While fishermen are casting flies, bird dog fanciers are casting their feather finders in hunting dog tests and field trials. Come Sunday, for example, the Central Maine Brittany Club will hold a hunting test seminar at Gary Currier’s “home cover” in Newport. The purpose of the event, which begins at 10 a.m. and is open to all pointing breeds, is to introduce sportsmen to rules and procedures regarding hunting tests licensed by the American Kennel Club.

Many bird hunters are reluctant to enter their dogs in hunting tests because of the belief that the events are dominated by polished performers. That belief belongs in the same category as the tenet that “flight woodcock” are bigger than native birds.

Although ribbons are awarded to dogs that qualify in their particular events, hunting tests are not competitions in the sense of field trials. A dog can be entered in several test levels, including: Senior A, Master A, Senior B, Master B, Junior A, Junior B.

Equally important, hunting tests provide opportunities for participants to discuss bird dog problems such as “blinking,” “bumping,” “backing,” nose, ground patterns, softness, staunchness, etc. Last, but by no means least, aside from the social and educational aspects, hunting tests provide encouragement and confidence to newcomers. Accordingly, the first-time owner and trainer of a high-spirited pointer, setter, or Brittany will, from firsthand observation, rest easy knowing that he or she doesn’t own the only dog in the world that heads for the next county at the command, “Here!” Remember, there is no such animal as the perfect bird dog – and there never will be. For further information on the hunting-test seminar, phone Gary Currier at 368-5802.

On June 13, the Central Maine Brittany Club will hold a hunting test for pointing breeds at the Merrymeeting Bay Wildlife Management Area in Bowdoinham. Schedules and entry fees for the tests are: Master Hunting Test, 8 a.m., $26; Senior Hunting Test, following master test, $24; Junior Hunting Test, 8 a.m., $20. Entries must be submitted by 6 p.m., June 10. Mail entries and checks to: Dawn Currier, Hunting Test secretary, RR 2, Box 1530, Newport 04953. Phone: 368-5802.

Hear the dog bells! On June 14, the Katahdin German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Greater Portland will hold an AKC-licensed hunting test open to all AKC registerable pointing breeds. Again, the tests will be held at the Merrymeeting Bay Wildlife Management Area in Bowdoinham. The tests, schedules, and entry fees are: Master Hunting Test, 7 a.m., $26; Senior Hunting Test, to follow master test, $24; Junior Hunting Test, 7 a.m., $20. Entries must be submitted by 7 p.m., June 10. Mail entries with checks to: Wilma G. Sarna, Hunting Test secretary, RFD 2, Box 2068A, Brunswick 04011. Phone: 729-5838.

From finders to seekers. If you prefer dogs that fetch to dogs that point, you’ll want to draw a bead on the following Maine Retriever Trial Club events: June 5-7, licensed trial, Pittsfield area; June 20-21, Maine licensed hunting test, Pittsfield area; July 11, sanctioned trial, Pittsfield-Burnham; July 12, sanctioned trial, Pittsfield-Burnham; July 19, eye-screening clinic, Waterville; Aug. 1, sanctioned trial, South Paris; Aug. 2, sanctioned trial, South Paris; Oct. 2-4, licensed trial, Standish-Gorham. For further information contact: Patricia A. Gerrie, secretary, 426 Upper Main Street, Waterville 04901. Phone: 872-7442.

Last week it was mentioned here that more than a few fishermen were not happy with the new brook trout regulation applied to a section of the Aroostook River. As a result, the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been petitioned to remove the regulation that changed the river section from general law to the use of “artificial lures only.” The section extends from the Maine-New Brunswick border upstream to the Maine Public Utilities Co. dam in Caribou, including tributaries upstream to the first highway bridge.

The DIFW received two petitions – one containing more than 400 signatures, the other more than 200 – from fishermen opposed to the regulation. To hear the backlash of complaints, the department will hold a public hearing at Caribou High School on June 2. The verbal casting will begin at 7 p.m.

Likewise, the department has received a petition containing 1,700 signatures from fishermen opposed to an “artificial lures only” regulation applied to a section of the Kennebec River extending from Indian Pond Dam to Skowhegan. A public hearing will be held May 20 at the Quimby Elementary School on Main Street in Bingham. The evening fishing will begin at 7 p.m.

The Aroostook and Kennebec rivers’ regulation changes were heard at public hearings before being adopted. Therefore, it’s unlikely that the casting at the newly scheduled hearings will be productive.

Fresh Tracks: Ray Thibeault, the “head guide” at Rideout’s Lodge on East Grand Lake, phoned to say a 17 1/2-pound togue was taken at Little River Cove. The heavyweight tackle-tester took a smelt trolled in 35 feet of water by a local angler named Harry Gorrill.

Ray also reported that salmon are taking smelts and streamers in most coves and behind Five Islands. Not the least among recent catches were two 4-pound landlocks taken by a Massachusetts angler named Mary Adams. Also, two streamer fly purists from Connecticut had no trouble fooling the fish with feathers. Ray described the salmon as “fat and full of smelts.”

What more can I say?