One blustery May day several years ago, two friends and I headed out on Green Lake for what we assumed would be an enjoyable day of fishing.

As is often the case on Maine May days, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate. In fact, conditions deteriorated from breezy to blustery to … well … alarming.

Trolling with the wind worked best (not because we caught any fish, but because when we aimed the bow directly downwind, we could, at the very least, end up where we had planned).

The trip back to Jenkins Beach was, in a word, wet. Huge waves crashed against the bow, the resulting spray drenched us, and the trip was less than enjoyable.

But never (not even after we returned to shore) did we truly stop to consider what might have happened had one rogue wave struck us in a way we hadn’t expected.

Things could have gotten much worse, in an instant.

When we’re in the middle of enjoying our outdoor pursuits, most of us tend to ignore things that may (to those who don’t share our passions) be obvious.

We’re in danger. We’re pushing it too far. We could, if one thing goes wrong at just the wrong time, end up dead.

Over the weekend, a pair of fishermen headed out onto Cathance Lake in the Washington County town of Cooper. The weather worsened. They encountered trouble. One died. The other, as of this writing, has not been found.

Also last weekend, a man out for an ATV ride at a Lakeville gravel pit made a maneuver that flipped his ATV on top of him. He, too, died.

How many of us have done similar things – pushing the weather or testing the limitations of our equipment and ourselves – and walked away?

Most of us, I imagine.

Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t walk away. Sometimes, our errors in judgment, or equipment failure, or even deteriorating weather can cost us our lives.

It’s up to us, as sportsmen and sportswomen, to pay attention to every detail, and to recognize the risks we may be taking.

No fish, nor ATV trick, is worth dying over. Personal flotation devices save lives.

And sometimes, mistakes we make are final.

Greetings from Moosehead

Dan Legere, who often serves as the eyes and ears of anglers looking to plan a trip to the Moosehead Lake region, checked in with some good news about his home waters.

According to Legere – a Registered Maine Guide as well as the owner of the Maine Guide Fly Shop in Greenville – good things are happening in his neck of the Maine woods.

First, Legere said the “official” ice-out of Moosehead occurred at 2 p.m. Friday. And second, one of the area’s more popular fly-fishing rivers is finally fishable.

“The Roach River, which was running over 1,500 [cubic feet per second] has come under control and was shut down a few days ago to 250 cfs, which [is a] typical fall flow,” Legere wrote.

“[That is] a perfect level to hold fish that were drawn in on the high water,” he wrote. “I suspect the Roach should fish well for quite a while.”

Legere also said the small ponds in the Greenville area are all ice-free, and state fisheries staffers have reported seeing some midge hatches while doing surveys east of Greenville.

If you’re looking for a reason to head to Greenville, Legere’s words may provide just the excuse you were looking for.

Meanwhile, farther north …

Late last summer, as I returned to Bangor after a successful bear hunt, I had the chance to enjoy a cup of coffee with Jim Fahey, the Maine Game Warden stationed in Portage Lake.

Fahey, who grew up in Bangor (his brother Jeff is the coach of the Bangor High School baseball team, and his dad John was the longtime principal of Bangor High) fired off an e-mail Sunday with an update on the waters in his area.

Fahey said that spring is coming to Aroostook County … slowly … and anglers are gaining new options every day.

“Eagle Lake along Route 11 north of Portage went out on May 4, although I hear it may still be difficult to get down to Michaud thoroughfare (where Square Lake puts in) due to some lingering ice there,” Fahey wrote.

“Game Warden Pilot Daryl Gordon reported on Friday that waters west and northwest of Portage were still ice-covered. Among them, Carr Pond, Fish River Lake, Chase Pond and ponds in the Debouillie Township.

“Portage Lake was officially declared out on Saturday at 4 p.m. I suspect most everything will be fishable by the weekend of May 14-15,” Fahey wrote.

Finally, Fahey offered a word of caution to sporting travelers heading north: Moose are on the loose.

“I’ve observed a number of moose along Route 11 at dawn and dusk over the past week,” he wrote. “The deer have also busted out of their winter yards and are apt to be seen about anywhere now.”

As motorists often learn the hard way, a close encounter of the wild kind can put a real wrinkle in your vacation plans … or worse. Drive carefully.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.