Solitude is secondary on first day of fishing

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The quest for the perfect, secret pool – one that is full of fish and far enough off the beaten path to dissuade all but the most determined folks – is one that anglers take seriously.

It would be peaceful there, of course. And quiet.

And nobody would be there except you.

That’s the image many of us create when we start thinking of the perfect day of fishing.

Why then, a friend asked the other day, do the same people who cherish that solitude decide to spend the opening day of fishing season shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, vying for space in a crowded stream.

That’s the way it sometimes is at places like Grand Lake Stream, where I often spend opening day.

On Tuesday, I was there again, sharing the water with several others … and having a ball.

Though I love the solitude that the sport so often provides, I also thoroughly enjoy those crowded opening days, when the mere thought of having the pool to oneself is enough to elicit a wry chuckle.

“What’s the allure?” the questioner asked. “I think of fishing and I think of peace and quiet, not standing around next to a bunch of other people.”

As do I.

But when open water is in short supply, and the opportunities to catch a fish on a fly rod are limited, many of us make a few concessions.

For me, the first concession is often that quest for solitude, and a perfect pool of my own.

There will be time enough for that later in the spring, when the trees begin budding and the black flies are buzzing.

There will be time for that after I’ve scraped off the winter rust and the fly rod begins to feel like an extension of my arm.

There will be time for that, on those days when I can’t find a fishing buddy to share a trip and end up all by myself, with nothing but dirt roads and endless options in front of me.

For now, crowds are OK. It has been a long winter, and milling around in a parking lot full of chilly fishermen or standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a popular pool aren’t bad places to be.

Stories will be swapped, and friendships renewed. For some of us, these early-season scenes serve as a yearly reunion with like-minded people.

Yes, there’s plenty of time for solitude, and I’ll be sure to find some, eventually.

Maybe I’ll even find that perfect, secret pool.

For now, at least I’m fishing. The water flows around me, and the fish are out there, waiting. Maybe I’ll catch one. If I’m good. If I’m lucky.

Or maybe the guy next to me will. Or the guy next to him.

Either way, we’re fishing, and that’s a good thing. Even if you have to share the experience.

Lake fishing on option

While much of the region is still covered with snow and ice, there are some options available for anglers who prefer to fish from a boat.

Last weekend I passed along a tip from Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife biologist Rick Jordan, who said that a couple of lakes on Mount Desert Island would likely be fishable soon.

On Friday, I received an e-mail that confirmed that fact.

Eben Salvatore said he and his dad fished the south end of Long Pond in Southwest Harbor on opening day, and each had luck, boating a nice salmon.

Jordan said that the MDI ponds would be among the first to open up, and anglers will likely have several more island options in the coming days … if they don’t already.

We have a winner …

Each year, hundreds of eager anglers sign up for the Win a Drift Boat Trip contest that we run in conjunction with the Eastern Maine Sportsman’s Show.

The reason is pretty simple, I figure.

They don’t necessarily want to fish with me (although they’ll be stuck with me for the day).

They want to fish with Dan Legere, the registered Maine guide who donates the trip each year, and spend a wonderful day on the East Outlet of the Kennebec River.

This year, we received 574 entries for the sixth annual contest, which was a pretty good showing. That total is lower than the high-water mark set in 2006 (781), but higher than last year’s 519 applicants.

Earlier this week, the BDN’s Fred Stewart and I drew a name out of the box, and I’m happy to announce that Dick Fortier of Caribou will be going fishing on Father’s Day.

We received mail-in entries from across eastern and northern Maine, and plenty of folks stopped by our booth at the Eastern Maine Sportsman’s Show to fill out a form in person.

Among those who entered: guides, fisheries biologists and a game warden or two. If that doesn’t tell you something about Legere’s reputation, nothing does.

Fortier will join Legere and me for a daylong drift down the East Outlet, and from past experience, I can tell you that the veteran guide will put us on top of plenty of fish.

Fortier will be expected to catch some of them. And me? I’ll be expected to avoid hooking him … or Legere … or myself.

Fortier joins Mike Horvers (2003), Jason McCubbin (2004), Doug Saunders (2005), Tom Nichols (2006) and James Rolph (2007) as winners of the contest.

While looking through the box of entries after the drawing, I learned that at least three of our previous five winners enjoyed themselves so much they decided to enter again this year.

As can be expected, some folks take the contest a bit more seriously than others.

Like the fellow from Newport who set an all-time record for entries.

I won’t tell you who he is (just in case you live next door to him and you kept finding holes cut in your paper each morning), but this eager angler clipped out and delivered 54 entry blanks.

A fine effort … but one that didn’t pay off.

Congratulations to Dick Fortier, and thanks for everyone who took the time to enter the contest.

Calling all callers

So, you think you can call a moose? Today’s the day for you to put that claim to the test.

Some of northern Maine’s top moose-callers (and likely a few from Canada) will flock to the University of Maine-Presque Isle this afternoon for the annual contest that is run in conjunction with the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club’s sportsman’s show.

The moose-calling contest will get under way at 4 p.m., but participants should arrive early to sign up. Up for grabs: A total of $500 in prize money.

I’ll be heading north to help out with the judging of the contest for the second straight year, and the contest promises to be a lot of fun.

As for the show itself, the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club puts on a top-notch event at the beautiful new Gentile Building at UMPI.

There will be a kayak demonstration at 10 a.m. both days, and at 11 a.m. you can learn more about fly-fishing for muskies on the St. John River.

The show will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. today, and from 9-4 on Sunday. Admission is $4, but kids 10 and under get in free.

I hope to catch up with a lot of old friends, and make some new ones, at the show.

And if you don’t get a chance to stop by, you can visit the show vicariously on Monday evening: Dave Simpson of ABC-7 is going along with me, and we’ll put together a “Going Outdoors” segment that will run on the newscasts of ABC-7 and FOX-22.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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