My season has been off to a great start. One of the best things about guiding is the great folks that I get to spend time with over the years. Often a trip is as much a chance to catch up with a friend as anything. I am truly fortunate for the great folks that I have as clients. Now to the fishing.
I spent several days fishing for trout on the upper Saint George with excellent dry fly fishing during the middle of the day. The catch has included both brook and brown trout, most of the fish are 8 to 12 inches with a few holdover brown trout as big as 16 inches. The hatches have been red quills and caddis flies with a few smaller ones mixed in to keep me trying to figure out what they are taking. One afternoon most of the brown trout were taken on a larger fly and all of the brook trout on a smaller fly, go figure. But apparently the different species were feeding on different insect hatches. I have one corner where with the light just right we can watch the trout rise to the fly and either take or refuse. A great chance to learn exactly what they are looking for.
I have also been bass fishing on Seven Tree and Round Ponds a few times. I would say that the pickerel are spawning at the moment as we had great luck with them one rainy morning last weekend. The bass both largemouth and smallmouth are staging to spawn. I expected that the alewives would impact the fishing but so far that does not seem to have happened. I am hoping for a morning off this week to head downriver and try the striper fishing. Spring in New England always comes in a huge rush and everything seems to happen at once.
Excellent Afternoon Outing
One of the best parts of being a guide is having to actually spend time finding the fish or birds or making sure that water levels are right. There is nothing better than having to spend the afternoon launching the boat and poking around to see if I can find a few fish on a beautiful afternoon. The breeze was light when I started and went to nothing as the afternoon progressed. The surface of the water was like glass I can verify that the air temperature was nearly perfect.
I took the Lund up into Round Pond to do a little poking around and I have a lot to report. First the new Lund made it right up under the bridge with no problem even though I am sure it is heavier that the old one and I am guessing draws a little more water. Next the alewives are in both Seven Tree and Round Ponds. So far at least the bass fishing did not seem to be effected. I caught enough fish to keep my interest, although not one largemouth. Sorry no pictures, at first I did not think of it and when I did I realized how hard taking a picture of a fish is when you are alone and not really ready. Camera well hidden away and all of that.
Finally there were all kinds of great bird sightings. A cooperative adult eagle on the shore of Round Pond with a nice white head and tail. A Northern Oriole singing his heart out in an elm along the river. Two pairs of loons that I am sure were delighted to have the alewives in the ponds. A bunch of warblers most notable was a Cerulean in the alders along the shore of Round Pond. Last was a large flock of wood ducks (maybe 50 in all) that flew out of the flooded brush along the shore that completed my great afternoon.
The leaves are on the trees
Like the leaves turning color and falling marks the change of seasons at the end of summer. Their arrival marks the beginning of the summer. Gradually the hillsides here turn a pale red with the maple buds and then the poplar leaves arrive as a bright green splash. Followed by the beech trees adding their leaves. The young beeches are most noticeable near the house because they limit the distance that you can see into the woods. Their leaves seem to arrive in only a day or two and before you know it the woods are green. The woodland wildflowers have been marking the season as well. The Canada mayflowers and trilliums are out and today I noticed that the Jack in the Pulpit are blooming along the brook near the house.
Speaking at Rockland Kiwanis
I spoke to the Rockland Kiwanis two weeks ago at the Samoset , a delightful group of local folks. I focused on the future of fish and wildlife management as well as what Maine Outdoors has to offer. Village Soup ran an article about the event with a color photo . Very nice all around. I am past the time of year whan I can travel to speak to groups but if you have a group that you would like me to speak to next fall or winter please drop me an e-mail or give me a call and let's arrange a date.
Booking now for the coming season!
Reservations continue to come in for this summer. If you are planning to be in the area please give me a call or reply to this e-mail so we can plan a date to spend some time outdoors together.
