phew! So now I had my spool, but now I also had a giant tangled bird’s nest of backing and line at my feet. It took me half an hour to untangle it. “This Fish Feels Big!” It was lunchtime when I was finally back in action, so after a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we paddled to a different area of the pond. I caught another two brookies back to back, and Margaret landed one on her dry fly. The bite was on in this spot. Then we watched a fish slurp down Margaret’s dry fly. “It feels big,” she said, a bit anxiously, as I grabbed the net and she coaxed the fish into it. It was a beautiful 18” brookie. After releasing
With mountain peaks as a backdrop, Loren landed this nice brookie.
the fish, we chuckled about karma, and how I had kindly loaned her my rod, only for me to get a tangled mess and her to catch the biggest fish. We didn’t want to leave the pond as the daylight dimmed and twilight approached. Fishermen are the ultra-optimists. One more cast. Oh, my lucky fly will do the trick. This spot over here is the one. Five more minutes. Eventually, we threw in the towel, and hiked back to the cabin, swatting black flies the entire way. One the fifth redial, I got through to reservation office, and made our reservation for this spring, with visions of dark, wild brook trout in my head.
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A weekend fishing trip with friends. From left: Margaret, Loren, Andie and Christi.
Being a good canoe partner, Christi offered to let Margaret use her fly rod that was spooled with full-sink line. Then, while Margaret cast, Christi paddled and smoked a Cuban.
Margaret thought it was a big trout on the line ... and she was right! www.MaineSportsman.com
32 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Brandy and Port Draped Smoked Turkey How we long for winter and then summer, yet we have all those Maine seasons in between: Mud Season, spring then Black Fly Season. This new recipe was inspired by Joe Saltalamachia’s column on brandied turkey. I used electric-fired, apple dry wood boxed, and our 19-year-old CookShack smoker. I soaked paper towels in brandy
and port, then draped over breasts, salted cavity, stuffed apple sausage inside and put her in to smoke. The skin’s color is nothing less than a well-polished mahogany bird. The taste is to swoon over, and the leftovers … stay tuned! We are all so sad for not having the show this year; we couldn’t mingle with old and new friends, share stories, and
give away annual treats for new sign ups. And I made a bunch of little jars of a new hot sauce to give away at the State of Maine Sportsman Show, next year. I’m looking forward to seeing all our peeps next year, 2021. Stay safe! Enjoy and Bon Appetit!
I love the flavor of any smoked turkey. The flavor of the cognac and port really came out in the stock I made from the bones and skin. As you know, bone broth is very good for you, and this turkey stock won’t disappoint! Ingredients: • 1 wild turkey, dressed • ½ cup brandy or cognac • ½ cup port • 4 Apple sausages, optional Soak 4 large paper towels in cognac and port. Sprinkle turkey cavity with Kosher Salt. Add sausages. Drape paper towels over turkey. Load electric smoker with wood chips, and place turkey inside. Set smoker to 225 degrees F, and smoke until the internal temperature is 160 to 165 degrees F, 5 to 6 hours, depending upon size. ENJOY!
Buttermilk Oatmeal Banana Bread While convenience is important, flavor takes precedence in this recipe. You will be highly complimented for your efforts.
I love the larger, discernible texture in rolled oats, and I’m thankful for powdered buttermilk. The combination reveals a magnificent texture and mois-
Ingredients: • ¾ cup whole buttermilk • ½ cup Rolled Oats • 1½ cups flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • ¼ teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • ¾ cup light brown sugar • 6 tablespoons roasted walnut oil
• • • • • • • •
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cooking spray 9 x 5 loaf pan. Squeeze bananas in skin. Stir buttermilk into oats in a bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Squeeze bananas out of skin, and mash.
Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, stir. Combine bananas, vanilla, eggs, brown sugar and oil to buttermilk mixture; fold in flour mixture, chocolate chips and pecans. Spoon batter into loaf
www.MaineSportsman.com
ture. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for decadence!
¼ cup pecans, chopped ½ cup dark chocolate chips ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground 3 very ripe bananas, mashed 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 2 large eggs, lightly beaten Cooking spray pan, bake for 1 hour. Cool in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan; serve warm, or cool completely.
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— Guest Column —
Give Maine Outdoor Recreation Workers the Respect They Deserve - Part 2 by Mary Haley In Part 1, published in our March issue, the author detailed the challenges facing Maine’s seasonal outdoor-sports workers, including perception, pay, and barriers to advancement. However, a turnaround is in the works. For example, Somerset Career and technical School offers one of four “Outdoor Leadership and Skills” programs in the state. Part 2 sets forth the role of employers, and of Maine state government, in developing and maintaining that positive momentum. Employers Must Play a Role Jesika Lucarelli, owner of Great Mountain Guide Service in Millinocket, says there is a huge personal investment when some-
one chooses a career in outdoor recreation over a traditional 9-5 job. She spends almost $900 every time she renews her Wilderness First Responder certification. Although Lucarelli is now an independent guide, she notes that even when working for an outfitter, guides and instructors are required to buy much of their own gear, and in some cases – like fishing – their guests’ gear. Traditional job employers often sponsor continued training and education, but for outdoor recreation employees that’s almost nonexistent. Lucarelli says folks such as guides, instructors and receptionists are “the boots on the ground,” and they are the ones who create the narrative for tour-
ism in Maine. For that reason, there’s plenty of justification to invest in those workers. The seasonality and physical geography of Maine and the transient nature of its workers makes a career in outdoor recreation here a challenging choice, and sometimes results in undeserved negative perceptions of the professions in the minds of certain members of the public. Lucarelli wholeheartedly disagrees with any negative perceptions, pointing to the positive influences of outdoor recreation employment. “We are teaching [young employees] not just a physical discipline, but a healthy lifestyle,” she said. As for guide services and sporting camps, she added:
The Annual Kenduskeag Canoe Race attracts paddle-sport enthusiasts from all over the New England, and an equally-large crowd of spectators. Although canceled in 2020 for reasons related to COVID-19, it’s sure to return for 2021.
“Not only are we educating young people, but we’re fueling the local economy, because we’re [always] buying, selling, or trading.” Lucarelli doesn’t limit that impact to just goods and gear – she also includes knowledge, skills, and experiences. Maine State Government Recognizes Need While focused education for students and an increased awareness of the industry’s contributions to the state’s economy will slowly change perceptions, Maine government is attempting to get ahead of the curve. In 2018, the Office of Outdoor Recreation was established, to “leverage Maine’s assets and outdoor recreation heritage to
grow the outdoor recreation economy and build Maine’s outdoor recreation brand” by coordinating public and private efforts, including workforce support and development. The state’s effort is based on a realization that tourism and outdoor recreation are a large part of Maine’s future, which will require a supported and proud workforce. Outdoor recreation employees are Maine’s ambassadors, fueling one the state’s largest economies. This economic engine and its professionals deserve our respect, especially given that the industry continues to grow year after year. Yes, it’s a real job and yes, it’s one to be proud of.
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Being a guide means being a cook, navigator, entertainer, and emergency responder. www.MaineSportsman.com
34 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Time for Trolling and Turkeys In all likelihood there is no period with a more concentrated fishing effort on Aroostook Lakes than the last three weeks of May. During most years, ice cover disappears on the Fish River chain of Lakes within three days on either side of Mother’s Day. This octet of waterways garners heavy spring trolling attention from fishermen far and wide, and when asked I always suggest visitors wait at least two days after ice-out to start fishing. Depending on size, location and shoreline cover, Crown of Maine lakes are generally clear of ice at various times during the month of May, but the Fish River waters are an excellent template for prime trolling time. A Grand Idea There are a handful of regional lakes, particularly a couple in southern Aroostook, that become at least partially ice-free and fishable earlier each
spring. Grand Lake is one of my go-to favorites, and due to its size huge area, crowding is seldom a problem. In fact, even after my favorite Fish River Lakes become fishable, I avoid weekend crowding and pressure by heading to East Grand. While the lake is renowned for its fast and furious summer smallmouth action, brookies, salmon, and togue are the holy trinity for ice-out trollers. This lake is so large and diverse in contour and structure that productive areas are plentiful, and pressure is seldom a problem. Visiting fishermen, especially newcomers, need to be aware that East Grand is a border water with Canada and falls under special regulations. First and foremost, American anglers cannot put ashore on the New Brunswick side – in fact, it’s best to not even motor and fish the coves on that
Tom Wolters of Michigan snaps a quick photo with his cell phone before releasing a fat, feisty, colorful brookie back into a small pond near Bridgewater during a May trolling outing. www.MaineSportsman.com
shoreline. Be sure to check your regulations on limit and size restrictions as well. There are multiple maintained boat launch ramps and several more access points that will easily handle watercraft 20 feet in length. I’m a big fan of trolling feathered baits rather than metal or plastic, and have generally enjoyed steady results with tandem streamers. I set up two rods – one in a holder and the other in my hand, each rigged with a dual fly-dropper setup. A colorful attractor pattern and a smelt or minnow imitator streamer drag from each rod. I also mix up the quartet of tandems with some feather wing and some bucktail or hair wing streamers for variety. If one style or color produces regular strikes, I change to the more consistent fly while the iron is hot! Had I only half a dozen tandems to de-
Jack Philbrook of Island Falls displays a fine brook trout taken during a spring trolling outing. All photos: Bill Graves
pend on or starve, my choices would include a Red and White Special, Gray Ghost, Herb Johnson Special, Colonel Bates, Ouananiche Sunset, and Magog Special. I prefer heavy monofilament
Sherby Morris of Fort Kent boated this Silver Leaper while fishing with his brother-in-law, Bill Graves, on an outing to Long Lake last spring.
over wire to connect the hooks, and I like my trailer hook to face upwards rather than both down. While a set of size 4 hooks comprise the (Continued on next page)
Mitch Wheeler of Bridgewater enjoyed consistent streamer trolling during an after work outing on a “neighborhood”small pond less than 15 minutes from his home.
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 35
Scott Cantrell hauls his boat all the way north from Topsham to enjoy a few days of spring trolling in Aroostook County. This is just one of several salmon taken on tandem streamers last May. (Continued from page 34)
basis for most tandem streamers, I tie many with a size 2 or 4 or 4 and 6 with the larger hook forward. The northern-most boat ramp near Orient offers access to Pete’s Cove, Longley Lake inlet and a couple of islands – excellent trout and salmon trolling spots. Butter-
Vast acres of fields and forest make Aroostook spring turkey hunting uncrowded and productive. Here, the author heads back to the truck after an eventful outing.
field Landing launch gets you near a trio of large, narrow coves between Meeting House
Point and Work Cove, all good options this month. Down towards
Jered Young of Mars Hill did a lot of scouting last spring to pinpoint small flocks of gobblers in his area and his work paid off the very first day.
Danforth is the Greenland Point ramp, from which anglers can visit The Arm, the south-
ernmost tip of East Grand. There’s a lot of lake, a lot of fish (Continued on next page)
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The County (Continued from page 35)
and a head start on most northern lakes – in short, it’s a Grand idea. Delorme’s Gazetteer, Maps 34 & 45 and five separate grids cover East Grand Lake (I told you it was huge!). Route 1 is the way to go for close shoreline access all along the lake.
ties do, we also don’t get even a fraction of the gunning pressure. If you scout out a couple of small flocks and pinpoint a likely feeding field or travel trail, it’s unlikely that another hunter will beat you to the spot on any given morning. There are just too few gobbler enthusiasts covering a massive amount of acreage and several dozens of small local flocks. Each autumn, I do
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consider the fields and small woodlots along each side of the urban edge McBurnie Road near Crouseville. The area contains many secondary byways and even more two-track field roads toward Caribou Lake to the northwest. Around Mars Hill and Blaine there seems to be a good deal of turkey activity around the Young’s Lake Road, E Plantation and Kinney Roads. Check Map 65, C-1 for the Crouseville location, and Map 59, B-3 for the Mars Hill sector.
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Pick A Pond For the everyday working man, unless it’s the weekend or a vacation day, it can be difficult to take full advantage of the short spring trolling season. There are just short of 200 lakes and ponds listed in the Maine fishing regulation booklet, and almost as many smaller, fishable beaver ponds, bogs, mill ponds, lagoons and reservoirs polka dotted among the fields, forest and farmland which aren’t recognized. These are what Crown of Mainers call neighborhood fishing holes, and they are perfect for a quick pre- or post-work rod and canoe two-hour outing. Number Nine Lake out back of Bridgewater via the Bootfoot Road is a perfect example. It’s quick to reach, easy to launch and full of feisty stocked brookies willing to battle after ice-out. Black Pond in Fort Kent is another puddle worth a quick visit until a longer outing can be arranged. In the relatively small region between Oakfield and Ludlow, reachable via Route 2 or I 95, no less than ten tiny waterways and ponds offer a quick cast repast – the perfect way to begin or end a May spring day. You’ve waited since November for ice free fishing “Up North,” and it has finally arrived! Get out early and often – spring streamer trolling is an exciting, rewarding time, but it’s short. See you on the water!
¶
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 37
Meeting My Goal by Joel Carvell
I was getting closer. I had tracked the big buck and had discovered two of his beds in the snow. Soon after that, I came to a third bed. I was creeping along so slowly that it took me 45 minutes to walk only a few hundred yards. By this time, I could smell the buck. Almost everyone, at some time in life, has set a goal. Losing weight, breaking 90 in golf, or just trying to be a better person. For a deer hunter, it could be shooting the first buck, learning to track, or winning the local big buck contest. My goal in the 2014 deer season was to be the first person to shoot a 200-lbs. buck while using the new Big Woods Bucks limited edition Remington 7600 30-06 rifle. I started the season off by guiding one of my good friends and his son to an antlerless moose. That season ran during the first week of deer season. We had a 20” snowstorm on Sunday before opening day, and on Monday morning we were fortunate to find a good moose for him. After a volley of shots, they dropped a big cow moose that field-dressed at 760 lbs. In Search of a Buck With that job taken care of, my plan for Tuesday morning was to drive the heavily snow-covered roads in search of a good buck track. With this much snow, it wasn’t easy maneuvering and I had to be careful to keep from getting stuck.
Plan “B” was going to be hiking into an area and hopefully locating a big buck track to follow. After a couple hours of driving, I found the track that I was looking for. A monster buck track and a smaller one had crossed the road on the run. The tracks looked about 2 hours old, so I put on my fanny pack, grabbed my rifle, and didn’t waste any time getting on the tracks. It was a cold morning, with a steady southwest wind. I don’t usually pay any attention to the wind direction when I’m tracking but I remember thinking, it’s nice to have the advantage with these deer walking into the wind. It was a hard slog along, as I was pushing snow up to my knees. Getting Closer After three hours of tracking through low swampy ground that had been cut over four years before. I noticed that the smaller buck turned in a different direction while the bigger track headed up to higher ground. I continued on it for another hour and a half when I came to where the buck had bedded down. After a quick observation, I noticed
that I hadn’t jumped the buck, he was just meandering along and occasionally feeding. Now his track was smoking fresh, so I slowed down as I continued on. I was trying to be as quiet as I could, glancing back and forth with my eyes as I walked. My gun was ready at all times, because I knew this deer was close somewhere in front of me. I felt sure that I was going to jump him and hopefully drop him in his tracks. Achieving My Goal This area was mostly hardwoods with the occasional blown-down tree. Each time the tracks led me to one of these blow downs, I would scan it over and all around before I moved closer. After proceeding 100 yards, I came to another bed. Again, after the buck stood up, he just meandered along, occasionally feeding. Soon after that, I came to a third bed. By this time, I could smell the buck. It had taken me about 45 minutes to walk only a few hundred yards. I was still creeping along, when I saw that the tracks led to another blown-down tree. I looked it over really well and couldn’t see
Joel Carvell, his 10-point, 210-lb. buck, and his BWB limited edition 30-06.
anything, so I continued on. Then while sneaking around a tree, I spotted the buck laying in his bed and looking at me from 30 ft. away. All I had for a shot was his head – the snow was so deep I couldn’t see his body. I wasn’t going to take a chance of him jumping up without me getting a shot, so I let him have it right between the eyes. He never had the chance
to leave his bed. When I walked up to him, I realized just how big he was and let out a big YEE HA! He was a 10-pointer that dressed out at 210 lbs. His inside spread was 20 ¼”. I not only had met my goal, but I had done it on my first day in the deer woods! My new carbine had proved worthy of its task. (Continued on page 40)
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38 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Helping Reset the Internal Compass:
Operation Reboot Outdoors (ORO) I’m a huge fan of giving back to those who’ve put their lives on the line to keep our country and our communities free and safe. From a young age, I’ve known the people who don law enforcement or military uniforms, are doing something extraordinary. These people volunteer to protect, serve and represent our country. They do so knowing there’s a possibility they could pay the ultimate price. Soldiers and Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) have always held a special place in my heart. Thankfully, many other people share these feelings. A few of these caring folks are so dedicated and selfless, they start amazing programs and organizations to help military members and other law enforcement pro-
To be able to give back, to help military veterans or law enforcement officials find happiness again and get them outdoors into Maine’s woods or onto a lake, is a privilege. And if the trip results in game on the pole or fish in the net -- that’s a bonus.
The Operation Reboot Outdoors team -- Jake Beland, Abe Bradeen, Marine Vet Matt hunter (holding moose), Mike Capponi, Dan Waite, US Army Vet Mike Conan (holding moose), Stephen Holbrook, Sherman Bradeen and Jeff Pateneaude.
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Staff Sgt. Michael Capponi, Jacob Beland, and a few others have started and grown a relatively new program in Maine, called Operation Reboot Outdoors (ORO). The mission of ORO is
to provide therapeutic outdoor activities, such as hunting and fishing, free of charge, to currently-serving service members, honorably discharged/retired veterans and all forms of LEOs.
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Necessity is the Mother of Invention – and Awesome Organizations When Daniel Waite was finished with his active service, he looked for organizations that would take him out hunting or fishing as a way for him to “reboot.” Unfortunately, he was never able to get into the groups already operating in Maine. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade – or in this case, start your own organization. Dan and his wife Nicole started Operation Reboot Outdoors. Operation Reboot Outdoors (ORO) was born of passion and necessity. The idea was Dan’s, but he quickly realized he and his wife couldn’t do everything on their own. In 2016, while attending an event called Trolling with American Vets, Dan met Unity College graduates Michael Capponi and Jacob Beland. The two (Continued on next page)
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 39
Vietnam veteran James “Butch” Uphold with his bucket-list Northern Pike, caught while fishing with a team from Operation Reboot Outdoors (ORO). (Continued from page 38)
men had volunteered their time to take veterans fishing that day, and they hit it off quickly with Dan. After the Trolling event’s founder, Steve Bronish, passed away, Dan vowed to keep things going. Enlisting the help of fellow outdoorsmen Capponi, Beland and lifelong friend, Abe Bradeen, Dan expanded ORO, offering trips and healing to far more people than he could have by going it alone. The need for these types of organizations is evidenced by the numbers of people being served by ORO in their first year. In 2019, ORO served 134 different veterans. These Vets were taken out on 68 hunting trips, during which the teams of volunteers and vets were able to harvest 19 turkeys, 12 bears, six moose and six deer. The remaining vets were taken on fishing trips for trout, salmon and Northern Pike. Fishing trips took place on both open and hard water (ice fishing). A Moose and a Fighter Plane When I asked Mike Capponi what his favorite trip of 2019 had been, he enthusiasti-
US Army Veteran Jon Curtis with a whopper pike caught while ice fishing with the ORO team.
cally shared the story of a moose hunt with Marine Matt Hunter, a Purple Heart recipient from Kennebunk. The moose hunt took place in October of 2019. Matt and four volunteers headed to the forests of Zone 7 to search for their moose. After not seeing any moose on Monday, the group was very successful on Tuesday. The got off the beaten path, and nearly four miles off the road the group was successful in calling in a nice bull. Matt made a great shot and put his bull down.
