Organizers of the second annual Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby are busily preparing for an expanded event this year that will not only offer plenty of fun and prizes, but will also disperse fishing pressure and allow anglers to enjoy other St. John Valley lakes. Read More
Although the study has yet to be published, Mainers may be interested in the results of a 10-year project recently completed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Northeastern Research Station. That group, based at a lab in Warren, Pa., has determined that deer… Read More
The specifics of Maine’s newest hunt have been proposed, and they are sure to please one particular group of sportsmen, albeit a small group, if they are approved. The concept plan for the fall wild turkey season has the hunt running from Oct. 21 to… Read More
While the deer kill this hunting season was far below expectations, bear season offered plenty of success for hunters. State bear study leader Craig McLaughlin said Thursday the projections have the bear kill at a record or near-record level, with 3,200 animals taken in the… Read More
Each year the sport of hunting gathers the interest of numerous outdoorsmen, however let’s not forget the sport also attracts a vast number of outdoorswomen. Heidi Bretz is a prime example. For some 40 years, Bretz, a resident of Germany, has been toting a rifle,… Read More
When a seasoned togue fisherman fine-tunes his skills, the end result is success on almost any given day. I know a few such veterans and personally witnessed the rewards of their labor. One name that stands tall in this category is Steve Greenleaf. Landlocked salmon… Read More
Every sport has its price tag, and fishing is no exception. The purchase of a new fishing vessel can wreak havoc on the pocket book, and the aftermath of such an act can be devastating, especially when the monthly consequences start arriving from the bank. Read More
A Maine icon in the sport of archery is featured in a video by the Maine Bow Hunters Association, which stresses ethics, safety and a strong relationship with the landowner. Last fall, 52-year-old Jim Wambolt of Enfield was asked by Andy Collar, co-owner of Ursus… Read More
Cradled between the rolling hills of Beddington, some 50 miles east of Bangor, rests Pleasant River Lake. It’s a body of water that’s considered a marginal cold water lake. One factor contributing to this classification is its lack of deep holes. About 70 percent of the lake has… Read More
The still quiet waters of Alligator Lake in T34 MD northeast of Aurora portrayed reflections of a mirror as the bow of Allen Skinner and George Peavey’s aluminum boat split the surface on Tuesday morning. It was a setting of a moment in time so ravishing only an… Read More
To dip or not to dip smelts is question of concern among some Aroostook County residents. In 1982, Long Lake in Aroostook County and its tributaries were closed to the netting of smelts. The action to close occurred after some 50 people met in St. Read More
Just when I thought Long Lake in Aroostook County had exhausted all its inventory of trophy landlocked salmon for another season, the phone rang to inform me about another success story. The lake’s been releasing hefty fish all season with familiar stories of five to six salmon funneling… Read More
At 8:15 a.m., as the scorching June sun took command over the skies above Crystal Lake in Gray, a fishing trip far from routine was just starting to heat up. Mike St. Pierre of Brunswick was still unaware of the test he was about to be issued. Read More
If you’re in search for some topnotch trout fishing in this state, then possibly you should chart a course for Square Lake in Aroostook County. The jury is in, and all the facts and figures are extremely favorable. Historically, Square Lake has always been a… Read More
There’s a dream about to unfold, and it’s aimed at benefiting anyone who’s ever handled a fly rod or even considered it. On Aug. 1 the doors of the Kennebec River Outfitters, located on Route 201 in Madison, will officially swing open for business, and… Read More
In the world of landlocked salmon fishing, there are a handful of lures that stand tall above the rest, and today the Cecil’s Smelt is rubbing shoulders with the elite. However, this well-groomed lure didn’t climb the ladder of success by chance, its presence has become known among… Read More
Echo Lake on Mount Desert Island created an unforgettable moment just a few days following ice-out this spring, and Bar Harbor native Robin Walls was on the receiving end. Five years ago, Walls put his brook fishing career on hold and invested in a small… Read More
Sewing on bait. Is it slowly becoming a lost art, to be replaced with sliding hooks accompanied by a handful of compatible techniques, or will this age-old skill remain a force in the fishing world for years to come? I’ve drifted away from sewing on… Read More
Prime brook fishing has arrived and Glenn Sinclair has engaged in some early battles. This 30-year-old Aroostook County native has been on the front lines of this sport since he’s had strength enough to activate a spincasting reel. He’s been parting alders and hurdling acres of blowdowns along… Read More
