Maine Fishing Season has officially begun
Here is a little edit I put together from Maine River Guides 2011 Fishing Season…
Let the fun begin!
Building a better Driftboat: time well spent
Back in early April I trailered home a new Pro Guide Driftboat kit by Boulder Boatworks.
Before:
After:
While I’ve always wanted to build a wooden driftboat… and someday I will when it better suits my fishing needs. Years before I ever bought my NRS raft I began searching for a boat that was durable, quiet, and still retained the elegance of a driftboat’s lines… as a full time fly fishing guide I needed something durable and low maintenance above all else. Many guides here in Maine have been using fiberglass driftboats for years, and I explored those possibilities but never got on board. Then I ran across a picture of a beautiful drift boat built by a small company out of Boulder Colorado four years ago. There boats featured a light, durable, and quiet polymer hull, finished with ash ribs gunnels and trim. I began calling the guys out at Boulder and asking tons of questions about this new driftboat material. I called guides who have been using their boats for a few seasons and hearing very positive feedback. While talking the the guys at Boulder Boat works one day they mentioned a build it at home kit option they were going to begin to sell… I was sold. It wasn’t until late last winter I finally pulled the trigger sent them some cash and put my order in.
So early this May I began gluing wood,
sanding ribs, epoxying wood, varnishing wood,
more sanding, more varnishing.
After the gunnel scarf joints were glued and all four gunnels were sanded smooth,
I dropped them off to the guys at New England Off Road in Westbrook, Maine to have the gunnels coated with Line-X. The guys at New England Off Road did an awesome job on the gunnels, and I’m very glad I choose this option and feel for long term durability it is the way to go, especially if you have a dog.
It took over a week and a half to get the finish to where I wanted it. Then began the fun part… building the Boat! The build up process took about another week and a half to juggle between days on the water, and rescheduling lost days on the water due to high water.
Mounting Exterior gunnel.
Clamping starboard exterior gunnel.
Setting the Rib ins:
Making the interior gunnel cuts was the most intense part…a short cut would be bad, very bad…
Bare Bow:
Finished Bow Dashboard, and fly deck:
Guide tested, dog approved:
Of course there were fish to be caught during the build:
Chris Loves Brook Trout
Got Lips?
Smallmouth
Spring Landlocked Salmon
Watching that bare hull slowly take the shape of a boat day by day was extremely rewardlng. I can honestly say my blood, sweat, and tears beers went into the building of this Pro Guide driftboat. I had some great help along the way, from my neighbors, my wife, my buddy Josh. The Biggest Thanks! goes to my friend Andrew, who put in a ton of time sanding, clamping gunnels, unclamping gunnels, theorizing, scratching heads, and getting it done. Check him out at Themadtrouter! I also owe a big thanks to the whole crew at Boulder Boatworks who were extremely helpful and supportive from delivering all the way through the build. Thanks Andy, Steve, and Chris for always taking the time to answer my questions no matter how busy you are. You guys Rock!
It was three weeks well spent, and now the real fun begins…
Who wants to Float a Beautiful Maine River?
Grab a seat before the dog beats you to it!
207-749-1593
April Fishing in Maine: Go get some
We are off to a slow start to the 2011 fishing season here in Maine. After a long snowy winter rivers across the state are running cold, high, and off color. Despite the less than ideal conditions, each visit to moving water this season has produced a good variety of fish species. Prime Time is on the way…slowy.
Check out this fish tale from an recent outing with my friend Jeremy over at www.fliesandfins.com
The Fly Fish Journal: Maine River Guides
Tired of the same regurgitated content that has been circulating in flyfishing magazines for decades? There is good news! There are some great new options in print and online with amazing imagery and fresh new stories from emerging writers.
If you are looking for more refreshing content in print form pick up a copy of The Fly Fish Journal. Think…The Drake meets Gray’s Sporting Journal… Quality photography and content, and I’m not just saying that because of the sweet picture of my boat on the West Branch in Issue 2.3 by Matt Boutet. The article “Worst Guide in the World” by Dylan Tomine had me laughing so hard one morning, I almost snorted orange juice all over my magazine! For more of Matt’s Maine Woods & Waters focused photography check out Matt Boutet Photography.