As the hunters approached the fallen beast, a fighter plane actually buzzed over the group, tipped its wing in recognition, and flew out of sight. Mike said, “It was a sign to us that this is what we should be doing.” Matt was also adamant the bull be taken out of the woods whole. The veteran wanted an official weight, and his four volunteers obliged. The group winched the bull out whole, and got it to the scales. The moose sported a 47” rack and dressed out at 770 pounds. The
Veteran Lawrence McManus holds a massive pike caught while ice fishing with the Operation Reboot Outdoors team.
proud group posed for a photo with Matt and his prize. In Search of Northern Pike Did I mention ORO takes people fishing, too? In June, 2019, the group got a call about a Vietnam veteran who was suffering from cancer and the effects of agent orange. The veteran, named Butch, is from the southern United States, but his brother-in-law, Larry, is from Maine. Larry reached out to see if ORO would take Butch out to chase Northern Pike. Butch had always dreamed of catching a pike, and
ORO wanted to help him check that off his bucket list. The ORO crew took Butch and Larry fishing on a central Maine lake known for its large pike population. Unfortunately, the soonest they could get out was July. As anyone who knows Northern Pike will tell you, July isn’t the ideal month to fish if you want good numbers or large fish. Larry Scores First, and Then Butch During four hours of uneventful trolling (at least for the pike), Butch landed eight (Continued on next page)
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Big Game (Continued from page 39)
brown trout, and three smallmouth bass. Larry decided to take a turn, since the pike weren’t biting. And because that’s the way things go, Larry ended up landing a nice eight-pound pike. The team was heartbroken for Butch and continued their efforts. After a couple more hours without a pike, the team decided to call it a day and begin trolling back towards the boat launch. As the boat passed the last point of land before the launch, one of the rods hooked up. Just as the day ended, Butch landed a beautiful five-pound Northern, and checked the fish off his bucket list. Someone was certainly watching over the team that day. This success and happiness played out in each hunt and fishing trip the group offered last year. To be able to give back, help someone become happy again and get them outdoors for some wilderness therapy, is a privilege. Game on the pole or fish in the net just makes for a bonus after the effort. Goals for 2020 and Beyond ORO remains a relatively new organization. They are a 501(c) (3) that’s giving every dollar back to veter-
ans. Anyone donating their time isn’t paid. Anyone donating money knows 100% of their money is spent on the people who need it. The group has already served 55 vets in 2020, and understands the need will require their organization to grow. According to Capponi, the goal is to secure a piece of property in southwest Maine, in or near the town of Turner, where the organization is currently located. After securing a property, the goal is to build ADA-compliant housing for the vets and LEOs to stay while on these trips. This area of Maine offers everything the group needs to be successful with hunting and fishing trips, plus it’s close to home for many of the current volunteers. Unfortunately, because of the Coronavirus scare and efforts to inhibit the spread of the virus, many of the events ORO was scheduled to attend, have been canceled. This poses a real challenge to the fundraising plans of the group. They’ll still be selling raffle tickets; however, it’ll be harder to raise money without meeting potential donors in person. There’s nothing like meeting a veteran or LEO in per-
Big Woods World (Continued from page 37)
On a personal note, I would like to thank my good friends Josh and Joe for dragging my deer out for me. After that many hours of tracking in those conditions, I was exhausted. Hal’s Thoughts As deer hunters, we all love to tell stories, not only of our successes but also about our failures. This is how we www.MaineSportsman.com
USMC Vet, Matt Hunter with ORO volunteer and Secretary Jake Beland, with Matt’s Maine moose. Matt asked to bring the moose out of the woods whole, and the team obliged.
son, and hearing the story of how they were healed through the outdoors, to make a person feel like something is worth their time and money. Readers can get involved by purchasing Operation Reboot gear and clothing. I’ll be proudly wearing a t-shirt or hoodie this spring, summer and fall to show my support. If you live in the Turner area, and hunt, fish or guide, perhaps offering your
time could assist the group in healing more veterans. If you live far away, help get the word out or check out their website at www. OperationRebootOutdoors.com or by liking and sharing their page on Facebook. Operation Reboot needs our help to continue doing the great work started by Dan and Nicole Waite. People like Mike Capponi, Jake Beland and many others will help make Operation Reboot Outdoors more and more
learn from each other and share in the hunt. Trackers especially enjoy stories, as everyone of us has his own way of doing things. Some of us hunt faster than others, while some of us have more patience than others. In the end, it doesn’t really matter. When the buck is down, the hunt is always a memory to be cherished and passed along to all who are willing to listen.
successful each year. Our readers, and other outdoorsmen and women, should help introduce this program to the rest of New England and beyond. Somewhere out there, a Veteran or Law Enforcement Officer is wondering how they’ll get their life back on track. Let’s do all we can. Introduce them to Operation Reboot Outdoors and help them reset their internal compass.
¶
I think that setting goals is always important for hunters. It will make you work harder than you otherwise might to achieve them. If you’re a new hunter, you may have a goal of shooting your first buck. Maybe you have a goal to shoot a buck tracking Maybe it’s to shoot a buck that field dresses over 200 pounds. Whatever it may be, I hope you achieve that goal and many more.
¶
���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 41
Webster Brook – Journey to the Crown of Baxter State Park With the usual “splash,” our 16-foot Amesbury dory slid off the trailer and into the pristine waters of Grand Lake Matagamon. With the replica whaling dory secured to the dock, four modern-day fishermen loaded three days of camping gear clear to the gunnels. Parker Capwell, Brian Vandal, Lou Zambello and I had reserved the Little East lean-to at the northern tip of Baxter State Park. This campsite sits neatly at the terminus of Webster Brook and the East Branch of the Penobscot River where both flows feed into Grand Lake Matagamon. The campsite itself has a lean-to and a tent site. According to my mapping, this is the northern-most site in the park. Access to
and enough fishing gear to sink a ship, there didn’t seem to be a spot for the guy who made the complex reservations. With gear peeking over the gunnels, I elected to shove off and sit atop the mounds of
At the Grand Pitch confluence, we put fly-fishing expert Lou Zambello to work. He coached Parker Capwell on the fine art of outsmarting brook trout hanging tight to the bank. Little East comes one step at a time along the Freezeout Trail, approximately 5.9 miles from the parking area at Trout Brook Farm Campground. Or, as our motley crew decided to do, motor 8.7 miles from the boat launch located on the Grand Lake Road just a stone’s throw from the Matagamon Gate. In fact, it is so close to the gate I walked up to the ranger station to check-in and receive a parking pass. Meet the Crew I always figure everybody should have a role. Brian Vandal owned the boat and makes a mean hot roast beef melt. At
north of 6’ 8”, Parker Capwell seemed the logical choice for “bear” control. Lou Zambello, one of our Maine Sportsman Fly Fishing columnists, knew how to fish. And me? Well, I pretend that making reservations on the Baxter State Park website is difficult. With four guys piling gear in the boat, it filled up quickly. One of the benefits of motoring over hiking comes in the way of gear. The boat allowed us to take along some extra creature-comforts that would not have fit into our backpacks. One of those “comforts,” a fully loaded
Yeti cooler, kept us eating like kings for three days. One minor problem. With four healthy sized adults
(Continued on next page)
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Lou Zambello, Parker Capwell and Brian Vandal enjoy a fully-loaded Amesbury Dory ride across Grand Lake Matagamon to Baxter State Park’s Little East campsite. All Photos by Bill Sheldon
The Little East campsite, located at the confluence of Webster Brook and the East Branch Penobscot River, made a great home for three days of fly fishing. According to the author’s maps, this is the northern-most campsite in Baxter State Park.
Katahdin Country (Continued from page 41)
duffel bags. From the bow of the dory, I studied my GPS and pointed the way. I’m pretty sure that Amesbury Dory was overloaded, although the 25-horsepower motor pushed us along with only an occasional groan. I’m sure Captain Ahab would have plowed onward, and we did too! Grand Lake Matagamon Grand Lake Matagamon (DeLorme Atlas, Map 57, E-1) covers 4,165 acres and has a maximum depth of 95 feet. It’s worth doing a google search
for some depth charts. The area between First Lake and Second Lake (the two lakes, thanks to the dam at the outlet raising the water level, create Grand Lake Matagamon) has some shallow going. I had forgotten my depth map but remembered from studying it roughly where the deep-water channel ran. We made out just fine, even better on the return trip, but will have the map on this year’s trip. Great having a guy sitting high on the bow checking the depths! We took our time and logged just two
hours from dock to camp. Round trip we only saw one other vessel, a canoe, in the distance. I don’t see why, if the wind didn’t blow too hard, this wouldn’t make a real adventurous canoe or kayak trip. Webster Brook We targeted Webster Brook from the outlet at Webster Lake to the confluence of Grand Lake Matagamon. The Freeze Out Trail parallels the unspoiled brook the entire way. An alternative plan for fishing Webster Brook involves staying at the campsite at the outlet of Webster Lake. After establishing
At six foot eight inches tall, Parker Capwell makes the converging waters of Webster Brook, East Branch Penobscot and Grand Lake Matagamon look merely knee-deep.
camp, we all headed up trail to fish the tailwaters of nearby Grand Pitch. With eight miles of rollicking river all to ourselves, we simply picked one of the many pools or deep water runs and wet a line. Little East is situated along Webster Brook where it spills into the lake. The East Branch Penobscot River flows from the north into this very spot. We spent lots of time figuring these colliding waters harbored hungry salmonids. Here we put fly-fishing expert Lou Zambello to work. He coached Parker Capwell on the fine art of outsmarting brook
trout hanging tight to the bank. Imploring Capwell to put his fly within inches of some slack current along the bank put a healthy bend in his nine-foot rod. We did pick up some brook trout – yes, those colorful native treasures that live in this unspoiled park. And, I hauled in the lone salmon, a small but lively silverside. We did, I believe, suffer from poor timing. Our second week of June adventure needed to happen between the middle to end of May or closer to ice-out. Of course, every year is different. Bucket List Alert I had previously hiked the Freeze Out Trail from Trout Brook Campground to the turn towards Frost Pond. The missing link for me personally was from Little East to Frost Pond. An afternoon hike allowed me to fill in that missing section of trail. Getting to know Baxter State Park happens for me one step at a time. However, it did feel great to combine boating, hiking and camping into this fishing journey.
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www.MaineSportsman.com
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Home from the National Guard, and Hired by the Warden Service After being fitted for uniforms, we were brought one at a time to the small room where the wardens’ red coats were kept. It’s a moment no game warden ever forgets. I returned home from Basic Training and AIT (advanced individual training) on Thanksgiving Day 1971. The flight from Baltimore up to Boston was really turbulent, and then I had a two-hour layover in Boston. Near my gate at Logan International was a place called the Oyster Bar. Being on my way home from active duty for the last time, I was in a pretty good place mentally and decided that a drink might be in order. Back then, we traveled in uniform. I grabbed a seat at the bar and asked for a Scotch. The man sitting beside me said to the bartender, “I’ll buy the soldier’s drink.” He asked me where I was going, and I told him that I was heading for Stockton Springs, Maine. He said that he was going to Bucksport, and asked me how I was getting down to Stockton. I told him that I was going to call my wife just before I left Boston, and that she was going to come up to Bangor to pick me up. He kindly said that he would give me a ride down to Stockton so my wife wouldn’t have to travel up to
Bangor in the storm. Savoring the Trip Home By now it was snowing hard, and flights were being canceled all over. I really expected to spend the night in Boston, but to my surprise the Northeast Yellow Bird didn’t cancel, and I made it home for Thanksgiving. On the way down to Stockton Springs from Bangor, I discovered that the man who had bought my drink in Boston and was giving me a ride home was at one time the youngest Sergeant Major in the United States Army. He had retired from the Army and was now a cook on a coastal tanker. I don’t remember his name, but I never forgot his kindness. I asked him to drop me off at the end of the driveway because I wanted to walk the rest of the way up through the blueberry ground in the snowstorm. I was home. It was special and I wanted to savor it. It was a late dinner, but it was so nice to be home and with the family. Waiting for the Call I got a job driving tractor-trailer hauling potatoes out of Mars Hill to various places
down the East Coast. Getting home late one night in January after a three-day trip, I asked my wife to just let me sleep in the morning. About 7 a.m., I heard the phone ring, and then my wife’s footsteps coming up the stairs. She said that a man on the phone was asking for me. I told her that I would be right down. I answered the phone, and it was Chief Warden Jack Shaw. He asked me if I was still interested in being a Maine Game Warden. I assured him that I was. He asked me to be in his office in Augusta at 7 a.m. the next Monday for an interview with him. I told him that I would be there. “We Have Selected You” It was an interesting interview with the Chief Warden. We discussed public relations, care of equipment, honesty, and work ethic. After he finished his talk, I told him I thought that I was qualified. He said, “You’ll be hearing from us.” Later that afternoon I was writing a letter to my old college roommate, Dan Joslyn who was teaching school in Alaska, when the phone rang. The
On February 2, 1972, the author was sworn in to the Warden Service. From left to right: Commissioner Maynard Marsh, the author Bill Allen, Greg Mahar, Greg Gallant and Larry Grant.
man on the other end of the line asked if he was speaking with Mr. Allen. I told him that he was. I will never forget his next words. He said, “This is Chief Warden Jack Shaw over in Augusta, and I thought you would like to know that we have selected you for our service.” It was a happy and exciting time. I was hired on February 2, 1972. After filling out all the paperwork – and there was a lot of it – I was sworn in by Commissioner Maynard Marsh along with Warden Candidates Greg Mahar, Larry Grant, Dave Priest, and Greg Gallant. The Red Coat After being sworn in, we were sent over to the Warden Service Storehouse to draw our gear. The Storehouse Clerk, Linda Perry, was waiting for us. All the small items such as badges, brass and binoculars, were in a knapsack. There was one knapsack for
each of us. After this, we were fitted for our uniforms. We all got one new uniform and three used uniforms. No sense wasting new uniforms on guys that might not make it. After being fitted for pants and shirts, we were taken one at a time into the small room where the red coats were kept. This is, I think, a moment in every Maine Game Warden’s career that they never forget. Keep in mind that we had all wanted to be game wardens since we were kids, and when they hand you the red coat, a dream becomes reality. At that time, Warden Service wasn’t going to hire folks who hadn’t grown up wanting to be game wardens. In fact, they’d asked each of us to describe when it was we’d decided we wanted to be game wardens. Next month: The Start of a Most Wonderful Adventure
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44 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Lou Offers Early May Dry-Fly Fishing Tips The coronavirus has had a great impact on public and private gatherings, with most events cancelled, including the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, as well as other fly-fishing fundraisers and meetings. If there’s a bright spot, it is that springtime will allow anglers to get outside and do some actual fishing. Fishing rarely involves crowds – and when it does, I don’t stick around. May offers a myriad of fly-fishing opportunities, especially when we have an early spring, ice-out occurs early, and waters warm quickly. Early May for most of Maine means waiting for the ice to go out or fishing in cold water. Smelt are running, and most of us are trolling or casting smelt imitations. I often write about streamer and nymph fishing in May, because the water remains cold almost ev-
Approach the trout quietly. A canoe or small rowed craft is preferable to a motorboat. Even better is a float tube – just make sure it hasn’t sprung a slow leak over the winter. A gradual dunking in 40-degree water will temper an angler’s earlyseason enthusiasm.
Trout sipping midges. Midges can emerge any time of the year. Lou Zambello photo
erywhere in Maine, and fishing sub-surface increases your odds for success considerably. But today, I will change tacks and elaborate on early May dry-fly opportunities. Even when water temperatures are in the low 40s, dry fly fishing is possible. The key is to be observant
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and watch for surface feeding activity. Trout and salmon will rise to early emerging stoneflies and midges. Little Stoneflies Early season hatches in northern New England rivers and streams are somewhere between sparse and non-existent. Little black and little brown stoneflies (two different species) do emerge very early, sometimes with snow still on the ground,
and return to the water to lay eggs. When the fish discover them, they are readily eaten. Little brown stoneflies emerge later than the little blacks, and it is probably that bug that most anglers see. The early brown stonefly measures 5/8” long from head to the end of its grayish-brown wings. The blackish body is only about 3/8” long. While you are chucking streamers,
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pay attention to the surrounding water, and explore a little to find slower runs. Do you see small insects running up and down trees near shore, a few little gray bugs fluttering on the water, or the occasional rise? One early May morning, I was fighting the crowds at Camp 10 Bridge on the Magalloway River, slinging streamers and nymphing. I had flashbacks to the casting pool at the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show. Tiring of the commotion, I wandered downstream, and noticed sporadic but powerful rises from what looked like a few good salmon. A black Klinkhammer pattern proved itself once again, and I soon caught and released four hardy salmon that were icy-cold to the touch. My preferred pattern when the stoneflies are on the water ovipositing is a size #14 dry fly hook and a low riding dry fly with a deer hair wing that lays right in the film. Black Klinkhammers, black-bodied Puterbaugh caddis, or a dark Parachute Adams are patterns to try. Float dead drift with no drag, and try a subtle twitch if you need to get the fish’s attention. Midge Fishing Trout and salmon (Continued on next page)
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will also rise to midges early in the fishing season. Here is an excerpt from my book, “Flyfishing Northern New England’s Seasons”: On calm, foggy, and overcast days, the first midges of the season appear on the water surface. This is particularly true for small smelt-less ponds. New England emerging midges are easy to miss because they are so small. If you see a small dimple in the water, move closer and look for tiny mosquito-like insects emerging from the surface. Look at an angle to the water where the water doesn’t appear dark or black so the tiny black insects will be visible in contrast. A number of good midge imitations are available these days, but most are designed for specialized situations; such as fishing for the super-selective trout of western spring creeks. Many of these imitations are hard to see on the water, aren’t very durable, and aren’t necessary for early-spring New England fishing. A better option is the proven Griffith’s Gnat. Frankly, after a winter of not being fished to, trout and salmon are not persnickety. Any small, dark, fly pattern will work – try a size-16 Parachute Adams, or any dark-body fly including a Klinkhammer. If you have a few with lighter bodies, a quick touch up with a waterproof black marker or black crayon will do the trick. Your approach is critical. The fish can be spooky because they
Early Brown Stonefly. Photo courtesy of Curtis Wright Outfitters of North Carolina
are generally cruising in the top foot of the water column and can see and hear you even at some distance. For this reason, a canoe or small rowed craft is preferable to a motorboat. A float tube is another awesome option, although make sure it hasn’t sprung a slow leak over the winter. A gradual dunking in 40-degree water will temper your early-season enthusiasm in a hurry. Smutting Trout Sometimes on flatcalm ponds and lakes during April or early May, you may notice surface-feeding trout “smutting,” even over deep water. Smutting is an old English expression that means feeding on minutia.
Smutting fish swim just under the surface with parts of their dorsal and tail fins exposed, and open and close their mouths multiple times in a very small area, descending briefly, and then surfacing to feed again. The water surface will be motionless, but currents and just the slightest breath of air will concentrate the surface film into scum and foam lines, swirls, or patches. This is where the fish will be feeding. I have paddled over to a scum line and scrutinized it, not spotted any recognizable insect. But smutting trout (I haven’t seen salmon do this) are slurping aquatic copepods, mites, mi-
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Selection of Early Stonefly patterns: Upper left - Puterbaugh Caddis; upper right - black Klinkhammer; lower left - black Caddis; lower right - peacock wet fly. Lou Zambello photo
cro-organisms, spores, pollen, and other organics. I honestly believe that hungry fish after a long winter are gulping any nutrients they can capture easily. Fortunately, trout and salmon are opportunistic, and a small dark fly; size-18 Parachute Adams, Black Gnat or Griffith’s Midge will be sucked down. My experience is
that smutting trout are very spooky, and you can’t cast directly to them or move the fly. Best is to float a small fly gently near them in the direction they seem to be heading, and wait for them to find it. I find it a treat to catch an early season salmon or trout on a dry fly. It almost feels like cheating.
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46 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
May Offers Rare Opportunity to Catch Trout from Shore If April comes in with a promise of redhot trout fishing, then May arrives to carry out that promise. May proves the best month for trout and salmon fishing throughout the entire state. From Kittery to Fort Kent, ice has left ponds, and streams and rivers see hungry fish, with everything from dry flies to skillfully fished smelt taking fish now. May also gives shore-bound anglers an opportunity to take trout from shore, something not possible in summer, when fish head to deeper, cooler regions. Each pond or lake offers different opportunities for fishing from shore. Some waters present anglers with numerous options for shore-based adventures, while others see only limited access. It all depends upon the location. Fortunately, most state-sponsored boat launch sites afford anglers at least
Think you can’t catch fish without a boat? Well, you’ve got another “think” coming! According to the author, trout fishing from shore in May ranks among fishing’s most enjoyable experiences.
The author releases a brook trout taken from shore. Photo: Tom Seymour
some room for casting from shore. Here are some tips for scoring without the need for a watercraft. Bank Fishing In May, trout often flock to near-shore locations. This occurs for several reasons. First, water temperatures slowly begin rising, with shallow sections
warming earlier and deeper areas warming later. This means that trout will frequent the shallows early in the month, only to depart as water temperatures rise in earnest. Not all shallow sections warm at the same rate, though. Much depends upon available direct sunlight. It
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works this way. Nearshore locations with sand or gravel bottoms warm the fastest because sand and gravel act as a heat sink, gaining heat during the day and slowly releasing it in the evening. This produces a comfortable setting for trout. It does the same for baitfish which, in turn, attract a steady flow of trout. One of the best ways, then, to take trout from shore in
May is to use live baitfish, preferably the same kind found in the water you are fishing. While simply hooking a baitfish, casting it out and allowing it to swim near bottom takes fish, this stands as one of those times when a small bobber pays off in dividends. A bobber holds the bait off bottom, and that allows it to swim freely, in a natural, fish-attracting manner. Don’t use a large bobber, though. Instead, use the smallest bobber that will hold your bait off bottom. Small bobbers don’t put fish down, while larger ones – the kind that land with a big splash – scare fish away. I use the small, pear-shaped bobbers made of foam. These have a slit on the side for accepting line. A tapered plug secures the line to the inside of the bobber. Such bobbers are extremely sensitive, and a fussy trout won’t notice them when chasing your bait.
