This has been a very busy summer but before I know it the goldenrod will be in full bloom and the first red maple leaf will show up on the shore of one of the ponds. I noticed cardinal flowers on the shore of Seven Tree Pond this week that tells me we are near the end of the summer and the transition to fall has started.
I have enjoyed the variety of trips this summer that is for sure. Not only trips with new clients but some to places I do not normally go. Megunticook Lake in Camden, Rockland Harbor and Damariscotta Lake have all been on my calendar in the last few weeks. Mackerel fishing with kids is new this summer and has been a great addition. Pretty hard to beat the coastal Maine islands even on a gray and cloudy day especially when the fish cooperate like they did yesterday.
The variety keeps it more than a little interesting and keeps my memory working. Striper fishing continues to be a huge disappointment this summer but the great freshwater bass fishing has more than made up for it. Damariscotta Lake last Saturday was as notable for the nice bass my party caught as it was for the almost total lack of boat traffic. I kept looking around thinking it is the first weekend in August isn't it? But after the fog burned off and the showers stopped a few boats and fishermen were out and about but not the numbers you would expect to see in the middle of summer.
Turtles
As the water temperatures begin to gradually drop turtles spend more time sunning themselves on warm afternoons. On canoe trips and many freshwater fishing trips it is not unusual to see them on various logs and rocks. We see mostly painted turtles which are small but once in a while a large snapping turtle is out sunning. I was guiding fishermen on Monday afternoon when we came on a good sized snapping turtle far up on a large rock. It could not have been a small project for him to get himself up there and I can't imagine what the plan was for getting down.
Several years ago I was on a canoe trip when we came up on one about that size balanced on a tree limb above the water. Because he was so still and did not seem to notice all of us paddling up to his perch I assumed that it must be dead. But when I touched it with my paddle it came quickly to life and jumped into the water. This one raised its head and watched us go by but beyond watching it did not look even slightly concerned that we had disturbed its nap. Too see the picture of this rock climbing snapper (and his painted turtle buddy) click here!
Nature exploration canoe trips are a great way to see all of the sunning turtles on a warm August afternoon.
Young Birds
This is also the season of young birds out on their own for the first time. On the salt water we see terns that will follow a striper lure hoping that it is an easy meal. The ospreys have left their nest but still call steadily for their parents to bring them a meal. Earlier this week I watched an osprey with a flounder trying to fly with the flat fish acting as a wind brake. He made it to shore but it was not easy going. Yesterday a young eagle watched us mackerel fishing and spent most of the time calling for a free meal. Loon chicks are almost full grown but still have their drab feathers in fact the adults have started to take on their drab winter colors as well.
There is still time to arrange a trip for this season!
June and July were very busy and August is as well, as of today late August and September still have open dates and I plan to offer trips well into November this year. In fact after the excellent fishing and good weather in November last year I am looking forward to the late fall. If you are planning to be in the area please give me a call or reply to this e-mail and let's plan to spend some time outdoors together.
Best regards,
Don Kleiner
Master Maine Guide
Maine Outdoors
(207) 785-4496
