The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands will begin accepting reservations for camping at 12 state park campgrounds for the 2006 season at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Reservations will be processed in the order in which they are received. All reservations postmarked before Feb. 1 will be returned. Telephone reservations will be accepted from Feb. 1 through Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., with three phone lines operating.

Traditionally, opening day is the busiest of the reservation season. In 2005, the office received about 1,800 reservations in the first 24 hours. Last year 60 percent of all reservations processed were made via the Internet.

Sebago Lake State Park continues to top the list for reservations. Recognizing that Sebago campers tend to stay longer than campers at other state campgrounds, during the month of February only reservations for four or more nights at the campground will be accepted. Beginning on March 1, two-night reservations will be accepted.

In addition to Sebago, reservations will be accepted for the following state parks: Aroostook in Presque Isle, Bradbury Mountain in Pownal, Camden Hills, Cobscook Bay in Dennysville, Lake St. George in Liberty, Lamoine in Ellsworth, Lily Bay in Greenville, Mount Blue in Weld, Peaks-Kenny in Dover-Foxcroft, Rangeley Lake, and Warren Island in Penobscot Bay.

Reservations must be made at least two days prior to the first night’s stay. Camping fees are payable at the time the reservations are made. Payment for telephone reservations must be made with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or debit cards. Checks and money orders are accepted with mail-in reservation requests and from walk-in customers.

Campsite fees range from $11 to $15 per night ($14 to $20 for nonresidents).

Campers can e-mail reservations by accessing the Web site: www.CampWithMe.com, or call 1-800-332-1501 (in-state) or (207) 287-3824 (out-of-state). Reservation requests can also be mailed to the Bureau of Parks and Lands, Attn: Reservations, 22 SHS, Augusta, 04333.

Cabin Fever Reliever set

Outdoors enthusiasts looking for a midwinter boost may want to head to Old Town this weekend for the Cabin Fever Reliever.

The event, which is sponsored by the Penobscot Fly Fishers and Old Town Canoe, is an outdoor show featuring plenty of exhibitors and experts. In addition, Old Town Canoe will hold its popular sale of discontinued, overstocked, and slightly blemished kayaks and canoes.

The Cabin Fever Reliever is being held at the Old Town YMCA. It will run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is free.

Colonel’s Outdoor Tip

Each week Col. Tom Santaguida, the chief warden of the Maine Warden Service, offers an outdoor tip in the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s outdoor report. Here is this week’s tip:

Ice fishermen – don’t forget that when you are done fishing for the day, please don’t release your bait fish into the lake or pond you are fishing.

Not only is it illegal and could result in hefty fines, but more importantly, it could permanently damage the waters by introducing an unwanted species.

My suggestion is to give the leftover bait to someone who is going ice fishing in the near future, or freeze the bait at home and use it for cut bait on your next fishing trip.