Terminal Gear After finding the
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perfect shoreline situation, plan your trip for late afternoon or early evening. That’s when trout filter in, seeking not only warmth but also a meal, in the form of baitfish. Spinning lures – everything from spinners to small spoons – also take fish now. I don’t mention spinners much in this column because they have only limited use, that being fishing from shore. In May, though, spinners come into their own for hungry trout. As an aside, spinners attract trout through action, flash and vibration. They don’t imitate any particular living thing, but that doesn’t affect their efficacy. My list of favorite springtime spinners is sparse, with Mepps and C.P. Swing being my two favorites. With a selection of these two lures in different sizes and colors, the shorebased angler has a winning ticket. Sometimes we need to reach far out in order to intercept trout coming in to shore. Small lures being called for now, light tackle performs best. Make sure your line has no abrasions or knots. This being the beginning of the season, it pays to check your line, and if it has any faults, replace it. Fortunately, some of the same metal lures that we use for trolling perform well for casting from shore. One of these, Kastmaster, stands as a musthave lure. These bits of beveled metal cast like bullets, and they have a slinky action that drives trout wild. Cast out, let sink to
near bottom and reel in fairly fast. If trout swipe at your lure and miss, slow down the retrieve. Other lures include Li’l Jake, Dardevle, Super-Duper and any of the minnow-shaped spoons offered under the Mooselook name. Flies & Earthworms Both flies and earthworms work well for shore-based casting in May. Much of this depends upon the species of trout being sought. Brook trout hang near shore in May, and earthworms perform well. The idea here is to present an earthworm in the most natural manner. So hook the worm just once, cast out, and allow the worm to work its way along bottom. If brook trout are present, they will happily scoop it up. While brown and rainbow trout accept garden hackle, they bite better on the lures and baits mentioned above. The exception here is fresh-stocked
trout. These, no matter the species, readily take earthworms. For stocked trout, use earthworms, either fished directly on bottom or suspended a few inches higher by means of a tiny bobber. My preference for both stocked and resident trout, though, entails that proven trout killer, Trout Magnets. Utilize Magnets exactly as you would an earthworm, by casting out, allowing it to sink to bottom and then slowly working it back in. Later in May, when mayflies hatch, all species of trout will come near shore to take flies. This ranks as the best time for shore-based anglers to take trout on dry flies. So even if you lack a watercraft, not to worry. Trout fishing from shore in May ranks as one of fishing’s more enjoyable experiences.
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6-year-old Waylon Briggs of Rome, ME helps his dad, Jeff, reel in a catch on Cromwell Pond in February. www.MaineSportsman.com
48 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Ice Out Madness – Trolling Lines and Short Rods During last year’s State of Maine Sportsman’s Show I had the pleasure of sharing The Maine Sportsman booth with Tom Roth, our “Sebago to Auburn” Regional Columnist. When the boss was looking, we worked hard at selling subscriptions and chatting with readers. Every time our editor, Will Lund, came by the booth, Roth was writing up one new subscription after another. I seemed to get caught trying to extract fishing “intel” from prospective customers instead of clos-
ing the deal and welcoming show-goers to our family of readers. In those slack times between Roth signing up subscribers, I picked his brain about upping my spring salmon fishing game. His vast experience on big lakes like Sebago in the southern half of The Pine Tree State made me pay close attention. I’ve played around trolling for ice out salmon for the last four years. Up until that first silverside came over the gunnel, I had always preferred fishing in moving wa-
ter. I started out just tying on one of the more traditional streamers (Black Nose Dace) and letting it troll along behind the boat. Caught some nice salmon and seemed content … for now. Trolling Streamers After reading an article in Fly Fishing magazine about trolling tandem streamers, I decided to try doubling my chances. That second year, I tried all kinds of combinations. One set-up that seemed to work well involved a bright, gau-
dy, home-tied thing used as an attractor, followed by a Black Nose Dace. While this arrangement had some bright spots, it also had some serious lulls. Needing help, I talked to Roth. First, he advised me to spend some money and buy a Cortland full sink level trolling line. I could only find this line in eight-weight, but seeing as casting wasn’t on the agenda, I loaded it on my six-weight rod. I have an interesting take on rod size for trolling. I started out
trolling with a nine weight. It just seemed too heavy a rod for the fish I was catching. After switching to a six weight, my catch rate stayed the same, and I didn’t lose or excessively tire out any leaping silversides. It’s also a lot more fun. This year, I’m trying out a 10-foot long seven weight from the fine folks at L.L.Bean. Coupled with the eight-weight trolling line, it should be a formidable set-up. Every year I try out some new gear – sometimes I am met with great (Continued on next page)
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success; sometimes not. The level trolling line only makes up step #1 of Roth’s line recipe. He prescribed adding 30 feet of eight-pound test fluorocarbon leader material to the running line. At the end of the 30-foot leader goes a micro-sized barrel swivel. The fly trails behind, attached to an additional 30 inches of leader. For a tandem set-up, I add another 15 inches to the bend in the hook, attach a second barrel swivel, followed by another 15 inches and then the trailing fly. This leader arrangement trolls well without putting any twist in the line. Does it catch more fish? Absolutely. Roth indicated I would out-catch others in the boat, and he was absolutely
Big Wood Pond I use ice out on Big Wood Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map 39, B-4) as the green flag for iceout fishing on the larger lakes. On average, the ice loses its grip by the first week of May. Salmon seem to hang along the eastern shore. With the Moose River feeding cool water in at the southern tip and exiting at the outlet directly north, I suspect salmonids must like the bit of current that creates. It’s a short window for prime spring
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Trolling for ice-out salmon on larger bodies of water smacks of tradition. It took the author a long time to truly appreciate this spring rite. This salmon was released to fight another day. Bill Sheldon photo
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50 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Top Spring Fly Patterns for Trout and Salmon May is the time of year when nature throws the switch, and everything turns back on again. Turkey season starts back up, and the fishing is hot. I have never had better fishing than I’ve experienced during the first three weeks of May. It’s also a lot warmer now than early April when there’s still ice on parts of the lake, but the water is usually cold enough still on top for the trout and salmon, especially up north. For both trolling or casting, I will break out some of these classic fly patterns every year with great results. Gray Ghost
The author, an expert tyer and successful spring angler, provides the ingredients for some of Maine’s top-producing flies. the lake without a couple. This fly has been catching fish since 1924, when it was invented by famous fly tyer Carry Stevens. I tie all my own flies, and I keep it original – always with the red band around the head. I tie this fly using: • Hook – Partridge streamer size 4 • Thread – Black size 6/0 / red 8/0 • Tinsel – Fine silver/mylar • Floss – Orange • Throat – Golden pheasant crest • Bucktail – White • Wing – Peacock/ gray streamer feathers • Cheeks – Silver pheasant/jungle cock
One of my all-time favorites is the Gray Ghost. You can’t hit
Jackman Region (Continued from page 49)
id battle. A splake is a hatchery hybrid created by crossing a male brook trout and a female lake trout. Short Rods While trolling for salmon has captured my attention during the earliest of the spring fishing season, my appetite for brook trout must be fed. Here I switch from a 10-foot fly rod to a sixfoot long wand. That little six-foot rod, just a threeweight, works efficiently in tributaries, www.MaineSportsman.com
Wood Special
• Wing – Wood duck or mallard flank • Collar – rooster
• Throat – Red hackle fibers • Wing – feathers
Pintail
Montreal Streamer
Grizzly
Joe’s Smelt Another Maine classic one you shouldn’t leave home without is the Wood Special. I have a great deal of confidence in this fly. It has the orange and gold hues that trout can’t resist. You can also use silver mylar, but I prefer gold. And some people also like trying different body colors, like chartreuse and pink. This fly is perfect for trolling or casting.
If you’re looking for a perfect ice-out smelt imitation to throw behind the wash trolling for brook trout and salmon, this fly is as good as any other smelt imitation I have ever found. It’s also the go-to fly for a lot of old timers around the Rangeley region
• Hook – 4x streamer size 6-10
• Hook – 4x streamer size 2-6
• Thread – 6/0 black
• Thread – Black 6/0
• Tail – Golden pheasant crest
• Tail – Red wool or hackle fibers
• Body – Mylar tinsel/ chenille
• Body – Silver tube
beaver flowages and other “small” water. When trekking deep off-trail, overhanging limbs and brush make using longer rods an exercise in frustration. I load the business end of the reel with a sinking tip line. A seven-foot 6X leader connects to a size 14 Pheasants Tail. This is my favorite, go-to rod for wild native brook trout, and it has produced for years. I must confess, the Pheasant Tail fly has turned into a favorite for a couple of reasons. In the fall I take my bird dogs pheasant hunting weekly. Their fine noses put lots of birds intersecting with the bead on my shotgun.
Last but not least, a favorite of many Maine fly fishermen, a confidence fly for sure – the Montreal Streamer. The white, the reds, the blues, the orange – it has everything a good trout fly needs, and it’s a killer for brook trout casting or trolling. • Hook – 4x streamer hook 4-8 • Thread – Black 6/0 • Body – Silver tinsel/orange floss • Wing – Bucktail white, red, blue (in that order), and white marabou on top
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Aside from the pheasant meat, I also save some plumage and the all-important tail feathers off the male pheasants. It’s just fun to catch brookies on a self-tied fly with self-harvested materials. A perusal of the DeLorme Atlas, Map pages 39 and 40, will show many small “blue lines” connecting to larger bodies of water. These small waters almost always have a few native brook trout hiding in a pool or under a bank.
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Fish and Anglers Flock to Moose River in Maine Moose River and that part of Moosehead Lake opposite the river mouth becomes the scene of hectic activity in May. I joined in the fun last year and was amply rewarded, not only by the number of fish taken and seen splashing, but also the overall joy of being a part of something bigger
To experience some of the best, most exciting fishing of the year, anglers should make it a point to hit Moose River this spring. than myself. People from far and wide head to Moose River every spring to partake of the salmon fishing. Salmon aren’t all, though. Togue as well as brook trout swim at the mouth of Moose
River. and some hold in the river, where they are taken by anglers in boats. A few people even take fish by casting streamer flies from shore. Typically, fishing around crowds doesn’t
interest me. But fishing is so good here in May that the countless people in boats don’t bother me at all. Simply put, everyone catches fish and that thrills me.
Small Boats Something else about fishing in and near Moose River in spring bears noting. Moosehead Lake demands respect. Winds can blow up in a hurry, and given the long fetch, can quickly conjure big waves. In most cases, smaller boats of the 14- to 16-foot (Continued on next page)
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52 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Moosehead Report (Continued from page 51)
range should stay relatively close to shore in case weather turns foul. But Moose River, being protected, allows for smaller boats. Also, areas of the lake near the river mouth usually don’t see the huge waves commonly found in larger, wider sections of the lake. During my trip last year, I used a 16-foot aluminum boat, and at no time did I feel under-equipped. In fact, some of my best luck came when fishing a stone’s throw from the western shore in 11 feet of water. There, a huge brook trout nailed my smelt, but after some time the hook pulled out. Almost immediately after that, I landed a keeper salmon and a nice togue. Even people fishing from shore on Moose River enjoyed success on salmon. One man, casting from the private boat landing at Maynard’s Camps, caught a salmon one morning as I was preparing to head out for the day. That evening, while sitting on the
porch of a riverside camp with area guide Bob Lawrence and the camp owner, we were entertained by a salmon that regularly splashed on the surface only 30 feet away. Were we in a position to cast to it, we almost certainly would have taken that fish. Best Times When is the best time to hit Moose River for the spectacular, springtime fishing? There is no right answer, because everything depends upon weather conditions at the time. But generally speaking, any time from mid-May through mid-June should put visiting anglers in the driver’s seat. If ice leaves the river and that part of Moosehead Lake in front of the river early, action can heat up sooner. Conversely, a late ice-out sets the time back a week or more. A later ice-out can also mean that salmonids remain in the area longer than usual. The best bet is to closely monitor long-range weather forecasts.
Angler plays salmon on a cold day at Moose River.
Also, area lodges and guides can give accurate estimates of best times to arrive. These people live here, and their assessments hold considerable value. Last year, I hit the river during the third week of May – mostly in order to avoid Memorial Day weekend crowds. While I enjoyed great fishing, it was even better the following week, according to fishing buddy Tony Wieman, from Swanville. One angler in Tony’s boat fought what was probably a 4-pound brook trout, only to have it shake the hook at the net. This happened in the river, not in the lake. Fishing Tactics While trolling ranks as my favorite fishing method, Tony and crew had success by anchoring in the river and letting their streamer flies sweep the area downstream. Streamer flies work in Moose River in early spring, but other lures and baits per-
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form well too. I used preserved smelt from Harmon Brook Farm, (207) 474-1215, www. harmonbrookfarm. com. These smelt appear to have just come out of the water. Also, preserved smelt are tougher than frozen or even fresh smelt. So a missed strike doesn’t necessarily mean a new bait. Usually, all it needs is to re-set the hooks. For trolling with smelt of any kind, I prefer sliding bait rigs. These are easy to use and, being adjustable, will accommodate smelt of any length, great or small. Besides smelt and streamer flies, wobbling lures take their share of fish. Also, that Super-Duper lookalike, Li’l Jake, works wonders. Add to that a selection of Mooselook Wobblers in various colors and sizes, and you will have the perfect arsenal for your Moose River trip. Visual Thrill One of the things about fishing Moose
River in spring is that, as mentioned earlier, you can watch fish moving near the surface. Nothing thrills me more than seeing my quarry splashing on the surface. The closest thing to this happens during Mayfly hatches, when trout sip emerging insects from the surface film. In most cases, though, fly-eating trout are nowhere near as large as the springtime salmon of Moose River. Another interesting thing happened on my trip. Watching an angler in a nearby boat playing a fish, I snapped a photo. At the time, I didn’t notice the guy’s salmon right on top. But upon reviewing the photo, the dorsal fin and back of the fish were clearly visible. For some of the best, most exciting fishing of the year, make it a point to hit Moose River this spring.
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Fish and Feather Excite Downeasters in May The trick to productive trout fishing? Get off the beaten path. The author offers two examples – Salmon Pond, just north of Route 182 midway between Ellsworth and Cherryfield, where you can cast from shore, and West Pike Brook Pond in Cherryfield, which features a canoe launch. Looking for my best chance to have a successful early-May brook-trout fishing outing, I went on-line. Because it was so early in the season, the daily 2020 stocking figures were not yet avaiIable. Therefore I perused the 2019 Maine Fish-Stocking Report (pp. 28 – 40; April, 2020 issue of The Maine Sportsman). Several small ponds stood out as having a high number of fish stocked per acre. Most waters stocked with brookies have remained relatively consistent yearafter-year. Armed with this information, I gathered up my fly-fishing gear, loaded up my Colorado pickup, and drove 25 minutes to a small nearby pond. Once in sight of the isolated pond, I watched as a 10-inch trout broke the tranquility of the mirror-calm water by supping an airborne insect. Witnessing the ever-widening rings expand, I became eager to get a fly on the water. I quickly assembled my two-piece Double L fly rod and attached a fly to the leader. While standing at the water’s edge, I observed a 13-inch red-bellied trout break
the surface and take down another emerging insect. On my first cast, I managed to lay my fly to within inches of the last rise. After retrieving my line, I carefully released a few more yards of my Scientific Angler 5-weight double-tapered dry-fly line onto the surface of the water. My size 12, Blue-winged Olive landed with a reasonably natural presentation. Shortly after the fly touched the water, a fish rose and inhaled the imitation. The 9-foot graphite fly rod trembled and bowed as the trout took out line. It swam toward the bottom of the pond. I set the hook and started my retrieval. I brought the beautiful trout in close to the rocky shoreline and released it. In the next two hours I caught and released four more beautifully-speckled beauties. Small Brookie Waters The great fishing described in the paragraphs above took place at Salmon Pond (T10 SD, DeLorme Atlas, Map 24, D-5). This 6-acre pond receives an annual stocking of 300 brook trout. This pond receives very little fishing pressure.
It can be reached by hiking on a trail from the west end of Spring River Lake. It takes only about 15 to 20 minutes on the trail from Route 182. Even though I used dry flies, a sinking fly line, followed by dark woolly bugger, fished slowly, can also produce trout. Most trout caught are in the 8to10-inch range, with a few 12- to 14- inch fish taken by determined anglers. General fishing laws apply with a 5-fish daily bag limit. Another small water that can offer brook trout success in May is West Pike Brook Pond in Cherryfield (Map 25, C-3). West Pike is located on the blueberry barrens of Washington County. Canoes or small boats can be launched at a site near the western end of the pond. Hatchery personnel stocked this water last fall with 1,200 8-inch brook trout, and 75 13-inch brook trout. Having fished this pond a number of years ago, I can assure anglers that the effort getting to the pond is well worth it. This pond produces 14- to 16-inch trout. The following restrictive regulations are in effect: artificial lures only, a
Matt Gray of Orland holds his 12-lb., 6.5-oz. togue, pulled from the waters of Toddy Pond in Orland in June, 2019. Orland is a narrow, 8-mile long pond that extends from Orland and Surry to Blue Hill. It contains a healthy, self-sustaining population of togue.
minimum length limit of 10 inches, only one may exceed 12 inches, and a daily bag limit of 2 trout. There are dozens and dozens of other small brook trout waters in Washington and Hancock County that produce fantastic spring fishing. So do a little exploring Downeast in May – I’ll
bet you will not be disappointed with your fishing results. Jim’s Turkey I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to begin my 2019 turkey season. After a short drive from my house, I noticed several trophy-sized turkeys and a hen strutting across a hayfield. I parked my pickup (Continued on next page)
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54 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
— Ghost Column —
Saved by Larry Connors by Randy Randall We hit a rock. Dead center. It was early May, and Bill and I were canoeing on the Machias River. The current was flowing like a runaway freight train. The sheer magnitude of the rushing water made our knees shake. All the winter run-off had swollen the river and that dad-blasted rock was hiding just beneath the surface. We hit it hard. Only way off was to lighten the load, so I jumped out onto the rock, the bow let go, the current caught the stern, and in an instant swept Bill backwards down the rapids. It all happened so fast Bill was out of sight by the time I realized I was stranded. There I stood in the middle of the Machias River, with an inch of ice water flowing over my boots and no one around. Not a soul. There was no way off that damned rock except by swimming. I thought it over and
Later, I found Bill downstream, bailing his canoe. “How’d you get off that rock in the middle of the river?” he asked. “Got a lift from an old feller -- he must have just gone by here,” I said. “Nope,” replied Bill. “Ain’t no one been by here.” got up my courage. I figured my life jacket would keep me up and I’d probably make it through the whitewater okay. The problem was hypothermia. That snowmelt was frigid, and the air weren’t too warm neither. I was in a tough place, make no mistake, but there was no other choice I could see so I made ready to drop off the rock into the rushing current. Just then I heard an unusual sound. It was the click of a setting pole hitting the rocks on the riverbed. I looked up, and there was this old wood-and-canvas canoe easing down toward me and my rock. Old guy in the stern snubbing with his pole – wool pants cut off
Downeast (Continued from page 53)
on a small turnout, and unloaded my hunting gear. I quickly pulled on my remaining camouflage clothing, and grabbed a turkey decoy, shotgun shells and my Remington 870 12-ga. shotgun. Once I got into position and called, the pair of gobblers responded to my call and, together with the hen, headed in my direction. The toms continued to gobble back and forth continuously for about 25 minutes. Slowly, they made their way up the wooded knoll toward, where the hen disappeared into the woods. The toms continued to gobble excitedly and slowly strutted the 100 www.MaineSportsman.com
below the knees, two flannel shirts, bandana around his neck, caulked boots and a bright red hat. When the canoe was right beside the rock, he said, “Get in. Be careful.” I tumbled into the canoe, and before I knew it, we were shooting the rapids. I watched entranced as he skillfully used his pole to push, steer and snub our way down through the boulders and standing waves. After half a mile or so, we eddied out behind a bend in the river. He grounded the canoe on a bit of sand. “Better get out now,” he said, and I scrambled ashore. In the moment it took for me to turn around and say
“Thanks,” he was gone. I thought he was awful quick for an old man alone in a canoe, even though the current was rippin’. But at least I was on dry land and none the worse for wear. I crawled up the riverbank and found the portage path and began yelling for Bill. A quarter mile down river I found him, also hauled out on a little sand bank and bailing out the canoe. “You get through OK?” I yelled at him. “Yeah, I made it. Got pretty wet, though. How’d you get off that rock?” “Got a lift from an old feller,” I said. “Old guy with an old canoe. He must have just gone by here.” “Nope,” said Bill. “I
yards that separated us. I had taken a concealed position approximately 20 yards from the crest of the knoll. From this vantage point, I began to make out an image of an iridescent greenish-red head bobbing up the hill. One of the big toms ambled up the small hill following the illusive hen. The bird came within 30 yards, and stopped. I carefully aimed my 870 Remington and squeezed the trigger. The pellets from the 3 ½ inch shell dropped the 21.5-pound tom instantly. My successful day ended with a delicious turkey and another memorable story for my hunting journal. Downeast Turkeys Maine’s turkey-hunting
season
ain’t seen no one, and I’ve been here half an hour.” “You sure?” I said. “Old guy – red hat – big canoe?” “Nope. Don’t think so,” Bill said. I shut up. None of this made any sense. Bill stopped bailing. “What’d you say his name was?” “Larry Connors. He told me he was Larry Connors.” Bill paused from bailing, and said, “Can’t be. Larry Connors has been dead over a hundred years.” “What?” “Yeah, he was a famous log driver. West Branch Penobscot, I think. The Eckstorm woman wrote about him. He was some kind of celebrity logger. Best they had on the spring drive, I think. Something like that. He got killed picking a logjam at Ripogenus. Long time ago. Always wore a red hat. That was his trademark.”