Had to get out of the house last week to stay sane…here is what followed:
Happy New Year!
Another year has come and gone too fast.
I feel fortunate to have spent the last day of the 2010 fishing season reflecting on another amazing year with good friends, family, and spirits…I hope you all did the same.
Happy New Year! Wishing all the best for you, your friends and family in 2011.
Hope to see you on the water in Maine this year!
trout-sicle
Last Years Water
Maine Brown Trout
Strip Cedar Canoe: A Winter Project
I have always enjoyed the classic beauty and feel of wooden boats on the water. The looks are elegant, the feel of riding in one is as wonderful an experience one can have on the water. Unfortunately the practicality of guiding out of a wooden boat where I frequent just doesn’t make a lot of sense for me. I have had the pleasure of rowing two beautiful wooden boats built by a friend and summer resident at the Big Eddy Campground Pete Boucher. I must say, I have enjoyed every second of those experiences.
Pete at the oars in his Rapid Robert
Recently while enjoying a beer at a friends house he showed me a 19 foot strip cedar canoe he had hoped to restore, but can’t find time for amidst other projects. I asked if he wanted to part with it and within an hour I had it loaded on the truck heading for home. I am pleased to add a wooden boat to the collection and I have dubbed it “The Beast” for obvious reasons.
The new ride at home
This will be an ongoing restoration project I hope to complete by Spring Fishing Season 2011, and I will be posting updates as I make progress. If anyone has any advice or experience in strip cedar canoe restoration I am all ears.
Some photos of the canoe:
dirty boat
busted gunnels and decks
damaged fiberglass
the beast
Since these photos were taken the entire canoe has been scrubbed down good and is airing out in the garage…
Maine Fly Fishing: September Rules!
Time flys… this update is long overdue, but for very good reasons. The fishing has been incredible on the West Branch of the Penobscot as well as area ponds and smaller rivers and streams. The high flows from Mckay Station on the West Branch of the Penobscot have dropped considerably along with the water temps, and the fish are responding well to stripping and swinging streamers. The retrieve seems more important than the pattern right now, all I will say is “make it move!” But it is not just a streamer game right now…in fact within the last week and a half I have witnessed two of the best late afternoon caddis hatches I have seen all season. These hatches are bringing up a lot of fish, including some really big ones just before dark. Try brown tan and black caddis sizes 16-20. If you are hiking out without a headlamp, you probably left too soon to see the big fish feeding on top. Blue Wing Olives (BWOs) have also been making appearances almost daily along with good spinner falls in the evening. The naturals have been small size 20-24 and we have been boating some good sized salmon on all phases of the hatch. Try parachute BOWs, barrs emergers, and wd40’s when you see these guys come off. If you can’t deal with the frustration of fishing (and seeing) these tiny flies I have good news! We are still seeing some action on big stone and hopper dryflys in the choppy water and along the foam lines, especially on the fair weather days. So enjoy fishing dryflys while you can…
I will be busy guiding on the West Branch of the Penobscot and Kennebago River in Rangeley through the end of September. Come October, I will be guiding Float trips on the East Outlet of the Kennebec River, The Dead River, and a few more extended season waters. If you want to get one more quality trip in before snow flys, give us a call or send an email. 207-749-1593 This is a great time to enjoy the splendor of Maine’s fall color, while catching some of the best fish of the season.
Have a safe fall on the water!
Fall Landlocked Salmon
Slippery…
Hot Days: Huge Hatches
Taking a break from the heat this afternoon after a nice long swim in the Big Eddy, and realized an update was long overdue. Had some awesome days in late June on the water and some extremely slow days as well. Got some good press in the July 2010 Issue of Field and Stream Magazine in an article titled “The North Woods Way” written by Edward Nickens. It’s a well crafted piece about Eddie’s travels and experiences fishing with three Maine Guides, myself included, last June. Get out and pick up a copy, or check it out here: The North Woods Way
For the last few weeks I have been burning the candle at both ends. Fishing the West Branch of the Penobscot during the morning and afternoon, and hunting Native Maine Brook Trout rising to Hexes, and exploring cool mountain streams. Things have been fishing well all around with the action on the river having picked up since a late June slump. The Landlocked Salmon and Brook Trout on the West Branch of the Penobscot River have been happily feeding on a wide variety of dry flies from tiny black caddis to super sized Stoneflies. Water temps are already over 68 degrees on the West Branch so take time releasing fish and avoid overplaying them.
