Maine Freshwater Fishing

12 APRIL 2012

After receiving two reliable reports of smelt spottings, at 8 pm the three of us guides headed out for another run after the elusive smelt. Our first stop was at a lake not too far from home. We spotted 10 or 11 individual smelt in the brook and thought well... "good timing" looks like they will run tonight.  

But as per usual we got impatient and one of the guys asked if we should move on to the next lake 15 miles East. I knew that lake often starts earlier than this one and has frequent day time runs so I said good idea. We decided we'd go check it out and if nothing was happening we would come back to this lake and probably the run would be on.

11 APRIL 201

Osmerus Mordax....  or Rainbow Smelt

Primary forage for Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout and Brook Trout in Maine's cold water lakes.

3 APRIL 2012

The 2012 Maine Freshwater Fishing season is upon us. Right now we are trolling the lake for Landlocked Salmon and Lake Trout.  The ice has been out for two weeks now and the Salmon and Trout are cruising just under the surface in search of smelts.  We are trolling with spoons and streamer flies on light tackle until late May. Then we will turn our focus to Smallmouth Bass as well as continuing to troll for Salmon and Lakers. All gear and tackle provided. Room for the whole family.

We are also currently fishing a remote fly fishing (only) Brook Trout pond if you are a fly fisherman this early season pond is a must fish.  We don't provide all the tackle for fly fishing.

For those who prefer hiking a brook and fishing for wild Brook Trout,  we have may to choose from. That season is now and will continue for the next few weeks.

Call now and book your trip.

Half day and full day trips available.

25 JULY 2011

As you can see from the picture, this morning the lake was like glass.

A very adventurous family visiting Bar Harbor from New Jersey who had been rock climbing the day before ,  (Mom, Dad and 3 boys age 14 and 11 yr old twins) joined me for a half day fish.  Since the lake was so perfectly calm, I headed straight for my favorite shoal where I lost my Popper, ( see story " The Popper)..unfortunately no fish were hanging out on the 6' shoal this morning which made sense with the warmer water temps  ( almost 80*)  So after trying it for a short spell,  I motored us away 100 yards or so, enough to get into 20" of water.  

21 July 2011

We are entering the time of year when the large Bass are forming into groups known as "Wolf Packs".

Trolling for Salmon under a fantastic sunset.....

2 July 2011

PART 2...PRIOR TO READING THIS, GO BACK AND READ PART 1: THE POPPER....

SO. after I was finished beating myself up for my blunder, I tried a few things I already had rigged up in an attempt  to get the fish to bite again, but it was futile. I went home defeated.

My 15 yr old son Ethan aka: The snorkeler had been visiting his older sister down in Rhode Island for 3 weeks and was coming home that evening.. Upon his arrival I told him I had a mission for him and relayed the story of my stolen Popper. So the next morning after breakfast we headed out onto the lake with sister and mom along to get some sun. 

Ethan has been an avid snorkeler since about the age of 5. The kid is a fish. I have learned of many good Bass spots on the lake thanks to him. He also is handy in retrieving lost tackle after a fishing trip. But never had he been on a tackle finding mission that involved a live fish.

1 July  2011

The other day I guided a nice young couple from New Jersey. The husband RJ was an avid Bass fisherman and brought his own poles and tackle. I like getting a serious Bass person in my boat once in a while because I like seeing them use tackle that I may not normally  use,  there by learning more about the Bass in my lake. None of his stuff worked, but then again none of mine did either. It was a tough tough day. When he left RJ gave me a nice balsam wood, " Viva bug eye"  Popper.  Nice lure....

27 June 2011

...along comes Chris from Vermont. This man has forgotten more about fishing for the elusive Salmo Salar than most people will ever know. Chris was spending a week at the Cathance lake and asked me to go with him on his boat one day to show him where the hazards are. The weather was stormy the day we planned to meet as was the next, so I didn't get there for 2 days. We met at the landing at 1:00 and it was as bright a day as any the Sunrise County can muster up.

I had not guided Cathance for 4 years and was surprised to find the state had placed navigation buoys on all the hazards. I suddenly felt un-needed. Chris had a couple chances between thunderstorms to get out on the lake and fished some places I had suggested. Needless to say, he had it pretty well figured out before I even arrived.

22 June 2011

Yesterdays 1/2 day trip was with a father and 3 sons visiting Bar Harbor from Virginia.  After a slow start we did manage to put a couple nice fish in the boat each caught by the 2 older brothers.

For the last hour we tried trolling for Salmon and Lakers. The young 11 yr old brother reeled in both a Lake Trout ( Togue )  and a small Salmon. Thanks Vriginia....

Couple days off and then It's off to Cathance lake to teach Chris from VT  where all the rocks are.( hope I remember ) Chris is renting a camp on Cathance for a week. I am anxious to go on this trip as I have not fished Cathance for some time. Also I can't wait to see the trolling flys and flyline that Chris has come up with for deep water fly trolling.

Check back in for the results.......