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runs from May 4 to June 6. Downeast hunters can tag two bearded turkeys in Hancock or Washington County. Some top-notch hunting areas to pursue a turkey lie within the boundaries of WMDs 26, 27 and 28, especially along Route 1 between Bucksport and Calais. Refer to Maine’s turkey-hunting regulations for a detailed map of this district. Wild turkey populations have steadily increased in the state. The estimated turkey population, according to DIF&W bird biologist Brad Allen, is approximately 60,000 birds scattered over the state.
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Tom’s Favorite New Water The Midcoast region brims with ponds and lakes filled with both coldwater and warmwater fish species. One pond, which I barely touched until last year, has proved a winner. Seven Tree Pond in Union has a long history of producing goodsize white perch. My grandpa, along with several of his friends, fished the perch run 60 years ago. I recall seeing the old man returning home with a 5-gallon pail filled with 11- to 12-inch white perch, taken during the spawning run. But for some reason, I never fished Seven Tree much. There were just too many other, closer waters for me to try. That has changed. Late last summer, Steve Roberts of Swanville invited me to accompany him on a white-perch fishing trip to Seven Tree Pond. It was an offer that I could not refuse. And it’s a good thing, too, because we slayed the fish. Multi-Species Seven Tree Pond, mentioned in Ben Ames Williams classic book, Come Spring, was a prime fishing spot even in the early days, before Maine was even a state. Nothing much has changed, except that some new fish species swim there now. For instance, large-
Last year, within sight of the boat landing at Seven Tree Pond, Steve Roberts and I watched a pair of anglers haul in one bass after another, while the same time, Steve and I were catching 11-inch white perch hand-over-fist.
Steve Roberts admires a just-caught white perch at Seven Tree Pond.
mouth bass have become ubiquitous, and bass fishers take 3- to 4-pound bass with relative ease. Smallmouth bass live there too, but largemouths outnumber them. White perch have lived in Seven Tree Pond since time out of memory. Their size and numbers make this a destination spot for perch fans. Besides that, each year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks keeper-size brook trout in Seven Tree Pond. And finally, pike have become common in Seven Tree Pond. Thus far, pike seem not to have interfered with other species to any great degree. Be-
Tom and string of 11- to 12-inch white perch from Seven Tree Pond.
sides, pike may help to thin the white perch population, resulting in the average-perch being even larger. So you see now that Seven Tree Pond has something for everyone. Prime Spot Too many anglers launch their boats and immediately zip away as fast as possible to the other end of the lake before even thinking about fishing. But by doing that, they miss out on some of the better spots on the pond. Every fish species named above can be taken within sight of the boat landing at Seven Tree Pond. The landing sits alongside the place where St.
George River enters the pond. The bottom pitches down about fifty yards off the river entrance and there, white perch form huge schools. Last year, while anchored by the dropoff, Steve Roberts and I watched a pair of anglers in a big, fully equipped bass boat taking one bass after another. At the same time, Steve and I were catching 11-inch white perch hand-over-fist. The bass anglers returned to the landing at the same time as we did, and we compared notes. While we had so many white perch that we couldn’t fit one more in our coolers, the bass anglers described how they had caught and
released several largemouth bass in the 4-pound range, along with countless smaller bass and a great number of pike. Mind you, this was all within sight of the boat landing. So if you try Seven Tree Pond, don’t discount the area near the river mouth. It just may surprise you. May Prime May offers some great fishing at Seven Tree Pond. Then, spawning white perch swim up the river by the many hundreds. Local anglers fishing from shore by the river mouth still take these springtime perch with their worm-and-bobber outfits – shades of my grandpa so long ago. That happens in early May, and by month’s end, the perch should hold in the spot mentioned above. Early May was always a prime time for pickerel, and the same holds true for pike. Pike fans should hit the water well before aquatic weeds begin putting on new growth. This early spring fishing brings out the biggest fish, too, so a trophy pike could be in the making for someone willing to pound the shoreline in early spring. And of course, May offers the best time for brook trout. Fish will hold just off the river mouth, and also along shore on either side of the boat landing. (Continued on page 59) www.MaineSportsman.com
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What Gun to Buy a Young Hunter The answer is a predictable “It depends,” but the author explores the relevant factors, including intended use, the hunter’s age, whether the youngster has any experience, the speed with which they will grow into the firearm, and the need for positive reinforcement as they begin target practicing. Readers of The Shooter’s Bench ask one question more than any other: “What gun should I buy for my son’s or daughter’s first gun?” In the absence of very specific information, the answer almost automatically defaults to: “It depends.” If the question is about an eight-year-old with no firearms experience, the answer leans one way. If the youngster is 11 and a veteran of 4-H or Scouting shooting sports programs, the answer skews quite differently. If the parent asks on behalf of a 14- or 15-year-old in anticipation of a hunting trip next fall, then the answers trails off down another path. And then the question divides yet again whether the desired gun falls into the category of rifle or shotgun.
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Paper targets or squirrels in the backyard send the conversation in one direction. Following the family dog into grouse coverts turns it another way. Choosing something for deer in a white cedar swamp spotlights another class of gun entirely. Untangling the facts, nuances, suppositions, assumptions, opinions, and faith – blind and otherwise – keeps parents guessing and gun writers in business. Recognizing the appropriate moment to place a firearm into a youngster’s hands takes real perception and sound judgement. Choosing what type of firearm just takes a bit of research. The Basics Over the last 150 years, most of us learned to shoot with some type of single-shot .22 rimfire rifle. Examples
by Stevens, Marlin, Mossberg and many other manufacturers abound. Some of us graduated from paper targets to hunting by stalking rats at the town dump with those same single-shot .22s. Shooting rats at the dump may be a thing of the past, but the single-shot .22 remains a safe, reliable and effective way to teach young shooters. However, I often advise against purchasing so-called “youth guns.” Kids grow so fast that they outgrow cut-down-sized guns before using up two boxes of ammunition. Unless there are other kids coming up in the family to make use of it, avoid youth guns. For someone wanting to skip the single-shot stage, something like the lightweight, agile Ruger 10/22 makes a good choice. A kid can grow into it quickly, and keep it for a lifetime. Combination guns such as the very popular two-barrel Savage Model 24, make superior first guns. Every Boy Scout across America, and many young women, wanted one of these Savage rifle-over-shotgun (.22
This young deer hunter is using an Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight loaded with 20-gauge slugs. Photo: J.C.Allard
LR over .410) combinations. A combination gun still makes a cost-effective, even frugal way to own two guns for the price of one. A modestly priced shotgun provides a combination for a little bit of extra money, something akin to the Mossberg 500, with a standard barrel for clay targets and game birds, and a slug barrel for four-footed game. Stepping Up Years ago, whenever a youngster desired and was deemed ready to take their place at deer camp or begin venturing into the fields and woods near home, they set the .22 rimfire aside for a .30-30 or, rarely, a .32 Special. Both still make solid options. Other designs with lighter blast and recoil but suitable choices for deer-sized game include the .250 Savage, .243 Winchester, and 6mm Remington. The .257 Roberts and .260 Remington serve
equally well, but generally cost more and take more effort to find. The ubiquitous .308 Winchester and .30-’06 Springfield can be loaded lighter, but a young shooter might take a lot of punishment before growing into it. In leaning toward this direction, I would recommend going with the 7mm08 Remington. It offers outstanding performance that young shooters can use far into the future. For shotgun users, I tend to recommend a different course than many of us senior citizens took. I avoid suggesting the .410-bore shotgun. It is difficult for the inexperienced to hit flying targets with a .410. Lack of success may discourage more youngsters than the light recoil encourages. Kids thrill to success. Start them with a lightly loaded 20-gauge. A 28-gauge is expensive, not easy (Continued on page 59)
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Turkey Talk The opening day of deer season used to get me excited more than any other hunting pursuit. However, after having kids, youth day of the spring turkey season is truly what I live for. “Unbridled excitement” is how to best describe my children as turkey season approaches. The kids and I bring out the calls and talk turkey just about every night, music to our ears. (The dog – not so much.) We all talk tactics, and weeks before the opener, they accompany me on scouting trips. Mornings are spent walking the woods and driving dirt roads in anticipation of spotting a truly giant beard-dragger. Our hunts have also grown increasingly more fun over the years, as the kids have gained enough strength and knowledge to spot-andstalk, a hunting technique infinitely more enjoyable for them than sitting over a decoy and playing the waiting game. During the 2018-2019season, both boys were able to shoot birds by stalking – hunts that will remain cherished memories for years to come. Sleep In; Shoot More Birds One of the things that I had to be more flexible about when hunting with kids is that they don’t tend
My advice is, is if the turkey is coming, let him come – it’s always better to have a slam dunk at 10-15 yards than a chancier shot at 40 yards, if the bird is cooperating. And this advice is not just for kids, as I have seen experienced hunters miss longer shots.
The author’s sons, Wildman and Manimal, with their 2019 wild turkeys.
to want to get up super-early, and as they have crept into the teen years, early rises have become a less and less enjoyable experience for them. Often these days, we sleep in till about 8 a.m. – 9 a.m., and then hunt. By this time of morning, the gobbles have typically gone silent, but big birds are still on the prowl for an opportunity to mate, and the hunting can be excellent. As the hens head for their nest and the early morning crowd of hunters heads home for breakfast, the woods become the perfect place to ambush
old Tom. By patrolling the wood line paralleling fields, small groups of birds can readily be spotted. Often by creeping in close and employing light yelps and purrs and scratching in the leaves, hunters can convince toms and jakes alike to make the mistake of crossing into the danger zone. This is where knowing yardage is important, to ensuring a lethal shot. I carry a range finder, so when a bird approaches to within 30 yards, I know the kids can effectively hit their target. My rule, however,
is if the turkey is coming, let him come – it’s always better to have a slam dunk at 10-15 yards, if the bird is going to be cooperative. This isn’t just good advice for kids, though, as I have hunted with many friends who have missed birds at 40 yards that were practically running toward the ground blind. Always wait for a better shot, if you anticipate a better shot. Augila Mini Shells – Not Legal for Turkey Aguila Ammunition Company recently released a new 1 ¾ inch 12 gauge shot shell. I picked up a box to check their effec-
tiveness, thinking they might be perfect for a youth hunter wanting to make the transition from a 20-gauge pump to a 12-gauge automatic, without having to invest in a brandnew firearm. After testing them in my 12-gauge automatic, I encountered feed problems, and ultimately decided against their use. I then began to think that maybe if an adult hunter wanted to introduce their son or daughter to turkey hunting and only had a single shot 12 gauge available for use, the mini shells would enable a youth hunter to use the firearm with less recoil and again without having to purchase a new firearm. However, DO NOT DO THIS! Why? Because Mini Shells ARE NOT Legal for Turkey Hunting. Maine law states that for turkey hunting, “A person may use shotgun gauges 10 through 20, using shot sizes 4 through 6, or mixed loads that include shot sizes 4 through 7. In addition, shotgun gauges 10 through 28, including .410, may be used with shot sizes 7 through 9 in Tungsten Super Shot (TSS).” I found this verbiage slightly confusing, since mini shells don’t fit perfectly within this description. (Continued on page 59) www.MaineSportsman.com
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A Bad Situation on the Flooded Moose River What happens if you are motoring a canoe with 1,500 pounds of gear upriver, and your motor mount breaks in half, causing your outboard to plunge to the bottom? “It’s bad,” concluded the Commander. But would spare items and ingenuity save the day? “You’re not going to give me a hard time about the motor, right?”, asked the Commander. Kevin Regan, aka “the Commander,” and I spend a lot of time in canoes on the upper headwaters of the Moose River, west of Jackman – DeLorme, Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 39, C-2. My preference is to spend that time with either a paddle or a canoe pole in hand. The Commander is a motor guy. In the summer and early fall, I usually win the argument. The water is so low on this section of the famous Bow-Trip canoe route that a motor is impractical at best. Shear pins are like candy to the thousands of downed trees, sand banks and submerged rocks that lie in wait. But on this bright, cold day in the first week of May, the Moose was swelled with the meltwater from a hundred square miles of lingering snowpack in the border mountains. Recent heavy rains had also contributed to the massive volume and swift current. The river was at flood stage. And the Commander’s www.MaineSportsman.com
six-horse Evinrude, which he side-mounted on the 20-foot Tripper canoe, seemed sporting enough. A May Milk Run Besides all that, the trip was a milk run, not a wilderness sojourn. Our goal was to get downstream quickly with the mostly-empty Tripper to rescue a half-ton of moose-hunting gear. We expected to load the gear and get back upstream to the truck before dark. The hunting gear had been left in a remote riverside camp at the end of a successful moose hunt the previous October. The camp was 12 miles by river from where we launched the canoe. Our plan was to go down and get back in the same day. Simple enough. Flood stage on the Moose has a disorienting effect. The water level was high enough to drown out most distinguishing landmarks. Camel Rips is a three-foot ledge drop under normal conditions. But we motored over a flat expanse of mud-stained water where it would usually be necessary to stop and line the canoe through a narrow
chute. Navigating some of the tight turns on the river was a little dicey. In order to maintain steering with the motor, the Tripper had to be moving faster than the speeding current. And to avoid crashing in to the inside corners of those tight turns, I sometimes used a paddle to draw the bow of the huge canoe away from the inside banking. This kind of motorized river travel is an art form. It was longago mastered by Maine guides and woodsmen on the Allagash River and the upper reaches of the St. John. And the Commander, despite all of my ribbing over 25 years of wilderness travel together, is an expert. Gear, Gear, Gear The log camp had weathered the winter well, just as it had for the first 100 years of its existence. Snowbanks still lingered under the eaves of the steeply-pitched roof. But the gear was safe and sound inside, if you didn’t count the usual mouse damage. It was a bigger load than I remembered – coolers, spikecamp tents, propane tanks, dry bags, a
Commander in the stern, upstream on the Moose River at flood stage. All photos: Jim Andrews
chain saw, a massive game cart, food boxes and toolboxes. Imagine the amount of gear you would need to leave behind to make room in a canoe for a quartered 700-pound bull moose carcass, including the head and rack – that was our payload. After a quick lunch and careful re-loading of the Tripper, we were on our way back upstream. The hull of a 20-foot Old Town Tripper will swallow an enormous amount of gear. The boat is rated for 1,500 pounds, and it quickly became clear that we were pushing that limit. The six-horse had all the weight it wanted to push against the massive current. In narrow spots, I still occasionally helped with a few paddle strokes in the bow. Disaster Strikes Three miles from the truck, there was a huge bang and the familiar whine of the motor abruptly ceased. I thought we
must have hit a submerged rock. Later on, the Commander surmised the problem might have simply been metal fatigue in the motor mount. A quick glance back at the stern revealed that the Evinrude had simply disappeared – and we had started to drift back downstream. The Commander grabbed a setting pole and I paddled furiously toward a small backwater in the flooded alders. It took only seconds to realize that our attempts were slowed by the motor, still attached to the fuel line, and now serving as an anchor. After tenuously retrieving the motor by pulling on the fuel line and lifting it to the top of the huge load, we made it to the backwater. “It’s bad,” was all the Commander had to say. We knew it was impossible to paddle against the current with our load. The sun was already below the (Continued on next page)
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tops of the firs on the west bank. The air was cooler by the minute. The top half of the motor mount, a bolted sandwich of hardwood and cast aluminum, had sheared completely off and remained clamped to the motor. The flat steel base of the mount remained attached to the gunwales of the canoe. The six-horse had ingested enough river water to now be dead weight for the remainder of the trip. Jury-Rig “Told you it was bad,” Kevin repeated as we examined the damage. “You dig the two-horse out from under the load, I’ll figure out how to attach it to the canoe.”
The side-mounted six-horse, in better times.
The spare outboard was under a mountain of gear, purposely placed on bottom as ballast. It took a while to find it. There was no spare motor mount. Plenty of outboards have failed us over the years, the Commander insists on always carrying a spare, but the clamp-on motor mounts had always
Midcoast Report (Continued from page 55)
Bass, too, become active in May. And while traditional bass lures will work, my best early-season bass fishing has come when using crappie jigs, specifically, Crappie Magnets. Why bass go so crazy for these bottom-bouncing offerings remains unclear. Nonetheless, smaller lures and jigs work best now. Round Pond It takes only 10 minutes or so to motor up the river from Seven Tree Pond
Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 56)
to find, and requires some real marksmanship to successfully engage targets. Once they’ve gained confidence with 20-gauge, they can choose to step up to 16- or 12-gauge. Or, perhaps back down to 28-gauge or .410 bore.
Central Maine (Continued from page 57)
To clarify, I contacted the Maine Warden Service and asked if mini shells were legal for turkey hunting. The re-
been trustworthy. At one point, while I moved gear around, the Commander grabbed an axe from my hand. After finding the smaller outboard, and packing away the sixhorse, I turned to the stern again and found Kevin hunched over an ingenious, ungodly contraption. He had
Could this improvised motor mount -- which utilized an axe as a brace -- save the day?
lashed the axe head to the remains of the motor-mount with a canoe strap. The handle was wedged under the opposite gunwale. We clamped the two-horse on to the improvised mount. An hour later, and almost dark, we limped in to the landing where the trucks were parked. We had
been paddling constantly against the stiff current to help the two-horse make even headway speed. I turned to glance at the Commander in the stern as he hit the kill switch on the tiny motor. “Simple enough,” was all he said.
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to Round Pond, a flow-through pond on the St. George River system. The same fish that inhabit Seven Tree Pond also swim in Round Pond. However, pike tend to run much larger in the smaller (perhaps 100-acre) Round Pond. The trip alone is worth the price of admission. In May, the riparian habitat swarms with breeding warblers and red-winged blackbirds. Blue herons float overhead, and aquatic insects hatch in great quantities. Bring a camera. While there are a few residences on Round Pond, the general feeling is one
of seclusion. For white perch, I like to head upwind and drift the length of the pond. However, for pike, it might pay to work the weedbeds hard, since pike like to hide on the edge of weeds in order to dart out and grab passing forage species. So if fishing Seven Tree Pond, you may wish to take the side trip to Round Pond. Either way, I’m sure you will catch lots of fish. Look for both Seven Tree Pond and Round Pond just south of Union in DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 14, D-1.
Final Analysis The best course of action provides the young shooter with a gun suited to them. It should make them comfortable, confident and, with practice, competent shooters. It should not become a chore to carry, clean or maintain. The sight of it should make them want to get outside, to learn, and to excel at
marksmanship and related field craft. Above all, it should imbue them with a sense of respect and responsibility and a reverence for the game they seek. Any gun is a tool. A dangerous tool, like a chainsaw or an axe. Hopefully, it becomes a key to lifelong enjoyment and deeply personal traditions.
ply from the Maine Warden Service was that mini shells can NOT be used for turkey hunting, since at this time of this writing, Augila is only loading mini shells with slugs, #4 buckshot or shells filled with 7 1/2s, 8s and 9s. Un-
fortunately, all of those loads are outside of what is allowed to hunt turkey, so Augila Mini Shells cannot be used legally.