While I have had some epic evenings on Maine Trout Ponds withing a 50 mile radius of the Big Eddy Campground, I do believe the Hex hatches are tapering off and the fish getting fussier by the day. Like everthing else this season, hatches are coming and going a few weeks ahead of normal.
Chris and his wife Kim just showed up for the afternoon round of fishing…so I gotta run. Check out the fish Chris landed this morning… Nice work!
Chris gets a beauty to the net
Nice River Brookie
Kevin's first Salmon on a fly
Looking for the Hatch
Game on!
Hot days on cool mountain streams
Should've been here last night (Hex Shucks)
Emilia with a nice West Branch Salmon
Small Stream Gems
Landlocked Salmon caught on tiny caddis.
From Rangeley to Mount Katahdin
Been a wild ride lately from a few days guiding for Grants Camps up on Kennebago Lake back to the West Branch of the Penobscot where I will be guiding and fishing through July. Had a lot of fun with a good group of folks up at Grants Camps, and got to spend some time with some good friends and fellow Maine Guides. My friend Tony had a rough commute in to the Camps when a Big Maine Moose decided to run into his truck, folding his mirror in and leaving behind just enough fur to tie a fly or two. On the fishing front, flows on the Kennebago River went from too low to too high, so we spent most of our time looking for windless waters and rising fish on Kennebago Lake. Although fishing was a bit tough, we got some feisty brook trout in the net and the hospitality at the Camps was exceptional as always.
Tony's truck after clipping a Moose
Evening Calm Kennebago Lake
Subtle Sunset Kennebago Lake
Kennebago Limbo
Motoring out from Grants Camps
The West Branch of the Penobscot greeted us with huge numbers of caddisflies and the fish have been hot on their tails. We have been seeing a good mix of caddis species as well as blu winged olives, Cahills, March Browns, Golden Stoneflys, and Yellow Sallies in the air. This big bug buffet has had some evening anglers scratching their heads, while those willing to look closely, and keep changing flies have been rewarded.
What are they eating?
Brookie barf tells the tale...
I'm not a pro photographer, but Matt Boutet is.
Last week we fished the river hard from Ripogenus Dam to the Abol Deadwater, and found some awesome dry fly fishing and solid fish throughout. Spent a day chasing fish from sunrise to sunset with friend and photographer Matt Boutet. He picked the right day for epic caddis…and got some amazing shots…Check out some incredible photos from the day along with many other stunning images at Matt Boutet Photography
Foam is Home
View from my cubicle...
Fat West Branch Salmon
The way things are going up here the big bugs will be here very soon, so have some Big stonefly imitations in the box if you are heading up. Stimulators, Sofa Pillows, and Bugmeisters get it done. For you Pond anglers, Hexes will be showing early this year too. Get on it…Prime Time is here.
Maine Spring Fly Fishing: Variety is the Spice of Life
This spring has brought a amazing variety of Fly Fishing opportunities here in Maine. I have had the pleasure of fishing with a good variety of anglers and friends over the course of the last three weeks. We have seen some epic smelt runs, big March Brown hatches, too many Moose to count, and an unforgetable encounter with an overly aggressive loon trying to grab a brook trout away from a friend as he was landing it!
This is just the beginning, the next few weeks fishing should really kick in to gear. If you haven’t planned a Maine Fly Fishing Trip yet, you should!
Give us a call: 207-749-1593
Maine Smelt Run
Maine Lake Trout
Fat Maine Smallmouth Bass
Nice Brookie Megan!
Megan and Derek with a slippery Brook Trout
Spring Landlocked Salmon
Maine Pike on the fly
Beautiful Brook Trout
See you next time!