The middle of July has been humid and this week is marked by showers and thunderstorms. Fortunately we have not had the extreme heat that everyone else on on the Atlantic seaboard seems to be having and I have not had to cancel even one trip so far. An afternoon striper trip on Saturday ended just as the skies opened and Monday's early morning trip started as the showers ended. We had blue skies and warm temperatures by the time we left the water.
The next month or so is the busiest part of the year for me with few days off between now and the end of August. I am truly fortunate for the great people that I get to spend time with outdoors. Not to mention being reminded every day that I live in a beautiful part of the world and spend my days in some truly amazing places.
Family Trips
During the summer I get to go on many family trips; from nature exploration canoe trips to family fishing trips. It is great fun to share these moments with families from around the globe. Every trip brings all of that kid excitement and eager anticipation.
Sometimes the worms are as fascinating as any fish that I might get them to catch or like today the smallest member of the party catches the biggest fish (and in fact one that any adult would be delighted to have on the end of their line).
The thing that I like most is that the kids are doing something for the very first time and enjoy almost every minute. I know, not every minute, sometimes it seems to be too slow. Or like Saturday when it took me an hour to finally land on the good perch fishing. Or it ends too soon; one young lady was standing in the boat ramp at the end of the trip long after the boats had been loaded onto the trailer waiting patiently to catch just one more perch or sunfish. What I do is too rewarding for words at times!
First Railroad Package
Maine Outdoors is running trip packages in cooperation with the Maine Eastern Railroad. Offering folks the chance to ride the train from Brunswick to Thomaston and then take a boat trip on the Saint George River and return to Brunswick on the afternoon train. To see the details of this trip visit the Maine Eastern Railroad. The first trip was early this month and the railroad sent the following press release.
Master Maine Guide Don Kleiner, escorted two happy train passengers on a fishing trip on the St. George River recently, as part of a vacation package offered by Maine Eastern Railroad. Wayne and Sarah Williams of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, said they made the trek to Maine for the unique opportunity to ride the vintage train and fish for stripers from an open boat. Kleiner operates Maine Outdoors, a company that provides wildlife seminars, fishing and camping trips. Maine Outdoors was the recipient of the 2007 Maine Governor's Conference Award for Excellence in Tourism, while Maine Eastern Railroad was the recipient of the 2007 Maine Tourism Association Midcoast Regional Award.
It is great fun and certainly offers views of Midcoast Maine not available anywhere else!
Natural Resources Agency Task Force
As part of my work as a lobbyist for the Maine Bowhunters Association and the Maine Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. I was appointed the Natural Resources Agency Task Force by Governor Baldacci. We are tasked with reviewing the natural resource agencies in State Government and recommending changes in their organization and structure to improve the way that they deliver their services. Needless to say it is a huge task in a short time frame. I have plenty of reading to do to understand all that is involved. The summer meetings provide a day out of the sun to think about the needs of someone in a business like mine and how we might be better supported by state government.
There is still time to arrange a trip for this season!
June was busy and July is following suit, as of today August and September still have open dates and I plan to offer trips 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