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I Hate Snakes Snakes. I hate snakes. Much more than a deep dislike, I despise snakes. I really, really, really hate snakes. Growing up on Pineau St. in a western mountain town, our neighborhood was rather rural. I lived on a dead-end road surrounded by hundreds of acres of woods, streams, and even several frog ponds. Island Boy and I were outside more than inside. Bears, fishers, coyotes, skunks – nothing scared us. That is, nothing but the slimy, slipping, forked tongued monsters of the Maine woods and fields. Island Boy 2; Snakes 0 One October afternoon when we were in our early teens, we grabbed our scatter guns after school and headed out in pursuit of grouse or a stray rabbit. I was following Island Boy as we headed down the wood road behind the house. As we approached the brook we needed to cross, he shouldered his gun and proceeded to shoot at his feet! Knowing him as kind of a sensible fellow, I wondered why he would choose to shoot the ground he was standing on. After the leaves and turf settled, I observed two dead wood snakes – well, pieces of two dead wood www.MaineSportsman.com
As I set the pipe on the camp porch stairs to flatten out one end, out from under the porch, between the stairs, came a huge green-eyed serpent with a head larger than a moose. I screamed, stepped back, tripped and fell on my back. Then I lay there, prepared to die.
The author is deathly afraid of snakes. In fact, he probably won’t even be able to look at this photograph.
snakes. This gave me great comfort for two reasons – first, the guy I am hunting with didn’t shoot his own feet; and second, there are two fewer serpents on the globe. The latter reason being more important. Snakes, I hate snakes. Mystery Box Being a father is a very rewarding and challenging experience. One day after my day shift at the papermill, I went into the cellar to putter on one of my projects. At the foot of the stairs was a rather large cardboard box. The box’s cover was closed. The box was right in my way. The
box should not have been left there, as someone could trip on it. As I grabbed the box to move it out of the way, I heard something slide around inside it. Being a curious sort, I opened it to discover three dozen snakes slithering around in it, trying to leap out and attack me. I stepped back, and hollered at the hooligans, Son #1 and Son #2. Son #1 responded by hollering at me to be careful with their snakes. Sons, I have learned, do not necessarily learn from their fathers. Snakes, I hate snakes.
Biggest One of All Up at camp one summer, Island Boy and I decided to build some bunkbeds. Actually it was the Wife’s idea. She always has ideas, but that’s another hundred stories. While working on the beds, my 4-month old pointer kept getting in the way. I finally opened the camp door and let him run around. This, as it turns out, was one huge mistake. After the bunks were installed, I needed to find something I could manufacture as a handle. I remembered an aluminum pipe that was under the camp. Now, picture the camp. It sits on posts
18” high. Crawling around under the camp in search of the pipe, I knew I would encounter a snake of biblical proportions. Surprisingly, I found the pipe, and – to my delight – nothing else. I grabbed the pipe, a hammer, and my safety glasses. There are three steps onto the porch. The steps are camp steps, with no backing. I set the pipe down on the step, holding it with one hand so I could flatten it with a couple good swings of the hammer. As I did this, from under the porch, between the stairs, came a huge green-eyed serpent with a head larger than a moose. I screamed, stepped back, tripped and fell on my back. As I lay there on the ground about to be swallowed up by this giant anaconda, the Wife, who was on the porch, doubled over with laughter. Mike (Island Boy) roared with merriment. My heart stopped. My pointer, it seems, was under the camp and decided he should come out through the steps to see what I was up to. As his head came out, his ears were pushed back – a perfect impression of the largest, deadliest serpent in the world. I hate snakes.
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Leaf Out is a Magical Time of Year Leaf out is a magical time of year. Whether this vital sign of spring starts in late April or early May, the annual progression from bud to leaf marks the biological beginning of the growing season for the northern forest and for the many wildlife species therein. For weeks now, starting with snow still on the ground, the buds on trees and shrubs have been swelling. In the treetops and on the branch tips of low-lying shrubs, we have noticed colors ranged from green to purple, red to rust, yellow to orange. As the days and nights get warmer, we see it coming. Any day now, the first young leaves will burst forth and begin to unfurl. Understory First In New England forests, many of the shrubs and low flowering plants in the understory bud out, leaf out, and flower while the canopy is still open. For these plants, it is a race against time until the leaves in the treetops shade the forest floor. Those early warming rays of sun provide a burst of life for Red Trillium, Yellow Trout Lilies, and Dutchman’s Breeches. Up above, the buds of red and sugar maple are the first to swell, followed by yellow birch, American beech, and, later, ash. Accord-
Thanks to Henry David Thoreau’s carefully-recorded observations in the 1850s, we know the average date of leaf emergence in New England is now about 18 days earlier than it was 170 years ago – from May 8 in Thoreau’s lifetime, to April 20 in recent years.
An adult female goldfinch enjoys the spring sunshine as buds and blossoms bloom. All photos: David Van Wie
ing to the Forest Ecology Monitoring Cooperative at University of Vermont, it takes red maples the longest to reach full leaf-out, even though they start earlier, because those early days are when the temperatures are cooler. Red Before Green When spring weather first arrives, we all look forward to seeing green leaves on the trees, but some species, like red ma-
ple, start out with red leaves that later turn green as the leaves get larger. The red color in spring leaves is the same pigment – anthocyanin – that is responsible for the brilliant reds in autumn. Scientists theorize that the anthocyanins may help the new leaves withstand cold temperatures that come with the fickle spring weather. In silver maples, flowers start to emerge
Early May leaf out in late afternoon light.
before the red leaf buds open. Then, as the buds open, the red scales and flowers fall to the ground creating a carpet that looks like red snow. At the other end of the spectrum, the late-starting ash finishes fastest. They get a boost when nighttime temperatures remain well above freezing, allowing the compound ash leaves to develop all night long while we are sleeping.
Early leaf out in New Gloucester (Pineland) shows red buds on the trees and Mt. Washington in the distance.
Spring Sequence The general sequence for different species of deciduous tree holds from year to year, but the actual dates for each species can shift significantly. Day to day weather patterns may stall or speed up biological activity for one or more species. These climatic and weather differences can bring unusual color combinations from year to year. A 2014 international study of temperate woody plants found that bud burst and leaf out dates in woody species could differ by as much as three months at a single site, and the dates varied by type of plant: deciduous species earlier than evergreen species, and shrubs earlier than trees. Sometimes different individual trees will be well ahead or behind the rest of their neighbors. Even with changes in our climate during the past couple of decades, the order of leaf out among different species has been generally consistent between years and among different sites across North America. But some tree and shrub species can be more sensitive or susceptible to a changing climate than others. Thanks to Henry David Thoreau’s observations in the 1850s, we know that (Continued on page 63) www.MaineSportsman.com
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Bring the Comforts of Home to the Wilderness in Your Modified Van I saw a meme on Facebook the other day and I liked it so much I shared it. It showed a fellow sitting with his back to a tree, chewing a blade of grass and looking out over a scenic view of a beautiful mountain range. The caption read: “Sometimes I like to sit and think, and sometimes I like to just sit.” Sometimes I just sit, too, but often I’m sitting and thinking about all sorts of things. One topic that has been crossing my mind lately involves the idea of camping
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A van makes for great adventures in the wild. Nothing beats waking up before daylight, in the middle of your favorite hunting or fishing territory. out of a modified van. I used to own an old “hippy van” (actually I have owned two), and they work perfect for spending a night or two in the woods. The first van, a Ford Econoline (1970s vintage) had been modified to include wall to wall paneling, shag carpet floors, a bench-style bed, red and white checkered curtains, and a roof rack for carrying a ca-
noe. I could pull over anywhere, pull the curtains, jump in the bed in the back and go to sleep. The second van, a 1970-something Dodge Tradesman, replaced the old Ford van and did it in style. I had a custom paint job on the van exterior, shag carpet throughout the interior, dual Captain’s chairs that swiveled to the rear – matching up to a
round table for seating four people, a big bench seat that flopped down into a comfy bed in the very rear of the rig, two crank vents on the roof, a canoe rack, an extra rear A/C unit, mag wheels, and a Pioneer sound system that Jimi Hendrix would have been proud to own. Van Go I enjoyed taking the vans to various hunting and fishing lo-
cations, and really any kind of camping where an overnight stay was required. I liked the way both of these vans were set up for camping – I had them stocked with the basics so I could hunt or fish all day, and when the day ended I had all the comforts of home right out there in the woods. I didn’t have to pack bags, set up a tent, or book a lodge or motel in advance – I had everything I needed in the van. About the only thing I had to do (Continued on next page)
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ahead of the trip was to fill a cooler to make sure I had enough food to cover the days I’d be out. I always carried some kind of sliced deli meat, mayo, cheese and bread for lunch, coffee and cereal for breakfast, and some type of meat and potatoes for supper. A Coleman stove and a folding picnic table and chair provided outdoor dining, or I could eat inside if the weather was nasty. I also carried a plastic tarp just in case I might stay a few days in one spot, rigging the tarp so it covered the side exit/ entrance. I set the outdoor dining area up under the tarp and cooked and ate outside even if it rained. Nowadays I would add a few things like; an AC/DC converter, an electric or propane refrigerator, and a screened tarp to keep the bugs out of the dining area. These items aren’t really neces-
sary, but would make it even more comfortable and easier to stay out longer. I would also be sure to install a portable, multi-mount winch system I recently discovered from WARN Industries (warn. com). With this unique winch you mount a trailer hitch (square) at the front and rear of the vehicle to accommodate the slide-in portable winch. With these two hitches in place, a stuck vehicle can be pulled out from the front or rear depending on the situation – a handy feature for those odd predicaments that happen when you least expect it. A Night Out I like to stay over at least one night when I go fishing or hunting in a remote location – any place that requires a drive of three or four hours. Who wants to get up in the morning at 3 a.m., drive three hours, hunt or fish until dark, and then take
Sporting Environment (Continued from page 61)
the average date of leaf emergence in New England has shifted markedly during the past 170 years. Thoreau kept detailed records for 43 different woody plant species, including red maple, red oak and lowbush blueberry. By comparing his records to recent observations, researchers have determined that bud burst is now about 18 days earlier – from May 8 on average in Thoreau’s lifetime, to April 20 in recent years. A Pastel Pallet Once the buds have fully opened and the leaves emerge, the forest pallet changes again, with the hillsides turning a hundred different shades of green. Each day, the canopy fills out and the pastel greens darken into the deeper greens of summer.
A conversion van can handle all camping needs and handles well on the pavement as well as off-road. Photo: boho.life
another three hours to drive home? I’ve done the above plenty of times, but prefer to take another approach ... I like to take it easy nowadays with a leisurely drive to the chosen campsite after a nice breakfast, hunt or fish the rest of day, then have a planned meal at the campsite. After dinner, relax at the campsite, sleep comfortably until morning and resume a little hunting or fishing in the morning – then, after a re-
freshing lunch, take a little power nap and drive back home. This plan for one overnight can easily be extended for a few days. The simple fact is that doing it this way makes the difficulty of a long drive a little more manageable. Call ahead and make camping arrangements with landowners to avoid any conflict and enjoy the spectacular wilderness areas this state has to offer. Vehicles set up for
Timing Is Everything For many of us who love the outdoors, leaf out coincides with the start of beloved activities, including fishing, hunting and watching the bird migration – especially warblers that sing among the buds and flowers. Bugs, of course, follow in lockstep with the buds, which gets the fish looking up to dry flies. I usually wait until the buds have burst and the mayflies and mosquitoes are hatching to get out on the stream with my fly rod. Not that there aren’t opportunities before that to swim a streamer or dead drift a nymph, but for me, the start of fishing season is when I see tiny green leaves in the understory and I swat that first skeeter on my neck. Leaf out also signals the start of spring turkey hunting season. The open canopy lets the sun through to light up the toms’ strutting grounds. The thinner understory allows hunter to see a longer distance as the gobblers approach.
overnight camping make an adventure in the wild not only possible, but totally enjoyable. The ease of simply crawling into bed at the end of a long day of hunting or fishing creates a better day afield. And nothing beats waking up before daylight, right in the middle of your favorite hunting or fishing territory...I can almost smell the coffee brewing and hear the bacon sizzling.
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Gardeners traditionally tie planting to the leaf out and natural flowering pattern of the year. The Old Farmer’s Almanac says: • Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear, • Plant potatoes when the first dandelion bloom, • Plant beets, carrots, lettuce and spinach when lilac is in first leaf, • Plant tomatoes when lily-of-thevalley is in full bloom. The timing of leaf out is also closely tied to the timing of flowers for trees, shrubs and other plants, which is important for pollinators that depend on flowering plants for their livelihood. Serviceberry, dogwood, crab apples, pin cherry, and red maple all provide early spring flowers for pollinators. The pollinators, of course, return the favor to the plants, helping to start the next generation that one day will be blooming in spring.
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Company Makes Fur Clothing from Road Kills I have mentioned Peace Fur before in my column. It is clothing manufactured with fur components in Massachusetts by a company owned by Pamela Paquin in Southbridge, MA. The unusual aspect of this business is that she will only utilize fur obtained from road kill furbearers. Yes, that is correct – road kill. Her market is selling to those people who do not want to wear fur because they do not believe in killing animals for fur – either by trapping or from killing furbearers raised in captivity. I decided it was time that I saw what it really is all about. So on the last day of January 2020, I took a ride down to Paquin’s facility in Southbridge, which is located in one of the region’s old mills. Pamela Paquin’s Background After living in Denmark for several years, Paquin returned to the United States in 2013, via Scotland where her mother currently lives. When she came home to the states, she needed a way to make a living to support herself and a daughter. She had lived near some fur farms in Denmark, and she did not like to see animals caged for their entire lives. She was also aware that there were many www.MaineSportsman.com
The company turns many different types of road kill furbearers into warm and glamorous clothing, including (from left) fox, coyote and beaver. Photos: Peace Fur
people who would not wear fur for various reasons, whether the animals had been raised in captivity, or wild fur caught by trapping. As she drove around and began noticing many furbearers that had killed along the roadways in this country, she had an idea – perhaps there a market for furs that do not result from trapping or farms. Soon she became convinced that there was an unfilled interest in road kill furs from customers who would not wear conventional fur, but might do so if the fur was from animals that would otherwise simply be discarded. First Venture, Then a New Name Paquin thoroughly researched the subject, and realized there was a viable market for fur that could be salvaged from the road killed furbearers. As a result, she opened up Petite Mort Fur in the winter of 2013-2014 – her first venture into that field. The company’s
title was changed in 2018 to Peace Fur, which more clearly defined the product to the customer base she was seeking. She believes the new name resonates with clientele who might otherwise oppose the use of fur. Indirect Way of Reminding Drivers to Slow Down? The major driving force is Paquin’s recognition of the tremendous amount of animal carnage on our roadways. She was appalled at that, and she felt that it demanded some kind of a response. Her business is one way of drawing attention to the high levels of road kill in this country. Also, utilizing the animals gave them some value, even in death. She figured that making the best of the implications of people’s driving habits and assisting the fur industry was an easier approach than getting people to stop driving so fast. She’s Not Anti-Trapping When I asked
Paquin how she learned how to taking the animals and process them for use, Pamela stated that we as a people already know how to do this – trappers and fur farmers have the skills, and auctions supply the fur to commercial markets. She said that in the past, she did not have any understanding of the pleasure trappers derive from their work outside. She acknowledges that sentiment is not found in her business model. However, as a farmer herself, she has an understanding of the role of nature and animals in serving mankind’s needs. She says trapping has a number of similarities to farm life, in which she and her daughter are responsible for the happy life and humane death of their animals to provide food. She pointed out that in today’s world, most people never see the process from which their food is produced, and they do not want to. She appreciates
that farmers and trappers share another common experience – neither one spends their working life sitting at a desk within an office cubicle. She does not want the sourcing for the commercial fur industry to change resulting in the ending of a way of life for the trapper. Grateful for Trappers’ Help She stated she is truly grateful for the trappers who have helped her learn the processes required to prepare pelts for the market, and the sources for tanning. Paquin said she is most fortunate to have trappers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont not only providing road killed fur, but in also teaching her the methods of pelt preparation. She said she’d like to develop a source for her fur in Maine. Maine is larger state that could be a source of more fur than is available from the other three states. She has had offers of fur from states that are more southern, but she has declined those offers because she maintains that the quality of their furs is far below that sourced in the northern states. She has not yet met any trapper who rely on trapping for their total income. (Continued on page 67)
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To Stay Healthy in these Tough Times, Take Kids Fishing As the corona virus spreads in Maine, schools are closed, and kids are studying online. Social and athletic activities have been cancelled. Long term, this is not healthy. Kids need outlets to fully develop. One place families can go that’s safe is the great outdoors, and fishing is a good choice – especially when combined with camping, hiking and camp fires. However, kids need action, and most fishing can become boring quickly, so it’s important to choose a fish that will be easy to catch, fight hard and easy to locate to keep the outing filled of action. So what fish can prove an action-packed outing? With all things considered, what’s the most exciting game fish here in southern Maine? I, along with many others, think that it’s the smallmouth bass, especially when they are pursued in rivers with fly rods or light spinning gear. But it’s not just the fact that smallmouth bass are hard fighting, aerobatic, back-flipping; never give up, fighters when hooked – it’s also about availability and the easy ways they can be caught. Smallmouth bass that inhabit lakes and ponds grow much larger, because of the abundant forage available to them. Sure,
they are exciting to catch. However, most bass fishermen on lakes use boats, and most parents don’t own one, so fishing rivers from shore works best for them. Smallies in rivers are a different fish than those that live in lakes. It seems that they school with others the same age (fish that hatched the same year). This means that if you catch one, then you generally will keep catching fish the same size and often one after the other – a really good thing when fishing with kids. This makes river smallmouth a great opportunity for a family outing. Once these feisty smaller bass grow and mature, then they move to slower waters in the stream and feed on larger prey like shiners, frogs and crayfish. This enables them to grow large and live much longer. Smallmouth bass spawn in the spring when water temperatures reach 60 degrees. Males build nests in the shallows, and then females drop eggs in them After that, males fertilize the eggs, and the life cycle goes on. Smallies prefer water temperatures between 66 and 72 degrees – temperatures that are generally reached this month. During the month of May, bass settle into their summer rou-
tines. After the spawn, they concentrate on feeding, and then they become easier to locate. So where, when and how can anglers find and fish for this exciting gamefish? Where to Fish This is an easy question, because smallmouth inhabit every river in this region. Locating rivers full of bass is easy, but locating them within the river system is another matter. There are locations in the river that will hold bass more than others. Also, some sections will hold larger fish, while others will harbor small, stunted bass. Understanding where to fish is a key to success. I will use the Mousam River from the bridge on Route 109 to the outlet at the Emery Mills dam as an example. I’m not a fish biologist – my expertise arises because this is the home water that I’ve lived on and fished for 65 years. Also, this section is typical bass habitat, and it’s consistent with all rivers in the area. Young smallmouth in rivers can be caught in deep pools below rapids. They hold in currents near rocks and stumps, much like bass in lakes. Smallmouth in rivers like to hold in the shadows. Casting behind submerged large rocks with slow current
Lidia Suhy, the author’s granddaughter, with a bass she caught at the dam on the Ossipee River in Effingham Falls, New Hampshire. This is a good spot for a family outings. Val Marquez photo
moving past can produce fish. But that’s not always the case. On a recent canoe trip, I paddled through a slow section of the Mousam. There were lily pads on both sides. The water was shallow, and the bottom was covered with logs and slabs from saw mills that operated over a hundred years ago. I was trout fishing so I didn’t plan to fish there, but I still had a Gray Ghost streamer fly dragging along behind the canoe, as always. As I drifted along this section of the river, my fly rod bent and slid along the gunwale. An 8-inch bass went airborne, twisting and flipping repeatedly. I released it and cast again, and another bass repeated the air show.
