Back in October, an eclectic mix of conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, private companies and tribal officials announced their Penobscot River restoration plan.

When that announcement was made, one question kept cropping up: Where’s the money going to come from?

As it turns out, the cash will come from a variety of sources … and you can help.

Keep your wallet in your pocket … at least for the minute. This will be quick and painless … and won’t cost you a dime.

According to local salmon enthusiast Lou Horvath, the time has come for Mainers to let the federal government know the restoration of the Penobscot River watershed is important.

Horvath forwarded a message he received from John Burrows of the Atlantic Salmon Federation in which Burrows tells people how they can get involved.

“We’re getting to the knotty part of the Penobscot Restoration Plan, and NEED your immediate help,” Horvath wrote. “Please, please don’t put it off. I’m counting on you to help.”

Here’s what Burrows wants: Letters. Hundreds of them. And he wants them to be faxed to the Senate offices of Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

Here’s part of what Burrows had to say:

“During my travels to various meetings and events over the past couple of months, I have been asked over and over again, ‘What can we do right now to support the Penobscot River Restoration Project?’ There had not been much for folks to do over the recent months, but all that has now changed. We need URGENT action in the form of letters to Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins in the next few days.”

Burrows says the letters ought to ask our senators to make the Penobscot River Restoration Project a top priority for funding in the 2005 federal budget.

“In order to have any hope of federal funding for the Penobscot in 2005, we need to demonstrate to Senators Snowe and Collins the broad public support for this project and the crucial need for federal funding to make the project a reality,” he wrote.

Burrows said faxing letters is the best bet: Mail sent to Capitol Hill is still being screened and irradiated due to the anthrax scare and would be delayed.

If you’re interested in getting involved … and letting your senators know that a healthier Penobscot River is important to you, here are the numbers you’ll want:

To fax to Snowe, contact Ginny Worrest at (202) 224-1946, or Gail Kelly at the Bangor office, 941-9525.

To fax to Collins: Mark LeDuc in Washington, (202) 224-2693, or Jonathan Ford in Bangor, 990-4604.

That’s the sales pitch … and if you choose to take out your wallet and pony up some of your own cash toward the restoration effort, I’m sure it would be welcome.

One of Eastern Maine’s indisputable harbingers of spring is upon us: The Eastern Maine Sportsman’s Show began in Orono on Friday and continues through Sunday.

Visitors can get as involved as they want at this yearly event: Passive browsing is perfectly acceptable, but plenty of activities are available for those who want to participate more actively.

Among the highlights each year are the gun-dog exhibitions; retrievers strut their stuff in the University of Maine pool.

Hands-on exhibits include plenty for younger visitors: Shooting ranges will give kids the chance to try out archery and air-rifle marksmanship, and many avid anglers recall tying their first fly under the guidance they received at the Sportsman’s Show.

Take a few bucks with you, and you can get in on a variety of tempting raffles. Each year several lucky sports end up walking away with prizes they’d always dreamed of … but never would have thought of buying for themselves.

Or, if you’re on a tight budget, feel free to stop by the Bangor Daily News booth. We won’t make you buy anything (though our circulation department staffers will be glad to set you up with a subscription), and we’ll give you a chance to get something … for nothing.

The deal: Registered Maine Guide Dan Legere and I are going fishing on the East Outlet of the Kennebec River on June 13. Legere has a comfy drift boat … and he knows where all the fish live.

And (here’s the best part) we’ve got one spare seat left in the boat. One lucky entrant in our free contest will fill that seat, and spend the day floating one of the state’s most beautiful rivers.

Legere will row. Legere will cook lunch. Legere will tell you which fly to use, and which rock the fish are hiding behind.

The lucky winner and I?

We’ll just sit back, fish and enjoy the day.

I hope you stop by the booth and say hello. Even if you don’t want to talk to me, you may want to make friends with my dog. Pudge has been to the Sportsman’s Show every year since he’s been alive (OK … that’s only two shows … he’s only 14 months old), and he wouldn’t miss the chance to mingle with the crowd.

Hope to see you there.

While the weather has been cool lately, and area lakes and ponds are clinging jealously to their wintry coats, it’s not too soon for anglers to use caution.

Greg Burr, a Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologist specialist, points out that ice conditions change swiftly this time of year.

Burr addressed that issue in his weekly fishing report.

“Anglers need to be mindful that the ice is eroding little by little with each passing day,” Burr wrote. “Inlets, outlets, points, saddle areas between islands, and known springy areas are all places to avoid.

“Also, pressure ridges may have collapsed and inverted, pooling with water and widening fissures that run through the middle, making them dangerous to anglers traveling on ATVs, snowmobiles and vehicles.

“Rocks, especially dark ones, transfer the sun’s heat and open up holes around shoals and rock piles. Below the surface, the sun’s radiant heat also conducts through the ice, warming waters underneath, resulting in honeycombing. Ice is also thinned by up-welling springs as a result of increased groundwater levels released by recent warm rains. These spring water inflows are warmer than the lake waters they flow into, so they rise to the underside of the ice, scalloping away the undersurface of the ice.

“Many anglers have observed this phenomenon as they have seen holes open up in later winter in the middle of what they called solid ice areas.”

The bottom line: Be careful. Use your head.

And (this is my admittedly conservative advice, not Burr’s) there’s no sense in turning your pickup truck into the world’s largest personal watercraft.

Leave your truck on shore. Pack a sled you can comfortably drag, and take a leisurely walk out to the shack. Enjoy the day … and live to fish another.

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