Trolling is a type of fishing I’m quite familiar with. I’ve inhaled enough two-cycle fuel in my lifetime pursing this sport to deserve a seat among leaders of OPEC. However, when recently asked to discuss ideal fishing speeds in miles-per-hour I was taken slightly off guard. Read More
Sharpen your hooks and sweep the dust bunnies off your outboards. Our lakes have started the process of shedding their winter coats for another round of open-water fishing. The open water is selective compared to the previous year at this time, but it has definitely sparked a flicker… Read More
As you chart your course for another round of open water fishing, don’t overlook the refined waters of the Kennebec River. Divided by nine dams, this 170-mile river offers some hard-hitting action between her banks, although in years past, lower portions of these waters were frowned upon by… Read More
If you’re looking for a new fish to contend with this season, but prefer to stay within the boundaries of our state, don’t overlook those hard-hitting brown trout. The state continues to offer lakes and ponds that host some heavy hitters, and you could possibly… Read More
In just a couple weeks our lakes will begin shedding their frozen skins, granting fishermen that long-awaited opportunity for the first strike of the season. Although many of our lakes never live up to their full potential until later in the season, fishermen will continue to fish them… Read More
Another ice fishing season is pretty much tucked under our belts, and all eyes are focused on April 1. A day when fishermen anxiously brush the winter cobwebs from the cover of their tackle boxes and strike out for a stretch of open water to cast a line… Read More
The lights have begun to dim and soon the final chapter will be complete on yet another ice fishing season. But the stories it created will remain open as long as fishermen can locate a listening audience with which to share them. Especially when the highlights involve an… Read More
Here’s a sure-fire way to quench those winter blues and get you pointed down the pathway to spring. Just set your sights on a trip to the 63rd Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show. The action begins March 23 at 5 p.m. at the University of Maine field house in… Read More
If you’re looking for a new taste in your diet without lowering your standards, here’s a meal worth fishing for that’s guaranteed to lower nothing but your fishing line. It’s called cusk. I agree it’s a downright ugly fish – with it’s hornpout-shaped head attached… Read More
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration would have seen the space shuttle lift off the launch pad years ahead of its time if only they had crawled inside the mind of an ice fisherman. Preferably one looking to construct an ice fishing shack. These are… Read More
Maine. Among sportsmen it’s more than just another state attached to the corner of our nation’s map. Over the years this state has gained the reputation for satisfying the appetites of the most avid fishermen, and rightly so. Before the final bell sounds and the curtain closes on… Read More
Priorities have definitely changed for many anglers on the eve of an ice fishing trip this season. The first order of business was always test running the snowmobile in the garage till blue smoke wiped out your vision. Or you saw the silhouette of your… Read More
Aroostook County’s Long Lake has seen more than its share of tracks from anglers this fishing season. But the footprints that will probably be most remembered this winter will be the ones delivered by Donna Franck of Van Buren a day after the lake officially opened for salmon… Read More
If you’re tired of riding on the oval track you’ve created around the perimeter of your house with a snowmobile this season, here’s some new terrain that’s worth straightening your skis and taking aim for – Buckhorn Camps. They’re located on a 2-mile wooded island… Read More
Have the good old days left for good – only to be remembered when you pull the chair up beside grandpa with open ears and a full cup of coffee – or are they still brewing? I believe they’re still being manufactured today, and another one is born… Read More
I found out years ago I didn’t always need to be drilling holes in the ice, or tracking a buck in a fresh November snow to be learning new techniques about those outdoor sports that constantly tug at my heartstrings. Some of my most valuable lessons have come… Read More
Fire up your snowmobile and hook on your tote sled, the latest snowstorm delivered a present to areas that were cheated out of all the white stuff in the previous storm. This winter is shaping up to be one when the dusty cross-country skies and snowshoes get to… Read More
By the time you read this story, chances are you’ve probably already buried the blade of your ice auger into the frozen waters of a favorite lake. Or added about 3 extra inches to a salmon that never would have met the legal requirements if it hadn’t cleaned… Read More