To heck with trout – this is too much fun! The bass were hiding in the water-logged slabs, and darted out like sharks fighting for my fly. There are two spots I save for the grandkids, since we always catch bass here. One is a large submerged bolder in the Mousam, across from my home in Emery Mills. The other is downstream of the dam, at the head of the Ossipee River in Effingham Falls in New Hampshire. These two spots always seem to produce once water temperatures reach 65 to 70 degrees. Advanced Methods Bobbers and night crawlers will work sometimes, but to be consistently successful. anglers need to use more advanced fishing (Continued on page 67) www.MaineSportsman.com
66 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Turkey and Trout Tempt Tom this Month As I struck out across my neighbor’s field in the black of night, it was soon very apparent to me just how poorly I knew his property. There was no moonlight on
this cloudy pre-dawn trek, so I had to snap my flashlight on more often than I liked. I was sure I was headed in the direction of my blind, but I kept on veering out away from
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the tree line with each step. My flashlight beam finally caught the outline of the blind, set into a clump of pricker-bushes about 75 yards from the edge of the tree line. I had a jake and hen decoy in my bag, so I set the jake as if it were attempting to mount the hen – a sure-fire way to anger the big gobbler that ruled this field. Or so I thought. Once settled in my blind, I poured a cup of steaming coffee from the same little L.L. Bean thermos I’ve had for more than 30 years. Big Birds Awaken The woods came alive as the sun started to make an appear-
ance on the horizon. Birds began their chorus, and I soaked in this magical moment of dawn awakening. The hens started dropping into the field, just like they did pre-season as I sat in my truck up the hill and watched them. The big boy would be down last and would follow the girls as they fed in the field. I heard branches snapping and wings hitting trees. The big gobbler glided into the field just as I imagined. I grabbed my box call, but there was no need for it. I had eight live decoys doing all the talking for me. Plan Comes Together – Almost In single file, the
hens and a few jakes fed up past me, a mere 20 yards from my blind. All I had to do was wait for the Tom to follow. But wait, what was happening? He was walking over into the next field! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I started clucking on my call, but to no avail. It seems he had other plans that morning. I never did connect with that gobbler that year, but I think about him and other big-bearded bruisers as May comes along each year. Hunters in the Sebago to Auburn Region have plenty of birds, fields and woodlands (Continued on next page)
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���������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • May 2020 • 67 (Continued from page 66)
to hunt. This year, the season opens on May 4, with youth hunters getting a crack at the birds on May 2. Every year I see more and more birds in “unusual” locations. When I say unusual, I mean away from fields. It seems these birds have adapted well to woods living. With last year’s bumper acorn crop, there is still plenty of mast in the woods to hold flocks of turkeys, so I’m going to concentrate on wooded areas, away from the coveted fields. The season ends June 6, and this region’s hunters can take two bearded turkeys this spring. Trout Trolling There are few things that stir my soul like pumping a fly rod through springtime waters with a sleek streamer on the end of the line, hoping for a trout to bite. Sure I live for ice-out salmon action, but May slows things down a bit. Launches are not as crowded, I don’t have to be on the wa-
ter while it’s still dark, and the waters have warmed up a tad. This is peak trout trolling time. Thanks to a phenomenal stocking program, many local waters have some decent trout fishing, and May is one of the best times to target them. Streamer flies like the Gray Ghost, Barnes’ Special and many other traditional patterns work well this month. Lures do wonders, too. Tie on an Al’s Goldfish – probably a lure your father used, as it’s an old standard. I like the Thomas Buoyant with red and black spots. It always produces for me. Trolling close to shoreline this month will put you into the brook trout, rainbows and browns. Oh and don’t forget the splake, too. These non-reproducing hybrids between and brook and lake trout grow rapidly and put up one heck of a battle. Where to Go For brook trout fans, Trickey Pond in Naples (DeLorme
Trapping (Continued from page 64)
The income derived from trapping supplement other careers. She is willing to pay fair market value for pelts, even if portions of the fur have been damaged by vehicles. This does not mean she will take real mangled pelts. She desires pelts picked up during the fall and winter
Southern Maine (Continued from page 65)
methods. A fly rod works with streamer flies or large nymphs; but I would rather have root canal then take a group of kids fly fishing along a brush-covered stream. Also, casting spinning rods with
Atlas, Map 4, B-5) is home to decent brook trout and splake. You may even pick up a salmon! For rainbows and brown trout, Little Sebago Lake (Map 5, C-3) in Windham is heavily stocked with these fish. I work the shoreline across from the boat launch, and then work the boat launch side. The lake bottom comes up into gravel bars quickly, so watch your depth finder. Camp owners also have quite the obstacle course of submerged mooring lines and buoys, so watch these, too To the north, you can’t beat the Range Pond Chain (Map 5, A-3) in Poland for trout variety. Brookies, browns and rainbows are all stocked within these waters, and May is the top month to target them. River anglers in this region need to make a sojourn to the Presumpscot River in Windham. Brook trout, browns and even salmon are stocked here in decent numbers, including some
The author shows off the results of a successful May trolling trip for brown trout in this region. This whopper was caught on a gray ghost tandem streamer tied by the author. Photo by Tom Roth
17- and 18-inch fish. Plus, these fish grow well, so fly-rodding enthusiasts love this sleepy river. Anglers fishing the river from Sebago Lake to its confluence with North Dundee Pond are limited to fly fishing only. Anglers after splake will enjoy the peace and quiet of Coffee Pond (Map 5, B-2) in Casco. The pond is heavily stocked with splake, and a healthy smelt population grows these hybrids to epic proportions. I love trolling the shore-
months that have useable portions. Develop Maine as a Source? Paquin is a licensed trapper and fur buyer in Massachusetts. As many furs must be tagged before sale and crossing state lines, she needs pelts to fleshed, boarded and dried in the normal manner, and then tagged in accordance with state law, prior to purchasing. She hopes that an interest here lures and treble-hooks are equally dangerous. When fishing for bass in rivers with kids, an extremely effective tactic is a worm and non-lead split shot, drifted deep near underwater boulders or in the slower currents around rocks and logs. As the current health crisis deepens, there is still one place you can es-
line of Coffee Pond in my square-stern canoe with my antique Evinrude 3-horsepower motor. The smell of the two-stroke exhaust and the quaint camps bring me back to my earliest fishing memories. May is truly a cast-and-blast month. With plenty of turkeys around to chase and numerous trout lakes, ponds and rivers to choose from, it’s a wonder we can get anything else done this month!
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in Maine will develop for trappers to furnish road kill furs. This would generate more income for trappers while giving some value to the animals killed on the roadways. I suggest Maine trappers and fur buyers interested in supporting Pamela Paquin contact her via her website, www.Peacefur.com.
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cape to where you will not come in close contact with others, and that’s the outdoors. I sympathize with parents who want to bring their kids fishing but have no experience and don’t know where and how to fish. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail me for information.
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68 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
— Guest Column —
Poachers Provide Warden with a Short, Wild Ride by Sgt. Douglas Tibbetts
It was dark. The deputy sheriff’s .357 Magnum revolver went off about four feet from my head. I was in the back of the poachers’ truck, hanging on to the leg of the dead deer, desperately trying to maintain my balance. Then the driver floored the truck’s accelerator. It was the third week of September a number of years ago, on a late Saturday afternoon. The air was crisp, and I could sense the coming of fall. The scent of autumn floated in on the soft early-evening breeze. This is the time of year when some Mainers envision a fresh venison steak in the frying pan, and they feel the urge to get a jump-start on the deer season. I was filling up my Thermos with coffee, preparing for a long night of work as the area’s Game Warden, when I received a call from a resident of Stetson, which is located about 10 miles northeast of Newport. The caller explained that he’d just heard a rifle shot up on Clarks Hill. He said he had a good idea where it had come from, and who the culprit might be. Believing this information to be credible, I called my deputy sheriff buddy, Ken, to see if he wanted to go over with me. Ken always liked a little excitement. Proceeding on Foot We arrived at Clarks Hill shortly after dark. I stashed my car about three-quarwww.MaineSportsman.com
ters of a mile away from where the shot had been heard. Then we proceeded on foot to the area I believed was the source of the gunshot, in a set of back fields. I selected a spot under a spruce tree. It offered a decent view of the landscape, where we could hunker down to wait and see what developed. Across the field was a gap in the trees, which led to an old, discontinued town road. It wasn’t long before a pick-up truck with no lights on came down the old road and into our field. It traveled up around the field past our location, and continued on into a field behind us. We Needed a Plan The vehicle stopped, and we heard a vehicle door closing. It was obvious to us that the pre-season hunters were retrieving their deer. I knew I had to come up with a plan in a hurry, because the truck would be coming back towards us in short order. It had been my experience that poachers are not usually prone to stopping and giving themselves up. Instead, they often re-
quire some encouragement. A Plan Forms Our best bet, I decided, was to run across the field to where the gap from the field went out to the old road. I told Ken I’d hide in the tall grass, and when the truck came by, I’d run and jump into the truck’s rear bed. I instructed him to position himself in the gap to try and stop them. There wasn’t much time for discussion, as we could hear them coming, but as I headed for the tall grass, I emphasized to Ken he should try to avoid getting run over. Moment of Truth Just as we got into position, the truck approached our location. The passenger was shining a dim light out his side window onto the ground. As the truck passed me, I jumped up. I had always envisioned myself executing this particular move, and even contemplated doing it quietly and having the guys drive all the way home with me in the back. My plan was to leap onto the back by wrapping an arm and leg over a closed tail-
Just as the Warden and the Deputy Sheriff got into position in the tall grass, the truck came toward them -- headlights off, two men inside, and a poached deer in the back. The author had a plan, but you know what they say about plans.
gate. However, as I began moving toward the truck, I realized it was travelling a little faster than I had anticipated. Injured in the Line of Duty I ran hard, made the leap, and found there was no tailgate to hang onto. I landed half in the truck body and half out, while at the same time severely banging my right knee on the truck’s bumper, which consisted of a piece of welded railroad iron. Just then, Ken stepped out in front of the truck, a beat-up Ford 250, and ordered the driver to stop. Instead of stopping, the operator floored the accelerator, almost spitting me back out onto the ground. I reached out, grabbing wildly for something to hang onto. What I grabbed onto was a leg of the poached deer. Ken’s .357 Revolver Goes Off Suddenly, I heard
the loud explosion of Ken’s .357 Magnum, and then another loud popping noise I didn’t immediately recognize. I thought, “Oh, no – Ken has shot someone!” Later, I learned that Ken had jumped out of the way just as the truck was about to run him over, and had shot out the truck’s right rear tire. I didn’t have time to figure that out, because I was still desperately trying to hang on. The Nab The truck – still without headlights on – picked up speed, shot through the gap in the trees, went straight across the old road, and came to a stop wedged in among several large tree trunks. The sudden stop propelled me from the rear of the bed to a position up against the cab, in a heap. As I got to my feet, I saw both occupants attempting to exit and (Continued on page 71)
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— Guest Column —
Creatures in the Cellar by Alan Haley My aunt Dot was born in town, but after the war she married a farmer. It was never to be a happy relationship. She had thought the prosperity of a post-war economy would bring her all she wanted, but she grossly overestimated the entrepreneurial skills of my uncle John and the profit margin of farm products. The farm income grew, but so did the kids, the taxes and the cost of plain living. There was usually enough, but little more. As the years seeped by, she began to feel like one of those little firs on top of Borestone Mountain – stunted, lonely, clinging to a barren hillside and yearning for somewhere else to take root. She began to resent firewood dust and bark on her floor; mud, dirt and manure clinging to every piece of clothing; and the cold winter breezes flowing through ancient windows and door frames. She wanted modern things like an automatic dishwasher, a car with power steering and a color television. But through all these aggravations of farm life, Dot was a hard worker. She maintained a clean and bright kitchen, with every appliance, countertop and cabinet scrubbed and polished. Her sitting room was immaculate, with the newest issues of Reader’s Digest arranged on a special
Sixty years ago, my Uncle John developed an excellent technique for deer hunting – he would start shooting them in his fields a few days before the season opened. That way, he could get a crack at them before everyone else got them all riled up. magazine rack, and beautifully-stitched doilies and cut glass ashtrays on every end table. She had linen napkins, a knitted covering for the toilet seat and a special cabinet to show her prized china and souvenirs. Dot had supper every night at 6 p.m. This gave John enough time to clean up after milking, and by the late 1950s, when she had taken a job at the flower shop in town, time for her to get home after work and cook the supper. As with every Maine farming family of the day, potatoes were on each meal’s menu. John planted 40 acres every year for extra income, and filled bins in the cellar with enough seed for this year’s consumption and next year’s planting. The cellar was a dark and dank place, with a low ceiling, a dirt floor and rock walls. There was an old cistern in the corner, and broken crockery and shivered wood everywhere. It was a shadowy place, lit by Roosevelt-era knoband-tube wiring, and a single 40-watt light bulb. A Rat by Any Other Name One early September evening, as Dot was getting a few
potatoes for supper, she saw a cat-size rat near the cistern. The next thing she remembered was sitting on a stool in John’s milking parlor, head in hands, alternating between bouts of uncontrolled weeping and howling rage. John went down to the cellar with his .22 rifle and shot a muskrat that had wandered in from the farm pond. He had expected Dot to be relieved, but she did not care what type of rat it was – house rat, barn rat, dump rat, muskrat … it was all the same to her. That was, in fact, the very problem ... it was all the same to her. Dot did not have a Maine farm palette. She hated cooking beans on Saturday, because it made the kids and John joyously pass gas all night and the next day. She would not eat turnip or parsnips because anything in the ground all winter had to be in some way rotten, and most of all, she adamantly refused to cook, or allow to be cooked in her presence, wild game. Nevertheless, John loved to hunt deer, and did so whenever he could. Most years, he would shoot two or three. Every time he and the kids were alone, John would cook
a half-dozen steaks and a hamburger or two for a meal. The venison was always gone by summer. Deer in the Rafter John had an excellent technique for deer hunting – he would start shooting them in his fields a few days before the season opened. That way, he could get a crack at them before everyone else riled them all up. In his mind, a landowner was owed a little latitude when it came to hunting deer. It was, after all, his pasturage and corn the deer had been eating all summer, and his money paid the taxes on the woods in which they lived. That year, he shot a young-of-the-year whitetail in the lower fields three days early. John always hung his illegal deer – what he called the “wild” ones – in the cellar. Although the ceiling was just over 6 feet high, he could cut off the deer’s hind legs at the first joint and hang it upside down. The nose might touch the floor, but he never ate the nose anyway. He clutched the deer’s hind quarters in a gripping hug with his left arm, picked it off the floor and with his right hand, and guided the deer’s sliced open hock to a spike in the
overhead rafter. He was a strong man, but on this occasion he struggled with the deer. As he secured the second leg, the deer’s haunch hit the single 40-watt bulb and broke it. He rinsed out the cavity by the flame of a Zippo lighter, and left to do the milking. He would come back later to fix the light bulb. Enter Dot Dot came home late from her job. She was excited and rushed because at 7 p.m. her favorite show, The Price is Right, was coming on. She was going to cook a delicious supper of fish sticks, sweet corn and baked potatoes. She had to start the potatoes first, so she rushed outside and opened up the bulkhead door to the cellar. When she got to the bottom of the stairs and pulled the chain on the light bulb, it only clicked up and down. The thought of crossing ten feet of cellar in the dark made her pause. The muskrat was still on her mind, but nearly two months had gone by, and no more creatures had appeared. It would only take a few moments to fill her basket, and the potato bin was close. With thoughts of Bill Cullen and the Price is Right’s invocation to “Come on down!,” she summoned up what courage she could, put both hands up in front of her and – like a zombie from the (Continued on page 71) www.MaineSportsman.com
70 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Rangeley Region Fishing Gets Going This Month May flowers might be blooming this month, but anglers in the Rangeley Region will be focused on the
water; searching intently for the salmonid that inhabit rivers, lakes, brooks and ponds throughout this
mountainous territory. While several varieties of flowers get their start in May, fishing this early in the season can be tough, unless an angler wants to go trolling right after the ice goes out. For many of us stream and small pond anglers, the early part of the month might be better spent tying a few flies for the burst of fishing activity that happens closer to the end of May. Brett and Sue Damm, owners of the Rangeley Region Sports Shop, have
been kind enough to offer fly tying lessons at their shop throughout the winter. I called and made arrangements to tie flies with the fly shop owners one Saturday, and found several other fly tiers there in the wellstocked store. Brett showed us how to tie a Bever’s Better Buckskin Fly that imitates a caddis nymph, fresh out of its case. He had us cut long, slender pieces of chamois to take the place of buckskin for the body before we got started. The crafty shop
owner said, “Trout will inhale a fly and spit it out so fast if they detect anything out of the ordinary. With this buckskin or chamois body, it feels more like an actual bug when it gets wet and soggy; therefore, the fish will hopefully hang on to the fly a little longer and give you a better chance of setting the hook.” Buggy Waters Our group of bug tiers sat around the table in the shop talking and listening as Brett instructed, each of us (Continued on next page)
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with a hook in a vise in front of us. Before long, Brett had us all cranking out these nymphs, and most appeared to come out just fine. I did have one that looked a little odd, but will be able to catch some trout with these flies – they really look like a tasty caddis nymph. During our conversations, the topic of where to go fishing came up. Brett said we should continue tying flies until May, and even then, fishing will be tough – that it was kind of early. Well, that was back in early March. Damm did direct us to two places that just might produce later in May – the Magalloway River, and the Rapid River. He said, “Of all places, these two rivers produce the earliest.” Brett and Sue have been in this area for many years, so I put a great deal of faith in their assessment of early-season fishing.
The knowledgeable fly shop owners suggest checking their website (rangeleyflyshop.com) for the Rangeley Region fishing report – an up-todate report on fishing conditions in and around the region. I’ve looked at this report on several occasions, and I want to assure anglers with confidence – there’s some good fishing information on that site. Brett also gave us a tip to share. A lot of anglers check the archives on the informative fishing report to see what worked over the last few years, in order to put together a plan of attack for the upcoming season. Guess what? I’m checking those archives and making some plans, myself. New for this year, Brett and Sue have had so much success with guiding clients to big fish that they’ve hired several local guides. Once again, I can report with much confidence, the guides that have been se-
Poachers (Continued from page 68)
flee. The driver’s door was jammed against a small tree and would not open, but the passenger got his side door open and was making a hasty departure. Reaching around the truck’s cab, I was able to grab the passenger by his jacket collar. Then I jumped over the side and captured him before he could get clear. In the meantime, Ken appeared with his still-warm pistol at the ready, and invited the driver to exit out the
Creatures (Continued from page 69)
grave – slowly shuffled forward, feeling the air. Just as she began to sense she was close to the bin, she embraced a hairy, six-foot creature, slick with blood, si-
lected are top-notch, seasoned individuals who can give anglers the trip of a lifetime, whether the fish cooperate or not. Early Fishing The two rivers Brett mentioned for fishing in the later part of May, the Rapid and the Magalloway, both have huge brook trout and landlocked salmon. Both rivers also are so many miles long that it can be tough to recommend just one particular area to find awesome fishing. Also, I don’t ever want to burn out a fishing hole that way, so let’s just say you can’t go wrong fishing anywhere on either of these two rivers. Another thing to consider would be hiring a fishing guide to “show you the way.” Brett and Sue Damm’s shop has a great staff of guides, and there are several other guides around that can offer a wonderful service as well. For fishing the Rapid River, lodging
In a photo taken in late winter, patient anglers await ice out and tie flies with Brett and Sue Damm at their Rangeley Region Sports Shop in Rangeley, Maine. Photo courtesy of Sue Damm
at Lakewood Camps (lakewoodcamps.com) gets anglers right in on some fantastic salmonid action. The rustic and historic camps, located close to the mouth of the Rapid River at Middle Dam, can be easily accessed by walking from the front porch of the camps to the river. For fishing the Magalloway River, Sturdevant Pond Camps (www.sturdevantpondcamps.com) offer lodging and guide service to put anglers in locations where big brook trout and land-
open passenger’s door and join us. Once the smoke and dust cleared, we cuffed both suspects. I was relieved to find that nobody had been shot, and the only casualty had been the truck’s tire. Aftermath I then realized that my right knee was throbbing quite badly. I shone my flashlight down and I discovered to my alarm that my leg was covered with blood. However, I soon noticed some deer hair stuck to the blood, and realized the blood belonged to the deceased whitetail, and not me.
lently hanging from the rafter, awaiting her approach in the eternal darkness of the cellar. Days later, when Dot could finally talk about the whole thing without breaking into bouts of distraught weeping, she managed to come out of her bedroom and forgive John.
locked salmon rule the water, either on the Magalloway River or right out the front door of the camps on Sturdevant Pond. Wherever an angler chooses to wet a line in this region, the fishing will really turn on later in May – just as the flowers begin to bloom and the bugs start to thrive. Fire up the Thermacell (thermacell.com) bug repeller, tie on a fly and start enjoying the spectacular fishing throughout this beautiful region.
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I left Ken with the two handcuffed guys sitting on a rock while I hobbled back to retrieve my vehicle. I got home late, took a shower and went to bed. In the morning, I was hurrying to prepare for a meeting in Waterville when my wife noticed my bloody trousers and me limping around. I only had time to tell her that it was long story and that I’ll tell her about it later. She wasn’t really concerned – the situation was not that much out of the ordinary.
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Not much was changed, because nothing really could change. Such was life in rural Maine. But ever afterwards, John always kept 50 pounds of potatoes on hand in the kitchen.
