Last Sunday morning I was guiding some bass fishing clients on Megunticook Lake in Camden. When we were surprised by a pair of loons. The loons came from a considerable distance behind us. Actually my clients came from a more considerable distance, but I digress. Each loon swam under the boat seconds apart (they were visible passing by in the clear water) and came up only a few feet away. In hindsight it was one of the best photo opportunities I have ever had to get an image of a loon; they were so close that the green neck band was very prominent in the sunlight. Needless to say the camera was safe in its case inside my waterproof box. Far from where it was needed at that second. We all have a great memory but sorry no picture to share with the rest of you.
I have no idea what they were up to. There was a single loon at the back of the cove that made no move to leave when I entered. So I simply gave it a wide berth and left the cove. These two were with a fourth loon outside of the cove and swam up as soon as we emerged from the cove. I'm sure some loon drama but unfortunately I am not privy to the details.
We also saw a loon chick in another part of the lake that looks to be growing well and is almost half grown. Quite the change from when I saw it a few weeks back as a tiny fluff ball. The eagle chicks have also grown and are now making quite the racket when an adult bird shows up with a fish. One of my clients commented "now I know what they mean by screaming eagles". It seems like the June rain is behind us and a more settled weather pattern is in place. Take advantage and get out to see all that is going on in the Maine Outdoors.
Family Mackerel Fishing
I've spent several mornings guiding family mackerel fishing trips in the last few weeks. Including one in conjunction Capt. George Harris of Superfly Charters. Between us we had the grandparents and all of their grandchildren. That day we left Thomaston Harbor in thick fog but it lifted some before we had gone a couple of miles. We fished out around Caldwell Island with no luck and wound up in Port Clyde Harbor where everyone caught a number of fish.
It is great fun to have the kids catching fish with such delight and the scenery is outstanding! On the way back to the harbor we stopped at a seal haul out ledge where the occupants were most cooperative. Letting us get pretty close before entering the water and then swimming around watching us with their heads above water. What a great way to spend a morning or afternoon and show families the real coast of Maine.
Our Road Washed Out!
Sometime during the night two weeks ago Argy woke me and we were right in the middle of a tremendous thunderstorm. The lighting was frequent and vivid; it must have been raining hard but that did not register at the moment. I got up at 4 the next morning and looked down the driveway at our road. It was dark and foggy but I thought I could see something, a mound of dirt maybe? I figured that leaves or loose hay had blown into the road in the storm. Wrong.
Apparently during the storm the culvert up toward the end of the road was not able to handle the runoff. The resulting overflow ran down the road toward our driveway and the culvert there could not handle the water either. Before long the water was running down the dirt road and you can guess the rest. What I saw was a gully about two feet deep at the end of the driveway.
Not going anywhere that day! The town road crew was able to get a temporary culvert in place (much too narrow for the boat trailer, but that is another story) I was able to pull the trailer out and parked it in the road for a week or so. It sounds like we got almost three inches of rain in about an hour and a half. Quite the storm and the effects are still around.
The river was over its banks and the amount freshwater in the tidal section is still amazing. I went as far as the first offshore islands today and the water is just returning to green from brown freshwater like in the lakes. Pictures of the washout are here if you would like to see.
Guides Working Group
I received a letter from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques asking me to serve on a working group on Guides formed by the Department to recommend any changes that are needed to the definition of a Registered Maine Guide. We will review the outdoor recreational activities that currently are offered for a fee in Maine. Then determine if any that do not currently require a guides license should.
I assume that we will have recommendations for the legislatures Inland Fisheries and Wildlife committee in January. Hopefully there will not be too many meetings but it should be an interesting discussion and one that has not officially taken place since 1985. I am pleased to have been asked and looking forward to the opportunity to shape the future of Maine Guides.
On the subject of guides my next Running a Successful Maine Guide Business Seminar has been scheduled for September 26, 2009 at the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Conference Center in Augusta, ME from 9AM to 4PM. Details here.
It's easier Than Ever to Stay in Touch!
Times have changed and there is a list of new ways to stay in touch.
You can now friend me on Facebook (Don Kleiner) or become a fan of Maine Outdoors there as well. I am also on Linkedin and Twitter (DonKleiner) and update daily if you would like to stay up on the goings on here. Of course I still update the blog on the website at least twice a week and am available to chat on AIM, Googletalk or MSN when I am at my desk. Although I will be spending less time at my desk time now that summer is here.
You can also visit the Maine Outdoors web site and submit a contact form. Of course I still use e-mail and the telephone still rings in the office if you would like to plan your next trip or just say hello.
Best regards,
Don Kleiner
Master Maine Guide
Maine Outdoors
(207) 785-4496
