A few of the state’s sporting clubs show their gratitude to the state’s warden service each year by inviting the men and women in green (and a few lucky writers) to have a meal and share a few tales with members.

I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few of those events over the past several years, and on Friday night I headed back to Bucksmills Rod & Gun Club in Bucksport for their annual supper.

As always, it was one worth remembering.

I’d like to tell you that the chief reason for such an enjoyable evening was the chance to catch up with a bunch of people I don’t see often enough.

If I tried to assert such a fact, however, I’m afraid everyone in attendance would call my bluff and tell everyone exactly why the yearly supper is such a huge success.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll tell you the truth: It’s the prime rib.

Prime rib is always on the menu at the Bucksmills warden appreciation dinner, and this year’s supper was (thankfully) no exception.

Before I attended for the first time a few years back, one club member informed me that I’d be missing out if I didn’t make the trip.

He was right.

On Friday, members and guests were treated to monstrous slabs of prime rib (along with all the fixings … if you could find some extra plate space to put them).

As has become customary, the Bucksmills kitchen crew cooked a little bit extra, and some of the heartiest eaters (which, I’m proud to say, I wasn’t) went back to the feed trough for seconds.

For the record, the conversation was engaging, and the Bucksmills members as friendly as always. The wardens and retired wardens I sat with regaled us with tales from the Maine woods, including a few that can’t be shared in this space.

One thing I have learned over the past few years is that certain wardens (no names need be mentioned here … their colleagues will already know who they are) can pack away prodigious amounts of grub in a very short period of time.

Must be all that fresh Maine air, eh?

Dry fly action starting

Every so often I receive a fishing dispatch that I pay very close attention to.

Those e-mail messages come from Dan Legere of Greenville, the owner of Maine Guide Fly Shop, a guide who graciously provides the grand prize for our annual “Win a Drift Boat Trip” contest.

Legere knows the lay of the land in the Moosehead region, and his knowledge of the East Outlet of the Kennebec River never ceases to amaze me.

The good news for fly fishers, according to Legere, is that dry- fly action is heating up. Here’s what he had to say:

“Things started to percolate the middle of last week with the arrival of the Hendrickson hatches on the East Outlet,” Legere wrote. “Water levels remain stable at 1000 [cubic feet per second] with [Moosehead] Lake not yet full.

“Right behind were the red quills and blue-wing olives. Fish are keeping bankers’ hours with the hatches coming at mid-day. Expect to see water levels on the Roach [River] go up soon. All that means is there will be a run of salmon as soon as the flow increases.”

Legere closed with a couple of tips: First, he says, with mayflies, “A good drift is better than a good cast.”

And second: “Bring plenty of bug dope because as soon as the sun comes out again we will have a bumper crop of black flies.”

With water levels at some of the state’s more southern and central waters still a bit high, the East Outlet – always a personal favorite – seems like a good bet in the near future.

A final reminder …

Many anglers will want to head to Holden tonight for the public hearing on the proposal to reopen the Penobscot River to Atlantic salmon fishing.

The hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. at Holden School on Route 1A.

The proposal on the table would open the Penobscot to catch-and-release fishing this fall.

See you there.

Coming up

I’ll be heading to the Atlantic Salmon Commission hearing tonight, and will likely hear a few comments worth sharing in Saturday’s column.

Among the other stories I’m trying to track down to share over the weekend is one that may sound familiar.

I’ve heard reports that a fisheries biologist for one state agency ended up giving a baby moose swimming lessons recently and rescued the little critter from an awkward spot.

In addition, there have been reports of large smelt die-offs in a couple of Maine’s most popular lakes, and I hope to be able to clarify the situation and tell you about the causes.

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