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72 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Fishing in the Western Maine Mountains Creates Healthy Lifestyle The author is busy making fishing plans, involving a double-rod case that houses fly rods all rigged up; a secret pond with a new point of access; and a tiny, inflatable catamaran. And it’s all OK, because he has doctor’s prescription ordering him to engage in “fishical therapy.” The rain showers that fell on the mountains surrounding the Western Maine Mountain Region last month will have enriched the soil enough by now, to begin the whole process of getting our plant life moving toward flower and leaf production. The rain also helps elevate water temperatures sufficiently to get the fish active and feeding more heavily. As the old saying goes, “When the alder leaves get to be the size of a mouse’s ear, good fishing begins.” I’m not sure where this saying
comes from, but it sure seems like an accurate guideline for when to expect early-season fishing success. I never time my first fishing attempts with the budding of new leaves on the alders; it’s more like I just can’t wait to get out of the house and go fishing, so I just do it. Most of the time I don’t catch much, because I start fishing way too early. I do check water temperatures once I’m out there, but even if I get a reading that isn’t conducive to good fishing, it doesn’t stop me.
I just enjoy being out there on the water. Aging Anglers I thought that as I aged I might get to a point where I felt my enthusiasm for fishing slowly dwindle. Well, I’m happy to report that at the youthful age of 65 I remain as excited as ever to get out on the water and wet a line. Age does not matter – when I’m on the water fishing, I get completely absorbed by the overwhelming thrill that I might catch a fish at any minute. In that moment, I’m a kid again.
I will be following doctor’s orders -- here’s a photo of my pass for extended fishing therapy this season. William Clunie photo
I just can’t get enough of it – and as soon as I’m done fishing for the day I can’t stop thinking about when I can get out fishing again. I had an old fishing client who turned
out to be a good fishing buddy after the first hour of fishing. He was in the final years of dealing with a deadly disease that made it difficult to even (Continued on next page)
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walk. When he called to say he didn’t think he could make it up fishing one year, I told him to come up anyway, and that if I had to, I’d carry him on my back. Well, at the end of a long day of wonderful fishing with him, I literally did have to carry him on my back from the boat and up over the riverbank so he could get back into the truck. He had such a huge desire to fish that he threw his pride aside and let me take him fishing one more time. He passed away that next year, leaving me with many fantastic memories. He had such a great attitude and told me once that he considered fishing as his, “Fishical Therapy,” like physical
therapy only more fun, and good for the mind as well as the body. New Season This year I want to do some things a little differently; to try a few new waters and include more nymphing. Nymphing seems to be a good way to start the early season, along with some streamer fishing. I bought a double rod case that will allow me to carry two rods, all rigged and ready for action. The new case is long enough to carry both rods, broken down into two pieces, with the reels and line still in place. This way, I can quickly and easily switch from nymphing to fishing with streamers or dry flies, all without having to change my reel to one with a different line,
leader and fly. If I happen to be nymphing and suddenly see a hatch begin, I simply take the nymphing rod apart at the center and shove the whole thing into one side of the double rod case. Then I pull out the other rod from the case, connect the rod at the center ferrule, and I’m ready to fish. This rod is all set up with floating line and a leader and with a pre-selected fly already attached to the tippet. I also want to try some new places to fish that I’ve had in mind for several years now. During the long months of winter that living in Maine entails, I have ample time to ponder new fishing places for the upcoming season. I can’t give the place away, but it is one of Maine’s most promi-
nent fishing areas, and I just can’t wait to hit it. I have fished in that location a few times, many years ago, but never have been able to spend as much time there as I’d like to. I found a way to access this beautiful and remote fishing location from a different “angle” a few years back. This new access point will allow me to float into the area via my one-person cataraft. It won’t be super easy rowing in, but it will certainly be worth it once I’m there. If I can figure a way to rig a small motor to the cataraft, I will really
be “cooking with peanut oil” as they say. Wish me luck. Once I’m there I will be in angler’s heaven, looking at a full day of “fishical therapy.” I’m sure I’ll figure a way to repeat this kind of therapy on a routine basis throughout the fishing season. Actually, my grandson, Cody St. Germain, DPT, is a doctor of physical therapy with a practice right here in Dixfield (www.smartcarept. com), and he’s written me an order that should help (please see photo, page 72).
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Avery Bradeen of Carthage is shown here with a 46-pound coyote taken over bait in early March. Avery and his father Sherman have had an incredibly successful winter reducing the coyote population in the area.
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74 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
— Guest Column —
Letter to My Grandkids:
Fishing for Salmon After Ice-Out by Erik Lund, Woolwich
Your great-grandfather knew he’d hooked a big salmon, but he was using a lightweight leader. So for the next hour, he patiently lifted the rod tip again and again, persuading the fish to come to the surface. Dear Grandkids: When I was your age, my father would take us fishing for landlocked salmon in Rangeley Lake every spring as soon as ice was out of the lake. Eons ago, the land was lower, and water covered much more of the world than the ocean does now. As the land was pushed up and the water receded, some of the ocean salmon were stranded in freshwater in a number of places — landlocked — and had to learn to adapt from being in saltwater to being in freshwater. Landlocked salmon are a big fish – the fish over the mantle of the fireplace in the Big Camp is a landlocked salmon that your great-grandfather caught in Rangeley Lake. It weighed 8-¼ pounds. We would often catch salmon that weighed between three and six pounds, and they were fighting fish — they would jump out of the water and shake their heads to try to get rid of the hook, then dive to the bottom, doing everything they could to get off the hook.
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Fishing Friday, Saturday and Sunday It wasn’t easy fishing. We fished hard all weekend. We would drive to a lakeside cabin at Sam-O-Set Camps in Rangeley mid-afternoon on Friday, then get right in the boat to start trolling Friday evening. We arose at 5 a.m. Saturday, had a bite to eat, then went out trolling for two hours. We’d return, have lunch and a nap, then get ready to fish in the evening for two or three hours. On Sunday, we’d fish until the afternoon. We didn’t do any casting, because salmon usually like to be a ways down from the surface, and they often follow the bait for a while before grabbing it. At the end of the weekend, each of us would be lucky to have caught five or six fish. The limit you could keep before heading home was four fish per person, and the warden came by to check on Sunday afternoon. One time, the warden asked me how many of our fish I had caught. “Five!” I replied, proudly. The warden smiled at me
as the room went quiet. Then everybody went on to talk about something else. Longjohns and Mittens It was cold. The weekends that we fished there, each year, were the first and second weekends after ice was out of the lake. We wore long underwear and winter clothing in the boats, as well as mittens, because our fingers would get frozen handling the wet fishing lines as they came in and out of the reel and handling the salmon and the bait. Sewed Smelt We fished with sewed bait, not plugs. The bait was a thin, silvery fish about 8 inches long called a smelt that swam down the streams into the lake each day, and up again at night. Sam-O-Set’s owner, Mr. Swain, ran the stream on his property through a holding box that measured about six feet along each of its four sides. At night, when the smelt ran back up the stream, he used a net to dip them out of the stream and into the holding box. When we need-
Anton Lund, the author’s father, with his big Rangeley salmon.
ed smelt for bait, he would dip his net into the holding box to pick them out and dump the live smelt into pails we had that were half-filled with water and had a lid to prevent the smelt from jumping out. There was a trapdoor in the lid through which we could put our hand to catch one of the smelt. The way that we’d sew the smelt was this: we had 12-inch leaders with a hook attached to the end. We picked a smelt out of the pail with our hand, snapped our finger on its head to kill it, and
put the hook into its mouth and out its gill. We used the hook to sew the leader down the side of the smelt to the tail. Then we took a very thin short piece of copper wire and put it through the jaw and the top of the mouth of the smelt and twisted the two ends of the copper wire around the leader, closing the jaw. Fighting Fish By sliding the twisted copper wire up the leader, which would pull the hook on the smelt’s tail, we could give a slight (Continued on next page)
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The author’s family and friends stopped in at the Kennebec Journal in Augusta to have their photo taken after a successful 1943 Rangeley trip. The author’s father, Anton Lund, is in the center. The author is in the far left of the photo. Jon Lund, the author’s brother and publisher of The Maine Sportsman, is second from left. (Continued from page 74)
curve to the smelt, causing it to look like a wounded fish as we trolled it through the water. The salmon, seeing the wounded smelt, would grab it — and then we were in for a fight! The salmon, feeling the hook, would try to spit the smelt out of its mouth. The smelt sometimes ended up quite a ways up the leader. When that happened, you could occassionally re-use the smelt as bait, once you had taken the salmon off the hook. More often, we’d need a new bait, and we’d have to reach into the pail to pick out another smelt and sew it on. That’s when our hands got really cold. As soon as the new smelt was sewed on and in the water, on would come the mittens, and we would hold onto the rod and reel with our mittens on until our fingers got unfrozen. Sometimes we
would troll the smelt near the surface, and it would attract the attention of seagulls. Your uncle Jon actually caught a seagull once. It dipped down, grabbed the smelt and swallowed it. Jon reeled the seagull in and cut the leader. The seagull flew off again. Bean Dinner in the Cozy Cabin On Saturday, Mrs. Swain would bring us a pot of pork and baked beans she’d been cooking in a “bean hole.” The bean hole was an actual hole in the ground lined with rock where she made a fire, and into which she put the pot of pork and beans (and molasses). After the wood was down to embers, the pot would continue to bake for eight hours. Those were some powerful baked beans! Swain’s cabin in which we stayed had a small central room with a big old woodstove to heat the central room, and three small bedrooms, each
of which slept two people. The woodstove would really heat the place up. Therefore, you couldn’t keep the salmon you caught inside the cabin before heading back home on Sunday afternoon, because they would spoil. There was an old icebox (a word some people still use to describe refrigerators) on the porch of the cabin – but there was no ice in it. However, one particular place a ways up the shore was shady and usually had a good ice-and-snow pile. We would go up there first thing, dig through the pile, and collect as much ice and snow as we needed to put in the icebox. That’s where the salmon we caught stayed cool till we got ready to head home. Waiting Each Year for Ice-Out With all the cold, this may not sound like great fun, but for us – and even the grownups — it was
The author, surrounded by grandchildren (clockwise from left) Theia, Cosmo and Harriet
an adventure, something unlike anything we did the rest of the year. The sport was exciting, and the fish were delicious. Every spring, we’d watch the snow melt and check the news to find out if the ice was out in Rangeley. We knew we’d be going up there over the next weekend. I was your age when I first began going on these trips, and I wasn’t used to getting up at five in the morning, much less to go fishing. Y o u r great grandfather had a boat with a little deck up front. There would usually be three of us in the boat, and after we’d been out fishing for an hour or two — especially if I’d already caught a salmon — your great-grandfather would send me up under the deck in the bow of the boat to nap. Big Salmon I was with my Dad when he hooked the big salmon. I saw it jump out of water,
then head for the bottom. He knew right away it was a big one, and he was worried because he wasn’t using a heavy-duty leader. So he didn’t try to horse it up to the surface. Instead he patiently lifted the rod tip again and again, trying to persuade the salmon to come on up. It took nearly an hour of persuading, but finally the salmon started to rise. He made several runs for it and a couple more jumps, but Dad remained patient, and finally the salmon came in to the net. The next time you’re in the Big Camp, take a look at the photos on the wall of the living room. Those are photos of us with the salmon we caught in Rangeley. And take a look at the salmon your great-grandfather caught. Love, Grandpa
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76 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
The Real McCoy: The Story of a Record Fish and the Man Behind It On February 25, Thomas Knight, with the help of his friend, Tony, pulled a fish through a hole in the ice – an event that, on its face, is quite ordinary in northern New Hampshire. Like many fishermen excited about their catch, he got out his phone, and made a call to tell someone about “the big one.” Unlike most of these phone calls, though, it wasn’t to one of his buddies or a family member. His first phone call after icing this particular fish was placed to NH Fish and Game. When biologist Andy Schafermeyer answered on the other end, he heard Tom’s seasoned New England outdoorsman accent say, “I believe I just caught the state record lake trout.” The race to the scales was on! Tommy Cod “Tommy Cod,” as his friends affectionately call him, has handled countless fish during his 58 years. Growing up, he’d go bass fishing with his father and childhood friends. Later in life, fishing grew to be much more than just a hobby; in fact, his livelihood depended on it. He worked for 25 years as a commercial fisherman on several ocean boats. And he is no stranger to big fish, having enjoyed many a fight with giant bluefin tuna. He describes how when he first startwww.MaineSportsman.com
Tom Knight and girlfriend Cindy pose with the new New England record lake trout -- 37.65 pounds, and over 40 inches long!
ed tuna fishing in the days “before the fancy rods and reels,” he used the milk crate method of hand-lining them. He credits this experience with helping him delicately hand-line the prehistoric-looking laker up through the barelylarge-enough ten-inch hole. Knight, who lives in Center Harbor, NH, spends most of his time fishing on the big lakes near his home in the Lakes Region, which includes Winnipesauke and Squam, but he takes an annual trip or two up north to Big Diamond Pond, in Stewartstown, NH. Up North Big Diamond isn’t actually that “big.” But it is deep. Over 100 feet deep. It is a relatively remote body of water located at the end of a seven-mile
dead-end road, and is nestled against thousands of acres of timber-company land. Big Diamond, though not that popular of a fishing destination, caught some attention earlier this winter when Cory Stillings caught a lake trout, weighed by biologist Schafermeyer, to be 27.84 pounds – about a pound shy of the 1958 state record from Newfound Lake. Ironically, Knight is friends with Stillings and was fishing with him at the time. Knight heads to a friend’s camp on Big Diamond for a few days each winter in search of a big togue. He’s had success in the past. In one three-day span in 2012, he caught both a 15-pounder and a 20 pounder! The Set-Up NH’s laws regulating specific lake trout
and salmon lakes limit the number of lines each angler can have to two. Tom’s method is to have one tip-up and one jig line. His jigging method is fairly common – a piece of sucker meat on a bucktail jig. A variety of fish can be caught in this manner. However, his rigging of the tip-up is designed specifically to target “the big one.” He uses 10-12 inch live suckers. “Long leader, little hook [and] big bait,” he says, are the three key components to catching big lakers. He wants everything to be as natural-looking to the togue as possible, which is why he uses a long, relatively light (12 lb. test), nearly-invisible fluorocarbon leader. He also doesn’t want to inhibit the natural motions or
visual appearance of the sucker, so he has downsized his hook over the years. A bait of this size has the potential to constantly trip the flag on its own. Some people cut the sucker’s tail, to reduce its strength; others pop their air bladder; while still others place beer cans in strategic locations to load the tension on the flag spring. Tommy has a system he uses that, among other things, employs an elastic band on the spool. To put his tip-up rigging system simply – if the flag goes up, he knows only one thing has happened … a giant lake trout has taken the bait. Patience Targeting big fish in this manner doesn’t require the physical stamina of chasing flags and replacing baits all day, in the manner of pickerel fishing at the local oxbow. Instead, this approach requires mental stamina to stare at a downed flag, waiting for it to pop … for hours … and days … and in Tommy’s case, years! After catching those two big fish in 2012, he continued to make his pilgrimage north. It took four years just to get another flag (2016). And he lost the fish! Though disappointed, he continued to hunt the next monster from the deep. It took an addition(Continued on next page)
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al four years to get another flag. And he won’t soon forget this one. (He jokingly says he’s not due for another flag until 2024.) The Fight Knight describes the fight with the record laker as “15 minutes of madness.” He said the fish “made three big runs, and then three or four short runs.” When the big runs are made and the line is peeling away from the hole, it melts a grove into the bottom edge of the ice in the direction the fish is headed. This groove can be dangerous. Firstly, if the fish changes directions, you now have a pivot point you must pull through, which could cut the line. Secondly, when your line comes out of the groove (which it will have to at some point), if the fish has changed directions, there is now a moment of slack while you take up that distance of the angle. The third and most dangerous situation, as Tom explained, is that the swivel connecting the line to the leader will get stuck in that slightly narrower groove. This not only prevents the fish from being brought through the hole, but also makes the lines extremely susceptible to snapping, if the fish decides to make a final run. Preventing that swivel from lodging in that groove (or quickly dislodging it when it does) is arguably the most important aspect to successfully landing a fish of that size. Tom entrusts this job to his fishing partner, Tony. Tony utilized a homemade “swivel dislodger” (a long stick with a
small forked deer antler fastened to the end) to push the line out of the groove on several critical occasions. Once the big fish tired and its enormous head entered the hole, it was, fittingly, Tony’s honor to plunge his arm elbow deep into the frigid water to get underneath the gills and haul the mammoth up onto the ice. This writer doesn’t think there could be a literary description that could accurately portray the disbelief, relief, gratitude and excitement the fishermen felt at that moment. The best way to capture the moment would have been if they had gotten the whole thing on video … which they did! Video Evidence Thomas’s girlfriend, Cindy, was the designated videographer and chaos-queller. Tom credits Cindy and Tony as much as himself with the success of landing the big fish. He said even though the excitement made it feel like madness, everyone kept their composure and did what they needed to do to make the whole ordeal go off without a hitch. Worried about battery life, they weren’t able to get the whole 15 minutes of the fight on video, but instead took shorter videos that they’ll be able to stitch together. Most important, the camera was rolling when the slab of a fish emerged from the hole and slumped onto the ice. And the audio was recording their vocalizations (some were admittedly profane) of shock at the stunning size of the fish. As the massive jaw and head emerged from the water, all he
recalled thinking was, “Wow, this is the real McCoy!” Making it Official The party knew the long-standing state record lake trout was about 28.5 lbs. They also knew this one was bigger. When biologist Andy Schafermeyer first received the phone call saying such, having already weighed the 27-plus pounder caught by Stillings in Big Diamond in January, he had no reason to doubt Tom’s confident statement on the other end of the line. After agreeing with Schafermeyer on a place to meet where the big fish could be officially weighed, Tom instructed Tony to race back to shore to get “The Coffin” – an enormous cooler they keep on hand specifically for this type of situation. They packed the cooler with snow (ice can damage the skin for taxidermy) and laid the beast within. Unbelievably, at 40 inches long and a girth of 27 inches, the fish was too big to fit in The Coffin. Noticing the fish had started to bleed a little, the three raced to the scales before it could lose any more weight. When Schafermeyer first saw The Coffin, all he could see of the buried fish was the head sticking out one end, and “a tail wider than my outstretched hand” protruding from the other end. He instantly knew it “stood a really good shot” of breaking the record. Once he unearthed it from the snow and could feel its full weight, he was “over ninety percent certain it would be a new record.” Official scales that Schafermeyer had only went up to 30 pounds. The
fish buried them. Schafermeyer turned to Tom and said, “Mr. Knight, I have good news and bad news: You’ve got the new state record, but I don’t know by how much.” After calling around to locate another state-certified scale with the proper credentials, the party arrived at a local UPS facility and put the fish on their package scale. The fishermen, as well as all the UPS employees, gathered round to see the final weight. It was a staggering 37.65 pounds! A New England record. “I got goosebumps,” Tom said of the moment. Handshakes, high-fives, and even hugs were received from people he’d just met. Schafermeyer says that for a fish – which he estimates was 60 years old – to grow to that size, three key elements need to be in place: 1) Good water quality (cold, deep, and clear, or, in Andy’s biology parlance, “oligotrophic”); 2) Good food source (in this case, hatchery-stocked rainbow trout); and 3) Lack of fishing pressure (Andy thinks this is about to change) Fame and Fortune “What’s it like to be famous?” I asked Tom. “Man, I’m on Cloud 99!” he declared, explaining that he’s being recognized everywhere he goes (the Facebook photos have been viewed and shared countless times). He’s given interviews to an NHPR podcast, the Union Leader, the Boston Globe, and now, The Maine Sportsman!
He even told me that he has a buddy who is currently traveling in South America and saw an article on his fish in one of the local publications down there. “It weighs over 17 kilos, he told me,” Knight said, laughing. The videos recorded by Cindy are being edited and spliced together by a tech-savvy friend, to make a real professional product. Knight was advised by the friend that the video has the potential to “go viral” and perhaps even earn some money. He says any funds derived from the video will be split evenly among himself, Cindy, and Tony, since it required their combined efforts to achieve success. As for the fish, George’s Diner in Meredith (owned by a friend of Knight’s) has struck a deal to pay for the taxidermy of the fish (being done by Tim’s Taxidermy in Alfred, Maine), and in return the diner will be able to display the mount for two years. The new mount will actually replace Knight’s 40-inch, 20-pounder of 2012, which has been hanging there. Writer’s Note Often record-setting game is harvested by people who just got lucky. In Tom’s case, however, his description of his trout as “the real McCoy” can be applied equally to him. After spending over an hour on the phone with him, listening to his story, I can tell you … he is “The Real McCoy.” And I couldn’t be happier for him. Congratulations, Tommy Cod! When the YouTube video is completed, I will report its web address to readers.
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78 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
— Outdoors & Other Mistakes —
Oddball Answers to Ridiculous Questions – or Vice Versa by Al Diamon When Will Lund, editor of The Maine Sportsman, first approached me about writing an article for this issue, he expressed some concerns. Lund told me The Maine Sportsman places a high value on something he called “accuracy,” and given my reputation for preferring booger jokes over facts, he was afraid I’d just “make stuff up.” I assured him that even though I know absolutely nothing about the topics this publication covers, I’d consult with experts in the fields (and streams) to make sure all information presented here is as accurate as gunsights. Or whatever you call those thingies you look through before shooting something. To that end, let’s get to some of the most pressing questions I’ve received from outdoor enthusiasts, who I’ve totally made up.
The famous writer tells you everything you ever needed to know about outdoor sports in Maine – and several things you never needed to know! Q: When was the last time you ventured into the Maine woods? A: During the Carter administration. I have, however, walked through Portland’s Old Port on a Saturday night and survived unscathed. And I’ve been to Kennedy Park in Lewiston, although I’d rather not talk about that. Q: What is your favorite winter sport? A: Competitive wood stoving. Q: Is snowshoeing fun? A: No. Q: Then why do people do it? A: It might be a symptom of the same cognitive malfunction that infects bicyclists, NFL interior linemen and people who drink kale smoothies. For some
reason, they prefer to spend a significant portion of their lives doing something unpleasant. Q: I’ve heard you like to drink booze, so I figure you must be into ice fishing. After all, it’s mostly about boozing. A: The other day, I went fishing for a bag of ice in the back of the freezer, and once I extracted it and put some cubes in a cocktail glass, it was a rewarding experience. But I suppose you mean the other kind of ice fishing. To that, I can only say that drinking is vastly improved when conducted in an armchair not far removed from indoor plumbing. Also, the Matthew McConaughey TV ad where he waits for a hit by the side of frozen lake while sitting in the back of a luxury Lincoln SUV renders the activity too embarrassing to be further discussed. Q: Are you going to make a stupid joke about fly fishing being about trying to hook houseflies? A: I’m not that lame. Q: Does leaf peeping count as an outdoor activity? A: Yes, in much the same way as window peeping, except with
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fewer legal consequences and less prurient interest. Q: What’s the best way to cook bear meat? A: In a cast iron skillet, place a large hunk of lard, a chopped onion, several slices of limburger cheese, crushed garlic, two jalapeno peppers, a few pickled beets and a dusting of dried cricket parts. Sauté extravagantly. Serve over a bed of slightly mildewed rice drizzled with Jägermeister. Q: Wait, there’s no bear meat in that recipe. A: Because that’d be overkill. Q: What’s your favorite spot to fish? A: I cover politicians for a living, so in a barrel with a gun. Q: Speaking of guns, a lot of deer hunters prefer .300 Remington Ultra Magnum to the more traditional .300 Savage. Could you analyze the pluses and minuses of each type of ammunition? A: Good question. No. Q: How would you rate Maine’s game wardens? A: Better than prison wardens. Slightly less fun than church wardens.
Q: What advice would you give a novice snowmobiler? A: Make sure your gloves have big snot blotters on the back. Q: That’s it? A: Keep in mind that you lose one point of IQ for every shot of Fireball. Q: What’s your opinion of ATVs? A: Good practice for when you’ll be riding that electric scooter in the nursing home. Q: What’s your favorite thing about being outside in Maine in the spring? A: Black flies. Q: Why is that? A: They remind me how nice being inside is. Q: What do you see as the biggest threats to outdoor recreation in this state? A: Aside from Central Maine Power, the wind-turbines, the Land Use Planning Commission, mining companies, Massachusetts residents and Matthew McConaughey, it’s people like me. Al Diamon writes the weekly column “Politics & Other Mistakes” for the Daily Bulldog website and the Portland Phoenix. He can be emailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
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Smilin’
Sportsman Sometimes, someone unexpectedly comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race and changes you forever. We call those people … Game Wardens. ••••••••••••••••••• Employee: “Boss, you’ve gotta give me a pay raise. Three different companies are showing interest in me.” Boss: “Which companies?” Employee: “The mortgage company, the electric company and the cable company.” ••••••••••••••••••• The boater had slid his runabout into the water at the crowded public landing. The family was aboard and waiting for him, and he was desperately trying to lo-
Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com
cate a spot to park his SUV and trailer. He saw no room whatsoever in the entire parking lot. Exasperated, he began to pray: “Please Lord, if you help me find a parking space right now, I promise to go to church every Sunday, and never drink beer again!” As if by magic, an empty double space opened up right in front of him. “Never mind,” he said. “Found one!” ••••••••••••••••• Doctor: “Mr. Jones, I’m a little worried about your weight.” Mr. Jones: “Actually, Doc, I’m worried about my height!” Doctor: “What do you mean, worried about your height?”
Mr. Jones: “Well, according to my weight, I should be six-foot five!”
The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com. Question: What animal wears a coat in the winter and pants in the summer? Answer: A dog. ••••••••••••••••••• The pirate ship’s crew had mutinied, and they were forcing the captain to walk the plank. Sharks circled below. “Hey, guys – not so fast,” pleaded the captain, “Isn’t a condemned man usually granted one last request?” “Aye,” replied the first mate, “we’ll grant you one last request.” The captain said, “Great! I’d like to
sing my favorite song, and have you all sing along with me. Everybody ready? Okay, here we go: One billion bottles of beer on the wall, one billion bottles of beer ….” ••••••••••••••••••• Question: How does Darth Vader like his toast? Answer: On the dark side. ••••••••••••••••••• A man walked into the doctor’s office with a pork chop up his nose, a cucumber in his left ear, and a breadstick in his
right ear. He said, “Doctor, what’s wrong with me?” The doctor replied, “You’re not eating properly.”
More cartoons on page 81! www.MaineSportsman.com
80 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word line classified ad per month (2-month limit) • Items for sale must include a price • Real estate ads must include an address or location
• The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word • Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted
• You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101 Augusta ME 04330
SUBMIT AD AND PAYMENT BY THE 30TH OF EACH MONTH AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE. BOATS 1918 OLD TOWN CANOE Grade AA Otca, 17’. Fiberglassed, wood in good condition. At camp in Hancock Co., ME. $500.00 OBO 304-678-8875 —————————
CAMPS/CABINS FOR SALE SMALL COTTAGE ON 10 ACRES Completely isolated, yet only 10 miles from Belfast. More deer than people on land. Great for hunting camp or year-round living. $80,000. For more information, go to: www.masiello.com . Call Judy Brossmer at 207-322-3392.
PRICE DROP! REMOTE CABIN LEASE On Aroostook River T9R7. Wild trout/ salmon footsteps away. Abundant wildlife. $59K. Contact: 207 227-2305 BARNETT’S CABINS 1-207-365-4147. Main House: 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath. 3 Summer Cabins: fully furnished. Acreage: 11.6 with brook running through property. 3 wooded Tent Sites. 3 Dry Rv Sites. Silver Ridge Twp, ME. $149,000 —————————
CAMPS FOR RENT CAMP ON SMALL POND IN SHIRLEY $500/wk. Great hunt-
ing, fishing & ATV trails nearby. Also, local hunting club 1/4 mi. away is actively looking for five new members. 207-6363689
WiFi & TV.$150/night, 2 night minimum. 207.590.5562 —————————
PARKMAN, MEBUCKS CROSSING WMD 17 RENTAL CABINS Turkey, deer, moose, upland game. All amenities included. Great rates- nightly, weekly, monthly. $75/night for two people. 207-2773183
DEVELOPER’S DREAM: 6.6 ACRES 370ft. road frontage on Whittier Rd. in Farmington, Maine, just off Routes 2 & 4. Electricity on site, 4 water hookups and 4 sewer hookups, Tax Incentives possible. 207474-0778
GREENWOOD, MEGREAT FISHING IN 8 PONDS AND ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER With boat ramp access. 3/1 fully furnished home with large deck and outdoor fire pit. Woodstove, Laundry,
VERY LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN THE WESTERN MAINE MOUNTAINS On busy US Rt 2, located on the Androscoggin & Webb Rivers. Two full floors, stage & balcony, full basement, kitchen, two bathrooms. Restaurant, function hall, fishing lodge, more. Must see! $137,500. FMI: call/text 207-3572702. —————————
Remote Waterfront Log Cabin
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Exceptional waterfront year-round home on pristine Pleasant Pond, Caratunk. 460’ frontage, exceptional privacy, many unique features. Call for brochure. 207.672.4983 $415,000 —————————
DOGS STARTED BRITTANYS Worked on Woodcock. Prices from $1,800 to $3,000.00 Orvis Endorsed Breeder. Quail Hollow Kennel 856935-3459. —————————
WANTED DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206
REAL ESTATE
SKIDOO, ELAN OR TUNDRA ANY CONDITION Have Cash. Will Travel. Call Or Text 207522-6940.
WATERFRONT HOME FOR SALE
¶ — LAKEVIEW PLT —
(207) 943-5225 www.dewittjonesrealty.com SEBEC - 42 +/- acre with 1,290’ +/- of shore frontage on Parker Pond. ITS and ATV trails nearby. 12x16 cabin. Owner financing available. MLS #1421684 - $79,900 ORNEVILLE TWP - Boat access only to this private 10 acre peninsula wooded lot with 1584’+/- water frontage. MLS #1421796 $60,000
End of the road in T4-R7 on Peaked Mountain Pond, 100 miles north of Bangor. Within walking distance of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument land. Excellent Condition, 16’x32’ cabin, sleeps four, insulated, propane lights, heater and appliances. Jotul wood stove. Two generators. New boat docks. 267 ft. frontage on a 1.25 acre secure lease lot. Asking $65,000. Send inquiries to: carriefitz70@gmail.com or mail to: Camp Owner 56 Hunts Meadow Road, Whitefield, ME 04353
www.MaineSportsman.com
Cute and Cozy camp right on the shores of Schoodic Lake. Three bedroom & one bath you can feel right at home all summer long. Bunk house for extra sleeping. Come sit back and relax and see what Schoodic Lake has to offer. Great water activities in the summer and fishing all year long. MLS #1444666 - $280,000
— LAKEVIEW PLT —
Year round home/camp sits on the shore of Schoodic Lake with views of Mt. Katahdin. 9.74+/-acres. with 600’ water frontage, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, first floor laundry, open concept and SANGERVILLE - 54.8 +/- acres with 765’ road screened in porch. frontage. This is a great spot with a small brook Gravel driveway in place. Two outbuildings; one was running through the center of the property. built for a ‘bath house’ and just needs to be completed. Comes furnished. MLS #1448823 - $384,999 MLS #1433737 - $44,900 T4 R9 - 4.06+/- acres on Schoodic Lake with water frontage on both sides of the property: 553’ +/- on the east side of the road and 1145’ +/- on the west side of the road. Nice protected cove on the west side. Lot has been soil tested and surveyed. Power at roadside and plenty of privacy. MLS #1422827 - $189,000
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR OVER 100 LAND LISTINGS!
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Smilin’ Sportsman’ Continued from Page 79
Be Sure to Check Out Our Website www.MaineSportsman.com! PRICE REDUCED!
175+/- ACRES Howland - 2,000’ of frontage on Merrill Brook and 1,200’ of frontage on Runaround Brook. Merrill Brook flows into the Penobscot River and Runaround into the Piscataquis River. Good access. $199,000
Milo - Recreational opportunities abound on this well-wooded 20 acre lot. Immediate access to ITS 82 and locally maintained ATV trail. Good views. $24,900
Harrington - 175 +/- acres with 1,650’ of salt meadow frontage on Flat Bay. Numerous coves, sea grasses and changing tides create a unique experience. Westerly views and mature timber. $149,000
PRICE REDUCED!
Noyes Real Estate Agency 2388 Main Street • Rangeley, ME 207-864-9000 • info@noyesrealty.com www.noyesrealty.com
Great Locations for FISHING, HUNTING & TRAIL RIDING! #557 MLS# 1372557 - Enjoy 20 private gated acres in Avon. This offgrid, well maintained trailer is generator ready. Camp has well, septic, indoor bathroom, screen house and new roof. Hunt and fish on Mt. Blue Pond or Stream! ATV and snowmobile from your door. $49,900 LAND – ACREAGE
83+/- ACRES Wilton – Diverse lot with mountain views, wildlife and stone walls. Year round stream with waterfall. Rolling topo. Good access. Small cabin, as-is. Many locations for house. $119,000 New Sharon - 678 +/- acres with abundant wildlife including deer and upland game birds. Diverse land with Bragdon Brook and Salt Marsh Creek running through the lot. Over 900’ of frontage on Weeks Mills Road. $299,000 or only $441 per acre.
Woolwich - 148 +/- acres. Remarkable lot with small CAMP. Hunt, hike, bike, sightsee, harvest some of the large oak and pine. Great westerly distant views from Bigelow Knoll. $150,000.
King & Bartlett TWP - 770 +/acres surrounding the majority of the 538 acre 159’ deep King & Bartlett lake that supports wild brook trout, salmon and togue. Remote unique parcel.
#609 - MLS# 1437729 - View in Sandy River Plt. 46+ acres. Offgrid location. Build your vacation cabin and get away from it all! Add generator and/or solar power for all the comforts of home. $55,000
102+/- ACRES Bancroft Twp - Acreage on Mattawawkeag River. Camp just 200± feet from river with exceptional frontage. Mature trees, easy access and special protection designated for salmon and deer habitat. $105,000
Hancock County - Over 800 acres with 5,400 sq. ft log cabin completely surrounding Fox Pond. Miles of maintained trails. Adjacent to 20k acres of conservation lands. FOXPONDESTATE.COM $4,300,000
#696 - MLS# 1439304 - Moselookmeguntic Lake seasonal/spring waterfront only at lake high water. Deeded access to Bema Landing Common Marina area. 5 acres, Shelton Trail, Rangeley Plt. surveyed, soil tested and LUPC building permit. $85,000
Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275 caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com
Beauty runs deep. So does our land sales experience.
John Colannino – Broker & Forester American Forest Management, Inc. 40 Champion Lane | Milford, Maine | 04461 O: 207.817.9079 | C: 207.266.7355 John.Colannino@afmforest.com For more information on available properties please visit:
www.AmericanForestManagement.com
RANGELEY - Year-round cottage offers 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, cozy open kitchen/living area with wood stove on main floor and 2nd floor 1/2 bath and spacious bedroom that sleeps a crew. Just steps to shared 419’ waterfront with dock and legendary fishing on tranquil no-motors Quimby Pond, plus easy snowmobile trail access from your door. Ready for your immediate enjoyment - come see what makes the Quimby area so special, inquire today! MLS #1448121 - $229,000 PARKERTOWN TWP - Aziscohos Lake fishing/ hunting camp on owned land with 100’ sandy frontage. Off-grid camp with knotty pine through out, gas appliances/lights, Empire wall heaters for heat, wired for generator. 10x12 storage shed, 12x12 deck, privy, hand carry water. Peaceful lakeside setting, level lawn to the beach, unobstructed lake/Mt views. What a spot to get a way from it all - listen to the loons sing, gaze at the stars, be one with nature - don’t miss it! MLS #1339003 - $185,500 MAGALLOWAY PLT - 9.4 private acres with log-sided chalet overlooking scenic Sturtevant Pond Brook! This 3 bedroom, 2 beath year-round home offers open floor plan, spacious loft bedroom; cook’s kitchen, cement counter-tops and wood-fired pizza oven. Heat with propane or wood furnace. On-demand water heater and stand-by generator. Workshop in basement with garage door for drive-in storage. Deeded 20’ ROW to Pond Brook. MLS #1366701 - $282,500
www.MaineSportsman.com
82 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
Western Maine Land for Sale! Beautiful 374 acres of prime land with long paved road frontage, power, views, and excellent internal roads for ATV and snowmobiling. Fantastic 4 season paradise approximately 30 minutes to Sunday River and 45 minutes to Rangeley Lakes. This parcel offers both recreational and investment appeal and is awaiting a new owner to pass on a legacy of thoughtful and responsible land stewardship. $298,000
Swift River Properties 207 -329-9728
Wildlife Quiz Answers: White Perch (Quiz on Page 17)
1. No, perch are not members of the “perch” or Percidae family of fishes but rather classified as Moronidae, members of the temperate bass family. 2. The primary defense weapons of the white perch are a tough, scaly body and a dorsal fin that contains several sharp spines to protect the fish from predators. 3. The native range of the white perch runs from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. 4. White perch do exist in the Great Lakes, where they were illegally introduced.
BRIGHTON PLT - Attention to detail and custom finishing throughout this beautiful ranch style home including Cherry, Oak and Douglas Fir used throughout the home. Granite counter in kitchen, granite vanity tops in all bathrooms, propane radiant heating system throughout home, attached 3 bay, propane radiant heated garage and back-up generator. Atrium doors to deck to enjoy the tranquil setting, living room with electric fireplace with custom tile surround and a master en suite should fill all your dream home wishes. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and so much more and all on 142 acres of land with 3000 feet of frontage on Corson Brook! The basement area is framed and ready for an additional bathroom, kitchen, or in-law suite or a large recreational area. MLS #1421527 - $495,000
5. The biggest white perch caught in Maine weighed 3.24 pounds. 6. An average adult white perch weighs up to 1 pound. 7. The mating season for the white perch runs from April to June. 8. The average life span of a white perch is 9-10 years. 9. After fertilization, white perch eggs hatch in 1-6 days.
CUDDY ROAD, CAMBRIDGE, ME
Beautiful 2.3 acre lot close to the Interconnected Trail System (ITS) on a town maintained road. The remains of a hunting camp that once had a dug well and septic onsite are on this wooded lot. A great spot for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and more! MLS #1444773 – $16,900. Melissa Morrill, Associate Broker (207) 233-2456 melissa@signaturehomesmaine.com Signature Homes Real Estate Group, LLC 383 US Rte 1, Suite 2D, Scarborough, ME www.signaturehomesmaine.com
SCREEN PRINTING & EMBROIDERY T-Shirts $6.00 Heavyweight 100% Cotton Pre-shrunk
FREE set-up on orders of 72 pieces or more! Prices on 36 pieces ($20 set-up) Price includes garment and 1 color 1 location screen print Rush Service Available ~ Call for free catalog
Hats $7.00
T-Shirts-Jackets-Sweatshirts-Sweatpants Hats-Aprons-Totes and more
BERG ACTIVEWEAR 852 DEXTER ROAD • CORINNA, MAINE
1-800-242-2374 • 207-278-7740 WWW.BERGACTIVEWEAR.COM
www.MaineSportsman.com
Grand Falls - End of road privacy with power and great fishing pond on Saponac Pond. Cabin needs some luvin’ but it’s cute, and taxes are cheap. Wonderful location that could be yours, on prime outdoor recreational area in Maine. $79,000
Lee - Privately plowed, seaonal road. Electricity and nice frontage on a beautiful, clean Silver Lake. Two lots being sold, could potentially sell one lot and keep the other. The well is on lot 14 while the buildings and septic are on lot 15. $139,000
Pukakon - Lakefront paradise cabin on one of Maine’s most desirable lakes, Junior Lake. Fabulous fishing. Hunting, Snowmobiling and ATVing are just some activities out your door. Lake views through many windows. $345,000
Danforth - Only 25’ from the water’s edge, family camp is log sided with a beautiful knotty pine interior. Large, detached 2 car garage offers parking or storage. Lakeside of cottage is all glass providing great views on Upper Hot Brook Lake. $135,000
Lincoln - Cozy little cabin could be your new home or getaway. ATV and snowmobile trails close by as well as access to Cold Stream Pond. Outdoorsman’s paradise on Millett Mallett Road. Priced to move so you should come look today! $45,000
(Lakeville - Gorgeous views. Big acreage. Privacy and cheap taxes. Nice cabin has fire pits front and back, insulated and offers the potential for a full loft for sleeping. Owners have had great luck with bear hunting on the land right on Upper Dobsis Road. $89,000
Lakeville - Nice 11+ acre lot on Lombard Lake, with 380 feet of waterfront on Lombard Lake which has land locked salmon and white perch. Well maintained road and with 1 acre out of tree growth. $45,000 Lakeville - Nice 12+ acre lot on Lombard Lake, with 380 feet of waterfront on Lombard Lake which has land locked salmon and white perch. Well maintained road and with 1 acre out of tree growth. $45,000 Carroll Plt - Private. Secluded. Beautiful. Pretty waterfront lot ready for camper or to build your getaway cabin. Large fire ring andpath to a section of sandy swimming on Lowell Lake. $45,000 Winn - Driveway in place, offering gentle slope to a beautiful section of the Penobscot River. Build your dream home, a getaway cabin or park the camper. Only 5 minutes from downtown Lincoln. $24,500
R E A L
E S T A T E
5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com
1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you! “Tate” Aylward ............. 794-2460 Peter Phinney............... 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie................... 290-1554
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM
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OPEN 6AM–6PM MON–FRI & 7AM–5PM SAT www.fb.com/blautoparts
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84 • May 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————
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